The woman's scream echoed through the Fisherman's Inn in Lorgo. Lorgo was once part of Sordoa before the Collapse of the Universes a generation ago. Now, Lorgo is in one of the many unclaimed areas of the continent, which hasn't received the attention of any of the marauding armies yet. Esta Tern, the innkeeper, told the young boy selling rabbits to wait and hurried his bulky frame up the stairs and along the corridor to the room at the end of the hall. Esta knew which room the scream must have come from because he had only one female customer this morning and he didn't stand for unregistered guests in his rooms. Esta banged loudly on the door. "Innkeeper! What's the problem in there? Open the door."

The door opened and the female traveler, dressed in a fine white robe, pointed towards the window.

"Somebody was trying to come in through the window," she shrieked. "What kind of an inn are you running when decent people don't even have privacy in their room?"

Esta trudged over and leaned out the window, looking in both directions. Only a skinny strip of wood ran along this side of the building and a bandit would have to be crazy to attempt moving along it, the fall could kill him. Down below in the street nobody was moving. The only movement visible was down in the harbor area where the last of the fishermen were putting out to sea. Esta watched the small, drab boats heading seaward under the dim light of morning before closing the shutters and turning to the woman.

"I don't see anything out there," he stated. "Don't think anyone could walk on the little strip of wood out there and there aren't any ladders in sight."

"Are you calling me a liar?" she demanded. "I tell you, someone was out there and I shouldn't have to pay for a room that's not private."

Esta made a motion to smooth hair on the top of his head, hair that had disappeared years ago. He had long demanded that rooms be paid for in advance and occasionally ran into customers who would find fault with rooms just to get their money back. Placing his fists on his hips, he scowled at the woman.

"Look," he stated, "this is a private room, just what you paid for. Your door locks and the windows have shutters. You want to go parading yourself around in front of an open window, that's your business, but if your screaming wakes any of my late sleepers, I'll have to kick you out."

Esta stormed off, leaving the woman complaining as he left. Everyone looked towards Esta as he reached the ground floor and the innkeeper just waved them off to indicate that there was nothing to worry about. Back in the kitchen, he returned his attention to the young boy who was selling rabbits to the inn.

"Sorry, Arik," he sighed. "That's one crazy woman. First she travels around without a decent bodyguard, or as part of a caravan, and now she tries to sleep for free. She wouldn't even get to keep her coins if I did refund her room price. The bandits would get her for sure. How many rabbits do you have this morning, Arik?"

"Six good-sized ones this morning, sir," Arik replied. "What was the screaming about?"

Esta looked up at Arik and rubbed his chin. "Nothing, I suppose. Where is your friend, Tedi, this morning? Have you seen him?"

"No, sir," the boy answered. "I suppose he's sleeping late today. I should hurry along, though, if I'm going to fish with my father today."

"Sorry, Arik," the innkeeper apologized. "I saw him leaving while I was upstairs. I shouldn't have kept you so long."

"It's okay, Master Tern," Arik said. "He doesn't really need my help anymore. The fish keep getting smaller and less plentiful each season. Pretty soon, some of the fishermen are going to have to find other work."

"Well, it's a good thing you've decided to branch out then," chuckled Esta. "This is a fine morning's work, Arik, the best batch of rabbits you've brought in this month."

"Thank you, sir," beamed Arik as Esta counted out the coins for the young hunter. "Do you think the bandits will attack Lorgo again?"

Esta leaned his bulky frame against the long wooden table that was the centerpiece of the kitchen. "I suppose they will," he answered. "Ever since the Collapse, the world has been a very unsafe place. The bandits will keep attacking and raiding until one of the great armies wipes them out."

"Do you think we could send a message to one of these great armies and get them to come help us?" quizzed Arik.

Esta laughed and scowled at the same time. "Lad, the only difference between the bandits and the great armies is that the armies are bigger. They'll loot and plunder us as sure as the bandits. The only reason that they will kill the bandits is to get rid of the competition." The innkeeper's brow knotted with concern. "Sooner or later some of them are going to come, though."

Arik gazed at the innkeeper trying to gauge his mood. For once Master Tern seemed to be talkative, but none of the townspeople seemed to want to talk about the days before the Collapse. Hesitantly, Arik broached the unspeakable topic. "What was it like before the Collapse? Could you really see the sun? Were there bandits then also?"

Esta jolted upright and hurriedly glanced around the room before turning a frosty glare at Arik. His fists were clenched and he appeared to be struggling with himself to avoid striking the boy. Arik stood toe-to-toe with the innkeeper and didn't flinch. Although he was considered a boy in the town, Arik was already a year past Forgeno, the age when young men started their apprenticeships. Forgeno didn't hold much meaning in Lorgo anymore, as trade with other cities was limited to an occasional merchant or caravan because of the bandits. Most merchants refused to travel except with the rare caravans. As a result, most trades in Lorgo were of a similar nature to a small village instead of the bustling seaport town it used to be and most young men became fishermen.

Esta's composure softened and the large man relaxed his tense stand. "You should know better than to talk of times before the Collapse," he admonished. "It is said that to wish for the old times out loud is to bring down the wrath of the Dark One on you and your kin."

"But you don't believe that, do you?" pressured Arik.

"Of course not," blustered the innkeeper. "Still, if anyone heard me talking, the town would boycott my inn. There aren't enough travelers to survive on. I depend on the townspeople coming in and eating and drinking. I can't afford to alienate anyone."

"I won't tell a soul," promised Arik.

"Well, truth be told, you are of the age to be making up your own mind now and soon you'll be taking a wife," whispered Esta. "I suppose you have the right to know the truth for what it's worth."

"I reckon I do," smiled Arik, "but I'm not making promises to any girls."

"A smart lad," laughed Esta while glancing around to make sure that they were still alone. "It's true enough, it is. When I was a younger man, Lorgo was a fine town, almost a city. It was a town in the great nation of Sordoa, which was so large that it would take a month on a fast horse to go from border to border and everywhere that rider went, the sun would shine all day long. At night you could look up and see the heavens, a thousand twinkling lights dancing around the black sky. When the moon was full, you could read a book by its light and it used to cast a long swath of golden light over the sea, calling lovers down to the beaches to marvel at its reflection."

"I've read about the moon, but it's hard to imagine the sight you describe," sighed Arik. "Were there bandits back then, too?"

"No," reflected Esta, "bandits didn't last very long back then. The army would hang them and the army was a friend of the people in Sordoa, not like the armies of today. People call them great armies, but they're just a large band of ruffians. The Sordoan Army was a real army with uniforms and discipline. It was the most feared army in the world, but the citizens of Sordoa didn't have to fear them. The merchants used to kill bandits, too. Some young boy from Targa, probably not much older than you, made a name for himself and a fortune by becoming the first merchant with his own army of bandit-killers. It got so a bandit would only attack a lone stranger in the woods."

