by M. L. Forman
“I am forever in your debt,” he said through his tears. “I can never repay your kindness.”
“Your happiness will be payment enough,” replied Alex with a smile, and walked over to see what Thrang was cooking.
* * *
Over the next several days, Tayo’s spirits and health improved greatly. He would laugh and joke with the rest of the company at mealtimes, and would often outdo even Skeld with his joking ways.
“I do not doubt your power, master wizard,” Skeld said to Alex one night. “But are you sure you’ve brought back the right man?”
They all laughed loudly at Skeld’s question, and Alex realized his own sad feelings had melted away with Tayo’s recovery.
Their days were filled with the toil of sorting and dividing treasure, and enjoying the happiness of completing their quest. They had already moved a large amount of the treasure into the first hall above the great hall to be sorted, but there were still mountains of treasure left.
“Let’s all just pick a spot and start filling our bags,” said Skeld one night after a long day of sorting. “It will be winter again before we get through all of this.”
“I never thought I’d hear Skeld say he was tired of counting treasure,” said Tayo, slapping the back of Skeld’s head as he walked behind him.
“Now I am sure you brought back the wrong man,” said Skeld, looking at Alex and laughing hysterically.
Weeks passed and finally they were able to start dividing the treasure into individual piles for each of them. Alex noticed that his pile seemed to be growing quickly and one night at dinner, he asked Bregnest about it.
“Well,” Bregnest began in his businesslike tone, “three shares for being a wizard, two for being a warrior, and one for killing the dragon, of course.”
“But I did not sign on as a wizard or a warrior,” Alex said loudly, but with a smile. “I signed on—as you know very well—as a first-time adventurer.”
“Yes,” Bregnest agreed. “However, I have modified the Bargain to take certain events into consideration. This is my right, as your leader. You would not break the agreement, would you?”
“It is your right,” said Alex, his smile fading. “However, I ask that you not change the agreement. I have gained much more than treasure on this adventure, and feel that I have already been very well paid.”
Bregnest looked stern for a moment, but then he smiled and laughed out loud.
“Very well, as you seem so determined to give your treasure away. Hear what I say concerning the division of this trea-sure.” Bregnest spoke loudly so the entire company could hear him. “That portion of the treasure which has already been divided will remain as it is. From now on we will return to the original agreement, by which young Master Taylor will receive two shares out of twenty.”
Alex smiled, but Bregnest went on.
“Also, I will use my right as leader to insist that anything which cannot be divided equally go into our young friend’s share. Further, I will insist that all rewards from the six remaining lost bags he carries will be his alone. I will insist on this, in spite of his desire to share his treasure with the rest of us. How say you all?”
A great cheer went up from the group, and though Alex was not entirely comfortable having so much treasure given to him, he nodded his acceptance to Bregnest.
“Also,” said Bregnest, holding up his hands for silence. “I would ask that Alex accept the honor of carrying the crystal of the White Tower back to the Oracle. Will you accept this honor?”
“I will,” Alex said, bowing.
The rest of the company cheered again as Bregnest handed the crystal of Iownan to Alex. Alex carefully placed the crystal, wrapped in a blue velvet cloth, in his bag and bowed to Bregnest once more.
Sorting the treasure had taken months and dividing it was taking weeks more. As they continued working, Alex noticed that all the crowns, necklaces, scepters, and other items that were obviously one of a kind were added to his pile. Once again he protested to Bregnest, but Bregnest simply smiled slyly.
“Well, they are all of different values and cannot be divided equally,” he said.
Alex tried to argue, but in the end he was forced to accept all of the items as part of his share, though he remained unhappy about it.
When they had finally divided the hoard and were ready to start transferring it to their magic bags, Andy asked the company to gather by his pile. He looked serious, though he smiled at Alex when he stepped up with the rest of the company.
“Tayo Blackman,” Andy began. “You hold the honor of my family. I wish to repay the debt my family owes to you.”
“How will you repay?” Tayo questioned, stepping forward.
“As payment, I offer you my share of this adventure’s
primary treasure.”
“Do you do this of your own free will?”
“I do.”
“I will accept only part of what you offer,” said Tayo, bowing to Andy. “Let all here know that the debt of honor owed to myself is now paid by Anders Goodseed. Will you all witness that it is so?”
“We will,” six voices replied.
“Then witness what I accept, and know that the debt of honor is paid.”
The company watched as Tayo removed a small amount of treasure from Andy’s pile and added it to his own.
“The debt is paid. Your family honor is whole,” said Tayo, smiling and bowing to Andy.
The company cheered and clapped as the ceremony ended.
“A moment, Master Taylor,” said Tayo as Alex turned away. “Another ceremony is in order as I am now in your debt.”
“What?” Alex asked nervously.
“You called me back from the wall,” Tayo replied. “You now hold the honor of my family.”
“Ah, yes,” said Alex, thinking quickly. “However, I only had to call you back because you saved my life. If you had not attacked Slathbog when you did, I would be dead. So I would say the debt is paid, and your family honor is whole.”
“Well-spoken,” said Bregnest with a nod and a smile.
