Stone of Hope

Chapter 7

“Timber, I know Molly said early, but it’s still dark outside!” I grumble, yawning. “I don’t even feel like I slept yet.” I can’t seem to shake the fog in my head.

“Jewel, I promise this will be worth it. It’ll satisfy your craving for information.”

It’s far too early in the morning for the level of excitement in his voice, but I grudgingly follow him until we reach the edge of a garden. The sun is just now beginning to crest over two smooth, mammoth-sized pieces of intertwined wood. The thickness changes, fatter to thinner in an alternating pattern as it winds to the top, almost as if the wood is dancing and moving together. The sculpture is stunning.

Timber leads me to a bench in front of the sculpture and we sit, our shoulders touching as we admire the sculpture. He smells of pine and a hint of nutmeg, and I feel a sense of unsettling nostalgia hit me. In an effort to extricate myself, I get up and make my way between two nearby pillars, looking out over the land. Has Ash found my father yet? Surely he knows I’m gone by now. I walk on the stone path as it curves around several more pillars, coming to a stop at one that catches my eye. I run my fingers through the carved grooves, the smooth bumps of inlaid gems creating a sense of near peace within me. For a moment, I forget where I am. I get lost in the craftsmanship as I circle around the pillar, mesmerized. Suddenly I feel a hand on my lower back, jarring me from my thoughts.

Timber doesn’t seem to notice, explaining, “Each pillar represents a kingdom. This one here is North, which is made of wood. The stone one over there,” he points, “represents the South, which is King Destine’s Kingdom.” Turning us both, he points at a dark green pillar broken by lines weaving throughout, though they are carved crudely and don’t flow as smoothly as the North pillar. “That pillar represents the Darkland, although we don’t have an exact representation of their natural land. I’ve only been close once, and their trees are black, not green. You’ll notice there are no gems on the Darkland pillar, because we do not align ourselves with King Gus.”

Feeling an ominous wind, I can’t help but ask, “Why is King Gus feared so much?”

“It is said that long ago, there was a secret society built to be fearless, showing no mercy or sympathy to its inhabitants. The land used to be called the East Kingdom, but that name was replaced when the land began to change. Soon, the natural habitat of the woods and land started to decompose. The smell of death rose from the ground, creating a dismal and murky land. The kingdom that was once beautiful is now cold and dismal. Snow lies on the ground year-round. It became known as the Darkland Realm, inhabited by the types of people with whom you don’t want to start a war. They are known for using measures such as murder and torture. Growing up, we are told if you spot a Darklander to run, for they will not give you an easy death.”

I walk over to the stone pillar. “Do the other kingdoms search for the same stone you do, and do they use the same measures?”

He follows me. “Yes, the others search for the stone as well, but we don’t use tactics such as murder or torture.” I scoff disbelievingly, but he grabs my hands, his face earnest. “Jewel, his kingdom went after children. They took them from their families and kept them captive as his prisoners. Then, King Gus tortured the children and forced the parents to hear their screams, hoping it would make them tell him where the stone was.”

The air in my lungs can’t seem to find a way out. Who injures children?Oh, God…My father works for him? I feel sick. Timber studies me quietly, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of my hand. I try to breathe with the rhythm he creates. Timber guides me away from the pillar, closer to the bench where he gestures for me to sit.

“Another way we search for the stone is to see if one of the other kingdoms is growing,” he explains.

Struggling to catch up to his train of thought, I ask, “How does a kingdom grow?”

He takes a seat next to me, releasing my hand just a moment before capturing it again with his other hand. “Females are more fertile, the land produces more food, and more babies are born with Gifts, to name a few. Each of those traits could be attributed to the stone.”

I reach for my mother’s necklace, realizing belatedly that it is still safely secured around my ankle. Ash’s warning held true. They did take and destroy my other belongings. Placing my hand back down, I stare out into the distance. This is so much to process.

We sit side by side in silence for several minutes, then Timber points to the second to last pillar, resuming our conversation from before. “The one made of sand, shells, and gems is the West Kingdom. King Graylyn is a gentle soul, and leader of the smallest kingdom. He doesn’t have a Healer, which causes his population to be smaller, but it is blessed as one of the prettiest kingdoms. It’s the only kingdom that boasts miles and miles of sandy beaches. All other kingdoms have cliffs that border the water.”

“What kingdom does the middle pillar represent?” I ask, sure there is a special significance associated with it.

“Ah, so you noticed.” He smiles. “It represents the land that is untouched within the Troll Realm, except for a few carved-out paths. We only seek to use what we need, but no one needs to have ownership of that much land. The power of the stone is what we want, true, but not for the sake of being the most powerful kingdom. We want the stone so we can be the most productive. So we can thrive.” He points to a tower just to the left of us. “Do you want to climb the stairs? This garden is actually a map of our realm when seen from up there. The path you walked on denotes the borders of the kingdoms, and the smaller paths are the trails that lead to each kingdom.”

Interested to see how all the lands connect, I reply, “I’d love to.”

