by M. L. Forman
“I believe that most of the information was lost, though there are some who say it is not lost, but only forgotten.”
“Do you know how the great swords choose their masters?” Alex pressed.
“I do not,” said Sindar in a thoughtful tone. “I do not think even the makers of the swords knew how the masters would be chosen.”
“They were foolish to make such swords then,” Val commented, looking over Sindar’s shoulder at Alex’s sword. “To make a sword that you cannot use—that is foolish.”
“Perhaps,” Sindar agreed. “But when the dark elves made these weapons, they were made for a specific person or a specific reason. The first masters were known, so making the swords was not foolish. It was when these first masters died or passed on their weapons that the swords began choosing their own masters.”
“And what would happen if someone the sword had not chosen tried to use it?” Val questioned.
“If the master were still alive, I believe it would be dangerous for anyone else to use the sword. I think the magic of the sword would turn it against anyone who tried to use it,” Sindar answered. “If the sword had no master, it might work as a normal sword, without giving its magical powers to the user. I’m not sure.”
“Did the dark elves make other weapons as well?” asked Alex.
“Yes, they made all kinds,” Sindar answered. “Many have been lost or destroyed. I believe that most of the weapons that remain are swords.”
Halfdan called out that their meal was ready, so Alex put Moon Slayer back into its scabbard and accepted a plate of food. He wanted to learn more about his magic sword, and the other magical weapons the dark elves had made, but he pushed his thoughts aside, thinking that he would have time to ask his questions as they traveled.
“Will your family be in Oslansk for the weddings?” Alex asked Andy as they ate.
“Yes. And they are excited to meet you all. My little brother, Michael, seems almost ready to burst with excitement.”
“How old is he?” Alex asked.
“He’ll turn thirteen the day after the weddings,” Andy answered. “He keeps hoping I’ll buy him his own horse for his birthday.”
“And will you?” Halfdan questioned.
“I’d like to, but Father isn’t happy with the idea,” Andy said.
“And why would your father be unhappy with such a gift?” questioned Sindar.
“Oh, well,” Andy began slowly, as if considering his answer. “The horse Michael wants is not as tame as the horses we already have. Father thinks it might be too much for Michael to handle.”
“And what do you think?” Alex asked.
“I think Michael will get his wish,” said Andy with a sly grin.
“Perhaps we should consider getting him a saddle to go with his horse,” said Halfdan.
“Oh, no,” said Andy, suddenly looking nervous. “You don’t need to get him a present, that would be too much.”
Halfdan winked at Alex, and Alex understood that he and Halfdan would be buying a saddle when the company reached Oslansk.
They finished their meal with a great deal of talk, and they stayed sitting around the fire for a long time. The night was growing colder, but the fire was warm and comfortable. Alex wondered if they should set a watch, but Bregnest said nothing about it.
“So tell us about Norsland weddings,” said Halfdan as the fire burned down. “What customs should we know about? What kind of gifts should we give?”
Andy paused to think. “I suppose the most important thing for you to know is that friends of the groom give gifts to the bride, while friends of the bride give gifts to the groom.”
“Nobody gives gifts to them both?” Alex asked.
Andy shook his head. “It’s an old custom all over Norsland. Though to be honest, I’ve never asked why nobody gives gifts to both the bride and the groom.”
“So now we have to find presents for brides we’ve never met,” Halfdan grumbled.
“You don’t have to give anything expensive or extravagant,” said Andy defensively. “It’s more of a thank-you for the invitation to the wedding sort of gift.”
“What type of gifts do strangers give?” Sindar questioned.
“Oh, well, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t think there is any need for you to give anything,” Andy stuttered.
“It is a poor wedding guest who gives nothing,” said Sindar. “Perhaps, when we reach Oslansk, I can learn more about your customs and discover what sort of gift to give.”
Alex knew that, while Sindar and Val had not been formally invited to the weddings, they would both be included as part of the company in all the feasts and parties that went along with the celebrations.
“We had best put blankets on the horses,” said Bregnest as the fire turned to glowing embers. “It may be spring in Norsland, but the nights are still cold.”
They all tended to their horses and then went to their tents for the night. Alex was still a little concerned about not setting a watch, but he decided that Bregnest knew what he was doing. Letting his worries drift away in the darkness, he soon fell into a restful sleep.
* * *
The next morning Alex was grateful that Halfdan had brought along his dwarf remedy for soreness. All his muscles and bones ached when he woke up. Halfdan’s remedy quickly cured his pains, though it didn’t work quite as fast as it had the last time he had used it.
Turning, Alex saw Andy tumble over with a surprised yell. Andy had taken the remedy just before Alex, but it appeared that the potion had not worked for him.
“I can’t feel my left leg,” Andy shouted.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Halfdan exclaimed as he rushed to Andy’s side. “No feeling at all?”
“What do you mean?” Andy yelled. “My leg won’t move at all.”
“It’ll wear off in a few minutes,” Halfdan answered with an unconcerned wave of his hand. “Try wiggling your toes, and pay attention to which toe you feel moving first.”
“What?”
