TruthStone

by Mike Shelton

  “I need to get back,” Shaeleen said. “I need to talk to my brother. He will be worried.”

  “The queen mother will tell him privately that you were asked to help me and that you will be back soon,” Erlinda said.

  Shaeleen felt nervous being in a foreign kingdom, especially without Cole nearby. Her eyes scanned the shops around them. Most were still closed in this early morning hour. The streets were not as well taken care of here as in Galena. There were piles of garbage that made her nose twitch, and the few people she did see seemed resigned to their poor fates.

  Shaeleen frowned again at the memory of having to leave her brother behind.

  “Let’s eat first,” Orin pleaded. “I’m starving.”

  Shaeleen laughed. With Orin’s speed, a few minutes for a meal would not hurt.

  Soon they arrived at an inn on the southeast side of town. A slight breeze was blowing in off the bay, and gulls were beginning to scavenge for food. They sat down at a table in the corner of an outside patio. Just then, a heaping plate of hotcakes, sausages, and melon was brought out.

  The young serving woman bowed her head to Erlinda. “Compliments of the house, ma’am.”

  After their server had walked away, Shaeleen turned to Erlinda with a questioning look on her face.

  Erlinda smiled and seemed to relax for the first time since Shaeleen had met her. “Being one of only a handful of TruthSeers in Wayland does give me some notoriety and a few privileges now and again.”

  Orin filled his plate and began to shove the food into his mouth.

  “Breathe between bites, Orin,” Shaeleen scolded with a laugh. “It’s not going anywhere.”

  Orin looked up and said with a full mouth, “But we might be.”

  Shaeleen nodded her head in understanding. Life had been moving quickly lately. She put some food on her own plate but began looking around after her first bite.

  “Need something?” Erlinda asked.

  “She’s looking for something sweet, I would bet,” Orin said between bites. His plate was almost clean already.

  Shaeleen blushed, but Erlinda waved over the serving girl. “Please bring some sweet rolls for my friend here.”

  The serving girl returned in a few moments with steaming sweet rolls, their frosting dripping off their sides. Shaeleen picked one up carefully so as to not burn her fingers. She took a small bite. Sucking in a puff of air to cool her mouth, she grinned.

  “Wonderful!”

  Erlinda and Orin laughed.

  The three ate in relative silence for a few moments, enjoying the food and the cool morning air. Toward the end of their meal, they heard the sound of many footsteps coming down the road from the small port just to the south. Turning their heads, they saw troops coming down the street.

  “Seems like a lot of men, this close to the border.” Shaeleen frowned.

  Erlinda nodded her head. “I fear it is part of the prince’s new alliance.

  “Calix?”

  “That boy is going to bring war to our land.” Erlinda pursed her lips.

  “Not if I can help it,” Shaeleen said without further thought.

  Erlinda tilted hear head at Shaeleen. “What are you not telling me?”

  Orin stopped eating and glanced at Shaeleen. She shook her head at him to not say anything.

  “Aah,” Erlinda said. “You are learning that, if you have to lie, it is better to not say anything at all.” Her face flushed, and then she sat back and smiled. “Well, I guess that’s part of the training. Though, I don’t like you keeping secrets from me.”

  “I will tell you when the time is right,” Shaeleen said.

  And that was the truth. Let Erlinda keep thinking that I am an apprentice. She did need to learn. The power had been thrust onto her so quickly that she’d hardly had time to know how to use it. It came instinctively at times, but being able to understand her abilities would make planning out things much easier.

  “I understand,” Erlinda said. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to see what is going on with those troops.”

  After Erlinda left, Shaeleen turned to Orin and sighed deeply. “I need to go to the capital of Gabor, but I’m sure your father is worried about you.”

  “I thought we were going back to get Cole,” Orin said.

  Thoughts raced through Shaeleen’s mind. She could feel the connection to her brother, who was just southwest of where they were. She really could use the help of his abilities. But, as soon as she’d seen the soldiers from Gabor, she’d realized she needed to get to the capital of Gabor soon. Another stone awaited her there.

