by Mike Shelton
Both the prince and Cole jumped up from their seats and were at her side in moments.
“Shae?” Cole said.
“What’s wrong?” Prince Basil asked.
“What did you say?” Cole asked, turning on the prince. “Why would your words cause her such pain?”
The prince stood up. “I didn’t say anything false. I have more honor than that, Sir Cole. All I said was—”
“No,” Shaeleen squeaked out. “Don’t say another word.”
The prince stopped and then wrung his hands while Shaeleen recovered herself. Finally, she opened up her eyes and leaned her head back against the chair again. Prince Basil poured her a glass of water. And she drank it all down in a few gulps. The headache was going away bit by bit.
“Do you need a doctor?” the prince asked.
Shaeleen shook her head. “No. It’s getting better.”
After a few more minutes, all three were sitting back down again. The prince had his hands under his chin and his elbows on his knees. His dark black hair reflected the lamplight from above, and Shaeleen caught a glimpse of his signet ring on his right hand.
“I am sorry,” the prince said. “Surely I am. I didn’t mean to cause you such pain. If I had known what I said—”
Shaeleen put her hand up. “I will think about it later. You spoke truth as you know it, but the words you spoke were not true…somehow. I don’t know why. I will think about it. Only time will tell, I suppose.”
“I have put you through too much today. I am once again sorry.” The prince stood and went to the door, calling a servant in.
“Please escort Lady Shaeleen and Sir Cole back to their home,” he said to his servant. “Take our finest carriage.”
Cole and Shaeleen stood.
With one hand behind his back, Cole bowed low before the prince. “Sir, I am sorry if I have accused you of anything. That was not my intent. I was only worried for my sister.”
Prince Basil extended his hand to Cole. “Sir Cole, if only every sibling could have someone as honorable as you to defend them. I’ve never had the privilege of having one myself. My brother and I don’t see eye to eye on most things. Please take care of Shaeleen. Both of you please come back tomorrow, and we will continue our conversation then.”
They finished saying their goodbyes and then followed the servant out of the castle. After a few moments, a six-horse carriage, pulled by the prince’s own white horses, drove up. Once they got on their way, Shaeleen let out a deep breath.
“Quite a way you have…with stirring things up,” Cole said, leaning back against the red leather seats, with his eyes closed.
Shaeleen sighed again and then pulled the curtains aside to look out. Walking next to them was Lady Judith and her cronies, Lady Bernia and Lady Florence, with Clarise walking a few steps behind them.
As Shaeleen passed, they looked over at the carriage. Then they did a double take as they saw who was inside. Shaeleen splayed her fingers at them with a wiggle as she rode on past.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Shaeleen and Cole’s family came running out of the house when the prince’s elaborate carriage pulled up. Neighboring tradesfolk wandered out from their houses and shops to see who would be coming to their part of town in such a grand way.
Alva came running up to her siblings as they stepped down out of the carriage. “How did you…? What happened to…?” Alva said, but she couldn’t string together a complete sentence.
“We met with Basil today,” Shaeleen said as she lifted up Alva and tried to swing her around, but her sister was almost as tall as she was and it was difficult. The power of the stone had made Shaeleen feel better on the way home. “He is quite charming.” She blushed thinking about his smile and the charming dimple in his right cheek.
“Prince Basil, Shaeleen.” Cole furrowed his brows at her. “He is the prince, not just your neighborhood friend. Have some respect.”
“Oh. Yes, yes. Prince Basil,” Shaeleen said, not offended at her brother’s usual sense of honor.
“Is he as nice as they say?” their mother asked.
Cole nodded his head. “He is as honorable and caring as the people say. A good man.”
“Well, what did he want with you two?” their father asked, appearing uncomfortable with the situation.
Shaeleen didn’t know what to say. How could she explain the prince’s attention without talking about her newfound powers? She also couldn’t lie. Then Cole saved her from doing either one.
“The prince would like the ladies to organize a charity event for the poor in the city,” Cole said in a purely truthful way.
