“How does he speak to the dragons? Be there a way for me to speak to them?”
“He speaks to us within our minds, but the spell prevents me from communicating with him while he is caged. Is this something you can also do?”
“Nay, I do not have that ability. I be sorry there is naught that I can do for ye.”
“You are forgiven, stone dweller. Be safe on your journeys. The guards will return soon, you must leave now if you wish to escape from here.” Machai stepped out from the shadows and bowed before the dragon.
“Farewell, Wise Guardian. If I find a way to release ye, I will return.” He ran back to the cover of the trees and regained his horses, anxious to be away from Aron's men, yet heartsick that he could do nothing to help the dragons. It would be a long journey home, knowing of the savagery taking place in the elven realm, and being unable to stop it.
He kept up a steady pace, and quickly traveled far from the volcano entrance. Before it became too dark to see, he stopped and set up a crude camp far enough from the trail that he would not be seen by a passing traveler. He was gathering wood for a small fire and casting detection spells so he would be awakened if someone neared his camp, when he stopped suddenly and crouched behind a nearby rock. He rubbed his eyes to clear them and be sure he was not delirious. Near the trees, across a small clearing, two men and a woman had appeared out of thin air. Machai pulled his axe from his back and crept toward them for a better look.
17 – Chance Encounter
Osric looked exhausted by the time they reached their destination. He almost collapsed from the strain of the magic. With Kenneth and Bridgett's help, he stayed on his feet long enough to stumble over to the base of a tree. He was asleep almost as soon as he hit the ground, and Bridgett checked him over, making sure it was only weariness and not injury that caused his fatigue.
“I believe he will be fine. The best thing for him now is sleep.” She pulled a vial from her belt and removed the stopper. She sprinkled a fine powder into her hand, and then gently blew it into Osric's face. “It will help him regain some of his energy; he has been through so much, I am not sure that sleep will be enough to restore him.” She explained.
“Huh,” Gus shook his head, “seems your beauty is the least of your charms.”
Kenneth had set to gathering wood from the small clearing, and Pebble curled up in Osric's lap. He soon began snoring contently, sharing the warmth of his body.
“That fool would be dead now if not for the dragon's gift he developed by chance, but I think he should be fine after a night of sleep. The Endurism gift he has may recharge his body faster than any amount of sleep would do for us. If you are going to be a fool, you had better be a lucky fool; and he has luck in abundance. We will need it if we are going to free the dragons.” Gus rubbed his temples and growled, “I am growing tired of the things I once thought impossible happening before my very eyes!”
Kenneth had stacked the wood for a fire, but when he went to reach for his wand, he could barely move. It felt as though his limbs were stuck in stone. He could breathe easily, but his arms and legs were rooted in place. He was about to call out when he heard Bridgett squeal and Gus swear behind him. He could not turn around to see what was going on, and terror gripped him as he realized magic was the source of his immobility.
“Os, wake up!” Kenneth felt helpless, frustrated that he could not overcome the spell. Osric and Pebble did not stir from their sleep, and Kenneth wondered if they were spelled as well. “Bridgett, are you alright? What's happening?” From his right, he heard twigs snapping and saw Gus backing up, slowly moving in front of Kenneth, his eyes locked on something still behind him. “Gus, I can't move!” Gus stopped on the other side of the fire pit, and glanced over at Osric and Pebble with a look of concern. Suddenly, Kenneth felt the restraint ease slightly from his legs. He still could not reach for his wand or his weapons, but his legs felt as though he were thigh deep in mud rather than locked into stone. He turned around as quickly as he was able, terrified of what he may see, and still powerless to stop it.
Bridgett was crouched down near their packs, and the dried meat and hard bread that was to be their meal were scattered on the ground at her knees. A dwarf stood behind her, and Kenneth could see that he was holding an axe to her throat. In his other hand, he held a wand, pointed directly at Kenneth. How could they have been so careless? With all that had happened, they had overlooked such obvious safety measures as posting a guard in their camp, or casting detection spells. This is all my fault! I should have been protecting them, and all I could think about was getting a fire going so we could eat, and rolling up in my sack to get some sleep, Kenneth berated himself in his head. Their recent adventure had taken its toll on him, and now they were all suffering for his weakness. He was not sure Osric would ever forgive him for putting Bridgett in that situation.
