by M. L. Forman
Thrang stood and bowed to the king before returning to his chair. As he walked across the hall, the dwarfs began to cheer loudly. Thrang stopped and bowed to all four sides of the room. When the cheering continued, Thrang motioned for the rest of the company to join him. The cheering grew so loud as Alex the others joined Thrang that it felt like the air was vibrating with the noise.
“The dwarfs of Thraxon honor you all,” Thorgood shouted above the cheering. “You have done a great service for us, and we will never forget you.”
The cheering ended only when Thorgood held up his hands to quiet his people.
The feast was a grand one, and it seemed to last for hours. The dwarfs who were serving made sure that Alex and his friends wanted for nothing, filling their goblets before they could empty them, and bringing fresh trays of food to the table whenever something ran low. Alex thought he would burst from eating so much, but the food was excellent.
As the feast was coming to an end, Thorgood motioned for Thrang to come forward once more. The lamps had been dimmed so that Thrang appeared to stand in a circle of light. Slowly at first, but with growing enthusiasm, Thrang began to tell the story of their adventure.
Alex listened as Thrang spoke, his eyes shifting from Thrang to King Thorgood and back again. He was surprised that Thrang did not change anything about their journey to the Isle of Bones, and he looked sad when he told the crowd about his confrontation with Alex. Alex noticed that Thorgood seemed to be watching him, but would look away whenever Alex looked directly at him.
Thrang was as good as his word, telling as much of their story as he could while leaving out some things that might bring too many questions. He hardly mentioned the dwarfs in Nethrom’s cave, and he was careful to make it sound like Alex had summoned a dragon to chase away the thunderbird. He said the same summoned dragon had taken Alex and his friends back to Darvish and delivered the Oracle of the Empty Tower to her home.
Alex was a little surprised that Thrang did not name Kat as the oracle; in fact, he did not mention their stay at the tower at all. The fact that Kat was not with them would make it easy for Thorgood to guess she was the oracle, but most of the dwarfs in the room would not even think to ask questions.
“A wonderful tale,” Thorgood said as Thrang finished. “I see now that we are more honored than I thought. It is not often that a king has a dragon lord as his guest.”
Alex bowed his head slightly to Thorgood, which made the king smile.
“Now, I think our adventurers need their rest, as they have gone through a great deal to return here. I will, however, ask one last thing of them: that they remain in Benorg for as long as they can. I feel that one night’s feast is not nearly enough to honor them properly.”
Once again Alex and his friends stood and bowed to the king, but Thrang made no promises about how long they would stay.
With the feast over and the story of their adventure told, Alex felt that nothing would be better than bed. As he and his friends stood to leave the hall with the king, the dwarfs in the hall began cheering again, but this time the adventurers simply waved to the crowd and followed Thorgood out of the hall and into a small chamber.
“I’m sorry for the ceremony, my friends,” Thorgood said with a smile. “I know how much Thrang hates such things, and I can tell that the rest of you are uncomfortable with so much praise. Still, you’ve done a great service for me and my kingdom, and the lords of the realm expect ceremony.”
“You are most kind, my lord,” said Thrang. “Though you have already named this adventure a success, we are still at your service.”
“Ah, then perhaps you will tell me the whole tale of your adventure,” Thorgood said. “You are a good storyteller, Thrang, but I spotted a few holes in the story you told tonight.”
“What was not said should not be said openly,” Thrang answered. “Some things are best for your ears alone, while others I cannot say at all.”
“No doubt, no doubt,” said Thorgood, glancing at Alex.
“King Thorgood, Master Taylor has requested an audience with you and the lords of the dwarf realm,” Thrang said. “There are parts of our adventure that will be of great interest to you, parts that have nothing to do with our quest for the ring.”
“So I see,” Thorgood said, stroking his beard. “I can guess part of this, at least. The seer who traveled with you has not returned, yet you make no mention of her being lost.”
