given up your grudge. That kind of hatred will shorten your life.”
The hermit laughed sourly. “My life is almost done. And it isn’t a grudge—I simply don’t give a fuck anymore. I’m not bitter, I just don’t care. I did my best and all they want is easy power to further their stupid games, like mud-covered swine fighting for slop.”
“If you really don’t care, why are you helping us?” asked Erisa.
“That’s your misconception,” said the old man. “I’m not helping you. If I leave this alone, he might do something and draw them down on the village. Then I’d have to move again. I’m getting too old for that crap. I just want to live out the last of my days with what little dignity I have left. I’m doing this because it’s less trouble than the alternative. I don’t give two shits about your little bastard in there.”
“Don’t forget what I said before,” warned Erisa. “If you hurt him, I’ll shout your name from one end of—”
“That threat is getting old, girl,” interrupted the old man. “If I were as cold hearted as that I’d just get rid of both of you, especially with you continually trying to extort me for help. It would be a damn sight easier than putting up with an apprentice. Give me a couple of years. By the time he’s fifteen, he’ll know enough to hide it. After that, you can have him back and I can get on with forgetting the world and all the stupid people in it.”
Will heard the door open and immediately closed his eyes, pretending to still be asleep. Heavy footsteps sounded as the old man crossed the room to his bedside.
“You’ll have to do better than that boy,” said the old man. “Get up. You’re coming with me.”
Erisa put her hand on the hermit’s shoulder. “He’s still sleeping. Let him rest.”
“I may be ancient, but I’m not addled. He’s been awake for several minutes. There isn’t even a trace of dreaming about him.” The bed shook suddenly as the old man kicked the mattress. “Get up, boy. I don’t have any more time to waste on you. We’re leaving.”
Will opened his eyes warily. He was pretty sure his acting had been perfect. “How did you know?”
The old man smiled down at him maliciously. “That’s one of several things you’ll have to learn, or else…”
“Or else what?”
“Or else you’ll wind up dead,” said the old man.
Erisa started to protest, “Don’t threaten him…”
“Stay out of it, Erisa. The boy’s mine now.” Glancing around the room, he searched for something with his eyes but didn’t find it. “Oh, this is your room, isn’t it? Go get a bag and put his clothes in it. I don’t think he’s fit for packing right now.”
Will’s mother left. While she was gone, at the old man’s urging he made another attempt at sitting up. This time he succeeded, but he still felt weak as a kitten. The old man didn’t let up, though. He kept prodding and poking until Will got to his feet, where he stood swaying for a moment.
“You’d better pull it together, boy,” said the old man harshly. “If you pass out on the way back, I’ll leave you in the woods. I’m damn sure not carrying you. It’s your spirit that’s tired, not your body. Learn the difference. You’ll feel worse than this before I’m done with you.”
Will felt the first stirrings of anger at the rough words. “I’m not faking it,” he protested. “I’m doing the best I can.”
The old man reached out with one hand and lifted Will’s chin so he could stare into his eyes. “You think I should feel sorry for you? Maybe I should be nicer? After all, you’re like this because you saved that little boy. Is that what you’re thinking?”
Will pursed his lips for a moment, then answered, “I didn’t say that.”
“But you were thinking it, weren’t you, you selfish little prick?” accused the hermit. “What you didn’t stop to think about was how dangerous what you did was. How would your mother have felt if she had come home to find you cold and dead on the floor? That never crossed your tiny little mind, did it?”
“I didn’t know it was dangerous,” protested Will.
“Then you shouldn’t have done it!” said the old man. “Lesson number one, if you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing, then don’t do it.”
Will didn’t understand why the old man was so angry. Especially since it was