Текст книги "Slathbog's Gold"

Автор книги: Mark Forman

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

To Alex’s amazement, the silver lamp on the table jumped onto the second table and the first table walked awkwardly into the empty space between Alex, Thrang, and Arconn.

Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, Alex felt completely numb. The table started to spin as he watched it, and right before his eyes it changed. What had been a small, rectangular table was now a large, round table. Mr. Clutter sat the tea tray on the tabletop without a care.

“How’s it going, then?” Mr. Clutter asked.

“Just fine,” replied Arconn. “We’ve been explaining things to Alex.”

“Explaining?” asked Mr. Clutter, a slight note of concern in his voice.

“He don’t know nothin’ ’bout magic or adventures, you great pelican,” said Thrang in a disgruntled tone.

“Doesn’t know about adventures or magic?” Mr. Clutter repeated, glancing quickly at Alex. “But the sign . . . the gateway. I assure you, gentlemen, only a true adventurer could have passed through the gateway.”

“That may be true, Clutter,” replied Thrang. “But the fact is, this boy knows nothin’ ’bout being chosen or adventures or anything.”

“Doesn’t know about being chosen?” Mr. Clutter looked confused. “Well, then, how did he get into the shop?”

“We will call that a lucky chance,” said Arconn. “Thank you, Mr. Clutter. We’ll serve ourselves.”

Mr. Clutter left the room, scratching his head and mumbling to himself. It sounded to Alex like he didn’t believe what Thrang had said, and was sure that everybody knew about adventures and magic.

“Tea?” questioned Arconn, filling a large cup and holding it out for Alex to take.

“What?” said Alex, still dumbfounded by the moving table.

“Have some tea,” said Thrang, holding out his own cup for Arconn to fill. “A bit of tea and a cake or two and you’ll feel much better.”

“No, thank you,” Alex said, distracted. All the talk about magic and time being different and gateways and signs that other people couldn’t see had his head spinning. He didn’t know what to make of any of it, though he had to admit that it was exciting.

“Have a cake then,” said Thrang, pushing a large plate

full of cakes toward him. “Always better to think on a full stomach.”

Alex smiled weakly and took a cake from the plate. He didn’t feel hungry, but it gave him something normal to think about. Thrang and Arconn didn’t say anything at all as they drank their tea and ate several cakes.

Alex stared at his uneaten cake for a long time. He wished he’d never entered the bookshop to ask about the sign, and he wondered how he was going to get back to the Happy Dragon.

Thinking about everything he’d heard and seen so far, Alex had to admit that there mustbe magic, because he’d seen the table move on its own and change its shape. Plus he was sitting with a dwarf and an elf, which was something he’d never expected to do. He still had no idea what his new companions meant by his being chosen, but he decided not to worry about it right then because his head was starting to hurt.

chapter two

Mr. Clutter’s Back Door

“So,” said Thrang, setting his teacup down and wiping his mouth with his shirtsleeve. “What do you think, Alex?”

“I’m not sure,” said Alex.

“Excellent,” said Arconn. “Shall we discuss the contract?”

“Contract?”

“Adventurer’s bargain, if you prefer, or agreement if that suits you,” replied Thrang. “After all, we can’t go on an adventure together without a bargain.”

“Oh, I see,” said Alex with a nod, though he didn’t see, not really. He hadn’t really expected his wish for a different life to come true, but somehow it had. Now he had to decide if he was willing to accept the new life he was being offered.

But what if this isn’t real?Alex wondered. Maybe it was all some big joke, or some kind of game that he didn’t know about. What if it was one of those TV shows that played jokes on people and filmed them looking foolish? There was a chance, however, that it wasreal, that everything he’d been told was true, and that he could go on a grand adventure. If there was even a tiny chance for a real adventure, Alex wanted to be part of it.

“All right,” he said decisively. “Let’s talk about the contract.”

“Let’s see,” said Thrang, taking a large piece of paper out of his shirt pocket. “First, we should discuss compensation for time spent.”

“Compensation?” Alex questioned.

“How much you get paid for the adventure,” replied Thrang, unfolding the paper, holding it close to his face and squinting his eyes. “After all, it’s no good going on an adventure unless there’s some hope of getting paid for it.”