“She was not lost,” said Thrang. “She led us to the ring, and without her aid we would have been much longer in our search.”
“Yet she did not return with you to accept the honors due her,” said Thorgood. “I am not so blind that I cannot see where she is. The empty tower has a new oracle—an oracle that you and your company delivered there with the help of a dragon.”
“You see much,” Thrang said softly.
“And you think I will have some claim on her, as she would not have come to the tower but for this adventure,” Thorgood went on. “I must admit the thought crossed my mind.”
“To make such a claim would be unwise,” Thrang said quickly.
“You give good counsel, Thrang, and I believe you are correct in this as well,” Thorgood said after a moment. “Yet I’m not sure all of our people will see it as you and I do.”
“Perhaps I can help them see reason,” said Alex, stepping forward.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Thorgood said with a laugh. “Yet you will not always be here, and the memory of you may not be enough to keep all of the lords in line.”
“There are other ways,” Alex said in a low voice.
“Very well,” said Thorgood. “Tomorrow morning, I will call the meeting you ask for. We will discuss the new oracle and anything else you may wish, and I hope that you are able to show the lords of Thraxon wisdom. I would hate to make an enemy of the oracle.”
“You have our thanks, my lord,” said Thrang, bowing.
“And you have mine, my friends,” said Thorgood with a bow of his own.
Thrang led the company out of the main palace and back to their rooms. No one spoke until they were seated around the fireplace, and even then it took some time for Thrang to break the silence.
“I fear that some of the dwarf lords will see this as an opportunity to control the oracle,” Thrang said.
“Surely they don’t think they can control the oracle,” said Arconn. “They cannot control what she says or who she agrees to talk to.”
“Perhaps they think to control access to the oracle. They could demand a high price of anyone seeking her wisdom,” Nellus said.
“Which would cause a great deal of anger in those who had to pay,” Barnabus added.
“They wouldn’t do that, would they?” said Thrain in a questioning voice, his eyes fixed on Thrang. “Oracles accept who they will. No one in Vargland would ever think of trying to control access to the White Tower.”
“Perhaps not, but the White Tower seems to move, so only those who the oracle wishes to see can find it,” said Arconn in a thoughtful tone. “I don’t think the empty tower of Darvish can hide so well.”
“No, it can’t,” said Alex. “But there is great power there, and anyone who tried to control access to the tower would be a fool.”
“You know this?” Thrang questioned.
“I felt the power that was there,” said Alex. “It will take Kat some time to learn how to use that power, and to learn how far beyond the city of Darvish it extends, but she will.”
“Then we must convince the dwarf lords not to try anything foolish,” said Thrang, sounding worried. “Yet I don’t see how we can.”
“Don’t you?” Alex questioned.
“You don’t even know what Thorgood promised,” Thrang said in a low voice. “We agreed not to speak of it until Thorgood was present.”
“I know it was a great promise, and I can guess that whatever Thorgood promised, it will have little meaning for me,” said Alex. “You and I will speak with Thorgood and his
lords tomorrow, and we will see what sort of agreement we can reach.”
“Not all of the lords will support Thorgood, no matter what he has promised,” Thrang warned.
“They will support the true king of the dwarf realm, or they will lose face,” said Alex. “And if the true king of the dwarf realm of Thraxon should break the oath I will ask him to take, then perhaps there will not be a true king in the dwarf realm of Thraxon.”
“You are entering dangerous waters,” Thrang warned.
“Perhaps,” Alex answered. “Yet who better to meddle than a dragon lord?”
Thrang did not reply, and Alex didn’t feel like answering any more questions. There were things he needed to do before he met with Thorgood and his lords in the morning, and he knew that he would get little sleep, if any at all, tonight. He stood up and said good night to his friends, leaving them beside the fire without the answers they wanted.
***
“You look as if you’ve been awake all night,” Arconn said to Alex when he joined his friends for breakfast.
“I have been,” Alex said with a tired smile.