“This is important, Andy,” Halfdan said in excitement. “After drinking from a new batch of potion, if a person loses feeling in part of their body, their fortune can be told by which parts start feeling things first.”
“You didn’t mention anything about losing the use of our body parts before giving us the potion,” Val commented with a sour look.
“It doesn’t happen that often,” Halfdan replied, blushing slightly. “To be honest, I didn’t think it would happen, but now that it has . . . Andy, are you wiggling your toes like I said?”
“How should I know?” Andy snapped. “I can’t feel anything.”
“Well, keep trying. It should only take a minute or two.”
Halfdan’s prediction was correct. After a few minutes Andy’s leg started to move, and before long, he was back on his feet. Halfdan continued to ask questions about which toe Andy could wiggle first, but Andy was in no mood to answer.
“I’m trying to be helpful,” Halfdan finally said. “If you’ll tell me which of your toes moved first, I could tell you a lot about your future.”
“The little one,” Andy replied as his anger cooled. “My little toe was the first one I felt. So what can you tell me about my future?”
“Oh, that’s good, that’s very good,” said Halfdan. “If the little toe moves first, you’ll have a long and happy life, filled with good fortune.”
“What if his big toe had moved first?” Bregnest questioned.
“Ah, well, if the big toe moves first, you’ll live to a ripe old age and have a happy marriage,” Halfdan answered.
“Do all the toes have something to do with long life and happiness?” Sindar questioned.
“Hmmm, now that I think about it, they do,” said Halfdan in a serious tone. “Still, it’s considered very lucky to have this happen with a new batch of potion.”
“Lucky that the loss of feeling doesn’t last for long,” Val commented quietly.
“Come,” Bregnest s
aid before Halfdan could reply to Val. “We’ve got places to be and things to do. We can talk about dwarf fortune-telling another time.”
The short journey from the great arch to Oslansk was a pleasant one. The weather remained fair as they traveled, though the nights continued to be cold. Most mornings there was frost on the ground when they woke up, and Alex knew that Shahree was grateful for the heavy blanket he put on her at night. More than once he thought about conjuring a magical fire to keep everyone warm at night, but he always remembered Whalen’s warning about using his powers.
Each night after their evening meal, the company would sit around the fire, talking and telling stories of past adventures. Alex was beginning to feel as if he had never gone home at all, but had simply continued his last adventure.
On their sixth day away from Telous, Alex and his companions reached the city of Oslansk. Alex was impressed with the city’s appearance, even from a distance. Oslansk looked like it had been carved completely from white marble. The large city sat on a hillside and was surrounded by high walls. The white buildings of Oslansk shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, looking both inviting and friendly to travelers.
“My father has invited us all to stay with him and the rest of my family,” Andy said as they rode toward the city.
“Will there be enough room for all of us?” Bregnest asked in a slightly worried tone.
“Yes,” Andy answered. “In fact, he rented a large house where we will be able to stay.”
“Then we will accept your father’s kindness and give him our thanks,” said Bregnest.
“I should have told Bregnest that my father is rich,” said Andy in a lowered voice to Alex. “After all, he went on many adventures before settling down in Norsland.”
“Going on many adventures does not always mean great wealth,” Val commented with a sly grin.
“Perhaps not,” replied Andy. “But he has done very well since he retired from his adventures, and I know he can afford whatever we may require.”
Alex didn’t say anything in reply to Andy’s words. He knew that Andy could easily pay for anything they or his family might need. After all, Andy had a huge amount of treasure from their last adventure together, and Alex was sure he hadn’t spent very much of it yet.
The gates to Oslansk stood open as Alex and his companions rode up to them. The guards at the gates nodded and waved them through without questions. They were apparently expecting many guests to arrive for the upcoming weddings, and they didn’t seem to think there was any danger to worry about.
As they rode through the narrow and busy streets of Oslansk, Andy joined Bregnest at the front of the company. When they reached the gates of the house Andy’s father had rented, Alex saw that it was more of a mansion than a house, with its own stable and gardens inside a high wall.
“Welcome to Oslansk,” said Andy, as they entered the courtyard and climbed off their horses.
Chapter Four
Oslansk
Alex and his companions looked up at the impressive house that had obviously been built with great care and attention to detail. They were just turning away to lead their horses to the stables when an excited voice shouted behind them.
“Andy!”
They all turned around to see who had yelled, and they all smiled as a tall, skinny boy came racing out of the house toward the company.
“We didn’t know you’d be back so soon,” Michael said, throwing his arms around Andy and almost knocking him over. “Father and Mother will be so pleased. Father was worried that you’d have trouble, you know, finding the members of your company. He was afraid it would take some time and that you wouldn’t be back in time for the weddings.”
“Well, we are back in time,” said Andy. “And with a week to spare.” He grinned. “We were lucky to find our company quickly. And if you’ll let us put our horses away, I’ll introduce you to my friends.”
Michael let go of Andy and looked around at the rest of the company, his eyes growing wide. Alex could tell that Michael was glad to see his brother and that he was also impressed that his brother had so many adventurers with him.
“My apologies, sirs,” said Michael, bowing to the company. “I have forgotten my manners. Please, allow me to care for your horses. My father will wish to greet you and welcome you to our house.”
