Sebastian

to break the bridges that connected Glorianna's landscapes to any landscapes beyond her and Nadia's keeping, but since William had managed to reach the Den, the odds were good the farmer lived in a landscape controlled by one of them.
    Lynnea came back with two plates of bacon, eggs, and fried potatoes, gave him a told-you-so smile, then was gone again.
    "What about the boys?" Sebastian asked as he dug into his meal.
    "That's another thing." William tasted the eggs, made a sound of approval, and spent the next few minutes concentrating on the food. "Found them along the road, just before I reached the bridge. Whole pack of them. Recognized most of them by sight, if not by name. Somethings happening in Wizard City that's making folks uneasy. Remember I told you about that part of the city that was different?"
    "I remember."
    William tipped his head to indicate the table where the boys were sitting. "They said the good feeling was going away, like someone was blowing out candles one by one and pretty soon there would be only darkness left. Some of the older folks gave the children what coin and food they could spare and told them to get away from the city. So they left because they were more afraid of staying than going. Slipped out among the other travelers and met up down the road a ways. By the time our paths crossed, they'd been traveling for a few days, sleeping out in the open and scared to death to do it, but there was no going back."
    William pushed a piece of potato around his plate. "I didn't know the landscapes had changed, hadn't realized things were different, so I pointed out the road that would lead to Kennett, my home village, and told them to follow it. May the Guardians of the Light watch over them and get them to the village safely."
    "And those three?" Sebastian asked.
    William sighed. "Kennett is a small village. I think the other children will be able to find a place there and settle in, but those three have a bit too much… grit… if you understand me. They grew up fast and hard in order to survive. They'd be troublemakers in a place like Kennett, and that might sour folks on the other children. I think they knew that. I think that's why they offered to come with me, even though they thought it would take them back to Wizard City. Not that they put it that way."
    No, they wouldn't put it that way, Sebastian thought. But they'd know there was something inside them that would never fit in with the rhythm of a country village.
    Opportunities and choices.
    "They'll fit in here," Sebastian said. "The Den was made for badass boys."
    "Well, now," William blustered. "Well, I don't know." Then he looked into Sebastians eyes. "Would you have been one of those boys?"
    "You could say I was the first."
    William pursed his lips. "They'd find charity hard to swallow."
    "That's good, because they won't find any here. If they're going to live here, they'll work to earn their keep."
    William nodded. "I never got your name."
    "Sebastian."

    William held out his hand.
    He clasped the hand, then released it, surprised at how a simple handshake could sometimes bridge two very different lives.
    Opportunities and choices.
    Pushing his plate aside, Sebastian folded his arms and leaned on the table. "So, William Farmer, since you can't get to Wizard City, what are you going to do with all that food in the wagon?"
    William studied him for a moment, then smiled. "I suppose you have some ideas about what I can do with it?"
    "I do," Sebastian replied, returning the smile. "I certainly do."
    *
    Koltak ground his teeth in frustration. He wasn't used to riding horses, and the daylong ride was turning into a misery. Worse than the physical discomfort was his growing uneasiness.
    The road went on too long, too far. He'd been there only once, but he knew the way to that foul landscape Sebastian called home.
    The main road curved and went on to a bridge that led to another landscape and another bridge that crossed over near Nadia's home village. He'd traveled that road enough times when he'd gone to fetch Sebastian and bring the whelp back to Wizard City. The cart path that branched off the main road led to another bridge—and the Den of Iniquity.
    But when the road had curved, he hadn't seen any sign of a cart path. Thinking he'd misremembered the spot, he and the guards Harland had sent with him had continued riding along the main road.
    On and on. Too long. Too far. The guards offered no opinions, offered no company, although