Текст книги "Albrek's Tomb"

Автор книги: Mark Forman

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Chapter Three

Thraxon

Alex woke early the next morning. He moved quietly around the room as he dressed, not wanting to wake Thrain. He slipped into his magic bag to inspect his new greenhouse. He was happy to see that all of the plants seemed to be adjusting to their new home. It took some time to get everything in order, and after he finished, he left the magic bag and shook Thrain awake.

“It’s time for breakfast,” said Alex.

“Already?” Thrain said sleepily. “I’ve only just fallen asleep.” He climbed out of his bed and dragged himself to the basin. Thrain’s excitement seemed to still be asleep, but Alex knew it would return over breakfast. He remembered his own first adventure, after all.

As they prepared to leave the room, Alex reminded Thrain to take his new magic bag with him.

“I can’t believe I almost forgot it.” Thrain shook his head they walked toward the dining room. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t say anything,” said Alex.

Thrang and Arconn were already waiting in the dining room when Alex and Thrain arrived. Kat appeared soon after, followed shortly by Nellus and Barnabus. Thrang looked happy, though a little tense. Alex smiled at Thrang as he took his seat and then glanced at the dark sky outside the window.

“Starting early, then,” Alex said.

“Early starts are always best,” said Thrang, ringing the bell to summon their breakfast.

“Where will we be starting our adventure?” Nellus questioned as they ate.

“We will be stopping first at Benorg—the city of King Thorgood,” said Thrang. “He wishes to meet you all before we begin our search.”

“Checking to see what kind of company you’ve put together?” Arconn asked in a sly tone.

“No,” Thrang said quickly, his smile fading slightly. “He just wants to meet you. He is sponsoring this adventure, after all.”

“Is Thorgood a good king?” Kat asked, a thoughtful look on her face.

“Of course he is,” said Thrang. “He’s one of the best kings Benorg and the dwarf realm has ever had.”

“I meant no offense,” said Kat.

Alex looked at Kat curiously. He knew Kat was a seer, but her question had seemed a bit odd.

“How long will it take us to reach Benorg?” Thrain asked, his voice full of excitement once more.

“Five, maybe six days,” answered Thrang absently.

“You have said little about where we will search specifically for Albrek’s tomb,” said Barnabus, pushing his chair away from the table. “Can you tell us more?”

Thrang looked worried again. “As I’ve said, there are three possible locations for the tomb of Albrek. These locations are not marked on any map, however, and I have only a general idea of where they are.”

“Which is why we have a seer,” said Arconn, bowing his head slightly to Kat.

Thrang nodded as well. “King Thorgood already has a team searching the libraries and archives of Benorg for information. I’m hoping we will learn a great deal more about Albrek’s journeys when we reach Benorg.”

As the meal and the discussion came to an end, the company prepared to leave the Golden Swan. Alex went to the stable with Nellus and Barnabus to collect the horses, while

the rest of the company waited in front of the tavern. Soon they were riding south toward the great arch, Thrang and Arconn in the lead, Alex and Kat directly behind.

“You seem troubled,” Kat said quietly to Alex.

“Simply curious. I have been wondering why you asked about King Thorgood.”

“I have met several kings,” answered Kat. “Some are good, most are fair, and a few are evil.”

“And you wanted to know what kind of king Thorgood was before we reached his city,” Alex said with a nod.

“It is best to know something of your host before arriving at his house.”

Alex was glad Kat was a member of the company. A seer could often see things that even a wizard could not, and Alex could tell that Kat was a clever person who thought things through. Her interest in King Thorgood had made Alex think. Whalen had once warned Alex that kings and lords often hid their dark desires from even those closest to them. Alex trusted Thrang, and he knew that Thrang would never go on an adventure for an evil king, but he wasn’t sure, however, if Thrang would be able to see the evil if it was well hidden.

“Can you tell us anything more about the libraries of Benorg?” Alex asked Thrang as they rode along.

“I can tell you they are large.”

“What language are the records written in?”

“Several languages. Mostly in dwarvish, though some things are written in elvish.”

Alex could read elvish easily, as the letters were similar to magic letters. He had studied dwarvish a little after his last adventure, but it was a difficult language to learn, especially if you didn’t have someone who spoke it to help you.