"Wouldn't all that sun burn all the crops?" asked Arik.

"Glory, no," chuckled the innkeeper. "The plants need the sun. The dark sky is why the crops get smaller and fewer every year. The animals also suffer without enough food to survive on. No, lad, sunshine is a wonderful thing. What I'd give to see another sunny day."

Arik sensed the innkeeper's despair and knew his questioning would soon be over. "What caused the change and when will it change back?" he asked.

Esta frowned and chewed on his lower lip as he answered. "Some say that a great demon escaped his imprisonment and collapsed the universes. A god came along and imprisoned the demon again, but not before the demon found the world's greatest magician and made him the Dark One and commanded him to rule over the world for a thousand years. It is said that the Dark One abhors the sun and ordered it to remain hidden and never show its face again."

"You mean that I'll never get to see the sun?" exclaimed Arik.

Approaching footsteps warned the innkeeper of the pending interruption and he rounded on the young hunter. "You won't get to see tomorrow if you don't get about your business and leave me to mine."

Arik walked out the back door of the inn, jiggling the coins in his purse, pondering a world without bandits and an inky black sky. As he turned the corner of the inn, a hand reached out and grabbed him.

"Tedi!" Arik exclaimed.

"Shhh," whispered Tedi. "I don't want old man Esta to hear you."

"So it was you," chuckled Arik. "What did you do to make the woman scream?"

Tedi pulled his friend down the dusty alley and away from the inn. "I was just making rounds of the empty rooms to see if anybody left something behind. How was I supposed to know that some woman would be getting dressed?"

Arik shook his head. "I don't know what's going to kill you first, falling off a roof or getting beat to death by your father when you get caught."

Tedi frowned at the mention of his father. "If he beats me again, it will be the last time that he does. He nearly broke three of my ribs last time. I'm not going through that again. I'd rather take my chances in the woods with the bandits."

Arik remembered the last time that Tedi was beaten. Arik was concerned that Alan Markel might kill his son one day. He knew it wouldn't be on purpose, but Tedi's father was drunk most of the time and Arik suspected the fisherman didn't realize how strong he was or how hard he could hit. Alan never recovered from the loss of his wife and had spent the last three years going from bottle to bottle. Arik's father, Konic Clava, and Alan used to be best friends and used to take their boats out together. Tedi and Arik used to go along and help. Three years ago, bandits raided the town and both of the boys' mothers had been taken. When the two fishermen and their sons returned from the sea that day, Alan started drinking. He hasn't been sober a day since.

"Why do you do it?" Arik asked. "Why don't you take your father's boat out and fish or come hunting with me? There are lots of ways to make money without stealing it. I just sold six rabbits to Esta and he'll take a lot more if I can get them."

Tedi kicked a stone down the dusty alley. "I don't know," he admitted. "I never was much good at fishing and there aren't that many fish left, anyway. I guess I like the adventure, the chance of getting caught and the thrill of getting away with something. I was never as good a shot with a bow as you, anyway."

"We could go hunting together," offered Arik. "We'll split everything we get no matter who bags it."

"Your father needs the money as much as mine does," submitted Tedi. "He's always having to buy things to fix his boat and nets. He's hardly making enough to live on as it is."

"That doesn't matter," declared Arik. "My father and your father have been friends a long time. I'm sure that he would give whatever he could to help your dad."

"Your dad is the only friend my father has," admitted Tedi, "and my father doesn't even realize it. Besides, anything my father gets is going towards the next bottle. No, I'll try hunting with you, but I'll only keep what I actually get myself."

"You're a good enough shot to bring in plenty of game," cheered Arik. "Let's go by my place and I'll show you the animal trap I made. I'm hoping that I can catch something really big with it."

The smell of fish and salt air increased as the boys sauntered down the alley towards the dock area where both of the boys lived. Arik laid his bow and quiver on the stoop of his house and led Tedi around to the back yard. Proudly, Arik picked up his homemade trap and presented it to Tedi.

"It looks like a metal jaw," commented Tedi. "How does it work?"

"Well, it doesn't really work yet," conceded Arik. "I used oarlocks for the jaws and filed them into teeth. They'll hold tight whatever gets between them, but I need to find a couple of stiff springs to put some pressure on them. I've looked everywhere that I can think of, but I can't find any. See, the springs will go in right here."

Tedi was impressed. "I'll check around and see what I can find," he offered.

"Well, if you find anything, let me know," smiled Arik. "And don't steal them. I've got enough money to pay for them."

"I don't steal," replied Tedi angrily. "Taking stuff that people leave behind before the innkeeper gets it and keeps it for himself is not stealing."

"Alright," conceded Arik, "I just don't want you getting beat again." Arik wanted to believe in Tedi's honesty, but still he wondered how Tedi could find all of the things he had claimed to find. It was mostly the things that Tedi found that kept some food on his father's table and drink in his father's cup. What amazed Arik the most, was the gold necklace that Tedi wore all of the time. It certainly was a very expensive piece of jewelry with six strands of delicate gold woven in an intertwining fashion that culminated in a small golden heart. Certainly, no goldsmith in Lorgo had the skill to create such a piece and the thought of some traveler leaving it in a room at the inn was preposterous. The necklace was probably valuable enough to buy a new home, but Tedi never gave any inclination to part with it even when he and his father had no food to eat. In any event, Tedi stormed off angrily whenever Arik mentioned the necklace.

"Why don't we go out to the woods and try getting some game," offered Arik.

"Later in the day would be better," Tedi replied quickly. "There are bandits just outside of town and the way they were carrying on last night, they won't be getting up early."

"How do you know about the bandits?" asked Arik.

"I overheard Esta talking to a traveler yesterday," responded Tedi. "They were talking about a merchant coming down from the North. I was hoping to find their campsite and hear tales of the outside before the townspeople all crowded around. You know how nobody will talk about the old times and I figured if I shared a campfire with him, he would feel better about talking. The only thing I found were a group of bandits, though. I don't suppose a lone merchant will survive to even get here now."

"You're crazy going out in the woods at night," exclaimed Arik. He wanted to add in a statement about what they would do to get their hands on Tedi's necklace and decided not to let Tedi end the discussion and storm off. "What if the bandits saw you? Nobody would even know what happened to you? You would just end up dead and rotting in the forest."