“I suppose not.”

“As a first-time adventurer, you are entitled to one share in twenty of the primary treasure, once it’s recovered,” Thrang began. “In addition, you may receive bonus treasure as the leader of our company sees fit. Any small or magical items you find on your own are yours to keep. Any magical item that chooses you as its owner is, of course, yours.”

Thrang paused for a moment to take a deep breath before plowing on.

“All secondary treasure recovered is to be divided equally among the company. Extra items—that is to say, items that can’t be divided equally between the members of the company—go to the leader of the company, who may then give those extra items as bonus treasure to anyone in the company whom he feels has earned them. Also, in the event that you recover treasure alone, it will be divided equally between the members of the company. Normally, an extra share of the secondary treasure is given to the adventurer who found it.

“The leader has the last word about how treasure is divided. At times, the honor of dividing treasure may be given to a member of the company. Single victory against an enemy is always a reason for the victor to be given such an honor. In most cases, the single victor will also receive any treasure that cannot be divided equally. This follows the standard rules set out in the Adventurer’s Handbook.”

Alex sat motionless, listening to Thrang, his thoughts spinning. What did he mean, “one share in twenty of the primary treasure,” and, “magical items” that might choose him as an owner? How could an item choose him?

“He’s confused,” said Arconn, noticing Alex’s puzzled look. “The idea of treasure hunting and adventures hasn’t sunk in yet. It is completely new to him.”

“What?” questioned Thrang, lowering his paper slightly to look from Arconn to Alex. “How do you think we pay for the adventure if we don’t collect some treasure along the way or at the end?” Thrang demanded.

“I’ve never thought about it,” answered Alex. The idea of looking for treasure seemed odd, but Alex had to admit it made as much sense as anything else he’d heard so far.

“You see, Alex, each adventure has a goal,” Arconn explained. “And it usually involves some kind of treasure or payment.”

Alex nodded. “What’s the goal of this adventure?”

“Jumps right to the point, don’t he?” said Thrang, smiling happily. “Got a good head for this, I can see it now.”

“Our goal,” Arconn replied, ignoring Thrang’s comments, “is to kill a dragon and reclaim the treasure in its hoard.”

“Not just any dragon,” Thrang interrupted. “We’re goin’ after Slathbog the Red.”

“And dragons are bad?” Alex asked, sure he already knew the answer.

“Most dragons are evil, if that’s what you mean,” said Arconn. “Of course, there are a few dragons that are decent enough, but normally, yes, dragons are considered bad.”

“And we’re going to kill this Slatsbog?”

“Slathbog the Red,” Thrang corrected. “Yes.”

“And take his treasure?”

“’Course,” replied Thrang with a grunting laugh. “No good killin’ a dragon and then leavin’ the hoard lying about for anybody who wants it.”

“May I ask,” Alex said, looking from Arconn to Thrang and back again. “Whose treasure is it?”

“It’s Slathbog the Red’s treasure,” answered Thrang, looking surprised by Alex’s question.

“I don’t mean now,” Alex said quickly. “I mean, whose was it before the dragon took it? He had to take it from someone, didn’t he?”

“The treasure of Slathbog has been collected from many places,” Arconn explained. “Slathbog has been hoarding treasure for several hundred years.”

“At leastseveral hundred,” Thrang added.

“Won’t the people he took the treasure from want it back?” Alex asked.

“Common law clearly states that whoever kills the dragon gets the hoard. It’s on page fifty-seven of the Adventurer’s Handbook,” replied Thrang in a businesslike tone. “’Course that don’t mean others won’t try to steal it from us. There’s always someone lookin’ for easy treasure, but that’s part of the adventure, isn’t it?”

Alex rubbed his eyes. The idea of killing a dragon and taking its treasure sounded dangerous to him. It didn’t matter that he’d never seen a dragon and had no idea what a real dragon might look like. More troubling was the thought that if they did manage to kill the dragon and collect its treasure, other people might try to take the treasure from them. For the moment, Alex had completely forgotten that he didn’t really believe in dragons or magic because somewhere in the back of his head, a small voice whispered, It might all be real, you know.

