Unicorns' Opal (24 page)

Alan heard the pounding behind him. “They are getting too close,” he shouted. “We should just give ourselves up.”

“No,” Konic shouted back. “We have led them too far to stop now. Keep going.”

The narrow game trail dipped into a ravine and the dirt sides grew in height. The gully reminded Konic of a washout created by a flash flood as he raced along it. He saw the trail rise out of the gully before him and he detected movement off to his right.

“Ride Konic,” Arik yelled.

Konic’s heart jumped at the sound of Arik’s voice and he urged his tired horse onward. As Konic and Alan rose out of the gully, Tedi and Tanya pulled taut the ropes spanning the trail and tied them off. Four ropes crossed the trail at varying heights. The Rangers grabbed their bows and joined Arik who was already raining arrows on the Dark Riders. Jenneva appeared on the trail before Konic and Alan and raised her hands for them to stop.

“You made it safely,” Jenneva grinned. “Rest your mounts for we shall be leaving here as soon as the Dark Riders are dispatched.”

Konic jumped off his horse and swiftly tied it to a tree. Alan followed Konic as he raced back towards the Rangers. Alan raced to where he had heard Arik’s voice and saw his son expertly dispatching arrow after arrow upon the enemy. Arik did not break his concentration to acknowledge his father and Konic gazed below at the trapped riders. He saw Alex ride up behind the Dark Riders and fire arrows into their rear ranks. Within moments the Dark Riders were down to four and they were using their horses as cover to return arrows at the Rangers.

Arik tossed down his bow, pulled his sword, and leaped into the gully. Alex also dismounted and they closed in on the few remaining Dark Riders while Tanya and Tedi continued to harass the Dark Riders with arrows. In moments it was over and the twenty Dark Riders were dead. Tanya and Tedi removed the ropes and Arik and Alex herded the horses out of the gully. Alan and Konic lent a hand in securing the new horses to trees.

“Grab what we can off of the dead,” ordered Alex. “Get some of their uniforms for us too. They may come in handy down the road. We leave as soon as you are done.”

Alex inspected the horses and let most of them free. He kept two of the best for Alan and Konic and two more to carry what they were gathering. The Rangers were quick in procuring what they wanted and the group mounted silently and rode westward through the forest. Konic and Alan were bursting with questions, but every time one of them tried to speak, one of the Rangers would shake his head and hold his hand up for silence. After riding westward for half an hour, Alex turned south on a game trail. He led the group across the road out of Toresh and continued south for another two hours before signaling a stop in a clearing.

“I will take care of the horses,” announced Alex. “You boys bring your fathers up to date on what is happening.”

Arik, Tedi, Alan, and Konic picked a spot away from the campsite to sit while Tanya built a fire and Jenneva prepared a meal. Alan handed the necklace back to Tedi.

“Have you become bandits now?” Alan asked.

“Not at all,” grinned Tedi as he put the necklace on. “We are the Alcea Rangers. We are fighting to remove the Darkness.”

“And to put the rightful king on the throne of Alcea,” added Arik. “There is so much to tell that I do not know where to begin. I am just so glad to see you both well.”

“As are we,” smiled Konic. “I feared that you had fallen in with that bandit.”

“Bandit?” laughed Arik. “That is Alexander Tork.”

“Tork?” echoed Alan. “I thought he was dead or a myth.”

“Neither,” interjected Tedi. “He has been searching for us since the Collapse. He has used many names and disguises.”

“Why you two?” questioned Konic. “Why is everyone interested in you?”

“Because of some Prophecy,” answered Tedi. “It is very long and complicated, but Alex and Jenneva believe us to be among the Children of the Prophecy.”

“So there are others?” Konic asked.

“Two others,” nodded Arik. “They are in Tagaret right now. We are not sure who is who yet, but we have all sworn to work together to defeat Sarac and destroy the Darkness.”

“Will you join with us?” asked Tedi.

“I have raised you in a quiet setting,” Konic stated. “I had hoped to spare you of a life of fighting and now I find you killing men with bow and sword. I do not know if I can stand to see you in danger everyday, and yet I never want to lose you again. Are you sure this is the life you want to lead?”