Tedi looked down sheepishly and shuffled his feet like a small boy being scolded by his mother. Slowly, though, his shame turned to anger and he thrust his chin up and his lips tightened with determination. "I am not a little boy anymore, Arik," he shouted. "I know how to take care of myself. In fact, they did see me and they did try to kill me and they didn't succeed."

"What happened?" Arik asked calmly. "How did you get away?"

Tedi stood silently for a moment and calmed himself. He reached into his pouch and brought out a small metal disk painted black with sharp points on it like an artist's drawing of a sunburst. "One of them threw this at me. I never even saw it coming, but it missed and struck a tree. I grabbed it and took off."

Arik reached over and took the small disk, feeling the sharp points. Murmuring to himself Arik said, "I wonder if they are planning to attack the town again. Maybe we should alert somebody. How many bandits were there?"

His anger dissipated, Tedi replied softly. "I didn't get a chance to find out. I wanted to sneak back after they chased me, but I couldn't chance it. I don't know how that one bandit knew I was there. I pride myself on being able to sneak up on people, but I didn't even get close before he hurled that thing at me. I guess I'm not as courageous as I like to pretend."

"Not courageous!" Arik exclaimed. "Nobody I know would intentionally sneak up on a group of bandits. What were you trying to ... ", Arik stopped. It suddenly dawned on him why Tedi was sneaking up on bandits. Tedi's whole life had fallen apart the day their mothers were taken from them by bandits. He wondered how long Tedi had been sneaking into the forest at night in an attempt to find his mother again. Arik talked admiringly as he gave the small weapon back to Tedi. "You have more courage than any ten men in this town, Tedi. Only a fool would have attempted that camp twice. You're pretty quiet when you want to be, but that bandit must have pretty good hearing. You're used to sneaking around people, not animals. I've learned a few tricks about being quiet in the woods from old man Grein, the trapper. I could show them to you if you want."

"I would like that," beamed Tedi. "And I'll let you practice throwing this nasty little thing at trees. I don't know how we are going to alert the townspeople, though. My father has warned me to stay out of the woods at night and you know what he'll do if he finds out."

"Esta knows that I hunt in the woods," offered Arik. "I can tell him that I saw the bandits and you won't get in trouble. Tell me exactly where you saw them on the way back to the inn."

Arik went back to the front stoop to retrieve his bow and quiver while Tedi ran next door to get his own. The boys walked along the shore to the quay, lost in conversation of bandits and battle and the town finally standing up to the thieves. The problem, of course, was that most of the able-bodied men were out to sea trying to haul in meager catches of fish. At the quay, the boys turned up the broad street heading for the coastal highway that ran through the town of Lorgo. Many of the shops were abandoned and boarded up. Arik, once again, began to think of what the town must have been like before the Collapse. He pictured all of the businesses open and people bustling about with gaily wrapped packages under their arms. He imagined grand carriages bearing nobility up and down the street with their footmen keeping pace and their mounted guards fore and aft. He fantasized columns of Sordoan soldiers marching along the coastal highway on their way to a frontier fort, their uniforms all with matching bright colors and gilded with gold. It took him a moment to realize that Tedi was no longer beside him. He looked up and down the street and the only person moving was a sturdy woman in a long green dress and wearing a felt hat with an embroidered strip of flowers around it. She was walking down the center of the wide avenue and staring at him. Without knowing why, Arik turned and dashed between the two closest buildings and turned down the alley towards the sea. Arik was halfway down the alley when Tedi called to him. Arik stopped short and peered around. Tedi was hiding beside some old crates behind one of the buildings.

"Why did you leave me?" panted Arik.

"I had my reasons," laughed Tedi, "but I'm not running like I just saw a revenant. What are you running from?"

Arik winced as he thought of overheard stories of revenants, beings brought back from the dead that could not be killed. Suddenly he broke out laughing. "I don't know," he offered. I guess I was daydreaming on the way to the inn and looked up to see this woman walking towards me. At least I thought she was heading towards me. It felt like her eyes were burning into me. I don't know why, but I just started running. Pretty stupid, I guess."

"If she was wearing green," Tedi laughed, "it wasn't so stupid. That was the woman who screamed this morning at the inn and she saw us walking together before I took off running. I don't know if she saw me through her window earlier, but I'm not about to take any chances. Best off if we just avoid her."

"I wonder what she is doing in Lorgo," Arik mused. "Her dress is one of the finest I've ever seen and Esta remarked about her traveling without a bodyguard. I can't see her getting past all of the bandits along the highway and if she had family here, she wouldn't be staying at the inn. It just doesn't make any sense."

Tedi stared down the alley and tugged at his woolen breeches. "You know," he began, "in all the time I've been checking out the Fisherman's Inn, there has never been a lone woman staying there. In fact, I don't remember any woman ever staying there. Most of the women who come through town stay at one of the inns along the highway. That's a pretty fine dress to be heading for the quay. Well, at least we know she won't see us when we talk to Esta. Come on, we'll go up the alley to the inn."

The boys were laughing at being so skittish as they proceeded up the alley, but, still, they each turned and looked towards the street as they passed any opening that afforded a view. As the boys neared the Fisherman's Inn, the distinctive sound of a traveling merchant trilled the air. The two boys looked at each other with their mouths hanging open and raced between two buildings to the street. Where the street met the coastal highway, a lone merchant's wagon was just pulling into a small courtyard. The boys forgot all of their thoughts regarding bandits and finely dressed women and raced towards the courtyard.

Chapter 2

Arik and Tedi screeched to a halt just as the old merchant was climbing down from the driver's seat of the wagon. The old man was dressed in drab gray woolen breeches and matching tunic. His garments were clean, but had obviously been mended many times over the years. A gray woolen cap was stretched over his head and he moved as if he had been sitting too long on the wagon. A young boy, similarly attired but in brown, was already bringing oat buckets from the rear of the wagon for the two old horses that stood quietly at the front of the wagon. The old merchant moved to the rear of the wagon and lowered a small gate that kept parcels from falling off.

"Say, old timer," hailed Tedi, "what news do you bring from the North?"

The young boy had returned for a couple of buckets to get water from the well for the horses. Hearing Tedi's remark, the young boy shot a disapproving glare at the two town boys, but left to accomplish his tasks. Tedi knew that they only had moments for any news before the townspeople started gathering and then there would be no talk of old times.

The old man turned towards Tedi and looked him up and down before answering.

"The news from up North, child, is that their children are better mannered. The name I use is Boris Khatama. That means that you will address me as Master Khatama and if it's news you want, then you will wait for the townspeople to assemble and hear it with the rest."