“Don’t worry about losing the hoard,” said Arconn in a reassuring tone. “Killing the dragon will be the hardest part of this adventure. Getting the treasure home will be easy, once we have it.”

“Of course,” said Alex. “But I can’t help thinking that we’ll just be doing the same thing the dragon did.”

“What’s that?” Thrang questioned.

“Well, the dragon killed people and took their treasure. Now we’re going to try to kill the dragon and take the treasure from him,” Alex replied in a thoughtful tone.

“Yes, I see what you mean,” Arconn agreed with a nod. “But there is more to it than just killing Slathbog and taking the treasure.”

“Much more than that,” Thrang added quickly. “We’re on a quest and that makes all the difference.”

“A quest?”

“We’re not going after the dragon merely to get the treasure,” Arconn explained. “Our quest is to kill Slathbog the Red. He is evil, which is reason enough to try to destroy him, but there is even more to it than that. In time, Slathbog will decide that he doesn’t have enough treasure. He will start to think that he hasn’t destroyed enough cities or eaten enough people. Eventually he will leave his lair, looking for a new one—a new one where he can hoard more treasure and kill more people. That’s the way it is with evil dragons I’m afraid, and the only way to stop them is to kill them.”

“So this Slathbog,” Alex said slowly. “He’s destroyed several cities and killed lots of people?”

“At least five cities that I can name,” answered Arconn in a serious tone. “There may be more as Slathbog may have been called something else long ago. So to stop his evil forever, we must try to destroy him.”

“I see,” said Alex thoughtfully.

“If you agree to this quest and accept the bargain, you need to sign the contract,” said Thrang, pointing at the paper in his hand.

“May I ask a few more questions first?”

“Yes, of course,” said Arconn.

“How many of us will be on this adventure?” Alex thought twenty would be a small number to attack a dragon, especially one like Slathbog the Red.

“Eight, as I said before,” answered Arconn without saying anything more.

“Do we know how to kill a dragon?” Alex asked hopefully. “I mean, is there a special way that dragons are killed?”

“There’s lots,” Thrang answered enthusiastically. “But none of them are one hundred percent effective. There’s always some risk when goin’ against a dragon—that’s why so few adventurers ever do. Powerful creatures, dragons, and magical as well.”

Alex thought about Thrang’s answer for a minute before asking his next question. The fact that he didn’t believe in dragons was lost in the flood of questions that the little voice in the back of his head was asking.

“If only eight of us are going, why are there twenty shares in the hoard?”

“Said he had a good head for this.” Thrang laughed.

“Shares are given to each adventurer based on experience and special skills,” answered Arconn. “First-time adventurers get one share, experienced adventurers get two, the leader gets three. A wizard would also get three.”

“Do we have a wizard?” Alex asked hopefully.

“No,” said Thrang, stroking his beard. “Couldn’t find one available. Mind you, there aren’t many wizards around these days, and very few of them ever go on adventures.”

“That’s only sixteen shares,” said Alex, quickly thinking the numbers through.

“Well, one share goes to Clutter for setting up the adventure,” Thrang said. “And one goes to the Widows and Orphans fund, which is normal for most decent adventurers. Then there’s a share set aside to pay expenses the group might have while on the adventure.”

“That’s nineteen,” said Alex, not sure why he was so interested in how the treasure was divided. He felt certain that the dragon would be keeping all of the treasure, and he and his new companions would be coming home empty-handed, if they came home at all.

“There’s an extra share for whoever kills the dragon,” said Thrang with a grunting laugh. “If more than one adventurer is in on the kill, they split it up.”

“Oh,” Alex managed to say as thoughts of dragons raced through his head.

“’Course there’s other places to get treasure along the way,” Thrang added happily. “Always the chance of runnin’ into goblins or bandits, maybe even a troll, isn’t there? That’s where the bit about secondary treasure comes into play.”

Alex didn’t like the sound of goblins, bandits, or trolls.

“Before you decide, there are a few other things you should know,” said Arconn. “In signing this document, you pledge to do all you can to help the company achieve its goal. You promise to never desert the company for any reason. You agree to take orders from the company’s leader, and if worse comes to worst, you promise to return the belongings of the other company members to their families or heirs.”

