“You think you are a sly one, Larc,” Garth laughed, “but you just told me that they joined the Spiders. I would like to talk with them. Their help is going to be needed.”
“So you know about General Gregor, then,” Larc said. “I will not let you talk those two men into committing suicide. I know they will gladly sacrifice their lives to free the General, but they are too good to lose.”
“I do not want them to free the General,” Garth stated. “I will do that with my own men. I want to talk with them about the heir.”
“Your own men!” Larc exclaimed. “You have come up in the world. I can send any word about the heir to them, if it is important enough.”
“Do not be stubborn with me, Larc,” Garth said gruffly. “I have possession of the Prophecy Children.”
Larc stared at Garth like he had grown wings. “How long have you had them?” Larc asked. “Do you have both of them? I should have known by now if you have had them for any time at all. Are you positive?”
“I have never seen you flustered before,” Garth laughed. Turning more serious, Garth continued, “You are not the only one who can keep secrets, but you will keep this one until I give you leave otherwise. I mean it, Larc. One word and I’ll cut your organization apart man by man.”
“You haven’t answered my questions,” Larc reminded Garth.
“One, for sure,” Garth said. “Almost positive that we have two. I have had them for a couple of months.”
Larc was shocked and showed it. “It’s true, then,” Larc finally got out. “Nobody really believed in the Ancient Prophecy. Everyone thought it was just some talk so everyone would have something to hope for. I see why you want to talk with Mitar and David, then. Their help will be necessary to restore the Rangers and the Red Swords. The General must be freed as well. What did you mean about your men? You have always been a loner.”
“I have formed the Alcea Rangers,” Garth answered. “We are small, but we will succeed where larger forces would fail.”
“I will arrange for Mitar and David to be here this evening,” Larc capitulated. “If you need anything in the way of support, you have only to ask for it.”
“Thank you, Larc,” Garth appreciated. “You should know what I will be asking them to do so you can spare them their other duties. The heir is not proclaiming himself now. He needs more training before that can be accomplished. I will be asking David and Mitar to find the locations of their loyal members who have either left or remained. The Rangers and the Red Swords will not be reactivated now, but someone must lay the plans for doing exactly that.”
“They will have my full support,” Larc promised.
The tailor gathered his belongings and bowed as he left the room. Once the door was closed, Fredrik remarked, “I could learn to like this style of living. I have never seen an inn as plush as this one.”
“Don’t get too used to it,” Tedi taunted. “We are not very far from the Targa dungeons and we could end up in them yet.”
“I think the tailoring took more than enough time for the word of our arrival to spread,” Arik announced. “Let’s go down to the dining room and have Lord Wason show himself off.”
Fredrik preened himself in front of the mirror, making sure his new, blue silk suit was not wrinkled or in disarray. Arik in his brown and gray breeches, white frilled shirt and brown leather vest waited at the door, as the Lord’s bodyguard should, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Tedi was attired as a servant with brown and gray breeches and shirt. Fredrik gathered up his straight, wooden walking stick, which was delicately carved with seashore scenes and topped with a small gold knob and walked out the door. Arik stepped quickly to stay on Fredrik’s heels and Tedi followed a distance behind.
As they stepped into the dining room, dozens of eyes turned their way. Fredrik asked for a table in the corner as Kalina had instructed him. Not being in full view of everyone would ensure that people’s curiosity about who was seeing the newcomer would be kept high. Fredrik sat fully in the corner with Arik on one side and Tedi on the other. A waiter came to take the order and Fredrik suddenly felt ill prepared. He had never eaten in so fine an establishment and the wrong choice of food could show him as an impostor.
Fredrik laid the menu back on the table without looking at it. “What is the best meal that is available in Tagaret?” Fredrik asked the waiter.
“Without a doubt,” the waiter happily replied, “it would be the Land and Sand offered only here at the Palace Shadow, My Lord.”
“Very well,” Fredrik smiled, “Bring us three of the Land and Sand and I shall tell you if your food withstands the standards of Cidal. And bring a bottle of your finest wine, as well.” Fredrik immediately turned his head to observe the room, pointedly ignoring the waiter as if he no longer existed.
The waiter gave a short bow and disappeared. “I hope I can stomach what you just ordered,” whispered Tedi. “We don’t even know what it is.”
“It will not matter,” Fredrik answered. “It will be finer than anything you have ever eaten, I am sure.”
The stares continued as the waiter returned with a bottle of wine. Right behind him were three more waiters carrying large trays of food. They served Fredrik first and then Arik. By the time it came to Tedi there was almost not enough room for the plates of food. The Land and Sand consisted of a large lobster tail, scallops, shrimp, oysters, and a large portion of beef. Tedi thought his meal could probably last him for three days. Still, as he started devouring it, he had to admit that it was the best seafood he had ever eaten, and that was coming from a fisherman. He had never seen a portion of beef that was so large and yet so tender.
The boys deliberately ate slowly, expecting people to come over and introduce themselves, but no one came. Eventually, they were finished and the waiters came to take the plates away. As soon as the waiters disappeared, the first caller came. Fredrik looked past him and could see everyone jockeying for position and almost laughed. He had thought no one was coming but they were waiting impatiently for him to finish his dinner. Some of them must be furious by now.
The gentleman who was bold enough to come first was quite distinguished looking. He was dressed in a brown version of Fredrik’s suit, but also sported gold bracelets and a gold necklace. He was probably three times as old as Fredrik with well-groomed gray hair and mustache.
“Welcome to Tagaret, capital of Targa, Lord Wason,” he greeted. “I am Duke Everich, King’s Advisor and head of the Council of Advisors.”
Fredrik rose and extended his hand for the formal shake he had been informed was customary in Targa. Arik and Tedi rose and bowed. The Duke shook Fredrik’s hand and seated himself. He kept looking at Tedi as if there was something wrong with him. When everyone sat back down, the Duke sighed and Fredrik knew he had just committed some small mistake in protocol.
“Duke Everich,” Fredrik began, “I am pleased and honored by my reception to Tagaret. Forgive me for retaining my men. One, I dare not let out of my sight. The other refuses to let me out of his.”
“Ah, that explains a lot, Lord Wason,” the Duke declared. “I was not sure whether it was Cidal customs that dictated eating with your servant. I thought perhaps you were not made aware that there is a servant’s dining room, as well.”
“I am afraid it is a discipline problem, Duke Everich,” Fredrik stated, glad that he had guessed the source of irritation to the Duke. “I fear that I came with only one servant and one bodyguard. Now I cannot spare my bodyguard to watch the servant and I cannot afford to get rid of the servant. Foolish on my part.”
“You are young yet,” the Duke chuckled. “You have learned a valuable lesson. I must say that hearing of you here has piqued my curiosity. What is it that brings you so far from home?”
“I have come to seek audience with your King,” Fredrik declared. “My advisor, Captain Grecho of the Cidal Mercenary Company, believes it is time to seek alliances.”
“Your advisor rules a mercenary company?” asked Duke Everich.
“Yes,” answered Fredrik, “the Company is loyal to the Lord of the Manor and serves as the Army of Cidal. It is useful for them to earn currency and experience in the service of others when there is no pressing need at home. I am surprised that you have not heard of them.”
“Oh, I have heard of them, my Lord Wason,” the Duke replied as Fredrik cringed. “I have used their services before. I am just surprised that their allegiance has been kept secret.”
