The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

experienced. Some of them lost their mental capacity or control of their bodily functions. There were terrible tales of disease, and the sadness of seeing all of their children die before them, loss of eye sight and being dependent on their family and friends to survive. Gus wanted to die nobly, to nourish an honorable hunter, but he feared it would not happen.
    Gus was aware, due to an encounter with a See-er in his younger years, that he was destined never to be hunted. He was determined not to die a sad, lonely death of age and incapacity, and although it was an honorable goal, when a See-er showed a person their death they rarely escaped it.
    When a hunt had been botched, there was nothing left for the hunter. Honor would not allow him another shot, at least not at the same target. So, all that one could do was hope that his attempted prey would point him in the direction of a food source.
    “My apologies Sir, I assure you I would have honored you if I had bested you in the hunt. If you were incapacitated, I would have.” He tried to appeal to Gus.
    “Yes, you proved that by not killing me after your display of incompetence!” Gus yelled back.
    “Once again, I beg your forgiveness, Sir. I will leave you to heal and be on my way.” He roused himself to leave.
    Gus watched as he gathered his belongings, still healing his leg with his wand. Healing a severed muscle took time, even with a great wand like his. His anger had finally begun to subside as the man headed back into the trees. Honor got the best of him, and he hated himself for giving in to it.
    “Wait, hunter!” He watched as the man came striding back.
    “Sir?” He halted about half way back, afraid he would be verbally assaulted again.
    “You are the world's worst hunter!” Gus barked at him. The man looked thoroughly annoyed, and Gus knew he should be happy to have survived their encounter. After a long moment, each staring hatefully at the other, Gus began again with less anger in his voice. “But you showed honor in your hunt.” He paused again. “If you travel in that direction you will go another three days without food.”
    “I will be in your debt, indeed, if you tell me which direction to travel.” The hunter approached, and knelt in front of Gus.
    Gus took a deep breath, angry at himself for giving up the information. The hunter did not deserve it after the terrible way he had performed with his bow, and yet Gus felt pity for the young lad.
    “A short walk to the northeast,” he shook his head, not believing he would help the fool that had put him in such a foul mood, “there is a meadow, slightly larger than this one.” He got up, testing his weight on his leg and wincing. “There are about four hundred prairie dogs living there.”
    The man stood, looking in the direction he had indicated, eager to leave yet aware that Gus had not finished.
    “Listen up, boy!” Gus was angered by his inattention.
    “But the light is almost gone!”
    “Yes, and sight is only one of your issues. That lousy aim of yours is another. So listen to me!” Gus paused and pointed at the ground for him to kneel again. The hunter shot him an irritated look, but he did as he was told. “Twenty minutes in that same direction you will find a raspberry bush. Stop-there-and-eat!” He gritted his teeth with very pronounced pauses between the words. Then Gus walked close to the man and kicked him in the knee with his newly healed leg. “Then rest! You will hunt much better if you can handle the tension of the bow, you fool!”
    “Yes, you are right, thank you, Sir. You honor me.” He bowed to show respect. “May I have your name?”
    Gus looked at the man, weighing in his mind if he should tell him. Deciding it would be more torturous if he did, he quickly replied, “Gus.”
    The man's face went white, and he asked, “The…”
    Quickly Gus replied, interrupting the man again, “Yes, that is me,” as he shook his head, “and no, I'm not going to be