Slathbog's Gold Page 7

  “We’re leaving the lands of Telous,” said Andy, pointing to one of the posts.

  “What land are we entering now?” Alex asked.

  “This is free land,” said Andy. “It belongs to no one, though the people of Telous come here often to hunt.”

  “Hunt what?”

  “Wild game,” Andy laughed. “This land is too tame for anything more than deer and rabbits.”

  “Oh,” said Alex, annoyed by how little he knew.

  There was little talk as they rode along, the road slipping away beneath them. The large meadows changed to tree-covered hills with smaller meadows between them. Several small streams crossed the road, but none of them were very deep.

  After riding for what seemed like a long time, Alex could see two large hills ahead of them on the road. A large and ancient-looking tower stood on top of each hill. Alex wondered what the towers might be for, and as they continued to move toward them, he felt sure that they marked the great arch. His excitement grew; he wanted to see the magic arch that would let them pass into a new land.

  “We’ll eat here,” said Bregnest, as he dismounted from his horse. “Fill all your water bags and containers. It may be several days before we find good water again.”

  Alex climbed off Shahree with a bit of trouble. He was not used to riding, and his legs felt wobbly once he was standing again. Shahree stood still for him, giving him a look that said, “I understand, and it’s all right.” Alex patted Shahree’s neck softly and thanked the horse under his breath.

  Following Andy to a nearby spring, Alex retrieved the many water bags Andy had insisted he buy. Yesterday, Alex had thought Andy was mad to insist on so many water bags; today, Alex was glad he had them.

  After he’d filled his water bags and stored them in his magic bag, Alex walked stiffly back to the others. They were gathered around a small fire, sitting quietly and watching as Thrang cooked their meal.

  “Final instructions while we eat,” said Bregnest, accepting a plate of food from Thrang. “Then we will arm, and divide some food between us. Am I correct in thinking that we all do not have food in our bags?”

  “All but two have food enough,” Skeld laughed, nodding toward Alex and Andy.

  Alex hadn’t thought of buying food while he and Andy were shopping the day before. Andy hadn’t taken him to any shops to buy food, though now it seemed like an obvious thing to think of. Now it was too late, and Alex had no idea how much food he would need for himself, let alone the other members of his company.

  “I think there will be plenty for all,” said Bregnest with a smile. “It will be a good thing for each of us to have some food in our bags. You never know what might happen on an adventure. Having a little extra food in your bag might make the difference between finishing the quest and starving to death.

  “First, however, the final instructions,” Bregnest continued. “We have all signed the Bargain and know what is expected if any or all of our company should fall. We have also agreed, except for our eighth man, that if any are lost, we will try to find them. The time limit on this search will be thirteen days, as specified in the Adventurer’s Handbook.”

  “Do you agree to this, Alex?” Arconn asked as Bregnest paused.

  “Yes, I agree,” answered Alex.

  “Very well then,” said Bregnest, his tone remaining serious. “After the thirteenth day of searching, the lost person or persons are free to do what seems best to them. If they wish to continue the adventure to its end or return to Telous, none here will say anything against their choice.”

  Alex accepted his own plate from Thrang. The instructions seemed sensible, but he hoped he would not need to remember them later. He wondered how he would ever be able to find his way back to Telous if he got lost.

  “Finally, I wish you all luck,” said Bregnest with a smile.

  “Luck,” the rest of the company said loudly.

  They finished eating in silence; soon Thrang stood to collect the plates. The rest of the company began producing packages of food from their magic bags and giving them to Andy and Alex.

  “Thrang and Arconn will keep the freshest things,” said Skeld. “They’ve got ice rooms in their bags.”

  “Ice rooms?” Alex questioned, looking at Andy.

  “Rooms that stay cold,” Andy answered. “I thought about ordering you one, but I didn’t want to go too far with Thrang’s gold.”

  “A useful room,” said Thrang, as he playfully threw a package of food at Skeld. “You’d be wise to get one if you ever have the chance.”

