Читать книгу Element. Flame of Elisar онлайн

The curly pattern glowed even brighter than before, and the gem turned deep blue. But that was not the end of transformation. The blade was streaming again, and for a few moments flickering metal streams rushed to the hot gem gathering into something looking like an octopus, which wriggled and coiled. And as soon as the metamorphosis was complete we could see a bracelet – wide and beautiful, featuring the same curls and the bright blue gem right in the middle. The shape and size – slightly rough and tough – were proof that it was all designed to serve a man.

As I bent down to get a better look at the shining ring Truvle shouted, “Ricka! I told you not to touch it!”

“Yeah, I know! Didn’t even think about it!” I said as I jerked my hand back.

He gave me a look of mistrust and frowned while I was trying to compose a totally innocent and attractive face, as if saying, “Well, it wasn’t even me!”

“You can’t touch it before I add the fixer. Otherwise all work is a mess!” he mumbled and turned to the cabinet to take some flask. This time the bottle was of an unusual red color.

He opened it, came up to the anvil and splashed the bracelet with the liquid that turned into red streaks.

“It’s blood!” I realized.

“Blood…” Truvle replied, “its future owner’s blood.”

“Do you mean it’s a Vernor?” I was shocked now.

“You beeet!” and the man gave a happy chuckle again.

A Vernor was a weapon that remained faithful, and submitted to, one master alone. Should the master’s enemy get such a thing… well, all we can say is it would never make that enemy happy. It might remain safe only if given by the owner himself to someone else, yet it would lose its magical powers immediately.

“Well, finished now!” Truvle was definitely happy as he patted my shoulder with his enormous hand. All I could do was just utter a squeak – his hand was heavy enough to kill a bull. And then, realizing he had nearly crushed me, Truvle said, as if by way of apology, “You know, I’ve got you a gift!” I could see his eyes full of sparkle. “Sorry to come a bit late with this, just had to find the right metal.”