Nafon waded into the deep pool of water left from the latest flooding of the Naus River. Desiage slithered in behind him. Further down the beach, Quago and Meib had found themselves a private place to bathe. The fine black soot from the deadly mist covered the snakes' fine wings and the humans' skin and hair.
The water was at first too cold but as he grew used to it, Nafon allowed himself to relax and float beside his snake. He had sent a message to Ott that they had found nothing living in Segat and that they were on their way back. Ott had been brief in his reply. He had told Nafon the site of their second encampment and yelled at him for not opening his mind completely during their exploration of the empty mining town. Nafon had ignored the old one. There was time enough for him to know of what was found in the dark mountains on their return. It was getting close to evening now. There was little more that could be done this day.
Nafon stepped on something sharp as he left the pool of deep blue water. After examining his foot to make sure that there was no cut that could lead to an infection, he searched the tall, brown reeds until he found the source of his pain. He lifted the mud-caked ball and rinsed it in the cold, clear water. When he again raised his hand, he stared in wonder at what he had brought from the mud.
What he had stepped upon was a jewel. It was oval in shape and as large as his fist in size. It was white and yet it was run through with colors. It seemed to glow with its own internal light. In its center was a series of lines that were such a deep blue that at first they appeared to be black. They formed something there that he had come to know well over the last few days, something that the army had carried with it into battle upon its flags- the Star of Khorra!
He searched along the shore until he found an everliving bush. He placed his hand upon one of the strong branches that never died and waited quietly. If he were judged to be worthy, the bush would grant him a branch of life. If he were judged to be lacking, even with the finest steel in the land, he could not cut off a single twig. The everliving bush never died. You could take even the smallest of leaves and lay it on the ground and a new bush would sprout. They were plants of great magic. Nafon knew that he was expecting more than a half breed had any right to ask but he also knew in his heart that this was the only thing in the rolling plain that was right for the jewel that he now carried.
The tallest of the branches fell onto the ground. Nafon had only asked for a branch large enough to support the Star of Khorra, but the everliving bush had granted him one of its largest members. Nafon bowed and offered thanks before lifting his gift of life. It was almost as tall as he was. He set the jewel against its head and looked around for a way to secure it. The branch spread itself wide and held the stone as if it were made for it. Nafon stared at what was in his hand. He had been given a staff of power!
All his life, Ott had spouted wizard lore at him. He had told him that a staff of power must come to every wizard in its own time. Each wizard was called by his staff, never the other way around. It was a personal quest that only a wizard who had achieved his staff could understand. Until a wizard had gained his staff as a focus for his power, he was a poor thing indeed! Ott had also gone on to tell Nafon that as a halfling, he would never be granted such a gift.
Nafon stood on the edge of the river Naus and held his glowing power staff in his hand. As the sun came down from the sky to tuck itself into bed, the Star of Khorra glowed like a fourth moon in the purple sky. Power and strength surged through Nafon and he felt very humble, to be chosen to carry such a wondrous thing.
Quago walked quietly up beside him in the growing dark. She reached out a golden hand and felt the arm that hung loose at his side. Her green eyes looked into the brilliant star as it crowned a branch of life and she knew that Nafon must be a powerful wizard indeed.
"Hail, Wise one! Hail, to the powerful Wizard, Nafon!" she declared into the night and her voice seemed to echo off the river and run on into the night. As it fled, it built until it sounded as if all the citizens in the capitol of Noia cried out in one voice, "Hail, the Wizard Nafon!"
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