Tedi excelled with the staff, gettingbetter every day. He now took on Tanya and Fredrik at the same timeand won most of the time. He was also turning into a good tracker,better than Arik, which surprised both of them. Garth also learnedthat Tedi had an excellent set of ears, hearing many things thatGarth did not, and Garth’s hearing was excellent.
Niki was having trouble with both theknife and the Lanoirian Star, the only two weapons she was trainingwith. When Niki practiced throwing, everyone cleared out of theway. Kalina said she was progressing well with her magic, though.She was not as strong or as talented as Fredrik, but she had someunusual talents. She could smell things that no one else wascapable of smelling. Her claim had led to an interesting eveningwhen the boys volunteered to hide things in the woods and make herfind them blindfolded, and she did. She also knew some types ofmagic healing that Kalina had never heard of. She claimed to havelearned them by accident and Kalina promised to secure a book onhealing spells for her when she could.
Garth combined horseback archerylessons with hunting and food was always plentiful. Kalina combinedher lessons on edible plants with instructions on gathering plantsand minerals necessary for some magical potions. She began toaccumulate some stock to teach Fredrik and Niki how to make potionsand what they were good for. For the most part, Garth was verypleased with the progress that the Rangers were making. Already,the four warriors, Arik, Tedi, Fredrik, and Tanya, would have beenwelcome recruits to any army. Garth had plans of making them muchmore than recruit material, though.
Arik and Tanya rode into the campsitewith a large buck and were arguing about whose skill contributedmore towards the kill.
“It was my shot that took himdown,” insisted Arik.
“Only because it was yourturn,” Tanya protested. “I am the one who tracked himdown.”
“Tracked him!” laughed Arik.“He practically stood and waited for us.”
The bantering continued as the twoRangers dropped the buck for Fredrik and Tedi to prepare and tookcare of their horses. Kalina observed Garth smile and shake hishead and came over and embraced him.
“I haven’t seen you smile in along time, warrior,” she teased.
“Nor you, witch,” Garth saidsoftly as he returned her embrace. “Out here with the children, onecould almost forget the death and destruction that continues in theworld.”
“Almost,” Kalina uttered asshe broke the embrace. “We are going to have to make a trip intotown soon. Tanya told me that some of the horses need their shoestended to.”
Garth sat by the fire in a thoughtfulmood and Kalina sat down next to him. “Melbin is less than a day’sride,” he finally offered. “I will take the horses in tomorrow andget them taken care of.”
“Can I come with you?” Fredrikasked as he also sat down. “I have been making knife sheaths andmost of the knives we have are a little too large for concealment.I would like to shop for something a little smaller and a bit morebalanced.”
“The knives we have will dothe job,” Garth stated. “Where are you trying to conceal them thatthey have to be smaller?”
“You have never been a daintywoman,” Niki laughed as she sat next to Fredrik. “Would you believethat Fredrik has eight knives on his body right now? You, Garth,have created a monster. Besides, I will keep an eye on him for you.I need to do some shopping as well. Just this morning, I broke mylast comb.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting somenews on the situation in Lorgo,” added Arik. “We don’t know whathas happened since we left.”
Garth looked up at Arik, Tedi, andTanya standing across the fire. Garth turned to Kalina for help andshe smiled at him. “I did promise to try and find books for Nikiand we could use some more leather and dyes,” sheshrugged.
Garth laughed heartily. “What is thematter, Tedi?” he quipped. “Didn’t they let you in on thiscon?”
“I’m quite happy here,” Tediremarked. “Though I have no objections to helping Tanya with thehorses. You really can’t handle them all by yourself.”
Garth looked around at all the smilingand eager faces. “Okay,” he consented as he threw his hands up. “Idon’t need a mutiny on my hands, but . . .” Garth grew deadlyserious as he continued, “but we have to be very careful. There aredangers in the cities and one loose word will endanger us all.Arik, you will be in charge and you will keep everyone safe. I willneed to pick up some information while I am in the city and it willnot be safe for all of you to be around me. Kalina and I are knownby different names in Melbin. Do not use them unless you are indire trouble, but we are known as Mikal and YolindaObanik.”
“Why do you use differentnames for different places?” asked Tanya. “Are you wantedcriminals?”
“We have broken no laws,”Kalina answered, “but, still, we have many enemies. For your ownsafety, you will pretend not to know us in the city unless weapproach you and then you will use the new names Garth has justtold to you.”
Everyone nodded in agreement and theevening was filled with excited plans for the outing to Melbin. Inthe morning everyone except Garth shed their black uniform anddonned clothes that would fit the city. The entire campsite wascleaned up and the group was ready to leave at firstlight.
By midday, the walls of Melbin rose inthe distance and Arik and Tedi stared in awe. While the boys wereimpressed by the size of the city, Fredrik, Niki, and Tanya wereonly curious about what Melbin would be like.
As they rode on, Garth explained a bitabout Melbin. “The city was not always this large,” he began.“Before the Collapse it was a little larger than Lorgo because itwas a seaport for Targa. The Sordoan border was only a few milessouth of here. During the war Melbin was attacked by both sidesrepeatedly and what they didn’t destroy, the Collapse did. Afterthe Collapse, the citizens began to rebuild the city and one ofthem, Alfred Krakus, declared himself King of Melbin. He had theold garrison destroyed and a wall built around the city. Other thanthe seacoast, there are only three gates to get in and out of thecity, one on each side of the city. In the center of the city hebuilt himself a grand palace. The times were very troubled then andthe wall around Melbin attracted many immigrants. The city is nowfilled to overflowing and construction is occurring outside thewalls. The King taxes the people heavily, but they seem willing topay his tribute because crime is almost nonexistent in Melbin. Thelaws are very strict and many minor offenses result in the death ofthe violator. Do not steal or cheat a merchant during your stay inMelbin.”
Garth paused to make sure everyone hadheard his last statement. “Magic is forbidden,” Garth continued,“but like a lot of things, magic is used in private with noconsequences. The Black Devils maintain a house in Melbin openlyand no one complains. I suppose that I do not have to remind you tostay clear of the Black Devils, but remember that if you use magicinside Melbin, you will draw their notice. Kalina and I are goingto use the West Gate to enter. The rest of you will use the SouthGate. There is an inn on the coastal highway called the FlutteringJib. That is where you will stay. We will be staying in the Bosun’sChair across the street.”
After they had ridden on for a mile,Garth and Kalina veered off towards the West Gate and the rest ofthe group continued on towards the South Gate. Their excitementrose as they neared the walls and approached the massive SouthGate. Streams of people were entering and exiting the city. Tedifelt uneasy passing before the stern looking guards in their orangeand black livery, but the guards paid the group no more than apassing look.
Once inside the city walls, smells andsounds assaulted the group’s senses. Arik and Tedi savored thesalty air of the seaport, while Fredrik and Niki inhaled the scentsof the merchants and food sellers. Hawkers cried out to them asthey passed, offering deals at favorite inns and restaurants, oroffering to take them on a city tour. The Rangers ignored theoffers and strode on towards the Fluttering Jib. Fredrik had topull Niki along several times as she stopped to inspect amerchant’s wares.