Alex realized for the first time how similar his life was to Kat’s. He would probably live a long time as a wizard; Whalen had told him as much. How would he feel when his friends—the people who had taught him so much and been with him on his adventures—grew old and died? It was difficult to think about, but he knew it would happen.
“We should be going,” Alex said after several minutes of silence.
“I thought you said we wouldn’t reach Darvish today,” said Thrang.
“We won’t, but the dragon will,” Alex answered. “We’ll let the people of Darvish see the dragon today so the crowds can gather for tomorrow.”
“And then you’ll take us all to the city?” Thrain questioned.
“No, I will take only Kat,” Alex answered. “I will find a place close to the city for us to camp. Then tomorrow, before dawn, the rest of you will walk to the city. I will join you in the crowd later. After all, I don’t want to change into my human form in front of the crowd.”
“And I will be left alone to try to enter the tower,” Kat said sadly.
“You will enter the tower and become the oracle,” Alex said confidently. “After I deliver you to the tower, you will dismiss me as if I were your servant. That will help build your legend and reputation. I will fly away and vanish from the city, returning as a bird and meeting the others in the waiting crowds.”
“Very well,” said Kat. “I see the wisdom of your plan. I just hope I can enter the empty tower without going mad.”
“You willbe the oracle,” Alex said again.
“How can you be so certain?” Kat questioned.
“Why else would you be traveling with a dragon?” Alex laughed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Oracle Returns
It was almost midday before Alex found a hiding place for them near the city of Darvish. He’d managed to slip into the trees near the road without being seen, and he left his friends there to make camp. Alex took flight once more and deliberately flew low over the city. He let out a great roar as he circled the empty tower and watched as the people of Darvish ran for their houses. When the city guards began to gather and form into groups to defend the city, he turned and flew back toward the mountains, vanishing behind the clouds and taking the shape of an eagle.
“An impressive show,” Arconn said as Alex changed back into himself by the campfire. “The people in the city must have been terrified.”
“Perhaps,” said Alex with a wicked smile. “We’ll give them a few hours to shake off their fear and remember the legends about the tower.”
“Do you suppose all legends come true like this?” Barnabus asked as he handed Alex a plate of food. “Crafty wizards doing things so the people will believe?”
“I don’t know,” Alex answered. “I think most legends come true because people believe in them and want them to come true, with or without the help of wizards.”
“I think most come true because they are meant to,” Arconn said. “I’ve been around for a long time, and I’ve seen and heard many legends. All the legends that have come true have done so more by luck than anything else.”
“Perhaps,” Thrang said. “Though I don’t really believe in luck or chance. I think there is something more—something we haven’t found a name for yet.”
“Whatever it is, I’m glad you are all here with me,” Kat said with a weak smile. “I don’t think I could do this alone.”
Later that day, Alex flew back over the city of Darvish, but this time the people did not run and hide as they had before. Once again he circled the tower, and once again he roared, but the city guards did not assemble to fight him. The people watched him, pointing and whispering to one another as he flew off toward the mountains.
When Alex returned for the third time, the sun was setting. He wasn’t surprised to see that several people had gathered in the large square next to the empty tower. They looked up at him as he circled the tower, and he could tell that they wanted him to land. They all wanted, more than anything else in the world, for the dragon to deliver the oracle to the tower.
“The city looks ready for your arrival,” Alex said to Kat when he returned to their camp. “People are already gathering near the tower.”
“Yes, your plan is working perfectly,” said Kat. “I hope it doesn’t fail tomorrow when I try to enter the tower.”
“It won’t,” Alex said reassuringly. “I’m sure you can enter the tower, and I think you know you can as well.”
“Perhaps,” said Kat with a slight smile.
None of them felt much like sleeping that night, but they all tried. Alex felt no need for sleep, having spent most of the day in the dragon’s shape. He sat beside the fire with Arconn, watching the stars move across the sky. It was well before sunrise when Thrang roused the rest of them, and they all prepared to go to the city.
“We’ll see you at the tower,” Thrang said, bowing to Kat. “May fortune smile on you this day.”
“You are most kind, my friends. I am in your debt,” Kat answered with a bow of her own.
As the others left, Alex turned to Kat. She looked a little nervous, and perhaps a little pale, and her clothes looked worn from the long journey.
“I don’t think you should enter your tower looking like that,” Alex said, trying and failing to frown.
“No, I suppose not,” said Kat, smiling weakly. “But I don’t have anything an oracle would wear.”
“With your permission,” said Alex, bowing slightly and raising his staff.
He touched Kat lightly on top of her head with his staff and a ball of white light covered her for a moment. As the light faded, Kat looked down at the long silver-white gown that Alex had created for her.
“It . . . it’s so beautiful,” Kat said, tears filling her eyes. “I’ve never owned a gown as fine as this.”
“It seems correct for the occasion,” said Alex. “Your friends may always remember you as Kat, but from this day on, you will be Katrina, the Oracle of the Empty Tower.”
“Yes, and I owe it all to you, my friend,” said Kat.
“You owe me only your friendship,” said Alex. “You are an oracle—or will be before this day is over. You are in no one’s debt, and all that you owe anyone is the truth.”
“I will remember your words,” said Kat. “And I will have to learn to hide the truth with words.”
“It will come to you in time, I think,” said Alex.
Alex and Kat sat quietly, waiting for the sun to rise and their friends to reach the city. Finally, Alex stood and walked away from the fire, preparing to take his dragon form. Kat stood back and watched, a fierce and determined look on her face.
As the dragon, Alex lowered himself and stretched out his leg so Kat could easily climb onto his back. He took flight gently, knowing that Kat would not be tied to him as she had been on their speedy journey from the south.
The square near the empty tower was full of people when Alex flew over the city, and all of the faces were looking up at him. He easily spotted his friends in the crowd, standing close to the tower gate. Alex circled the tower once, and then gently glided down to a large area that had been kept clear of people, apparently so he would have a place to land.
Alex lowered himself and stretched out his leg so Kat could climb down. The square sounded like it was full of bees as Kat, in her new gown, climbed off the dragon and looked up at the tower. Alex was pleased to see the surprised looks on his friend’s faces. They had obviously not thought about what Kat would be wearing.
“Go, my friend,” said Kat, turning back to Alex. “If I need you again, I will call.”
Alex bowed his dragon’s head to Kat and leaped back into the air. He saw that Kat stood watching him go, and the people in the square all watched as well. He flew up around the tower, roaring as he went. He sped away toward the mountains before the echo of his cry had faded from the city.