“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 calledthe 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 fortnight 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 reallythink about it—the heat, the smell, the sound. Focus all of your thoughts on the fire when you give the command.”