Reading · Realms & Reflections

A reluctant prophetess must survive a dark king’s temptations and shadow-bound horrors to claim the one relic that can save her dying people—if the prophecy doesn’t destroy her first.

The story so far…

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Read from the start

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Idenia tugged her shawl around her shoulders and hurried down the hallway. If Vanya was right, Marda would be waiting for her in the Hall of Petitioners. She had so much to tell him! It had only been a few days but seemed like ages since she had last seen him.

A few more turns and she burst through the doors into the grand hall. She cast her gaze eagerly about the room to find the old soldier maybe twenty paces away, his back to her and arms crossed as he looked out one of the windows lining the grand hall.

“Marda!” Idenia nearly ran to meet her guardian.

At the sound of her voice, he spun around and his face lit up with a smile. Idenia wrapped her arms around him and he returned the hug.

“Where have you been hiding, girl?”

“I’ve been here,” she replied with a smile. Idenia couldn’t help but notice that Marda’s gruff words didn’t match the heart-felt emotion in his voice. “But so much has happened.”

Several petitioners nearby raised their heads and watched the two with curiosity. Feeling self-conscious, she tugged on his arm.

“Come, Marda. Let’s walk in the garden.”

He took her hand in the crook of his arm and covered her fingertips with his own. Once they reached the quiet garden, away from prying ears, Marda glanced down at his charge.

“Marda—,” Idenia began.

“I—,” Marda said at the same time.

The two chuckled.

“Go on,” Marda said. “You first.”

Idenia took a deep breath, her mind flitting over the events of the last few days as she searched for a good place to start. Their footsteps crunched down a gravel walkway and the sun shone warm on Idenia’s face and she began to relate to Marda all that had happened.

As she recounted her experiences, Idenia stopped to collect her thoughts, remembering again the fear and uncertainty she had felt before the Ceremony of Supplication. Then she took a deep breath and continued, her voice nearly a whisper.

“It was amazing. But terrifying. I went into the Most Sacred Place of the temple and the Most High met me. He spoke to me.”

Marda turned his face toward her and his eyes glistened with moisture.

“There was a light, Marda. It shone into me and the Most High said it was His light and that it would be with me always.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “But I don’t remember leaving. I woke in my bed but then fell asleep again. I’m sorry I didn’t send you a message. I slept all the next day too.”

Marda wrapped an arm around her and held her tight. His action let her know she had nothing to apologize for.

“Then the high priest summoned me. This is the most amazing part, Marda. He told me that the Most High has chosen me to be the shianin. Me.”

A frown creased Marda’s brow.

Worried that he might not believe her, Idenia hurried on. “The shianin. He said it means ‘hunter’ in the old language. Marda, I’m supposed to find the Lightstone.”

Marda took a deep breath and let it out again, nodding. “Captain Bryton told me that the high priest is sending you to find the Lightstone, but I needed to hear your side of the story. Rest assured, if you’re leaving, I’m going with you.” Marda covered her hand with his own.

“They’re letting you come?” Idenia couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

“Well, they can’t stop me for one thing,” he said with a grin. “For another, Captain Bryton of the Temple Guard, who is leading the escort party, has asked me to join.”

Her heart filled with relief to know her childhood guardian would be with her. “And Nekota? Is he coming too?”

“Don’t know yet about Nekota. The Captain is currently evaluating his men to choose the best for this mission. But speed is of the essence. If you don’t hear from me later tonight, meet us tomorrow at sunrise in front of the stables.”

Idenia nodded. So this was really happening. Everything was moving so fast, it nearly made her head spin. At the same time, she felt relief to know Marda would be there on this journey into the unknown.

“I need to go make preparations. But I’m glad to see you’re well,” Marda said, his voice husky with emotion. “Your father would be proud.” He kissed her on the forehead and gave her hand a squeeze, then turned back the way they had come.

Idenia watched him go before heading for her own room. While it comforted her to know Marda would be on this journey, her heart still skipped a beat when she thought of the task ahead. So much depended on her. She prayed she wouldn’t miss the voice of the Most High as he showed her the way. After all, it was only the future of her people at stake.

***

Marda found Bryton heading from the stables back to his office.

“Did you find her?” the captain asked.

Marda nodded and fell into step beside his friend. “She’ll meet us in front of the stables at sunrise.” After a few moments, he added, “She asked if Nekota’s coming.”

Bryton frowned and looked over at Marda. “Wasn’t planning to bring him. He’s untrained and I need experienced soldiers on this journey.”

“I’d like you to consider taking him.” Marda flicked a piece of imaginary lint off his jacket and crossed his arms.

Bryton puffed out his cheeks. “It’ll be dangerous and we’ll have to move fast—and he’s still unpredictable. Our priority is to protect the prophetess.” Then Bryton locked gazes with Marda. “But what aren’t you telling me? If I know you, you have a good reason for wanting to bring him.”

“Actually, I have two good reasons.”

