Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two (29 page)

I shot him my best glare and he clamped his mouth shut.
“This isn’t a mistake,” I said. “It’s just another way the rebellion ensures
secrecy. I’ll figure it out once we’re there.” As the words left my lips, I
didn’t doubt them. I had come too far to let a minor puzzle deter me.

“Let’s go,” I said. I tucked the paper back inside my
clothing and took the chain from Lirig. After I dropped it over my head, I
tucked the symbol into my shirt. “I’ll go first to make sure it’s safe but I’ll
take Haji with me. Her wound might convince them we’re not a threat.”

I slid my sword into its sheath and motioned for everyone to
follow. We kept to the shadows of trees as we walked, slow and deliberate. Once
we reached the outskirts of the village, I was pleased to see the streets
mostly empty. A woman sitting outside her cottage with an angry look on her
face eyed us warily but Nil just chuckled.

“Probably waiting for her husband to come home,” he
murmured. A couple of men were arguing outside a rundown home but they gave us
no more than a couple quick glances. It wasn’t until we drew near the tavern
that the streets suddenly seemed alive with people. Music from inside filtered
through the door and filled the air. Most people were heading inside but here
and there, someone stumbled out, either shouting slurred obscenities or
pointing and giggling over something none of us could see.

“It’s the pashga,” Nil whispered. “It’s a drink that creates
all sorts of hallucinations. Sometimes even the worst dreams are better than
reality.” He shrugged. “It’s how most people escape their lives for a time.”

I sighed. “Then they’re probably too confused to notice us.”
I pointed to the darkened corner where I’d hid earlier in the day. “Lirig,
Faema, and Nil, take cover right there. Unless you’re attacked by soldiers,
wait for me.”

After they retreated into the shadows, I put my arm around
Haji and gently led her past the tavern. “As far as anyone knows, we’re brother
and sister out for a stroll this fine evening,” I whispered.

“Right,” she said. “With an arm that’s been hacked to
pieces.”

“Not for long.”

I smiled down at her and urged her toward the alley I’d seen
on the parchment. My nose immediately picked up the scent of mold and filth and
I had to stop and allow my eyes to adjust to the lack of light.

“There’s nothing back here, Sai,” Haji said.

“Trust me, Haj,” I withdrew my arm from her. “Stay put for a
second.”

Inching forward, I ran my fingers along the wall, in search
of something that would give me an indication I was in the right place. When I
came upon the back wall of the alley, I still hadn’t found anything. I let out
a frustrated sigh until someone cleared his throat inches away from me.

“Are you looking to be gutted?” A male voice asked. “Because
wandering around in my territory will get you just that.”

I chuckled in spite of the threat. I’d be a match for
anyone, even in the dark. “I was told the necklace I bought today was made
somewhere nearby.”

“You got it with you?”

I pulled it over my head and grasped it in my hand. “Yes.”

Suddenly, a small torch was lit and the man’s face was
bathed in light. He was cleaner than I thought he’d be and his clothing was of
higher quality than most I’d seen. His hair was coal black and his features
were strong. I guessed he was only a few years older than me.

He didn’t smile as I opened my fist and showed him the tree,
but I couldn’t help smiling.

“Who is that with you?” the man flicked his head toward
Haji.

“I have other friends who are waiting. This one has been
injured badly by the king’s soldiers. I was hoping someone could help her.”

He narrowed his eyes at me.

“There are five of us,” I explained.

He thought about this for several moments. Finally, he
motioned for Haji to come forward. When she’d reached my side, he snuffed out
the torch in the ground. I heard him rustling around until I felt him reach out
and grab my arm.

“Watch your step,” he growled. I felt myself being shoved
forward. Before I could react, my foot found empty space and I stumbled. I
pushed out my hands to catch myself as I fell. Before I went very far, I found
steps descending beneath me.

“Haji!” I said.

“Quiet. I’ve got her,” the man said. “Just move.”

I didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, I put my hands out
to my sides and steadied myself on the wall that surrounded each side of the
stairs.

