Free Adventurers Wanted 1) Slathbog's Gold by M.L. Forman Page A

putting them in his magic bag.
    “And you don’t need to look so worried, Master Goodseed,” Arconn added, looking at Andy. “The others know I have given this book to Alex.”
    “I wasn’t worried,” Andy protested. “I was just curious about the magic bit.”
    “Be careful of your curiosity,” Arconn warned. “Magic in the hands of those without the gift is often harmful, both to themselves and to others.”
    “I know it well,” said Andy, bowing slightly to Arconn, a dark shadow crossing his face.
    “Here come the others,” said Arconn, stepping into the road. “It’s time for the adventure to begin at last.”
    “Courage, master wizard,” Skeld laughed, holding the reins to an extra gray horse. “You need not fear so common a thing as a horse.”
    “I’m not a wizard,” Alex replied, embarrassed that Skeld could see how nervous he was.
    “She is a kind animal,” Skeld said with a friendly smile. “She’ll carry you far and to good fortune.”
    Alex looked at the large silver-gray horse in front of him, a touch of fear running down his back. The horse in turn looked at Alex, her clever eyes watching him cautiously. Alex stepped closer and put his hand gently on the horse’s neck.
    “She is called Shahree,” said Bregnest, riding up to Alex. “It means ‘great heart’ in the ancient language of Alusia.”
    “Shahree,” Alex repeated softly.
    The horse shook her head up and down, looking at Alex with what he could only describe as happiness. Alex felt a surge of confidence, though he wasn’t sure why. Legs shaking only slightly, he climbed into the saddle and tried to make himself comfortable.
    “And so we begin,” said Bregnest, starting down the road.
    Alex and his companions formed two lines behind Bregnest and Arconn. Thrang and Halfdan rode in front of Skeld and Tayo, while Andy rode next to Alex at the back of the group. They followed a well-traveled road that led them south out of Telous. Green fields flanked the road on both sides, and a pair of low stone walls divided the road from the fields.
    Alex’s fear of riding soon vanished as Shahree carried him gently on her back, and after a few minutes, he managed to make himself comfortable in the saddle. He watched as the landscape slowly changed from well-kept fields to open meadows. The stone walls continued long after the fields were left behind, but they finally ended in two large posts at the roadside.
    “We’re leaving the lands of Telous,” said Andy, pointing to one of the posts.
    “What land are we entering now?” Alex asked.
    “This is free land,” said Andy. “It belongs to no one, though the people of Telous come here often to hunt.”
    “Hunt what?”
    “Wild game,” Andy laughed. “This land is too tame for anything more than deer and rabbits.”
    “Oh,” said Alex, annoyed by how little he knew.
    There was little talk as they rode along, the road slipping away beneath them. The large meadows changed to tree-covered hills with smaller meadows between them. Several small streams crossed the road, but none of them were very deep.
    After riding for what seemed like a long time, Alex could see two large hills ahead of them on the road. A large and ancient-looking tower stood on top of each hill. Alex wondered what the towers might be for, and as they continued to move toward them, he felt sure that they marked the great arch. His excitement grew; he wanted to see the magic arch that would let them pass into a new land.
    “We’ll eat here,” said Bregnest, as he dismounted from his horse. “Fill all your water bags and containers. It may be several days before we find good water again.”
    Alex climbed off Shahree with a bit of trouble. He was not used to riding, and his legs felt wobbly once he was standing again. Shahree stood still for him, giving him a look that said, “I understand, and it’s all right.” Alex patted Shahree’s neck softly and thanked the horse under his breath.
    Following Andy to