An Empire of Stones

by Bella Forrest

  “We must make haste back to the castle,” Lithan informed me. “There was trouble last night.”

  What?

  “Why did you not inform me?” I asked icily.

  “The trials took priority,” Lithan replied.

  “Lithan, I will tell you what takes priority and what doesn’t. I would strongly advise that you never make that decision for me again—do you understand?”

  The man trembled, closing his eyes briefly as he nodded his understanding.

  “Good.”

  I strode swiftly toward the bull-horses still tethered to a nearby tree, and, without waiting for my companions to join me, set off into the forest. A few moments later I could hear them approaching.

  “What happened?” I asked, calmer now and willing to hear what they had to say.

  “The guards last night—they were found fast asleep this morning, all of them. They’d been drained of their energy, and another stone was found missing.”

  “And we suspect the boy?” I asked.

  “We do. Clearly the entity is using him as his vessel, though whether that is just through mind control, or a complete invasion of his body, we do not know.”

  Invasion of his body?

  “Is that even possible?” I asked.

  “We believe so. If the entity is locked into the castle, then it would have been in non-corporeal form. Somehow it’s been able to entirely control another being.”

  It was a theory I didn’t want to share with Hazel, at least not until we understood more. If her brother had been invaded by the creature, then I didn’t know what his chances would be of ever being able to regain complete consciousness—if he was ever released at all.

  I kicked the flanks of my bull-horse, speeding up. I had to reach her before she discovered this latest macabre development.

  Damn my ministers to hell.

  I reached the courtyard in record time and disembarked. I raced through the doors, the flanks of guards hastily standing back to let me pass.

  “Where is Hazel, the human girl?” I growled at one standing in the main hallway.

  “S-She’s in the human quarters, your Highness.”

  I ran.

  Bursting through the doors of the human quarters, I saw a group of children, Hazel standing in their midst. She turned toward me at the sound of the crashing door, her face stark white, wide-eyed and trembling.

  The children moved to let me through, and I approached her slowly. She turned her gaze to the sofa, and as the last few children stood aside, I saw a human girl lying unmoving, cocooned in blankets.

  “It’s Yelena,” Hazel whispered. “He came back to claim her.”

  Ruby

  The next morning Varga and I were in the stables, preparing the bull-horses. Memenion had kindly offered me one of his to ride back on, and I was grateful that I wouldn’t have to rely on Varga to get where I was going. My plans had changed.

  “I’m going back to the Seraq kingdom,” I announced once the saddles were in place.

  “Have you gone mad?” Varga barked. “Were you not listening to a word I said last night?”

  “I was, which is why I’m going back. I can’t leave Ash there. If Queen Trina is as dangerous as you say, and I believe that she is, then I won’t leave him alone there a second longer. I can’t.”

  Varga cursed under his breath.

  “You are putting your life in danger. If you knew what…” His voice trailed off.

  “No! I don’t know what,” I hissed, “because you won’t tell me. And so I’m going, and that’s the end of it.”

  Varga scowled at me, leading his bull-horse out of the stable by the reins. I followed him, the horse passive and willing. I hoped it wouldn’t be too difficult a journey. I had never ridden one of these by myself, and the idea didn’t exactly thrill me.

  “Ruby, at least let me escort you—”

  “No,” I replied firmly, cutting him off. “I need you to get back to Hazel and Tejus.” I hesitated, not knowing how much I could truly trust Varga, but it didn’t seem like I had much choice.

  “Yesterday I saw some runes in the castle,” I continued. “They paved the floor of the hallways that my room was on. I recognized them. It was the insignia of the Acolytes, the same one that I saw in the barn. I need you to tell Hazel what I saw, tell her that I think the cult is active again.”

  Varga paled, and yanked me by the arm back into the barn.

  “You need to be careful mentioning them around here,” he whispered. “The history of the Memenion family is not as they would like it.”

