The Horn of Moran

“If you wanted the comforts of home, then perhaps you should have stayed home,” Sindar joked.

The others all chuckled at Sindar’s comment. Alex thought about his own home, and he longed for a real bed to sleep in. There were other things he missed as well: the hot showers, Mr. Roberts’s cooking, the quiet room where he could study his magic in comfort. Still, he loved being in the outdoors, traveling with his friends, and telling stories around the campfire at night. Both worlds were part of him now, and for the time being, the comforts of home would have to wait.

When the company finally reached the edge of the enchanted woods they had been walking for fifteen days. Bregnest was not pleased with how long the journey had taken. Usel had told them to start back within five weeks, and now they had less than three weeks to find the Horn and return.

“I thought we would cross faster,” said Bregnest as they ate di

“Perhaps the distance from the centaurs’ woods to here changes,” Halfdan suggested. “That might be what Usel meant when he called this wood enchanted.”

“I don’t think that is what he meant,” said Val nervously. “I feel as if we are being watched.”

“As do I,” Sindar added. “But I think the eyes are merely curious, and friendly enough. We have nothing to fear.”

“Perhaps,” Val replied.

The next morning they started through the woods, and they all began to feel that someone or something was watching them. Often they would hear movement in the trees, but they never saw anything at all. Once Alex thought he heard something that sounded like a giggle from some nearby bushes, but no one else seemed to notice the sound so he didn’t say anything.

The path wound randomly between the trees, and the further along the path they went, the more nervous Alex and his friends became. They spoke little as they traveled and tried to move as quietly and as fast as possible. Even Sindar, who maintained that there was nothing to fear, would seldom speak or make any noise as they hurried forward.

“Whatever is in these woods, I wish it would show itself or leave us be,” Halfdan complained loudly as he cooked their evening meal.

“Perhaps they are unsure of us,” Sindar commented. “There are many good creatures who are simply shy of strangers.”

“Sindar is correct,” Bregnest added. “Even the centaurs were less friendly than other creatures I have met. I think it is because adventurers seldom come here, and they do not know about us.”

“Or they might know more about us than we care to think,” Sindar commented happily.

“Maybe they don’t like over-jolly elves,” grumbled Halfdan.

“Perhaps not,” Sindar agreed.

The next day things were better. They no longer heard movement around them in the woods and the feeling of being watched had lessened. Andy claimed that the smell of Halfdan’s boots had driven off the unseen creatures, but Halfdan was in no mood to be teased.

It took the company four days to make their way through the enchanted wood, and with each day that passed, Bregnest grew more tense. Alex knew that Bregnest didn’t want to spend the winter in Norsland, but it was begi

“Should we press on, or wait for morning?” Bregnest asked.

“It will be dark soon, and we may lose our way if we press on,” said Andy.

“We need to rest and eat,” Halfdan added.

“We should go forward as fast as possible,” Val commented, looking toward the gate. “If we do not push forward, the snows may trap us here.”

“I think we should move forward early tomorrow,” said Alex. “We will all think more clearly after some food and a little rest.”

“Sindar, do you have anything to add?” asked Bregnest.

“I agree with Alex,” said Sindar, his gaze fixed on the gate. “We will need to be thinking clearly when we reach the gate or our adventure may end there.”

“Very well then,” said Bregnest in a defeated tone. “We will eat and rest. When it comes time for the last watch, we will all rise and move forward to the gate.”

Halfdan busied himself cooking their evening meal. Andy sat down beside the fire, still trying to loosen his stiff neck, while Bregnest, Alex, Sindar, and Val all remained standing at the edge of the woods, looking toward the first gate.

“Our time grows short,” Bregnest said softly.

“Perhaps Usel was wrong. The snows may not begin as soon as he thinks,” Val offered in a hopeful tone.

“Centaurs know many things that others only guess at,” said Sindar. “We have time yet—at least two more weeks to find the Horn and start back.”

“And the Horn may be waiting for us at the first gate,” said Bregnest, sounding hopeful.

“And if it is, will we not seek the treasure of the tower?” Val questioned.

“The treasure of the tower is not our goal,” Bregnest answered. “If we had more time I might consider it, but if the Horn is at the first gate, we will turn back before winter comes.”

“Of course,” said Val. “I only thought that the treasure of the tower would be worth an extra day or two.”

“Not if it means we must remain in Norsland all winter,” said Sindar.

“You seem very quiet, Alex,” said Bregnest, a questioning look on his face. “Are you troubled?”

“No,” Alex answered with a sigh. “Just lost in thought.”

“And are your thoughts hopeful?” asked Sindar, turning to look at Alex.

“It is nothing,” said Alex. “The road has been long, and my mind and body are both tired.”

“Then come and eat,” called Halfdan. “Eat and then to bed so your mind will be fresh tomorrow. I don’t want to meet the guardian of the first gate with a tired wizard by my side.”

“Wizard in training,” Alex corrected. “And if you don’t want me along, I will gladly wait here for your return.”

“No offense,” said Halfdan, winking at Alex as he handed him a plate of food.

“Tired or not, I want Alex along,” said Andy. “I’ve seen him in action, and I don’t like the idea of facing the guardians without him.”

“I’ll be there,” said Alex. “And I hope there won’t be any action to see.”

“We should rest,” said Bregnest as he ate. “Whatever tomorrow holds, at least we will face it refreshed.”

But Alex couldn’t sleep that night. For several days he had felt that there was something important he needed to remember, something that was always just out of his reach, and the fact that he couldn’t remember what it was troubled him.

* * *

They started toward the first gate before the sun had risen the next morning. The night before it had looked only an hour or two away, but as they walked across the frozen land, the gate grew larger and larger in front of them. It was midday by the time they finally reached the first gate, and they all stood looking at it in wonder.

The gate was at least two hundred feet high and appeared to be made of solid granite. After a few minutes of looking at the gate, Alex realized that it hadn’t been built at all, but rather it had been carved out of the mountain. The path passed exactly through the center of the massive structure. There were no doors or bars to be seen, only a great archway lined with pillars that led into the mountains beyond.

“Look at the bones,” Halfdan whispered as they moved forward.

They stopped short. Broken bones littered the ground in front of them. Rusted weapons were scattered among the bones along with fragments of armor, the metal torn apart like paper.

“Come on,” Bregnest said in a firm tone. “Do not speak unless you must. We don’t want to give the guardian any reason to attack us.”

Slowly they started forward once more, moving toward the mountainous gate and the guardian that waited for them. As they drew closer, there were fewer bones to be seen, but that did little to comfort them. They walked close together, watching for any sudden movement that might be an attack.