Garinor opted to take the northern road to continue the path the Seer had set for him to follow. He kept a watchful eye as he went, for he could see groups off in the distance and he didn’t want them to come his way and intercept him.
The path itself wound slightly northeast and Garinor stayed on the padded earth, thinking it was easier than heading through the otherwise overgrown landscape. His horse was true to its character and kept breaking into sprints when Garinor loosened his grip on the reins. The road veered further north again and then vanished altogether amidst a somewhat rocky terrain. But Garinor delighted in the appearance of a stream and that served as his new guide to the northern land.
On the opposite side of the stream, Garinor saw a large house that sprawled away in one direction, so from one angle it looked small, but from another angle it was monstrous. Smoke wafted from a chimney and he thought automatically of food. The lure was too great and Garinor’s horse hopped easily over the stream and they sought refuge at the house.
There were numerous children milling around, some working, some playing, and they watched silently as he approached and tethered the horse outside and then knocked on the main door.
An athletic woman in her fifties opened the door and greeted him, ushering him inside before they could exchange any words. “Come, come,” she said, reaching out and practically pulling him in.
“Thank you,” he murmured, trying not to fall over at her brusque greeting.
“Inera, come look, quickly!” the woman called out.
Moments later, an older woman hurried out from a hallway and placed her hand to her mouth as she gasped aloud. “Oh dear!” she muttered, her eyes wide.
Garinor squirmed at such a reception and he glanced over his shoulder, wondering if he could break free of the woman’s grasp and escape. The woman holding him sensed his nervousness and released her grip. “You’re safe here, but only for a short time, young one.”
“Arine, go fetch some tea, will you?” Inera then fixed her gaze on Garinor. “Let us have some words and then you can be on your way. Does that sound fair?”
Curious and confused, Garinor followed the older woman into a nearby room where Arine arrived with a tray of sandwiches, hot tea, and cold water. “Eat up. You’re going to need it,” the vibrant woman cautioned.
Reflexively, he tucked into the food and found that it was exactly what he needed after his harried day.
“There are people after you, you realize,” Arine opened.
“Arine, please,” Inera chided. “There are ways to go about telling him.”
Garinor swallowed his bite and then sipped some of the water. “I know they’re after me. But how do you know?”
Inera smiled sadly. “A pair of them visited early this morning and they have a sketch that looks like you, dear.”
The color drained from Garinor’s face. “But—”
“We have no intention of turning you over to them,” Arine interrupted. “So calm yourself about that and keep eating.”
It was hard to get food in after that. If there was a sketch of him out there and it was now being passed around, then the entire countryside would ultimately be looking for him, perhaps for a reward. Suddenly his plight seemed terrible indeed.
Inera sighed heavily. “Listen, son, for we can help you if you hear us out. There is a prophecy…”
Garinor nodded. “I know about it.”
Inera blinked. “Indeed? Well, then… We understand that the prince and the king have been looking for the true heir to the throne for some time now. The prince now also knows what you look like, so he is trying to find you in an even more organized manner. He sent two men this morning to us to discover if you had come this way in your travels and we don’t doubt that they will return.”
Arine shifted in her seat. “We run an orphanage here and there are many children living and working here who don’t have other homes. It would be prudent, actually, for the prince to post men here to watch for your arrival. But they won’t find you, for you won’t be here.”
Garinor looked at her with apprehension. “What do you mean?”
Inera shook her head. “Sister, you do need to coach your words.” She let out a slight chuckle then and turned back to Garinor. “We are guardians of children, so you have nothing to fear from us. We have lived here many years raising unwanted or orphaned children, teaching them numerous skills, and building a self-sufficient settlement.”
Garinor couldn’t help but grin at the image. “It sounds a lot like what Erina does in Kallinoria.”
Arine and Inera looked at each other in amazement. “You’ve met our youngest sister, then?”
“She… what?”
“Yes, indeed.” Inera beamed. “She and our other sisters started up this place long ago, but Erina wanted to expand her skills to help others in need. It is prodigious that you would meet her on your journey as well.”
Garinor thought back to all the help Erina had given him, and as he looked at these two, he could see a certain resemblance in their features. At once, he relaxed and put his faith in their words. “So the prince knows that I’m around somewhere and he’s looking for me.”
“Rather determinedly,” Arine put in. “But we’ll take you to people who can protect you better than we can.”
Inera nodded. “Yes, Arine is a member of a secret organization that has sought all along to protect the hidden player of the prophecy. They will be delighted to find you at last and to take you to the one responsible for your safety all these years.”
He knew in the back of his mind that it could be a trap, but he went with his instincts, taking them at their word. “Thank you.”
Arine stood up then and put her hands on her hips. “I know you have only just arrived, but we should be off at once. It wouldn’t take long for the prince’s men to return this way if they so choose.”
Garinor nodded and took one last sip of water before following Arine outside. She went to the stable and saddled a horse for herself while Garinor spent a few minutes brushing down his own mount. Then they headed east toward the members of the secret organization.