“It is,” Arik answered instantly. “I have given my word to see this through to the end. You have always taught me that a man’s word is the worth of a man. Would you see me abandon the people who depend upon me?”

Konic gazed towards the campsite for a long moment and then turned to stare at Arik. “I want more for you then an early grave,” he finally said. “I have tried to teach you right from wrong with lessons taken from a life of violence. I have sought to protect you from harm and you have ended up in the middle of a war that will grow to proportions I cannot even imagine. I want you to rethink the pledge you have given. If these people truly care about what is right and just, they will release you from your pledge.”

“That is not the point,” argued Arik.

“Let me finish,” interrupted Konic. “I said I want you to rethink your pledge. If you give it fair consideration and still plan to travel down this path, I will stand by your side. I will do this if it is something you truly want to do and not something you feel you must do. Do you understand the difference?”

“I do, Father,” nodded Arik. “I do not have to rethink my pledge though. I have rethought it every night since understanding the evil that infests this world. There are far too few people who will stand up to Sarac and his evil forces. I am proud to be one of them. If I knew that I was destined to die on this journey, it would not change my commitment to it. You knew a better world before I was born. I want to know it too and if I cannot, then I want to contribute towards others getting a chance to see it.”

A tear formed in Konic’s eye, but he smiled and nodded. “Then I shall march with the Alcea Rangers,” Konic’s voice cracked.

“Father?” prompted Tedi. “Will you join us as well?”

“Do you feel as strongly as Arik about this?” Alan asked.

“I do not have his way with words,” admitted Tedi, “but I agree with what he said. I have seen the sun and the stars over Cordonia. It made me realize what is missing from this world. Yes, I feel as strong about this as Arik and I want you to as well.”

“So it is true then?” Alan asked. “There really is clear sky over Cordonia? How did it happen?”

“We did it,” beamed Tedi. “Or I should say that we helped. We have the Sword of Heavens. It is a tool of the Ancient Prophecy. It will clear away more of the Darkness with each gem we restore to it. There are six more to go.”

“Well we should start restoring them then,” Alan stated enthusiastically. “When do I get my black suit?”

Arik and Tedi squared off with staffs and Tanya practiced her archery skills. Alex and Jenneva walked over and sat next to Konic and Alan to watch the practice.

“They are amazing,” declared Alan. “It is hard to believe that those are the same two boys who fled Lorgo not too long ago. How did you teach them such skills?”

“They have great talent,” smiled Alex. “They are eager pupils and they have practiced every day since leaving Lorgo. I think their skill is more a result of their desire to learn than my skill as a tutor.”

“It is also a need to learn as well as a desire,” interjected Jenneva. “There are many people in the world that would love to see your sons dead. Your boys are aware of this and know that only their skills can save them.”

“I think when it comes time for Alan and myself to join these practice sessions, we will be embarrassed,” added Konic. “It has been many years since we carried swords.”

“I think you will find that the Rangers will look upon your rustiness as a cause rather than an amusement,” commented Alex. “They will work you hard to get you to regain the skills you have abandoned. Each of us has a duty to help the others reach their optimum skill level. The boys are also mature enough to know that different people have different skills.”

“Tedi can beat Arik practically every time with a staff,” Jenneva added, “but Arik has greater skill with a sword or bow. That does not stop either of them from sparring and practicing the skills they are not best in.”

“Why are these boys so important?” asked Konic.

“There is an Ancient Prophecy that was awakened with the Collapse,” answered Alex. “The prophecy revolves around two Children. One is bound to kill Sarac with the Sword of Heavens and the other is the rightful heir to the Alcean throne. The heir must be crowned before Sarac can be killed and the Sword of Heavens must be restored before the descendent of Sarac may wield it to kill the Dark One.”

“What does that have to do with our sons?” interrupted Alan.

“We believe that one of the boys is one of the Children of the Ancient Prophecy,” explained Alex.

“Where did Tedi get the necklace he wears?” questioned Jenneva.

Konic and Alan looked at each other. “What does the necklace have to do with this?” Alan asked.

“There are only two of those necklaces in the world,” replied Jenneva.

“It is a pretty necklace,” conceded Konic, “but how can you say that there only two like it?”

