“A noble task,” commented Bregnest, as if considering the offer.

“So you would be willing to take the job?” the magistrate asked hopefully.

“Sadly, we have other business to attend to,” answered Bregnest. “However, we will happily remove any bandits we encounter along our way. Though I suspect they will avoid us in the future.”

“Perhaps, when your business is completed, you will consider my offer further,” replied the magistrate, returning to his stiff manner.

“Indeed, yes, we will,” replied Bregnest. “It would be a great honor to work for the city of Techen.”

The magistrate smiled thinly, nodded to Bregnest, and without another word, left Tantic’s inn.

“To work for the city would be an honor, but to work for himwould be a curse,” commented Thrang in a low voice.

Alex agreed with Thrang’s assessment, remembering Tantic’s comment about how the city guards didn’t take care of their horses. His feelings about horses had changed a great deal since the start of his adventure, and the thought of mistreating a horse made him more than a little angry.

There were several hours before the evening meal would be served, so Alex, Andy, Skeld, and Halfdan left Tantic’s inn and wandered back to the main square, which was now full of people selling various items from small tables.

The people of Techen reacted in different ways to Alex and his companions, and Alex noticed that all of them seemed a little nervous. Some of the people were anxious for Alex and his friends to approach their tables, hoping to sell them something, while others pretended not to see them at all. This second group would watch them closely when they did approach one of their tables and would not speak unless spoken to.

Alex and the others each bought a few small items, more from boredom than from need. Alex purchased a small folding knife he thought would be useful, as well as a notepad so he could practice writing his elfin letters. He noticed Andy bought a few small pieces of jewelry, and he guessed they were souvenirs or gifts for his friends back home. It didn’t take long to browse the small market and they soon wandered out of the square, heading back to Tantic’s inn.

“A strange city,” commented Halfdan, as they walked past the squashed mud houses. “Not a tree or a bush to be seen.”

“And what would a dwarf know about cities?” asked Skeld, a wicked smile on his face. “I’ve heard you all live underground in vast, dark caves.”

“Dwarf caves are not dark,” retorted Halfdan, pushing Skeld into one of the mud walls lining the street. “Even dwarfs long for the wind in our faces and a bit of green now and then. If we enter the dwarf realm of Vargland, you will see you are wrong about our cities.”

“I shall make a point of visiting your country, whether we enter the dwarf realm or not,” said Skeld, laughing loudly.

They returned to Tantic’s inn and found the others waiting for them. It seemed there was nothing to do in Techen but wait.

chapter twelve

Eric Von Tealo

Later that afternoon, Tantic asked if they would like to see their rooms. Alex and his friends followed the innkeeper to the back of the inn, where they entered a large suite of rooms. The main sitting room had several chairs, a few small tables, and a large fireplace. Two short hallways led from either side of the room into two smaller bedrooms with two beds each and a small table with a lamp.

“I hope this will do,” said Tantic, as he showed them around the suite. “We seldom have one company take an entire apartment, but you seem to fit perfectly.”

“This will do nicely,” replied Bregnest with a slight bow.

“About your evening meal, then,” Tantic began. “Will you want a private room, or would you prefer to eat in the common room? The common room will not be crowded tonight as we have so few visitors these days.”

“A private room would be best,” said Bregnest. “We have several things to discuss, and I would not want to trouble your other guests.”

“A kind gesture,” replied Tantic. “You know we Techens are often shy of strangers, though I doubt they would be put off by your company. At least, not once they know about your victory over the bandits.”

“You are most kind,” answered Bregnest, bowing slightly once more. “Perhaps we will join your guests after our meal.”

“As you wish,” said Tantic, returning the bow.

The company ate their evening meal in a dining room well away from the common room of the inn. Tantic promised to bring them something special, and when the food arrived, everything looked and smelled wonderful. Alex was hungry, but he was too worried about when the old man might arrive and what he might have to say, and couldn’t enjoy the food.

“You worry too much for one so young,” said Skeld, jokingly. “You should learn to let things be and to take things as they come.”

“Ignore him,” commented Tayo, sitting down next to Alex. “He never worries about anything and so he never plans for anything.”

“I plan,” replied Skeld with a laugh. “I plan to have as much fun as I can before I cross the wall.”

“The wall?” Alex questioned.

“The wall between this life and the next,” said Tayo, his face twisting slightly as though he felt a pain. “We should not speak of it.”

“It’s there for all of us poor mortals,” Skeld said, no longer laughing. “Worrying about it won’t make it go away.”

“Neither will laughing at it,” answered Tayo, and he fell silent.

“I’m sorry I asked,” Alex said in a lowered voice to Tayo. He knew Tayo seldom laughed, but he’d never seen him quite this way before. “I did not mean to trouble you.”

“It does not matter,” replied Tayo, though his pained look remained. “Perhaps Skeld is right and I do think too much on this thing.”

Alex didn’t reply, leaving Tayo to his own thoughts.

As they ate, Bregnest told the rest of the company about the old man who had approached Alex in the stable. He asked Alex to tell the story and repeat everything the old man had said. After Alex had finished, they were all silent for several minutes.

“Why does he want to come when no one is around?” Thrang questioned.

“Perhaps he does not wish to be seen speaking to us,” suggested Arconn.

“And perhaps he’s not a simple old man,” Tayo added.

“We won’t know what he is or what he knows until he chooses to tell us. For now, we will wait,” Bregnest said.

“Should we go to the common room for a drink?” Halfdan asked in a hopeful tone. “It might make the old man more comfortable.”

“Perhaps,” said Bregnest. “However, I think we should wait for our visitor in our rooms. I will ask Tantic to send us something to drink, so don’t look so sad, Halfdan.”

“The spiced ale is very good,” said Halfdan, smiling sheepishly.

They finished their meal in silence. Alex poked at his food, having lost his appetite, worried that waiting in their rooms might be a mistake. What if the old man couldn’t find them? Alex didn’t want to look foolish in front of his friends if the old man didn’t show up at all.

As they left the dining room, Bregnest went to find Tantic, and Alex and the others moved slowly toward their rooms at the back of the inn.

It wasn’t long before Bregnest returned, followed by servants carrying several pitchers and mugs. Halfdan grinned and claimed a mug of dark Techen beer. As the servants departed, Bregnest took a seat near the fireplace, his eyes fixed on the flames, a troubled look on his face.

Alex sat in a chair across from Bregnest, worried the old man wouldn’t come. He almost jumped out of his chair when there was a soft knock at the door a short time later. Alex looked at the door, then at Bregnest, unsure of what he should do. Bregnest smiled slightly at Alex and motioned for Arconn to open the door.