Moonstone, Magic That Binds (Book 1) (7 page)

“Follow me, Lieutenant…”

“Beecher, soldier. Lieutenant Beecher.”

“Right you are, ma’am, Lieutenant Beecher, ma’am.” He took off and didn’t look back to see if Restella followed.

They threaded their way though the aimless crowds of soldiers as a column of officers, headed by Captain Shortwell rode into the grounds.   Restella had reached her destination and continued to sit on her horse as the column made its way towards her.

“Good work, Lieutenant. I see that,” the Captain coughed, “Sergeant Silver led you here safely.” The Captain knew her escort.  Was that a good sign? She knew so little of what she had to do that Restella really didn’t know.

“Yes, sir,” Restella said. The other officers began to dismount so Restella did the same. The soldier named Silver held onto her reins.

“Thank you for your work, Sergeant Silver.”

He nodded. “The Captain will be issuing marching orders in that tent just behind us. I suggest you follow the officers in there, ma’am.”

“I will. Thank you, Silver.” Well that went nicely and this soldier, Silver, seemed remarkably composed around his fellow soldiers. Restella followed the other officers and stood in the back. This was so far beyond her experience that she suddenly felt out of her element. In the castle, she could do much with the force of her personality, but not here. She didn’t dare. She had lived the last few years hoping against hope for this chance and she’d make the most of it.

“Beecher.” The Captain said. Restella still stood thinking. “Lieutenant Beecher.”

Restella felt her face burn as she stood at attention.

“You will command the supply train. It will be the last to leave. Lieutenant Gasolo will bring up the rear with his company.”

“Yes, sir,” Gasolo said, a tall lean young man not much older than Restella.

“Yes, sir,” Restella parroted the man. A few of the Captain’s officers turned with smiles on their faces.

So she was still a joke among the men, was she? She lifted her chin and vowed she would be the best supply train commander, ever.

~

Raindrops blew against the window, as Lotto spotted Mander rushing across the street and holding onto his hat in the wind. He ran through the door that Lotto opened for him.

“It’s like a gale on the ocean.” Mander said, taking off his dripping coat.

“Is that what a gale is? I’ve only seen the ocean in a dream,” Lotto said, watching big drops of rain splash on the puddles growing on the cobbles.

“I’m sure you didn’t imagine anything like this.”

“No, the ocean rose and fell in a rhythm with the sky dotted with white clouds. Enough wind filled the sails to push the big boat on.”

Mander laughed. “On the ocean there aren’t any big boats. There are boats, but anything of a good size is called a ship.”

Lotto nodded and smiled back. “The ship, then.”

“That’s a pretty accurate dream. Did you dream of anything more?” Mander walked to his office and Lotto followed. He didn’t think that there would be anyone coming to the shop in weather like this.

“Nothing more on the ocean. I had a few sales while you were gone—students from the King’s College.”

Mander looked up from the sales page that Lotto had kept. “They paid full price?”

Lotto smiled. “They asked for discounts and I told them that I couldn’t give them any because I didn’t know how to calculate them. They offered to make the calculations, but I’m sure they would have taken advantage.”

“Indeed they would. Nice work. How far have you gotten into the reading books?”

“I’ve read five. The three you gave me were too easy once I read through them three times each, so I found that any books with larger print were easier to read. As I worked on the shelves, I found a couple and read about the princess and the highwayman and another about a knight who fought his way to be king.”

“Good!” Mander seemed pleased and that made Lotto even more content.

“Let me tell you where I went since you’ve been reading your novels. I can tell you of some real life adventure.”

Lotto looked up. “She’s gone. I hope she’s in a carriage.”

“Who?” Mander furrowed his brow.

Lotto gasped. “I have a story, too. I know where the Princess Restella is.”

Mander shrugged and walked into the little kitchen, but Lotto noticed that Mander’s eyebrows went up a bit when he mentioned the princess’s name. “Oh, good. You’ve got a fire in the stove. I’ll fix some tea and then we can trade stories. Something good to do on a slow day.” Mander rubbed his hands.

