“I may do that anyway,” replied Alex, laughing along with the rest of his companions.
When they arrived at Techen, Alex saw that the city had changed a great deal since they had left it. A vast array of tents had sprung up around the mud-brown walls. Hundreds of horses and carts crowded the roads, and a great number of people were selling all kinds of things just outside the main city gates. Bartholomew the gatekeeper was still there, but he looked tired and a bit thinner than Alex remembered.
“You seem to have some new friends,” Bregnest commented with a smile.
“I don’t know about friends, but there are a lot of them,” replied Bartholomew. “Been turning up in droves over the last couple of weeks.”
“Why would that be?” Bregnest asked.
“Well, it’s the dragon, isn’t it?” said Bartholomew, looking at the tents and carts along the road. “Story is out that old Slathbog has finally died, or been killed, or gone away, depending on which story you choose to believe. This lot is off to look for the dragon’s treasure, and in my opinion, the sooner they go, the better.”
They all had to suppress their laughter because they knew these treasure hunters would find little in Varlo, unless they were looking for land.
“The magistrate must be happy with all the trade,” said Bregnest with a short laugh.
“I suppose he is,” Bartholomew replied thoughtfully. “Though it’s hard to tell what makes him happy. I suppose you’ll be spending the night then?”
“If we can find a room in the city,” said Bregnest.
“Oh, you needn’t worry about that,” Bartholomew called, as the company started moving through the gate. “Not many of these will pay for a room. I believe old Tantic has plenty of space.”
Tantic greeted the company as if they were old friends he hadn’t seen in years. Before they could even climb off their horses, he had brought out a tray of drinks for them and toasting to the good fortunes of Techen. After their drinks and a few words with Tantic, Alex and the others took their horses into the stable for the night. There was no sign of Eric Von Tealo, so Bregnest asked Tantic where he could be found.
“Ah, a sad story that,” answered Tantic. “A good man he was with horses, though perhaps not so good with people.”
“You say was,” Bregnest interrupted. “Is he no longer here?”
“Old Eric turned sick this last winter,” said Tantic, shaking his head sadly. “We tried to care for him, but there was only so much we could do. He crossed the wall just as spring was coming in.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” Bregnest said. “We owed him a debt. Can you tell us where he is buried? The least we can do is pay our respects.”
“That’s very kind of you,” said Tantic with a smile. “Though I doubt you’ll be happy with his resting place.”
The company followed Tantic’s directions to Techen’s graveyard to pay their last respects to Eric. They noticed that there were many fine headstones scattered about the graveyard, but on Eric’s grave was only a small wooden marker with his name on it. When they returned to Tantic’s inn, Bregnest questioned Tantic about it.
“The magistrate didn’t much like old Eric,” Tantic said, an unhappy look on his face. “Eric was always telling him off for the poor way his soldiers took care of their horses, and for anything else that didn’t seem right. The magistrate wouldn’t let me put a stone on his grave, only that small wooden marker.”
“Can you send word to the magistrate that we would like to see him?” Bregnest asked in a calm voice.
“’Course I can,” said Tantic, a slightly wicked grin spreading over his face. “It would do my heart good if you lot told him off.”
Bregnest motioned for the others to follow him into the inn’s common room. The company sat around a large table, leaving the chair to Bregnest’s right empty. Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek sat at the bar, watching with a great deal of interest. It wasn’t long before the magistrate appeared, walking up to their table and frowning.
“You wished to speak with me?” he asked, in an unfriendly tone as though their request to see him was a great inconvenience.
“We do,” replied Bregnest and motioned for him to be seated.
“What can I do for you?” asked the magistrate brusquely.
“We wish to discuss the grave of Master Eric Von Tealo,” Bregnest replied calmly.
“What about it?” The magistrate’s face turned slightly red.
“Well, you see,” said Bregnest. “We all owe a debt to the late Master Von Tealo. Now that he has crossed the wall, we would like his final resting place to be honored with something more than a piece of wood.” Bregnest’s words were spoken softly, but there could be no doubt of the power and anger behind them.
“I’m sure some arrangement can be made,” said the magistrate, hardly bothering to conceal the greed in his voice.
“It will be made,” Bregnest replied coldly. “We will pay for a large stone to be placed on the grave. Further, we will pay the city of Techen for upkeep of the stone and the grave so that weeds do not grow over it. We will also pay for fresh flowers to be placed on the grave twice a week. We will require these services to be performed for the next one hundred years.”
“That is quite a lot for an old man who worked in a stable,” the magistrate sneered.
“Perhaps, but we are willing to pay the price you name for these services,” Bregnest replied. “Draw up an agreement and we will all sign it.”
The magistrate thought for a moment and then called for Tantic to bring him pen and paper. He wrote out the agreement and offered the pen to Bregnest so he could sign it.
“You first,” said Bregnest, looking the magistrate in the eye.
The magistrate signed the document and placed the seal of Techen beside his name.
“What price will you ask?” Bregnest questioned.
