by Tonke Dragt
However, the toll master showed no sign of sadness when he welcomed the two friends. There was indeed sorrow in his eyes, but that seemed to be part of his character. It was the melancholy of a man who knows and understands a great deal, and so cannot be light-hearted. He greeted them warmly and treated them as honoured guests, refusing to accept the money for the toll, as he said it had already been paid. Tiuri suspected the toll master had paid it himself. He asked Tiuri and Piak to tell him the news from the City of Unauwen, although he already knew most of it, including Tiuri’s real identity. After dinner, they sat with him for a long time in the room overlooking the bridge and the river. The toll master asked Tiuri if he was related to Tiuri the Valiant, and Tiuri discovered that the toll master knew the Kingdom of Dagonaut well, as he had been there a number of times, years ago, before he had become toll master. But he knew far more about his own land, of course, and, at the friends’ request, he told them all about the Kingdom of Unauwen. He talked about the different regions, rivers and castles, about King Unauwen and his knights, and about the two princes.
“It’s so strange,” said Piak, thinking aloud, “that the two brothers are enemies. Twins should love each other all the more.”
“I agree,” said the toll master. “And it could have been so different. King Unauwen also had a brother, who was born on the same day and who was just like him. But that prince never laid claim to the throne. He even rejected his royal title and set out to explore the world instead. Later he withdrew to the mountains and became a hermit.”
“A hermit?” repeated Piak, staring at him with wide eyes.
Tiuri too was surprised. He couldn’t help but think of Menaures, the hermit at the source of the Blue River.
“Is the brother… the hermit still alive?” asked Piak.
“Yes, he’s still alive,” replied the toll master.
“And what is his name?”
“When he renounced his royal title, he also took on a new name,” said the toll master, “and I am not sure if I should say what it is. He lives on the other side of the Great Mountains and has not been here for many years. But knights and pilgrims have often passed through here on their way to visit him in the mountains. Perhaps you have met him yourself; after all, you come from the mountains, don’t you?” He smiled and looked at Piak.
“Yes, yes,” Piak replied. “Perhaps I have…”
Later, when the friends were in bed, Piak said to Tiuri, “What do you think? Do you think Menaures could be King Unauwen’s brother?”
“It’s possible,” said Tiuri.
“Possible?! He has to be! Never in my wildest dreams… And yet somehow it’s not such a surprise. Didn’t I say that Menaures and the king were alike?”
Although the friends had had a late night, they got up early the next morning, because they wanted to reach Dangria the same day. After a warm farewell from the toll master, they rode away on the horses he had loaned them. Warmin and another man rode out with them. They were to accompany Tiuri and Piak to Dangria and then return with the horses.
As they looked back at the bridge for the last time, Piak said suddenly, “Oh, there’s something we forgot to do!”
“What’s that?” asked Tiuri.
“I wanted to go and have a word with Ferman about that boat of his.”
Tiuri laughed. Piak still seemed rather upset about his soaking in the Rainbow River.
Warmin laughed as well. “So I was right. It was that wreck of Ferman’s!” he said. “Thank goodness the thing’s finally sunk.”
That afternoon, they were back in Dangria’s marketplace. It looked just as it had before, packed with colourful stalls, merchants and customers.
“It’s like we never left,” said Piak, as they stood looking at the town hall.
“And yet so much has changed,” said a voice behind them. It was Iruwen, of course. He smiled and continued, “There have been so many changes! Master Dirwin is now mayor. As soon as the permission comes from the king, he will be officially installed.” He walked over to stand between Tiuri and Piak and added in a hushed voice, “They asked me first if I wanted to be mayor. But I didn’t fancy the idea. I want time to wander around the city and to keep my eyes and ears open. And Master Dirwin really will be a good mayor. But,” he continued, “I haven’t even asked yet if you had a good journey. In any case, I can see just by looking at you that you have done what you set out to do. I am keen to hear the stories you have to tell.” He pointed at the town hall. “Perhaps you’d like to say hello to Master Dirwin first?” he said. “He is the mayor, after all.”
