by M. L. Forman
“Very well,” said Alex to the shadows gathering around him. “I will change, but not to the dragon form. I’m not ready for that. Not yet.”
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Alex took the shape of an eagle. Lifting his arms—now wings—he rose from the frozen ground with little effort. The cold wind whipped around him, but his new feathers kept him warm. He circled once above the river and then soared higher into the sky, becoming familiar with his new shape.
Flying, Alex discovered, was wonderful, even better than being a breeze. The mountains slipped away behind him as he glided on the wind, catching the last rays of the setting sun. His eagle eyes could see every detail of the land below him, even the small white rabbits that ran across the snow-covered meadows.
When the first stars came out, Alex flew lower, trying to stay out of the wind that blew across the mountaintops. He could feel the warm air of the day rising along the mountainsides, and he tried to stay as close to that as possible. He also tried to fly quickly, which was easy to do in the eagle’s body. Neplee was not far away, and he felt a sudden urge to get there, an urge that did not come from fear or worry, but from his desire to see his friends.
As the moon rose into the sky, Alex spotted the dwarf city in the distance. Bright torches had been lit beside the city gates, which had been left partway open. Diving down to get a better look, Alex saw that several heavily wrapped dwarfs were tending the torches, and he realized that they had been lit to guide him back from the mountains.
For a moment Alex considered taking his own form at the gate and receiving the welcome of the dwarfs. He knew how happy Turlock would be now that the curse had been lifted and the necromancer was gone. He could imagine his friends’ happy faces and their questions about what he had done and how he had managed to defeat Mog.
It was that thought that made up Alex’s mind for him. He was tired and wanted to rest before answering any questions. He decided to stay in eagle form for the night, resting in the trees nearby until morning. When morning came, he would change to himself and, rested, greet his friends and the happy dwarfs who waited for him.
Alex found a giant pine to settle in for the night, not far from the gates of the city. He folded his wings close to him, though he wasn’t at all cold. Then he closed his eyes, and without really falling asleep, he rested.
As he rested, his mind took flight once more as the eagle, and the feeling of freedom that the form gave him made him happy. He let his dream self fly over the mountains and across the open plains, soaring in the warm sunlight. It was a pleasant, restful dream, and when his dream self returned before dawn, he felt better than he had in a long time.
Opening the eagle’s eyes, Alex saw that the torches were still burning at the city gates. Several dwarfs were already working to clear away the snow that had blown around the gates during the night.
The day was just growing light when Alex saw Arconn step lightly onto the snow and start off toward the mountains. He passed the pine Alex was sitting in, and Alex called to him, forgetting that the eagle had no true voice. Arconn paused to look around and then he hurried on. Alex saw the determined look on Arconn’s face, and he realized his friend was going into the mountains to look for him. He called out once more and took flight, not wanting Arconn to go too far before he could catch up and change back to himself.
Arconn moved fast over the frozen snow, and Alex was glad he had not changed back to his own form before trying to follow. He had to flap his wings hard to overtake his friend because there was no morning wind to help him. When he reached Arconn, Alex called once more, circling and coming to rest on the ground in front of the elf.
“What is this?” said Arconn in surprise.
Alex returned to his own shape. “It is what you are looking for, and what would have found you this morning, if you hadn’t started off so early.”
“Alex!” Arconn yelled in surprise and delight, rushing forward and throwing his arms around his friend. “We’ve been so worried about you. Turlock has kept the city gates open for the past week, hoping the light would help guide you back.”
“The past week?” Alex questioned. “How long have I been gone? It seems that today would only be the fifth or sixth day since I left Neplee.”
“You’ve been gone fourteen days, Alex,” said Arconn. “Kat told us that you’d succeeded in defeating the evil on the evening of the second day, and we’ve been expecting you ever since then. We never thought it would take you so long to return after you’d found and defeated the necromancer so quickly.”
“I slept for a long time,” Alex said. “I was asleep beneath the mountains for ten days, and then Salinor woke me.”
“Salinor?” Arconn questioned.
“Forgive me, I spoke without thinking,” Alex answered, shocked that he’d spoken the dragon’s name out loud. “I should not have said his name. Please, forget what I said.”
“But there is no need,” Arconn said. “It is a name I know from long ago. I told you once that I knew a dragon—a dragon that was not evil, do you remember?”
“Yes, I remember,” Alex answered, thinking back. “That was before I really believed in dragons, when I knew almost nothing of them.”
“Yes,” said Arconn. “And now I find that you’ve met the same dragon that I once did. You know him by the same name that I know him by, the name that I have never spoken to another living soul.”
“And I should not have spoken it now,” Alex said dejectedly. “I simply forgot to keep his name secret, and it is only a lucky chance that you are the one who heard it.”
“Hardly luck,” said Arconn seriously. “Ever since we left the Isle of Bones, I have wanted to tell you about Salinor. I felt something pushing me to tell you his name, some desire to share it with you that I could not understand.”
“So you think he meant for us to know? Did Salinor want us to talk about him to each other? Or at least know that we both had met the same dragon?”
