Dwarven Ruby Read Online Free PDF Page A

plan to succeed, you must do only one thing. You must trust me explicitly. Push all of your doubts about me out of your mind. This is essential. Only by believing in me can this plan succeed. You must be clear on this. Do you understand?”
    “I understand your words, Master Khatama,” frowned Tedi, “but I must confess that I still have doubts. You did not answer my question about revealing your plans. How can you expect me not to have doubts?”
    “A fair question,” conceded Master Khatama. “I did not reveal my plans because of the need for secrecy. There were people there that I did not know. Surely, you can see the wisdom of that.”
    “I would agree with that wisdom if it were true,” retorted Tedi. “Everyone there claimed to know you, and I believe them. They are my friends and I have trusted my life to them in the past. I would willingly do so again.”
    Boris frowned and stared at Tedi. “I know they all claim to know me,” conceded Boris, “but truthfully I cannot remember them. Perhaps they are mistaking me for someone else. I do not recall ever meeting any of them.”
    “You don’t remember any of them?” echoed Tedi. “I was with Arik and Wylan when we met you in Cleb. I remember Tanya as your assistant when you used to visit the village Arik and I grew up in. I know for a fact that you know some of them.”
    Boris sighed and gazed down the hill towards Niki and Bin-lu. Finally he turned and faced Tedi.
    “I have become forgetful,” admitted Master Khatama. “I must have offended them greatly. At least you can understand my reasoning for not divulging the details of our plan.”
    “I do understand,” nodded Tedi, “but you are asking me to trust you explicitly. Can you understand that I might have trouble doing that? It will not be due to a lack of respect for you. My mind will just wonder if you are capable. It would be natural for me to question your orders.”
    “I like your honesty,” nodded Boris. “Let me assure you that there are some things that I will never forget. Like you will never forget to walk, I will never forget my trade. That is all that matters for this plan. I will demonstrate that momentarily, but the demonstration requires your trust. Can you manage that for a few moments?”
    “I will try my best for you, Master Khatama,” nodded Tedi. “I know that you are taking a great risk in helping me to rescue my mother. I owe you my life for that alone. Tell me what you want me to do.”
    “Take this staff,” offered Master Khatama. “Tell me how it feels to you.”
    Tedi took the staff and felt its balance. He walked through some of his practice moves and smiled.
    “It is the most natural feeling staff I have ever held,” grinned Tedi. “It is as if it was made just for me.”
    “It was,” smiled Master Khatama. “I have been working on it for some time now. There is one final step that must be performed to make it perfect. This is the step that may cause you harm if you do not believe in me. Look into your soul, Tedi. It is important that your trust in me is absolute. I admit that my memory is failing, but you need only trust my ability in magic. Can you do that?”
    Tedi had never known that Master Khatama was a magician before the previous night. But if what Jenneva and Tanya had said was true, he was an extremely competent master of the magical arts. He had seen their magic and he trusted them. Slowly Tedi nodded his head.
    “Tell me what to do, Master Khatama,” Tedi said. “I will trust you.”
    “Good, lad,” smiled Boris. “I want you to hold the staff above your head and pointed towards the sky. Hold it tightly with both hands. Do not let it slip or tip towards the ground.”
    “That’s it?” asked Tedi.
    “That is all,” smiled Boris. “Remember, no matter what happens, you must hold that staff like I have instructed. Do not let go until I tell you to. Your life is at stake here. Trust me.”
    Tedi frowned as he nodded at Master Khatama.