Sapphire of the Fairies

"If that is your intention, I would like to dissuade you from the thought."

"If that is your true purpose," the bandit smiled, "you can leave now, satisfied that you have accomplished your mission. I have not seen much in your town that would interest a group of bandits."

The bandit's smile told Konic that the man had not bought his story, but surely he could not know why Konic was here. Even Konic was not sure exactly why he was here. He wanted the boys safe and he suspected that this man might be harmful to them, but why? What did the bandit want here? How could he find out? Finally he decided, as he did most other times, that the truth was usually the best course. "I lost my wife to bandits three years ago," Konic declared bitterly, "and all I have left is my son. If you are here to harm him or his friend, I will kill you."

When the bandit made no comment, Konic shakily continued. "I know you are a man of great skill and you think my threat idle and boastful, but I assure you that I will not rest until your bones are scattered to the vultures." Konic took the star weapon out of his pouch and slammed it on the table. All eyes in the common room turned at the sound and the bandit swept the star up and out of sight before Konic could see the man's hand move.

The bandit rose and gently touched Konic's sleeve. "Let us walk," he simply whispered and strode out the door of the inn. Konic rose unsteadily and followed. The man could easily kill him outside and be out of town before anyone even noticed, but Konic had a duty to his son that nobody would frighten him out of. When Master Clava had gone through the door, he saw the bandit leaning lazily against a post as if he had not a care in the world. He was holding the star weapon in his right hand.

"Was this given to you by your son?" the bandit asked.

"His friend," Konic responded. "The son of my friend. He says you almost killed him with it."

The bandit just nodded and before Konic realized it, the man in black had three of the stars in his hands. He turned casually and nodded at a sign across the street. The bandit threw the three stars, one at a time, at the sign. All three of them landed inside a letter O in the sign. "If I had wanted to harm the boy, rest assured that you would not now be talking to me about him."

Konic followed the bandit across the street to retrieve the stars with his mouth hanging open. "The boy was attempting to sneak into my campsite and thought no one could hear him. I scared him away. That is all there is to it."

Konic nodded as the bandit pried the three stars out of the sign. He handed one of them to Konic. "Return this to Tedi, that it might remind him to never underestimate his opponent. It is called a Lanorian Star and it is a potent weapon in experienced hands. Perhaps he will learn how to use it."

Konic stared at the bandit. "How is it that you know the boy's name?" he demanded.

The bandit sat on the stoop of the building, the other two stars already put back wherever they belonged. "I overheard him and Arik, which I suppose is your son, talking in the woods about some witch in a blue dress.