Adventurers Wanted 1) Slathbog's Gold Read Online Free PDF

few other things you should know,” said Arconn. “In signing this document, you pledge to do all you can to help the company achieve its goal. You promise to never desert the company for any reason. You agree to take orders from the company’s leader, and if worse comes to worst, you promise to return the belongings of the other company members to their families or heirs.”
    “Oh,” said Alex. “It’s just . . . I mean, the thing is—”
    Arconn was looking at him, and something in his look made Alex stop talking.
    “Alex,” said Arconn in a soft voice. “Fate has chosen you to go on this adventure. It is your destiny to become an adventurer. If you throw away this chance, you will regret it for the rest of your life. You may not understand everything we’ve said, or even believe it, but it is all true.”
    There was a sudden spark in Alex’s chest, and an odd electric pricking in his fingers and toes. He felt a real desire to go on this adventure. He didn’t understand why, but it felt right in a way that he couldn’t explain, not even to himself. All of his short life he’d wanted to do something different, something exciting. He’d never had the chance until now, and he knew that Arconn was right and that he would regret it if he didn’t go.
    “All right, I’ll go,” said Alex, taking the paper from Thrang and signing his name to it. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
    “You don’t want to know,” replied Thrang with a snort of laughter.
    “Perhaps not,” Alex admitted, handing the paper back to Thrang. “Now what?”
    “Now we go to Telous,” said Arconn, his eyes gleaming. “The adventure begins.”
    * * *
    Alex followed Thrang and Arconn as together they made their way back to Mr. Clutter’s office.
    “All settled then?” Mr. Clutter asked, looking up from his desk as the trio entered the room.
    “Signed and ready to go,” Thrang answered, handing Mr. Clutter the paper Alex had signed. “Need you to file that for us, if you would.”
    “Right you are,” said Mr. Clutter. “You’ll be on to Telous then?”
    “Yes,” said Arconn, looking over his shoulder. “Through the wardrobe?”
    “Oh, no,” Mr. Clutter answered, his smile fading. “Someone tried to bring a bummblehog through there earlier today; it’s quite a mess.”
    “Bummblehogs don’t like wardrobes,” said Thrang, nudging Alex with his elbow. “In fact, there isn’t much that bummblehogs do like.”
    Alex wondered what a bummblehog was, but decided he might be happier not knowing. He looked around the room, and for a moment thought about running for the door, a last desperate hope to escape before it was too late. But he knew he wouldn’t run. Nobody had forced him to sign the Adventurer’s Bargain; he’d done that on his own. And now that he’d agreed to go, part of him was really looking forward to it.
    “Out the back door if that’s all right,” said Mr. Clutter, his smile returning. “It’ll put you just outside of Telous and give young Mr. Taylor a chance to see the town.”
    “Very well,” said Arconn, walking to the far side of the room. “Thank you for the tea and your help, Mr. Clutter.”
    “Not at all, not at all,” replied Mr. Clutter with a laugh and a wave of his hand. “Always happy to help.”
    “Off we go then.” Thrang nudged Alex with his elbow again. “No sense hangin’ round here when there’s an adventure waitin’.”
    “No,” Alex agreed. “I suppose not.”
    Alex followed Thrang, joining Arconn by the wall. He couldn’t see any sign of a door. Without a word, Arconn reached out and knocked three times on what appeared to be a solid wall. To Alex’s surprise, the silver outline of a door suddenly appeared exactly where Arconn had knocked.
    “See you when you get back,” Mr. Clutter called, turning back to his desk and shuffling through papers once more.
    Arconn pushed on the silver outline and the door swung open to reveal a sunny green field and