Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two (43 page)

We lay in silence for a time and I pondered her words. After
a while, I remembered something about the king I hadn’t considered sharing with
anyone. But now that my father was gone, I knew I couldn’t contain it.

“King Shir’s mother was like an anchor to him,” I murmured.
“He loved Ophera more than anything and her influence kept him from losing
control when he was young.”

My mother didn’t answer at first. I heard the confusion in
her voice when she finally said, “Ophera was killed before Shir could remember
her, Aylen.”

“No. No, she wasn’t. Everyone only thought she was.”

When she remained quiet, I continued.

“King Shir was responsible for her death when he was just a
child. It was terrible and tragic and I believe it shaped who he is today.”

My mother held me tighter. “Why do you think he allowed you
to see all this?”

I bit my lip as a few final tears made their way down my
face and landed on my pillow. “He wants me close when he finds his gem. He
knows I’ll go after him and it will be easier to take control of my necklace
and bloodlines if I’m nearby.” I paused, trying to decide how to share what I’d
sensed from him. I closed my eyes as I spoke, too weary to think. “Somewhere
inside of him, he wants me to end this. Far beneath the monster he’s become is
a broken, destroyed soul who would rather die than live as he is.”

My mother nudged me gently. “Aylen, he’s evil. Don’t let him
convince you otherwise.”

“I won’t,” I promised. “But he wasn’t always this way.”

Safe in her arms, I began to drift off. I relished my mother’s
warmth as I lay next to her, and desperately wished I could be young and
protected by her again. As my mind wandered to hazy, muddled places, I had one
last clear thought before I fell asleep.

“Mom,” I said, my words slightly slurred, “was Dad your anchor?”

She understood my concern. Her lips brushed my hair as she
whispered her response.

“No, Aylen. You became my anchor the day you were born.”

The morning dawned, cloudless and frosty. By the time I
woke, my mother had already left. Like me, I knew she needed tasks to keep her
mind from dwelling on her pain. But she wasn’t the only one. The people of Et
Loedin were eager for my presentation and the festival after the horror of
battle had caused so much misery.

I threw on my least rumpled dress and wrapped a spare cloak
around my shoulders. Once my warmest boots were on my feet, I left my chambers
in search of breakfast. Usually, I ended up at Hesper’s home but I knew she’d
already be working on preparations.

I found her in the center of Et Loedin near the stage.
Dozens of torches had been placed along each side of it and the front edge had
been draped with pine boughs and berries. Nearby, where vendors usually sold
goods, were newly decorated stands, set up for games and activities. Food
tables had been stationed to the left side of the stage and were already
covered in rich gold and red fabrics. White and dusk colored berries surrounded
with pine and holly in clay vases adorned the center of each table. All that was
missing were the steamy, spiced foods I knew several Et Loedin citizens were
currently cooking.

I’d helped with many of the plans the day before but Hesper
had made an incredible amount of progress while I’d been absent.

“We’ve sent out word that the presentation begins three
hours past midday,” she said when she saw me. She passed me a small, cloth bag
and I opened it eagerly. It was filled with several varieties of dried fruits.
I helped myself to a handful.

“That means I have half the day to worry about it.”

“Sorry,” she smiled. “You could spend some of that time
packing.”

I questioned her with a lift of my eyebrows.

“I know you won’t waste any time. You’re leaving first thing
tomorrow, aren’t you?”

I chewed on a bit of the fruit before answering. “I have to.
I can’t let him find that gem before I do.”

Hesper sighed. “But you insist on going alone?”

I drew my cloak tighter as a cold breeze drifted past. “It
will be too dangerous to be anywhere close by if King Shir gets his greatest
desire.”

Hesper turned and arranged a few wintry branches and stalks
of berries on the edge of the stage.

“I understand,” she said. “But how are you going to find it?
Do you have any idea where it could be?”

I fingered one of the berries and shrugged. “The location is
remote but I’ve thought about searching for my mother’s tribe. I want them to
help me find and claim the gem before Shir.”

“Wasn’t your mother’s tribe destroyed?”

