Adventurers Wanted 2) The Horn of Moran (21 page)

Days went by, but the distant mountains never seemed to get any closer. Alex wondered how much further they would have to go once they reached the mountains to find the Tower of the Moon when a deep booming voice called out.

“Hold!”

Alex looked around but could see no one. He looked at his companions, but they were as surprised as he was.

“State your name and your business in our woods,” the voice called.

“I am Silvan Bregnest, the leader of this company,” Bregnest answered. “We are adventurers, seeking the Tower of the Moon.”

Alex was shocked that Bregnest had said where the company was going. He hadn’t even told Skeld and Tayo the details of their quest.

“And why do you seek it?”

“We seek a treasure that was lost there.”

“What treasure?”

“The Horn of Moran,” Bregnest answered again, a slightly dreamy quality to his voice. “It was carried there a hundred years ago and has not returned.”

It was so unlike Bregnest to talk about their final goal that Alex was certain there must be some kind of magic at work.

“Bregnest,” Alex said sharply, before the voice could ask anything else.

He turned toward Alex, looking as if he had woken up from a wonderful dream and longed to return to his sleep.

“Bregnest,” Alex said again, in as calm a voice as he could manage.

“What?” asked Bregnest, shaking his head.

“What are you doing?”

“We see you have a wizard with you,” said the voice, before Alex could say anything more. “His wits are not so easily confused.”

Bregnest and the others looked around as if they were hearing the voice for the first time. Alex was surprised and a little amused by the looks on his friends’ faces. Something in the sound of the mysterious voice made him feel safe and unafraid.

“Forgive us,” said the voice, as a large creature stepped out of the trees and into the road in front of them. “We are not trusting of outsiders.”

Alex looked at the creature and started to smile. The lower half of the speaker was a sleek black horse, but where the horse’s head should have been there was the torso of a man.

“I am Usel, leader of my people,” the centaur said proudly. “I ask your forgiveness, and swear that neither I nor my people will repeat what you have said.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Usel,” Bregnest replied, slightly shaken by the centaur’s sudden appearance. “You must look to your own security. We know that you and your people will not share what you have learned.”

“You are most kind, Silvan Bregnest. Will you do us the honor of dining with us? We have much to talk about.”

“The honor is ours, and we will openly speak of our plans and goals with you and your people.”

“Come then,” said Usel, turning and starting off down the road.

The company followed Usel, and Alex saw several more centaurs move out of the forest and into the road behind them.

Usel led them a short distance, and then turned into the forest. They rode single file behind the centaur, but even so the path was difficult to follow. After a mile or so, they entered a clearing with several enormous dome-shaped huts in it.

“Welcome to our village,” said Usel, as he turned to face the company. “First we will eat, then we will talk. I will have a table made ready for you.”

Usel trotted off as soon as he finished speaking, leaving the adventurers alone. Alex and the others climbed off their horses and gathered together, waiting for Usel to return.

“You don’t remember anything?” Alex asked the others in disbelief.

“Not until Usel said we had a wizard with us,” said Andy.

“I remember,” Sindar commented. “It was strange, as if I were in a memory of another time. I could hear what was being said, but I could not speak. And it didn’t seem to matter. All that mattered was the memory.”

“And you weren’t affected at all?” Bregnest asked Alex.

“No,” said Alex. “I was a bit confused when you started answering all the questions and telling Usel about our goal. That’s when I asked if you knew what you were doing and you all seemed to wake up.”

“Do you think we can trust them?” Halfdan asked quietly, looking around the clearing.

“Centaurs are very trustworthy,” said Alex, remembering what he had read about them. “They are both honorable and noble. We needn’t worry.”

“You speak kindly of us, master wizard,” said Usel, trotting back to the company. “I hope your words will put your companion’s minds at ease.”

“I meant no offense,” said Halfdan, bowing to Usel.

“Then none is taken, master dwarf,” replied Usel. “Come, let us share a meal, then we will talk.”

“What of our horses?” Alex asked, looking around for a stable.

“Leave them,” Usel answered. “My people will care for them.”

Alex patted Shahree’s neck and followed his companions. Usel led them to the center of the village where a long table had been set up for their use. Large, round logs had been rolled up to the table for the company to sit on, and several centaurs were already carrying wooden trays full of food to the table for them to eat.

“I hope you like our food,” said Usel. “We seldom have guests of any sort. We are little prepared for, well, people like yourselves.”

“You are most kind,” Bregnest replied. “We are grateful that you and your people would make such an effort for our comfort.”

Usel bowed his head slightly without comment and trotted away, leaving the company alone with their table full of food. The centaurs, it seemed, preferred not to eat with their two-legged guests.

“Strange creatures,” commented Halfdan, taking a seat and looking at the food. “Though they appear to be excellent cooks.”

The company agreed and joined Halfdan at the table. The food was very good in fact, and not at all strange. Alex quietly ate his meal, wondering what Usel might be able to tell them about the Mountains of the Moon and the tower they were looking for.

“We should talk now,” said Usel, returning as Alex and his friends were finishing their meal.

Usel led them to a large fire a short distance away from the village. More logs had been placed around the fire for the company to sit on and an open space had been left for Usel to stand. Alex could sense the other centaurs nearby and wondered why they were remaining out of sight.

Usel lowered himself to the ground and looked around at the company. He seemed to be studying their faces. After several minutes, he took a deep breath and began to speak.

