The Frozen Moon - By J.D. Swinn Page 0,35

it was easy to see why one would have devotion to him.

As the image burned itself into her mind, she became aware of a hand on her elbow. Mira was gently shaking her, trying to bring her attention back to this place. She blinked once and tore herself away from the beautiful and impossible sight. It took her a moment to realize the others were waiting for her to speak.

“I saw,” she paused, trying to determine what it was she had actually seen, “a place” she decided on simply. “It was beautiful and full of tapestries and portraits, some great gold and marble hall.” She was aware that she must be starry eyed, her longing to be a part of such a place would have shone in her face.

“Alantra,” said Max with a sort of dazed and amused look. His eyes were unfocused, as if recalling some memory from long ago. He was certainly the most knowledgeable of Markbearer history, likely a consequence of his time spent in association with the Vine. “The legend of the great hall. They say that the Great Warlock used to speak of it toward the end of his life, but most just thought that his mental health was deteriorating.” Wyd picked up where Max had trailed off.

“He was supposedly always speaking of some great place that no mortal could reach without his aid. They say he thought he possessed something that would allow one to travel there, a place of supposed beauty and wealth. Of course, no one ever found it.”

“You think what I just saw was Alantra? Well, don’t just stand there, come look!” With thoughts of faraway places dancing through her mind, she grew impatient to draw conclusions about the image within the ring. Max stepped forward and they exchanged places. The entire group held its breath as they waited for his verdict. His face remained in a pensive expression, examining every inch of the image before him.

“It looks just as the texts always described,” he breathed. “Shining white walls lined with gold, sapphire tapestries and carpets…” he trailed off, his thoughts appearing to Nameh to be swimming through his consciousness in such excitement.

“So the amulet is in Alantra?” questioned Cal. “That’s impossible, legend tells that there’s no way to get there without the Warlock.”

“Not true.” Seth’s voice cut through the conversation and was silent for a moment. They all turned their attention to him, though he looked as though he had little intention to continue. When he saw that all eyes were on him, he nearly laughed, and finished his thought; apparently, he hadn’t thought he would be taken so seriously. “It simply states that the Warlock possessed some sort of ‘key’ or method of getting there, that doesn’t mean that it died with him. Look at all the things he passed down through the years, there are thousands of possibilities.” Nameh began to think that Seth was the type to keep such profound thoughts to himself if unprovoked, and mentally noted that she would no longer allow him to. Her mind instantly clicked through all of the wonders she had learned from the Warlock, especially being a Listener.

Spells ticked through her brain, along with the symbols for each of the groups of Markbearers: Listeners, Seers, Sensers, Healers, and Whisperers. The book had now taught her what each of them were capable of. She already knew what Listeners and Sensers could do, but she now knew the others as well. Healers were able to transfer magic from one being to another, either themselves or some outside source in much greater quantities than a normal magic absorption. Seers were able to see fleeting glances of visions not their own. When focused, this could mean seeing through the eyes of another, or seeing into the past and future for a brief time. Whisperers had a talent that was not as exact as the others. Put in simple terms, they could project their thoughts and feelings onto others, either intentionally or unintentionally depending on their discipline. All these things the Warlock had given them, but which could possibly lead them to Alantra?

“Why not something simple, a spell that all warlocks would know?” Mira turned to Wyd at this statement, as if expecting him to magically produce the answer on command. He remained pensive for a moment before he spoke.

“This may be over simplifying it, but what about the Warlock’s transportation spell? We used it to get here, and to the Corner, quite frankly I