Trying to find a fantasy novel
Decades ago, I read a young-adult fantasy novel that I'm trying to locate more information about.
I can't remember very much. There's a boy who comes across a magical gauntlet (maybe found in the crux of a tree after lightning split it?) that can do things like conjure defenses. He winds up allying with an assortment of characters (including someone trying to teach him how to use the gauntlet?) and is being hunted by a ruthless character who has the other gauntlet of the pair and knows how to use it.
In one scene, the main character uses his gauntlet to generate a wall that blocks a spider-like creature conjured by the antagonist using the other gauntlet.
That's about all I can remember from it. I probably read it in the mid- to late-90s. Google searches haven't provided me with anything that far back, and nothing that sounds like what I read.
If you have any idea what book this might be, please let me know. It's not life-or-death, but it would solidify some old memories I have, which would be nice.