  “When Slathbog’s hoard is ours, I’ll get one,” Skeld replied as the package bounced off his head.

  The exchange of packages went on for some time, and Alex wondered if he would have room in his bag for everything. With some difficulty, he managed to store everything where he thought he would remember.

  “Time to arm ourselves,” said Bregnest. “We do not know what lies ahead. We should be ready to meet whatever we find.”

  Alex carefully retrieved his new sword from his bag. Once again he thought he could see words mixed in with the gold swirls on the scabbard, and once again they vanished when

  he blinked. Andy showed him how to attach the scabbard

  to his belt and helped him arrange the straps so they looped over his head and shoulder. Alex felt uncomfortable with a sword at his side and hoped his discomfort didn’t show too much.

  The rest of the company armed themselves as well. Bregnest strapped a sword to his side and slung a larger, two-handed sword across his back. He also had a round shield with a bright-red dragon’s head painted on it, which he attached to his saddle.

  Arconn carried a longbow with a quiver of black arrows on his back and a long knife at his side. Thrang carried a large double-headed ax and a short sword. He also had a steel helmet with gold and silver inlays, which Alex saw him return to his bag. He looked fierce, even without his helmet, and Alex was glad he was a friend. Halfdan was equipped much the same as Thrang was, though he didn’t look quite so fierce. Tayo, Skeld, and Andy all carried heavy swords and shields, though Tayo also carried a long spear and Andy looped a fair-sized ax on his belt.

  “Quite a collection,” said Andy. “Now you see why you needed a weapon.”

  “Yes,” said Alex. “But it feels awkward.”

  “You’ll get used to it soon enough,” Andy replied. “It’s best to have a weapon handy when you go into wild lands. You should be able to pick up a good knife or perhaps an ax to go with your sword as we travel.”

  “So where is the great arch?” Alex asked, his voice lowered so only Andy could hear him.

  “Right in front of you,” Andy replied in surprise.

  “I don’t see an arch,” Alex protested.

  “Well, it’s not really an arch. It’s only called the great arch. The two towers and the hills are the base of the arch and the sky is the top.”

  “Oh,” Alex replied, feeling a bit unhappy. He’d expected a grand arch of finely cut stone, but what he saw was something almost common.

  “It is time,” said Bregnest, looking around the group to make sure everyone was ready. “We have a long road ahead of us, and a quest to complete.”

  They all climbed back onto their horses. Alex managed it with more confidence than he’d had that morning, and he gave another grateful pat and thanks to Shahree. Falling into line behind Bregnest and the others, Alex followed the road between the towers on the hills and into his adventure.

  chapter five

  Three-Legged Troll

  Once the company had ridden between the hills that marked the great arch, Alex noticed a change in the landscape. There were no green fields or meadows along the road ahead of them; everything looked brown and dead, like open fields after a long winter. The air was colder on this side of the arch as well, and the thin clouds dimmed the sunlight.

  “Springtime is slow to come in Vargland,” said Tayo, as he rode in front of Alex and Andy. “It will be at least a f
ortnight before anything green appears.”

  “Vargland?” Alex questioned.

  “That’s where we are now,” replied Andy. “We have passed through the arch into Vargland and its wilderness.”

  Tayo grunted. “Tame enough here,” he said over his shoulder. “Not many wild things live near an arch.”

  “Why is that?” Alex asked.

  “Good magic, maybe,” Tayo replied.

  “Do many people come to Vargland?”

  “Not so many in recent years,” Tayo answered, as he looked at the land around them.

  “I’m surprised there isn’t a town or village closer to the arch,” said Alex.

  “Not many people live near an arch,” said Skeld with a smile. “Maybe that’s good magic too.”

  “More good sense than good magic,” said Tayo.

  “Why’s that?” Alex questioned.

  “There have never been a lot of people in the north of Vargland,” answered Tayo. “And just because the great arch is here doesn’t mean a lot of people travel this way. If you were a trader, you could make a better living in the south and not have to face the dangers of these wilder lands.”

