Adventurers Wanted, Book 4: Sands of Nezza (18 page)

There was little talking while they each waited for their own turn to speak with the oracle. Rallian asked a few more questions, but the answers always seemed too short to satisfy him.

Soon, only Alex and Rallian were left waiting. Alex watched Rallian, and it was obvious that Rallian was extremely nervous.

“You have nothing to fear,” said Alex, trying to calm the prince.

“Nothing and everything,” said Rallian without looking at Alex.

“It is pointless to worry,” Alex said. “What will come will come, and when it comes we must face it.”

“I feel a great weight settling on me,” said Rallian, his tone sad and troubled.

“Truth can be a burden.”

“Perhaps a burden that I cannot carry,” said Rallian with a deep sigh.

“You will not have to carry it all at once, and not completely alone. At least not at first,” said Alex.

Rallian stared at the ground in front of him. He looked pale and afraid, and Alex wished there was something more he could say. After several minutes of silence, Stonebill told Alex it was time for Rallian to speak to the oracle. Alex nodded and put his hand on Rallian’s shoulder.

“The oracle is ready for you,” Alex said softly.

“Then I must go, though I fear I go to my doom,” said Rallian.

Alex watched as Rallian slowly stood and made his way forward. It clearly took all the willpower and determination Rallian had to climb the steps and enter the pyramid.

“He is brave,” Stonebill commented to Alex once Rallian was gone. “He knows nothing of oracles but the lies he’s been told since he was a child, and still he goes.”

“He trusts,” said Alex. “It is difficult for him to let go of what he thought he knew, but he trusts what I and the others have told him. I can understand his fear.”

After fifteen or twenty minutes of silence, Stonebill told Alex that it was his time. Alex nodded and climbed the steps. Stonebill remained on his shoulder, and Alex was glad to have the company.

Alex followed the passage into the pyramid, which soon opened into a large, well-lit chamber. A bright beam of sunlight shone down from the top of the room, falling on a single silver chair where Tempe was seated.

“Last and greatest,” said Tempe as Alex approached.

“A humble servant,” said Alex.

“Humble, but no servant.”

“Did Rallian accept what you told him?”

“Reluctantly. He fears what becoming king will cost him.”

“And will it cost as much as he thinks?”

“Far less, I hope,” said Tempe. “Now, what can I tell you that you do not already know?”

“You answered most of my questions last night,” said Alex.

“There is a question you have forgotten,” said Tempe. “It is a question you have waited a long time to answer.”

“What question is that?”

“What is the ring?” Tempe said with a smile.

“Yes, the ring I won on my first adventure,” said Alex, a light coming on in his head. “Iownan said that she could not tell me what it was but that I should keep it safe and never wear it.”

“Show me this ring,” said Tempe, leaning forward in her chair.

Alex took the ring out of his shirt pocket, where he’d put it days before. He’d known that he wouldn’t be carrying his magic bag when he talked to the oracle but had forgotten about the ring with everything else that was going on. The ring was pure gold with a large black stone set in it. He had always thought it was beautiful, but he had never discovered anything special or magical about it. Tempe examined the ring for a moment then leaned back in her chair.

“This is the great ring of the kings of Nezza,” she said, a look of wonder on her face. “All the true kings of Nezza have worn it. I am surprised that you carry it, and I wonder how it came to be in distant Vargland, where you found it.”

“Then this ring belongs to Rallian. I should give it to him before he makes his claim as king,” said Alex.

“No, not yet,” said Tempe, her eyes fixed on the ring in Alex’s hand. “Rallian must first decide if he will make such a claim. If you give him the ring now, it will force him to make his claim. Wait. You will know when the time is right to return it to him.”

“You do not wish the kingdom to be forced on Rallian,” said Alex. “You think it would be best if he chooses to be king.”

“Yes,” answered Tempe. “Keep the ring safe for him, or for another, if Rallian chooses not to be king of Nezza.”

“Is there another?”

“There is always another,” said Tempe with a smile. “Many may make a claim to be king, and if Rallian chooses not to make a claim, then you may want to look for another before you leave this land.”

Alex returned the golden ring to his pocket. He would keep the ring and wait for the right time to return it to Rallian, or to whoever turned out to be the true king of Nezza. He knew he could not force Rallian to be king, though he felt in his heart that Rallian would make a very good king.

“Have I added more worries to your young mind?” Tempe asked in a kindly voice.

“Not worries,” said Alex. “Though there always seems to be more to think about. Always something that is unexpected.”

“Yes, that is the way of life,” said Tempe. “Whenever we think we have it all mapped out, life changes, and the map no longer has any value.”

“Even for an oracle?” Alex questioned with a smile.

“Yes,” said Tempe. “Even for an oracle.”

Alex and Tempe talked about other things for a time. When he finally left, the sun was setting. He stood for several minutes, watching as the sun sank below the red dunes, and then slowly walked back to the house where his friends would be waiting.

Chapter Eleven

The Flight North

When Alex returned to his friends, he put away his concerns about the Gezbeth and the Brotherhood. He would keep his eyes open, but mostly he would focus on this land and the work he had to do. He would also remember the ring he carried and look for a time to return it to the rightful king of Nezza.

“You have been a long time with our host,” said Virgil as Alex entered the house.

“We had many things to discuss,” said Alex. “You all seem to be in better spirits than you were this morning.”

“I daresay many cares have been lifted,” said Virgil.

“And new ones given,” Rallian added.

Rallian looked happier than he had been, but Alex suspected he was still worried about where Tempe’s words would lead him. Alex gave him an understanding nod and a smile before turning his attention to the food that was laid out for them. He felt more like part of the group now. It was as if Tempe’s words had lifted a weight from him, or at least lightened the load he had to carry.