“Yes,” said Tiuri. “King Unauwen told us to convey his greetings to Master Dirwin and to pass on the news.”
“Ah,” said Iruwen. “We have heard about the death of the good knights, and of our poor scribe. Messengers from the capital have already been here. But more news is always welcome. I always said that Eviellan was our enemy, in spite of their request for peace.”
Iruwen accompanied the two friends as far as the steps to the town hall.
“Will you come to the White Swan later?” he asked. “Ardoc will be there too. He happens to be in town today, which is fortunate. I shall go and tell the innkeeper that you’re coming. See you later!”
The friends did as Iruwen had asked, and after their visit to Master Dirwin they went to the White Swan, where they found Iruwen, Ardoc, Doalwen, and some other acquaintances. They ate dinner together and exchanged news. It was indeed fortunate that Ardoc was in the city, as he said they could ride with him next morning to his house in the shadow of the Great Mountains.
2 A BROKEN PROMISE
So the next morning the two friends rode on with Ardoc, this time sitting up front beside him on the cart.
“So do you think it’s really going to come to war?” said Piak.
“We are far from Eviellan here,” said Ardoc, “and it will likely be some time before we notice any signs of it. The raids in the south will probably begin again soon. But even if Eviellan’s armies do invade our country, they will never pass beyond the Rainbow River, not as long as the toll masters are there. And they won’t take Dangria either. The city has withstood many a siege in the past and, if necessary, it will do so again. The danger within the city’s own walls has been discovered and the mayor who is now in place is a stalwart and trustworthy man.” Ardoc turned to look at Tiuri and Piak. “I could never have anticipated any of this when you rode with me last time,” he said, shaking his head. “Do you remember when I said to you about discovering things for yourselves? You already knew so much more than I ever suspected.”
“Well,” said Piak, “we didn’t really know all that much ourselves. We’ve found out so much more since then.”
“And yet you played an important role in recent events,” said Ardoc. “You were the first to bring news of Eviellan’s deceit.”
Piak looked at the mountains, which were getting closer and closer. “Soon we’ll be home,” he said with a sigh. “I can hardly believe it! I’m going to take off my chainmail and leave it behind. Don’t you think that’s a good idea, Tiuri? We already have enough weight to carry – like our swords, for instance. I’ve never climbed a mountain with a sword at my side before!”
“I do hope you don’t intend to leave your sword behind,” said Tiuri.
“Oh no, never!” said Piak.
“It would be a great shame if you did,” said Ardoc. “Many a knight would envy you such a sword.”
They rode onwards and, after a while, Ardoc pointed ahead with his whip. “Look. You can already see my house up there,” he said. “You will stay until tomorrow morning, won’t you? Then you can meet my children and my grandchildren. I have a large family; there’s never a dull moment!”
Tiuri and Piak gladly accepted his invitation.
The next morning, they said farewell to the last person they knew to the west of the Great Mountains and began the climb upwards.
*
“Ah, now I’m back on fami
liar ground,” said Piak the next day, after they had passed Filamen. “Oh, it’s all been wonderful, but I still feel most at home here.”
Of course they paid Taki and Ilia a visit, who greeted them warmly, but with some surprise.
“Well, I never!” said Taki to Piak. “What have you been up to and where have you been? You’ve come back with a sword at your side like a real knight.”
Piak laughed. “Far from it!” he said. “But my friend here’s a knight.”
Tiuri shook his head and said, “Not yet, Piak.”
“You look like you’ve been through all sorts,” said Taki. “I hope you’ll be able to tell us all about it this time. I’m just saying that for Ilia’s sake, of course.”
“If you’re going to start calling me nosy again, you won’t be getting any bread pudding later,” threatened Ilia.
Taki laughed. “Then my lips are sealed,” he said.
