art of gullibility.
Nothing occurred to change Shea’s mind on the matter until one afternoon more than three weeks after Allanon’s abrupt departure. The brothers had been out all day cutting shingles for the inn roof, and it was almost evening by the time they returned. Their father was sitting in his favorite seat at the long kitchen counter when they entered, his broad face bent over a steaming plate of food. He greeted his sons with a wave of his hand.
«A letter came for you while you were gone, Shea,” he informed them, holding out a long, white folded sheet of paper. «It’s marked Leah.»
Shea let out an exclamation of surprise and reached eagerly for the letter. Flick groaned audibly.
«I knew it, I knew it; it was too good to be true,” he muttered. «The biggest wastrel in the entire Southland has decided it’s time we suffered some more. Tear up the letter, Shea.»
But Shea had already opened the sealed sheet of paper and was scanning its contents, totally disregarding Flick’s comments. The latter shrugged in disgust and collapsed on a stool next to his father, who had returned to his evening meal.
«He wants to know where we’ve been hiding,” laughed Shea. «He wants us to come see him as soon as we can.»
«Oh, sure,” muttered Flick. «He’s probably in trouble and needs someone to blame it on. Why don’t we just jump off the nearest cliff? You remember what happened the last time Menion Leah invited us to visit? We were lost in the Black Oaks for days and nearly devoured by wolves! I’ll never forget that little adventure. The Shades will get me before I accept another invitation from him!»
His brother laughed and clapped an arm around Flick’s broad shoulders.
«You are envious because Menion is the son of kings and able to live any way he chooses.»
«A kingdom the size of a puddle,” was the quick retort. «And royal blood is cheap stuff these days. Look at your own…»
He caught himself and clamped his mouth shut quickly. Both shot hurried glances at their father, but he apparently hadn’t heard and was still absorbed in eating. Flick shrugged apologetically; and Shea smiled at his brother encouragingly.
«There’s a man in the inn looking for you, Shea,” Curzad Ohmsford announced suddenly, looking up at him. «He mentioned that tall stranger that was here several weeks back when he asked for you. Never seen him before in the Vale. He’s out in the main lounge now.»
Flick stood up slowly, fear gripping at him. Shea was momentarily caught off balance by the message, but motioned hurriedly to his brother, who was about to speak. If this new stranger were an enemy, he had to find out quickly. He clutched at his shirt pocket, reassuring himself that the Elfstones were still there.
«What does the man look like?» he asked quickly, unable to think of any other way of finding out about the Skull mark.
«Can’t really say, son,” was the muffled reply as his father continued to chew on his dinner, face bent to the plate. «He’s wrapped in a long green forest cloak. Just rode in this afternoon — beautiful horse. He was very anxious to find you. Better go see what he wants right away.»
«Did you see any markings?» asked the exasperated Flick.
His father stopped chewing and looked up with a puzzled frown…
«What are you talking about? Would you be satisfied if I presented you with a chalk drawing? What’s wrong with you anyway?»
«It’s nothing, really,” interjected Shea quickly. «Flick was just wondering if… if the man looked anything like Allanon… You remember?»
«Oh, yes,” his father smiled knowingly, as Flick suppressed a swallow of relief. «No, I didn’t notice any real similarity, though this man is big, too. I did see a long scar running down the right cheek — probably from a knife cut.»
Shea nodded his thanks and quickly pulled Flick after him as he moved out to the hallway and started for the main lounge. They hurried to the wide double doors and halted breathlessly. Cautiously, Shea pushed one door open a crack and peered into the crowded lounge area. For a moment he saw nothing but the ordinary faces of the usual customers and average Vale travelers, but a moment later he started back, and let the door swing shut as he faced the anxious Flick.
«He’s out there, near the front corner by the fireplace. I can’t tell who he is or what he looks like from here; he’s wrapped in the green cloak, just as Father said. We’ve got to get closer.»
«Out there?» gasped Flick. «Have you lost your mind? He would spot you in a second if he knows who he’s looking for.»
«Then you go,” Shea ordered firmly. «Make some pretense of putting logs on the fire and get a quick look at him. See if he bears the markings of a Skull.»
Flick’s eyes went wide, and he turned to escape, but Shea caught his arm and pulled him back, forcibly shoving him through the doors into the lounge and quickly ducking back out of sight. A moment later he opened one door a crack and peeped out to see what was happening. He saw Flick move uncertainly across the room to the fireplace and begin to poke the glowing embers idly, finally adding another log from the woodbox. The Valeman was taking his time, apparently trying to get in a position where he could catch a glimpse of the man wrapped in the green cloak. The stranger was seated at a table several feet away from the fireplace, his back to Flick but turned slightly toward the door behind which Shea had concealed himself.
Suddenly, just as it appeared that Flick was ready to return, the stranger moved slightly in his seat and made a quick comment and Flick went stiff. Shea saw his brother turn toward the stranger and reply, glancing hurriedly toward Shea’s place of concealment. Shea slipped back further into the shadows of the hall and let the door swing shut. Somehow, they had given themselves away. As he pondered whether to flee, Flick abruptly pushed through the double doors, his face white with fear.
«He saw you at the door. The man has the eyes of a hawk! He told me to bring you out.»
Shea thought a moment and finally nodded hopelessly. After all, where could they run to that they wouldn’t be found in a matter of minutes?
«Maybe he doesn’t know everything,” he suggested hopefully. «Maybe he thinks we know where Allanon has gone. Be careful what you tell him, Flick.»
He led the way through the wide, swinging doors and across the lounge to the table where the stranger sat. They stopped just behind him and waited, but without turning, he beckoned them to seats around the table with a sweep of his hand. They reluctantly obeyed the unspoken command and the three sat in silence for a few moments looking at one another. The stranger was a big man with a broad frame, though he did not have Allanon’s height. The cloak covered all of his body, and only his head was visible to them. His features were rugged and strong, pleasant to the eye except for the dark scar that ran from the outside tip of the right eyebrow down across the cheek just above the mouth. The eyes seemed curiously mild to Shea as they studied the young Valemen, a hazel color that hinted at a gentleness beneath the hard exterior. The blond hair was cut short and lay scattered loosely about the broad forehead and around the small ears. As Shea viewed the stranger, he found it hard to believe that this man could be the enemy Allanon had warned might come to the valley. Even Flick seemed relaxed in his presence.
«There is no time for games, Shea,” the newcomer spoke suddenly in a mild, but weary voice. «Your caution is well advised, but I am not a bearer of the Skull mark. I am a friend of Allanon. My name is Balinor. My father is Ruhl Buckhannah, the King of Callahorn.»
The brothers recognized his name instantly, but Shea was not taking any chances.
«How do I know that you are who you say you are?» he demanded quickly.
The stranger smiled.
«The same way I know you, Shea. By the three Elfstones you carry in your shirt pocket — the Elfstones given you by Allanon.»
The Valeman’s startled nod was barely perceptible. Only someone sent by the tall historian could have known about the stones. He leaned forward cautiously.
«What has happened to Allanon?»
«I cannot be sure,” the big man replied softly. «I have not seen nor heard from him in over two weeks. When I left him, he was traveling to Paranor. There was rumor of an attack against the Keep; he was afraid for the safety of the Sword. He sent me here to protect you. I would have reached you sooner, but I was delayed by the weather
