Thursday's First and Second Scenes - Discovering the Jewel's Secret #MFRWauthor #fantasy #teens

The Yellow Jewel

Seven Jewels and seven threads. Find them, twine them, bind them into a braid to discover how to unlock the secret of the Jewels. What was pale becomes dark and dark changes to light. Sometimes destruction is the way to end a cycle of tyranny.  Blazing sun and icy moons unite in the Yellow Jewel. You must go over land, across the sea and back again. Seek the thread and learn this lesson. What makes a home does not have to be a place. Fears may lurk and fears are faced when one learns to trust.

Disa turned and waved farewell to the Holders and their Chosen who remained at the wizards’ stronghold. All but she and Brader stayed to tend to the living and the dead. Just days ago, the elderly healer had appeared and had given prophecies to all. The moment Disa had heard those words she knew she and Brader had to leave. Their role in the destruction of the wizards’ lair had ended. The overland journey to Quato where they would board a ship to Thanis would take a seven day.

She prodded her horned horse and caught up with her companion. “Must we race like prisoners released from a dungeon?”

He slowed his steed. “Why not? I wish to reach my home as soon as I can.”

Home, she thought. Hers had been a peddler’s wagon and then the tavern in Pala. She didn’t understand his being drawn to a place. “Thy home won’t run.”

He laughed. “Thee are right, but some inner yearning pushes me to hurry to High Sanctuary. What if the wizards have established a refuge there?”

She made a face. “Didn’t Andalor mention a ship filled with Queen’s Guards and wizards that arrived in Quato around the time when thee did?”

“One or more might have remained. I need to find out.”

She supposed he was right but that wasn’t his real reason for the rush to return to his home. He wanted to visit his mother’s grave to bid her farewell. Did he really believe her spirit lingered on this plane waiting to hear of the success or failure of Liara’s quest?

At dusk they arrived in Desert’s Edge where they purchased enough supplies for the journey. She nearly suggested they stop at the Healers’ House for medicinals, but could think of none they would need before they reached the market in Quato.

Eight days of traveling from dawn to dusk brought them to the seaport town. On the outskirts they passed the villa where she had received her Jewel. “Remember our time here?” she asked.

“Clearly. What a pompous fool I was. Attacking Valmir when he wasn’t the enemy. Angering Liara and thee.”

She reached for his hand. “Thee feared someone would harm her and keep her from the quest.” She sighed. “I wonder how the others fare.”

“If there were problems couldn’t they reach us on the inner path?” Brader asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve listened every night and the voices have grown fainter. Should we stay here or go directly to the docks?”

He prodded his horse. “This is too far from town. We’ll find an inn. Word of ships leaving for Thanis will be heard at one, but we can’t leave for a day or two.”

She nodded. “We have to sell the horses.”

“And arrange for passage. We’re too late for today’s animal market.”

Once inside the town Disa led him to the inn where she and Andalor had stayed. They were in luck and one of the suites on the third story was available. After leaving their packs in the suite’s central room, they ordered a meal to be brought as soon as they finished in the baths.

A short time after returning to the suite, Disa opened the door for a serving woman bearing a large tray of food. Disa inhaled the aroma of brewed chokla and grinned. She slipped the woman a coin. Brader entered from his sleeping chamber. He fastened his amber colored hair at his nape with a thong.

“What of our plans for tomorrow?” Disa filled a mug with her chosen drink.

“Sell the horses. Find a ship. Purchase some extra food for the journey. Ship’s food is plain and sometimes not tasty.”

“Will we have to wait long?” Though they’d taken coins from the wizards’ treasury, if they were forced to stay too long their coins would vanish.

He shrugged. “Who knows? I’ll slip down to the common room. Someone there will know about sailings.”

Disa lifted a banta leg. “No tragon.”

He laughed. “Guess Liara told thee how little tolerance I have for spirits. I’ll stick to ale.”

Though Disa had planned to stay awake until Brader returned, the soft mattress lulled her to sleep.

