Страница 40 из 68
“Tired of the journey already?” Arco
“No,” Alex replied. “I was just wondering how far away the hills are. Bregnest made it sound like the journey might take years, but I don’t see how it could.”
“If we could journey directly and without incident from the great arch to Varlo, it would take us four months, maybe five,” said Arco
“Then why would it take years to travel from Techen to Varlo and back again?”
“As I said, we ca
“Is there a better word?” Alex asked, closing the magic book.
“Burdened might be better. After all, I would not call our visit to the White Tower trouble, but it was a burden.”
“How can you say that?” Alex questioned. He didn’t consider their visit to Iownan a burden.
“The Oracle gives knowledge, and with knowledge comes responsibility,” said Arco
“I understand,” replied Alex. “And will there be other places, like the tower, where we must stop before we reach Varlo?”
“Indeed there will be, though to say we muststop is not entirely accurate. Perhaps it is better to say that we chooseto stop. There are many places ahead of us where we may choose to stop—not least of which is the dark forest. Many of my kinsmen still live in this land after all and the dark forest is their home.”
“Your kinsmen?” Alex asked, surprised and delighted.
“Of course,” replied Arco
“Dwarfs aren’t friendly with their own families?”
Arco
“I have no real family,” Alex answered softly. “I only have a stepfather and a stepbrother.”
“Are not all men of the same family?” Arco
“Is it different with elves and dwarfs?”
“It is very different, especially for elves,” replied Arco
“So you remember your own past better,” Alex said.
“Yes, we do. Perhaps it is because we live so long that we remember so much more.”
“Will you live forever?”
“Perhaps,” Arco
“It seems sad, in a way, that you go on living for so long,” said Alex.
“To many of us it is. And many of my race have left the known lands to find peace.”
“I remember you mentioned fading,” said Alex, thinking back to when he and Arco
“Nothing like that,” answered Arco
“And the dwarfs, can you tell me about them?” Alex asked.
“Ah, well,” Arco
“Please,” Alex persisted.
“Very well, I will tell you as I see it,” Arco
“But much longer than a man’s.”
“Much longer than mostmen,” Arco
“So they have forgotten that they are one people?”
“Not at all,” Arco
“Will the dwarfs in the Brown Hills be unfriendly to us?”
“Perhaps. Though I think they will be kind enough. I don’t think they will hinder our journey.”
“How closely are Thrang and Halfdan related to the dwarfs here in Vargland?” Alex questioned.
“Closer than they might think. Though it has been a long time since any of Thrang’s people have come to Vargland.”
Alex and Arco
“Your watch has passed,” said Arco
“One more question, please,” said Alex, getting up.
“What more could you ask?”
“You said that dwarfs live longer than most men,” said Alex. “Are there men who live longer than dwarfs?”
“A few.”
“Can you tell me about them?” Alex pried.
“There are some men and women scattered through the known lands who live much longer than others. It is said some of them are like the elves. I have met a few of them myself, but I do not think they are like elves,” answered Arco
“Do you know why they live so long?” Alex asked.
“You said one more question, and now you have asked three,” said Arco
“But this is so interesting,” Alex argued. “I know so little, and things I thought I knew now seem to be wrong.”
“Very well,” Arco
“I promise.”
“The men who live so long are not like other men,” said Arco
“Do all wizards live so long?” Alex asked, forgetting his promise.
“No, not all,” answered Arco
Alex left his friend sitting beside the glowing embers of the fire and made his way to his tent, his mind buzzing with additional questions. Alex’s feelings about magic were no longer as confused as they had been. And a part of him was actually begi
* * *
The next morning dawned clear and bright, and the company made good time across the open grasslands. By mid-
afternoon, they could see the outline of the Brown Hills on the far horizon, and seeing the hills seemed to please both Thrang and Halfdan.
“A few more days and we should reach the dwarf realm,” said Thrang while they ate di
“I hope the stories of its greatness are true,” Halfdan added, a strange light in his eyes.
“And what are these stories?” Bregnest questioned.
“It is said that the halls of the Brown Hills are a wonder among dwarfs,” Halfdan replied reverently. “There are great halls carved from the living rock, and vast cities hidden from view. It is rumored that some of the old dwarf magic remains here in Vargland and that true silver is still found here in abundance.”
“Halfdan!” Thrang said loudly, an angry look on his face. “You should learn to hold your tongue.”
“Keeping secrets from the company?” asked Skeld, smiling slyly at Thrang.