  Seeing her expression, Orin’s face lit up. “I can get us to Riverton. I’ve been there before.” He grabbed another sausage and then frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” Shaeleen asked.

  “It’s the last one.” Orin’s face fell.

  Shaeleen laughed and then covered her mouth to stifle the sound. After getting her fit of laughter under control, she put her hand on Orin’s arm. “There’s still plenty of melon.”

  Orin screwed up his face. “I don’t like melon.”

  “Well, then you will just have to wait until the midday meal. Now, about your father, Orin. Won’t he be missing you?”

  “I sent him a note that I was engaged in important business for the princes of Galena and would meet him later. If I don’t see him in Riverton, we will meet up again in Stronghaven.”

  Shaeleen sighed. “Sometimes I don’t know about you, Orin. You’re too young to just be running around on your own. When I was thirteen, I barely left the merchants’ quarter.”

  Orin looked down for a moment, and his face scrunched up as if he were deciding what to say. “With my…uh…abilities, he’s used to it,” Orin said.

  “No more stealing, Orin.” Shaeleen waggled a finger at him.

  Looking around the patio first, Orin then leaned in closer to her and said, “Then you don’t want to see the note I took from the TruthSeer?”

  “Orin!” Shaeleen said too loudly. Then she moved in closer herself. “You can’t do that!”

  “She’s coming back soon.” Orin waved his hand toward the inn. “Do you want to know what it says or not? It’s from Queen Raisa.”

  Shaeleen turned around, looking for Erlinda. Of course I want to know what it says. She stuck her hand out in front of her. “Give it to me.”

  Orin proceeded to pull a small paper out of an inside pocket and shoved it into her outstretched hand.

  Shaeleen took the paper and began to read it to herself.

  TruthSeer, keep an eye on the young woman and her friend. I suspect she is not all she pretends to be. Keep her out of Galena. Things here are too volatile for another TruthSeer. The truth must not get to Basil, until the time is right for him to act. Go in peace, and play your part well.

  Shaeleen glanced back up at Orin. “Did you read it?”

  Orin nodded his head. “What do you think? Can we trust the queen mother or the TruthSeer now?”

  “I don’t know. Queen Raisa seemed legitimately sorry to have held the secret for so long, and she clearly doesn’t think Calix is ready to rule. But…”

  “But?” Orin asked. Then he looked around the patio. It was getting more crowded.

  “The law is firm in all of the kingdoms of Wayland. The oldest heir gets the crown, either when the parent passes away or if already dead, when he or she turns seventeen.”

  “How old are the princes of Galena?”

  “They turn seventeen in less than two months. On that day, the oldest heir becomes king and they announce his engagement to marry.”

  “Wow!” Orin sat back, with amazement on his face. “That’s not very long from now.”

  Shaeleen sat back in exasperation. “Stupid stone!”

  “Don’t ever say that!” Erlinda said from behind her, making Shaeleen almost jump out of her chair. “Don’t ever blame the stone. It is a privilege you’ve been given, young lady. TruthSeers have served the kingdoms of Wayla
nd ever since King Wayland was given the stones of power from Verlyn, as a gift for his lifetime of service.”

  Shaeleen noticed Orin scrambling to get the letter back into his pocket, so she kept Erlinda’s attention on herself with a question: “And, do you serve the kingdoms, oh great TruthSeer?”

  Before she knew what had happened, Shaeleen felt her face sting from the slap of Erlinda’s hand.

  “Hold your tongue, girl,” Erlinda chastised. “You’re a babe, with barely any knowledge of what you speak. How dare you question my loyalties.”

  Shaeleen stood up and glared down on the old TruthSeer. Power gathered around her, and she let it shine forth this time.

  “Shae!” Orin tried to warn her, but she put him in his place with a look.

  Power crackled across her fingers. “Erlinda,” she said, purposefully leaving off her title, “I want an honest answer. Do you serve the queen mother, Prince Basil, or Prince Calix?”

  Erlinda stood, staring up at Shaeleen with a surprised but determined look on her face. Erlinda was clearly weighing her options.

