Will Stanton

Will Stanton is the youngest of a large family, the seventh son of a seventh son, he later learns. On the day before his eleventh birthday, strange things begin happening. All of the animals shy from him, the rooks in the wood act strangely, and every time he goes near a radio, it goes out of tune, as if in between stations. Farmer Dawson gives him a strange early birthday present, with advice to keep it close for the difficult times that are coming. Will does have a difficult night, with a nameless fear consuming him. He wakes on his birthday in another time, and learns about his self as an Old One. He resists his lessons at first, not wanting to believe the truth about his powers. Instead of putting out the candle flame, as Merriman instructs, Will puts out the fire in the hearth. The...