“Will it fit there?” Thrang questioned as Alex scratched a circle in the dirt with his staff.

“It might be a little tight,” Alex said with a laugh.

“Leave room for us to sort,” Thrang said. “Don’t pile it so high that we’re in danger of being buried if a pile tips over.”

Alex laughed again and finished scratching his circle. When they had all finished eating, Thrang gathered the company near the circle and asked Alex to produce the treasure. Alex bowed and spoke softly into his bag. In a rush of sparkling light, the treasure of the nagas appeared in the circle he had drawn. The late afternoon sun reflected brightly from the enormous pile.

“You’re sure you did not add some of your own treasure?” Arconn teased, smiling at Alex.

“Of course not.” Alex laughed.

“It looks like our work is cut out for us,” Kat said. “It will take two, maybe three days, to sort all of this.”

“Then let’s begin,” said Thrang happily.

“And you were worried we wouldn’t find any treasure,” Alex said to Thrain.

Thrain blushed slightly but didn’t reply.

Thrang set them to work sorting the treasure into piles. He was pleased as the various piles grew larger and larger, while the pile in the center seemed to remain the same size. As the sun was setting, he asked Alex to conjure the weir lights so they could continue their work.

Alex laughed and suggested that a meal and a good night’s sleep might be a better idea.

“Yes, of course,” said Thrang, glancing at the treasure. “I suppose this is safe enough here.”

“Unless something worse than the nagas comes looking for it,” Arconn said.

“Oh, don’t say that,” said Thrain, glancing over his shoulder into the gathering darkness.

That night was a happy one around the campfire. Nellus and Barnabus joked that Thrang had prevented them from attacking the nagas when he jumped in front of them. Thrang replied that he had to jump in front of them because he was afraid they would bungle the job. Alex commented on how well Thrain had done, and Arconn and Kat were both quick to agree. Thrain blushed at the praise, pleased by the attention.

It took them two full days to sort and divide everything they had found in the cave and the clearing. Thrang insisted that all the odd numbers go to Alex since he was the one who actually killed the nagas. Alex wasn’t happy about it, but he accepted Thrang’s decision, simply because he knew it would do no good to argue.

On the morning of the third day after their battle with the nagas, they resumed their journey. The weather was warm and dry, and they all knew they would soon reach the Eastern Sea. What would happen once they reached the sea, however, was something that none of them could tell.

Chapter Ten

Dunnstal

See there,” said Thrang, pointing to the east. “The Eastern Sea.”

Alex and his friends paused at the top of a small hill in the road. As they looked to the east, they could see the unmistakable glimmer of sunlight on water in the distance.

“There is a small city at the edge of the water,” Arconn said, shading his eyes with his hand. “I see several sails on the water as well.”

“That would be Dunnstal,” said Thrang. “Not the largest of cities, but we should be able to find a ship there to take us to the Isle of Bones.”

“Do the people of Dunnstal often travel to the island?” Kat questioned.

“I do not know,” answered Thrang. “If any of Albrek’s people are still on the Isle of Bones, I would guess that ships from Dunnstal make the trip often.”

“And if none of Albrek’s people remain?” Arconn asked.

“Then we may have some difficulties,” Thrang answered, looking slightly worried. “Though I imagine we can find someone to take us, if the price is right.”

“Take us? What about bringing us back?” Alex asked.

Thrang didn’t reply, but simply prodded his horse forward. Alex and the others followed, their eyes on the sea and the distant city in front of them. The city of Dunnstal was more a large town than a city, but it looked inviting enough, sitting on the shore of the Eastern Sea.

“Thraxon must be a peaceful land,” Alex said.

“Why do you say that?” Thrang questioned.

“The city has no wall,” said Alex.

“Some of the people around the Eastern Sea don’t build walls to protect their cities,” Thrang said. “Or, at least, the smaller cities like Dunnstal don’t. If trouble comes, they simply get in their boats and sail away.”

“What about their homes and riches?” Kat asked.

“Their wealth is the sea and their homes are their boats,” Thrang answered. “At least, that’s what the old dwarf songs say.”

“Yet they have houses on land,” Arconn pointed out.

“Well, old dwarf songs don’t always give the whole story,” said Thrang.

As they approached the city, they found that, even without a wall, Dunnstal was well guarded. Watchtowers stood at several points along the road and in the fields around the city. Each of the towers contained a bell, and as they passed by, each bell would ring once.

When Alex and his friends were about half a mile away from the city, the meaning of the bells became clear. A large company of well-armed men on horses rode out to meet them, and Thrang stopped in the road, waiting for the men to approach.

“Greetings, travelers,” said a rugged-looking man riding up to Thrang and looking at him closely. “Not many people come from the west, so we must ask your business before we allow you to enter our city.”

“We mean no trouble to your fair city,” said Thrang. “We are hoping to find passage here to the Isle of Bones.”

“There is little hope of that,” said the man as his horse moved back and forth in front of Thrang. “Few of our people hire out their boats, and fewer still would sail to that island.”

“And why is that?” Thrang questioned.

“For what reason do you seek the Isle of Bones?” the man countered.

“We are looking for lost dwarfs,” said Thrang. “Many of my people came this way long ago, and I have come with my friends in search of them, or at least to find out what happened to them.”

“There are some old stories about dwarfs,” said the man thoughtfully. “Perhaps they are true, perhaps not.”

Alex noticed the man’s eyes moving quickly over all of them, deciding if they were a danger to the city or not.

“You are a strange company,” the man said, “but we will allow you to enter the city.”

“You are most kind,” said Thrang. “Perhaps we will find what we seek here, or at least we may hear some of the stories you have spoken of.”

“You are more likely to hear stories than to find passage to the Isle of Bones.” The man gestured. “Come. We will find you a place to stay.”

The man rode back to his companions, and Thrang and the rest of them followed at a distance.

As they entered the city, the armed men quickly disappeared down side streets. The commander of the group led Alex and his friends to a large, two-storied tavern with lots of chimneys poking out of the roof at odd angles. A large, round-faced man in an apron was standing in the doorway, watching as they approached.

“The Sea Mist is the only tavern large enough for your entire company,” the commander said, nodding toward the tavern. He bowed to Thrang. “May the wind blow true for you,” he said formally before riding off deeper into the city.

Thrang dismounted and took a couple of steps toward the door of the tavern, when the man in the apron spoke.

“Passed old Top Mast’s test, then, did you? Most do, though he doesn’t get to test people as often as he’d like.”

“Yes, well,” Thrang began, surprised by the man’s sudden words.

“I’m Ishly Prow, owner and keeper of the Sea Mist,” the man said. “You can call me Ishly, if you like.”

“I see, Ishly,” said Thrang, trying to regain his train of thought.