The next day heralded a series of surprises for Garinor. From the moment he awoke to the conclusion of the day, everywhere he turned something new caught him off guard.
It all started when he woke up. Song was soundly asleep in the bedroll next to his and his face looked peaceful, though mixed with pain. He breathed normally and Garinor knew in his heart that he had saved Song’s life by getting him there the night before. He wasn’t the only one who thought so. One of the other Daggerfists came to him with a tray laden with more food than he could possibly stuff down. There was a bit of hot mash like everyone else would have, but he also had a branch of grapes, a bowl of numerous berries, which he poured into the mash, a lump of heated bread, a wedge of cheese, and three eggs. For drink he had three goblets. One was water, another was squeezed juice, and the third was wine.
“You saved Song’s life,” said the young man bearing the tray. “He would not have made it if you hadn’t taken proper care of him. I thank you. Please eat, with my deepest gratitude.”
They talked about the events that had led to Song’s injury and the flight to the camp, and when he was finished, Garinor got up from the bedroll and walked outside, right into his next big surprise.
There was a large fire pit in the center of the camp and even in the daytime it was kept burning. This allowed the cooks to make heated meals and the healers to properly cleanse their instruments. Sitting at the fire, with his back to Garinor, was a tall boy who looked oddly familiar. He was whittling a branch with a dagger, passing the time.
Garinor approached him, not believing his eyes. “Tomli?”
The branch fell from Tomli’s fingers and he gasped in recognition. “Garinor! When did you get here? Was that you last night?”
He took a seat beside his friend and nodded. “It was. And what about you?”
Tomli laughed. “I followed your clue.”
Garinor shook his head. “What clue is that?”
Tomli took a chain out of his pocket and showed it to Garinor. It was the necklace worn by all the Daggerfists. “This clue. It was in the pocket of your nightclothes. I found it when I hung them up to dry.”
Garinor marveled at the information. “I—I don’t believe it. Actually, it wasn’t a message for you, Tomli. I found it on the guard who took me from home. After he was killed,” he added quietly. “I didn’t even know about the Daggerfists until recently.”
Tomli’s brows shot up. “Really?” He put the necklace back in his pocket and then nodded slowly. “I guess that would make sense. A big coincidence, then.”
Garinor grinned. “And a lucky one, now that you’re here.”
With a laugh, Tomli patted Garinor on the back. “Yes indeed.” He sighed then and turned to Garinor. “I have to tell you, though, that things aren’t perfect. Besfa was hurt in the forest, but his arm should heal well enough. But Marrin…” His voice drifted off to silence.
Garinor’s smile faded away. “What happened?”
“We did well at fighting off the hunters, but in the end one of them was going for me and Marrin threw himself into the line of fire. He didn’t make it.”
Some of the happiness fled Garinor with this news. It was yet another shock to deal with that day, but the surprises were not at an end.
“Come on, Gar,” Tomli said after a few moments. “Let me bring you to the General. I think he’d like to see you.”
Garinor had sort of expected something like this after bringing Song in last night. It was only a matter of time before he would be formally questioned about the events that had brought them there. He wasn’t afraid of meeting the General, though Tomli didn’t help.
“The General,” Tomli said with a bit of amusement in his voice, “he’s the one who started up the whole Daggerfist troop. They span the entire countryside and they protect people who can’t protect themselves. Like us,” he added with a grin. “He’s been at it for many years now, since the kingdom was taken over almost fifteen years ago. It’s amazing how he’s been able to keep such a well-organized band intact for so long without the prince or the king any the wiser. He’s a real hero to so many.”
Tomli spoke with such awe that Garinor was caught up in it too. The man was truly a marvel and by the time they reached his tent, Garinor started to feel a bit weak in the knees about passing through the tent. The guard announced them and Tomli went in first.
Garinor walked into the large tent and realized that it was far different than the other ones in the camp. It was supported by more poles and rods and the canvas seemed thicker and more durable, but also a bit older and more used. The General must spend most of his time on the road and the others perhaps came and went with the seasons. His guess wasn’t too far off, but he couldn’t dwell on it for long. Across the table sat a man that caused Garinor to step back a pace.
“Father?” he gasped.
Tomli let out a hearty laugh and he clapped Garinor on the back with a massive slap of mirth. “Can you believe it?”
“Greetings, son,” said Terrian, rising from the table upon which were strewn several maps of the land, complete with combat strategies. “Are you well?”
“Yes, thank you, Father,” he responded automatically. “But how is this possible?”
Terrian offered a patient smile and he bade them to sit. “There is much to say, Garinor, and I know not the best way to tell you. But you’ve acted bravely and you’ve been strong on your journey. So I must tell you the truth.”
Tomli took a piece of bread from a platter and broke it in two, handing half of it to Garinor, who munched on it dazedly. “I’ll leave you to it, then,” he said, heading for the tent flap.
Terrian looked at Tomli, “Stay, for this affects you as well.”
Confused, the tall boy sat down and Terrian poured out wine for them all. “Fifteen years ago, this land was under siege from a neighboring kingdom. Wars raged throughout the land and people were dying everywhere. There was no hope of survival. The king and queen had no current heirs when the fighting began, but as the war dragged on, a son was born.”
Garinor shifted nervously in his seat as his father spun the tale. He had learned several things on his quest and he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear about the rest of it now.
