by M. L. Forman
“You have been so kind to us, is there nothing we can do to repay you?” Alex asked once more.
“Oh, no,” said Tip in a serious tone. “You have already repaid us by letting us help you.”
“As you wish then,” said Alex with a bow.
“Now, come my friends,” said Tip. “One last feast before we part.”
Alex and Sindar followed Tip back to the campfire and the feast, leaving their friends to sleep. When they had finished feasting, Alex put on a bit of a show for his friends. He conjured several large weir lights and sent them rocketing into the night sky like fireworks. When the lights began to look like stars, he would have them burst into dozens of smaller lights that fell slowly, fading just before they touched the ground. The brownies were all delighted by Alex’s show and cheered and clapped well into the night.
“We will be tired in the morning if you don’t stop soon. Our friends have rested for months,” said Sindar. “If we do not rest, they may leave us behind on the frozen waste.”
Alex nodded, and sent one last light into the sky, which burst into a rain of gold and silver sparks as big as coins.
The next morning the brownies said their last good-byes to Alex and Sindar, still cheerful and as full of joy as always. When the last of the brownies disappeared into the woods, Tip turned to look at Alex and Sindar.
“Now, to wake your friends,” said Tip. “All that you need to do is sprinkle a little water on their faces, like a soft rain. They will wake up and remember everything up to the time they went to sleep on the mountain.”
“You have our thanks,” said Sindar, as he and Alex bowed to Tip.
Tip simply waved his hand at them, and then followed the other brownies into the woods, vanishing from sight.
Alex and Sindar took out some water and woke their friends from their long sleep.
“How did we get here?” Andy questioned, sitting up and looking around in confusion. “And where is Val?”
“What happened on the mountain?” Halfdan demanded, wiping his face.
“Did you find the Horn?” Bregnest asked in concern.
“We will explain everything,” said Sindar. “And yes, Alex has recovered the Horn of Moran.”
The story of how Alex and Sindar had gotten the company to the enchanted woods was a good one, but Halfdan continued to ask what they had been doing while stuck there. Bregnest was worried about how much time they had spent in the woods and kept asking how soon they would be able to move. It took some time for everything to be explained, and it was nearly midday before the entire story was told.
“So the evil was with Val?” Bregnest asked sadly.
“He carried it with him for a long time,” said Alex, choosing his words carefully. “He said something about having met the evil on his last adventure.”
“The fault is mine,” said Bregnest. “I asked him to join the company. It is my honor alone that will be touched by this.”
“Not so,” Sindar said. “You could not have known. The evil was well-hidden. Even I was fooled and blinded by it, and that is much harder to do than you may think.”
“Still, the choice was mine,” said Bregnest. “I have lost at least part of my honor.”
“Sindar is correct,” said Alex. “The evil fooled us all. It is darker and more clever than you can believe. Even I, a wizard, did not see it until it was almost too late.”
Bregnest nodded, but said nothing.
“It has all turned out well,” said Halfdan. “The evil was defeated, the treasure recovered, and our goal accomplished.”
“To blame yourself for this is foolish,” added Andy.
“I was leader,” said Bregnest. “I chose Val, and I alone must take the blame.”
“Enough,” said Alex in a stern tone that seemed to shock his friends. “Yes, Bregnest, you are the leader of this company, but there is no blame to be taken. This evil was far beyond your abilities to see, and I won’t hear any more about a loss of honor. The quest has been completed, or almost, and the honor for its success is yours. You may have chosen Val—but you chose the rest of us as well.”
Even Alex was surprised by his sudden outburst, but he felt that he’d said what needed to be said. Bregnest stopped talking about his loss of honor, and the others all looked at Alex in surprise.
“Now then,” Alex said in a softer tone. “We have a long march across the frozen waste and a treasure to divide. I think the treasure should wait until later, but for now, I will deliver the Horn of Moran to you, Bregnest, for safekeeping.”
Alex retrieved the Horn from his magic bag, and, bowing, he offered it to Bregnest. Bregnest seemed hesitant to take it, but after a moment, he accepted it from Alex with a low bow.
“The honor of the Horn’s recovery is yours, my friend,” replied Bregnest. “Though I will carry it as you ask.”
“I recovered it only because you chose me to come on this adventure,” said Alex. “So if my honor grows, so does yours.”
Bregnest nodded and after a moment, cleared his throat. “Alex is right, the treasure from the tower can wait until we have crossed the frozen waste,” he said, sounding like his old self.
Without any more talk they started off into the frozen waste. They all knew how long and hard their march would be, but there was little doubt about the success of their adventure.
As they made camp that first night, Alex retrieved Halfdan’s pot from his magic bag and held it out for his friend to take. “I almost forgot to give this back to you.”
Halfdan looked stunned and was unable to say anything for several seconds. “How?” he finally managed. “It was broken beyond repair.”
“I had time to study my magic over the winter while you were sleeping, and I found a way to repair it,” Alex answered.
Halfdan gently rubbed the iron pot, his eyes filled with wonder.
Alex was pleased that he could give Halfdan something so simple, yet which meant more to his friend than a pile of gold.
