The Chronicles of Firma 1: Orphan's Quest by Pat Nelson Childs

Author:Pat Nelson Childs [Childs, Pat Nelson]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2012-05-17T23:59:25+00:00

17 |Pat

4

Nelson Childs

“Lorq,” the elf said finally, “what is it? Something’s rattling around in that big head of yours. Why don’t you spill it?”

“I was just wondering … ” Lorq’s voice trailed off.

“Alright, that’s a start,” Flaskamper joked. “Now what is it that you were just wondering?”

“Well,” replied the giant, “you said that the owl’s eye was like a gift-giving charm.”

“Yes,” Flash explained. “It allows you to give something you have to someone else who lacks it. It even lets you, to a certain extent, swap circumstances with another, just so long as the eye is touching both individuals when it is invoked.”

“And you gave Rokey…”

“Some of my life force. He needed a jolt to get going again, that’s all. No harm done to me. I’ve got life force by the bushel.”

He smiled at Lorq. For once, the giant did not smile back, but continued to look somber.

“But you didn’t know that,” he said, “did you?”

“Know what?” Flaskamper asked, puzzled.

“You didn’t know that all Rokey needed was a jolt. You thought he was dead, didn’t you, just like the rest of us did?”

“Where are we going with this, Lorq?” Flash said uneasily.

“You thought that Rokey was dead,” the giant persisted, “and you thought that you were swapping with him. You thought that you were giving him your whole life, not just a little piece of it. You were going to leave us…just like that.”

Flaskamper put his hand on Lorq’s. It looked like the hand of an infant compared to the giant’s.

“You’re right,” he said, after a moment of silence. “That’s exactly what I thought. I’m sorry I didn’t take time to consider how it would affect the rest of you. But…there was no time. The idea of having to live without Rokey – well, it just wasn’t an option I could consider, not when I had the means to prevent it. Fortunately, it worked out well for all of us.”

The two of them sat quietly for a moment, then the elf continued.

“Listen Lorq,” he said, “so far you’re the only one that’s been clever enough to figure this out. I know you’re upset with me, but I’d appreciate it very much if you would do me a huge favor, all right big fellow?”

“Sure Flash,” Lorq replied. “What is it?”

“Well, I’d just as soon no one else knew about this, especially Rokey. With a little luck, time will pass, the thought won’t occur to anybody else, and we can all put the whole thing behind us. So let’s just keep it between the two of us, alright old friend? Will you do that for me?”

“I will Flash, I promise,” the giant said solemnly.

“Thanks, Lorq,” said the elf, “I knew I could count on you.”

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