They continued toward the great arch, and Alex felt happy to be starting a new adventure. He enjoyed listening to Thrain’s excited questions from where he rode between Nellus and Barnabus. He smiled as the two older adventurers tried to answer the young dwarf’s questions as fast as he asked them.

The company stopped for their midday meal, and Alex headed to a spring to refill his water bottles. When he returned, Barnabus was busy cooking their midday meal, and Alex noticed that Thrang was watching Barnabus closely. Thrang had been the cook on Alex’s first adventure, and watching him hover around the campfire made Alex laugh out loud.

“Miss cooking, do you?” said Alex.

“Old habits die hard,” answered Thrang, looking a little sheepish.

“If you’d like to take over, just say so,” said Barnabus.

“No, no, not at all,” Thrang said quickly. “I’ve heard about your ability, Barnabus, and I’m happy to let you do the cooking.”

“You are most kind. But perhaps you should wait until you taste it before making up your mind.”

The entire company laughed, but there was no need to worry. Barnabus was an excellent cook, and Thrang made a point of telling him so.

“Now then,” said Thrang as he finished his meal. “I have a few final instructions before we distribute our food shares and arm ourselves. First, we will be following the standard rules for adventures on our journey. If anyone gets lost, we will search for thirteen days, as is customary. After the thirteen days, the lost person or persons will be free to do what seems best to them. Second, our quest is not widely known in Thraxon, so I must remind you all not to speak of it openly. We will be passing through areas with lots of people, and the temptation to talk will be great.”

“Especially for those of us who might meet kinsmen,” Arconn said, looking at Thrain.

“There is that,” agreed Thrang. “Most of our journey will be in lands peopled by dwarfs, but we will also meet many men as we travel, and possibly elves as well.”

“Are there many men and elves in Thraxon?” Alex asked.

“More men than elves. The elves of Thraxon are not very friendly, and, if Arconn will forgive me, a bit secretive.”

“Reluctant to mingle might be better,” said Arconn.

“Reluctant to mingle, then,” Thrang repeated. “There is one last thing of importance. Remember that the honor of each member of our company is linked to the honor of us all. It is possible that we will meet people who will question or doubt our honor. I would ask that we all be willing to stand up for each other if such questions arise.”

“You are most kind, Master Silversmith, though I fear it will be myself alone who will be questioned,” said Kat, her voice a mix of sadness and pride.

“I won’t deny that seers are not as well respected as they should be in parts of Thraxon,” said Thrang, bowing to Kat. “However, you are part of this company, and I will not have your honor called into question.”

The rest of the company agreed, and Kat smiled and thanked everyone for their kindness.

“Now, we will share our food so that we all have plenty in our bags,” said Thrang. “Then we will arm and ride into our adventure.”

They all cheered at Thrang’s words and quickly started swapping packages. Alex accepted several parcels from both Thrang and Barnabus, who seemed to be carrying most of the company’s food between them. He still had a fair supply of food in his bag from his first two adventures, however, and he was not surprised to find that none of it had spoiled.

As Thrang and Arconn helped Thrain store packages in his new magic bag, Alex turned to his weapons. He attached his magic sword, Moon Slayer, to his belt, along with his true-silver knife. Taking a deep breath, he retrieved his staff from his bag as well. He had never carried a staff on an adventure before, and he felt a little odd carrying it now.

“A fine-looking staff,” Arconn commented. “I have never seen one quite like it.”

“It is different than most,” said Alex.

“I wish I could have been there when you took the oath,” said Thrang, also looking at Alex’s staff. “Halfdan told me about it, but still . . .”

“I missed you both on my last adventure,” said Alex. “But we are together again for this adventure.”

“And I hope we find as much success as we did the last time we rode together,” said Thrang.

Alex nodded and then looked around to see how the rest of the company would be armed. Nellus wore a long sword at his side and carried a bow, while Barnabus carried a short sword and a fair-sized ax. Kat was carrying both a finely made scimitar and a bow. Arconn and Thrang were both armed as they had been on Alex’s first adventure: Arconn with his longbow and dagger, Thrang with his short sword and ax. Thrain was attaching a short sword to his belt, though he already had a crossbow slung across his back.

“A fierce-looking company,” Thrang said with pride.

“Very fierce,” said Arconn. “Though I doubt we will meet trouble so close to the arch.”

“It’s not likely,” said Thrang. “But it’s always best to be prepared.”

