The Elderine Stone (16 page)

“Oh never mind” Jason said with a laugh “Let’s just find this side street and get out of this city, I’m starting to feel like a rat in a cage never mind the feeling of being watched.”

It was true in a way, as not far behind, Devon and Grimble stood pretending to admire some unusual objects that lay sprawled across a wooden market stall. Jason had glanced over at them a view times but didn’t seem to pay them much attention.

Devon of course had been listening carefully to every word spoken by the three friends and was now planning what he and Grimble should do. The very fact that the three friends planned to leave the city caused a certain deal of weariness for Devon, as he knew that if his father even found him outside of the Palace grounds he would be in trouble. Devon was not going to let something like this slip away so easily. He felt it was more his duty to follow them to the north It was his duty to protect the interest of the remaining members of the Order. He was their chosen one and he was not about to step aside and let this outsider take his destiny.

“What are we going to do when they go to her house?” Grimble said as he admired a rather shinny object, from a basket.

“
Well we will have to follow them and then wait around until they leave again.”

“What if they stay a long time?”

“
I don’t think they will.”

“
And sire what if, her adults are there?”

“Grimble be quiet! You ask too many questions, and it’s her parents not adults.” Devon began to mutter to himself about the lack of intellect he had to deal with, and why his parents hadn’t entrusted his protection with something a little more suitable for his needs.

“Okay sire I won’t ask anymore questions, but what if…”

Devon didn’t give him a chance to finish as a swift blow across his head stopped him from saying or asking anything else.

“
Now be quiet and listen.”

They both stood and watched Emily lead Jason and Sherbit towards a side street then they slipped into the shadows.

As soon as Emily had reached the side street she had peeked down to see if it looked safe enough for them to enter. It would be foolish at this stage now they had an idea of what they were supposed to do, to be lynched and carted off to goodness knows what sort of ending. The alleyway didn’t look unusual, though strange music was being played and laughter could be heard, from a building that looked much like a tavern, well a building that tried its very best to at least resemble a tavern. It almost pulled it off. The guard who had helped the friends previously in the day with his riddles to assist them was no longer in sight, if they needed any help now it would be useless trying to call for someone. Even if they did, the noise from the crowd of busy shoppers would be more than overwhelming.

“Okay this is it” Emily said as she took another look down the alley “It really doesn’t look that bad, and I’m sure it will lead us to the gate or at least past the crowd.”

“Well there’s only one way to find out” Jason said as he started to walk down the street boldly leading the way.

Emily laughed “Jason you have become really brave, that hero thing must be kicking in now. I told you it was true”

Jason smiled back at her trying to hold his own private fears within.

“
I’m not afraid to go walk down this alley, I’m a hero too” Sherbit said as he ran in after Jason.

Emily laughed again as she walked down after her too
brave
friends.

The street was rather shaded which made it a lot cooler than the open market street, it was a welcomed change, but the street still felt eerie. The three friends walked closely together, obviously Sherbit and Jason had lost what little bit of bravery they had within a few moments of entering the side street.

The further they walked the narrower and darker the side street seemed to become. The walls in parts were green and slimy looking where they had been water stained. Moss grew over some bricks where the plaster and paint work had fallen off from age and neglect. The music from the tavern was getting increasingly louder, as the din of the busy crowd was almost unheard.

“Maybe the shop-a-havocs have gone” Sherbit said whilst his teeth chattered with nerves.

“Don’t be silly Sherbit, besides I’m sure we are almost at the end of this street, the gate is probably just around this corner.”

Just as Emily finished speaking someone or something jumped out in front of them causing all three to jump back in surprise.

The figure in front wore a purple robe. Whoever it was had a hood pulled up over their head hiding his or her face. The hooded figure didn’t say anything, just stood silently and waited, blocking the path forward for Jason and his friends.

“
Excuse me, could we pass?” Jason said trying to sound as brave as he could, although the nerves could be easily heard on his voice.

The figure stood firm and didn’t move. Jason waited a while for an answer but there was no response. Feeling an urge of bravery come over him again, he decided to walk around the figure.

“
Wait” the figure said, it was a woman’s voice. Her voice was polite and her way with words associated her with the educated. “You can’t go yet, I have something for you, and I must tell you something before you travel north.”

“
How did you know we were going north?” Emily asked surprised that this strange figure seemed to know more than she should. She mentally kicked herself for revealing the truth in their plans.

“
I know many things Emily, I know that you three seek to destroy the Dark Lady, and I know that Jason here is the prophesised hero.”

“But…” Emily didn’t get a chance to finish what she was about to say.

“
You must listen I don’t have much time, Jason take this, you will need it. I can’t tell you what it is or what does, but in time you will know when to use it. You must discover its magic yourself” The lady reached into her pocket and withdrew a small golden chain with a pendant on the end. In the centre was a small sky blue gem. She handed it to Jason.

“
I must warn you, that there are many who would seek to stop you in your quest, even those who you know as close friends. Emily I’m sure that you feel it, your magic is warning you of a danger close to you, you must be careful of who you trust.”

The cloaked lady looked around, almost as if she was nervous to be here. There was a rattling noise as something was knocked over within the shadows.

“
I must go. Leave the city as soon as you can. Take care. Know that we all depend on you, even if there are some out there who are too stubborn to admit it. My love goes with you all, may Averin watch over you on your journey” she turned and ran into the tavern.

