Free Jimmy and the Crawler by Raymond E. Feist

Jazhara.
    ‘I’ve got this bad feeling that we’re dealing with the same crew we tangled with in Krondor when we were trying to get back the Tear of the Gods, the same lot who tried to grab that wrecker Kendaric, to get him to raise the Ishapian ship.’
    ‘Bear’s crew?’ asked William.
    ‘Bear’s boss, or bosses. There was a lot about that entire fiasco that really doesn’t make sense, and I’m not sure that magician who helped you was really who he said he was.’ Then he added, ‘There was something about that fellow . . .’
    James shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter, because what I know is that there were Nighthawks and demons involved then, and there were Nighthawks and demons involved down at the Tomb of the Hopeless, and if there are Nighthawks here, then we can probably expect a demon or two.’
    James stood up. ‘I’m going to visit a couple of temples and see if I can find someone who knows more about demons than I do – which should probably mean anyone I talk with – and see if there’s some means by which we can find out if there is demonic magic at play. Then I’m going to see if I can do something impossibly stupid.’
    ‘Go looking for the Nighthawks?’ asked William.
    ‘First try, Willy.’
    Jazhara said, ‘William, would you give James and me a moment alone, please?’
    William glanced at her for the briefest moment and then nodded, and left the inn to wait outside. When he was gone, Jazhara said, ‘William will be anxious to return.’
    James raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘He’s young and doesn’t want to be left out of the struggle. But why the sudden concern, Jazhara? Willy’s been through more than men twice his age.’
    She smiled. ‘I know. But that encounter on the bluffs with Bear, when William was filled with the power of Kahooli . . .’ She shrugged. ‘He doesn’t speak of it.’
    ‘Willy spent just about his entire life on an island full of magic-users. He was used to seeing miraculous things by the time he was ten years old.’ He saw that she was unconvinced. ‘What is this really about, Jazhara?’
    ‘He . . .’ She sighed. ‘We were lovers some years ago on Stardock. It didn’t end well. I do not know what this . . . new thing between us is, but I know my feelings have changed. He was a wonderful boy then; now he’s a man. A man who’s seen much and braved much and . . . I think he has lived up to his promise. I just do not wish to see that cut short because of his unwillingness to be cautious.’
    James nodded. ‘I’ll do what I can, but you must remember, first he is a sworn servant of the prince, and second he is a soldier. Danger is part of the bargain.’ Then he grinned. ‘Still, Willy’s not as foolhardy as Locky, who you’ll meet one of these days.’ His grin broadened. ‘And if he hasn’t changed much, he will be very pleased to make your acquaintance, though I’m sure that will seriously annoy Willy.’
    She laughed.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Willy. That name.’
    James returned the laugh. ‘As I said, it’s a habit Locky and I picked up from the twins, Borric and Erland. We’re Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Locky, and William is Cousin Willy. It just sort of stuck. Some of the soldiers do call him Will, but mostly it’s William.’
    ‘Will?’ She considered that for a moment, then said, ‘I’ll continue to call him William.’
    James laughed. ‘Whatever makes you happy, Jazhara.’
    He walked with her outside and called, ‘Willy?’
    ‘James?’
    James lowered his voice. ‘I want to amend something. If no message is forthcoming, don’t come looking for me. Come back here and see if I left anything with Gina and then, either way, return to the prince. If I vanish, that will tell us this Crawler is far more dangerous than we thought. The prince will need to know about the Nighthawks as well.’
    William frowned. ‘I thought that went without saying.’
    James smiled. ‘I just wanted to make sure. I didn’t want you attempting some