“It’s possible an adventurer has survived inside his bag,” answered Skeld, taking another of the bags and lifting it to his mouth. “If they have, I’m telling them it’s safe to come out now.”
Alex wondered how long someone could survive inside a magic bag. Considering that his own bag had four rooms and a fair amount of food and water, Skeld’s actions seemed to make sense.
“It’s a fool’s hope,” said Halfdan, watching Skeld speak into the bags. “If any adventurer was inside his bag, the bag would be where he left it and not here.”
“Of course,” said Skeld, laying down the last bag on top of the others. “But it’s better to hope than to despair,” he said, a touch of color returning to his face.
They ate their meal in silence, too tired and sad for conversation. When they finished eating, they returned to the cave, and once more started hauling treasure into the sunlight. It was heavy work, but the labor distracted them from the foul smell that hung in the air.
It was well after midday before the cave was empty and the treasure stacked in the sunlight. Alex and the others were exhausted from the work and the lack of sleep, and they all dropped to the ground to rest for several minutes. The piles of treasure had grown enormous in Alex’s eyes. He wondered if Slathbog’s hoard was bigger than this, and if so, how they would ever move it.
After catching his breath, Bregnest stood up and walked to the pile of magic bags they’d taken from the cave. He looked at the bags sadly for several minutes before he spoke.
“It is customary that the one who recovers an adventurer’s bag returns it to the heir of the lost adventurer,” said Bregnest, looking at Alex. “These were recovered because of your victory over the troll, and so the honor and burden falls to you. However, as you are a new adventurer, I will carry this burden for you if you wish.”
Bregnest hesitated for a moment and then continued. “Any reward given for the return of these bags will be yours, of course, as it was by your valor these bags were recovered.”
Alex hadn’t considered what they would do with the seven magic bags. He wanted to do what was right among adventurers, and he suspected it wasn’t to duck his responsibility and let someone else, even Bregnest, carry the burden.
“You are very kind,” Alex said after a moment of thought. “But I will keep the custom and return the lost bags. Any reward should be shared among the company, however, as all profits from this adventure should be.”
“Well spoken,” Bregnest replied with a smile. “You have learned a great deal in a short time. The honor of carrying the bags remains with you.”
Bregnest handed the bags to Alex, bowing low as he did so. Alex returned the bow and carefully placed each of the magic bags inside his own. He had no idea how he would ever find the adventurer’s heirs, but he was pleased to know he had given the correct answer.
“Now to happier matters,” said Bregnest. “A fair amount of treasure to divide among the eight of us.”
They all cheered and Bregnest put each member of the company to work sorting the piles of treasure. He also repeated that all odd numbers were to go to Alex, which made Alex blush slightly as the others cheered again.
By the time they’d divided the treasure and stored it in their bags, the sun was sinking in the west. Tired and happy, they made their way back down the hill to their camp by the road. They were completely worn out when they finally reached their tents, and all they could think of was sleep. Instead of preparing another meal, they ate leftover stew from Thrang’s pot and the roasted birds Arconn had shot the day before.
While everyone else ate, Alex slipped away from the fire. He wanted to check on Shahree and make sure she was all right. Shahree whinnied loudly as he approached, a sound that was much happier now than it had been the night before. Alex gently rubbed the horse’s neck and let her nuzzle his shoulder.
“You did well, my friend,” Alex said softly. “You found Arconn and told him where I was. Thank you.”
Shahree whinnied again, nodding her head up and down as though agreeing to what Alex had said.
Alex looked into her eyes, and he could see for himself how grateful she was that he had saved her.
“It’s all right,” said Alex with a smile. “I may not be able to understand you like Arconn does, but I know exactly what you mean.”
“Alex,” said Bregnest as he came up beside Shahree.
“I’m sorry I broke the rules,” Alex blurted out. “I know everything turned out well, but I’m sorry I forced you to punish me.”
“A small matter,” said Bregnest.
“But . . .” Alex started, then stopped. He wasn’t sure he could put his thoughts into words, or at least not into words that Bregnest would understand.
“I know,” said Bregnest with a smile. “You were right to do what you did. You followed your heart and did what you knew was the right thing to do. Knowing when to trust yourself is far more important than any rule. And a great deal of good may come from your actions.”
“What good?” Alex questioned. “I mean, I’m glad the troll was destroyed and that Shahree is all right. I’m happy we were able to find the other horses and claim the troll’s treasure, but what other good can come from that?”
“You forget the seven lost bags,” said Bregnest. “You’ve done a great thing, recovering those bags. You have the chance to help many people when you return the bags to the heirs and families of the lost adventurers.”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to do that,” said Alex. “I don’t even know how I’ll find out who owned the bags to start with.”
“The bag maker in Telous will be able to tell you who the bags belonged to,” Bregnest replied, resting his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “He should also be able to tell you who the heirs are and where they might be found.”
“Oh, I never thought of that.”
“You are learning quickly,” Bregnest said, “and I’m glad Thrang and Arconn asked you to join our adventure.”
“Thank you,” said Alex, humbled and pleased at the same time.