Their father turned to Cole and asked, “And how did you end up being there and meeting him? I thought you were practicing your sparring again.”
Cole’s face turned a slight shade of red. “I followed Shaeleen. I was worried about her,” Cole admitted. “The prince saw me there and brought me in to meet with him and Shaeleen.”
Shaeleen could tell that their parents had more questions, ones she and Cole wouldn’t be able to answer, so she changed the subject: “How is business today, Father?”
Their father smiled. “Very well, Shaeleen. Lady Judith has kept her promise. I have other nobles asking for commissioned pieces now.”
Shaeleen could feel the truthfulness and the intelligence of both stones coursing through her body. “You should hire someone to help you,” she said. “The extra work you will get would more than pay for this. Also, if you buy your wood in greater bulk, you will save more money. I would buy a larger wagon also, so you can spend less time delivering your furniture.”
Her father stood gaping at her. Then she realized she had just babbled on. But she had felt ideas coming to her that she hadn’t thought about before—the effects of the IntelligenceStone, she was sure.
“Just some ideas,” Shaeleen added and then smiled.
Her father and mother looked at Cole, who only shrugged his shoulders at them, as if to say he didn’t understand either.
Then they all laughed, and her father turned back toward his shop. “Well, they are good ideas,” he mumbled to himself.
Shaeleen laughed and skipped into the house. “I’m hungry, Mama. Anything sweet to eat?” After using the stones, her appetite had seemed to pick up.
Later that evening, a messenger arrived, asking for Shaeleen’s and Cole’s presence with the prince again the next morning. Shaeleen’s parents were delighted with the interest their beloved leader had taken in their children.
A gnawing feeling grew in Shaeleen’s stomach. Prince Basil had mentioned something about checking on his brother Calix, but her headache had put off any further discussion. She had the strange idea her life had now taken another turn—and would never be the same again.
* * *
The next morning, soon after their first meal, a smaller carriage rode up, and Cole and Shaeleen were escorted inside. The servant was someone new and wasn’t as helpful or as friendly as the previous one. He didn’t even help Shaeleen into the carriage.
The carriage took off at a high speed, and Shaeleen fell against Cole.
“What is that maniac doing up there? He’s not in a race.” Shaeleen held on tight, doing all she could to keep from falling over.
Pushing the curtain aside, she saw that they were heading in the opposite direction of the castle. Shaeleen pointed this out to Cole, who only surmised that the prince was meeting them somewhere else. Shaeleen guessed that could be possible, but something didn’t feel right.
Sticking her head out the window, she yelled up at the driver, “Where are you taking us? This isn’t the way to the castle.”
“Get back inside. I’m taking you to the prince, of course.”
Shaeleen immediately felt pain. “He’s lying,” Shaeleen said to her brother.
“How do you know?” Cole asked without thinking.
Shaeleen glared at him.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “I guess you do know.”
“I don’t think he is Prince Basil’s servant,” Shaeleen deduced.
Cole put his hand on his sword, which always hung at his side. Suddenly, the carriage turned a sharp corner, and Shaeleen flew across the seat, landing on her brother. Then it grew darker outside the carriage window, and they heard a large door close as the carriage stopped.
Untangling herself from Cole, Shaeleen stood up and reached for the carriage door’s handle, when the door flew open and two rough hands grabbed her.
“Hey!” Shaeleen shouted. “Let go of me.”
Cole charged out with his sword already drawn. Four older and stronger men stood in front of them with their swords drawn also.
“Just try something,” one of them said. “I’d like nothing more than to show you my fighting skills.”
Cole turned and gave a focused look at Shaeleen. Then he turned back to the four men. He took a stance and raised his sword out in front of himself.
“Cole. No!” Shaeleen said. “You can’t fight all of them.”
“I won’t let them hurt you, Shae.”
“We won’t hurt her,” came a female voice from the corner of the room. “At least not too much.” Out walked Lady Judith. She had a dark cloak around her with a cowl pulled up over her head.
