“The westernmost house is a stable,” the rider replied. “Refreshments have been laid out for you in the second house. The third house is for bathing; the fourth, for sleeping.”
“The lady is too kind,” said Bregnest, bowing once more.
“You will be summoned for the evening meal when the sun touches the western hills.” The horseman nodded once and rode away toward the tower.
“The lady shows us a great kindness,” said Arconn as the company rode toward the first house.
“Indeed,” Bregnest agreed. “I wonder why we should be so favored.”
“Because of our young wizard friend, of course,” Skeld laughed, climbing off his horse and looking into the stable. “This is finer than many inns I’ve slept in,” he added.
“Yes, but you’ll sleep anywhere,” Thrang replied with a laugh of his own.
They all laughed at Thrang’s comment as they led their horses into the stable.
“You should be comfortable here, Shahree,” said Alex, patting the horse’s neck. “I don’t know much about stables, but this looks like a first-class one.”
Shahree whinnied loudly in agreement and stepped out from under her saddle as Alex lifted it from her back. She was a clever horse, and Alex was quick to tell her so. Putting aside the saddle, he quickly brushed her down, then hurried out of the stable to join the others in the second house.
The second house was a simple, massive stone pavilion. The front was completely open, the view overlooking the courtyard and the gardens beyond. Heavy wooden panels were folded like an accordion at both sides of the opening to cover the front of the house in cold or stormy weather.
As Alex entered the second house, an overwhelming mixture of smells greeted him. A banquet had been laid out for them on three large tables. Eight comfortable-looking chairs were placed around a smaller, fourth table in the center of the room, waiting for them to arrive.
“The Oracle knows the way to a man’s heart,” Skeld commented, piling food on his plate.
“The way to your heart is no great mystery, Skeld,” said Tayo, looking happier than Alex had ever seen him.
The food on the tables, as Alex found out from his friends, was from many different lands. Alex tried so many different dishes, he had trouble remembering what any of them were called. He was a little worried about some of the food however, because he wasn’t sure what it was made of and Skeld kept joking about what the ingredients might be.
Some of the food was easy to identify, and the taste of even simple things like potatoes or peas seemed more intense to Alex. There were all kinds of meat and vegetables that Alex had never seen before, and several kinds of fresh, warm bread. Sweet, sour, spicy, and even smoky flavors turned up in the different dishes—each new flavor better than the last.
“If this is refreshment, what will dinner be?” questioned Thrang, refilling his mug with some aged red ale that he seemed to enjoy.
“I doubt it will be so grand as this,” Arconn replied with a knowing smile. “It is said the lady eats little. I doubt so many foods will be brought to her table.”
They left the banquet behind them, moving into the third house—the bathhouse.
The company entered a room with several small changing rooms inside it. Each of the changing rooms had a stack of clean, white towels, as well as a place for Alex and his friends to put their things. On the far side of the room was another doorway, leading to a room with a dozen enormous brass tubs. Low walls separated each of the tubs for privacy, but still allowed the adventurers to talk to each other while they bathed. Eight of the tubs were already filled with steaming water.
“A blessing indeed,” said Skeld as he dove into the tub nearest the door, splashing water everywhere.
“The water is meant to stay in the tub,” growled Thrang, whipping water out of his eyes.
Alex thought the hot bath was even better than the meal. The hot water was wonderful and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so clean and comfortable. He made a mental note to add a bath to his magic bag as soon as he had a chance.
Clean and full, they left the room with the brass tubs and returned to their clothes. There was a moment of stunned silence when they re-entered the first room. Next to each companion’s dirty travel clothes was a fine new set of clothes waiting for them. New leather boots were waiting as well, shining from fresh polish.
“The Oracle’s kindness continues,” said Arconn, looking at a sky-blue shirt that was sitting by his things.
“Why does the lady favor us so?” Tayo questioned, looking at his new silver-gray shirt. “We have done nothing worthy of such honors.”
Alex dressed in a dark green shirt that fit him perfectly, and his new belt had a bright silver buckle on it. He pulled on his new boots, and looked at himself in one of the large mirrors near the entrance of the building.
“A proper adventurer,” said Skeld from behind him. “And a perfect fit all around.”
“It seems strange,” Alex commented, looking at Skeld in the mirror. “Are oracles normally so kind?”
“At times,” Skeld replied. “Though perhaps not so often as some would hope, and rarely so generous as this.”
“The ways of oracles should not be questioned,” said Thrang, pulling on a dark red shirt. “If there’s a reason for this kindness, we will learn it soon enough.”
“Whatever the reason, we seem to have won the lady’s favor,” said Bregnest, pushing Skeld away from the mirror so he could look at himself.
When they finally left the bathhouse, the sun was already moving to the west. Alex and his friends walked into the sleeping house where they found eight large beds ready and waiting for them. Each of them chose a bed, and Alex noticed that the others put their magic bags and weapons on their beds. Alex did the same, though he wasn’t too happy about leaving the magic bag behind.
“It’s tradition,” said Thrang, seeing Alex’s look. “The bags are for travelers, not guests, and weapons are for warriors, not friends.”
Alex nodded, then followed Thrang out of the sleeping house into the shady courtyard where they waited to be summoned. They did not have to wait long; as soon as the sun touched the western hills, a young woman appeared from the tower.
“My mistress bids you welcome,” she said in a voice that sounded like falling water. “She asks that you follow me to the dining chamber of the tower.”
“We are honored,” replied Bregnest, bowing to the young woman.
The rest of the company followed Bregnest’s example and bowed. The young woman seemed pleased and smiled as she turned back to the tower.
Bregnest led the company as they followed their guide into the tower. On entering the tower, they ascended a wide, stone staircase that looked polished and new. Alex wondered how old the young woman was and how she had come to work at the Oracle’s tower. He felt the strange tingling in his hands and feet again and guessed that he was feeling the magic of the tower.
At the top of the stairs, their guide turned to the right and, after a short walk, the company entered a large room with
a round table in the center. On one side of the table stood a high-backed silver chair that was flanked by eight plain, wooden chairs.
“Master Bregnest,” said the young woman, indicating the wooden chair directly to the left of the silver one.
The woman continued calling each of the company by name and indicating which seat they should take. Lastly, she asked Alex to take the chair on the right of the silver chair.
“My mistress will join you shortly,” said the woman, bowing to the company and departing.
“You are highly honored,” Thrang said to Alex, sitting down on Bregnest’s left.
Alex didn’t understand what he meant, but he remembered how the company had been seated around Bregnest at their dinner in Telous. There seemed to be some meaning to the seating arrangement then, and there was now as well, but Alex didn’t know what it was.
“Welcome, honored guests,” a warm, friendly sounding voice said.