“It’s about the only thing he remembers, actually,” Belkin said.
“What happened to him?” Alex questioned.
“We’re not sure,” said Bobkin. “Near as we can tell, he got hit on the head with an anvil.”
“Or maybe a large hammer,” Belkin added.
“Is he all right? I mean, is there anything I can do?” Alex asked.
“Ah, most kind, but Dobkin’s fine, or he will be,” said Bobkin.
“Dobkin!” Dobkin shouted at the table.
“Bobkin’s right. If you set Dobkin to work on something simple, he’ll make a proper job of it,” said Belkin. “I just wish he’d stop shouting his name at everything.”
“Maybe you’d better take Dobkin back to the sanctuary,” Bobkin suggested.
“Do accidents like Dobkin’s happen very often?” Alex questioned as Belkin guided the confused smitty toward the bookshelf.
“No, not often,” Bobkin answered. “And I’m sure Dobkin will come out of it sooner or later.”
“I hope so,” said Alex. “He doesn’t look like he can take care of himself.”
“He’ll be fine—especially under the protection of the sanctuary,” said Bobkin. “Now, about working with true silver.”
Alex was soon deep in discussion with Bobkin about working not only with true silver but also with all kinds of other metals. The smitty was a fountain of information, and Alex had to ask him to slow down once or twice while he got things straight in his mind. Their discussion went on for a long time, and only ended when Alex’s stomach grumbled and he realized how hungry he was.
“I’ll come back and practice as soon as I can,” Alex promised as he prepared to leave.
“Whenever you have time, Master Alex,” said Bobkin with a wave. “We’ll be here, ready and willing to help.”
As soon as Alex left the magic bag and returned to his room, he heard a loud dinging noise and saw a bottle-necked geeb waiting on his desk. The strange bowling-pin-shaped creature balanced on the edge of the table, tilting slightly to one side on its single birdlike leg.
“Oh, sorry, have you been waiting long?” Alex questioned.
“Ding.”
“Couldn’t you have delivered the message to me inside my bag?”
“Honk.”
“You can’t enter magic bags?”
“Ding. Honk.”
Alex thought for a moment, trying to understand the conflicting answers. “You can enter a magic bag, but only if I give you permission to do so?” he ventured.
“Ding.”
“Then I give all geebs permission to enter either of my magic bags to deliver and take messages from me,” said Alex.
“Ding.”
“Do you have a message for me today?”
“Ding.”
“May I have it, please?”
“Ding.” The geeb produced a large envelope.
Alex recognized Whalen Vankin’s handwriting on the envelope, and he quickly tore it open to read the letter inside.
Dear Alex,
I’ve been invited to join a new adventure in Thraxon but find that I don’t have the time. I’ve suggested to the leader of this adventure that you might be willing to take my place. If so, please meet the leader tomorrow morning at ten o’clock at Mr. Clutter’s shop.
I don’t know all the details of this adventure, so if, after your meeting, you don’t like the sound of it, don’t go. After all, it’s an invitation and not a demand. I would, however, ask that you let me know what you decide regarding the adventure, and, that, if you go, you keep me updated as to your progress.
Yours in fellowship,
Whalen
P.S. The council was very impressed when I told them about your staff. We are considering it as your fifth great wizarding task.
P.P.S. I know we talked about your coming to live in Alusia, and I’ve found a wonderful place for you, if you are still interested. Think about it, and let me know.
Excitement flooded through Alex. This was an opportunity to go back to the magical lands that had become an important part of his life—a chance to explore a new place, meet new friends, and hopefully reunite with some of his old friends. He felt honored that Whalen had suggested him as a replacement, and he hoped the adventure would be an interesting one.
He had a different feeling, though, when he read the second P.S. The idea of living in Alusia made him nervous and happy. Whalen had mentioned the possibility after Alex’s last adventure, but Alex had thought it would be some time before anything actually happened.
The geeb dinged loudly, interrupting his thoughts.
“Sorry,” said Alex, looking at the geeb. “Have you been paid?”
“Ding.”
“Waiting for an answer, then, are you?”
“Ding.”
“All right, hang on a minute.”
Grabbing some paper, Alex quickly wrote a note to Whalen. He said that he would be happy to meet the leader of this new adventure and at least listen to what he had to say. He also thanked Whalen for suggesting him and promised to send updates if he accepted the adventurer’s bargain. He hesitated for a moment and then added that he would need to think about the move to Alusia but that he’d let Whalen know as soon as he’d decided.
“Can you take this to Whalen Vankin?” Alex asked, holding the letter out for the waiting geeb to take.
“Ding,” the geeb answered and accepted the letter.
“And here is your payment for my reply,” added Alex, tossing a fair-sized diamond in the air.
“Ding.” The geeb caught the diamond in midair and then produced several gold and silver coins as change.
With a small popping sound, the geeb disappeared, leaving Alex alone to consider Whalen’s letter. Alex wanted to tell his stepfather what was happening and ask for his advice about moving to Alusia, but it was already late, and Mr. Roberts was probably in bed. The conversation would have to wait until morning.
***
“But you’ve only been back two months,” said Mr. Roberts the next morning when Alex told him about the adventure. “Most adventurers take at least three to six months off between adventures, sometimes even longer.”
“Yes, but I’m not just an adventurer anymore,” said Alex.
“True, true,” said Mr. Roberts. “I suppose wizards aren’t normal adventurers. I’m just worried you might be doing too much. Back-to-back adventures, and plans to move to Alusia? That’s a lot to deal with, even for a wizard.”
“I’m sure Whalen knows what he’s doing,” said Alex. “I feel ready for a new adventure, but if this adventure doesn’t sound good, I won’t go. I can wait awhile before deciding about Alusia.”
“I don’t want you thinking you have to move just because Vankin suggested it,” said Mr. Roberts. “You’ve got a lot going on, Alex. Whatever you do, make sure it is something youwant to do, and then make sure that you are ready to do it.”
“I’ll be fine,” said Alex. “And I’ll try not to overdo anything.”
“All right, then,” said Mr. Roberts. “And if you do decide to move to Alusia, you’ll always be welcome here—even if you just need a place to rest for a time.”
“Thank you,” said Alex with more feeling than he’d ever said it before.
After breakfast, Alex left his stepfather’s tavern and headed to Mr. Clutter’s adventure shop. He knew he’d be early for his appointment, but he wanted some time to talk with Mr. Clutter before meeting the leader of this new adventure.
“Back so soon, Master Taylor?” questioned Mr. Clutter as Alex entered the shop.
“I was asked to come,” said Alex. “Master Vankin has asked me to stand in for him and at least listen to the leader of a new adventure.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” said Mr. Clutter. “But I’m sorry to say that the leader of that particular adventure has just gone in with someone else, so they might be awhile.”