“Come now, let’s join the others,” said Bregnest. “Though I don’t think there will be much talk around the campfire tonight.”
“I am rather tired,” said Alex as they walked back to the campfire. “I don’t remember ever feeling as tired as I do right now.”
It had been a long day, and Alex was happy with how things had worked out. He smiled as he closed his eyes, hoping that Bregnest was right and that a great deal of good would come from returning the lost magic bags.
That night they all slept soundly with only the sound of the stream to break the silence. If any wild creature passed the camp, it went unnoticed. They slept late into the following morning, and then slowly ate the breakfast Thrang prepared. With a final cheer for their good fortunes and Alex’s victory over the troll, they rode away from what the company had dubbed the Troll’s Stream.
chapter seven
The White Tower
The Troll’s Stream was soon left far behind as Alex and his companions followed the road to the east. The weather grew warmer as the days passed, and the fields and forests became greener. They didn’t meet anyone as they traveled, and to Alex’s relief, they had no more encounters with trolls or anything worse. Bregnest insisted they keep a watch at night, however, and he had them draw marked stones from a bag to decide which watch each of them would take. Alex was happy when he drew the first watch, as it seemed to be the best to him.
Early one day, they came to a fork in the road, and Bregnest had them stop and gather around him. One road turned sharply to the south, while the other continued mostly east, bending slightly to the north.
“Which road shall we take?” Bregnest questioned.
Alex knew Bregnest wasn’t really looking for an answer; he just wanted to hear what each member of the company had to say.
“The south road will be better,” said Halfdan, without commitment. “But there are many people that way, and the road
to our final goal will be longer.”
“East and north lies the White Tower,” Arconn commented, looking into the distance. “It might be wise to seek the Oracle.”
“The wait at the tower may be a long one,” said Thrang thoughtfully.
“But worth the time spent,” Tayo answered him.
“And when has waiting ever been troublesome to a dwarf?” asked Skeld with a laugh. “It will give you time to grow back your beard, though our young wizard burnt off but little of it.”
“It would be pleasant to see the White Tower,” Andy commented softly as the others laughed at Skeld’s jest. “The Oracle may help us in our quest.”
“Only if she can use a sword,” Skeld laughed.
“What do you think, Alex?” questioned Bregnest.
Alex’s companions had become extremely interested in his opinions since his victory over the troll. It didn’t seem to matter how many times Alex told them he’d just been lucky. They simply saw his luck as part of his magical powers, and laughed whenever he expressed his own doubts.
Alex knew from reading the Adventurer’s Handbook that the south road was considered the safer road. There were many cities to the south as well, and he thought it might be nice to see how the people of this land lived. In his heart, though, he wanted to see the White Tower of the Oracle.
“I think the south road would be safest, but the east road would be wisest,” Alex answered. “And I would like to try to speak to the Oracle if I can.”
“Even if you have a chance to speak with her, the Oracle may not tell you what you wish to hear,” said Arconn in a thoughtful tone.
“Just the same, I’d like to try,” Alex replied more boldly.
“As would I,” Bregnest added. “So east we will go, and hope the Oracle will agree to speak with us.”
Alex fell back into line beside Andy as they started forward again.
“How far is the White Tower from here?” Alex questioned.
“It depends,” Andy replied. “Some say the tower moves. Others say it is hidden, so only those who the Oracle wishes to speak with can find it.”
“What do you believe?”
“I believe we will find it,” Andy said.
“I hope so,” said Alex.
“Why is that?” Skeld asked, looking over his shoulder at Alex.
“It would be good to see some people,” Alex said. “Even if we don’t get to talk to the Oracle, it would be good to see a city or town as we travel.”
“Adventures aren’t about seeing cities or people,” said Tayo.
“No, I suppose not,” replied Alex. “I just thought . . .”
“Thought what?” asked Skeld as a smile spread across his face.
“I thought there would be more than just riding and camping,” answered Alex.
“Ready to fight another troll, are you?” Skeld asked with a laugh.
“No, nothing like that,” said Alex, laughing as well. “It’s just that seeing new places and meeting new people would make things more . . .”
“Adventurous?” offered Andy.
“Yes,” said Alex.
“Adventures aren’t all about excitement and finding treasure,” said Tayo with a slight smile.
“Most adventures can be very common, even boring,” laughed Skeld.
“What’s so funny?” Halfdan questioned, slowing his horse to ride beside Skeld.
“Alex doesn’t think our adventure is very exciting,” Skeld answered happily.
“Excitement? Bah!” said Halfdan. “We don’t need more excitement. We’ll have enough of that when we face Slathbog.”
“Too much perhaps,” Tayo added in a grim tone.
“That’s not what I meant,” Alex protested, but then he saw Halfdan wink.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “There will likely be plenty of excitement before we’re all safe at home once more.”
Alex let the subject drop, trying to understand his own feelings about excitement and adventure. All this travel did seem very—as Skeld had said—boring. Still, he was in a new land, learning new things, and not cleaning up or washing dishes at his stepfather’s tavern.
