get the feeling of just wanting to be rid of her. Master Tern, I really don’t know what to do about her. I know she means me harm and I’ve never done anything to her. I’m hoping that my father can help me when he arrives.”
“I’m not sure why, Arik,” responded Master Tern, “but I believe you think what you’re saying is true. I won’t lie for you, though. The woman started questioning me and I refused to answer her. I will do that again. You run along and meet with your father and tell him that I want to know what is really going on.”
“Certainly, Master Tern,” replied Arik. “You could honestly tell her that I said we were leaving town. If she is not really after me, she won’t follow. I will go to my father and he will let you know what is going on.”
Arik hurried down the alleys and between buildings to return to the woods at the edge of town just as the sky was getting darker. It could hardly be called a sunset by a boy who had never seen the sun, but it was the time of day that the fisherman planned to be back in port. Hopefully, he would make it to the woods without running into the witch.
Chapter 3 Merchant
Konic Clava was a large, square-shouldered man with heavily muscled arms and hard calluses from many years of plying his trade as a fisherman. His short brown hair and square jaw gave his face the hardened look of a frontier soldier. His well-proportioned frame gave the impression of someone who could handle himself in a brawl without working up a sweat. Yet, for all of his hard looks, Konic’s eyes spoke of a kind gentleness beneath his imposing figure. His gray tunic was accented at the waist by a broad leather belt with loops and notches designed to hold various implements of a fisherman. The only tool currently hanging from the belt was a long, sharp knife. When Konic spoke, his voice was low and gravely, yet his soft, sure tone was soothing and comforting.
“You lads did right well under the circumstances,” Konic was saying to Arik and Tedi, “although I would prefer a solution that didn’t involve forcing drink on Master Markel. Still, your solution did keep him safely away from the witch.”
“Then you believe us, Dad?” smiled Arik.
Konic eased himself to the ground and leaned his back against a large tree. “Of course I believe you, son. If either one of you ever lied to me, you’d have to spend nights on your belly for a month. Arik, I told you once that if you ever used that oath I would believe you without question. I meant it and I know you did, too. Most of the villagers would probably believe that you were lying because nobody believes in magic anymore. Most of them have not been outside the town in their entire lives. When Alan and I were searching for your mothers, we saw and heard things that we would not have believed possible before. I believe you saw a witch and I don’t think she would risk exposing herself because somebody looked in her window.”
Tedi winced at the implied insinuation in Master Clava’s remarks. “Master Clava, I was not trying to… “
Konic waved the boy to silence. “Tedi, whatever the reason for your little journey up on the roof, it was not the reason the witch was questioning you. Arik, I want you boys to move down to the little clearing just south of here, the one we used to picnic in with your mother. Start a campfire but keep alert for bandits. I’m going into town to get Master Markel and we’ll meet you there.”
“Master Clava,” Tedi interrupted, “are you sure it’s a good idea bringing my father out here? I mean with his drinking and all, he might…”
“Tedi,” Konic began softly, “your father is a good man. Never forget that. He has had a problem coping with the loss of your mother and he is not the first man to try to drown his grief. I think his time for mourning is over now. I probably should have forced it to end sooner but, in a way, I could almost join him in a bottle. You know the man as your father and that is a pretty narrow scope of perception. I’ve known your father for over thirty years and there isn’t a finer person I’ve ever known. If there is going to be trouble, he is the one man I would call on to guard my back. You boys get going and we’ll meet you there soon.”
“Be careful, Dad,” Arik called after the retreating figure.
The boys moved to the clearing and gathered wood for a fire. “Do you believe those things your father said about my dad?” asked Tedi.
Arik turned and looked at Tedi. “If my father says it, then it’s true,” Arik replied. “I don’t know what he can do for your father that hasn’t already been tried, but if anybody can help, he will.”
Tedi nodded solemnly. “I guess what he said about my view being too narrow is probably true. I guess I’ve been more trouble than help to him. I just thought he didn’t care about me. You know, the times he beat me, I deserved to be beaten. I just don’t think he knew his own strength.”
“Well, maybe everything will turn out for the better,” hoped Arik.
“Yikes!” exclaimed Tedi. “I forgot about the merchant. We were supposed to eat with him tonight and find out the secrets of the outside world. If we don’t show, he’ll start looking for us and he may run into the witch.”
“Forget him,” responded Arik. “The secrets of the Collapse can wait a while longer. We’ll talk to the next merchant to come to town.”
“You don’t understand,” argued Tedi. “I told him our real ages and where we lived. If he goes looking and runs into the witch, she’ll know everything. I’ll run up and tell him that we have to leave town in a hurry and he’ll point the witch northward.”
Before Arik could protest, Tedi leaped over a small bush and disappeared into the forest. Tedi ran as fast as his legs would carry him. The sense of urgency in arriving at the merchant’s wagon before the witch was the only thought on his mind. When he arrived at the wagon, neither the merchant nor his niece was visible. Tedi ran around to the rear of the wagon and leaned in to peer into the darkness. Roughly, two hands seized his neck from behind and hurled him to the ground.
“We don’t give our goods away, ruffian,” snarled a voice.
Tedi rolled over onto his back and gazed up to see the old merchant standing over him. “Master Khatama,” he groaned, “ I was not trying take any goods. I was just coming to talk with you and thought you might be in the wagon.”
The young girl came towards the wagon and lowered a torch so that Tedi’s face was illuminated. “It’s one of the young bucks that was coming for dinner,” she announced.
“So it is,” growled the merchant while extending a hand to the boy. “Sorry about the toss, lad, but I don’t take kindly to townspeople rummaging through my wagon.”
Tedi was amazed at how firm the old man’s hands had felt. When he reached up to rub his neck, he realized that his necklace was missing. He started looking around frantically when the merchant moved to him.
“No need to be looking for your gold, lad,” he whispered. “I’ve got it here. Must have got stuck on my ring. I’m afraid the clasp is broken, though, but I can fix that right up. You wait here and I’ll be right back.”
Before Tedi could respond, the merchant had climbed into the wagon and was lighting a candle. Tedi watched him gently lay the necklace on a table and smooth out the two unconnected ends.
“There’s some dinner left,” offered Tanya, “if you truly came to eat.”
Tedi turned towards the girl. “Actually, Arik and I got ourselves in a bit of a fix and I was coming to tell you that we weren’t going to make it.”
“Why am I not surprised,” she quipped. “You two looked like trouble since I first laid eyes on you this morning.”
“We are not trouble,” Tedi retorted angrily. His tone softened as he delivered the message he had come to say. “We do have to leave town, though. Arik and I are going north at first light to seek our fortunes.”
“You may find a different fate than fortune if you plan on traveling alone,” the merchant said from behind Tedi. Tedi twirled and the old man was standing there grinning and holding out the repaired necklace. “The clasp is fine now, lad. As good as it was new. I see that you had broken the clasp once before and it hadn’t been properly mended. No matter, though, no one could tell it was ever broken now. It is a beautiful piece. Where did you get it?”
Tedi reached out and took the necklace. Refastening it around his neck he answered the merchant. “I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you mean. It was my mother’s and the only thing I have to remind me of her.”
