Free The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One by Ashley Delay, Jack D. Albrecht Jr

They could have done it in the night, and a servant would have placed the pearls back on the table, not thinking anything of it. I wouldn't have sensed danger from a spelled pearl until it was activated. The pearl was not dangerous; the one who triggered the spell was. It was beginning to make sense to him. He must have sensed them walk past him in the market, which is why he felt danger there.
    “Who did she see?” Osric asked. “Who was it?”
    “It was a weasel and a female who spoke in an airy rasp.” The description indicated an irua, the subterrestrial race that occupied the same region as the weasels, far to the east.
    “The irua! I should have known they were involved!” Osric burst out. “Bring the irua and weasels to me, if any are left. I need to question them!”
    “That's just it, Sir.” Kenneth looked as if he had been asked to do an impossible task. “There are none left. I have spent the day searching. They all fled, speaking of war.”
    Osric was furious. A hope for resolution was there; it flashed before him, tauntingly, and simply faded away. If war erupted, it would come to Stanton. He walked to the window of the outpost to look out at his city. There were people who had spent all day working on the palace making their way home, and relief help coming to the palace to aid in the search for survivors. The thought of those people he had known his whole life witnessing their loved ones' deaths in the horror of battle was appalling. If they had to face the wrath of an angry world at their doorsteps, they would all be destroyed. They were the people he and his Vigiles were sworn to protect. No, he could not allow that to happen. He would do what was needed. He would end it. He grabbed his wand and summoned his sword belt.
    “Then I will go to them in Angmar! James, can you provide me with food for two weeks travel and summon a dragon? Can you see to that?” He requested, as he fastened the belt around his waist. He could not believe the ease of the wand. That had been his first act with it since the palace, and it was effortless. It was ideal resistance. He could feel the power surge forth from him in perfect control.
    “Yes, of course.” He said, with only a moment's pause. “I can have it for you in a couple hours.”
    “Thank you, James. Kenneth, can you go get Toby and meet me at the Dragon Deck? I will need to speak to him before I leave.” Kenneth immediately turned and rushed back the way he had come, followed closely by James. “Bridgett, if there is anything more that you can learn from the unicorns about why they are here, and what it has to do with me, I would be eternally grateful for the information.”
    “I should be getting back to them anyway. I will do my best to learn more about it.” She swept gracefully through the door, and Osric was surprised to find the room seemed dull and colorless without her. He shook his head to clear the thought of her from his mind, and mentally prepared a list of what he would need for his journey. Gus started for the door, and Osric stepped in front of him to stop his progress.
    “Where do you think you are going?” Osric asked, seeking to put as much authority in his voice as possible, “I suspect you believe me and refuse to admit it, but I need to know that I can depend on this wand. What did you really see when you looked at it?”
    “You're worse than a flea I can't shake off. I told you that wand is the same as this one, how many times do you need me to say it, boy?”
    “Until you can explain why this wand reacted the way it did to a simple light spell, you will just have to stay with me. You have a short time to figure it out, or you will spend my days away in the dungeon after all.”
    “Staying with you? I think that may be a worse punishment than the dungeon could possibly be. But if you don't believe me, why don't you ask Pebble? He will tell you the same thing I have, you stubborn fool!” His low, crotchety voice