Dream Magic by B. V. Larson Page A

He wanted another drink and almost asked for it. Kaavi was stirring her kettle slowly and glancing at him, smiling.
    Brand opened his mouth, but then closed it again. She’d only given her own kin sman half a cup in his presence. He figured one cup was enough for now. His mood was elevated, but he wanted to be able to think, should the need arise. He set the walnut husk down on a rock, and Kaavi glanced at it in disappointment.
    “Let’s talk seriously, Trev. Why have you come to Castle Rabing today?”
    “I’m on a quest, and I came to ask for help.”
    These words concerned Brand. Could it be that Old Hob had spoken the truth? His first inclination was to offer the boy any aid he could provide—but Hob had warned him, and he was wary.
    “Tell me about your quest,” Brand said.
    “I can’t do that.”
    Brand’s face fell. “And why not?”
    “Because you might try to stop me.”
    “How can I help you if you won’t tell me what you want?”
    “I can ask you questions, and you can answer them.”
    Brand nodded. “All right. Ask. But I must warn you that I may not answer you, and if I do, you might not like what I say.”
    “That’s part of the danger with questions, isn’t it?”
    “Just so !” said Kaavi suddenly.
    Brand looked at her. She was sipping a third cup of her tea, and it seemed to be affecting her now. Her eyes were slightly glassy and unfocussed, but she seemed fully aware of her surroundings. Brand surmised she’d grown accustomed to her own brew.
    Brand looked back at Trev. “Ask.”
    “Where would you seek a Jewel of Power?”
    Brand narrowed his eyes. “ Seek to possess it, you mean? They all have masters, do they not? Oberon wields the Red since Piskin died. I wield the Amber, and Tomkin still masters Lavatis. Then there is Pyros, which Gudrin never parts with, and that leaves only the Green which presumably is owned by Myrrdin, wherever he’s gotten himself off to. But those aren’t the Jewels you’re interested in, are they?”
    “No,” Trev said. “Those you’ve listed have owners.” Trev looked at Brand expectantly.
    “Well, there is of course the Lavender. Old Hob still has that—does he not?”
    “I would think you could answer that better than I. The word is he visited here today and you two spoke in private.”
    “Only after you frightened your own guardsmen half to death!” Kaavi exclaimed unexpectedly. She gave a whoop of laughter.
    Brand smiled at her. She was becoming drunk, he thought. She returned his gaze frankly, and it took an effort of will for him to rip his eyes from her fine face and turn them back to Trev again.
    “Are you inquiring about Osang? ” Brand asked Trev. “Old Hob’s one true love?”
    “No,” Trev shook his head again. “What of the others?”
    Brand thought for a moment. “That leaves only the Dark Jewels. The White, the Quicksilver—and the Black.” Brand stood up in sudden alarm. He almost reached for his Axe, but managed to control his fingers when they were two inches from the handle.
    “The Black!” he shouted. “You know where it lies still, in the Riverton crypt. You were there when we laid it to rest with all those it had killed. Unless you are trying to tell me it has moved, or you seek it!”
    Brand had been hoping to catch him, perhaps making him look sheepish, but he could tell that wasn’t going to happen. There was too much shameless elf-blood in the boy’s veins. Trev just smiled as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
    “Calm down, Brand,” Trev said. “I didn’t name the Black as my goal.”
    “You also said you were sworn not to reveal your quest. So it might be that you seek Necron. Let me warn you, boy: I will not allow you to wield it. Not for a day, an hour, or even a second.”
    Brand felt a flood of suspicion. The emotion was almost overwhelming. Everything was instantly clear to him. Trev had been there when they’d buried the Black and entombed it. He had wielded it briefly and almost died