Free Adventurers Wanted 2) The Horn of Moran by M.L. Forman

deep sleep.
     
    * * *
     
    When Alex woke up the next morning it wasn’t because he wanted to. Halfdan was shaking his bed wildly and laughing at the shocked and confused expression on Alex’s face.
     
    “Come on then,” said Halfdan. “We’ve got to get your new clothes, and you and I have a bit of shopping to do as well.”
     
    “I feel like I’ve only just gone to sleep,” Alex complained, rolling off his bed and onto his feet.
     
    “Norsland nights are short in the spring and summer months,” Halfdan said.
     
    Alex didn’t reply as he staggered sleepily toward the basin to wash his face. The ice-cold water was a shock, but it woke him up better than Halfdan had. Looking out his window, Alex could see sunlight already spreading over Oslansk.
     
    “What’s for breakfast?” Alex asked, stamping on his boots and following Halfdan out of the room.
     
    “Mrs. Goodseed has seen to it, so come on,” Halfdan answered.
     
    In fact, Andy’s mother had prepared a large breakfast of fried potatoes, eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and several other dishes that were clearly Norsland specialties. Alex tried some of everything and had second helpings of a dish that was made up of rice, some kind of meat, cheese, and a sweet sauce.
     
    Michael was full of questions that morning, and he couldn’t seem to keep himself from asking them. The members of the company tried to answer him as well as they could, but it seemed that every answer brought new questions from Michael.
     
    As they were finishing their breakfast, Skeld and Tayo arrived to take Alex to get his new clothes. They spent several minutes talking to Bregnest and teasing him about his being on another adventure so soon after the last one. Bregnest endured their teasing good-naturedly. Then he introduced Val and Sindar to Skeld and Tayo. Skeld and Tayo were pleased to meet them both and asked them to come to a feast that evening with the others. The new members of the company accepted the invitation and thanked Skeld and Tayo for their kindness.
     
    As soon as the arrangements for the evening feast had been made, Skeld, Tayo, Alex, and Halfdan were on their way out the gate. Andy said he had things to do as well and left with Lazarus.
     
    Once the company had separated, Halfdan asked Skeld and Tayo where they could buy a saddle as a present for Michael’s upcoming birthday. Skeld and Tayo thought it was a wonderful idea, but they also thought it would be very funny if Andy didn’t buy his brother a horse after all.
     
    “That would be terrible,” said Alex. “A saddle but no horse—what kind of birthday present would that be for Michael?”
     
    “It might give him something to look forward to next year,” said Tayo.
     
    Alex stopped dead in his tracks, looking at the shops and people around him. For the second time on this adventure, Alex felt like he was being watched. There was a strange intensity to the feeling, as if he were waiting for some unseen person to appear or speak.
     
    “What’s the matter, Alex?” Halfdan questioned as he turned to see what Alex was looking at.
     
    “Oh, sorry. I just had a feeling. It’s nothing to worry about.”
     
    “A feeling?” Skeld asked, a note of concern in his voice.
     
    “I just felt like someone was watching us,” said Alex. Then he waved his hand in a dismissive way. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I don’t think I had enough sleep last night.”
     
    Alex was glad that the others didn’t ask any more questions. He didn’t think he could explain the feeling that he’d had, and he was more than happy to let the subject drop.
     
    Their conversation returned to Michael’s saddle. Halfdan suggested that they buy the saddle but keep it in his magic bag. If it turned out that Andy didn’t buy the horse, they wouldn’t have to say anything at all about a saddle.
     
    “Ah, dwarfs and their cunning ways,” Skeld teased.
     
    They soon arrived at the tailor’s shop, and it wasn’t