“Oh,” said Alex. “It’s just . . . I mean, the thing is—”

Arconn was looking at him, and something in his look made Alex stop talking.

“Alex,” said Arconn in a soft voice. “Fate has chosen you to go on this adventure. It is your destiny to become an adventurer. If you throw away this chance, you will regret it for the rest of your life. You may not understand everything we’ve said, or even believe it, but it is all true.”

There was a sudden spark in Alex’s chest, and an odd electric pricking in his fingers and toes. He felt a real desire to go on this adventure. He didn’t understand why, but it felt right in a way that he couldn’t explain, not even to himself. All of his short life he’d wanted to do something different, something exciting. He’d never had the chance until now, and he knew that Arconn was right and that he would regret it if he didn’t go.

“All right, I’ll go,” said Alex, taking the paper from Thrang and signing his name to it. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“You don’t want to know,” replied Thrang with a snort of laughter.

“Perhaps not,” Alex admitted, handing the paper back to Thrang. “Now what?”

“Now we go to Telous,” said Arconn, his eyes gleaming. “The adventure begins.”

* * *

Alex followed Thrang and Arconn as together they made their way back to Mr. Clutter’s office.

“All settled then?” Mr. Clutter asked, looking up from his desk as the trio entered the room.

“Signed and ready to go,” Thrang answered, handing Mr. Clutter the paper Alex had signed. “Need you to file that for us, if you would.”

“Right you are,” said Mr. Clutter. “You’ll be on to Telous then?”

“Yes,” said Arconn, looking over his shoulder. “Through the wardrobe?”

“Oh, no,” Mr. Clutter answered, his smile fading. “Someone tried to bring a bummblehog through there earlier today; it’s quite a mess.”

“Bummblehogs don’t like wardrobes,” said Thrang, nudging Alex with his elbow. “In fact, there isn’t much that bummblehogs do like.”

Alex wondered what a bummblehog was, but decided he might be happier not knowing. He looked around the room, and for a moment thought about running for the door, a last desperate hope to escape before it was too late. But he knew he wouldn’t run. Nobody had forced him to sign the Adventurer’s Bargain; he’d done that on his own. And now that he’d agreed to go, part of him was really looking forward to it.

“Out the back door if that’s all right,” said Mr. Clutter, his smile returning. “It’ll put you just outside of Telous and give young Mr. Taylor a chance to see the town.”

“Very well,” said Arconn, walking to the far side of the room. “Thank you for the tea and your help, Mr. Clutter.”

“Not at all, not at all,” replied Mr. Clutter with a laugh and a wave of his hand. “Always happy to help.”

“Off we go then.” Thrang nudged Alex with his elbow again. “No sense hangin’ round here when there’s an adventure waitin’.”

“No,” Alex agreed. “I suppose not.”

Alex followed Thrang, joining Arconn by the wall. He couldn’t see any sign of a door. Without a word, Arconn reached out and knocked three times on what appeared to be a solid wall. To Alex’s surprise, the silver outline of a door suddenly appeared exactly where Arconn had knocked.

“See you when you get back,” Mr. Clutter called, turning back to his desk and shuffling through papers once more.

Arconn pushed on the silver outline and the door swung open to reveal a sunny green field and a bright blue sky. Alex stared in amazement as Arconn stepped through the doorway. Thrang laughed at the stunned look on Alex’s face and nudged him forward. Nervously, Alex followed Arconn through the door and into the field. He turned just in time to see Thrang step through the doorway. The silver door faded behind him, disappearing with a small pop.

“Going to be a nice day,” said Thrang, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “Clear mornings like this are always good for adventures.”

Alex didn’t say anything, stunned by the sudden change in their location. He wasn’t sure what to think, and he wondered what he’d gotten himself into.

“I know it seems strange the first time,” said Arconn in a reassuring tone. “You’ll get used to it after an adventure or two.”

“Let’s go,” said Thrang, starting off across the field. “Bregnest will be waiting.”

“Bregnest?” Alex questioned as he hurried after Thrang.

“Silvan Bregnest, the leader of our adventure,” said Arconn.

