Part 30

"But you said I couldn't!"

"And I spoke the truth. You cannot wield the power of prayer... the secret names are just sounds to you. Not even words. But the Lord of the Rune has given us other things."

"What things?"

Thule brought them to a stop, and quickly looked around. Satisfied that they weren't about to be interrupted, he returned his attention to David.

"Runes, boy. The signs by which His will is made known. ...at least, to those without the gift of foresight. But some signs have power as well. And THESE I may give you."

"Signs?"

"Runes. Symbols. Off with your shirt."

David blinked, then slipped out of the rough shirt he had awakened wearing only a few hours ago.

"Why am I-"

"This must be hidden. If I knew more, I could hide it from curious eyes... but that is beyond me yet."

Thule reached into a pocket of his robe-

-David noticed for the first time that the deep red robe HAD pockets. Quite a few of them. They were concealed exceedingly well by folds and seems in the cloth. Withdrew a short, pointed stick.

"A magic wand!"

The Pilgrim opened his mouth to correct him, then gave an exasperated smile.

"Yes."

He reached into the same pocket and pulled out a tiny jar, barely larger than his thumb. A black liquid sloshed inside it. Thule shook the jar, then eased the glass stopper free with his fingernail.

"What's that?"

"Ink. Thrice-blessed by the High Priest. It is strong enough to hold the power that I will inscribe with it. For a time. Lift your right arm, boy. Straight up."

David did as he was told.

"What are you doing?"

"You cannot wield a prayer the way I can. But I can do so on your behalf... now... and store it so that it in ink so that it can be released later."

Gravious Thule knelt and ran his hand down David's arm. His fingers paused at the armpit.

"So you're giving me magic?"

"Yes."

"For later?"

"Yes."

"But how?"

"Like this."

Thule dipped the end of the long, slender stick into the ink. It came out coated in liquid midnight. He brought the inked end of the 'wand' to the exposed skin along the bottom edge of David's armpit.

"Hopefully they will not look here... if they look at all."

"But I don't-"

When the ink touched David's skin, a chill went down his back. David hissed loudly and tried to twist away, but Thule held his arm.

"Hold still," He warned. "A poorly drawn rune can do worse than not function. It will curse us both."

"O-okay..." David tensed his muscles and waited for the next bolt of ice to chisel its way down his back. It came... and went... and came again as Thule began to draw.