Tayo stood quietly, the old, grim look back on his face. For a moment, Alex wondered what Tayo would say, but then he smiled and laughed.
“Very well, my friend,” he replied. “We will call this debt even.”
The entire company cheered once more, and then they each returned to their own piles of treasure and started filling their magic bags. Alex thought about the honor ceremony. He didn’t understand why Andy had to offer all of his treasure and why Tayo had taken so little. When they took a break from storing treasure, Alex asked Andy to explain.
“Because it was a debt of honor,” Andy replied. “Honor demanded I offer my entire share, but Tayo did not have to take it all. In fact, Tayo increased his honor by taking only a small amount.”
“Then wouldn’t it increase Tayo’s honor even more if he did not accept anything?” Alex asked, still confused.
“He has to take something or it would be an insult,” Andy laughed. “It would be saying that my father’s life meant nothing to him.”
“I guess I understand,” said Alex slowly, knowing he had more thinking to do about honor and what it meant. “I’m happy your family honor is whole.”
They spent days storing their piles of treasure in their bags, laughing and joking as they worked. There was so much treasure Alex began to wonder how big his expanding room could possibly get, and then laughed at himself for wondering.
Once they had all stored their shares, they went down for one last look at the great hall. It seemed even larger now that it was empty, and when the company cheered one last time, their voices echoed wildly around the empty hall. Collecting the rest of their gear, Alex and his friends slowly climbed into the bright afternoon light.
“Your wish is almost fulfilled,” Arconn said to Alex as they walked away from Varlo. “Already the snows are melting. Soon the green of spring will be on this land.”
Arconn was correct as usual.
As they marched down the muddy road each day, Alex could see small shoots of green dotting the ground where the snow had melted. By the third day, the snow had almost disappeared, and new green plants were springing up everywhere.
“We still have a long walk back to the horses,” commented Halfdan as they ate their evening meal.
“And a long ride back to Telous,” Thrang added.
“And many happy places to visit, now that we have found success,” said Tayo with a smile.
“And what will you do with your great hoard?” Skeld asked Thrang, laughing. “Young Alex and Andy can’t help you spend it or they’ll never manage to spend any of their own.”
“Retire, perhaps,” said Thrang thoughtfully, then laughed at the worried looks on Skeld’s and Tayo’s faces. “Though perhaps my adventuring days are not over just yet.”
They spent a happy night joking and telling stories, not bothering to keep watch in the wastelands of the dragon. Alex wished they could stay in this newly reborn land forever, but he knew that, like Thrang, he had many more adventures before him.
chapter nineteen
The Journey Home
Alex and his companions walked along the road out of the wastelands, happy to see that the countryside was returning to life. There was no need to hurry, and they enjoyed laughing and singing together as they traveled. One afternoon, as they approached the edge of the wastelands, they heard horses galloping toward them.
“Shahree!” Alex called out as the horses came into view.
Shahree whinnied loudly at Alex’s call and trotted quickly to his side. He stroked her silver-gray neck happily, and the rest of the company laughed with joy. The other horses galloped up behind Shahree, and Arconn made a point of personally thanking each horse.
“She has been worried since you parted,” Arconn told Alex as he rubbed Shahree’s forehead.
“That makes us even because I have been worried about her as well,” said Alex with a laugh.
They made camp for the night, happy with their success and excited to be going home. Thrang prepared an excellent dinner, and Alex amused his friends by turning the campfire different colors and twisting the smoke into various shapes as it floated into the darkening sky.
The next day, Skeld and Tayo sang several strange and happy songs as they rode. They even managed to convince Andy to join them on a few of the songs, though it took a lot of teasing to do it. Alex was as amazed as the rest of the company to see the great change that had come over Tayo. Alex was glad that Tayo seemed to have taken Elsa’s advice to find joy and happiness in his life.
When they eventually returned to the dark forest, Calysto was waiting to greet them in the same meadow they had left months before. It seemed she had known they were coming long before they arrived.
“You left before the first snows fell and already you have returned,” she said with a smile. “It seems fortune has favored you greatly.”
“Indeed,” replied Bregnest. “It has allowed us to return quickly to your happy land.”
As before, Alex was unsure how long they stayed in the dark forest with the elves. He remembered many feasts and long walks in the sunny meadows. He felt at peace in the dark forest and was sad that they would have to leave eventually, but he knew his future was not here.
While they remained in the forest, each member of the company exchanged many fine gifts with the elves. Alex gave Calysto a true silver necklace set with hundreds of small, bright green emeralds. It was one of the many items Bregnest had added to his share from the dragon’s hoard.
“A gift for some great lady,” said Calysto, admiring the necklace.
“Then it is well given,” Alex replied.
Calysto wore the necklace at their parting feast, which made Alex happy. At the end of the feast, Calysto and many of the other elves walked with the company to their wooden house. They were all laughing and singing songs Alex had never heard before. No one wanted the night to end, but like all things, it eventually did.
The next morning, as the company prepared to depart, Calysto came to say her final farewell. Alex could see the sadness of their parting behind her usually happy smile.
