The High-Wizard's Hunt: Osric's Wand: Book Two (22 page)

“It may not be worth our time,” Eublin spoke as he sat back in his chair, satisfaction and pride emanating from his mind as he opened the book, “but I think I see a connection, albeit a small one, between our current events and something I read in this book.”

“What sort of connection?” Bridgett reveled in the emotions Eublin was experiencing. His mind was refreshing and familiar, and she felt more like herself in his company than she had in the last several months.

“Well, your discovery of the accuracy of my studies on spoken spells brought something to mind. Perhaps some of my more elusive subjects hold just as much truth. This one in particular, Salden’s journal, has always fascinated me. It was written during the war between the humans and the caldereth. He chronicled these events after the humans won the battle at Hollow Gorge, and he was present at the interrogation of two prisoners who survived.”

“Was he one of the foot soldiers? I would be wary of listening to anything the likes of that would say.” Gus picked at his fur and looked thoroughly uninterested as he sat down on the floor.

“There is not much written about who he was, or what he did; he only wrote about the aftermath of this one battle.” Eublin grinned mischievously as he turned to look at Bridgett. “Now, you tell me that the Turgent is planning to attack the Irua Realm, correct?”

“Yes, and they have manufactured the motive. There is no evidence that the irua had anything to do with the attack, other than the accusation of a scared maid who overheard a weasel and irua talking. One event of two individuals having a conversation does not establish that the two races are actually working to harm anyone.”

“I agree, and that is what has me thinking. Spoken spells are real, so maybe the Well of Strands is real too,” Eublin stated with satisfaction.

“The Well of Strands?” Gus stood up suddenly on his hind legs, sticking his unnaturally thin chest in the air with defiance. ”You’re crazy if you want me to believe in that fable.”

“Let us not get caught up in arguing over what is what. Just listen to what I have to say before you pass judgement,” Eublin chastised. Gus harrumphed and sat down in disgust. “I know Wand-Makers do not hold this story with any regard, but Er’amar spent time in this grove making the first wand. I can tell you from our history that he did not spend all of that time in the Grove, either, so just let me finish and you can come to your own conclusions.”

Bridgett could sense Gus’ frustration. Few of those he had met in the last few months treated him with as much admiration as he was accustomed to. He was, after all, Archana’s greatest Wand-Maker. Yet, he was continually the student in the recent past, rather than the instructor. He was, no doubt, extremely frustrated by the uncomfortable reversal of position.

“Since we have established that spoken spells are real, and this book is from the same time frame, we can surmise that a resurgence of both may be related.” Eublin displayed a great deal of patience with Gus, and Bridgett knew he was choosing his words carefully.

“How do you consider the Well of Strands as having ‘resurgence?’” Gus slapped his hind foot on the stone floor.

“That is where this book comes in.” Eublin smiled patiently and continued. “Salden wrote of the interrogation of two prisoners. The humans attacked the caldereth, thinking that they were going to invade their realm, but the caldereth were merely passing through the Human Realm on their way to attack the irua. The relationship between the two species was never amicable, so the fact that the caldereth army tried to cross human lands without so much as asking permission led to their destruction. The reason given by the two prisoners was that the caldereth commanders claimed to have found the Well of Strands by some mystical means they were not privy to. Now, we sit on the precipice of another war involving the same lands. Magic that was meddled with at that time is now being rediscovered. I cannot help but wonder if whoever is behind this war is after the Well of Strands.”

Bridgett sat back in stunned silence. It made sense, but she certainly did not like the implications that history was repeating itself. The caldereth were exterminated in that war. What would become of the races of Archana if a full-fledged world war broke out for the greed of one man? She shook her head in disgust, and then she directed a question at Eublin.

“Wait, what exactly is the Well of Strands?”

“It’s a blasted myth, that’s what it is!” Gus snarled.

