Albrek's Tomb - Forman Mark L - Страница 57

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“Do they fear us?” Thrang asked as they walked.

“In a way they do,” the guide answered. “The evil one in the mountains has sent his servants among us before. Now, we have trouble trusting anyone, even those we hold most dear.”

The look on Thrang’s face told Alex all he needed to know. Thrang’s mind had been made up, and even if the weather permitted them to leave, he would insist that Alex try to free the city of Neplee from the curse of the necromancer.

Turlock greeted the company as they entered a small feasting hall. A large, round table had been set up, and breakfast was already waiting for them. Alex thought Turlock looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept in days, so he waited until they were almost done with their meal before asking his question.

“A metal worker?” Turlock asked in response. “We have many metal workers in Neplee, though there is little for any of them to do these days.”

“Who is the best metal worker in the city?” Alex asked.

“That would be Volo Silverforge—”

“Volo Silverforge lives here?” Thrang interrupted. “His work is well-known and much prized, even in Benorg.”

“Where can I find Master Silverforge?” Alex asked.

“I can have someone take you to him,” Turlock answered. “Though I doubt he will be willing to help you. He has taken an oath, and refuses to make anything that might please or aid Nethrom. He has done no work in the past three years.”

“I would like to come along,” Thrang said, glancing quickly at Alex. “If I may.”

“I think I should go alone at first,” Alex said to Thrang. “It will be less imposing, and I may be able to convince Volo to aid me.”

Thrang reluctantly agreed, though Alex could see that he wasn’t happy about it. As soon as they were done eating, Turlock had one of his servants lead Alex through the city to Volo’s workshop. Alex asked the dwarf to leave, and then he stood for several minutes looking at the door and wondering what kind of dwarf Volo Silverforge would be.

Alex knocked loudly on the workshop door with his staff, but there was no answer. Alex wondered if Volo might not be in his workshop, but then he heard movement behind the door. He knocked again. He could clearly hear the sound of shuffling feet behind the door, but the door remained closed. Smiling to himself, Alex raised his staff and knocked a third time.

“Volo Silverforge, if you do not answer your door after I’ve knocked three times, I will blast it off its hinges and turn you into a dormouse,” Alex said loudly.

Slowly the door creaked open, and an ancient-looking dwarf stuck his head out from inside the workshop.

“No need to get angry,” Volo grumbled, looking closely at Alex. “I’m closed for business, so you can take your threats and your knocking someplace else.”

“You prefer to leave the city to Nethrom, then,” said Alex as Volo moved to close the door.

“I prefer to be left alone,” said Volo sharply, opening the door a little wider.

“So your peace is more important to you than your friends and neighbors are,” said Alex, leaning on his staff.

“We are all in the same boat here,” said Volo, opening the shop door all the way. “There is no escape from the curse, and no point in searching for false hope.”

“If that’s how you feel, I must have come to the wrong place,” said Alex. “I thought Volo Silverforge would be the dwarf who could aid me in riding Neplee of its curse, but it appears I was wrong. You should go back to gathering dust like your forge; I will find someone else to assist me.”

“No need to be rude,” said Volo, taking a step out of his shop to get a better look at Alex. “I’ve never had a wizard knock on my shop door before, so the least I can do is offer you tea.”

“Then you are willing to discuss a job I need done?”

“I don’t know about that,” Volo answered, turning back toward his shop. “Come inside and have some tea. I’ll listen to what you have to say before I tell you that you’re mad.”

Alex smiled and followed Volo into the shop, closing the door behind him. Volo shuffled his way across the room and placed a large copper kettle on top of his forge, pumping the bellows a few times. Alex took the chair that Volo offered him, sitting silently while Volo made their tea.

Chapter Eighteen

Necromancer

You’ve been working with Volo for weeks. Are you going to tell us what you’re up to, or are you going to leave us sitting in the dark?”

Thrang was in a bad mood, and for a moment Alex considered telling him what he had planned. Fortunately, Nellus spoke before he had to answer.

“Sitting in the dark is right. If I don’t feel some wind on my face soon, I think I’ll die.”

“The snow is five feet deep around the city gates. The guards have to shovel it away every night and morning just to open and close the doors,” Barnabus said.

“There is little snow once you move away from the mountains,” Arconn said.

“That’s fine for an elf who can move easily on top of the snow,” said Thrang, disgruntled. “The rest of us cannot move so easily. And what were you doing so far from the gates anyway?”

“Looking,” Arconn answered. “Feeling what is there.”

“Elves,” said Thrang, shaking his head and poking at the fire. “You’re almost as bad as Alex. If you don’t want to say what you’re doing, fine, but don’t tell us how nice it is to be out in the fresh air.”

“You asked,” said Arconn with a smile.

“How deep is the snow as you move toward the mountains?” Alex questioned.

“Five or six feet in most places, deeper where it has drifted,” Arconn answered after some thought.

“You had a package with you when you came in last night,” Thrain said, suddenly turning to Alex.

“Yes,” said Alex.

“Then you’re going to face him soon,” said Arconn, stating what everyone else in the room was thinking.

“I was thinking of going today, if the weather is bad,” said Alex, trying to sound hopeful.

“If the weather is bad?” Thrang questioned.

“Bad weather will make it harder for Nethrom to see me coming. I’ll need every advantage I can get.”

“And how will we get up the mountains in six feet of snow and bad weather?” Kat asked.

“You won’t,” Alex answered.

“If you think you’re going alone, you’ve got another thing coming,” said Thrang in a defiant tone. “I forbid you to go by yourself.”

“That is something you have no say in,” said Alex. “But I thank you for the thought.”

“I will come,” said Arconn. “The snow is not a problem for me, and I can help you defeat this evil.”

“No,” said Alex, his tone almost a command. “This is something I must do alone. I know that you would all go with me, even if I did not ask, but I must go quickly and alone. That is the only hope I have to defeat the necromancer.”

Arconn refused to accept Alex’s decision, and none of the others were happy about being left behind either. They all knew they could not go into the mountains in bad weather, not with so much snow already on the ground, but Arconn was inflexible in his decision to go along.

“At least, if you fail, I can bring word to the others,” Arconn argued.

“If I fail, you will see the dragon,” said Alex, reaching for the long cloak Turlock had given him. “There will be fire on the mountains, and you will know the curse is broken.”

Alex walked quickly to the door, wanting to get on with his plan. The others followed him out of the common room, continuing to argue against his decision.

“If we all went, Nethrom wouldn’t know who to attack first,” said Nellus, but unconvincingly.

“And one of us might be able to attack him. Or at least distract him long enough for you to break his power,” Barnabus added.

“No,” Alex repeated. “I must go alone, and I must go now.”

“How will you manage in the snow?” Thrain questioned.

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