by M. L. Forman
“Alex,” Whalen interrupted. “Wizards should have some secrets that only they know. I think it would be best if you kept this part of yourself as secret as you can. Don’t ask questions and don’t ask for reasons because I don’t have answers or reasons, just a feeling.”
“As you wish,” said Alex, accepting Whalen’s advice.
Whalen nodded and removed his spell from their horses. They rode south and west, away from the main path they had been following the day before. As they crossed the grasslands of Alusia, they passed several large herds of horses, and Alex felt sad remembering the loss of his own horse, Shahree.
“There is one more thing we need to talk about,” said Whalen after they’d gone several miles.
“The conspiracy Bane talked about,” said Alex. “You didn’t say anything about it in your letters.”
“I didn’t want to trouble you while you were in the middle of your adventure,” Whalen replied. “But I believe Bane is right—there is something very wrong in the known lands. Nethrom’s last words were an important bit of information, but not as conclusive as you might think. I’ve suspected for many years that part of the order of Malgor was involved.”
“Should we warn the leaders of the order? Perhaps they can find out who is working against them and deal with the problem,” said Alex.
“Do you know the legend of the Gezbeth?” Whalen questioned suddenly.
“The Gezbeth? No, I’ve never heard of such a thing. What does that have to do with the conspiracy?”
“The Gezbeth is a legendary monster,” said Whalen. “It is said that the monster had three heads and six arms, and that it ate everything it could get its hands on. Many brave warriors and soldiers died trying to defeat the monster, but none succeeded. Eventually an old man appeared and told the people the secret of the Gezbeth. You see, the monster had three hearts, and all three of them had to be destroyed at the same moment if the monster was to be killed.”
“Whalen, what are you talking about?” Alex questioned.
“I think what we are fighting is something like the Gezbeth. A conspiracy that has more than one center—and more than one leader—but all working toward a single goal.”
“And if we destroy only one center, the monster will simply grow a new center over time,” said Alex, remembering his battle against the hydra outside the necromancer’s cave.
“I believe we have already destroyed parts of this monster,” said Whalen. “Your victory over the necromancer was a blow to their plans. I think the recent trouble here in Alusia might well have been another part of the plan. The trouble is, we don’t know where the centers of the conspiracy are, and unless we can destroy them all, well . . .”
“You want to watch the people you think are involved,” said Alex. “Perhaps they will lead us to other parts of the monster.”
“Yes, that is our hope,” said Whalen. “It’s not just you and me, Alex. The rest of the council is involved, as well as many other people. We are watching and learning about our enemy. I hope that one day—and one day soon—we will discover what we need to know.”
“And the conspiracy’s goal?” Alex questioned. “Do you have any idea what this monster is trying to do?”
“No, not really,” said Whalen in a defeated tone. “We’re trying to piece it all together—looking for clues, listening to whispered stories—but we don’t know what our enemy is trying to do. We don’t know what their real goal is.”
“Then I suppose we’ll have to wait and watch,” said Alex.
“Yes,” said Whalen. “And you will be an important part of our watching, now that you know about the monster. As you travel, you will know what to look for and can report back to us what you have learned.”
“I will try,” said Alex. “I will try to find clues and answers, and I will hope that we can find the centers of power and destroy them before . . .”
“Before they destroy the rest of us,” Whalen finished. “Yes, that is our greatest fear—that we will wait and watch too long and we will be unable to stop the monster when we finally discover what it is trying to do. For now, keep your eyes and ears open, and let me know about anything that seems suspicious.”
“What if something happens to you?” Alex questioned.
“I have some letters of introduction I can send out,” said Whalen. “It would be good for you to have contact with other members of the council, in any event. Then, if anything should happen to me, you’ll have other people you can trust with the information you discover.”
“A good plan,” said Alex.
“I only hope it is good enough,” said Whalen.
It wasn’t quite noon when they came to a fair-sized house at the bottom of a large hill. The tall stone tower attached to one end of the house was at least twice as tall as the next highest part of the house. Behind the house was a barn, and a small stream ran alongside the house. Sitting on the front porch of the house was a tall, thin man. He stood up as Whalen and Alex approached and hurried into the yard to meet them.
“Master Vankin, Master Taylor,” the man said with a bow. “I wasn’t sure what time you would be arriving.”
“You were kind to meet us, Jonathan,” said Whalen with a smile. “Alex, this is Jonathan Tanner. Jonathan is the chief herdsman of Resprin, and as such, he is the king’s representative in the town.”
“A great pleasure,” said Alex, bowing to Jonathan.