  Shaeleen was tired of playing these games and of having others treat her like a little girl. She so wanted to pull the large Moldavite TruthStone from her pocket and tell Erlinda who she really was. But instead Shaeleen reached out and put her hand on Erlinda’s arm. Power raced from her fingertips up Erlinda’s sleeve.

  For a brief moment, she saw inside Erlinda’s mind and knew she had the power to force an answer from the old TruthSeer. But before Shaeleen could do anything, Erlinda pulled her arm away with a jerk and took a step back from Shaeleen.

  “Shae!” Orin reached out toward Shaeleen. But before touching her, he pulled back his own hand. “You’re making a scene.”

  Shaeleen glanced around. Patrons from the inn as well as a few soldiers at the back of the marching line were watching their confrontation. So much for staying inconspicuous. They needed to get away, but Shaeleen needed an answer first.

  Turning back to Erlinda, she glared at the woman. “Who do you serve?”

  Erlinda let out a deep breath. “I serve the kingdom of Galena, as have all the TruthSeers of our land before me.” She then sank back down into her chair.

  Shaeleen released the power. She plopped back down into her own chair in thought. Erlinda had indeed spoken the truth. But that truth hid a multitude of meanings. A showdown was imminent between Prince Basil and Prince Calix. Prince Calix, as the oldest, was the legitimate ruler but might destroy the kingdom, while Prince Basil was beloved of his people but was not the legal heir.

  “The way of truth is not always the best way, is it?” Shaeleen whispered.

  Erlinda nodded her head slowly, her face looking older and more tired now. “That is one of the first lessons you must learn.”

  “And that is what causes us so much pain,” Shaeleen said.

  Then Orin pointed toward the troops, and Shaeleen and Erlinda turned. A man was marching back toward them with stern looking men walking by his sides.

  “The captain,” Erlinda stated and motioned for Shaeleen and Orin to stand and follow her back inside the inn. As they went, Erlinda motioned Orin ahead of them and then turned to Shaeleen and caught her attention. “Don’t ever try to force the truth from me again, Shaeleen. Your strength has amazing potential—more than I have ever heard of—and I don’t dare to think right now what that means. But you must learn to control yourself, or you could get us all killed.”

  Shaeleen wanted to defend herself with a rebuttal, but she knew Erlinda was right. She had lost control of herself, and she barely knew how to control her power or what the extent of it was. So, all she did was nod to Erlinda as they continued through the inn.

  Erlinda nodded to the innkeeper, and he smiled back at her as he moved to the front of the inn to confront the entering captain and his men.

  The three moved through the kitchens and out a back door. Orin took the lead and directed them down a few backstreets and then down to the docks of Portsmouth.

  Shaeleen glanced around. Compared to Stronghaven and even North Bay, this could hardly be considered a port at all. It was nothing more than a long dock with a few smaller ships tied up, located at the mouth of the river, where it fed into the Bay of Jalen.

  Orin stuck his hand out toward Shaeleen and Erlinda. “I need some money to secure us a ship.”

  Erlinda appeared confused. “With the young man’s speed, you could be across the border and back to your brother sooner.”

  Shaeleen smiled and tucked her long hair behind her ears. “We’re going to Riverton, TruthSeer.”

  “Riverton? What for?”

  The power of the IntelligenceStone flowed through Shaeleen, and she knew immediately what she must do. “To see the queen of Gabor.”

  Once again, thoughts of moving farther away from Cole gave her some concern. But, right now, he really could serve and protect her best by keeping an eye on Prince Calix and his wizard, Faegon. And she would be back soon.

  Erlinda brought a hand to her forehead and winced. “You’re going to try my patience, aren’t you?”

  “Me?” Shaeleen mocked with an innocent look on her face. “Now, give Orin some money. We need to leave fast, before the troops detain us.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The three travelers quickly secured passage on a small trading ship traveling from Portsmouth to Riverton, the capital of Gabor. The day was warm for spring, and an easterly wind blew against them, making the going seem awfully slow to Shaeleen. She stood on the port side of the boat, watching the southern border of Gabor pass by, and rethought her decision to leave Cole behind.

