Tales & Treasure Chapter 35

Vidmar - Answers

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"What do you mean he left?" Vidmar said, running up the steps of the porch. The farmer sat in his rocking chair, casually drinking tea. 

Hobb blew a wisp of steam away. "Exactly that, he left."

"Why would he leave now? He's followed me halfway around Emre, and when I get close to the end of the story he's chasing, he leaves. It doesn't make sense. What did you say to him?" 

"I told you I would answer your questions at the watchtower. Now it's time for tea." Hobb took a slow, aggravating sip of tea and rocked in his chair. 

Ev kicked the front door open. "Would you quit the bullshit and tell them where their friend went?" 

Hobb stopped rocking. "Watch it, Evanor." 

"Ev, just let it go," Taldor said from the doorway. 

"I've had it with this farm, this family, and all the damn lies. I don't know why I came home last night," Ev said, marching down the road into town. 

"Where are you going?" Hobb called. "There is work to be done." 

"Do it yourself."

Taldor jogged after Evanor. "Ev, come back. Sorry, Pa. I'll get him."

Hobb sipped his tea. "Leave him, Taldor. Take Mia and feed the chickens, gather the eggs; if any of the hens have stopped producing, well, hopefully, there won't be any surprises today."

Taldor started to protest. "But..."

"Don't you start, boy." Hobb favored the younger brother, or at least he was gentler; his menacing tone softened when he spoke. Kindness glimmered behind his gray eyes and bushy eyebrows. 

Vidmar bent to be at eye level with Mia. "I'll tell you everything," he whispered. 

Mia didn't make eye contact. Instead, she shuffled her feet in the dirt. "I just don't understand why he left."

"Me neither, but I'll find out. Go with Taldor. Besides, feeding chickens seems fun," Vidmar said, tussling her hair. 

Mia shuffled toward Taldor. "Fine." She deserves the truth, Vidmar thought, watching them drift toward the chickens.

"Where's the mercenary?" Hobb asked once the children were out of earshot. 

Vidmar didn't want to answer. Why should I? You won't tell me about Vatis. But he had to play the old man's game. He needed answers, and Hobb was probably his last chance. "Trying to sleep off the mead from last night."

Hobb snorted. "I expected a man of his stature to handle his mead better." 

"He's out of practice." 

Hobb's laugh surprised Vidmar. He seems more relaxed.  "I'll meet you at the watchtower in an hour. I have some work to do first."

Vidmar nodded and took the signal to leave. What am I supposed to do for an hour? He occupied himself by waking Kamet, sharpening his knives, and practicing his aim with his left hand. He was getting better, though, nowhere as accurate as he used to be with his right, but serviceable. Kamet sat on the ground next to a tree stump. Vidmar aimed at a smaller log he had placed atop the stump. Between vomiting sessions, Kamet picked up or straightened the log, pulled the knife out, and tossed it underhanded to the right of Vidmar. 

"What happened to you," Vidmar said, picking up his knife. 

Kamet retched. "It must have been the cherries or the beef. Mead wouldn't do this to me."

"Hobb's brew is particularly strong. I learned that last time we were here." He threw his knife. It whirled through the air, sticking a finger's length away from the small nook he had been targeting. "Shit."

"What's wrong? You hit the log," Kamet said, wobbling as he tried to pull the knife out. 

"I missed my target."

"Were you aiming at me?" 

"No - that nook."

Kamet examined the log. "You barely missed," he said, running a finger along the indent the knife had left.

"A miss is a miss. It's the difference between life and death. What good will I be in a fight if I can't hit my target from a few paces away?"

"We already," Kamet began. He stopped and pointed behind Vidmar. "The old man is heading for the tower."

They hustled to meet Hobb, who arrived moments before them. "You're late," he said, leaning on his cane. 

Vidmar forced a smile. "Sorry." I'm done playing games. Now tell me what you know.

Hobb exhaled, tilted his head, and grabbed one of the dark green vines that wound up the face of the tower. "You recognize these?"

"The vines. No. I mean, I've seen vines before," Vidmar said, rubbing the strangely heavy plant. The surface was oily; brown and yellow freckles covered the small diamond-shaped leaves.

"It's an invasive species. There is only one other spot in Emre where you'll find these – the Kokor Forest." 

Vidmar looked at Kamet. Chills spidered up his back and onto his neck.  

"Tell me exactly what happened. I can help you - I will help you, but you need to help me first. What happened in the Kokor Forest?" the old man said, blue veins bulging in his neck beneath his clenched jaw.

