Slathbog's Gold - Forman Mark L. Страница 13

“Tomorrow’s a big day,” said Andy, climbing into a large bed on one side of the room. “A new adventure to begin, and who knows how it will end.”

“Do you think we’ll succeed?” Alex questioned, climbing into his own bed.

“Only fate knows our end,” Andy replied. “Like Skeld, I’ll not run from my destiny.”

“Are you and Skeld from the same country?” Alex asked, thinking how alike the two men seemed to be.

“The same land,” Andy answered, turning down his bedside lamp. “Skeld, Tayo, and I all come from Norsland.”

“Will you tell me about your homeland sometime?” Alex asked, turning down his own lamp. “I mean, if you don’t mind.”

“Happily,” Andy replied. “But for now, sleep is more important for both of us.”

“Good night then,” said Alex, pulling his covers up.

Andy didn’t answer and he already seemed to be asleep. Alex felt tired, but his excitement and wonder kept him awake for some time. His fears about returning to the Happy Dragon and Mr. Roberts had completely vanished from his mind. Now his thoughts were on this adventure he’d somehow stumbled into, and he wondered what new things he would learn tomorrow.

Without noticing, Alex fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of the adventure to come. It was a restful dream, full of fun and good friends. He saw great mounds of treasure, and magical items that made him laugh. As he slept, his dreams shifted from treasure and fun to something darker, something he thought he knew but could not name.

Alex woke with a start, sitting straight up in bed and staring into the darkness around him. His heart raced and cold sweat covered his face. He had seen something in his dream, something terrifying. Whatever it was, it had tried to reach out to him, tried to get hold of him. The dream had been so real. Even as he considered what he might have seen, the fear was fading from his mind and the cold inside of him was slipping away. Slowly Alex’s heart stopped pounding in his ears and he lay back on his bed. It wasn’t long before he was asleep once more, and all his fears and thoughts of darkness were lost in a dreamless sleep.

chapter four

The Great Arch

The next morning Alex awoke with his bed shaking under him. At first he thought it was his stepbrother, Todd, trying to shake him awake. He rolled over. He had been having a wonderful dream about adventures and magic and he didn’t want the dream to end.

“You’ll be late for breakfast,” said Andy, pulling on his boots and stamping his feet on the floor. “If you don’t hurry, you won’t get anything at all.”

Alex jumped out of bed, remembering that this wasn’t a dream. He wason an adventure, and there just might be magic. With a rush of happiness, he pulled on his new clothes. He knew Andy was joking about not getting any breakfast, but the adventure started today and he didn’t want to miss any of it.

Alex walked to the basin and washed his face and hands. The cold water washed away any desire he had for more sleep. His dreams had faded from his memory, and the thoughts that had troubled him the day before had vanished as well.

“Bring your bag with you,” said Andy, standing at the door. “We’ll be leaving as soon as we’re done eating.”

Alex put his old clothes into his magic bag as fast as he could and pulled the bag’s strap over his shoulder and head. He looked around the room to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, and then followed Andy into the hallway. They made their way back to the dining room where they had eaten the night before, and found Arconn waiting for them.

“Where is everybody?” Alex asked in concern. “We’re not too late are we?”

“Not late at all,” replied Arconn, ringing the golden bell. “Though you’re not as early as you might have been.”

Servants once again appeared at the sound of the bell, bringing breakfast for Alex and Andy.

“The others have gone to collect the horses,” Arconn said, taking a piece of toast. “You’ll have time to eat before they return.”

Alex and Andy didn’t waste any time, but started piling eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes on their plates, and eating at full speed. After several minutes with only the noise of their utensils, Andy broke the silence.

“The others were up early,” he said, spitting bits of toast on the table. “I thought we’d all eat together.”

“The others have many concerns,” said Arconn. “They are less in need of sleep and more in need of doing.”

“Did they sleep at all?” Andy asked, pushing his chair back from the table and looking at the dark window. “It’s not even daybreak yet.”

“We’ve all slept,” Arconn replied, smiling. “And daybreak isn’t far off.”

“How far away is the great arch?” Alex questioned, pushing his own chair back.

“Two hours’ hard ride,” answered Arconn. “But we should get there in about four hours. Perhaps a little more. I doubt we’ll pass through the arch until after our midday meal.”

“And Bregnest still needs to give us final instructions,” Andy added, looking at Alex.

“Final instructions?”

“What to do if you get separated from the group, or lost, or something,” Andy answered. “You know, just in case.”

“Or in case you run into trouble that the company needs to know about,” Arconn added.

“Aren’t we all traveling together?” Alex asked in alarm.

“Yes, we are,” said Arconn with a slight laugh. “But you never know what might happen on an adventure. It’s best to be prepared.”

“If you’re finished, Alex,” Andy said, “we should probably head to the stables.”

Alex swallowed the last bite of his breakfast. “I’ve never ridden a horse,” he said, sounding more nervous than he would have liked.

“Don’t worry,” said Andy, patting Alex on the shoulder. “Bregnest picked good horses. I don’t imagine you could fall off unless you really tried. Maybe not even then.”

“Yes, but—”

“He’s quite right,” said Arconn, standing up. “Bregnest is a good judge of horses as well as of men. You have nothing to worry about.”

Alex was worried, though, even with Arconn’s reassurance. He’d never been up close to a horse, not because he’d never had the chance, but because they scared him. They were big and seemed to know things about people. Alex remembered when Todd had been bitten by a horse. Somehow the horse had known Todd was up to something he shouldn’t have been. Alex remembered the look in the horse’s eyes and he had stayed clear of horses ever since.

“These are for you,” said Arconn, handing Alex a package as they walked to the front of the Golden Swan. “I thought they might be useful.”

“Thank you,” said Alex, slightly puzzled. He thought about all the gear he and Andy had bought the previous day and wondered what they could have forgotten.

Opening the package, Alex found two books. The first was a thin book bound in black leather. Adventurer’s Handbookwas written on the cover in silver letters. The second book was much larger and its binding was made of something Alex didn’t recognize. There was nothing written on the cover of the second book, and when he opened it, Alex saw that the pages were covered in strange markings he couldn’t read.

“What is it?” Alex asked.

“It is a book of magic,” Arconn answered in a serious tone. “It will teach you many things you may need to know on this adventure. However, it will teach you only a small part of what you will need to know if you want to be a wizard.”

“But I can’t read the writing,” Alex said softly, not wanting to offend Arconn.

“I don’t imagine you can,” said Arconn, a smile returning to his face. “But in time you will learn how to read this book, and I will help you as much as I can.”

“But you’re not a wizard,” said Alex without thinking. “I mean, you said before that—”

“You are correct.” Arconn laughed. “I am not a wizard and could never be one. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some magic of my own.”