“We should leave at first light,” said Virgil, looking at Alex for his opinion.

“A wise plan,” said Alex. “You will be going north, then?”

“Yes. Rallian has agreed to travel to Lord Talbot’s kingdom with us,” Virgil answered. “We would be honored if you would travel with us as well. Perhaps we can repay some of the kindness you’ve shown us.”

“I believe that my path lies north as well, and we would be safer traveling together,” said Alex.

“Will you come with me to Lord Talbot?” Rallian asked, a hopeful look on his face.

“I will if you wish,” said Alex, bowing slightly to Rallian.

“She told you,” Rallian said to Alex in a low voice.

“Tempe did not tell me what she said to you, as that would break the trust. She helped me understand what I already knew, and what I already believed to be true.”

“Are wizards also oracles, then?” Rallian asked, looking puzzled.

“Wizards see many things others do not,” Alex answered. “I am a young wizard, and I don’t always understand what I see.”

Rallian seemed to accept this answer and turned his attention back to their meal. Virgil began discussing their plans to go north as they ate, and he sounded confident. Personally, Alex worried about what Magnus and the Brotherhood might be doing. Soldiers could make things difficult, especially if there were a lot of them, but Alex didn’t think Lazar would risk sending too many men into the nearby kingdoms.

“Lazar will have spies looking for us, even if he won’t send soldiers,” Virgil said.

“As soon as we are seen near a town or village, word will be on its way to Lazar,” said Skeld.

“If we blunder into any group of soldiers, whether they are Lazar’s or not, things could get ugly,” said Dain, scowling.

“Not if Master Taylor is with us,” said Tom, glancing at Alex.

Alex smiled at Tom but did not reply.

“If we are careful, we can avoid any soldiers, and most, if not all, of the spies,” said Skeld.

“It will be dangerous, no doubt,” said Virgil, holding up his hand for the others to remain silent. “We will travel north and face what dangers there are as we go.”

With Virgil’s final words, the discussion was over, and the conversation slowly turned to happier topics and stories of past adventures and dangers. Alex listened to their stories, interested in finding out more about his companions. Rallian sat apart from the others, and Alex could tell he was thinking about what his future held and not really listening to the stories at all.

The next morning they ate breakfast, which again had appeared without any sign of Tempe’s servants. Stonebill flew into the house about halfway through the meal. He fluttered down on Alex’s shoulder and told him that Tempe wanted to say good-bye to them all by the fountain. Alex told his companions, and the news seemed to cheer them all.

“A send-off from the oracle is a good omen,” said Dain, finishing his bacon quickly.

“A sad parting,” Skeld noted. “We have come far and fast to find the oracle, and already we must leave.”

“We have an adventure to continue,” Virgil said. “We have been a long time getting things done.”

“And we would have been longer . . . ” Tom started and stopped, glancing at Alex.

Alex could see that Tom was both impressed by him and afraid of him. There was something about Tom that caught his attention, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. His thoughts were interrupted by a small pop and a loud ding.

“A geeb!” said Virgil in surprise.

“A what?” Rallian asked, looking in wonder at the strange creature that had suddenly appeared on the table.

“A bottle-necked geeb,” said Virgil. “They are magical creatures used to carry messages.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Rallian.

“I’ll explain about geebs as we travel,” Alex said to Rallian.

Rallian nodded, but his eyes didn’t leave the geeb.

“Do you have a message for us?” Virgil asked the geeb.

“Honk,” the geeb answered, its head taking the shape of a small horn.

“Do you have a message for me?” Alex asked, pushing his plate away.

“Ding,” the geeb answered, its head now taking the shape of a bell.

“May I have it please?” Alex asked.

“Ding, ding, ding,” the geeb replied.

“I sent a message to my friend, Whalen Vankin, before I found you,” Alex told the others as he accepted the message from the geeb. “I had heard there might be dark magic in Nezza and wondered if Whalen knew anything about it.”

“You know Whalen Vankin?” Tom asked, amazed.

“Who is Whalen Vankin?” Rallian asked at almost the same moment.

“Whalen Vankin is possibly the greatest wizard alive,” Alex said to Rallian, and then, looking at Tom, he added, “Whalen is my teacher. He’s the one who asked me to take my staff.”

Alex opened the message the geeb had given him, far too interested in what Whalen might have to say than in answering any more questions.

Alex,

Something must be going on in Nezza, because I’ve never had such a hard time finding a geeb to deliver a message.

I haven’t heard of any dark wizards in Nezza, but so little news comes from there that it is difficult for me to say what’s happening there. Be careful in your travels, and try not to let yourself be known. I don’t think you’ll run into anything you can’t handle, but if you need me, I will come.

Keep me informed, if you can find any geebs that will deliver a message.

     
Yours in fellowship,

     
Whalen

“Well, it seems even Whalen has had trouble sending geebs to Nezza,” said Alex, handing the note to Virgil. He turned to the geeb. “Have you been paid?”

“Honk,” the geeb answered.

“Can you take a reply back to Whalen Vankin?” Alex asked.

“Ding.”

“Here you are, then,” said Alex, tossing a small emerald toward the geeb.

The geeb bounced off the table and caught the emerald as it fell through the air, leaving several coins on the table in exchange.

Alex quickly took out his writing things and started his message. He wanted to let Whalen know how things were going and also to pass along the clue he had discovered about the Brotherhood and a person of interest named Gaylan. To make things quicker, Alex magically duplicated the letter he had found in Magnus’s room and attached it to his own short note.