Arik walked over and hugged his father.“I just want to thank you for being here for me,” he choked. Hesmiled when he looked past his father and saw Tedi and MasterMarkel doing the same.
“I’ll always be there for you,son,” Konic replied. “As I know you will always be there for me.”Konic turned to see what Arik was staring at and sighed softly.“Now that is a sight I have longed to see, Arik. Whatever troublethis witch has brought, she has brought some good, too.”
Breaking the embrace and tending to theboiling pot, Arik asked, “What are we going to do about her, Dad?What is it she wants?”
Konic poured himself another cup ofcoffee and sat on a log staring into the fire. “I don’t know, son.I asked around about her and determined that she did find out wherewe live. I didn’t get much of an idea why she is so interested inus, though. I did have many people offer their sympathies about myboy running away up North, though,” he chuckled.
“It seemed to be the best wayof getting rid of her,” admitted Arik. “I hope it works. It lookslike you brought enough stuff to stay out here a month.”
“Always be prepared, son,”Konic smiled, “always be prepared. I’ll check in with Master Ternlater tonight and first thing in the morning. We’ll know if shetakes the bait.”
Konic lapsed into silence and Ariktried to pick up traces of Tedi’s conversation. The only thingsthat Arik could out pick between the cricket chirps and the windfluttering the leaves was the word necklace and an admonishment forTedi to promise something.
Eventually, the weak soup was ready andTedi and his father came over to the campfire. Master Markel lookedsteadier and more determined than anytime that Arik could remember.There wasn’t much talk around the campfire, but Arik noticed thetwo Markels sitting closer and more comfortably than he would haveimagined before tonight.
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 anyon
e 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.
When the men returned from fishing, theboys had a dinner of rabbit stew waiting for them. Master Markelwalked over to the pot and inhaled deeply. “That smells mightygood, boys,” he remarked. “Master Clava and I have kept some oftoday’s catch for dinner, but what you have smells a bit moreappetizing.”
“I think we can have the stewand the fish,” added Konic. “It’s not right to waste good food. Didyou have a good day hunting?”
Arik and Tedi had agreed to be honestwith their fathers and explained about running into the bandit atthe inn. Tedi went on to explain how he had run into the bandits’camp two nights ago and the bandit had hurled the deadly littlestar at him. The boys continued talking over dinner and theirfathers seemed content to listen. Tedi had expected his father tobe furious, but Alan’s facial expression was one ofconcern.
After dinner, Alan and Konic sattalking quietly while the boys cleaned the dishes and pots. Tedithought his father looked happier than he had at anytime in thelast three years. When the boys were all done with their chores,Alan spoke. “We are going to post a guard tonight and every nightuntil things quiet down in Lorgo,” he announced. “Tedi, give thatstar weapon to Master Clava. Arik, you are going to have the lastwatch, so you should get to sleep right away. Tedi will wake youwhen it is your turn. Everyone is to be awakened if you even thinkthere may be a problem. I will take first watch.”
Tedi handed the star to Konic. Alanindicated that Tedi should sit next to him so they could talkwithout disturbing Arik. Konic stuck the weapon in his pouch andstarted walking towards town. “Where is Master Clava going?” Tediinquired.
“He is going to talk with yourbandit,” Alan said quietly.
Arik shivered as he watched his fatherwalk away from the campsite.
Chapter 4
Bandit
Konic Clava walked into the common roomat the Fisherman’s Inn and looked around. It did not take him longto pick out the man in black seated by himself in the corner, nordid it surprise him that the man had already inspected thenewcomer. Konic understood why the man was seated alone. No one whovalued their life would voluntarily sit with a man whom soobviously reeked of death, at least not while there was anotheropen seat in the common room. There were other open seats as thenumber of travelers to Lorgo had steadily decreased since theCollapse, as they had everywhere else. Still, Konic marched overand sat across the table from the mysterious killer. And a killerhe surely was. Konic could see death in the man’s icy blue eyes.The man’s hands carried the calluses of both sword and bow, as wellas some that Konic could not identify. The bandit sat, bowstringtaut, ready to spring in any direction at a moment’s notice, yet hegave the casual appearance of relaxing with his drink. The manmight not be a bandit at all, Konic pondered, more likely anassassin.
A young town girl came over to take hisorder. “Good evening, Master . . .”
“Just an ale, girl,” Konicinterrupted. “And I’ll signal if I wish another.”
The girl left with a puzzled look andKonic turned his attention back to the mysterious man who waslooking out towards the rest of the common room, though Konic wassure that the man was watching his every move.
