Niki was in despair. Arik spent all of his time with Tanya, Fredrik hung on Kalina’s every word, and Tedi spent his time alone. Garth didn’t even know she existed. Niki was used to being the center of attraction, but ever since everyone else had such a grand time rescuing her in Melbin, nobody paid any attention to her anymore. She vowed that Tagaret would be different. She would find some way to make them pay attention to her again. Perhaps she would rescue this prisoner who everyone thought was so important. She would use her magic skills to break open the dungeon walls or freeze the guards and just walk in. She would do something grand.
Niki woke out of her musings when everyone started talking excitedly. She looked up and the city of Tagaret, or Alcea, whatever people were calling it, was spread out in the distance. It looked much larger than either Melbin or Trekum. There appeared to be at least three walls. The first wall must have been miles long and it appeared fairly new. Far beyond that, she could just make out a smaller wall, which was probably the size of Melbin’s. Yet up on a hill in the center of the city, she could see a third wall surrounding a large castle which must be the Royal Palace. Her despair gave way to excitement. Even if she could not rescue this General, there must be people in a city this large that would accept her as their Queen. Niki definitely began to get a good feeling about Tagaret.
“The arrangement we had in Melbin worked fairly well,” Garth said. “Kalina and I will stay at the Sword and Shield. Fredrik, Arik, and Tedi at the Palace Shadow. Tanya and Niki will use the Golden Sword. Remember, if anyone needs to get a message to the others, go to the Pawn Shop and ask for a book about growing turnips in a sandy soil. Leave your message in whatever book the clerk gives you. The message will be delivered.”
“What is this about turnips?” Niki asked.
Garth and Kalina exchanged glances. Kalina had noticed the way Niki was acting and believed it was a left over effect of the drug that was used on her in Melbin. “Tanya will explain it to you,” Garth answered.
As they got closer to the outer wall, Garth reached into his pack and extracted a gray hat, which he placed on his head and lowered it to conceal his face as much as possible. Next he extracted a gray cloak and fastened it around his neck. The simple disguise could not hide Garth if you were looking for him, but it changed his appearance enough to think him a stranger if you were passing him on the street.
“Fredrik,” Garth said suddenly, “you need to replenish your wardrobe at the first opportunity. One fancy suit will not go far in convincing people that you are a Lord. If you know the colors of Cidal, get Arik and Tedi appropriate clothes in those colors or have some made up. These people may be fools in some respects, but in others, do not underestimate them. If you run into anyone from Grecho’s company, you may be in trouble.”
“We will be all right,” supplied Arik.
The conversation ceased as they approached the gate through the outer wall. Garth’s eyes roamed everywhere. The guards on the gate wore standard Targa uniforms and they were very young. People roamed the streets with a casual attitude and there didn’t appear to be any omen of distress hanging over the city. Fredrik, Arik, and Tedi picked up their pace and put distance between themselves and Garth, while Tanya and Niki lagged behind. They were three separate groups traveling who just happened to have entered the city at the same time. Nobody would give it a serious thought.
The city had grown tremendously since Garth was here last. The outer wall did not exist then and most of the buildings between the two walls were new. Garth had seen similar things all over the continent. People were abandoning their farms and land and moving to the cities for protection. The bandits had become brazen and well organized and a single farmstead was too tempting for them to leave it alone for long. In normal times the results would have been disastrous because the farm output would drop precariously, but these were not normal times. The constant lack of sunlight since the Collapse had already destroyed most farming. Cows, pigs, and horses were now raised in cramped quarters close to the cities. Smaller animals were even raised in people’s yards.
Garth saw the three boys far ahead as he and Kalina turned down an intersecting street. The Palace Shadow that the boys were going to was probably the fanciest inn in the city and was next to the Royal Palace. Garth and Kalina would be staying in much more modest accommodations, with Tanya and Niki somewhere in between. The Golden Sword was not far from the Sword and Shield and the girls followed Garth’s turn.
