Slathbog's Gold - Forman Mark L. Страница 52

Alex laughed and threw a bit of bread at Skeld before asking where he could take a bath. Skeld led him to a smaller room at the back of the house where a huge tub was already filled with hot water. Fine new clothes and polished boots were sitting to one side of the tub.

The hot water felt wonderful and Alex relaxed, alone with his thoughts. He wondered how Calysto had managed to call him back, and why Arconn had said that her call had been more like a demand. The food and the bath helped clear his thoughts, but he couldn’t seem to remember exactly what had happened after the company reached the forest. He felt like he should remember, and the fact that he couldn’t troubled him.

The sun was sinking into the forest when Alex returned to his friends once more. They all seemed excited for the feast to start, and pleased that the feast was in Alex’s honor. Alex was slightly embarrassed by it all, thinking that he hadn’t really done anything worthy of a feast. As shadows covered the meadow, a tall elf appeared in the doorway of the house. He smiled and asked them to follow him to the celebration.

“It will be a grand feast,” said the elf as they walked into the woods. “Our people have been arriving all day. From what I hear, the kitchens have pulled out all the stops as well.”

Alex laughed at the elf’s excitement, which reminded him a great deal of his young friend, Thrain. He wondered how old this elf might be, before remembering that elves did not age like men or dwarfs. He glanced at Arconn who was walking beside him, remembering how old his friend had looked after calling him back from the wall the first time.

“Are you troubled?” Arconn asked, noticing Alex’s glance.

“Not really,” Alex replied. “I was just wondering why you looked so old the morning after the wraiths attacked me.”

“It was not age you saw,” said Arconn with a faint smile. “You saw me after a great effort, an effort that took me to a place few elves ever go.”

“I am sorry I took you there,” Alex said softly so only Arconn could hear him.

“Do not be,” said Arconn. “I have long wanted to see the wall, and now I have. Though having seen it, I would not willingly return. Enough of this talk, we have arrived.”

They walked into a vast meadow lit by hundreds of silver lamps. The meadow was crowded with elves sitting at long tables or carrying serving trays. Off to one side, a choir of elves sang happily, while more elves appeared from the trees around the clearing.

“The lady Calysto bids you all to her table,” said the tall elf, bowing.

Alex and his companions followed the elf through the crowded meadow toward Calysto’s table. As they walked, many of the elves stopped what they were doing and bowed to the company, while others simply smiled and nodded.

Calysto’s table sat above the others on a raised wooden platform so that it overlooked the other tables. Chairs ran alongside one side of the table, and in the center chair sat Calysto, smiling as her guests approached.

“Welcome, my friends,” said Calysto in her musical voice. “We are pleased you could join us.”

“The honor is truly ours,” replied Bregnest, beginning to bow but then stopping himself.

Alex barely had time to wonder about Bregnest’s unfinished bow before he and his companions were shown to their places at Calysto’s table. Alex sat on Calysto’s right; an important-looking elf sat to his right. Calysto introduced him as Delinus, the chamberlain of the dark forest.

“Let the feast begin,” said Calysto as soon as Alex had taken his seat.

The feast was as good as any he’d ever attended, and it was not only the food that took away his troubled thoughts and worries. The happiness on the faces of the elf host, mixed with their singing and fair voices laughing, left Alex feeling like nothing bad could ever happen again.

Looking along the table, Alex saw Skeld joking loudly with the elves beside him. Andy was trying to sing an elfin song, and even Tayo smiled as he sat listening to the elf choir singing. All too soon the feast ended, the plates and food cleared away, and the elves grew quiet.

“A final toast,” said Calysto, rising from her chair. “To he who vanquished the shadows!”

“To he who vanquished the shadows!” the elf host shouted, raising their cups and drinking.

Alex turned bright red at the toast, but managed to hide his embarrassment by drinking from his own cup. The elves all cheered again and started to sing as the feast ended. Alex remained seated, listening to the happy voices all around him and wishing that this night could go on forever.

“Will you walk with me?” asked Calysto, leaning close so that only Alex could hear her.

“As you wish,” said Alex, rising from his chair.

Calysto smiled and, taking Alex’s hand, led him away from the meadow. They walked in silence for a time, and the happy voices faded behind them.

“You are still troubled,” said Calysto softly as they walked through the trees. “You feel that something is missing. That you have forgotten something important.”

“You see much,” answered Alex, looking at Calysto.

Her face seemed to shine with an inner light, as though a hidden fire or power burned inside of her.

“So, it seems, do you,” she replied. “Do you remember what has passed between us?”

“Do you mean after I woke, or before?” Alex asked, afraid of what her answer would be.

“Before,” said Calysto, her smile still in place.

“I do not remember everything,” answered Alex. “Though I feel that I should.”

Calysto stopped walking and turned to face Alex. For what seemed like a long time there was no sound at all, just Calysto looking deeply into Alex’s eyes. Then Alex felt as if a light had suddenly been turned on inside his head, a light that showed him the darkest corners of his own mind.

Alex blinked several times before speaking. He felt like he’d just woken up, but he knew he had not. He looked at Calysto’s face, remembering her as he had seen her before, when she met him at the edge of the shadowlands.

“Your memories have returned,” Calysto said at last, breaking the spell of silence. “I hope they will not be a burden to you.”

“I am sorry I forced you to come there,” said Alex, shaking slightly. “I did not . . . I did not mean for that to happen.”

“It was a near thing,” said Calysto, smiling again. “Almost you convinced me to cross the wall with you. But it seems your bonds here were stronger than your desire to leave.” She placed a gentle hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Do not be troubled. I came of my own free will, and place no blame for what happened on you.”

Alex nodded his thanks, unable to speak.

Calysto took his hand again and began walking. “You have great power in you, my young friend,” she said at last. “Greater than of anyone I have ever met.”

“A power I can’t control,” replied Alex. “And as long as I do not control it, it is a danger to others, as it was to you.”

“Then you know the path you must take,” said Calysto. “A wizard’s path is often a lonely one, but know that you will always find friends here.”

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course,” Calysto answered, smiling, her face beaming in the moonlight.

“Why did Bregnest stop himself from bowing to you?”

“Oh,” said Calysto, and laughed softly in surprise. “Your friends have forgotten to tell you—you have all been named elf friends. And as elf friends, there is no need for bows, though I think Bregnest finds this practice troublesome.”

“Among adventurers, bowing is a way of showing respect,” said Alex, smiling.

“Among elves and elf friends, respect is already known so there is no need for the show. Though as you saw, some of my own people have adopted your custom. I think your friend Bregnest was trying to show his respect by not bowing tonight.”

They walked in silence for a time, Alex’s thoughts less troubled than they had been since the start of his adventure. He knew now exactly what he had to do, and what he had to become. He also knew that, with time, he would make his friends proud.