The Heartstone (4 page)

"Take his sword. Give it back to him. Thus you accept his oath."

“Oh, all right.” Ariana muttered.

She snatched at the sword. It was lighter than it looked. The bronze hilt in the shape of a dragon's head rested in her hand and the patterned length shimmered. She returned the sword to Jarod. He rose sheathing it. He looked satisfied with himself, almost smug.

“It is witnessed.” Kievran and Rua said in unison gesturing to their hearts.

"I hope you find glory and honor son, not death. Never mind, 'tis done." Kievran sighed, turning to Ariana. "Very well, Jarod vouches his honor that you are the Stonebearer. I must accept it despite my doubts."

"But I don't want to return any stupid stone. Find someone else," Ariana said, trying to find the clasp.

"If I could, I would take the stone and place it in the Web of Stars myself." Jarod said.

"Well feel free to step in." Ariana said.

"Magic doesn't work that way." Rua said.

"This is ridiculous, I don't believe this."

"The only way for the Stonebearer to part with the Heartstone is to bring it to Galancarrig and place it in the Web of Stars or to die." Kievran said.

"But I don't want to do this. I want to go home."

"The stone cannot leave Ledrith." Rua said.

"So it's die on the quest or stay here forever?" Ariana said sourly.

Kievran still looked stunned. Rua looked like she was itching to write everything down for posterity. Jarod looked excited. He'd be no help. He was gung-ho, ready for adventure. She’d never wanted adventure. She’d been happy living her tidy life. If she took on the quest, it held out the slim hope of getting home. She didn't know how to survive here in this strange land, so letting Jarod help her was her only hope. If she refused maybe there'd be a convenient accident. She didn't know. Maybe one "Stonebearer" was as good as the next.

"Ok, I’ll do it," she said, "I don't seem to have much choice."

"Thank you Stonebearer." Kievran said.

Rua said nothing but bowed.

"Ariana,” she said.

"Pardon, Stonebearer?" Jarod said.

"Call me Ariana. I insist."

"Very well, stone...Ariana. Now to business, this must be secret. Rhysin has many spies." Kievran said.

"Who is this Rhysin?" Ariana asked. Since she was committed she might as well find out as much as she could. Kievran and Jarod both looked at Rua. She smiled wryly, stepped to the center of the room and began.

"No one knows whence Rhysin came. Between twenty and thirty years ago he appeared in the western lands. He was young, charming and brilliant. He was incredibly learned about the natural world and manipulating the gifts of the land. He is a genius metalsmith.

He used his magic to create creatures of metal and stone. We call them soul eaters. They do not live as creatures of bone and muscle do. At first the people were enchanted with the gifts that he brought them. Then they grew dependent on them to do their work. No one knew about his evil powers until it was too late.

There was a darker side to the creatures. In order to keep working they needed energy, soul energy. Rhysin found a way to siphon off the soul essence from a person and feed it to his abominations. It leaves a man an empty shell used as Rhysin’s slave. He uses this evil to intimidate and terrify his subjects. In every occupied town and village once a year there is a mandatory tithe.

“My god that’s awful why don’t they fight back?” Ariana said.

“He was subtle. He kept his work a secret. After he has taken over a town or province it is too late. His towns produce bumper crops and the people appear healthy and plump with good living. But they pay a terrible price.

“He had most of the provincial lords imprisoned or killed replacing them with his lackeys. Then he grew bolder and poisoned the high king Tynan and usurped the throne. Those loyal to Tynan have battled him ever since. But Rhysin’s troops are everywhere.

“He has taken the north and eastern provinces but Dun Caer still holds out against him. There are pockets of resistance in the western provinces as well as people who believe in freedom even under his yoke. But they are in terrible danger. If he knew the Heartstone was here he would stop at nothing to gain it for himself. The stone’s powers would feed his evil creatures forever and his power would as a god’s. Once it returns to Galancarrig he won't be able to take it."

“Why not?” Ariana asked.

“Galancarrig is where the stone was born. It is there that it holds the balance and none but a guardian of the blood my approach it when it is restored. He is not of the blood.”

“So even if he found me now…” Ariana said relieved.

“
No, “interrupted Rua, “Until it is restored he could use you and the Stone for his own ends.”

“
How?”

“
By causing you such pain that you would do anything to stop it.” Ariana winced at the image, "So now what?" she asked.

Kievran thought for a moment. "Jarod will undertake your arms training. Then, Cerynus will instruct you in basic matters of magic. Speed is our only weapon. I will leave our ever-imaginative bard to conjure a reason for the Stonebearer’s presence. Jarod will immediately find you better rooms." Jarod nodded agreement still looking dazzled by his good fortune. Kievran looked at him and sighed.

"Time is essential. We'll send an armed contingent; she'll get to Galancarrig in six months while we decoy Rhysin’s forces giving her a chance." Kievran said.

Armed forces sounded good to Ariana. She opened her mouth, “That sounds…”

"No father, no army. The two of us can move much more quickly and quietly." Jarod said decisively.

“
Must you defy me at every turn boy? I tell you a small troop will be strong and mobile enough…”

“
You are wrong father.” Jarod retorted.

Rua coughed and looked at then both eloquently.

"We’ll discuss it later. For now let us go to bed for what remains of the night." Kievran waved them out the door. They left.

"He doesn't seem happy about all this." She said.

"He finds it hard to believe this is really happening, lady" Rua said.

