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“We thought a snow beast was coming into the tavern,” said Tayo. “I’ve never seen so many people run for the doors so fast.”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” said Andy in a defiant tone. They all burst into laughter once more.
“It is good to have you all here,” Tayo said, recovering his voice. “Especially you, Alex.”
“Why me?” Alex questioned.
“Because Tayo and I have something important to ask you,” said Skeld, becoming more serious than Alex had ever seen him.
“What might that be?”
“We would like to ask you to be our ring bearer,” Tayo answered.
“What would I have to do?” Alex questioned.
“You bring the rings to the wedding and present them to us at the proper time,” said Skeld.
“You’ll have to wear special clothes,” said Tayo. “But Skeld and I would be honored to buy them for you.”
“What kind of clothes?” Alex questioned.
“Oh, they’re normal clothes—just all of one color,” Skeld said, seeing the suspicious look on Alex’s face.
“Yes, dark blue is the customary color for a ring bearer’s clothes,” Tayo explained. “You would do us a great honor if you would accept. Having a wizard as a ring bearer is considered good luck and a promise for a long and joyful marriage.”
“Well, if that’s all there is to it, I accept,” said Alex, feeling slightly relieved that his friends hadn’t asked him to do anything strange or magical. He also hoped that, for his friend’s sakes, that a wizard in training would be just as lucky as a real wizard.
“You do us a great kindness,” said Skeld, standing and bowing to Alex.
“We are once more in your debt,” Tayo added, also standing and bowing.
“Now we must arrange for you all to meet our ladies,” said Skeld, taking his seat once more.
“Bregnest must come as well,” Tayo added.
“And the rest of your company,” Skeld went on.
“The two of you have lost your minds,” said Halfdan loudly. “I never thought I’d see you two acting this way. Thrang won’t believe me when I tell him.”
“What way?” Skeld asked with a wicked grin.
“The way you’re both acting now,” Halfdan answered, waving his hand at them. “It’s as if you are both bewitched, and I don’t mind saying that it scares me.”
“Bewitched by love,” said Tayo.
“Bewitched by beauty,” Skeld added.
“Andy, you should have thrown them both in that water trough,” said Halfdan, letting out a loud huff and then taking a long drink from his mug.
Alex could see what Halfdan meant, but he didn’t let his friends’ strange behavior bother him. He thought perhaps they were both more alive and more serious than they had been before, and the mix seemed to fit them.
Over a second drink they all agreed to meet the next morning. Tayo and Skeld would take Alex to buy his new clothes, and then they’d make arrangements for the entire company to come and meet their wives-to-be. With their plans made, Alex, Andy, and Halfdan left their friends at the tavern and started back to the Goodseed house.
“They’ve changed,” said Halfdan as Alex and Andy followed him out of the tavern. “And I’m not at all sure it’s for the better.”
It had been a joyful reunion, but now the sun was setting and it was time for their evening meal. As they walked back through the square, Alex kept an eye out for Otho Longtree. He’d decided that he didn’t like Otho, and if the opportunity to put him in his place arose, he might just take it.
During di
Andy’s older brother, Lazarus, was at di
After di
“But, Mother,” said Michael, in a desperate and pleading voice. “Just one more story, please.”
“Your mother is quite right,” said Bregnest, standing up. “It is time for all of us to seek our beds. We have traveled far in a short time, and we have a great deal to do before we will be ready to continue our adventure.”
They all said goodnight to Andy’s family and made their way to their own rooms. Alex, however, did not go to bed, but sat up for some time reading his magic books and going over one of his father’s old notebooks. He also wrote a short letter to Whalen, letting him know that everything was fine. He climbed into his bed, still thinking of how oddly Skeld and Tayo had been acting. Halfdan’s comment about them both being bewitched made him smile, and he soon slipped into a deep sleep.
* * *
When Alex woke up the next morning it wasn’t because he wanted to. Halfdan was shaking his bed wildly and laughing at the shocked and confused expression on Alex’s face.
“Come on then,” said Halfdan. “We’ve got to get your new clothes, and you and I have a bit of shopping to do as well.”
“I feel like I’ve only just gone to sleep,” Alex complained, rolling off his bed and onto his feet.
“Norsland nights are short in the spring and summer months,” Halfdan said.
Alex didn’t reply as he staggered sleepily toward the basin to wash his face. The ice-cold water was a shock, but it woke him up better than Halfdan had. Looking out his window, Alex could see sunlight already spreading over Oslansk.
“What’s for breakfast?” Alex asked, stamping on his boots and following Halfdan out of the room.
“Mrs. Goodseed has seen to it, so come on,” Halfdan answered.
In fact, Andy’s mother had prepared a large breakfast of fried potatoes, eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and several other dishes that were clearly Norsland specialties. Alex tried some of everything and had second helpings of a dish that was made up of rice, some kind of meat, cheese, and a sweet sauce.
Michael was full of questions that morning, and he couldn’t seem to keep himself from asking them. The members of the company tried to answer him as well as they could, but it seemed that every answer brought new questions from Michael.
As they were finishing their breakfast, Skeld and Tayo arrived to take Alex to get his new clothes. They spent several minutes talking to Bregnest and teasing him about his being on another adventure so soon after the last one. Bregnest endured their teasing good-naturedly. Then he introduced Val and Sindar to Skeld and Tayo. Skeld and Tayo were pleased to meet them both and asked them to come to a feast that evening with the others. The new members of the company accepted the invitation and thanked Skeld and Tayo for their kindness.
As soon as the arrangements for the evening feast had been made, Skeld, Tayo, Alex, and Halfdan were on their way out the gate. Andy said he had things to do as well and left with Lazarus.
Once the company had separated, Halfdan asked Skeld and Tayo where they could buy a saddle as a present for Michael’s upcoming birthday. Skeld and Tayo thought it was a wonderful idea, but they also thought it would be very fu
“That would be terrible,” said Alex. “A saddle but no horse—what kind of birthday present would that be for Michael?”
“It might give him something to look forward to next year,” said Tayo.
Alex stopped dead in his tracks, looking at the shops and people around him. For the second time on this adventure, Alex felt like he was being watched. There was a strange intensity to the feeling, as if he were waiting for some unseen person to appear or speak.