“Several times,” sighed Kalina. “She always reacts the same, as if I am trying to steal it from her. She insists that it is hers and refuses to discuss it further.”
“Well, at least Tedi is controllable,” Garth said changing the subject. “You are fairly certain that he is the heir?”
“I am positive that the necklace belonged to either Prince Oscar or Princess Callie,” Kalina corrected. “As with Niki, he refuses to discuss it except to insist that it was his mother’s. It seems unbelievable that Princess Callie ended up married to a fisherman in Lorgo, though. That would mean Prince Oscar died and we know from the General that he survived the Collapse.”
“Not necessarily,” Garth interjected. “General Gregor said that Prince Oscar was last known to be searching for Princess Callie. Maybe he never found her and she somehow survived the sinking of the Princess Lydia. Maybe this fisherman rescued her and married her.”
“It is as plausible as any other story,” mused Kalina. “Certainly, the Children do not know the truth themselves. Tedi’s description of his mother does not make her sound like Princess Callie, but I am sure about the necklace.”
“Well, perhaps it was the child who was rescued by the fisherman, then,” continued Garth. “I guess there is no real way of knowing. You are right. We will just have to accept what the Prophecy has given us and go from there.”
Arik whistled softly and caught Garth’s attention. Garth dropped back to Arik’s position to see what was troubling him.
“We are being followed,” Arik said nervously. “I can’t see anyone, but I know they are there.”
“Elves,” Garth simply stated. “You have done well noticing them. They are known for their silence in the forest. We are traveling a line that cuts between the Kingdom of Klandon and Elderal, Land of the Elves. They should not bother us if we continue traveling in this direction; still, you shall keep a close watch and let me know of any changes.”
Garth rode to the front of the procession and came in alongside Tedi. Tedi looked over at him quickly and returned his eyes to the path ahead.
“So, you have heard them, too,” Tedi stated. “They seem to be curious more than threatening. I just wish that I could get a glimpse of them so I would know what they are.”
“They are elves,” declared Garth. “We travel the edge of their homeland. They should not bother us if we do not stray to the right of the path. The left side of the path is the Kingdom of Klandon, but their patrols seldom come out this far. If you have to diverge from the path, choose the left side.”
Tedi’s eyes opened wide in amazement, but they never left the path ahead except for quick darts to either side. Garth dropped back behind Tedi and rode in silence. His mind wandered from pride at the incredible level of skills most of the Children had obtained to the dismal feeling he got when he thought of Niki as Sarac’s descendant. As far as Garth was concerned, Niki was a child in a woman’s body. Before he was aware of the passing of time, Tedi had led the group into a clearing on the left side of the trail to camp for the night.
The Rangers quickly divided up the chores required to get the campsite set up. Garth volunteered to hunt so that the rest of the group could practice. Spring was already turning into summer, yet the forest felt cool. He remembered a time when the cool of these woods would have been a welcome relief at this time of year, but those memories were not recent. Of course, there were no elves nearby then and they were the reason Garth volunteered to do the hunting. He told the boys that the elves would not bother them, but he wasn’t too sure of that himself.
Garth was dressed in his blacksuit and the darkening hour brought little light into the forest. Quietly, he moved away from the camp and deeper into the forest on the left side of the trail. After moving about a mile along the parallel of the trail he turned and crossed over the path into Elderal. He quietly plunged deeper into the woods, moving away from the trail and then doubling back towards the direction the Rangers originally came from. When he felt he had gone about a mile, he turned towards the trail again and crept forward.
Slowly and silently, Garth made his way towards the trail until he finally saw what he was searching for. Directly ahead of him was an elf in a brown tunic and twenty horse lengths to his left was another. Garth waited for a few moments to observe them and to search for others that might be nearby. Satisfied that there were only two observers close by, Garth moved silently up behind one of them and nocked an arrow in his bow.
Garth squatted five paces behind the elf and spoke softly so his voice would not travel to the other elf. “There is no need to spy, my friend. You are welcome to join our campfire and share whatever meager rations we have.”
