chapter eighteen
The Wall
Days passed but Tayo remained unchanged. If anything he was growing even more pale and weak, and Alex would seldom leave his side for any reason. The rest of the company spent their time sorting through the dragon’s hoard. When they returned in the evenings, they would tell Alex about the vast piles of treasure they had searched through and the wonderful things they had found. Alex smiled at their stories, but a deep sorrow had settled inside of him, and he wondered if he would ever feel happy again.
Sometimes Andy would sit with Alex at night, watching Tayo, worried and troubled. After the third night of Andy’s vigil, Alex asked him what was wrong.
“There is a custom among adventurers of our land that if one saves another, there is a debt of honor,” Andy said. “The debt can only be repaid in one of two ways. Either the adventurer in debt—or a member of his family—must save the life of the honor holder, or a member of the family in debt must offer the honor holder their share in the primary treasure collected on another adventure.” Andy looked down at Tayo’s pale face. “My family owes Tayo a debt of honor,” he said softly. “Long ago he saved my father’s life, and we have not been able to repay him.”
“Tayo is the honor holder, and you fear he will die before you can repay him,” said Alex, feeling Andy’s sorrow.
“It is more than that,” said Andy, his eyes remaining on Tayo. “If the debt is not repaid, my family will lose honor forever. A black mark will be placed against us in the records of our land.”
“He has not crossed the wall yet,” said Alex, trying to sound hopeful.
“But he is near it,” Andy replied. “I had hoped to repay my father’s debt on this adventure. But I fear I have failed.”
Alex could see by the troubled look on Andy’s face that the idea of losing both Tayo and his family’s honor were of great concern to him.
The next day, Arconn forced Alex to come up into the sunlit ruins of Varlo with him. The fresh air was pleasant, but the cold winter sun did little to warm the desolate city or to burn away Alex’s sadness.
“I fear Tayo is moving toward the wall,” said Arconn, looking at Alex. “I do not think I can call him back.”
“Would you try?”
“Not willingly,” replied Arconn, looking over the ruined city. “Though I have nothing to fear at the wall, I do not wish to see the shadowlands again.”
Alex remembered his talks with Calysto and what had happened when she had called him back from the wall. He had not shared the details of the experience with his friends, but he understood Arconn’s words and feelings.
“How long will the dragon’s wasteland last?” Alex questioned, changing the subject.
“With Slathbog dead and reduced to ashes, his hold over the land will begin to fade,” answered Arconn. “The fields will turn green again this spring, I think.”
“I would like to see that,” said Alex, looking across the bleak and empty lands.
“You may have the chance,” said Arconn. “The treasure is far greater than even legend says. It will be some time before it is all sorted and divided. Plus, with so much snow, it would be difficult for us to travel anywhere.” Arconn nodded to the three feet of snow that covered the ground.
“Has anyone found the crystal of the White Tower yet?” Alex asked, a strange thought forming in his mind.
“Not yet. Though it has only been four days.”
“I will come and look for it,” said Alex, his thoughts taking a definite shape.
“A noble task, though dangerous. Perhaps more for you than any of the others.”
“What’s an adventure without a little danger?” said Alex, laughing grimly.
That afternoon, after checking on Tayo, Alex went with the others to search Slathbog’s hoard. While the others were happy that he was doing something besides watching Tayo, Arconn was nervous and worried.
“I believe I know what you are thinking,” said Arconn, as he helped Alex sort through a large pile of treasure. “I should warn you that the crystal might show you things you do not wish to see.”
“I have already seen things I have not wanted to see,” Alex replied. “I will risk seeing more, if it will help me find the answers I need.”
“Then I will do all I can to help you,” said Arconn in a firm tone, but his worried look remained.
The two of them searched through the hoard, seeking the treasure Iownan had asked them to return. Alex quickly realized the search could take weeks—weeks he did not have if he wanted to save Tayo. The great chamber was larger than he remembered and every corner was covered with treasure of some kind.
They searched for three more days, and Alex grew more worried and troubled as each day passed. Tayo had started coughing in the night; his time was running out. Skeld said something about him traveling to the other side, and the others all seemed sad and depressed. Alex knew that if he didn’t find the crystal—and the answers it held—soon, it would be too late to help Tayo.
As the rest of the company moved around the great hall, sorting different treasures into different piles or carrying it up to the first hall to be sorted, Alex sat down on a pile of gold coins. He was beginning to lose hope of finding the crystal in time, and as his hope fell, so did his mood.
Rubbing his knuckles into his eyes, Alex wondered if Slathbog had known what the crystal was. Would he have put it someplace special? Or would the crystal have been just one more treasure to keep hidden in his dark home?
Alex looked up at the pile of treasure in front of him. He shook his head; it was more like a small mountain of treasure. It would take him weeks to sort through it all, even with everyone’s help. It was hopeless to think he could find the crystal in time.
Dropping his head into his hands, Alex felt despair wash over him. He was lost in a sea of treasure, and trying to find the one single item he needed more than anything else appeared to be an impossible task.
“I need to find it,” Alex whispered in frustration. “I need to find it before time runs out for Tayo.”
Looking back at the mountain of gold in front of him, Alex wondered if there was some magic spell that would help him find the Oracle’s crystal. He didn’t remember anything from his studies, and he shook his head in frustration. He started to turn away from the pile of treasure when something caught his eye.
At the very top of the massive pile of wealth a strange ball of light glittered brightly. Alex knew the ball was only reflecting the torches around the hall, but it was amazing to look at just the same. The ball of light had not been there a moment ago—he was sure of that—but now it was as clear as the sun on a cloudless day.
Alex climbed the mound in front of him, slipping and sliding as the loose treasure moved under him. He kept his eyes fixed on the crystal as he climbed, afraid it might vanish as suddenly as it had appeared.
Stretching up and forward, Alex grasped the globe of light with both hands. It was feather-light in his hands despite its large size. Carefully lowering himself into a sitting position, he looked into the depths of the crystal. There was no time to worry about what might happen to him or what he might see.
What had been a glowing, fiery surface turned milky white. Alex stared into the crystal, willing it to show him what he desperately needed to know. The orb seemed to come alive with a thousand tiny sparks, and then the face of Iownan appeared, smiling at him from far away, giving him hope.
Alex concentrated on the crystal as Iownan’s face faded away, replaced by others he did not know. The faces started changing faster and faster. Alex’s eyes began to water, but he did not blink, afraid of breaking the spell. Somehow he knew if he could hold on long enough, the crystal would show him the answers he was looking for.
Alex didn’t know how much time had passed before he felt Arconn’s touch on his shoulder.