Stone of Hope

Chapter 22

The scent of death and decay fills my nostrils. My father reacts before I can. “King Gus, what is it that you want?”

In front of the balcony door stands a group of soldiers dressed in all black; it is my first sighting of King Gus and the soldiers of the Darkland Kingdom. King Gus stands in front, his men standing to either side in bristling, menacing rows. It isn’t the size of the men that threatens me, but rather the lethal look in their eyes. Dark magic pulsates so thickly in the air that my hair stands on end.

“What I want just left.” His tone is cold. He turns his back on us confidently and walks out across the balcony, jumping to the ground without a sound. His men follow suit. We rush to the railing and see nothing but blackness.

“Search the grounds!” King Forrest bellows. “Make sure everyone is accounted for. Send all who are injured to our Healer.”

I start to move until I see the spot of blood on the floor from where Jewel once stood. Fear overtakes me. Does King Gus want her, or King Destine? Either way, King Destine better keep her safe until I get there. If his Healer doesn’t restore her, there will be hell to pay. King Destine is no longer playing by the rules.

I claimed her! Everyone heard me give her my title, Starber Jewel. They all know that is how she will be addressed from this point forward.

My heart stops as I realize the magic he must have used to take her. Elder magic. I only know one Elder who could move people like that, wreathed in a cloud of black smoke. I saw the woman once, although she remained cloaked at my mother’s funeral. Elders don’t reveal themselves until the end. They like to remain hidden so they can live amongst us without being sought after. That must mean that he was chosen to receive her Gifts and memories.

Why would she give them to King Destine?

I turn to find some of my men gathered around me. “Men, which one of their trolls hurt her?” My voice echoes in the loud room. Their eyes are glued to me, but no one comes forward. “Did none of you see the attack?”

Paul steps forward. “There are a couple of men who are still knocked out cold, but we will have to wait until our Healer has eased their pain before asking them. Maybe one of them saw something.”

With a grimace, I nod my head. “I want everyone accounted for. Even though we don’t have the stone, if King Gus has arrived on the scene, I’m sure war will soon be upon us. While everyone in our kingdom knows Starber Jewel is a person, it’s only a matter of time before the rumors spread to the South and they are invaded for the stone. Meet at The Roots when all our people are accounted for.”

Instructions given, I set out to find Molly. I check her room first and can’t find her, but there is one more place I can think of to search. Making my way up the stairs, I round the corner and hear sobs coming from Jewel’s room. I swing the door open to find Molly weeping onto her pillow. “Molly?”

She lifts her head. Her face is blotchy and her eyes are puffy. Leaping up, she throws her hands around my neck. “I tried to warn Alfred, but it was too late!” she manages between snuffles.

Unsure how to comfort her, I rub her back awkwardly and try to console her. “Warn him about what? Molly, I need you to tell me what happened.”

Each time she tries to speak, she starts crying again. At some point, Alfred joins us and catches my eye from the doorway. I motion for him to come inside, where he scoops her into his arms and sets her on his lap. He rubs large, slow circles on her back, soothing her enough so she can talk.

Her tears starting to subside, Molly begins, “Right before the door exploded, Jewel described seeing a man on the balcony who fit the description of a Southern troll. When she told me he was wearing grey clothes, I knew it was King Destine. She said he was on the balcony with her before I went to go get her.” She grabs my arm, frantic. “I tried! I tried to get her to leave the ballroom with me and the other women, but she wouldn’t move. She just stood there watching. I couldn’t bear to see it!” Her sobbing starts again. “I’m so sorry! This is all my fault. Norell told me he took her, and that she was hurt. I should have tried harder.” She lets go of my arm and weeps into Alfred’s chest, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Molly, this is not your fault,” I tell her sternly. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” I nod at Alfred and walk out, knowing he will tend to her. My steps are fueled by anger. The troll who hurt Jewel will pay. Rounding the corner, I run into our Healer as she kneels on the floor, tending to one of the wounded. “How bad are they?” I ask, fearing the answer.

“We didn’t lose anyone, Prince Timber. Everyone is intact, if a little bruised,” she answers efficiently, dressing someone’s arm. “His soldiers could have done a lot worse. They knocked out several on the way to the castle and to the ballroom before they left, but there didn’t seem to be any intent to seriously injure our people.”

“No casualties; that”s great news,” I offer, heaving a sigh of relief. Seeing several of my men approach, I seize the chance to ask them what they saw. I excuse myself and head over to where a cluster of men have gathered. Unfortunately, none of them caught anything important; most of them were knocked out before the real fighting began. Exhaling my frustration, I turn and find Avery. His words chill me to my bones.

“It was the first soldier you fought with,” he explains. “She is the reason you did not receive the thorn branch.”

Thorn branches are poisonous. The thorns not only embed themselves in the attacker’s target, but they also release a poison that weakens the victim. Trolls use them because when a sword connects with the branch, thorns can fall and stick themselves in the opponent.

“What are you saying, Avery?”

“You were down on the floor and the soldier was bringing the branch down, but instead of hitting you, he got Jewel instead. She jumped in front of you and took the hit instead of you.” He lowered his eyes, ashamed. “I’m sorry, Prince. I was standing by the door when King Destine exploded into the room. I tried to usher all the women out of the ballroom, but just when I turned to reach you, someone slammed into me from behind and knocked me out.”

Putting my hand on his shoulder, I give a reassuring squeeze. “Thank you, Avery. Feel better soon.” Leaving the men to compare wounds, I jog to The Roots and wait for Paul to show up with the headcount. Then, we will discuss our plan of action.