“What is the meaning of this, Lady Judith?” Cole asked, his sword still in his hand. “The prince is waiting for us.”
“The prince is waiting for us,” Lady Judith mocked. “You must think you’re so special now, don’t you?” Then she turned to Shaeleen and, with spittle spraying from her lips, said, “The prince is a pathetic, weak, ignorant fool.”
Shaeleen doubled over with pain. Of course that was a lie.
Lady Judith laughed and clapped her hands. “I am right,” she said to one of the guards. “Lies cause her pain. Watch this.”
Shaeleen tried to keep the pain inside, but the woman was so completely evil it was difficult.
Having two guards hold Shaeleen tight, Lady Judith walked up to only inches from Shaeleen’s face and, with a sweet voice, spewed forth as many lies as she could: “I love the prince and the regent… I want Basil as my king… I look forward to meeting his betrothed… I am anxious to organize his charity event…”
And the lies went on and on.
Each time, Shaeleen felt as if someone had slugged her in the gut or had pounded her head against an anvil. Over and over again, the pain and agony washed over her. Then darkness started spreading across her vision, and a ringing sounded in her head. She knew she would soon pass out.
Cole screamed with a raging animal’s roar and plowed into the guards. Taking one down immediately, Cole turned to face a second one. His eyes flashed with anger, and his sword flicked quicker than Shaeleen had ever seen it move before. The second guard went down, and Shaeleen felt a loosening of the guards’ grips on her as they moved to help their fellow guards.
Shaeleen sank to the ground as Cole fought like a madman. Spinning through the air, jumping and dodging their strikes, he moved incredibly fast.
“Madam, we need to leave.” The carriage driver pulled Lady Judith away.
“No, I will not leave without her,” Lady Judith screamed, pointing at Shaeleen.
Shaeleen tried to scoot away from her, but Lady Judith kicked Shaeleen with her pointed shoes and rained more lies down on her: “Shaeleen, I am a loyal subject to the prince. You must know I would never do anything to hurt him.”
Pain. The more the woman yelled and purposefully lied, the more pain exploded in Shaeleen’s head.
“I love telling the truth,” Lady Judith continued. “It gives me so much pleasure.” Lady Judith’s eyes looked crazy, and she kicked Shaeleen once again.
But the pain from these kicks was nothing compared to what Shaeleen felt inside. Shaeleen’s stomach cramped, and she vomited all over the floor and onto Lady Judith’s shoes. In the back recesses of her mind, Shaeleen found some modicum of joy in that.
Cole had finished immobilizing three guards, with only one guard remaining. But Shaeleen saw that Cole was tiring and that the other man had backed Cole into a corner.
“Cole!” she screamed, her voice raw after having vomited. “You can do it.” And speaking the truth brought her strength. “You have trained for this. You are one of the best swordsmen in the city.”
Hearing this, Cole stood taller and began to push back his opponent.
Then the servant pulled Lady Judith away once again, and this time she went with him. They ran to a nearby door of the dark warehouse they were in.
Before exiting, Lady Judith turned back to Shaeleen and said, “I’m not done with you yet, girl. Next time you will do my bidding or die.”
Shaeleen smirked. “The first truths you have said today, Lady Judith.” She pulled herself up to a sitting position and leaned back against a pole. “But there won’t be a next time.” That fact Shaeleen knew to be true.
“Finish them off!” Lady Judith yelled at the remaining guard. Then she fled the building with the carriage driver.
Shaeleen was so weak she could barely think. She watched Cole and the other guard push each other back and forth. Then Cole stumbled and fell down, his sword flying away from his hands. Shaeleen watched with dread as the guard approached her brother, who was trying to scoot away, toward his fallen sword.
She gripped the velvet pouch in her pocket and grabbed the TruthStone out, resting it on her leg. The stone awakened a power deep inside of her once again, and the now familiar green light flared forth, filling the room around her.