“May your fortunes be bright,” she called after them as they rode to the edge of the meadow. “And if ever you come this way again, the meeting will be a merry one.”
Alex turned Shahree before entering the trees, looking back at Calysto. He didn’t have words to thank Calysto for all she had done. He simply waved a final farewell, somehow knowing he would return to the dark forest someday.
When they reached the edge of the forest, the sun was setting. They made camp and told stories late into the night. Skeld and Tayo managed to force Andy into telling them about his own first adventure. Andy insisted it was a long and boring story, but they all wanted to hear it just the same.
“You’ll have better tales to tell on your next adventure, won’t you?” Tayo laughed, slapping Andy’s knee as they prepared to sleep.
The next day they started early, pressing forward and passing the ruins of Aunk before the sun set. Alex shivered slightly as he remembered his battle with the wraiths. He knew the wraiths could not harm him now, but he still felt a shadow of darkness as they rode past. He quickly forced himself to think of his friend Thrain and the wonderful halls of Osrik that lay ahead of them.
It was clear the elves had sent word to Osrik while Alex and his friends were still in the dark forest because a troop of dwarf warriors on horseback met them on the road with orders to escort them to Osrik’s halls. Osrik was exactly the same as Alex remembered—uncomfortable with too much ceremony and happy to listen to all the stories they had to tell.
“Quite an adventure,” said Osrik after Thrang had told their story. “Never thought we’d see the end of Slathbog in my days.”
Alex and his friends remained with the dwarfs for almost three weeks, trading treasure for items made of true silver and giving gifts to Osrik and his officers. When it came time to leave the dwarf realm, Osrik asked them to meet with him in his throne room.
“I have a favor to ask,” said Osrik, looking at Bregnest.
“Ask what you will, Lord Osrik,” replied Bregnest. “Nothing would please us more than to be of service to you.”
“It’s about my grandson, Thrain,” said Osrik, looking past the company at Thrain who was standing at attention at the edge of the great hall. “He’s seen your success and heard your stories and he thinks he’d like to be an adventurer.”
“Adventurers do not choose themselves, as you know,” said Bregnest, glancing toward Thrain.
“No, they don’t,” agreed Osrik with a smile. “But he and a couple of his friends want to see the Oracle. I have forbidden them to go on their own, but if you were going that way, I thought perhaps they could accompany you. If it is too great a favor, please say so. To be honest, I’m not too happy with the idea myself.”
“It would be our pleasure to have their company,” said Bregnest happily. “Though we will not be returning this way. How will they get back?”
“I suspect all sorts of people will start traveling east again once the news of your adventure is well-known,” said Osrik, winking at Bregnest. “I think the way back will be less troubled, then—fewer bandits and the like around.”
“Then we will happily accept their company,” said Bregnest, bowing to Osrik. “And we will try not to encourage your grandson’s desire too much as we travel.”
Osrik laughed at Bregnest’s reply, waving for Thrain to come forward.
“It seems you have your wish, my fine young dwarf,” Osrik said to Thrain. “You’d best be off and tell your friends. You’ll be leaving in the morning.”
Thrain was too happy to even speak. He ran forward and hugged his grandfather tightly, and then turned and ran full speed out of the hall.
“I hope he is happy with what the Oracle tells him,” Osrik commented, watching Thrain depart. “But even if he gets his wish, I’ve made him promise to return here
before going on any adventures.”
“Wise counsel,” said Bregnest. “And if he is chosen, my company and I will be happy to help him in any way we can.”
“Thank you, my friends,” replied Osrik. He smiled wryly. “And you know, there is a part of me that hopes he does get his wish, even if the rest of me does not.”
The company all laughed with Osrik before saying good night to the king.
The next morning, Alex and his friends assembled in front of the main gates of the dwarf city. Thrain and his two friends, Melnoch and Nitek, were waiting nervously to one side, away from the company.
Alex was happy Thrain would be traveling with them to the White Tower because it meant he would not have to say good-bye just yet. He had not met Thrain’s friends, but he knew if they were anything like Thrain, the journey would be a happy one.
Osrik came out to the gate to say a final good-bye.
“I’m placing the three of you in Master Bregnest’s care,” Osrik said sternly to Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek. “If any of you misbehave or fail to follow his orders, I’ll throw you all in the dungeon for a hundred years.”
Alex and Andy tried not to laugh as Osrik turned his back to Thrain and his friends and winked at the company.
“Good-bye, my friends. If ever you come this way again, you will be most welcome,” Osrik said.
“Good-bye, great king,” replied Bregnest. “Your kindness will remain with us always.”
They all bowed to Osrik and then started down the slopes of the Brown Hills. Thrain and his friends brought up the rear, which made Alex and Andy feel a little strange at first because they were used to being the last in line. As they turned their horses west, though, Thrain rode up beside Alex and Andy and started talking happily with them.
As they traveled from the Brown Hills to the city of Techen, Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek adapted, as well as they could, to the adventuring lifestyle. However, they were still a little unsure of how to deal with Skeld and Tayo’s constant
teasing and joking.
“You get used to it in time,” said Andy in a low voice to the dwarfs. “And they don’t mean any harm.”