by M. L. Forman
“Otho seems to be a bit of a bully,” Halfdan observed thoughtfully.
“He is,” said Andy shortly. “He thinks that just because his father is the magistrate, he’s a big deal around here.”
“I really don’t like bullies,” said Alex, looking back over his shoulder at the fat Otho Longtree.
“Nobody does,” said Andy, a slight smile returning to his face. “In fact, it would be hard to find anyone the people here in Oslansk like less than Otho.”
“Then why hasn’t someone put him in his place?” Halfdan questioned.
Andy paused for a moment. “It’s because his father is such a good man and an excellent magistrate. Nobody wants to tell Osgood that his son is a bully—or worse.”
“Someone should,” said Halfdan in a serious tone.
“I suppose so,” said Andy. “But I think the news would break Osgood’s heart. Most people think that Osgood’s sorrow would be worse than putting up with Otho, so no one says anything.”
“What was his crack about fighting dragons?” Alex asked.
“I told Michael about our last adventure,” Andy answered with a shrug of his shoulders. “It seems he’s been telling the story to anyone who will listen—you know, about Slathbog and all.”
Alex knew that Andy was proud of his little brother and pleased that Michael believed the story about Slathbog. It didn’t seem to matter very much to Andy that Otho didn’t believe any of it.
They continued across the square until they reached a large tavern on the far side. The sign in front read The Dragon’s Keep. The three of them laughed when they saw the poor replica of a dragon painted above the name.
“Skeld and Tayo have been staying here,” said Andy as they entered. “They’ve both bought houses, of course, but tradition won’t let them move in until they’re married.”
“This isn’t what we ordered,” they heard Skeld say loudly. “If you can’t get it right, we’ll just have to find someone who can.”
“And who might that be?” Alex asked in a loud voice, spotting Skeld and Tayo standing at the bar next to a nervous-looking man.
“What?” said Skeld, turning to see who had spoken. His eyes widened, and he poked Tayo in the side, making him turn around as well.
“Alex?” Skeld said in amazement.
“Halfdan?” Tayo echoed.
“What—didn’t you think we’d show up?” Halfdan asked with a grunting laugh.
There were no more words for several minutes as Tayo and Skeld rushed across the room and started hugging Alex, Halfdan, and Andy.
“We didn’t expect to see you so soon,” said Tayo.
“Andy said he was going to join Bregnest’s new adventure and that he hoped you would both be joining as well,” said Skeld to Alex and Halfdan. “But we weren’t sure either of you would be coming.”
“Well, we have come,” said Halfdan. “So why don’t you finish your business and then we can talk in peace.”
“What? Oh,” said Skeld. “All right, Oscar, I suppose you’d better try again.”
The nervous-looking man at the bar nodded, looking relieved. He bowed to both Skeld and Tayo before moving swiftly away from the bar and hurrying toward the door.
“What was all that about?” Alex questioned as Oscar ducked out of the tavern.
“He’s doing a bit of cooking for the weddings,” said Tayo. “We thought we’d try to get some of the food we tried in Techen, but Oscar can’t seem to manage it.”
“Small wonder.” Halfdan laughed. “It’s not easy to duplicate Techen food.”
“No, it’s not,” said Skeld, looking sad. “But enough of this, let’s get a drink and have a good long talk.”
Soon the five of them were seated around a table set off to one side of the room. They all had a great many questions to ask, and Alex found himself answering the same questions that Andy and Halfdan had asked only a week before.
“What I want to know is how you two found women—sisters, for that matter—who would put up with you long enough to agree to marry you,” said Halfdan, shaking his head in wonder.
“It wasn’t easy,” said Skeld.
“And Andy didn’t help at all,” added Tayo.
“What did I do?” Andy asked in a stunned tone.
“It’s what you didn’t do,” Skeld commented. “You didn’t make yourself scarce. Where love is concerned, two is company, three is just annoying.”
“Well, if that’s all my company is good for . . .” said Andy in mock fury.
“It seems to me that Andy was trying to help you two,” said Alex. “Or maybe he was trying to help your future wives.”
