“But it was youwho killed the troll,” the voice replied softly. “It was youwho defeated the bandits, and it was youwho returned the lost bag to its heir.”
“We have an agreement,” Alex said. “I only did what had to be done. As any of them would have done.”
“Do not be deceived, my young friend,” said the voice in a soothing tone. “None of them could have done what you did. When you faced the troll, where were they? Hiding in the bushes, no doubt, waiting to see if you would survive.”
“They were searching for our horses,” said Alex, his thoughts returning to the night he’d fought the troll. He remembered now that the others had appeared suddenly, once he’d defeated the troll.
“And did not your leader offer to take the so-called burden of the bags from you?” the voice asked. “Did not this leader seek to take your honor and glory?”
“He did it as a favor to me,” answered Alex, only half-believing his own words. “He said the reward would be mine, even if he carried the bags.”
“He has said many things, but that does not make them so,” the voice hissed. “Did not the elf say that Bregnest is seeking to fulfill a prophecy? Yet the company has not heard what this is.”
Alex thought for a moment, confused. Bregnest had said the company would have no secrets, yet he knew nothing of Bregnest’s prophecy. Were the others using him for their own purposes? Could it be they were only pretending to be his friends? His mind felt clouded and he was having difficulty focusing his thoughts.
“Your true friends would be more open,” the voice continued. “We would tell you what we seek, and what we could do for you.”
“And what is that?” Alex questioned. He felt a coldness creeping into him, like ice-cold claws tearing at his insides.
“We want you to be great,” said the voice. “We know you can be the greatest wizard who has ever lived. You can be the greatest king in all the known lands.”
“And what price would you ask for this greatness?” Alex asked, more to himself than to the shadow.
“A small thing that another has asked of you,” replied the voice. “The simplest of things to look at, though it is strong in magic.”
“What?” Alex demanded.
“The crystal the Oracle would claim as her own,” the voice hissed. “It was not stolen as she pretends, it was taken by its rightful owner.”
“But I have sworn an oath,” said Alex. He remembered Iownan’s face, her kind words and her smile that made him feel safe and happy.
“An oath to a liar has no meaning,” said the voice. “And with the crystal we can show you the way to greatness. The Oracle saw what is in you, but she said nothing. We will tell you all.”
“The others have sworn an oath as well. They believe what the Oracle told them,” said Alex, his mind feeling more confused and muddled. Was it possible the Oracle had lied to them? Could an oracle tell a lie? Alex didn’t know.
“You do not need the others,” answered the voice. “Your true friends will take care of them. Then you can recover the crystal for us. When we have the crystal, we will tell you why you are so great.”
“What do you mean—take care of?”
“We will drive them away. Once they are gone, you can fulfill your destiny,” said the voice urgently. “It is your destiny to slay the dragon. Only you can do this. We will help you. We will guide you to victory and greatness.”
For a moment, Alex could see himself in a strange dream, sitting on a beautiful golden throne, crowds of people bowing and cheering for him. He could see every wild wish he’d ever had coming true, his every desire fulfilled.
“Leave the others and come with us,” the voice said, low and persuasive. “We are your true friends. We are the ones who want to see you become all that you can be.”
“But the others . . .” Alex said. “What will become of them? What will they think?”
“They will think whatever you tell them to think,” the voice replied coldly. “They will do as you command, or they will die.”
Alex’s hand automatically grabbed his sword. The cold feel of Moon Slayer under his hand helped focus his mind, and the magical fire began to burn inside of him, clearing his thoughts as the dreams of greatness slipped away.
“Slay your enemies,” the cold voice said softly. “They mean nothing. Only your greatness matters. We will help you. All creatures will know you as their king.”
The words rang inside Alex’s head as the heat of the sword grew more intense. Bregnest and the others were not his enemies, they were his friends. They had not taken advantage of him, but had shown him great kindness.
“Slay them and join us,” the dark voice screamed in Alex’s mind. “Together we will rule all the known lands.”
Alex drew his sword, looking around as the magic heat burned like a raging fire inside of him. There was not one dark figure standing beyond the cold ashes of the campfire, but many. They stood motionless, watching Alex as though they were made of stone. But the sound of their evil laughter filled the air around him.
“I will slay my enemies!” Alex yelled back at the dark figures, the flaming heat of his magic sword burning away his clouded thoughts and doubts. “I will destroy them all!”
Jumping across the cold ashes at the dark figures in front of him, Alex saw Moon Slayer shining like a blue flame in his hands. He swung the sword at the figures closest to him, and as the blade passed through them, they melted away like mist. Terrible screams and howls of pain filled the air as he moved forward, swinging his sword at any movement.
Alex felt like he was on fire, but the power of the sword kept him on his feet, moving and hacking at the dark figures that surrounded him. The screaming grew louder, though the figures did not try to fight back or run away. Soon only one figure remained. One last shadow standing tall, waiting for Alex in a dark mist blacker than any night.
“Join us,” the cold voice begged. “We are your path to fame and glory. If you stay with them, you will become nothing. There is much more in you than you know. Only we can show you what you really are.”
“You lie!” Alex yelled back in anger. “You are full of hate and lies!”
Alex rushed forward, swinging Moon Slayer with all his strength at the last of his enemies. As the sword passed through the last shadow, a terrible shriek ripped through the air, filling Alex’s mind completely. The heat that had been burning inside him went out like a light, and he felt like his insides had turned to ice. He was so cold—so very cold and tired.
Alex tried to remain standing, but his legs felt weak and unsteady. He remembered the dream that had scared him out of sleep in Telous so long ago, the painful cold that had filled him. Struggling to turn back to camp and his friends, Alex stumbled and fell forward with his sword under him. He remembered nothing more.
chapter sixteen
The Dark Forest
“Alex,” a voice called from far away.
He was so comfortable and didn’t want to answer,
but the voice kept calling. Maybe if he ignored it, the voice would go away.
“Alex, can you hear me?”
“Yes,” Alex answered reluctantly.
The voice seemed to be coming from the strange light behind him. Alex didn’t want to look at the light because his eyes were tired and the softly shaded land in front of him looked so pleasant. If he moved forward, across that low stone wall, then perhaps the voice would leave him alone.
“Alex, you need to open your eyes,” said the voice, desperate and worried. “Turn to the light.”