The Currents of Magic

Chapter Twenty-Three

At first Meyer walked slowly as he made his way towards the dormitories. He was still busy thinking about Jaeda, and it wasn't until he passed the Hillside Green and the voices of Nahd tempests reached his ears that he picked up his pace, his thoughts turning to the free afternoon ahead of him. He suspected there would be a small game of capture the flag, and if not, he would challenge Ander to Astrix, (which he finally had decided was unquestionably more fun than Bolo). When he reached the dormitories, he didn't even bother asking any of the Ajah boys congregating in the courtyard if they had seen Ander, Cade or Damian. Instead, he headed straight into the dormitory to drop his bag and change into lighter clothes. As he opened the door to his room, he was surprised to find his friends already inside.

"About time you arrived," said Ander.

"Did something good just happen?" said Cade. "You like a bit like Ander after he's drenched someone in a geyser enchantment."

Meyer shrugged, continuing towards his wardrobe.

"Well, where have you been?" asked Damian.

"Stayed a bit late with Adryn," said Meyer as he dropped his bag on the floor. "What are all of you doing here?"

"We were waiting up for you," said Damian.

"Thanks," said Meyer, turning towards his wardrobe and peeling off his clothes. "I don't think I've ever been more desperate for a two day break from lessons."

"And it should be a good one," said Cade. "I heard that Reed might be putting on a light panorama."

Meyer turned around as he pulled on a fresh shirt. "A light panorama?" he began to ask, but he never got an answer. Ander, who was sitting by the desk, hijacked the conversation in his usual fashion.

"What's this ring?" he said

Meyer was about to brush the remark aside, intending to have an answer to his own question, when he realized that Ander had picked up the triple gemmed ring from the corner of his desk.

In a moment, Meyer felt the euphoric energy that had been building inside him dissipate. He had pushed the ring from his thoughts after visiting Adryn, and yet with Ander holding it before him, his mind rushed back to the night of Cade's seizure: the purple eyed woman, her chilling voice... Meyer shivered as he looked around the room at his friends. He doubted they would be able to make any sense of the ring or his strange vision, but at least they would give him some sort of advice... And he had been meaning to tell them...

"I found the ring while recovering from the Trance," said Meyer, and then he told them everything. He described the constricting pain he had felt when he first put on the ring in the High Manor, and he explained how later he had discovered the Currents attached to the ring. Finally he told them about the second time he put on the ring, and the vision that followed.

"So there is this Lord Eschera with purple eyes," said Ander, "and she's searching for something."

"I guess," said Meyer.

Ander turned to Cade. "Ever heard of a Lord Eschera?"

"No," said Cade, though his brow was furrowed in deep thought. Damian also looked serious, but his expression was more fearful than thoughtful.

"Probably an enchanted ring," said Ander. "I wouldn't worry about it."

"It could be cursed," said Damian.

"A dark artifact in the High Manor?" said Ander. "I doubt it."

"Then what is it?" said Meyer. "What did I see?"

There was a brief silence, but then Cade spoke. "It could be a memory ring," he said.

Meyer, Ander and Damian all turned to look at him.