Albrek's Tomb - Forman Mark L - Страница 42

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“I do not need to rest like you,” Arconn reminded Alex. “I will be quite comfortable in front of the fire. Though I’ve noticed that lately you can go for days without sleep as well.”

“Only when I need to,” said Alex. “And I don’t think there is much need today.”

With the sleeping arrangements taken care of, they all set off for a look at the city. Alex was surprised by the number of dwarfs in the city, but Thrang explained that Darvish did a great deal of trade with Kazad-Syn as well as with several other dwarf cities.

“My brother owns some property here,” Thrang said as they walked along a crowded street. “He’s done a lot of trading, and he’s paid for ships to trade at most of the larger ports on the sea.”

“He must be prosperous, then,” said Nellus as they entered the city’s main square. It was filled with hundreds of little tables covered with all kinds of goods and items for sale. “It seems there is a little of everything here.”

“Darvish is one of the largest ports on the Eastern Sea,” said Thrang. “Thorson says they are a hard people to deal with, but always fair.”

“Thorson would be your brother, then,” said Arconn, looking at Thrang.

“Yes,” Thrang answered. “He’s quite a bit younger than I am, but he’s done very well for himself.”

Alex could tell from Thrang’s words and the look on his face that he was proud of his younger brother. It was strange to hear Thrang talk about his brother, as Alex had never really discussed family with any of his friends. For a moment Alex thought about his own family, the family that Salinor had told him to look for. Would Mr. Roberts know something about his family? And if not Mr. Roberts, then who?

“I’m going to look for some new boots,” said Barnabus, breaking Alex’s train of thought.

“You should take someone with you at least,” said Thrang.

“You don’t think there is any danger here, do you?” Thrain asked.

“No, but we should stay alert all the same,” said Thrang.

They agreed, so Nellus and Kat went off with Barnabus to look for boots. Thrang insisted that Thrain stay with him, which left Alex and Arconn free to wander the city together.

They worked their way through the open market in the square, looking at several items and even buying a few. The people of Darvish didn’t seem at all surprised to see a man and an elf together, though a few of them did take a second look at Alex when they noticed his staff. It was a pleasant morning, and at midday Alex and Arconn bought some food from one of the market stalls and went looking for a place to sit and eat.

“A fair city,” said Arconn as they walked along. “I wish we had more time to spend here.”

“I expect Thrang wants to see his brother,” said Alex, spotting a patch of green that looked like a public park and pointing it out to Arconn. “How much do you know about Thrang’s family?”

“I know he has several brothers,” Arconn answered as he and Alex sat on a bench in the shadow of a tall tower. “Families are not often discussed between adventurers, though I don’t know why.”

“Not something that comes up as part of the adventure,” said Alex.

“No, I suppose not,” said Arconn.

“Do you know anything about ancient books?” Alex questioned, changing the subject because he didn’t want to consider how little he knew about his own family.

“How ancient?”

“I would guess that they are older than the elvish writing, maybe older than the magic writing as well,” Alex answered.

Arconn thought for a moment. “Why do you ask about such books?”

“I have some,” said Alex. “The dragon on the Isle of Bones gave them to me. I’ve only looked at one of them, and only for a few seconds, but I could see it wasn’t written in either the magic letters or the elvish language.”

“Why would a dragon have books?” Arconn questioned, as much to himself as to Alex.

“I don’t know,” said Alex, wishing Salinor had explained things a bit more. “He told me to take them and that they had a great deal of lost knowledge in them.”

“I would say almost anything in them would be considered lost knowledge,” said Arconn, looking up at the sky. “I’ve heard stories of such books, but nothing more.”

“And what do the stories say?”

“These ancient books are rare,” Arconn began slowly, as if trying to remember. “The oldest of them would date from the time just after the creation of the known lands, before the different races spread out from their own lands.”

“So they tell about how the lands were created and who did what? Where each race came from and things like that?” Alex asked.

“Perhaps,” said Arconn. “Who can say for sure? What I’ve heard is mostly rumor and legend. I don’t think the oldest elf alive could say what was true about such books.”

“And what do the rumors and legends say?” Alex pressed, noticing that Arconn hadn’t really answered his question.

“They say such books can be dangerous,” said Arconn. “Some of the legends say that the books give power to the reader. Depending on who the reader is, such books could either be very dangerous or possibly very profitable.”

“Or both,” said Alex, considering Arconn’s words.

“If the books the dragon gave you are from the ancient times, you should be careful when exploring them,” Arconn advised. “Perhaps you should ask Whalen about them.”

“Yes, I suppose I should,” said Alex thoughtfully.

“Masters,” said an old-looking man, interrupting Alex and Arconn’s conversation.

“May we help you?” Alex asked.

“I would like to ask why you are here,” the old man answered.

“We are traveling through your city on our way to Kazad-Syn,” said Arconn.

“Oh, no, I mean here,in the shadow of the empty tower,” said the old man with a smile.

“Should we not be here?” Alex asked.

“There is no law against it,” said the man in a reassuring tone. “It is just that few people ever sit so close to the tower, as they know its dangers.”

“Dangers?” Arconn questioned.

“This is the Empty Tower of the Oracle,” the man explained. “I am Kathnar, the keeper of the grounds. I, and my people, are known as the Servants of the Empty Tower.”

“And how long have you served?” Alex asked.

“My family has cared for the grounds of the tower for more than a thousand years,” Kathnar answered proudly. “We have kept watch, waiting for the oracle to come.”

“A long time to wait,” commented Arconn.

“Yes, but we will wait as long as we must,” said Kathnar in a sad tone.

“Who is this oracle that will come?” Alex asked as he looked up at the tower.

“The dragon will bring her,” Kathnar answered reverently. “At least, one of the legends says that. It is difficult to know which legends are true, as so many have been told.”

“May we enter the tower?” Arconn asked.

“Oh, no,” Kathnar answered quickly. “It is most dangerous. The tower is sealed by magic.”

“Take us to the entrance,” said Alex. “I would like to see what magic holds the gates of this tower.”

“As you wish,” said Kathnar with a bow. “The gate is not far. I will show you.”

Alex and Arconn followed Kathnar through some trees and along a stone path. The tower had a high wall around it, and as they came around one corner of the wall, Alex saw Nellus, Barnabus, and Kat standing in front of the gates. Barnabus and Nellus both looked worried, but Kat seemed perfectly calm as she walked toward the gate.

“Kat, no!” Arconn called, racing forward.

“You should not stop her,” yelled Kathnar, hurrying along behind Arconn. “She has a right to try.”

Stepping between Kat and the gate, Alex stuck the ground with his staff. The rolling sound of thunder filled the air, and Kat’s eyes turned from the tower to Alex in surprise.

“This is not for you,” said Alex, his voice full of power. “You have other tasks to do.”

“Yes,” Kat said in a dreamy voice. “I have promises to keep.”

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