Arik looked up from his conversationwith Master Tern as Tedi flew through the kitchen and out the door.The innkeeper looked shocked at Arik and then quickly pressed somecoins into his hand. “You need to tame that boy down, Arik,” theinnkeeper stated. Arik nodded and took off after hisfriend.

When Arik reached the alley, Tedi wasnowhere in sight. He ran alongside the inn to the street and sawTedi just disappearing into the woods where the merchant had beenthe night before. Arik took off running for the woods and startedcalling Tedi’s name when he entered the forest, but he could findno sign of his friend. After half an hour, Arik decided to give upand return to town. As he walked along an animal path he heard alarge sound and froze, an arrow fitted to his bow without thinking.Arik lowered himself to a crouch, eyes following the sound, whichseemed to be coming nearer. After a few seconds, which seemed aneternity to Arik, Tedi walked onto the path.

Arik lowered his bow and stood, scaringTedi into producing a quiet gulp. “Okay, Arik, so you are quieterthan me in the woods,” Tedi sighed with relief. “I promise I’ll letyou teach me if you don’t scare me like that again.”

“Actually, you were prettyquiet, Tedi,” remarked Arik. “I was only alerted by that one sound.If I hadn’t heard that one crack, I would never have picked you upand I can detect anyone in the woods within one hundredpaces.”

The two boys sat on the path andtalked.

“Why did you run from theFisherman’s Inn,” Arik inquired.

Tedi breathed deeply and replied. “Isaw the bandit in the common room. The one who tried to kill mewith that black sunburst thing and he saw me. He recognized me,too. I could tell as soon as his eyes set on me.”