Nerissa held his gaze while she considered her response. Whatever answer she gave him now would determine the tone of their future relationship. Although she fully intended to interfere in Silvus’ affairs by removing Akkub from office as soon as possible, her philosophy regarding how the provinces should be managed was no different from her mother’s. “Governors are far more familiar with the individual needs of their provinces than anyone else could be. I believe that the primary duty of the Blood of Chiyo is to ensure that they have the necessary resources and means to address those needs.”
Alden raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Do you really mean that, or are you just telling me what I want to hear?”
Nerissa’s eyes flashed with indignation. “It would be far better to acknowledge that we have fundamental ideological disagreements from the outset than for me to foolishly attempt to gain your trust under false pretenses. A difference of opinion can be resolved through diplomacy, but lying to you about my policies would permanently damage our relationship. I expect that you will be equally honest and upfront with us as well.” Her stomach fluttered with the realization of how much she sounded like her mother.
Alden looked pleased. “I think that you and I will get along very well.”
Nerissa was not entirely certain that she agreed, but she would be satisfied as long as he was willing to be cooperative. “Are you saying that you will assist us?”
“I will support your efforts as long as it does not require diverting resources from maintaining Rhea’s borders,” he answered. “What is it about your mission, specifically, that brings you here?”
“We are traveling under the guise of being antiques merchants because we are seeking books that have fragments of an ancient prophecy hidden inside them,” Nerissa said. Raysel’s head bobbed in agreement as she told Alden about Shae, the books, and the warning that the prophecy contained.
“If that prophecy is true, then my efforts to secure Rhea’s independence from Casimer won’t matter in the long run,” Alden said, scowling.
“I’m afraid that is the case,” Nerissa agreed.
“To complicate matters, two days ago, we were attacked by Senka operatives. It is likely that Casimer is aware of our mission, and the Senka may not be far behind us,” Raysel added.
“Well, I can’t do anything about them once you leave Rhea, but I will send a declaration to close the borders to anyone but our own citizens.” Alden pulled a sheet of stationary and a pen from his desk drawer and began scribbling out the order before he even finished talking.
“Thank you,” Nerissa said gratefully.
“Don’t thank me. Keeping Casimer’s men out of this territory benefits me as much as it does you,” Alden said without looking up from the paper. He signed his name with a flourish then pulled a stick of sealing wax and his stamp from the drawer. “Is there a way that your books can be distinguished from every other old book?”
Nerissa’s nose was filled with the distinct stench of matches as Alden struck one to light the wick of the sealing wax. “All of the books will have a crystal embedded somewhere within them—most likely in the spine. If it is one of the four containing the prophecy, the crystal will glow when I touch it. In addition, both of the books we have found were passed down through the owners’ families as heirlooms. The remaining ones may have been treated in a similar fashion.”
Alden pressed his seal into the red wax then checked to ensure that the diamond and triangle design was clearly visible. When he finally set the paper aside, there was an amused look on his face. “It so happens that I know of a book that exactly fits your description.”
“Really?” Nerissa blurted out, her eyes widening in surprise. Was it even possible that the third book would be found so easily?
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Alden replied instead of answering. The legs of his chair scraped against the floor as he stood. Kuma’s ears flicked forward, and he leapt from the blanket to trail Alden into the hallway.
Nerissa and Raysel turned to each other with identical expressions of disbelief. “Alden has one of the books. It almost seems too good to be true,” Nerissa said, so choked with shock that she could barely eke out more than a whisper.
“Don’t get your hopes up. Just because it matches the description doesn’t necessarily mean it’s one of the remaining four,” Raysel reminded her.
The door hinges squeaked softly as Alden and Kuma returned to the room. Nerissa’s heart sank when she saw that he did not have a book with him. Instead, he extended his hand and uncurled his fingers to reveal a jagged crystal shard.
“This is from a gem that used to be embedded in the spine of my great-grandfather’s book. The rest of it and the book itself are hidden in a cave not far from here,” Alden said.
Nerissa’s hands itched to reach out and touch the crystal, but she restrained herself. “Why is it hidden in a cave?”
Alden laughed. “It’s quite a long story. You two look exhausted so I will share it with you another time.”
“Aren’t caves usually very humid? Is it really a good idea to store a book in one?” Raysel asked.
