Sapphire of the Fairies soh-1

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “You know I don’t like himdrinking,” spat Tedi.

  “I know, Tedi, but you won’tlike him any better dead. Let him drink today. Tomorrow we can comeup with a better plan. That woman will be soaked and she’ll have toreturn to the Fisherman’s Inn to get changed, so we don’t have muchtime. When you get done, meet me back here.”

  “Okay,” Tedi agreed, “but whatabout your father?”

  “I’m going to send a messageout to him by one of the old fishermen who repair nets now. I’llhave my father bring his boat in down here away from thedocks.”

  “What if he ignores themessage?” asked Tedi.

  “He won’t,” stated Arik.“After my mother was taken, I was pretty upset and frightened aboutthe bandits coming back. I refused to acknowledge that she wasreally gone and my father had some harsh words for me about lying.Then I was afraid they would come back for my father or me and thatmy father wouldn’t believe me if I told him I was in trouble. Hepromised me that if I ever swore on my mother’s life that I was introuble, he would believe me without question. If anything can besaid of Konic Clava, it is that he is a man of hisword.”

  The boys split up to see to theirfathers and returned an hour later. Tedi was frowning when hearrived. “The green witch is on the prowl again,” Tedi scowled. “Iheard her asking Master Tern about our fathers and mothers andwhere they lived. He asked her if she had a problem with either ofus and when she didn’t answer he told her to get out and let himget his work done. That put her in a right nasty mood as if shewasn’t in one already. Incidentally, she’s wearing a blue dressnow. Then she started going down the street towards the quay andstopped in each building. I didn’t see any smiles crossing herface, so I guess nobody was willing to talk to astranger.”

  “Sooner or later somebody willanswer her,” Arik sighed. “Who is she and what does she want withus?”

  “I don’t know, but I suspectthat she won’t leave town until we answer her questions,” musedTedi.

  Arik sat drawing pictures in the dirtwith a stick and finally jumped to his feet. “I’ve got it!” heexclaimed. “Let me sneak back into town and tell everybody thatwe’ve decided to go seek our fortune up north somewhere and lefttown. Whatever she wants, she’ll have to head north to findus.”

  “That sounds good,” admittedTedi, “but why north?”

  “The bandits you saw in theforest,” beamed Arik. “With any luck at all, they’ll take hercaptive before she gets to the next town.”

  “I like it,” Tedi readilyagreed. “I’ll tell everybody down by the quay. You get yourself upto the Fisherman’s Inn and tell Master Tern. He likes you for somereason and the witch has to end up back there sometime.”

  Arik dashed up alleys and slid betweenbuildings until he was behind the Fisherman’s Inn. It wasapproaching late afternoon and fairly soon the dinner hour would beupon him, making Master Tern unavailable without entering thecommon room. He still hadn’t figured out a way to get Master Ternto believe his story. Arik quickly slipped in the back door to thekitchen and caught Master Tern entering from the door to the commonroom. The kitchen help didn’t even blink as Master Tern strodeacross the room and swept Arik out the back door.

  “What kind of trouble have yougotten yourself into?” demanded the innkeeper. “You should know bynow that the Markel boy is nothing but trouble.”

  “I don’t know, Master Tern,”Arik quickly offered. “We didn’t do anything, but that witch meansus harm. I can feel it.”

  “This has to do with thismorning and her window, doesn’t it?” Esta scolded.

  “I don’t think so, MasterTern,” confided Arik. “Tedi was up on the roof this morning, butshe seems more interested in me and it doesn’t have anything to dowith her window. She’s been stalking us all day and finally trappedus on one of the docks. She threatened us and demanded to knowabout our ages and our families and where we lived.”

  “I figured that Tedi would bethe one on the roof this morning,” growled Master Tern. “Sheprobably knows it was a young boy but not what he looks like andshe is picking on you because you look older. It is a very seriousthing to be pushing women into the sea, young man, and I expect tobe talking to your father about this matter.”

  “We didn’t push her,” pleadedArik. “We couldn’t push her. We couldn’t even run away, MasterTern. She had us frozen from the neck down with magic. Somebodyelse tossed her into the water and they had to have used magic,too, because there was nobody else in sight.”