"Join the club,” she murmured. Rua looked at her questioningly but smiled at her tone.

Jarod turned to her he still looked dazed. "Come, I will take you to your new quarters and get you some proper clothing. Good night lady Rua." He nodded at the bard. Rua smiled at Ariana and said softly “Be strong.” She left with a graceful bow.

Following Jarod, her mind felt numb. There had been too many changes in twenty-four hours. They walked through the great hall and down a short corridor. At the far end, a door was open and servants were making the bed and lighting the fires to chase out the chill. The dawn was just creeping up. "I’ll leave you to eat and rest for a while. Bide here for me." She nodded. He left.

She walked over to the fire and sat down letting the warmth thaw her chilled hands. The wood floor was covered in woven rushes. Ornamental carvings of swans trimmed the lintels of the diamond paned window and the mantle of the fireplace. The bed was on a raised platform embellished with stylized swans, a huge white fur draped over the bed.

She felt the bed, firm, almost hard. A hysterical giggle escaped her. She was in a strange land with some maniac after this stupid stone and she was worried about the bed. She flopped down covering her face with her forearm. Trapped, it hit her like sledgehammer, hopeless sobs bubbled up like acid. When she had no tears left she rolled over, eyes red-rimmed, stomach hurting. She'd agreed. But she'd do her own experiments. If she could remove the Heartstone she would. She'd give it to Jarod and go home on her own. This was his world anyway. She squashed the niggling guilt ruthlessly. Feeling a little more in control she fell into the first real sleep she'd had in two days.

Ariana snapped awake. Where was she? Her sleep-befuddled brain took in soft furs, scratchy wool blankets, whitewashed walls and sunlight shafting through the window. She heard bird song not traffic. Her heart sank. It wasn't a dream. She stretched and rose to look out the window. At least she was rested with some idea of what was going on. Opening the shutters, she looked out at the spring morning. Beyond the cooking fires smoke the timber wall rose, then rolling hills covered in lush grass merging into the deeper green of the forest. She looked down at her clothes. They were in awful shape. Someone knocked at the door. It was a young girl; russet hair braided back, hazel eyes wide with curiosity.

"Fair morn, lady."

"Good morning" Ariana said.

The girl had a pile of clothes in her arms, a long linen shift, and a blue woolen dress to wear over it and a braided leather belt.

"You must have had a terrible journey. The lady Rua said brigands stole your clothes, how awful." She put the pile on the chest resting at the foot of the bed. She stared avidly at Ariana.

"I am to be your tiring woman since your bondmaids fled."

"But I don't..." Ariana said.

"Oh I’m sorry, I be called Sona."

"No, I mean..."

"Now shall you dress?" Sona came forward to help Ariana.

"No, please. I can dress myself."

"But the lady Rua said..."

"I don't care what Rua said."

"Have I displeased you lady? I have never been a tiring woman before; mayhap I did something to offend." Her eyes filled with bewildered tears.

Ariana sighed; she hadn't meant to hurt Sona’s feelings. "No I’m pleased. I just don't need any help right now. I'll call you when I need you."

"I’ll be outside, lady," with a final doubtful look the girl left. Ariana sighed and turned to the pile of clothes. They were big for her but she used the belt to pull things together. She put on her sneakers, wincing. Her feet were swollen; blisters throbbed. As she finished dressing, someone knocked at the door.

"I don't need any help Sona," she said.

"Fair morn, Ariana" Jarod walked in. "You need no help?" He looked at her ensemble, and stifled a grin. She looked down. She was a mess. There were no buttons or zippers in the clothes, everything tied or laced. She had done what she could but it looked bunched up in some places and tight in others.

“
Sona, please come in and help the lady Ariana." Jarod called. Sona came in. Her eyes widened at Ariana’s attempt at dressing. She covered her mouth to stop the giggle bursting out.

"I’ll leave you now." Jarod bowed.

Quickly and efficiently, Sona helped Ariana dress. "How cunning,” Sona marveled at Ariana’s underwear. She helped Ariana into the white cotton shift that went under everything. Then came the heavy overskirt, yards of wool bunched around a drawstring tie, over that went the bodice of intricate embroidery laced up in the front, making breathing difficult. She felt unreal as if she were an actress in a play or going to a costume ball for Halloween.

Sona picked up a brush and looked at Ariana’s hair. “Milady, why is your hair shorn so?”

Ariana thought for a moment, “The um, brigands cut it when they attacked me.”

“
That is awful, you look like a boy.”

“
Actually it’s very comfortable.” Ariana said.

Sona looked doubtful. But she brushed Ariana’s hair and tucked it behind her ears. Ariana was ready. She opened the door to find Jarod waiting for her. He looked well rested and ready to conquer the world. He didn't look like his feet hurt. He smiled his appreciation of her new look.

“
You shall need proper clothes for riding and fighting, plus some proper boots." He looked disparagingly at her sneakers.

"Am I allowed to eat, or won't that fit the schedule?"

"My pardon, of course you may eat."

There was that small smile again. They went to the main hall, bread, fruits, and porridge sat next to pitchers of water and a hot drink. Ariana ate the fruit and slathered the bread with butter. She was starving; it had been hours since her last meal. If she kept eating like this she was going to be as big as a house. She sipped the drink. It reminded her of herbal tea. She thought she could get used to it. For a few minutes there was silence as they ate. Then Jarod rose, brushing off crumbs.