Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Mask
The armory is hot. Hammers are quiet for once.
Rio and Luis stand in front of the man in full steel. Mask on, two wings carved into his chest plate.
He looks down at Luis.
"So. You're Luis Nimero," he says.
Luis steps back half a step. "Yeah. Who are you? How do you know my name?"
The man tilts his head. "I know a lot. Your mother is a retired mage. Your father runs this armory. And your sister, Emily, she just started at Artesik Academy, right?"
Rio grabs Luis's sleeve. "That's creepy. We've never seen you before."
Before the man can answer, the back door bangs open. Julia walks in with a basket.
The man turns. Sees her face. His whole body locks up.
Julia stops. Her eyes go narrow.
Luis and Rio don't think twice. They bolt and hide behind Chris at the counter. Chris is mid-sale, holding up a pauldron.
Chris looks down, annoyed. "Guys, seriously? I'm with a customer."
The boys don't say anything. They just hold their hands out toward Julia, shaking a little.
Chris follows their hands, looks up, and sees Julia's face. The customer sees it too.
"Uh, you know what, I'll come back tomorrow," the customer says, and he's out the door.
Chris calls after him, "Wait, sir, we're not closed—"
Julia ignores all of it. She walks straight to the armored man and grabs the front of his armor.
"Jack," she says, voice low. "Where the hell were you for the last eight years?"
Jack puts both hands up. "Wait, wait. Julia, please. Not here. Let me explain, but lower your voice."
Julia leans in. "What did you say? I can't hear you when you mumble through that bucket. Speak up."
—
Twenty minutes later. Their house.
Julia, Chris, and Jack are on the couch. Jack's mask is off now, sitting on the table. Luis is on the rug, listening.
Luis whispers to Chris, "Dad, is he a bad guy?"
Chris shakes his head and smiles a little. "No. You'll understand in a second. Just listen."
Jack stands up. His armor creaks. He does a deep bow to Julia. "I'm really sorry, big sis."
Julia doesn't soften. "Sorry doesn't answer my question. Eight years, Jack. No letters. Nothing. Where were you?"
Jack runs a hand through his black hair. He looks tired, dark circles under his eyes. "I was at the northern warzone. The king pulled my whole crew for a black mission. We weren't allowed to send word back. I wanted to, every day, but I couldn't."
Chris leans forward. "Are you okay though? I mean inside your head. You know what that place does to people."
Luis frowns. Inside his head?
Julia's voice cracks. She punches Jack lightly on the shoulder. "You idiot. Dad told you not to enlist. I told you not to. Why did you still go?"
"Because I'm a White," Jack says quietly. "The king ordered us. I couldn't say no to my squad. It took longer than anyone thought. Eight years of fighting, then two more just getting home."
Julia wipes her eyes fast. "You're not going anywhere again. You hear me? You stay here now. In this house."
Luis stands up. "Hold on. So you're my uncle? That's why you know about mom and dad and Emily?"
"Yeah, kid. I'm Jack White. Your mom's annoying little brother."
Luis's eyes go wide. "Whoa. That's so cool."
Jack puffs his chest out a little, playing around. "Of course it's cool."
Chris laughs. "Well, Mr. Cool, you need new armor. That thing is about to fall apart."
Knock knock.
Everyone looks at the door.
Jack stands. "I'll get it. Is that okay?"
Julia nods.
He opens the door. Emily is there, Artesik bag over her shoulder, staring at the floor.
"Sorry I'm late, mom," she mumbles. "Professor kept us for extra drills at Artesik. I tried to leave early—"
She looks up. Freezes.
Jack grins. "Well look at you. Last time I saw you, you were this high. You've grown up, Emy."
Emily screams, "UNCLE JACK?!" and jumps straight into his arms.
Jack winces. "Careful, careful, the armor's still on, you'll get bruised."
Emily pulls back, holding his arms. "Where were you? Mom said you were dead! Everyone said!"
Luis tugs her shirt. "Emily, mom's still mad. Go say sorry first."
Emily turns and sees Julia's arms crossed. Her smile fades.
Jack nudges her gently. "Go on. I'll be here after."
Emily walks over. "Mom, I'm really sorry. It was academy stuff, I swear."
—
Later, dinner.
Luis is bored with peas. He's flicking them one by one to Jinsoo under the table.
Julia points her fork at him. "Luis Nimero, eat your vegetables. Stop feeding the dog your dinner."
Jack is finally out of armor, in an old shirt. He watches Luis and laughs. "Did Emily teach you that trick?"
Emily nods, mouth full. "He copies everything I do."
Julia sighs. "Speaking of copying, Jinsoo was acting weird today. Kept barking at the cow shed. I think something's been hanging around the house."
Jack stretches. "I'll check it at first light. I'll take care of it, don't worry."
Julia rolls her eyes but smiles. "Yeah yeah, my big heroic brother is home."
Right then Jinsoo's ears shoot up. He barks once, loud, and sprints for the back door.
Everyone drops their forks and runs after him.
In the cow shed, in the dark, two red eyes glow. A huge wolf steps out, fur dark red like dried blood.
Julia steps back. "That's a blood wolf. I thought they were gone from this area."
Jack holds his hand out, calm. "Emily. My sword. Now."
Emily sprints inside and comes back with his longsword.
She kneels next to Luis and whispers fast, "Watch this. Uncle Jack is ranked number three swordsman in the whole kingdom."
The wolf snarls and leaps straight for Jack's throat.
Luis blinks.
When he opens his eyes, the wolf is in two clean halves on the straw. Blood is splattered on the walls. Jack's sword is already back at his side. Not a single drop on the blade.
Luis's mouth is open. "What… how did you— I didn't even see you move."
Jack slides the sword into its sheath with a click. He turns and looks at Julia. "So? How was that?"
Julia shakes her head, trying not to smile. "You got a lot stronger, you idiot."
Luis runs up to Jack and grabs his sleeve with both hands. His eyes are shining.
"Uncle Jack! Can you teach me? Can you teach me how to use a sword like that?"
Jack looks down at him for a second, then ruffles his hair.
"Yeah," he says. "Why not? We'll start tomorrow."
----
To be continued...