They rode east for two more days, stopping only at midday for a meal and then riding until it was almost dark. The warm weather meant they could simply sleep on their blankets under the stars. Alex enjoyed sleeping in the open, because each night one of his friends would tell a story about a previous adventure.
On the first night after the crossroad, Thrang told of how he’d joined an adventure to capture a dangerous sea monster. With great excitement and some vigorous demonstrations, Thrang explained how the monster had almost gotten away, but was captured in the end. His descriptions of how the monster acted amused them all, and when he finished his story, Alex and the rest of the company cheered.
The next night, Tayo told of an adventure to rescue a young prince who had been wrongfully imprisoned. And though his tone was not as animated as Thrang’s, Tayo’s story was still cheered at the end.
“He rules his kingdom still,” Tayo concluded in a satisfied tone. “And remembers his friends when they visit.”
Alex wondered about Tayo as he prepared for bed that night. He thought it was strange that Tayo always seemed to be in a dark mood, seldom showing any sign of happiness beyond a smile and rarely laughing or joking like Skeld and Andy. Alex thought some deep sorrow must be in him, or perhaps he simply worried too much.
On the third morning from the crossroad, Alex heard a strange dinging noise. He thought he must be dreaming, but when the sound came again, he sat up, rubbing his eyes and wondering if his friends were playing a joke on him.
Something dropped onto his legs. He looked down at his blankets and blinked. Standing on his blankets was a strange-looking creature. It was the size and shape of a bowling pin, but bright yellow, with a red strip zigzaging around its middle. It had a single bird-like leg.
“Um, Thrang?” Alex called in as normal a tone as he could manage. “What’s this?”
“What’s what?” Thrang asked, turning away from cooking breakfast.
“This,” Alex replied, pointing.
“Oh, that,” said Thrang, smiling as he hurried over. “It’s a geeb, of course. Well, a bottle-necked geeb to be exact. Wonderful creatures.”
“So they’re not dangerous?” Alex asked, his surprise replaced by curiosity.
“No, they’re messengers,” Thrang replied. “Good ones too because they’ve got a bit of magic in them.”
“More magic?”
“’Course they can only answer yes and no questions,” Thrang continued. “When they honk it means no, and when they ding it means yes.”
Alex nodded his understanding without looking away from the geeb.
“Watch,” said Thrang, turning to the geeb. “Do you have a message for our company?”
“Honk,” the geeb replied, its head transforming into the shape of a small bicycle horn.
“Are you just visiting then?” Thrang questioned.
“Honk.”
“Then do you have a message for a person in our company?” Thrang asked.
“Ding,” the geeb replied, its head changing into a small bell.
“Do you know who the message is for?”
“Ding.”
“Excellent,” said Thrang. “Is the message for Bregnest, our leader?”
“Honk.”
“Very odd,” Thrang muttered. “Is the message for Arconn the elf?”
“Honk.”
Thrang scratched his head. “Well then, can you find the person who the message is for?”
“Ding.”
Thrang looked at the geeb for a second before continuing. “Have you already found the person your message is for?”
“Ding.”
“Your message is for me?” Alex asked in surprise.
“Ding! Ding! Ding!”
“But I don’t know anyone who’d send me a message,” Alex said, looking at Thrang. “Everyone I kn
ow who’d know anything about geebs is here.”
“Never mind that now,” said Thrang. “Ask the geeb to give you the message.”
“May I have the message?” Alex asked.
“Ding.”
A thin hole like a mouth appeared in the middle of the geeb and a long envelope emerged, flopping into Alex’s hands.
“Thank you,” said Alex.
The geeb remained standing on Alex’s legs.
“Is it waiting for something?” he asked.
“Payment, of course,” said Thrang.
“How do I pay a bottle-necked geeb?”
“Oh, they’ll take silver or gold coins,” Thrang answered. “But they prefer gems if they can get them.”
“Gems?” questioned Alex.
“Ding!”
“Yes, gems,” said Thrang. “Geebs know a fair price for any gem you may give them. If the gem is worth more than you owe, they’ll give you back the difference in gold and silver coins. Try it.”
Alex retrieved a small emerald from his bag and held it toward the geeb, who simply stood on its leg and waited.
“Toss it up,” Thrang instructed, amused by Alex’s puzzled look.
Alex tossed the emerald in a high arc, and the geeb jumped off Alex’s legs and caught the gem in midair.
“Ding,” the geeb sounded as it landed back on its single leg. The geeb bent down for a moment and Alex saw six gold coins and three silver coins on the blanket.
“I told you. A fair price,” Thrang laughed.
The geeb remained motionless while Alex collected the coins and put them in his bag.
“Now what?” Alex questioned, assuming the geeb would leave once it had been paid.
“Are you waiting for an answer?” Thrang asked the geeb.
“Ding!”
Alex looked at the envelope in his hand. Carefully he opened it and removed a single folded piece of paper. Looking once more at the geeb and Thrang, he began to read.
Master Alexander Taylor, Esq.,
Please accept this invitation for yourself and your company to dine with me on your arrival in two days’ time.
Awaiting your reply.