Adventurers Wanted 2) The Horn of Moran (22 page)

“We’ve walked long, hard roads before,” said Halfdan in a confident tone.

“But what about fire and hot meals?” Val asked.

“We don’t need to worry about that,” Halfdan commented. “We have a wizard with us.”

“And we can take extra wood in our bags,” said Andy with a yawn.

“Sindar, you have said nothing,” said Bregnest turning to the elf.

“There is little that has not been said,” Sindar answered. “And I agree with most of what has been said.”

“Elves,” Halfdan muttered and rolled into his blankets.

For a long time Alex lay awake, looking into the night sky. His thoughts drifted, but he could not focus his mind. He felt safe and comfortable, but there was something at the back of his mind that troubled him. Something dark, like a long- forgotten dream that he couldn’t remember no matter how hard he tried.

* * *

Usel woke them the next morning and invited them to breakfast. Once again the table was made ready for them and the centaurs left them alone. Alex could see that several centaurs remained nearby, occasionally glancing at the company. He wondered if this was to see if they needed anything, or just to keep an eye on them.

While they were eating breakfast, a geeb suddenly appeared on the table in front of Alex. Val was so surprised that he almost fell over backward, which caused the rest of the company to laugh. Alex retrieved Whalen’s message from the geeb and sent it away. He didn’t really want to read the message in front of his friends, but he had little choice.

Dear Alex,

I received your last message, but I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for your biggest question. The fact that the shaman you destroyed did not see your magic leads me to believe that he was not a true shaman, but only a lesser one. Try to remember everything you can about the shaman you fought. True goblin shamans carry a staff and wear dark colors—browns and blacks, mostly. Lesser shamans often wear bright colors—reds and greens.

Keep up the good work and keep me informed. Let me know if you can remember any details about the shaman you fought.

Yours in fellowship,

Whalen

Alex folded the letter and stored it in his magic bag without speaking, then returned his attention to his breakfast. Bregnest watched him for a moment, but did not ask any questions. As Bregnest had not said anything, no one else made any comment about the letter.

As Alex and his friends were finishing breakfast, Usel returned to the table. He looked more serious than he had the night before, and when he spoke it was in a more businesslike tone.

“You will move on then?” Usel asked, but it didn’t sound at all like a question.

“We will,” Bregnest answered.

“Then I shall lead you to the far side of our woods. And I hope that you find what you seek.”

“As do we,” said Bregnest. “But there is still the matter of our horses and compensation for your care of them.”

“Yes, there is,” said Usel. “And my counselors have advised me that I must ask for fifty silver coins and one large emerald from each of you, to be paid on your return to our woods.”

“Is this all they ask?” said Bregnest, sounding slightly relieved.

“This is the price we ask for the care of your horses while you are away,” Usel answered. “Though, between us, we would care for your horses even without payment.”

“Your price is fair and we agree,” said Bregnest. “And if fortune smiles on use, we may wish to pay more.”

“Oh, no,” said Usel, sounding slightly alarmed. “We have little need, and anything more would be, well, silly.”

“As you wish,” said Bregnest.

“Very good,” Usel said. “I will show you the way to the frozen waste.”

“Is it far?” Bregnest asked.

“On foot, it will take perhaps until midday to reach the edge of our woods.”

“Then we will follow where you lead.”

Alex and his friends fell into line behind Usel and started off through the forest. Alex wanted to say good-bye to Shahree and explain things to her, but he had no idea where the centaurs were keeping the horses. Somehow, Usel seemed to know Alex’s thoughts, because he led the company to a large open space where their horses were grazing.

“I thought you might need to collect things from your saddlebags,” said Usel, looking at Alex. “And I believe your elf friend might be able to explain things to the horses as well so they won’t worry.”

“You are very kind,” said Bregnest.

Alex went to Shahree and patted her forehead. He was sorry to leave her, but he knew the centaurs would take good care of her.

“So we must part again for a little while,” Alex said softly. “You will be safe here, and I’ll return as soon as I can.”

Shahree nuzzled Alex’s shoulder affectionately and seemed to understand what he was saying. Sindar made his way to each of the horses as well, whispering something to them that Alex didn’t understand. Once they had gathered their things and stored them in their magic bags, they all returned to Usel, ready to continue their march.

The trek through the woods was difficult for Alex and his friends, and Usel would often have to stop and wait for them to catch up. As midday approached, however, the woods around them began to thin. Alex could see that there was a great deal of sunlight ahead of them, and it was clear that the edge of the forest was near.

“It will take you two weeks to cross the waste on foot,” Usel commented as they moved forward. “Perhaps a little more or less, depending on your pace. You should move as fast as you are able to, however, as summer is already growing old. You should have six weeks before the snows start falling once more.”

“Do you have any idea how long it will take us to climb the mountains to the tower?” Bregnest asked, looking troubled.

“No,” Usel answered. “Much will depend on how rapidly you pass the first and second gates. If you begin your return across the waste within five weeks, you should be safe enough. If you can’t start back until the sixth week from now, it would be best to spend the winter in the enchanted woods. You don’t want to be in the frozen waste when the heavy snows come.”

“You give wise counsel,” said Bregnest. “I hope that we shall return before the snows come.”

