Read Online The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One by Ashley Delay, Jack D. Albrecht Jr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ashley Delay, Jack D. Albrecht Jr
Tags: The Wand-Maker's Debate
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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.
“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.
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