“And we can tell you the whole story now, aunt,” said Piak. “For about the hundredth time. Phew! Now that I’m here, I can hardly imagine that it all really happened.”
Piak repeated those same words a couple of days later when he and Tiuri were standing on his lookout tower taking one last look back at the Kingdom of Unauwen.
“How long is it,” said Piak, “since we were last here?”
Tiuri thought about it. “About three weeks,” he said.
“And we had no idea at the time what would happen to us when we were down there and what everything would look like from close up.”
“And we’ve been even further than we can see,” Tiuri added.
They stood up there for a while, gazing out over the Kingdom of Unauwen, before resuming their journey.
“We’re travelling at the right time,” said Piak. “Soon the autumn rains will begin, and then it’ll be hard to cross the mountains.”
A day later, they reached the pass and, the night after that, they slept in the cave beneath the seventh crag. It wasn’t too far to the hermit’s cabin from there. The weather was good – much better than the previous time – and most of the path was downhill.
Piak was delighted to see familiar places. However, the closer they came to their destination, the quieter he became. Tiuri was a little puzzled. His friend didn’t seem to be tired…
It was already dark as they headed down to the cabin, but there was a light to guide them. Menaures had placed a lantern outside.
The hermit came out to meet them. He had obviously been expecting them.
“All day, I’ve had the feeling that you were coming,” he said, “and look, here you are. Welcome!”
Soon the two friends were sitting at the table with the hermit and telling him about their successful journey.
“I am glad to hear you succeeded,” said the hermit, “and I am also pleased you have become such firm friends. I hoped that it might happen.”
“Did you expect me to travel on with Tiuri?” asked Piak.
“Yes,” replied Menaures. “I was not surprised when you did not return.”
Piak opened his mouth and closed it again. He looked silently at the hermit for a while and finally said, “King Unauwen asked me to send you his regards.”
Menaures bowed his head. “Thank you,” he said.
Again, there was silence. Tiuri looked at the hermit and then at Piak and wondered if Menaures really was the king’s brother. He certainly looked like King Unauwen. But Tiuri didn’t dare to ask him directly.
Piak seemed to feel the same way, because the next question he asked was simply, “Do you know King Unauwen?”
The hermit smiled. “You know that I do,” he said.
“Um, but do you know him well?” Piak asked.
“I do,” said Menaures. He was still smiling and there was a twinkle in his dark eyes.
“So why did you not ask us to pass on your regards?” asked Piak.
“My brother knows I think of him often,” the hermit replied. “Yes, that’s right. My brother! That is what you wanted to ask, isn’t it?”
“Yes, yes,” said Piak, blushing.
“You could have asked me,” Menaures continued. “I don’t know how you found out, but now that you know, I shall not deny it.”
“You look so much like the king!” said Piak.
“But you should continue to see me just as you have always seen me,” said Menaures. “As a hermit in the mountains – not as some prince or ruler.”
Even so, Tiuri thought there was definitely something regal about the hermit. His simple clothes and his lean build did nothing to disguise it.
“Now tell me about your journey,” said Menaures.
The two friends did so, with Tiuri doing most of the talking. In fact, Piak was very quiet. Tiuri kept glancing over at him, wondering if something was troubling his friend.
A little later, as they were making their bed of straw and blankets on the ground, Piak suddenly said, “Did you miss me, Menaures?”
The hermit smiled. “I certainly did,” he replied.
“You know, Tiuri told you that I’m going with him to King Dagonaut. But if you can’t manage without me, obviously I’ll stay here.”
“Missing you doesn’t mean I can’t manage without you,” said Menaures. “It would be wrong if that were true. So you may leave with an easy heart. You would not have stayed with me forever anyway.”
“I…” Piak began. Then he stopped himself and asked something else. “Did anything happen here while we were away?”
And Tiuri said, “Do you know what Jaro decided to do? Did he come to see you?”