Could Lotto trust Mander with his story? He looked at Mander’s back and decided that with the opportunities that his employer had given to him, Mander wouldn’t throw him out on the streets if he learned about his magic.

Lotto blew the steam away on a mug of tea that Mander put in front of him and began.

“Have you ever heard of the Moonstone? I found it. I can tell where Princess Restella is at any time.”

“So, you are the village half-wit of Heron’s Pond?” Mander Hart didn’t seem surprised by the information. That disappointed Lotto. “The Princess said the finder was a boy. You’ve grown quite a bit since the Princess came back.”

“So you’ve heard the story.” So Mander had taken him in because of the princess? “You took pity on me?”

“Not pity, but I admit to curiosity and I did need assistance at the shop. I’ll be honest with you, I do some work for the king. I’ve heard the story and I’ll believe anything you say because Princess Restella is presently riding in that rain to the east with a unit of the king’s army to make sure the Oringians keep to their side of the border. Quickly point to where she is!”

Lotto closed his eyes and pointed towards the back of the shop.

“Very good, Lotto. I’ve heard Restella’s story more than a few times, but I’ve never heard yours. The princess fancies herself as a great warrior, yet she is currently sopping wet, riding along with the supply train. Your Moonstone has found a new home in the pommel of a sword she’s had specially made.”

“It has?” Lotto said. “It knocked me out when the princess took it out of my hand. I could feel the power come from the stone. I fainted again, overcome by something and woke up to find the princess and her guards gone.”

“I believe you. Did you know that she and others could touch it without feeling a thing? What happened after that?”

“While I was under, I had a dream of my parents coming from across the sea. My dream of the ocean?”

Mander nodded. “Continue,” he said urging Lotto on with a wave of his hand.

“I lived behind the house of a healer woman and after I told her about my dream, she thought that my parents were nobles from the continent of Zarron. They brought the Moonstone with them. Highwaymen or more likely assassins, now that I think of it, took their lives shortly after they arrived. Perhaps wizards threw spells at them, because my vision had them holding their hands to their ears. My father gave his boots to the driver, who tossed them into Heron’s Pond. He did that because he slipped the Moonstone into one of the heels. My mother died giving birth to me.

“I didn’t grow up right, stunted and not thinking straight. Once I touched the stone the first time, I began to grow.  When the princess took it out of my hand I fainted and when I woke my mind had cleared up and it only took a few days to grow to my current height.”

“I’ve always suspected that you were affected by the spells that had stopped your parents and the Moonstone might have reversed its effects. The Moonstone gives physical and mental strength to a linked pair.  You know Restella also grew a few inches and put on muscle like no woman I’ve ever seen. She’s still not as tall as you, but she can wield a blade rather well.”

Lotto sat back amazed that Mander Hart had already known of his background.  He felt relieved that his burden had been shared with Mander and that he had already known much of the story. “My goal is to see the stone again and the princess. She is what drew me here and now she’s gone. But I can wait, now that I have a job, thanks to you.”

“It’s nice to have such a bright young lad around,” Mander said. “I’d like take you to the castle and have Fessano, King Goleto’s wizard, talk to you. I have heard of your parents and, from what I know, they both possessed magical power and it makes sense that you do, too.”

“Me, a magician?” Lotto shook his head. “Not possible.” He didn’t tell Mander that Jessie had said the same thing. He didn’t want to be a magician. In the books he had read, they were always evil men.

Mander put his hand on Lotto’s wrist. “It certainly is. You have no idea how to tap into the nexus, if you have Affinity.”

“But I don’t want to. I don’t want to have anything to do with magical power. It’s only brought death; to my parents and… and whatever happened to me.”

Mander raised both of his hands. “I’m not asking you to take another job. Just talk to the wizard. He’ll probably know more about the Moonstone in any event. In fact, let’s go right now. We can close the shop and no one will notice.”

“You can just go into the castle?”

“I used to be an advisor to the king, but something, uh, happened and now I’m only brought in under special circumstances.” Mander grinned. “I like my new life better, rather than that of a courtier. I can dress and groom as I please.” He stroked his long hair.

