The Seventh Mountain by Gene Curtis Page A

don’t have a clue. It probably has
something to do with this staff.”
    “Can I see it?”
    “Sorry, I’m supposed to guard it, I
think.”
    “Guard it from what?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out.”
    “That’s cool.”
    “Okay. I still don’t know what a Magi
is.”
    “Well, Magi are secret warriors, kind of.
They are not magicians or sorcerers or anything like that. Trained
Magi blend mind, body and spirit to help people and to fight when
needed. Magi have special powers because of that.”
    “Do you mean secret warriors like
ninja?”
    “You are really new to this. No. Magi have
special powers and ninja don’t.”
    “You mean powers like remanifesting.”
    “Yeah, and a lot more too.”
    “A lot more, like what?”
    “Spirit sight, dream casting, healing
powers, and all kinds of stuff. I don’t even know it all.”
    “I guess that I’ll catch on to that,
too.”
    “I guess so.”
    Mark and Nick finished lunch and left The
Oasis. They decided to go and examine the signet rings. The shop
wasn’t hard to find.
    They walked in to Diefenderfer’s Signet
Shop. It was unlike any other jewelry store that Mark had ever seen
in shopping malls. Glass display cases were everywhere, only there
weren’t any tops on them. Everything was out in the open.
    The shopkeeper was behind the glass counter
with his back toward them. His sleeveless black tunic revealed
several thick scars on his arms and shoulders. He also had a thick
scar that crossed the middle of his bald head from the base of his
skull to the top of his head.
    “Young Mister Young… and Young Mister
Poparov… welcome.” The shopkeeper didn’t turn to face them.
    The boys looked at each other. Mark said,
“How did you know who we are?”
    “I am… AlHufus Diefenderfer… I am… sirs… an
oracle.” With that he turned and faced the boys. Both boys could
see that he was old and quite blind. His eyes were black and
lifeless. The scar on his head continued to the middle of his
forehead.
    “You may think me blind… but I assure you…
good sirs… I am not. I have not… the use… of my eyes, but… I see
quite well. Now… how may I help you?” His speech seemed odd only in
the fact that he paused between phrases. Everything else about it
was quite normal, even if somewhat disconcerting.
    Mark started to speak but Mr. Diefenderfer
cut him off. “So… you wish to… examine my wares. You are aware… are
you not… that you cannot… purchase anything… without your
counselor’s approval?”
    He paused again and then answered another
question that Mark was about to ask. “Tim… is your counselor. He
will be… taking his group… around to the different shops… starting
tomorrow. I expect… that this will be… one of the first places…
that your group… will visit. If you find… a ring… that you
particularly like… then I will… set it aside… until you visit me…
again. Go ahead… look around.”
    There were many display cases in the shop,
arranged like library shelves that formed aisles. Each case was
filled with small cubbies, each containing an individual ring and a
number etched and colored on the upper edge of the cubby.
    Mark and Nick looked at many of the rings.
They both picked out signet rings that they liked. Mark’s ring had
a crest with a lion standing on a large rock. Nick chose a simple
design of crossed sabers. Mr. Diefenderfer put them into a drawer
with several other rings.
    The boys turned to leave when Mr.
Diefenderfer said, “Swords are… best selected… when you know… your
own skill… and style. Learning the sword… is best done… with a
sword… that you don’t mind… destroying. Wisdom comes… with
prudence… and patience.”
    “How did you know we were going to look at
swords next?” Mark was again surprised my Mr. Diefenderfer’s
clairvoyance.
    “I have told you… good sir… I am AlHufus
Diefenderfer… an oracle. But… it does not take… an oracle… to
foretell…