The Horn of Moran

“Was it you who talked Varson into making a claim on the throne?” Sindar asked.

“No, I didn’t do that.”

“Was it you who brought armies to Athanor to try to take the throne?” Bregnest asked.

“No, I didn’t do that either,” Alex admitted again.

“So, if there was a war, why exactly would it have been your fault?” Sindar questioned.

“All right, so it wouldn’t have been my fault,” said Alex with a grumpy sigh.

“You’ve done a great deal of good and you’re unhappy about it,” said Bregnest with a smile.

“I’m not upset about that,” said Alex, starting to feel foolish. “I’m upset because Whalen took a terrible risk and a lot of people might have had to pay for it.”

“And there is the lesson of your test,” said Sindar. “Sometimes others may have to pay for our actions, or our inaction. The difference for you is that wizards can do great things, and if they are wrong, many more people have to pay for their mistakes.”

Sindar’s words reminded Alex of something he’d learned on his first adventure. Accountability and responsibility went with power, and even more so with great power. It made perfect sense now that he thought about it, and he felt that Whalen had been right to test him.

Their journey continued without interruption, and Alex’s mood improved as they rode toward the great arch. Bregnest entertained the company with stories about his own lands, some of which they passed on their journey to Telous. Alex was impressed with Bregnest’s descriptions of his lands and thought Alusia would be an excellent place to live, if he ever decided to move away from his stepfather’s tavern.

They spent their last night in Alusia camping a short distance from the great arch. They had decided to ride to Telous the next morning so that they would arrive in time for their midday meal. Alex hoped that he would be able to return to Alusia soon, both to see his friends and to see his many new horses.

“Perhaps you should have chosen a horse or two to take back to Telous with you,” Bregnest commented as they sat around the campfire that night.

“I have the only horse I need,” Alex answered. “Though I suppose someday Shahree will grow too old for adventures.”

“Most horses only make it through three or four adventures,” said Sindar in a thoughtful way. “Adventures are harder on the horses than on the adventurers who ride them.”

“And they don’t get to change their age on adventures like we do,” said Andy.

“I’m quite happy with my present horse,” said Alex, hoping to change the subject.

“And I’m sure she is happy with her present owner,” said Halfdan.

Alex gri

“Tomorrow you will meet Whalen,” said Bregnest with a twinkle in his eye. “It has been a long time coming.”

“It has,” Alex agreed, trying to hide his excitement.

“Perhaps he will ask you to travel with him,” Andy commented. “That would be an adventure worth going on.”

“And perhaps Whalen will ask something else of you,” said Sindar, catching Alex’s eye. “He may no longer think of you as an apprentice.”

“I believe Master Vankin still has a great deal to teach me,” said Alex. “As I’ve been telling you all for this entire adventure, I’m only a wizard in training.”

“It seems you’ve had a fair bit of training then,” Halfdan laughed. “You’ll be taking a staff soon, I would guess.”

“I will wait until Whalen says I am ready before taking a staff,” Alex replied.

“And only time will tell when that might be,” said Sindar softly, as if reading Alex’s mind. “Though for all that is good in the known lands, I hope that it is sooner rather than later.”

The following day, as the company approached Telous, Alex’s nervous feelings grew to a new high. Soon he would be meeting Whalen for the first time in person. He felt like he already knew Whalen from all the messages and letters they had exchanged and from the stories he had heard about Whalen, but this was different. Whalen was known as the greatest wizard alive, and more than anything else, Alex hoped that Whalen would ask him to go on an adventure with him so that he could continue his training in person and learn by watching him work.

When they finally reached the Golden Swan, Alex was so nervous he could hardly move. He had some trouble getting off Shahree, and he stumbled on the steps of the Swan. He knew he was being silly, but he couldn’t help it.

“Bregnest,” a voice called as the company entered the Swan. “Good to see you again, my friend.”

Alex looked over and saw that Whalen was both everything and nothing at all like he had expected. Whalen looked old, but not too old; thin, but not too thin. He was almost six feet tall with shoulder-length silver-gray hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. Alex could also see that he had a great deal of magical power.

“Whalen,” answered Bregnest. “It has been too long, my old friend.”

“And this must be Alex,” said Whalen, approaching Alex with his hand outstretched. “So good to meet you face to face at last.”

“A great honor,” Alex managed to say, shaking Whalen’s hand.

“Oh, perhaps,” said Whalen with a mischievous look on his face. “Though perhaps the great honor is mine.”

“Sir?” Alex asked, not understanding what Whalen meant.

“Now then, Bregnest, introduce me to the rest of your fine company,” Whalen continued, not taking time to answer Alex. “Alex has kept me up with your adventure, of course, but now I can ask all those little questions that are best asked in person.”

Bregnest introduced the rest of the company to Whalen, and Whalen greeted them all as if he knew them. Alex was relieved to see that his friends were nearly as nervous as he was. In fact, Whalen had to take Andy’s hand and shake it before Andy would stop bowing to him.

“Well, now,” said Whalen. “I do hope you’ll allow me to join you for your midday meal.”

“It would be both our honor and our pleasure,” Bregnest replied.

Whalen nodded and waved his hand toward a small dining room set at the front of the Swan, where arrangements had already been made for their meal. As soon as they were seated, servants appeared with trays of food.

Whalen was interested in everything Alex’s friends had to say. He seemed to be almost overflowing with energy as he asked all kinds of questions about what had happened on their adventure. He seemed most interested in the minor points that Alex had neglected to mention in his letters, and he listened closely to every answer.

“You turned old Kappa into a donkey?” Whalen laughed. “Exactly what he deserved. I’m pleased that Trion saw it that way as well, and chose to leave him in that form.”

“It seemed the most fitting thing to turn him into,” said Alex.

“Of course it was. You have become very good at reading people, Alex. I am impressed with your judgment on this adventure.”

“Thank you,” said Alex.

“Now, to business,” said Whalen in a slightly more serious tone. “Bregnest, I take it you have not had your final feast with this company or declared your adventure at an end?”

“That is correct,” said Bregnest. “I thought perhaps tonight or tomorrow we would take care of that final part of our agreement.”

“Tomorrow night would be better,” said Whalen, looking at Bregnest with his eyebrows raised.

“Then tomorrow night it shall be,” said Bregnest with a slight bow.

Alex thought it was odd that Whalen wanted them to wait; he wasn’t a member of the company, after all.

“Now then, with your permission, Bregnest. I would like to have a good long talk with Alex,” said Whalen.

“He is free to do as he wishes until tomorrow night’s feast.”

“Very good,” said Whalen with a nod. “If the rest of you will excuse us. Alex, we have a great deal to discuss.”