Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two (35 page)

Dearest wife and daughter,

Grateful to A for her vigilance. Our plans changed
locations when we received word. Am now visiting camps to inform them.

Haven’t gathered information needed yet but learned our
contact currently travels with our enemy. So, I will arrive shortly for battle
and to meet with the contact when it’s safe.

Be safe, my loves. We’ll meet again soon.

-T

When I was done reading I met my mother’s gaze.

“It was carried here by a small messenger.” She motioned
toward a cage that contained a spotted bird pecking hungrily at seed.

“Do you think he’ll able to meet with your brother?” I
asked.

My mother shrugged. “I’m not sure. The king keeps him close.
I believe he’s the top Concealer. Therefore, he’s probably responsible for
keeping the army hidden.”

 “Which is probably why I’m able to see it every once in a
while.”

“Yes. He can’t do much under Shir’s watchful eye, but he’ll
do what he can to help us until he can pass on whatever information he’s been
safe guarding.”

I glanced down at the letter again and fingered the little
roll of paper. It seemed so simple to just send messages by bird and I wondered
why my uncle couldn’t attempt it, but I knew it was risky. My father always
wrote somewhat vague letters but so far, it seemed they’d all arrived to us
uncorrupted. Still, I’d been warned that wasn’t always the case.

“Aylen,” my mother said, interrupting my thoughts. “What did
you need?”

I passed her the note and sighed. “Aluce wants me to
practice my presentation for all the guests she gathered. She’s hoping if I
impress them enough, they’ll invest their resources in our cause.”

“And what does she say about the looming threat of an army sitting
at the base of our mountain?”

“To let the grown-ups handle it and not concern myself with
it.” As I answered, a painful laugh bubbled up from my chest and escaped
through my lips. The words seemed so ridiculous after the last several weeks of
my life.

My mother’s smile was anxious while she waited for me to
calm myself. A few more strangled giggles shook my body before I managed to
pull myself together.

“What will you choose to do?” my mother asked.

After a quick swipe at the moisture in my eyes, I looked at
her. “The sky dwellers are preparing to defend their sister cities, my father
is gathering the revolutionaries and preparing to go to battle, and Hesper and
Cole and most of their friends are helping fly the vulnerable and young into Et
Loedin for refuge before the army reaches their villages. But I’m simply
expected to prepare for a party.”

I knew I hadn’t answered my mother’s question, but still,
she waited patiently for the truth. I paused to gather my thoughts and courage.
I avoided her eyes and looked at everything else in the room; countless maps
and diagrams, books filled with notes and observations, drawings and charts.

Finally, after several deep breaths had calmed my racing
heart, I turned my gaze to my mother. She was already watching me, her eyes
shining. Then I noticed the Empathy Gem glowing in her hand.

“I’m going to find King Shir because we both know, in order
to win this, I must,” I whispered. “And I’m going alone.”

She seemed to stagger under the weight of my announcement,
but her response was resolute. “I understand,” she told me.

I knew she did.

“I’ll leave tonight, after most in Et Loedin have gone to
bed. I want to find him before he reaches Indikae, or wherever he’s going.”

A single tear slid down her cheek. Her hand shook as she
clamped the gem tighter. “I understand,” she whispered again.

I stepped toward her and threw my arms around her. I held my
mother tightly, feeling her frame tremble as she released herself from her
Empathy Gem. Her head dropped to my shoulder and her shoulders quaked with
silent sobs inside my embrace.

I didn’t try to soothe her or remind her of our duties in
this broken, wretched land. Instead, we clung to one another, mother and
daughter, grieving over the painful burdens we both felt from the other but
could only carry alone.

For the remainder of the day, I went through the motions of
training for my presentation. I was measured and fitted for the simple gown I
was to wear when Aluce would introduce me to the people she’d gathered.
Afterwards, I read over the instructions I received describing how I was
expected to exhibit my power.

I nearly laughed with derision when I skimmed Aluce’s
outline.

