Chapter 38: The Gloves
The usual feelings of awe, inspired by being so close to royalty, were gone. Instead only feelings of resentment remained toward the two people that sent a great man out into danger. Ludus wanted to barrage the king and queen with questions but decided against it. After all they were invited to the royal study for a very important reason—it was time to give back the magic that they had. The chairs that he and Mith sat in were rather uncomfortable. He looked around at the large bookcase before him, and at the two people who stood directly in front of him.
“It is not a hard process, so we’ve been told.” The king said, picking up a large black glove from a small table.
“What is that?” Mith asked, not bothering to sound pleasant.
The queen picked up the matching glove. “They are very old and very powerful items used by the founders. They originated in Memoria and are used to transport magic from one object to the next. You two did it a different way, but this way is safer—no chance for the magic to escape into an unwanted object.”
“How come Mitchum did not get the magic in him, he did the same thing we did.” Ludus asked.
“Magic is tricky, but it might have been because the rose turned back into a sword before the magic could get into him. Though I really have no idea, somebody should write a book about the magic.”
The king put on one glove as the queen put on the other. They touched the gloves to the foreheads of Mith and Ludus. At that moment a rush of warmth left their bodies. They had chills for a moment, but were otherwise unharmed.
The royalty then went over to another small table nearby where a large sword sat. The sword had a green stone in its hilt. They each touched the sword and it glowed and vibrated for only an instant. The king took both gloves and set them on the table and cautiously touched the sword.
“That’s it.” He said happily.
“Wait,” the queen pointed at the tip of the blade. “I don’t believe it; all of the magic did not go back into the sword.”
“What?” Mith jumped up and looked at the sword. She never noticed it before but the sword looked different now that the magic was back. It shined a dull gold, when before it had been the usual silver of metal.
“Ijnus’ss sword was never gold, though it did change colors when Oldo was mad.” Ludus pointed out.
“This is all very new.” The king said, scratching his chin. “But if I had to guess, I would say that the color probably goes away over time. What is extraordinary, though, is the tip. It is still silver. That means that some of the magic is still inside of you two.”
“How’s that?” Mith asked confused.
“After four hundred years the magic still had the characteristics of who had it last, but overall became neutral over time. It seems that the magic started to morph around you two. And magic like that cannot be taken, but must be given.”
“So you’re saying that we have to be the ones to put the last tiny bit into the sword?”
“I’m not saying that at all. In fact I think you should keep it.”
Mith and Ludus looked to each other in awe and glee.
“What a fitting reward for the heroes of Parli.” The queen said merrily.
“Will it ever turn back into a rose?” Mith asked.
“I doubt it,” the king said, “When Lwid turned this into a rose the magic still had his signature – if you will – in it. But now since the magic has turned neutral it cannot change back.”
Mith nodded, she still did not understand completely, but she knew that she would in time.