Amica replied, “Don’t be so sure, noble warrior. Xenn saw his father’s throat ripped out by Drolls. Fire Magick touches him. I’ll leave you to your sleep, but heed well my words. The Council of Alms Glen has sometimes followed a path detrimental to your people. Were it not for the actions of the Fire Wizards Yannuvia and Kirrie, the Drolls and Kiennites would have razed this spot where your tree home stands long ago. They may yet do so, Ranger Birney.”
Blueness surrounded the image and the visage disappeared from Birney’s dream. The Ranger entered deep sleep. A tapping on his door awakened him.
Birney sat up on the edge of his rustic bed. Meries’ yellow light sneaked through the willing bark of his red oak home and reflected from several items lying on the little table near his bed. A gray crescent shaped stone and six perfectly round brown and white objects about the size of blue blooter eggs had appeared during his rest period. Birney walked to the table. Another tap on his tree stopped him.
Birney said, “Who’s there?”
Xenn answered, “Xenn.”
Birney replied, “Enter Spellweaver. You are always welcome in my home.”
Xenn passed through the tree’s bark and stood with Birney. Birney relayed his dream to the Spellweaver. Birney said, “These appeared while I slept. I was just going to check them.”
Xenn said, “Just a moment.” The Spellweaver muttered a lyrical incantation and directed his hands toward the items. All developed an aura of Grayness. The Spellweaver uttered a guttural incantation and again pointed toward the devices. The Spellweaver said, “Well, the stone radiates Magick. The round objects are hard to define. None of the items present an immediate threat. I sense no auras of evil. Are these eggs?”
Birney said, “In my dream, the visitor who identified herself as Kirrie, said these were the excrement of some creature called a Duoth.”
Xenn said, “It has no odor. I’m glad I didn’t touch it.”
Birney said, “She said it was weaponized.”
Xenn said, “I’m not the best student of the bestiary. But I can’t recall Duoth.”
Birney said, “Nor can I. She said the stone would have value to you and called it an Omega Stone. Quite honestly, Spellweaver, she intimated that I should use the device to tempt you to go along with an assault on the Drolls and Kiennites. Should we touch it?”
Xenn replied, “Thank you for being up front with me, Ranger Birney. You were my father’s closest friend. I value your friendship, too. There’s nothing for it. I’m going to hold the Omega Stone.”
Xenn picked up and held the Omega Stone.
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