I shook my head. “No, not that one.” The berry broke from
the branch and I held it between my thumb and forefinger loosely, so as not to
bruise it. “The Wisdom Tribe. They adopted her after her family was killed.”

“Why do you think they can help?”

I smiled grimly. “They’re the ones who started all of this.
I wouldn’t have the necklace or gone to Vairda if it weren’t for their. . .
foresight. And until now, they’ve remained hidden.”

I didn’t realize my hold on the berry had tightened until,
with a pop, it exploded in my fingers. As I stared at the small mess on my
hand, I added, “I think it’s time they joined the fight.

Aylen,” Hesper said, her voice low, “what is your greatest
desire?”

I lifted my eyes and blinked at her for a few moments,
wondering if I could lie. When I knew I wouldn’t, my shoulders sagged and I
dropped my eyes to the cobblestone ground.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “Because everything I want most
is impossible for a stone to give me.”

Hesper’s arm slid around my shoulders and pulled me close.
“You’ll figure it out,” she promised. “I trust your instincts.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. I wasn’t so sure but I didn’t want to
talk about. I would deal with it when I found the gem.

“So, want to go in search of a couple spare muffins with
me?” I asked, changing the subject. “I need more than a few bites of fruit for
breakfast.”

Hesper pulled away with a smile. “Sure. But afterwards, I’m
sending you back to your room to prepare. It’s going to be a big night.”

Hours later, my mother tapped a slender finger against my
head. I tipped my chin forward so she could continue the intricate braid she’d
been working on. “Are you nervous?” she asked me.

“Of course,” I whispered.

“You’ll be amazing. You’ve proven yourself again and again.”

I sighed, knowing she wasn’t really worried about how I’d
perform in the presentation. She was worried I was losing focus. The loss of my
father’s presence during this event ached deeper with every passing moment and
she could see it on my face.

I risked lifting my head for a moment to glance at her
reflection in the mirror before she nudged me forward again. The dark shadows
under her eyes and the permanent pucker between her eyebrows told me she felt
the same agony.  

“Mom,” I said softly. She didn’t answer. I knew what that
meant.

“Mother,” I said again. “Please don’t cry.” I heard her soft
intake of breath and I felt her hands tremble as she finished fastening my hair
in place. Before she could step away, I grabbed her fingers and held them in
mine.

Standing, I turned and wrapped my arms around her. How had I
grown taller than her and never noticed? I held her as though I was the parent
and stroked her head while she wept into my shoulder. I absorbed her pain and
recognized not just grief over the loss of her husband in her emotions, but her
fear for me. She didn’t want to give me up, but she knew it was inevitable.

I thought of my father and searched for what to say regarding
him. I could have repeated the countless number of things I was sure people
with good intentions had already said. Most of them were true. My father
had
known the risks when he’d left us for battle. He
wouldn’t
want her to be
unhappy without him. He
had
died honorably. Those were the appropriate
things to say in Miranasch when someone had passed on in battle. They were words
that were meant to comfort. For some, I’m sure they helped.

But in that moment, we were not from Miranasch. Instead, we
were far, far away. We were Vairdans once more, surrounded by a sea of grief on
our own little broken island.

I did the only thing my heart would allow. I whispered the
words of Vairda’s mourning song.

We’ll find him in the stars that rise

High o’er Vairda’s lands

Though in the ground his body lies

His spirit walks the sands.

We’ll feel him in our forests green

Through filtered rays of sun

And though his face will stay unseen

Vairda still remains his home.

Afterwards, I fell silent. I wondered if it would be one of
the last times I felt my mother’s embrace.

I didn’t have long to think about it. Moments later, I
recognized Aluce’s brisk knock. My mother pulled back and before I could move
to open the door, she cupped my face in her hands.

“Show them who you are,” she told me. “Show them the kind of
honor and power a daughter of Tereg possesses. Be the queen who they can trust
to deliver them.”

With a kiss on my forehead, she released me. Wiping my nose
across the sleeve of my ornamental gown (and knowing Aluce would have been
furious if she’d known), I walked toward the door and unlatched it.

