Water Blessed

by Stone, Leia

  I knelt over the edge of the deep pool and held my left hand over it. Water began to gush out of it and trickle down the sides, filling the pool. But as soon as it reached the edge of the fence, it dipped under and was lost in Silk Valley.

  I creased my brow determined and sat cross legged, making myself comfortable. I urged the water to flow faster, harder.

  Seth came up behind me as my guards looked on in wonder.

  “My love, in order to fill the dead pool with water, you would have to first fill the gorge. That would take all day,” he warned.

  I set my jaw defiantly. “Then we will be here all day!” I exclaimed and continued on. People had begun to pour out of the gates of Silk Valley, when they got near me, my guards stopped them. They fell to their knees crying, looking up at the rain.

  “It’s a waterfall! It’s flowing down the valley into the dry gorge,” someone ran out of the Silk Valley front gate screaming.

  After an hour, the water from my hand slowed down and I became thirsty.

  “Seth, your canteen,” I indicated.

  He passed it to my right hand. I chugged greedily and was pleased to see the water flow faster out of my palm.

  One of my guards came running. “Silk Valley king rides this way with his army. We should run!”

  I shook my head and stood. I continued to hold my hand over the dead pool, which was running freely under the high stone wall. “No. We stay. He won’t kill me. No one will! They need me.”

  Seth creased his brow. “They may not kill you, but they may capture you.”

  At his words, thunder cracked across the sky, sending everyone to the ground covering their ears.

  I grinned.

  “No.”

  The Fates had spoken. There would be water for all, for free. That was my destiny. It’s all I ever really wanted.

  The soldiers came on horseback with their king riding behind them. Seth unsheathed his blade as rain pelted us from above.

  The Silk Valley king dismounted and pushed his way to the front until he came head to head with Seth. Rain kissed his cheeks and he squinted when he saw me.

  “What is this?” he pointed to me in wonder.

  I answered before Seth could. “I have a message from the Fates!” I cried out loudly. Many people had gathered around. “Water for free. Water for all!” I roared and was met with cries of joy.

  The king fell to one knee and bowed before me. “If you can make it so, then I am with you.”

  And so I sat there, all day until a knight from Silk Valley rode up to us on horseback.

  “The dry gorge is dry no more! It’s full of water! They are calling it a lake. Deep enough to submerge a grown man!”

  I smiled weakly and ceased the water’s flow from my hand. I willed the rain to ease a little. We were soaking wet. I was tired and hungry.

  The Silk Valley king approached us. “Please be my guest for the night.”

  I nodded. “We ride to Coal Mountain in the morning.”

  The king gave me a look that said that might not be wise.

  Revelry

  That night we feasted with the Silk Valley king. He told us of their past attempts to snatch Seraphina in a desperate attempt for water. He expressed regret and I understood. No one knew water despair like the women from my village. Rain in my village was nonexistent. The well was ten hours’ walk away. Do you know how much sweat you pour out walking ten hours in the sun? Making that walk with such little water were the scariest times of my life. I must have been near death a dozen times. There was a time when the well water got contaminated. We all had to ration until the council could treat the water with herbs and make it clean again.

  We sat around a large table, Seth, a few of my female guards, and the king. It was a wonderful meal. Seared lamb with mango chutney and apple fritters. I had never had such a delicious meal. Seth had been looking at me all night. I squeezed his thigh under the table.

  “Why are you staring at me?” I whispered, leaning into him.

  He grinned, showcasing his handsome smile. He looked at my lips. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re breathtaking.”

  I smiled. We were soaking wet when we arrived, so the king had ordered us custom tailored silk outfits. I sat in a lime green silk dress that faded to deep green at the hem. My hair was down in air-dried waves. “It is a beautiful dress,” I agreed.

  “I’m not talking about the dress.” Seth held my gaze while the others at the table talked to each other. I felt like we were all alone in the room. He was arguably the most handsome man in the realm. He could have any woman he wanted and he wanted me. I smiled shyly.

