“Just fine,” replied Arconn. “We’ve been explaining things to Alex.”

“Explaining?” asked Mr. Clutter, a slight note of concern in his voice.

“He don’t know nothin’ ’bout magic or adventures, you great pelican,” said Thrang in a disgruntled tone.

“Doesn’t know about adventures or magic?” Mr. Clutter repeated, glancing quickly at Alex. “But the sign . . . the gateway. I assure you, gentlemen, only a true adventurer could have passed through the gateway.”

“That may be true, Clutter,” replied Thrang. “But the fact is, this boy knows nothin’ ’bout being chosen or adventures or anything.”

“Doesn’t know about being chosen?” Mr. Clutter looked confused. “Well, then, how did he get into the shop?”

“We will call that a lucky chance,” said Arconn. “Thank you, Mr. Clutter. We’ll serve ourselves.”

Mr. Clutter left the room, scratching his head and mumbling to himself. It sounded to Alex like he didn’t believe what Thrang had said, and was sure that everybody knew about adventures and magic.

“Tea?” questioned Arconn, filling a large cup and holding it out for Alex to take.

“What?” said Alex, still dumbfounded by the moving table.

“Have some tea,” said Thrang, holding out his own cup for Arconn to fill. “A bit of tea and a cake or two and you’ll feel much better.”

“No, thank you,” Alex said, distracted. All the talk about magic and time being different and gateways and signs that other people couldn’t see had his head spinning. He didn’t know what to make of any of it, though he had to admit that it was exciting.

“Have a cake then,” said Thrang, pushing a large plate

full of cakes toward him. “Always better to think on a full stomach.”

Alex smiled weakly and took a cake from the plate. He didn’t feel hungry, but it gave him something normal to think about. Thrang and Arconn didn’t say anything at all as they drank their tea and ate several cakes.

Alex stared at his uneaten cake for a long time. He wished he’d never entered the bookshop to ask about the sign, and he wondered how he was going to get back to the Happy Dragon.

Thinking about everything he’d heard and seen so far, Alex had to admit that there mustbe magic, because he’d seen the table move on its own and change its shape. Plus he was sitting with a dwarf and an elf, which was something he’d never expected to do. He still had no idea what his new companions meant by his being chosen, but he decided not to worry about it right then because his head was starting to hurt.

chapter two

Mr. Clutter’s Back Door

“So,” said Thrang, setting his teacup down and wiping his mouth with his shirtsleeve. “What do you think, Alex?”

“I’m not sure,” said Alex.

“Excellent,” said Arconn. “Shall we discuss the contract?”

“Contract?”

“Adventurer’s bargain, if you prefer, or agreement if that suits you,” replied Thrang. “After all, we can’t go on an adventure together without a bargain.”

“Oh, I see,” said Alex with a nod, though he didn’t see, not really. He hadn’t really expected his wish for a different life to come true, but somehow it had. Now he had to decide if he was willing to accept the new life he was being offered.

But what if this isn’t real?Alex wondered. Maybe it was all some big joke, or some kind of game that he didn’t know about. What if it was one of those TV shows that played jokes on people and filmed them looking foolish? There was a chance, however, that it wasreal, that everything he’d been told was true, and that he could go on a grand adventure. If there was even a tiny chance for a real adventure, Alex wanted to be part of it.

“All right,” he said decisively. “Let’s talk about the contract.”

“Let’s see,” said Thrang, taking a large piece of paper out of his shirt pocket. “First, we should discuss compensation for time spent.”

“Compensation?” Alex questioned.

“How much you get paid for the adventure,” replied Thrang, unfolding the paper, holding it close to his face and squinting his eyes. “After all, it’s no good going on an adventure unless there’s some hope of getting paid for it.”

“I suppose not.”

“As a first-time adventurer, you are entitled to one share in twenty of the primary treasure, once it’s recovered,” Thrang began. “In addition, you may receive bonus treasure as the leader of our company sees fit. Any small or magical items you find on your own are yours to keep. Any magical item that chooses you as its owner is, of course, yours.”

Thrang paused for a moment to take a deep breath before plowing on.

“All secondary treasure recovered is to be divided equally among the company. Extra items—that is to say, items that can’t be divided equally between the members of the company—go to the leader of the company, who may then give those extra items as bonus treasure to anyone in the company whom he feels has earned them. Also, in the event that you recover treasure alone, it will be divided equally between the members of the company. Normally, an extra share of the secondary treasure is given to the adventurer who found it.

“The leader has the last word about how treasure is divided. At times, the honor of dividing treasure may be given to a member of the company. Single victory against an enemy is always a reason for the victor to be given such an honor. In most cases, the single victor will also receive any treasure that cannot be divided equally. This follows the standard rules set out in the Adventurer’s Handbook.”

Alex sat motionless, listening to Thrang, his thoughts spinning. What did he mean, “one share in twenty of the primary treasure,” and, “magical items” that might choose him as an owner? How could an item choose him?

“He’s confused,” said Arconn, noticing Alex’s puzzled look. “The idea of treasure hunting and adventures hasn’t sunk in yet. It is completely new to him.”

“What?” questioned Thrang, lowering his paper slightly to look from Arconn to Alex. “How do you think we pay for the adventure if we don’t collect some treasure along the way or at the end?” Thrang demanded.

“I’ve never thought about it,” answered Alex. The idea of looking for treasure seemed odd, but Alex had to admit it made as much sense as anything else he’d heard so far.

“You see, Alex, each adventure has a goal,” Arconn explained. “And it usually involves some kind of treasure or payment.”

Alex nodded. “What’s the goal of this adventure?”

“Jumps right to the point, don’t he?” said Thrang, smiling happily. “Got a good head for this, I can see it now.”

“Our goal,” Arconn replied, ignoring Thrang’s comments, “is to kill a dragon and reclaim the treasure in its hoard.”

“Not just any dragon,” Thrang interrupted. “We’re goin’ after Slathbog the Red.”

“And dragons are bad?” Alex asked, sure he already knew the answer.

“Most dragons are evil, if that’s what you mean,” said Arconn. “Of course, there are a few dragons that are decent enough, but normally, yes, dragons are considered bad.”

“And we’re going to kill this Slatsbog?”

“Slathbog the Red,” Thrang corrected. “Yes.”

“And take his treasure?”

“’Course,” replied Thrang with a grunting laugh. “No good killin’ a dragon and then leavin’ the hoard lying about for anybody who wants it.”

“May I ask,” Alex said, looking from Arconn to Thrang and back again. “Whose treasure is it?”

“It’s Slathbog the Red’s treasure,” answered Thrang, looking surprised by Alex’s question.

“I don’t mean now,” Alex said quickly. “I mean, whose was it before the dragon took it? He had to take it from someone, didn’t he?”

“The treasure of Slathbog has been collected from many places,” Arconn explained. “Slathbog has been hoarding treasure for several hundred years.”