His Grandfather’s GiftCalder macCiaran McLeod took the rose quartz ball his Grandfather Loudon had given him on what he knew would be his last walk on the forest path to the river for a long time. Tomorrow he was taking the morning upriver ferry to Myr-on-Calan, to start his studies at the Royal University at Myr, on its hill in the middle of its river island. His Grandfather Loudon had given Calder the ball a few months ago, the day of his graduation from the village secondary school.
“It was your mother’s; she would want you to have it. Been in your grandmother’s family for years. Your grandmother gave it to your mother when you were born.” He tossed it to Calder and he caught it with one hand. Calder turned it over, looking at the odd marks carved into the stone. When the ball started