  I nodded. The minister had indicated as much last night. Varga opened his mouth to speak again, but there was a clattering by the wall of the barn, coming from the outside. Varga silenced me with a warning look, and we both hurried around to the outer wall. Looking around, I couldn’t see anyone—the land behind the stables was empty and the castle quiet this early in the morning. Varga leant down and picked up a rusty hoe.

  “It was nothing,” I murmured, but Varga didn’t look so sure. He observed our surroundings slowly, his face pensive. After a few moments he turned back to face me.

  “If what you say is true, then there are dark times ahead indeed,” he muttered, walking back to where the bull-horses were waiting.

  “Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?” he asked again.

  “No. I’m sorry. Tell Hazel I’m sorry too—I know she needs me, but I’m so worried about Ash that I can’t think straight.”

  “You love him then?”

  A moment passed between us, and I averted my gaze to the floor, my cheeks reddening slightly.

  I nodded.

  Varga jumped up on his horse, and I looked up. He motioned for me to do the same.

  “Has anyone told you what a bossy creature you are for one so small?” he commented with a smirk.

  I smirked back. You should meet my mother.

  As we made our way to the main part of the courtyard, and I adjusted to riding the huge, muscled creature beneath me, I realized that I would be sorry to part ways with Commander Varga. He was a good man, and a charming one—I had enjoyed his company, and felt truly grateful to him for saving me from the ice fires. Had Ash not been around…well, Ash was around—and I dismissed the half-formed notion from my head.

  The queen was waiting for us by the entrance to the castle.

  “Commander Varga, our thoughts are with you.” She smiled softly at the sentry and then turned her attention to me. “Ruby, please forgive my son for what he said last night—know that not all of us in Nevertide have such narrow-minded views.”

  “Of course,” I replied, meaning it. The queen had showed me nothing but kindness throughout my stay, and my evening at the Memenion castle had been one of my better experiences in Nevertide.

  “Thank you so much for letting me stay,” I continued.

  “You are always welcome here, never forget that.”

  Commander Varga thanked her again, and then we set off at a brisk trot out through the gardens of the kingdom.

  “Ruby, listen carefully to me.” Varga spoke in a low tone as we neared the main road where we would part. “If I can’t dissuade you from your return to Seraq’s domain, then I won’t waste my breath. But please be careful. Stay away from the nymphs—”

  “You know about them!” I exclaimed.

  “I do. Though I am one of the few. Remember that above all Queen Trina is a pleasure seeker—frivolous and spoilt in part, deadly and vicious in another. Never, ever underestimate her.”

  “I won’t,” I replied, his words sending shivers down my spine, making me dread my return even more.

  “Follow the main road, don’t deviate from its path. Ride fast. Whatever you do, do not stop, not until you reach the kingdom. Find Ashbik immediately, and do your best not to be separated from him while you remain there. Don’t speak to anyone of the runes you saw in the barn—not a soul, do you understand?”

  “I do,” I replied.


  “Then go,” he commanded, turning his bull-horse in the opposite direction.

  “Varga, wait!”

  The horse halted, and he turned back to face me.

  “I want to thank you—for everything. I won’t forget it.”

  He nodded.

  “Just go fast and stay alive. That will be thanks enough.”

  I tugged at the reins and the horse sped up into a trot. Soon the commander was out of sight, and so was the Memenion castle. I followed the path as Varga had instructed, feeling strangely empty and very, very afraid.

  Hazel

  We had placed Yelena on one of the sofas in the human quarters, moving her limp body as carefully as we could. I sent the children away with Jenney to spend some time in the servant quarters. They were all terrified, pale and exhausted, barely able to communicate except in rasping sobs and wild accusations of monsters in the castle, monsters they thought would come and get them all.

  When they had gone, I sat silently with Tejus, both of us watching Yelena’s lightly fluttering chest, relieved that she was at least still breathing.