The dwarf glanced over at Osric and Pebble sleeping against the tree, keeping Kenneth restrained both by the spell he had cast, and the threat to Bridgett should he attempt to move, but he directed his question at Gus.
“What did ye say about freeing dragons?”
“Uh, you must have misunderstood me. Let the girl go, she has no bad intentions toward anyone.” Gus was very slowly inching toward Osric and his son.
“The man and his mouse will be awakening when I counter the spell, stop moving. Tell me who ye be, and what ye be doing here, and I will let her go. And do not be lying to me.” Kenneth was furious that he had not been able to escape from the dwarf's spell, but he was terrified that something would happen to Bridgett. He interrupted before Gus could respond in his typical way to the insult of calling Pebble a mouse.
“We are from the human realm, a city called Stanton. We are accompanying the Contege,” he nodded his head toward Osric, “to an outpost near Braya Volcano.” Kenneth hoped that by giving him something close to the truth, he would be inclined to believe his story without asking for more information.
“Contege?” Machai looked contemplative, as if he had heard the word before.
“Yes, the leader of the Vigiles, the city's security force. He is a very important man; the consequences for attacking his party will be severe.” It was a risk; the threat could anger their assailant, but it may deter him from doing any actual damage. The dwarf seemed to come to a realization, and he moved the axe blade slightly so Bridgett could breathe easier. Kenneth exhaled a deep breath he had not realized he was holding.
“I do think we be on the same side, but I have spoken to the dragons on the volcano, and y'er Conteges are not being welcomed with graces. I suspect he will be either eaten or slain. If he be as lucky as one, he will only be imprisoned.” Gus had stepped up to Kenneth's side and was staring accusingly at their attacker.
“What do you mean, you have talked to the dragons? And who are you, anyway, to come and attack us and then demand all these answers. Same side, huh? What side are you on exactly?” Kenneth cleared his throat to stop Gus' tirade before he insulted the dwarf enough to cause harm. He feared that Bridgett may pay the price for Gus' brash personality, but surprisingly, the dwarf moved the axe away from her neck and allowed her to rush to Osric's side. He looked meaningfully at Kenneth, and then lowered the hand that held his wand. Instantly, Kenneth felt control of his limbs return.
“Me name is Machai. Y'er Contege should be hearing this, also. Ye may awaken him now.” Bridgett gently shook Osric awake without disturbing Pebble in his lap. He smiled when he awoke to see her face so close, and traced his thumb down her cheek.
“Bridgett? Why are you crying?” Osric glanced up at the looks on Kenneth's and Gus' faces, and his expression turned to one of dread.
“Osric, you need to wake up now, we have a, um, visitor.” Bridgett's voice was steadier than Kenneth expected it to be, but she had obviously been badly shaken by having a sharp blade pressed to her neck. Osric gently lifted Pebble from his lap and placed him on the ground without waking him. He stood stiffly and brushed the dirt from
his pants. Osric locked eyes with his best friend and read a multitude of information from his expression. He looked over at the dwarf standing near their gear and at the food scattered all over the ground.
“What's going on?” Osric asked, and Gus jumped in front of him and started ranting about dragons and axes. Kenneth plucked him up by the scruff of his neck and carried him to the other side of the camp, lecturing him about waking sleeping children. He sat on a tree stump, one booted foot pinning Gus' tail to the ground, forcing him to listen patiently rather than screaming at Osric. Osric addressed the dwarf, “Who are you?”
“Me name is Machai, of the FireFalls Clan in the mountain region far north of y'er home. I have been to the Braya Volcano, and I be thinking ye may want to be hearing what I know.”
“What makes you think you have anything to offer us? We can do quite well on our own.” Kenneth could tell by Osric's tone that he was a bit put off by the assured way that Machai was speaking to him.
