Sea Dweller (Birthstone Series) (29 page)

“Are you saying one of my
relatives was demented?”

“Many of your relatives and
ancestors are demented. One of them sent soldiers here to harm you.”

“Oh, right. It’s just kind of
pathetic to discover how many people in my bloodline are crazy.”

Rolling her eyes, she went
on. “Anyway, this stone can do a lot of different things according to the
wearer. Sadly, it’s a stronger stone that tends to get overused by evil
people.”

Aluce touched a black stone
near the bottom of the necklace. Its surface was a beautiful shiny onyx but in
the center, I could make out the dim throbbing of a violet heart. Fat lavender
veins spider-webbed just beneath the ebony surface.

“The Destroyer,” she said,
her tone somber.

“That doesn’t sound . . .” I
trailed off, amazed at how something so beautiful could carry such a dark name.

Aluce shook her head. “No,
it’s definitely not a peace loving stone. On the mainland, it’s been
responsible for annihilating many cities, homes, and lives.”

“It destroys people?” I
shuddered.

“It doesn’t destroy people.
Not in the way you’re thinking. It won’t work on human life. It destroys
everything that humans may need or use.”

“Like a house or land.”

“Or boats.”

I understood. “You want me to
use this on their ships?”

“If it becomes necessary,
yes. I wouldn’t ask you to try and connect to this stone otherwise. I have to
admit, I fear it. It comes from a tribe of people I’ve never understood.
They’ve always been volatile and reclusive and it’s amazing you managed to gain
that bloodline at all. Although, I’m sure some past king had something to do with
that.” Aluce eyed the stone grimly.

“How do I work it?” I asked,
not sure which was stronger, my curiosity or my repulsion to the jewel.

She hesitated. “I’m not
entirely sure.” When I opened my mouth to question her, she cut me off. “No one
knows that tribe well. All we know is that they spend more time harming each
other than finding ways to make the gem actually useful. From what I can
understand, you’ll need to have an intense desire to ruin something.”

“Where’s Faema when you need
her?” I mumbled.

“This is serious, Aylen. It
goes deeper than that. You have to tap into something much darker and angrier
than you’re used to. You would have to want the complete demise of something
before you may be able to draw from its power.”

“Do you want me to practice
now?” I asked, feeling hopeless before I had even begun. I had felt anger and
hurt before but I couldn’t comprehend the rage Aluce was describing.

Aluce thought about it a
moment. Finally, she shook her head. “No, my hope is that it will be a last
resort and you won’t need to use it at all.”

I automatically breathed a
sigh of relief but she lifted her hand.

“There are other gems I can
show you so you understand their use. I’m not sure if you’ll find a way to draw
from them but it’s important you know what you have available to you.”

Aluce reached her hands
behind my neck and undid the clasp on the necklace. Holding it up, she placed
her fingers on a white stone with an even whiter center. “Travel Gem,” she
said. “The king has a lot of soldiers who can use these. The problem is that
it’s rare to find a stone strong enough to do much. Yours is.” She moved her
fingers to another. “Gray with a heart of gold is the Weather Gem. Cloud and
sun. This one can do much for you if you use it wisely. Although, I’ll admit
the Weather Gem tribe is pretty annoying to live near. The sky never stays the
same for longer than five minutes.” I laughed at this in spite of myself.

Aluce continued down the
necklace, skipping some and remembering others. She pointed out an Earth Gem as
well as the Concealment, Passion, Sky, Beauty, and Youth Gems. When she reached
the Youth Gem, I raised my eyebrows at her.

“It comes with its
downsides,” she said. “They all do. But we won’t discuss those now.” Handing
the necklace back to me, she smiled. “Those are some of the most interesting.
There are more but I’m not sure how much they’ll help you and we don’t have
time to find out.”

I placed the necklace back
around my neck and nodded my agreement. “So, what next?”

“I still want to practice with
the Warrior Gem more. That’s where your ability to win will be necessary. It
will give us time to get situated and I hope be the means of freeing your
parents and Haji.”