I’d seen something like this in Vairda long ago. The
mainlanders had carved out a tunnel and cavern into one of our mountains and I
guessed that I was descending into something similar. This time, I was going
underground.

 From above, I heard the earth shift and move which
confirmed my suspicions. The second it stopped, the torch flared again. I
glanced back and saw Haji being guided gently down the stairs. I sighed with
relief.

“Hold this,” the man said and thrust the torch into my
hands. With both hands free, he swept Haji into his arms and followed me down
the stairs. Finally, we reached solid ground.

In front of me was a large, brightly lit cavern.  I was
facing a large common area where many people milled about and seemed to be
working on various projects. Further into the cavern, it looked as though it
had been divided into chambers and each separate space had been fitted with a
wooden door.

“I need a healer!” the man called out behind me. Instantly,
heads turned in our direction. Three people immediately stopped what they were
doing and ran toward us. I moved aside to give them access to Haji.

The only male among the healers took her from our guide
while the two women gently examined her wound.

“We’ll need to use a gem. It’s too deep for herbs,” one of
them said.  “Take her to the infirmary.”

“Wait!” I said. I moved to follow the three healers but a
firm hand slapped down on my shoulder, hard.

“You’re not going anywhere. You need to be searched and
interviewed.”

I nodded in agreement. I’d known it was inevitable. “I have
other friends waiting outside the tavern. They could be in danger. I need to go
back for them first.”

“I’ll send someone out to retrieve them. We have watchers
all over this city. We know who you arrived with. But you’re coming with me.”
The guide pulled out his sword and aimed it at my chest. I fought the urge to
withdraw my own. Instead, I bowed my head in assent and let him lead me deeper
into the cavern.

“The name is Baen,” he told me once he’d sequestered me in a
small, dark room. Before he could say anything more, several more men strolled
in and stood along the wall with their swords drawn.

“Remove all of your weapons and toss them in that corner,”
Baen instructed.

I gritted my teeth but did as I was told. First I removed my
sword and the spear I’d kept wrapped like a walking staff. When I unraveled the
fabric from it, most of the men’s eyes bulged out of their heads. I smiled a
little as I flung it into the far wall where it embedded itself into the hard
packed earth.

Afterwards, I removed my bow and arrows, two more knives, my
blow pipe, and two bags of poison tipped darts. When I was finished, I turned
to see Baen staring at me with a look of admiration.

“That’s quiet the arsenal.”

I shrugged. “We do what we can to stay alive.”

“I haven’t seen workmanship like that around here. It’s an
unusual style.”

“That’s because I’m not from here.”

Before Baen could respond, someone knocked on the door.

“Enter,” he called out. The door swung open and the woman
I’d bought the necklace from strolled in.

“That’s him,” she said, her face breaking into a genuine
smile. “He traded with this.” She withdrew my stone knife from her skirts and
passed it to Baen. He rolled the weapon around in his hands and ran a finger
along the black blade.

“Where did you get this?” he asked.

“I made it. I make all my weapons. Except for the sword.
That was given to me by Tereg, son of King Shir.”

Baen’s eyes snapped to mine. He studied me in silence for
many long seconds. Finally, he shrugged.

“Perhaps we should ask Tereg to verify this.”

The elation on my face must have confused him. “He’s here?”
I asked. I took a step toward him but he backed up, his eyes wide.

“No. I thought you might be lying.”

“I’m not lying. I lived in Vairda with him.”

Baen and the woman stared at me, mouths agape.

“Then it’s true?” the woman asked. “There are others coming
to help?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know of any others besides myself
and my friends. I’m here to find the Gem Heiress.”

Baen laughed. “No one sees the Gem Heiress. Only her parents
and a few tribe leaders know where she’s at. Some still don’t believe she
exists.”

“I came here from Vairda to find her.”

“Well, when you do, let her know we’d all like to meet her.”
Baen turned away from me and tossed my knife into the weapon pile. “You can
have that back after you’ve proven yourself.”

“I can prove that I’m of Sea Dweller descent. Isn’t that
proof enough that I’m telling the truth?”

