Slathbog's Gold

* * *

When Alex woke again, he felt wonderful. Sunlight flooded the room and his heart felt light inside of him. The memory of the shadowy figures at Aunk had lost its terror, and the cold he had felt was completely gone.

“You look much better,” commented Calysto, entering the room. “Though you will still be weak from lack of food.”

“I feel wonderful,” said Alex, sitting up and smiling at Calysto.

“After six days and nights of sleep you should,” said Arco

“Arco

“I have never been far,” replied Arco

“And he would have been closer, if I’d allowed it,” added Calysto, smiling at both Alex and Arco

“Only your word could keep me from his side,” said Arco

“More like my word and a few threats,” replied Calysto with a happy laugh. “Though the threats were more for the others than you.”

“You are most kind, lady, and even your threats are music to my ears,” said Arco

“You may rejoin your friends,” said Calysto, handing Alex a goblet to drink. “They will be pleased to see you feeling so well.”

“Thank you,” said Alex, draining the goblet. “You have been very kind.” Calysto smiled and left the room so Alex was alone with Arco

“She seems so strange,” Alex commented, after Calysto had gone.

“How so?”

“I don’t know. It’s like happiness flows out of her.”

Arco

Alex was glad Arco

“Alex!” Thrang’s voice boomed as Alex and Arco

The rest of his companions crowded around, slapping Alex on the back and hugging him warmly as he moved into the room.

“Thought we’d lost you that time, little brother,” Skeld laughed, lifting Alex off his feet in yet another hug. “But our elf friends seem to have cured you.”

Alex felt truly happy as he returned the hugs of his companions and laughed with them. They all made a great fuss about making him comfortable and then rushed around the room, bringing out food and something for him to drink.

“That was close,” said Bregnest, sounding relieved. “We were lucky to find Arco

“You all seem to know what happened to me, can you tell me what happened to you?” Alex asked as he started to eat the food Thrang placed before him.

“On the night you fought the shadows, we were all overpowered by sleep,” said Thrang, eager to tell the story. “Even the noble Arco

“I wonder why they didn’t use the same magic on me?” Alex questioned, slightly puzzled.

“I think they must have tried to put the spell on you as well,” said Arco

“How many wraiths were there?” Andy asked. “I mean, if you can remember and don’t mind talking about it.”

Alex closed his eyes and thought for a moment. “I’m not really sure. At first I only saw one, but the voice kept saying, ‘join us,’ and, ‘ weare your friends.’ After I touched Moon Slayer, I saw there were several of them—maybe a dozen? I didn’t take the time to count.”

Andy looked surprised. “I’ve only ever heard of one or two wraiths together.”

“I would have been much happier with only one or two,” Alex said, shuddering at the memory.

“Once you’d defeated them, we all woke up,” Thrang went on. “We found you pretty quickly, but your body was stone cold. We were worried we were already too late.”

“I remember hearing you call,” said Alex, looking at Arco

“If your spirit had traveled much further, you wouldn’t have heard me or been able to return,” said Arco

“The wall,” said Alex, thinking back to his dreams. “Yes, I remember the wall and the soft gray lands around it.”

“We’re all glad you did not cross that wall,” Thrang said. “If you had, we wouldn’t be talking now.”

“What did you see beyond the wall?” Tayo asked in a slow, quiet tone, his expression troubled. “Did you see people there? Friends? Family?”

“I don’t remember seeing anyone on the other side of the wall,” Alex replied after a short pause. “I only remember feeling that if I crossed the wall, all my troubles would disappear.”

“We should not speak of such things,” said Bregnest. “It will bring worry and darkness to us all.”

“I don’t know,” said Alex, thinking about it. “The wall didn’t seem like a place of worry. It was more like a place to start a new adventure.”

Tayo’s troubled look seemed to fade a little at Alex’s words.

Alex continued to eat. The food tasted wonderful and he could feel his strength returning with every bite. He could see how happy his friends were that he had recovered and that reassured him the wraiths had been lying to him.

“Once you had answered my call and had come partway back, we rode as quickly as we could toward the dark forest,” said Arco

“I remember you saying something about the forest being near,” said Alex. “But everything was dark, and all I wanted to do was sleep.”

“Yes, the sun had gone down and you were returning to the shadowlands and the wall,” replied Arco

“At first they tried to put you on one of their own horses, but Shahree wouldn’t let them,” Arco

“And it was lucky they did, because you were almost gone when you arrived. You were speaking softly in your dreams about the gray land and wanting to see what was beyond the wall,” Thrang interjected.

“And then Calysto called me back,” Alex said quietly.

“It was more like a demand than a call,” said Arco

“For a time, what?” Alex questioned.

“For a time it seemed that you would take Calysto across the wall with you.” Arco

“I almost did,” Alex said, remembering his insistence that Calysto come with him.

“Indeed you did. I do not know how it was possible,” Arco

“As are all the elves,” said Thrang with a laugh and a smile. “Gives them a reason to hold a feast.”

“There’s going to be a feast?” Alex asked happily.

“Tonight,” Arco

“My honor? Why?”

“You defeated the wraiths,” said Thrang, refilling Alex’s mug. “You’re something of a hero around here. Not to mention the elves are all impressed with your sword.”

“But you’ll need to take a bath first,” said Skeld, laughing. “Or the elves will be disappointed in their hero, and the rest of us will need to stay upwind of you.”