I sighed, already feeling the
new aches and kinks my muscles would acquire. But knowing she was right, I rose
and grabbed my sword. Pushing all thoughts of the other jewels aside, I focused
on my parents and friends who had been affected by the mainlander’s invasion.
With effort, I once again forced myself to tap into the Warrior Gem.

When Aluce was ready, I
raised my sword for battle.

Chapter 24

Hours later, I was a solitary
being on the top of a cliff. I waited.

There was no guarantee the
plan would work. Aluce had done her best to explain the Vairdans’ role after
we’d met them on the beach, but I wondered if they would still be willing to
help when they saw the mainlanders’ armor and weapons.

After Aluce had handed out as
many Sea Gems as she’d been saving to the strongest Vairdan swimmers, she’d
directed them to the water and told them to keep watch for fleeing ships. The
rest of the Vairdans who had been willing to help had brought their weapons as
instructed, along with an abundant supply of poison darts made last minute by
the island’s weapon masters.

“They don’t think you can
fight back,” Aluce had said when rallying the islanders. “They think they can
come here and take what they want. That’s why they’re sitting comfortably in
the cave they carved from your mountain. They think you have no fight in you.
Show them they’re wrong. Force them from the island forever.”

After she’d given them their
tasks, they’d dispersed in the jungle, hiding in the tops of the trees, seeking
shelter in the leafy canopy high above the ground. I’d made my way to the
mountain trail leading to the top of the cliff with Aluce close behind.

Now alone, I shivered,
mentally battling with the gems around my throat as they wrestled for my
attention. Wrapped around my neck was a soft, woven scarf, hiding the necklace
from view. I tightened my fingers around my mother’s sword and I wondered if I
was prepared enough. But then, I realized I wasn’t even sure what I was
preparing for. Would I be fighting? Would they trade my parents for me? Or
would they attack me at first sight?

The frenzied wind nipped and
pulled at me and an image from one of the stones nudged my mind. It was gone
before I grasped hold of it. Before I could decide to chase it, I heard them.

Up, over the edge of the
precipice, they came, backs straight, heads high, fully armored and prepared
for battle. Nothing less than I had expected. They wanted to be impressive. By
island standards, they were.

Green stones adorned many of
the breastplates and countless unsheathed swords had the dark jewels set into
the hilt. Some of the men wore bands of gems around their arms, most of which
were types I still hadn’t been introduced to even though I carried them around
my neck.

I stood at the far end of the
cliff knowing that, although I appeared to be on the mountain top by myself, I
wasn’t really alone. But I shrank from the thought of requesting Vairdan help
too soon. As my eyes roved over the countless swords and powerful jewels, I
once again worried that involving Vairdans was a death sentence to the
islanders. Then I recalled what Chief Frin had said earlier when he helped
Aluce rally the islanders. “They involved Vairda the moment they stepped on our
shores.”

The mainland soldiers
assembled in tight, solid lines, as row after row of them appeared from below
the edge of the cliff. When it seemed there were too many to number, the men
let out a unified shout. As their yells were carried away by the wind, the rows
parted down the middle and a muscular man in spiked black armor sauntered
through the organized crowd to the front of the assembly. Behind him followed
six more men, two to a prisoner. Haji came first and a gasp escaped my lips.
Her eyes hosted tired, violet smudges and her normally golden skin had taken on
a chalky pallor. Still, when her eyes met mine she smiled. I’m not sure how my
mouth managed it, but I smiled back.

My parents were led forward
not far behind Haji. My father walked with his head high and his shoulders
straight, arms bound behind him. But the sight of my mother nearly knocked me
to my knees. She was the image of defeat. Her hair hung in her face and she
carried an angry purple bruise across the left side of her cheek. A blossom of
fury sprouted in my chest and seeped into my limbs. The necklace burned like
hot coals against my throat.