She couldn’t bear for Cole to get hurt for her sake. The embedded IntelligenceStone brought back flashes of memory—snippets from the small book she had read parts of. Words moved through her mind at an astounding speed as she searched for the right answer. Then she found it.
Pulling strength from the stones, Shaeleen weakly held the TruthStone up in the air, as high as her comparably feeble arms could manage. Green and blue light flared around her. Then she pointed the stone toward where Cole lay on the ground. The guard was inches away, and he had raised his sword high.
“Cole, you are my protector!” Shaeleen shouted to him as loudly as she could. Power burst forth from her hand and raced toward Cole. It hit into him, almost lifting Cole off the ground.
The guard paused a moment, as if deciding whether to finish the job or run away. Cole took a deep breath and then let out a wailing sound that was part pain and part delight. The wave of light from the TruthStone wrapped itself around Cole and then swirled rapidly, coalescing on his chest.
“Shaeleen, what have you done?” Cole roared as loudly as a wild animal. Then he jumped up off the ground. Summoning his sword to his hand, it flew through the air, and the pommel landed in his palm. Turning toward the final guard, Cole pointed the sword directly at him, mere feet separating the two foes.
The guard’s eyes opened wider, and he threw down his own blade, turned, and then ran.
Of the three other guards on the ground, two groaned with fear, while the third one stayed still. Cole turned as if seeing things around the room that weren’t there—things only his mind could see. Gathering the sword in both hands, he raised it high in the air above his head as he now turned his body to face Shaeleen. His blue eyes had grown even more pale with the power now coursing through his veins.
What have I done to my brother?
Shaeleen got up onto her hands and knees and then pushed herself to her feet, steadying herself with one hand against a wall. Power swirled above the sword, until it filled the room.
“Cole!” Shaeleen shouted above the wind caused by this swirling power of light. She closed her hand around the TruthStone, and the light somewhat diminished. “Stop it, Cole.”
His eyes seemed to come into focus. He smiled and nodded his head toward her. Then, sword still in the air, Cole spoke softly but with a force of words that Shaeleen could not deny: “Shaeleen, I am now your wizard guardian. I protect the truth and will protect your life with mine.”
> Tears came unbidden to her eyes as she walked with ragged steps toward her brother. She reached him and put a hand on his forearm. He looked down at her and lowered his sword from the air. The power swirled once more around the room. Then it formed into one straight line, zoomed into the tip of the sword, and traveled down the length of the sword, jolting Cole. He stumbled forward, but Shaeleen put her hands out to hold him up. Finally, the light blinked out and his arm dropped, the sword’s tip touching the floor.
The room stood dark and quiet, except for the soft groaning of the men who still lay on the warehouse floor.
Shaeleen lowered her arms from Cole as he steadied himself. Cole brought forth a small flame that stood in the air between them, spreading eerie shadows around the warehouse. His eyes were even lighter for a moment—almost clear. He moved his left hand over his hair, smoothing it back down.
“Looks like we’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” Cole said.
Shaeleen laughed quietly. “A TruthSeer and her wizard protector! How are we going to explain this to Father and Mother?”
Cole shook his head. “And to little Alva.”
“And to little Alva,” she repeated.
Cole hooked his sword through his belt and then draped an arm around his sister. “Should we go and see the prince now?” He led Shaeleen toward the door.
CHAPTER TWELVE
It took Shaeleen and Cole over an hour to walk back to the right part of the city. At first, they felt weak and worried, looking around every corner for Lady Judith or any more of her guards. But, smelling the aroma of food in the air, Shaeleen begged Cole to stop for a moment in front of a small shop, where an elderly man worked at a food cart. Cole bought himself a drumstick of chicken; Shaeleen, a sweet roll.
Using the power always makes me hungry.
Cole laughed out loud.
“What?” Shaeleen asked. “What’s so funny?”
“You are,” Cole said. “You and your sweet tooth.”
“Well, I’m hungry.”
“Me too!”
Cole devoured his chicken in a few bites. And soon they began walking quicker, their strength returning as the castle loomed closer in front of them.
