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

front paws as he tested his balance. He pushed off and took two tentative steps while growing accustomed to the new stride and height. Thrilled with the experience, Pebble surveyed the room. He giggled when he looked at the countertop—he could nearly reach it if he could keep himself atop the stilts for a few more steps.
    The door to the wand shop opened and the bright sun blinded him just as his next step landed. As instinct brought his paw up to shield his eyes from the light, Pebble’s right leg shifted slightly. The stilt slid out from underneath his paw, causing him to tumble down onto the dusty floor and slide a few paces before coming to a rest next to a pile of carved sticks.
    A young voice giggled from across the room and Pebble sat up, untying the straps so he could address the rude interruption.
    “I am sorry to cause you a fall.” The voice was amused and apologetic, though somewhat rough in diction and enunciation—but it was young. Pebble knew it immediately.
    “Trevar!” Pebble smiled in greeting, forgetting the reprimand he had been working up to. “I saw ’em in the market. I built ’em, and I was gettin’ the hang of it till you startled me.”
    “Oh.” Trevar scrunched his face, searching for the words. “It looks fun?” There was clearly more to his question.
    “Very good.” Pebble nodded in appreciation of Trevar’s quick mastery of Common. “That was correct. And yes, it was fun. I’d let ya try but these are too weak to support an irua.”
    “Yes, it is too small, but I bring fun for us, and food.” Trevar brandished a small sack in his right hand and held a plate piled high with cheese, rolls, smoked sausage, and apple slices.
    “Yum, lunch looks delicious, but my pa says I’m too young to play bones.” Pebble looked around the room nervously.
    “What is bones?”
    “It is a game of bets and trickery.” Pebble shrugged.
    “Oh, this is no bones.” Trevar shook his head.
    “What is it, then?”
    “It is…” Trevar hesitated. “It is magic puzzle of stone.” He moved to the table, set down the plate, and overturned the blue bag. Seven small stones tumbled out.
    “How does it work?” Pebble climbed up atop the wooden slab as Trevar sat down. “I like rocks. I was named after small rocks.” They both nibbled on apples.
    “These rocks do not do right,” Trevar said.
    “What do you mean?”
    “You see.” Trevar picked up three of the stones and tossed them in the air in an attempt to juggle. One rock hovered in the air in front of his head, one stuck to his hand, and the third diverted mid-toss and landed in front of Pebble’s left leg.
    “How did they do that?” Pebble was stunned and intrigued.
    “I not know, but I see men juggle them, toss to others, and throw through hoops. They say was mind tricks only mastered by the clever,” Trevar said, eyeing the rocks suspiciously. Pebble giggled and picked up one of the small stones.
    “Mind puzzles!” Pebble tossed the rock into the air and they both laughed as it came to a quick, soft rest on his forehead and stuck. When it fell back to the table, he began looking at the strands within. “They’re charmed! I just don’t know how they work.” Pebble placed a claw on one stone and pushed it. To his surprise, the pebble sat in the same spot but three others scooted away from him on the table.
    “Why don’t irua children learn to speak Common?” Pebble continued to manipulate the stones, trying to understand what was behind their odd behavior.
    “They teach Common to most, but not to well guardians. I did not do learning with other children. I do learning with other guardians. We do very secret duty, so we do not speak Common until we pass tests of duty.” Trevar was also playing with the stones and trying to determine how they worked, but nothing they did elicited an appropriate response from the rocks. All of their manipulations caused an unexpected response, often from stones other than those they were