of kids who think we know more than we do. Maybe our problems are not so bad after all. It might be that we just don’t know how to handle them.”
Garth was now fighting an ever bigger force of imaginary foes. One that was spread out farther apart. Garth would slash and leap towards another member of the attackers or roll across the intervening ground and strike out with his feet as he swung at yet another. It was hard to determine how many foes Garth was facing, but however many there were, Arik would not like to be one of them.
“I guess I was hasty,” admitted Tedi. “The man did save our lives no matter how ill I feel towards him. I would have said that he could have died saving our lives, but in watching him, I don’t think those Dark Riders had a chance.”
“It only takes one slash or one arrow to kill the best warrior, Tedi,” Arik reminded. “Any time you go into battle, there is a chance you won’t come out. He may be quite capable, but he risked his life to save ours. Not only do we owe him a chance to explain, I want to learn some of what he can teach me. I’m going to stick around for a while, at least until I feel a little more comfortable about defending myself.”
“I won’t say that I like the thought of staying,” declared Tedi, “but I will agree to stay if you are not stubborn when it comes time to go.”
“Agreed,” Arik stated and turned to watch Garth, who was now using the terrain to aid him in defeating his foes, from backing his foe into stumbling over a rock to swinging from a low hanging branch to disable one foe while slashing at another. It was a marvelous display to watch until you realized that it was the dance of a man dealing out death to other men.
Garth continued on for over half an hour before Kalina emerged from the wagon with a towel and a clean shirt for Garth. Arik rose and intercepted her before she reached Garth. “Would it be all right if I took it to him?” Arik asked.
Kalina looked at the boy and finally smiled. “I think that would be a good idea, Arik. Let him see you approach, though.”
Arik nodded and took the towel and shirt from Kalina. Slowly, he walked towards Garth and stood outside the circle of imaginary foes. Garth gave no indication of having seen Arik, but ended up rolling directly to the boy’s feet while sheathing his sword as he rose. Silently he stripped off the sheath strapping and reached for the towel. Arik had expected the man to be gasping for breath after the workout, but Garth was only panting slightly. After a quick wipe down, Garth wrapped the towel around his head and took the shirt from Arik and put it on. Without thought, he strapped the sword to his back. “Thank you, fisherboy. That was thoughtful.”
“I would prefer that you call me Arik,” the boy responded, “and I would be pleased if you would teach me some things that will help me survive.”
Garth nodded thoughtfully. “I would be pleased to teach you what I can in the time you allot to stay with us, Arik. We will begin in the morning.”
Garth walked past the fire and squatted next to Tedi. “I owe you an apology,” Garth declared. “I should be more sensitive about other people’s feelings. I sometimes believe that acknowledging a problem as being severe is giving an edge to your enemies. I refuse to do so with my own problems, but I should not expect others to feel the same way. Still, do not think that your problems are so bad that you have no say in your future. Your actions will determine what becomes of you, not the actions of others. Always keep faith in yourself and always strive to better yourself.”
Tedi sat stunned by Garth’s comments as the man got up and strode out of the campsite. Arik came over and sat next to his friend. Tedi turned to him and shook his head. “I wonder if he is playing with my mind,” Tedi mumbled to himself. “First, he’s a bad guy, then good, then bad again. Why can’t anything be simple? Why can’t he be one or the other?”
“He is who he is,” philosophized Arik. “Neither of us is a simple creature, why should he be?”
The boys sat quietly gazing at the campfire. After an hour had passed Garth returned to the campsite looking refreshed. “There is a stream out that way about a quarter of a mile in case you are in the mind for refreshing in the morning,” Garth said. “Now it is time for us to retire. Tomorrow will be a hard day for you. I assume that Tedi will be receiving lessons as well. We will begin in the morning with learning to ride a horse properly. After breakfast, you will get a chance to practice on the trail as we move south from here. Tomorrow evening we focus on caring for the horses and simple self-defense. Good night.”
“Shouldn’t we set a sentry?” Arik asked. “The Dark Riders are not that far away.”
“It won’t be necessary tonight,” assured Garth and then he disappeared behind the wagon. The boys were tired enough to have no problems falling asleep.
The boys woke at early light and looked around the campsite. Nothing seemed to be moving and they rose and gathered their blankets into a roll. Tedi was startled when Garth walked in from the woods without making a sound.
“Good morning,” Garth announced. “I hope you are ready for your lessons.
Arik stifled a yawn and seemed to be looking around for something to eat. Garth gathered the two horses the boys had rode in on and led them towards the pile of saddles. For two hours the boys learned the rudimentary facts of horse caring and how to properly mount and guide the horses, before Kalina called that breakfast was ready.
Kalina served a bountiful breakfast of some kind of eggs, too large for chicken eggs, and bacon that was saltier than any Arik had ever tasted. Only the bread was a disappointment, being hard and crusty. Coffee was served with a half lemon and Arik watched how Garth devoured this before attempting it himself. Biting into the lemon was like a shock to his nervous system, but the taste of the coffee afterwards was superb. Arik couldn’t help comparing it to the wonderful relief you felt after pulling out a hook that was stuck in your hand.
After breakfast everyone helped to clean up the campsite and Garth hitched two horses to the wagon. He also tied two horses to the rear of the wagon, a beautiful white mare and the dun stallion he had acquired from the Dark Riders. The boys rode the geldings that Garth had given them to escape on. Arik’s was solid black and Tedi’s was black with a white blaze. Garth, of course, rode his black stallion.
There wasn’t much of a trail at first, but Garth led them slightly southwest until they hit a seldom used but decent path southward. For hours they rode mostly in silence with only the sounds of the birds or an occasional word from Garth on their riding skills. Kalina passed out some dried beef and crusty bread and they ate lunch while riding. Just as the sky began to darken, Garth shot forward without explanation. Ten minutes later, he returned and spoke with Kalina and then announced that they would be stopping for the night.
Garth led them to a clearing alongside a brook and motioned for the boys to follow him as Kalina positioned the wagon where she wanted it. Garth dismounted and instructed the boys on their duties in caring for the horses and then jogged off to collect firewood. After the fire was started and the animals tended to, Garth produced a couple of wooden lath swords and started instructing the boys in the basics of swordsmanship. He worked the boys for an hour before Kalina indicated that dinner was ready.
The dinner consisted of fried river trout and turnips and some more of that leafy green vegetable. When Kalina saw the boys examining the trout, she laughed.
She nodded towards the brook and chuckled. “You didn’t think I was darning socks while you men played with your swords, did you? They are probably a bit smaller than your typical salt water fish, but I assure you they are quite tasty.”
After dinner Garth lit a pipe and leaned his back against a large rock. “We’ll rest a bit before we start instructions again,” Garth announced. When the boys stifled small groans, Garth looked at them with an arched eyebrow. “If you wish me to make warriors out of you before you leave, we do not have much time to spare. Why, you already spent most of the day just sitting.”
Tedi actually chuckled until he tried to change his sitting position and the pain shot through his thighs. “I’m not sure what is worse,” he said, “being killed outright by the Dark Riders or being killed slowly by you.”
Garth just smiled and leaned his head back against the tree. “The first few days are the worst,” he offered softly. “You’d be surprised at how quick the body adjusts to accept pain. You’re not going through anything that your fathers didn’t go through.”
“My father never had to ride a horse or swing a sword,” laughed Arik.
Garth leaned forward and looked at the boys. “Your fathers did both and I’m sure they did it well.”
Both boys looked in amazement at Garth, but it was Tedi who took the bait. “What do you know about our fathers that we don’t?” he asked.