Garth passed the Golden Sword and continued on a short distance to the Sword and Shield. After they dismounted, Garth told the stableboy he would be staying if there were rooms available. The young boy took the reins and nodded. Garth and Kalina entered through the back door, which led to a hallway instead of the common room like many other inns. Garth gazed down the hallway to the small counter where the innkeeper normally stood. A young man he did not recognize looked back at him. Garth signaled that the man should come to him and he did.
“Can I help you, Sir?” the young innkeeper asked.
“You are very young for an innkeeper,” Garth commented.
“Inheritance, Sir,” the innkeeper replied without emotion. “What can I do for you?”
“We require a room with a view out the front,” Garth answered.
“Sorry, Sir,” came the quick reply, “our rooms are mostly long term and the front ones are already occupied. May I have your name for the ledger, Sir?”
“Kyle Agrat,” Garth replied.
“Thank you, Sir,” the innkeeper said as he headed for the stairs. “If you follow me, I will show you to your room. My name is John and I will do whatever I can to make your stay more comfortable.”
John marched up two flights of stairs and opened the door to a room and promptly left. Garth and Kalina walked in and put their packs down. Kalina walked to the window and looked down at the street below. Garth gently took her arm and pulled her away from the window.
“This room is in the front,” Kalina said. “He said he didn’t have any front rooms.”
“They will always say that unless your name is Agrat,” Garth chuckled. “I wasn’t sure that this place was still run by the Spiders or not because I didn’t recognize any of the young faces.”
The Spiders were a secret spy organization for Targa before the Collapse. It was set up by Prince Oscar Dalek and General Gregor, who was a Colonel at the time, to gather information on the Black Devils. It was so secret that even King Eugene did not know it existed. Within moments of their arrival the door opened to admit a man and closed again.
“You old renegade!” the newcomer greeted as he walked over and embraced Garth and then embraced Kalina. “And you brought your lovely woman to embarrass the rest of the city ladies, too.”
“Some things never change and you, Larc, are one of them,” Kalina smiled. “We have missed friends like you.”
“You have been missed, too,” Larc sighed as he sat on the floor. Larc never sat above floor level in any of the front rooms since before the Collapse.
Garth and Kalina followed his example and ignored the chairs in the room. “Tell us what has changed, Larc,” Garth requested.
“Too many things have changed,” Larc let out. “I assume that you heard about King Byron and Queen Marta or you would not be here. The Contest of Power grows stronger every year. Assassination of Council members is the new fad and someone decided it was time to include the King in the list. We got Queen Marta out in time.”
“Where is she?” Garth asked.
“I don’t know,” Larc admitted. “You know how the Spiders work. I handed her off to a contact outside the city. He handed her off to another who was known to him, and so on. The only way to find her is to repeat the process and every one of those contacts would have to agree. The chance of one of them breaking is slim, two never.”
“Well, at least she is safe,” Kalina said.
“As safe as can be,” Larc stated. “The Council several years ago started this mess. King Byron was ill and the Council ruled in his place for several months. During that time they managed to change some of the laws that restricted their power and as a result they eliminated the King’s influence over the country. I don’t need to tell you that Alcea is a dead issue. They passed a proclamation that the official name of the country is Targa and the city is Tagaret. They have dreams of reestablishing the Kingdom of Targa in its entirety and the only thing that stops them is each other. As soon as one group gains prominence, another group cuts them down. We can’t even keep track of who is in what group any more because they change their affiliations quicker than they change their clothes.”
“Why does the Army stand for it?” Garth asked.
“The Army is a joke,” Larc grimaced. “The Rangers were the first to be eliminated. They were folded into the regular Army by Council decree. Most of them would not accept it and quit. A year later, they did the same thing to the Red Swords. A lot of them accepted the change, but many others did not. Since that time, however, even the ones who accepted it have retired or quit. The Army is full of youngsters now.”
