“I figured that Tedi would bethe one on the roof this morning,” growled Master Tern. “Sheprobably knows it was a young boy but not what he looks like andshe is picking on you because you look older. It is a very seriousthing to be pushing women into the sea, young man, and I expect tobe talking to your father about this matter.”

“We didn’t push her,” pleadedArik. “We couldn’t push her. We couldn’t even run away, MasterTern. She had us frozen from the neck down with magic. Somebodyelse tossed her into the water and they had to have used magic,too, because there was nobody else in sight.”

“Arik,” sighed the innkeeper,“I am very disappointed in you. Ever since I watched you and Tedifor weeks while your fathers went hunting for your mothers, I’vehad the feeling that you were a very good lad and I’ve grown tolike you, but I will not accept such rubbish from your mouth. Now,you will march inside and sit in the common room until the womancomes back and we will get to the bottom of what you have done toher. I’ll send someone down to the docks to wait for yourfather.”

Esta grabbed Arik by the shoulders andstarted pushing him into the inn.

“No, Master Tern,” Arik almostshouted. “By my mother’s life, I swear that I’m telling the truth.The woman is a witch and she means me harm. I really don’t knowwhy, but I know it well enough to have sent a note to my father tomeet me in the woods and for him not to go home.”

Master Tern stopped abruptly. “I waspresent when your father made you that promise, Arik, and I willact as I know your father would. I will tell you, though, I don’tput much store in stories of magic and you would be the first toadmit that your story seems rather unbelievable.”

“I do understand, MasterTern,” Arik sighed with relief. “I wouldn’t believe it myselfexcept that I felt it. I couldn’t move anything but my head and shestood toe-to-toe with me and demanded to know all about me, and herbreath reeked of onions. I was looking right into her eyes when shewas tossed into the sea and she was very surprised. As soon as shehit the water, it was as if someone untied me. Tedi and I took offrunning.”