Alex did ask Arconn if he was also a dragon lord since he knew Salinor’s true name.

Arconn laughed and said that only wizards could be dragon lords. “He told me his name because he knew I would not have power over him,” Arconn said as he helped Alex through a snowdrift. “The name has power, that is true, but only a wizard can use it to control the dragon.”

When they were close to the city gates, Alex heard a loud yell. The dwarf guards had spotted them coming and were calling into the city to let Lord Turlock know that Alex had returned.

Arconn tried to help Alex hurry through the snow, but it was too deep for Alex to move quickly.

The guards all dropped to one knee as Alex reached the city gates, bowing their heads in gratitude and respect. Alex smiled, but was unsure what to say to them. He had not expected such a reaction to his victory and had not thought about how the dwarfs of Neplee would receive him.

Turlock reached the gates as Alex and Arconn passed through them, and before Alex said a word, Turlock also dropped to one knee. “Hail, great wizard, master of the dead.”

“No,” Alex said sternly. “I am no master of the dead and never will be. Please, Lord Turlock, rise and greet me as a friend.”

Turlock got to his feet, obviously regretting what he’d said.

Alex smiled at him and took his hand in friendship, pulling him close as he shook it. He leaned forward so he could whisper in Turlock’s ear. “Forgive my sharpness, but I will not be called a master of the dead.”

“I spoke without thinking,” said Turlock, embracing Alex like a brother. “It will not happen again, my friend.”

Thrang and the others arrived as Alex and Turlock broke apart, and Alex was almost knocked over as his friends rushed forward to embrace him.

“I see you didn’t have to look very far,” Thrang said to Arconn once the dwarf had let go of Alex.

“No farther than the front gate, really,” said Arconn with a laugh. “Though Alex could have saved himself some walking if he’d come into the city last night when he actually arrived.”

“Last night?” Turlock questioned.

“I thought it best to let you all rest until daylight before making my entrance,” Alex explained.

“As if we’ve slept at all,” Nellus said, slapping Alex on the shoulder.

“I slept.” Barnabus laughed. “Though it’s been difficult with Thrang storming around in his worry.”

“I was not storming around,” Thrang said defensively. “Though I have been worried, I won’t deny it.”

“And now some of your worries are over,” Alex said, putting his arm around Thrang’s shoulders. “Though I daresay you’ll find new ones to replace them.”

Everyone laughed at Alex’s comment, even Thrang. When they stopped laughing, the questions began as everyone, especially Lord Turlock, wanted to know what had happened in the mountains.

“Am I to have no rest?” Alex asked with a smile. “At least let’s go into the city and find a warm room before I tell the tale.”

“An excellent idea,” Turlock said. “And I’ll arrange for your breakfast to be brought to you, if that’s all right, and you can tell us your story while we are together.”

“You are most kind,” said Alex, bowing to Turlock.

“And if you don’t mind too much,” Turlock went on, raising his eyebrows, “I would like some of the lords of Neplee to be there as well. They should hear the story themselves, so they will know the great deed you have done for us.”

“As you wish,” said Alex, allowing himself to be guided into the city by Turlock.

Turlock led Alex and his friends to a large hall near the throne room. When they entered, Turlock quickly ordered some of the dwarfs to bring hot food to the tables and the others to summon the lords of Neplee. It was obvious that word of Alex’s return had spread, and Alex hoped he had not caused too much trouble by being gone so long in the mountains. When the dwarfs had all gathered and Alex was seated with his friends, Turlock rose and began to speak.

“My friends. Lords and masters of Neplee, the curse that has been on our city for so long has passed. We are free once more. Once more, we can take pride in our city and our works. For this, we must give thanks to Master Taylor.”

There was a general clamor of agreement as the assembled dwarfs cheered and began to chant Alex’s name. Turlock beamed at Alex, and then held up his hands for quiet.

“Master Taylor will tell us the story of his deeds,” Turlock went on. “Though perhaps he would prefer to eat his breakfast first.”

“Not at all,” said Alex. “Though the food is tempting, I will tell you my story first. There will be time for food later.”

The room grew still and all eyes were on Alex. He could hear the deep, steady breathing of those gathered in the room, and he took strength from them as he began to tell the tale.

Alex told them everything—or almost everything—that had happened in the mountains. He was careful not to mention Salinor’s call to wake him, or the crown of Set, which he now carried in his magic bag. He did pause to thank Volo, who was in the room, for the help he had given him in preparing to face the necromancer.

“So it worked, then,” Volo said happily. “I had my doubts, though you seemed so certain.”

“Yes, my friend, it worked,” Alex answered. “It is a secret long forgotten by most, and I will share it with all of you now.”

Alex unbuttoned his shirt as he spoke, pulling it back to reveal the true-silver chain mail shirt that Volo had helped him make. There was a gasp of astonishment as the light reflected off the silver, and the eyes of the dwarfs grew large in wonder.

“True silver,” Alex said. “Not only beautiful and strong, but magical as well. True silver will always resist dark magic, and if made into armor such as this, it will reflect curses back at the one who sent them.”

“You used Nethrom’s own power against him?” Thrain questioned.

“In a way,” Alex answered as he buttoned his shirt. “You see, Nethrom was not really the necromancer. He was not the evil one, though it was because of Nethrom that the evil came. When Nethrom died, he had been freed from the evil that had held him captive for so long.”

“Then we have another reason to thank you,” said Turlock. “You have taken the stain from Nethrom’s name. We can remember him as the good and decent dwarf he once was, and not as the evil he became.”

Alex finished his story with his arrival at the city gates. When he was done, the dwarfs all cheered and bowed to Alex as if he were a king. Alex smiled and asked them to rise. He did not want to be rude, but he was concerned that the dwarfs of Neplee might think he had done more than he really had.

“You are kind and generous, Master Taylor,” Turlock said, rising with the rest of the dwarfs. “We know you are a good man and will not willingly accept all of the honors that we would give you, so I will offer you this oath and ask all here to swear with me. If ever you have need—for treasure, workers, warriors, or simply a place to rest—the city of Neplee will be yours to command. This I swear as a lord of Neplee. How say you, lords of Neplee?”

“We swear it shall be so,” the other dwarfs answered in one voice. “We bind ourselves, our families, and all that we shall ever have to this oath. We will answer the call of Master Taylor, in this life or the next.”

“Thank you, my friends,” Alex said, bowing his head. “I hope there will never be a need for me to call upon your oath, but I thank you for your vow.”

The dwarfs all pressed forward to shake Alex’s hands. Alex smiled and bowed to them, but he was beginning to feel tired. He had not slept properly in a long time, and he felt that sleep was what he needed more than anything right now.

“You are tired from your ordeal,” Turlock said, noticing the look on Alex’s face. “Go with your company; they will lead you to your rest. Tonight there will be a feast such as Neplee has never seen, and you will be the guest of honor.”