  “Arik,” sighed the innkeeper,“I am very disappointed in you. Ever since I watched you and Tedifor weeks while your fathers went hunting for your mothers, I’vehad the feeling that you were a very good lad and I’ve grown tolike you, but I will not accept such rubbish from your mouth. Now,you will march inside and sit in the common room until the womancomes back and we will get to the bottom of what you have done toher. I’ll send someone down to the docks to wait for yourfather.”

  Esta grabbed Arik by the shoulders andstarted pushing him into the inn.

  “No, Master Tern,” Arik almostshouted. “By my mother’s life, I swear that I’m telling the truth.The woman is a witch and she means me harm. I really don’t knowwhy, but I know it well enough to have sent a note to my father tomeet me in the woods and for him not to go home.”

  Master Tern stopped abruptly. “I waspresent when your father made you that promise, Arik, and I willact as I know your father would. I will tell you, though, I don’tput much store in stories of magic and you would be the first toadmit that your story seems rather unbelievable.”

  “I do understand, MasterTern,” Arik sighed with relief. “I wouldn’t believe it myselfexcept that I felt it. I couldn’t move anything but my head and shestood toe-to-toe with me and demanded to know all about me, and herbreath reeked of onions. I was looking right into her eyes when shewas tossed into the sea and she was very surprised. As soon as shehit the water, it was as if someone untied me. Tedi and I took offrunning.”

  “Well, there is no doubt abouther breath,” chuckled Esta. “That woman eats more onions than aregood for a person. I’ll let you go meet with your father, but Iwant to know what is going on.”

  “Master Tern,” Arik began,“the reason that I came to you is to lead her away from us beforeshe can do any harm. We know that she has been asking everyone intown where we live and she seems determined to get her questionsanswered. Tedi and I plan to spread the word that we left town tothe north to seek adventure. We hope that she will try to follow usand leave Lorgo.”

  “You’re still a bit this sideof a man to be adventuring off,” scolded the innkeeper.

  “We don’t plan on reallyleaving, Master Tern,” Arik added quickly. “We’ve had enoughadventure already. We just want to get rid of the witch before shecaptures us or our fathers in that spell again.”

  “That cuts pretty close to alie,” admonished Esta.

  “It is a lie,” admitted Arik.“I also lied to her about my age. I told her I was fourteen. Idon’t know why, but I get the feeling of just wanting to be rid ofher. Master Tern, I really don’t know what to do about her. I knowshe means me harm and I’ve never done anything to her. I’m hopingthat my father can help me when he arrives.”

  “I’m not sure why, Arik,”responded Master Tern, “but I believe you think what you’re sayingis true. I won’t lie for you, though. The woman started questioningme and I refused to answer her. I will do that again. You run alongand meet with your father and tell him that I want to know what isreally going on.”

  “Certainly, Master Tern,”replied Arik. “You could honestly tell her that I said we wereleaving town. If she is not really after me, she won’t follow. Iwill go to my father and he will let you know what is goingon.”

  Arik hurried down the alleys andbetween buildings to return to the woods at the edge of town justas the sky was getting darker. It could hardly be called a sunsetby a boy who had never seen the sun, but it was the time of daythat the fisherman planned to be back in port. Hopefully,
he wouldmake it to the woods without running into the witch.

  Chapter 3

  Merchant

  Konic Clava was a large,square-shouldered man with heavily muscled arms and hard callusesfrom many years of plying his trade as a fisherman. His short brownhair and square jaw gave his face the hardened look of a frontiersoldier. His well-proportioned frame gave the impression of someonewho could handle himself in a brawl without working up a sweat.Yet, for all of his hard looks, Konic’s eyes spoke of a kindgentleness beneath his imposing figure. His gray tunic was accentedat the waist by a broad leather belt with loops and notchesdesigned to hold various implements of a fisherman. The only toolcurrently hanging from the belt was a long, sharp knife. When Konicspoke, his voice was low and gravely, yet his soft, sure tone wassoothing and comforting.

  “You lads did right well underthe circumstances,” Konic was saying to Arik and Tedi, “although Iwould prefer a solution that didn’t involve forcing drink on MasterMarkel. Still, your solution did keep him safely away from thewitch.”

