by Pedro Urvi
“I don’t believe it either,” said Edwina. “She’s my friend. She’s helped me tirelessly ever since I’ve been here at the Camp. Why would she do a thing like that?”
“That’s the question,” said Ivana. “The motive is lacking. Without motive, there’s no sense in the accusation. We’re not going to accept the word of a beginner against that of a Master Ranger, the most experienced and knowledgeable among us.”
“I know the motive,” Egil said suddenly. His voice was quiet and confident, and their gazes converged on him.
“You know?” Angus asked.
“What motive is that?” Haakon said, with his interrogator’s glare fixed on Egil.
“She wants the leadership of the Camp.”
“That’s not true!” Eyra said savagely. “I don’t want the leadership, I never have!”
“She’s lying. That’s the motive,” Egil assured them.
“I beg your pardon? How dare you call me a liar?”
“And I say that’s the truth. Yes, she does want Dolbarar’s position. The poisoning, then covering it up as a disease, was a stratagem to get hold of the position of Camp leader.”
“Egil! Dolbarar cried. His voice was angry and incredulous. “Why are you saying these things about Eyra?”
“I don’t accept this betrayal, Egil! I’ve always helped you! How dare you accuse me now? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have graduated as a Ranger! I welcomed you into my School! And this is how you pay me back?”
“I know that, and I’m very grateful. But one thing doesn’t excuse the other. You tried to kill Dolbarar, and that can’t be allowed to go unpunished. If we hadn’t stepped in, you’d have succeeded.”
“Egil, be careful what you say,” Edwina said.
“Egil, Lasgol,” Dolbarar said, “I don’t know why you’re saying this about my good friend, but you’re mistaken. Totally mistaken.” He was shaking his head, his eyes closed.
Egil turned to him. “I’m really sorry, sir. I know it’s an unthinkable betrayal and it’ll cause you great pain, but it’s the truth. I’m not mistaken. Lasgol isn’t mistaken. Eyra poisoned you. She did it to get rid of you and take over your post.”
“This is ridiculous!” Eyra shouted. “You’re delirious. I don’t know who’s been putting these ideas into your head, but you’re completely wrong and you’ll be sorry for these false, completely baseless accusations. And you too, Lasgol.” She jabbed her finger at him.
“I don’t trust anybody, but this is a little excessive,” Haakon said. “Eyra has always been here helping us all. She’s an institution in the Camp.”
“Greed for power isn’t something that Eyra has ever shown,” Ivana said. “In this case it’s not a sufficient motive.”
“Of all the people in this room, the last one I would suspect is Eyra,” said Esben. “We’ve been friends for many years. I know her well. She doesn’t want the leadership, and she’d be incapable of doing a thing like that.”
Despite being repulsed by everybody, Egil stood firm, staring at Eyra. Lasgol supported his friend by moving closer to him and staring, equally accusingly, at the Master Ranger of Nature. For his part Dolbarar, in his armchair, was staring at Lasgol in sorrow and incredulity.
“Do you have any proof of your accusation, Egil?” Angus asked him. “The motive in her case isn’t a strong one, as has been said already. I believe that too.”
“That’s because you still don’t know the full extent of the motive,” Egil said.
“Explain yourself. We’re listening.”
“I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense!” Eyra burst out. “All these accusations are completely false. It’s a plot against me, and I don’t know why you’re giving it credibility.”
“We’re in a session of Council,” Angus said. His voice was quiet and hard. “The situation we’re discussing is a very serious one. We’ll listen to everybody, and everything they have to say, before we dismiss anything. Explain yourself, Egil.”
“First, I want to say that I didn’t know it was Eyra until a few moments ago. When Lasgol accused her, my mind did its best to link the clues together, to search for the reason. And it isn’t an obvious reason at all. In fact it’s a secret one.”
“Secret? What secret?” Angus asked.
“At first I didn’t connect two very odd facts, because they happened at different moments, but I’ve just seen the connection, On the one hand, someone was following me, both here at the Camp and when I left for Erenal. This someone is a Veteran Ranger, Vincent Uliskson. We caught him on the way to Erenal, and I forced him to confess the name of the person who’d sent him to spy on me.”
