The Horn of Moran

“Well then, Sindar, what do you say?” Alex questioned.

“I have already given my word to tell no human or dwarf about what happens here,” said Sindar. “Of course, wizards are another story, so I’m sure you could tell Whalen.”

“Oh, yes, we know Whalen Vankin and we trust him very much,” said Tip, his head bobbing up and down rapidly. “But you must promise not to tell your friends what happened to them here. Neither them, nor any other human or dwarf.”

“I promise not to tell any human or dwarf what happens here, or about your people who live here in the enchanted woods,” said Alex.

“Very good,” said Tip, beaming at Alex. “Now, we will take you and Sindar to a much nicer place where you can spend the winter as our guests.”

“And our friends?” Alex questioned, not wanting to leave Bregnest, Andy, and Halfdan lying in the meadow.

“We will take them to another place, near the southern edge of the woods,” Tip answered. “When spring is near, we will lead you and Sindar to them, and then you can wake them up.”

“Very well,” said Alex. “We accept your kind offer.”

Tip seemed thrilled. He gave a short, loud whistle, and the meadow suddenly came alive with brownies. Alex and Sindar both laughed as what appeared to be hundreds of brownies bowed and introduced themselves. After a moment, Tip clapped his hands three times and the brownies became almost instantly quiet. Tip gave instructions for a group of brownies to move Bregnest, Andy, and Halfdan, and then asked Alex and Sindar to follow him.

Alex was still tired, but he got up and followed Tip into the trees, still surrounded by the rest of the brownies. After a short hike through the woods, they arrived at the strangest-looking village Alex had ever seen. The brownies’ houses were all between six and eight feet high and painted in every color imaginable. Some of the houses were all one color, but most were a mixture of colors and patterns. Alex particularly liked one large house that was painted with red and white strips like a giant peppermint.

“Welcome to our village,” said Tip when they reached the town square. “We have a small house prepared for you, though it is not as grand as we might hope. I thought you might want to rest a bit and take a bath before this evening’s feast.”

“You are most kind,” said Sindar. “I am sure that my friend and I will be comfortable.”

“Indeed, your kindness overwhelms us,” Alex replied.

Alex and Sindar both bowed to Tip, which seemed to please him and make him laugh at the same time. Tip then led them to a small cottage just outside the brownie village. It was actually a very nice cottage, with one large room that had a table, a sink, and two beds in it, and a smaller room with a large bathtub in it.

“I’ll leave you until the feast,” said Tip. “If you need anything at all, just ask.”

“Thank you very much,” Alex and Sindar said at the same time.

Tip closed the door behind him, and Alex looked at Sindar in amazement. He had never considered the possibility that brownies lived in the enchanted woods, though now he understood what Whalen had said about finding help here.

“Did you know they were here?” Alex asked as he tested one of the beds.

“No, but I could feel their goodness when we passed though the woods before. Though at the time, I didn’t know where that goodness came from.”

“I suppose we’re lucky they decided to help us,” Alex commented, feeling sleepy once again.

“I think we can thank your weir lights for that,” said Sindar, testing the other bed.

“Why is that?”

“Because they saw the lights and decided to investigate them. Tip told me before you woke up. They were impressed by the lights; I’ll be surprised if they don’t ask you to conjure them up again.”

“That wouldn’t be a problem,” said Alex as he yawned.

“Perhaps you should finish your night’s sleep,” said Sindar. “I’m going to take a bath.”

“Wake me when you’re done,” said Alex, before rolling over and going back to sleep.

When Sindar woke Alex, it was several hours later. Alex felt refreshed and hungry, now that he knew they were all safe. He rolled slowly off his bed and began taking off his boots.

“I thought you might have needed sleep more than a bath,” said Sindar with a smile. “And now you’ll have to wait for a bit, as our hosts are bringing our midday meal.”

“Excellent. I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”

There was a knock on the door, and a dozen brownies poured into the room before he or Sindar could even say, “Who’s there?” The brownies all carried trays of food which seemed far too large for them, but they managed somehow. The table was soon filled, and Alex and Sindar both thanked their hosts, which made the brownies burst into a fit of giggles. As quickly as they appeared, the brownies vanished, leaving Alex and Sindar to their meal.

“Why do they laugh so much when we thank them?” Alex questioned as he started filling a plate with food.

“It’s their way,” Sindar said. “They prefer their help and service to remain anonymous. So when we notice them doing things for us and thank them, they think it’s very fu

“As long as they’re happy.”

“They’re always happy. And it appears that they are good cooks as well.”

As they ate their meal, Alex told Sindar what had happened in the Tower of the Moon. Sindar turned pale when Alex told him about the shadow, and about having met it once before in Vargland, but Alex didn’t ask Sindar if he knew what it was.

“So you turned the stone into a breeze?” Sindar asked, making sure he had heard correctly.

“I did,” said Alex. “I remembered the riddle the sphinx had asked, and it suddenly hit me that a breeze could never be turned back into a stone, or a magic bag.”

“And the shadow had already left when you did that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it won’t be happy if it ever returns.”

“I hope it never returns. But if it does, it will go crazy trying to figure out where the stone has gone.”

“No less than it deserves,” Sindar observed. “I do feel sorry for Val though.”

“So do I. I think he was once a good and honorable man.”

“But he listened to the shadow,” said Sindar. “He made his own choice, and it was a poor one.”

“There is something else I wanted to talk to you about,” Alex said, and then paused to consider his words. “The pendant you wear—the one you so desperately wanted just after the attack.”

“Ah, yes. I have worn that for many years,” said Sindar. “It is an ancient talisman. There is some magic in it, as I’m sure you noticed.”

“Yes, I did, but that’s not what I want to ask. You see . . . Well, it might be best to show you.”

Alex reached for his magic bag and called out the pendant his father had left for him. Holding it up so Sindar could see it, he noticed a strange look on his friend’s face, a look that vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“My father hid this in his own magic bag,” Alex explained. “He left a note with it, telling me that I could freely trust anyone who wore this symbol.”

“Your father,” Sindar repeated slowly. “Yes, I should have guessed, but . . .”

“But?” Alex prodded.

“It is difficult to keep track sometimes,” Sindar answered. “I should have given things more thought when we first met. Your father—his first name was Joshua?”

“Yes.”

Sindar nodded but remained silent for several minutes before speaking.

“I met your father once, many years ago. I did not get the chance to know him, but he was well-respected among us.”

“Among the elves, you mean,” Alex clarified.

“Oh, yes, among the elves, but that isn’t what I’m talking about. You see, the pendant is a symbol of the ancient order of Malgor.”

“The order of Malgor? What is that?”

“Basically the order is a collection of people who gather information. We keep records about people, places, cities—all kinds of things.”