Alex nodded. He had learned a great deal about adventurers from his stepfather and had a much better understanding about the true meaning of honor.

As Alex climbed into bed, his mind was buzzing with all that had happened that day: the nightmare he’d had, the hidden message from his father, a new adventure, and Whalen’s warning about it being a dangerous time. All of it crowded his mind, but quickly slipped away as sleep overcame him.

* * *

Alex skipped breakfast the next morning and left the tavern with only a quick good-bye to his stepfather. He was so excited to be on his way that he almost walked past the adventure shop before he even noticed it.

Like the last time he was here, there was a large cardboard sign in the front window of the shop. “Adventurers Wanted,” the sign said in bright red letters. Without waiting for the sign to change, as it often did whenever he looked away from it, Alex opened the door and stepped inside.

“Well, hello,” a cheerful voice said as soon as the shop door closed. “So good to see you again.”

“Hello, Mr. Clutter.”

Cornelius Clutter looked exactly as Alex remembered him, right down to the shockingly pink bow tie that he always seemed to wear. Today he wore a tan shirt under his dark green apron, and his round smiling face was just the same as it had been the last time Alex had seen him.

“Looking for a new adventure, are you? I’ve had some interesting proposals in the last few weeks. I’m sure most companies would love to have you along, if you’re interested.”

“Actually, I’m looking for Silvan Bregnest,” said Alex, as Mr. Clutter started sorting through papers on the counter.

“Ah, well, that is something,” said Mr. Clutter, setting down his papers and looking up at Alex. “Master Bregnest happens to be here this morning. He’s interviewing a potential candidate for his new adventure.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Very good then. I’ll get you some tea—or would you prefer something else?”

“Something cold if you have it.”

Mr. Clutter nodded and hurried off without another word. Alex was surprised—usually Mr. Clutter never stopped talking. After a few minutes he reappeared, carrying a large silver tray in both hands and humming softly to himself.

“I’ve seen the details of Master Bregnest’s new adventure, and I have to say I’m quite impressed,” he said, offering a glass to Alex. “Yes, quite a good quest this time, and the payment is more than fair.”

“Can you tell me about the quest?” Alex questioned as he sniffed at the glass.

“Oh, no,” Mr. Clutter replied, returning to his pile of papers. “I’ll leave that for the leader of the adventure. It’s not my place to be telling, after all. Still, I think you will be interested, and if you’re not . . . Well, there are several other adventures getting started right now, and most of them sound exciting.”

Alex took a sip from the glass. The liquid turned out to be lemonade, but tasted both sweeter and a bit more sour than any he had ever had before. He took a cake from the tray and ate it while he waited.

It wasn’t long before he heard a door close at the back of the shop. He turned toward the curtains that divided the back of the shop from the front, his excitement growing as he waited.

“The task seems simple enough, but that doesn’t really mean anything,” Alex heard Bregnest saying. “And it may take some time to find what we are looking for.”

“And what are you looking for?” Alex questioned, as Bregnest stepped through the curtains.

“Alex!” Bregnest exclaimed. “I mean, Master Taylor.”

“It’s good to see you again, my friend,” Alex replied as he allowed Bregnest to pull him into a friendly hug.

“It is very good to see you. I’ve been explaining this new adventure to Master Valenteen,” said Bregnest, nodding toward a thin man who had followed him through the curtains. “He’s agreed to join the company, so we only need one more member before we can start.”

Alex glanced at the man standing behind Bregnest, surprised by what he saw. The man was extremely thin, almost skeletal, but what caught Alex’s attention was that it looked as if the whole left side of the man’s face was badly bruised.

“Perhaps you had better tell meabout this adventure,” Alex said, looking back to Bregnest.

“I was hoping you would ask,” said Bregnest with a grin. “You don’t mind waiting here for a bit do you, Val?”

“Not at all. Take your time. I’m sure Mr. Clutter won’t mind if I look around a bit.”

“Oh, no, not at all,” said Mr. Clutter to Val. “Would you like some lemonade?”

“Come on then,” said Bregnest, nudging Alex’s shoulder and nodding toward the back of the shop.

Alex turned to look at Val more closely as he passed by. Up close, he couldn’t see any trace of the bruises he thought he’d seen before. He wasn’t sure what to think, but after a moment he decided it must have only been a shadow falling across Val’s face.

Alex shrugged off the thought, turning to follow Bregnest.

“So,” Bregnest began as they entered one of the smaller rooms in the back of the shop, “how’s your training going?”

“Fairly well. I still haven’t been able to meet with Whalen, but I write to him quite often.” Alex answered, and then quickly told Bregnest about his studies, and as much as he could about Whalen’s advice and instruction.

“So, tell me about this new adventure,” Alex said.

Bregnest nodded, settling down to business. “It seems that a cousin of mine has run into a bit of trouble. He is a king in Alusia, and some questions have come up about whether he is the trueking.”

“If he’s king, how can there be any questions?”

“Well, the true kings of Athanor—that’s the area he rules—have traditionally carried the Horn of Moran as a sign of their nobility and right to rule,” Bregnest explained. “Unfortunately for my cousin, the Horn was lost about a hundred years ago.”

“Lost? How was it lost?”

“A young prince foolishly took the Horn with him on an adventure. He never returned from his travels, and since then, the kings of Athanor have been without the Horn,” Bregnest answered. “Now another family is claiming the throne, and my cousin needs the Horn of Moran to prove his true kingship.”

“Can anyone with the Horn claim to be king?” Alex questioned.

“Not exactly,” Bregnest replied in a thoughtful tone. “You see, the Horn will only sound if the true king uses it. A false king will not be able to get any sound from the Horn at all. At least, that’s what the legends claim.”

“So your cousin, being the true king, wants to prove himself by using the Horn.”

“Indeed, yes. And he has offered to pay a great deal for the Horn’s return.”

Alex thought about what Bregnest had told him. People making trouble about who should be king was a problem—a problem that might start a war. Returning the Horn of Moran might stop the trouble, but there was no way to be sure.

“May I ask, what adventure was the young prince on when he lost the Horn?”

“I had to ask Mr. Clutter for that information,” answered Bregnest. “He told me that the prince was searching for the Tower of the Moon in Norsland. The tower is supposed to contain a fairly large treasure, and I believe that is what he and his company were after.”

“I take it that the Tower of the Moon is not easy to find.”

“There are maps showing how to get there. Though as far as I know, nobody has tried since the time of the prince.”

“Why?”

“Well, the path is supposed to be well-guarded. Stories suggest that a sphinx and possibly a griffin guard the tower.”

“It must be an important treasure to require bothcreatures as guardians.” Alex knew that griffins were extremely loyal and dedicated to the jobs they were given. In fact, griffins were rumored to be the best guardians to be found anywhere, unless you counted dragons.