A World of Worlds
Page 44
Mid-Year 5, Slide 1 Day 5, Mid-Slide, 415 AC
A light knocking sounded at the door of Xandor’s assigned room at the Minor Dragon House, a building maintained by the Omensound priesthood to board those seeking Age Quests.
The journey from Trisden to Omensound had taken twenty-two long days, much longer than Xandor had expected, but the horses necessarily kept a slow pace as they pulled the wagons along the overgrown path that passed for a road between the two cities. Fording two wide rivers slowed them down even more. Watching for dangers coming down from the mountains to the north or out of the dark forest to the south kept Xandor excited and alert for about three days. After that, he grew bored with watching for enemies who never materialized and passed his time talking with Ursula. She showed him some of her magic, easily finding items that he would hide. She was nice to look at, though her smile didn’t come as easily as Jenna’s. If he hadn’t already had a girlfriend, he might have pursued a relationship with Ursula, but as it was, he tried not to lead her on. That didn’t mean he had to ignore her.
He worried about the sorcerous girlfriend he’d left behind, largely because Willem remained in a catatonic state. Xandor worried that the mouse’s condition was a reflection of Jenna’s state of mind. Did she know he had traveled to Omensound with another girl?
“Enter,” Xandor said, his mind still aflutter with thoughts of Jenna, Willem and Ursula.
A man in uniform pushed open the door. Xandor rose to his feet and stood with his back and arms stiff and straight. The guard stepped inside the room and held the door ajar. “The Seeress bids you attend her.”
Xandor marched out. Two other guards waited in the hall beyond. They fell in behind Xandor as the first guard led the way down the hall. Xandor’s pulse throbbed in his throat.