“The city of Techen asks five thousand gold coins for this service,” said the magistrate coldly, a wicked smile on his face.
“Outrageous!” said Tantic from behind the magistrate.
“We accept,” said Bregnest, signing his name to the document. The rest of the company each signed his name.
Bregnest pulled out his magic bag. “But know this my fine, greedy magistrate,” he said in an ice-cold tone. “If ever I, or any of my companions, hear that you or your city have failed in this agreement, we will return. One of our company is a wizard and we all have many friends close to your city. If you fail to keep this agreement, we will know. If you choose to run, we will hunt you from here to the wall to claim our revenge.”
The magistrate’s face paled at Bregnest’s words. “Of course it will be done,” he said nervously, his upper lip trembling slightly. “No need for threats or violence. I have given my word.”
“And I’ll make sure he keeps it,” said Tantic, taking the pen and signing the agreement as witness.
Bregnest handed the magistrate a large bag full of gold and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. The others could barely control their laughter as the magistrate rushed, stumbling more than once, out of the room.
“Let us share in this expense,” Skeld laughed. “The price is small compared to the look on his sour face.”
“You already have,” replied Bregnest. “The five thousand came out of the share for expenses, and I think it was well spent. So Tantic, my friend, can you arrange for a stone?”
“Of any size and style you request,” replied Tantic. “And I’ll pin this up in the bar so the whole city will know what the magistrate has agreed to.” He held up the agreement the magistrate had left behind in his rush to leave.
“And you might have fun reminding him from time to time that we have many friends not too far from Techen,” Tayo laughed.
They spent a merry night in Techen, and Alex wished they could stay longer. Bregnest, however, wished to move on as soon as possible. After discussing the stone for Eric’s grave with Tantic, and leaving him more than enough money to pay for
it, the company rode away the following morning.
They traveled northwest along the ancient road, meeting a few companies of people who were traveling east to Varlo. They tried hard not to laugh as the people told them that Slathbog was dead and that piles of gold were lying everywhere for anyone who wished to take them.
“Well, they’re half right,” laughed Skeld as they left one of the groups behind.
They met no bandits as they rode toward the White Tower, but they set a watch each night just in case. Alex, having finished reading his books, now spent his watch practicing spells from his magic book. Sometimes Andy, Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek would sit up with him, talking about adventures, and watching Alex practice his magic.
The journey was pleasant, but Alex was beginning to worry that it soon would be over. He didn’t really want to go home, and the idea of going back to his stepfather’s tavern and his old life made him more than a little sad. He felt more like starting another adventure right away.
One morning, Alex woke to a strangely familiar dinging sound. Sitting up, he saw a bottle-necked geeb standing beside his blankets.
“Do you have a message for me?” Alex asked politely.
“Ding,” the geeb replied.
“May I have it please?”
“Ding! Ding! Ding!” answered the geeb, producing a letter for Alex.
“What’s that noise?” said Skeld, sitting up in his own blankets.
“It’s a geeb,” replied Alex as he opened the letter. “Only just arrived.”
Dear friend,
I am happy to hear of your success and your safe return. Please accept this invitation for you and your company, including your three new traveling companions, to dine with me on your arrival at the White Tower tomorrow evening.
Your friend,
Iownan
“It seems we’ve been invited to dinner,” said Alex happily, handing the letter to Bregnest. “I suppose you will all wish to accept the invitation,” he added, grinning at his friends.
“Good thing too,” Skeld said loudly. “Thrang’s cooking has been going downhill since he’s become so rich.”
“Shut your gob,” replied Thrang, throwing a dirty pair of socks at Skeld.
They all laughed at this exchange, and then laughed even harder when Tayo suggested that the dirty socks were what Thrang had been using to make soup.
“Indeed, yes, we will accept,” said Bregnest with a smile.
“Can you take a reply back to the Oracle?” Alex questioned the waiting geeb.
“Ding,” the geeb replied.
Alex took out his writing things and thought for a moment before he started writing.
My friend,
We are overwhelmed by your kindness, and I am happy to accept your invitation on behalf of our company and friends. We will be looking forward to our arrival, and place ourselves at your service.
Your friend,
Alex
“I believe Calysto was right about you,” said Arconn, reading Alex’s note over his shoulder. “You are very much like an elf.”
“Careful,” Tayo warned. “He might take that as an insult.”
They all laughed at Tayo’s joke as Alex folded the letter and placed it in an envelope.
“Here is your payment,” Alex said to the geeb, tossing a bright blue sapphire into the air.
The geeb bounced up and caught the sapphire quickly and then left several gold and silver coins on Alex’s blanket.
“Please take this letter to the Oracle. If you require additional payment, please return,” Alex said to the geeb.
With a final ding and a slight popping sound, the geeb disappeared. Alex collected the coins from his blanket and put them in his small moneybag, then asked about breakfast.
When Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek heard that they were included in the Oracle’s invitation, they were overcome with joy. They had been worried the Oracle wouldn’t see them right away, and had started to wonder where they would stay while they waited for her call.