Fine. "There is a path that we found as scouts years ago. It avoids the heart of the forest. I heard some strange noises but nothing too frightening and made it through unscathed. Twice, actually. So, after hearing the stories, I considered them to be exaggerations. We used the path again, but this time was different. The air felt heavier than before like we were walking through fog, but there was no fog. I was still recovering and adjusting from our unfortunate trip to Haran, so I fiddled dumbly with my knife as we walked. It helped calm my nerves. Anyway, this figure appeared out of nowhere. A shadow; I couldn't see its face. It seemed human, though it was no larger than Taldor. It just stood there, blocking our path. Vatis said it spoke to him, but we didn't hear anything. He told us to sheathe our blades, and then Vatis started to wander off the path like he was under a spell. Kamet pulled him back, and the creature screeched. Then it charged at us, whatever it was. The pain was immense like my blood boiled inside my body."

"It felt like I was being suffocated, like an anvil was sitting on my chest," Kamet said.

Hobb winced as he cracked his neck. Vidmar continued. "After it attacked us, it screeched like nothing I've heard. The sound seemed to wrap around us. I felt pressed to the ground, frozen in place. I couldn't move - couldn't think. Then Vatis stood and yelled 'stop,' and the monster obeyed. Once I came to my senses, I ran. The air still felt thick and odd, but we ran and made it through. I'm never going back there again."

The cane Hobb leaned on appeared to glow. Vidmar couldn't tell if his eyes were playing tricks on him or if the sunlight had struck the wood at the right angle. Hobb's gaze shifted slightly from Vidmar to the tower. Then, Vidmar heard movement behind him, like a stone door grinding open. When the illusion ended, Hobb looked older. His wrinkles deepened. The circles under his eyes transitioned from a cheery red to a dark purple. It was as if life had been sucked from him as Vidmar talked. What happened? "You've passed through the Kokor three times?" Hobb asked. His voice was weak.

"Yes. Kamet has, too."

"Were you with him every time?" Hobb said, his voice regaining a bit of its accustomed strength. 

"Yes, why does that matter?" Vidmar said. This whole line of questioning seemed odd. Hobb was supposed to tell him about the crown, the Pact, and what happened to Vatis. 

"Patience. Follow me," Hobb said, walking into the tower. 

Fallen stones and rubble crowded the entrance. A shallow dust-covered nook held an empty lantern mount. It appeared to be engraved with symbols of The Pact, at least the triangular markings with which Vidmar had become familiar. Hobb stopped in front of the winding staircase. His tongue moved behind his mustache, making it appear like a hairy gray caterpillar crawled under his bulbous nose. "Tell me again, why did you leave Kandrian Ambita's service?" 

"Why?"

"Trust me."

Vidmar rubbed his eyes. When he opened them, golden specs appeared like stars emerging on a cloudy night. "You are burning my trust to ashes, old man. I left because I couldn't follow him any longer. If a man can order the death of women and innocent children, he isn't capable of being king."

"There are many who would say the opposite," Hobb said, placing a second hand atop his cane. He stood like a gargoyle defending the stairs. "It is a burden to be king. There are tough choices to make."

"When a man's actions lead to countless innocent deaths, he is no longer fit to bear that burden," Vidmar said, trying to restrain his squirming anger. 

"I agree," Hobb said as he turned to walk up the stairs. The cane tapped on the stones as he climbed. Vidmar looked at Kamet, who shrugged, then followed Hobb to the top of the tower. The view was breathtaking; Vidmar inhaled the clean air as he surveyed the land. Tactically speaking, the tower was in an ideal location. Fertile farmlands painted the flat ground with rows of corn, beans, and other vegetables to the south and east. To the north, a thick forest stretched for miles. A jagged, angular stone poked through the trees near the middle of the woods. And to the west, peaks of mountains were visible behind the thin grove of apple and cherry trees. The old man sat on a stone stool once they reached the top. It took a few moments for him to catch his breath. "I apologize. I'm not as spry as I once was."

"It's a long way up," Kamet said, leaning over the side. A stone slid, and he leaped back almost onto Hobb's lap. 

Under normal circumstances, Vidmar would have found Kamet's reaction hilarious, but he was sore, tired, and confused. So, he ignored Kamet and continued to survey the land; Taldor and Mia spread seeds for the chickens. He couldn't see if she was smiling, but she appeared happy as she skipped back to the hen house. "Why is this tower here?" he asked as he watched the kids chase each other around. Chickens scattered about as they ran. 

"It was a lookout," Hobb said.

Vidmar's teeth ground together. Don't start that bullshit, Hobb. It's a fucking tower. I knew it was a lookout at some point. All he managed to say was, "Hobb."

Hobb cracked his neck, exhaled, and rubbed his nose. "You have been patient enough. It is time for answers. What would you like to know first?"

What do I want to know first? Where is the crown? Who are you? What is the purpose of this tower? Then, after a second's thought, he asked, "Where's Vatis?" He surprised himself with the question; there were much more pressing matters than the whereabouts of a bard. 