“I overheard the angry squirrel say ye are to be freeing the dragons. If that be true, I will help ye. If the big brute be telling the truth, and ye are a Contege on business to the volcano, ye shall meet y'er death in the maw of the dragon that be guarding the door. Either way, ye be needing me help.”
Osric looked him up and down, trying to decide if he could believe, or rather, understand anything the dwarf was saying. “I promise you, if we want in there, we can make it in, with or without you. What else can you offer to prove your worth?”
“I willn't prove a thing to ye. The lass has her head, ye awakened from ye'r sleep, and I be the only one here that has been speaking to the dragons. I wish ye luck; ye will need it.” Osric wasn't sure what the dwarf was referring to, but it seemed he had missed a lot while he was sleeping.
“If I were to try to save the dragons, why should I believe you would not try to stop me? Why should I trust a stranger in the woods with information that could lead to our capture? If that is why we are here.” Osric felt something; he was unsure what it was, but he had never attempted to discern whether or not someone was telling him the truth since he had gained the Empath gift. His Portentist gift seemed to be working, in a different way than he was used to, but he knew Machai was being honest with him. The hesitation came from his desire to keep the true extent of his abilities a secret from the stranger.
“I swore an oath to the dragon that guards the entrance to the volcano. If I be finding a way to free them, I must be returning. I need to be knowing y'er intent. Do ye be for the dragons, or no?”
“It is a bit more complicated than that,” Osric hesitated slightly, “but we do intend to free the dragons.” Osric's statement was greeted by shocked looks from his companions, yet somehow he knew he could trust Machai. “How did you come to know they were enslaved?”
“Ye be having no idea how complicated. I traveled to the volcano to make a delivery. Me guide, the rotten gib, informed me of the dragons' enslavement. I can be very persuasive when the need be arising. If ye want to free them, I will help ye. Seems to me, ye need it.” Machai crossed his arms defiantly at his chest and stared at Osric.
Osric felt within him, trying to discern Machai's intentions more clearly. He took slow, deep breaths, trying to tune out his own emotions, and feel what the dwarf was feeling. It was not a great shift from his own desires. He felt Machai's strong need for help in freeing the dragons, and his nervousness about the risk of trusting a misfit troupe of travelers. Osric sensed that Machai wasn't sure that they would be able to pull it off, but he had an intense desire to correct the wrongs taking place at the volcano. Osric could only hope that Archana had brought them together for a purpose, and he felt that Machai had the same musings.
“What can you tell me about the volcano?” If Machai knew something that would help free the dragons, then Osric needed that knowledge as well.
“The description of the man in charge, the number of men, the patterns of patrols, the weapons they carry, and I be acquainted with the dragon that guards the entrance. I also know that there be a Contege held prisoner within the volcano, along with the dragons. Do ye be thinking I can help ye, now?”
Osric stared at Machai in disbelief. Either the dwarf was involved with the captivity of the dragons and trying to lure them into a trap, or Archana had blessed their mission greatly. If Machai's intentions were malicious, then his Portentist gift would be triggering, so Osric had to believe that the dwarf had crossed their path for a reason. “I believe you can be of great benefit to us, and maybe we can be of use to you, as well.”
“I should be telling ye, the men at the volcano be well armed with dwarven blood stone swords.” Machai looked around at the members of Osric's group with a scowl, “It would not be in our best interest to try and fight them.”
“Of course, I wasn't planning on storming the place. You don't happen to know where the back door is, do you?” Osric wasn't sure if the dwarf was insulting him or not, but he sensed that Machai was much more comfortable with combat, than with stealth.
“Nay, but I be thinking I can get us past the guards so ye can be finding us one.”
“Well then, I invite you to join us for the night. I am afraid we must rest, it has been a long trip for us to get here.”
“Aye, this camp could be using the extra eyes, eh?” He grinned at the glare directed his way from Kenneth. “I will be retrieving me gear and I will stand the first watch.”
