“I know, Tedi, but you won’tlike him any better dead. Let him drink today. Tomorrow we can comeup with a better plan. That woman will be soaked and she’ll have toreturn to the Fisherman’s Inn to get changed, so we don’t have muchtime. When you get done, meet me back here.”

“Okay,” Tedi agreed, “but whatabout your father?”

“I’m going to send a messageout to him by one of the old fishermen who repair nets now. I’llhave my father bring his boat in down here away from thedocks.”

“What if he ignores themessage?” asked Tedi.

“He won’t,” stated Arik.“After my mother was taken, I was pretty upset and frightened aboutthe bandits coming back. I refused to acknowledge that she wasreally gone and my father had some harsh words for me about lying.Then I was afraid they would come back for my father or me and thatmy father wouldn’t believe me if I told him I was in trouble. Hepromised me that if I ever swore on my mother’s life that I was introuble, he would believe me without question. If anything can besaid of Konic Clava, it is that he is a man of hisword.”

The boys split up to see to theirfathers and returned an hour later. Tedi was frowning when hearrived. “The green witch is on the prowl again,” Tedi scowled. “Iheard her asking Master Tern about our fathers and mothers andwhere they lived. He asked her if she had a problem with either ofus and when she didn’t answer he told her to get out and let himget his work done. That put her in a right nasty mood as if shewasn’t in one already. Incidentally, she’s wearing a blue dressnow. Then she started going down the street towards the quay andstopped in each building. I didn’t see any smiles crossing herface, so I guess nobody was willing to talk to astranger.”

“Sooner or later somebody willanswer her,” Arik sighed. “Who is she and what does she want withus?”

“I don’t know, but I suspectthat she won’t leave town until we answer her questions,” musedTedi.