The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One (8 page)

Osric stopped berating himself. That could have happened at any time. They could have done it in the night, and a servant would have placed the pearls back on the table, not thinking anything of it.
I wouldn't have sensed danger from a spelled pearl until it was activated. The pearl was not dangerous; the one who triggered the spell was.
It was beginning to make sense to him. He must have sensed them walk past him in the market, which is why he felt danger there.

“Who did she see?” Osric asked. “Who was it?”

“It was a weasel and a female who spoke in an airy rasp.” The description indicated an irua, the subterrestrial race that occupied the same region as the weasels, far to the east.

“The irua! I should have known they were involved!” Osric burst out. “Bring the irua and weasels to me, if any are left. I need to question them!”

“That's just it, Sir.” Kenneth looked as if he had been asked to do an impossible task. “There are none left. I have spent the day searching. They all fled, speaking of war.”

Osric was furious. A hope for resolution was there; it flashed before him, tauntingly, and simply faded away. If war erupted, it would come to Stanton. He walked to the window of the outpost to look out at his city. There were people who had spent all day working on the palace making their way home, and relief help coming to the palace to aid in the search for survivors. The thought of those people he had known his whole life witnessing their loved ones' deaths in the horror of battle was appalling. If they had to face the wrath of an angry world at their doorsteps, they would all be destroyed. They were the people he and his Vigiles were sworn to protect. No, he could not allow that to happen. He would do what was needed. He would end it. He grabbed his wand and summoned his sword belt.

“Then I will go to them in Angmar! James, can you provide me with food for two weeks travel and summon a dragon? Can you see to that?” He requested, as he fastened the belt around his waist. He could not believe the ease of the wand. That had been his first act with it since the palace, and it was effortless. It was ideal resistance. He could feel the power surge forth from him in perfect control.

“Yes, of course.” He said, with only a moment's pause. “I can have it for you in a couple hours.”

“Thank you, James. Kenneth, can you go get Toby and meet me at the Dragon Deck? I will need to speak to him before I leave.” Kenneth immediately turned and rushed back the way he had come, followed closely by James. “Bridgett, if there is anything more that you can learn from the unicorns about why they are here, and what it has to do with me, I would be eternally grateful for the information.”

“I should be getting back to them anyway. I will do my best to learn more about it.” She swept gracefully through the door, and Osric was surprised to find the room seemed dull and colorless without her. He shook his head to clear the thought of her from his mind, and mentally prepared a list of what he would need for his journey. Gus started for the door, and Osric stepped in front of him to stop his progress.

“Where do you think you are going?” Osric asked, seeking to put as much authority in his voice as possible, “I suspect you believe me and refuse to admit it, but I need to know that I can depend on this wand. What did you really see when you looked at it?”

“You're worse than a flea I can't shake off. I told you that wand is the same as this one, how many times do you need me to say it, boy?”

“Until you can explain why this wand reacted the way it did to a simple light spell, you will just have to stay with me. You have a short time to figure it out, or you will spend my days away in the dungeon after all.”

“Staying with you? I think that may be a worse punishment than the dungeon could possibly be. But if you don't believe me, why don't you ask Pebble? He will tell you the same thing I have, you stubborn fool!” His low, crotchety voice intensified to a growl.

“I have a better idea; we will stop and ask Eni on my way home to pack!” Osric glared at Gus, “If anyone will tell me what you won't, it will be him. Let's go.”

6 – All Aboard

Osric shoved a change of clothes and some hard bread into his pack. He had been sure that Gus was toying with him, but Eni had stated that he saw no difference in the magical make up of Gus' wand and his. Rather than explain the situation, Osric had thanked him quickly for his assessment and stormed off in frustration. Gus had been surprisingly reserved in his gloating as they had walked to Osric's home, but he had a hard time stifling his laughter at the angry expression on Osric's face.