“I am certain of it, though I cannot guess why,” said Arconn. “The ways of dragons are difficult to understand, and Salinor is perhaps the most difficult, as he is the oldest dragon of all.”
“Then we should not try to reason out his motives, at least not here and now,” Alex added with a laugh. “We should return to the city so the rest of our company can stop worrying.”
“Yes, that would be best,” agreed Arconn. “Will you change shape again, or do you prefer to walk in the snow?”
“It would be quicker if I changed, but the walk is not a long one, and I’d like to talk a little before we rejoin the others,” said Alex.
They turned and started off toward the dwarf city, Arconn walking across the top of the snow and Alex crunching along beside him. As they went, they talked about Salinor and the ways of dragons, though Alex did not mention anything that Salinor had told him about his true nature or his family. He thought it best to keep that information a secret, at least for the time being.
Alex did ask Arconn if he was also a dragon lord since he knew Salinor’s true name.
Arconn laughed and said that only wizards could be dragon lords. “He told me his name because he knew I would not have power over him,” Arconn said as he helped Alex through a snowdrift. “The name has power, that is true, but only a wizard can use it to control the dragon.”
When they were close to the city gates, Alex heard a loud yell. The dwarf guards had spotted them coming and were calling into the city to let Lord Turlock know that Alex had returned.
Arconn tried to help Alex hurry through the snow, but it was too deep for Alex to move quickly.
The guards all dropped to one knee as Alex reached the city gates, bowing their heads in gratitude and respect. Alex smiled, but was unsure what to say to them. He had not expected such a reaction to his victory and had not thought about how the dwarfs of Neplee would receive him.
Turlock reached the gates as Alex and Arconn passed through them, and before Alex said a word, Turlock also dropped
to one knee. “Hail, great wizard, master of the dead.”
“No,” Alex said sternly. “I am no master of the dead and never will be. Please, Lord Turlock, rise and greet me as a friend.”
Turlock got to his feet, obviously regretting what he’d said.
Alex smiled at him and took his hand in friendship, pulling him close as he shook it. He leaned forward so he could whisper in Turlock’s ear. “Forgive my sharpness, but I will not be called a master of the dead.”
“I spoke without thinking,” said Turlock, embracing Alex like a brother. “It will not happen again, my friend.”
Thrang and the others arrived as Alex and Turlock broke apart, and Alex was almost knocked over as his friends rushed forward to embrace him.
“I see you didn’t have to look very far,” Thrang said to Arconn once the dwarf had let go of Alex.
“No farther than the front gate, really,” said Arconn with a laugh. “Though Alex could have saved himself some walking if he’d come into the city last night when he actually arrived.”
“Last night?” Turlock questioned.
“I thought it best to let you all rest until daylight before making my entrance,” Alex explained.
“As if we’ve slept at all,” Nellus said, slapping Alex on the shoulder.
“I slept.” Barnabus laughed. “Though it’s been difficult with Thrang storming around in his worry.”
“I was not storming around,” Thrang said defensively. “Though I have been worried, I won’t deny it.”
“And now some of your worries are over,” Alex said, putting his arm around Thrang’s shoulders. “Though I daresay you’ll find new ones to replace them.”
Everyone laughed at Alex’s comment, even Thrang. When they stopped laughing, the questions began as everyone, especially Lord Turlock, wanted to know what had happened in the mountains.
“Am I to have no rest?” Alex asked with a smile. “At least let’s go into the city and find a warm room before I tell the tale.”
“An excellent idea,” Turlock said. “And I’ll arrange for your breakfast to be brought to you, if that’s all right, and you can tell us your story while we are together.”
“You are most kind,” said Alex, bowing to Turlock.
“And if you don’t mind too much,” Turlock went on, raising his eyebrows, “I would like some of the lords of Neplee to be there as well. They should hear the story themselves, so they will know the great deed you have done for us.”
“As you wish,” said Alex, allowing himself to be guided into the city by Turlock.
Turlock led Alex and his friends to a large hall near the throne room. When they entered, Turlock quickly ordered some of the dwarfs to bring hot food to the tables and the others to summon the lords of Neplee. It was obvious that word of Alex’s return had spread, and Alex hoped he had not caused too much trouble by being gone so long in the mountains. When the dwarfs had all gathered and Alex was seated with his friends, Turlock rose and began to speak.
“My friends. Lords and masters of Neplee, the curse that has been on our city for so long has passed. We are free once more. Once more, we can take pride in our city and our works. For this, we must give thanks to Master Taylor.”
There was a general clamor of agreement as the assembled dwarfs cheered and began to chant Alex’s name. Turlock beamed at Alex, and then held up his hands for quiet.
“Master Taylor will tell us the story of his deeds,” Turlock went on. “Though perhaps he would prefer to eat his breakfast first.”
“Not at all,” said Alex. “Though the food is tempting, I will tell you my story first. There will be time for food later.”
The room grew still and all eyes were on Alex. He could hear the deep, steady breathing of those gathered in the room, and he took strength from them as he began to tell the tale.
Alex told them everything—or almost everything—that had happened in the mountains. He was careful not to mention Salinor’s call to wake him, or the crown of Set, which he now carried in his magic bag. He did pause to thank Volo, who was in the room, for the help he had given him in preparing to face the necromancer.