The elf did not spin around abruptly as most humans would have. He turned slowly and focused on Garth and the arrow pointing at him. “Would a friend point an arrow at another friend's back?” the elf quizzed.
“Only the threat of a signal to your brethren required the arrow,” Garth said as he lowered the bow and returned the arrow to his quiver. “It has been many years since I walked within the Elderal and I do not know much of what has transpired since then.”
Garth stood erect and the other elf immediately swung his attention to the stranger in black. The elf nearest Garth squinted his oval eyes as if measuring the character of a man who could move like an elf. Garth could feel the second elf moving into position as the first elf spoke.
“How is it you move like an elf?” he inquired.
Garth casually moved to one side of the first elf to delay the other’s approach. “I was taught many years ago by one who is like my brother,” Garth stated.
The first elf signaled his partner. “I am Garong,” he announced. “My partner is Rhula.”
Garth watched as the second elf came to join the conversation and was mildly surprised to notice that she was female. “I am known as Garth Shado,” Garth stated. “My party means no harm to the elves and we shall be out of Elderal on the second day from today. We travel this trail for it is the shortest path to our destination.”
“It is also the trail that draws little notice,” Rhula chimed in. “Only those seeking to hide use this trail. Is that supposed to endear us to your good character?”
“You have watched my party all day,” Garth stated. “Does it appear to offer harm to the great nation of Elderal? I travel with children who are hunted and I have offered them my protection. I know the ways of the Elderal and we have respected them.”
“You did not respect them when you came at us from behind,” reminded Rhula.
Garong gave her a glare to cease her talk. “You have acted with skill and knowledge,” Garong said. “Your party may travel the trail in safety as long as you remember the ways of the Elderal. We shall decline your gracious offer to share your camp and offer you these rabbits so your time in the woods will not have been wasted. Remember, brother of the elf, you are responsible for the behavior of your party. We shall watch you progress through Elderal.”
Garong handed Garth four rabbits, two from his belt and two from Rhula’s. Garth tied the rabbits to his own broad belt and nodded to the two elves.
“My thanks for your generosity,” Garth said. “I also offer my compliments to King Galever for utilizing scouts with honor and compassion. May he know peace and a good neighbor to his south when Alcea rises.”
The elves sported puzzled looks as Garth walked across the trail to his campsite. They would not understand his parting comment, but Garth knew it would be relayed to King Galever. The elves could be powerful allies when the time came and elfish ways dictated that they would not help others who had not sworn friendship before a crisis began. Hopefully, the King of the Elves would remember hearing of the potential for a good neighbor in Alcea and be predisposed to discuss an alliance.
Garth entered the campsite and laid the rabbits down for Niki to clean and prepare. Fredrik and Tedi were battling with their staffs at a furious rate. Garth watched them for a moment as they twirled, jabbe
d, and smacked with their long, wooden poles. Tedi was definitely the better of the two, but that did little to lessen Garth’s respect of Fredrik’s ability. Both boys handled the staff with confidence and skill.
Garth gazed over to the area where Arik and Tanya had been practicing swordplay. Kalina and Tanya were hovering over Arik who was sitting on the ground. Garth hurried over when he saw the large red smear on Arik’s chest, fearing that Tanya had seriously injured the boy. Garth bent down and was relieved to see that there was no serious cut to Arik’s chest.
“What is it?” Garth inquired.
“I’m not sure,” Kalina answered. “It appears to be some kind of rash, but nothing that I have ever seen before.”
“When he removed his shirt,” Tanya interjected, “I was afraid that I had wounded him.”
“Ha,” chuckled Arik, “there is small chance of that. It started bothering me the first night we were in Tagaret. It has grown steadily bigger and more irritating since then.”
“We have tried all the creams and ointments that I can think of,” Kalina supplied. “Niki even gave a try with her healing ability. She has been pouring over the books I got her in Melbin and showed me some interesting spells.”