In the morning as soon as they broke their fast, they led their steeds to the animal market. After selling the horses and gear they had enough to buy passage on the ship Brader had heard about the evening before.

Disa walked to the dock with him. While he boarded to arrange for berths, she sat on a bench. She stared at the ship. Seemed sturdy but she had no knowledge about boats. As she watched, burly men carried crates and bales up a wooden ramp to be stowed in the holds.

Her thoughts drifted to the prophecy.   Did it mean they would remain on the isle? Would they find more danger in Thanis? In two seasons she’d been part of two arcane battles. One to destroy the Black Jewel and the other to destroy the stronghold of the wizards. Would the changes she, Liara and Stilenta had spoken about ever come to fruition?

For an instant, she pressed her hand against the Yellow Jewel she wore beneath her tunic. Did she control the gem or did it play subtle games with her thoughts? She rubbed her arms and felt as though the sun hid behind a cloud. Until she knew the answer she would be cautious about using the Jewel.

“Ho, Disa.”

Brader’s deep voice broke into her thoughts. He descended the long ramp from the ship. His broad grin spoke of success. She ran to him. “When do we leave?”

“The ship sails on the morning tide.” He made a face. “I don’t like the idea of sailing but there’s no other way to reach High Sanctuary.”

“Will there be storms like the one that stranded Stilenta on that isle? Or nearly drowned thee?”

“This isn’t the season. I’ve just no liking for the sea.”

“When thee came this way thee had wound fever. Liara feared for thy life. She said the sea water aided thy healing.”

He nodded. “All wasn’t ill. We found Valmir and Stilenta. Do thee think the Jewels played a role in the shipwreck?”

Disa looked away. If she admitted her concerns about the Jewels they might become true.

He grasped her arm. “Do they?”

She heard fear and curiosity in his voice. “I don’t know. Tell me what else troubles thee.”

He stared at the ground. “When the wind fills the sails and the waves roll, the motion of the ship is unsettling. My gut complains and my appetite flees.”

“There are herbs that can help. I’ll buy some.”

“And food, too. The trip can be as long as a lunar and a half or as short as two tendays.  Thee can shop and I’ll trade some of the gems from the stronghold for coins.”

Disa linked arms with him. They left the booming shouts and grunts of the stevedores and entered the noisy market square. The aroma of food and spices, the colors and varieties of the wares enchanted her. Brader headed to a shop with a wide selection of jewelry glittering behind the glass window. She strolled along the booths and made choices.

The last time she’d visited this market, wizards had made dark blotches to gloom the atmosphere. Today there were none and only a few Queen’s Guards.

What would she and Brader find when they reached the isle where he and Liara had been raised? 

With a sigh, Disa thought of the friends they’d left at the wizards’ stronghold. How did they fare? What secrets had they discovered?

She bought a mug of cider and sat on a bench beneath a canopy. As she sipped the cool liquid she sought her friends on the inner path. She heard faint buzzes but no words. Was the distance too great or was Brader’s help essential? She finished the drink and returned the mug. Had the choice to scatter been wrong?

Worrying about what couldn’t be changed wasted time. She stopped at a basket maker’s stall and purchased two lidded containers. At the herbalist’s she filled the compartments of one with a selection of herbs, spices and medicinals.

The aroma of chokla drew her across the square. She indulged in a powder for beverages, some candies for the voyage and two large pastries for the evening meal. After choosing other treats she carried the baskets to the inn.

When she reached the suite, she found Brader rolling their blankets. Their packs sat on the floor along with two sacks. “When are we off?” she asked.

Brader looked up. “After the evening meal we’ll board the ship.”

“But they don’t sail until morning.”

Brader chuckled. “The tide goes out at dawn. We need to be aboard before then.”

“Why? We’ve paid them. Wouldn’t they wait?”

“Not for a moment. Days from now we would find another ship and have no coins to spare.”

Disa reached for her pack, blanket roll and the two baskets. “Then we’ll do what we must. I wish we didn’t have to go.”

He gathered his share of the baggage. “We must. I need to tell my mother what occurred so she can leave this plane for the next.”