Osric gathered the last of his things, including a bow and quiver, a few cooking utensils and silver for supplies, and sat down at his small table. He pulled out a map of Archana and began planning his route to the irua territories. Depending on the dragon, he could make the trip in as little as a month and a half, but he would need to prepare for unforeseen delays. He hated leaving town while so much needed to be done there, but Toby was more than capable of overseeing the Vigiles and the excavation of the palace. He had to find out who was responsible for the attack on the treaty signing before one of the races decided to seek their own revenge.

“Are you going to stare at that map all day, or can we get you to your dragon so I can get back to work?” Gus was annoyed by the length of time spent in preparation, and the sooner Osric left town the sooner he could go back to his life.

“As old as you are, I would think you would have learned patience along the way.” Osric stood and folded up the map, tucking it into his pack with the other supplies.

“There is a fine line between being patient and tolerating incompetence, boy.”

“You seem to think everyone but yourself is incompetent, Gus. Maybe it is a reaction to the company.” Osric took one last look around his modest home and shouldered his pack and his bow. “Let's just get to the Dragon Deck so I can be on my way. Do you think you can stop insulting me until then?”

“If you stop acting like a dolt, then yes.” Osric sighed audibly and led the way out the door.

Osric had never left Stanton before; no further than Lothaine, that is. He wasn't sure what to expect, but as the Vigile Contege, it was his duty to investigate. All of Stanton's governing body had been in the palace, so he knew he must carry on without orders.

He stopped at a tanner's shop and purchased a leather pouch for his wand. The last thing he wanted was to lose another one. Things would have happened much differently if he hadn't lost his last wand in the palace. As they passed through the town on their way to the Dragon Deck, Osric's temper cooled and his frustration waned. He had lived in Stanton his whole life, and knew every building and alley way. He recognized the smell of the blacksmith's wife's famous corn porridge, and the sound of their children's laughter, as he passed their home. He saw the garden where he and Kenneth had picked raspberries every summer in return for a slice of the baker's berry pie. He knew the trip would be dangerous, but he had to believe he would see his home again.

As they approached the Dragon Deck, Osric looked off toward the palace. In the moonlight, he could see people hard at work. Many were casting spells to keep the rubble from collapsing further, while others levitated pieces of the palace walls. Chunks of stone were being lifted away, floating through the air and piled nearby. Osric climbed the steps to the stone platform and found James waiting for him. He could see Kenneth and Toby striding toward them from the palace grounds.

“Osric! Do you have everything you need?” James inquired, when he saw they had arrived.

“Yes. Were you able to gather enough food?” Fatigue was apparent in Osric's voice. The effects of the day's stress were taking their toll.

“Three weeks of dried meat, hard rolls, and about a week of honey bread.” James said with a smile. “All good energy food.”

“I only asked for two weeks.” Osric protested.

“Yes, but your journey will take nearly two months. Dragons can't fly for days on end. The last thing we want is for you to end up starving to death in the desert of Angmar. You will have to resupply in Barlington, anyways.”

“Thank you, James.” Osric dug out the silver he had gathered from the house, and offered it to James. “This is not enough for all you have done, my friend.”

“No need, Sir. We all must do our part.” James waved away the payment.

“You will need it to resupply your cart; there will be many in need of your services over the next few weeks. Take it. That's an order.” Osric said with a grin.

“I wish I could go with you. This should be quite an adventure.” James reluctantly accepted the payment.

“No, James, I need you here. You have a gift for hearing things of importance, and I need to be kept informed.” Osric explained. “Now take out your wand so I can reach you.”

James shrugged and took out his wand. He could never leave his cart behind anyway. He held it out and Osric touched the tips of the two wands together, and cast a spell of recognition so his wand would link with James'. He would be able to speak with James from anywhere by using a communication spell. As they completed the link and replaced their wands, Kenneth and Toby joined them on the platform.

“Which dragon is ours?” Kenneth inquired.

“The large grey, over there.” James said, pointing across the platform at the dragon, which had several deck attendants fastening seats to its back. “Her name is Greyback.” Osric raised one eyebrow at Kenneth.

