Alex knew Bregnest wasn’t really looking for an answer; he just wanted to hear what each member of the company had to say.
“The south road will be better,” said Halfdan, without commitment. “But there are many people that way, and the road to our final goal will be longer.”
“East and north lies the White Tower,” Arconn commented, looking into the distance. “It might be wise to seek the Oracle.”
“The wait at the tower may be a long one,” said Thrang thoughtfully.
“But worth the time spent,” Tayo answered him.
“And when has waiting ever been troublesome to a dwarf?” asked Skeld with a laugh. “It will give you time to grow back your beard, though our young wizard burnt off but little of it.”
“It would be pleasant to see the White Tower,” Andy commented softly as the others laughed at Skeld’s jest. “The Oracle may help us in our quest.”
“Only if she can use a sword,” Skeld laughed.
“What do you think, Alex?” questioned Bregnest.
Alex’s companions had become extremely interested in his opinions since his victory over the troll. It didn’t seem to matter how many times Alex told them he’d just been lucky. They simply saw his luck as part of his magical powers, and laughed whenever he expressed his own doubts.
Alex knew from reading the
Adventurer’s Handbook
that the south road was considered the safer road. There were many cities to the south as well, and he thought it might be nice to see how the people of this land lived. In his heart, though, he wanted to see the White Tower of the Oracle.
“I think the south road would be safest, but the east road would be wisest,” Alex answered. “And I would like to try to speak to the Oracle if I can.”
“Even if you have a chance to speak with her, the Oracle may not tell you what you wish to hear,” said Arconn in a thoughtful tone.
“Just the same, I’d like to try,” Alex replied more boldly.
“As would I,” Bregnest added. “So east we will go, and hope the Oracle will agree to speak with us.”
Alex fell back into line beside Andy as they started forward again.
“How far is the White Tower from here?” Alex questioned.
“It depends,” Andy replied. “Some say the tower moves. Others say it is hidden, so only those who the Oracle wishes to speak with can find it.”
“What do you believe?”
“I believe we will find it,” Andy said.
“I hope so,” said Alex.
“Why is that?” Skeld asked, looking over his shoulder at Alex.
“It would be good to see some people,” Alex said. “Even if we don’t get to talk to the Oracle, it would be good to see a city or town as we travel.”
“Adventures aren’t about seeing cities or people,” said Tayo.
“No, I suppose not,” replied Alex. “I just thought . . .”
“Thought what?” asked Skeld as a smile spread across his face.
“I thought there would be more than just riding and camping,” answered Alex.
“Ready to fight another troll, are you?” Skeld asked with a laugh.
“No, nothing like that,” said Alex, laughing as well. “It’s just that seeing new places and meeting new people would make things more . . .”
“Adventurous?” offered Andy.
“Yes,” said Alex.
“Adventures aren’t all about excitement and finding treasure,” said Tayo with a slight smile.
“Most adventures can be very common, even boring,” laughed Skeld.
“What’s so funny?” Halfdan questioned, slowing his horse to ride beside Skeld.
“Alex doesn’t think our adventure is very exciting,” Skeld answered happily.
“Excitement? Bah!” said Halfdan. “We don’t need more excitement. We’ll have enough of that when we face Slathbog.”
“Too much perhaps,” Tayo added in a grim tone.
“That’s not what I meant,” Alex protested, but then he saw Halfdan wink.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “There will likely be plenty of excitement before we’re all safe at home once more.”
Alex let the subject drop, trying to understand his own feelings about excitement and adventure. All this travel did seem very—as Skeld had said—boring. Still, he was in a new land, learning new things, and not cleaning up or washing dishes at his stepfather’s tavern.
They rode east for two more days, stopping only at midday for a meal and then riding until it was almost dark. The warm weather meant they could simply sleep on their blankets under the stars. Alex enjoyed sleeping in the open, because each night one of his friends would tell a story about a previous adventure.
On the first night after the crossroad, Thrang told of how he’d joined an adventure to capture a dangerous sea monster. With great excitement and some vigorous demonstrations, Thrang explained how the monster had almost gotten away, but was captured in the end. His descriptions of how the monster acted amused them all, and when he finished his story, Alex and the rest of the company cheered.
The next night, Tayo told of an adventure to rescue a young prince who had been wrongfully imprisoned. And though his tone was not as animated as Thrang’s, Tayo’s story was still cheered at the end.
“He rules his kingdom still,” Tayo concluded in a satisfied tone. “And remembers his friends when they visit.”
