Return to Canifis

“If she comes?” William’s face darkened. “I thought she had promised?”

“She did promise. But the last I heard of her she had ventured into The Wilderness.”

William exhaled in despair.

“Gods! Why would she go there? I’ve heard people say she promised never to fight again after claiming Sulla’s hands?”

“She gave up her quest for vengeance, but she never promised to stop fighting.” Theodore took two strides up the staircase. “I will let you know if I hear anything new,” he said, glad to end the conversation.

Only minutes later, he was finishing his wash when someone forced the door to his chamber open. It was William again.

“She is here, Theodore! Kara-Meir is here!”

At last!

Theodore’s heart raced. He felt such relief that she had arrived. Quickly he wiped the water from his face, hiding his smile with his towel.

“She is at the Flying Donkey Inn,” William continued. “If we hurry we can be there within half an hour.”

“We shall ride,” Theodore said, his hand gripping William’s arm in eagerness. “Soon you will see why she is special, William.”

“I know she is touched by the gods, Theodore.”

The two friends ran to the stables. As they rode out through the courtyard Theodore noticed palace guards chatting with great animation. He was struck by how the mere mention of Kara’s name had lifted the spirits of the men.

Theodore and William left their horses with a member of the city guards, for the crowd outside the inn was too dense for them to pass on horseback. A dozen of the guards, clad in yellow tabards worn over their chain mail, kept a wary eye to ensure that things did not get out of control.

Suddenly, a voice shouted from the second floor window of the inn, and a man waved for attention.

Quickly, the crowd hushed.

“Kara-Meir is here,” he called. “But she has travelled far, and is exhausted. She will spend tonight at the Flying Donkey, and already has retired for the night. Tomorrow afternoon she will appear at this very window, to speak to you before heading to the palace to attend the Midsummer festivities. There will be nothing more to see today, however.” With that he closed the shutters.

The crowd gave a collective groan and broke up.

How strange that Kara would arrive, yet send no word, Theodore thought, a sense of disquiet clawing at the back of his neck. And even more so that she would allow such a fellow to speak for her.

The disappointed populace quickly returned to their homes, allowing Theodore and William to make their way inside.

“Why didn’t she come to the palace?” William asked as Theodore ascended the stairway.

“I don’t know,” Theodore replied. “But I intend to find out.”

“Hold it!” a heavy-set man prevented Theodore from climbing any farther. “This whole floor has been given to Kara-Meir.”

“I am Squire Theodore, of the Knights of Falador,” he said. “I am Kara’s associate.”

The man looked back over his shoulder to the innkeeper, who stood on the landing above. Theodore recognised him as the man who had addressed the crowd.

“Your name is known to us Squire Theodore,” the innkeeper said, “but Kara-Meir has left very specific instructions…” He looked at once embarrassed and emboldened. “She doesn’t want to be disturbed… by anyone.”

Theodore opened his mouth to speak, but found he couldn’t form the words. His stomach felt as if it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

“But this is Theodore!” William protested. “He is the man who saved Kara-Meir’s life, and fought with her at the siege of Falador!”

The innkeeper looked uncertain. After a moment he seemed to arrive at a decision.

“Wait here,” he said, disappearing from the landing.

Theodore listened for Kara’s voice, but the sounds rising from the main room of the tavern made it impossible to hear anything else. After a few moments the man returned, the expression on his face unreadable.

“I have told her you are here,” he said. “But she is very tired. She has asked you to return tomorrow.”

“What about her companions-Gar’rth? And Arisha?” Theodore said finally. “Are they also unavailable?”

The innkeeper shook his head.

“I know of no such persons. She is alone, aside from a street urchin she has employed as her servant.”

What could have caused them to separate?

“Has she been injured?” Theodore asked anxiously. It didn’t make any sense for Kara to behave in such a way, and the more he thought about it, the more the fact that Gar’rth and Arisha were missing concerned him. Had only Kara survived their trip into The Wilderness?

“She seems in perfect health,” the innkeeper answered. “You may write her a message from downstairs if you wish. Ask Karl for paper and ink. I shall see she gets it.”

The squire stood there, frozen, wrestling with the urge to push past the heavy-set man who barred the way. This was so unlike the Kara he knew, yet given the tension that had existed between them, to force the issue might only make matters worse. As he wrestled with his thoughts, a hand appeared on his shoulder.

“Come, Theodore,” William said, disappointment thick in his voice. “Let us get a drink, and you can write your letter. We can return tomorrow.”

Theodore nodded, allowing himself to be led to a table. Yet no matter how he considered what had happened, it simply didn’t make sense.

“I shall get you a strong drink, Theodore. A dwarven stout I think, imported from Falador. That will help you regain your composure.” The squire watched absently as his friend approached the waitress who stood near the kegs, being careful not to come into contact with any of the other men who clustered nearby. Not all of the townspeople had returned to their homes, and the news that Kara had taken a room here had brought in far more customers than usual.

A man approached, following William’s direction, and without saying a word deposited a pen, paper, and a bottle of ink on the table. Before the squire could acknowledge him, the man-Karl, no doubt-hastened away.

“Dwarven stout, Theodore, as promised.” William looked warily at the pint in his hand, and he must have spotted Theodore’s questioning look. “I’ve never had one before either. Not sure if I will again, but, as the saying goes, everything once!”

He took a tentative sip, and screwed his face up.

“Yes, just the one I think,” he said finally, before retreating to walk amongst the patrons, giving Theodore privacy to write his message.

At first he didn’t know what to write. There was little enough paper, and he had to be conservative with his words.

If I wrote what I really wanted to say, I would need a book!

The more he considered it, the more absurd the idea became. So he wrote a simple greeting, voicing his hope that Kara was well, and promising to return the next day. He was tempted to add, “with a representative of the King,” but decided against it. Instead he just signed it.

He read back over his words. Everything he wanted to say was there, save perhaps for the most important thing, something he had lain awake imagining over the many nights since he had last seen her.

The squire took a drink of his stout and, like his friend, grimaced accordingly. He wasn’t taken with drinking, despite the temptations that were a constant result of his diplomatic status, and he knew this foul liquid would not soon convince him to change.

After a few moments, however, he discovered that it did give him confidence. So he took another gulp, and before long he had drained his tankard. Then he reached again for the pen and paper.

I’ll do it!

She knows anyhow. I know she does.

Theodore wrote a final line. When he read through it again, he knew he didn’t need a book to say what he