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“Weird like what?” Dan asked. He felt his own skin prickle and told himself he was just being superstitious. It was the power of suggestion. It had to be.

“Ugh. I said I wouldn’t get drunk and I did. I’m such an idiot,” Will chastised himself again.

“You did say that,” Arthur agreed. Since Arthur had barely consumed a pint, he was the most sober of the three.

“I meant it when I said it.” Will looked contrite.

“I believe you.” Dan patted his arm.

“The thing about intentions,” Will mused, “is that they are formed before the circumstances are fully known. It doesn’t seem fair to me.”

“That’s true about a lot of things, Will.” Dan shrugged. “We just gotta do our best.”

“Maybe this is why the director doubted me and wanted to come along. She thinks I need a sitter.” He clapped a hand over his mouth. “Never mind. Rewind. I didn’t say that. You didn’t hear that.”

“Hear what?” Arthur said.

“Did you say something, Will?” Dan asked.

Will was quiet for the rest of the walk as they made their way on foot back to the alley that led to Primrose Passage and the entrance to Primrose Court. He seemed to be sobering up. When they reached the alley, he spoke again.

“You’re going to be alright, Dan,” Will said. “The tavern, the trivia thing, all of it.” He said it with such conviction, he made it seem like a safe bet. “I don’t know all of it. But I know that part. It’s all going to work out.”

“Oh yeah?” Dan looked at him. “How do you know?”

“Lucky guess!” Will held out his palm, face up. At the center of it was a small, black, flat stone.

“Will! You didn’t,” Dan gasped.

“Oh yes I did!” Will stared at the stone with great pride and self-satisfaction. “I haven’t lifted anything like that since grade school, but it’s good to see I’ve still got it! They didn’t call me ‘Fingers McGee’ for nothing!” Will waggled the fingers of his other hand. “Here you go, Dandy Lion. My gift to you!” He held out the stone for Dan to take.

“No, thank you.” Dan took a step back. “I don’t need to cheat stones to win. You keep it. Maybe Zani can figure out how it works.”

“Okay…” Will shrugged and put the stone in his pocket. “Maybe she’ll forgive me for getting a little bit tipsy if I give her a prezzy. She can add it to her catalogue.” They’d reached the end of the alley now and Will’s eyes were starting to droop.

“Go home and sleep,” Arthur advised. “You’ve got an early start.”

Will saluted them.

“This is where I leave you, mes amis!” Will buttoned his coat and held up a hand to the bare brick wall of the alley. “When you see me again, tomorrow or next week, I might be a year older. But I’ll still be glad we did this. You guys are the best!”

The air around Will’s hand began to swirl and pixelate and the wall beyond began to glow. There was a sudden blinding flash of light and a whoosh of wind that blew Arthur and Dan’s hair back as the portal opened, and Will stepped into the void. Dan watched the portal close behind his old friend with the odd feeling that he was going to be greeted by a different version of Will Porter whenever it opened again.

“They’ll be fine, right?” Dan looked at Arthur. He thought the stag shifter looked worried too. But Arthur wasn’t going to admit it.

“Of course he’ll be fine,” Arthur said. “He always is. He’s Will Porter.”

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL MAGIC

Office of the Director

[DATE REDACTED]

Dear Arthur,

I am writing to you on Society stationery because I need you to be in no doubt that this letter is from me, and that I am of sound mind and acting of my own volition. What follows is not Society business, however. It is a personal request, made to a friend whom I trust absolutely.

I am departing on a matter I cannot disclose, undertaken without Society sanction. I have my reasons. I also have my concerns, which is why this package exists.