“You are looking for the Tower of the Moon.”

“We are,” said Bregnest. “We are looking for the Horn of Moran. We wish to return it to its rightful owner.”

“This horn you speak of—you said it was carried to the tower a hundred years ago.”

“It was,” Bregnest answered. “A young prince carried it on an adventure to this land. The prince never returned home, and now the Horn is needed.”

“This prince—was he a relative of yours?”

“Distantly.”

“Oh, well,” Usel began, sounding a bit uncomfortable, “I’m not sure how to say this . . .”

“Do not be troubled,” Bregnest said. “I know that the prince was a fool, and possibly worse.”

Usel laughed. “I remember this prince of yours, and you are quite right to call him a fool.”

“So he passed through your woods?”

“He did. Perhaps that is one reason why we are less friendly than we should be.”

“How so?” Bregnest questioned. “If he has done any harm to your people, I will try to repair the damage.”

“No, nothing like that,” said Usel, waving away Bregnest’s offer. “It’s just that he was . . . well, to be honest, he was a little full of himself.”

“Pompous and insulting perhaps,” Bregnest added.

“That too,” Usel agreed. “We have so few visitors here. I’m afraid the prince and his attitude put us off being friendly to two-legged company.”

“We cannot blame you for that.”

“Perhaps things will change, now that you and your company are here,” Usel went on in a hopeful tone. “We are quick to forgive, though perhaps not so quick to forget.”

“You are most kind, Usel. I hope that my company and I will help ease your caution toward visitors.”

“As do I,” said Usel. “Now about this goal of yours. I should tell you that the prince never returned from the tower, and neither did any of his company.”

“Yes, we were fairly certain of that already,” said Bregnest, becoming more businesslike again. “Though we do not know if he ever reached the tower, or if he even stayed on the road.”

“I can’t tell you if he reached the tower or not, but I’m sure he stayed on the road. What I know of the tower and the road to reach it I will freely share with you.”

“Whatever you can tell us will be most helpful, and if we can in any way compensate you for your troubles, we will be happy to do so.”

“You are kind, but there is no need for anything like that,” said Usel. “Now about the road. Let me see, I suppose the best place to begin is on the far side of our woods. Not far from here is the frozen waste, a wide strip of land that separates our woods from the enchanted woods on the other side.”

“Enchanted woods?” Bregnest asked.

“Perhaps that’s not the best way of putting it,” Usel replied thoughtfully. “Though there is some kind of magic there to be sure because the trees are always green, even in winter.”

“Do you know what sort of creatures live in those woods?”

Usel shook his head. “I doubt there is anything dangerous because your foolish prince got through the woods, or at least that’s what I was told. Anyway, after the woods you’ll find the road that leads up the mountains. At the beginning of the road is the first gate.” Usel paused for a moment to think before continuing. “The road up the mountain is steep and rocky, and very narrow at certain points. When you reach the upper end of the road, you’ll come to the second gate.”

“Is there anything else you can tell us?”

“Let me think, let me think. The second gate comes right before the tower, and a set of stairs leads from the gate to the tower. The torches are always lit inside the tower, or so I understand. The story is that there is a considerable treasure inside the tower as well, but I don’t know if that’s true or not.”

“Well, we know more than we did,” said Bregnest. “And we are in your debt.”

“Not at all,” replied Usel. “And perhaps you won’t need to pass through either gate, as I don’t really know if the prince made it through the first gate or not. Perhaps you will find the Horn along the way, and can return quickly.”

“That is our hope as well,” said Bregnest. “Though to be honest, I have doubts about a speedy return.”

“Oh, one more thing,” said Usel, paying no attention to what Bregnest was saying. “Unless you have a great deal of food for your horses, it would be unwise to take them into the frozen waste. Almost nothing grows there, and the mountains will have less still.”

“We carry little for our horses,” said Bregnest. “Though I would be unwilling to leave them behind and uncared for.”

“Well, it may be more difficult for you, but leaving them would be best,” said Usel, looking serious. “If we thought you were taking them to die in the frozen waste, we would not allow you to pass through our woods. Horses are kindred spirits to us, after all, and we will not see them harmed if we can stop it.”

“And we would not willingly harm them,” said Bregnest. “Our young wizard would not allow it, even if we had minds to do so.”

“Yes, I see,” said Usel, looking at Alex. “My people noticed his unusual conduct toward his horse. We see a great kindness in him.”

“You see truly,” Bregnest agreed. “Could we leave our horses in your care until we return? Again, if we can compensate you for this service, we would be pleased to do so.”

“Yes, we will care for your horses until you return,” said Usel after a moment of thought. “As for compensation, we care little for treasure, and the woods hold all that we need. Now, it is time to sleep. In the morning we will discuss your plans further, and perhaps I will think of some kind of payment.”

“Very well,” said Bregnest. “Where would you have us sleep so as not to disturb your people?”

“You may remain here by the fire.”

Without another word Usel rose from the ground and trotted away from the company. They all sat silently and watched the centaur go. Then they all took blankets out of their bags to sleep on.

“We know more than we did,” Bregnest commented, as he sat down on his blankets. “Though leaving the horses will cost us time.”

“Leaving them here will save us time,” Alex corrected.

“In the greater scheme of things, you are probably right,” Bregnest agreed. “But the trip across the frozen waste promises to be long and hard. And on foot it will be an even longer journey.”