Part 29

"How does magic work?"

David asked the question as they made their way in the darkness... not creeping, exactly, but clearly hidden. Pilgrim had whispered some of his strange words, and David had watched as the already dark surroundings dimmed further.

Since then, they'd passed a few groups of excited searchers at various distances without being seen. David watched excitedly as the eyes of people he knew passed over him and the Pilgrim without reaction.

It was just after the last non-encounter that David asked his question.

The stranger... who now bore the unwieldy name of Gravious Thule, Pilgrim of the Rune... walked a few steps without acknowledging that David has spoken. Then he slowed, and looked around.

David wondered if the man could see in the dark, because HE certainly couldn't tell if anything was out there.

After a few moments, the Pilgrim turned his stern eyes to David.

"Magic is different," he said. "It is different from everything else... and different from itself. Yet all the forms of power are part of the world around us. Even that which comes from beyond... comes from spheres that surround and contain our own."

"I knew that," David lied. "But how does it WORK? How come they can't see us?"

"The power that conceals us is not my own. It comes from the Lord of the Rune, the force that moves all others. He has given us secret names, by which the things of this world... and others... can be moved."

"You can move things?! Move something now, I wanna see!"

"Shhhh, boy. Patience."

"You'll move something later?"

"Right now, I am 'moving' the thoughts of those who seek us. Is that not enough?"

"But how?"

"We weave the sacred names into prayers... some of which are secret. Some I cannot say aloud, and most I cannot speak in any language you know. How to conceal myself. How to calm the emotions of others. The High Priests teach us these few things to help us on our pilgrimage. We are too new in the faith to do physical battle with evil... call down the Anger of Angels, or unleash the Glory of the Martyrs. But we know enough to survive our journey. And I know a little more. More than I should. Hopefully it is enough."

"Could you teach ME?"

"The prayers work through faith and force of will. You have none of the first, and very little of the second."

"Awww," David was too disappointed to realize he'd just been insulted. "Not even just a little?"

"I cannot-" Thule began, then frowned. Thule frowned a lot, David realized. Being a Pilgrim didn't seem like it was very much fun, even though there was magic involved. He started to reconsider asking for some of Thule's magic, but Thule suddenly changed his mind. "...perhaps. Yes, that may be useful... come, boy."

They had paused not far off the main road, but Thule grabbed David's shoulder and pulled him further away.

"Where are we going? I thought-"

"You wanted magic. I will give it to you. Now."