Garth nodded as it confirmed his suspicions. “What happened to the leaders of the Rangers and the Red Swords?”
“Mitar Vidson and David Jaynes,” Larc stated. “Why do you want to know?”
“You think you are a sly one, Larc,” Garth laughed, “but you just told me that they joined the Spiders. I would like to talk with them. Their help is going to be needed.”
“So you know about General Gregor, then,” Larc said. “I will not let you talk those two men into committing suicide. I know they will gladly sacrifice their lives to free the General, but they are too good to lose.”
“I do not want them to free the General,” Garth stated. “I will do that with my own men. I want to talk with them about the heir.”
“Your own men!” Larc exclaimed. “You have come up in the world. I can send any word about the heir to them, if it is important enough.”
“Do not be stubborn with me, Larc,” Garth said gruffly. “I have possession of the Prophecy Children.”
Larc stared at Garth like he had grown wings. “How long have you had them?” Larc asked. “Do you have both of them? I should have known by now if you have had them for any time at all. Are you positive?”
“I have never seen you flustered before,” Garth laughed. Turning more serious, Garth continued, “You are not the only one who can keep secrets, but you will keep this one until I give you leave otherwise. I mean it, Larc. One word and I’ll cut your organization apart man by man.”
“You haven’t answered my questions,” Larc reminded Garth.
“One, for sure,” Garth said. “Almost positive that we have two. I have had them for a couple of months.”
Larc was shocked and showed it. “It’s true, then,” Larc finally got out. “Nobody really believed in the Ancient Prophecy. Everyone thought it was just some talk so everyone would have something to hope for. I see why you want to talk with Mitar and David, then. Their help will be necessary to restore the Rangers and the Red Swords. The General must be freed as well. What did you mean about your men? You have always been a loner.”
“I have formed the Alcea Rangers,” Garth answered. “We are small, but we will succeed where larger forces would fail.”
“I will arrange for Mitar and David to be here this evening,” Larc capitulated. “If you need anything in the way of support, you have only to ask for it.”
“Thank you, Larc,” Garth appreciated. “You should know what I will be asking them to do so you can spare them their other duties. The heir is not proclaiming himself now. He needs more training before that can be accomplished. I will be asking David and Mitar to find the locations of their loyal members who have either left or remained. The Rangers and the Red Swords will not be reactivated now, but someone must lay the plans for doing exactly that.”
“They will have my full support,” Larc promised.
The tailor gathered his belongings and bowed as he left the room. Once the door was closed, Fredrik remarked, “I could learn to like this style of living. I have never seen an inn as plush as this one.”
“Don’t get too used to it,” Tedi taunted. “We are not very far from the Targa dungeons and we could end up in them yet.”
“I think the tailoring took more than enough time for the word of our arrival to spread,” Arik announced. “Let’s go down to the dining room and have Lord Wason show himself off.”
Fredrik preened himself in front of the mirror, making sure his new, blue silk suit was not wrinkled or in disarray. Arik in his brown and gray breeches, white frilled shirt and brown leather vest waited at the door, as the Lord’s bodyguard should, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Tedi was attired as a servant with brown and gray breeches and shirt. Fredrik gathered up his straight, wooden walking stick, which was delicately carved with seashore scenes and topped with a small gold knob and walked out the door. Arik stepped quickly to stay on Fredrik’s heels and Tedi followed a distance behind.
As they stepped into the dining room, dozens of eyes turned their way. Fredrik asked for a table in the corner as Kalina had instructed him. Not being in full view of everyone would ensure that people’s curiosity about who was seeing the newcomer would be kept high. Fredrik sat fully in the corner with Arik on one side and Tedi on the other. A waiter came to take the order and Fredrik suddenly felt ill prepared. He had never eaten in so fine an establishment and the wrong choice of food could show him as an impostor.
Fredrik laid the menu back on the table without looking at it. “What is the best meal that is available in Tagaret?” Fredrik asked the waiter.
