“Perhaps,” Bregnest agreed, looking at his own brooch. “But whatever the reason, he has been most kind.”
They were all in good spirits as they drank a toast to Umbar, son of Umbar, but Alex still felt as if some shadow was hanging over them.
During his watch, Alex wondered when and if they would ever reach the end of their journey, and then remembering that a dragon waited for them, he wasn’t sure if he was really in such a hurry for the adventure to end. Thinking about what had happened so far, he had to admit the adventure had been a great deal of fun. The attack of the bandits and fighting the three-legged troll seemed almost like dreams now, and not something to be afraid of.
“So you’ve decided you like your adventure,” Arconn said with a smile, as Alex shared his feelings that night.
“It’s different than I thought it would be,” replied Alex with a smile of his own.
“But it is not over yet, and it may be very different again before we reach the end.”
“That’s true,” Alex admitted. “But I’m not as worried about the end as I once was.”
“Perhaps you’ve spent too much time with Skeld,” said Arconn, laughing.
“I don’t think I’m as bad as that,” Alex replied, laughing as well.
Alex spent the rest of his watch studying his books while Arconn sat quietly by the fire. Alex’s ability to read the magic book was improving, though he still occasionally asked Arconn about the meaning of some of the words.
The days passed quickly as they followed the road east, and it wasn’t long before the weather turned wet again. Afternoon thunderstorms became an almost daily event, and they spent most of their evenings trying to dry their clothes. It was during one of these afternoon storms that Bregnest called them to a sudden halt.
“We will camp here tonight,” he said, a worried look on his face.
“Perhaps we should move further away,” suggested Arconn, looking through the rain at the road ahead.
“It has been a long day and we need rest,” said Bregnest, sounding both nervous and troubled. “We should be far enough away—though not as far as I had hoped.”
Alex wondered why Bregnest and Arconn kept looking at the road ahead of them; Alex couldn’t see anything but rough-looking ground. That night during his watch, Alex asked Arconn about Bregnest’s troubled look and words.
“We are close to the ruins of Aunk,” said Arconn. “Bregnest had hoped to reach them early tomorrow so we could pass them in the daylight.”
“Why? Are there bandits there?”
“No, not bandits,” replied Arconn slowly. “The ruins are said to be haunted by the ghosts of men, but I do not think that is true.”
“Yet there is something you fear about the ruins,” said Alex.
“Aunk has become an evil place, and I do not think it is because of ghosts. I feel great anger and hatred coming from there, though I do not know the source of it,” replied Arconn.
“Do you think we are in danger?” Alex asked, looking into the darkness around the camp.
“I cannot say for sure. But I feel both watchful and
nervous.”
Alex put his books away, troubled and uneasy. He looked to the east and felt the mysterious shadow that had been following them since leaving the Brown Hills draw closer.
“Rest, my friend,” said Arconn. “Tomorrow we will pass the ruins, and soon we will meet my kinsmen in the dark
forest.”
Alex turned slowly back to the camp. He walked to his tent, glancing east once more, before ducking inside. The nervous feeling continued to grow in his mind, and he remained fully dressed as he lay down on his blankets.
It was still dark when Alex woke with a start. The sound of Andy snoring next to him was comforting, but his thoughts remained troubled. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but his mind buzzed with strange thoughts and he didn’t feel tired anymore.
Quietly, Alex got up and stepped out of the tent. The clouds in the sky blocked any light from the moon or the stars. The ashes of the campfire were gray and cold, and when Alex looked around, he couldn’t see any of his companions on watch. Sensing trouble, he wondered if he should wake Bregnest when a soft voice broke the silence.
“Your companions are tired,” the voice whispered. “They have failed to keep the watch.”
Alex turned toward the voice and saw a tall, dark figure
standing a short distance from the dead fire. He opened his mouth to warn his friends, but something inside kept him from speaking.
“You have chosen strange companions,” the figure continued. “I would not think that one as great as yourself would be seen in such company.”
“I didn’t choose them, they chose me,” replied Alex. “And I am not great, I’m only a first-time adventurer.”
Soft laughter came from the dark figure, but it was like nothing Alex had ever heard. His skin crawled at the sound of it, making him feel like hundreds of tiny pins were sticking him.
“If they chose you,” the voice continued, “it was only so they could use your power.”
“What do you mean?” Alex questioned.
“I mean you could be great—far greater than any of these who call you friend,” the voice sneered. “You need only find your true self and your true friends. Friends who will help you to greatness.”
“These are my friends,” Alex replied defiantly.
“Friends,” the voice scoffed. “Friends who take treasure that should be yours. Friends who laugh at you behind your back.”
“They have taken nothing but their fair share—less than that at times,” said Alex, anger building inside of him.
“But it was
you
who killed the troll,” the voice replied softly. “It was
you
who defeated the bandits, and it was
you
who returned the lost bag to its heir.”