18 – Training Day
Osric felt great after a few hours of sleep, and the stew Bridgett had made from wild onions and the rabbits Kenneth had hunted the night before. Osric checked to be sure that their shields around the camp were holding, so no one would hear them and come to investigate, and he joined Kenneth with his sword drawn. Working through their fighting forms with their blades was welcome exercise for them both. Kenneth was breathing hard a few minutes into it, but Osric felt great given their turn of good luck lately.
“What's wrong, Kenneth?”
“Wrong? Nothing is wrong,” Kenneth swung his long sword with a grunt. “I'm just a bit nervous that we may be eating prairie dog in a day or so.”
“I don't like prairie dog, too stringy. What makes you think we would eat him anyway?” Osric answered, after the strike glanced off his sword to the right.
“Well, Gus is going to want to examine you after the run-in with the paun.” Kenneth's muscles tensed, as he prepared to strike at Osric again. The sun made his bronze skin shine with the sweat that ran over his body. “You were invisible! You know he is going to want to figure out how you did that.”
“Well, I have no idea why I am able to be invisible, but…” Osric was about to demonstrate that he had discovered how to control the ability, when he noticed Machai approaching them. Kenneth used the moment of distraction to strike at Osric with renewed vigor.
Osric deflected the blow with ease. His short sword was much lighter, thus his breathing was more controlled, and his muscles had not yet begun to ache. He smiled as his return strike was turned aside by Kenneth, and Machai began to laugh.
“Would you mind sharing the joke?” Kenneth sheathed his sword and turned to look at the dwarf. Osric trusted him, but he was still hesitant to let Machai see all that he was capable of.
“Ye tire too quickly, because ye do not breathe.” Machai stood up from the rock he had sat upon to watch them duel, and walked over to them. “Kenneth, it be true that ye have the Hunter's gift, yes?”
“Yes, it be true, dwarf.” Kenneth mocked.
“Then why do ye not use it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ye swing ye'r sword with ye'r arm.” Machai stated, as if that were an obvious mistake. Osric looked at him in confusion.
“What do you suggest he use instead, Machai?”
“If he be using his gift, and not his arm, he would not be tiring so soon. Nor would ye be able to best him so easily.” He turned his attention to Kenneth. “What do it be feeling like when ye shoot ye'r bow
with ye'r gift?”
Kenneth thought for a moment before he responded, “It feels like the arrow finds a groove in the air, that will carry it along my intended path, and then I release it.” He shrugged his shoulders as he described it in such simple terms.
“Aye, ye'r sword has such a groove as well, ye need only find it. Rather than the straight path ye seek for ye'r arrow, find the arc which will be getting past ye'r opponent's defenses.” Machai stood back, and motioned for them to return to their forms. They began exchanging blows once more, and Osric could see both concentration and doubt on Kenneth's face. After many swings with no better results, Kenneth was showing signs of fatigue. “Breathe, Hunter! Ye must be controlling ye'r breath, do not be controlled by it.”
Kenneth glared over at Machai and Osric slapped his shoulder with the flat of his blade.
“Focus on my sword or I may accidentally take your arm off next time.” Osric laughed, but he was paying attention to the directions Machai gave Kenneth, as well. He wanted to see if he could use it the same way.
“What makes you think you know anything about how the Hunter's gift works, Machai?” Kenneth looked a bit perturbed by the distracting instructions.
“Ye do not be the first Hunter I have instructed in the proper use of a sword.” Machai sat back down on the rock. “Not that ye have a proper sword, but if ye are going to be swinging steel, ye should be swinging it with efficiency.”
“Let's go again.” Kenneth looked at Osric with a sardonic grin, then grasped the sword in both hands, taking a deep controlled breath. As they circled each other, forms forgotten for the thrill of the competition, an expression of determination settled on Kenneth's face. Osric raised his sword, and understanding lit Kenneth's eyes. He brought his sword up swiftly, stepping close to Osric and preventing his attack, and laid the edge of his blade gently against Osric's throat.
The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One Page 19