“Twice you have met the shadow and twice you have overcome it. I think the shadow will avoid meeting you a third time,” said Bane with a nod.

“Perhaps,” Alex agreed. “I think I could hold it now, but I do not know how to destroy it.”

“I have little doubt that you could destroy it if you needed to,” said Bane in a confident tone. “You overcame me easily, and I was sent to be this shadow’s bane.”

“Yes, but your powers are not fully yours to use,” said Alex. “I think your powers would have been greater if I had been evil. If I had accepted the shadow’s offer, I would be less than I am. You would have prevailed.”

“I wonder,” said Bane softly. “I am glad that such a test will never come.”

“As am I,” said Alex.

“Now that you have some idea where the shadow has been, will you still go to Benorg?” Kat asked Bane.

“Yes,” said Bane. “I would still like to search the records of the city to see if there is any mention of the shadow. I doubt that the records will name it as such, but I will know just the same.”

“I doubt that the shadow remained in Norsland anyway,” Alex said. “It was going to look for a new servant, or perhaps I should say victim. Though it may wish to return to Norsland, once that victim is found.”

“Why do you say that?” Bane questioned.

“It thinks there is something waiting for it there,” answered Alex.

Bane looked at Alex, confused. Alex smiled and told the story of the last time he’d met the shadow. As he spoke, he could feel his friends’ eyes on him. He hadn’t told them the entire story of this part of his last adventure, and he was a little embarrassed to be telling it now.

“It will be disappointed when it returns,” Bane said with satisfaction. “Though I am sorry that the adventurer could not be saved.”

“He made his own choice,” said Alex. “I feel sorry for him, but he had to pay the price for the choices that he made.”

“As do we all,” said Bane with a bleak smile.

“What happened to the four wizards who sent you on this quest?” Thrain asked shyly.

“That is not important,” Alex interrupted. “What is important is that Bane is still on his quest. I, for one, will help in any way I can.”

“You have already helped a great deal,” said Bane. “More than anyone else I have met in my journeys.”

“But—the wizards?” Thrain persisted.

“We should go to bed,” Alex suggested. “Tomorrow we must start on the road again, and I know that Bane has a long journey ahead of him as well.”

“Yes, of course,” said Thrang, catching the quick look Alex gave him. “To bed, and the road in the morning.”

Alex and Bane remained seated as the others got up from the table and left for their rooms.

“Aren’t you coming, Alex?” Thrain questioned.

“I’ll be along shortly,” said Alex.

Alex watched as Thrang pulled Thrain aside, whispering something in his ear. He felt a little sad for his young friend, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it just now.

“You were kind to deflect his question,” Bane said once he and Alex were alone.

“I knew the answer would trouble you,” said Alex. “I will explain it to him later, if he still wishes to know.”

“I suppose you wish to know the parts of my story I did not tell,” Bane said.

“I will not pry,” said Alex. “Much of what was missing I could see without your speaking it. Anything that I could not see is not important for me to know.”

“Thank you,” said Bane. “You have been both kind and helpful.”

“What will you do now?” Alex questioned. “I know your trip to Benorg will be a short one.”

“After hearing your story, I will admit I thought of going to Norsland,” Bane answered. “I could wait for the shadow to return and hope to take it by surprise.”

“Yet you have doubts about that plan,” Alex stated.

Bane nodded. “Time means little to the shadow, and . . .”

“And?”

“I feel that something else is happening. Something is wrong in the known lands, something that I cannot clearly see.”

“What do you mean?” Alex questioned.

“The shadow slips away, and, at times, it seems to vanish completely. It is as if someone or something is helping it to escape me,” Bane answered. “I feel as if some great conspiracy is taking place, yet I can find no proof or trail to follow.”

“A conspiracy to hide this shadow?”

“Not just the shadow. I have seen things in many lands—things that should not be. Yet it seems that people don’t notice the danger. Or perhaps they don’t care as they once did.”

“What is this conspiracy? What is it they want? Power? Wealth?”

“I don’t know,” said Bane. “Sometimes I feel that I should know, but the answer remains just out of sight. I do know that things are changing, and not for the better. Kingdoms are weakening, and old friendships are being forgotten. Perhaps that is what the conspiracy wants, but I don’t know why.”

“If that is true, it must be a large conspiracy,” said Alex. “And a large group is easily discovered.”

“Not if they were patient,” said Bane. “Not if they worked slowly over hundreds or even thousands of years. You know how long ago the wars in Goval started, Alex. You know how long I have been on this quest.”

“Long enough that you would notice things like a careful and patient conspiracy.”

“Yes,” said Bane. “I would ask you to do something for me.”

“What can I do?”

“Talk to the wizards that you know, pass on my thoughts to them,” said Bane. “Alert them to what might be happening and ask them to act, if they can.”

“I’ll do what I can,” said Alex.

Bane nodded and sat silently for several minutes, looking into the fire across the room.

“I think it would be best if I am gone before your company wakes in the morning,” he said at last.

“Must you always travel alone?” Alex questioned quietly.

“People’s lives are too short, and I am too old. I am a paladin and must always be on the move. I do not have time for ties to family or friends.”

“Very well,” said Alex, feeling sorry for Bane. “I wish you good hunting in your quest.”

“Thank you,” said Bane.

“If ever I meet this shadow again, I will let you know,” Alex promised. “And if you ever need my assistance, please, feel free to call on me.”

Bane nodded, but Alex knew that the paladin was unlikely to ever ask for assistance. The ancient warrior had searched the known lands for many long years, and Alex knew that in all that time, he was the first to offer him any kind of help.

Alex stood up from the table and shook hands with Bane. He did not speak, but simply turned and left the paladin sitting alone at the table.

Chapter Eight

Road to Danger

The next morning Alex was up before any of his companions. He wrote a letter to Whalen, explaining Bane’s thoughts about a conspiracy, and then went down to the bar and took a seat at one of the tables. He knew Thrang and the others would be along soon so he ordered breakfast for the entire company. While he waited, he wondered how far Bane had already traveled toward Benorg.

“You’re up early,” Thrang said as he entered the room.

“Or you’re up late,” said Alex.

“I’m surprised you slept at all,” Thrang said. “I thought you and your new friend would be up all night talking. I suspect there were things you needed to talk about that were best discussed in private.”

Alex nodded. “And other things that were best not to speak of in front of the company.”

“Like Thrain’s question? Did you have to ask Bane or did you already know the answer?”

“Once I knew what Bane was, I knew the answer to Thrain’s question. Though what should concern us now are the rumors that Bane heard in his travels. I know I said trolls have more wealth than bandits, but I’m not in a hurry to meet either.”

“Nor am I,” said Thrang. “Bane said he saw nothing as he traveled, so perhaps we will not be troubled either.”