That made Eric think of something else and he digressed. “Can there be more than one Quest Ring on a world?”
“Of course. There usually are.”
“Okay. Well, we were just visiting it. The monument is of cultural significance even though no one knows what it’s for, so people visit just to see it in person.”
Anna clarified, “We were trying to find a pendant of mine that I had dropped earlier in the day.”
The elves exchanged a look with Rognir, who asked, “What is this pendant you speak of?”
“Um, well, it was a family heirloom, hundreds of years old. It was passed down to me from an aunt.”
“Is there anything special about it?” the dwarf asked, puffing on his pipe.
She opened her mouth to reply and then paused as if realizing something.
Eric figured out the reason and asked, “Didn’t you say that the diamond had words written in it that no one could ever read?” She nodded. “What did the words look like?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I never saw anything like it.”
“Was it Norse Runes?” Ryan asked, “like the lettering of blue flames on Stonehenge?” Anna shook her head again. They’d all seen such writing before from playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Lorian eyed her closely, then went to a cabinet, pulling out a scroll, which he laid before her on the table and rolled out, watching her as the lettering appeared. “The words were like these?”
She nodded slowly as Matt leaned over to peek.
“Magic!” the wizard stood up excitedly. “The pendant had magic words inside it. No wonder no one could read it!”
Rognir scowled. “There is truly no magic on your world, and no one able to read it?”
“Yeah.”
“But there must be. How else would the champions have been summoned there except by magic?” the dwarf asked. “It’s obvious that they must have been, else you would not have come instead. You clearly have a Quest Ring.”
“That’s true,” admitted Eric, “but if magic still exists, no one in modern society knows. I think.”
Morven looked at them thoughtfully. “Perhaps this has been forgotten or turned to myth, just like your dragons, elves, and dwarves.”
“Possibly,” Ryan conceded, sighing.
“Getting back to this pendant,” started Rognir, “it’s possible that the champions’ quest was to retrieve that pendant you speak of, and when you unwittingly brought it to the Quest Ring on your world, the quest was satisfied. Coincidentally, at that moment, a summoning attempt occurred and you were brought here instead of the champions because they were…indisposed in some way we do not understand. In any case, it allowed you to take their place for unknown reasons.”
No one said anything as they mulled that over. Finally, Matt said, “So they could send themselves back, if they did the quest, and not need the Quest Ring? Soliander had a spell?”
“Yes” answered Lorian.
“Maybe that’s the first thing I should learn,” the wizard suggested.
“It’s in your spell books,” advised Lorian, “but it will take some time to master such a strong spell.”
“All the more reason to get started,” Matt replied.
Eric stifled a frown. They were at Sonneri’s mercy, and he might be the one trying to kill them.
“My head is spinning,” remarked Anna.
Eric gave her a smile. “Maybe you should lay off the wine.”
“On the contrary,” she replied, reaching for the decanter, “I think I need more.”
The dwarf rumbled with laughter. “A lass after my own spirit. Drink up, my dear.”
“Not too much,” cautioned Lorian. “You have a long day tomorrow.”
“All the more reason to forget about everything for tonight,” said Ryan, agreeing with her. He took the wine and drained what was left.
Eric had to admit that maybe they had a point, but as safe as Arundell appeared, he decided that at least one of them should keep his wits about him.
Chapter 10 – Aspirations
The next morning started early for everyone, with a first day of training. They’d train all the way to the mountains as time and circumstance allowed. Ryan and Eric started at a grassy archery range just behind the main house, Morven instructing them in the cross bow – a bow mounted on a wooden block with a trigger like a gun, making it easier to use. Instead of an arrow with an arrowhead and feathers, it shot a bolt without either. To Eric, Ryan seemed unhappy about spending all day learning to use weapons, but they only fired at targets of straw, wooden blocks, or severed tree trunks. When he finally hit the latter, it nearly flew apart from the force.
Looking impressed, Ryan asked, “What’s this bow made of?”
As Morven replied, Eric’s eyes darted behind them toward the manor, seeing three elves watching them, one being the servant with white streaks in his hair.
“Ash wood, sinew, horn,” Morven answered, “glued together with animal tendon. It is strong and resilient.”
“A composite bow,” observed Eric to Ryan. He’d heard of them but never seen one. More powerful than other bows, they could punch a hole through plate armor like Ryan’s.
Their aim worsened with the long and short bows, though Eric was better than Ryan. Morven gave frequent guidance, criticism, and occasional displays of impressive skill, making them glad he would accompany them to Castle Darlonon. Otherwise they could only hope for bluffing cult members into laying down weapons before revealing how bad a shot they were.
“Leave the books,” commanded Lorian from the doorway.
Matt reluctantly put down Soliander’s bag and followed the elf for his first magic lesson, dying to know what he could do. Wouldn’t it be great if he could fly, teleport, stop time, or best of all, make women fall for him not with a spell, but from admiration? A gleam appeared in his green eyes, excitement overcoming his caffeine withdrawal. Maybe he could make a cup of coffee appear, too.
“What’s the plan?” he asked, carrying the staff.
“We will abide by the traditional approach, albeit accelerated,” Lorian replied. “You will have my assistance on this quest, but if we are to assume