“If you are too tired, I can ask the king to postpone our meeting,” said Thrang.
“No, it would be best to do this as soon as possible,” said Alex, taking his seat and reaching for the nearest platter of food.
Alex ate quickly, and then joined Thrang by the fire.
“Do you know what you will do today?” Thrang asked.
“Yes,” Alex answered. “And I think the dwarf realm will be a better place for it.”
“I hope you are right,” Thrang said softly. “Whatever happens, I will stand by you.”
“Thank you,” said Alex, patting Thrang’s shoulder. “Now, let’s go speak with Thorgood and his lords. There are things that have gone on too long, and things that need to be stopped.”
Thrang nodded as he turned back to the room and headed for the door. Alex walked quietly beside his friend across the courtyard toward the main palace. When they arrived, Thorgood was already waiting for them, a nervous look on his face.
“The lords have gathered, but only with some grumbling,” said Thorgood. “Be careful of what you say, my friends. Illius is in a foul mood and will try to twist your words to his advantage.”
“Illius of Burnlap?” Alex questioned.
“Yes, how did you know that?” Thorgood asked in surprise.
“You can learn much if you pay attention,” said Alex. “Do not worry, I will deal with Illius.”
“I cannot allow you to harm any of my lords with your magic,” Thorgood warned.
“I will not use magic against any of them,” said Alex, bowing.
Thorgood nodded, then led the way into the chamber where the lords waited. Thrang looked worried, but Alex knew exactly what he would do and say.
“My lords,” Thorgood began as they entered the chamber. “My honored guest, Master Taylor, has asked to meet with us all. He feels there are things that should be discussed with this council, which is why I have asked you all to come here this morning.”
“Demanded we come would be closer,” a thin and sickly looking dwarf to the right of the king said. “Forgive me, Lord Thorgood, but this is most uncommon. The council of lords seldom allows an outsider into this chamber.”
“As Thrang told you last night, I was named a lord of the dwarf city of Neplee while on our adventure,” said Alex in a pleasant tone.
“Yes, that is true,” the sickly dwarf answered with a sneer. “But the southern cities are seldom represented here, and we have only Thrang’s word that you were named a lord of Neplee.”
“You doubt my word, Illius?” Thrang questioned angrily.
“Not at all, Lord Silversmith,” Illius answered with a twisted smile. “Your stories of distant lands have thrilled us all for many years. I’m sure no one here would ever question your word.”
“Enough of this,” said Thorgood, sounding angry himself. “Master Taylor has been named a lord of Neplee, and furthermore, he is a wizard and a dragon lord. I think that is more than enough reason to let him enter this hall and speak to us.”
“As you wish, my king,” said Illius coldly as he returned to his seat.
“Very well,” said Thorgood as he regained control of his emotions. “Master Taylor, will you tell us why you wanted to meet with us all?”
“There were two reasons that I asked for this meeting,” said Alex as he bowed to Thorgood. “Now that I am here, though, I see there are even more reasons than I thought. However, I will begin with the first reason.”
“And that would be?” Illius demanded loudly.
“That would be to inform you, King Thorgood, and your lords, that I have sworn to assist the new Oracle of the Empty Tower in any way she may require of me,” said Alex, watching Illius out of the corner of his eye. “I have told the oracle to send for me if ever she is in need, and I, or my friends, would come to her assistance.”
“A threat, then,” said Illius in an angry tone. “You hide a threat in your words, wizard.”
“I make no threats,” Alex answered calmly. “I am simply informing you that I will aid the oracle if she is in need. Only those foolish enough to try to control the oracle—or control access to the oracle—need fear what I say. I’m sure King Thorgood has no such plans, and so there is no threat in what I’ve told you.”
There was a general murmur of agreement at Alex’s words, and Illius looked around angrily. It was obvious he wanted the dwarf lords to feel threatened by Alex, but they all seemed to understand and accept what he had said.
“Wizards are known for their cunning ways,” Illius said in a sour tone. “My friends may not see through your words, but I do.”