“What does this have to do with the matter in hand?” Haakon asked. “Half the kingdom must be after you. You’re an Olafstone. It’ll be the court, or the King, or his brother, or even the members of the Western League, so that they know what you’re up to.”
“Very true,” Ivana joined in. “You’re a dangerous person as far as the crown is concerned. It’s perfectly normal that they should be keeping an eye on you.”
“In fact, that was what I suspected too, but it turned out not to be that,” Egil said, and Lasgol looked at him in surprise. They were the most obvious suspects, and the ones they themselves had always thought were probably behind the spying.
“No? So who was it who’d given the order to spy on you?” asked Angus.
“The Dark Rangers.”
Everyone at the table started to talk at once: some unwilling to believe it, others saying that there was no proof that they even existed, and that it was the most outlandish thing they had ever heard.
“Why should we believe Uliskson belongs to the Dark Rangers?”
“He confessed under the effects of the Herb of Truth Potion, and hence it’s not open to dispute.”
“Even so, someone must have tricked him,” Ivana objected. “I don’t even think they exist.”
Angus nodded. “The Dark Rangers exist.” Dolbarar looked at him and sighed. “Some of us have wanted to believe otherwise, but Gondabar has confirmed it, as has Sigrid, the Leader of the Shelter. For years they’ve been among us, and in our ineptitude in not giving credit to a threat like that, they’ve prospered. It’s thought that they have members in all ranks of the Rangers – even further and higher, within the court itself.”
“Sad news, but true,” Dolbarar said. “I’ve always refused to accept it, but yes, Gondabar’s information persuades me. We’re working to find them and eradicate this weed before it contaminates everything we’ve built up.”
“We’ve all heard rumors,” said Esben, “but we haven’t been able to find proof of their existence.”
“I have,” Lasgol said. “Erika, who tried to kill me at the Shelter, belonged to the Dark Rangers.”
“Curious that they should have tried to kill both of you,” Haakon said with a touch of irony.
“These two youngsters tend to sniff where they smell smoke,” Dolbarar said in their defense, “and they usually find fire.”
“Well, in this case they’ve made a mistake,” Ivana said. “What does all this have to do with Eyra? Did Uliskson get his order from her?”
“Not directly, which complicates things. Uliskson received the order in writing and in secret, with a coin bearing the seal of the bear and the boar.”
“Erika had the same coin,” Lasgol said. “She showed it to me.”
“That’s why I didn’t connect Uliskson and Eyra. It was hard for me to see, but finally I understood it all just a moment ago. The reason Eyra wants to lead the Camp isn’t greed, wanting more power, as she argued here perfectly well, none of which fits ... it’s not for her, it’s for the Dark Rangers. It’s they, their leader, who wants someone from the secret order leading the Camp. What better way to get hold of adepts than recruiting, training and leading new Rangers and turning them into Dark ones?”
Lasgol’s eyes were very wide. This scenario had not even passed through his mind. He knew
Eyra had tried to poison Dolbarar, but he had not known her motive. This was why his stomach was turning, because he found it so hard to believe that someone like her could commit a crime like that. He had always thought that she was a wise healer, a good witch. She had always been good to them, had helped them. This was terrible, but now he understood why. Egil had found it out.
Nobody said anything. They were all thinking about what Egil had told them, and all its repercussions.
“We have the poison, the proximity, and a possible motive, all pointing to Eyra,” Angus reasoned aloud. “Even though the motive is a conjecture which isn’t open to proof, both the poison and the proximity to the victim point to it.”
“We have to prove that the poison comes from that plant ... the Bell,” said Edwina, who still could not believe that Eyra had poisoned Dolbarar when she had been treating him every day and had not found the toxin.
“Everlasting,” added Lasgol. “She makes it.”
