Garinor rode the horse to the north and discovered that it wasn’t a particularly fast animal. It liked to stop and graze and enjoy the scenery. The beast wasn’t well-suited for travel in this manner but he did his best to keep moving along. As they progressed toward the north, a stream wandered in from the east and the horse delighted in a respite by the cool water. Nothing Garinor could do would move the beast.
It looked like he would never get the animal moving, but at last it decided it had had enough water and started off again, this time at a jovial trot. Garinor held on tightly and wondered if his progress would have been faster on foot.
Not long later, a large building appeared on the horizon on the eastern side of the stream. He kicked at the horse to move faster, for he was hungry and he thought he might be able to barter for some food. The horse went along excitedly, gathering speed as they drew nearer the house. Without Garinor even trying to steer the strange animal, the horse splashed into the stream and exited on the other side, making a direct line for the structure. It wandered past the building and went to a garden off to one side, where an older woman was sitting in the dirt, digging her fingers lovingly around a few herbs. She looked up when the horse nuzzled her ear.
“Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Berlia, I thought I wouldn’t see you again! How wonderful! And who have we here?” she asked, looking up at Garinor. “Yes, come inside, won’t you, please?”
Bewildered, Garinor climbed off the horse and followed the woman inside. “I am Niare and my sisters would love to meet you.”
“Oh, all right,” he said, thoroughly confused.
“Inera, Arine, Reina, we have a visitor!” she called out in a musical tone. Three women came into the entryway from different entrances and greeted Garinor with an odd light in their eyes. Niare smiled warmly and announced, “I told you one day that Berlia would bring him!”
Inera and Arine stepped forward and ushered Garinor into a sitting room, while Reina skipped off to another destination. Niare followed Garinor and kept patting his back as if he was her long-lost grandson.
Arine went to the window and shook her head. “There isn’t time. We must hurry.”
“Calmly now, Arine,” said Inera. “We must greet the boy properly.” She turned to Garinor. “Reina will be in shortly with some food, but while we wait, let’s tell you a little about us.”
Niare giggled and sat beside Garinor. “My sisters and I run this place. It’s an orphanage for stray children in need.”
“I—I’m not an orphan,” Garinor stammered.
“Of course not, dear,” said Inera, who seemed to be the most grandmotherly of them all.
Arine stamped her foot and turned around. “Listen, boy, this place isn’t safe for you. The prince’s men were here this morning with a rough portrait that looks enough like you to be accurate. And with Niare’s own prediction coming true, I fear the worst if we linger here.”
Reina entered the room with a tray of sandwiches and water. Her apron was smattered with stains and her hair was tied up tightly in a bun. She looked around at the solemn faces and set the tray down on one of the tables in front of Garinor. “Well, don’t all look happy to see some food.”
Inera looked patiently at her sister and smiled. “Arine is in a bit of a snit this afternoon, it seems.”
Arine stamped her foot again and sat down on Garinor’s other side as Reina excused herself from the room. Arine leaned over, speaking urgently. “I wish I could take the time to be soothing and warm and gentle like my sisters here, but I do fear for your safety. And though we’ve protected many others like you in the past, we won’t be able to now.” She looked at Niare. “Isn’t that true, sister? Since the horse brought him, aren’t there other forces at work too?”
She had forgotten and her jaw dropped open for a moment before she started biting her lip. “Oh, no. You’re right, Arine. It was the horse’s arrival to be followed by men looking for its rider.” Then she paused. “But didn’t the men come already today?”
Arine shook her head. “We distracted them, but I’m certain they’ll return. We can’t take chances with this.” She stared intently into Garinor’s eyes. “I’m a member of a secret organization that is determined to protect those caught up in the prophecy.”
Garinor gasped. “You know about that?”
“Oh yes,” Inera crooned. “We do know of it, dear.”
“The prince,” Arine continued as if she had not been interrupted, “now has a sketch that resembles you and though we sent off his men this morning, it would be most prudent for them to turn about and station themselves here in earnest. This is, after all, a refuge for wayward children.”
Inera released a deep sigh. “I’m sorry that we’re worrying you, dear, but it is the truth. Arine can take you to a safer haven than this will soon be. I do hope you will forgive our abruptness, but you should join Arine now.”
Arine stood up and held out her hand. “Finish that bite and then please come with me. It’s for your safety that we must act at once.”
Garinor gulped down the sandwich and looked around at them all. They were all in their fifties or higher and as he gazed into their faces, he felt a warmth he couldn’t suppress. It was like talking to Tomli’s grandmother, whose soul shone through her eyes. Despite the panic he felt at this jarring welcome, he agreed to the plan and rose to his feet.
“I thank you for the protection you offer me. My journey has been filled with so much peril that it’s hard to trust in what you offer. But I know I can’t remain in one place for long, so let’s go.”
Arine gripped Garinor’s shoulder. “You’re wise to come with me and I promise that I’ll give you over to capable hands.” She pulled a chain from her neck and on it was the depiction of a fist clutching a dagger. Garinor’s eyes popped open. “You’ve seen this before. It’s a mark of those who belong to that group. It’s to this group that I will entrust you. Come, let us take the horses and go to them.”
“Er, the… horse I came here on… It isn’t very… obedient.”
Arine laughed and it was in that sound that truly showed Garinor the warmth in her heart. “Yes, of course. Its one purpose was to bring you here, that’s all. We’ll find you another mount for this journey.” She headed for the stable where a few children mingled about, brushing down a row of horses. She whistled and pointed to two of the steeds and a pair of young girls set about saddling them up.
Meanwhile, Arine walked over to a storage shed that was inside the stable and opened the door, pulling out two swords. She handed the shorter one to Garinor. “You’ll need this on the way for protection. It will also give us a change to spar if we can find the time.”
He accepted the weapon and strapped it to his waist, certain now that she was acting in his best interest, for if she had been an enemy, she wouldn’t likely give him a weapon he could use against her. By the time he was ready to depart, so were the horses, and he and Arine were on their way.