  The sun was low in the western sky when Bregnest finally halted the company for the night. The wind that had started blowing late that afternoon grew in strength, and the clouds that had followed them all day were growing darker. The smell of rain filled the cold air as they made their camp, and there were distant flashes of lightning. Skeld and Tayo attended to the horses while the rest of the company set up the small tents they had brought with them. Alex thought it would probably rain before morning, maybe even snow with as cold as the wind felt.

  “Here now, Alex,” said Thrang, waving Alex closer. “I’ll teach you a bit of magic you’ll find useful on the road.”

  “All right,” said Alex in an uneasy tone. He knew the others thought he had magical powers, but he still thought it had to be a mistake.

  “Right then,” said Thrang briskly. “Now, watch closely. Inferno!” Thrang commanded, one hand pointing at the small pile of wood he’d gathered.

  A branch burst into flame. The fire quickly spread to the rest of the wood, and Alex could feel the heat on his skin.

  “Now pay attention,” said Thrang to Alex. He pointed at the fire once more. “Quench.”

  As quickly as the flames had appeared, they vanished and the branches were left cold and burnt. Alex put his hand near the pile, but there was no heat at all, and no smoke rose from the branches.

  “Good to know how to put out a fire quick if enemies are near,” Thrang explained with a smile. “Now you try.”

  Alex scratched his nose as he looked from the branches to Thrang and back again. He knew nothing would happen if he tried to copy Thrang’s magic, but he also knew Thrang was eager for him to try it just the same.

  “Inferno,” said Alex loudly, pointing at the pile of branches.

  Nothing happened.

  “Oh, you need to think of fire,” Thrang said. “And I mean really think about it—the heat, the smell, the sound. Focus all of your thoughts on the fire when you give the command.”

  Alex wondered for a moment if Thrang was toying with him. But seeing the sincere look on his new friend’s face convinced him that it wasn’t a joke, so he took a deep breath. He thought about the fires at the Golden Swan—how they looked, how they felt—and tried again.

  “Inferno!” Alex commanded.

  As soon as the word had left his mouth, the entire pile of branches burst into flame. Thrang staggered back, slapping out several sparks that had jumped from the fire into his beard.

  “Well done!” Thrang exclaimed, smoke rising from his beard. “Though maybe next time, you should concentrate on a single branch, not the whole pile.”

  “Sorry,” said Alex, amazed by what he’d just done. “I wasn’t sure it would work.”

  “’Course it works,” Thrang replied with a grunting laugh while continuing to check his beard for sparks. “Now try to put it out. Just think of a plain pile of branches, or a cold pile of ash this time.”

  Alex scratched his nose again and thought about the branches without any fire. He was surprised and a little pleased he’d managed to copy Thrang’s magic on his first real try.

  “Quench.”

  The flames flickered for a moment and went out, a large cloud of smoke rising from the wood. Alex staggered slightly, feeling dizzy. Thrang caught Alex by the arm to steady him.

  “Well done indeed,” said Thrang, slapping Alex on the shoulder. “Most people can’t even get the flame to flicker on their first try.”

  “Why was it harder to put out the fire than it was to start it?” Alex asked.

  “Always harder to put out a fire,” said Thrang. “Fire’s an adventurer’s ally most of the time. It’s hard to give it up.”

  “I see,” said Alex thoughtfully. “And why was I dizzy?”

  “All magic has a price,” Thrang answered. “Even something as simple as starting and putting out a fire. As you practice, your powers will grow stronger and you won’t even notice the price for such simple magic.”

  “Can anyone learn to start fires with magic?”

  “Not if they don’t have magic in them to begin with,” Thrang replied. “Halfdan doesn’t have any magic at all, so he could think about fire and say the word for years and nothing at all would happen.”

  “You have magic,” said Alex. “Does that mean you could become a wizard if you tried?”