"Forgive my friend's lack of manners, Master Khatama," offered Arik. "We are eager to hear of news that the townspeople never speak of. Lorgo is a small town and most people refuse to discuss things that Tedi and I read about in books. I hope you will forgive our poor manners."

Master Khatama focused his attentions on Arik as he pulled down small crates of goods from the wagon. "And why should I talk of things that your own parents would rather not have you hear?"

"Oh, it's not that they don't want us to hear," Arik responded quickly, "but I fear that they still think of us as children and too young to hear such stories. Why just this morning at the inn ... a friend was telling me about the old times, but he had to return to work. Our fathers are fishermen and they are gone most of the day and tired at night. Besides, what they know is very limited as they have not traveled far and wide as I'm sure you have."

Master Khatama peered at the boys again as if measuring them. The clatter of approaching footsteps announced the coming townspeople. "We'll see," Boris whispered. "You go help Tanya brush the horses, while your friend here helps me unload the wagon and you two can join us for dinner. I will consider then what I will speak of."

"Yes, Sir," replied Arik.

"Tanya?" questioned Tedi looking at the young boy watering the horses. "I mean, yes, Sir. Right away, Sir."

As Tedi moved to help the merchant unload the wagon, Arik walked to the front to help with the horses with Tedi's comment ringing in his ears. As he approached the merchant's helper, he looked more closely. While her face still sported the glare given to Tedi for his comment, Arik could now see that she was indeed a girl, a rather beautiful girl if she had not been dressed in those rags. "Pardon me, Tanya," Arik greeted the girl, "but Master Khatama requested that I offer you assistance with brushing the horses."

"As if I required assistance," snapped Tanya. "You can only brush the horses if you know what you're doing, fisherboy. And if you have any more sly comments about my uncle, you'll lose your teeth."

Arik stepped back and raised his hand to ward off the expected attack. "Tanya, please," he said soothingly. "Tedi did not really mean anything disrespectful. He just has a brash way of talking. He thinks if he acts tough, tough people will leave him be. I am no horseman, but I do occasionally help out at Master Tern's stables. I do know how to brush a horse."

Tanya tossed a brush to Arik and began using one herself. The pair worked on in silence for some minutes before Arik spoke again. "Tanya, I really do apologize for Tedi's remarks. He was anxious about hearing some news of the old times and he knew the townspeople would be arriving soon."

After a few more minutes of silence, Tanya finally asked, "What's your name, fisherboy?"

Arik looked over the horse at the young girl. "I am Arik Clava," he finally answered. "And I would prefer that you do not call me fisherboy. You make it sound like a derogatory term and my father is a fisherman. I find nothing dishonest or unsavory in his character because of his profession. He provides the best he can and I'm proud to be his son."

Tanya stopped brushing and gazed at the village boy. "It would appear that I also owe you an apology, Arik Clava," the merchant's niece responded. "It was meant as a derogatory term and I apologize for it. Why are you so interested in the old times? I thought all of you Sordoans feared the Dark One coming in the night if you spoke of them."

Arik dropped his brush and started. "You know about Sordoa?" he exclaimed. "I never heard it mentioned until earlier today. I've read a little about it, but only of times long gone. Do you know about the Collapse and what happened?"

"Did this Master Tern teach you how to do that with the brush?" Tanya smirked.

Arik apologized profusely and retrieved the brush, once again applying long strokes to the horse. "What can you tell me of the Collapse?" he questioned.

Tanya stopped brushing the horse and stuck out her hand for Arik's brush. "You did good enough for a f ... boy who is not used to taking care of horses," she quipped. "I will tell you nothing of the Collapse or the old times. If your townspeople found out, my uncle would be driven out of town and times are poor enough as it is without losing some trade here."

"I won't tell anyone," Arik promised. "I won't tell a soul. We could just be friends talking. No one will suspect what we are talking about."

"You won't tell a soul because you will have nothing to tell," she stated. "And I don't have friends. Friends cause you pain and grief and I don't need anymore of either, thank you very much."

Tanya disappeared around the side of the wagon and a befuddled Arik headed towards Tedi, who was now standing with the crowd of townspeople that had gathered to hear the latest news. Tedi noticed the woman in the green dress on the other side of the crowd and she seemed to be trying to slide through the group nonchalantly. After fifteen minutes of tales of bleakness and starvation, bandits and rogue armies, the two boys left the gathering with the mysterious woman only several feet away. People started crowding around the merchant and picking out small items from a rather poor selection of goods. Tedi pulled anxiously at Arik's sleeve and started to run towards the harbor.

When the boys reached Arik's home, they leaned against the back of the house in silence. Finally, Tedi turned towards Arik. "Did you see her trying to get closer to me," he wheezed.

"I'd say it was your imagination," offered Arik, "but she sure didn't seem to be interested in anything the merchant had to sell. What did the old ... Master Khatama have to say after I left?"

"Not much," Tedi replied. "He griped a lot about youngsters today and their lack of respect for their elders. He also asked our ages about three different times. I guess my big mouth got us off to a rather poor start."

"I'll say," chuckled Arik. "The merchant's niece practically bit my head off for that one comment she overheard you say. She's a bitter one, she is. You hear people talk about bitter old maids, well, this girl is around our age and she already has the demeanor to put those old maids to shame."

"Well, I guess we won't have to bother going back for dinner, then," Tedi laughed. "The chance of either one of them knowing anything useful, or telling us if they did, is probably out of the question."

"I don't know about that," remarked Arik. "Even the girl knows about Sordoa and the Collapse. She wouldn't talk about it, but I could tell that she knows."

"If I didn't know better, I could almost be suspicious of you liking Tanya," chuckled Tedi.

"Forget it!" exclaimed Arik. "She doesn't even want friends. I tried to be friendly with her and I had to keep an eye on her hands to see if she would pull a knife on me. That girl is poison and will never have any friends, never mind boyfriends. Still, she does possess knowledge that I'd like to have. I'm willing to go back and talk as long you come and keep an eye on her hands."

"Heck, if nothing else it's a free meal," smirked Tedi. "Why are you interested in the Collapse so much all of a sudden?"

"I don't know," replied Arik. "Lately, I've been having dreams of what I think the old times must have been like. I guess it may just be not knowing what all of the older people know and frustration at their stubborn refusal to talk about it."

"You mean you are not afraid of calling down the Dark One on your family?" asked Tedi.

Arik combed backed his shoulder length brown hair with his fingers and sat on the back stoop. "How are we supposed to believe that story about the Dark One if nobody is even willing to talk about him?" he quizzed. "You know, Tanya laughed about the Sordoans believing in that story. She called us Sordoans. She knows an awful lot about what I want to know. I've got to get her to open up and tell me."

