Albrek's Tomb - Forman Mark L (читать лучшие читаемые книги txt) 📗

“Whalen, what are you talking about?” Alex questioned.

“I think what we are fighting is something like the Gezbeth. A conspiracy that has more than one center—and more than one leader—but all working toward a single goal.”

“And if we destroy only one center, the monster will simply grow a new center over time,” said Alex, remembering his battle against the hydra outside the necromancer’s cave.

“I believe we have already destroyed parts of this monster,” said Whalen. “Your victory over the necromancer was a blow to their plans. I think the recent trouble here in Alusia might well have been another part of the plan. The trouble is, we don’t know where the centers of the conspiracy are, and unless we can destroy them all, well . . .”

“You want to watch the people you think are involved,” said Alex. “Perhaps they will lead us to other parts of the monster.”

“Yes, that is our hope,” said Whalen. “It’s not just you and me, Alex. The rest of the council is involved, as well as many other people. We are watching and learning about our enemy. I hope that one day—and one day soon—we will discover what we need to know.”

“And the conspiracy’s goal?” Alex questioned. “Do you have any idea what this monster is trying to do?”

“No, not really,” said Whalen in a defeated tone. “We’re trying to piece it all together—looking for clues, listening to whispered stories—but we don’t know what our enemy is trying to do. We don’t know what their real goal is.”

“Then I suppose we’ll have to wait and watch,” said Alex.

“Yes,” said Whalen. “And you will be an important part of our watching, now that you know about the monster. As you travel, you will know what to look for and can report back to us what you have learned.”

“I will try,” said Alex. “I will try to find clues and answers, and I will hope that we can find the centers of power and destroy them before . . .”

“Before they destroy the rest of us,” Whalen finished. “Yes, that is our greatest fear—that we will wait and watch too long and we will be unable to stop the monster when we finally discover what it is trying to do. For now, keep your eyes and ears open, and let me know about anything that seems suspicious.”

“What if something happens to you?” Alex questioned.

“I have some letters of introduction I can send out,” said Whalen. “It would be good for you to have contact with other members of the council, in any event. Then, if anything should happen to me, you’ll have other people you can trust with the information you discover.”

“A good plan,” said Alex.

“I only hope it is good enough,” said Whalen.

It wasn’t quite noon when they came to a fair-sized house at the bottom of a large hill. The tall stone tower attached to one end of the house was at least twice as tall as the next highest part of the house. Behind the house was a barn, and a small stream ran alongside the house. Sitting on the front porch of the house was a tall, thin man. He stood up as Whalen and Alex approached and hurried into the yard to meet them.

“Master Vankin, Master Taylor,” the man said with a bow. “I wasn’t sure what time you would be arriving.”

“You were kind to meet us, Jonathan,” said Whalen with a smile. “Alex, this is Jonathan Tanner. Jonathan is the chief herdsman of Resprin, and as such, he is the king’s representative in the town.”

“A great pleasure,” said Alex, bowing to Jonathan.

“The pleasure is mine,” said Jonathan. “King Trion has sent word that I am to do whatever I can for you. I’ve heard the tales of your adventures with my friend Silvan Bregnest, and I am only too happy to do as Trion orders.”

“You know Bregnest?” Alex questioned.

“There are few in this part of Alusia who do not know Bregnest,” Jonathan said with a laugh. “He often rides to the towns on the king’s business—or at least he does when he is not off on an adventure.”

“I would very much like to see Bregnest again,” Alex said.

“Let’s take a look at the house first,” said Whalen, reminding Alex of why they were there.

Jonathan took their horses for them and tied them to a rail beside the porch. He was happy to show Alex and Whalen around, and Alex was happy with what he saw in the house. There was plenty of room for him to store his things, but not so much room that he would feel lonely. There was even running water, piped into the house from a spring near the top of the hill behind the house, which Alex thought was very convenient. The rooms were large and friendly looking, and already furnished.

“Trion sent the furniture as a welcoming gift,” Jonathan explained. “He hopes you will be staying in Alusia for many years to come.”

“A kind gift,” said Alex.

“Then you will take the house?” Jonathan questioned nervously.

“Let me think for a little while.”

“Very well, Master Taylor.”

“In the meantime, what is there to eat here, Jonathan?” Whalen asked.

“Oh, the pantry is full, Master Vankin,” Jonathan answered. “I can prepare anything you may wish, or almost anything.”

“An overstatement but kindly meant,” Whalen said with a laugh. “Come, let’s see to the pantry while my young friend does his thinking.”

As Whalen and Jonathan went to the kitchen, Alex wandered out the front door to look at the grounds around the house once more. He walked around the tower toward the back of the house, not really looking at or for anything. He walked through the oak trees that grew behind the house, and when he came to the stream, he stopped. It was the perfect house and would be a wonderful place to live, but he felt sad for no reason he could name.

A sudden movement on the far side of the stream startled Alex, and he instantly brought up his staff to defend himself. He smiled when he saw the palomino horse on the far bank. He lowered his staff and called softly to the horse. It was a male horse, young and fairly large, with a mane as white as snow. Calling softly a second time, Alex remembered how much horses used to scare him. The horse seemed to study him for a moment, and then it walked slowly to him and nuzzled his shoulder.

“Well, my friend,” Alex said softly. “What herd have you wandered away from?”

The horse whinnied in reply and pressed his head gently against Alex’s shoulder. Alex was surprised by the strange show of affection, but he rubbed the horse’s forehead gently just the same.

“Well, I suppose I should accept this house,” Alex said softly. “It looks to be everything I’ve ever wanted or hoped for.”

The horse bobbed its head up and down the same way Shahree had done sometimes when Alex had talked to her.

Alex smiled at the memory and patted the horse’s forehead again before he turned to go back and talk with Jonathan.

“Who’s your friend?” Whalen questioned as Alex walked toward the front door.

Alex noticed that the palomino horse had followed him home. “He was drinking from the stream when I was out walking. He must have wandered away from one of the herds. Perhaps Jonathan will know where he belongs.”

Whalen called Jonathan out of the house, but when Jonathan saw the horse at Alex’s shoulder, the look on his face was something more than surprise.

“Do you know this horse?” Alex questioned.

“The herders call him Dar Losh. It means dragon fire in the common language,” Jonathan said slowly. “He is . . . he is of the king’s herd, though part of that herd belongs to you as well. I would have to search the records to make sure, but he’s as likely to be one of your own horses as he is to be one of the king’s.”

“Why do you look so surprised to see him here?” Alex asked.

“No one has ever been able to handle him,” Jonathan said. “He runs wild across the grasslands. We’ve tried to catch him in the past, but he can outrun any horse in the kingdom.”

“Yet he seems friendly enough with Alex,” Whalen said.