Alex had little time to think about what he should do, because Thorson arranged for Haymar to arrive less than an hour later. Alex remained in the garden alone, waiting for Haymar and thinking over his options.
As the sun was going down, Haymar Glynn walked into the garden. He looked nervous. Alex was sitting by the fountain, watching as the dwarf approached.
“Master Taylor?” Haymar questioned, a look of surprise on his face.
“Yes,” said Alex, trying to look wise.
“I’m sorry. I . . . I thought you would be older,” said Haymar, bowing. “Of course, I’ve heard the stories, but
still . . .”
“I seem young to be a wizard,” Alex finished for him.
“I mean no offense,” said Haymar, bowing once again. “It is not my place to judge wizards or their ways.”
“But it seems that it is my place to judge you and your half-brother,” said Alex.
“I am sorry for that,” said Haymar. “I’ve tried to talk to Halbrek, but he won’t listen to me. I’ve offered him an equal share of anything the bag holds, but he won’t accept. He insists that he is the rightful heir of the bag and that the honor of receiving it should be his.”
“And you are not willing to give up that honor,” said Alex, looking closely at Haymar.
“I would give up everything in the bag, but not the honor of being the heir,” said Haymar.
“Is this honor more important to you than your family?”
“Halbrek is my half-brother, but we’ve never been close. I am my father’s first son by his first wife, heir to his fortune and titles. Halbrek is my father’s first son by his second wife, and he is unwilling to accept that he can never be the true heir.”
“A difficult problem,” Alex commented.
“It has been, yes. I’ve tried to be understanding, but Halbrek doesn’t want understanding; he wants to be heir.”
“So you don’t believe your father ever said anything about making Halbrek his heir?”
“My father was old when he went on his last adventure,” said Haymar. “Old and tired and he shouldn’t have gone, but he did. He told me he was going to give any treasure he found on his last adventure to Halbrek. It was his way of making up for the fact that Halbrek could never be his heir, I think.”
Alex thought about Haymar’s words for several minutes before speaking again. Everything Haymar said made sense to Alex, but then it should. Haymar had probably known about his father’s death for some time, and he would have made up a convincing story to explain Halbrek’s claim.
“You have answered all of my questions without really answering them,” Alex said, watching Haymar’s every move.
“Yes, I suppose I have,” said Haymar. “I have tried to explain things that may not have needed explaining. I will say this: My family is more important to me than any honor or riches, but giving up the honor of receiving my father’s bag would, I think, do more to harm my family than not giving it up. I do not believe my father ever told Halbrek that he would be the heir of the bag, but I do believe that Halbrekbelieves that such a promise was made.”
“Why do you think giving up your claim on the bag would harm your family?” Alex asked, surprised by Haymar’s words.
“If Halbrek is given the honor of receiving the lost bag, he will use that status to make other claims,” said Haymar in a sad tone. “I fear Halbrek would try to take everything my father left to me and my brothers, and that I cannot allow.”
“Very well,” said Alex, looking Haymar in the eye. “I have heard your side of things. Tomorrow I will hear what Halbrek has to say. Once I’ve heard both sides, I will try to make a fair decision.”
“You are most kind,” said Haymar, bowing to Alex.
“One more thing,” said Alex as Haymar turned to leave. “Is there any chance that Halbrek knows the passwords to the bag?”
“There is always a chance,” said Haymar. “As I told you, my father was getting old. He may have told Halbrek the passwords, but I don’t believe he did.”
“And I suppose you’d rather not tell me the passwords until I’m ready to return the bag,” said Alex with a smile.
“I would trust you with the passwords if you asked me for them,” said Haymar sincerely. “Are you asking me to give them to you now?”
“I am not,” said Alex, bowing slightly. “I will talk with Halbrek and then let you both know what my decision is in a day or two.”
“As you wish,” said Haymar, bowing once more before he left.
Alex remained alone in the garden for some time, considering what Haymar had told him. He thought Haymar was telling the truth, but there was no way he could be completely sure. He wondered if he should have asked Kat to join him when he talked to Haymar, but he knew that wouldn’t have been right. Kat was not a wizard, and she could not make this decision for him, even if she wanted to.
“Did your meeting with Haymar go well?” Thrang asked when Alex finally returned to the main house.
“As well as possible. I’m not at all sure that I should be the one to settle this question. No matter what I decide, either Haymar or Halbrek will be unhappy, and they may continue to contest who the true heir is.”
“No, they wouldn’t do that,” said Thrang, his expression serious. “They have both accepted you as the judge in this matter, so they will both have to live with your decision. The law is very clear on that point. They will not be able to complain about the decision or contest it at all.”
“Making the correct decision will be hard,” said Alex with a sigh.
“You’ll do what’s right,” said Thrang confidently. “I’m sure you’ll be able to decide who the true heir is.”
Alex smiled at Thrang and nodded.
The next morning Alex was back in the garden, waiting for Halbrek to arrive. He wondered what Halbrek would have to say, and why he had insisted on coming after Haymar. Alex thought that if he were in the same situation, he would want to talk to the person deciding things first. Halbrek arrived slightly late and was led into the garden by Thrang’s cousin Dain.
“Master Halbrek Glynn, Master Alexander Taylor,” said Dain, bowing to Alex and Halbrek.
“A great pleasure,” Halbrek said, stepping forward and extending his hand.
Alex shook Halbrek’s hand but said nothing, waiting for Halbrek to begin after Dain left.
“I suppose Haymar has told you all about me,” said Halbrek, stepping back. “I can always count on him to tell people how terrible I’ve been to him.”
“The topic did not come up,” said Alex.
“I suppose there is a first time for everything,” said Halbrek, looking surprised. “He probably thought it would be a mistake to tell his stories to you. After all, you’re a wizard and can see through such falsehoods easily.”
“At times I can,” said Alex, watching Halbrek.
“Yes, of course,” Halbrek said, not meeting Alex’s eyes. “So, to the matter at hand.”
“As you wish,” said Alex, motioning for Halbrek to take a seat.
“I’m sure Haymar told you how he’s the oldest son of our father’s first wife,” said Halbrek. “How only the oldest son can be the true heir and all of that nonsense.”
“We did go over that,” said Alex, taking the seat opposite Halbrek. “Though I know adventurers can name anyone they wish as the heir to their bag.”
“Yes, that’s true,” said Halbrek with a smile. “Haymar doesn’t believe that, of course, but as you say, adventurers can name anyone they want to. My father named mehis heir, and so I must insist that the bag be returned to me.”
“But your father did not name you as his heir,” corrected Alex. “The bag maker in Telous listed Haymar’s name. Your father might have told you he was going to change this, but he never did.”
“He may not have had time,” said Halbrek quickly. “He told me before he left on his last adventure that I would be his heir once he returned home.”