The man in black armor stood
only yards from me, an arrogant grin polluting his face. I realized how I must
look to him. Alone, I wasn’t much of a threat. I had been raised on an island
without knowledge of my potential and I thought I would be able to use the most
powerful weapon ever made? It wasn’t any wonder the man looked as though he was
fighting back laughter. For a moment, I doubted I would be able to succeed in
anything I was about to attempt. Then my eyes darted to my mother. I knew I had
to try.

Before I could speak, the
mainlander leader chose to open negotiations. “Hello Aylen, granddaughter of
Miranasch’s Emperor King, daughter of Prince Tereg. I am Orin, trusted advisor
and Captain of the King’s unconquerable army.”

I was rendered momentarily
speechless. Was he for real? Orin continued.

“As you see, we offer respect
to the citizens of Vairda, as well as to you and your family by acknowledging
your epistle and meeting you at the chosen place. We could have easily
overtaken the island.” With those words, he flicked a finger casually in the
air. On cue, the entire army of soldiers drew their swords. “But we are here to
simply bring you home to your grandfather who, as king of the greatest land in
the world, has the hope and right to meet his only grandchild. The great king
wishes to only show kindness and benevolence to the people of Vairda.”

Looking past Orin, I fixed my
gaze on my mother, drawing strength from the rage I felt at seeing her
dejection. “That’s very good of him considering you’re all unwelcome intruders
in this land.” I laced my words with as much venom as I could muster.

Orin blinked for a moment,
surprised. Recovering quickly, the lazy grin returned to his face. “What a
helpful child you are to point that out. Since we have obviously outstayed our
welcome, let’s move on to business, shall we?” He paused, glancing back at the
men behind him. The sound of their snickers rippled in the air. “Unless of
course you think this island would be better ruled by our king as well?

Trying to pretend his threats
didn’t unnerve me, I forced myself to laugh back. “You’re confident for someone
in a strange land with no knowledge of the people’s strengths, customs, or
terrain.”

“I believe we’ve thoroughly
assessed the threat your islanders may present and we’re not concerned.
However, should you fail to do as we ask, our threat to them might compel you
to rethink your level of cooperation.”

I only thought I had hated
Faema. At that moment, I knew I’d never truly had a notion of what hatred meant
until the moment Orin’s words affronted my ears.

“Release my parents and the
Vairdan and we’ll discuss my cooperation,” I spat, glaring at the man and
mentally picturing him in the sea serpent’s lair.

He chuckled. “Aylen, we’re
willing to be reasonable. Why don’t you show us what a big girl you are by
doing the same.” He paused while several of the other men laughed with him.
“We’re happy to trade your friend for you. Your grandfather doesn’t desire
prisoners. Your friend was simply in the wrong place when we visited your
parents. However, since you’re now here, that can be remedied.”

“No,” I said firmly, speaking
the lines Aluce gave me, believing in them as they left my lips. “Haji and my
parents will be released before I go with you. If your king wishes to meet me,
I’ll go to him alone, without my parents. They’re no longer citizens of his
land.”

“Aylen,” Orin said, a note of
warning creeping into his voice, “you do not make the decisions. You and your
parents will go with us willingly or your friend will suffer the consequences
for your choices.”

I swallowed, knowing I had to
make my move. Aluce had warned me this would happen. She’d promised me the most
I could hope for was to stall for time. These men wouldn’t be willing to give
even a little. Not unless I could prove I was a threat.

“If even a hair is plucked
from her head, I will make sure that not one of you leaves this mountain
alive.”

Silence. And then, a slow
murmur began to shiver through the ranks. My mother lifted her eyes to mine, a
glint forming there. I met Orin’s eyes with mine and saw he too had a gleam in
his eye, but it was different than my mother’s. It was hungry, anxious. He
leaned slightly forward, his gaze resting on my scarf.

“You can’t possibly be
serious,” he said, his voice as soft as the swish of a viper.

“Oh, but I am.”

“Are you really? We have an
army. You do not. We have the power of many bloodlines of gems. You do not. We
have prisoners with which to bargain. You do not.” Orin paused, cocking his
head. “Unless you have something which would prove otherwise?”