"I sent him away," Hobb said frankly. 

"You sent him away. Why?" 

"Every extra second he stayed here put my family in danger. What do you know about him?"

Vidmar furrowed his brow. "He's a bard; he wanted my story. He's harmless. How did he put your family in danger?"

Fury coursed from Hobb's clenched fist to his narrow, wrinkled eyes. "He's a wanted man."

"What? Vatis, Vatis-of-the-road is a wanted man, for what? How do you know this? He can't be more wanted than me. The King and his only rival both consider me an enemy." Vidmar didn't believe him. Yes, part of him knew that Vatis had secrets, but this didn't make sense.

"True, you are a wanted man, but there are few more sought-after than you; Vatis is one of them. Has he ever forced you to leave somewhere abruptly? Why do you think he's a traveling bard?"

Vidmar scratched his chin while he thought. We did leave Dartmore in a hurry, but that's a coincidence. Perhaps he told Hobb as much, and now the old man is using it against me. 

"I knew there was something off about him," Kamet said, pacing along the eastern half of the tower. 

"Yes, he's strange, but I find it hard to believe that there is another human in Emre more wanted than me, other than Anaar." 

"You know Anaar?" Hobb said quietly. 

Vidmar answered with a question of his own. "How do you know Anaar? Who are you, Hobb? If you tell me you're a simple farmer, Kamet will throw you off this tower." 

"I'm a well-informed relic," Hobb said with a hint of a smile beneath his mustache.

"How long did it take you to come up with that answer? How many people have asked you that question before?" Vidmar was tired of Hobb's games. It was time for a direct approach.

"Three."

Vidmar bit the only remaining knuckle of his right index finger as he brought a misshapen fist to his mouth. "How many have you answered truthfully?"

"One."

Is he lying? Vidmar couldn't tell. "So, who are you?"

Hobb looked across the eastern horizon. The sun passed its apex, beginning its western descent; a short, crooked shadow crept closer to Vidmar's feet. "A well-informed relic is not far from the truth," he said. His eyes followed a pair of vultures circling in the sky. "I am old, even older than I seem. Taldor and Evanor are not my grandsons by blood. My grandsons died long ago. I am a watcher, a warden, a guardian, if you will. I inform a specific group about threats in the western half of Emre." 

"I told you he was mad, Vidmar," Kamet said, sitting with his back against the stone wall.

"Enough, Kamet," Vidmar snapped. He's finally talking, you damn oaf. "Let him speak."

Hobb glared at Kamet but continued. "There's not much more to say. That's who I am. That is my assignment. I've lost track of how long it's been. I will say this: I've watched the rise and fall of too many kings to know that we are on the verge of another war." 

"So, you are a member of The Pact? It still exists?" Vidmar asked.

"The Pact exists, yes, but I am not a member. I am an impartial observer whose values align closely with that organization."

Vidmar's heart raced. The answers he craved were at his fingertips. "The Pact exists today?"

"If I am going to repeat myself, we will be here all day," Hobb said. "Yes, The Pact is still active today, though not so much on this side of the Kaharn Desert."

Questions blossomed in his mind like flowers in spring; this was too much to comprehend. He needed to focus. The crown, the stone, Vatis, stay the course. "You know what's on the other side of the Kaharn?" His first question betrayed him.

"I do, but is that what you want to know?" Hobb asked.

Vidmar rubbed his temples with his ring fingers. "No. Can you help me find the crown?"

Hobb smiled. "Now, that is the first question I thought you would ask. Yes, I can help you. I don't know its exact location, but I can provide the sister stone and help decipher the clue."

"If you are this guardian of Emre, why would you help me find the crown?" 

"Another good question," Hobb said. He relaxed onto his stool. "The crown is largely symbolic. It cannot hold power."

"What do you mean it cannot hold power?" Vidmar asked. 

"I mean, it's a crown. The men who long for it are mistaken. It is just a symbol – a symbol of failure. But legends are born out of mystery, and I am afraid that the crown's abilities have been wickedly exaggerated. Yes, some part of the commoners would worship the man who wore it as the true King. Honestly, I don't know why Dinardo hid it. He said a true king wins his kingdom through valor, not jewelry. I think the allure of the legend has clouded the minds of those who seek it. What does Alcin want with it?" Hobb didn't break eye contact with Vidmar; the intense stare sent shivers down his spine.

Vidmar flinched, turning his back to Hobb. "I don't know what he wants with it. I think he doesn't want Kandrian to find it. The King had started to obsess over it before I left."

A thick, turtle-shaped cloud passed over the farm. Vidmar watched it glide carelessly, a freedom he envied. Boots clanged against the stone as Kamet paced. Hobb cleared his throat. "I'd rather have anyone other than Kandrian Ambita possess the crown."

