Cambolton's Fall

Chapter 11

"Please come and look to your gifts. I haven't much time." His voice was soft spoken and confident. Bard continued to smile at the three.

"You're Ezol?" Gavira was the first to recover. With the sound of her voice bringing him back to his sense, Brin slowly returned to his normal posture.

The being within Bard nodded. "I have asked Rolinar to allow me to speak with you. I have three gifts for you. These are my creations and I bestow them upon you, my children of Talent. Gavira, for you I give the gift of Casting Speed. Brin, you shall have Regeneration. Lastly, Warrel will receive Amplify. Be warned, this is the trickiest of the three, for it amplifies who you are, and as humans, you are constantly changing. These will aid you in this quest I've asked you to see through. My brother has stolen two of my other gifts and presented them to a wicked man named Varos Drach. It is more important than you realize to stop this man. His intentions are evil and his mind is bending beneath the power of the artifacts."

All three of them just stood and stared. Completely awestruck.

"I wish that I had more time with you; unfortunately, Rolinar is not a proper host. His body and mind can only withstand the strain for so long. I must stress to you the importance of stopping Varos. I have seen the futures of what will happen if he takes Cambolton Citadel. You must stop him at all costs."

Another pause, Brin's mind was reeling. Say something, ask a question, make a demand. His brain floundered. Completely at a loss he just stood with him mouth partially open. His mind was stuttering to itself.

"Live well my sons and daughter."

With that Bard closed his eyes and then opened them a moment later. He looked at each of the people in front of him, then quickly turned and vomited. The heaving seemed so out of place in the quiet meadow. The sound snapped Brin from his stupor.

What are these things? How do I use it? What does Varos have? How much training does he have? Why me? -  The questions went on and on. They all slammed into Brin at once. He looked around, curious if there was any way he could get the deity to return to answer his questions.

"What...the...fu-"

"Bard!" Warrel was interrupted as Gavira rushed to Rolinar's side. "Are you alright?" She gently slid her arms under him and let him rest some of his weight on her.

"Yes, yes I'm alright. Woah, that was something else. I swear I could see everything. The world, the stars, other-worlds..." He tapered off, his eyes still glassy and staring into the distance.

Brin stood still, looking down at his hand. Where a gold chain had been only moments before, was now a beautifully made band. It felt cold and metallic to the touch, and as he lifted it for closer inspection he was awestruck. What looked to be hairline markings along the thin band were in fact runes of some sort. The characters flowed along the band, making small circles and decorative patterns. It was far too large to go on his wrist and much too small to slip onto his forehead.

He glanced to his left to see Warrel standing with his eyes fixed on the necklace now in his hand. It was also made of pure, shining gold. He shrugged and slid it over his neck. Immediately something about his demeanor changed. Enough to make Brin square his shoulders to the older man. He slid his feet apart as Warrel's back straightened. "Warrel...?"

The man turned to him and looked at Brin with almost pure joy. "I'm drunk!" He exclaimed loudly, frightening the others in the group.

Bard, coming out of his haze, chuckled. "What else is new old man."

Warrels eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not that old. Though 'What's new'" He repeated mockingly, "is that I've not had nearly enough to make me drunk today." He shuffled his feet experimentally and laughed joyfully. "I have no idea what this thing is, but I'm never taking it off!" He whooped again and smiled at his companions. "Well, put yours on Brin."

Brin looked back to his hand holding the ornate piece of jewelry. "I'm not sure how to wear it."

"It's an arm band" Bard said straightening. He seemed to be recovering quickly, though he kept a hand on Gaviras shoulder.

Brin slowly slipped the arm band over his hand and up the outside of his thin cotton sleeve. It reached the upper portion of his bicep and it was too large. There was room all the way around his arm; after a small pause the band tightened on its own. It then fit firmly around his arm without any need for adjustment. Experimentally he lifted his arm over his head and around in a wide circle. "It's amazing..."

"Well how do you feel?!" Warrel asks excitedly.

"I don't feel any different at all?" Brin waited for some feeling of rushing power or flow of magic... None came.

He looked from Warrel to Gavira, she was fiddling with her ear. After a moment she removed her hand to reveal a golden tear-drop earring hanging from her ear. Her face scrunched into a confused look, and she looked up towards the sky.

"I don't feel any change either." She looked back down and made eye contact with Brin, then turned to look at Bard. "Any idea why ours don't seem to be working?"

Bard just shook his head. "I do not." He looked just as perplexed as those around him.

Price chimed in for the first time then, "Well he said that they each did specific things right? Gavira, he said that your gift would be casting speed, perhaps try casting something, eh?"

"That would make sense." She nodded in agreement and thought for a moment. "Ok, but what do I cast?" Her nervousness was palpable.

Warrel rolled his eyes at this, "Anything girl! Make a ball of light, that would usually take you a few minutes to make right?"

She nodded and said "Right, right of course." Almost instantly a light formed in front of Gavira and she let out a squeal. The light quickly flickered out and disappeared.

"What was that?" Warrel straightened and tried to focus.

"I-I'm not quite sure. There's no way that it should have happened that fast. I was just thinking about what was needed for it, I wasn't even focusing on the Second Law, just the incantation itself."

"Well try it again woman!" Warrel snapped, in frustration.

"Alright, alright..." She took a deep breath and within a few heartbeats the orb of light appeared again. It was about the size of an apple and floated a few feet in front of Gavira. Her mouth dropped open in complete surprise. "This should take at least ten minutes to prepare and cast, not a few seconds."