“We’re nearly ready,” she said, taking in my wet eyes and
cheeks.

“So am I.”

She glanced up and down my frame and nodded. “The dress fits
well.”

I fingered the shimmering green hued fabric and smiled.
“It’s a shame it will only be worn for a few minutes.”

“You’re dressed for the games underneath your skirts?”

“Yes.”

“Very good.” With a small smile, she motioned for me to
follow her. I obeyed, grateful to hear the soft swish of my mother’s skirt not
far behind.

We were led down the towering stone hallways, past
flickering chambers and out the main doors. She took us through back streets
where most people didn’t gather, toward the courtyard where the entire tribe of
flyers and many of their allies had gathered. The back of the stage had been
partitioned off so that I couldn’t see the crowds on the other side, though I
could hear them. Aluce led me up the stairs and stepped alone through the
curtain. I waited as the crowd hushed at her appearance.

I half listened to her short speech about the plight of
their ancestors and the evils of the king. I heard a few lines that mentioned
my power and how I would crush their enemies the way I could crush a mountain
or alter the land in their defense. She blabbed about my great future of ruling
in place of the king and how she knew I could avenge the wrongs that had been
committed. I grew more agitated with each word until I heard her announce,
“Behold! The Gem Heiress!”

The curtains parted and I stepped forward onto the stage. Cold,
blue light poured forth from the snowy peaks surrounding our mountain and
melted together with the warm glow of late sunlight. It illuminated the stage
and the cheering crowd before me.   

A sudden, small gust of wind froze the moisture on my face,
crystalizing my eyelashes and skin. I filled my lungs with the crisp, frigid
air, amazed at the immense number of people. There were more than I imagined
could have fit within the city.  

Thousands of people had gathered in the courtyard, bundled
in heavy furs and thick cloaks. Tiny ice particles danced in the air and a
layer of frost glazed the buildings and streets. On the tables, candles waited
to be lit and the strong scent of pine wafted through the city. It was magical.

I stared into faces of so many strangers, the expectancy
lingering in their expressions while they waited for me to show them I was
worthy of their faith. My necklace glowed a prism of color and I saw their eyes
follow it in awe. I glanced toward Aluce who gave me an impatient nod.

Go ahead. Get on with it!
I could almost hear her
say. I smiled and bowed my head instead.

The Empathy Gem pulsed gently against my throat as I turned
my attention to its warmth. The moment I connected to it, I felt the intense
weight of the crowd’s emotions. My own anguish had prepared me and this time, I
didn’t bend beneath the burden of what they felt. Some of them were wracked
with grief. From others I felt faith and even pity for me. Fear was the
dominating emotion but I searched for feelings of rage and revenge. Only a few
times did I sense it and this told me I was making the right choice. Aluce had demanded
I exhibit power and skill. She wanted me to demonstrate my abilities to control
the gems and prove I could wreak havoc just as easily as Shir. But these
people, who had come so far to see me, who had just fought for their lives,
didn’t need any of those things. They didn’t need to see more destruction. As I
felt the sorrow and exhaustion the many years of tyrannical rulers had wrought
on their lives, I knew they only wanted one thing from me in that moment. They wanted
a reason to hope for freedom.

Disconnecting myself from the crowd’s emotions, I
reconnected to several other gems. I sensed the earth in the mountains
surrounding us. Far beneath their frozen layers I felt the quivering, expectant
life of dormant seeds, waiting for a chance to bloom. I felt the sun’s rays
grow warmer and I imagined them reaching through the snow and ice, deep into
the earth.

With my eyes closed tight, I let the beautiful glow of the
Prosper and Fertility Gems wash over me. I pictured the mountains covered with
strong, vibrant flowers and green grass, too alive to be held back by the cold.
I heard water melt, tasted light and earth, and felt the slight shifting of
soil somewhere far away. I didn’t realize I was on my knees until I heard the
quiet gasps of the crowd. Aluce’s hand clamped down on my shoulder and I opened
my eyes as she helped me to my feet.