“We have an agreement,” Alex said. “I only did what had to be done. As any of them would have done.”
“Do not be deceived, my young friend,” said the voice in a soothing tone. “None of them could have done what you did. When you faced the troll, where were they? Hiding in the bushes, no doubt, waiting to see if you would survive.”
“They were searching for our horses,” said Alex, his thoughts returning to the night he’d fought the troll. He remembered now that the others had appeared suddenly, once he’d defeated the troll.
“And did not your leader offer to take the so-called burden of the bags from you?” the voice asked. “Did not this leader seek to take your honor and glory?”
“He did it as a favor to me,” answered Alex, only half-believing his own words. “He said the reward would be mine, even if he carried the bags.”
“He has said many things, but that does not make them so,” the voice hissed. “Did not the elf say that Bregnest is seeking to fulfill a prophecy? Yet the company has not heard what this is.”
Alex thought for a moment, confused. Bregnest had said the company would have no secrets, yet he knew nothing of Bregnest’s prophecy. Were the others using him for their own purposes? Could it be they were only pretending to be his friends? His mind felt clouded and he was having difficulty focusing his thoughts.
“Your true friends would be more open,” the voice continued. “We would tell you what we seek, and what we could do for you.”
“And what is that?” Alex questioned. He felt a coldness creeping into him, like ice-cold claws tearing at his insides.
“We want you to be great,” said the voice. “We know you can be the greatest wizard who has ever lived. You can be the greatest king in all the known lands.”
“And what price would you ask for this greatness?” Alex asked, more to himself than to the shadow.
“A small thing that another has asked of you,” replied the voice. “The simplest of things to look at, though it is strong in magic.”
“What?” Alex demanded.
“The crystal the Oracle would claim as her own,” the voice hissed. “It was not stolen as she pretends, it was taken by its rightful owner.”
“But I have sworn an oath,” said Alex. He remembered Iownan’s face, her kind words and her smile that made him feel safe and happy.
“An oath to a liar has no meaning,” said the voice. “And with the crystal we can show you the way to greatness. The Oracle saw what is in you, but she said nothing. We will tell you all.”
“The others have sworn an oath as well. They believe what the Oracle told them,” said Alex, his mind feeling more confused and muddled. Was it possible the Oracle had lied to them? Could an oracle tell a lie? Alex didn’t know.
“You do not need the others,” answered the voice. “Your true friends will take care of them. Then you can recover the crystal for us. When we have the crystal, we will tell you why you are so great.”
“What do you mean—take care of?”
“We will drive them away. Once they are gone, you can fulfill your destiny,” said the voice urgently. “It is your destiny to slay the dragon. Only you can do this. We will help you. We will guide you to victory and greatness.”
For a moment, Alex could see himself in a strange dream, sitting on a beautiful golden throne, crowds of people bowing and cheering for him. He could see every wild wish he’d ever had coming true, his every desire fulfilled.
“Leave the others and come with us,” the voice said, low and persuasive. “We are your true friends. We are the ones who want to see you become all that you can be.”
“But the others . . .” Alex said. “What will become of them? What will they think?”
“They will think whatever you tell them to think,” the voice replied coldly. “They will do as you command, or they will die.”
Alex’s hand automatically grabbed his sword. The cold feel of Moon Slayer under his hand helped focus his mind, and the magical fire began to burn inside of him, clearing his thoughts as the dreams of greatness slipped away.
“Slay your enemies,” the cold voice said softly. “They mean nothing. Only your greatness matters. We will help you. All creatures will know you as their king.”
The words rang inside Alex’s head as the heat of the sword grew more intense. Bregnest and the others were not his enemies, they were his friends. They had not taken advantage of him, but had shown him great kindness.
“Slay them and join us,” the dark voice screamed in Alex’s mind. “Together we will rule all the known lands.”
Alex drew his sword, looking around as the magic heat burned like a raging fire inside of him. There was not one dark figure standing beyond the cold ashes of the campfire, but many. They stood motionless, watching Alex as though they were made of stone. But the sound of their evil laughter filled the air around him.
“I will slay my enemies!” Alex yelled back at the dark figures, the flaming heat of his magic sword burning away his clouded thoughts and doubts. “I will destroy them all!”
Jumping across the cold ashes at the dark figures in front of him, Alex saw Moon Slayer shining like a blue flame in his hands. He swung the sword at the figures closest to him, and as the blade passed through them, they melted away like mist. Terrible screams and howls of pain filled the air as he moved forward, swinging his sword at any movement.
Alex felt like he was on fire, but the power of the sword kept him on his feet, moving and hacking at the dark figures that surrounded him. The screaming grew louder, though the figures did not try to fight back or run away. Soon only one figure remained. One last shadow standing tall, waiting for Alex in a dark mist blacker than any night.
“Join us,” the cold voice begged. “We are your path to fame and glory. If you stay with them, you will become nothing. There is much more in you than you know. Only we can show you what you really are.”