Stone of Hope

Chapter 29

Stopping before we reach the doors that lead to the Healing wing, Joycelyn throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly. “Jewel, you’ll never know how much I’m indebted to you. Miko and I have been seeing each other for years – what feels like a lifetime.”

I knew there was something between them!

She starts walking again. “We’ve never been linked – what you would call ‘marriage’ – because I’m one of the few Healers around and we knew I could be sent away at any moment. Destine has known about us all along, but he’s kept us together even though he’s received lavish offers to relocate me. Even so, we thought for sure he would cave in when his father died. His father, King Summit left the kingdom in shambles with no money, resources, or growth. Understandably, the people were unhappy. Even though the kingdom needed money to climb out of King Summit’s debt, King Destine refused to accept the offers.”

She stops walking, musing, “I think he knows Miko is the love of my life, and that Miko can’t leave because he knows too much about the Kingdom and the royal family’s secrets. Most of the Kingdom is grateful for Destine because he made the Kingdom strong again. But in doing so, he made a lot of enemies.”

“Is that why he’s known as a ruthless leader?” I ask.

Joycelyn admits, “Yes, in some ways. He dug us out of a deep Depression with the Kingdom working as hard as we could to pay off King Summit’s debts. Actually, an uprising was already forming when King Summit had his unfortunate accident. His injuries were so severe I was unable to Heal them alone, and he died as a result.” She bows her head. “The Kingdom waited anxiously for Destine to step forward with answers, but the only answer he could give was fear; fear for the lives of his people if we continued on the path set forward by his father. As a result, he had to rule with an iron fist to bring his kingdom back to its former glory.”

The Healer continued, “Destine made everyone work. No one was allowed to sit idle; even children and the elderly had a job to do. It took years, but he led his people out of the Depression. During this time, everything was rationed. No one starved, but our bellies were never full. If you were caught stealing or breaking any laws, you were put to death. Some of the lucky ones were banished; children were the only ones allowed to learn from their mistakes.” Seeing my look of horror, she hurries to explain, “While the laws were harsh, it was imperative that they were followed for the good of the whole.”

After pondering what I just learned, Destine’s behavior with Miko makes a lot more sense to me. “So that’s why he seems to only see things in black or white?”

“Well, typically yes… but he seems to dip into the gray area for you,” Joycelyn admits with a rueful smile. “For that, Miko and I will forever be in your debt.” Stopping in front of a door, she opens it to reveal Miko propped up in bed reading. As soon as he sees us, he puts the book down and motions for us to come closer.

I place my hand in his, feeling the questions bubble out. “Are you feeling okay? Did Joycelyn Heal you? What did Destine do to you? Wait, I don’t want to know.”

Miko raises his hand placatingly, promising, “Jewel, I’m fine. Everything will be fine.”

I look into his eyes, needing to ask the question but afraid to hear the answer. “Do you forgive me for jumping in front of Timber?”

Miko sighs. “The moment I hit you instead of Prince Timber, I tried to fight my way back to tell Destine, but then I was fighting back-to-back with him against King Forrest. The next thing I knew, he was leaving with you. When our eyes met across the room, I thought for sure he knew I’d hit you; that he saw me inflict the blow.”

My throat clogs with tears and I fight to hold back a sob. I dimly recall the moment he’s talking about, although it’s remembered through a haze of pain and confusion.

He continues, “Once he realized you were injured, I’m ashamed to admit that all I could think of was my sweet Joycelyn and not being able to say goodbye. I knew Destine would have to kill me to prove his point, and it tore me apart to think about what life would be like for my beloved, being forced to live with someone she considers a friend, knowing he killed her love.

“But when you refused to answer the King’s continued pleas to give up your attacker, it gave me time. Time to spend with her, even though we knew it was borrowed time.” At this point, Joycelyn walks over to the bed and takes Miko’s other hand, cradling it in her own. With a lingering look at Joycelyn, Miko continues his explanation. “Joycelyn and I have known Destine our whole lives, and he’s never backed down from the law; either the ones he created, or the ones of the realm. If this tragic event was destined to happen, we are grateful it happened to you. You are strong, brave, and have a wisdom past many years of what it should be. I wish our race could think more like you. BelovedineJewel, there is nothing to forgive.”