Alex didn’t ask any more questions as they walked through the open field. He felt strange and out of place. Walking with a dwarf and an elf was new to him, and he wasn’t sure how or what he should be feeling. Any worries he’d had were fading fast, however, and the longer they walked, the happier he felt about his decision.

A small town came into view ahead of them as they left the field behind and started down a stone-paved road. Alex guessed that the town must be Telous and he looked around curiously.

Alex’s first impression of Telous was that everything looked extremely old. The town wasn’t shabby or run-down—it was actually well-kept and clean—it just feltold. The stone buildings along the road all looked as though they had been standing there for ages. The smell of woodsmoke filled the air, and the morning sun quickly warmed the stones beneath his feet.

Alex’s eyes moved wildly as he walked through the streets of Telous. The signs in the shop windows advertised all kinds of things he’d never seen in any shop at home. The people on the street were dressed much like Thrang and Arconn—in brown and green clothes made for the rugged outdoors—nothing at all like the people in Sildon Lane who usually wore suits and ties.

“We’ll find Bregnest at the Swan,” said Thrang, pointing to a large building ahead of them. “I suppose the others will be there too.”

The Golden Swan was three stories tall and stood alone in the center of Telous. It had white walls and many windows, each with emerald-green shutters and trim. Alex thought the building looked friendly and inviting. A large golden swan with emerald eyes hung above the main entrance of the tavern. Alex wondered if the swan was made of solid gold.

“Best tavern in Telous,” Thrang commented to Alex with a smile. “And the favorite of most adventurers.”

“It’s very impressive,” Alex managed to say as they walked through the main doors.

Alex and Arconn followed Thrang into one of several small rooms on the right-hand side of the building. The room was brightly lit by the sunlight streaming in through the windows and the several lamps that hung from the ceiling.

“Thrang,” a voice called from the far corner of the room. “About time you got back.”

“Not easy findin’ our eighth man,” replied Thrang. “Lucky we was able to find anyone at all.”

“Times aren’t what they were,” said the man in a serious tone. “But we needed eight for the job. Who have you found?”

“This is Alexander Taylor,” said Arconn, as they crossed the room. “He goes by Alex, and this is his first adventure.”

The man looked at Alex, his eyebrows rising. “I’m not too keen on taking a first-timer on a trip like this.”

“He was referred by Mr. Clutter,” said Arconn. “The Oracle did say eight, and now we are eight.”

“All the same,” said the man, as he stood and took a step toward Alex, “I’d be happier if he had some experience.”

“We couldn’t find no one with experience,” said Thrang, his voice a little tight. “We’re in a rush, and he was available. Besides, he’s already signed the Bargain.”

“Very well,” replied the man, stretching out his hand to Alex. “Silvan Bregnest.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Alex replied, taking his hand and shaking it.

“Clutter referred you then, did he?” Bregnest asked, returning to his chair.

Alex nodded cautiously.

“He’s a good judge, normally,” said Bregnest. “Hasn’t been wrong in more than four hundred years.”

“And he wasn’t wrong then, not really,” said Thrang, signaling for a barman to bring him a drink.

“Perhaps not,” Bregnest agreed.

Silvan Bregnest looked like a serious man to Alex. He was tall and lean, with gray eyes that shone brightly with an inner light. Most of his long, black hair was pulled into a neat ponytail at the back of his neck, but there was a single narrow braid hanging down either side of his face. He appeared to be a rugged man, tough and hardened by time and travel, and Alex felt a little uneasy standing under his gaze.

“Where are the others?” Thrang asked, taking a large mug from the barman. “They’ll be wantin’ to meet young Alex here.”

“They went to check on the horses,” said Bregnest, turning his attention away from Alex. “They should be back anytime now.”

“We’ll need to get Alex outfitted,” said Thrang in a matter-of-fact way.

“Andy can take him,” replied Bregnest. “We need to talk.” His eyes flicked to Alex and back to Thrang, who grunted into his mug.

For several minutes there was silence, except for the sound of Thrang drinking from his mug and the fire burning in the grate. Arconn sat beside Bregnest, calmly looking out the window.

Alex, not knowing what else to do, remained standing. He was just beginning to think that he should sit down as well, when a noisy group entered the room behind him.