The days in the frozen waste passed slowly, and it wasn’t until early on the fourteenth day that they reached the centaurs’ woods.
Usel was waiting for them as they entered the woods, as if he had been expecting them. “We have seen fire on the frozen waste for many nights. We knew that this must mean your return.”
“Our young wizard has been practicing his craft,” replied Bregnest. “His abilities—”
“One of your company is missing,” Usel interrupted.
“Val was lost to evil,” said Bregnest, a dark look crossing his face. “Though it was an evil he chose and carried with him.”
“Then he alone can answer for it,” Usel observed, and without another word, turned and led the company into the woods.
When they reached the centaur village, they found that dozens of tables had been set up around a center table with an elaborate feast laid out for them. The centaurs all seemed much friendlier toward the company than they had been before, and this made Alex and his friends more relaxed as well.
As the feast was coming to an end, Usel asked Bregnest if the company was prepared to make their promised payment. Bregnest said that they were. While the company collected the silver and emeralds that Usel had requested, Usel joined his counselors at a separate table.
“You will each make payment for your own horse,” said Usel. “Though now that there is a horse without a rider, we will not hold you accountable for its care.”
“I will make the payment for the extra horse,” said Bregnest. “As leader of this company, it is my duty and honor to do so.”
“As you wish,” said Usel, bowing slightly.
Usel called each of the company forward in turn, and he and his counselors accepted the payments. The centaurs all bowed as payment was made and thanked each member of the company. Bregnest and the rest of them thanked the centaurs in turn for the excellent care their horses had received.
“I suppose you’ll want to go south as soon as possible,” said Usel.
&n
bsp; “We would be honored to remain in your woods if time permitted,” said Bregnest. “But we have already been on this adventure longer than I thought we would be.”
“Then in the morning you shall depart. But tonight, will you share your story with us?”
“Gladly,” answered Bregnest.
That night Alex and his friends sat around a large fire with Usel and his counselors. Bregnest told most of their tale, though Sindar told the parts after the company had been attacked in front of the Tower of the Moon. Alex noticed that Usel had a strange look on his face when Sindar told about their stay in the enchanted woods, as though he heard more than was being said. Usel made no comments, however, and seemed to accept the story as Sindar told it.
Later that night, as his companions slept, Alex got up and walked away from their camp. He was troubled, thinking about Val and what had happened to him. He wanted to ask Bregnest if Val had an heir, but he didn’t want Bregnest to start blaming himself for Val’s evil again.
“Are you in need of something?” a voice questioned from the darkness.
“No, I am not,” said Alex, looking up at Usel. “I’m just restless and have too many thoughts to sleep.”
“I understand. You are concerned about your friend, Bregnest, and about the adventurer who was lost.”
“Yes, I am. Bregnest believes it is his fault that Val was lost.”
“But surely you have spoken to him about this. He cannot doubt your word that he is not to blame.”
“I don’t know,” Alex replied thoughtfully. “Perhaps he doesn’t doubt what we’ve said, or even really feel that he is to blame. But I know he feels that his honor has been damaged.”
“So it has,” said Usel in a kind and understanding voice. “For when any man does evil, it damages the honor of all.”
“True,” Alex agreed. “Bregnest, however, feels this loss of honor more keenly than the rest of us.”
“He is a man of deep feeling and thought. I think, in time, he will see that his honor has not been damaged greatly.”
“I hope so. He is a good man, and my friend.”
“You think a great deal of your friends,” Usel said softly. “Such friendship speaks well of a man, and may well increase the honor that he holds so dear.”
“You speak wisely, Usel. I wish we could remain with your people for a time. I would like to learn more of your wisdom.”
Usel nodded his head slowly, but did not reply. For a long time Alex and the centaur simply stood in the dark woods, gazing into the night sky. As the moon was sinking into the trees, Usel suggested that Alex get some sleep. Alex agreed even though he wasn’t tired. He thanked Usel for his kindness and quietly made his way back to his blankets.
In the morning, after they had eaten and said their good-byes to Usel and his people, their horses were brought to them. Shahree was eager to be on the road again, and she shook her head and stomped her hoof impatiently. Alex noticed that Val’s horse was with the others, and he wondered what would become of it.
“The horse is yours, Alex,” said Bregnest. “You defeated the evil, and the horse belongs to you now. Also, the treasure that Val offered you in the tower is yours to keep or give away as you please.”
“Did Val have an heir or any family?” Alex asked in a hopeful tone.
“None that I know of,” Bregnest answered. “I will check with Mr. Clutter when we return to Telous, if you wish. Or you might ask the bag maker.”
Alex nodded and took the reins of Val’s horse in his hands. The horse was a kind-looking animal, dark brown with a black mane and tail. Alex wondered what he would do with the horse, but then he thought of the reward for the Horn’s return—a thousand Alusian horses—and shook his head. It seemed that he would have many horses to deal with, once they reached Alusia.
Usel and the other centaurs waved good-bye as they rode into the woods, and they were soon lost to sight in the maze of trees.
Alex and his friends continued forward without talking, each of them thinking his own thoughts, and all of them relieved to be heading south once more.