“It will be checked into, and we’ll determine it one way or the other,” said Angus. “But the motive has not been proven, Egil. Without convincing proof, I can’t accuse Eyra, no matter how much you may believe she’s guilty. Her position and her long career in the corps carry far more weight than your guesses and your circumstantial evidence. I can’t accept that she belongs to the Dark Rangers.”
Egil nodded. “I understand, sir. At the same time, there is one way to prove her guilt.”
“There is? What is it?” Dolbarar asked. He was obviously not convinced at all.
“The coin the Dark Rangers use. The coin which Uliskson had in his possession. Someone in the Camp has coins bearing the seal of the bear and the boar, of the Dark Rangers. That’s the person we’re looking for. If we find the coins, we’ll have found the culprit.”
“And you think it’s Eyra?” Angus asked.
“Yes, sir. It’s the conclusion I’ve come to after putting all the data I have together.”
Dolbarar looked at his old friend, shaking his head. “Eyra my dear friend, the accusations against you are very serious ones. I refuse to believe them, because of everything we’ve experienced, all the battles we’ve fought for this place, for the Rangers. Because of the hundreds of young contenders we’ve trained here. I can’t believe that you, of all those here, you and no-one else, my closest and dearest friend, can be who they say you are and can have committed the crime you’re accused of.”
Eyra glared at him. Her eyes were furious. “I swear that the accusations are utterly false. It’s a plot against me, against the Camp, and ultimately, against you. You know me, you know what I’m like. I love you like a brother. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t betray you or the Rangers.”
Dolbarar nodded. He looked at Angus, and with a gesture invited him to come to a decision.
“The testimony Lasgol and Egil have given is sufficient to bring charges. There will be a thorough investigation, and everything will be resolved. To avoid any injustice, the Four Master Rangers and Edwina will remain in the Command House until the investigation is finished and a decision is made. I shall lead the investigation personally, with Oden’s help. Dolbarar will continue isolated in his room to prevent further harm.”
Eyra was deeply offended by this. “That’s unfair!” she shouted. “You have no right!”
“Is anybody against this pronouncement?” Angus asked the other members of the Council.
“It’s fair,” said Esben, “although I believe Egil’s wrong about Eyra. There must be another culprit among us.”
“I see no problem in staying here until this is all cleared up,” Edwina said.
Haakon protested under his breath. “I don’t like this in the least. And I don’t think Eyra is guilty. All the same, I agree that it must be investigated.”
Ivana nodded. “I think it’s a good idea to leave us on the fringe of things, and I think we should all be investigated, not just Eyra. We have nothing to hide, and that will be shown.”
Angus gave Dolbarar a final glance before he brought the session of Council to a close.
“May it all be cleared up, and the stain on Eyra’s honor cleansed,” Dolbarar said.
“It shall be done,” Angus replied. He turned to the others. “The session is closed,” he proclaimed.
Chapter 52
“Get us out of here!” Viggo shouted as he shook the bars of the cell he was sharing with Ingrid, Astrid and Lasgol.
“They’re not going to pay any attention,” Ingrid pointed out. “Just like the other thousand times you’ve tried.”
“We’ve been locked up in here for two weeks! Let us out!” But the two Rangers on guard duty outside ignored his shouts.
“Looks to me as though they have orders to pay no attention to you,” Astrid said.
“I can’t believe they’ve locked us up! After all we’ve done! And right after the session of Council! Even though we got here just in time to save the day!”
“Yeah,” Lasgol said with a shrug, “but the prison order Gondabar had issued had already arrived.”
“But why?”
Lasgol spread out his hands. “It looks as though we went way over the extended rest period we were granted. We knew this could happen and that we could end up like this.”
“Is that why? They put us in prison for that? But we came here as fast as was humanly possible, flying above the waves with the Turquoise Queen’s Conch of the Seas. Captain Olsen still hasn’t lost that look of horror on his face. He’d never seen a boat sail that fast in his life.”
“That’s true,” Lasgol said, “we made the fastest return journey ever. That Conch is an amazing thing. A pity there’s so little magic left in it.”
