“I understand, but if I could speak with them, it may answer many of my questions about their involvement, and why she risked herself to save me. Does it hurt, for her to lose her horn?” Osric asked with genuine concern.
“The herbs I gave her will calm her, but she is not in pain.” Bridgett smiled at him. Most men she came across were far more interested in the idea of the mystical creatures, than in their well-being. “I believe that the unicorns did protect you, Osric, and I am sure they have a good reason for doing so. When they are ready for you to know why, they will show you, somehow. That is their way.”
Gus walked back and forth studying the unicorn while listening to their conversation. Experience had taught him that most things are simpler than they appear and he was captivated by the creatures. Being able to view the magical strands that made up the world, he knew that the unicorns were special, but he had never been able to discover their secrets. He was sure that they were the key to the wand debate. The answer was there, in the threads that made up their magic. He just couldn't see it. He suspected that the unicorns intentionally hid something from the rest of the world, and he was determined to find out what it was.
The Maiden of the Unicorn had spent her life with the animals. Gus knew of them, and for years he had hoped to meet one. Perhaps she could provide him with an answer that he couldn't see. Osric's wand was something he was curious about as well. Pebble was not usually one to embellish a story, and even he doubted the simple explanation that Osric had chosen an undiscovered spell to bond with a new wand.
“Well,” Gus wanted the chance to speak with them both. “As fun as it is to listen to you two, I think we should all move inside and start making dinner plans.” Osric looked up and realized the sun was already making its descent toward the horizon.
“We can speak more in the outpost.” Osric agreed with Gus. “My Vigiles should be meeting me there soon to make their reports. I need to learn as much as I can to plan a course of action.” He led them back to the path and they made their way to the small building.
Gus asked Bridgett about the unicorns as they walked. “Lovely Lady, forgive me for failing to introduce myself in my excitement. I am Gus, a simple Wand-Maker. I have sought to study these magnificent creatures my entire life, and I have lived a very long time. Do you mind if I ask you a question or two?” Osric was surprised to hear Gus speak to her so eloquently, as he had only heard sarcasm and insult from the old Wand-Maker thus far.
“Pleasure to meet you, Gus. I would be happy to answer your questions, if they fall within my realm of knowledge.”
“I have heard that unicorns are present when any new magical gift is born into Archana. Is it true?” Gus smiled pleasantly.
“The unicorns frequently carry Archana's blessing to newborns, but who is to say what motivates them to bless one birth and not another.”
“Ah, of course, you can't see if they are born with a new gift, how foolish of me to assume. Can you tell me if they truly use magic intentionally, or do they use it only instinctively?”
“I can only tell you that I have seen miraculous things in the Grove of Unicorns, and instinct does not explain them all.”
“Really? Do tell!” Gus was excited to hear examples of the magic performed by unicorns.
“All stories for another day, my friend.” She said kindly, as they entered the security outpost and Osric busied himself finding chairs for them.
“Yes, I have heard that it is difficult to pry secrets from the Maidens, but I will hold you to the telling of those stories.” Gus stated playfully, then he turned to Osric, “So, do you still insist you are perfect, or are you ready to tell the truth now?” His change in tone left no doubt in Osric's mind that he was addressing him.
“I told you what happened. I lit the tip. Why would I ask you about this wand if I had made a mistake?” Osric slammed the wand down on the table in frustration. He unbuckled his sword belt, leaning the scabbard against the wall, and stretched the still aching and tight muscles of his back.
“Only you can answer that, boy. But speaking the truth; that is something you can control.” Gus knew something had happened, and he wanted to know what, but he wouldn't admit that to Osric.
Despite all of the day's uncertainty, Osric could be sure of only one thing; he did not like Gus.
Just as Osric had sent one of the recruits to find them something to eat, Kenneth came storming through the door gasping for air.
“Thank Archana I found you.” He burst out, leaning on the door post to catch his breath.
“What is it?” Osric asked, rushing to his best friend's side.
“Well, Sir,” he addressed Osric, “I have spent the day so far, talking to the volunteers as we worked to uncover the palace. As I struggled beside them, we began to unearth survivors. They had taken to cavities created as the walls fell. Not many, mind you, but there were survivors.”
“Survivors!? That's wonderful!” James came rushing in just in time to hear the news firsthand, a stack of wooden plates and utensils in his hands.
“Well, as we uncovered the wash facilities, we discovered a servant woman who saw something suspicious.” All eyes in the room and every ear waited in anticipation as Kenneth tried to hurry the story along. “She said that she was in a room changing out the linen when she heard two voices in the hall, whispering about plans to escape. She was afraid they were criminals from the dungeons so she walked to the door to get a closer look.” Osric offered him a chair while he continued his story. “She could not see them both, as one of them was on the other side of the wall, but she saw the other. He talked about burrowed tunnels under the throne room. One led directly under the head table.”
Osric couldn't believe what he was hearing. He would have sensed it if he was there. Why did he feel the need to make rounds then? Why didn't he stay at the palace the whole day? He tortured himself for that choice.
“He said he would go through, jolt the table and cause the pearls to fall off of the table, and then throw his on the floor to join the others.” Kenneth said, looking sad. “She has known for two days now. She thought it was a prank, a noisemaker. She had no idea this would happen, so she said nothing.”
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, ca
n 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 h
appy 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.”
The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One Page 6