Gemmell, David – Dark Moon

He led them through to his sanctum and seated Brune on a low chair by the window. From a mahogany box he took a thick piece of blue glass which he held over Brune’s right eye, peering through it for some moments. ‘The injury was caused by a blow to the head, yes?’ he said.

‘With a lump of wood,’ said Brune.

‘Tell me, do you experience stabbing pains behind the eye?’

‘In the mornings,’ admitted Brune. ‘But they go away quick.’

Ardlin returned the glass to its box, then sat down behind an elaborately carved desk of oak. ‘The damage to the eye is extensive,’ he said. ‘I cannot make this any easier for you. You will lose the sight in that eye completely.’

‘Got the other one, though, eh?’ said Brune, his voice shaking.

‘Yes. You will have the other one.’

‘There is nothing to be done?’ asked the dark-haired young man.

‘Not with the eye in its present condition. I could …’ Ardlin paused for effect. ‘But no, such a solution would be far too costly, I fear.’

‘What is the solution?’ asked the man. Ardlin’s heart leapt.

‘I have in my possession an orb, a magical orb. I could replace the eye. But the orb is an ancient piece, and its worth incalculable.’

The young man rose and stood facing Ardlin. In the light from the window it seemed to the magicker that the man’s eyes had changed from dark blue to arctic grey. ‘My name is … Tarantio,’ he said. ‘Have you heard the name?’

‘Sadly, no.’ Ardlin felt a touch of fear as he gazed into those eyes.

‘Like Vint, I am a swordsman.’

‘Each to his own,’ said Ardlin smoothly.

‘Now you name a price, magicker, and then we will dicker over it.’

‘A hundred gold pieces.’

Tarantio shook his head. ‘I do not think so. Ten.’

Ardlin forced a laugh. ‘That is ridiculous.’

‘Then we will trouble you no further. Let’s go, Brune.’

Ardlin waited until they had reached the door. ‘My friends, my friends,’ he called, ‘this is no way to behave. Come back and sit down. Let us discuss the matter further.’

In his heart he knew he had lost.

But ten gold pieces would get him to a safe island … and that was worth a dozen fortunes.

‘Will it hurt?’ asked Brune.

‘There will be no pain,’ Ardlin assured him.

‘How long will this take?’ asked Tarantio. ‘I am meeting Vint later today.’

‘The process will take around two hours. Do you have the gold with you?’

‘Yes. I’ll pay you when I have seen the results.’

‘Not a trusting man, then? Very well, you can wait here. Follow me, young man,’ said Ardlin.

‘You’re sure this isn’t going to hurt?’ asked Brune, rising.

‘I’m sure.’ Ardlin took him through to a back room and bade him lie down on the narrow bed by the window. Brune did so. Ardlin touched the young man on the brow, and instantly Brune fell into a deep sleep.

The magicker moved to the wall, opening a secret panel and removing a pouch. Opening the drawstrings, he tipped out the contents into the palm of his hand. There was a silver ring, a copper locket, a lock of golden hair wrapped in silver wire, and a small round piece of blood-red coral. Each of the items was of great value to his profession. The ring aided him in the Five Spells of Aveas; the locket kept him free of the diseases which afflicted many of his clients, and the lock of hair boosted his mystic insight into the cause and cure of most ailments. The Oltor coral, however, was the masterpiece in his collection. It could rebuild ruined tissue, muscle and bone. When first he had acquired it, the coral had been the size of a man’s head. But each time it was used it shrank. Now it was no larger than a pebble.

The damage to the eye would make no perceptible difference to the coral, he knew, for though extensive in human terms, the injury covered only a small area of tissue. Holding the coral above the sleeping Brune’s right eye, Ardlin focused his concentration, feeling the

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