Alex agreed, though he wondered if it might actually be a good thing if they did meet something not too dangerous, because then they could see how well they fought together as a group.

“If we are ready, then,” said Thrang, “let us ride to Thraxon and hope for success.”

“Success!” the rest of the company echoed loudly.

They rode toward the great arch. Alex found that his staff was a little awkward to ride with at first, but he soon got used to it.

As they rode through the arch, Alex immediately noticed how different Thraxon was from the other lands he had visited. The hills instantly changed to towering, jagged mountains. Tall pine trees were scattered on the mountainside, and Alex was amazed that not only had the trees managed to take root but also that the narrow spaces where they grew had not collapsed under the weight of the trees. The well-made road under their feet stretched along the base of the mountains in a southerly direction.

“Are these the Gray Mountains of Thraxon?” Alex asked.

“They are,” Thrang answered. “The Gray Mountains are large, however, and there are no dwarf cities between the arch and Benorg.”

“What about other things that live in the mountains?” Arconn asked.

“What other things?” Thrang questioned.

“Goblins,” Alex answered, knowing exactly what Arconn was thinking.

“There are none that I know of,” said Thrang. “There are goblins in Thraxon, but they are mostly in the Blue Mountains, which are far to the south and west.”

“Yet goblins move and are seldom seen until they wish to be seen,” said Arconn.

“That is true,” Thrang agreed. “However, my people are more watchful than most.”

Alex hoped Thrang was right. He had battled goblins on his last adventure and was in no rush to face more of the evil creatures.

Riding along the edge of the mountains, Alex studied the landscape and the rugged beauty around him. The mountains formed an uneven wall, broken by wide, green valleys with deep rivers running through them and narrow valleys with smaller streams. Across all the rivers and streams were well-built stone bridges. The water flowed to the west across open grasslands, and Alex wondered if they joined together at some distant point.

They spoke little as Thrang led them forward. Even Thrain seemed happy to simply watch the countryside slip by and not ask questions. As the sun set over the grasslands to their right, Thrang called them to a halt in an open space close to a stream.

“I’ve used this campsite many times,” said Thrang. “There are several adventurers who live in Thraxon, and we all use the same campsites as we travel to and from the arch.”

“Well-used campsites are not always the best,” Arconn said.

“Do you feel something?” Thrang asked in concern.

“I do not,” said Arconn. “I was simply thinking that such a campsite might be a target for bandits.”

“If bandits had ever attacked one of these campsites, I would have heard about it,” said Thrang, shaking his head.

Once they had taken care of their horses and set up their camp, Thrang waved for Thrain to join him. Alex watched as Thrang piled up branches for their campfire, and he knew that Thrang wanted to teach the younger dwarf how to magically light and put out a fire. He remembered the first time he had tried this bit of magic, as well as the effect his untrained magic had on the pile of branches.

“Watch your beard,” said Alex to Thrang with a smile.

“I don’t think that will be a problem,” said Thrang, stroking his beard. “I doubt very much that young Thrain will be able to ignite it, as you once did.”

“You lit Thrang’s beard on fire?” Thrain asked in shock and surprise.

“Not his beard,” said Alex. “I overdid the inferno command, and the effect was more than Thrang bargained for.”

“My own fault for not explaining things clearly.” Thrang laughed. “Though I should have known better, as we knew about your abilities even then.”

“You might have known, but I still had doubts,” said Alex. “I didn’t know Thrain had magical ability.”

“Only simple dwarf magic,” Thrain said, looking embarrassed.

“Only?” Alex questioned. “Magic is magic; it all has the same root. And if you were to master all the dwarf magic there is, you would know a great deal indeed.”

“You’re talking more and more like a wizard,” said Thrang, shaking his head. “Soon you’ll be harder to understand than Arconn.”

Alex laughed and took a step back. He watched as Thrang showed Thrain how the infernoand quenchcommands worked. Thrain was impressed, and Alex smiled as Thrang carefully told the young dwarf to concentrate on a single branch, something he had not told Alex the first time Alex had tried the spell.

Thrain stood still for several minutes, concentrating. Finally, he pointed at one branch and spoke the magic word. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the branch but was quickly blown away by the breeze. Thrain looked disappointed, but Thrang was extremely happy.

“Not bad for your first try. It normally takes several tries to summon a flame when you first learn the magic.”

“But it was only a little smoke,” said Thrain in a dejected tone.

