Unicorns' Opal (22 page)

Arik was unsure of the lettering on the wagon and he suddenly felt very foolish, but Tedi persisted.

“What reason would you have to write notes about where we are going next?” accused Tedi.

“You have gone through my belongings?” spat Tanya. “You have no right to go through my things. Besides, if I was writing those notes to help someone follow us, why would I still have them in my pack? Do you even bother to think before you accuse someone?”

“You don’t have any right to go through Jenneva’s things either,” retorted Tedi.

Tanya mounted and started to ride towards the Coast Road as Alex and Jenneva emerged from the stables. Alex indicated to the boys to follow and turned towards the Coast Road.

“She has a point,” Arik said softly. “Why would she still have the notes?”

“I don’t know,” conceded Tedi as he mounted his horse, “but I don’t trust her.”

Arik and Tedi caught up to the rest of the group and they headed south along the Coast Road.

***

“Your men failed to get Alex and Jenneva,” frowned Duke Everich. “The army all seems unable to find them.”

“Yes,” responded Dalgar, “I had heard of their failure. I wish I had had more men available at the time, but I was hoping that surprise would help us. It should not surprise me that Alex would be cautious in this city.”

“Do you think they are still in Tagaret?” questioned Duke Everich. “I have had men posted at every exit.”

“I would bet that they are long gone,” frowned Dalgar. “They know this city well and have many friends here. I was hoping they would come after the two in the other room.”

“You mean to draw Tork here?” queried Duke Everich. “I do not think that is wise.”

“The man is a good soldier,” laughed Dalgar. “He is not invincible. It disturbs me that he abandoned these two so easily though. It makes me doubt their importance to the prophecy. They could just be diversions. Perhaps Arik or Tanya are the important ones.”

“I still question your plan of instilling these two on the Council,” protested Duke Everich. “They are too young to be taken seriously by players of the Contest.”

“That is the best part of my plan,” smirked Dalgar. “They are young enough to be underestimated by the others. Players will make alliances with them without considering them a threat.”

“And you think that is to our advantage?” inquired Duke Everich.

“Of course it is,” affirmed Dalgar. “You should remember that Aurora and I were their age when we elevated King Eugene to the throne. People did not take us seriously at that time. They will make the same mistake this time as well.”

“And how do you know they will stay loyal?” asked the Duke.

“Because they are in love as Aurora and I were,” snickered Dalgar. “They will obey out of fear of harm to the other. I have thought this out thoroughly. Secure them mansions of their own, but keep them apart. They are only to meet each other in public, but do not allow them to realize that we are orchestrating it. Hand pick the staff for their mansions and make sure it is well sprinkled with those who are loyal to us. Niki and Fredrik are not allowed to leave the city without permission.”

“It shall be as you wish,” declared Duke Everich.

***

The rangers rode into the small clearing and dismounted. The darkness of night had just fallen and the lapping surf from then nearby beach overshadowed the minimal forest noises.

“This is where it all began,” Arik stated nostalgically. “It seems so long ago.”

“I can’t wait to see our fathers,” Tedi responded enthusiastically.

“We are to call them Konic and Alan now,” reminded Arik. “There is still danger for them if their ties to us are known.”

“Whatever we call them,” replied Tedi, “I still can’t wait to see them.”

“Set up camp,” ordered Alex. “I will go find them and bring them back here.”

“They may not want to leave town with you,” suggested Arik. “Perhaps it is better if Tedi and I went.”

“Too many people know you,” Alex shook his head. “I do not want the word spread inadvertently. I am sure I can convince them to come.”

The boys nodded sadly and Alex slipped along the trail leading to Lorgo. The village was quiet and few people were about although it was still early evening. Alex strode along the waterfront until he came to Konic’s house, or at least what used to be Konic Clava’s house. The house had burned down sometime in the past month. The ashes were not fresh and yet time had not yet distributed the ashes to the winds. Alex turned and walked to Alan Markel’s house and saw the same destruction. Frowning, Alex made his way to the Fisherman’s Inn. Alex entered the common room and sought the seat in the corner. The common room was fairly empty and the serving girl arrived promptly.

“Just an ale,” Alex said. “And ask Master Tern if he would have a word with me.”