  “When do you think she will wake?” I asked him, knowing that he wouldn’t have much more of a clue than I did, but wanting to say something to break the silence and bring about some semblance of normality.

  “I don’t know. It looks like she’s just in a deep sleep. I heard that the guards have already woken. The ministers are questioning them now.”

  I nodded, gently stroking Yelena’s red hair back from her forehead.

  “She’s still so cold,” I replied. We had covered her in blankets as best we could, but it didn’t seem to be making much of a difference.

  Tejus stood up, beginning to pace across the room. In a way, his movement comforted me. It was such a familiar thing; everything falling to pieces around us, and Tejus pacing up and down a room, trying to find solutions.

  “How did the trials go?” I asked.

  “Fine. I am still in the running.”

  “What happened?” I coaxed, wanting something to take my mind off Yelena and the likelihood of my brother putting her in this condition.

  “Another experience with hallucination elixirs. Not pleasant, but not unmanageable.”

  I thought of the first time that Tejus had experienced them in the trials, and I shuddered. I hated that he had been through something similar again, and on his own.

  “What did it show you this time?” I asked softly.

  “Nothing. Just fantasy and riddles—nothing of any importance.”

  “You’re lying,” I replied.

  “Yes. But I’m not going to tell you what I saw. Just know that I was successful, and that the trials will continue as swiftly as possible.”

  I nodded. There was nothing I could say that would persuade Tejus to tell me the truth when he didn’t want to. I had plenty of experience with that. Perhaps it was better that I didn’t know anyway; I felt like I almost didn’t have any more capacity to worry about the people I loved.

  I was about to fetch another blanket to put over Yelena when she groaned.

  “Yelena? Can you hear me?”

  She shook her head, her brow creasing in a frown. I took her hand, holding it tightly so that she might know she wasn’t alone.

  Her eyelids twitched as I touched her, and slowly her eyes started to open.

  “She’s awake,” I murmured to Tejus. He was standing on the other side of the sofa, wisely keeping his distance so not to startle her. “Yelena, it’s me, Hazel. How are you feeling?”

  “Hazel?” she mumbled. “My head hurts.”

  I exhaled in relief. She was awake, and clearly her mind hadn’t been damaged beyond repair.

  “Do you know where you are?” I asked gently.

  She looked around, then tried to sit up.

  “Easy,” I placated her. “Take it easy.”

  She nodded, shuffling up to a sitting position.

  “I’m in Hellswan Castle.” She sighed groggily. “I don’t remember what happened,” she said, beseeching me to fill in the blanks.

  “Neither do we,” I replied sadly. “When I got to the human quarters this morning, you were out cold. Can you remember what happened last night?”

  She shook her head.

  “Do…Do you think it was Benedict?” she asked.

  I squeezed her hand again, unable to formulate a reply. We both knew that it probably was.

  “I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful,” she continued. “I just…It’s all blank.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m just so sorry I left you here. I thought you’d be safe.”

  “Not your fault.” She tried to smile at me. “I knew he’d be back anyway—he said so.”

  I glanced up at Tejus. His expression was grim.

  “Yelena,” he asked slowly, “would you let me look into your mind? I might be able to access memories that you can’t.”

  Yelena had jumped at the sound of his voice, unaware that he was standing in the room. I watched as she calmed herself, but looked nervous at his suggestion.

  “She’s just had her energy syphoned, Tejus, I don’t think that—”

  “It’s all right,” Yelena interrupted. “I can do it. If it’s going to help Benedict, then I can do it.”

  Once again, Yelena’s bravery impressed me. I owed the little girl big time, and I hated that she had gotten so wrapped up in the entity’s plans. I didn’t think I’d ever come across a human who was so calm and sensible in the face of overwhelming danger. My mom would love her.

  “Yelena—thank you,” I whispered. “Really.”

  She nodded, her smile less afraid now as she waited for Tejus to begin.

  “Be careful,” I warned him. “Go easy on her.”

  “I will,” he replied.

