Kehla and An-nibel caught up with Rahvak about halfway along the ten-minute walk to his house.
“What are you girls doing here? You should have gone straight home.”
Kehla put her arm around Rahvak’s waist. On his other side, An-nibel did the same. Kehla said, “We couldn’t let you go home like that. It would have been too sad.”
An-nibel added, “They shouldn’t have treated you that way. We love the Freeland stories.”
“I understand how they feel,” Rahvak said. “Pond Town is dying. The army took Claydon’s brood sows last tax visit. He can’t breed more pigs without his sows. Cleo Cleargarten is having a similar problem with his sheep. Our land won’t grow anything anymore. It’s all worn out. And the No-Travel laws keep us from developing new land.”
Kehla said in a low voice, “I’m pretty sure Yolana is hunting outside—”
“Hush, now,” Rahvak warned. “Remember what I said about spies? Well, it’s worse than that—I know for a fact there is a spy in town, and we must watch every word we say.”
Kehla nodded. “Yes, Papa. I’ll be more careful.”
“Me, too,” An-nibel added.
“Good girls,” Rahvak said. “When we get to my house, we can speak freely.” He gave them both an affectionate squeeze. “I’m glad to have daughters like you.”
“You’re the best Papa in the whole wide world!” An-nibel asserted, and Kehla nodded her agreement.
“Tell you what,” Rahvak said, “first order of business when we get home is to rustle up some hot tea, and maybe we can find some bread and jam to go with it.”
Rahvak’s house stood on the crest of a small hill to the southeast of Story Stone. It had been in Rahvak’s family for generations. Unlike the small, thatched, ramshackle huts of most of Pond Town, it was sturdily built of baked red bricks on a foundation of river stone and boasted a fine slate roof. Its solid architecture and elevated location made it the only house to survive the great flood <<<The Great Flood>>, generations ago.
As they climbed the hill, Kehla asked, “You don’t usually leave a lamp burning when you’re gone, do you?”
“What’s that, now?” Rahvak looked where Kehla was pointing. Sure enough, a light illuminated the main room’s front window. “No, I don’t. I haven’t grown that absent-minded yet.”
When they got to the porch, Rahvak said, “You two girls wait out here until I say it’s okay. If you hear a commotion, run as fast as you can to Lana’s house.”
Rahvak slowly opened the door a crack and peeked inside. To his surprise, a Sevro man was sitting quite casually on the couch, wrapped in a long, dark travel cloak and wearing a matching wide-brimmed hat. He carried a rather large sword. “I hope you don’t mind that I made myself at home, Rahvak. I’ve had a rather long walk today.”
Rahvak inspected the visitor. “I know you,” he said. “You’re the one who—”
“I’m the one who came a month or so after the Torph woman arrived with her baby. Noddak is my name, in case you forgot.”
“I didn’t forget,” Rahvak said. “It’s just been a long time.”
“A long time indeed,” Noddak said. “And that brings us to the very reason I’m here.”
“A moment, please.” Rahvak opened the door. “It’s all right, girls. Come in and get settled. There’s someone here I’d like you to meet.”
* * *
As soon as the girls disappeared inside, Nahger, who had silently shadowed them from Story Stone, crept up to the house. He crawled to a spot directly beneath Rahvak’s main-room window, which Rahvak had left open to take advantage of the evening breeze. From there, he could hear clearly all that was said. He settled in for a long listening session.
* * *
Kehla and An-nibel came in and politely greeted the stranger. “I’ll put the tea on,” Kehla said.
“And I’ll fetch the bread and jam,” An-nibel added. “You will be joining us, sir? The jam is blackberry, and it’s very good. Lana Neméa made it last fall.”
“She’s our foster mother. She made the bread, too,” Kehla said. “Do you like homemade bread and jam, sir?”
“Why, yes… yes, I do. Very much, thank you. I’ll be pleased to join you, but I haven’t much time.”
“You look puzzled, sir,” Kehla said. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Noddak replied. “It’s just that another little girl invited me to bread and jam on the very day I met your mother. The little girl’s mother cooked me eggs.”
“You knew my mother?” Kehla inquired, breathless.
“Only briefly, I’m afraid. She mistook me for an enemy. When I finally caught up with her, she was—well, it was too late. That’s when I met you for the first time.”
“We’ve met before! I apologize, sir, but I don’t recall.”
“Understandable,” Rahvak said, “since you were only a few months old.” I never met your friend, An-nibel, here, though. She came after I had gone.”
Kehla and An-nibel served the tea and bread on little plates with blue designs around the edges, then sat with Rahvak and waited patiently.
In due course, Rahvak finished his tea and prompted Noddak, “You mentioned that it’s been a very long time, and that’s the reason you’re here.”
“Yes, let’s get straight to the point. The little Torph girl—”
“Excuse me, sir,” An-nibel interrupted. “But we’re not little girls. Kehla’s fifteen and half, and I’m almost fifteen.”
Noddak stared at An-nibel as though seeing her for the first time. He looked her up and down. “I beg your pardon, Miss… An-nibel, is it? I see now that you are, indeed, a young lady, not a little girl. Please accept my apology. And the same for you, too, Miss Kehla.”
Kehla and An-nibel nodded graciously.