  “Then you believe us, Dad?”smiled Arik.

  Konic eased himself to the ground andleaned his back against a large tree. “Of course I believe you,son. If either one of you ever lied to me, you’d have to spendnights on your belly for a month. Arik, I told you once that if youever used that oath I would believe you without question. I meantit and I know you did, too. Most of the villagers would probablybelieve that you were lying because nobody believes in magicanymore. Most of them have not been outside the town in theirentire lives. When Alan and I were searching for your mothers, wesaw and heard things that we would not have believed possiblebefore. I believe you saw a witch and I don’t think she would riskexposing herself because somebody looked in her window.”

  Tedi winced at the implied insinuationin Master Clava’s remarks. “Master Clava, I was not trying to . . .“

  Konic waved the boy to silence. “Tedi,whatever the reason for your little journey up on the roof, it wasnot the reason the witch was questioning you. Arik, I want you boysto move down to the little clearing just south of here, the one weused to picnic in with your mother. Start a campfire but keep alertfor bandits. I’m going into town to get Master Markel and we’llmeet you there.”

  “Master Clava,” Tediinterrupted, “are you sure it’s a good idea bringing my father outhere? I mean with his drinking and all, he might . . .”

  “Tedi,” Konic began softly,“your father is a good man. Never forget that. He has had a problemcoping with the loss of your mother and he is not the first man totry to drown his grief. I think his time for mourning is over now.I probably should have forced it to end sooner but, in a way, Icould almost join him in a bottle. You know the man as your fatherand that is a pretty narrow scope of perception. I’ve known yourfather for over thirty years and there isn’t a finer person I’veever known. If there is going to be trouble, he is the one man Iwould call on to guard my back. You boys get going and we’ll meetyou there soon.”

  “Be careful, Dad,” Arik calledafter the retreating figure.

  The boys moved to the clearing andgathered wood for a fire. “Do you believe those things your fathersaid about my dad?” asked Tedi.

  Arik turned and looked at Tedi. “If myfather says it, then it’s true,” Arik replied. “I don’t know whathe can do for your father that hasn’t already been tried, but ifanybody can help, he will.”

  Tedi nodded solemnly. “I guess what hesaid about my view being too narrow is probably true. I guess I’vebeen more trouble than help to him. I just thought he didn’t careabout me. You know, the times he beat me, I deserved to be beaten.I just don’t think he knew his own strength.”

  “Well, maybe everything willturn out for the better,” hoped Arik.

  “Yikes!” exclaimed Tedi. “Iforgot about the merchant. We were supposed to eat with him tonightand find out the secrets of the outside world. If we don’t show,he’ll start looking for us and he may run into thewitch.”

  “Forget him,” responded Arik.“The secrets of the Collapse can wait a while longer. We’ll talk tothe next merchant to come to town.”

  “You don’t understand,” arguedTedi. “I told him our real ages and where we lived. If he goeslooking and runs into the witch, she’ll know everything. I’ll runup and tell him that we have to leave town in a hurry and he’llpoint the witch northward.”

  Before Arik could protest, Tedi leapedover a small bush and disappeared into the forest. Tedi ran as fastas his legs would carry him. The sense of urgency in arriving atthe merchant’s wagon before the witch was the only thought on hismind. When he arrived at the wagon, neither the merchant nor hisniece was visible. Tedi ran around to the rear of the wagon andleaned in to peer into the darkness. Roughly, two hands seized hisneck from behind and hurled him to the ground.

  “We don’t give our goods away,ruffian,” snarled a voice.

  Tedi rolled over onto his back andgazed up to see the old merchant standing over him. “MasterKhatama,” he groaned, “ I was not trying take any goods. I was justcoming to talk with you and thought you might be in thewagon.”

  The young girl came towards the wagonand lowered a torch so that Tedi’s face was illuminated. “It’s oneof the young bucks that was coming for dinner,” sheannounced.

  “So it is,” growled themerchant while extending a hand to the boy. “Sorry about the toss,lad, but I don’t take kindly to townspeople rummaging through mywagon.”

  Tedi was amazed at how firm the oldman’s hands had felt. When he reached up to rub his neck, herealized that his necklace was missing. He started looking aroundfrantically when the merchant moved to him.

