Dark Magic by B. V. Larson Page B

Brand could not see it, but he suspected the man wore a heavy frown.
    Telyn put her hand on his arm, and pointed to the staff that lay across the stranger’s knees. Brand knew the truth the moment he saw it.
    “Myrrdin?” he asked aloud.
    The man stood and approached at his call. The patrons fell quiet as he passed them. They did not look upon him fearfully, but rather warily, as a man might look upon a dog that did not bark or growl, but which did walk stiff-legged.
    Brand saw that it was indeed Myrrdin, and he was not smiling.
    “Take a seat, man!” Brand urged him, and the other did as he asked with uncharacteristic stiffness. Brand decided to ignore the wizard’s poor manners. He suspected that he might still be upset about Tomkin getting his tiny hands on Lavatis. He had, of course, wanted Brand to return the Blue Jewel to Oberon. But Brand had not felt that choice was in the best interests of the River Folk. More importantly, he had not felt Oberon’s people had done anything to deserve the loyalty and kindness of humans.
    Myrrdin’s poor mood was not lost on Tomkin. He sniffed and stood up on his chair. “Perhaps I’ll be taking my leave, now, Brand.”
    “Nay,” said Brand, “stay a moment, Tomkin. We are all friends here.”
    “Well,” said Telyn, “I for one am glad to see you are well, Myrrdin.”
    Still, the wizard said nothing. He placed his staff cross-wise on his lap and crossed his arms, leaning back against his chair.
    Brand and the others exchanged glances. This wasn’t Myrrdin’s usual attitude. Brand felt, for the very first time, irritated with the behavior of this half-fae wizard whom he still considered to be a friend and an ally.
    “Come now, tell us what’s bothering you,” said Brand, speaking openly what was on everyone’s mind.
    “Yes, witch!” said Tomkin, hopping up on the table beside Brand. “Don’t fear another bite from me! I’ve had a fine breakfast, and I’m quite full.”
    Brand waved at Tomkin to settle down, but instead the manling struck a pose that instantly and accurately aped Myrrdin’s. He leaned back in midair, resting his shoulders against nothing. He crossed his arms with precise mimicry and glowered back at the wizard.
    Telyn, sensing a rising tension, squeezed Brand’s arm worriedly. For its own part, the axe tapped at his neck, urging him to reach back and draw it.
    Brand put up his arms, trying to settle everyone down. “I don’t know why we are all tense! This should be a happy reunion. Now, Myrrdin, tell us what is bothering you man. Whatever it is, you owe us that.”
    Myrrdin finally nodded, pursing his lips. He reached into his vest and pulled out a black stone. He tossed it down upon the table between them.
    They all looked at it for a moment without recognition. It was a chunk of dark rock, with a smaller black stone set in its midst. The smaller stone seemed to be oval in shape, and Brand realized after a stunned moment that it was obsidian.
    He recoiled slightly as the stone glittered for just a moment in a hideous parody of life. Brand knew in that instant, that it was in fact still alive, at least partly. For it was, of course, the black eye of one of the gnomes he had chopped to rubble in the Deepwood only yesterday.
    “You forget your handiwork so soon, Brand?”
    Brand drew a deep breath. “I understand your mood better.”
    “Well, I don’t,” said Tomkin. “The beastly creatures earned their fate, witch.”
    “Is this what I’ve created?” asked Myrrdin, his eyes storming. For the first time, looking into them, Brand could see those eyes were not fully human. He wondered why he had never seen that before.
    “What do you mean?” asked Brand. He heard his own voice and he realized that it was no longer friendly in tone. His good spirits were gone. He had lost all the ease he had gained here in this place, with the Kindred. His axe tapped at him, but he ignored it.
    “You slayed them. An entire tribe of them. This will