The winter days were short, and the weather remained cold as they traveled. It sometimes snowed a little at night, but never enough to slow them down for long. Alex continued to send messages to Whalen, though not as many as he had before. He had finished studying the books Whalen had sent him at the end of his first adventure, and now he was looking through the books of the upper library. He decided he’d ask the bag maker to modify his library to expand as needed.
It wasn’t long before the company was back in the valley where they had first seen the goblins. It was midday, and there was no sign that goblins had been using the valley since the last time they had been here. They hurried on, however, not wanting to linger so close to the place where their adventure had nearly come to an end.
“How much time do you think we have left?” Alex asked that night as they sat around their campfire.
“If all goes well, we should reach Alusia well before the spring festival,” Bregnest answered. “The road from Athanor to the arch took me nearly three weeks, so it will probably take us three weeks to return to Athanor with the Horn. And once we get there, we may still have trouble reaching the king. If Kappa has men watching the road with orders to stop us, things could become difficult.”
“I’ll be glad to get to Alusia,” Halfdan commented. “Don’t remember what it’s like to be properly warm.”
“We can travel across the country if we have to,” Sindar said to Bregnest, ignoring Halfdan’s comment. “We will fight our way there if we must.”
“Let’s hope we don’t have to fight our way from the arch to Athanor,” Bregnest replied. “We won’t know anything until we get to Alusia, so it’s pointless to worry now.”
They continued south along the road to Ollvi, meeting no trouble as they traveled. Bregnest seemed more relaxed than he had been, but he still urged the company forward as much as possible. Alex knew that Bregnest’s concern was for his cousin, and he could understand his desire to hurry.
They reached Ollvi just after midday. They found rooms at the same inn where they had stayed before, and then gathered in the main bar to talk. Bregnest thought they should move on early in the morning, but their discussion was cut short by the arrival of Tom Cain.
“Master Taylor,” said Tom. “I heard that you and your friends had returned. I have come to invite you and your company to join my family for your evening meal.”
“You are most kind. However, such a request should be made to our company’s leader,” replied Alex, motioning to Bregnest.
Tom seemed confused, but he soon recovered. “Sir,” he said to Bregnest. “Would you be so kind as to honor us?”
“The honor is ours,” said Bregnest. “My company and I will be pleased to join you.”
Tom, in his excitement, bowed several times before making his way out of the inn. Bregnest chuckled slightly at Tom’s behavior and then returned his attention to the company.
“Well,” said Bregnest, “a fine meal tonight and the road again tomorrow.”
That evening, Alex and Andy led the company to the Cain house. They were both pleased to see that the house looked much better than it had the last time they were in Ollvi. Tom had obviously spent a fair amount of his father’s gold to restore the house to its former glory, and he had done a good job of it.
The Cain family greeted the company at the front door of the house, and Mrs. Cain led them into a large dining room where an excellent meal had been prepared for them. At Mrs. Cain’s request, Bregnest told them the story of how Jonathan Cain’s bag had been recovered. Alex listened to Bregnest’s retelling of the story, both pleased and relieved that his own part in it had not grown with time. After Bregnest had finished the tale, Alex asked Tom how his family was getting along.
“I have managed to regain quite a bit of what my family once owned,” said Tom. “If I could buy some horses for our southern fields, I think we may begin to see some
profits.”
“Are horses hard to find here in Ollvi?” Alex questioned.
“They are not so common as they once were,” Tom answered. “I was hoping to breed horses, but the cost here in Ollvi is high. I suppose I’ll have to buy at least one and ride to Oslansk, or maybe even further south, to get a better price.”
“What price do people here ask for horses?” Alex asked.
“If you can find a horse for sale, which is rare, the price is at least fifty gold coins, usually more. Those who own horses seldom sell them, and so they can demand whatever price they desire.”
“But you need a horse,” said Alex.
“I do,” answered Tom, a slightly confused look on his face.
“Well, you never know, something may turn up.”
After they had finished their meal and thanked Mrs. Cain for her kindness, the company returned to the inn. After his friends had gone to bed, Alex sat down at a table and wrote a short letter to Tom. He explained that the horse was a gift from the company, a thank you for having them all to dinner. Once he finished the note, he went to find the innkeeper. Alex quickly explained what he wanted the innkeeper to do, and the innkeeper seemed to be pleased with Alex’s plan and accepted the letter for Tom Cain. When Alex offered to pay, the innkeeper refused, but bowed to Alex, saying that it was his honor to help.
The next morning, as they prepared to leave, Alex didn’t saddle Val’s horse. Halfdan was quick to question Alex about it, and he seemed stunned by Alex’s answer.
“What do you mean you’re leaving it here?”
“A small gift to a friend,” Alex answered with a grin.
“But this horse has great value here in Ollvi,” Sindar commented. “You could sell it for a high price.”
“Perhaps,” said Alex. “However, he reminds me too much of Val, and I would like to leave that memory behind. Besides, I’m sure he’ll have a good home with the Cain family.”
“You’ll give away all you have one of these days,” said Andy with a laugh.