“And you’ve found out how to?”
The Mage nodded. “I believe I have. Let’s hope so.”
Lasgol breathed out heavily in relief. “I was getting quite worried,” he admitted.
“It’s not going to be easy. The spell we’re going to have to cast is one of great power and might not work, because it’s never been worked before on a creature like this and in the conditions we’ll have to face. From the references I’ve found in the tome, and the analysis of the kind of power this creature possesses, I believe we can find a spell that will destroy it. That’s why I’ve brought the other Ice Magi with me. We’ll need all their power.”
“A great spell on a large scale, all working together. That makes sense.”
Eicewald nodded. “There’s one last very important detail.” From his traveling bag the Mage took out something wrapped in a white scarf with silver symbols on it. He opened it, slowly and carefully, and showed Lasgol a huge, crystallized snowflake the size of a human hand which shone an intense white. The hair on the back of Lasgol’s neck stood on end immediately, and he had the clear feeling that this was neither a jewel nor some anomaly created during the formation of snow. It was imbued with power, a great deal of power. Suddenly he felt a terrible cold gripping his entire body.
The mage arched an eyebrow. “Do you know what this is?”
“I’m not sure, sir, it looks like an oversized crystallized snowflake, but it shines too brightly …” He narrowed his eyes, unable to take his gaze off the extraordinary object. Vapor came out of his mouth. The temperature went on going down inside the tent.
“The reason why it shines like this, and why the temperature in the tent is going down so drastically, is because we’re in the presence of an Object of Power.”
“Of power?” Lasgol repeated.
“Magical. Imbued with, or possessing, magic, to be precise. In Tremia there are different Objects of Power with exceptional qualities. This is one of them.”
“It’s charmed,” Lasgol said. His legs had begun to shake from the freezing cold. Eicewald, on the other hand, seemed to be perfectly comfortable, which Lasgol assumed was because he was a Mage of Ice and had spent his life manipulating snow and ice, creating winter storms and all kinds of things which involved the Element of Water and the extremes it could be driven to at very low temperatures.
“This one in particular isn’t, though there are others which are. This one is even more special because the magic it possesses is its own. It hasn’t been charmed.”
“I don’t know much about magic, but I thought objects couldn’t have magic, only living creatures.”
Eicewald smiled. “Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time for me to explain all these concepts. Perhaps someday, if you’re interested … What I can assure you is that there are three types of these objects. I’ll summarize them so that you can get an idea. There are charmed objects, which a Mage or a being with magic has charmed or put under a spell. These are Minor Objects of Power. They’re the commonest. You mostly find them in the form of charmed weapons such as swords, bows or shields and suchlike. Also, in jewels, because they’re easy to carry. The type of spell depends on what’s being sought: improving one’s attack or defense, deceit, optical illusion – there are all kinds. The Medium Objects of Power are those imbued with magic which can be used for different purposes. They have no specific function. They’re a reservoir of magic which a mage can use to make his spells more powerful or to extend them, by using the object as an extra store of power. Do you understand?”
Lasgol nodded. “I think so, sir.” He put his hands under his armpits, because it was now so cold.
“The Objects of Medium Power are as a rule finite, although one or two exceptions have been found which have the capacity to regenerate themselves. The source of power they store is usually consumed completely, but in exceptional cases it can regenerate after a while until it has once again regained its initial power. These objects are very highly valued and hence sought after. Great Magi and Sorcerers have created them, or in rarer cases, nature itself has. Some are especially valued because they can store a considerable amount of magic.”
“Is this snowflake a Medium Object of Power?”
Eicewald shook his head. “No, this is a Greater Object of Power. It hasn’t been imbued or charmed by anybody. It has a large amount of energy stored within it, as well as its own inner source of power. It regenerates this when it’s consumed. This type of Object, of course, is the most sought-after in Tremia by people like me who understand and appreciate their value. Most humans aren’t even aware of their existence. Those of us who belong to the magical world, on the other hand, and in particular those of us who study it, are. They interest us greatly. Few are known, and to possess one or more is the goal of many Magi and Sorcerers. As a result, they’re usually surrounded by disputes and shady or violent pasts.”
“It produces its own magic?” Lasgol was genuinely impressed. Egil had never told him anything about this. He would have to tell him as soon as he saw him.
“That’s correct, and like Medium Objects it could have a finite energy or else could regenerate, except that the amount of power it stores is very great, which is why it is a Greater Object.