“Perhaps you weren’t concentrating hard enough,” Alex said.

“Perhaps not,” Thrang agreed. “Try once more, and this time try to focus all your thoughts.”

Thrain obeyed and closed his eyes. Alex winked at Thrang, who immediately took a step back. After a few moments, Thrain opened his eyes and, pointing at the branch once more, spoke the magic word. This time a flame sprang to life as soon as the word had left his lips.

“Well done,” said Thrang, returning Alex’s wink when Thrain wasn’t looking. “Very impressive. Now try the quenchcommand.”

Thrain obeyed once more, and, as he spoke the word, the fire sputtered for a moment and died. Thrain, pleased with himself and his newfound ability, quickly relit the fire. Alex smiled at his young friend and commented on how well he had done.

“You shouldn’t have helped him,” Thrang said to Alex in a low tone.

“I only helped the first time,” said Alex. “He needed a little confidence, that’s all.”

“And the quenchcommand?” Thrang asked.

“Again, only a little help. As his confidence grows, he will be able to do the spells on his own.”

“Still, you shouldn’t have helped him,” said Thrang with a smile on his face.

“Why not?” Alex asked. “You helped me the first time.”

“I most certainly did not,” said Thrang, sounding shocked by the idea.

“Even if you didn’t know it, you helped. You believed I could do it, even though I didn’t.”

“Will we be setting a watch?” Arconn asked, walking toward the fire.

“There is little need so close to the arch,” said Thrang. “Though it might be wise to start now, just to be safe.”

“If nothing else, we will be prepared for later,” Alex said.

Thrang considered the idea for several minutes and then decided it would, indeed, be best to start keeping a watch. Alex, with his normal luck, drew the first watch, which made him happy. He knew from experience that Arconn would sit up with him, and he was looking forward to spending time with his friend.

Chapter Four

Benorg

On the fifth day of their journey, the road turned east into the mountains and followed a large and noisy river flowing through a narrow, green valley. The river snaked between huge boulders and had many impressive waterfalls and rapids, some of them so close that they covered the road with a damp mist. The path twisted and turned almost as much as the river did, but always stayed close to the water’s edge.

“Did your people build all these bridges?” Alex asked Thrang over the roar of the river.

“Yes, indeed,” Thrang shouted over his shoulder. “King Thorgood owns this road and insists that the bridges be maintained. After all, this is the road that leads to his capital. The stone bridges make a good impression on visitors and are useful for trade.”

“Do your people trade much with other lands?” Kat questioned.

“More and more,” answered Thrang. “King Thorgood has been trying to open trade with all the known lands.”

“And having a good deal of success, I would guess,” Arconn said.

“Honest trading makes for success,” said Thrang.

Alex wondered what was awaiting them in Benorg and beyond. Thraxon was one of the larger known lands, and the map of it in the Adventurer’s Handbookwas better than most of the others. Alex had spent some time studying it, trying to get a feel for the land that he and the company would be traveling through. He knew that Benorg was in the heart of the Gray Mountains, with many roads leading to it, but that most of Thraxon—at least according to his map—was east and south of Benorg.

The day passed with little talk, except when they stopped for their midday meal. Kat asked a few more questions about Thorgood, and Alex knew she was still nervous about meeting the king. He was too. He tried to relax his own mind, but even when he managed a moment of peace, Kat’s nervousness pressed in on him.

The sun was well to the west when Thrang at last halted them in the road. The valley opened wide before them, and they could see that the land had been divided into neat, little farms. The road stretched through the farmlands and crossed a wide stone bridge before leading directly to a huge city made of stone.

“My friends, welcome to Benorg!” Thrang turned in his saddle and smiled. “A wonder of the dwarf realms.”

“I didn’t know that dwarfs built cities so high above the ground,” Alex said as they started forward once more.

“Benorg is different than most dwarf cities. The part of the city you can see isn’t very old. It is built on top of and around the older city, which is thousands of years old. When we get closer, you will be able to see the difference in the work,” said Thrang.

They moved forward to the bridge, where dwarf guards clad in shining true-silver armor stood proudly. The guards must have recognized Thrang, because as the company approached, they lowered their spears as a sign of welcome.

Thrang led them into the heart of the dwarf city, waving now and then to someone he knew. Many of the dwarfs would wave back or toast them as they passed, and it appeared that Thrang was well-known. Horses were allowed in Benorg, at least in the aboveground parts, so they rode along the stone-paved streets, smiling and nodding to the dwarfs as they went.