“The pleasure is mine,” said Jonathan. “King Trion has sent word that I am to do whatever I can for you. I’ve heard the tales of your adventures with my friend Silvan Bregnest, and I am only too happy to do as Trion orders.”
“You know Bregnest?” Alex questioned.
“There are few in this part of Alusia who do not know Bregnest,” Jonathan said with a laugh. “He often rides to the towns on the king’s business—or at least he does when he is not off on an adventure.”
“I would very much like to see Bregnest again,” Alex said.
“Let’s take a look at the house first,” said Whalen, reminding Alex of why they were there.
Jonathan took their horses for them and tied them to a rail beside the porch. He was happy to show Alex and Whalen around, and Alex was happy with what he saw in the house. There was plenty of room for him to store his things, but not so much room that he would feel lonely. There was even running water, piped into the house from a spring near the top of the hill behind the house, which Alex thought was very convenient. The rooms were large and friendly looking, and already furnished.
“Trion sent the furniture as a welcoming gift,” Jonathan explained. “He hopes you will be staying in Alusia for many years to come.”
“A kind gift,” said Alex.
“Then you will take the house?” Jonathan questioned nervously.
“Let me think for a little while.”
“Very well, Master Taylor.”
“In the meantime, what is there to eat here, Jonathan?” Whalen asked.
“Oh, the pantry is full, Master Vankin,” Jonathan answered. “I can prepare anything you may wish, or almost anything.”
“An overstatement but kindly meant,” Whalen said with a laugh. “Come, let’s see to the pantry while my young friend does his thinking.”
As Whalen and Jonathan went to the kitchen, Alex wandered out the front door to look at the grounds around the house once more. He walked around the tower toward the back of the house, not really looking at or for anything. He walked through the oak trees that grew behind the house, and when he came to the stream, he stopped. It was the perfect house and would be a wonderful place to live, but he felt sad for no reason he could name.
A sudden movement on the far side of the stream startled Alex, and he instantly brought up his staff to defend himself. He smiled when he saw the palomino horse on the far bank. He lowered his staff and called softly to the horse. It was a male horse, young and fairly large, with a mane as white as snow. Calling softly a second time, Alex remembered how much horses
used to scare him. The horse seemed to study him for a moment, and then it walked slowly to him and nuzzled his shoulder.
“Well, my friend,” Alex said softly. “What herd have you wandered away from?”
The horse whinnied in reply and pressed his head gently against Alex’s shoulder. Alex was surprised by the strange show of affection, but he rubbed the horse’s forehead gently just the same.
“Well, I suppose I should accept this house,” Alex said softly. “It looks to be everything I’ve ever wanted or hoped for.”
The horse bobbed its head up and down the same way Shahree had done sometimes when Alex had talked to her.
Alex smiled at the memory and patted the horse’s forehead again before he turned to go back and talk with Jonathan.
“Who’s your friend?” Whalen questioned as Alex walked toward the front door.
Alex noticed that the palomino horse had followed him home. “He was drinking from the stream when I was out walking. He must have wandered away from one of the herds. Perhaps Jonathan will know where he belongs.”
Whalen called Jonathan out of the house, but when Jonathan saw the horse at Alex’s shoulder, the look on his face was something more than surprise.
“Do you know this horse?” Alex questioned.
“The herders call him Dar Losh. It means dragon fire in the common language,” Jonathan said slowly. “He is . . . he is of the king’s herd, though part of that herd belongs to you as well. I would have to search the records to make sure, but he’s as likely to be one of your own horses as he is to be one of the king’s.”
“Why do you look so surprised to see him here?” Alex asked.
“No one has ever been able to handle him,” Jonathan said. “He runs wild across the grasslands. We’ve tried to catch him in the past, but he can outrun any horse in the kingdom.”
“Yet he seems friendly enough with Alex,” Whalen said.
“He is,” said Alex in a definite tone, turning to rub Dar Losh’s neck. “He seems as tame as any horse I’ve ever seen.”
“Tame to you,” said Jonathan. “I swear no man has ever been able to catch him or befriend him as you have. Is this some magic? Have you put some spell on this horse to make him follow you?”
“No.” Alex laughed. “I called to him from across the stream, and he came. I didn’t know he was following me until Whalen pointed it out.”
“Then I think you have found a very good friend,” Whalen said thoughtfully. “What do you think, Jonathan? Would any other man be able to handle this horse?”
“No, I’m sure they would not,” said Jonathan. “If Master Taylor wishes this horse for his own, I am authorized by the king to make it so.”