“Ours?”

“Well, yeah. You didn't think I was going to let you run off to Angmar without me, did you?” Kenneth was equipped with what looked like every weapon he owned.

“This is a diplomatic mission, Kenneth, not an invasion. If I bring you and your army of weapons with me, the irua will accuse
me
of starting the war.” Osric grinned and slapped his best friend on the shoulder, “I will be happy for the company though.” Kenneth crossed the platform to check on the supplies being loaded onto the dragon, and Osric turned to Toby.

“I am not sure how long I will be gone. Will you keep things in order around here for me?”

“Of course, but hurry back. You know I don't want to do your job any longer than I have to.”

“You will need to oversee the cleanup at the palace, and Archana willing, you will find more survivors in the rubble. If you learn anything more about the origin of the blast, or who was responsible, contact me immediately.” Osric linked his new wand with Toby's, and then crouched down and spread the map out on the stone platform. He was describing his intended course to his Profice when the smell of lavender broke his concentration. He looked up to find Bridgett smiling down at him.

“You have gained the attention of the unicorns, indeed, Contege Osric.” He stood quickly and returned her smile. “I was unable to learn much more about their interest in you, but they will not allow me to travel with them.” His smile faded in confusion.

“Have I angered them in some way? Why would they turn you away?”

“Actually, I believe they want me to travel with you.”

“Bridgett, this could be very dangerous. I can't expose you to such risk. We have no way of knowing what we will encounter, and it is not likely that the irua will welcome our visit.”

“I understand the risks involved, Osric. I will not be a burden to you, and my abilities as an Empath may be very useful. If you feel that the unicorns' presence here is unimportant, leave me behind. If you believe, as I do, that there is more to it than curiosity, then let us be on our way.” Osric ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He knew he needed to know why the unicorn had saved him, but he also wanted to protect her.

“I am sorry, Bridgett. I can't allow you to risk your life by accompanying me. Please, if it is the will of the unicorns to help me, stay here and wait for my return. We will find the answers once I have prevented this war.”

“I will try, Osric.” She turned and walked across the platform briskly, and Osric was overwhelmed by a sense of doom. His Portentist gift was screaming within him to stop her departure.

“Bridgett, wait!” Osric ran after her, and she turned back to him, “I do not know what will happen if you come with me, but I know if you stay it will end in disaster. Gather your things; it seems you must travel with us, after all.”

Bridgett searched his face for signs of sincerity, and then grabbed her pack and approached the dragon.

Osric called out orders to the deck attendants to prepare the dragon for the extra passengers, and requested that James seek out the extra supplies they would need.

‘The large grey' was a very good description. The dragon was massive. She could have curled up in Osric's house, but she would be unable to spread her wings within his walls. The heather grey scales were nearly the size of Osric's torso, and had an opalescent sheen to them in the moonlight. Her wide, fleshy wings were tinged with green, and heavily veined, showing red where they came close to the surface.

At Osric's command, the attendants had rigged seating for four passengers on her back, rather than two. The double row of spikes that stood on either side of the dragon's spine ran between the two rows of padded, wooden seats. They were secured by soft leather straps that wrapped around her body, aligning them with the wings for stability. To the rear of the wings were two wooden chests for supplies. The dragon folded her wings, resting the tips along the ground. The trisected, bony structure of the wing created a ladder of sorts for reaching the passenger seats.

On long trips, dragons were usually mounted with a wind screen for their passengers. Osric asked the deck attendants to remove it in the interest of speed. Everything extra was just more weight and made for longer recovery time for the dragon.

“What a marvelous creature!” Gus exclaimed, as he joined Bridgett by the dragon, “Just look at you! Greyback is your name, is it?”

The dragon glowed with appreciation for the compliment, and said in a much softer voice than expected, “Why, thank you, Sir. Yes, that is my name, but for someone as kind as you, it is simply Grey.” Greyback lowered her head to the ground to be closer to Gus.