“What makes you think thetownspeople would all lie to save two sons of fishermen?” shequeried.
“The townspeople are veryhesitant to talk about the boys, but quick to tell me their ages,”Garth answered. “The father’s face when I told him about theProphecies was the real teller. At least one of those boys was bornin the year of the Collapse, maybe both. I am sure ofthat.”
“Couldn’t the father be abetter actor than you think?” she teased. She knew Garth did notoffer an opinion as fact unless he was really confident about hisconclusion.
“The father is as honest a manas I’ve ever met,” Garth laughed. “He had the chance to lie to meabout their ages and he couldn’t bring himself to utter that lie,even when he knew the dire consequences. I like the man, Kalina. Heknew me for the type of man that I am and he still had the spunk tostand up to me and even threaten to kill me if I harmed either boy.He meant it, too. I have no doubt that if he thought I had harmedhis son, he would spend the rest of his life tracking me down andkilling me. I think you should meet the boys socially without thefathers around.”
“Do you know where they arestaying?” Kalina asked.
“Of course, my pet,” Garthsmiled. “Did you think for a moment that such a small detail wouldescape my grasp?”
“Certainly not,” sheresponded, “but if I don’t keep asking, you will get lax. How areyou going to get rid of the fathers?”
Garth’s face grew serious. “I willnever be lax about this matter,” he protested. “Normally, theywould go out fishing for the day, but I doubt those two will befishing tomorrow. They will react quickly. Arik’s father used to bea soldier. A long time ago, perhaps, but his training will takeover and he will start to make decisions like he was on abattlefield. We have a day at the most before the boys are sent ontheir merry way. I’m afraid I told him about the DarkRiders.”
“That is probably for thebetter, Garth,” Kalina responded. “In the morning you will show mewhere they are staying. When the time is right, I will move and youwill remain hidden. Now, we should get some sleep. Fishermen areknown to be early risers.”
* * * *
To the north two Dark Riders came to ahalt.
“There is no way that theywent north from the town,” the older rider said.
“As she half suspected,”sighed the younger rider.
“That will mean a fast rideback to the town and the men are beat now as it is. Let’s rest themen until morning and then decide that the boys didn’t come thisway,” ordered the older rider.
“You will get no argument fromme or the men,” answered the younger rider. “In the morning, wewill be sure that they did not come this way.”
* * * *
Tedi woke as the sky lightened somewhatand looked around the campsite. Fear set in when he could not seeeither of the two men and he quickly shook Arik awake.
“What is it?” Arik askedgroggily. “Is it my turn for watch already? It feels like I justgot to sleep.”
“It is past the time for yourwatch to end,” snarled Tedi. “Nobody woke me for my watch andneither of our fathers are here.”
Arik jumped to his feet and grabbed hisbow and quiver. Tedi also grabbed his and the two boys looked forsigns of a struggle. Arik quietly motioned to Tedi to search theinland side of the camp while he went towards the sea. When Arikreached the beach he saw the two bodies sprawled on the sand andshouted for Tedi to come running. At the sound of his shout, bothmen leaped to their feet and looked around in confusion. Seeing nodanger, the men sat back down as Tedi came running out of thewoods.
“What is it?” yelled Tedi.“What happened?”
“That is what I would like toknow,” demanded Arik. “Nobody woke either of us for our watch. WhenI got here I thought you both were dead. Why are you here on thebeach and why weren’t we awakened for our watches?”
“You will make a fine officersomeday,” Konic laughed. “I feel as if my Sergeant has just caughtme asleep at my post.”
“That is exactly how youshould feel,” Alan stated, “except it was my responsibility to wakeTedi. It is my fault, not yours.”
“Let us not start this day offwith ill feelings,” Konic decreed while looking at Alan. “I wantedto think last night and I like smelling and hearing the sea when Ithink. I’m afraid that I enticed Alan down here. That is not what’simportant though. You two boys get breakfast started. Master Markeland I will be along shortly and explain everything.”
Arik looked at Tedi and shrugged. Hecertainly was not about to argue with their fathers and breakfastsounded like a fine idea. Arik and Tedi went back to the campsiteand Arik started a fire while Tedi got a couple of pots of waterfrom a nearby stream. Within minutes the coffee was underway andthe two men showed up with handfuls of clams. “I think these willstretch that oatmeal a little bit.” Alan quipped.
Konic fished in his pouch and broughtout the Lanoirian Star. He handed it to Tedi as he began to relatethe basics of the story of the previous night. Both boys satlistening as Master Markel took over the cooking. When Konic hadfinished the story, he asked the boys what they should do next.Alan handed out the bowls of breakfast and sat studying theboys.
“Why did he give thisLanoirian Star back to you, Master Clava?” Tedi asked.
“He sent it back with amessage, Tedi,” Konic began. “It is a message that you both need tohear and remember. He wanted it to be a reminder to you that youshould never underestimate your opponent. He demonstrated quiteadequately that he could just have easily put that between youreyes.”
“So you think he might be afriend?” asked Arik.
“I don’t know what his gameis,” admitted Konic, “but I know a killer when I see one and thisman is a very capable killer, probably the most capable that I haveever seen. He acts like he has no interest in you two, but I knowthat is a lie. Still, he could easily have killed you both when youwere in the woods talking about the witch.”
“What do you mean?” askedArik. “When did he see us in the woods? If you mean the time that Ithink you mean, there is no way he could have been around. I wouldhave heard him.”
“Son,” soothed Konic, “he saidyou were on a game trail looking for Tedi and finally found him. Hesaid you were talking about a witch in a blue dress and that youeach addressed the other by name. He said that was how he learnedyour names.”
Arik turned beat red as he realizedthat the bandit had been close enough to hear the conversation andhe hadn’t even heard him. He blushed further when he remembered hisboasting about how good his hearing was and how he would be able todetect anyone within one hundred paces. “His advice aboutoverconfidence will be well taken,” admitted Arik.
Tedi, who had been quiet and reservedduring the previous exchange looked sadly at his father. “The onlyproper course of action is for Arik and I to leave Lorgo. If westay, we endanger both of you and the rest of the town.”
Alan started to protest and Konic laida hand on his arm to quiet him. Arik looked up, his face still red,and nodded. “If we can get a new start in another town, we can . .. sorry, Father, but we can lie about our ages and try to establishnew lives.”
Konic went over and hugged his son.“Don’t be sorry, son,” he soothed. “I have always told you that thetruth will never hurt you. I was wrong. You should always try totell the truth, but this is one lie that we can live with.” Hepushed his son to arm’s length and looked him in the eye. “But itis the exception, mind you. Don’t let me catch you making a habitout of it just because I excuse you one lie.”
Arik laughed and hugged his father. “Iwill miss you, Father.”
“I will miss you, too, son,”Konic cried, “but not today. Today we have much to teach you andmany things to get ready before you leave. I also think it is hightime for you to call me Konic. From now on, I will think of you asmy friend and should we meet again, that is what you will be tome.”
Nearby in the woods, two black cladfigures watched the emotional scene in silence. As patient astrees, as quiet as the earth, they stood and waited.