  Ever since he had received his wizard powers, he had been changing. He was more quick to react and less careful, and Shaeleen was afraid that he would fall into some kind of trouble. She hadn’t even shared her information about Calix and Basil with Cole, for it was not something to just leave lying around in a note.

  Orin came up next to her, and she shoved worries about Cole to the back of her mind. He will have to learn to fend for himself, she surmised.

  “Not a bad boat,” Orin said. “Of course, it’s not as large of a ship as I am used to sailing on.”

  Shaeleen pointed to the shore. “More trees here than near Stronghaven. I can hardly see anything through the forest.”

  “I spent some time in the foothills of Great Mountain Divide when I was growing up,” Orin offered. “My mother’s family lived in a small village among the trees between there and Mistport. Stronghaven seems far too open to me.”

  Shaeleen chuckled. “Grew up there, huh? I didn’t know you were full grown yet.”

  “Hey!” Orin punched her on the arm harmlessly and straightened his back. “I’m growing taller every day.”

  “And faster,” Shaeleen said in a lower voice. She looked around to make sure no one was listening. “How did you first discover your power?”

  “It was about three years ago,” Orin said, “just after my tenth birthday. My friend’s older brother was picking on us. He was trying to take some food from me, and I was getting frustrated. When he tried to grab me again, I just moved—faster than I’d ever done so before. In only a moment, I was behind him.” Orin smiled as if reliving the scene in his mind now. A few gulls landed on the bow of the ship, up ahead of them, and squawked as if telling the humans to leave.

  “What did you do then?” Shaeleen asked.

  “I ran as fast as I could back home. I couldn’t believe how quickly I got there, but I was really tired. My friend showed up sometime later and asked me how I’d gotten away. At the time, I didn’t understand what had really happened. But, over time, I’ve learned to use the power better.”

  “Hmmm,” Shaeleen muttered under her breath. “These kinds of powers among the common people, like you and me, was never meant to be. The powers were given by King Wayland to his children to be used in ruling and protecting the land.”

  Orin looked away as if avoiding any more conversation on the subject. “
I won’t give it up.”

  “Something is changing in Wayland, Orin.”

  “And you are at the center of this change, I suppose?” Orin laughed at her.

  Shaeleen turned to face Orin squarely and opened her mouth for a quick retort. But, just then, Erlinda came walking toward them on the deck. Erlinda’s steps were not as sure-footed as Shaeleen’s and Orin’s. Shaeleen gave Orin one last look and then moved to help Erlinda to the railing.

  “Thank you, Shaeleen,” Erlinda said as she grabbed the rail with both hands. “I’ve never liked traveling on the sea.”

  “But you’ve lived for years in Stronghaven with the king,” Shaeleen pointed out.

  “Yes, but I did not grow up there. I was raised farther inland, closer to the Myr River,” Erlinda said, holding the rail tighter as the ship lurched to the right. “The river is much smoother than the sea.”

  * * *

  Late in the afternoon, before the evening meal, Shaeleen was resting in a bunk when there was a yell up on the deck. Shaeleen went up to see what was happening. Off their starboard side were three giant warships, heading westward. A man in uniform leaned over the side of the first ship, hailing the boat that Shaeleen and her companions were traveling on.

  “Prepare to be boarded!” the man yelled out.

  Has word gotten out about our escape? Shaeleen shook her head. It was a Gaborian warship. They wouldn’t be looking for the three of us, would they? She ran back down the short set of stairs.

  Once she had warned Erlinda and Orin of possible trouble, the three sat in a room quietly, hoping it was just a routine inspection. All seemed fine for a few minutes, but then they heard loud footsteps coming down the stairs. Shaeleen moved Erlinda off to a far corner and told Orin to behave.

  Soon their door burst open, and three men came in: two soldiers and another man of higher rank. The man’s crisp, red uniform and commanding presence made Shaeleen take a step back. He stood almost a foot taller than her, and he came up and stood in her face.

  “What is your name and purpose for being on this ship?” the man said with no preamble or courtesy.