“Without a doubt,” the waiter happily replied, “it would be the Land and Sand offered only here at the Palace Shadow, My Lord.”
“Very well,” Fredrik smiled, “Bring us three of the Land and Sand and I shall tell you if your food withstands the standards of Cidal. And bring a bottle of your finest wine, as well.” Fredrik immediately turned his head to observe the room, pointedly ignoring the waiter as if he no longer existed.
The waiter gave a short bow and disappeared. “I hope I can stomach what you just ordered,” whispered Tedi. “We don’t even know what it is.”
“It will not matter,” Fredrik answered. “It will be finer than anything you have ever eaten, I am sure.”
The stares continued as the waiter returned with a bottle of wine. Right behind him were three more waiters carrying large trays of food. They served Fredrik first and then Arik. By the time it came to Tedi there was almost not enough room for the plates of food. The Land and Sand consisted of a large lobster tail, scallops, shrimp, oysters, and a large portion of beef. Tedi thought his meal could probably last him for three days. Still, as he started devouring it, he had to admit that it was the best seafood he had ever eaten, and that was coming from a fisherman. He had never seen a portion of beef that was so large and yet so tender.
The boys deliberately ate slowly, expecting people to come over and introduce themselves, but no one came. Eventually, they were finished and the waiters came to take the plates away. As soon as the waiters disappeared, the first caller came. Fredrik looked past him and could see everyone jockeying for position and almost laughed. He had thought no one was coming but they were waiting impatiently for him to finish his dinner. Some of them must be furious by now.
The gentleman who was bold enough to come first was quite distinguished looking. He was dressed in a brown version of Fredrik’s suit, but also sported gold bracelets and a gold necklace. He was probably three times as old as Fredrik with well-groomed gray hair and mustache.
“Welcome to Tagaret, capital of Targa, Lord Wason,” he greeted. “I am Duke Everich, King’s Advisor and head of the Council of Advisors.”
Fredrik rose and extended his hand for the formal shake he had been informed was customary in Targa. Arik and Tedi rose and bowed. The Duke shook Fredrik’s hand and seated himself. He kept looking at Tedi as if there was something wrong with him. When everyone sat back down, the Duke sighed and Fredrik knew he had just committed some small mistake in protocol.
“Duke Everich,” Fredrik began, “I am pleased and honored by my reception to Tagaret. Forgive me for retaining my men. One, I dare not let out of my sight. The other refuses to let me out of his.”
“Ah, that explains a lot, Lord Wason,” the Duke declared. “I was not sure whether it was Cidal customs that dictated eating with your servant. I thought perhaps you were not made aware that there is a servant’s dining room, as well.”
“I am afraid it is a discipline problem, Duke Everich,” Fredrik stated, glad that he had guessed the source of irritation to the Duke. “I fear that I came with only one servant and one bodyguard. Now I cannot spare my bodyguard to watch the servant and I cannot afford to get rid of the servant. Foolish on my part.”
“You are young yet,” the Duke chuckled. “You have learned a valuable lesson. I must say that hearing of you here has piqued my curiosity. What is it that brings you so far from home?”
“I have come to seek audience with your King,” Fredrik declared. “My advisor, Captain Grecho of the Cidal Mercenary Company, believes it is time to seek alliances.”
“Your advisor rules a mercenary company?” asked Duke Everich.
“Yes,” answered Fredrik, “the Company is loyal to the Lord of the Manor and serves as the Army of Cidal. It is useful for them to earn currency and experience in the service of others when there is no pressing need at home. I am surprised that you have not heard of them.”
“Oh, I have heard of them, my Lord Wason,” the Duke replied as Fredrik cringed. “I have used their services before. I am just surprised that their allegiance has been kept secret.”
“It has not been a secret,” lied Fredrik. “It is just not something that needs to be disclosed to every contract holder. If there was a conflict because of it, you can be assured that Captain Grecho would disclose it.”
