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“If you knew what happened, you would not think it so strange,” said Alex, patting Shahree’s neck and turning to go.
“Already you learn to speak as a wizard.”
“Perhaps . . .” A strange feeling suddenly came over Alex, and he stopped short at the door of the stable. His eyes moved to the crowded streets and buildings of Telous, searching for something he knew he would not find.
“You felt it as well,” Sindar whispered. “A feeling of being watched, of a watcher with purpose.”
“Yes.”
“It is gone now.”
“But what—or who—could it have been?” Alex questioned. “It wasn’t just a feeling of being watched, it was something more. I just don’t know what.”
“I think there is little danger,” Sindar replied slowly. “The feeling is gone, and I felt no evil in it.”
Alex and Sindar returned to the Golden Swan where they spent the rest of the day talking with the other members of the company, but Alex wasn’t as enthusiastic as he had been. The strange feeling of being watched troubled him, and he couldn’t seem to shake his unease.
* * *
“How far is it to Oslansk?” Alex asked.
The company was sitting down to their feast, and Alex thought it would be a good idea to ask some questions.
“Perhaps a week’s ride,” answered Andy. “It may take a bit longer, depending on the snow.”
“Snow?”
“Spring is slow to come to Norsland,” said Andy. “The snow was clearing when I rode to Telous a week ago, but we may still find some during our travels.”
“I’ve heard that summers in Norsland are short,” Halfdan commented thoughtfully.
“Not as short as stories tell,” said Andy. “There are almost always six months without snow, and heavy winter lasts only for perhaps three months.”
“Though even the light part of winter in Norsland may seem heavy to us,” commented Sindar.
“We should be fine,” said Bregnest, standing and drawing everyone’s attention. “Tonight we seal our bargain and our adventure begins. You are all experienced adventurers, so there is little I need tell you. You all know what we seek, and you also know the rules of adventurers.”
“We do,” said Halfdan, scowling at his empty mug.
Bregnest smiled at Halfdan. “I know how great your thirst can be, and I would not wish to keep you from quenching it.”
“I beg your pardon,” replied Halfdan in an overly serious tone.
“There are a few things I do need to say, however,” Bregnest continued. “The first is that we will buy most of our provisions when we reach Oslansk. If anyone is looking for a new adventure to start, they will certainly keep an eye on the shops here in Telous. I don’t know if anyone will be looking for us, but it is always better to be a little careful early than to be very sorry later.”
“There’s wisdom in that,” Val commented with a nod.
“You all know that we are in a race against time, but this race is not a sprint,” Bregnest went on. “We have some time, and we will not go charging off wildly to reach our goal. When I left Alusia, the harvest was about to start. Fall and winter are wet, muddy months, and the ground often freezes. Winter is never a good time to go to war, so I believe we will have at least eight months before any real trouble starts in Alusia. With luck, we will find success—and the Horn—quickly.
“Finally, as some of you know, Master Taylor carries several lost bags from his last adventure. We will make time for him to return one of those bags as we travel in Norsland. I believe the heir to the bag lives near our pla
Bregnest rang a golden bell that was sitting on the table. At the sound of the bell, servants entered the room, filled mugs for the company, and then departed.
“To the agreement, the adventure, and for luck,” Bregnest repeated, lifting his mug.
“The agreement, the adventure, and for luck.” The others stood and lifted their mugs as well.
“Now, let’s eat,” said Bregnest, ringing the bell once more. “We will depart at daybreak and begin our adventure.”
With the second ringing of the bell, more servants arrived, bringing large platters of roasted meats, bowls of vegetables and gravy, and everything else the company might want. They ate and talked and even told a few stories about past adventures. Alex was soon pleasantly full, but to his surprise Val continued to eat like a starving man.
“Can’t see where you’re putting it all,” Halfdan commented after pushing his own plate away. “Never seen anyone eat so much at one time.”
“You sound like my wife,” Val joked. “She always comments on how much I eat, and then complains that I don’t ever gain weight. She says my being so ski
They all laughed at Val’s words, and after some time, Bregnest suggested that they should all go to bed.
“Sleep well, my friends,” said Bregnest, as he opened the door to the room he was sharing with Val. “We may be in a rush to finish our adventure, but I hope we have many happy times in front of us, and little danger.”
As Alex climbed into his own bed, he noticed that Sindar was simply lying on top of the covers.
“May I ask you something?” Alex questioned.
“Certainly,” said Sindar, rolling onto his side so he could look at Alex.
“Well, I was thinking about my friend Arco
“We can sleep,” said Sindar. “We remain watchful and alert, but our minds rest. And remembering things long past is like sleep for us.”
“Oh,” said Alex, pulling his blankets around him. “So you don’t dream?”
“We dream as well. I suppose I should have said that we do not sleep like men, and that men may not consider our rest to be sleep.”
“That sounds like an elf reply,” said Alex. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Not at all.”
Alex put out the lamp next to his bed and closed his eyes. Sindar started humming softly in the darkness. It was a pleasant tune—one Alex had never heard before—and he soon fell asleep listening to it.
* * *
Before sunrise the next morning, Alex and Sindar made their way to the company’s private dining room. Bregnest and Val were already there, eating; Halfdan and Andy turned up shortly after Alex and Sindar sat down. There was little talk as they ate, and as soon as they were finished, Bregnest led them to the stables.
“Are you ready to go?” Alex asked Shahree as he settled the saddle on her back.
Shahree snorted loudly and stamped her hoof on the floor of the stable in answer. Alex patted her neck and smiled. He was fond of his horse and being with her again made him feel good.
When the company was ready, Bregnest led them out of the stable and into the streets of Telous. Sindar fell in beside Bregnest, while Alex and Halfdan followed them. Andy and Val were last, which made Alex feel a little awkward because on his last adventure he had always ridden at the back of the group.
They traveled south, following the well-marked path to the great arch, the magical gateway that would allow them to enter another land. Alex watched the landscape slip by, thinking that it had changed little since he had last been there. Alex thought it felt good to be back in the saddle and riding again, then, remembering something from his last adventure, he turned to Halfdan.
“Did you happen to bring some of that ancient dwarf remedy for stiffness?” Alex asked.
“I did,” replied Halfdan. “And I hope it works as well this time as it did the last time we used it.”
“Why wouldn’t it?”
“It’s a new batch,” Halfdan answered. “I’d just finished brewing it when Bregnest’s message about this adventure arrived.”
“Does the remedy grow more potent with age?”