Creel tells Shea that the Black Irix that Keltset the rock troll used to save their lives and was lost when he was killed has been acquired by a collector of rare artifacts called Kestra Chule.

He tells Shea that he must use the power of the elfstones to help him find and recover it so that he can return it to his fallen comrade’s family.

Shea then uses the elfstones to discover that the Black Irix is hidden in a vault in Kestra Chule’s private quarters within his fortress.

Chule promises to lock the brothers up overnight and release them in the morning, perhaps… Flick is angry that Shea trusted Creel despite his warnings, but in the early morning hours the Ohmsford brother’s cell door opens and there stands Panamon Creel.

On the road Creel informs the brothers that Chule had told him he had acquired the Black Irix and needed somewhere to store it.

He reveals that after the brothers had been confined, he slipped some sleeping potion into Chule’s drink, and while he slept, stole the Black Irix, and the elfstones back.