Character Analysis
Hop into your way-back machine, Shmoopers, because we're taking a little trip to the 13th century to meet a guy named Hawkin. Hawkin gets to know Merriman pretty well and agrees to do a mission for him. Little does he know, however, that this mission involves risking his own neck for the good of the world. Oops. That's the kind of thing people usually appreciate a heads-up about. Eventually Hawkin figures this out, betrays Merriman, and teams up with the Rider and the Dark. Big mistake. Merriman sums it up for us:
"You were Hawkin, my foster-son and liege man, who betrayed your lord and the Light. So you became the Walker, to walk the earth for as long as the Light required it. And so you lived on, indeed. But we have not kept you since then, my friend. Once the Walker's task was done, you were free, and you could have had rest forever. Instead you chose to listen to the promises of the Dark and to betray the Light a second time." (12.89)
By Merriman's estimation, though he betrayed Hawkin by secretly risking his life, Hawkin's betrayal is much worse—Hawkin has aligned himself with the Dark, committing to standing in opposition to his former foster-father.
By the time we meet Hawkin, he's known as the Walker. As the Walker, he's in charge of giving the Sign of bronze to Will, but he's reluctant to do so. Why's that? Well, Hawkin went to the Dark because he felt betrayed by Merriman, but the Dark has burned him over the years so now he's untrusting of people. Seems like a reasonable response after centuries of unreliable company.
The Walker's journey is a cautionary tale to Will (and us as readers) about what happens when you pick the wrong team. Sure, he went to the Dark to get back at Merriman, but he only ended up hurting himself in the long run. Bummer.