The Horn of Moran - Forman Mark L - Страница 7

“Right you are,” said Mr. Clutter. “I’ll make a note of that. I see you’re already wearing comfortable clothes, very wise that, but you might want to loosen your belt before going, just in case.”

“Yes, of course,” said Alex, reaching down to undo the buckle on his belt. “Wouldn’t want things to be too tight.”

“It’s time to go,” said Bregnest, walking to a large wardrobe that stood against the wall between two bookshelves.

“Enjoy yourselves,” said Mr. Clutter, as Bregnest opened the wardrobe door and stepped inside.

Val followed Bregnest, but Alex stood by the door for a moment, a strange feeling of doubt in the back of his mind. He decided it was just nervous excitement and pushed the feeling aside, hurrying to follow Bregnest and Val into the darkness.

* * *

The trip through Mr. Clutter’s wardrobe was, to say the least, very strange. Alex thought he knew what to expect, having gone through Mr. Clutter’s back door on his last adventure. This journey, however, was something entirely different. When he first stepped into the wardrobe, everything seemed to go dark around him. Then, before he knew what was happening, he found himself sitting in a chair inside the main room of the Golden Swan. He shook his head and looked around in disbelief. He had no idea how he’d suddenly gone from walking to sitting, and he laughed at his own surprise.

“A bit strange, isn’t it?” said Val from the chair next to him. “I’ve always preferred the back door myself.”

“I think I do too.”

“About time you lot showed up,” said a voice that Alex recognized as his dwarf friend Halfdan. “Been wondering if you’d be here in time for the midday meal.”

“I see your patience has not improved,” replied Alex, as he fastened his belt once more.

Halfdan gave a grunting laugh, and pulled Alex into a friendly hug. Alex laughed as well, but before he could say anything else, he heard another voice calling his name.

“I see you’ve grown a bit, Master Goodseed,” said Alex as his friend Andy hurried over.

“Oh, not so much,” answered Andy.

Alex, Andy, and Halfdan all started talking at the same time. They all had a great deal of news to share, and even more questions to ask.

Bregnest stood behind them, finally clearing his throat to get their attention.

“If you three can contain yourselves for a moment,” Bregnest began. “Alex, you need to be introduced to Sindar, and the rest of you need to be introduced to Sedric Valenteen.”

“Our apologies, Master Bregnest,” said Halfdan with a deep bow. “We were overcome with joy. We won’t let it happen again.”

Bregnest laughed and led them all into a private dining room in the back of the Swan. The introductions were made, and then Bregnest rang a golden bell that had been sitting on the table. At the sound of the bell, servants brought their meal into the room and then the adventurers were left alone to dine and discuss their plans.

To Alex’s surprise, Bregnest didn’t start talking about the adventure they were about to begin. Instead he let the group talk about whatever they wanted to talk about, while listening to what they had to say.

“We will discuss the adventure later,” Bregnest said, noticing Alex’s questioning look. “And your friends here can tell you about the rest of our former company—that is if you can get them to stop asking you questions.”

They all laughed at his comment and were soon lost in conversation. Alex told his friends about his studies and about his father being an adventurer. He learned that his elf friend Arconn was on another adventure, and that Halfdan’s cousin, Thrang, had been made a minister in the dwarf realm of Thraxon. It was only when they were finishing their meal that Alex was finally able to ask about his friends Skeld and Tayo.

“When did they find wives?” Alex questioned. “They’ve only been gone for six months. And part of that time was spent getting home, wasn’t it?”

“It was on our way home,” answered Andy. “We were all traveling through Norsland together and along the way we had to pass through Oslansk, one of the bigger cities in the area. While we were there, the two of them met a pair of sisters.”

“Sisters?”

“Sisters,” Andy confirmed. “We stayed in Oslansk for a week, and before we left, Skeld asked the younger sister—Lilly—to marry him. That would have been surprising enough, but just as we were leaving, Tayo asked the older sister, Indigo, if she would marry him.”

“And they’re both settling down in Oslansk?” Alex questioned.

“Perhaps not settling down, but I don’t think Lilly or Indigo will let them go on an adventure for awhile.”

“It seems their wealth has caught up to them,” said Bregnest. “Perhaps they will be less frivolous on their next adventure.”

“They’ve planned the weddings so that we could all be there when we pass through Oslansk,” Andy continued. “And Bregnest has agreed that we should stay for the week of feasting that will follow the weddings.”

“It’s early spring, and the road we must follow is still covered in several feet of snow,” said Bregnest. “Besides, without Thrang to cook for us, I thought we’d better enjoy as much feasting as we can. Though I’m sure he has taught his cousin here a thing or two about cooking.”

“Indeed he has,” said Halfdan. “And I will endeavor to live up to my cousin’s reputation.”

“You’re cooking for us on this adventure, Halfdan?” Alex asked.

“Yes, I am.”

“That’s good,” said Alex, elbowing Andy in the ribs. “I was afraid Bregnest would ask me to do the cooking, and then our whole adventure would be in terrible peril.”

Chapter Three

Norsland

Once the questions were answered and news shared, Bregnest suggested that Alex go and check his saddle and gear that he had left in Telous.

“Shahree will be in high spirits to see you again,” Bregnest added as Alex moved toward the door. “Though your separation has been longer for you than for her.”

Alex knew time ran differently in the world he had lived in for almost sixteen years than it did here in the magical lands he had discovered. He wondered exactly how long it had been since he left Telous.

When Alex entered the stables of the Golden Swan, a loud whinny welcomed him. Smiling, he walked over to a familiar silver-gray horse and started rubbing her neck.

“Well, Shahree, it looks like you have been well cared for.”

Shahree snorted loudly and shook her head up and down in answer.

Alex laughed and continued to rub the horse’s neck. “Looks like we’ll be off again soon. I hope you’re ready for another adventure.”

Shahree nuzzled his shoulder, and Alex could feel her excitement to be on the road again.

“I see that Calysto did not say enough,” a voice commented behind Alex.

He turned around and saw Sindar standing at the stable door.

“The two of you are close,” Sindar went on as he crossed to stand by Alex. “Closer than any horse and man I have ever seen.”

“We have shared a lot,” said Alex, turning back to Shahree. “And there is great trust and understanding between us.”

“So I see. And I think Calysto must be right about you.”

“In what way?”

“She told me that you were more like an elf than any human she had ever met,” Sindar answered, reaching out and rubbing Shahree’s forehead. “And she said that I would be lucky to go on an adventure with you.”

“How long has it been since you last spoke with Calysto?”

“The new moon has appeared five times since I left the dark forest.”

“She showed our company great kindness,” said Alex. “Myself most of all.”

“I have heard the story, though Calysto would not tell me everything that had passed between the two of you.”

Alex remained silent.

“I will not ask you to tell me what she would not; it is not my place. I only thought it strange.”