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Authors: Janice Ayre
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it preferable to eat outside where there was more light and room. They used a large boulder as a table and sat on the dusty ground.
Next morning, after collecting their supplies they set off for the mine. As Brock looked back with regret at leaving Kotonia, Zebulon observed that the young elf was having a difficult time with the hard work and the solitude.
"Next time you can come here by yourself and stay a few days," said Zebulon. This remark was greeted with a smile from Brock.
Zebulon and Brock were energise d for a few days after their journey to Kotonia. Zebulon was motivated into making their little cottage more pleasant. He took some fallen trees and with the use of his magic, fashioned them into humble but serviceable furniture.
At the village Zebulon had purchased some spheres, hollow balls, used for decoration, and energised them with his power so that within the dark interior of the cottage they now had light. By the touch of the hand they would glow, bringing forth generous light, enough to brighten every corner of the room. Its magic luminance seemed to awaken the dreams of the cottage's past occupants, giving suggestions of the feminine touch in creating the structure into a home. In this light even the intruding tree roots took on special qualities as if they had been part of the furnishings.
At the end of that week they were rewarded with finding the first opal. Brock resented the tedious task of digging with caution so that the precious gem would not be damaged, but when his eyes beheld the splendour of the jet black gem, all negative feeling was forgotten.
Zebulon, after cleaning the gem, had placed it in Brock's hand, all the while observing the young elf's reaction to the gem. The dark body tone gave the red within the opal a greater vibrancy of colour. It had been cut into a teardrop shape by the one who first found the gem, to maximise the size of the stone. Brock could see n ature's magic within the manifold opulence of the opal and his own face radiated a responding glow. As he gazed into the depth of its fiery centre, its playfulness with light mesmerised him with its continually changing display of colour. He felt drawn into its world of magical possibilities.
After Zebulon had tucked the gem into his pouch, Brock had a feeling of loss and dismay. The elf didn't understand these feelings. On observing the contrasting moods of his apprentice he suggested that Brock might like to go to Kotonia by himself in a few days time for supplies. Brock was pleased with this arrangement.
It was not to be. The day before he was to go into the village, dark storm clouds gathered and by nightfall had already begun to empt y their contents with vehemence. It was to rain for many days, halting any work at the mine. Supplies had to be used with care so that they would last until it was clear enough to travel to Kotonia. It was also likely that the normally dry rivers that separated them from the village would be flooding.
The days spent crouching dismally in the hut added to Brock's isolation and loneliness. He found very little to do with himself. Zebulon, meanwhile had the ability to remove himself from his surroundings and spent his time either reading or going into a trance-like state. Even Brock's endless pacing did not disturb him.
Noting that Brock was wasting time in his frustrated state, he suggested Brock use the time to strengthen his magic skill. Brock made a half-hearted attempt but the exercise had little value for him now that the reason for his first interest had been removed.
"When are you going to teach me some new magic?" Brock asked.
Zebulon laughed. "What would be the point of that when you won't practice and develop what I have taught you ? Besides, if you really wanted to do it you would be reading some of my magic books."
"They are too hard," responded Brock.
"Precisely!" Zebulon returned to his own studies.
"Can I hold the opal?"
Zebulon handed him the pouch. Brock did not have
Next morning, after collecting their supplies they set off for the mine. As Brock looked back with regret at leaving Kotonia, Zebulon observed that the young elf was having a difficult time with the hard work and the solitude.
"Next time you can come here by yourself and stay a few days," said Zebulon. This remark was greeted with a smile from Brock.
Zebulon and Brock were energise d for a few days after their journey to Kotonia. Zebulon was motivated into making their little cottage more pleasant. He took some fallen trees and with the use of his magic, fashioned them into humble but serviceable furniture.
At the village Zebulon had purchased some spheres, hollow balls, used for decoration, and energised them with his power so that within the dark interior of the cottage they now had light. By the touch of the hand they would glow, bringing forth generous light, enough to brighten every corner of the room. Its magic luminance seemed to awaken the dreams of the cottage's past occupants, giving suggestions of the feminine touch in creating the structure into a home. In this light even the intruding tree roots took on special qualities as if they had been part of the furnishings.
At the end of that week they were rewarded with finding the first opal. Brock resented the tedious task of digging with caution so that the precious gem would not be damaged, but when his eyes beheld the splendour of the jet black gem, all negative feeling was forgotten.
Zebulon, after cleaning the gem, had placed it in Brock's hand, all the while observing the young elf's reaction to the gem. The dark body tone gave the red within the opal a greater vibrancy of colour. It had been cut into a teardrop shape by the one who first found the gem, to maximise the size of the stone. Brock could see n ature's magic within the manifold opulence of the opal and his own face radiated a responding glow. As he gazed into the depth of its fiery centre, its playfulness with light mesmerised him with its continually changing display of colour. He felt drawn into its world of magical possibilities.
After Zebulon had tucked the gem into his pouch, Brock had a feeling of loss and dismay. The elf didn't understand these feelings. On observing the contrasting moods of his apprentice he suggested that Brock might like to go to Kotonia by himself in a few days time for supplies. Brock was pleased with this arrangement.
It was not to be. The day before he was to go into the village, dark storm clouds gathered and by nightfall had already begun to empt y their contents with vehemence. It was to rain for many days, halting any work at the mine. Supplies had to be used with care so that they would last until it was clear enough to travel to Kotonia. It was also likely that the normally dry rivers that separated them from the village would be flooding.
The days spent crouching dismally in the hut added to Brock's isolation and loneliness. He found very little to do with himself. Zebulon, meanwhile had the ability to remove himself from his surroundings and spent his time either reading or going into a trance-like state. Even Brock's endless pacing did not disturb him.
Noting that Brock was wasting time in his frustrated state, he suggested Brock use the time to strengthen his magic skill. Brock made a half-hearted attempt but the exercise had little value for him now that the reason for his first interest had been removed.
"When are you going to teach me some new magic?" Brock asked.
Zebulon laughed. "What would be the point of that when you won't practice and develop what I have taught you ? Besides, if you really wanted to do it you would be reading some of my magic books."
"They are too hard," responded Brock.
"Precisely!" Zebulon returned to his own studies.
"Can I hold the opal?"
Zebulon handed him the pouch. Brock did not have
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