“We’re ready to go,” a tall blond man called across the room to Bregnest. “Just need our eighth man and we’re off.”

“We have eight,” replied Bregnest, standing and nodding toward Alex. “This is Alexander Taylor,” he said. “He goes by Alex, and this is his first time out.”

“Skeld, son of Haplack,” said the blond man, grabbing Alex’s hand and shaking it vigorously. “Glad you’re with us.”

“So am I,” Alex managed to say, surprised by Skeld’s introduction.

“If you’ll allow me,” said Bregnest, pushing Skeld to one side. “Alex, I’d like you to meet your other companions on this adventure.”

Skeld stumbled slightly as Bregnest pushed him again, but he continued smiling. He looked both strong and happy, and Alex liked him instantly.

“This is Tayo Blackman,” said Bregnest, indicating a

dark-haired man who was standing behind Skeld. Tayo nodded slightly to Alex but did not offer his hand. Alex thought Tayo’s face and dark eyes looked extremely sad.

“This is Halfdan Bluevest,” Bregnest continued, pointing to a young-looking dwarf. “As you might guess from the look of him, he’s Thrang’s cousin.”

“A pleasure,” said Halfdan as he bowed to Alex.

“And last but not least,” Bregnest said. “Anders Goodseed. We all call him Andy.”

“A great pleasure,” said Andy, nudging Halfdan in the ribs as he too bowed to Alex.

“The pleasure is mine,” Alex managed as he remembered his manners and bowed slightly.

“So, we’re off today then, are we?” Skeld questioned with a smile.

“Alex needs to get outfitted first,” replied Bregnest, moving back to his chair. “Andy, go with him and get him set up, will you.”

It was more a command than a question, and Andy bowed slightly to Bregnest before turning to Alex and motioning for him to follow.

“We should be able to get everything he needs,” said Andy. “What about payment?”

“Tell them I’ll stand good for it,” said Thrang, lowering his mug and winking at Alex.

“Very well,” replied Andy, starting toward the door.

“And Andy,” Thrang called after them. “Make sure to get him a decent bag.”

“Of course,” Andy answered.

* * *

After Alex and Andy had left the room, the others gathered around Bregnest. They were undertaking a dangerous adventure and there were several things they needed to discuss. Not least among their concerns was the selection of Alex as the eighth member of their company.

“He’s very young,” said Tayo, looking at Bregnest grimly. “He’s not trained, and he’s unprepared for what lies ahead.”

“He comes highly recommended,” Thrang replied, watching Bregnest over his mug. “And he’s large for his age.”

“His hands are well-callused so he knows how to work,” Skeld commented thoughtfully. “Dragons are difficult though, and his size and willingness to work won’t help much. We can teach him some basics on the road, of course, but with two so young, it will be hard.”

“It would be hard with experienced warriors,” Halfdan added. “I don’t see how we can succeed as we are.”

“What do you say, Arconn?” Bregnest questioned, his gaze settling on the elf. “Do you have an opinion on this?”

“A feeling more than anything else,” replied Arconn, turning away from the window for the first time since he’d sat down. “A feeling that I find hard to voice.”

“Will you try?” Bregnest persisted.

“I feel we are fortunate to have him with us,” Arconn answered in a slow and thoughtful tone. “I cannot say why, but I feel that it will be good both for him and for us.”

“Elves often feel things that others cannot,” said Bregnest, almost to himself. “Yet I also feel that this is for the best, and I am glad that Alex is our eighth.”

“Something the Oracle told you?” Skeld asked, his eyebrows rising.

“What the Oracle says to a man is for him alone to know,” replied Bregnest with a half-smile. “As you know well enough, Skeld.”

Skeld laughed and signaled for the barman to bring drinks for them all.

“I knew you would not answer straight,” Skeld said with a mischievous smile on his face. “And I know how it annoys you when I ask.”

“And you will have your fun,” said Bregnest. “But enough of this. We will go with what—and who—we have, and hope for the best.”

“Excellent,” said Thrang, taking another mug from the barman. “Let’s drink on it.”

“Drink on it indeed, master dwarf,” Bregnest chuckled. “But not as much as you may like. The road ahead will be long and hard, and we start early in the morning.”