"You have a better chance of her opening up a cut on your lip," laughed Tedi. "Why don't we go out in the forest and see what game we can find. I doubt the bandits are still around if the peddler got through, but we can go out the south end just in case."

The boys headed along the shore towards the south end of Lorgo. When they reached the quay, the woman in the green dress stepped out in front of them. Tedi grabbed Arik's sleeve and the boys ran out to the end of one of the docks. The woman slowly marched after them and paused not ten feet from the end of the dock where Arik and Tedi stood with no escape. The woman stood staring at them, her long black hair twisted into a single braid as thick as an oar shaft. "Who are you?" she demanded.

For several moments, the boys pondered their position. Certainly they could leap into the sea and she wouldn't follow or maybe they could just run past her. When they refused to answer and the woman realized that they still planned to evade her, she moved her hands and the boys were frozen in place from the neck down. Arik tried to move his arms and legs and failed. His body refused to listen to his commands and it tingled like he was just doused with a bucket of ice-cold water. Only his head moved and he realized that it was sweating. Looking at Tedi, he realized that his friend was experiencing the same thing with sweat pouring down his face.

"I'm sorry if we've offended you, Mistress," Arik croaked. "Whatever it is you think we've done, I apologize for it. If you could just see it in your good grace to release us, I promise we won't bother you anymore."

"Shut up!" she shouted. Lowering her voice as she came closer, she stared Arik in the eyes. "What is your name, youngling?" she demanded.

"Arik Clava, Mistress," Arik whispered, "and my friend is Tedi Markel."

"Tell me how old you are," commanded the witch as she came toe-to-toe with Arik, her breath smelling strongly of onions.

"Fourteen years," wheezed Arik trying unsuccessfully to lean back away from the strong odor. "And so is Tedi," he quickly appended.

"You look much older than fourteen," she scowled. "Perhaps you need a lesson in truth telling. How old are your parents and where do they live?"

Sweat was dripping into Arik's eyes and his nose was starting to twitch. Arik was focusing on the woman's face when all of a sudden, she literally rose up and was tossed into the sea. The moment she hit the water, the spell binding the two boys broke and they took off running down the dock. They didn't stop running until they entered the woods at the south end of town. They both collapsed into a gully and turned to watch the path from town. Long minutes of silence passed before either one talked.

"What was all that about?" asked Tedi. "And why did you lie about our ages?"

"I don't know," answered Arik. "Nothing about today makes much sense. When she trapped us, I thought she was after you because of the incident at the inn this morning, but she seemed to be more interested in me. I guess I figured if she thought we were younger, the punishment for whatever it was that I was supposed to have done would be less because we were younger. I don't know why, but I don't mind telling you that I was scared like I've never been scared before."

Tedi nodded in agreement and wiped the sweat from his short black hair. "Why is everyone interested in our age all of a sudden? First the merchant asks me three times and now this ... witch. This witch uses magic on us in broad daylight and demands to know how old we are. How did you manage to trip her anyway? I was frozen solid except for my head."

"I didn't do anything," Arik quivered. "Somebody else tossed her into the sea."

"What do you mean someone else?" quizzed Tedi. "There wasn't anyone else around. Nobody in sight anywhere."

"I know," Arik grimaced, "but I was looking at her face when it happened. She was more surprised than we were. Someone used magic on her like she was using on us. She may even think it was one of us. One thing I know for certain. I am not going to be anywhere where she can get a hold of us again. That woman would kill us as soon as talk to us again."

"But you gave her our real names," Tedi objected. "Even if we can stay safely hidden, what about our fathers? She'll have no trouble finding out where the Clava and Markel homes are."

Arik pondered for a while as his breathing simmered down and his heart started beating regularly again. He reached into his pouch and extracted some coins and pressed them into Tedi's hand. "Get to your father as quickly as you can. Tell him that the innkeeper at one of the inns owes you a favor and he can drink for free all day if he hurries. Pick any inn but the Fisherman's Inn. Give the coins to the innkeeper. It should be enough to cover his drink and a room for the night. I'm sure your father will need the room before he's done."

"You know I don't like him drinking," spat Tedi.

"I know, Tedi, but you won't like him any better dead. Let him drink today. Tomorrow we can come up with a better plan. That woman will be soaked and she'll have to return to the Fisherman's Inn to get changed, so we don't have much time. When you get done, meet me back here."

"Okay," Tedi agreed, "but what about your father?"

"I'm going to send a message out to him by one of the old fishermen who repair nets now. I'll have my father bring his boat in down here away from the docks."

"What if he ignores the message?" asked Tedi.

"He won't," stated Arik. "After my mother was taken, I was pretty upset and frightened about the bandits coming back. I refused to acknowledge that she was really 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 that my father wouldn't believe me if I told him I was in trouble. He promised me that if I ever swore on my mother's life that I was in trouble, he would believe me without question. If anything can be said of Konic Clava, it is that he is a man of his word."

The boys split up to see to their fathers and returned an hour later. Tedi was frowning when he arrived. "The green witch is on the prowl again," Tedi scowled. "I heard her asking Master Tern about our fathers and mothers and where they lived. He asked her if she had a problem with either of us and when she didn't answer he told her to get out and let him get his work done. That put her in a right nasty mood as if she wasn't in one already. Incidentally, she's wearing a blue dress now. Then she started going down the street towards the quay and stopped in each building. I didn't see any smiles crossing her face, so I guess nobody was willing to talk to a stranger."

"Sooner or later somebody will answer her," Arik sighed. "Who is she and what does she want with us?"

"I don't know, but I suspect that she won't leave town until we answer her questions," mused Tedi.

Arik sat drawing pictures in the dirt with a stick and finally jumped to his feet. "I've got it!" he exclaimed. "Let me sneak back into town and tell everybody that we've decided to go seek our fortune up north somewhere and left town. Whatever she wants, she'll have to head north to find us."

"That sounds good," admitted Tedi, "but why north?"

"The bandits you saw in the forest," beamed Arik. "With any luck at all, they'll take her captive before she gets to the next town."

"I like it," Tedi readily agreed. "I'll tell everybody down by the quay. You get yourself up to the Fisherman's Inn and tell Master Tern. He likes you for some reason and the witch has to end up back there sometime."

Arik dashed up alleys and slid between buildings until he was behind the Fisherman's Inn. It was approaching late afternoon and fairly soon the dinner hour would be upon him, making Master Tern unavailable without entering the common room. He still hadn't figured out a way to get Master Tern to believe his story. Arik quickly slipped in the back door to the kitchen and caught Master Tern entering from the door to the common room. The kitchen help didn't even blink as Master Tern strode across the room and swept Arik out the back door.

