Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

Arik was about to say that he had neverseen Kalina when the woman stepped into view and waved to them.“That’s the woman who wandered into our campsite,” Arik whisperedto Tedi.

Tedi nodded and whispered back, “I toldyou I didn’t believe in coincidences.” The boys kicked their horsesforward and entered the clearing, followed by Garth leading theextra horse.

“Is everything okay?” Kalinaasked. “I can tell by the horses that you ran into some DarkRiders.”

“I suppose they are busycounting their dead,” Garth stated. “They had these boys surroundedand they seemed pretty determined to get their hands on them. Can’tsay as I ever recall hearing of Dark Riders wading in the surf tocapture anyone.”

“Take care of the horses,Garth,” Kalina instructed, “I will get some food and blankets forour guests. They must be hungry with what they have been throughand I can see that they are soaked. Stoke up the fire some moreafter you’re done with the horses and we’ll see if we can dry themout.”

“Excuse me,” Tedi interrupted.“I appreciate your hospitality, but I am not a believer incoincidences. You wandered into our campsite in Lorgo and now youjust happen to send this bandit after us to protect us from DarkRiders. Who are you really and what do you want withus?”

Arik looked stunned at Tedi’simpertinence, but Kalina just smiled. “I would be sorelydisappointed if you believed that I would risk Garth’s life just toplay games with you. You boys are destined to greatness and anyperson who would stand by and allow you to fall into the hands ofthe Dark One is a person whom I would not want to associate with.Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kalina. I am a gypsy and havesome sense of foretelling. When I walked into your campsite theother day, I was struck with an aura of greatness and goodness,which emanated from you two boys. I mentioned this to Garth and hetold me that one of you had tried sneaking into our campsite beforewe reached Lorgo.”

“I wasn’t trying to sneak in,”protested Tedi. “I thought you were a gang of bandits and I wantedto know your intent with regards to Lorgo.”

Garth laughed out loud as he wassecuring the horses and Kalina smiled. “I am sure,” she continued,“but I also do not believe in coincidences. When Garth told meabout the witch who was interested in you, I vowed that I wouldlook after you until you were capable of protectingyourselves.”

“So, if we decided we werecapable of protecting ourselves, you wouldn’t stop us fromleaving?” Arik asked.

“I would never stop you fromgoing your own way,” Kalina declared adamantly. “Did Garth forceyou to come here? If he did, I will have words withhim.”

“No,” Arik admitted, “he didnot force us, although our choices were slim at thetime.”

“Well, your choices are notmuch better now,” Kalina said, “but you are free to leave at anytime. Before you decide to up and leave, though, let me give yousome advice. I doubt that you boys have ever been out of Lorgobefore, because you seem totally unaware of what is waiting for youout there. Garth can train you to take care of yourselves. He canteach you how to ride a horse, use a sword, be quieter in theforest, lay false trails, and read the trails of others. There isso much that Garth can teach you that I would think you foolish ifyou did not avail yourselves of the opportunity to learn from him,but the choice is yours. Should I bring you dinner, or will you beon your way?”

“As long as we are free toleave when we wish,” Arik said forcefully, “we will stay andappreciate your generosity.”

Garth strode over and stood before theboys. Reaching down slowly he took the sword and scabbard fromArik’s hand. “I can stitch the belt on this for you,” Garthuttered. “Unfortunately, I was in a bit of a hurry when I cut itloose.”

Arik let the sword go and Garth turnedto Tedi and took his sword, as well. Kalina emerged from the wagonwith several blankets, which she draped over the boys like a caringmother. “Slip out of your wet clothes and I will dry them over thefire,” Kalina added as she turned to prepare plates of dinner forGarth and the boys.

Tedi could smell the turkey andrealized that it had been some time since he and Arik had eaten ameal. The boys managed to wiggle out of their clothes and Kalinacollected them as she handed the boys mugs of hot coffee. Both boysshivered slightly as their skin finally realized that it was coldand wet. They pulled the blankets close around themselves as theysipped their coffee. After a short period of time, Garth came overand sat by the fire just as Kalina was bringing plates of food.Tedi tore into the turkey, turnips and some kind of green, leafyvegetable that he had never seen. The boys cleaned their platesquickly and Kalina gave them another serving ofeverything.

Arik could not believe it, but by thetime they had finished dinner, the boys' clothes were dry and warm.They wiggled into their clothes under the blankets and eventuallylet the blankets drop from their shoulders. Garth finished mendingthe scabbards and returned the swords to the boys. “Tomorrow wewill begin instruction on how to use those,” hecommented.

“What about the Dark Riders?”inquired Arik. “Won’t they track us to here? Shouldn’t we be movingon?”

“They will first assess thedamage that has been done to them,” smiled Garth as he stripped offhis scabbard straps and shirt and refastened the sword to his back.“Then they will suspect that a large group ambushed their men andthey will send for reinforcements. If we leave in the morning, wewill be well ahead of them. As for them tracking us to here, itwill not be as easy as they are used to. There are tricks tocovering your path that I can explain to you when the time isright.”

Arik looked around the campsite and sawKalina doing something at the back of the wagon, safely outside therange of hearing. “Garth,” he began, “you seem to be quite capableof taking care of yourself and you don’t seem to be too fond ofTedi and me. Why would you risk your life to save us and then offerto teach us your tricks? Surely, it is not just because Kalinathinks we are destined for greatness, whatever thatmeans.”

Garth smiled grimly and stared at Arik.“Kalina is a great woman,” he said quietly. “If she sees somethingspecial in you two, then there is something special. Frankly, I seenothing but two fisherboys who have run away from home and wish toplay at the games of men as if they knew the rules.”

“Your compassion isheartwarming,” snipped Tedi. “Perhaps, if you looked, you would seetwo young boys whose mothers were stolen from them and forced toleave their fathers because Dark Riders and bandits won't let themlive in peace. Perhaps if you lost something or someone you love,you wouldn’t be so damn aloof about other people’stroubles.”

Garth’s face grew visibly taut and theveins of his temples and neck bulged considerably. He rose silentlyand walked across the campsite to a clear area well away fromKalina and the boys and whipped his sword out of the sheath on hisback. Slowly he began moving his sword back and forth as iffighting some invisible foe. His arms and feet moved surely likethe fine steps of a choreographed dance. The sword moved high andlow, varying from sweeps to lunges, from checks to severs, slowlypicking up speed until the blade became hard to focuson.

Kalina came out of the wagon with atray of small, dried sweet cakes, which she brought to the boys.She looked over at Garth and sat next to the boys. “What were youtalking about?” she asked.

“I get the feeling that Garthis not real happy about us being here,” remarked Tedi. “I told himthat he should have more compassion for other people instead ofonly thinking about himself.”