“Can I get you a drink whenthe girl returns, stranger?” Konic asked.
“I am well cared for,fisherman,” the bandit smoothly replied.
The bandit’s accent was slight, butobviously not Sordoan. “You are not Sordoan, I see,” heremarked.
The bandit blinked at him beforereplying. “No one is Sordoan anymore,” he stated flatly. “And if Icame from anywhere around your town, you would surely already knowme. What is it you wish to ask me that comes so slowly to yourtongue?”
The man was no fool, but Konic hadalready determined that. The problem would be getting any usefulinformation from him. Konic was sure that the man could lie with asstraight a face as if he were telling the truth. It was also clearfrom the man’s behavior that he did not consider Konic as a threat,only a distraction from watching the other people in the commonroom. “I am just curious what brings someone of your obvious skillto such a small town as Lorgo,” Konic finally asked.
The girl brought Konic’s mug of ale andgave him a puzzled look but did not say anything.
“I am just traveling through,”smiled the bandit. “Who can say what makes a man travel anyparticular road any more than what makes a soldier settle down andtake up fishing?”
Konic was startled. Not manytownspeople even knew that he had been in the Army when he wasyounger. Surely the sword calluses were long gone and covered byyears of fishing. How could this simple bandit know that? Thenagain, this was no simple bandit, Konic reminded himself. The manhad all the poise of a person who had spent his whole life in theArmy. Perhaps he is a forward scout for one of the many warringarmies ravaging Sordoa. Then again, most of the bandits plaguingthe world had been soldiers at one time or another. “We’ve hadtrouble with bandits invading the town before,” Konic finally said.“If that is your intention, I would like to dissuade you from thethought.”
“If that is your truepurpose,” the bandit smiled, “you can leave now, satisfied that youhave accomplished your mission. I have not seen much in your townthat would interest a group of bandits.”
The bandit’s smile told Konic that theman had not bought his story, but surely he could not know whyKonic was here. Even Konic was not sure exactly why he was here. Hewanted the boys safe and he suspected that this man might beharmful to them, but why? What did the bandit want here? How couldhe find out? Finally he decided, as he did most other times, thatthe truth was usually the best course. “I lost my wife to banditsthree years ago,” Konic declared bitterly, “and all I have left ismy son. If you are here to harm him or his friend, I will killyou.”
When the bandit made no comment, Konicshakily continued. “I know you are a man of great skill and youthink my threat idle and boastful, but I assure you that I will notrest until your bones are scattered to the vultures.” Konic tookthe star weapon out of his pouch and slammed it on the table. Alleyes in the common room turned at the sound and the bandit sweptthe s
tar up and out of sight before Konic could see the man’s handmove.
The bandit rose and gently touchedKonic’s sleeve. “Let us walk,” he simply whispered and strode outthe door of the inn. Konic rose unsteadily and followed. The mancould easily kill him outside and be out of town before anyone evennoticed, but Konic had a duty to his son that nobody would frightenhim out of. When Master Clava had gone through the door, he saw thebandit leaning lazily against a post as if he had not a care in theworld. He was holding the star weapon in his right hand.
“Was this given to you by yourson?” the bandit asked.
“His friend,” Konic responded.“The son of my friend. He says you almost killed him withit.”
The bandit just nodded and before Konicrealized it, the man in black had three of the stars in his hands.He turned casually and nodded at a sign across the street. Thebandit threw the three stars, one at a time, at the sign. All threeof them landed inside a letter O in the sign. “If I had wanted toharm the boy, rest assured that you would not now be talking to meabout him.”
Konic followed the bandit across thestreet to retrieve the stars with his mouth hanging open. “The boywas attempting to sneak into my campsite and thought no one couldhear him. I scared him away. That is all there is toit.”
Konic nodded as the bandit pried thethree stars out of the sign. He handed one of them to Konic.“Return this to Tedi, that it might remind him to neverunderestimate his opponent. It is called a Lanoirian Star and it isa potent weapon in experienced hands. Perhaps he will learn how touse it.”
Konic stared at the bandit. “How is itthat you know the boy’s name?” he demanded.
The bandit sat on the stoop of thebuilding, the other two stars already put back wherever theybelonged. “I overheard him and Arik, who I suppose is your son,talking in the woods about some witch in a blue dress. They were onan animal path just west of the coastal highway. Arik was trying tofind Tedi and finally succeeded. Do you know who this witchis?”
Sapphire of the Fairies soh-1 Page 4
