I’ve been so selfish and feeling sorryfor myself over my mother’s disappearance that I couldn’t see howmuch he was hurting. At first, I thought my mother’s disappearancewas just an excuse for him to start drinking and after a while Ijust mentally belittled him for not being able to control himself.The old man made me realize that I’m part of the reason that hestill drinks. I shut him out of my life and made his loss twice asbad and my own, as well.”

Arik looked across the campfire and sawthe tears welling up in Tedi’s eyes. “You really ought to tell himthat, Tedi. I can keep my father busy for a while.” Arik stood upand called across the clearing. “Dad, I need you for amoment.”

Master Clava stared at the two boysnear the campfire wondering what was so urgent that Tedi couldn’thelp Arik with. He saw Tedi hesitantly start to walk over to wherehe and Alan sat and decided to find out. By the time he got to thecampfire, he looked back to see Tedi kneeling next to his father.“What is it, son?” he asked Arik.

Arik walked over and hugged his father.“I just want to thank you for being here for me,” he choked. Hesmiled when he looked past his father and saw Tedi and MasterMarkel doing the same.

“I’ll always be there for you,son,” Konic replied. “As I know you will always be there for me.”Konic turned to see what Arik was staring at and sighed softly.“Now that is a sight I have longed to see, Arik. Whatever troublethis witch has brought, she has brought some good, too.”

Breaking the embrace and tending to theboiling pot, Arik asked, “What are we going to do about her, Dad?What is it she wants?”

Konic poured himself another cup ofcoffee and sat on a log staring into the fire. “I don’t know, son.I asked around about her and determined that she did find out wherewe live. I didn’t get much of an idea why she is so interested inus, though. I did have many people offer their sympathies about myboy running away up North, though,” he chuckled.