period of attunement before you take up the axe.”
Gudrin looked annoyed with the interruption. “Yes, attunement. In time you shall bear the axe as I do. After a time, you will learn its tricks and build a resistance to its power. Only then should you pit your will against Ambros and attempt to wield it.”
“As with all the Jewels, there is a period of attunement, followed by a struggle of wills,” interjected Myrrdin again. “Rightfully, Brand needs years of training before taking up the axe. It is unfortunate that we may not have so long.”
“So,” said Brand carefully, “you are saying that I might learn to wield the axe, but not be able to control it.”
“Exactly. Gudrin shall continue to bear the axe until you are ready,” replied Myrrdin solemnly. Then, with another rapid change of expression and demeanor, he whirled to face the others. “But now there is another question for us to ponder. Where might we hunt for Oberon’s lost Jewel?”
“Can’t you tell us?” asked Corbin. He had a knowing look that was familiar to Brand. Brand wondered what he had figured out.
Myrrdin tilted his head, a smile playing about his lips. “Perhaps,” he admitted.
“Let me see,” said Corbin, taking on his expression of deep thought. “We know Oberon would not give up his greatest treasure willingly. And he is too wise to lose so great a prize in a wager. Therefore, it must have been stolen from him.”
Myrrdin was nodding in approval. He returned to his chair quietly and closed his eyes as if asleep.
“It would take a great thief for such a crime, and there are no greater thieves than the Faerie. Many among them are known for their thieving ways, but probably the goblins and the Wee Folk are the most accomplished.”
Brand smiled now, watching Myrrdin’s eyebrows raise a twitch over his closed eyes. It was fun to see others when they were first faced with Corbin’s methodical wits.
“However, a goblin would attract too much attention if he were to come close to Oberon. I would think that the likely culprit would be one of the Wee Folk,” finished Corbin.
Slowly, Myrrdin’s eyes turned to slits then opened widely. “Are you quite finished, sir?”
“For now,” said Corbin thoughtfully. He began to munch upon a sackload of marsh tubers he had brought up from the dining room.
“Astounding!” shouted Myrrdin. He shot up out of his chair and bounded into the center of the room. Modi, who had been in the midst of yawning, lurched and blinked. He shook his head in annoyance.
“Simply astounding! What an excellently logical mind you have, my good Corbin. I concur with your conclusions. The Jewel had to have been stolen, for if Herla had taken it by force, Oberon would have to be dead, and he would never dare wager it. Thievery would then be the most likely answer, and the Wee Folk the most likely culprits, as you point out. Now, what other treasures will your mind grind out for us, good Corbin?”
Corbin pondered. Two of the marsh tubers disappeared, followed by most of a third. “I would say that Herla doesn’t have Lavatis in his hands yet. It would seem more likely that the Wee Folk still have it.”
“And why is this?” demanded Myrrdin. As he spoke, he went to the room’s only large window and threw up the sash. A gust of cold air blew into the room. The fire guttered, but no one protested as the room had been getting a bit too warm.
Corbin shrugged. “Would not Herla have already swept us all from his path if he bore two Jewels?”
Myrrdin shrugged in return. “Possibly, although history tells me that attuning oneself to two Jewels is somewhat like adopting two jealous wives…the results aren’t always as one would envision.”
“Presuming it has been stolen, and presuming that the Wee Folk have it,” continued Corbin unconcernedly, “then we must find them and take it back.”
“A tall order indeed,” muttered Gudrin.
“Absurd,” said Modi. “I, for one, don’t
Gudrin looked annoyed with the interruption. “Yes, attunement. In time you shall bear the axe as I do. After a time, you will learn its tricks and build a resistance to its power. Only then should you pit your will against Ambros and attempt to wield it.”
“As with all the Jewels, there is a period of attunement, followed by a struggle of wills,” interjected Myrrdin again. “Rightfully, Brand needs years of training before taking up the axe. It is unfortunate that we may not have so long.”
“So,” said Brand carefully, “you are saying that I might learn to wield the axe, but not be able to control it.”
“Exactly. Gudrin shall continue to bear the axe until you are ready,” replied Myrrdin solemnly. Then, with another rapid change of expression and demeanor, he whirled to face the others. “But now there is another question for us to ponder. Where might we hunt for Oberon’s lost Jewel?”
“Can’t you tell us?” asked Corbin. He had a knowing look that was familiar to Brand. Brand wondered what he had figured out.
Myrrdin tilted his head, a smile playing about his lips. “Perhaps,” he admitted.
“Let me see,” said Corbin, taking on his expression of deep thought. “We know Oberon would not give up his greatest treasure willingly. And he is too wise to lose so great a prize in a wager. Therefore, it must have been stolen from him.”
Myrrdin was nodding in approval. He returned to his chair quietly and closed his eyes as if asleep.
“It would take a great thief for such a crime, and there are no greater thieves than the Faerie. Many among them are known for their thieving ways, but probably the goblins and the Wee Folk are the most accomplished.”
Brand smiled now, watching Myrrdin’s eyebrows raise a twitch over his closed eyes. It was fun to see others when they were first faced with Corbin’s methodical wits.
“However, a goblin would attract too much attention if he were to come close to Oberon. I would think that the likely culprit would be one of the Wee Folk,” finished Corbin.
Slowly, Myrrdin’s eyes turned to slits then opened widely. “Are you quite finished, sir?”
“For now,” said Corbin thoughtfully. He began to munch upon a sackload of marsh tubers he had brought up from the dining room.
“Astounding!” shouted Myrrdin. He shot up out of his chair and bounded into the center of the room. Modi, who had been in the midst of yawning, lurched and blinked. He shook his head in annoyance.
“Simply astounding! What an excellently logical mind you have, my good Corbin. I concur with your conclusions. The Jewel had to have been stolen, for if Herla had taken it by force, Oberon would have to be dead, and he would never dare wager it. Thievery would then be the most likely answer, and the Wee Folk the most likely culprits, as you point out. Now, what other treasures will your mind grind out for us, good Corbin?”
Corbin pondered. Two of the marsh tubers disappeared, followed by most of a third. “I would say that Herla doesn’t have Lavatis in his hands yet. It would seem more likely that the Wee Folk still have it.”
“And why is this?” demanded Myrrdin. As he spoke, he went to the room’s only large window and threw up the sash. A gust of cold air blew into the room. The fire guttered, but no one protested as the room had been getting a bit too warm.
Corbin shrugged. “Would not Herla have already swept us all from his path if he bore two Jewels?”
Myrrdin shrugged in return. “Possibly, although history tells me that attuning oneself to two Jewels is somewhat like adopting two jealous wives…the results aren’t always as one would envision.”
“Presuming it has been stolen, and presuming that the Wee Folk have it,” continued Corbin unconcernedly, “then we must find them and take it back.”
“A tall order indeed,” muttered Gudrin.
“Absurd,” said Modi. “I, for one, don’t
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