Alex wondered about Tayo as he prepared for bed that night. He thought it was strange that Tayo always seemed to be in a dark mood, seldom showing any sign of happiness beyond a smile and rarely laughing or joking like Skeld and Andy. Alex thought some deep sorrow must be in him, or perhaps he simply worried too much.
On the third morning from the crossroad, Alex heard a strange dinging noise. He thought he must be dreaming, but when the sound came again, he sat up, rubbing his eyes and wondering if his friends were playing a joke on him.
Something dropped onto his legs. He looked down at his blankets and blinked. Standing on his blankets was a strange-looking creature. It was the size and shape of a bowling pin, but bright yellow, with a red strip zigzaging around its middle. It had a single bird-like leg.
“Um, Thrang?” Alex called in as normal a tone as he could manage. “What’s this?”
“What’s what?” Thrang asked, turning away from cooking breakfast.
“This,” Alex replied, pointing.
“Oh, that,” said Thrang, smiling as he hurried over. “It’s a geeb, of course. Well, a bottle-necked geeb to be exact. Wonderful creatures.”
“So they’re not dangerous?” Alex asked, his surprise replaced by curiosity.
“No, they’re messengers,” Thrang replied. “Good ones too because they’ve got a bit of magic in them.”
“More magic?”
“’Course they can only answer yes and no questions,” Thrang continued. “When they honk it means no, and when they ding it means yes.”
Alex nodded his understanding without looking away from the geeb.
“Watch,” said Thrang, turning to the geeb. “Do you have a message for our company?”
“Honk,” the geeb replied, its head transforming into the shape of a small bicycle horn.
“Are you just visiting then?” Thrang questioned.
“Honk.”
“Then do you have a message for a person in our company?” Thrang asked.
“Ding,” the geeb replied, its head changing into a small bell.
“Do you know who the message is for?”
“Ding.”
“Excellent,” said Thrang. “Is the message for Bregnest, our leader?”
“Honk.”
“Very odd,” Thrang muttered. “Is the message for Arconn the elf?”
“Honk.”
Thrang scratched his head. “Well then, can you find the person who the message is for?”
“Ding.”
Thrang looked at the geeb for a second before continuing. “Have you already found the person your message is for?”
“Ding.”
“Your message is for me?” Alex asked in surprise.
“Ding! Ding! Ding!”
“But I don’t know anyone who’d send me a message,” Alex said, looking at Thrang. “Everyone I know who’d know anything about geebs is here.”
“Never mind that now,” said Thrang. “Ask the geeb to give you the message.”
“May I have the message?” Alex asked.
“Ding.”
A thin hole like a mouth appeared in the middle of the geeb and a long envelope emerged, flopping into Alex’s hands.
“Thank you,” said Alex.
The geeb remained standing on Alex’s legs.
“Is it waiting for something?” he asked.
“Payment, of course,” said Thrang.
“How do I pay a bottle-necked geeb?”
“Oh, they’ll take silver or gold coins,” Thrang answered. “But they prefer gems if they can get them.”
“Gems?” questioned Alex.
“Ding!”
“Yes, gems,” said Thrang. “Geebs know a fair price for any gem you may give them. If the gem is worth more than you owe, they’ll give you back the difference in gold and silver coins. Try it.”
Alex retrieved a small emerald from his bag and held it toward the geeb, who simply stood on its leg and waited.
“Toss it up,” Thrang instructed, amused by Alex’s puzzled look.
Alex tossed the emerald in a high arc, and the geeb jumped off Alex’s legs and caught the gem in midair.
“Ding,” the geeb sounded as it landed back on its single leg. The geeb bent down for a moment and Alex saw six gold coins and three silver coins on the blanket.
“I told you. A fair price,” Thrang laughed.
The geeb remained motionless while Alex collected the coins and put them in his bag.
“Now what?” Alex questioned, assuming the geeb would leave once it had been paid.
“Are you waiting for an answer?” Thrang asked the geeb.
“Ding!”
Alex looked at the envelope in his hand. Carefully he opened it and removed a single folded piece of paper. Looking once more at the geeb and Thrang, he began to read.
Master Alexander Taylor, Esq.,
Please accept this invitation for yourself and your company to dine with me on your arrival in two days’ time.
Awaiting your reply.
At the bottom of the note was a drawing that looked like a tower with some strange writing next to it. Alex showed the letter to Thrang, who seemed stunned.
“What’s all the noise about?” Andy asked as he rolled over in his blankets.
“Best reply quickly,” said Thrang, handing the letter back to Alex. “Do you have paper and pen?”
“Yes,” said Alex, reaching for his magic bag. “But who’s the letter from?”