“Do you?” Alex questioned. “I doubt you see very much at all. Your eyes are fixed in one place, and you have failed to look around you.”
“What do you mean by that?” Illius questioned, jumping to his feet.
“I mean that I found a new reason for this meeting the minute I heard your name,” said Alex. “I heard your name before I ever came to this land or joined in the adventure to find the Ring of Searching.”
“Where did you hear my name?” Illius questioned, his face going red. “In some wizard’s trance? Or perhaps some dragon told it to you.”
“No,” Alex said. “I heard it in the adventure shop of Mr. Cornelius Clutter.”
“What?” Illius shouted.
“Before I joined this adventure, I was visiting Mr. Clutter,” Alex explained. “He was kind enough to tell me about some other adventures that needed members. One of those was to seek for the crown of Set, and the adventure was being paid for by one Illius of Burnlap.”
“Lies!” Illius shouted. “You lie.”
“That is something I do not do,” said Alex coldly, his own anger growing. “If I did not respect Thorgood’s wishes regarding the use of magic in this room, you would even now be babbling the truth about your secret adventure.”
“It was not secret,” Illius said quickly, looking away from Alex. “I was . . . I was going to seek the crown and present it to the king as a gift. I thought it would make a grand gift, that is all.”
“And I suppose you never thought of keeping the crown for yourself, did you?” said Alex. “Never thought that the one who held the crown might be named the true king of the dwarf realm. Never considered the possibility that once you had the crown, you could claim to be the true heir of Set.”
“No, I never . . .” Illius stammered. He had gone pale as Alex spoke. “It was to be a gift—I swear on my honor.”
“You have no honor,” Alex snapped. “You twist the words of others to suit yourself. You show no respect to your king when he asks you to attend a council meeting. In secret, you have planned to control the city of Darvish in order to force those who seek the oracle to pay you for the privilege. Yes, I see the truth, and I know where your soldiers are going. No wizard is so blind that he could not see what you are trying to do, Illius
.”
“Is this true, Illius?” Thorgood questioned, his eyes blazing with anger. “Have you sent soldiers to Darvish? Did you try to organize an adventure to find the crown of Set?”
“Yes,” Illius spat back. “You old fool. You would let the opportunity of a lifetime slip away. We can control Darvish and make more in one year than we could in a hundred years of mining. You wasted time and money on a foolish quest for the Ring of Searching when true wealth lies at your doorstep.”
“You dishonor us all,” said Thorgood, shaking his head in sorrow. “Only a fool would try to control an oracle. If that was your only crime, it would be bad enough, but you have done more. You would seek to depose me and take the kingdom for yourself. Treason is in your heart, Illius, and you would do this whatever the cost to your people.”
“The people mean nothing,” Illius shouted, his face twisted with rage. “There are always people to do the bidding of the rich and powerful. You lavish wealth on the people, and they love you for it, but what good will it do you in the end?”
“Are you so blind?” Thorgood questioned. “Do you not see that the people make the king? The king does not make the people.”
“Do to me what you will,” Illius shouted. “I am dishonored by this foul youth, and my plans are made known. Yes, I am lost, but so are you, Thorgood. None of the dwarfs of this realm will ever accept you as king, not until you have the crown of Set, which you will never have. No adventurers would join the quest for the legendary crown, which can only mean that it is lost forever. Your kingdom will never be whole.”
“And now you speak of the second reason I had for coming here today,” said Alex. “Thorgood guessed that Thrang left out part of our adventure from his story when he told it last night. Now I will fill in that gap, as I alone was there when it happened.”
“The cave of the necromancer, and the dwarfs you met,” said Thorgood, his eyes wide with understanding.
“Yes,” said Alex. “In the necromancer’s cave, I spoke to the dwarf Set. He asked me to take his crown to his true heir in Benorg.”
“No!” Illius screamed as if in agony. “The crown is lost forever. There is no true king.”
