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BLURB:
Seven Jewels – Seven Holders and their bondmates. The words of an elderly Healer send each pair on a quest to learn the secret of the Jewels. Are these gems just tools or do they hold hidden danger for the Holders? The seven leave on seven quests to discover the answers. When they find the answer, they must decide the fate of the Jewels.
EXCERPT:
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.”
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