“So it worked, then,” Volo said happily. “I had my doubts, though you seemed so certain.”
“Yes, my friend, it worked,” Alex answered. “It is a secret long forgotten by most, and I will share it with all of you now.”
Alex unbuttoned his shirt as he spoke, pulling it back to reveal the true-silver chain mail shirt that Volo had helped him make. There was a gasp of astonishment as the light reflected off the silver, and the eyes of the dwarfs grew large in wonder.
“True silver,” Alex said. “Not only beautiful and strong, but magical as well. True silver will always resist dark magic, and if made into armor such as this, it will reflect curses back at the one who sent them.”
“You used Nethrom’s own power against him?” Thrain questioned.
“In a way,” Alex answered as he buttoned his shirt. “You see, Nethrom was not really the necromancer. He was not the evil one, though it was because of Nethrom that the evil came. When Nethrom died, he had been freed from the evil that had held him captive for so long.”
“Then we have another reason to thank you,” said Turlock. “You have taken the stain from Nethrom’s name. We can remember him as the good and decent dwarf he once was, and not as the evil he became.”
Alex finished his story with his arrival at the city gates. When he was done, the dwarfs all cheered and bowed to Alex as if he were a king. Alex smiled and asked them to rise. He did not want to be rude, but he was concerned that the dwarfs of Neplee might think he had done more than he really had.
“You are kind and generous, Master Taylor,” Turlock said, rising with the rest of the dwarfs. “We know you are a good man and will not willingly accept all of the honors that we would give you, so I will offer you this oath and ask all here to swear with me. If ever you have need—for treasure, workers, warriors, or simply a place to rest—the city of Neplee will be yours to command. This I swear as a lord of Neplee. How say you, lords of Neplee?”
“We swear it shall be so,” the other dwarfs answered in one voice. “We bind ourselves, our families, and all that we shall ever have to this oath. We will answer the call of Master Taylor, in this life or the next.”
“Thank you, my friends,” Alex said, bowing his head. “I hope there will never be a need for me to call upon your oath, but I thank you for your vow.”
The dwarfs all pressed forward to shake Alex’s hands. Alex smiled and bowed to them, but he was beginning to feel tired. He had not slept properly in a long time, and he felt that sleep was what he needed more than anything right now.
“You are tired from your ordeal,” Turlock said, noticing the look on Alex’s face. “Go with your company; they will lead you to your rest. Tonight there will be a feast such as Neplee has never seen, and you will be the guest of honor.”
“You are most kind, Lord Turlock,” said Alex. “A day’s rest will do me good, and I would not miss such a feast for a mountain of pure gold.”
Turlock bowed once more as Thrang and Arconn came forward to stand on either side of Alex. The crowd of dwarfs parted to let the company pass, but even the street outside the hall was crowded with hundreds of dwarfs. Alex smiled. It seemed that every dwarf in Neplee was there, wanting to see him, though most seemed too shy to meet his gaze.
When they reached their rooms, Alex thought he would go straight to bed, but Thrang pulled him toward the fire and motioned for him to take a chair.
“I’ve known you long enough to know when you leave out part of a story,” Thrang said, taking the chair next to Alex. “The dwarf who spoke to you in the caves—did he give you his name?”
“He did,” Alex answered. “Let me ask you a question, one that will answer your own. Can you tell me the story of a dwarf king named Set?”
“Set?” Thrang repeated, his eyes growing wide. “Set was an early king of the dwarf realm. He was
a great king, and a defender of his people. The stories about him are many and long, but basically they all say that some evil came into Thraxon during his rule, and that Set went out to fight against it. Set did not return from the battle, but the evil vanished as well. The stories claim that Set defeated the evil, but that he paid for his victory with his own life.”
“I see,” said Alex.
“Was Set the dwarf you met in the caves?” Thrang questioned.
“Yes,” Alex answered. “He seemed to know I was coming, but I was unable to find out how he knew.” Alex hesitated, considering how much more he should say. “He asked me to take something to his heir.”
“Enough,” Thrang said, turning his eyes away from Alex and gazing into the fire. “I know enough to guess what he asked you to take, and I will not ask you for details now. We will not speak of this again until we return to Benorg. Thorgood should be present to hear all that you have to say and answer any questions you might have for him.”
“As you wish,” said Alex. “I also took some other things from the cave, gems that should be divided between us.”
“Anything you took from the cave is yours alone,” Thrang said quickly. “You may do with it as you think best. Whatever you do, though, keep your word to Set.”
“I will do as you wish, my friend,” said Alex, getting up. “Now I think I will sleep. Wake me in time for the feast, if I do not wake by myself.”
Alex left Thrang staring to the fire and moved toward his room, but Kat caught his eye as he walked past. She sat alone at one of the tables in the back of the room. Smiling, Alex sat down next to her.
“You wish to ask me something,” Alex said. It was not a question.
“You can see my thoughts more clearly than I can,” said Kat.
“No, but I can guess at them now.”
“Your battle with the necromancer—was it as close a thing as it seemed to be?”