  After dinner, we excused ourselves. I stopped the rain for our walk back to the inn where we were staying. My guards refused to sleep in the palace of the king that had tried to steal their water blessed so many times. I was fine with sleeping anywhere as long as I was next to Seth. As we passed the market stalls, a shopkeeper called out to me. “Anything you want, my lady. Please honor me with taking one of my fine things as a thank you for the rain.” He bowed deeply and touched his third eye.

  I waved him off shyly. “That’s okay.”

  Seth looked at me. “Wait here, I’ll pick something out for you.”

  He disappeared into the shop and I waited with my guard. Having fifteen knighted women stand around me, reminded me that not all people in the realm were my friend. Seth returned a few moments later with an item in his pocket. The shopkeeper smiled big and wished us well.

  I tugged at his pocket, but he pushed my hand away. I laughed.

  All his tough exterior, all of his hurtful words to me in the past, melted away when he declared his love for me in front of Kyler. I saw his heart; a heart that was so big he tried to put a friend before himself. I slipped my hand into his as we made our way into the inn and up the stairs to our room.

  “I’ll take the night watch outside your door,” one of the guards said.

  I nodded. “Thank you.”

  Once inside, Seth turned to face me with a serious gaze.

  “I’m not sure what is done in your village to signify marriage, I don’t think of myself as a traditional man.”

  I laughed. “We’re sold as water wives. Nothing is done. The entire village knows who is with whom. The man makes payment and someone witnesses. There is a ceremony, but only to please the mothers.”

  He cleared his throat and pulled the thing he had gotten from the shop out of his pocket. “What I’m saying is, I don’t see myself having a big wedding, but I do see myself with you for the rest of my life.”

  He opened his palm and in it was a finely braided pale pink silk bracelet with a ruby threaded through it. “If you’ll have me?”

  Tears spilled from my eyes and rain began to pelt the windows. I could only nod. I gave him my outstretched hand as he slipped the bracelet on. It was everything I wanted. What my parents had. Marriage for love. I didn’t need a ceremony.

  He slowly unzipped my dress and kissed me tenderly. “I knew you were the one for me when you told everyone in your village that you would be the one to choose the offer. I hoped then that you would choose me, forever. I decided in that moment not to leave that village without you.” Seth breathed.

  I kissed him harder as he lifted me up and I straddled him as he fell back on the bed.

  *

  I tossed and turned that night with vivid dreams.

  I saw a young woman with white hair who looked exactly like me. It was as if my hair had been dipped in white paint. She was surrounded by a hut made out of cold, hard, clear stone. She stepped outside and white fluff fell from the sky and onto her nose. Then a man came out from the hut and whipped her in the back. She fell to the ground crying out in pain. Her eyes glowed white and her face scrunched in anger. She turned to the man and threw her arm out, dousing him with fire.

  I awoke panting.

  Seth was propped up in bed looking at me with wild eyes. “What are these dreams you have, I wonder.”

  I s
ighed and sat up. “I confess they are not as positive as Seraphina’s and Maggie’s.”

  Concern etched his face. “What do you mean? You said you saw a big body of water. That’s it, right?”

  Should I worry him? There was nothing he could do. “Right,” I said and lay my head on his warm, bare chest.

  When we came out of our room and made our way outside the inn, I saw that my female guard was assembled, along with a dozen or so male knights from Silk Valley. The rain was still going strong and had all night. I was drinking a canteen of water every hour. The king walked over to see me off.

  “A few of my finest knights have requested I allow them to join your rain caravan. I have allowed it.”

  I smiled at his term ‘rain caravan,’ and extended my hand. He smiled and opened his arms for a hug. “The cold handshake greeting is saved for Jewel Mountain. In Silk Valley, we hug at hello and goodbye.”