Timber stands and offers me his hand to help me up. We’re just taking our first steps when the sound of crunching gravel reaches our ears, heralding Paul’s unexpected arrival.

The picture of formality, Paul addresses Timber. “I’m sorry to interrupt your lesson, but you are needed back at the castle, Prince Timber.”

Timber nods his head and instructs, “Stay with Jewel.” He turns to me. “I’m sorry I must cut our lesson short, but I’ll see you again later.”

“Thank you for the lesson,” I reply, surprised to find I mean it. It was certainly a lot of information, but now I know where I can study a map of the realm.

Timber nods slightly before walking away, and Paul takes his place. “Where did he leave off?” he inquires, holding his elbow out to escort me.

I smile at the courteous gesture. “He was just about to take me to the tower to see the garden map of the realm.”

“Well, I’m more than happy to continue in his place, if you’d like.”

I loop my arm in his. “Yes, I’d love to.” We steadily make our way toward the tower. As soon as we round a curve in the path, I pounce. “Have you spoken with Ash?”

He turns his eyes back to the path, keeping his voice low as he answers. “I haven’t spoken with him since the night you came.”

“Why does King Forrest want to talk to my father so badly?” I demand. Paul’s eyes dart back to mine in question as I continue. “At dinner last night, he wanted to know an awful lot about him.”

Paul chooses his words carefully, continuing our progress on the path. “If I had to guess, I’d say he wants information on King Gus and the Darkland Kingdom. He finds it odd that King Gus would allow your father to have and shelter a half-breed daughter, and then allow you both to live as permanent residents in a different realm. Especially since King Gus has the well-earned reputation of being calculating and ruthless, particularly with children.” He shakes his head. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

I nod my head, having already come to the same conclusion. “I agree.”

Just then, a horn blares. Paul cradles me in his arms so fast it startles me. “I’m taking you inside as a precaution. That’s not our horn; it’s one from a different kingdom.”

He races even faster than Ash, bringing me through the garden and inside the castle in mere seconds. I shut my eyes, trying to quell the dizziness that assaults my stomach.

“We will be safe here at The Roots,” Paul consoles as he places my feet on the ground. Looking around at the room I first glimpsed just a few hours ago, I’m amazed again at the many varieties of loops and swirls etched by different hands that still somehow look like they belong together. A sudden tingle in the air causes the hair on my arms to rise. I look at Paul, frightened, and know I’m not the only one affected, as he draws his sword and moves to a defensive stance in the middle of the room.

Out of nowhere, Ash appears.

I run to him and hug him as tight as I can. His arms encircle me and I’m comforted by the familiar smell of peach tree flowers that waft off his shirt. He smells of home. My voice is muffled from being pressed against the front of his shirt when I ask, “Was my father home? Does he know I’m here?”

“Hello to you, too,” he jokes, earning an eye roll he can’t see. “He wasn’t home, but I left him a note. We made plans long ago in the event something like this happened. He knows you’ll be safe with me. Plus,” he rummages in his bag, “I grabbed something for you.”

When I see what he pulls out of the bag, my lips curve into the biggest smile. I hold out my hands expectantly as he places my old tennis shoes in them. I make my way to one of the benches scattered throughout the room, lift the hem of my dress, and quickly discard my heels, sinking my feet into the most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve worn in what feels like an eternity.

Smiling at my blissful face, Ash walks over and kneels in front of me. “Listen, Jewel – I have to go back. The King wants me to find your father, and as his Seeker, I must go. Know I will come back as soon as I have word, or at the very least, I’ll do my best to send updates to keep your mind at ease.” He stands and looks back at Paul, a silent conversation between them hanging in the air. “The portal is still open and I must go. Paul will keep you safe.” He kisses my forehead and walks over to where he first appeared. With one last goodbye, he walks through an invisible door and is gone.

The sound of many boots stomping on the floor makes me close my bewildered mouth and tear my eyes away from where Ash just disappeared. A large gust of wind heralds the arrival of Prince Timber and King Forrest, along with a retinue of soldiers. Timber looks back and forth between me and Paul before asking me to leave in clipped tones.

“Avery, please escort Jewel back to her room. I’ll be there shortly. I must debrief my men.” The seriousness of his tone leaves no room for argument. His mouth is pressed in a flat line as he narrows his eyes at Paul.

I look back and forth between them, sensing the building tension, and decide to ask Timber whose horn that was for later. The guard, Avery extends his hand to mine. As I place mine in his, he tucks it into the crook of his arm. Turning, we leave The Roots and travel through the tangled warren of hallways until we come to a stop in front of my room.

Staying in the hall, Avery bids me good night and I close the door. I walk across the room and sit on the bed, belatedly remembering I left my heels back in The Roots room. I turn my head, looking around at the same four walls. Seconds tick by, then minutes, and then hours.

The room no longer seems cozy; it feels like a cage. A gilded one, complete with all the trappings, but no more than a prison. Once again, I’m caught up in the unknown.