Vidmar could feel Hobb's gaze, but he didn't turn around. Instead, he focused his attention on the clouds. "I used to feel the same." The ghosts of his missing fingers itched. "Alcin is cunning, inspirational, and powerful. But I don't know what he wants. Kandrian hated the world and wanted the power to change it. He achieved that with deadly action. Alcin doesn't support Kandrian. I know that much, yet I don't know why he strives for power."

"Kamet, would you mind giving us a moment alone?" Hobb said. 

Vidmar turned around, locking eyes as Kamet nodded. He returned the gesture before Kamet descended the winding staircase. Hobb's cane screeched against stone as he stood. Shaking, he braced himself against the tower wall and pointed to the stone poking out of the forest. "There is your sister stone."

Vidmar spun, striding aside Hobb. "That," he said, pointing at the enormous silver rock.

"Yes," Hobb said, sitting back on his stool but facing Vidmar. 

"What does it say?"

"Let me see your stone." 

Vidmar grabbed the small stone from the pouch on his belt, reluctantly handing it to Hobb.

The farmer rubbed the markings like a blind man exploring an unfamiliar object. "You believe it says:' It lies near the dead.' That is close. It truly reads, 'It lies with The Dead.' The Pact intentionally left incorrect translations in texts they left behind. Scholars and bards will tell you this symbol means 'near' or 'far' depending on which way the arrow points, but it actually means 'with' or 'without.' Also, Vatis was right about the message having a double meaning. Though he had the wrong word, which I believe was intentional – a riddle within a clue, something Dinardo was quite fond of." 

Vidmar exhaled, his lips vibrating to create a slight buzzing noise. "I'm becoming deathly aware of that."

Hobb held the stone to the sun. Specs of silver twinkled in the light. "The sister stone is the only sister stone. All of The Pact's stones were extracted from it. Find your stone's place, and this line will point you to your destination. However, I don't think that will be necessary. I know where you must go next."

His breath caught in his chest before Vidmar let a whimpering question escape. "Where?" 

"The Kokor Forest."

An icy chill rose the hairs on Vidmar's arms. "How do you know this?"

"When 'The Dead' is carved like this," Hobb said, pointing to the triangular marking with a small line through one of the three angles. "Where the line breaks both sides of the second angle, The Dead means The Kokor Forest."

Frost crystallized through his blood until the icicles exploded out of his missing fingers. "You're certain of this? Why would they refer to the Kokor Forest as 'The Dead'?"

Hobb straightened his hunched back. "Dinardo lost half his company when they escaped through the forest. He claimed he could see their ghosts the next time he was forced to go through. After that, he referred to the forest as death or The Dead in writing. So it makes sense that he would hide the crown somewhere in the Kokor. Few go into the forest, and even fewer come out alive. You are the first person I've heard of who has made it through the forest three times, other than Dinardo himself."

"What about Kamet?"

"He was with you." 

"I wouldn't have made it through without him."

"You would have."

"Fine, semantics aside, that forest is vast; even if I went back, how would I know where to go?" 

Hobb wobbled as he tried to stand. Vidmar helped him to his feet. "I believe the forest will guide you." 

Vidmar stepped back. "What kind of nonsense is that? The forest will guide me."

Hobb waved his cane across the horizon like a comet flying through the night sky. "There are others in this world who can translate the stones, others with sinister motivations. If your words are true, it won't be long until Kandrian finds it. I fear that we are headed toward another war, and the last thing this world needs is another battle to determine the true king. That said, I have one request should you succeed in your quest. Do not give the crown to Alcin; destroy it. Throw it in the sea, melt it in a forge, break its jewels; I don't care how you do it."

Hobb's serious tone made Vidmar's joints ache. "Why help me find it in the first place? I thought it was just a crown. Why do you want me to destroy it?" 

A crow fluttered by, landing on the railing of the tower. Hobb shooed it away with his cane. "I've waited a long time for someone like you, someone who reminded me of Dinardo. What will happen if you find the crown and give it to Alcin? I don't want you to make the same mistake he did."

Vidmar had thought about that question for a while, and it always ended with the same answer. Why do you think I'm like Dinardo? How do I answer that?  "He would start a war. With his ability to inspire commoners and a relic that claimed he was the true king, he would start another uprising. If anything, he is like Dinardo, not me."

Hobb's bushy eyebrows furrowed into a menacing stare. “Do not compare Alcin to Dinardo.” 

The wind whistled through the cracks of the tower. Vidmar struggled to keep his unusually long hair out of his eyes. "I cannot figure out whose side you're on or what your game is or if anything you have told me is true. Show me this sister stone and prove you are who you say," Vidmar said, brushing his dark bangs out of his eyes. Hobb huffed, then staggered to the stairs.