“We can tend to our own horses,” Bregnest replied. “And you need not be so formal with your brother’s good friends.”
Michael blushed bright red at Bregnest’s words, but his face showed how pleased he was. The company all laughed quietly to themselves as they led their horses to the stable. Michael stayed close by Andy, but his eyes watched the rest of the company.
“Come, my friends,” said Andy, once their horses were taken care of. “My brother is correct in saying that my father will wish to greet you all.”
Andy put his arm around Michael’s shoulders and led the group toward the house. Michael almost tripped as they went along because he kept looking at the company over Andy’s arm.
Before they had reached the house, Andy’s parents appeared in the doorway. Andy’s mother seemed almost as delighted as Michael to see Andy home again, and she rushed forward to hug him and kiss him on the cheek. Andy blushed but continued to smile. Andy’s father, however, simply patted his son on the shoulder and then turned to face his guests.
“Perhaps, when my son can break free, he will introduce us all.”
“There is little need for formal introductions among friends,” said Bregnest, stepping forward.
“No, I suppose not,” Andy’s father agreed. “I am Argus Goodseed, and I welcome you all to my house.”
“I am Silvan Bregnest. Your kindness overwhelms us, Master Goodseed.”
“Well said, Master Bregnest,” Argus replied. “Please, let us do away with all formality if you will. I am simply Argus, and that should be enough between friends.”
Bregnest laughed softly and nodded his agreement. He turned to the company and introduced each of them to Argus. As each man was named, he stepped forward and bowed slightly to Andy’s father.
“Alexander Taylor,” said Argus, when Alex was introduced. “Andy has told us a great deal about you. And Michael has been dying to meet you.”
“I’m afraid that Andy has said too much,” Alex replied. “I hope I can live up to whatever he has told you.”
“I’m sure you will,” said Argus. “And I doubt that Andy has said as much as you fear. He’s been very secretive about some of the things that happened on your last adventure together.
“Now, my friends, let me introduce my wife, Azure,” Argus went on. “And it seems that you have already made the acquaintance of my youngest son, Michael.”
“We have indeed made young Michael’s acquaintance,” said Bregnest. “And I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say it is a great pleasure to meet Mistress Goodseed.”
The six companions all bowed to Andy’s mother, who blushed slightly. Michael, however, suddenly became shy and looked down at his shoes.
“I regret that my eldest son, Lazarus, is not here to greet you,” said Argus, in a slightly harder tone. “He’s off wandering the city with his friends, but he will be here this evening to offer you a proper welcome.”
“I should think that it would be hard to keep him at home, with such a wonderful city to explore,” said Bregnest.
“Oslansk is indeed wonderful,” Argus agreed. “I suppose we should come here more often, but our lands are several days’ ride to the west and north.”
Argus continued talking as he led them into the house. Rooms had been prepared for each of them, away from the busy and noisy parts of the estate. Once Alex and the others had been shown to their rooms, Mrs. Goodseed excused herself, but Michael remained next to Andy.
“May I offer you some refreshment?” Argus asked. “We can have a bite and a drink or two, and perhaps swap tales of adventures past.”
“A pleasing idea,” said Bregnest. “Though I th
ink a few of my company would like nothing better than to go looking for their friends Skeld and Tayo.”
“Ah, yes,” said Argus with a nod. “Andy, you know where those two troublemakers are. Take your friends and show them the way.”
“Can I go too?” Michael asked in a pleading tone.
“Not right now, Michael,” Argus answered in a kind but firm tone. “Perhaps tomorrow they will take you with them, but not right now.”
Alex and Halfdan both bowed to Argus as they prepared to follow Andy into the city. Alex made a point of asking both Sindar and Val if they would like to come along, but they both said they would rather stay behind and share stories with Bregnest and Argus.
Andy led Alex and Halfdan back into the streets of Oslansk, almost bouncing as he walked. The city was large, but he seemed to know exactly where he was going, and he led his friends quickly through the narrow, busy streets.
“Well, if it isn’t Anders Goodseed,” commented an unpleasant-sounding voice as Andy, Alex, and Halfdan walked into a large square. All three of them turned to see who had spoken.
Standing in front of a booth that sold sandwiches was an extremely fat and unpleasant-looking young man. Alex wondered who he was, and how Andy knew him.
“Been off fighting dragons again, have you?” the fat young man sneered. The two companions behind him chuckled.
“Hello, Otho,” Andy replied pleasantly. “I see you’re still trying to eat everything in the city.”
Otho didn’t say anything, but turned red as he stuffed his half-finished sandwich into his mouth.
Andy turned and walked away, and Alex and Halfdan followed after a slight delay.
“Who is that overweight windbag?” asked Halfdan once he and Alex had caught up to Andy.
“Otho Longtree,” said Andy, his voice tight with anger. “He’s the heir of Osgood Longtree.”
“And who is Osgood Longtree?” Alex questioned.
“He’s the city magistrate,” said Andy, slowing his pace and softening his tone. “Osgood is a good man, but Otho . . .”
Andy didn’t finish and started to walk faster again.