When they reached what looked like the tallest building in the city, Thrang directed the group to one side where several dwarfs were waiting, ready to take their horses to the royal stables. Alex gave Shahree’s reins to a bowing dwarf and whispered words of comfort to her.

“King Thorgood will be waiting,” said Thrang, looking nervously at the others. “I believe there will be a feast in our honor.”

“And if Thorgood doesn’t like the look of us?” Arconn asked.

“He will,” said Thrang, scowling at Arconn.

“Elves are not always welcome guests of dwarfs,” Arconn said.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Thrang answered. “Thorgood knows a good deal about adventures and about the importance of mixing the company.”

“Was King Thorgood an adventurer once?” Thrain questioned.

“No, but he’s known a good many adventurers in his time,” answered Thrang, still scowling. “He thinks very highly of our profession, and he is a kind and generous host.”

“Then lead on,” said Arconn, bowing to Thrang. “It would not be polite for us to keep our host waiting.”

Thrang did not reply, but his scowl softened. He turned toward the large building and led the company forward, dusting himself off slightly as he went. Arconn caught Alex’s eye and gave him a quick wink.

They followed Thrang toward the grand entrance hall, where more armored guards stood at attention. They bowed as Thrang approached and allowed the company to pass without questioning them. Alex looked in wonder at the inside of the building, which was really just an open space surrounded by a high wall and filled with fountains and trees, like a park. In the middle of the open space was a small pavilion, and standing beneath it was King Thorgood.

“Welcome, my friends, welcome,” said Thorgood, coming down the steps of his royal pavilion with a smile. “You’ve made good time, Thrang; I didn’t think you would be back so soon.”

“I was fortunate to find the members of the company quickly,” said Thrang, bowing to the king.

“And what a company,” said Thorgood, looking over Thrang’s shoulder at the rest of them. “I am glad you come as friends, for it seems Thrang has assembled a fierce group of warriors.”

“If you will permit me, Your Majesty,” said Thrang, moving to stand beside the king. “Allow me to introduce you to my companions.”

“Yes, I suppose introductions are in order,” said Thorgood, moving forward with Thrang. “I thought the pavilion would be more comfortable than the throne room. Not so stuffy or formal. There are always fewer of the lords out here, and you know how they can be.”

Alex and the others quickly lined up in front of Thrang and the king. Alex could see that Thrain was extremely nervous, which surprised him. Thrain’s grandfather was king of the dwarf realm of Vargland, after all, and Alex thought he would be used to meeting royalty and other important people.

Thrang moved down the line, introducing each of them to the king and saying something about their accomplishments as adventurers. Alex listened closely when Thrang introduced Kat, Nellus, and Barnabus because he didn’t know as much about them yet. When Thrang introduced Alex, Thorgood stopped him before he could list Alex’s accomplishments.

“The young wizard,” Thorgood said with a quick glance at Thrang. “The one you and Halfdan have told me so much about.”

“The same,” answered Thrang, beaming at Alex.

“A great honor,” said Thorgood with a bow. “I had hoped Thrang would find a wizard for this adventure, but I did not dare hope that it would be you.”

“The honor is mine, great king,” said Alex, bowing to Thorgood. “Master Silversmith was good enough to invite me on this adventure, and I am pleased to be in your fair city.”

“Yes, well, we do what we can,” said Thorgood with a laugh. “Perhaps you will tell me the truth of Thrang and Halfdan’s stories, if time allows.”

“It would be a pleasure and an honor, great king, though I am sure Thrang and Halfdan have been most truthful in their tales,” answered Alex.

“No doubt they have. Though it is always good to hear the story from a different point of view.”

Alex bowed to Thorgood once more as Thrang, looking proud and pleased, continued down the line. Thorgood stopped again when they reached Thrain, asking about his grandfather and Vargland.

Once all the introductions had been made, Thorgood returned to his pavilion, speaking in a low voice to Thrang. Thrang appeared to agree with the king and was smiling as he returned to the company.

“Now that the formalities are complete, let me offer all of you some refreshment,” said Thorgood, taking his seat in the pavilion. “Tonight we feast and sing; tomorrow you begin your work.”

