Anest dismounted and moved to follow, but Belloc said, "You will find a long bundle wrapped in cloth attached to my saddle. Bring it."

Anest did so.

When he returned, bearing the bundle, Belloc was already sitting upon one of the boulders before the fire pit. The wizard bade his apprentice sit upon another directly opposite, and Anest obeyed, wondering.

Belloc then unwrapped the bundle, and Anest saw that it contained three staves of rare black oak taken from the Black Forest, a place of legend known only to wizards and the faerie creatures. One of these was Belloc's old staff, and Anest saw that the Vhurd-aq had been removed from its head. The other two staves appeared newly made, and gracing one of these was the ancient crown of Bellandor's staff, wrought in image like some great sea-beast, with eyes that Anest had recently learned were of a single moon-quartz stone, around which the silver-like metal had been cast.

Unlike Belloc's old staff, the new staves were ornately carved with runes and ancient arcane symbols. Also, they were bound with several bands of intricately carved bronze.

Belloc lay his old staff on the ground between himself and Anest. He then handed his apprentice one of the newly made staves.

"Place your talisman upon my old staff at its centre, lad," said the wizard.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024