Return to Canifis

“Don’t be a fool, boy,” she scolded. “The Black Boar was a monster in life. It is an open secret that he worshipped Zamorak, just as he was known to work with the Kinshra in their patrols in The Wilderness. He was an evil, evil man who sought to reclaim his lands by marriage and murder. His first two wives died horribly-and he then attempted to marry me. No doubt I would have died also. No. I am glad Sir Theodore has killed him. It has saved me the job.”

Lady Anne stepped toward Gar’rth. She stopped once and spoke again, this time without any attempt at privacy.

“Be sure to tell that to Lord Hyett, as I dance and enjoy myself tonight in the company of better men. And tell him I smiled when I said it. Smiled and laughed.”

As if to illustrate she gave a laugh that reminded Gar’rth of breaking glass. The youth bowed his head and ran quickly away into the darkness of the bailey. Lady Anne turned back.

“You must forgive me, Gar’rth,” she said. “It is news of Lord Hyett, the knight Theodore fought. He is not expected to live out the night.” She smiled happily. “As you can probably tell, I have no fondness for him. Theodore’s wound is a just one, and long overdue.”

She rested her hands on the balustrade.

“But what were we talking of? Oh, yes. Theodore and Kara. He wrote her a letter, you see. One that I read- quite by accident I assure you.”

Now it was Gar’rth’s turn to laugh. Lady Anne looked suddenly hurt, though he couldn’t tell if it was sincere.

“It was!” she protested. “I knocked her satchel over when she was bathing, and a strange dagger fell out of it. When I put it back I found a letter to Kara from Theodore. I know it was wrong, Gar’rth, but I couldn’t resist… what are you frowning for?”

“Which dagger?” he demanded. “Kara carries none in her satchel.” He knew that for certain, from their time in The Wilderness.

“It was a strange one, with two blades.” She waved her hand. But that’s not important-” She continued, but he didn’t hear her now.

The same dagger that Pia used to cut Jerrod, he knew with growing certainty. It must be! That was why I felt so ill on our journey to Varrock! Exactly as Velko said Jerrod suffered, I suffered too.

Fear and anger twisted themselves up in Gar’rth’s stomach as he doubled over, holding the balustrade, his face hidden in shadow. He breathed deeply, gasping, and felt fire burn his skin.

Not now!

He saw Lady Anne’s shadow move closer.

“Gar’rth, what is it?” she asked, confusion in her voice. “Shall I get help?”

Her scent was suddenly far more real than before.

Stronger, more tempting.

He felt her hand on his shoulder and he turned to see her, his face in the torchlight.

Lady Anne gasped when she saw him.

“Your eyes!” she said. “What’s wrong with you?” But she didn’t wait for an explanation. Instead, her face more pale than before, she fled back into the hall, leaving Gar’rth alone again.

He felt his tears on his face, and his skin went suddenly cold.

Why didn’t you tell me, Kara? You are a friend to me, more than a friend.

The fever subsided.

He breathed in deeply.

“Gar’rth?” It was Arisha’s voice now. Somehow he hadn’t picked up her scent.

“I am all right, Arisha,” he said angrily. “I don’t need you, or Kara or Ebenezer to keep watching me.”

“I saw Lady Anne come back into the hall,” Arisha replied. “She was afraid, I think.”

Gar’rth laughed.

“Perhaps you should be more careful,” she advised.

Does she know about the dagger also? Has she kept the secret from me?

“More careful?” He laughed again. “Perhaps I’ve been too careful.”

He turned and strode purposefully into the hall, Arisha following.

“Gar’rth! What are you doing?” There was a panic in Arisha’s voice-fear that he had never heard before. Not even in battle.

It made him feel powerful.

He strode over to the seated Lord Frey. The old noble gave him a grin.

“You wish to wager boy? I sent your Sir Theodore packing. Nearly snapped his wrist.”

“I am no Sir Theodore,” Gar’rth growled, and the man raised an eyebrow.

“Gar’rth you mustn’t,” Arisha told him sternly. Someone laughed.

“Listen to the barbarian, if you wish to keep your money,” an anonymous man joked.

Gar’rth dropped his belt pouch on the table. Lord Frey overturned it and then gave a gasp. For it was a gem, worth a small fortune.

“I won’t take your money, boy,” he said, looking up. “Not this. It is too much. I will not risk bad feeling between us over such a contest.”

“Very well,” Gar’rth countered. “Then we play without betting.”

Gar’rth put the gem back in his pouch and returned it to his belt before driving his elbow onto the tabletop. Lord Frey stared bemused as the cries of the onlookers grew louder. Finally, he nodded.

“Fine, boy. Fine. I don’t know what you wish to prove, but you have your game.”

Lord Frey grabbed hold of the table edge with his free hand and brought his other arm onto the surface, mirroring Gar’rth’s actions.

“You ever done this before, boy?” Lord Frey asked.

Gar’rth simply nodded.

“Then you know the technique.” He nodded again. “Good luck.”

“Stop humouring him, Lord Frey! The boy’s arrogance has earned him a lesson.”

Gar’rth looked to the stage and saw Lady Anne watching him fearfully. His behaviour had not gone unnoticed by his friends, either. Theodore and Kara were also staring anxiously, and Ebenezer, Doric, and Castimir were already walking down the steps toward him…

Lord Frey suddenly gave a push.

Gar’rth’s arm lurched backwards before he corrected it, slanting at an angle.

The crowd yelled.

“You are a strong one, boy.” Lord Frey grinned. “I’ll give you that.”

And so are you, Gar’rth realised. Maybe more than I. He gritted his teeth as he summoned his strength. He felt his bones creaking under the strain.

But slowly-near imperceptibly-Lord Frey’s arm was pushed back.

Yet the older man laughed.

“By the gods, boy, it’s been long since I’ve had a match with such as you. Maybe if I were younger…” He breathed in deeply, most likely in preparation for a final attempt to force Gar’rth’s arm back.

But Gar’rth would show no mercy. Not today.

He was waiting for the push when it came. His arm was like steel.

“That’s impossible,” Lord Frey moaned as the crowd shouted and clapped. Gar’rth added to the pressure, and the old man’s wrist snapped back onto the tabletop. There was a tremendous yell from the onlookers. Lord Frey rubbed his arm and looked at Gar’rth with a mixture of respect and concern.

As Gar’rth stood, he was aware of that look-of every eye upon him. He saw Theodore’s face, noted Kara’s sudden fear, and then he saw Ebenezer, marching toward him with black thunder all over his features.

“Outside,” the alchemist ordered in a cold fury. “Outside. Now.” Gar’rth nodded, but Ebenezer’s anger couldn’t wipe away the sense of accomplishment.

It was worth it. They know who is the stronger now.

Kara knows it.

Theodore knows it.