Slathbog's Gold - Forman Mark L. Страница 30

Alex handed the note to Bregnest, who read it out loud while Alex examined the book more closely. The pages were covered with tight, spidery writing and there were drawings of different plants and animals, many of which Alex did not recognize.

“The lady calls you friend,” Tayo commented, sounding impressed. “It is a great honor for an oracle to call you friend.”

“What’s the book then?” asked Thrang, pushing toward Alex.

“I’m not sure,” said Alex, looking up. “I can’t read what’s written in it.”

“What?” said Thrang in surprise. “You don’t know how to read?”

“I can read,” Alex protested. “But the writing in the book is like the magic book that Arconn gave me.”

“It’s elfin,” said Arconn, looking over Alex’s shoulder. “This appears to be a book of herb craft and healing potions.”

“Elfin?” Alex asked in wonder. “Is the magic book written in elf too?”

Arconn smiled at Alex’s question and looked at the note that Bregnest handed to him.

“The other book is a magic book, one not written by elves,” replied Arconn, handing the note back to Alex. “Though many people use elfin letters in their writing because it is easier to express your true meaning with them. You have not looked at the magic book for a long time now, have you?”

“I haven’t really thought about it,” said Alex, feeling ashamed that he had neglected Arconn’s gift.

“Then we shall make time from now on,” said Arconn firmly, patting Alex’s shoulder. “I will teach you the elfin letters so you can read this book and the magic book as well.”

“You are most kind,” Alex replied with a bow. “I am in your debt.”

“Not at all,” said Arconn, returning the bow.

Alex took his new book back to the sleeping house. Carefully, he tucked Iownan’s note inside the front cover, and then thumbed through some of the pages.

“You are eager to start then?” questioned Arconn from the doorway.

“Yes,” replied Alex, looking up at Arconn. “I have a lot to learn.”

“As do we all,” said Arconn. “Shall we begin?”

“Yes, please.”

For the rest of the evening Arconn sat beside Alex in the sleeping house teaching him the elfin way of writing. By the time Thrang called them to join the rest of the company for dinner, Alex had already learned the names and shapes of most of the elfin letters as well as how the letters joined to form words.

“You’ve done well,” Arconn beamed at Alex. “I have never seen a man take to the elfin language so quickly. Most humans have great difficulty with the ways of elves.”

“It seems natural,” said Alex. “It’s like this is something I already know and only need to remember.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” said Arconn in a thoughtful way.

“And I’m not sure I can explain,” replied Alex. “It’s like when I first saw my sword. I thought I could read something written in the swirls of gold, but when I blinked it was gone. What you’re teaching me now is like that, only different.”

“Then let us hope what you learn today is not gone tomorrow,” said Arconn with a laugh.

Alex followed Arconn out of the sleeping house to join the rest of their companions in the second house. It was almost dark, but the moon was rising in the east. Alex looked up at the tower as they walked and wondered why Iownan could not join them. He felt sad and a little troubled that she could not be with them.

After eating another grand meal, Alex walked to the stables while the others headed to the sleeping house. Bregnest was telling them about his first adventure, but Alex wanted to see Shahree.

Shahree whinnied as Alex entered the stable and moved toward him in her stall. Alex stroked her forehead gently with his fingers but did not speak. He gazed into the horse’s eyes, remembering how they had once scared him. Now he found comfort in those eyes, the comfort of a trusted friend.

Alex hoped Iownan would appear in the stable again, but she did not. After several minutes of waiting and thinking, he patted Shahree’s neck and said goodnight to the horse. He walked out into the moonlight and looked up at the White Tower. Alex knew he and the others would soon leave this place and the thought made him sad.

Returning to the sleeping house, Alex found Arconn telling a story about the ancient elves. Alex listened closely and when Arconn would speak a name in the elfin language, he thought—or rather felt—he knew what it meant, though he could not explain the meaning in words.

Alex went to sleep that night with the elfin words in his mind, dreaming of things from the distant past.

* * *

The next morning as they were finishing breakfast, Bregnest stood to speak to the company. He had a stern look on his face, but he seemed happy just the same.

“Tomorrow we will depart,” he said. “The parting will be a sad one, but our adventure and our quest are still ahead of us.”

“Sad for Thrang and his loss of ale,” Skeld commented, elbowing Thrang in the side.

“Sad for us all, I think,” said Tayo. “It will be long before we eat such fine meals in such fine surroundings again.”

“So eat while you can. I won’t cook so much or so well on the road,” said Thrang, laughing softly.

The day was warm and sunny and Alex walked in the courtyard and the nearby gardens. That afternoon, Arconn sat with him in the gardens, teaching him more of the elfin writing in his new book. Alex almost asked about the magic book he had ignored for so long, but then Arconn began teaching him to speak the elfin words out loud.

As darkness filled the courtyard, Rothgar appeared and again asked them to forgive Iownan for not joining them.

“My lady will see you in the morning,” said Rothgar. “She wishes to speak to you all before you depart.”

“We will await the lady’s arrival,” Bregnest replied with a deep bow.

Alex and his friends were subdued but happy that night at dinner. Skeld told them a story of when his company had been surrounded by bandits and almost killed. With a great deal of luck and a very clever plan, they had managed not only their escape, but also to capture many bandit horses as well. Alex’s thoughts were not on Skeld’s story, though he pretended to listen and managed to smile and laugh at all the right places. He was thinking of the road ahead of them and the troubles they might meet. He knew little about this wild land and less about adventures, but he knew enough to be concerned.

Once more after the evening meal, he went to the stables to see Shahree. Once more, he hoped Iownan would appear and talk to him. Once more, she did not. Alex thought about Iownan and her kindness as he rubbed Shahree’s forehead. He thought of her words at their first dinner in the tower, and he wondered what it was she would ask them to do.

There were no stories that night in the sleeping house, and little talk. Everyone was busy checking their bags and making sure everything was ready for their departure in the morning. Bregnest rang the gong and asked the girl who appeared to bring him paper and pen. The girl bowed and departed, returning quickly with the requested items. Alex wondered why Bregnest had asked for something to write with, but he didn’t ask.

Before the sun was up the next morning, Alex and his friends had gathered in the second house. Breakfast was waiting for them when they entered and they ate quickly and with little talk. Alex knew he was not the only one who would be sorry to leave the White Tower behind. When they finished their meal, Skeld, Tayo, and Halfdan went to the stables to saddle all the horses, while Alex and the others returned to the sleeping house to make sure nothing had been left behind.

When they exited the sleeping house, Iownan was waiting for them in the courtyard with her servants behind her, each one holding many parcels. She smiled kindly at them all, bowing slightly first to Alex and then to Bregnest. Alex blushed at the honor as he returned Iownan’s bow. Iownan waited as Tayo, Skeld, and Halfdan brought the horses from the stable and joined their companions.