The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One (25 page)

“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.

Machai jumped up, “Ye found it! Aye, the only difference between a hunter and a warrior be their prey, but ye still be breathing poorly.”

“Oh yes, I found it!” He backed away and began circling Osric again.

“Well, do you think you can teach me without endangering any blacksmiths?” Gus had said that he had the Hunter's gift, so he might as well learn how it worked.

“Just take a deep breath, feel the resistance of the air against the blade until you sense that the angle is correct, and then follow through.” Kenneth grinned widely, and advanced toward Osric.

“Osric, ye have the Hunter's gift?” Machai asked in surprise.

“So I have been told, Machai. It's a long story.” Osric did not want to elaborate on the tale, so he turned his attention toward Kenneth to discourage any more questions. He focused on the Hunter's gift as they circled each other. He paid attention to the sensation of the air filling his lungs, and the weight of the sword in his hand. Kenneth seemed to be pacing with a purpose, and the only other time he saw that look on his friend's face was during a hunt; it was a bit disconcerting. Osric ran through his hunting skills in his mind, trying to decipher a way to use the new-found gift.

As Kenneth lunged, it occurred to him, and he managed to deflect the blow at the last second. A calm sense of purpose filled him as he looked at his childhood friend in a way he never thought possible. He felt the surge of the gift ignite within him, as he lunged at Kenneth as if he were his prey. Both of them, with a new motivation, were able to find weaknesses in the others defenses, and both were equally able to react before the strike could land. The clash of metal on metal filled the air. Gus and Bridgett were awakened by the noise, and they stood and watched in awe as perfect attacks were miraculously turned aside, time and again. Osric could see that Kenneth's breath was as controlled as his, and they both wore the same elated expression at the experience.

“Aye, very good, Osric. Now ye need an advantage or ye will be exchanging blows with ye'r friend for eternity. Take out ye'r wand.” Machai stood off to the side with his arms crossed at his chest and an amused look upon his face. “Defend with ye'r sword, attack with ye'r wand.”

Osric glanced over at him quickly in disbelief and nearly reacted too late to Kenneth's strike. He recovered swiftly and adjusted his stance, reaching for his wand with his right hand, but the stretch threw his timing off and Kenneth struck him with the butt of his sword, knocking him to the ground. Kenneth stood over him with a grin, and Machai roared with laughter.

“This would be a whole lot easier if you were not spouting nonsense, dwarf!” Kenneth glared at Machai. Practicing the new combat method was an amazing experience and the dwarf's instructions had caused it to end too abruptly. Osric stood and brushed the dirt and twigs from his clothing and shook his head as Machai continued to laugh.

“You have a lot to say, but I would like to see you do better. Show us how it's done, Machai.” Osric challenged him. There was no way the dwarf could be a match for either of them with the Hunter's gift to aid in the fight, no matter how good he thought he was.

Machai reached for his axe and strode between the two of them, gazing at them as if he intended to fight them both. With a wicked smile, he growled quietly in excitement. “Heft ye'r blades, gentlemen, and I will show ye what I be saying.” He twirled his axe in one hand and held his wand lightly in the other.

“You want to fight us both? Are you crazy?” Kenneth asked.

“Are ye scared, Hunter?”

“No, I am not scared,” Kenneth held his sword high and adjusted his stance, “I just had not really planned on killing a dwarf today.” Kenneth looked at Osric with a nod, and they took several cautious steps toward Machai. As they moved in close to him, fire sprung up in a closed ring around them, isolating the three of them from the rest of the group. Osric gasped, as the flames burned close to his heels, but he felt no heat radiating from the fire.