Garth cocked an eyebrow at the thought of Kalina learning anything from Niki, but soon realized that Kalina spoke the truth. The girl had some type of ability with health magic that was hard for Kalina to grasp. As with most things, magic was easier to learn from somebody who knew how to do something than it was to learn from a book.
“Well,” Garth summarized, “if we can’t do anything about this rash, we should stop wasting time examining it. You two should get back to practice before I get my wooden sword out.”
“Whenever you are ready, Garth,” Tanya quipped.
Garth ignored the taunt and walked with Kalina back to the campfire. Arik stood and picked up his practice sword. “You shouldn’t tease Garth that way,” Arik cautioned. “He is probably the greatest warrior that has ever lived. What if he took you up on your taunt? You would be sore for a week.”
“Garth is not the greatest warrior who ever lived,” corrected Tanya. “Oh, he was definitely a Targa Ranger, I’m sure, and that makes him a great warrior, but you forget about Alexander Tork. He created and trained the Rangers. He is undoubtedly the greatest warrior of all time.”
“Maybe where you come from,” Arik stubbornly stated, “but I never heard of this Tork before this trip. So, he created the Targa Rangers. Garth has started the Alcea Rangers.”
“It does not matter where one comes from,” Tanya insisted. “Alex Tork is a legend. I have heard stories from all over this continent about Alex. Targa created two new armies for him to command as he saw fit, the Frontier Division and the Rangers. They reported to no one except Alex, not even the King of Targa. One time he was falsely accused of killing the King of Targa and his men stood with him to the man and helped him prove the accusation false. The Sultan of Sordoa was placed in power by Tork after the man witnessed Alex behead the old Sultan who had declared war on Targa. And that was in the Sultan’s Palace surrounded by thousands of Sordoan soldiers.”
“Well,” Arik argued, “Garth is not old yet. He may accomplish much more before he quits.”
“Old?” Tanya laughed. “These are tales about Tork when he wasn’t much older than you. He had his first battle when he was fifteen and put in charge of his village when the Yaki attacked. He led the village to the other side of the Boulder Mountains to relocate.”
“Why are you so wrapped up in this Alexander Tork?” Arik demanded. “If he is so good, then why is it left to Garth to save the world by protecting and training us? Maybe your Alex Tork wasn’t up to the job.”
“I am not wrapped up in him,” snarled Tanya. “I just believe in putting things in their proper prospective. Alex hasn’t been seen since the Collapse. He and Jenneva surely died then or the Dark One found them and eliminated them. Uncle Boris said that every Black Devil had been ordered to hunt for them because they had imprisoned the Dark One. Oh, what is the use in trying to educate a fisherboy? Let’s practice before Garth does take me up on my challenge.”
Arik shook his head and raised his wooden sword to meet Tanya’s attack. He still didn’t understand women. He got along with Tanya because she acted less like a women than any girl he had met, but every so often she went and did something that made absolutely no sense at all.
By the time Arik and Tanya completed their practice, Arik was tired. Tanya went to help with the dinner and Arik walked over to join Fredrik and Tedi who were getting lessons from Garth on knife fighting. Garth invited him into the lesson, but Arik just sat down and shook his head. He watched Garth instruct the other two boys and was amazed at the man’s speed and adaptability to any situation. It was hard for Arik to comprehend anyone who could be better than Garth. Arik waited until the lesson was over to approach Garth.
“Garth,” Arik opened, “what do you now about Alexander Tork?”
Garth looked at him for a moment and then swung his gaze towards Tanya. Eventually, he sat down next to Arik and the other boys joined them. “I know a great deal about Alexander Tork,” Garth began. “He created, trained and led the Rangers up to the time of his marriage to Jenneva. I used to be a Targa Ranger. The techniques that I use in fighting are his techniques. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, it is just that some people have such a great deal of admiration for him and I’ve never heard of him,” Arik answered.
Garth smiled and nodded his head. “Tanya mercilessly bombarded me with questions about him,” Garth said. “I imagine that she heard stories about him from her uncle and was disturbed with the way I downplayed Tork’s accomplishments. She has seemed to be pretty angry with me ever since.”