Baen’s eyes glittered dangerously. “There’s so much more to
it than just telling us where you came from and why you’re here. We expect
those who join us to serve our cause. And nobody comes to us for help unless
they’re willing to pay for it.” He folded his arms across his chest and
grinned. “We have a few tests in mind that will allow us to measure your
loyalty and serve as repayment for healing your friend. And even if you pass,
you may wonder if death would have been the better outcome.”

“Aylen, no gems!” I heard someone yell. I shook my head and
halted mid-swing.

“Was I doing it again?” I asked.

Several of the other people who’d been training with me
moaned.

“If it makes you feel any better,” Hesper called from
outside the fence, “it looked incredible.”

I let my sword drop to my side and wiped beads of
perspiration from my forehead with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry. It just
happens.”

“Don’t feel bad,” Hesper said. “They’re all just jealous.”

“That doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s still
cheating,” Jeshin, one of Cole’s friends, said.

Over the past couple weeks, it had grown easier to connect
to multiple gems without even knowing it, including the Warrior Gem. Even when
I wasn’t in a training session, I’d practiced Tanerris’ methods every chance I
got. As long as I tied my desires for the gems to memories and gentle
persuasion, their abilities simply crept in and enhanced whatever I was doing
at the time. It was difficult to perfectly balance this and I still feared
losing control but Tanerris had told me I needed to stop trying to shut them
out altogether when they weren’t in use. It was like keeping a door cracked enough
to let in a sliver of light instead of slamming it shut and then opening it
only to be blinded.

The only gem I still struggled to fully control was the
Destroyer, but Tanerris had agreed it wasn’t a typical gem. Even its tribe
members never seemed fully in control of themselves.

“Why don’t you just take the necklace off for sword
practice?” someone asked when several of us paused for a rest.

“Aluce would kill me.”

“Have you seen her around lately?” Cole pointed out. “I’ll
bet you I could take you flying right now and she would never find out.”

Hesper clapped her hands. “Yes! Let’s do it!”

I shook my head. “I’m seriously considering it. Where’s she
been lately?”

“Hasn’t your mom said anything?” Jeshin asked.

“Not a lot. They’ve both clammed up. A while back I heard
Aluce was busy keeping my trainers content while they remained in Et Loedin.”

Several of my friends snorted.

I shrugged, hating to admit I knew so little about Aluce’s
whereabouts. “Of course, that probably isn’t accurate.”

“Your mom is still spending most of her time in the map
rooms tracking rebel movements, isn’t she?” Hesper asked. “My father says she’s
almost obsessive about it but she’s trying to keep tabs on where your father
is.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. We’ve received fewer messages from
him lately and I think it worries her.”

“You should ask her what Aluce is up to. She’ll be honest
with you if you confront her about it.”

I walked toward the fence and leaped over it. “I’m done for
the day,” I called back to the rest of my sparring partners.

“Good riddance. Maybe we can finally have a fair fight,”
said Kaffa. She’d been the most resistant toward my presence during sword
sparring.

Dozens of sharp retorts swelled on my tongue but,
remembering my resolve to not allow others to control my emotions, I swallowed
them down and linked my arm through Hesper’s.

“She’s
really
jealous,” Hesper snickered as we
strolled away.

“She has no idea how lucky she is. I’d trade places with her
if I could.”

“No, she doesn’t care about the bloodlines. Her jealousy has
to do with Cole.”

I felt my face grow hot. “That’s silly.”

“No it’s not. She’s planned on becoming his wife since she
was seven years old. Then you come along and Cole won’t look at any other girl.”
She widened her eyes and batted her lashes at me.

I squirmed a little but tried to play off Hesper’s comments.
“Cole needs to get out of Et Loedin more often. He can’t decide whether he’s jealous
of my bloodlines or thinks I’m the greatest thing since he learned to fly.  I’m
simply a new face. He’ll get bored and move on.”

Hesper shook her head. “Why don’t you like him? At least
half of my friends only stay around because he’s my brother. All the girls tell
me how handsome he is.” She gagged a little on her last words.