Without pause, Terrian continued, “The fighting ended soon after the heir came to the world. But the conquerors demanded that the king be removed from the throne. Permanently,” he added with a lowering of his head. “They were killed and so was their son.”
Tomli and Garinor gasped in horror.
“Yes, an infant was slain that fateful day. But the king and queen had been forewarned by a prophecy.” At this, Tomli slid a timid glance at Garinor, which he noticed. He realized then that Tomli knew something of the prophecy and where all this was headed.
“It was said that the king’s line would end, but that his heir would live on in secret. When the king and queen realized that fate had caught up to them, they acted in the only manner they could. They placed their child into the arms of one of their most trustworthy servants and then they took an offered babe in its place. Thus, when the new king slew the royal family, he killed a child that was not theirs.”
“How horrible,” Garinor breathed.
“Indeed,” Terrian said, pacing as he spoke. “The child’s family made a great sacrifice and they have been with me since the beginning. Last night, Garinor, you brought the sacrifice’s older brother into camp.”
“Song!”
“Yes.” Terrian paused for a moment while Garinor digested this news but then he continued. “However, that is the least of the story. The servant brought the king’s son, the true heir, to a village she had visited before. It was the only place she could go to in her need. She came to Paligar.”
Tomli looked at Garinor with pride and he smiled. It made Garinor feel a bit uncomfortable.
“Only a few of us were fully aware of the events that were taking place,” Terrian resumed. “We made a pact to protect the heir at all costs.” He set his unsipped goblet down and he looked into Garinor’s eyes. “And it was then that a deep deception was born.”
“We were told about it,” Tomli chimed in. “Around the time when we built the town bridge. That was a moment when we all came together. Besfa, Marrin, and I were pulled aside and we were told about the prophecy and that the heir was our age and he was with us in our town. And we knew he was you.”
Hearing his suspicions confirmed set Garinor reeling. He looked from his father to his best friend and he didn’t know what to say to either of them.
Terrian seemed to understand Garinor’s reaction and he sighed heavily. “As I said, there was a deep deception. Deeper,” he added, “than even you know.”
Tomli and Garinor looked at him then, brows furrowed.
“Luinna was with child and the timing was right. She gave birth to a healthy boy. And we knew even then that his fate was to be crucial to the future.”
They looked at him, utterly lost. Garinor’s mother had given birth to a boy around the same time that the heir was brought to the town. Its meaning was lost on them.
“Tomli,” spoke Terrian slowly. “You’ve never known your parents, for they died of sickness when you were but a child. You have been raised by your grandmother. This you know. But we have all watched out for you.”
“Then you’re my real father,” Tomli realized suddenly.
Terrian closed his eyes and released another sigh. “A deep deception,” he repeated. “We leaked word that we had taken in the heir and that your parents had given birth to a son. Carefully, so it seemed like we wanted that information kept secret. Yet, it was not meant to be a secret, only perceived as one. And so, years later, when the king would come seeking the true heir, he would come,” he turned his eyes to Garinor, “seeking you.” He swallowed painfully. “Son. I don’t know how you can ever forgive us for our ‘cleverness’ but you are not the true heir. You are a decoy.”
It took a few minutes for the information to settle on them. Garinor was not the heir and his father truly was his father. Then, Tomli was the heir. He was the son of the deceased king, rightful ruler of the kingdom, and Garinor’s father had orchestrated the entire thing.
“It is unforgivable what we did to protect Tomli. To put your life up for sacrifice should the king seek you out. But we knew that one day the true heir would have a chance of returning to power and we trusted in his inherent benevolence, for the prior king and queen were just rulers who always kept the best wishes of the people at heart. We thought Tomli would inherit those qualities, that nobility.”
“He has,” Garinor said. “In so many ways.” He looked at his friend, whose face was ashen as the truth struck home. “You thought I was the one who needed to be protected and time and again you put your life on the line to protect and to save me. You’re one of the noblest people I know.”
Tomli’s face lit crimson and he didn’t know how to respond.
Garinor turned to his father. “I think I understand it though, Father. In one way, I can’t believe you lied about this for my whole life and that you put me up for execution if the king came for me. But,” and he looked at Tomli again, “I understand why. If the king and queen were anything like you, Tomli, then I would have done the same thing.”
There was silence for a few minutes as they stared at each other. Then Garinor gasped and turned to Terrian. “The prince! Father, he will be after us, I’m sure of it. Song and I escaped from battling him. He’ll have followed us.”
A change came to Terrian’s face. No longer did he have the look of Garinor’s father, who was revealing a life-long secret. He turned into the General, the man whose sole purpose was to protect his beloved king, which Garinor now knew was Tomli. “How many?”
“I think about a hundred fifty. And last time he sent a group off to ambush us from one side.”
Wordlessly, Terrian strode from the tent and barked out orders to the men and women in the camp.
Garinor looked at his friend. “So, your majesty, what do you think?”
Tomli looked at him, aghast, but then laughed at the comical expression on Garinor’s face. “Knock it off! Don’t call me that. But you know, Gar, it’s all a bit hard to take in. It was a lot easier thinking you were the heir all those years.”
“I can’t believe none of you ever told me.”
“Your father explained to us that to tell you was to put your life in greater danger. We swore to it. And none of us was going to go against your father.”
Garinor nodded. “Know what gets me?”
“What’s that?”
“I always thought my father was just some poor merchant struggling to make a living.” Tomli looked at him for a moment and then they both broke into laughter.