"What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into?" demanded the innkeeper. "You should know by now 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 means us harm. I can feel it."

"This has to do with this morning and her window, doesn't it?" Esta scolded.

"I don't think so, Master Tern," confided Arik. "Tedi was up on the roof this morning, but she seems more interested in me and it doesn't have anything to do with her window. She's been stalking us all day and finally trapped us on one of the docks. She threatened us and demanded to know about our ages and our families and where we lived."

"I figured that Tedi would be the one on the roof this morning," growled Master Tern. "She probably knows it was a young boy but not what he looks like and she is picking on you because you look older. It is a very serious thing to be pushing women into the sea, young man, and I expect to be talking to your father about this matter."

"We didn't push her," pleaded Arik. "We couldn't push her. We couldn't even run away, Master Tern. She had us frozen from the neck down with magic. Somebody else 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 Tedi for weeks while your fathers went hunting for your mothers, I've had the feeling that you were a very good lad and I've grown to like you, but I will not accept such rubbish from your mouth. Now, you will march inside and sit in the common room until the woman comes back and we will get to the bottom of what you have done to her. I'll send someone down to the docks to wait for your father."

Esta grabbed Arik by the shoulders and started pushing him into the inn.

"No, Master Tern," Arik almost shouted. "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 know why, but I know it well enough to have sent a note to my father to meet me in the woods and for him not to go home."

Master Tern stopped abruptly. "I was present when your father made you that promise, Arik, and I will act as I know your father would. I will tell you, though, I don't put much store in stories of magic and you would be the first to admit that your story seems rather unbelievable."

"I do understand, Master Tern," Arik sighed with relief. "I wouldn't believe it myself except that I felt it. I couldn't move anything but my head and she stood toe-to-toe with me and demanded to know all about me, and her breath reeked of onions. I was looking right into her eyes when she was tossed into the sea and she was very surprised. As soon as she hit the water, it was as if someone untied me. Tedi and I took off running."

"Well, there is no doubt about her breath," chuckled Esta. "That woman eats more onions than are good for a person. I'll let you go meet with your father, but I want to know what is going on."

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

"You're still a bit this side of a man to be adventuring off," scolded the innkeeper.

"We don't plan on really leaving, Master Tern," Arik added quickly. "We've had enough adventure already. We just want to get rid of the witch before she captures us or our fathers in that spell again."

"That cuts pretty close to a lie," admonished Esta.

"It is a lie," admitted Arik. "I also lied to her about my age. I told her I was fourteen. I don't know why, but I get the feeling of just wanting to be rid of her. Master Tern, I really don't know what to do about her. I know she means me harm and I've never done anything to her. I'm hoping that 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 saying is true. I won't lie for you, though. The woman started questioning me and I refused to answer her. I will do that again. You run along and meet with your father and tell him that I want to know what is really going on."

"Certainly, Master Tern," replied Arik. "You could honestly tell her that I said we were leaving town. If she is not really after me, she won't follow. I will go to my father and he will let you know what is going on."

Arik hurried down the alleys and between buildings to return to the woods at the edge of town just as the sky was getting darker. It could hardly be called a sunset by a boy who had never seen the sun, but it was the time of day that the fisherman planned to be back in port. Hopefully, he would make it to the woods without running into the witch.

Chapter 3

Konic Clava was a large, square-shouldered man with heavily muscled arms and hard calluses from many years of plying his trade as a fisherman. His short brown hair and square jaw gave his face the hardened look of a frontier soldier. His well-proportioned frame gave the impression of someone who could handle himself in a brawl without working up a sweat. Yet, for all of his hard looks, Konic's eyes spoke of a kind gentleness beneath his imposing figure. His gray tunic was accented at the waist by a broad leather belt with loops and notches designed to hold various implements of a fisherman. The only tool currently hanging from the belt was a long, sharp knife. When Konic spoke, his voice was low and gravely, yet his soft, sure tone was soothing and comforting.

"You lads did right well under the circumstances," Konic was saying to Arik and Tedi, "although I would prefer a solution that didn't involve forcing drink on Master Markel. Still, your solution did keep him safely away from the witch."

"Then you believe us, Dad?" smiled Arik.

Konic eased himself to the ground and leaned 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 spend nights on your belly for a month. Arik, I told you once that if you ever used that oath I would believe you without question. I meant it and I know you did, too. Most of the villagers would probably believe that you were lying because nobody believes in magic anymore. Most of them have not been outside the town in their entire lives. When Alan and I were searching for your mothers, we saw and heard things that we would not have believed possible before. I believe you saw a witch and I don't think she would risk exposing herself because somebody looked in her window."

Tedi winced at the implied insinuation in 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 was not the reason the witch was questioning you. Arik, I want you boys to move down to the little clearing just south of here, the one we used to picnic in with your mother. Start a campfire but keep alert for bandits. I'm going into town to get Master Markel and we'll meet you there."

"Master Clava," Tedi interrupted, "are you sure it's a good idea bringing my father out here? 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 problem coping with the loss of your mother and he is not the first man to try 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, I could almost join him in a bottle. You know the man as your father and that is a pretty narrow scope of perception. I've known your father for over thirty years and there isn't a finer person I've ever known. If there is going to be trouble, he is the one man I would call on to guard my back. You boys get going and we'll meet you there soon."

"Be careful, Dad," Arik called after the retreating figure.

The boys moved to the clearing and gathered wood for a fire. "Do you believe those things your father said about my dad?" asked Tedi.

Arik turned and looked at Tedi. "If my father says it, then it's true," Arik replied. "I don't know what he can do for your father that hasn't already been tried, but if anybody can help, he will."

Tedi nodded solemnly. "I guess what he said about my view being too narrow is probably true. I guess I've been more trouble than help to him. I just thought he didn't care about 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 will turn out for the better," hoped Arik.

"Yikes!" exclaimed Tedi. "I forgot about the merchant. We were supposed to eat with him tonight and find out the secrets of the outside world. If we don't show, he'll start looking for us and he may run into the witch."

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

"You don't understand," argued Tedi. "I told him our real ages and where we lived. If he goes looking and runs into the witch, she'll know everything. I'll run up and tell him that we have to leave town in a hurry and he'll point the witch northward."

Before Arik could protest, Tedi leaped over a small bush and disappeared into the forest. Tedi ran as fast as his legs would carry him. The sense of urgency in arriving at the merchant's wagon before the witch was the only thought on his mind. When he arrived at the wagon, neither the merchant nor his niece was visible. Tedi ran around to the rear of the wagon and leaned in to peer into the darkness. Roughly, two hands seized his neck 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 and gazed up to see the old merchant standing over him. "Master Khatama," he groaned, "I was not trying take any goods. I was just coming to talk with you and thought you might be in the wagon."