“If you wish to travel south before spring, you must return here before six weeks have passed,” Usel replied. “We will keep watch on the waste while you are gone. If you are near our woods when the snows come, we will do what we can to help you.”

“You have shown us great kindness,” said Bregnest, looking into the frozen waste. “We will not soon forget you, or your assistance.”

“I will leave you then,” said Usel, looking at each of the company in turn. “I wish you luck in your journey, and a speedy return.”

Without waiting for a reply, Usel turned and walked back into the woods. Alex and his companions watched him go, and then looked out into the frozen waste.

“We’ll eat here and gather wood for our bags,” said Bregnest. “We have little time before winter comes again, so we should use it wisely.”

Halfdan began cooking at once, while the rest of them gathered dry wood to add to their magic bags. As they prepared for their long walk, Alex wondered about Usel’s warning. The frozen waste looked unpleasant enough, but surely they could cross it even after the first snows of winter fell. Though he knew little of Norsland winters, he didn’t think the first snowfall would be any problem for the company.

Halfdan called them all to eat, and Alex’s thoughts about Usel’s warning were soon lost.

Chapter Eleven

The First Gate

I
t didn’t take long for Alex and the others to learn why it was called the frozen waste. The ground was rock hard, but some spots were slick with a thin layer of moss, which often hid glass-smooth ice that was slightly melted by the sun. The path they followed was a poor one, hardly more than an animal trail, but it led directly toward the Mountains of the Moon. Alex thought he could see a spot of green far off in the distance that might be the enchanted woods, but when he blinked, it was gone.

“Two weeks of slipping and sliding across this,” Halfdan grumbled. “We’ll all be lucky not to fall and break our heads.”

Halfdan’s prediction was all too correct. The first day of walking everyone except for Sindar fell several times. There was no talking as they traveled because all of their attention was focused on the next few steps they would take.

Sindar was light on his feet and would seldom slip, even on the smoothest ice, so he often moved ahead of the company and then stood looking across the waste until they caught up with him.

The frozen ground was uncomfortable enough to walk on, and almost impossible to find a level spot to lie down on to sleep.

Five days into the frozen waste, Alex received another message from Whalen, which cheered him up considerably and took his mind off his sore feet and body.

Dear Alex,

As you are now approaching your goal, I need to tell you a few things. First of all, be prepared for a sphinx and at least one griffin to be guarding the road to the tower.

The sphinx will ask a riddle before letting you pass, and it might help to know that the riddle will often have something to do with the person being asked. Also, don’t try to make the riddle harder than it is. Sphinx riddles are often simple—so simple that people can miss an obvious answer—and thinking about the riddle too much will only confuse your mind.

It is most important to remember that griffins are proud creatures. Do not give them any reason to think that you are insulting them. Griffins seem to have a soft spot for wizards, however, so that might be a great help to you and your friends. Griffins can also see what kind of person you are, so if any of your friends have any evil intentions, the griffins will likely bar your path. That shouldn’t really be a problem, but you never know.

Once you reach the tower, if you have to go that far, there are two libraries you should know about. The upper library contains a great deal of knowledge and would be a wonderful addition for your future learning and worth far more than any treasure you might find. If possible, you should try to store the upper library in your magic bag.

The lower library is dangerous and full of dark, evil magic. You should avoid the lower library if you can. If you cannot, you must try to destroy it. In fact, it would be best all around if you are able to destroy it.

Now, some final words of advice. Control your emotions. I know you’ve been working hard on this, but what is coming may test your ability to the breaking point. Knowing that you will be tested will give you a chance to prepare yourself.

Finally, remember, do not try to find difficult solutions to your problems. Simple solutions are usually best and most often correct.

Take care, and let me know how things go.

Yours in fellowship, Whalen

Alex read the letter twice, wondering why Whalen was only now telling him about the libraries. Obviously Whalen had known about them all along, but for some reason he hadn’t said a word. Alex’s thoughts turned to the lower library and how he might destroy it.

“I suppose fire would work,” Alex said to Sindar, as they waited for their companions to wake up.

“Have you ever tried to burn a magic book?” Sindar questioned.

“Of course not.”

“I don’t think fire would have much effect. Magic books resist fire.”

“Perhaps I could change the books into something else. That way nobody could read them,” Alex suggested.

“That might work,” said Sindar, getting up and stamping his feet on the cold ground. “But couldn’t another wizard change them back again?”

“Yes, if he knew what they were to begin with. But what if I changed them into mice or something?”

“That could be a lot of mice.”

“I don’t know what else to do,” said Alex. “But there must be a way, or Whalen wouldn’t have told me to try.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps there is no way, and that is why Whalen did not tell you exactly what to do.”

Alex frowned. “Why would Whalen ask me to do something that can’t be done?”

“Perhaps Whalen doesn’t know the answer,” Sindar answered slowly. “Or perhaps he simply wishes to see what you will do.”

As he marched across the frozen land that day, Alex’s thoughts were filled with the puzzle of the lower library. Nothing he thought of seemed to solve the problem of the library, or the question of why Whalen hadn’t told him what to do. The more he thought about it, the more doubts came into his mind. Could he even destroy the library? Did he know enough? Did he have enough power to work the magic?