  “No need to be looking foryour gold, lad,” he whispered. “I’ve got it here. Must have gotstuck on my ring. I’m afraid the clasp is broken, though, but I canfix that right up. You wait here and I’ll be rightback.”

  Before Tedi could respond, the merchanthad climbed into the wagon and was lighting a candle. Tedi watchedhim gently lay the necklace on a table and smooth out the twounconnected ends.

  “There’s some dinner left,”offered Tanya, “if you truly came to eat.”

  Tedi turned towards the girl.“Actually, Arik and I got ourselves in a bit of a fix and I wascoming to tell you that we weren’t going to make it.”

  “Why am I not surprised,” shequipped. “You two looked like trouble since I first laid eyes onyou this morning.”

  “We are not trouble,” Tediretorted angrily. His tone softened as he delivered the message hehad come to say. “We do have to leave town, though. Arik and I aregoing north at first light to seek our fortunes.”

  “You may find a different fatethan fortune if you plan on traveling alone,” the merchant saidfrom behind Tedi. Tedi twirled and the old man was standing theregrinning and holding out the repaired necklace. “The clasp is finenow, lad. As good as it was new. I see that you had broken theclasp once before and it hadn’t been properly mended. No matter,though, no one could tell it was ever broken now. It is a beautifulpiece. Where did you get it?”

  Tedi reached out and took the necklace.Refastening it around his neck he answered the merchant. “I didn’tsteal it, if that’s what you mean. It was my mother’s and the onlything I have to remind me of her.”

  The merchant gently patted Tedi’sshoulder. “Is that true, son? I don’t mean the part about youstealing it. I mean about the only thing she left you. It seems tome from our earlier conversation, that she left you something sheloved a whole lot more than that necklace. It also seems that bothyou and your father have forgotten that. Taking care of his pain isyour job now and yours, his. Talk to him before you run away,lad.”

  Tedi gazed at the merchant’s glisteningeyes and nodded. “I will, Master Khatama, I will.” Tedi turned andran back to the clearing getting there just moments before hisfather and Master Clava arrived. His father was walking unsteadilyand mostly supported by Arik’s father. Master Clava also had a longduffel bag slung over his shoulder by a strap. The bag was stuffedsolid
and he rolled it off his shoulder and onto theground.

  “Tedi,” Master Clava ordered,“there is a pot and some coffee in there. Get some water from thestream and make a pot of it. Arik, forage through those provisionsand round up something to eat for the four of us.”

  Arik’s father eased Master Markel to asitting position with his back against a tree. Konic sat next tohim and talked quietly. Arik could not quite hear what was beingsaid, but Tedi’s father stiffened and his eyes opened wide and hestarted nodding his head. The only word Arik thought he heard wasEmpress and it made no sense to him. Tedi finished with the coffeeand took two cups over to the men. Konic sat his on the ground andheld the other to Alan’s lips.

  “What were they talkingabout?” Arik whispered to Tedi when he returned from delivering thecoffee.

  “I don’t know,” Tedi softlyreplied. “They stopped talking as soon as I approached them.” Aftera few moments Tedi continued. “You know, Arik, I’ve been a fool forthree years. It took an old merchant to show me what was in frontof my face the whole time. I’ve been so selfish and feeling sorryfor myself over my mother’s disappearance that I couldn’t see howmuch he was hurting. At first, I thought my mother’s disappearancewas just an excuse for him to start drinking and after a while Ijust mentally belittled him for not being able to control himself.The old man made me realize that I’m part of the reason that hestill drinks. I shut him out of my life and made his loss twice asbad and my own, as well.”

  Arik looked across the campfire and sawthe tears welling up in Tedi’s eyes. “You really ought to tell himthat, Tedi. I can keep my father busy for a while.” Arik stood upand called across the clearing. “Dad, I need you for amoment.”

  Master Clava stared at the two boysnear the campfire wondering what was so urgent that Tedi couldn’thelp Arik with. He saw Tedi hesitantly start to walk over to wherehe and Alan sat and decided to find out. By the time he got to thecampfire, he looked back to see Tedi kneeling next to his father.“What is it, son?” he asked Arik.