Chapter 27: The oldest one
As the three of them walk out of the empty alleyway and into the more crowded streets, where everyone else is too busy to notice the expressions of the trio shifting from sadness and grief to a stoic, normal mask as they navigate the city in silence. Though they hide it well, faint traces of tears still glisten on their faces.
As they enter the inn, William sees Matt standing in the hallway of the first floor.
“Matt, have Craig and Emma woken up?” Uncle Rob asks, looking around the hallway.
“Craig is awake. He just went to the washroom, but Emma is still sleeping,” Matt replies, his eyes closely analyzing the expressions of all three of them. “Should I wake her up?”
“Not right now,” Rob replies, walking toward his room at the end of the hallway while William and Gretchen follow closely behind him. “But when Craig comes back, you should come to our room with both of them. We have something to talk about.”
After a while, the whole family gathers inside the room. Matt and Craig look serious, as they already expect the solemn nature of the announcement, while Emma still looks sleepy.
“As William told everyone, he has been offered a job in the city, and this morning your mother and I went to meet the person who offered it to him,” Rob says, pausing for a second before he continues. “We find that he is a good person, and he will take good care of William”
“What does that mean?” Emma asks, a little confused and scared. “It means he will be living and working there from now on.”Rob replies with resignation.
Emma, freezes for a second before her face contorts in grief. “No!” she cries out, fat tears immediately welling in her eyes. She lunges forward and throws her arms around William’s waist, burying her face into his shirt, sobbing loudly as she grips him like he might vanish if she lets go.
William hugs Emma back and starts stroking her hair causing her to tighten her grip on his waist. As his eyes move to look toward other people. He notices Craig standing quiet like always as if unaffected but the sudden narrowing of his eyes and the watery gleam in them give him away.”
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Matt handles the news maturely. He takes a slow, deep breath, crossing his arms. Though a flash of sadness crosses his features, he forces it down. Emma finally releases William from her tight grip, still crying as she is held by Gretchen.
“Emma, I know, sweetie,” Gretchen says softly, stroking her hair. “It’s painful to let people go, but sometimes you have to.”
Listening to this, William feels another sharp spike of guilt pierce his heart.
“We will be coming to Arindale once every month for trade,” Rob adds, leaning down to Emma's eye level. “You can come with us to meet William then, can't you?”
“Really?” Emma asks, her eyes red and teary.
“Yes,” William says, forcing a warm smile as he steps closer. “We’ll play all day, and I will give you a proper tour of the market.”
“Speaking of which, why don't we all visit the market today?” Rob says, hoping to change the heavy atmosphere.
Emma nods lightly, while Craig also shows a quiet look of agreement.
Uncle Rob leads the way, shoving past the afternoon crowd. Emma gets attracted by the delicious aroma sizzling from a meat cart. Gretchen sees Emma smile softly and buys skewers for each of them. Emma takes a bite, wiping her nose with her sleeve, while Craig quietly enjoys himself, looking at the bustling street.
By late afternoon, the sound of a lute draws them toward a corner of the square where a crowd is gathered around a small wooden stage to watch a puppet show.
’Still the same story I saw last time’, William thinks, watching the stage. A knight, a princess, and the evil dragon. He remembers when he asked a man about dragons once, and the man just shook them off as children's tales. ‘Do they exist like magic, or not?’
William's thoughts are cut short by the sudden applause and cheers of the children. On stage, the knight has saved the princess by killing the dragon. William turns to see Emma's enthusiastic face staring right at the puppets. Craig also shows interest in it, and Matt, while trying to hide it, still likes the show.
As the sun sets, William finds an opportunity to be alone with Matt.
“Are you okay?” William asks.
“Why are you asking?” Matt replies without looking back, his eyes fixed on the fading light.
“Well... Emma is sad, and even though Craig doesn't show it, I can tell he is bothered,” William says, turning his gaze toward the horizon. “So...”
“I don't have the luxury of doing that,” Matt says, finally turning to look straight at William. “I'm the oldest. I'm supposed to act mature.”
William stays quiet, listening.
“I am also joining the caravan full-time,” Matt continues, his voice steady. “Dad and Uncle are starting new trade routes. I just hope you find what you are looking for out here in the city.”
“Thanks,” William replies.
He looks at the unwavering expression on his cousin's face. ‘He really is the oldest’, William thinks to himself.