Amulet of Souls (The Sentinels of Wizgrad Book 1) by Pegs Hampton Page A

supplies and tools for the journey that was to come. They arrived back at the cottage and walked into the kitchen to see Zelkith sat in wait.
    “Where the hell did you... Oh...” Zelkith said when he saw the tools and provisions.
    They had two days before they would be ready to leave, so Efrundle used the opportunity to train Iris how to use Limbo . They stood outside and Efrundle opened his hands, one handle sat on each side.
    “Now do you see anything about them, anything...Different?” Efrundle asked.
    Iris picked up the handles and looked all over, but they looked identical. Efrundle took them back and pointed the crystal at the bottom to Iris.
    “Look again,” he asked.
    “The crystals, they have patterns inside, different ones.”
    “So you can see them,” Efrundle said.
    The one on his left with a swirled pattern in the crystal held the power to defend. It meant the handle could be used to make any shape so long as it protected the user. The second handle had a lined pattern inside, this was offence and could be used to make any object to attack.
    “Once you know those fundamentals, it makes it much easier to learn how to use them,” Efrundle said. He handed Iris Limbo . She glared into the crystals to see which one was which and held them how she felt comfortable, defence in her left, offence in her right hand.
    “Now, imagine a sword in your right hand, and then a shield in your left” Efrundle said. Iris concentrated on an image of a sword and shield in her mind.  She opened her eyes and saw a blue sword and shield emanate from Limbo but they disappeared a moment later.
    Mireylon explained that to maintain the weapons, Iris needed to keep her concentration on them continually. By the end of the first day, Iris had managed to keep the weapons visible for several minutes and run at the same time.
    The next day Efrundle stepped up the training, it was the last day they would have free before heading to save Morton. Efrundle whispered into the other Elf’s ear and then walked around Iris and stood the opposite side to the other Elf.
    “Seth and I are going to fire spells at you and you need to dodge them while keeping your sword and shield up too,” Efrundle said. Efrundle and Seth both had a small wand in their hands and both sent harmless spells at Iris.
    Iris deftly dodged the first two spells, but the third one hit and sent a shiver of electricity through her body. She lost her focus, and the sword and shield disappeared.
    “Again” Efrundle repeated.
    They continued the training for the rest of the day, and by the end of the day, Iris was both physically and mentally exhausted. Everyone had gone inside by nightfall. Zelkith and Thorley had the fire burning. Everyone had their last meal before they were to leave for Icethorpe.
    “So, Icethorpe... Just how bad is it?” Iris asked.
    “It's now just a stormy wasteland of snow and ice. It used to be the largest desert in Wizgrad until the frost dragons took it” Efrundle said.
    Thorley gave Efrundle a questioned look. “A stormy wastelands? Hah,” Thorley laughed. “The snow storms are so thick, you cannot see your hands in front of your face, so cold that you cannot feel your body, we could not possibly survive in that for several hours, let alone days or weeks” he continued.
    “How are we supposed to get through that, and find a single man within it,” Zelkith said.
    “I can help with the cold,” Seth said. He raised his arm and out of his hand a flame burst from his fingertips.
    “Finding Morton is easy enough, I know someone who owes me a favour, and is perfect for the job,” Efrundle said.
    “But I thought Icethorpe was over miles and miles of sea?” Iris said. Everyone looked at Thorley. From what they gathered he had been there and he was an accomplished sailor back in his day. “What are you all looking at me for? No way!” Thorley said.
    Seth lifted his foot and pointed at his ankle and then pointed at Thorley’s. The ring