“When we dine with Iownan, she is not the Oracle,” Alex explained to the three young dwarfs as they rode along that day.
“She addresses you as friend,” said Thrain in admiration.
“We are friends,” Alex replied.
“Do you think you could put in a good word for us?” Thrain asked sheepishly.
“I doubt very much that the Oracle will be influenced by anything I say,” replied Alex with a slight laugh.
It was almost noon the next day when a rider carrying a green flag with a white tower on it approached them. He asked them to follow him to the western houses, and they all happily agreed. Once again, the second house was filled with fine food when they arrived and the bathhouse now held eleven large brass tubs full of hot water. When the sun touched the western hills, a young woman appeared to lead them to Iownan’s table.
“You have traveled far, my friends,” said Iownan, beaming at them as she entered the room.
“Yes, we have,” said Bregnest, standing and bowing to Iownan.
“And now you have many new tales to tell,” said Iownan, taking her seat between Alex and Bregnest.
Their dinner was full of lively talk and long tales, and when they were finished and Iownan had said good night, they returned to the sleeping house tired and happy. Alex slipped away to the stables to check on Shahree.
“In this fine stable again,” said Alex as he stroked Shahree’s neck. His thoughts returned to when he had first entered this stable at night and spoken to Iownan. Could it really have been more than a year ago?
“I see that you are not yet broken,” Iownan said from behind him.
“Not yet,” replied Alex, turning to face her.
“And I see you have gazed into the crystal.”
“Only because need forced me to,” said Alex with a bow. “I ask your forgiveness. The crystal was not mine to use.”
“Though it served you well.”
“It did,” Alex said.
“Come,” said Iownan, taking his hand. “You need your rest. Tomorrow I will speak with your company about your pledge.”
“The pledge is fulfilled,” said Alex happily.
“Not quite,” Iownan replied. “You still hold the crystal, though I do not doubt its return. I know what you had to go through to reclaim this treasure for me.”
“You told me I would be tested,” replied Alex, his thoughts returning to the night he’d fought the wraiths.
“You are troubled by something,” said Iownan, turning to look into his eyes.
“It was something the wraiths said,” Alex answered, meeting her eyes. “I didn’t think about it at the time because I knew they were full of lies.”
“But now you wonder if they did not speak at least a little truth,” Iownan finished for him.
“They said you saw something in me—something that made me different.”
“I told you that I could see many things in you,” replied Iownan. “But you were not ready then to know everything I saw.”
“Am I ready now?”
“I believe you are,” Iownan replied after a short pause. “What I saw, but did not tell you, was that you are not completely human as you believe yourself to be.”
“Then what am I?” Alex asked in surprise.
“You are a blend, a mixture of many races,” said Iownan thoughtfully. “I cannot say how much of each race is in you, but I see in you human, elf, and dwarf. And other things as well.”
“What other things?” Alex questioned, worried.
“It is difficult to say for sure,” replied Iownan, turning away from Alex. “It is strange. I have never met anyone like you before.”
“If you do not wish to say—”
“I would tell you if I could,” said Iownan, cutting him off, a troubled look on her face. “But it is beyond even my powers to see all that you are, or all that you might become.”
“Forgive me for asking,” said Alex.
“Come,” said I
ownan, her smile returning. “You need your rest.”
Alex didn’t ask any more questions. He knew Iownan spoke the truth and that if she could have told him more she would have. He accepted her hand, and together they left the stable, walking back to the sleeping house.
The next morning, a young man named Thomas appeared as they were finishing breakfast. He told them the Oracle would like to meet with Bregnest and his company in the gardens by the fountain. He also said that Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek would be called to the Oracle after the midday meal. Alex quickly retrieved the crystal in its blue-velvet wrapping from his bag and followed Bregnest to the gardens.
“You have returned from your quest successfully,” said the Oracle as they approached.
“We have,” Bregnest replied, bowing to her.
“And are you prepared to fulfill your pledge?”
“We are,” eight voices answered.
“Who among you carries the crystal?”
“Master Taylor has the honor,” said Bregnest, gesturing to Alex.
“Let him come forward,” the Oracle commanded.
Alex walked forward, carrying the crystal carefully in both hands. When he reached the Oracle, he bowed, then removed the velvet cover and held up the crystal for all to see. Once more it was like a ball of light, shining in the morning sun.
“Do you return this of your own free will?” she questioned, looking at Alex.
“I do,” replied Alex.
“Do any here make a claim on this crystal?”
“We do not,” eight voices replied.
“Then as the Oracle of the White Tower, I accept this
crystal from you. Your pledge is fulfilled and your honor is enlarged,” she said solemnly, taking the crystal from Alex’s hand as he dropped to one knee and offered it to her.
The Oracle turned and walked away from them, returning to the White Tower without another word.
“There is great power in the Oracle,” said Arconn, as they watched her walk away.
They all murmured their agreement, slowly filing out of the garden and returning to the second house.