A Reluctant Duelist

All appraisers living in magical Geneva sooner or later become collectors. When we get our hands on works of art brimming with the energy of Creation, the desire to possess them becomes almost irresistible. What can we say about things in which energetic entities have taken root. I never thought I’d start wasting away over something like Koresh over gold, but the exhibits in my mini-collection took on some kind of sacred value for me. Especially the White Spine—the magic wand obtained in a relatively fair fight. Alas, dreaming about the prospects that come with owning a unique artifact, I forgot that elves consider the Spine their relic. And it should have been wise to hand over an asset that was far too toxic—but the catch is that the pointy-eared folk decided that the transfer of the wand requires my death in a ritual duel. For entirely understandable reasons, I absolutely don’t agree to that. In the fourth book, the hero’s adventures continue. The elves want their relic back, which fate has put into the hands of Nazary Aristarhovich, but he is in no hurry to give it back. So the elves decide to hold a duel: the winner will receive the White Spine. What comes of that—you’ll find out in the audiobook.