"What do you mean?"
"I mean that should the owner of the stone turn his mind to the thing, he will be able to discern much through it. He will not enjoy having an eye plucked out."
Lily shuddered. "I don't understand. Won't the owner of the stone know what you're doing? I thought our best chance of getting to Lund was being undetected by the enemy."
Anest nodded. "That is true. But we cannot risk the stone falling into other hands." He made an angry sound. "One can only hope that we came across it purely by chance, but I fear some mischief of the enemy will come of this."
They rode in silence awhile. Occasionally, Lily watched Anest askance, as if measuring him. Finally, she asked the question that bothered her. "Aren't you afraid that whoever made the stone will control you instead?"
Without looking at her, Anest's features hardened. Lily was afraid that he had become angry with her, but when he spoke his voice was chastened, or apologetic; she couldn't tell which. "I'm not sure, of course," he said slowly. "And to risk myself is to risk you as will. I hadn't thought of that."
"The stone must be taken and used, or else destroyed." It was Dorain, who pulled up beside Lily. "If it may be used as a weapon, then it cannot be left for mere chance or fancy of some hapless passerby. They would become enslaved, and could do serious harm, troll or no. Amongst us only Belloc, and perhaps Anest possess the skill to either make use of it, or prevent ill from coming of its presence." She paused to let her words sink in. Then, changing the subject, she said, "What I fail to understand is how this stone differs from the warlock's staff-stones. Are they not one and the same thing?"