Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 67

[ The King ]

"Willis…" The image in front of me did not have me fooled. "What did I just say about your behaviour?"

The Willis, the suspiciously calm Willis, sitting in front of me disappeared. A not so calm Willis appeared at the door.

"M-may I be excused, M-my King." They choked out, a shaking hand on the door.

"Is this the usual manner in which you deal with difficult situations?" I spoke with a calm carefulness. "Perhaps it is time for a change? I think it would be prudent if you stayed and finished your tea. Took a few moments to calm yourself, to realise this situation is not a threat. However if you really want to leave, then yes, you are dismissed." They hovered, undecided, looking like they might combust. "You are welcome to keep the illusion if it makes you more comfortable." I waved at the empty chair.

The image of a calm Willis reappeared in the chair. While not ideal, at least they were not running away. In a restful silence I drank my tea. To make things seem less awkward I retrieved some paperwork from my desk draw.

Cook had made some lavender and lemon shortbread to go with the tea. After filling my cup and taking a couple of the treats I pushed the tray to the opposite side of the desk. An indication that Willis could help themselves should they so wish.

Tea gone, shortbread devoured and the paperwork complete, I looked up to find the real Willis sitting in the chair while staring into space. The mug in their hand was half empty but still steaming slightly. It would seem that they had poured themselves more tea at some point. That was strangely pleasing.

"Are we feeling more settled?" There was a gentleness in my asking.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Have you ever been to Hye Point, at the Whispering Bluffs?" The change in direction caught them off guard. Dyed eyebrows came together in confusion.

"Um, I have." Willis watched me with all the wariness of a cornered fox.

"It is a stunning sight don't you think?" Willis simply nodded. "If you have the time and the inclination I would be pleased to receive a demonstration of your magic."

"Of Hye Point, My King?" There was a note of unease in their voice.

"Or another view." I said with my best smile.

"It doesn't work like…"

"Ah, no, none of that Willis. I'm not uninformed on the capabilities of your shade. Anyway even if I were - I am not a simpleton. The image you crafted of yourself is no different to presenting a landscape or an object." With a tilted head and pursed lips I displayed my disappointment. "Did I not offer an opportunity to decline? Humm? There is no need to lie."

"My apologies, Your Majesty." Willis was sullen.

"Need I remind you again what I said in regards to your behaviour?" I spoke sternly but not unkindly.

"Force of habit." They looked at their hands.

"Indeed." There was much displeasure in that word. "Well, we are concluded. I'm sure your presence is required elsewhere." I went back to my paperwork, despite it being complete.

"I don't know why I lied." Willis informed me as they stood to leave. Stood is all they did. Willis made no move towards the exit that they had been desperate for not so long ago.

"Is there a reason you are lingering?" I didn't look up.

"Um…" Willis practically whispered.

The noise reverberated with such feeling that I looked up. Regardless of Willis being a grown adult, all I could see was a small broken child before me.

"What is it?" I asked more softly. Too soft. I was becoming like the lawn after the heavy summer rain - squishy. I was unsure whether to blame old age or the Remnant for the change.

"Would you still like to see Hye Point, Your Majesty?" They asked the floor.

"Only if you would actually like to show me, it was a request not a demand." No wonder Captain Preston had so much difficulty keeping Willis in line. Willis was akin to a shift of wind - there was no telling what might come of it. "Ye Gods!" I shrieked (loudly and rather shrilly I might add), causing Willis to laugh and Hector to open the study door in hurried alarm.

"Your Majesty?" Hector tentatively enquired.

"Everything is quite alright, thank you Hector." My loyal servant appeared to be standing in a doorway that was floating several 1000ft above a boisterous ocean. "Would you shut the door please." With a sly investigative final glance he did as I requested. The image was complete again. A breathtaking and startling image it was.

Instead of in my chair, I was sat on the cliff edge that was Hye Point. A piece of grass tufted ground next to me fell away and plummeted into the ocean far below. The rough sea in huges of grey, listless green and dull blue was a seething mass that stretched out to a horizon that seemed impossibly far away. It was exactly how I remembered it. Except for the sound. Well, lack thereof.

"If it weren't for the lack of sound I don't think that I would know I was here and not there. It is impressive and incredible." I could almost taste the sea air.

"I can't do sound, My King." Willis replied, a terse edge to their voice. They were waiting for me to call them a liar again but it would have been unfair. They believed what they said.

"You can mimic voices though, Willis?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." My own voice replied.

"Obviously I do not know, but I would assume that if you can perfectly replicate a voice that sounds would also be possible?" I could stare at this view all day. "Don't misconstrue my suggestion for disbelief, I was just thinking that perhaps you might not have considered it that way."

"I had not thought of it as being on par with replicating voices, Your Majesty." Their voice came from somewhere out in the ocean.

There was a weird hum, followed by a buzz and then a sound that was not entirely unlike the ocean but also not entirely like it either.

"For a first attempt that is very impressive." There were so many interesting applications for Willis's magic but right now something quite juvenile was coming to mind. "Willis… how would you feel about a little prank?"

"A prank…?"

"Yes, yes, a little harmless fun." I was grinning already. "You just have to hold the image a little longer, if that's alright?"

"I can do that, Your Majesty." Willis sounding a little sceptical but the sea view didn't waver.

"Zach." Inside I was bursting with anticipation. I'd called out loud enough for Hector to hear. In turn I could hear him already snickering from the other side of the door.

"Ah, shit." The room became awash with laughter as Zach yelped his surprise. Disorientated by the visual not matching what his magic saw he fell to the floor almost immediately on arrival. "Not funny!" He howled between peels of his own laughter. There were tears rolling down my face as I tried to catch my breath.

"Ye Gods, that's the funniest thing I've ever seen." In a very unkinglike fashion I wiped my tears onto my sleeve.

"For that?" Zach chuckled.

"Yes, that was all I called you for." I tried to hold on to the laughter that was welling up. He shook his head, smiling mischievously. Willis dropped the visual delight that was this sea view when Zach came and stood right next to me. Willis didn't appear overly amused by the prank, rather they had a thoughtful but mildly confused look about them.

"Silly." Zach told me his grin splitting his face.

"Couldn't help myself." I chuckled before reaching to ruffle his hair. Correction, attempting to reach for his hair.

"Bye…" Zach laughed and disappeared into the floor just as I realised he had sunk the sleeve of my shirt into the arm of my chair.

"That cheeky sod!" Willis looked unsure. "Oh dear." I notice he had gotten the other sleeve as well. "You can laugh, it's pretty funny." They managed a shy smile but otherwise looked rather awkward. "Hector! Come cut me out of this shirt."

That was apparently what it took for Willis to lose the composure they had been hanging on to.