Read Online The Weaving of Wells (Osric's Wand, Book Four) by Jack D. Albrecht Jr., Ashley Delay - Free Book Online
Authors: Jack D. Albrecht Jr., Ashley Delay
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darkness and the book are more important messages,” Aridis said, watching him carefully and surprised that Osric seemed so healthy after his battle with Dredek in Angmar that had left the Aranthian leader unconscious for over a month. “Serha, do your visions usually seem so cryptic? Is this an actual event or more of a symbolic representation, in your opinion?”
“I have visions of both types, actually. Usually it is quite easy for me to tell the difference, but this vision was not so transparent. I believe it may be a combination of both. It would help if I knew whose eyes I was watching the event through, but even without that knowledge I can make some assumptions.” She folded her hands in her lap and thought back to the vision carefully. “I feel that the man—at least, I am fairly sure it was a human male—was on the ship and traveled the road to the tower. The doorway I am less sure about. The glowing light could be symbolic for the enlightenment or knowledge of the entrance’s location. Or perhaps the knowledge of how to gain entrance without a door, I do not really know. The well and the book exist, of that I am certain, though I cannot assume the book is still in the tower. As far as the shadow goes, I won’t even attempt to determine its nature. It is as if the darkness hides itself from me even in my vision and my memory of it.”
“You speak of the vision as an event that occurred in the past. Do you have a way of knowing this to be true?” Eublin asked, leaning forward in his seat excitedly. “Is it possible that this event has not yet taken place?”
“To be honest, I do not know. If I speak in past tense, it is likely only because the vision showed me something that I am now remembering as something I experienced. It is possible that I am seeing something as it will be, but that would make it even less possible to determine which elements are actual and which are symbolic.” Serha stared down at her folded hands. “I am not sounding much like the master of my craft that I am supposed to be, am I?”
“Nonsense.” Aridis did not hesitate to assuage her self-doubt. “We are all encountering magic and events that have no precedent in our knowledge or experience. You are doing better than any other Seer could under the circumstances. Doubting your ability to aid our world in its time of need will only keep you from doing so. Speak nothing of the sort again.” Although his words were directed at the old woman, Aridis was holding Osric’s gaze as he spoke.
“Wise words.” Eublin clapped loudly once and hopped down from his chair. “If it is a trip we must be embarking on, we should certainly be preparing. I will gather all of my research on the wells and join you shortly.” The others rose from their seats and went their separate ways with quiet determination.
* * *
The group met up again at mid’day in greater numbers. While Eublin and Aridis gathered their research and Serha prepared for the unexpected journey, Osric was briefed by Gus on the day’s gruesome yet enlightening discovery about his acquired powers. He couldn’t believe that Willam was dead, and he felt that it was his fault. He should have taken the sword with him. He should have realized the potential danger that was involved with the unusual power of the wand. Gus had described what had happened, in an uncharacteristically shaky voice, and Osric couldn’t even imagine what it must have been like to see what had occurred. Gus’s Wand-Maker’s vision had been engaged as Willam cut Kal with the sword. The poor kid had been inundated with all of the fully formed gifts that Osric currently possessed, and it seemed the power influx of so many gifts was too much for the body to handle. The surge of power had been too much for Willam’s life strand to handle, and it snapped right before Gus’s eyes.
Though Osric grieved for the boy, his mind was overwhelmed by the implications of what Gus had seen. They had spent
“I have visions of both types, actually. Usually it is quite easy for me to tell the difference, but this vision was not so transparent. I believe it may be a combination of both. It would help if I knew whose eyes I was watching the event through, but even without that knowledge I can make some assumptions.” She folded her hands in her lap and thought back to the vision carefully. “I feel that the man—at least, I am fairly sure it was a human male—was on the ship and traveled the road to the tower. The doorway I am less sure about. The glowing light could be symbolic for the enlightenment or knowledge of the entrance’s location. Or perhaps the knowledge of how to gain entrance without a door, I do not really know. The well and the book exist, of that I am certain, though I cannot assume the book is still in the tower. As far as the shadow goes, I won’t even attempt to determine its nature. It is as if the darkness hides itself from me even in my vision and my memory of it.”
“You speak of the vision as an event that occurred in the past. Do you have a way of knowing this to be true?” Eublin asked, leaning forward in his seat excitedly. “Is it possible that this event has not yet taken place?”
“To be honest, I do not know. If I speak in past tense, it is likely only because the vision showed me something that I am now remembering as something I experienced. It is possible that I am seeing something as it will be, but that would make it even less possible to determine which elements are actual and which are symbolic.” Serha stared down at her folded hands. “I am not sounding much like the master of my craft that I am supposed to be, am I?”
“Nonsense.” Aridis did not hesitate to assuage her self-doubt. “We are all encountering magic and events that have no precedent in our knowledge or experience. You are doing better than any other Seer could under the circumstances. Doubting your ability to aid our world in its time of need will only keep you from doing so. Speak nothing of the sort again.” Although his words were directed at the old woman, Aridis was holding Osric’s gaze as he spoke.
“Wise words.” Eublin clapped loudly once and hopped down from his chair. “If it is a trip we must be embarking on, we should certainly be preparing. I will gather all of my research on the wells and join you shortly.” The others rose from their seats and went their separate ways with quiet determination.
* * *
The group met up again at mid’day in greater numbers. While Eublin and Aridis gathered their research and Serha prepared for the unexpected journey, Osric was briefed by Gus on the day’s gruesome yet enlightening discovery about his acquired powers. He couldn’t believe that Willam was dead, and he felt that it was his fault. He should have taken the sword with him. He should have realized the potential danger that was involved with the unusual power of the wand. Gus had described what had happened, in an uncharacteristically shaky voice, and Osric couldn’t even imagine what it must have been like to see what had occurred. Gus’s Wand-Maker’s vision had been engaged as Willam cut Kal with the sword. The poor kid had been inundated with all of the fully formed gifts that Osric currently possessed, and it seemed the power influx of so many gifts was too much for the body to handle. The surge of power had been too much for Willam’s life strand to handle, and it snapped right before Gus’s eyes.
Though Osric grieved for the boy, his mind was overwhelmed by the implications of what Gus had seen. They had spent
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