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“Your words are cold and cruel, Val,” said Bregnest. “I hope it is only your anger talking. There are few enemies I would give willingly to goblins, and these three are not among them.”
“We have to do something with them,” Halfdan commented in an uneasy tone. “And we really can’t take them with us.”
“I will think on it,” said Bregnest. “For now, we should eat and try to rest. Alex, is it safe to camp here for the night?”
“There are no goblins or any other enemies for many miles,” Alex answered as he looked to the sky. “We are safe enough for the time being.”
“Then we will stay here for now,” said Bregnest. “A normal watch will do. These three will remain bound for now. In the morning we will decide what is to be done with them.”
Alex’s friends started setting up camp, and Alex watched his illusion as the dragon made one last large circle around them, and then hovered over the empty meadow. Val was right when he said that they couldn’t take the three men with them on their quest, but Alex felt there had to be some other way to deal with them, a way to free the soldiers without putting the company at risk. If they let the soldiers go, they would return to Alusia and tell their story. The man named Kappa would send more soldiers and that would mean more trouble in the future. There was no simple answer, and Alex stood looking up at the dragon for a long time without seeing it as he tried to think.
“It is amazing, but it is time to let it go,” Sindar commented from Alex’s side.
Alex jumped slightly at the sound of Sindar’s voice.
“Yes,” Alex answered, lifting his hand and moving it back and forth as if erasing something from the sky.
The dragon remained still for a moment before it disappeared into a cloud of red and gold sparks. Alex stared into the darkness, and after a few minutes Sindar spoke again.
“How is your magic holding up? Are you getting close to the bottom of the bowl?”
“No, I don’t think so,” said Alex.
“You are sure that you will know when you are near your limit?”
“I believe I will know. Whalen explained it clearly to me, and I haven’t seen or felt any of the signs yet.”
“You have done a great deal of magic in a very short time, Alex. I would not press you on this, but I fear we may need more of your magic soon. If you are near your limit, things could become very difficult.”
“Things are already difficult,” said Alex. “Sindar, we can’t kill those soldiers. And we can’t leave them here for the goblins. We have to find something else to do with them.”
“Their fate is not decided,” Sindar said calmly. “If there is a way to set them free, Bregnest will find it.”
“I am tired,” Alex said after a long pause. “Perhaps something to eat and some sleep will help me think.”
“Perhaps,” Sindar agreed. “But Alex, this is not your decision to make. Bregnest has the final word about what we do with those men. You may give your opinion, but you are bound to do as he decides.”
“I know. I just hope the decision is something he can live with.”
Alex turned and walked back to the campfire. Halfdan was already cooking, and the others looked almost too tired to eat. It was only after they had finished eating and Halfdan had taken some food to the three soldiers that anyone said anything.
“I should keep watch tonight,” Sindar said. “The rest of you need to sleep, but I can rest and watch at the same time.”
“A kind offer,” said Halfdan, trying to hold back a yawn.
“Not a bad idea,” said Bregnest. “We have a long walk ahead of us, and a good rest will help us on our way.”
“Not as long a walk as you think,” Sindar replied. “Our horses are tied up about a mile away. Alex was able to round them up the morning after we were attacked, which is why we were able to rescue you as soon as we did.”
“A story I would like to hear, but now is not the time,” said Bregnest. “Sindar, can you get the horses now? I think most of us can stay awake while you are gone.”
“As you wish,” Sindar answered, getting to his feet.
Once Sindar was gone, Alex looked around the campfire. His tired friends looked as if they were about to fall over, and he didn’t believe any of them could stay awake until Sindar returned.
“Why don’t you all lie down,” Alex suggested. “I’ve had more rest over the last few days than you have. I’ll keep watch until Sindar returns.”
Bregnest nodded his agreement with Alex’s suggestion, and Andy, Halfdan, and Val got to their feet without comment and moved off to find their blankets. Bregnest, though, sat with Alex without speaking, his eyes locked on the campfire and his forehead wrinkled in thought. Alex didn’t say anything, not wanting to interrupt Bregnest’s thoughts. Finally, when Alex could hear Halfdan snoring softly, Bregnest spoke.
“Can you magically change what a man believes?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking,” Alex answered.
“Can you make them believe that they escaped from the goblins themselves?” Bregnest nodded his head toward the three soldiers. “Can you make them forget that we were with them, and that you and Sindar rescued us?”
“It is possible,” Alex answered slowly. “I have never tried to do anything like that, Bregnest. I’m not sure I can. But if that is the only way to save their lives, I will try.”
“There may be another way, but I’m not sure the others will accept it.”
“They will accept your decision, whatever it is,” said Alex. “I would like to set the soldiers free. I do not believe you would leave them here for the goblins to find, and I know you don’t want to kill them. If there is another way, please use it.”
Bregnest didn’t reply, but simply nodded. They sat in silence, watching the fire burn down, until Sindar returned with the horses. Patting Alex on the shoulder, Bregnest thanked him for speaking his mind, and then went to get some sleep.
“He seems less troubled,” Sindar commented as he sat down beside Alex.
“I think he is,” Alex replied.
“Perhaps you should get some sleep as well,” said Sindar.
“Sleep does sound like a good idea,” said Alex as he rubbed one ear. “I don’t sense any danger close to us, but wake me if you need me.”
If Alex had any dreams that night, he couldn’t remember them when he woke. Slowly he rolled out of his blankets and pulled on his boots. Sindar was still sitting next to the campfire. Bregnest was already awake, pacing back and forth beside the fire with a troubled look on his face. Without speaking, Alex took a seat beside Sindar and waited. It wasn’t long before the others started to wake up and gather around the fire as well. No one said anything as they waited to hear what Bregnest would say.
“A decision must be made.” Bregnest stopped pacing and turned to look at the company. “But before that decision is made, I would like each of you to speak your mind concerning our captives. Sindar, your thoughts, please.”
“I will not leave them for the goblins to find,” Sindar answered without hesitating. “I would prefer not to kill them if possible, but if our adventure is in danger from them, then I will do what must be done.”
“Alex?” Bregnest questioned as Sindar fell silent.
“I would like to set them free,” Alex answered. “I will not leave them for the goblins, and I will not kill them. If you decide they must die, I will not stand in your way, but I will not take part in their deaths.”
“Val?”
“I would take back my rash words,” said Val. “I spoke last night without thought, and I can see that my words have troubled you all. I would leave no man for goblins to take, but I ca
“Andy?”
“Like the others, I would not leave them for goblins,” Andy answered slowly. “But I don’t see how killing them would help us. Yes, they might tell others that we are still alive and searching for the Horn, but I don’t see what harm that can do us. It might make it harder to return to Athanor when we are done, but that’s going to be difficult anyway.”