David Grace - The Accidental Magician

Grantin sought to determine a pattern to the shelving, but if there were one he was unable to divine it. After fifteen minutes of fruitless study, he decided to read each title, and if the subject matter appeared to bear on the problem he removed the volume and passed it to Chom.

Some two and a half hours later, his back aching and eyes bleary, Grantin finished his initial examination. On the table, stacked in orderly piles, were the perhaps fifty or so books which might contain the sought-for spell. Grantin studied the table of contents in each of the books and, after another two hours, succeeded in marking chapters in fifteen of them.

By now night had come to Grenitch Wood. Chom brought food and tapers to the library, the glowpods for some reason refusing to respond to Grantin's command.

In one ancient book of Hartford origin, The Sorcerer's Constant Companion, Grantin found a reference to a spell which could be used to bind one's jewelry and personal effects to the person so that absentminded individuals could avoid their constant loss. Upon detailed examination, however, the spell appeared to be a simple one easily dissolved by a standard incantation.

Grantin studied the fly leafs on each of the ten books remaining on the table. Eight of these he dismissed out of hand as enterprises of Hartford origin. Two remained. One with no indication of its origin but apparently specializing in spells of physical prowess, athletics, and self-defense. The second a volume of obvious Gogol manufacture: Black Arts and Sacred Fires. With great interest Grantin now examined this last volume. Almost immediately he found a reference to the bloodstone and its Hartford discoverer.

Edgar of Ilium repulsed our forces with spells of unheard-of potency. Over the succeeding years diligent investigation has revealed the source of Edgar's power: a transparent, hard, deep-red crystal known for its color as the bloodstone or for its energy as the powerstone. The crystal is mined in rock formations of as yet unknown types, and neither is the size of the raw crystals nor their depth below the surface generally known. The shape of the finished crystal is believed to have great importance. It is well known that Edgar of Ilium's gem was cut in a faceted oval shape. More recent intelligence has suggested that the optimum shape for any given-size crystal is a smooth, polished oval with the major axis twice the length of the minor.

The stone, by rumor, may be employed in a number of settings, but each time one has been observed it has been noted that it was encased in a socket of gold, copper, or bronze. The exact composition of these alloys is a closely guarded secret.

In order to function, the stone, or at least the setting, must be in physical contact with the flesh of its possessor. The longer the contact, the more intimate the relationship between gem and wizard and the more powerful the spells. Once the stone has become attuned to its owner it will become worthless unless removed from the owner before the wizard's death. For this reason those sorcerers who wish to pass the bloodstone down their family line must take care either to use it occasionally and then in the form of an amulet or to be ready to separate themselves from its power during their lifetime. In light of the energy and protection which a bloodstone gives its owner it, is unthinkable that one would voluntarily part with it after the period of acclimation.

The power of the stone is in direct proportion to its mass, and therefore one which appears only slightly bigger nevertheless generates an exponential increase in power. Again, as with other aspects of the bloodstone, there is, however, a countervailing influence against obtaining an overly large gem. The larger the stone, the greater the power and the greater the danger for the wizard who seeks to use it. Brain burn, insanity, and suicide have all been associated with the bloodstone. A small stone allows very powerful spells with reasonably small risk to the skilled sorcerer. A very large stone provides spells of unheard-of power, with a huge risk of early insanity and death. It is, therefore, only the bravest and most competent of wizards who will dare to wear a ring containing a moderately sized bloodstone. The crystal itself creates a field of energy within any circular metal mounting in which it may be placed, be it ring, bracelet, or necklace.

As an aside it might be noted that Grundal, the great scholar, claimed to have evolved a spell which would allow the release of such a ring. Known as Grundal's Final Incantation, it is said that the effort of perfecting it so drained his energies that he died before it could be tested. It is set forth in Appendix A, pages 1 through 7. The hasty practitioner should note that on his deathbed Grundal claimed that his error in the spell was that it must be uttered by the one from whose hand the bloodstone was received.

The diseases which the bloodstone can cause, listed alphabetically, are…"

Grantin slammed shut the book and turned immediately to the appendices at the end. Regretfully he tore out the seven indicated pages. As carefully as possible he folded the stiff paper and placed it in the pocket between the two layers of his belt.

"You intend to go through with this, then?" the Fanist asked.

"I have no choice. The nightmares torture me, and, who knows, I may go insane as the book predicts. Besides, I'm tired of having everyone who meets me try and cut off my finger. No, if I can just remove this ring I'll be able to return to my uncle Greyhorn. Perhaps he'll let bygones be bygones. But what am I thinking about that for? It's all hopeless unless I can find the girl."

"The girl who gave you the ring?"

"Yes. A lovely lady, obviously of the highest character. Long brown hair, sparkling eyes, magnificent figure. Mara, lovely Mara. She could be anywhere by now."

"If you are determined, there is a way to find her," Chom suggested.

"How? Do you know such a way? Tell me!"

"As I said, the stone both projects and collects magic. Since she gave you the ring, it would have formed a bond with her, weak but still there. If you concentrate hard enough perhaps you will be able to view her in the stone. Conceivably you might recognize her location."

Grantin made himself comfortable at the library table, gulped down the last of his wine, then, grasping his hands together in front of him, bent over and looked deeply into the ring. His forehead beaded with sweat. His hands clenched together so tightly that all trace of blood fled, leaving the flesh a sickly white.

At last Grantin sensed tenuous images taking shape within the stone. The more he concentrated on their line and form, the clearer the visions became. Eventually he could make out a red-faced Mara with red-brown hair in a red-walled room broken by only a slightly lighter red window. The vision paced ghostlike around her chamber. As she moved through the gem her features bulged and flattened, stretched and compressed, depending upon her direction of travel. Once she walked to the window, and for an instant Grantin had a view of a narrow curving street bounded by sheer rock walls on either side, with further curving walls in the distance, each patrolled by armed warriors. At last Grantin's concentration slipped and the image faded.

Grantin unclasped his hands, threw back his head, and, eyes closed, gasped great drafts of air. In a few moments he opened his eyes and leaned forward. Chom had risen from his position on the far side of the table and now stood at Grantin's right, looking down at him, a concerned expression clouding the native's face.

"You were right, but it did me no good. A few images, a flicker of a distorted face, a nameless room-it means nothing to me. I'll never find her."