It took some time, but they were finally able to move away from the crowds and turn off the main road onto one of the many side streets leading toward the mountains. After a short time, Thrang stopped in front of a fine-looking house built right up against the mountainside. There was a high wall around the house, and the gate was closed. Thrang climbed off his horse and banged loudly on the solid wooden gate.

“Cousin Thrang!” the young dwarf who opened the gate exclaimed in surprise. “We didn’t know you were coming. I would have had the gate open for you.”

“I didn’t have time to send word,” said Thrang, smiling at his young cousin and motioning for the others to follow him through the gate.

“Thorson will be happy to see you,” the dwarf went on, apparently unaware of the rest of the company. “He was saying just the other day that he should write and invite you to come and stay for awhile.”

“I hope there’s room for my friends as well,” said Thrang, turning to gesture at the others.

“Always room for your friends,” the dwarf answered, also turning to look. At the sight of the group of adventurers, his eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open. Alex thought that the dwarf might have lost the ability to speak.

“I didn’t know you were on an adventure,” the dwarf managed to say after several seconds. “Forgive me, cousin, I shouldn’t keep you and your friends waiting here in the courtyard.”

“No harm done,” Thrang said with a laugh. “And as you are here, you might as well meet everyone. Everyone, this is my cousin Dain. Dain wants to follow in my footsteps and become an adventurer, but he’s not yet come of age.”

Dain bowed to the company, blushing slightly as he rose. Thrang introduced each member of the company in turn, saving Alex for last.

“Alexander Taylor?” Dain repeated. “The wizard who defeated Slathbog?”

“The very same,” said Thrang, smiling and winking at Alex. “And he’s done a great deal more than that as well.”

“A great honor, sir,” said Dain, bowing to Alex.

“The honor is mine,” said Alex, returning the bow and Thrang’s wink.

“I’ll take your horses to the stables for you,” Dain said to Thrang.

“And who will tell Thorson we’ve arrived?” Thrang questioned.

“Well, I . . .” Dain began, then trailed off.

“Go on, then.” Thrang laughed. “Take the horses for us, and I’ll let my brother know we are here.”

Dain took the reins of their horses and started off across the courtyard.

Thrang motioned for the company to follow him in the opposite direction. Alex could see that the house was large on the outside, and he guessed that a great deal more of it was either underground or inside the mountain, which was close to the back of the house.

Thrang seemed to know exactly where his brother would be at this time of day. He led them through a small part of the house and out into a large, walled-off garden. Several dwarfs were sitting at a stone table near a fountain, talking loudly.

“I don’t care if he is of age. He’ll have to wait until arrangements can be made for his trip to an oracle,” said a dwarf who looked a great deal like Thrang.

“He doesn’t want to wait, cousin,” a second dwarf said. “He says he’s of age and will do as he likes.”

“Then he can go by himself and without my help,” the first dwarf answered. “Tell him to be here this evening and I’ll tell him so myself.”

“Who wants to go to an oracle?” Thrang asked loudly.

“What’s that?” said the first dwarf, turning to see who had spoken. “Thrang, you old rascal, when did you get here?”

“Just now,” said Thrang, moving forward and embracing his brother. “Dain met us at the gate and has taken our horses to the stables. We haven’t come at a bad time, have we, Thorson?”

“Ah, a company,” said Thorson in delight. “You should have sent word; I’d have had a feast prepared.”

“The feast can wait,” said Thrang with a laugh. “Do you have room for the seven of us to stay? We’ll be in the city for a week or two.”

“You know I have room,” said Thorson. “And if you’re staying for at least a week, there will be time for several feasts.”

“You are most kind,” said Thrang. “Let me introduce my friends to you.”

Thrang introduced the company to his brother and to the other dwarfs in the garden, once again saving Alex for last. Thorson was happy to meet them all, and the dwarfs all smiled and bowed as they were introduced. Alex tried to remember all of their names, but Thrang’s relatives looked so much alike it was hard to keep the names and faces straight.

Thorson gestured to the table by the fountain. “Please, make yourselves at home. I’ll have the midday meal brought out here as well as have rooms prepared for all of you.” Thorson quickly turned to one of his cousins and rattled off some instructions. Alex thought the cousin’s name was Bulbur, but he wasn’t completely sure.

“Now then,” said Thrang, walking over to the table. “Who is it that wants to run off and see an oracle?”

“Your nephew, Fivra,” Thorson answered, shaking his head. “Just came of age last month, and already he wants to run off and find an oracle.”

“That’s natural enough,” Thrang said, taking a seat. The rest of the company joined him around the table.

“So it would seem, but he doesn’t want to go and see just any oracle. He wants to go to Vargland and see the Oracle of the White Tower,” said Thorson, joining Thrang at the table. “Halfdan’s trading company will be going that way, and he’s already agreed to take several young dwarfs with him.”

“For a price,” said Thrang, nodding.

“One hundred gold coins each,” Thorson said. “I told Fivra if he would save half the money, I’d give him the other half, but I don’t think he has two coins to rub together.”

“But he still wants to go, and he still wants you to pay for it,” said Thrang, nodding once more.

“He says he’ll go if I pay or not,” said Thorson in a slightly worried tone. “Has his mind made up, and you know how stubborn he is.”

“Even if he gets to Vargland, there’s no promise the oracle will talk to him,” said Thrang, glancing quickly at Alex.

“No, there’s not,” said Thorson. “But I refuse to pay the entire price, and now he’s off sulking about it somewhere.”

“He always was a bit of a sulker,” Thrang said.

“And he’s never been any good with money,” Thorson added. “He’s got it in his mind that he’ll be an adventurer, like you and Halfdan. Seems to think adventures are an easy way to get rich quick.”

“I’ve told him a hundred times that being an adventurer is hard work,” said Thrang, shaking his head. “Even if he goes to Vargland, and even if the oracle speaks to him, odds are he won’t be chosen as an adventurer.”

“I know,” said Thorson, shaking his head as well. “I’ve tried to explain it to him, but he won’t listen. Now, with you and your friends here, I know he’ll be more determined than ever to go.”

“Perhaps we could talk to him,” offered Arconn. “We could tell him how hard adventures can be.”

“A kind gesture,” said Thrang, smiling at Arconn. “It might not hurt, but I hate to bring you all into family matters.”

“It is the least we can do,” said Nellus.

“But he mustn’t think we put you up to it,” Thorson warned. “If the subject comes up naturally, fine, but don’t bring it up.”

They all agreed, and Thorson thanked each of them individually. Just then, the midday meal arrived, and they were soon eating and talking about other things.

“So, an adventure in Thraxon,” Thorson said, glancing at Thrang. “Can you tell me anything about it?”

“You know I can’t,” said Thrang with half a smile. “But there is something you can help us with.”

“Anything, anything at all,” said Thorson.

“My friend, Alex, is carrying a lost bag. We need to find the heir and arrange for the bag’s return.”

“Do you know the heir’s name?” Thorson asked Alex.