Lotto couldn’t help but laugh.  Mander Hart had an approach to life that was new to Lotto’s experience. He was very happy that he had Mander as a friend and employer. The life experiences that he remembered in Heron’s Pond hadn’t prepared him for Mander Hart, but Lotto felt fortunate to have met the man and now they were going to go the castle!

~

The sun disappeared and the sky turned an ugly dark. Restella noticed how the air stilled. Silver rode up to her side.

“Looks like a storm. I suggest that you order double covers over the wagons,” he said.

Restella felt a drop on her nose. “Who do I order?”

“You can leave it to me, ma’am. We will lose contact with the rest of the column when the road becomes muddy, but the men will appreciate dry tents tonight.”

“Consider it done.” Restella twisted in the saddle and pulled out her rain cloak. “Hurry,” she said, “the rain will start soon.” Not long after the covers were tied down, rains pelted the army. It took a while for the wagons to catch up to the rest of the column, but she had seen the wisdom of Silver’s recommendation as he said it.  The road turned into a mire and the column ahead disappeared into the rain.

The storm had stopped before sunset, when Captain Shortwell ordered the column to stop. He nodded to Restella when he examined the supply wagons as soon as they caught up to the rest of the soldiers.

“Lieutenant Beecher. Good job with the covers. The men will be happy to sleep in dry tents.” The Captain nodded and rode back along the line. The quartermasters placed the wagons around the camp and she silently thanked Silver for his help.

She looked back up the road and looked back at the runnels of mud when Silver had tugged on her elbow.

“Lieutenant. Your tent is up. You can get a few minutes of rest before the cooks have something ready to eat. Officers dine with the captain.”

Restella walked into her tent. The hard cot looked like a featherbed and felt like one when she laid her weary frame on the taut canvas.

A shake woke Restella up.

“Time for supper with the captain, ma’am,” Silver said.

“How many times a day do you save me from getting kicked out of this expedition?”

“As many as it takes, ma’am. You’ve been given a raw deal coming out here without any proper training. I’m here to make sure you learn as you go. You are learning, aren’t you ma’am?”

“I am indebted to your being my nursemaid. Please continue to do so. What can I do for you?”

Silver gave her a smile that probably crossed the line to insubordination. “Just listen to me, Lieutenant. Just listen to me.”

Restella knew sage advice when she heard it.  In the past she might not act on another’s suggestions, but the column was like being in enemy territory.  She never had even thought about an army needing supplies before.  If she wanted to be the warrior-leader she dreamed about, Restella would definitely lean on Silver as much as she could.

~~~

CHAPTER EIGHT

~

T
HE STAIRS SEEMED TO NEVER END
, but Lotto clumped right behind Mander. The castle astounded Lotto. He thought he had gotten used to Beckondale, but the castle seemed to go on and on and up and up. Guards in crisp uniforms and men and women attired in fine clothes. He did notice that the men had short haircuts, making both Mander and him stand out.

Fessano let both men in. His baldhead frizzed out, matching the disarray of his wild white beard. He looked like a little elf, or what Lotto thought of when he thought of elves.

“Mander, I’m surprised you returned after leaving us in that dreadful rain.”

The shopkeeper shrugged his shoulders. “Let me sit in your most comfortable chair. My back is killing me from trudging up all of those steps. Rain dampens business as well as coats and hats, so I closed the shop and thought I would introduce Lotto. He’s the other end of the Moonstone story.”

“Sit, sit!” the wizard said with his eyes bulging. “I even built a fire on a summer’s day. Imagine that.” He shivered. “So you held the Moonstone when Restella took it from your grasp? You are bound to her, you know.”

“That’s why we came!” Lotto said. How did this man know so much? Was it because Fessano had magical power? It seemed that Lotto had few secrets, in fact, Mander knew more about Lotto than he did.

Mander leaned forward and twisted his torso one way, and then another as he sat. He winced a bit and them sighed. “That’s better.  Lotto, here, told me about the vision he had of his parents dying. I think you should hear him out and test him to see if he has Affinity.”

“Oh, I don’t need to test him. He already proved that when he activated the stone.” Fessano turned to Lotto. “Restella talked about a flash of light when she took it from you.”