  He took me in a strong embrace and tears lined my eyes. I was beginning to see that I had chosen the wrong kingdom in the beginning. Seth presented the best offer, but Silk Valley and Wheat Valley were far better people. Maybe it was the rain. Abundance of water brought out the best in people.

  “I want to show you one thing before you ride on,” he told me and motioned for me to follow him. Seth and I walked down a stone alleyway where women where inside sewing silk. Children ran outside jumping in puddles, covered in mud and opening their mouths to the rain. I smiled shyly when they made the sign of the Fates as I crossed their path. We had reached the end of the street behind the houses and there was a steep drop off with a peculiar sound coming from below. The king ushered me to the edge. Seth held firmly to my hand. I walked to the edge and leaned over, when I saw it, I gasped. A raging river raced down the countryside.

  I looked at the king in wonder.

  “It rained all night at the dead pool and in Mule. The wall gave way and the river was born. It flows to the gorge, which is now an overflowing lake creeping toward the Coal Mountain castle,” he declared.

  My brow creased. “Should I stop it? I do not mean to cause destruction.” The word of the wall coming down and the gorge overflowing scared me. The rain let up to a light mist at my thoughts.

  The king laughed with merriment. “No! No! Never stop. We can build new walls, new homes if we must. I have heard report of grass growing at the base of Jewel Mountain. Grass! Trees that were once thought dead, now bear fruit. Don’t ever stop the rain.”

  I nodded in shock. I didn’t know what grass was, but I assumed it was some type of plant or edible root. Seth and I shared a look; the base of Jewel Mountain was where we made love for the first time. My cheeks reddened.

  I looked down once more. I had never seen moving water before; it was almost as if it was alive. It wasn’t sitting stagnant at the bottom of a well, it was moving on its own accord through the path of least resistance.

  Seth put a hand on my lower back and led me away to the waiting caravan. I smiled when I saw the group mounted on horseback, volunteered to protect me for a common cause we all believed in. I just hoped that Coal Mountain was as welcoming as Wheat and Silk Valley.

  *

  As we reached the front gates of Coal Mountain, an ominous feeling came over me. The clouds thickened and thunder roared throughout the sky.

  Seth looked at me. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” I lied. Lightning streaked across the sky as we pulled up to the entrance gates. The caravan stopped and I got out to meet the gate guard.

  Two royal knights flanked each side of the gate. “Welcome, Water Blessed. We have received word of your intentions to spread rain across the realm. We welcome you.”

  I looked at Seth and smiled, sighing in relief. Seth pulled me up onto his horse and the clouds thinned letting light back through. The rain was just a sprinkle.

  I nodded to the knights who left their post to lead the way to their king. If Coal Mountain was welcoming of my presence, then I really had a chance to unite the four kingdoms, to bring water to all. As we passed the village, I noticed people hiding inside and peeking out through their windows. One woman met my eyes and shook her head. I frowned.

  Were they not happy with my rain? The lake? The water pots outside their doors spoke differently. We reached the end of a road and the castle came into view. Off to the left, I could see the lake. What was once the dry gorge, was a lake creeping toward the castle.

  One woman burst out of her door. “Go back, it’s a trap!” she screamed.

  Seth pulled the reins on the horse as a Coal Mountain knight struck the woman down with his sword.

  “No!” I shouted and thrust my hand out, spraying high pressure water at him, knocking him off his horse.

  My female guards shouted orders to turn us around, but it was too late. Out from behind the castle wall rode hundreds of knights ready for war. My heart sank when I noticed some of them wore the Jewel Mountain crest. They had sided against me. I heard hoof beats at our back and turned to see half their army trapping us in.

  Seth grinded his teeth. “I can’t believe Kyler would allow this.”

  I sighed. There was no way out, even Seth knew it.

  The Coal Mountain king rode out from behind the wall as his men parted and Seth drew his sword. I didn’t want anyone getting hurt so I dismounted the horse.

  “Ocean, no!” Seth shouted and came after me.

  I walked up to the king. He had black hair with streaks of grey. His beady eyes didn’t look kind.