“Not necessarily,” Eublin said, leaning forward and perching on the edge of his seat. “According to legend, there was once a thriving civilization, much like that of the humans, on an island in the Darib Sea. The race that inhabited the island was proud, and they were very wealthy. They began to fear that the other races of Archana would cease trading with them and rather invade them to usurp their resources. A small group of wizards attempted to weave spells of protection around the entire island that could keep out any army, but they simply weren’t strong enough. Each only had his one measure of magic, after all. Yet, the legends say that one wizard discovered that if he tunneled down into the ground, he could cast stronger spells. So, the wizards carved labyrinths beneath their city, seeking enough power to complete the task of protecting their race. Eventually, the entire civilization was living beneath the surface of Archana.” Eublin sat back in his chair with a satisfied smile. “Now, whether it is all just a myth, or whether the location of the island was lost over time in the tale’s telling is debatable. However, some believe that the irua live in those same labyrinths, perhaps because they are one of the few races who live beneath Archana’s surface. As far as I know, there are no magnificent spells of protection encircling the Irua Realm. However, many still believe that there is a source of magic deep within Archana that would allow a wizard’s spells to be significantly stronger. This source, whatever it may be, is what is referred to by those who believe in its power as the Well of Strands. Obviously, the caldereth were of the mind that the Well existed under the Irua Realm.”

Gus puffed, disgruntled tones and muffled insults spewed from his mouth as he scampered between the legs of Bridgett’s chair. “You and Eni would make a great pair. Tell me why I should bother looking to you for knowledge if you are going to spout fables in such a convincing manner? If grand protection spells are your indication, we might as well believe the Well of Strands is beneath this very grove.”

“I am not professing the tales to be true, Gus. I am merely answering the lady’s question.” Eublin looked down at him in reproach. “We do not actually know who cast the spells protecting the Grove of Unicorns. For all we know, the Well is beneath our very feet. However, I doubt that very much.” Gus folded his arms across his chest in defiance and looked as though he would start shouting again. “Now, keep in mind that something does not have to be correct for it to be true.”

“You just make more and more sense every time you open your mouth! What in Archana’s name is that supposed to mean?” Gus demanded.

“If the caldereth believed that the Well of Strands existed beneath the Irua Realm, then for the caldereth it was true. They believed it. They believed it enough to march every man, woman, and child across the Human Realm to invade the realm of another race in the search for power. Regardless of whether the Well exists or doesn’t, for them it was true. Now, for our purposes, whether they were correct is irrelevant.” Eublin hopped up out of his chair and flipped through one of the large books on the table. “What we need to know is how to proceed from here. If the Turgent is indeed striving to use manufactured evidence to justify a war with the Irua Realm, that would lead me to believe he feels it is true as well. Why would someone want to find the Well of Strands?”

“If the Well would allow someone to cast stronger spells than an individual is able to naturally, it seems reasonable that his motive is one of two things,” Bridgett responded thoughtfully, ignoring Gus’ scowl. “Either he wants to use the power to benefit the inhabitants of Archana, or he wants to use the power to benefit himself. Assuming he is willing to annihilate an entire race to gain the power, the second seems most likely.”

“Correct. However, it is even more likely that this individual feels his personal benefit
is
for the benefit of all of Archana. It is rare that someone who engages in acts of selfishness actually feels he is acting selfishly.”

“So, we are looking at someone who is waging war against an entire race
and
he feels that anyone acting against him is preventing Archana from gaining the benefit of his actions?” Bridgett was beginning to see the implications of such an enemy.

“Aha. Now you are starting to understand how dangerous such a man could be.”

*

“Where could he have gone off to now? That pup has no concept of respect; he is always wandering off and causing me to worry,” Gus grumbled as they wandered through the grove.

“Oh hush, he is just a pup and there is nothing in this grove that will harm him,” Bridgett chided. “I am sure he is perfectly fine.”

“I think I hear him now,” Eublin added, gesturing ahead of them on the path.

The three picked up their pace a bit as the sound of Pebble’s childish laughter reached their ears. They came around a bend in the path and caught sight of a group of unicorns gathered in a meadow. They couldn’t see Pebble, but they could hear him talking.