The girl smiled and nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. The innkeeper returned with Alex’s ale and sat at the table across from him.

“I am looking for Konic Clava and Alan Markel,” Alex said softly. “Do you know where I might find them?”

The innkeeper stared at Alex through squinted eyes and Alex could see the man’s jaw firm. “They don’t live in Lorgo anymore,” Master Tern stated as he rose to leave.

“The boys will be disappointed to have missed them,” Alex retorted softly.

Esta Tern sat back down and frowned. “What boys?” he asked.

As much as Alex did not want any townsfolk to know that the boys were in the area, he sensed that the innkeeper knew where the fathers had gone and was wisely keeping the information to himself. He also believed that the fathers must be in trouble to pick up and leave their hometown.

“Arik and Tedi wanted to see them and explain what has happened to them since leaving home,” Alex explained. “I saw the burned down huts. Are Konic and Alan in trouble?”

“Perhaps the boys should come here themselves,” suggested Master Tern.

“Do you really think that is wise?” questioned Alex. “I hesitated to even mention them in this town, but I must find out about their fathers or I fear the boys may do something foolish to find them.”

“If the boys were to come back to this village that would be a foolhardy thing to do,” agreed Esta Tern as he rose again. “I do not expect to see the boys or their fathers ever again. I have an inn to run. If you need anything else, just ask the girl and she will serve it.”

Alex shook his head as he watched the innkeeper leave. He left his ale on the table and exited the inn. Being careful not to be followed, Alex made his way into the woods and back to the clearing.

“Your fathers are gone,” Alex reported. “Their houses were burned down and Esta Tern will not discuss what happened to them. I guess I do not blame him.”

“I will speak to Master Tern,” declared Arik. “He will tell me.”

Tedi rose to go with Arik. “We will go alone,” Tedi stated. “If anyone else came with us, Master Tern would not believe we were coming of our own will.”

“Be careful,” Alex called as the boys left the campsite.

Arik and Tedi moved along the forest trails and did not enter the village until they were as close to the Fisherman’s Inn as they could get. They moved quietly to the back door of the inn and knocked gently. Esta Tern was quick to open the door a crack and his mouth hung open as he spied the boys. The old man eased himself out the door and closed it.

“So you really are here,” Esta Tern whispered as his eyes darted around looking for anyone else.

Arik nodded and waved towards the stable and they all moved into the small outbuilding.

“It has been a long time, Master Tern,” smiled Arik. “What has happened to our fathers?”

“Ever since you left town,” began Master Tern, “people have been coming here looking for you. Unsavory characters they were. After a while they started asking about your fathers. Konic and Alan moved into the woods to avoid the searchers. Earlier this week, the Dark Riders burned down your houses and threatened the townsfolk if they didn’t reveal where your fathers were hiding. Konic and Alan decided to leave the village to spare the people any more visits. They headed south hoping to find you two. I think they realized that they had made a mistake in allowing you two to go off by yourselves.”

“Do you know were they were heading?” asked Arik.

“And how long they have been gone?” added Tedi.

“They have been gone for four days,” answered Master Tern. “Where they will go, I do not know, but today a group of Dark Riders found the spot where they had been camping. They also figured out that you fathers headed south. I have a very bad feeling about your fathers evading those Dark Riders.”

“We shall go after them,” decided Arik. “Did our fathers have horses?”

“No they were on foot,” replied the innkeeper. “A man came into the inn tonight. A killer he was. Have you taken up with bandits now? You know that would break your fathers’ hearts.”

“We are not bandits,” assured Tedi.

“Well that man sure was,” argued Master Tern. “I know a killer when I see one and that man has the blood of many on his soul. You should not be traveling with him. Find a town to settle down in until this whole thing blows over.”

“That man was Alexander…” Arik stated.

“Arik!” objected Tedi.

“Master Tern might as well know the truth,” continued Arik. “The Black Devils know and the Dark Riders know. Why shouldn’t the good people know as well? That killer was Alexander Tork.”

“Alexander Tork?” echoed Master Tern skeptically. “I thought he was dead. Why would a legend be concerned with you boys?”