“If you think about it, a cave is an excellent place to store valuables as long as they are sealed inside a chest. The air is a steady temperature year round, and there’s little risk of fire since stone doesn’t burn,” Alden said. “This particular cave was mined for decades, but it became unstable and was abandoned after a wall collapsed, killing the crew that was working there. The locals wouldn’t go near it after that, claiming that the cave was haunted by the ghosts of the men who died. Many even say that strange howling can be heard from within. I’m not the superstitious type, but the cave is hazardous enough that I wouldn’t go into it unless I absolutely had to.”
Raysel wiggled his toes inside his shoes as he contemplated Alden’s explanation. “There’s no sense in us going in unnecessarily either.”
Alden stretched his hand toward Nerissa. “Well, Caeneus, let’s find out if this is from one of the books you need.”
“What if it doesn’t work because the crystal is broken?” Nerissa asked, afraid of being disappointed.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it,” Raysel insisted.
Nerissa took the shard from Alden’s hand, and a brilliant white light sprang up from its depths. She stared at the glowing sliver in her hand, so caught up in her thoughts that she did not notice Kuma’s frenzied barking as he bounded around her with unbridled excitement. Haunted or not, venturing into the old mine would be dangerous. She wasn’t the superstitious type either, but that didn’t stop one line of the prophecy from echoing through her thoughts over and over.
Beware of the spirit that protects the book hidden in the cave.
List of Characters
*May contain some spoilers
Nerissa's Family and Friends
Addy—Pan’s wife
Charis—Nerissa’s best friend
Dallin—Childhood friend of Nerissa
Nerissa–Heiress of Chiyo
Pan—Baker in Niamh
Parlen—Nerissa's father, Bond of Chiyo
Rica—Nerissa's mother, Blood of Chiyo
Tao—Nerissa's mentor, teacher, researcher of crystals and their uses
Casimer's family
Amon—Casimer’s nephew
Casimer—King of Marise
Echidna—Queen of Marise
Ladon—Prince of Marise
Ohanzee
Alala—Senka defector that takes refuge in Darnal, friend of Caelan
Aravind—Daughter of Haku and Ebba, apprentice blacksmith
Beadurinc—Personal guardian of Parlen and Rica
Caelan—Senka defector that takes refuge in Darnal, Rian's mother, teacher
Caeneus—Mysterious young man brought to Darnal by Einar
Cattleya—Daughter of Haku and Ebba, jewelry designer
Cole—Disguise specialist, twin of Eloc
Ebba—Wife of Haku, blacksmith
E
inar—Nerissa’s archery instructor, Chief Guardian
Eloc—Disguise specialist, twin of Cole
Gerda—Wife of Hania
Haku—Chief Preceptor
Hania—Chief Advisor
Harbin—Personal guardian of Parlen and Rica
Ildiko—Wife of Einar, practitioner of medicine
Jarold—Swordsman and hand-to-hand combat specialist
Leal—Swordsman
Raysel—Son of Haku and Ebba, First Swordsman of the Ohanzee, Nerissa's personal guardian
Rian—Swordsman, Raysel’s best friend
Valter—Personal guardian of Parlen and Rica
Senka
Nils—Chief of the Senka
Others
Akkub—Governor of Silvus
Alden—Governor of Rhea
Argia—Prophetess during the time of King Gared
Darci—Daughter of Akkub
Desta—Daughter of Shae
Erik—Village messenger, Ohanzee agent
King Gared—First King of Renatus, united the land after the Fall of Civilization
Gladys—Wife of Erik
Gullintanni—Secret group that defends Renatus under orders of King Gared
Luca—Valen’s mentor
Shae—Prophetess, extractor of plant oils
Valen—Argia’s guide
Lands and Towns
Chiyo—Country ruled by Rica and Parlen
Darnal—Hidden city of the Ohanzee
Marise—Country ruled by Casimer and Echidna
Maze—City in Marise with network of underground canals
Niamh—Capital of Chiyo
Nyx—Capital of Marise
Renatus—Name encompassing all the lands of the world
Rhea—Capital city of the mountain province of Rhea
Silvus—Capital city of the province of Silvus
Yoshie River—River that borders Rhea on three sides
About the Author
Rachel R. Smith lives near Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and the cutest dog in the world, Sumo. When not writing, she plots to fill the interior of their home with books and mineral specimens and to cover the exterior with roses. Her latest book, Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix (Records of the Ohanzee Book 2) is now available. Stay up to date on the series and learn more about Rachel by visiting her blog at www.RecordsOfTheOhanzee.com or by following Records of the Ohanzee on Facebook.
Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix (Records of the Ohanzee Book 2) Page 17