“Yes,” said the hermit. “We talked for a long time. I think, Tiuri, that Jaro will no longer serve the King of Eviellan.” And that was all he said.
Soon after that, Menaures wished them goodnight. He didn’t go to bed himself, but disappeared outside and left the door ajar, as he had done the previous time.
Tiuri was tired and he soon dozed off. Then he thought Piak was leaning over him and whispering a question, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Piak lying there beside him, perfectly still. Tiuri turned over and had almost fallen back to sleep, when he heard Piak quietly getting up. He looked and saw him going outside. Then he heard his friend talking to the hermit. He couldn’t make out what Piak said, but Menaures’s answer was loud and clear.
“You do not have to go, Piak,” said the hermit. “If you would rather stay in the mountains, then that is what you must do.”
Tiuri was immediately wide awake.
Piak was mumbling at first, but his voice became louder and Tiuri heard him say, “But I promised him, Menaures. I promised I’d go with him. I even asked to go myself! And I really wanted to go at first. I wanted to be a squire. But now that I’m back in the mountains, I feel that this is where I belong.”
“No person truly belongs in any place on this earth,” said the hermit. “But I know what you mean. You feel that your place is here.”
“I’m not even certain about that,” said Piak with a deep sigh. “I don’t think I know what I want! Sometimes I think I’ll never feel at home in the mountains, not the way I did before. Not now that I know what it’s like down below. But I don’t know if I would want to live anywhere else. And I don’t know if I really want to go to the land of King Dagonaut and become a squire.”
Tiuri listened to all that Piak said and he understood why his friend had been so quiet; this was what had been bothering him. Piak was regretting his decision to accompany Tiuri to the City of Dagonaut.
“What should I do, Menaures?” asked Piak.
Tiuri suddenly felt guilty for listening to words that had not been intended for his ears. But on reflection he felt that it was good that he had heard what Piak had said. Piak would probably never have confided in him.
“That’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself, Piak,” came the hermit’s reply.
“But that’s exactly what I can’t do,” said Piak. “I know what I have to do, though. I gave Tiuri my word.”
/> “Tell me honestly, Piak,” said the hermit. “Would you rather stay in the mountains?”
It was silent for a while. Then, quietly, Piak said, “Yes.” And he continued, “But I asked Tiuri if I could go with him. And I don’t want him to think I’m abandoning him because…”
“Because?” the hermit asked calmly.
“He’s scared that King Dagonaut won’t make him a knight now,” said Piak, “and he might think that’s why I don’t want to go with him…”
“Of course he won’t think that,” said the hermit.
No, of course not, Tiuri thought to himself.
“But that’s not the problem,” said Piak. “It’s… well… it’s what I already told you. I was so happy to be back here that I knew I really wanted to stay. And yet – and this is what’s so strange, Menaures – I know I’ll still be longing to go down the mountain. I feel miserable at the thought of having to say goodbye and I may well regret it. But if I go with Tiuri, I’ll just miss the mountains again.”
“Yes,” said Menaures, “there will always be something that you miss, whether you leave now or stay here. All throughout our lives, we must keep saying goodbye. But if you would prefer to stay here, if you think that this is your place, you must be honest with Tiuri. He will not hold it against you.”
Of course I won’t, thought Tiuri. Imagine being angry at Piak for his honesty! But he was sad. He was going to miss his friend. Was it true what the hermit had said, that you had to keep on saying goodbye?
When Piak came back to bed, Tiuri pretended to be asleep. But he lay awake thinking for a while, even though he already knew what he was going to say to his friend the next day.
3 GOODBYE
“So, Piak,” Tiuri said the next morning. “I know that you’d rather stay in the mountains.”
“What makes you think…” Piak began, but Tiuri didn’t let him finish.
“Whether you come with me or not,” he continued, “we’ll still be just as good friends. You belong in the mountains, and I belong in the Kingdom of Dagonaut. That’s just the way it is. I’m not going to stay here for your sake either, am I?”