  “There is no need for force. I am here to bring water to your people for free with no need for payment,” I declared.

  He scowled and gestured to the lake. “This will dry up once you stop making it rain and then where will I be? The Jewel Mountain king has agreed to give me Seraphina in exchange for you. No hard feelings. It’s just business.”

  Anger flared up inside of me. “It won’t dry up! I’m not controlling the rain anymore, the Fates are!” I willed the rain to stop and the sun shone high in the sky. “If you do wrong to me, I will curse this land with drought for all eternity,” I threatened. I was pretty sure that I didn’t have the power to do that, but it was the only weapon I had left.

  The king shook his head. “All the more reason to take the deal.” He looked back at the Jewel Mountain guards. “Take her, let’s make the exchange!”

  I turned to run but was met with a crack over my head and everything went black.

  Capture

  The first thing that hit me was a musty smell. I felt cold stone underneath me. Upon opening my eyes, I saw iron cell bars. I groaned and grabbed my head.

  “You’re awake.” Seth’s voice drew my attention to the right. We were in the cellar below the Jewel Mountain castle, presumably. He was in a separate cell than I was.

  I looked him over. Dried blood crusted his nose and his eye was swollen. He fought for me. Of course he would.

  “What happened?” My voice cracked and my stomach groaned with hunger.

  He frowned. “You were taken in exchange for Seraphina. She told the Coal Mountain king he wouldn’t get a drop out of her. They took her anyway. The king put a price on my head and so I hang tomorrow for treason.”

  My body went rigid. Water flowed from my hand, rain pelted the small window at the top of the high walls. “No!” I shouted.

  Seth reached inside the bar and grabbed my hand. “Stop with the rain or the king will kill you too.”

  I was breathing heavy, a guard walked over to my cell, water poured out over his shoes. “Hey! Stop this mess!” he shouted.

  Seth pleaded at me with his eyes. I swallowed hard and the water ceased to flow from my hand. I didn’t stop the rain, I never would.

  “The king won’t kill me. He needs me to fill his wells so he can make coin,” I told Seth.

  A familiar voice spoke from behind me.

  “You’re wrong.”

  My body went rigid. I turned. Kyler.

  “He makes no coin while you continue the rain and now it f
alls of its own accord. All over Jewel Mountain. He intends to kill you too.”

  The guard looked at Kyler and smiled. Kyler glanced at the guard. “Take your midday meal, Wilson. They were my friends once. I would like to say goodbye.”

  The guard seemed to consider it. “I would, your Royal Highness, but your father said I shouldn’t leave my post until the hanging.”

  Kyler smiled and flipped a Kings Coin at him. “I will be king soon and it will be my word you will follow. Go take a break.”

  The guard greedily picked up the coin and nodded, hurrying out of the room.

  Seth and I shared a look. Either Kyler was going to spring us loose or kill us both in revenge. No other reason to let the guard go.

  “Kyler, I–” I began.

  He put his hands up in protest. “Save it. Lake told me everything. That you and Seth kissed on the caravan ride here and he had already stirred something in your heart.”

  Seth stood and Kyler went to his cell first. “Forgive me, brother,” Seth said.

  Kyler smiled weakly and produced a key. “Forgiven. Now work on your swordsmanship so you can protect her better.” He unlocked the door. Seth smiled and they embraced quickly.

  Then he came to my door and unlocked it. I walked out and stood before him shyly. I had embarrassed him in front of everyone. Accepted his courting and then took another man in public. He had every right to hate me. He grabbed my hand and placed something in it.

  “You’re not safe in this realm any longer. You have water, you should seek to cross the Salt Flats. I’ve heard whispers of a village out there.”

  The Salt Flats? Nothing was beyond there. I opened my palm to see the ruby necklace he gave me. My heart fell as I embraced him quickly. He gave Seth his sword and nodded at us. Then he turned to walk away, “Kyler!” I cried out.