Tedi focused his eyes at the dark warrior image hiding in the shadows. The stern, cold face had icy blue eyes that seemed to be constantly scanning every person in the room without seeming to move. He was dressed entirely in black and his outfit appeared to have pouches sewn into it everywhere. The man could probably carry the contents of a campsite in those pouches and not even need a pack on his back. His long hair was jet black and bound into a tail that was draped over one shoulder. The black hilt of a massive sword strapped to his back protruded over the other shoulder. Across his midsection was a wide black belt with many loops for implements, but only a lone black knife was present now. His eyes turned on Tedi and stopped in recognition. Tedi turned and ran out of the kitchen without stopping.
Arik looked up from his conversation with Master Tern as Tedi flew through the kitchen and out the door. The innkeeper looked shocked at Arik and then quickly pressed some coins into his hand. “You need to tame that boy down, Arik,” the innkeeper stated. Arik nodded and took off after his friend.
When Arik reached the alley, Tedi was nowhere in sight. He ran alongside the inn to the street and saw Tedi just disappearing into the woods where the merchant had been the night before. Arik took off running for the woods and started calling Tedi’s name when he entered the forest, but he could find no sign of his friend. After half an hour, Arik decided to give up and return to town. As he walked along an animal path he heard a large sound and froze, an arrow fitted to his bow without thinking. Arik lowered himself to a crouch, eyes following the sound, which seemed to be coming nearer. After a few seconds, which seemed an eternity to Arik, Tedi walked onto the path.
Arik lowered his bow and stood, scaring Tedi into producing a quiet gulp. “Okay, Arik, so you are quieter than me in the woods,” Tedi sighed with relief. “I promise I’ll let you teach me if you don’t scare me like that again.”
“Actually, you were pretty quiet, Tedi,” remarked Arik. “I was only alerted by that one sound. If I hadn’t heard that one crack, I would never have picked you up and I can detect anyone in the woods within one hundred paces.”
The two boys sat on the path and talked.
“Why did you run from the Fisherman’s Inn,” Arik inquired.
Tedi breathed deeply and replied. “I saw the bandit in the common room. The one who tried to kill me with that black sunburst thing and he saw me. He recognized me, too. I could tell as soon as his eyes set on me.”
“What is he doing in town?” questioned Arik. “We had hoped the witch in the blue dress would stumble into them when she left thinking she would follow us north. Now she may come back when she finds out we didn’t leave town.”
“I don’t know,” pondered Tedi. “I just got frightened and took off. Still, I think I’d rather face some bandit killer than that witch with her magic and questions about our age.”
“Maybe we should just go spend the day at our campsite until our fathers return,” suggested Arik.
“I think that is a good idea,” responded Tedi. “I don’t want that bandit to know anything about us. He might even start asking questions like the witch did.”
The two boys rose to continue along the path, oblivious to the man dressed in black that had been squatting not ten paces away.
The boys crossed over the coastal highway and reentered the woods to make their way to their campsite. Once along the way, they heard rabbits and managed to bag two of them for dinner. Arik laughed. “See, when you are quiet enough, even the animals don’t know that you are there. Maybe we can spend the afternoon by me teaching you some of the tricks I learned from Trapper Grein.”
The man in black smiled slightly as Tedi agreed to the lessons and the boys continued down the path. It took longer getting to the campsite through the woods, but the boys felt safer keeping out of sight of anyone in the town who might be looking for them. When they reached the campsite Arik retrieved the hidden duffel bag and started a fire. The man in black crept off as Arik started teaching Tedi his tricks of quietness.
When the men returned from fishing, the boys had a dinner of rabbit stew waiting for them. Master Markel walked over to the pot and inhaled deeply. “That smells mighty good, boys,” he remarked. “Master Clava and I have kept some of today’s catch for dinner, but what you have smells a bit more appetizing.”
“I think we can have the stew and the fish,” added Konic. “It’s not right to waste good food. Did you have a good day hunting?”
Arik and Tedi had agreed to be honest with their fathers and explained about running into the bandit at the inn. Tedi went on to explain how he had run into the bandits’ camp two nights ago and the bandit had hurled the deadly little star at him. The boys continued talking over dinner and their fathers seemed content to listen. Tedi had expected his father to be furious, but Alan’s facial expression was one of concern.
After dinner, Alan and Konic sat talking quietly while the boys cleaned the dishes and pots. Tedi thought his father looked happier than he had at anytime in the last three years. When the boys were all done with their chores, Alan spoke. “We are going to post a guard tonight and every night until things quiet down in Lorgo,” he announced. “Tedi, give that star weapon to Master Clava. Arik, you are going to have the last watch, so you should get to sleep right away. Tedi will wake you when it is your turn. Everyone is to be awakened if you even think there may be a problem. I will take first watch.”
Tedi handed the star to Konic. Alan indicated that Tedi should sit next to him so they could talk without disturbing Arik. Konic stuck the weapon in his pouch and started walking towards town. “Where is Master Clava going?” Tedi inquired.
“He is going to talk with your bandit,” Alan said quietly.
Arik shivered as he watched his father walk away from the campsite.
Chapter 4 Bandit
Konic Clava walked into the common room at the Fisherman’s Inn and looked around. It did not take him long to pick out the man in black seated by himself in the corner, nor did it surprise him that the man had already inspected the newcomer. Konic understood why the man was seated alone. No one who valued their life would voluntarily sit with a man whom so obviously reeked of death, at least not while there was another open seat in the common room. There were other open seats as the number of travelers to Lorgo had steadily decreased since the Collapse, as they had everywhere else. Still, Konic marched over and sat across the table from the mysterious killer. And a killer he surely was. Konic could see death in the man’s icy blue eyes. The man’s hands carried the calluses of both sword and bow, as well as some that Konic could not identify. The bandit sat, bowstring taut, ready to spring in any direction at a moment’s notice, yet he gave the casual appearance of relaxing with his drink. The man might not be a bandit at all, Konic pondered, more likely an assassin.
A young town girl came over to take his order. “Good evening, Master…”
“Just an ale, girl,” Konic interrupted. “And I’ll signal if I wish another.”
The girl left with a puzzled look and Konic turned his attention back to the mysterious man who was looking out towards the rest of the common room, though Konic was sure that the man was watching his every move.
“Can I get you a drink when the girl returns, stranger?” Konic asked.
“I am well cared for, fisherman,” the bandit smoothly replied.
The bandit’s accent was slight, but obviously not Sordoan. “You are not Sordoan, I see,” he remarked.
The bandit blinked at him before replying. “No one is Sordoan anymore,” he stated flatly. “And if I came from anywhere around your town, you would surely already know me. What is it you wish to ask me that comes so slowly to your tongue?”
The man was no fool, but Konic had already determined that. The problem would be getting any useful information from him. Konic was sure that the man could lie with as straight a face as if he were telling the truth. It was also clear from the man’s behavior that he did not consider Konic as a threat, only a distraction from watching the other people in the common room. “I am just curious what brings someone of your obvious skill to such a small town as Lorgo,” Konic finally asked.
The girl brought Konic’s mug of ale and gave him a puzzled look but did not say anything.
“I am just traveling through,” smiled the bandit. “Who can say what makes a man travel any particular road
