“As you may have guessed, our company was searching for the Horn at the request of King Trion.”
“And are the legends true?” Prince Varson questioned, moving closer to Alex. “Does the Horn exist?”
“The legends are true, my lord,” Alex answered with a bow. “And I can assure you that the Horn of Moran does exist.”
“Do you carry this Horn?” Kappa asked before the prince could ask another question.
“I do not, but one of our company does,” said Alex. “And I am sure that the Horn could be produced, if the proper reasons were given.”
“Bah! You are a trickster hoping to play us as fools,” said Kappa. “What reasons do you need to produce the Horn? What proof do we have that your company even has the true Horn? This could all be some story you’ve made up in hopes of receiving a reward.”
“The reasons are obvious,” said Alex calmly. “I do not wish to see war in Athanor. The proof, of course, is in the Horn itself because it will only play a note for the true king of Athanor. As for more proof, I can give only my word that I speak truly. And as for rewards, I will leave that decision to the true king of Athanor.” Alex bowed to Varson, which seemed to please the prince, but Kappa looked worried.
“You are full of lies,” Kappa yelled. “You seek only to deceive us and ruin our hopes.”
“Silence, fool!” Alex yelled back at him.
With a wave of his hand and a blinding flash, Alex turned Kappa into a donkey. “Forgive me, my lord,” Alex said to Varson in an apologetic tone. “I have lost my temper. Your adviser’s claim that I had lied to him was really too much.”
Prince Varson seemed almost as stunned as the donkey, and he looked from Alex to the donkey and back again, not knowing what to do or say.
“As you can see, my lord, I am a wizard,” Alex continued. “My only wish is to see peace in Athanor and the true king on the throne.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Varson in a shaky voice.
“Your adviser’s doubts about your kingship troubled me, and I beg your forgiveness for my rash actions.”
“Not . . . not at all,” said Varson, recovering from his shock. “He did sound rather doubtful, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did, my lord. But I assure you that I have no such doubts.”
“You are most kind,” said Varson, trying to sound more businesslike.
“It is no great kindness to serve a true king. However, I am troubled by your preparations for war.”
“Oh, yes,” said Varson, waving his hand in a dismissive way. “It’s because Trion won’t accept me as the true king.”
“Of course,” said Alex understandingly. “I suppose you are as troubled by all of this as I am.”
“Why, of course I am. I . . . Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“I am Alexander Taylor, my lord. I am an adventurer and a wizard, and I am at your service.”
“Thank you, Master Taylor, that’s very kind. You know, to be honest, I don’t think Kappa believes I am the true king. He didn’t seem at all interested in my recovering the Horn of Moran.”
“How could he doubt you?”
“Well, he’s been acting very funny, I must say,” Varson continued, obviously pleased with the sound of surprise in Alex’s voice. “You know, he didn’t even want me to send another party of adventurers in search of the Horn.”
“Why would he oppose such a brilliant and well-conceived plan?”
“I don’t know,” said Varson, looking at his adviser thoughtfully. “You know, I think you should leave him as a donkey. At least until I’ve proven my true kingship.”
“As you wish,” said Alex. “However, how will you convince Trion to accept you as the true king?”
“Well, as you said,” Varson explained as if Alex was a bit slow. “I’ll play a note on the Horn and that will be that.”
“Very wise, my lord. You will prove yourself to be king and remove the threat of war from the kingdom at the same time. A bold move. Might I make a small suggestion to enhance your plan?”
“Of course, you may speak freely.”
“Would it not prove your kingship to all of Athanor if you challenged Trion to a contest?”
“An excellent idea! Yes, most excellent. In fact, that is what I’ll do. I’ll insist that the people of Athanor gather, and then I’ll compete with Trion. I’ll ask him to play the Horn, and when he fails, he will look a total fool. Then I will play the Horn, and everyone will know that I am the king.”
“A most inspired plan. However, my lord, perhaps youshould play the Horn first. There is no need to make Trion look like more of a fool than he already is. And such a gesture will show your people your great kindness and win many hearts that may not otherwise be yours.”
“Yes, of course,” said Varson. “The true king should be kind to fools like Trion. That is what I’ll do.”
“And how soon will you be able to prove yourself and claim your throne?”
“Tomorrow at high noon, I think,” said Varson with a satisfied tone. “There are a lot of people in Athanor, and I will have messages sent to the nearby towns as well. We will march forward in the morning, and before tomorrow night, I will be king. That will end the threat of war quickly, and everything will be as it should be.”
“Wonderful,” Alex gushed.
“You have been most helpful, Master Taylor. I would be pleased if you would accompany me to the contest.”
“A great honor,” said Alex. “If I may be so bold, perhaps you will allow me to hold the Horn. That way Trion won’t be able to use any magic to make himself appear to be more than he is.”
“Another grand idea. You are a wonder. If there is anything I can do for you tonight, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“There are two small matters,” Alex said slowly. “I hate to bring them up at a time like this, so perhaps I should not.”
“No, no,” said Varson, waving his hand. “Please, let me do what I can for you.”
“You are most kind, my lord. The first matter concerns some bandits that my company and I captured on our way here. No doubt you will wish to judge them, once your throne is secured. In the meantime, if a few soldiers might be spared to guard them, it would be helpful.”
“Of course,” said Varson, trying to look and sound like a king. “I will have some men sent right over to take these bandits off your hands. Now, what else would you ask?”
“The second matter concerns the fate of the adventurers traveling with Master Nellus. Our two companies have several friends in common. It would be, shall we say, awkward if anything unpleasant were to happen to Master Nellus or his companions.”
“Yes, I can see that clearly enough,” Varson agreed. “That fool Kappa has had them placed in chains, but I can remedy that. In fact, I think they did me a great service in attempting to find the Horn, so I am in their debt. I will have them freed at once and returned to your camp. That way your company will see how kind the true king can be.”
“You are generous and kind, my lord. Now I suppose we should both get some rest, tomorrow promises to be an important day.”
“Yes, yes, it does,” said Varson, almost falling over in his excitement. “I will send an honor guard for you in the morning, and you will ride beside me to Athanor.”
“You do me a great honor,” said Alex.
When Alex reached the door of the tent, he turned to look back at Varson and Kappa the donkey.
“Shall I ask your guards to remove this donkey?” Alex asked.
“Yes,” said Varson in a definite tone. “Send them in at once. And thank you again, my friend.”
“Not at all, my lord, not at all.”
Alex had a hard time controlling his laughter as the guard led him back to his friends. As they approached Bregnest and the others, Alex slipped the guard three more gold coins for his service. The guard bowed to Alex, and then hurried back to his post.
Before Alex could tell his friends what had happened in Varson’s tent, more guards arrived, escorting Nellus and his company to the campsite. The guards bowed to Bregnest, removed the chains from Nellus and his friends, and then took the three captured bandits away with them.