“Why would you belittle Tork’s accomplishments?” Arik asked. “Are the stories about him untrue?”
Garth picked up a pebble and began rolling it over in his hand. “Most of them are true,” Garth explained. “Alexander Tork never meant to be a hero. He always did what he thought had to be done because there wasn’t anybody else who would or could do it. He was not the type of man who did something and then turned to others with a smile on his face and boasted about what he had done. That would be totally out of character for the man and I would not be kind to him to do what he himself would not do. He was a good fighter and he used his skills to right what wrongs he could.”
“Was he more skilled than you?” Arik asked.
“I would never draw a comparison between myself and Alexander Tork,” declared Garth. “I do not claim to be better than he was and I do not wish others to do it for me. What we do is not a competition, Arik. Each of us should use whatever skills we have to defeat the Dark One. If Alexander Tork were here today, he would be telling you the exact same thing. Forget about Tork. Forget about me. You have to spend whatever time you have to sharpen your skills and think about the consequences of what we have started. We have no idle time for wondering about a man who hasn’t been seen in seventeen years.”
“What is so wrong about having a hero to emulate?” asked Tanya who had come up behind the boys without anyone noticing.
“Alexander Tork may have been a hero to you, Tanya,” Garth sighed, “but he was not a hero to himself.”
Garth rose as Tanya pushed onward. “Well, he should have been,” she declared. “He did more for the world than any ten other men and you seem to think he was nothing.”
“Yes,” sighed Garth bitterly. “He did wonders for the world. He saved the world from the sun. Don’t you love his parting gift? A world without sunshine, without safe roads to travel, without farms that are free of bandits. He left a world where people can only cower in the cities and hope the tyrant rulers don’t order them hung.”
Tanya slapped Garth so hard that his head spun and his face sported bright red marks from her fingers. “How dare you talk that way about a great man,” Tanya spat. “Alexander Tork gave everything he had to try and save the world
from all of this.”
“Yes, he did,” agreed Garth with hatred in his voice. “He was so wonderful that he must have saved the world a dozen times over. He was so wrapped up in saving the world that he gave his only child to the Black Devils for slaughter. You want to worship a hero, Tanya? Worship the man who didn’t have time to save his own child.”
Garth stormed off before Tanya had time to deliver another blow. Tedi jumped up and grabbed Tanya before she took off after Garth. He held her tight until her body stopped quivering.
“What was that all about?” asked Fredrik. “I never heard those stories about Tork.”
“They are all lies,” screamed Tanya. “Filthy lies spewed by a coward who can’t stand being compared to a real man.”
Kalina approached the practice area and stood firmly in front of Tanya.
“Dinner is ready,” she announced. “Why don’t you boys go eat while Tanya and I have a little talk?”
The boys quickly scampered away, more to avoid the coming confrontation than their need for food. Tanya tried to go with them, but Kalina grabbed her arm. Tanya easily broke Kalina's grasp, but she stayed to talk.
“Why didn’t you use any of your fancy magic to make me stay?” Tanya demanded.
“I don’t use magic to hurt friends,” Kalina replied. “You misunderstand Garth and you hurt him deeply.”
“I hurt him?” Tanya said incredulously. “You expect me stand there and listen to him trash Alexander Tork and you blame me for hurting him?”
“You never knew Alexander Tork,” Kalina persisted. “We did. I personally agree with your description of Alex, not Garth’s, but that is part of the problem. Garth has heard so many tales about the greatness of Alexander Tork and the Targa Rangers that one would think that everything in the world is wonderful. Garth is torn up inside about his own inability to make the world a better place and disgusted with what the world has become. He was a Ranger, too. He shared Alex’s vision of a better world and he has spent the past seventeen years listening to these wondrous tales while watching the world fall apart. Add to that the fact that I have always adored Alexander Tork and his wonderful accomplishments and it is easy to see why Garth doesn’t want to hear any more about it.”
Sapphire of the Fairies, Book 1 of Sword of Heavens Page 26
