“Sadness,” Kat answered slowly. “There is great sorrow near, but I cannot see why.”
“Perhaps because of the hellerash,” Arconn suggested, gazing across the land in front of them. “I’m sure any dwarfs in this area would have suffered from those creatures.”
“Yes, that would make sense,” said Thrang, looking at Kat, his expression clearly hoping for more information.
“To the east of the road,” said Kat, a pained look on her face. “East and south of us, at the base of the mountain—there is a city.”
“Are you certain?” Nellus questioned, looking from Kat to the southeast and back. “I see no sign that would indicate a city.”
“And you wouldn’t,” said Thrang. “The dwarfs of the Lost Mountains are careful to hide themselves. We could walk right past a city and never see it if the dwarfs living there didn’t want us to.”
“I doubt that,” said Alex.
“Well, perhaps not right past,” Thrang admitted.
“In Vargland, many of the smaller cities are hard to find, even if you know what to look for,” said Thrain.
“The same is true here,” Thrang added. “But we have several things in our favor. We have a seer who can lead us, a wizard who can sense things others cannot, and I know the ways that dwarfs hide their cities here in Thraxon.”
“Then we should be able to find this city quickly,” said Barnabus. “And I hope they have horses for sale, because—”
Barnabus stopped quickly. For a moment they were all silent, and then Barnabus cleared his throat.
“Forgive me, Alex. I did not think.”
“You have done no harm,” said Alex, trying hard to smile. “And I really don’t want to walk all the way across Thraxon.”
As darkness gathered around them, the road began to bend toward the mountains, but when it became clear that they would not reach the city that night, Thrang reluctantly ordered them to make camp. The memory of the hellerash attack was still sharp in all of their minds, and only Alex was certain that there was nothing to fear.
As Barnabus prepared their meal, Alex found a comfortable spot and sat down. He knew he should write to Whalen—he needed his friend’s advice—but he didn’t really feel like writing down everything that had happened. Just then, Barnabus called them all to eat, and Alex was grateful that he could postpone writing a difficult letter, at least for a little while longer.
“We should reach the mountains tomorrow,” Arconn said as they ate.
“And what then?” Nellus asked.
“What do you mean?” said Thrang, looking around at them all. “We go on with the adventure, of course.”
“Yes, of course,” said Nellus quickly, glancing at Alex.
“You are thinking perhaps I will leave the company to chase the necromancer,” said Alex, looking at his food. “I have already said that if the necromancer should flee, I will complete this adventure.”
“And if he does not flee?” Arconn questioned.
“Then I will face him sooner rather than later,” said Alex.
“I think,” Thrang began, not looking at Alex, “well, I think we are all a little worried about what might happen . . .”
“If the evil is stronger,” Alex finished for him.
“It is a possibility,” Thrang said softly.
“Yes, it is,” agreed Alex. “I have told Kat and Arconn, and now I will tell you all, I will not be a tool of the necromancer. If he has the power to overcome me, I will be less than I am now. If it comes to that, I will use the last of my will and power to summon the dragon to destroy me. I will not become a slave to evil.”
“Let us hope it does not come to that,” said Thrang, trying for a hopeful tone.
Alex knew his friends were more concerned about him and his ability to face evil than they were concerned about the rest of the adventure, and he was grateful for their care. Of course, they all knew about the time he’d faced the dragon Slathbog, but necromancers were not dragons, and Alex knew better than any of his friends that their power was something to fear.
As the others rolled themselves into their blankets, Alex remained by the fire with Arconn in companionable silence. Arconn seemed to be deep in his own thoughts, so Alex took out his writing things.
For a long time the page remained blank because he could not find the words to explain things to Whalen. He reviewed the events again and again in his mind, finally forcing himself to put it all on paper.
In the end, the letter was long, but Alex had somehow managed to express all of his doubts and fears, as well as his sorrow. It seemed that pouring his sadness into the letter had removed some of the weight from his mind and heart. He was glad that he had forced himself to write everything he had been feeling.
He summoned a geeb to take his message to Whalen and put away his writing things. To his surprise, the entire night had almost slipped away.
“You should get some rest,” Arconn said as the geeb vanished with a small pop.
“I have no need of sleep,” said Alex. “The others will need it more than I. Let them enjoy what rest they can.”
Arconn nodded, returning his attention to the darkness around their camp.
When the eastern sky showed signs of the coming morning, Arconn woke the others.
“You should have woken us in turn for the watch,” said Thrang as he walked toward the campfire. “Though I suppose you know what you’re doing.”
“Why would you suppose that?” Alex asked with a half smile. He was surprised to realize that he felt much better than he had the day before.
Thrang answered with a grunting laugh as he brushed frost off a log and sat down for breakfast.
They marched all that morning, and as midday approached, Thrang suddenly shouted in excitement and rushed toward a pile of fallen stones. The rest of them hurried to follow, uncertain about the reason for Thrang’s shout.
“A boundary marker,” said Thrang, kneeling beside the fallen stones. “It has been pushed over, and some of the inscription has been chiseled away.”
“And the part that remains? What does it say?” Nellus asked as he looked at the surrounding countryside.
“The city of Neplee lies ahead,” said Thrang, tilting his head to one side as he read the fallen marker. “The instructions for reaching the city and requesting entry have been removed, but not too long ago, I would guess.”
“Who would destroy the marker?” Thrain asked, a worried look on his face.
“Hard to say,” said Thrang as he got back to his feet. “Enemies of the dwarfs, perhaps.”
“Or the dwarfs themselves,” said Kat.
“Why would dwarfs destroy their own marker?” Thrang questioned, a hint of worry in his voice.
“Perhaps they do not wish to be visited,” Alex said. “It is possible this is a warning to outsiders.”
“I have heard of such things,” said Arconn. “Dwarf cities in distress or some other kind of trouble will sometimes destroy their boundary markers.”
“I would think any dwarf city in trouble would send for help,” Thrang said. “There are many dwarfs in Thraxon, and it would be a simple matter for another city to send assistance.”
“Then this may be a call for help,” said Alex. “Though I think we can all guess the reason for Neplee’s troubles.”
“You don’t think the necromancer is in the city, do you?” Thrang asked nervously.
“No, he would not remain in a city of the living,” said Alex. “Though he may be forcing the people of the city to do his bidding.”
“Perhaps we should avoid this city and move on,” Barnabus suggested.
“They are in need and are unable to send for help,” Kat said in a pained voice.
They all looked at Kat, who was standing a short distance behind them. She seemed to be looking at something that no one else could see, and her face had gone pale.
“Do not dwell on it,” said Alex, realizing that Kat was feeling the pain and troubles of the entire dwarf city. “Turn your mind from the darkness ahead of us, or it may overcome you.”
“It is difficult to close it out,” said Kat, turning to face Alex.