“The leaders and great citizens of the Miranaschian
tribes will be unwilling to place their faith in someone who cannot prove her mettle.
Therefore, three things will be required of Aylen.

“Firstly, upon presenting herself, she must topple the
smallest snowy peak on the north side of Et Loedin. This will not only manifest
her power but should create a landslide that will make it difficult for
invaders to pass.

“Secondly, she will be required to bring forth a powerful
storm with enough rain to flood the passes below Et Loedin.

“Thirdly, she will make a show of her battle abilities
using her Warrior Gem against opponents whom I, Aluce, will choose and prepare.

“Once these items are completed, the celebration will
commence. Aylen will be required to dance with the tribe leaders I have listed
and discuss with them her plans (as I have also outlined) for defeating King
Shir and becoming the crowned ruler of Miranasch.”

I was also instructed to meet with Dierchae one more and
allow her to help me refine my powers of demolition. Instead, I decided to pay
a visit to Tanerris.

I gave a few light taps on her door with the expectation
that she wouldn’t answer. It was nearing evening and most people were eating
their end day meal. In a short while, I was due to dine at Iolar’s table with
Cole and Hesper.

When the door swung open, I stepped back in surprise. Then I
smiled.

“You missed our last training session, Aylen,” Tanerris
accused, though her tone was light.

“Did you miss me?”

Her face split into a smile and she motioned me into her
room.

“To what do I owe this visit?” she asked. I waited for her
to settle into a small cushioned chair before seating myself

“I have a question regarding one of the gems.” When she
nodded for me to continue, I sighed. “No matter what I do, I can’t seem to keep
control over it. Often, it becomes overwhelming within a few minutes of using
it.”

Tanerris’ body didn’t shift in the slightest but her eyes
narrowed an almost imperceptible amount.

“Which gem?”

I pulled my necklace from the folds of my neckline and
touched the rich purple of the Empathy Gem. Tanerris nodded.

“Your most direct lines would belong to the Fertility and
Empathy gems. Perhaps you have a greater connection to them.”

I shook my head in disagreement. “My mother can control
hers. And there’s something more.”

Tanerris motioned for me to continue.

“I was able to manipulate a trainer with it two days ago.”
Her eyebrows arched high on her forehead. “This is something I was told could
only be done by accessing the heart of the gem and it was completely
accidental. I was trying to avoid a training session so I could spy on the
king’s soldiers with my gem.  When I saw how determined she was to have me
train with her, I tapped into her emotions and managed to change them so they
were more in line with my own.”

When she didn’t say anything, I blushed. “I didn’t realize I
was altering her feelings until she’d already sent me on my way.”

I tucked the necklace back into my clothing and leaned back.
Tanerris sunk further into the folds of her seat and eyed me warily.

“Have you attempted to access the hearts of any of your
other gems?”

I shook my head no. “But you know how crazy things were
before you taught me a way to control them.”

“Have you considered trying to access the hearts?”

I shrugged. “Not really. If I was able to, it would mean
much more I’d have to learn to control. As it is, I already feel like I’m
barely hanging on sometimes. Your methods were the only ones that have seemed
to work and it’s because I’m not fully letting the gems’ powers manifest the
way they want to.”

Tanerris tapped her lips with a slender finger before
seeming to make up her mind. “I’ve never heard of anyone being able to tap into
the heart of a gem without it being exposed, but then, we’ve never had anyone
in Miranasch with all of the bloodlines. It could be just another gift.”

When I cringed she smiled again. “Or a curse. We won’t know
until you test it out.”

The idea of opening the imaginary door to my gems’ power
wasn’t appealing, especially considering how difficult it had been already to
rein them in. I couldn’t see it as a viable option.

I moved to rise from my seat but Tanerris held up her hand
to stop me.

“Consider it. It might be the way you’ll be able to defeat
King Shir.” I stared at her in silence, chewing my lower lip. She continued.
“I’m not saying it’s the only way, but there’s a reason we’ve been taught to
believe in your abilities.”

