“I knew it was more than money that troubled you,” said Alex.
“The lords and kings of Thraxon will soon know there is an oracle here,” Kat said in a soft voice. “They will come or send messengers. Some of them will want answers that I might not have. Others will want to take control of the tower and make the oracle their servant. Even good King Thorgood will be tempted by this.”
“You do not know your full power yet,” said Alex. “Inside the walls of this tower, your power cannot be challenged, except by some great evil. Here, your word is law. Even I would not dare challenge you here.”
“Only because you are good and kind,” said Kat in a mournful tone. “Others may not have such an honorable soul.”
Alex shrugged. “In the city of Darvish, you will have great power, more than kings or lords. Perhaps even as much as a great wizard.”
“You seem so sure.”
“I am certain of what I say,” Alex said firmly.
“And if wars are started by men attempting to control Darvish and the tower?” Kat questioned.
“I will do what I can for you, as I promised, but it is your job to prevent the wars that might come,” Alex answered.
“Already the weight of being the oracle is so heavy.”
“It will become less in time, and I can give you two powerful allies to call on if you are ever in need.”
“Two?” Kat questioned.
“I will make sure that Thorgood and the dwarf realm will always stand at your side,” Alex answered. “Thorgood has made a great promise for the return of something I carry, something that was lost long ago. I will give it back to him only if he promises to always be an ally to the Oracle of the Empty Tower. And I will place a spell on the object so that if the dwarf kings ever turn against the tower, it will be lost once more.”
“That is a powerful promise indeed,” Kat said with a weak smile.
“And I will give you more,” Alex went on. “If ever you need me, send for me. I will come if I am able. If I cannot come, I will send help. If you cannot wait for me or for the help I send, there is one close at hand who will be at your call.”
“The dragon on the Isle of Bones?” Kat questioned. “How can you bind him to me? You are the dragon lord; he has no reason to serve me.”
“He will come at your call because I wish him to,” said Alex in a definite tone. “I will give you the words to speak, but I warn you to speak them only at your greatest need.”
Alex leaned close to Kat and whispered in her ear. When he pulled away, he looked into her eyes to make sure she had understood everything he had said. Kat nodded her understanding but said nothing. For a long time the two of them stood in silence at the top of the tower, looking deep into each other’s thoughts. Just before sunrise, Kat turned away, pale and shaking from the effort.
“Rest while you can,” Alex said softly. “The days of celebration are about to begin, but that will be a small thing after this night.”
“I owe you everything,” said Kat, just as she had before.
“Everything and nothing at all,” Alex answered. “Now rest, my friend, we will say our good-byes when the days of celebrations are over.”
Alex didn’t wait for Kat to reply. He stepped to the edge of the tower and took the form of an eagle. He caught the morning wind and soared up into the dark sky, gliding like a shadow over the city. He knew that Kat understood him, and that she would understand him better as the days went by. He also knew she was far more powerful than she thought. She would somehow find a way to prevent war from coming to Thraxon.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Crown of Set
Two days after the celebrations for the oracle’s arrival ended, Alex and his friends prepared to leave Darvish. Barnabus and Nellus had found six horses, and Thrang had released Kat from the adventurer’s bargain so she could remain in Darvish as the oracle. Alex spent the hours before dawn in the tower with Kat, helping her to understand her new powers. When the sun touched the top of the tower, Kat and Alex entered the courtyard where the rest of the company was waiting for them.
“So, it is time to say farewell,” said Kat with a smile. “And I have no gifts to give you in parting.”
“You have already given us a great gift, lady,” said Thrang. “You have honored us as your guests during the days of celebration. Few have ever been so honored, and we are all in your debt.”
“Then ride on to your reward, my friends,” said Kat. “And know that you all will be welcome here whenever you choose to come.”
“And may we find our way here often in happiness,” Thrang answered as he bowed.
Alex and the others also bowed to Kat before they climbed into their saddles. With a final bow, they rode out of the courtyard and into the city of Darvish. Alex knew how much Kat wanted to be riding with them, but he also knew that she was happy with the choice she had made.
“So the tower has an oracle,” said Thrang as he led them through the city. “That is something I never thought to see in my days.”
“I never thought I would call an oracle friend,” Nellus said as he rode beside Alex. “Though I never thought I’d call a wizard a friend either.”
They began talking about their adventure as they rode out of the city gates and back toward the mountains. It would take them at least two weeks to reach Benorg, perhaps longer, but the weather was good, and spring was spreading quickly across the north of Thraxon.
Their journey was pleasant, and they made good time along the road to Benorg. They passed groups of dwarfs going east from time to time, and all of them asked questions about the new Oracle of the Empty Tower. Thrang answered their questions carefully, not wanting them to know that Kat had once been a member of their company. Thrain asked Thrang why he didn’t tell people that they knew the oracle, and Thrang laughed when he answered.
“It seems a little bigheaded to claim the oracle’s friendship so openly,” Thrang said. “After all, not many people ever know an oracle as well as we know the lady of the tower.”
“But she is our friend, and she was part of our company,” Thrain persisted.
“And that is nobody’s business,” Thrang answered in a stern tone. “You still have a lot to learn about what should and should not be said openly. I would think being around Alex and Arconn, you might have learned something.”
“But they both say a great deal,” Thrain complained.
“They say only what they want you to hear,” Thrang corrected him. “It seems like a lot to you, but it is little compared to what they could say.”
Thrain looked puzzled, but both Alex and Arconn smiled. Nellus and Barnabus both found the exchange funny, but refrained from teasing Thrain.
***
Spring was well underway when Alex and his friends finally reached Benorg, and the city had transformed into something that looked like a giant garden. Thrang had been talking more and more the closer they got to the city, but Alex noticed that he would sometimes look troubled. He knew Thrang was worried about the return of the crown of Set. Thorgood had made some great promise in exchange for the crown’s return, a promise that Thrang didn’t want to discuss unless Thorgood was present.
They rode into the city just after noon and were greeted warmly once again. The streets were full of dwarfs going about their business. It wasn’t long before a messenger from Thorgood arrived, welcoming them in Thorgood’s name and asking them to follow him to the king. The messenger, however, did not ride ahead as he normally would do. Instead, he fell back and rode beside Thrang as they went through the city.
“Your brother, Thorson, arrived two days ago,” the messenger said. “He told us that you would be here shortly and that we should watch for you.”
“Where is Thorson staying?” Thrang questioned. “I would like to talk with him.”
“The king has asked Thorson and his company to stay at the palace. I’m sure you will have time to speak with him there,” the messenger answered. “And there is other news. Thorson hinted that you might know something about it.”