“Perhaps we will,” said Alex in a cheerful tone. “Then I would have the pleasure of introducing you to my friend, the Oracle.”
Thrain beamed with happiness at Alex’s words.
When they approached the large barn, they saw that their horses were already saddled and waiting for them.
“Farewell, my friends,” Thrain called as they mounted their horses. “May you find your goal and return quickly to our city.”
“Farewell, Master Thrain,” answered Bregnest. “May the best of your hopes come to pass.”
Alex and Andy waved good-bye to Thrain, falling into line behind Skeld and Tayo as they rode off into the east.
“It would be nice to ride with Thrain to the White Tower,” said Andy, taking one last look at the dwarf city behind them.
“I doubt we will return to the tower soon,” said Tayo grimly.
“Always a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” said Skeld with a laugh and a smile.
They rode quickly across the open lands beyond the city of King Osrik, leaving the Brown Hills behind them. There was little talking as they went along, and it seemed to Alex a shadow had fallen over the company’s mood. The weather was warm and dry, and as the sun began to sink behind them, they stopped to make camp. After they had eaten their evening meal, they took out the packages Umbar had given them. Inside each package was a chain made of true silver with a large white diamond set in the center. In addition to the chain, there was also a true-silver brooch, which bore the emblem of the dwarf realm of Vargland. Alex’s package also contained a long dagger in a silver-and-black scabbard. When he drew the blade, he saw several dwarfish letters engraved on it.
“A blade made of true silver,” said Thrang, looking at the dagger in Alex’s hands. He pointed to the engraving. “And
a charm to keep it sharp and unbroken. It will serve you well.”
“Umbar has been most generous,” Halfdan commented, putting his chain around his neck.
“The return of his father’s bag has made him richer than many dwarf lords,” said Thrang with a wide smile. “He can afford to be generous.”
“Still, it is a kind gift,” said Arconn, pinning his brooch to his tunic. “That he has been generous to us all and not just to the bringer of the bag is strange.”
“I think he heard our young friend trying to share his reward with us,” said Skeld. “Perhaps he is trying to make up for what we would not take.”
“Perhaps,” Bregnest agreed, looking at his own brooch. “But whatever the reason, he has been most kind.”
They were all in good spirits as they drank a toast to Umbar, son of Umbar, but Alex still felt as if some shadow was hanging over them.
During his watch, Alex wondered when and if they would ever reach the end of their journey, and then remembering that a dragon waited for them, he wasn’t sure if he was really in such a hurry for the adventure to end. Thinking about what had happened so far, he had to admit the adventure had been a great deal of fun. The attack of the bandits and fighting the three-legged troll seemed almost like dreams now, and not something to be afraid of.
“So you’ve decided you like your adventure,” Arconn said with a smile, as Alex shared his feelings that night.
“It’s different than I thought it would be,” replied Alex with a smile of his own.
“But it is not over yet, and it may be very different again before we reach the end.”
“That’s true,” Alex admitted. “But I’m not as worried about the end as I once was.”
“Perhaps you’ve spent too much time with Skeld,” said Arconn, laughing.
“I don’t think I’m as bad as that,” Alex replied, laughing as well.
Alex spent the rest of his watch studying his books while Arconn sat quietly by the fire. Alex’s ability to read the magic book was improving, though he still occasionally asked Arconn about the meaning of some of the words.
The days passed quickly as they followed the road east, and it wasn’t long before the weather turned wet again. Afternoon thunderstorms became an almost daily event, and they spent most of their evenings trying to dry their clothes. It was during one of these afternoon storms that Bregnest called them to a sudden halt.
“We will camp here tonight,” he said, a worried look on his face.
“Perhaps we should move further away,” suggested Arconn, looking through the rain at the road ahead.
“It has been a long day and we need rest,” said Bregnest, sounding both nervous and troubled. “We should be far enough away—though not as far as I had hoped.”
Alex wondered why Bregnest and Arconn kept looking at the road ahead of them; Alex couldn’t see anything but rough-looking ground. That night during his watch, Alex asked Arconn about Bregnest’s troubled look and words.
“We are close to the ruins of Aunk,” said Arconn. “Bregnest had hoped to reach them early tomorrow so we could pass them in the daylight.”
“Why? Are there bandits there?”
“No, not bandits,” replied Arconn slowly. “The ruins are said to be haunted by the ghosts of men, but I do not think that is true.”
“Yet there is something you fear about the ruins,” said Alex.
“Aunk has become an evil place, and I do not think it is because of ghosts. I feel great anger and hatred coming from there, though I do not know the source of it,” replied Arconn.
“Do you think we are in danger?” Alex asked, looking into the darkness around the camp.
“I cannot say for sure. But I feel both watchful and
nervous.”
Alex put his books away, troubled and uneasy. He looked to the east and felt the mysterious shadow that had been following them since leaving the Brown Hills draw closer.
“Rest, my friend,” said Arconn. “Tomorrow we will pass the ruins, and soon we will meet my kinsmen in the dark
forest.”
Alex turned slowly back to the camp. He walked to his tent, glancing east once more, before ducking inside. The nervous feeling continued to grow in his mind, and he remained fully dressed as he lay down on his blankets.
It was still dark when Alex woke with a start. The sound of Andy snoring next to him was comforting, but his thoughts remained troubled. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but his mind buzzed with strange thoughts and he didn’t feel tired anymore.
Quietly, Alex got up and stepped out of the tent. The clouds in the sky blocked any light from the moon or the stars. The ashes of the campfire were gray and cold, and when Alex looked around, he couldn’t see any of his companions on watch. Sensing trouble, he wondered if he should wake Bregnest when a soft voice broke the silence.
“Your companions are tired,” the voice whispered. “They have failed to keep the watch.”
Alex turned toward the voice and saw a tall, dark figure
standing a short distance from the dead fire. He opened his mouth to warn his friends, but something inside kept him from speaking.
“You have chosen strange companions,” the figure continued. “I would not think that one as great as yourself would be seen in such company.”
“I didn’t choose them, they chose me,” replied Alex. “And I am not great, I’m only a first-time adventurer.”
Soft laughter came from the dark figure, but it was like nothing Alex had ever heard. His skin crawled at the sound of it, making him feel like hundreds of tiny pins were sticking him.
“If they chose you,” the voice continued, “it was only so they could use your power.”
“What do you mean?” Alex questioned.
“I mean you could be great—far greater than any of these who call you friend,” the voice sneered. “You need only find your true self and your true friends. Friends who will help you to greatness.”
“These are my friends,” Alex replied defiantly.
“Friends,” the voice scoffed. “Friends who take treasure that should be yours. Friends who laugh at you behind your back.”
“They have taken nothing but their fair share—less than that at times,” said Alex, anger building inside of him.