I offered her a shaky smile and stood. “I’ll think on it.”

I turned to go, anxious to reach Iolar’s home in time but
Tanerris stopped me once more.

“Aylen,” she said, “if you decide to test it out, find a
safe place, where no one can be harmed and no one will see. Your concerns are
valid, so use caution.”

I gave her one last grateful nod of my head before I left
her chambers.

I passed through the evening meal with Iolar and his family,
my mother, Aluce, and a few of the trainers I had avoided. Throughout supper, I
listened to Aluce berate me, my mother defend me, and I watched Dierchae of the
Destroyers send scathing glares at me between every bite she took. After the
third time she insisted the Destruction Gem was the only sure way to overcome
Shir, I finally reminded her that the current king had spent years using those
same tactics and didn’t everyone want him eliminated?

After my plate was empty and Aluce made me promise to meet
with Dierchae first thing in the morning despite my objections, I was allowed
to excuse myself. Hesper stood and offered to walk me home.

Fully wrapped in our cloaks, we fled from the stifling
confines of the house, breathless and exultant.

“I’m not sure how you survived that,” Hesper whispered. She
glanced around at the people still milling about the city. Since the news of
the looming attack, Et Loedin citizens had been vigilant and sleepless while
they prepared for the possibility of battle.

“I only heard half of what was said,” I confessed. “I’ve
developed the trick of simply not hearing Aluce’s reprimands.”

We fell silent as we passed through a few small crowds,
listening to discussions of armor, defense, and how many warriors could be
expected to defend the city. I received several glances as I wove around
people. I tried to ignore the faint hint of emotions I felt from them even as I
fought to remain unconnected to my Empathy Gem. I didn’t want to know their
thoughts as they stared at me.

Once we were alone again, Hesper looped her arm through mine
and asked, “What are you planning?”

I did my best to keep my face as impassive as possible.
Blinking at her I responded, “What do you mean?”

Hesper smacked my arm. Hard. “Don’t do that. I know you’re
hiding something.”

I tried to laugh. “You’re right. I heard that Aluce and your
father are secretly in love and I didn’t know how to tell you she would soon be
your mother.”

Hesper rolled her eyes. “I was the one who started that
rumor.”

This time I really did laugh. “That was an actual rumor?”

“I was hoping once it reached my father, it would distract
him from some of my latest shortcomings.”

“Did it work?”

Hesper’s eyes lit up. “Of course it . . .” she paused before
smacking my arm again. “Stop it! Now
you’re
trying to distract
me
.”

“And you’re leaving a bruise on my best fighting arm. Aluce
will not be happy.”

I pulled away from her to push open the door to the building
where my chambers were housed. She followed me in uninvited.

I strolled down the torch-lit hall toward my room, the sound
of my shoes clicking against the stone floor. When I finally reached my door, I
pulled my key from my pocket and pushed it into the lock. Before I could open
the door, Hesper grabbed my arm.

“Whatever you’re doing, you won’t do it alone.” Her eyes
were intent this time as she glared at me. I stared at her, taken aback with
the sudden shift in her demeanor.

“We’re both exhausted and I have a big day of training
tomorrow. You’re imagining things. I have nothing planned.”

“Do you understand what I’m telling you?” she asked. “I
won’t allow you to carry out whatever it is without me.”

I sighed. She couldn’t be fooled. “Hesper, you have no power
here. You can’t force me to accept your help. No one is able to force anything
on me ever again.”

“Then I ask you to choose our friendship over your pride.”
She took a step back, her face shadowed in the dim torch lit hall. “I’ve been
nothing but loyal to you since you arrived. I expect your trust in return.”

“Hesper,” I pleaded but she shook her head.

“You’re the closest I’ve come to having a sister and I
believe I know you well enough as though you were. In Et Loedin, it’s
dishonorable to not defend your family. When I promised to be your advocate, it
meant I would regard you as one of my closest blood relations.”