Did he really believe his mother’s shade lingered? She reached for the door. “We’ll need a cart to carry these things to the ship.”

“Agreed.” Brader followed her into the hall. “Just pray the sea sickness doesn’t grab me.”

“I have medicines for that.” They walked downstairs and entered the common room. Brader laughed at the chokla pastry and gave her part of his. When they finished the meal they hired a barrow boy to cart their belongings to the ship.

As they boarded Disa noticed the name painted on the ship’s side. The Amber Lady. She turned to Brader. “With that name and my Jewel we should have a pleasant journey.”

Her prediction proved true. With sunny days and clear nights, brisk breezes filled the sails. The ship seemed to dance across the waves. Eighteen days after their departure from Quato the shores of the isle appeared in the distance.

Disa stood at the rail beside Brader. Large gray birds swooped through the air and dove toward the water. They emerged with fish dangling from their beaks and circled the small fishing skiffs. “What are they?”

“Lorns,” Brader said. “Fishermen train them to catch the fish.” He pointed to one of the boats as they glided past.

Disa watched as a bird dropped the fish and flew away. A man placed the fish in a tub. “Enterprising but what about the poor birds being robbed of their catch?”

“They’re given the heads and entrails.”

Disa shook her head. “Each to his own. When will we leave for thy home?”

He grinned. “First we have to dock. Won’t be today or even tomorrow. I’d like to see if any merchants are headed toward the mountains.”

“Why?”

“If there are we can travel part way with them.”

She met his gaze. “Do thee expect trouble?”

He shrugged. “I’ve a feeling I can’t explain. On our way here, Liara and I ran afoul of some Queen’s Guards. They might still be around.”

Disa sucked in a breath. Could he be right? But Liara was the queen now and any of the Guards should be sworn to her. Disa shouldered her pack and blanket roll. She lifted the nearly empty baskets and followed him down the ramp. Uneasiness settled in her gut.

They walked away from the wharfs and paused outside a large inn. Brader pushed open the door. “Looks as good as any.”

“There’s one of the merchants from the ship.”

Brader dropped the things he carried. “See to the rooms. I’ll discover what he plans.”

A short time later he returned. “He journeys in our direction and would be pleased to have us join him. He leaves in three days. We’ll have time to purchase hill ponies and camping gear.”

Disa nodded. “Having our own supplies is a good idea.” She looked around to see if anyone was near. “We need to keep silent about the Jewel I wear.”

He looked away. “Thee are right.”

* * *

Brader sat at the window of his room in the inn and gazed at the newly risen moon. Lunars had passed since he’d left the isle. He’d grown, not only in stature but in knowledge and experience. When he and his foster sister had reached this port town they’d been fleeing evil men and had barely escaped capture. Had that happened, the Black Jewel would still rule and the land would be ruined. Until the ancient Healer had arrived at the wizards’ lair he had believed the evil wrought by the wizards had ended. Not so.

He groaned. A handful of wizards had escaped the destruction. From Corin he had learned about the hidden wizards. Did any remain on the isle? He and Disa had come to help his mother leave this plane. Even if the prophecy hadn’t hinted the thread they sought was here, he would have returned. Where would they find this thing? What was it?

He yawned. Practical plans for the trip would take a day or two to accomplish. With lists of what they would need circling in his thoughts he went to bed.

In the morning he joined Disa in the common room to break his fast. Her amber hair had been braided into a single plait and she had dressed for traveling. After the serving girl brought a platter of eggs, shoat and ryn cakes, he ate and listened to the conversations of the other diners.

“Bandits be bold these days,” one man said.

“They be too organized to be ordinary thieves,” a second added.

“Heard they was Queen’s Guards who rebelled when she called them to Pala,” came from a third.

Brader scraped his plate and finished the kaf. He rose and gestured to Disa. “While thee are at the market keep thy eyes open for anyone who shows too much interest in us.”

She nodded. “Do thee think anyone suspects who I am?”

