Chapter XII, Reading 5

"Yes, I did child.  The crystals are responding to your power.  You are the key to our fight and the White is reflecting that."

"Oh."  Flindra then placed all but the blue crystal on the floor.  She picked up the scepter and held it next to the blue gem.  "This doesn't feel right," she murmured as she looked at the two.

She gazed at the ruby spinel at the top of the shaft.  It was a large stone - dark red with faint traces of black in the interior of the gem.  In her heart, she knew that as beautiful as the gem was it didn't fit the purpose of the scepter.  Flindra grasped the spinel and with a quick twist of her hand popped the gem from its socket on the scepter.

Kewero gasped in shock at her audacity.  "Flindra what are you doing?"

"Bear with me, Kewero.  You will soon see what must be."

Flindra then took the blue crystal and held it to the shaft of the scepter.  An intense light erupted from the crystal as she withdrew her hand.  Both women had to look away from the blinding intensity of the light.  After several moments the light faded and they could look at the scepter.

The blue gem had fused itself to the shaft.  The gold had melted around the crystal forming a perfect setting for the gem.  The crystal radiated in a newfound power.  This was the place for the blue ellipsoid.  It fit.

"Well I'll be...How did you know, Flindra?"

She shrugged her shoulders.  "I don't know really, I just felt that this was the way it was supposed to be.  This is the crystal meant for my King.  It is appropriate to have it in the scepter.  It combines the functions - King and champion."

"What will you do with the spinel?  After all, it was part of King Meldh's gift to you."

"I will give it to my King along with the other treasures.  It will be part of my dowry."

"You understand, of course, that all must be kept safe until the right time?"

Flindra smiled briefly before she answered.  "I understand.  Everything will be safe with me."  She wrinkled her brow as she concentrated on her coming journey.  "I'll have to come up with some way to hide them."

"Already taken care of.  See this saddle?"

"Yes."

"It was made by a smuggler.  We'll be able to hide everything in the wooden saddletree and no one will be the wiser."

"You think of everything!" Flindra noted in amazement and then she grinned mischievously.  "How is it that you're familiar with a smuggler, Kewero?"

The old woman laughed.  "When one has lived as long as I have, one has the chance to befriend many different sorts of people.  Sometimes friendships grow in the most unexpected places.  Keep that in mind when you search for your comrades in this fight."

"I will."

"Trust Rigga and your own heart when meeting new people.  You should be able to see into their natures."

"I'll do what I can."

Kewero smiled.  "All right.  Now that I've given you the treasures you need to take with you, it's time to review what you have learned.  Show me my time has not been wasted and that you've been listening to your lessons."

Flindra laughed.  "Very well, my mentor.  Let me unpack everything you've crammed into my brain.  Holler if you see anything missing."

Kewero could only hug Flindra as the two of them laughed together.