I am honored at your favor and pleased to accept your kind invitation. I am confident my companions will feel as honored and pleased as I do.
Your servant,
“Now sign the bottom ‘Alexander Taylor, Esq.’” Arconn handed the pen back to Alex.
“I knew an elf would have the right answer,” said Thrang with a smile. “Always clever in language, the elves.”
“You are most kind,” said Arconn, bowing to Thrang.
“Now what do I do?” Alex asked, as he carefully folded the note and placed it in a new envelope.
“Here, let me,” said Thrang, taking the envelope. Turning to the geeb, he held the envelope carefully by one edge. “Please take this reply to the Oracle,” he said to the geeb. “And if you require payment, please deliver the note and return. We will be happy to pay you.”
“Ding,” the geeb sounded and accepted the envelope from Thrang.
With Alex’s reply accepted, and Thrang’s instructions understood, the geeb hopped off Alex’s legs and, with a slight popping sound, it vanished into thin air.
“Remarkable creatures,” said Thrang happily.
At breakfast that morning, Thrang told Tayo, Skeld, and Halfdan the news of Alex’s message. The three warriors had been taking care of the horses when the note had arrived, and they insisted on hearing the entire story with every honk and ding in place.
“Seems our young wizard’s made quite a name for himself,” Skeld teased. “First he single-handedly kills a three-legged troll, and now he’s been invited to dine with the Oracle.”
“We’re allinvited,” Alex corrected.
“Yes, but the message came to you,” Tayo commented in his normal somber fashion. “Which I think is odd. I would have expected it to come to Bregnest, as our leader.”
“It is of small concern who the message came to,” said Bregnest, waving off Tayo’s comment. “I think it is odd that we were all asked to join the Oracle for dinner.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” commented Halfdan, without looking up from his plate. “Must mean something special.”
“It is odd, but not unheard of,” said Arconn, winking at Alex. “And as far as it meaning something special, well, who can say?”
“I don’t know what to think,” said Alex.
“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” said Andy, slapping Alex’s shoulder.
“As do I,” Thrang added, putting his cooking pots away. “And it’s a sign of good fortune as well.”
“Only time will show our fortunes,” said Tayo, standing up and looking down the road to the east.
“And it is time we were on our way to seek them,” Bregnest added. “At the very least, we will have a grand meal.”
* * *
As they traveled that day, Alex thought of the Oracle’s note, wondering why it had been sent to him and not to Bregnest or one of the others. There was no special reason he could think of for the Oracle to be interested in him. Ever since Mr. Blackburn had said he could use a staff, Alex’s friends all thought of him as a wizard in training, but Alex had his doubts. He knew he had some magical ability, but he still knew so little about magic. Surely not enough to interest an oracle.
“Have you read about the Oracle and the White Tower?” Andy questioned as they rode along.
“A little,” Alex replied. “The Adventurer’s Handbooksaid there are many oracles, but the Oracle of the White Tower is one of the best known. I haven’t finished reading everything yet.”
“They say she is a thousand years old,” Andy said in a thoughtful tone. “Though many things are said, and few there are who can say what is the truth.”
“What do you want to ask the Oracle?” Alex questioned, lowering his voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “I mean, if you don’t mind my asking.”
Andy thought for a moment before he answered, a look of inner struggle on his face. “I would rather not say. Not that I doubt you to keep my thoughts, but because I doubt myself in speaking them,” he added quickly.
“Fair enough,” said Alex with a smile to ease Andy’s troubled look. “I should not have asked.”
“Each man’s question is private and personal,” said Andy, returning Alex’s smile. “Difficult to explain to anyone but himself.”
There was little talking as they traveled that day. They ate their midday meal quickly, and it seemed they all were in a hurry to move on once more. When they camped that night, they remained restless and eager.
“It seems we would all rush to the White Tower,” Skeld laughed, as much at himself as the others. “Even I would give up sleep if I thought tomorrow would come sooner.”
“It will come soon enough,” Tayo replied glumly. “Though I fear it may not bring what we hope for.”
“Always a worrier,” Skeld laughed. “Your wisdom may be sound, my friend, but you’re always a cloud of darkness.”
“And I am seldom disappointed,” Tayo answered with a slight smile.
“Enough,” Bregnest interrupted. “We must start early tomorrow.”
As the others rolled themselves in their blankets, Arconn remained seated next to Alex by the fire, humming softly to himself but not speaking. When Alex woke Thrang for the next watch, Arconn’s strange humming remained in his ears and he fell asleep thinking about the happy tune.
The next morning, the eastern sky was still black as they quickly ate their breakfast and started off. They rode faster that morning than normal, and with each bend of the road or small hill they passed, they looked forward in hopes of seeing the White Tower.
The road became more rugged as the day passed, and the path twisted between hills that slowly grew larger on either side of them as they traveled. Alex thought it was well past midday when Bregnest suddenly stopped in the road.
“My friends, we have arrived,” Bregnest said over his shoulder.
As they gathered around Bregnest, Alex and the others could see a great white tower standing in a wide, open valley below them. Pure white walls ran out from the tower, encircling lush orchards and gardens around its base. Beyond the wall, on the southern side of the tower, was a small city made of sand-colored stone.
Bregnest led them down the hills and into the valley, following the road toward the city. As they drew nearer, a rider came racing toward them from the direction of the tower. He carried a large green banner with a white tower in the middle of it.
“Are you the party of Silvan Bregnest?” the rider asked politely, reining in his horse.
“We are,” Bregnest answered.
“Well met, Master Bregnest,” said the horseman with a slight bow. “The lady of the tower bids you welcome, and asks that you and your companions follow me to the tower gardens. There you will be given accommodations for your stay.”
“We are honored,” said Bregnest, bowing his head slightly to the messenger.
“Then come, honored guests,” said the horseman, turning his horse toward the tower. “The gardens are not far, and all has been made ready for your arrival.”
They left the road and followed the horseman without speaking, all of them looking up at the massive tower in front of them. When they passed through a large gate in one of the walls, Alex noticed a strange tingling feeling in his hands and feet, but he quickly forgot about it as they entered a vast orchard full of sweet-smelling blossoms.
As they emerged from the orchard, the horseman halted in front of four white buildings that looked like small houses compared to the enormous tower next to them.
“The lady of the tower asks that you rest here,” said the horseman, nodding toward the buildings. “You will find all that you require in the west houses. If you need anything, ring one of the gongs and it will be brought to you.”
“What of our horses?” Bregnest asked.