Chapter Twenty-Two: Drinks Shared and Traps Set

The pub that Gareth and his father found themselves in was small but crowded, with good-spirited drunks pressed together and swaying at the bar. Each open table, while there weren’t many to choose from, was filled with chatty men and women from all walks of life, and from a small stage on the left there came the faint sway of wordless, high-spirited music.

"So, Dad, how long have you known? About Olban and I, I mean." Gareth looked at his dad with a new sense of appreciation. All along, he'd thought his dad was spineless, merely going along with whatever nonsense his mother demanded. But this revelation had revealed a new side to him, a depth behind his stoic and hollow demeanor.

"Like I said, from the day we got you tested for it. It was as if this creature, whatever it was, wanted to keep up the illusion. Make you feel like you were crazy."

"And it almost worked," Gareth said. He wondered, briefly, if in another life he would have turned out like Eloise. If Olban hadn't shown him the truth, if he'd never learned about the other worlds... would he be in Eloise's place? Would he have fallen off the edge? Would he have gone crazy?

I'm not crazy, Eloise says quietly. And I can hear you, by the way.

"Shit, I'm sorry, Eloise. I didn't mean..." His dad cocked an eyebrow at his words, but said nothing.

No, I know what you meant. It's fine. I'm used to it.

Gareth did his best to stay quiet after that. If Eloise could hear his thoughts even when he wasn't talking to her, he'd have to be extra careful about what went through his brain. If she found out about what the wolf had told him and Olban, there'd be hell to pay.

"Gareth? You okay?"

Jolted back to the present, Gareth shrugged in response.

"Yeah, I'm good, Dad. Just thinking, I guess."

"Tell me everything, son. I want to hear about all the magic I missed out on."

Be careful, Gareth, Olban warned. If he's been dreaming of the Nameless One, then the Nameless One could have a link to his mind. Even if he doesn't mean to, he could show it our plans.

Gareth hadn't thought of that, and the idea scared him. What if his dad wasn't even his dad? What if this sudden change of heart was just the Nameless One playing games?

Wait, Eloise said. So the Nameless One could get into his head? Even just through a dream?

I mean, it makes sense, Olban said. He's a powerful being. If he's been manipulating your dad all this time, why would he just stop? Why would your dad admit the truth now? The danger hasn't lessened. If anything, it has only increased.

No, no, Eloise said. That can't be. He can't take over that easily, right? It's not that simple, right?

I don't get why you're so worried, Eloise. If we don't tell him anything, or we tell him only part of the truth, then we're still in the clear.

Yeah, Eloise conceded. Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry for the fuss.

"Gareth?" his dad prodded.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Well, you know, we've been chased by monsters and stuff. And, I've got a new person in my head. Her name is Eloise. Other than that, well... I dunno."

"I get it," Gareth's dad said. "It's not easy to explain. But I'm willing to listen. You could just try."

He gulps down his third glass. Gareth, meanwhile, still tentatively worked on his first. Especially after Olban's suspicions, he didn't want to risk getting inebriated and slipping up, revealing something he shouldn't.

And there was another thing that was bothering him: his dad was never a heavy drinker. Most people could drink him under the table. Even Mum could. Three beers in, he should be sloshing his words, but he wasn't even looking ruddy.

Which means that Olban was right.

His dad wasn't his dad anymore.

Guys, he thought to himself, hoping that they could hear him. We have to get out of here. Now.

What? Why? Eloise asked. Is something wrong?

It's his dad, Olban guesses. Something gave him away. Which means...

The Nameless One has him, Eloise gasped. Oh God...

"Well, Dad, this was really nice," Gareth said, standing up so suddenly that his drink spilled, brown liquid sloshing onto the polished wood of the table. "But we've got to go."

"What's the rush, kiddo?"

Gareth laughed uneasily.

"Well, y'know... world saving stuff, right? We've got some, uh, traveling to do."

Gareth's dad stands up and laughs, stretching his arm around Gareth's shoulder.

"That right, son? Well, how're you gonna do it, huh? I'm your father, I should get to know, right?"

By now, some of the more aware patrons were staring, and it made Gareth uneasy.

"We've... really gotta go, Dad..."

"Nonsense. You're my kid, I've got years to make up for."

Guys, a little help? Gareth pleaded.

We've gotta do something, Eloise said.

Hey, Olban said. Do you think we could signal to Wren? He should be around here somewhere, right?

"That's right!" Gareth exclaimed, regretting it as soon as he did.

"What?" Gareth's dad narrowed his eyes. "What was that?"

"Uh, I said 'that's right.' We do have years to make up for. But not everything can be fixed here, Dad, right? You know... in public?"

Brilliant, Olban said. Once we leave, we minimize the risk of civilian intervention. We can find somewhere private and then...

Then we can figure out a way to signal to Wren! Eloise concluded.

"Ah," chuckled Gareth's dad. "I see. You're right." He clapped Gareth on the back and he stifled a flinch.

Together, they walked out of the bar. Several pairs of eyes followed them out, as did a confused looking Wren.

"Wait a minute," he said, slurring his words slightly. "Where're we going? And why do I feel so funny?"

"Oh boy," said Gareth. "Someone should have cut you off."

"I don't wanna be cut off! I like being in one piece!"

"Uh-huh, yeah. Not what I meant."

Gareth had assumed that he'd be going back to his house, but as they were approaching their neighborhood, his dad made an abrupt turn.

"Come on, son," he said. "You can't get much more private than this."

"Uh... than where?"

"My old fishin' hole, of course," he says. "Down by Saint George's Lake."

Oh God, Olban said.

What? Eloise asked. What's wrong with that?

I know this area like the back of my hand. There’s no such place as Saint George's Lake.

Well, if Gareth's dad says he’s taking us there, then... Eloise’s voice is thick with fear.

Then my suspicions were correct, Olban says. Either we tell him what we know and then he kills us, or we tell him nothing and he tortures it out of us, and then kills us.

Wait, tortured? Eloise squeaked.

The Nameless One doesn't care who he hurts. If he's found a way to do his bidding through humans, he doesn't need to create anything. He'll use people's natural strengths and he won't have to worry about his flawed creations. He has everything he needs right here.

Oh, no... Eloise said, the implications terrifying her.

For a moment, she debated: should she tell them about her dream?

But no. It'd cause too much tension. They had enough to deal with already. Better to wait, just one problem at a time.

So she stayed silent, and Gareth sighed, followed his dad into a certain trap. And Wren, clueless, followed behind them.

Man, I really hope this works, Gareth thought.

Me too, agreed both Eloise and Olban. Me too.