Wiping away a tear, I give him a big hug and sink against him with relief, knowing that two people so in love can still be together. He wraps his arms around me and for the first time since arriving here in the South, I know I’ve made a true friend. Releasing him, I smile. “Well, now that that’s settled, I need you to tell me something else. Miko, Joycelyn mentioned that you know all the royal family’s secrets.” He nods, and I continue, looking between his face and Joycelyn’s. “Can you tell me what Belovedine means?”

As expected, Miko shares a poignant look with Joycelyn before speaking. She nods her head, resigned, and Miko explains, “‘Beloved’ means ‘one of a kind’. The last three letters of a suitor’s name, in this case, -ine from Destine, are placed at the end. The literal translation of ‘Belovedine’ is that King Destine has marked you as his, for all to know you are his chosen Queen. Only royalty gets a title before their name.”

Horrified and angry at the same time, I explode, “What do you mean Destine marked me?”

Miko gestures for me to lower my voice and sit down beside him. “Before you get too upset, know that you have a choice where Destine is concerned. We were all instructed to start calling you Belovedine so Prince Timber would realize his claim on you has been usurped. Even though he shouted out, ‘Starber Jewel’—”

I gasp. “What? When did he do that?”

Miko winces. “Right before Destine escaped with you, Timber marked you as his betrothed by calling out ‘Starber Jewel’. By the laws of this realm, the utterance of those words is enough to take you off the market, as it were; however, Destine didn’t care. He still took you and claimed you.” Miko’s lips curve upward.

“Hmph.” I roll my eyes. “You call it escape, but I call it kidnapping.”

He shrugs with a smile. “Now that I think about it, King Destine has broken protocol with you since the moment he saw you standing on the balcony at the Festival of Woods.”

I remain silent, contemplating what I’ve just learned. Part of me is pissed off that females are considered ‘property’ in this realm, to be bartered and claimed against their will. That pissed-off side wants to storm up to Timber and Destine and tell them exactly where they can stuff their betrothals and titles. The optimistic, hopeful part of me wants to become Queen – either with Destine, or with Timber – to help them shepherd this realm into another way of life. But first, I need answers.

“Thank you for being honest with me, but one part still doesn’t make sense,” I reply. “Why would Destine let Timber into the Southern Kingdom, knowing I’d already been claimed, if Destine knew he wasn’t supposed to take me?”

Miko nods his head, pondering his answer. “Well, that part is a little more complicated. I don’t want to get into trouble for sharing too much, but, Jewel, someone is leaking information about you. You see, there’s another Troll kingdom in our realm that no one really talks about, because no one wants to believe they exist, but we all know they do. The Darkland Kingdom.”

“Yes, I know about the Darkland. My father is a Seeker from there,” I disclose.

When Miko’s eyes go wide at my revelation, I realize with a start that even if he knows many of the kingdom’s secrets, he doesn’t know them all. He takes a minute to respond. “Soldiers from the Darkland Kingdom have been spotted close by, although I’m sure there are others who are stealthier. That’s why King Destine has been sleeping in your room.”

I swivel my head back and forth between Miko and Joycelyn, still confused. “I still don’t understand why everyone wants me!”

Joycelyn attempts to clarify. “Jewel, you represent a bright light that has come to our realm at a very dark time. Our people are scared about the future of trolls throughout the Troll Realm. However, when Miko and I are around you, we feel calm. I’m sure others have noticed, as well.” Shrugging her shoulders at her inability to express what she means, she adds, “It’s hard to explain, but you bring happiness.”

It’s not me, it’s the necklace.

Just then, a knock sounds at the door. As Joycelyn and I stand, James pokes his head inside.

“Jewel, King Destine and Prince Timber have requested your presence.”

Taking a deep breath, I gear myself up for what I assume will be a meeting to win my affections.

Screw their markings and titles.