“To he who vanquished the shadows!” the elf host shouted, raising their cups and drinking.
Alex turned bright red at the toast, but managed to hide his embarrassment by drinking from his own cup. The elves all cheered again and started to sing as the feast ended. Alex remained seated, listening to the happy voices all around him and wishing that this night could go on forever.
“Will you walk with me?” asked Calysto, leaning close so that only Alex could hear her.
“As you wish,” said Alex, rising from his chair.
Calysto smiled and, taking Alex’s hand, led him away from the meadow. They walked in silence for a time, and the happy voices faded behind them.
“You are still troubled,” said Calysto softly as they walked through the trees. “You feel that something is missing. That you have forgotten something important.”
“You see much,” answered Alex, looking at Calysto.
Her face seemed to shine with an inner light, as though a hidden fire or power burned inside of her.
“So, it seems, do you,” she replied. “Do you remember what has passed between us?”
“Do you mean after I woke, or before?” Alex asked, afraid of what her answer would be.
“Before,” said Calysto, her smile still in place.
“I do not remember everything,” answered Alex. “Though I feel that I should.”
Calysto stopped walking and turned to face Alex. For what seemed like a long time there was no sound at all, just Calysto looking deeply into Alex’s eyes. Then Alex felt as if a light had suddenly been turned on inside his head, a light that showed him the darkest corners of his own mind.
Alex blinked several times before speaking. He felt like he’d just woken up, but he knew he had not. He looked at Calysto’s face, remembering her as he had seen her before, when she met him at the edge of the shadowlands.
“Your memories have returned,” Calysto said at last, breaking the spell of silence. “I hope they will not be a burden to you.”
“I am sorry I forced you to come there,” said Alex, shaking slightly. “I did not . . . I did not mean for that to happen.”
“It was a near thing,” said Calysto, smiling again. “Almost you convinced me to cross the wall with you. But it seems your bonds here were stronger than your desire to leave.” She placed a gentle hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Do not be troubled. I came of my own free will, and place no blame for what happened on you.”
Alex nodded his thanks, unable to speak.
Calysto took his hand again and began walking. “You have great power in you, my young friend,” she said at last. “Greater than of anyone I have ever met.”
“A power I can’t control,” replied Alex. “And as long as I do not control it, it is a danger to others, as it was to you.”
“Then you know the path you must take,” said Calysto. “A wizard’s path is often a lonely one, but know that you will always find friends here.”
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course,” Calysto answered, smiling, her face beaming in the moonlight.
“Why did Bregnest stop himself from bowing to you?”
“Oh,” said Calysto, and laughed softly in surprise. “Your friends have forgotten to tell you—you have all been named elf friends. And as elf friends, there is no need for bows, though I think Bregnest finds this practice troublesome.”
“Among adventurers, bowing is a way of showing respect,” said Alex, smiling.
“Among elves and elf friends, respect is already known so there is no need for the show. Though as you saw, some of my own people have adopted your custom. I think your friend Bregnest was trying to show his respect by not bowing tonight.”
They walked in silence for a time, Alex’s thoughts less troubled than they had been since the start of his adventure. He knew now exactly what he had to do, and what he had to become. He also knew that, with time, he would make his friends proud.
“I will leave you here,” said Calysto. “Your friends are waiting for you inside.”
Alex noticed for the first time that they had come back to the wooden house the company was staying in. He smiled at Calysto, trying to think of a way to thank her for all she had done.
“I am in your debt,” he said at last. “If ever you have need, I will always answer your call.”
Calysto bowed slightly, a smile in her bright eyes. Then looking up into the star-filled sky, she said, “You are more like an elf than any human I have ever met.”
With a last look at Calysto, Alex turned and entered the wooden house.
* * *
How long the company remained in the dark forest, Alex was never sure. He remembered many feasts and long nights of singing and laughing with the elves. He remembered walking and talking with Calysto several times, but the days seemed to blend together and he could not count them. When at last the company prepared to leave the forest, the trees were changing color. Summer had passed and soon fall would be arriving.
“We have stayed too long,” said Bregnest the night before they were to leave. “Though it is difficult to say good-bye, we must press on.”
“Sad will be the parting,” said Arconn softly. “Though the return will be more welcome for it.”
“You’ve become more elfin again,” said Thrang in a disgruntled tone. “We need to get you away from here so you’ll speak plainly again.”
Arconn laughed at Thrang’s comment, though Alex could see the deep sorrow in his friend. He knew how Arconn felt, leaving the dark forest behind and facing an unknown future. It would be a sad parting for them all, but Alex knew that they all had hopes for a quick return.
The next morning as they were saddling the horses, Calysto came to say good-bye to them. She was smiling, though Alex could see that she, too, was sad to see them leave.
“May good fortune ride with you,” Calysto called as they rode into the trees. “And may you return safely to our happy land.”
chapter seventeen
Slathbog
None of the company looked back as they rode into the woods. They were all sad to be leaving, and even the hope of successfully finishing their quest did not brighten their thoughts. They followed the path the elves had told them about, a path that would lead them quickly to their final goal.
As the days passed, Alex noticed that the trees had completely changed color from lively greens to bright yellows and reds. There was a chill in the air as well, and each morning seemed a little colder than the one before.
“It will be difficult to cross the wastes in winter,” said Tayo one morning.
“It would be difficult at any time,” replied Halfdan grimly. “The wastelands around the dragon will test our resolve.”
“Then let’s make sure we pass that test,” said Bregnest as he climbed into his saddle and led them forward.
Slowly the thick forest changed back to meadows, then to open grassland. After a week of hard riding, the grasslands ended suddenly in front of them. The land was bare, empty of grass or trees; only gray rock and brown dirt could be seen.
“We will have to leave the horses here,” said Bregnest, unhappy. “We do not have enough food for them, and there is little or nothing that grows in the wasteland.”
“I have spoken with them. They know where we are going,” Arconn replied. “They will remain close, waiting for our return.”
“I hope their wait will be a short one,” said Skeld with a smile.
The mood around camp that night was grim and solemn. Now that they were so close to their goal, everyone’s thoughts seemed to be on the danger that waited for them, a danger they could almost taste. Even Skeld found little to joke about so close to the wasteland of the dragon.
“We should each add some dry wood to our bags,” said Thrang softly, taking his seat next to the fire. “We may need it before we return.”
“A fire in the wasteland would be dangerous,” said Bregnest. “Though, with winter coming, we may have to risk it.”