 I grasped the scarf with one
hand and unwound it from my neck. The wind snatched eagerly at the fabric and
whisked it from my trembling fingers. In the near dusky light, the jewels
glowed like stars against my throat. The colors reflected onto my skin and I
knew, standing before them, head high, sword in hand, I was an impressive
sight. I only hoped I could convince them my power was as impressive.

“I have claimed the
necklace,” I said. Because I couldn’t help myself, I added, “And you have not.”

As my words penetrated, the
sounds of armor clanking and earth crunching under feet rose over the wind’s
whistle. Orin raised an armor laden fist in the air. “Be still!” He hollered.
Immediately, the mountain fell silent. Swallowing the quiver at the edge of my
voice, I seized that moment to speak again.

“I hope you weren’t too
attached to the man you sent to stop me from obtaining the necklace. My serpent
friend was in need of a meal.” I paused, meeting Orin’s eyes. “Did you really
think one rogue sea dweller would be able to keep me from my birthright? Does
your king truly believe I am that weak? He must consider me a threat of some
sort because he has forced you all from your homes and families to come to our
island and bring me back to his land. It would seem, though, he has wholly
underestimated just how much of a threat I am.”

Orin licked his lips, and I
couldn’t help my tiny smile when his fingers twitched nervously at his side.
But when he spoke, his voice concealed any fear he might have had.

“You’re confident you could
destroy us? You couldn’t have possibly received much training in the use of
your stones on an island such as this. I can only imagine what it must be like
to be connected to so many at once. I’m sure your judgment is greatly affected.”

“Would you care to test that
theory?” I smirked, praying he wouldn’t see through my lies.

“I have no desire to have a
war of words with a silly little girl. However, the king would greatly wish to
meet a person of his bloodlines with such gifts. He does not wish to take what
is yours or cause harm. You would be an asset as you assisted him in his
reign.”

I laughed. “I won’t question
why a silly little girl would be welcome in assisting the king.” Orin’s eyes
narrowed as I mocked his words but I continued. “Instead, as you can see, we
are at an impasse. I will not agree to go with you unless all three prisoners
are released. You are only willing to release one for my surrender.” I took a
deep breath. “So, my proposal is this. You see I have the necklace and
therefore have more power than you prepared for. I’m in possession of a Warrior
Gem, so I am on equal ground with any of your similarly armed men.”

“Your point?”

“Release Haji now.
Afterwards, I’ll sword battle with a soldier of your choice. If I win, my
parents are free to go and I’ll return willingly with you. If I lose, obviously
my entire family is at your mercy.”

Before Orin could respond, my
mother pulled an arm loose from the grasp of one of her guards. “Aylen, they
won’t keep their word!” she yelled, attacking the other guard with her free
arm. As they wrestled her to the ground, she called out, “Just get away—” She
was cut off with a hit to the head. I moved to go to her as she slumped to the
ground. Orin lifted his sword, prepared to stop me if I came any closer.

My father struggled against
his captors, kicking one hard in the knees but the man’s armor protected him.
When my father was subdued, he lifted his eyes and stared gravely into mine.
The depths of his pain bled from his expression. I forced myself to look away.

“You will come with us
willingly?” Orin went on.

“Yes,” I said, looking into
his eyes as the lie left my tongue.

“Do you have experience with
the Warrior Gem or any of the gems on your necklace?”

“I guess you’ll have to find
out.” I kept my expression hard and unreadable though I quaked inside.

Orin thought for a moment,
first glancing back at his men and then me. I knew he didn’t want to appear
afraid of me in front of them but I hoped I had punctured his confidence just
enough for him to wonder what kind of damage I could do if he didn’t humor my
challenge.

“Very well,” he finally said.
Leaning his sword against his leg, he stretched his fingers and bent his neck
side to side. “The king did promise this would be easy. I’m beginning to
realize he spoke truth.”

At this, the rest of the
soldiers laughed. Before they became too jovial, I held up my hand which, to my
pleasure, startled them into silence again.