Noddak continued, “As I’m sure you must know, Miss Kehla, Torph children usually develop and demonstrate their Torph Ability shortly after the onset of puberty. As your friend correctly stated, you are no longer a child. Therefore, it is time for your Torph Abilty to manifest itself. If you have any, that is. However, one of Kahph’s spies has indicated that you have already shown signs of having the Ability. It has manifested through your relationship with your other little friend.” He indicated Skye, perched securely on Kehla’s shoulder.
Skye stood on her hind legs and bowed graciously.
“She’s a cute little lady, isn’t she?” Noddak asked. “Beautiful blue color. May I offer her some crumbs?”
“Yes, sir, she’d like that.” Kehla extended her arm so Skye could run down to her hand and receive the proffered crumbs, which she devoured with obvious enjoyment. “What do you say? Tell Mr. Noddak ‘thank you.’” Skye looked directly at Noddak and made a trilling sound, then resumed her place on Kehla’s shoulder.
Noddak clapped his hands. “Why, you’re most welcome, little fellow! Marvelous! May I ask how you make her do things?”
“I don’t make her do things,” Kehla said quietly. “I only make her want to do things.”
“Yes, of course,” Noddak said. “Most people can’t do that, you know—make animals want to do things. That is definitive evidence of your Torph Ability.”
“You mentioned Torph Ability before,” Kehla said. “I’ve never heard of it. What is it, exactly? Papa Rahvak, do you know anything about Torph Abilty?”
“A little. I was planning to tell you soon.”
“I don’t have time to explain everything to you now, Miss Kehla,” Noddak said. “I promise I’ll explain everything when you’re out of danger.”
“Danger! What danger am I in?”
“I just told you! Torph Ability. The FRM sent me to protect you.”
Kehla frowned. “What’s an FRM?”
“Fellstone Resistance Movement. We work against Emperor Pallador’s illegal regime. You have heard of Emperor Pallador, haven’t you?”
“Of course we have,” An-nibel said. “He’s the one who steals our food twice a year.”
Noddak laughed out loud. “Yes, that’s the one all right. And here’s the problem: if Pallador learns about Kehla’s Ability, he’ll want to take her to Fellstone City and use her for his own purposes.”
“No, Kaylee, don’t go!” An-nibel wailed. She put her arm around Kehla. “I won’t let you take her, do you hear? I won’t!”
“Calm down,” Rahvak said. “Nobody’s taking anybody anywhere, for the moment, at least.”
“I don’t work for Pallador,” Noddak said. “Well, I do, officially, but I don’t. I’m FRM. I’m here to find out if Kehla has the Ability, which she obviously does, and take her to a safe place where Pallador can’t find her.”
“I’ll bet he can’t find her here in Pond Town,” An-nibel asserted stoutly.
“That’s just the problem,” Noddak explained. “He absolutely can. That’s why Madame Entigy sent me.”
“Madame Entigy?” Kehla’s confusion was beyond rescue.
“What’s worse, Kahph will soon know you’re here, too.”
“Who’s Kahph?”
“The Emperor, of course!”
Kehla’s frown deepened. “I thought you said Pallador was the Emperor?”
“He is. I did. Kahph is the other Emperor, the one that’s trying to kill Pallador.”
Kehla held her head in her hands. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Noddak, but I don’t understand any of this. Do you, Papa Rahvak?”
Rahvak nodded slowly. “I know enough,” he said sadly, “to know that your time here in Pond Town is over. If Noddak is right, and I believe he is, your life is in imminent danger. You must leave here tonight. Right now, in fact.”
“Thank you, sir,” Noddak said. “Miss Kehla, I’ll explain everything, but right now you must get your things and say goodbye to your friends.”
“Not very likely, Mr. Noddak, sir,” An-nibel stated. “Anywhere Kehla goes, I go too!”
“I’m sorry, Miss, but—”
“I said, I’m going with her,” An-nibel repeated in a voice that brooked no argument.
“Fine, whatever, let’s just go!”
“Ehem.” Rahvak slowly rose to his feet. “I guess I’ll be going along, too. I couldn’t possibly abandon my responsibilities.”
“But—”
“Mister Noddak,” Rahvak said quietly, “you’ll allow me and the girls a few minutes to get our gear together.”
Noddak gave up. He nodded his agreement. “Okay, fine. Just make it snappy. Pallador’s agents or Kahph’s soldiers could be in Pond Town in a matter of hours. We must be long gone by then.”
Rahvak whispered, “What I am about to reveal, you must never, ever, tell anyone. Agreed?” He got up, crossed the room, and positioned himself between the bookshelf and the others. There was a click, then the bookshelf silently swung open, revealing a staircase leading downward. “Bring the lamp, Kehla, if you please.” He cleared his throat. “Miss Kehla?”
Kehla blinked rapidly several times, then stumbled over and handed Rahvak the lamp. “Papa Rahvak? How long has this stairway been here?”
“Oh, not long. Twenty years or so. It’s where I keep my… research materials, and a few other things I don’t want the soldiers to find.”
“So… the whole time that Bel and I have been having our lessons here? And you never mentioned it? Not once?”
“’What you don’t know, you can’t tell,’” Rahvak quipped. “Besides, there was no need. Until now. Shall we go down?”