“Because I made them both,” smiled Jenneva. “One was given to Prince Oscar Dalek and the other to his wife, Princess Callie. Which one does Tedi have?”

“So you think Tedi is the heir because of the necklace?” queried Konic. “Is that why everyone wants him dead?”

“Tedi was a newborn when we found the necklace,” interjected Alan. “He wears it because it constantly reminds him of his mother. I would not want to see him have to give it up. I am sure I can repay the Prince for it somehow.”

Alex stared at the two fishermen and knew that there was more to the story than they were letting on. He pondered on the reasons for their reluctance to talk about it.

“The necklace itself is of little importance,” declared Jenneva. “It is not something that needs to be taken away from Tedi. What is important is how he came into possession of it. Where did you find it?”

Again the two fishermen looked at each other instead of answering and Alex knew there was something that they feared to mention.

“Whatever hurt is involved in the telling of this tale,” interjected Alex, “must be endured for the good of everyone. The Ancient Prophecy must be acted upon if the reign of Sarac is to be ended. Both of your sons have already decided to dedicate their lives to fulfilling the Prophecy, regardless of their station in life. There is no jealousy within them, only the desire to defeat Sarac. Tell us what it is that you have hidden for so many years.”

Tears welled up in Konic’s eyes as he watched Arik and Tedi spar, but slowly he nodded and turned to Alex.

“Alan and I were fishing together,” Konic began. “We often went out together when the catch was poor close to shore. This particular day, we were well offshore. Almost to the Pebble Islands, in fact.”

Konic’s voice was breaking and Alan put his arm around his friend.

“We heard crying,” Konic continued. “Alan and I started scanning the seas, but it was a nasty, foggy day. We could barely see ten paces. There was wreckage upon the waves and each time a piece of wood hit our hull, we shuddered to think that we might have hit the baby that was crying. Eventually we found him though. He was floating in a cradle and clutching the necklace in his little fist.”

Konic sobbed openly and Alan tried to comfort him. Alex gazed at Arik and Tedi to see if they were watching, but the boys were too deeply involved in their spar to notice.

“Well, we fished him out of the sea,” continued Konic. “We gave up fishing and tried to find other survivors, but there were no other survivors. So we took the boy home. Our wives fussed all over the tot. We weren’t able to have children and Alan had just been blessed with a new son, so we kept him.”

“Arik is the baby you found?” asked Alex.

“Yes,” nodded Konic. “Alan’s wife adored the necklace so we gave it to her, but we kept the boy. We never meant any harm by keeping him. We brought him up as our own son and loved him.”

“You did not do harm,” consoled Jenneva. “You did a great and wonderful thing. It is obvious that both Tedi and Arik have grown up in a loving environment. You should be proud of how he has turned out.”

“I am very proud of him,” Konic said as he wiped his tears. “Now he will know that he is not my son though. I have never told anyone.”

“And you think that he will think less of you for that?” questioned Alex. “I do not think you give Arik enough credit. He knows that you have loved and cared for him. What difference does it make how he became your son?”

“Because if he is to assume the throne,” answered Alan, “he will know his true lineage. You cannot expect a king to announce that he grew up a peasant.”

“Arik’s birth father grew up as a peasant,” interjected Alex. “Prince Oscar is not ashamed of his upbringing, nor does he shy from admiring his birth father as much as he does the late King. They both hold an honored and revered position in his heart. You have shaped Arik’s character and you should be proud of the job you have done. I know he is.”

“I can only hope that whoever has my child is doing as fine a job as you have done, Konic,” sighed Jenneva.

“You have lost your child too?” queried Alan.

“Yes,” replied Jenneva sadly. “During the Collapse. There has not been a day since that I have not thought about it.”

“Do the boys have to know right away?” asked Konic.

“No,” answered Alex, “but I think if you delay in telling them, you are only prolonging the agony. Trust in him, Konic.”

Jenneva looked up and saw Arik and Tedi staring at them. Tedi’s mouth was moving as she assumed that Tedi was telling Arik what he was hearing.

“I suspect that they already know,” Jenneva stated as she nodded towards the boys. “Tedi has tremendous hearing and I suspect that when they stopped sparring that he must have heard us.”