The Golden Door Read Free Page A

an army. It can find out the Enemy’s secrets and weaknesses without raising the Enemy’s fears.”
    His eyes were shining. “Even one man could do it, if he was brave and determined enough. Look what the Sorcerer Dann did in ancient times! He saved his followers from the barbarians single-handed.”
    “But that was then!” Rye burst out. “This is now! And the Sorcerer Dann had magic to aid him! Powerful magic! You have no magic, Dirk.”
    “None of us do,” Crell said dismally. “Magic is dead in Weld, or so my grandmother says.”
    “Magic is dead in Weld because it never existed in the first place,” Sholto drawled. “When will you people accept that the old tales are just that — old tales, that have no foundation in truth? Dann’s so-called ‘magic powers’ were simply a mixture of quick wits and good sense, with a few ingenious inventions thrown in.”
    “Inventions like your famous skimmer repellent, no doubt.” Joliffe smirked, nudging Crell in the ribs.
    “No doubt,” Sholto said, unruffled. “Ignorant people often call things magic when they do not understand them.”
    Joliffe decided to ignore him. He puffed out his chest and stretched out his arms to embrace Dirk and Crell.
    “So, comrades! Tomorrow we go to the Keep to volunteer! Agreed?”
    “Agreed!” Dirk and Crell both shouted, though it seemed to Rye that Crell looked uneasy.
    “Excellent!” Joliffe declared, rubbing his hands. “Now, I see that the tavern has opened. Let us go and drink to our success!”
    Dirk hesitated, glanced at his brothers, then shook his head. “It is a little early for me,” he said.
    Joliffe laughed. “Oh, of course,” he jeered. “Sholto and Rye are too young to enter the tavern. But surely they can find their own way home?”
    “It is a little early for me,” Dirk repeated with a smile. And seeing that he would not be persuaded,Joliffe shrugged and made for the tavern himself, with Crell trotting by his side.
    “Dirk, you cannot go beyond the Wall,” Rye whispered, the moment they were alone. “It is too dangerous! Think what Mother will say!”
    Sholto looked disdainful. But Dirk ruffled his youngest brother’s hair affectionately.
    “Of course I must go, Rye,” he said. “There is danger, yes, but nothing is more important than saving Weld — nothing! Besides, think what it will mean to us if I succeed!”
    And think what it will mean to us if you never come back, Dirk , Rye could not help retorting in his mind, though he did not speak the words aloud, and felt disloyal even thinking them.
    Surely, if anyone could find and destroy the Enemy of Weld, Dirk could. His strength and courage made him a natural leader. He had been made a Foreman after only two years on the Wall and, young as he was, he was respected by his men. How many times had Rye heard his mother say that their father would have been proud to see how closely his eldest son had followed in his footsteps?
    “Our home and our people would be safe!” Dirk was rushing on. “And in time I would be Warden!”
    “On condition that you marry the present Warden’s daughter,” Sholto reminded him drily. “Oh, our Warden may be a coward, terrified of new ideas, and slow to act. But he is cunning.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Rye. He was so troubled that he was finding it hard to think clearly.
    Sholto laughed shortly. “Why, do you not see it? By offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to the hero who becomes his heir, the Warden has ensured that his descendants will continue to rule Weld!”
    “I admit that the Warden’s daughter is the fly in the honey,” Dirk said ruefully. “I have no wish to marry someone I have never seen. But perhaps it would not be so bad. Perhaps the Warden’s daughter is kind, clever, and beautiful!”
    “Perhaps she is spiteful, stupid, and ugly!” Sholto smirked. “What then?”
    Dirk laughed. “Then I will say that I will become the heir but will not take the daughter! If I come