“One’s for you’s, and one’s for you’s, and this one’s is special, just for you’s ‘cause you’s been so good to me’s! I’s is super gonna miss you’s the mostest!”

Bridgett approached the group, resting her hand on the back of one unicorn as she joined their circle and smiled at the pup’s sweet gesture of giving parting gifts to the unicorns. She had grown so fond of Pebble during their travels. The unicorns also seemed to enjoy having him in the grove. She could feel the emotions of gratitude, protectiveness, and delight emanating from each of the creatures surrounding the prairie dog pup. One unicorn bowed her head low and nuzzled his chest as he laid a small package on the ground before her. Bridgett could see flowers and small, pretty stones scattered on the ground in front of them. It looked as though Pebble had been busy collecting presents for them. The last gift he had placed was wrapped in a large leaf, and Bridgett could just see the tip of a small stick poking out. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized the unicorn that was nuzzling Pebble was the same one that had lost her horn the day the palace in Stanton collapsed. Bridgett thought back to the first moment she had met Osric and she found it difficult to speak. She took a deep breath and pulled her thoughts back to the present. Kneeling down on the ground, she was about to scoop up Pebble and kiss his furry cheek when she heard a familiar, yet muffled, voice from behind her.

“Gus, Bridgett, it be Machai. I need to be speaking with ye urgently.” Bridgett’s stomach sank at the somber and urgent tone in his voice. She didn’t need her Empath powers to know that something was very wrong. Her only thought was for Osric and the consideration that she may never see him again. She rose slowly to her feet and turned to Gus with a look of dread terror on her face.

“Machai, what is it, what’s happened?” Gus questioned, raising his wand to reveal the image of Machai in its display of light.

“It be bad news, me friends. Aron be at the head of the troops sent to be claiming the shipment. We be taking a fierce stand, but the devilish man be having me in the grips of his icy spell. Osric and Kenneth be captured and taken back to Rowain with the weapons.” Gus swore and kicked at the dirt while Bridgett sank to her knees in the grass. “Aye, I be sorry that I could not be killing that man when I be having the chance. There be some good news, though.” Both Bridgett and Gus held their breath waiting for Machai to continue. “I be speaking with someone, and I be knowing how we can be helping Osric. It be a bit complicated, so I be asking you to trust me.” Gus stared at Machai’s image as though he would strangle him if he could only reach his paws across the distance between them.

“Of course we trust you, Machai. We will do whatever it takes to help Osric; just tell us what you need of us,” Bridgett responded quickly, glaring at Gus.

“I be needing ye to be meeting me in Stanton. There be a fight brewing, and we will be needing every wand and blade we can be getting.”

“Done!” Bridgett answered before Gus could say a word. Her hands were balled into determined fists as she rose to her feet and stomped off toward her rooms.

“Bridgett, where do you think you’re going? We can’t just run off to Stanton because the dwarf says we should,” Gus protested. Bridgett spun on her heels and pointed her finger down at Gus as he ran toward her.

“You listen to me! Osric may be the only chance we have to prevent the entire world as we know it from imploding on itself in the most epic war Archana has ever seen. We certainly will do whatever it takes to assist him in his course of action. If casting a spell and wielding a sword is asked of me, I will not hesitate. If the same is asked of you,
you
will not hesitate! My responsibilities are to this grove and to the majestic creatures that reside here. After all we have learned, can you think of a better way for me to protect them than to offer my life to the one man who can save them?” Bridgett stopped suddenly, tears streaming down her face.

The words had just spilled from her lips as though she had no control over her own thoughts or actions. She knew how her words would be interpreted, but she didn’t care. Osric was their only hope. Standing still under the false sunlight of an enchanted realm, tears streaming down her cheeks, she realized she meant it. She would pledge her life to him, if he would only ask it of her.

Bridgett’s breath came in ragged gasps, but when she continued she was able to speak calmly. “We will go to Stanton, and we will do whatever it takes to help Osric stop this war.” She turned and walked away, and Gus and Eublin stared after her for a moment with expressions of awe and surprise on their faces. Pebble skipped past them after waving goodbye to the unicorns.