Return to Canifis

Gar’rth nodded and turned on his heel, back toward the terrace that seemed his constant destination for the evening.

“What in Saradomin’s name do you think you were doing?” The old man’s face was an angry bright red, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

Gar’rth didn’t reply.

“Answer me, Gar’rth!”

Booted feet crunching the gravel underfoot were the signal that Theodore and Kara had joined them. He was alone with his friends. Their faces wore concerned masks. Castimir’s hand was in his pocket, Doric stood with his arms crossed, Arisha looked on sympathetically, and Kara and Theodore waited patiently for an explanation.

“I just… I don’t like this. Here.”

None of his friends moved, or said a word.

But are they really my friends? He wondered silently. Kara has hidden things from me, Theodore sees me as a rival, and whose side would the others take? Finally Ebenezer spoke again.

“That’s no excuse. You cannot endanger yourself by such foolishness. You’re-”

“I’m different,” Gar’rth gritted. “I know. I know I am.”

“Gar’rth, what’s wrong?” Kara asked. “It’s clearly something more than just not liking this place.”

Gar’rth laughed as his eyes watered.

“You ask me that?” he said. “You? You have kept secrets, Kara, from me.”

Kara shook her head.

And now she tries to deny it.

“A dagger,” he continued. “The one Pia hurt Jerrod with. You took it. You didn’t tell me.”

Kara’s face fell, and in a suddenly triumphant moment Gar’rth knew he was right.

“I know why,” he said. “You don’t trust me.” He turned to look at them all, one after the other. “None of you do.”

He could feel the tears on his cheeks now.

“Easy lad,” Doric said. “That’s not true. We’ve fought side by side. I trust you the same as I trust Kara and Castimir.”

Gar’rth ignored his words.

I will hurt them now if I can.

“And Theodore, Lady Anne read your letter to Kara. She told me. The letter Kara has in her satchel.”

Theodore exhaled, and avoided Kara’s stare.

“You didn’t tell me you had that, Kara,” the knight said after a moment. She didn’t reply, and her eyes showed anger and confusion.

Gar’rth lowered his head and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. As he did so a strange song sounded from the palace, an odd tune which defied his attempt to imagine what person would sing it.

“I trust you Gar’rth,” Kara said finally. “I really do. There is no way I would have ventured into The Wilderness with you if I did not.”

“That’s true,” Arisha added. “You know it is Gar’rth. Our lives were in your hands on a dozen occasions, at least. You’ve never let us down.”

“And you saved my life on the glacier, Gar’rth,” Doric said. “When I was out cold-I’ve never forgotten that.”

“All things I have done for you,” Gar’rth snapped. “But what have you done for me?”

“Have I done nothing for you, Gar’rth?” Ebenezer said in a whisper, and at the sound of his voice, Gar’rth’s anger died in sudden humiliation. “Is that what you truly believe?”

Guilt and shame twisted their ice-cold hands in Gar’rth’s stomach.

He’s right. I’ve acted like a fool.

But then the anger returned.

“No! That’s not…” His words were a growl now. “You are right. But…”

He couldn’t think straight. The sounds coming from the hall wouldn’t let him.

“What is that singing?” he demanded.

Theodore shared a look with Castimir, who shrugged.

“There is no singing,” the wizard said. “The music in the hall has stopped.”

But to Gar’rth, it only seemed closer now-as if from somewhere high up above.

“But I hear it,” he protested. “Singing. A strange song-do none of you hear it? Have you gone deaf?”

Suddenly Theodore’s eyes widened.

“Of course,” the knight said urgently. “Castimir, run and get Lord Despaard. Tell him I think the Wyrd is here. We must arm ourselves at once.”

“I’ll get my sword,” Kara said as she followed Castimir back into the hall, holding her skirt up to avoid tripping over it.

“Gar’rth, can you follow the song?” Theodore asked.

He listened carefully, turning his head from side to side.

“It is strange, Theodore,” he said tentatively. “Not just a song. I can feel it. Yes. Yes, I can follow it.”

“Then find her,” Theodore said. “And don’t let her touch you. Her claws are poison. And don’t touch anyone else who gets scratched also, for the poison can spread.” He spun, speaking over his shoulder. “I must get my sword.”

The knight vanished. Only Arisha, Doric, and Ebenezer remained.

“I am sorry Ebenezer. Truly,” Gar’rth said quietly. “I am scared of what will happen.”

“We can talk later, Gar’rth.” Ebenezer said, with a gentle smile.

He is the father I never had. That smile which showed me such kindness when he found me. How could I have doubted him?

“Tomorrow,” Ebenezer continued. “When we have all day to ourselves. Then we can talk. But now we need to track this creature. Lives are at stake.”

Gar’rth nodded.

“Thank you.”

The song grew closer, but it was still from above.

“Up,” Gar’rth pointed as Lord Despaard and Castimir ran from the hall. “She is there. Above.”

10

Ebenezer wheezed when he was only halfway up the great staircase. Doric, a few steps ahead, gave him a concerned look.

Gar’rth and Lord Despaard had already reached the top, where they were waiting and listening. Arisha was further ahead, searching the shadows of the passages beyond. The nobleman held up one hand for silence. His other, Ebenezer saw, was on his sword hilt.

Below him stood Castimir, his right palm filled with the mysterious pebble-like runes with various coloured engravings upon their surface. The wizard gave a curse as one with a yellow symbol fell between his fingers and bounced on the step before careening down into the hall below.

At the top of the staircase, Gar’rth craned his head.

“I have heard her before,” Lord Despaard said in a whisper as Ebenezer rested his arm on the bannister a few steps below. “But never clearly enough to consider tracking her.” Ebenezer saw four armed men appear at the foot of the great staircase. Their leader drew his sword.

“Come on!” he shouted.

“Quiet, Captain Rovin,” Lord Despaard called sharply. “I don’t want to scare her off. She’s near. I can feel her now.”