Free The Dreaming Hunt by Cindy Dees Page A

the staff. The precision of the solinari’s control of the twisting, writhing energy dancing on his fingertips was impressive. Will didn’t have anywhere near that degree of surgical precision. At the moment, he could mostly gather up great gobs of energy and heave them at broad targets. He could generally hit something human-sized or larger. But Aurelius was wielding his magic as delicately as an artist painting a fine work of art.
    Lines began to appear on the surface of the staff. They were dark brown as if they’d been burned into the wood. But whether Aurelius was creating the lines or merely revealing them, Will could not tell. Glowing, intricately woven lines began to appear on the copper cladding of the staff’s tip.
    At long last, Aurelius sat back. Will was shocked to see a droplet of sweat course down his grandfather’s golden brow. His staff was now covered in beautiful, interweaving lines that reminded him of vines and stylized leaves. But the geometric forms were so intricate that his gaze could not follow a single line within the pattern for any length of time without losing its way.
    â€œWhat did you do to it?” he asked.
    â€œI revealed its true nature. Mind you, I have not fully woken it. You will need its name to do that.”
    â€œHow do I find its name?”
    â€œWere you the philosophical type, I would tell you that its name will reveal itself to you when the time is right—”
    Will snorted.
    Aurelius continued blandly, ignoring Will’s interruption, “But you are too much like your father to accept such an answer. Hence, I shall tell you merely to search for its name until you find it.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œYour mother and Adrick hailed from Waelan as did the wood in the spear shaft. I might start by uttering Waelanian names to it. Mayhap it will respond.”
    â€œWhoa. Wait. My mother came from Koth ?”
    â€œShe never told you?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œAhh. Then you did not know Adrick introduced your mother and father to one another and was, perhaps, their oldest and dearest friend? He found Hickory Hollow for them to … retire to, I believe.”
    To hide in, more like . Will’s shoulder blades slammed against the back of his chair. Well, that certainly explained a lot. No wonder his parents had always been so generous to the woodsman and had tacitly let Adrick teach Will forestry, tracking, and combat skills. It also explained how Adrick had always seemed to materialize when trouble came to call in Hickory Hollow. Like the night Adrick had been killed—the same night the Boki had come to kill their old enemy, Tiberius De’Vir.
    â€œMagic can, in fact, spontaneously attach itself to an item,” Aurelius said in a lecturing tone.
    Will’s attention snapped back to his teacher. “How?”
    â€œGreat deeds draw great power to them. Likewise, a magic item involved in great deeds draws magical energy to itself. Over time, the magic of a weapon or piece of armor or an enchanted item can gradually expand and multiply through use. Once changed enough, such items are classed as artifacts. They earn—or are given—a name, and often, their magics become permanent within them.”
    â€œSo if I kill a dragon with it, my staff will gain power?” Will asked incredulously.
    Aurelius laughed. “Most definitely.”
    â€œHas anyone ever killed a dragon?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œAnyone living today?”
    Aurelius abruptly waxed sober. Grim, even. “Yes. Our most resplendent Emperor has.”
    Will’s jaw sagged. A dragon ? The Emperor? How on Urth could any rebellion by normal mortals defeat a being powerful enough to kill a dragon? Was the dream of freedom from Koth utterly ridiculous, after all?
    â€œEnough of this dangerous talk. I summoned you here for a lesson.”
    Will sighed. Back to memorization and endless, dull exercises summoning pea-sized balls