The King’s frown grew as his browknitted and his eyebrows lowered, darkening the monarch’s eyes.“Then I am to believe that they did not effect the release of yourwitch last night?” King Alfred said with a rising voice. “The veryprofessional escape, I might add.”
Fredrik knew it would come to this andrealized the next few moments would decide his fate, whether it bedeath or freedom. “What do you mean escape?” he shouted. “You can’thave let her escape.”
The room grew very tense and the guardsappeared to tighten their hands on their weapons. “I am sorry formy outburst,” Lord Wason said softly while consciously clenchinghis hands to appear furious with the King’s poorly guardedprison.
“I beg the King’s pardon forwords spoken in haste, but the thought of her being free againboils my blood,” Fredrik humbled with the sound of forced softness.“The men of Captain Grecho obey my command and are loyal to theLord of the Manor. They would not take it upon themselves to free awitch that I wished imprisoned.”
The comment about loyalty had beenmeant to impress King Alfred that if he detained Lord Wason, hewould be striking out against the Cidal Mercenary Company, which,while not true, would cause the King to tread more lightly towardsFredrik. “May I ask if the woman could have possibly used magic toescape and if Your Highness has any indication of where she hasgone?” Lord Wason queried.
The King, after a minute of studyingFredrik, motioned for the guards to leave. “This has never happenedbefore,” conceded King Alfred. “The witch was drugged which shouldhave made it impossible for her to use magic and there was a stubof rope found attached to the flagpole which would indicate amundane rescue. Although, the cell was still locked and the purposeof the rope makes no sense. It was long enough to reach the bottomof the cell, but it was next to the wrong cell and the loose endwas not in the cell. I am afraid that there is little informationthat I can supply to help you locate her. If I receive furthernews, I will send a messenger.”
Fredrik bowed and left the throne room.He spurned the carriage, which was waiting for him and walkedbacked to the Fluttering Jib lost in thought. As he entered thecommon room, he noticed Yolinda Obanik sitting by herself at one ofthe tables. He nonchalantly walked over and sat down. The crowd wassparse for the morning meal and the serving girl appeared promptly.He ordered a concoction of eggs and cheese and turned towardsYolinda.
“You are alone,” Yolindawhispered while holding her mug of coffee to her lips. “Where arethe others? What has happened?”
Fredrik acted like he was havingpleasant conversation with a stranger. “They rode out last nightand are waiting for us north of here. I can’t explain it all now,but if your business in Melbin is complete, I would suggest that weleave.”
“Is everyone all right?”Yolinda demanded.
“Niki has been drugged to keepher from using magic,” Fredrik explained. “She was unconscious whenshe left. Everyone else is okay.”
“Be ready to leave in fifteenminutes,” Yolinda whispered. “I will get the ingredients needed tohelp Niki. We will meet you at the stables for the Bosun’s Chair.”Yolinda placed her coffee mug on the table and disappeared out thedoor of the inn.
Fredrik finished his breakfast and wentto his room to gather his belongings. He removed the red velvetsuit and dressed in a gray woolen tunic and matching breeches.Carrying his gear down to the stables, he paused to inform theinnkeeper that he was leaving. When he reached the stables of theBosun’s Chair, Mikal was waiting for him holding both his blackstallion and Yolinda’s white mare. Yolinda hurried along the alleyand mounted without a word. Silently the three rode through thestreets of Melbin and out the North Gate.
When they were well away of the gate,Garth demanded an explanation of the events of Melbin. He toldFredrik to start at the beginning and leave nothing out. Fredrikwas just finishing his tale when they left the coastal highway andheaded for the sea. “I think I know the cove that Tanya is speakingof, although it is not a particularly safe spot to wait,” Garthcommented.
Garth was pleased to see that Arik wasat least alert to the danger when the young warrior jumped downfrom his hiding spot in the rocks to welcome them. “I guesseverything went okay,” Arik smiled at Fredrik.
Arik led them into the cove to whereNiki was stretched out on a blanket. Kalina quickly dismounted andknelt at the girl’s side to examine her. “Get a fire going and putsome water on to boil,” she demanded.
“This is not a safe place fora fire,” Garth cautioned. “Can it wait until we find a moresuitable place?”
“No,” replied Kalina. “Thedrug can be very harmful, especially if they were not carefuladministering it. The fact that she was about to be executed couldbe enough reason for them not to care how much they used. I mustget some tea into her.”
Kalina removed a parcel from her pouchand handed it to Tedi. “Mix half of this into a tea and see thatshe drinks all of it. Return the unused half,” Kalinaordered.
Kalina went to her horse and removedthe long, canvas wrapped package and laid it on the ground.Stopping, she unwrapped the Sword of Heavens and picked it up.Holding it out from her she started to rotate in a circle andfinally stopped when it tingled.
“It is as much west as it isnorth,” Garth surmised.
“Yes,” replied Kalina dryly,“and you want to take us further north.”
“The children are gettingbetter every day,” Garth explained, “but they are hardly ready tobattle the world. The delay of a week will not matter in the courseof the Prophecy and they will be one week better trained for it.Besides, if we let the situation in Alcea totally crumble, theProphecy can not be fulfilled. Remember, one of them is supposed tolead Alcea to greatness. How can that be accomplished if Alceadoesn’t exist anymore?”
“So, the children will bebetter trained, will they?” Kalina snorted. “And you expect me tobelieve that your plans won’t get them killed in Alcea? We couldhave lost them all for only one day in Melbin and there is no onethere who particularly cares if they live. In Alcea, everyone willwant them dead.”
“If you are so opposed to myplans,” Garth stated, “I will go to Alcea alone. I know what mustbe done and I will have it done.”
“And abandon the Children ofthe Prophecy,” mocked Kalina. “I think not. You have waited allyour life to get your hands on them. You will not leave themnow.”
“I will find you wallowingyour way across Targa when I am done,” Garth smiled.
“Let us not fight about this,Garth,” Kalina sighed. “We will talk about it later.”
Kalina wrapped the sword back up in thecanvas and went to check on Niki. Garth wandered down to the surfand removed his boots to let his feet feel the cool saltwater washover them as he paced along the beach. A barefooted Tanya appearedalongside him and Garth shivered as he realized how complacent hehad become about the children’s presence.
“Something is troubling you,warrior,” Tanya suggested. “I have never seen you two have a harshword for one another. Is it because of the difficulties we got intoin Melbin?”
“No,” confided Garth. “TheAlcea Rangers performed admirably in Melbin. I am proud of all ofyou, not just for using your abilities well, but because you workedas a team. I learned some very disturbing information while inMelbin and feel that the problems in Alcea need to be addressednow. Kalina feels that we must hurry to fulfill the Prophecy andshe has a point. Even though the Rangers are not yet battle worthy,every day we delay is an opportunity for Sarac to get atyou.”
Tanya reached down and plucked a shellfrom the surf, letting the water rinse the sand from it. “Can’t theproblem in Alcea wait for us to return from wherever we aregoing?”
“I don’t know,” admittedGarth. “The situation may wait, but some very good people will diein the meantime. They are friends and people whom I admire, as wellas being influential to affairs in Alcea. When it comes time toplace the heir upon the throne, they would be good people to havealive.”