Slathbog's Gold - Forman Mark L - Страница 24

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“They say she is a thousand years old,” Andy said in a thoughtful tone. “Though many things are said, and few there are who can say what is the truth.”

“What do you want to ask the Oracle?” Alex questioned, lowering his voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “I mean, if you don’t mind my asking.”

Andy thought for a moment before he answered, a look of inner struggle on his face. “I would rather not say. Not that I doubt you to keep my thoughts, but because I doubt myself in speaking them,” he added quickly.

“Fair enough,” said Alex with a smile to ease Andy’s troubled look. “I should not have asked.”

“Each man’s question is private and personal,” said Andy, returning Alex’s smile. “Difficult to explain to anyone but himself.”

There was little talking as they traveled that day. They ate their midday meal quickly, and it seemed they all were in a hurry to move on once more. When they camped that night, they remained restless and eager.

“It seems we would all rush to the White Tower,” Skeld laughed, as much at himself as the others. “Even I would give up sleep if I thought tomorrow would come sooner.”

“It will come soon enough,” Tayo replied glumly. “Though I fear it may not bring what we hope for.”

“Always a worrier,” Skeld laughed. “Your wisdom may be sound, my friend, but you’re always a cloud of darkness.”

“And I am seldom disappointed,” Tayo answered with a slight smile.

“Enough,” Bregnest interrupted. “We must start early tomorrow.”

As the others rolled themselves in their blankets, Arconn remained seated next to Alex by the fire, humming softly to himself but not speaking. When Alex woke Thrang for the next watch, Arconn’s strange humming remained in his ears and he fell asleep thinking about the happy tune.

The next morning, the eastern sky was still black as they quickly ate their breakfast and started off. They rode faster that morning than normal, and with each bend of the road or small hill they passed, they looked forward in hopes of seeing the White Tower.

The road became more rugged as the day passed, and the path twisted between hills that slowly grew larger on either side of them as they traveled. Alex thought it was well past midday when Bregnest suddenly stopped in the road.

“My friends, we have arrived,” Bregnest said over his shoulder.

As they gathered around Bregnest, Alex and the others could see a great white tower standing in a wide, open valley below them. Pure white walls ran out from the tower, encircling lush orchards and gardens around its base. Beyond the wall, on the southern side of the tower, was a small city made of sand-colored stone.

Bregnest led them down the hills and into the valley, following the road toward the city. As they drew nearer, a rider came racing toward them from the direction of the tower. He carried a large green banner with a white tower in the middle of it.

“Are you the party of Silvan Bregnest?” the rider asked politely, reining in his horse.

“We are,” Bregnest answered.

“Well met, Master Bregnest,” said the horseman with a slight bow. “The lady of the tower bids you welcome, and asks that you and your companions follow me to the tower gardens. There you will be given accommodations for your stay.”

“We are honored,” said Bregnest, bowing his head slightly to the messenger.

“Then come, honored guests,” said the horseman, turning his horse toward the tower. “The gardens are not far, and all has been made ready for your arrival.”

They left the road and followed the horseman without speaking, all of them looking up at the massive tower in front of them. When they passed through a large gate in one of the walls, Alex noticed a strange tingling feeling in his hands and feet, but he quickly forgot about it as they entered a vast orchard full of sweet-smelling blossoms.

As they emerged from the orchard, the horseman halted in front of four white buildings that looked like small houses compared to the enormous tower next to them.

“The lady of the tower asks that you rest here,” said the horseman, nodding toward the buildings. “You will find all that you require in the west houses. If you need anything, ring one of the gongs and it will be brought to you.”

“What of our horses?” Bregnest asked.

“The westernmost house is a stable,” the rider replied. “Refreshments have been laid out for you in the second house. The third house is for bathing; the fourth, for sleeping.”

“The lady is too kind,” said Bregnest, bowing once more.

“You will be summoned for the evening meal when the sun touches the western hills.” The horseman nodded once and rode away toward the tower.

“The lady shows us a great kindness,” said Arconn as the company rode toward the first house.

“Indeed,” Bregnest agreed. “I wonder why we should be so favored.”

“Because of our young wizard friend, of course,” Skeld laughed, climbing off his horse and looking into the stable. “This is finer than many inns I’ve slept in,” he added.

“Yes, but you’ll sleep anywhere,” Thrang replied with a laugh of his own.

They all laughed at Thrang’s comment as they led their horses into the stable.

“You should be comfortable here, Shahree,” said Alex, patting the horse’s neck. “I don’t know much about stables, but this looks like a first-class one.”

Shahree whinnied loudly in agreement and stepped out from under her saddle as Alex lifted it from her back. She was a clever horse, and Alex was quick to tell her so. Putting aside the saddle, he quickly brushed her down, then hurried out of the stable to join the others in the second house.

The second house was a simple, massive stone pavilion. The front was completely open, the view overlooking the courtyard and the gardens beyond. Heavy wooden panels were folded like an accordion at both sides of the opening to cover the front of the house in cold or stormy weather.

As Alex entered the second house, an overwhelming mixture of smells greeted him. A banquet had been laid out for them on three large tables. Eight comfortable-looking chairs were placed around a smaller, fourth table in the center of the room, waiting for them to arrive.

“The Oracle knows the way to a man’s heart,” Skeld commented, piling food on his plate.

“The way to your heart is no great mystery, Skeld,” said Tayo, looking happier than Alex had ever seen him.

The food on the tables, as Alex found out from his friends, was from many different lands. Alex tried so many different dishes, he had trouble remembering what any of them were called. He was a little worried about some of the food however, because he wasn’t sure what it was made of and Skeld kept joking about what the ingredients might be.

Some of the food was easy to identify, and the taste of even simple things like potatoes or peas seemed more intense to Alex. There were all kinds of meat and vegetables that Alex had never seen before, and several kinds of fresh, warm bread. Sweet, sour, spicy, and even smoky flavors turned up in the different dishes—each new flavor better than the last.

“If this is refreshment, what will dinner be?” questioned Thrang, refilling his mug with some aged red ale that he seemed to enjoy.

“I doubt it will be so grand as this,” Arconn replied with a knowing smile. “It is said the lady eats little. I doubt so many foods will be brought to her table.”

They left the banquet behind them, moving into the third house—the bathhouse.

The company entered a room with several small changing rooms inside it. Each of the changing rooms had a stack of clean, white towels, as well as a place for Alex and his friends to put their things. On the far side of the room was another doorway, leading to a room with a dozen enormous brass tubs. Low walls separated each of the tubs for privacy, but still allowed the adventurers to talk to each other while they bathed. Eight of the tubs were already filled with steaming water.

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