Return to Canifis

Only Lord Despaard, Doric, and Arisha were absent.

“Good,” he breathed out, and his breath fogged the air. It was cold here. “How long have I slept for?”

“Nearly two days,” Gar’rth replied. “I want to talk to you, Theodore, before I wake the others.” Gar’rth strode forward and Theodore felt his brow crease in surprise. He was no longer dressed in his hood, cloak, and loose-fitting garments. Now he was attired in black trousers, with a black doublet covered by a jerkin inlaid with mysterious silver symbols. A black cloak hung from a metal brooch that lay across his throat. He had washed and shaved, and now he stood as fine as any prince the knight had seen.

Gar’rth stepped over to Kara’s side. She lay alone on a settee. The werewolf removed his right glove and gently clasped her cheek in his hand, caressing her skin lightly.

Is that what you choose to talk of now, Gar’rth? Or have you changed more than your dress?

Have you joined with Him, with Zamorak?

“She is very beautiful, isn’t she?”

Theodore made no answer. Instead, he stood stiffly.

“I know you think so. We both do. We both love her. But only one of us can have her.”

So this is it, then. The truth of it.

Slowly, he reached for his sword and drew it out an inch.

The werewolf smiled, his white teeth shining in the gloom.

“I know what you think of me. You have always thought so. You fear me. The others do, too. I had the same dream you had that night at Paterdomus. It frightened me, as well.” He sighed and put the glove back on. “But I have made my choice now, Theodore, and there is nothing you can do about it, I am afraid.”

“What choice?” Theodore asked warily.

“You can have her.”

What?

The words stopped Theodore dead.

“I don’t understand.”

“As far as she is mine to give, she is yours-and here, in this place, I could possess her absolutely. Whether she loves you or not, I do not know. But I have one request.

“When you return to Misthalin, you will do two things for me. You will give her a letter, but not before you are across the river. Secondly, take care of her, Theodore. If you do not marry her yourself then make sure she finds a good man, a dull one who is happy with his lot. In time she will put aside her sword and cease her wanderings. Make sure she has everything she can possibly need. I have eased the way. On your belt is a pouch. It holds jewels that are larger than any you will find in Varrock. You are a very rich man now. Use that power wisely.”

Gar’rth turned to a table nearby. On its surface Theodore saw two sealed envelopes.

“This is the one for Kara,” Gar’rth said. “This one you will deliver to Ebenezer in Varrock. You will be relieved to know that he is much improved since when we left him, although I doubt very much I will see him again.”

“How do you know that, Gar’rth?” the knight asked. “And what do you mean?”

He has changed. In only two days since we fought side by side in Canifis, his whole being is different.

“I have met my master, Theodore. The man who wanted me back. Papelford was right. I haven’t been harmed at all, and already I have learned so much.”

Gar’rth handed him the envelopes, sealed tight.

“Is it Lord Drakan?”

“No. It is another. He calls himself the Black Prince, but that is no longer important.”

“No longer important? What about our mission? What about the Wyrd?”

Gar’rth laughed.

“The mission was a lie from the start, Theodore. Of course, we didn’t know it then. The Wyrd herself is no longer a problem for Misthalin, I believe. And as for the missing victims, they have never been in Morytania at all. King Roald must seek elsewhere for them, though I do not know where.

“But like I said,” he continued, “I will likely never see Ebenezer again. For I cannot come with you, Theodore. This is my goodbye. It is a trade. I have to remain here, voluntarily, for you to go free. The alternative would be your deaths.”

Theodore gritted his teeth. He had suspected something like this since he had seen Gar’rth’s new attire, but he had hoped otherwise.

“Our escape will be desperate,” he said. “And unlikely.”

“You have my word that you will not be attacked, Theodore. Although I would advise you to go as quickly as you can.”

Your word, Gar’rth? How is Morytania possibly bound by that?

“I will never see her smile or laugh or cry again,” Gar’rth murmured as he leaned down to Kara’s face. Gently, as if afraid to wake her, he kissed her forehead. Then he turned. “I shall wake the others now. You will have to carry Albertus, for his recovery is doubtful. Doric and Arisha are nearby with Lord Despaard. They have a boat which will carry you west.” He stroked Kara’s hair. “But I shall not wake her. I don’t think I could stand to hear her voice now that my decision is made.”

“Wait, Gar’rth, before you go,” Theodore sheathed his sword and approached the werewolf. He thrust his hand out. “I have always feared what you are, Gar’rth. That is no lie.” His voice broke and his vision blurred. “But the man you were when you fought at my side, when you went with Kara into The Wilderness-there are few better. I am sorry now of my jealousy of you.”

Gar’rth nodded and took Theodore’s hand in his.

“I have learned much from our time together, Theodore. Make sure you tell Ebenezer that. Together, you showed me what friendship was. I never had that before, and I will never forget that. Never.”

They embraced, Gar’rth’s strength bruising Theodore’s flesh.

“Just look after her, Theodore. Promise me you will?”

“I will, Gar’rth. I will.”

Castimir awoke with the smell of smoke in his nostrils. He coughed reflexively, and as he did so he sat up.

What happened?

Opposite him, Gideon Gleeman was looking equally confused, and behind him, on a black settle lay Kara, unmoving. At the jester’s side, lying on a litter, Albertus Black moaned.

“We haven’t long,” Gar’rth said. “You must go. Now.”

Go where? Where are we? And why is it “you” and not “we”?

“Castimir, can you help Gideon carry Albertus?” Theodore said. “I’ll take Kara.”

The wizard rushed to help Gideon as Theodore hefted Kara over his shoulder with a grunt. Only Gar’rth remained unmoving.

He’s not coming. He means to send us away and remain.

“Gar’rth, you can’t stay here,” he said. “They will force you to give yourself to Zamorak if you do… won’t they?”

“I do not know, Castimir. They have not done so yet, but I have made the choice that matters, perhaps the last free choice I ever will make. You are to go free, back to Misthalin, but the price of your freedom is that I stay behind. That is why I haven’t woken Kara. She would not understand that there are some forces it is impossible to fight.”

“But… but…” He didn’t know what to say. Gar’rth’s position was an impossible one.

“I have already spoken to Theodore about it, Castimir. He will tell all on your way back.” Gar’rth clasped Castimir in a great hug and the wizard saw his friend’s eyes water. “This is the only way, Castimir. The only way.

“And you should know that it is not just your lives for which I have made this exchange. Here, I can help, really help. On your way you will see how the wretches of the ghettoes live, of their misery and fear. If I can do anything at all to help them, then it will be worth doing. Go now, but go with the knowledge that we still have a chance to make a better world for some. He will guide you.”

Castimir turned to where Gar’rth gestured. Through an open set of double doors stood a thin elderly man with