After a while, Konic Clava rose andwalked silently out of the campground. He returned about an hourlater wearing a smile. “She already left,” he declared. “MasterTern said she was in such a hurry that she didn’t even ask for arefund for the room she had already paid for.”
“Well, that’s a relief,”Master Markel sighed. “Konic, I would like to go fishing with youfor a few days if you will have me, starting tomorrow.”
Konic smiled at his old friend as heeased himself to a seat by the fire. “You are always welcome in myboat, Alan. I have a new spot I would like to try.”
“It is good to have such afriend,” Alan said warmly. “That will give Tedi enough time to earnwhat we need to fix my boat properly so I may begin getting my lifeback together.”
Tedi touched the necklace around hisneck and his father shook his head slowly. “No, Tedi, you will gowith Arik hunting. When we have enough money, we will rebuild ourboat together.”
Tedi beamed as his father put hisshaking arm around his son and hugged him. Master Markel’s browneyes shone with a determination that had been absent for too long.Tedi knew the next few days would be very hard on his father andbeing out at sea with Master Clava was just what his fatherneeded.
Everyone sat around the campfire insilence, lost in his own thoughts. The sounds of the waves lappingsteadily at the shore and the crickets’ melody in the woods werepeaceful and calming.
Konic was the first to stir as he wentto the long duffel bag and pulled out some blankets. He handed oneto each of the group and rolled his into a pillow. “Not much sensegoing back to town tonight,” he announced. “It’s been a while sinceI camped out, but the night is fair and I am tired. First up shouldput on a pot of coffee.” With that he stretched out on the groundand went to sleep. Everyone soon followed.
Arik awoke to the smell of coffee andoatmeal. He sat up and looked around. It took a while for him toget his bearings and realize where he was. The two men were quietlycleaning up the campground. The only things not packed in theduffel bag were two cups and bowls and the oatmeal and coffee potsthat were on the fire as well as the two blankets that he and Tediwere using. Arik leaned over and shook Tedi, who groggilyawoke.
Konic looked over at the twosleepy-eyed boys. “Morning comes early and the fish won’t wait,” hechuckled. “You boys clean up and store the gear somewhere safebefore you go off hunting. I think we will spend a few more dayscamping out if that is not objectionable to anyone.” Master Markelwas whistling a tune gaily as the two men headed towards theboat.
Arik got himself some coffee and filleda cup for Tedi. “Your father seems in a good mood this morning,” heremarked. “What did you say to him last night?”
Tedi rubbed his eyes and reached forthe cup. “Just something the merchant made me realize,” he answeredsoftly. “I think your father had already softened him up by thetime I spoke to him, though. Whatever the cause, it sure makes mefeel good. I’m not going to be getting into any moretrouble.”
The boys cleaned up the camp and stowedthe bag before taking off in search of game. They hunted for acouple of hours and finally decided to head back to town. Arik hadcaught five rabbits and Tedi three. “I said we could be partnersand split the take,” Arik began, “and I meant it.”
Tedi shook his head and laughed. “Noway, fisherboy,” he chuckled. “You may have out-hunted me today,but tomorrow it will be my turn.”
The boys laughed all of the way to theFisherman’s Inn. Master Tern was in a good mood this morning aswell, although it was already later than when Arik usually showedup and customers were already eating breakfast.
“So, we have two hunters now,eh?” quipped Esta Tern. “Show me what you’ve brought for my guests.That bag doesn’t look big enough to hold a deer.”
While Arik dumped the contents of thebag and talked with Master Tern, Tedi strode over to the doorway tothe common room. He began gazing at the strange and differentcostumes the travelers wore, wondering where they were coming fromand where they were going. So little was known about the outsideworld and most travelers were not the talkative type. His eyessettled on a dark figure in the dimly lit corner of the commonroom. Tedi focused his eyes at the dark warrior image hiding in theshadows. The stern, cold face had icy blue eyes that seemed to beconstantly scanning every person in the room without seeming tomove. He was dressed entirely in black and his outfit appeared tohave pouches sewn into it everywhere. The man could probably carrythe contents of a campsite in those pouches and not even need apack on his back. His long hair was jet black and bound into a tailthat was draped over one shoulder. The black hilt of a massivesword strapped to his back protruded over the other shoulder.Across his midsection was a wide black belt with many loops forimplements, but only a lone black knife was present now. His eyesturned on Tedi and stopped in recognition. Tedi turned and ran outof the kitchen without stopping.
Arik looked up from his conversationwith Master Tern as Tedi flew through the kitchen and out the door.The innkeeper looked shocked at Arik and then quickly pressed somecoins into his hand. “You need to tame that boy down, Arik,” theinnkeeper stated. Arik nodded and took off after hisfriend.
When Arik reached the alley, Tedi wasnowhere in sight. He ran alongside the inn to the street and sawTedi just disappearing into the woods where the merchant had beenthe night before. Arik took off running for the woods and startedcalling Tedi’s name when he entered the forest, but he could findno sign of his friend. After half an hour, Arik decided to give upand return to town. As he walked along an animal path he heard alarge sound and froze, an arrow fitted to his bow without thinking.Arik lowered himself to a crouch, eyes following the sound, whichseemed to be coming nearer. After a few seconds, which seemed aneternity to Arik, Tedi walked onto the path.
Arik lowered his bow and stood, scaringTedi into producing a quiet gulp. “Okay, Arik, so you are quieterthan me in the woods,” Tedi sighed with relief. “I promise I’ll letyou teach me if you don’t scare me like that again.”
“Actually, you were prettyquiet, Tedi,” remarked Arik. “I was only alerted by that one sound.If I hadn’t heard that one crack, I would never have picked you upand I can detect anyone in the woods within one hundredpaces.”
The two boys sat on the path andtalked.
“Why did you run from theFisherman’s Inn,” Arik inquired.
Tedi breathed deeply and replied. “Isaw the bandit in the common room. The one who tried to kill mewith that black sunburst thing and he saw me. He recognized me,too. I could tell as soon as his eyes set on me.”
“What is he doing in town?”questioned Arik. “We had hoped the witch in the blue dress wouldstumble into them when she left thinking she would follow us north.Now she may come back when she finds out we didn’t leavetown.”
“I don’t know,” pondered Tedi.“I just got frightened and took off. Still, I think I’d rather facesome bandit killer than that witch with her magic and questionsabout our age.”
“Maybe we should just go spendthe day at our campsite until our fathers return,” suggestedArik.
“I think that is a good idea,”responded Tedi. “I don’t want that bandit to know anything aboutus. He might even start asking questions like the witchdid.”
The two boys rose to continue along thepath, oblivious to the man dressed in black that had been squattingnot ten paces away.
The boys crossed over the coastalhighway and reentered the woods to make their way to theircampsite. Once along the way, they heard rabbits and managed to bagtwo of them for dinner. Arik laughed. “See, when you are quietenough, even the animals don’t know that you are there. Maybe wecan spend the afternoon by me teaching you some of the tricks Ilearned from Trapper Grein.”
The man in black smiled slightly asTedi agreed to the lessons and the boys continued down the path. Ittook longer getting to the campsite through the woods, but the boysfelt safer keeping out of sight of anyone in the town who might belooking for them. When they reached the campsite Arik retrieved thehidden duffel bag and started a fire. The man in black crept off asArik started teaching Tedi his tricks of quietness.