“We are bringing an end to the Darkness, Master Tern,” responded Arik. “Already there are clear skies over Cordonia. Soon the Darkness will vanish everywhere. We are the Children of the Ancient Prophecy, Master Tern. Alexander Tork is guiding us and preparing us for the battles to come. You are wise to hide your knowledge of our fathers and where they have gone. Sarac’s forces will try to use them to get to us.”

“I would think you daft, young Arik,” Master Tern stated, “except for a traveler who came through here from Bordon. He said the skies were clear and the stars filled the nighttime skies. Everyone here thought he was crazy. Praise the gods if you can help be a part of that. I don’t know much about old prophecies, but I know you two lads. There is good in both of you. Head north away from here. Get somewhere safe.”

“No,” declared Arik, “we are heading south to save our fathers. We will not sacrifice them for our own safety. If they must be on the run, then they can join with us. Thank you for everything, Master Tern. We must be going now.”

Esta Tern stood open-mouthed as Arik and Tedi silently slid out of the stable and dashed for the woods. After they were within the safety of the forest, Arik and Tedi stopped.

“We must be in agreement on this, Tedi,” Arik said. “I want to go after our fathers. The Golden Horn can wait until we find them. Will you back me up?”

“Of course,” nodded Tedi. “We cannot save the world if we cannot save our fathers. All of this training was to fight the forces of evil. Why not start the fighting now?”

Arik smiled and led the way back to the campsite. Alex, Jenneva, and Tanya waited eagerly to hear the news.

“Our fathers have fled south,” Arik stated. “They left four days ago on foot. There is a group of Dark Riders after them that left here today. Tedi and I are going after them.”

“Four days on foot,” echoed Alex. “If they keep heading south along the coast, they will reach Toresh before we can catch them. Toresh is not a safe place for you boys to be.”

“This is not open to discussion,” Tedi declared. “You have trained us to fight the evil forces. We will use the skills you have taught us. Our fathers will not be abandoned. You cannot stop us.”

“He was not trying to stop you, fisherboy,” scolded Tanya. “We have already agreed that your fathers must be found and protected. Alex figured that they fled when he saw the houses burned.”

“What I meant,” clarified Alex, “was that it would be foolish for you two to enter Toresh. That is not to say that I cannot go into the city and get your fathers to come out. There are hundreds of Dark Riders in Toresh. Maybe thousands. I am not sure because I try to avoid it when we are down this way, but it is one of their strongholds.”

“And you mean to enter it alone?” questioned Arik. “That sounds crazier than Tedi and I going into the city.”

“Not as crazy as it sounds,” interjected Jenneva. “Alex has been disguising himself for years. He knows how the Dark Riders think and how to fool them.”

“The hard part will be convincing your fathers to come with me,” commented Alex. “They will see me as a threat as much as they see the Dark Riders as a threat. In any event, we need to leave right away. We must pass the group of Dark Riders that are tracking your fathers. That group will actively search for Konic and Alan when they arrive in Toresh. We must arrive there first.”

Alex emerged from a narrow animal trail onto the westbound trail out of Toresh. Kaz halted as Alex grabbed his bow and an arrow. Alex nocked the arrow and drew the bowstring back. He let the arrow fly and struck a tree right where the animal trail branched off the main trail. Satisfied that the arrow was plainly visible, Alex put the bow away and started towards Toresh.

Toresh was not a walled city. Its strength was in the number of Dark Riders that gathered there. Home to thousands of Dark Riders, who patrolled everything between Trekum to the south and Tagaret to the north, there were usually hundreds in residence at any given time. It was not a city to visit if the Dark Riders had an interest in you. Even people who had never raised an eyebrow from the Dark Riders avoided it. It was a city where Sarac ruled and nothing else mattered. While most worldly travelers knew to avoid Toresh, villagers like Konic Clava and Alan Markel would have no advance notice of what the city held for them.

Alex wore an old gray hooded cloak over his black suit and Kaz had been liberally splattered with dirt and mud. Alex’s sword and sheath were wrapped in a dirty cloth and attached to the saddle. Alex rode towards Toresh slumped in the saddle and appearing to be in no hurry. As he neared the city, Alex felt something on his shoulder and he subconsciously brushed his shoulder with his hand.