“
Wait” Jason tried to stop her but she didn’t stop. “Quick we have to follow her! Who was she?”

“I don’t know” Emily replied “Though I think she may be on our side, and we could certainly use the help of someone like her.”

Jason placed the pendant in his pocket then ran into the tavern followed by Emily and Sherbit.

The tavern was bustling with patrons who were happily chugging mugs of what would appear to be alcoholic ales and beers. Jason looked around the room, there were dirty looking men sitting around even dirtier looking tables. Several woman were plotted around the room in-between the men or sometimes in groups with other woman. The lady with the purple robe wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

The landlord caught sight of Jason and Emily and Sherbit as soon as he peeked around the door frame.

“
Well now, look what we have here, ‘tis not often that we would see three young folk such as yourselves in this kind of establishment.”

The music stopped and everyone quickly turned round to see what was happening.

“We are just looking for a lady” Jason replied trying to break contact with the land lords overpowering stare.

“Well there are a plenty of ladies in here, though you do seem a little young about the face lad”

“
No. No we were talking to a Lady with a purple robe. We saw her run in here”

The landlord looked around, “Trying to find a purple robed lady, the fella says, anyone seen one”

There were a few replies of no, and a few laughs.

“Well there you go fella, there is no purple robed lady in here, and as far as I can remember there never has been, and I don’t suspect there ever will be, well not for a while anyhow”

“But Sir, we saw her run in”

“
It must have been a trick of yer eyes boy. Now if I can’t be getting you something, please be getting on with ya, I have many a customers to serve, impatient lot at times.” The landlord turned to talk to another customer who was pushing an empty ale jug and a clatter of coins in his direction.

Emily pulled Jason away from the counter before he could say anything else. The patrons in this particular tavern didn’t look like the sort of people that anyone would like to get on the wrong side of.

“
Jason, we have to go, remember what the lady said we have to leave the city as soon as possible, we shouldn’t stick around.”

“
I guess you are right, if whoever that was wants to talk to us I guess she will find us again. We should leave”

Everything returned to normal when they left the tavern, the music started, the Landlord wiped the sweat of his head and passed a short sigh of relief then started to clean some grubby looking mugs. The townsfolk started to talk and laugh as they enjoyed the custom of the taverns services.

The side street was quiet. Jason felt slightly annoyed that he couldn’t talk to the robed Lady for longer. She seemed important. Maybe she had a role to play in whatever will happen in the future. He knew he had to stop thinking about her and carry on with his quest. It would be dark in a few hours and they had to make it to Emily’s House, which was no short journey.

Jason reached his hand inside his pocket and felt the cold metal of the chain and its pendant. He wondered what it was for, taking it out of his pocket for closer inspection. It didn’t seem too unusual, but then he wasn’t sure what to consider unusual in these lands. The pendant was formed out of what looked like pure gold. It was made up of two hands that had been bound together at the wrists by a golden representation of cloth or rope, the hands were open and the fingers outstretched. Between the two hands lay the sky blue gem, it looked almost clear, but when Jason brought it closer to look at it again, it seemed to cloud over making it impossible to see through. He rubbed the pendant before placing it back in his pocket, remembering what the strange lady had said to him. That he had to discover its magic, a strange idea he thought, he knew nothing of magic himself, so where should he start looking. The pendant had attracted Jason’s attention long enough to attract Emily’s.

“
Jason you should keep that away while we are out in the streets. Who knows what it is, or what it could be. Besides in our current situation it could attract the eyes of those who would want to steal it.”

“
It’s just so beautiful. I want to uncover its hidden magic, but yes you are right it has a purpose and having it stolen won’t help matters in the slightest.”

“
Exactly! Well I walked to the end of this street while you were mesmerised and it does lead back onto the main road, and passes that crowd, so it looks like we haven’t far to go to the gate. Don’t get me wrong I love this city, but at this particular moment I can’t wait to get out”

“
So we go now” Sherbit said obviously anxious to get out of the city too.

“
Yeah the sooner the better, I cant wait to see your house Emily.”

“
It’s nothing much, but it is home, My parents work for the Royal Institute of Elderine Research, so when they aren’t out searching for lost treasures, they are at home examining their latest finds. Which can mean our house is a little messed up. Though I think they mentioned that they were heading to the Eastern Deserts before I left with my Grandfather.”

“The Eastern Deserts?” Jason asked sounding slightly bemused, which was starting to become a more permanent state of mind for him.

“
Oh, they recently uncovered a series of ancient ruins, which royal architects think may date as far back to the times of Averin and Caleb. They aren’t really sure whether or not the ruins were an outpost for the followers of Averin, the Elderine Order or a settlement for Caleb’s followers. After all the deserts are very close to the border of where Caleb’s own region once lay. To any extent, the researchers and architects are hoping to find some artefacts that will enlighten us even more to our past, for better or worse.”

“
Oh the deserts are
such hot and dry places, nasty places they are” Sherbit said speaking as if he had knowledge of almost everything bad in the lands.

“
Your right Sherbit, I for one would hate to be stuck out there, really. I hear there are some rather fierce beasts there too, those which have a taste especially for little imps” Emily said with a laugh as Sherbit jumped and ran to hide behind Jason’s legs.