The young girl came towards the wagon and lowered a torch so that Tedi's face was illuminated. "It's one of the young bucks that was coming for dinner," she announced.

"So it is," growled the merchant while extending a hand to the boy. "Sorry about the toss, lad, but I don't take kindly to townspeople rummaging through my wagon."

Tedi was amazed at how firm the old man's hands had felt. When he reached up to rub his neck, he realized that his necklace was missing. He started looking around frantically when the merchant moved to him.

"No need to be looking for your gold, lad," he whispered. "I've got it here. Must have got stuck on my ring. I'm afraid the clasp is broken, though, but I can fix that right up. You wait here and I'll be right back."

Before Tedi could respond, the merchant had climbed into the wagon and was lighting a candle. Tedi watched him gently lay the necklace on a table and smooth out the two unconnected 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 was coming to tell you that we weren't going to make it."

"Why am I not surprised," she quipped. "You two looked like trouble since I first laid eyes on you this morning."

"We are not trouble," Tedi retorted angrily. His tone softened as he delivered the message he had come to say. "We do have to leave town, though. Arik and I are going north at first light to seek our fortunes."

"You may find a different fate than fortune if you plan on traveling alone," the merchant said from behind Tedi. Tedi twirled and the old man was standing there grinning and holding out the repaired necklace. "The clasp is fine now, lad. As good as it was new. I see that you had broken the clasp once before and it hadn't been properly mended. No matter, though, no one could tell it was ever broken now. It is a beautiful piece. Where did you get it?"

Tedi reached out and took the necklace. Refastening it around his neck he answered the merchant. "I didn't steal it, if that's what you mean. It was my mother's and the only thing I have to remind me of her."

The merchant gently patted Tedi's shoulder. "Is that true, son? I don't mean the part about you stealing it. I mean about the only thing she left you. It seems to me from our earlier conversation, that she left you something she loved a whole lot more than that necklace. It also seems that both you and your father have forgotten that. Taking care of his pain is your job now and yours, his. Talk to him before you run away, lad."

Tedi gazed at the merchant's glistening eyes and nodded. "I will, Master Khatama, I will." Tedi turned and ran back to the clearing getting there just moments before his father and Master Clava arrived. His father was walking unsteadily and mostly supported by Arik's father. Master Clava also had a long duffel bag slung over his shoulder by a strap. The bag was stuffed solid and he rolled it off his shoulder and onto the ground.

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

Arik's father eased Master Markel to a sitting position with his back against a tree. Konic sat next to him and talked quietly. Arik could not quite hear what was being said, but Tedi's father stiffened and his eyes opened wide and he started nodding his head. The only word Arik thought he heard was Empress and it made no sense to him. Tedi finished with the coffee and took two cups over to the men. Konic sat his on the ground and held the other to Alan's lips.

"What were they talking about?" Arik whispered to Tedi when he returned from delivering the coffee.

"I don't know," Tedi softly replied. "They stopped talking as soon as I approached them." After a few moments Tedi continued. "You know, Arik, I've been a fool for three years. It took an old merchant to show me what was in front of my face the whole time. I've been so selfish and feeling sorry for myself over my mother's disappearance that I couldn't see how much he was hurting. At first, I thought my mother's disappearance was just an excuse for him to start drinking and after a while I just mentally belittled him for not being able to control himself. The old man made me realize that I'm part of the reason that he still drinks. I shut him out of my life and made his loss twice as bad and my own, as well."

Arik looked across the campfire and saw the tears welling up in Tedi's eyes. "You really ought to tell him that, Tedi. I can keep my father busy for a while." Arik stood up and called across the clearing. "Dad, I need you for a moment."

Master Clava stared at the two boys near the campfire wondering what was so urgent that Tedi couldn't help Arik with. He saw Tedi hesitantly start to walk over to where he and Alan sat and decided to find out. By the time he got to the campfire, he looked back to see Tedi kneeling next to his father. "What is it, son?" he asked Arik.

Arik walked over and hugged his father. "I just want to thank you for being here for me," he choked. He smiled when he looked past his father and saw Tedi and Master Markel 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 trouble this witch has brought, she has brought some good, too."

Breaking the embrace and tending to the boiling pot, Arik asked, "What are we going to do about her, Dad? What is it she wants?"

Konic poured himself another cup of coffee 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 where we live. I didn't get much of an idea why she is so interested in us, though. I did have many people offer their sympathies about my boy running away up North, though," he chuckled.

"It seemed to be the best way of getting rid of her," admitted Arik. "I hope it works. It looks like 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 Tern later tonight and first thing in the morning. We'll know if she takes the bait."

Konic lapsed into silence and Arik tried to pick up traces of Tedi's conversation. The only things that Arik could out pick between the cricket chirps and the wind fluttering the leaves was the word necklace and an admonishment for Tedi to promise something.

Eventually, the weak soup was ready and Tedi and his father came over to the campfire. Master Markel looked steadier and more determined than anytime that Arik could remember. There wasn't much talk around the campfire, but Arik noticed the two Markels sitting closer and more comfortably than he would have imagined before tonight.

After a while, Konic Clava rose and walked silently out of the campground. He returned about an hour later wearing a smile. "She already left," he declared. "Master Tern said she was in such a hurry that she didn't even ask for a refund for the room she had already paid for."

"Well, that's a relief," Master Markel sighed. "Konic, I would like to go fishing with you for a few days if you will have me, starting tomorrow."

Konic smiled at his old friend as he eased himself to a seat by the fire. "You are always welcome in my boat, Alan. I have a new spot I would like to try."

"It is good to have such a friend," Alan said warmly. "That will give Tedi enough time to earn what we need to fix my boat properly so I may begin getting my life back together."

Tedi touched the necklace around his neck and his father shook his head slowly. "No, Tedi, you will go with Arik hunting. When we have enough money, we will rebuild our boat together."

Tedi beamed as his father put his shaking arm around his son and hugged him. Master Markel's brown eyes shone with a determination that had been absent for too long. Tedi knew the next few days would be very hard on his father and being out at sea with Master Clava was just what his father needed.

Everyone sat around the campfire in silence, lost in his own thoughts. The sounds of the waves lapping steadily at the shore and the crickets' melody in the woods were peaceful and calming.

Konic was the first to stir as he went to the long duffel bag and pulled out some blankets. He handed one to each of the group and rolled his into a pillow. "Not much sense going back to town tonight," he announced. "It's been a while since I camped out, but the night is fair and I am tired. First up should put on a pot of coffee." With that he stretched out on the ground and went to sleep. Everyone soon followed.