As he finished speaking, Thorgood clapped his hands. Dozens of dwarfs instantly appeared from various places around the walled-in space. While Alex and his companions looked on in wonder, the dwarfs set up several round tables and covered them with food. A dozens more tables and chairs were set up, and silver lamps were placed at the center of each table.

“An old dwarf custom here in Benorg is to welcome friends with a small gathering so they can mingle without the formality of a traditional feast,” Thrang explained. “Thorgood wants us to mingle with his people, so they will have a chance to get to know us.”

“An interesting custom,” said Nellus. “We do something similar in my homeland, but not on such a large scale.”

“Well then, let’s mingle,” said Barnabus with a smile. He moved away from the others, heading for one of the main tables that was filled with food.

Alex soon discovered that he was something of a legend in Benorg. It seemed that all the dwarfs knew who he was and what he had done on both of his previous adventures. He talked and mingled with the dwarfs, feeling very much at ease among them, relieved that they were so willing to accept him.

As the night grew darker, more lamps were lit and placed around the walls, illuminating the open space. Alex eventually gave in to the pleading of some of the younger dwarfs and conjured several small weir lights. He sent the balls of light dancing around the park, changing their colors as they went. All of the dwarfs laughed and clapped as the weir lights whirled past them, and even King Thorgood watched them with wonder.

As the evening wore on, Alex put out the weir lights one by one until there was only one light left, floating above his own head. As one of the servants came forward to lead Alex and his companions to their rooms, Alex sent the last light dashing through the crowd before shooting it up into the sky where it vanished from sight.

They were led out of the pavilion park to a large guesthouse nearby, which Thorgood declared was theirs for as long as they needed it. The house was impressive, stocked with everything they might need or want. There were bedrooms and baths for everyone, as well as several small sitting rooms and a large common room that could comfortably seat as many as thirty or forty people.

It was late, and Thrang decided that it was time for all of them to be in bed. Thrain was unhappy about the order because he had been having such a good time at the feast. Thrang insisted, however, reminding him that they all had a great deal of work to do in the libraries and archives the next day.

“I’ll need your eyes sharp tomorrow, Thrain,” Thrang said. “You and I are the only ones who can read all of the dwarvish letters. Arconn may know a few of them, and I don’t believe Alex has learned them all yet.”

“Not yet,” Alex said through a yawn. “Though I have been studying. It was a difficult task—studying alone, without any dwarfs to help me. I will be glad for your help at the archives.”

The company said good night and headed to their various rooms. Alex did not feel sleepy so he wrote a short message to Whalen to let him know how things were going. Once the note was sent, he remained seated at the small writing table, taking out one of his books about dwarf runes and writings and beginning to study.

When morning came, Alex was tired from his night’s work, but felt his time had been well spent. He had learned all the dwarf runes from his book and could read most of the writing with only a little hesitation. He sat down to breakfast with his friends, looking forward to spending the day in the libraries.

“Thorgood has had his people searching the libraries for us,” Thrang announced. “They haven’t found anything important yet, but with their help, I think we should find what we need quickly.”

“Are you in such a rush to leave Benorg?” Alex questioned.

“No, not at all,” answered Thrang. “But our adventure is not in Benorg or in the archives of this city. The sooner we find what we need, the sooner we can continue with the adventure properly.”

“And as most of us don’t know how to read or speak the dwarvish language, I, for one, will be happy for all the help we can get,” Nellus said.

After breakfast, Thrang led them out of the house and toward the mountains that stood behind the city. Alex admired all of the buildings in Benorg, which were quite beautiful and impressive to look at, and wondered how long it had taken the dwarfs to build such a fine city. He listened closely as Thrang pointed out various buildings and explained what each of them was used for.

The libraries were located in several huge underground vaults, containing thousands and thousands of books and even more scrolls and pieces of parchment. Alex suspected it would take him a hundred years or more just to look at everything the libraries contained, and several hundred more to read it all, and he was grateful for the help Thorgood had offered them.

“Thorgood said that these last two chambers hold the documents from the time of Albrek, so anything about him should be there,” said Thrang, leading them through the underground maze.

“That narrows the search a bit,” said Barnabus with a short laugh.

“It narrows it a great deal,” said Thrang, missing the joke. “And with the help Thorgood has sent, it shouldn’t take us more than a month or two to find what we need.”

“Oh, is that all?” said Nellus sarcastically, elbowing Barnabus in the ribs.