“This rescued Ranger would like to thank you from the bottom of her heart,” Astrid said. She was sitting with her back to the rock wall, her legs stretched out. She gave each of them a respectful nod. “You’re the best friends anyone could hope to have.”
Ingrid waved this aside. “It was nothing. That’s what we’re here for.”
“It was a pleasure,” Lasgol said. He winked at Astrid.
“I’m serious,” she assured them. “You have my eternal gratitude.”
“There’s nothing to be grateful for,” Ingrid said. Her eyes turned to Viggo. “As far as saving Dolbarar is concerned, you didn’t do much.” She sat down beside Astrid.
Viggo spread his arms wide as though expecting gratitude. “If we saved Dolbarar, it’s thanks to my invaluable contribution. Without me you wouldn’t have made the rescue trip. In fact, you also owe me for having gotten Astrid back.”
Ingrid burst out laughing, and Astrid smiled.
“You can say what you want, but the mission to rescue the brunette was a success because of me. If I hadn’t been there, the weirdo wouldn’t have made it.”
“But the only thing you did all through the journey was complain,” Ingrid pointed out. “I never saw you do anything useful.”
Viggo’s face took on a look of deep offense. “This is the gratitude I get for my heroic and disinterested actions toward others.”
“Heroic?” Ingrid laughed even more loudly.
“You were spectacular, as always,” Lasgol told Viggo, and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
“Thanks, weirdo. At least you appreciate my worth.”
“You know I do, but stop calling me weirdo.”
“Okay, weirdo, Oops, sorry, I meant friend.” He shook his head. “Nooo, weirdo’s better … ’cause you’re weird and you have a deadly attraction to big trouble.” His smile was ironic.
Lasgol exhaled loudly.
“How many more days are they going to keep us locked up in here?” Viggo complained.
“I don’t know, but it’s going to be a long time,” Astrid said. She indicated the wooden floor, where she was using a little piece of metal to mark each day that went by.
“Well, I vote for escaping now,” Viggo said. “This is really boring.”
Ingrid wagged a finger at him. “We�
��re not going to escape!”
“Why not? It’ll be a cinch. This cell is ridiculous.” He had put his ear to the floor and was rapping his knuckles in search of spots which sounded hollow.
“It’s not about whether it’s easy or difficult to escape,” Ingrid explained. “It’s about the fact that we can’t do it because we’re in the Camp, and if we did we’d be deserters on the run.”
Viggo made a comic grimace. “That sounds bad.”
“So bad that they hang you by the neck, from the branch of a tree.”
“Pretty bad, yes.”
“They don’t usually have mercy on deserters,” Astrid assured him.
“Well, isn’t that wonderful? I’m bored as a clam in here. I was born to fly as free as a royal eagle.”
“That’s enough!” Ingrid snapped back. “The moment I have my bow, I’ll bring you down from the sky, you croaking crow.”
Lasgol and Astrid exchanged glances and smiled. They loved watching these exchanges between Ingrid and Viggo.
The door opened, and to their surprise Dolbarar and Angus came in with an air of ceremony about them. They were followed by Egil, Nilsa and Gerd.
“Good morning,” Angus said.
The four got to their feet in the cell. Astrid, Lasgol and Ingrid bowed respectfully.
“I’m innocent, there’s been a misunderstanding!” Viggo proclaimed before anybody could even say a word.
Angus smiled. “I still haven’t told you what you’re accused of … but it’s a good thing for you to proclaim your innocence, just in case.”
“Well, that’s it. I’m innocent. Can you open the door? I don’t like being locked up.”
“Shut up, knucklehead,” Ingrid whispered in his ear. “You’re going to make things worse.”
Angus smiled and looked at Dolbarar letting him be the one to speak.
“We’ve brought good news for you,” Dolbarar said. Although he was still using a staff, he looked a lot better. His skin was no longer marred by the dark spots of the putrefaction, and he seemed to have put on some weight.
“We’ve spoken to Gondabar,” he went on “explaining the vital role you played in the events which transpired during the poisoning, and he has decreed your immediate freedom.” Said Dolbarar.