‘What does that stand for?’ asked Jack.
‘The Human Welfare League,’ interrupted Anton. ‘But we just call ourselves Howl for short. Each of us has lost a loved one to the Realm.’
‘The Fire-Mage is the reason many Pro-Human groups have been founded. Our mission is to find our families, protect humans, and stop the Realm,’ said Cecilia.
‘Av-Avalon inspired this?’ asked Jack.
Cecilia nodded fervently. ‘There are hundreds of supporters across the country. We are just a small number. There are even Mages looking for her as we speak. We don’t want the Realm to find her. We need her to fight with us.’
‘Fight?’ Jack repeated.
‘Cecilia, you’re telling him too much,’ said Anton. There was a murmur of agreement around the room.
‘I trust him,’ she shot back. ‘He knows the Fire-Mage.’
‘Probably because he’s got orders to arrest her on sight!’ snapped Anton.
‘No,’ said Jack. ‘I know Avalon.’
‘You know her? How?’ snapped Anton.
‘She’s … she’s my girlfriend,’ Jack replied.
Cecilia stared at Jack with eyes as round as saucers. ‘He’s telling the truth.’
‘You? A guard of the Realm?’ said Anton disbelievingly. ‘Why on earth-’
‘I’ve only been a guard for a week,’ said Jack. ‘I joined so I could keep on top of the news regarding Avalon’s whereabouts and-’
‘You don’t know where she is?’ asked Cecilia.
Jack shook his head. ‘No. I haven’t seen her in weeks – since the wanted posters first surfaced. We were chased by a mob seeking the reward money. She was forced to flee while I held them off. I haven’t seen her since.’
‘How do you know if she is alive?’ asked Anton.
Jack clenched his teeth together. The thought of losing Avalon was too painful to think about. ‘I just know,’ he replied through gritted teeth.
‘Do you have any idea where she might be?’ asked Cecilia.
‘I thought I did, but she wasn’t there anymore. I don’t know where to find her.’
Cecilia looked crestfallen. ‘Oh, well. I’m sure she will turn up and help us liberate the human population. She’s probably gathering followers as we speak!’
Jack chewed on the inside of his cheek. He’d never heard Avalon speak of any plans to rise up and conquer the Realm. These people were obviously idolising Avalon under the impression that she was going to lead the rebellion towards freedom. Jack didn’t have the heart to tell them that they’d gotten it all wrong – that the Realm had invented lies about Avalon being the rebel leader of human organisations. Perhaps it was a good thing they believed these lies … if it gave them hope.
‘Maybe,’ said Jack. Cecilia looked into his eyes, unsure what to make of his nonchalant response.
‘So, what is it you wanted to tell us, boy? That you know the Fire-Mage? Or is there more?’ asked Anton.
‘There’s more,’ said Jack, his heart quickening. He looked to Cecilia and asked, ‘Who is it that you lost?’
Cecilia gulped noisily. ‘My husband,’ she admitted. ‘He was born to Mage parents, and raised as one of them. I knew that he was human, of course. I could see past the fa?ade he’d worn for so many years. His lies were useless against my Power. But I didn’t care. I loved him anyway. He went undetected as a human for forty years before the Realm found out. They have trackers, you see, that can sniff out human blood. They took him away during the night. They were so quiet, I didn’t even wake from my sleep.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Jack. ‘I know all of you have lost a loved one to the Realm. That is why I wanted to speak to you. I had to let you know that the Realm does not keep humans at its Headquarters.’
‘Then why do they take them there in the first place?’ asked Anton.
Jack’s throat felt tight and dry. He didn’t want to be the one to break the news to these people.
‘They catalogue them,’ he said. ‘They add them to their human registration.’
‘Yes, we are aware of that,’ sneered Anton. ‘The whole damn country knows about the human registration.’
‘That’s not all,’ said Jack. ‘Do you know what the registration involves?’
The group looked at one another, muttering under their breath. A few shrugged, their expressions bemused.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Jack. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘What is it, Dear?’
‘They process them,’ he began, his voice breaking.
‘Process?’ repeated Anton.
Jack nodded. ‘First they sterilise them … they’re neutered and spayed like stray cats so they can’t breed.’
All eyes in the room were on Jack as he spoke.
‘If they have lived as Mages, as equals - they are injected with a memory serum. It wipes their mind of all memories until they are a blank slate, and can be sold on the marketplace.’
Anton’s knees gave way, but he managed to catch himself on a piece of furniture. He lowered himself into the seat with his hand over his heart.