Arik awoke to the smell of coffee and oatmeal. He sat up and looked around. It took a while for him to get his bearings and realize where he was. The two men were quietly cleaning up the campground. The only things not packed in the duffel bag were two cups and bowls and the oatmeal and coffee pots that were on the fire as well as the two blankets that he and Tedi were using. Arik leaned over and shook Tedi, who groggily awoke.

Konic looked over at the two sleepy-eyed boys. "Morning comes early and the fish won't wait," he chuckled. "You boys clean up and store the gear somewhere safe before you go off hunting. I think we will spend a few more days camping out if that is not objectionable to anyone." Master Markel was whistling a tune gaily as the two men headed towards the boat.

Arik got himself some coffee and filled a cup for Tedi. "Your father seems in a good mood this morning," he remarked. "What did you say to him last night?"

Tedi rubbed his eyes and reached for the cup. "Just something the merchant made me realize," he answered softly. "I think your father had already softened him up by the time I spoke to him, though. Whatever the cause, it sure makes me feel good. I'm not going to be getting into any more trouble."

The boys cleaned up the camp and stowed the bag before taking off in search of game. They hunted for a couple of hours and finally decided to head back to town. Arik had caught five rabbits and Tedi three. "I said we could be partners and split the take," Arik began, "and I meant it."

Tedi shook his head and laughed. "No way, 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 the Fisherman's Inn. Master Tern was in a good mood this morning as well, although it was already later than when Arik usually showed up 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 the bag and talked with Master Tern, Tedi strode over to the doorway to the common room. He began gazing at the strange and different costumes the travelers wore, wondering where they were coming from and where they were going. So little was known about the outside world and most travelers were not the talkative type. His eyes settled on a dark figure in the dimly lit corner of the common room. Tedi focused his eyes at the dark warrior image hiding in the shadows. The stern, cold face had icy blue eyes that seemed to be constantly scanning every person in the room without seeming to move. He was dressed entirely in black and his outfit appeared to have pouches sewn into it everywhere. The man could probably carry the contents of a campsite in those pouches and not even need a pack on his back. His long hair was jet black and bound into a tail that was draped over one shoulder. The black hilt of a massive sword strapped to his back protruded over the other shoulder. Across his midsection was a wide black belt with many loops for implements, but only a lone black knife was present now. His eyes turned on Tedi and stopped in recognition. Tedi turned and ran out of the kitchen without stopping.

Arik looked up from his conversation with Master Tern as Tedi flew through the kitchen and out the door. The innkeeper looked shocked at Arik and then quickly pressed some coins into his hand. "You need to tame that boy down, Arik," the innkeeper stated. Arik nodded and took off after his friend.

When Arik reached the alley, Tedi was nowhere in sight. He ran alongside the inn to the street and saw Tedi just disappearing into the woods where the merchant had been the night before. Arik took off running for the woods and started calling Tedi's name when he entered the forest, but he could find no sign of his friend. After half an hour, Arik decided to give up and return to town. As he walked along an animal path he heard a large sound and froze, an arrow fitted to his bow without thinking. Arik lowered himself to a crouch, eyes following the sound, which seemed to be coming nearer. After a few seconds, which seemed an eternity to Arik, Tedi walked onto the path.

Arik lowered his bow and stood, scaring Tedi into producing a quiet gulp. "Okay, Arik, so you are quieter than me in the woods," Tedi sighed with relief. "I promise I'll let you teach me if you don't scare me like that again."

"Actually, you were pretty quiet, 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 up and I can detect anyone in the woods within one hundred paces."

The two boys sat on the path and talked.

"Why did you run from the Fisherman's Inn," Arik inquired.

Tedi breathed deeply and replied. "I saw the bandit in the common room. The one who tried to kill me with 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 would stumble into them when she left thinking she would follow us north. Now she may come back when she finds out we didn't leave town."

"I don't know," pondered Tedi. "I just got frightened and took off. Still, I think I'd rather face some bandit killer than that witch with her magic and questions about our age."

"Maybe we should just go spend the day at our campsite until our fathers return," suggested Arik.

"I think that is a good idea," responded Tedi. "I don't want that bandit to know anything about us. He might even start asking questions like the witch did."

The two boys rose to continue along the path, oblivious to the man dressed in black that had been squatting not ten paces away.

The boys crossed over the coastal highway and reentered the woods to make their way to their campsite. Once along the way, they heard rabbits and managed to bag two of them for dinner. Arik laughed. "See, when you are quiet enough, even the animals don't know that you are there. Maybe we can spend the afternoon by me teaching you some of the tricks I learned from Trapper Grein."

The man in black smiled slightly as Tedi agreed to the lessons and the boys continued down the path. It took longer getting to the campsite through the woods, but the boys felt safer keeping out of sight of anyone in the town who might be looking for them. When they reached the campsite Arik retrieved the hidden duffel bag and started a fire. The man in black crept off as Arik started teaching Tedi his tricks of quietness.

When the men returned from fishing, the boys had a dinner of rabbit stew waiting for them. Master Markel walked over to the pot and inhaled deeply. "That smells mighty good, boys," he remarked. "Master Clava and I have kept some of today's catch for dinner, but what you have smells a bit more appetizing."

"I think we can have the stew and the fish," added Konic. "It's not right to waste good food. Did you have a good day hunting?"

Arik and Tedi had agreed to be honest with their fathers and explained about running into the bandit at the inn. Tedi went on to explain how he had run into the bandits' camp two nights ago and the bandit had hurled the deadly little star at him. The boys continued talking over dinner and their fathers seemed content to listen. Tedi had expected his father to be furious, but Alan's facial expression was one of concern.

After dinner, Alan and Konic sat talking quietly while the boys cleaned the dishes and pots. Tedi thought his father looked happier than he had at anytime in the last three years. When the boys were all done with their chores, Alan spoke. "We are going to post a guard tonight and every night until things quiet down in Lorgo," he announced. "Tedi, give that star weapon to Master Clava. Arik, you are going to have the last watch, so you should get to sleep right away. Tedi will wake you when it is your turn. Everyone is to be awakened if you even think there may be a problem. I will take first watch."

Tedi handed the star to Konic. Alan indicated that Tedi should sit next to him so they could talk without disturbing Arik. Konic stuck the weapon in his pouch and started walking towards town. "Where is Master Clava going?" Tedi inquired.

"He is going to talk with your bandit," Alan said quietly.

Arik shivered as he watched his father walk away from the campsite.