“In that case,” said Alex with a smile, “I accept Dragon Fire, or Dar Losh, as you call him, as my own horse. I also accept this house. How much is the king asking for it?”
“The king asks only that you keep it in peace,” said Jonathan. “He said the house and the lands about it are to be yours for as long as you wish them to be.”
“The king is most kind,” said Alex. “I will accept Trion’s goodwill and send a message of thanks to him as soon as I can.”
“Very well,” said Jonathan with a smile. “I welcome you to the lands of Resprin. If you need anything, please let me know.”
“Thank you,” said Alex. “And if I can be of service to the people of Resprin, or to King Trion, please let me know.”
“You are most kind,” said Jonathan with a bow. “And now, I must go about my duties. I must inform the citizens of Resprin that you have agreed to stay. I would not want them to be surprised by your presence.”
“Thank you,” Alex said again.
“Yes, thank you, Jonathan,” Whalen added.
Jonathan bowed once more and left them, his eyes turning back to look at Dragon Fire and Alex several times before he rode out of sight.
“Your legend grows again,” Whalen said. He looked at Alex’s new horse. “He seems well named, does he not?”
“As if I’d chosen the name myself,” said Alex, rubbing Dragon Fire’s forehead again.
“Well, now that you are here and have accepted Trion’s generous gift, I should be on my way.”
“Already?” Alex asked in surprise. “I thought you’d stay the night at least.”
“No, I’ve spent enough time here already. I must be going, but I’ll leave you with one last piece of advice. Stay true to your friends, and stay true to yourself.”
“That’s two pieces of advice,” Alex pointed out.
“Is it?” Whalen asked with a smile, and then rode away.
Alex watched Whalen until he was out of sight, and then he turned and looked at his new home. It was a beautiful house, really, and he felt happier than he could ever remember feeling before.
Dragon Fire nudged his shoulder gently. Alex absently rubbed the horse’s nose and then turned to look at his new friend.
“Go,” Alex said softly. “Run free across the land. I will call you when I need you.”
Dragon Fire whinnied in response and galloped off across the grasslands. Alex watched him for a while, running like the wind across the low hills of Alusia. Finally he walked back to the house and went inside. It was time to get settled in, time to put things in order, and time to get ready for his next adventure, whenever it might come.
Discussion Questions
1. The first part of Alex’s adventure is spent in the library and archives of Benorg. How can a library be a good place to start an adventure?
2. While traveling toward the Isle of Bones, Alex and his friends hear rumors about trouble on the road. Kat says that the trouble with rumors is that you never know what to believe. Have you ever heard a rumor that made you unsure what to believe? What did you do about it?
3. The dragon Salinor lost control and destroyed the dwarf on the Isle of Bones after they attacked him. Have you ever lost your temper and done something you felt sorry about? Is there anything special you do to keep from losing your temper?
4. When Kat first tries to enter the empty tower, Alex stops her and reminds her of her duty to the company. Have you ever had to give up something you wanted because you’d made a promise to someone else?
5. When Alex creates the monument for Shahree, he writes the words, “A True Friend” on it. Why do you think he chose those words? What do you think makes a “true friend”?
6. The dwarf Nethrom learned things that other people had forgotten, but he wasn’t willing to share what he learned. In the end, the secrets and his unwillingness to share his knowledge destroyed him. Why do you think that is? Have you ever kept a secret that has gotten you into trouble?
7. We learn that Nethrom isn’t really evil, but he was being controlled by an evil spirit. Could something like that happen to real people? Could people have bad habits that, like the evil of the necromancer, control them?
8. After Alex gives Kat the oracle’s crystal, she says that he has formed her destiny around her like a cage. What does she mean? Do you ever feel like people are building your future around you?
9. Near the end of the story, King Thorgood tells Illius, “The people make the king. The king does not make the people.” What do you think he means by that? Who is more important—the king or the people?
10. While traveling to Alex’s new home, Whalen Vankin tells Alex, “You are what you do.” What do you think he means by that?
11. Whalen’s final piece of advice to Alex is, “Stay true to your friends, and stay true to yourself.” Alex says that it’s two pieces of advice, but is it?
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
A New Quest
Reunion
Thraxon
Benorg
East by North
The Lost Fiddler
The Paladin's Tale
Road to Danger
The Nagas
Dunnstal
Across the Open Sea
The Isle of Bones
<
br /> Salinor
The Road to Kazad-Syn
The Third Bag
The Hellerash
The Cursed City
Necromancer
Return from Darkness
To the Golden Rocks
Albrek's Tomb
The Dragon Returns
The Oracle Returns
The Crown of Set
A New Home
Discussion Questions