“Of course,” nodded the Duke. “In any event, you are too late to speak with the King, I’m afraid. King Byron is dead.”
"My condolences,” offered Fredrik. “I do hope it wasn’t sudden. Has his heir been crowned yet?”
“Alas,” frowned Duke Everich, “King Byron had no known heir. The Council of Advisors rule Targa. I can guess what Cidal has to offer to an alliance, but what does it wish from Targa, my young Lord?”
“A common border, King’s Advisor,” Fredrik calmly stated.
A look of shock fell over the Duke’s face. There was an awful lot of territory between Targa and Cidal. If they were to have a common border, quite a few countries or cities would have to fall. The young Lord would have to be either a fool or have access to an army larger than a mercenary company. Either way, he would be very useful or very dangerous, perhaps both.
“I think we should speak more of this before I present it to the Council,” Duke Everich said. “Perhaps you would accompany me to the Royal Palace?”
“It would be a pleasure, Duke Everich,” Lord Wason replied.
Everyone rose and left the dining room, much to the chagrin of the other nobles waiting to interrogate the newcomer. The walk from the Palace Shadow to the Royal Palace was short. Fredrik was amazed at the sheer size of the Palace and had trouble remembering the path so he could retrace his steps if necessary.
Duke Everich showed them into a room that looked like a study. He again frowned as the two Cidal underlings followed Fredrik into the room. Fredrik seized the opportunity before it passed.
“Duke Everich,” Fredrik inquired, “I do not particularly want my fellow countrymen involved in this conversation. I would post my bodyguard outside the door, but not with the servant to look after. I wonder if I might indulge myself of your good graces and store my servant in your dungeon until I am ready to leave?”
“An excellent idea,” laughed the Duke. “I can arrange for some punishment while he is there if you desire.”
“That will not be necessary,” chuckled Lord Wason. “If you could just issue authorization for my man to deposit and collect him, that would be sufficient.”
The Duke scribbled an authorization and handed it to Arik. “I will have one of my men show him the way,” offered the Duke.
Lord Wason leaned close to the Duke’s ear and whispered, “Don’t bother. Let him find it on his own.”
After being dismissed, Arik gently shoved Tedi out the door and closed it. Looking at the authorization, Arik gave a smile and proceeded down the stairs he knew led to the dungeon. Garth had spent some hours trying to detail the inside of the castle to Tedi and himself and Arik felt like he had been there before.
They reached the dungeon quickly and showed the authorization to the outside guard. Without a blink he opened the door to the dungeon and let them in. Inside the dungeon were two more guards seated at a table. They looked up as soon as the door opened and watched as Tedi and Arik approached. Arik walked past Tedi to give the authorization to one of the guards and was reproached for letting his back to a prisoner.
“He is not a prisoner,” Arik stated. “He is just a troublesome servant that needs to be kept out of my hair for a while. You need not even trouble yourself with getting up. I will shove him in a cell.”
“Nobody goes into the cell block without one of us,” the guard stated as he rose. “Servant or prisoner, he gets the same from me either way.”
Arik began to fear that Tedi would be searched. Without his tools, this whole charade would be wasted and possibly worse if they found the lock picks Tedi had on him. The guard pointed the way and followed them into the cellblock. Arik’s heart dropped when he saw no other prisoners in the cells.
Arik stopped and turned to the guard. “Is there a cell with a neighbor?” Arik asked. “This lout’s snoring will add some punishment to the culprit’s torment.”
The guard laughed heartily and pointed Arik and Tedi towards another cellblock. “You have the makings of a Royal Tormentor, lad. The way you think makes me warm all over.”
The guard let them walk down the corridor until they came to a cell next to another prisoner and ushered Tedi in and locked the door. The man in the cell next to Tedi looked too young to be the General.
The guard turned to Arik. “Now that we have your friend locked up,” the guard laughed, “you’ll come with me and answer some questions.”
Arik’s stomach turned as he looked at the massive guard with the wicked grin.