The Weaving of Wells (Osric's Wand, Book Four) by Jack D. Albrecht Jr., Ashley Delay Page A

Finally he stood before Pebble and dropped the bag. He grinned down at Pebble. “Catch!”
    Trevar turned around and threw the stone down sharply. Like before, the rock stuck to his hand and one that sat below the book shot across the room abruptly and collided with the one in his hand. Then they clattered to the floor in different directions.
    “Neat!” Pebble jumped down from the table and scampered over to another of the stones. He attempted to pick it up and it stayed where it was, but across the room one of the stones began to slide in a circular motion at the bottom of a pot. It spun more rapidly when Pebble pulled harder at the stone held firmly against the floor.
    Trevar picked up another as Pebble began to push his. The irua boy stumbled backwards, being shoved by the tiny stone in his hand. He pushed back and the rock Pebble held tight in his paw pulled him across the room.
    They laughed and played with the stones well into the day.

4 — Prophecy’s Demands
    Serha held her skirt in one hand and the heavy book in the other as she rushed through the halls of the barracks. Eublin had given her access to all of his books, and several recruits had volunteered to help her sort through the vast stores of knowledge. She hadn’t even known what she was looking for, but when she touched the book she was carrying, she had seen a vision that both terrified her and gave her hope. She needed to find the gnome and see if he knew anything about the book before she spoke to everyone else.
    Serha found Eublin in the garden calling out to anyone who passed by about rejecting the murderous idea of the hunt. She hurried over to him and caught his attention.
    “Eublin, I must speak with you immediately.” The gnome responded to the urgency in her tone and followed her into a small office nearby. They both took seats, and she placed the book on a small table in front of the gnome.
    “Do you know anything about this?” Serha’s breath was short from her near run.
    “Oh, let’s see what you have found.” Eublin lifted the big book and adjusted the small spectacles on his bulbous nose. “Yes, yes. I believe this one came from an old elven city. Were you able to read it?”
    “No, but it triggered a vision that I do not fully understand. I wanted to know more about the book before I attempt to determine the significance of the vision.”
    “I see. To be honest, I cannot read this book either. I once had an elven acquaintance who was able to translate most of it, but he would not record the translation. He said it was a book of ritual. Much of what it contains is what he called ‘The Story of the Stone Path.’ It is one of the books I have the least knowledge of in my collection, I’m afraid. I’ve asked the few elves that are in residence here, but they all said it is an old dialect that they are not familiar with.”
    “That is unfortunate.”
    “May I ask what it is you saw in your vision?”
    “At first I thought it was the Well of Strands, but after thinking about it, I am quite certain that that is not the case. I think we should speak with Aridis immediately.” Serha’s hands were shaking as she thought more about what her vision might mean.
    “I happen to know where Aridis can be found. Osric has awoken and is likely having lunch with Bridgett, so we should also speak with him. Let us go, my lady.” The gnome was not much taller than Serha’s belt when they both stood up and headed toward the door.
    “He is awake? That’s wonderful!”
    Serha carried the book with her, although she was sure that it would not do them much good since no one could read it. They found Aridis quickly, and he welcomed them into his chambers readily. Eublin caught a recruit in the hall and asked him to go find Osric. As soon as they were all gathered and Aridis and Serha had expressed their joy at seeing Osric alive and well—and awake—Serha described what she had seen.
    “It began with a sea journey, by ship, but the crew