Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

Garth was moving faster now. His armsand feet began moving so fast that it appeared he was just jumpingaround at random, but closer inspection revealed that each strokeof his sword was centered on the same invisible foe. At a speedthat Arik thought would make most people dizzy, Garth’s everymovement was sure-footed and precise. While the hit with his swordmight be high, low or in between, they all would have hit theinvisible foe.

“You truly do not understandGarth,” Kalina said softly. “He has lost more than any man I knowand he bears the responsibility for each and every loss. He doesnot dwell long on his own problems because the weight of them wouldcrush him. Instead, he devotes his life to other people’s problems.He helps those who are incapable of helping themselves. Sometimesthey are grateful, sometimes they are not, but always they thinkthat their problems are the worst in the world. None of them haveever thought to ask about his problems, not that he would discussthem if anyone did ask.”

Kalina sighed and looked back at Garth.He was now fighting a circle of invisible foes, twirling round andround and varying the stroke so that no opponent could foretell thestroke that would be aimed at him. Sweat poured down his body inrivers, yet his breath appeared even and measured. Arik and Tedistared at his rippling muscles and sure steps and were amazed atthe variety of strokes he could deliver with the sword. Kalina roseand went back to the wagon.

“Perhaps, you spoke hastily,”Arik chided. “It did not appear to me that the man who killed tenDark Riders that were after us was thinking only ofhimself.”

“He got me mad,” respondedTedi sheepishly. “He was treating us like little boys that hadstolen some candy and gotten caught.”

“Maybe that is how we appear,”commented Arik. “What does he know of us? You tried to sneak intohis camp and he scared you off. One sight of him in town and weboth ran into the woods. Then he overheard me bragging about howquiet I was and I didn’t even know he was there. Finally, we getourselves caught in a trap with no way out and we just ran,mindless of how we were going to escape. Maybe that is what we are,a couple of kids who think we know more than we do. Maybe ourproblems are not so bad after all. It might be that we just don’tknow how to handle them.”

Garth was now fighting an ever biggerforce of imaginary foes. One that was spread out farther apart.Garth would slash and leap towards another member of the attackersor roll across the intervening ground and strike out with his feetas he swung at yet another. It was hard to determine how many foesGarth was facing, but however many there were, Arik would not liketo be one of them.

“I guess I was hasty,”admitted Tedi. “The man did save our lives no matter how ill I feeltowards him. I would have said that he could have died saving ourlives, but in watching him, I don’t think those Dark Riders had achance.”

“It only takes one slash orone arrow to kill the best warrior, Tedi,” Arik reminded. “Any timeyou go into battle, there is a chance you won’t come out. He may bequite capable, but he risked his life to save ours. Not only do weowe him a chance to explain, I want to learn some of what he canteach me. I’m going to stick around for a while, at least until Ifeel a little more comfortable about defending myself.”

“I won’t say that I like thethought of staying,” declared Tedi, “but I will agree to stay ifyou are not stubborn when it comes time to go.”

“Agreed,” Arik stated andturned to watch Garth, who was now using the terrain to aid him indefeating his foes, from backing his foe into stumbling over a rockto swinging from a low hanging branch to disable one foe whileslashing at another. It was a marvelous display to watch until yourealized that it was the dance of a man dealing out death to othermen.

Garth continued on for over half anhour before Kalina emerged from the wagon with a towel and a cleanshirt for Garth. Arik rose and intercepted her before she reachedGarth. “Would it be all right if I took it to him?” Arikasked.

Kalina looked at the boy and finallysmiled. “I think that would be a good idea, Arik. Let him see youapproach, though.”

Arik nodded and took the towel andshirt from Kalina. Slowly, he walked towards Garth and stoodoutside the circle of imaginary foes. Garth gave no indication ofhaving seen Arik, but ended up rolling directly to the boy’s feetwhile sheathing his sword as he rose. Silently he stripped off thesheath strapping and reached for the towel. Arik had expected theman to be gasping for breath after the workout, but Garth was onlypanting slightly. After a quick wipe down, Garth wrapped the towelaround his head and took the shirt from Arik and put it on. Withoutthought, he strapped the sword to his back. “Thank you, fisherboy.That was thoughtful.”

“I would prefer that you callme Arik,” the boy responded, “and I would be pleased if you wouldteach me some things that will help me survive.”

Garth nodded thoughtfully. “I would bepleased to teach you what I can in the time you allot to stay withus, Arik. We will begin in the morning.”

Garth walked past the fire and squattednext to Tedi. “I owe you an apology,” Garth declared. “I should bemore sensitive about other people’s feelings. I sometimes believethat acknowledging a problem as being severe is giving an edge toyour enemies. I refuse to do so with my own problems, but I shouldnot expect others to feel the same way. Still, do not think thatyour problems are so bad that you have no say in your future. Youractions will determine what becomes of you, not the actions ofothers. Always keep faith in yourself and always strive to betteryourself.”

Tedi sat stunned by Garth’s comments asthe man got up and strode out of the campsite. Arik came over andsat next to his friend. Tedi turned to him and shook his head. “Iwonder if he is playing with my mind,” Tedi mumbled to himself.“First, he’s a bad guy, then good, then bad again. Why can’tanything 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 shouldhe be?”

The boys sat quietly gazing at thecampfire. After an hour had passed Garth returned to the campsitelooking refreshed. “There is a stream out that way about a quarterof a mile in case you are in the mind for refreshing in themorning,” Garth said. “Now it is time for us to retire. Tomorrowwill be a hard day for you. I assume that Tedi will be receivinglessons as well. We will begin in the morning with learning to ridea horse properly. After breakfast, you will get a chance topractice on the trail as we move south from here. Tomorrow eveningwe focus on caring for the horses and simple self-defense. Goodnight.”

“Shouldn’t we set a sentry?”Arik asked. “The Dark Riders are not that far away.”

“It won’t be necessarytonight,” assured Garth and then he disappeared behind the wagon.The boys were tired enough to have no problems fallingasleep.

The boys woke at early light and lookedaround the campsite. Nothing seemed to be moving and they rose andgathered their blankets into a roll. Tedi was startled when Garthwalked in from the woods without making a sound.

“Good morning,” Garthannounced. “I hope you are ready for your lessons.

Arik stifled a yawn and seemed to belooking around for something to eat. Garth gathered the two horsesthe boys had rode in on and led them towards the pile of saddles.For two hours the boys learned the rudimentary facts of horsecaring and how to properly mount and guide the horses, beforeKalina called that breakfast was ready.

Kalina served a bountiful breakfast ofsome kind of eggs, too large for chicken eggs, and bacon that wassaltier than any Arik had ever tasted. Only the bread was adisappointment, being hard and crusty. Coffee was served with ahalf lemon and Arik watched how Garth devoured this beforeattempting it himself. Biting into the lemon was like a shock tohis nervous system, but the taste of the coffee afterwards wassuperb. Arik couldn’t help comparing it to the wonderful relief youfelt after pulling out a hook that was stuck in yourhand.