They all burst into laughter at this comment, and it was some time before any of them could speak again.
“It’s good to see you all again,” said Tayo. “We haven’t laughed so much since . . .”
“Since we got Andy drunk and he fell off his horse,” Skeld finished for Tayo, and they both started laughing again.
“What did they do to you?” Halfdan asked Andy in a concerned voice.
“Oh, it was nothing really,” said Andy, his face turning bright red. “After Skeld asked Lilly to marry him, we were celebrating a little, and I had a bit too much to drink.”
“More than a bit,” Tayo corrected.
“Much more than a bit,” added Skeld.
“Well, anyway,” Andy went on, “for some reason I thought I’d ride around the square, and I just fell off my horse.”
“Fell off and landed in a water trough,” Tayo burst out.
“And because it was still winter, when he got back inside, he was covered with icicles and frost,” Skeld added.
“We thought a snow beast was coming into the tavern,” said Tayo. “I’ve never seen so many people run for the doors so fast.”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” said Andy in a defiant tone. They all burst into laughter once more.
“It is good to have you all here,” Tayo said, recovering his voice. “Especially you, Alex.”
“Why me?” Alex questioned.
“Because Tayo and I have something important to ask you,” said Skeld, becoming more serious than Alex had ever seen him.
“What might that be?”
“We would like to ask you to be our ring bearer,” Tayo answered.
“What would I have to do?” Alex questioned.
“You bring the rings to the wedding and present them to us at the proper time,” said Skeld.
“You’ll have to wear special clothes,” said Tayo. “But Skeld and I would be honored to buy them for you.”
“What kind of clothes?” Alex questioned.
“Oh, they’re normal clothes—just all of one color,” Skeld said, seeing the suspicious look on Alex’s face.
“Yes, dark blue is the customary color for a ring bearer’s clothes,” Tayo explained. “You would do us a great honor if you would accept. Having a wizard as a ring bearer is considered good luck and a promise for a long and joyful marriage.”
“Well, if that’s all there is to it, I accept,” said Alex, feeling slightly relieved that his friends hadn’t asked him to do anything strange or magical. He also hoped that, for his friend’s sakes, that a wizard in training would be just as lucky as a real wizard.
“You do us a great kindness,” said Skeld, standing and bowing to Alex.
“We are once more in your debt,” Tayo added, also standing and bowing.
“Now we must arrange for you all to meet our ladies,” said Skeld, taking his seat once more.
“Bregnest must come as well,” Tayo added.
“And the rest of your company,” Skeld went on.
“The two of you have lost your minds,” said Halfdan loudly. “I never thought I’d see you two acting this way. Thrang won’t believe me when I tell him.”
“What way?” Skeld asked with a wicked grin.
“The way you’re both acting now,” Halfdan answered, waving his hand at them. “It’s as if you
are both bewitched, and I don’t mind saying that it scares me.”
“Bewitched by love,” said Tayo.
“Bewitched by beauty,” Skeld added.
“Andy, you should have thrown them both in that water trough,” said Halfdan, letting out a loud huff and then taking a long drink from his mug.
Alex could see what Halfdan meant, but he didn’t let his friends’ strange behavior bother him. He thought perhaps they were both more alive and more serious than they had been before, and the mix seemed to fit them.
Over a second drink they all agreed to meet the next morning. Tayo and Skeld would take Alex to buy his new clothes, and then they’d make arrangements for the entire company to come and meet their wives-to-be. With their plans made, Alex, Andy, and Halfdan left their friends at the tavern and started back to the Goodseed house.
“They’ve changed,” said Halfdan as Alex and Andy followed him out of the tavern. “And I’m not at all sure it’s for the better.”
It had been a joyful reunion, but now the sun was setting and it was time for their evening meal. As they walked back through the square, Alex kept an eye out for Otho Longtree. He’d decided that he didn’t like Otho, and if the opportunity to put him in his place arose, he might just take it.
