The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

some fresh water from the well. We’ll enjoy the sunshine under this tree. I have to admit, I prefer fresh air myself.” He lifted a drooping everblue branch and ducked beneath it to the open place beside the trunk, as private a place as one could have this close to the classrooms, library, dormitories, and workrooms of the University.
    “Uh, sir, wouldn’t the spell work better with fresh water from a free-flowing creek and a crockery bowl rather than silver?”
    “You have been studying! Amazing.” He sounded very much like old Lyman. “You are correct, of course. The bowl on my desk is crockery. Take it to the creek and fill it half full. What about a crystal to trigger the spell?”
    “Only if it’s uncut. Otherwise, an agate works better.”
    “And you absorbed the entire lesson. Will miracles never cease?” he added on a chuckle. He sounded so much like Old Lyman, Margit wondered if the Commune still needed the ancient librarian now that he slept so much and avoided work even more.
    A few moments later, Margit settled on the carpet of everblue needles, the bowl nestled into a little depression before her. She crossed her legs beneath her and began the deep breathing necessary to focus her concentration.
    “That’s it, breathe deep, one, two, three, hold on three, release on three, hold, one, two, three,” Jaylor chanted quietly. “Let the light trance slide over your mind, concentrate on the water. Focus all of your senses on the water. Now think of whom you seek. Picture Katrina firmly in your mind. If you can’t remember her features, think of her most dominant characteristic.”
    “Silver-blond hair and a lace pillow,” Margit mumbled as the picture of Katrina, the last time she had seen her, formed within her mind.
    “Yes, the lace pillow. Almost inseparable from her. Now drop the agate into the center of the bowl and watch the ripples, not the agate. See how the ripples reach out from the center, seeking, seeking . . .”
    “There!” Margit breathed. In the water she watched the refugee from SeLenicca riding across the river plains away from the capital. Her lace pillow, barely covered with a bright kerchief, and a small pack rested precariously behind her saddle. Her steed plodded, Katrina’s shoulders drooped, and her head sagged. Had she ridden all night and fallen asleep while riding?
    “Do you recognize any landmarks?”
    “Yes, the queen used to like riding across that meadow. I’ve followed her up that barren hill and around those boulders many times.”
    “Good, now withdraw from the images slowly.”
    Margit allowed her eyes to blink rapidly several times while she let loose her breath that had become pent up with excitement. The pictures faded from the water. Sleepiness fogged her mind and made her head too heavy for her neck to support.
    “Wake up!” Jaylor clapped his hands sharply right beneath her nose.
    Margit shook herself and focused on the tent made by drooping everblue branches. She seemed to return to herself from a great distance. Her stomach growled.
    “Now, Margit, think carefully. What did you do differently from the time you tried this on your own?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Something was different. This time it worked very well. Last time you saw nothing. What is different?”
    Margit scrunched her eyes closed reviewing the entire procedure. “I’ve tried several times to find Marcus. Every time, the water ripples and the agate falls and nothing happens.”
    “Marcus? You’ve tried to find my missing journeyman?”
    “Yes, sir. We—ah—we . . .”
    “Are in love. Yes. I recognized the symptoms.”
    Margit blushed. “I did not think our feelings had become so obvious to others.”
    “Love is something that cannot hide, Margit. It needs to shine forth and grow. Now go get your breakfast. You’ll need to refuel your body while I arrange for riding and pack steeds. You’ll need journey food and camping gear for several days, perhaps a week. Master Lyman, Master Slippy, and I will transport you to the place you recognized when all is ready. When Jack catches up with you in a few days, I want you to stay with Katrina, make sure that both of them get safely into SeLenicca and report back to me every night.” Jaylor stood up and lifted one of the branches for an exit.
    “What about Marcus and Robb?” Margit stayed stubbornly beside the bowl.
    “Keep your eyes open for signs of them. I expect they headed for one of the passes to the south of Sambol.