The captain raised his eyebrows and waited for an explanation.

“Ten years ago, I promised Idenia’s dying father, my friend, that I wouldn’t let any harm come to his daughter and while she has lived with her grandfather since her father’s passing, I have maintained that mission. She’s been like a daughter to me. When she needed to come to Stajeen, her grandfather asked me to bring Nekota to help protect her. At that time, I promised Tasmon the two of us would keep her safe. That’s one reason.”

“And the other reason?” The two men reached the door of the building where Captain’s Bryton’s quarters were. Bryton turned to Marda, hands on hips, and waited for his friend’s reply.

“The other reason is that she and Nekota are good friends. He will do anything to protect her.”

Bryton pursed his lips and studied Marda’s face for a few moments, then sighed. “Very well. Bring Nekota to me and I’ll make sure he knows how important this journey will be. I’ll let the others I’ve chosen know our plans so they can prepare their packs and horses.”

***

“Nekota!”

Nekota looked up from his latest task of cleaning out the horses’ stalls to find Marda entering the stable.

“Come with me,” Marda said, motioning for him to follow.

Nekota left the stall and racked the shovel on the wall with the other tools, then hurried to catch up.

“Where are we going?”

“Captain Bryton wants to talk with you.”

Nekota hurried to keep pace alongside the old soldier. As he walked, he rolled his shoulders, wincing at the pop in his back. Nearly every muscle in his body hurt. Working in the forge was easy compared to the last few days at the Academy. From sunup to sundown he had run from one chore to another, then off to drill with the staff, then more chores. As a first-year cadet, many of the soldiers ignored him but one or two had pity and at least smiled when he ran by.

And now Bryton had called for him. He wondered what new chore—or torture—the man had for him now.

The captain was waiting for them when they reached his office. One corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. “So how’s your first week going, Nekota? I hear Bani’s been keeping you busy.”

“Yes sir, he is.” Nekota stood as straight as his bruised body would allow.

“Something’s come up that we need to discuss.” Bryton sat at a rugged desk, leaning forward onto his elbows.

What did I do wrong? Nekota mentally ran through the list of chores and duties he had been given. He couldn’t remember having forgotten a single thing.

“You want to fill him in?” Bryton asked Marda.

The older man cleared his throat. “Idenia is now a prophetess and has been given a very important task by the high priest.”

Speechless, Nekota stared at the man. That was the last thing he had expected to hear.

“Marda, you never were one to mince words.” Bryton laughed and shook his head. He folded his hands and turned back to Nekota. “While that is true, there’s more. You’ve heard of the Lightstone?”

Nekota nodded numbly.

“Idenia has been tasked with finding and returning the Lightstone to the temple.”

Nekota finally found his voice. “Wait. Idenia is a prophetess and is going to find the Lightstone? Is this a jest? That relic doesn’t even exist.”

“Boy, soldiers don’t question,” Marda snapped in reply. “Your place is to obey.”

Nekota gulped, squared his shoulders and searched the plank floor, thoughts racing.

Bryton continued. “We are serving as her Temple Guard escort and we’re considering bringing you with us.”

Nekota shot a gaze to the captain.

“You will accompany Marda and me, as well as Bani and Anshon.”

Nekota groaned inwardly at the thought of Bani coming along. The soldier had been kind the day they met but had been a hard taskmaster ever since.

“Nekota,” Bryton’s stern tone brought him back to the present. “You have to understand something.”

“Yes sir?”

“No one, and I mean no one is to know about the Lightstone or the fact we will be looking for it. We are going with Idenia as her protectors and her bodyguards. Is that clear?”

Nekota nodded and then another thought popped into his mind. “Where are we going?”

“To Helmport,” Bryton said.

“Helmport? As in the Helmport on the eastern coastline of Besmontolai?”

Marda regarded Nekota with raised brows. “That’s the only Helmport I know of.”

“Nekota, I want you ready and at the stables by first light tomorrow,” the captain clipped. “You’re dismissed. Go make sure your things are in order. And I remind you not to speak of this to anyone.”

“Yes sir.” Nekota fumbled for the door latch, still trying to wrap his mind around everything he had just heard. Idenia, a prophetess. The Lightstone. Helmport.

Now there’s a place I never thought I’d see.

Nekota had heard that Helmport was a bastion of evil and debauchery. Even in his wildest days he hadn’t been interested in visiting the city. Once outside the building, Nekota paused, blinking in the sunshine as he considered the task ahead.

One of the guards that, until now he had seen only from a distance, walked by and threw his shoulder into Nekota, causing him to stumble to one side.

“Wake up, cadet. Don’t you have chores to do?”

Nekota bristled. “Yes sir. But by tomorrow you’ll need to find someone else to harass. I’ll be long gone.” He ignored the man’s scowl and whistled a happy tune as he sauntered off toward the barracks.

Next Week—Chapter 18: Evil Awakens.

Fiction Friday: Lightstone of Power, Chapter 17

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