  Tejus and I swapped places, Tejus sitting down on the sofa with Yelena while I paced the room, keeping an eye on the girl for any signs of distress.

  It took a while, the room perfectly silent apart from the sounds of my footsteps wearing away the carpet. When the connection broke, Yelena leant her head back on the arm rest, her face even paler than it had been before.

  “Yelena, are you all right?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine…just a bit woozy.”

  “She needs to eat,” I said to Tejus. “Will you send someone to fetch her food?”

  He nodded, and swiftly walked out of the door to speak to the guards who were stationed outside.

  “Try to get some rest,” I murmured to Yelena as I saw her fighting to keep her eyes open.

  “Okay,” she said sleepily, her eyes closing a second later.

  When Tejus came back into the room, I beckoned him into one of the empty bedrooms so as to not disturb her.

  “What did you see?” I asked.

  “Next to nothing. Her mind’s been wiped completely. All I could see was a shadow coming toward her—human-sized, I think. Then your brother’s face peering down…I can’t tell if the expression was concern or something else…and then nothing. Just a blanket of darkness, and I can’t break through it. I’m sorry, Hazel.”

  I nodded. I had known all along that Benedict would have been involved. He might still be under the power of the entity, but at least he was alive. But it also meant that my brother was completely out of it—had even part of his mind still been his, then this would never have happened.

  I had to face the horrific, terrifying reality that Benedict was, at least for the time being, completely lost to me.

  “We need to locate him. He might be under the influence of the entity, but if we can keep him safe, then at least he won’t be able to harm himself or others.”

  “We can search now,” Tejus agreed. “I’ll get us another vulture. Meet me outside.”

  He looked like he wanted to say something else. Our eyes met, and I gave him a weak smile. I didn’t need his reassurances—nothing he could say was going to make this situation any better. Tejus left the room.

  I waited until
Yelena’s food had been brought up. Thankfully it was Jenney who appeared with the tray, and I left the girl in her care. I made my way to the courtyard, relieved to find Tejus ready and waiting with another bird.

  “An offspring of Aria” he announced. “Are you ready?”

  In reply, I lifted my arms to his shoulders and he helped me up onto the bird. He jumped on behind me, and in a matter of moments we were soaring through the gray sky back to the cove.

  We landed on the sand, and Tejus helped me disembark. I immediately made my way to the temple that I’d fallen through days before, only to find the hole that I’d created in the ground completely covered up.

  “Tejus—look at this!”

  He walked over, eyeing the repaired hole with distaste. There were no footprints around, the ground covered with sand and dead ferns that were still frosted over—the repairs had clearly happened before the ice fires had started. I hoped that meant Benedict was safe.

  “Let’s go to the other entrance,” Tejus suggested. “See if we can get in there.”

  We walked the short distance over to the doorway we’d found last time only to see that it too had been blocked off, a large slab of granite placed in the entranceway.

  “He’s in there,” Tejus announced.

  For a second I didn’t understand how he knew, but then it dawned on me that he was probably using True Sight. Which meant that the seal wasn’t blocked off by barriers.

  “Benedict!” I called loudly against the stone. “Benedict?”

  “He can hear something,” Tejus murmured, “try again.”

  I called urgently, thumping the stone with my fists. Eventually I heard a sound coming from within.

  “Hazel?” My brother’s voice was weak and timid—but it was his.

  “Benedict! Are you okay?”

  “You need to go away!” he called. “It’s dangerous here…you need to go…before…”

  “Before what?” I leaned my head against the stone, crying soundlessly with a mix of relief and fear.

  “Before I change again! I don’t know what I might do if you try to open the door—or what might be done to me. Please, Hazel, you need to leave.” His voice went up an octave, and I figured that instead of divulging our plans I should just try to reassure him. I didn’t know how connected the entity was to Benedict even when he wasn’t fully possessed, and right now, my brother just needed someone to talk to.