During dinner with Andy’s family, Halfdan was quick to tell Bregnest how strangely Skeld and Tayo were acting and how different they seemed to be. Bregnest listened to everything Halfdan said, but didn’t comment.
Andy’s older brother, Lazarus, was at dinner as Argus had said he would be, and he was almost as excited to meet them all as his little brother Michael had been. It was clear, at least to Alex, that Lazarus was as proud of Andy as Andy was of Michael.
After dinner they all sat around the table talking. Argus Goodseed was interested in their stories of adventures and news from distant lands. Both Lazarus and Michael sat still as stone and hardly moved a muscle while Bregnest told a story from one of his adventures. They all clapped loudly when he finished his tale. Then Mrs. Goodseed told Michael it was time for bed.
“But, Mother,” said Michael, in a desperate and pleading voice. “Just one more story, please.”
“Your mother is quite right,” said Bregnest, standing up. “It is time for all of us to seek our beds. We have traveled far in a short time, and we have a great deal to do before we will be ready to continue our adventure.”
They all said goodnight to Andy’s family and made their way to their own rooms. Alex, however, did not go to bed, but sat up for some time reading his magic books and going over one of his father’s old notebooks. He also wrote a short letter to Whalen, letting him know that everything was fine. He climbed into his bed, still thinking of how oddly Skeld and Tayo had been acting. Halfdan’s comment about them both being bewitched made him smile, and he soon slipped into a deep sleep.
* * *
When Alex woke up the next morning it wasn’t because he wanted to. Halfdan was shaking his bed wildly and laughing at the shocked and confused expression on Alex’s face.
“Come on then,” said Halfdan. “We’ve got to get your new clothes, and you and I have a bit of shopping to do as well.”
“I feel like I’ve only just gone to sleep,” Alex complained, rolling off his bed and onto his feet.
“Norsland nights are short in the spring and summer months,” Halfdan said.
Alex didn’t reply as he staggered sleepily toward the basin to wash his face. The ice-cold water was a shock, but it woke him up better than Halfdan had. Looking out his window, Alex could see sunlight already spreading over Oslansk.
“What’s for breakfast?” Alex asked, stamping on his boots and following Halfdan out of the room.
“Mrs. Goodseed has seen to it, so come on,” Halfdan answered.
In fact, Andy’s mother had prepared a large breakfast of fried potatoes, eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and several other dishes that were clearly Norsland specialties. Alex tried some of everything and had second helpings of a dish that was made up of rice, some kind of meat, cheese, and a sweet sauce.
Michael was full of questions that morning, and he couldn’t seem to keep himself from asking them. The members of the company tried to answer him as well as they could, but it seemed that every answer brought new questions from Michael.
As they were finishing their breakfast, Skeld and Tayo arrived to take Alex to get his new clothes. They spent several minutes talking to Bregnest and teasing him about his being on another adventure so soon after the last one. Bregnest endured their teasing good-naturedly. Then he introduced Val and Sindar to Skeld and Tayo. Skeld and Tayo were pleased to meet them both and asked them to come to a feast that evening with the others. The new members of the company accepted the invitation and thanked Skeld and Tayo for their kindness.
As soon as the arrangements for the evening feast had been made, Skeld, Tayo, Alex, and Halfdan were on their way out the gate. Andy said he had things to do as well and left with Lazarus.
Once the company had separated, Halfdan asked Skeld and Tayo where they could buy a saddle as a present for Michael’s upcoming birthday. Skeld and Tayo thought it was a wonderful idea, but they also thought it would be very funny if Andy didn’t buy his brother a horse after all.
“That would be terrible,” said Alex. “A saddle but no horse—what kind of birthday present would that be for Michael?”
“It might give him something to look forward to next year,” said Tayo.
Alex stopped dead in his tracks, looking at the shops and people around him. For the second time on this adventure, Alex felt like he was being watched. There was a strange intensity to the feeling, as if he were waiting for some unseen person to appear or speak.
“What’s the matter, Alex?” Halfdan questioned as he turned to see what Alex was looking at.