“Why would they?” Had he answered too quickly? He trusted others more easily than she did.

“Does the merchant we’re joining know of the rumors? Will he heed them?”

“To do otherwise would be foolish. All merchants have armsmen.”

“Are thee sure we must travel with them?”

He nodded. “Until we reach the highlands. When the road splits they’ll go their way and we’ll go ours.”

Disa pushed her chair back. “I’m ready. Do we go to the market together or separate?”

“Thee can buy the food. Enough to last two tendays. I’ll select the hill ponies and the camping gear.”

Three mornings later Brader finished loading the panniers on the pack pony. He tied the lead rope to his mount. Disa sat on her pony. Once he was on his steed, they left the inn and joined the merchant’s caravan.

The leader hailed him. “Come and meet the armsmen.”

Disa trailed behind him. She wore the long knife she’d used when she’d faced the fanged apes. 

Brader eyed the dozen men the merchant presented. One seemed vaguely familiar. Where had he seen him? Was he one of the Queen’s Guards he and Liara had encountered lunars ago? Brader decided to point the man out to Disa.

Following the introductions the merchant gave the order to depart. The five wagons moved slowly and would add to the time before they reached the crossroads. Brader wondered if he’d chosen the wrong way. His fear of encountering one of the large bands of bandits said to prey on small groups of travelers had swayed his decision. The road he and Disa would have taken was shorter, but along the way there were too many chances for ambushes. For now safety meant traveling with the merchant.

During the first four days the caravan covered less distance than he’d expected. Each night they set their tent apart from the others and took their turn standing watch with the armsmen.

Brader watched the man who had raised his suspicions but he had never made a wrong move. Brader scratched his head. He must have been mistaken. In two or three days he and Disa would leave the caravan. He’d kept their plans a secret even from the merchant.

Disa edged her pony closer. “Are thee sure all is well? I thought I saw someone lurking in the forest.”

Brader scanned the tall trees and the tangled undergrowth. He saw nothing. “Perhaps thee saw sunlight through the canopy or the wind shifting the branches. Look at the dense growth and the narrowness of the road. There’s no room for an attack unless the attackers are archers. Even then the wagons would give protection.”

“Are thee sure?”

“Fairly so, but there’s no harm in remaining alert. We’ll be leaving soon to take a different route.”

“What if we’re followed?”

He drew a deep breath. “Then we’ll fight.”

“Can we win without me using the Jewel?”

“Depends on how many men we face.”

At dusk they reached a large camping place. As usual Brader set their tent apart from the others. A short time later a large covered wagon arrived from the opposite direction. Disa began preparing their meal. Brader strode toward the pump to fill buckets of water. The man who had raised his suspicions stood at the trough and spoke to the driver of the newly arrived wagon.

Brader halted. He knew the driver. He had fought that sargon during his and Liara’s flight. Brader turned to warn Disa. Then he saw a double hand of men jump from the rear of the recent arrival. 

“Ware.” He drew his sword.

The sargon leaped the trough and confronted Brader. “We meet again. This time I know your tricks. I will win.”

Brader raised his sword and countered the other man’s attack. Did the sargon still fight in the manner of the Queen’s Guards or had he learned to modify his actions? Soon Brader was too busy to think of anything but the fight. The sound of steel sliding and clanging against steel, the shouts, grunts and screams of the fighters filled the air.

With a lunge Brader knocked the sargon’s sword aside and thrust his knife into the man’s belly. The former Queen’s Guard staggered and fell. Brader turned to help the caravan armsmen repel the attackers. The man he’d suspected of being a traitor was gone. Had he been killed or had he fled?

Brader engaged in another duel. Finally the last of the attackers had been subdued or had fled. Brader returned to the tent he shared with Disa. Empty. He found to trace of her. He grabbed one of the wounded attackers. “My companion. Where is she?” Rage filled him. He shook the man. His hands grasped the man’s throat. “Tell me.”

“Wizard paid for her.”

Brader clenched his jaw. Though he felt the need to kill, he couldn’t. “Where is your camp?”