Tedi nodded in agreement and wiped thesweat from his short black hair. “Why is everyone interested in ourage all of a sudden? First the merchant asks me three times and nowthis . . . witch. This witch uses magic on us in broad daylight anddemands to know how old we are. How did you manage to trip heranyway? I was frozen solid except for my head.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Arikquivered. “Somebody else tossed her into the sea.”

“What do you mean someoneelse?” quizzed Tedi. “There wasn’t anyone else around. Nobody insight anywhere.”

“I know,” Arik grimaced, “butI was looking at her face when it happened. She was more surprisedthan we were. Someone used magic on her like she was using on us.She may even think it was one of us. One thing I know for certain.I am not going to be anywhere where she can get a hold of us again.That woman would kill us as soon as talk to us again.”

“But you gave her our realnames,” Tedi objected. “Even if we can stay safely hidden, whatabout our fathers? She’ll have no trouble finding out where theClava and Markel homes are.”

Arik pondered for a while as hisbreathing simmered down and his heart started beating regularlyagain. He reached into his pouch and extracted some coins andpressed them into Tedi’s hand. “Get to your father as quickly asyou can. Tell him that the innkeeper at one of the inns owes you afavor and he can drink for free all day if he hurries. Pick any innbut the Fisherman’s Inn. Give the coins to the innkeeper. It shouldbe enough to cover his drink and a room for the night. I’m sureyour father will need the room before he’s done.”

“You know I don’t like himdrinking,” spat Tedi.