“Oh, sorry. I just had a feeling. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“A feeling?” Skeld asked, a note of concern in his voice.
“I just felt like someone was watching us,” said Alex. Then he waved his hand in a dismissive way. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I don’t think I had enough sleep last night.”
Alex was glad that the others didn’t ask any more questions. He didn’t think he could explain the feeling that he’d had, and he was more than happy to let the subject drop.
Their conversation returned to Michael’s saddle. Halfdan suggested that they buy the saddle but keep it in his magic bag. If it turned out that Andy didn’t buy the horse, they wouldn’t have to say anything at all about a saddle.
“Ah, dwarfs and their cunning ways,” Skeld teased.
They soon arrived at the tailor’s shop, and it wasn’t long before Alex found himself dressed in a fine dark blue set of clothes with silver buttons. The shopkeeper approved of the fit, and Skeld and Tayo began arguing over which of them would pay for the new clothes. To settle the argument, they simply bought Alex a second set of clothes, this time all in dark silver-gray.
“You can wear the gray ones to the party the day after the weddings,” said Tayo.
Alex thanked Skeld and Tayo for their gift and joked with Halfdan about how odd their friends were acting. Skeld and Tayo shrugged off any comments on their strange behavior as they led the way to a shop where Alex and Halfdan could buy a saddle. Halfdan had an eye for quality work, so Alex let him choose the saddle they would buy. Once the saddle was safely in Halfdan’s magic bag, the four friends wandered back into the streets of Oslansk.
“Are there any dwarf smiths here in Oslansk?” Alex asked offhandedly.
“Well, there’s old Elwig—but he does jewelry more than weapons,” Tayo commented.
“Perhaps he can help me,” said Alex, winking at Halfdan.
“Help you with what?” Skeld questioned.
“Oh, nothing really,” said Alex. “Now I suppose Halfdan and I should leave you two, as we still have gifts to buy for the wedding.”
“There is little need for that,” both Skeld and Tayo protes
ted.
“Little need for you perhaps,” Halfdan answered. “Andy told us of the customs here: that friends of the grooms give gifts to the brides.”
“Well, yes, that true,” Tayo agreed. “But you are both honored guests. And Alex is already acting as our ring bearer.”
“That doesn’t matter,” said Alex. “I think your ladies deserve a gift. Perhaps something magical that will keep you two in line.”
They all laughed at Alex’s words, though Halfdan, seeing the nervous look that Skeld and Tayo exchanged, laughed harder still.
“I don’t suppose you really do know a spell that would keep those two in line, do you?” Halfdan asked Alex as they walked in the direction of Elwig’s shop.
“No, I don’t. But it will be something for them both to think about, at least for a little while.”
The people of Oslansk were both friendly and helpful, and it didn’t take long for Alex and Halfdan to find Elwig’s shop. The shop was a large one, and it was filled with hundreds of beautiful items.
Elwig was delighted to see Halfdan. Few dwarfs ever came to Oslansk, and Elwig was almost overcome with joy at seeing a kinsman. It wasn’t long before he was showing Alex and Halfdan everything in his shop that might be used as a wedding gift, as well as several things that could not.
“Brooches are a popular gift,” said Elwig, bringing out a large tray of brooches from behind his counter. “They’re functional and practical, and you don’t have to wear them every day.”
Alex looked at the brooches on the tray. Most were made of silver, though there were a few made of gold as well. Suddenly Alex had an idea, and he asked Elwig for a piece of paper and a quill. He carefully drew a picture and showed the drawing to Elwig.
“Can you make a brooch like this?” Alex asked hopefully.
Elwig studied Alex’s drawing. “An interesting idea. Yes, I think I understand what you want, but what would you like it made of?”
“True silver,” said Alex in a low tone.
“Oh, well,” Elwig stammered, “in that case, I don’t think that I can do that. I haven’t seen a bit of true silver in Norsland for years and years.”
“I can solve that problem easily enough,” said Alex, reaching for his magic bag. Alex had received a large amount of true silver on his last adventure, when he’d returned the first of seven lost magic bags he had recovered.