  “Ha,” Thrang laughed. “I’ve got a bit of dwarf magic in me, but not near enough to be a wizard. Not if I worked at it for the rest of my days would I be able to do magic like a true and trained wizard.”

  “If you two have finished playing with that pile of wood, you might light it for the evening and leave it burning,” said Skeld as he walked toward them. “Or did you intend for it to blink off and on all night?”

  “Perhaps we should light you instead,” Thrang replied in a serious tone, though he was smiling.

  “Can you light other things, besides wood?” Alex asked, interested by the idea.

  “Hmm, what?” said Thrang, distracted by Skeld. “Course you can, what do you think? Though it’s harder with some things than others. Dry branches are the easiest.”

  Thrang took a step back from the pile of branches, protecting his beard with his hand. “Go on then,” he said.

  “Inferno,” said Alex, this time concentrating on a single branch instead of the whole pile.

  Again the flames appeared, but this time only on the branch he intended. The fire quickly spread to the other branches, and once more Alex could feel the warmth of the flames. Alex watched the fire grow, pleased with both his new ability and the fact he hadn’t felt as dizzy as when he’d put the fire out.

  “That may be handy come morning,” said Bregnest, walking up to the fire. “Smells like rain, but the wind promises snow.”

  Bregnest was right about the rain, which started falling softly as they ate their evening meal. By the time they had finished eating, the fire was smoking and flickering out. They sat and watched the embers fade as the rain fell, not ready to go to bed but with little else to do.

  “Best put some blankets on the horses,” said Tayo when the last ember of the fire turned black.

  Without speaking, they all walked to where the horses were tied. Alex took a heavy blanket from his magic bag and gently placed it over Shahree’s back. Shahree shook her head and looked at Alex in a grateful sort of way, as if to thank him. Alex patted her neck and wondered why he had ever been afraid of horses.

  * * *

  Waking with a start, Alex saw Skeld’s laughing face above him.

  “Time to be up, my friends,” Skeld laughed loudly. “And here’s a little something for you,” he added, throwing a bit of snow into the tent.

  “Get out!” Andy shouted, his normal happy expression replaced by a look of pain.

  When Alex sat up he understood Andy’s pained expression.
His whole body ached, and his legs felt like they might fall off. Slowly he pulled on his pants, but his boots seemed like too much work.

  “I’ve never felt so sore,” Alex said, looking at Andy, who was pulling on one of his own boots and trying desperately not to fall over while doing it.

  “It’s the riding,” Andy replied. “It will take a few days to get used to it.”

  Alex nodded but said nothing. The only part of his body that didn’t hurt was his head, and he thought talking too much might change that. Slowly, he pulled his boots toward him and tried to slip them on.

  “Here is a pretty sight,” Skeld laughed, as Alex and Andy emerged from their tent. “It seems they’ve aged a hundred years in just one night.”

  “Oh, shut up,” Andy snapped grumpily.

  Several inches of wet snow covered the ground, but the clouds had blown away during the night, a pale line of them just visible across the eastern horizon.

  “Here,” said Thrang, walking up to Alex and Andy and holding out a canteen. “Take a sip of this, but no more than a sip.”

  Alex took the canteen from Thrang, sniffed it, and sipped a little of the liquid. He felt the cool liquid slide down his throat, but didn’t taste anything strange and handed the canteen to Andy. He tried to ask Thrang what was in the canteen, but the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth. As soon as he had swallowed, all his pains had disappeared.

  “Ancient dwarf remedy,” Thrang laughed, seeing the look on Alex’s face. “Takes the soreness out of muscle and joint. It’ll take a few days for us all to get used to traveling again.”

  Alex looked at Andy, who grinned. Stretching carefully, Alex found that Thrang was right—his aches and pains were completely gone.

  “Thank you,” said Alex. “That really does the trick.”

  Thrang bowed slightly and then laughed. He walked off to the campfire as he sipped from the canteen.