Stones of Fraine (Legacy of Fraine Book 1)

by Amy Morris

  As more guards approach I hope I can get free of them once I’m pulled from beneath the large body. When they reach me they don’t coordinate how to pull me out, instead just pull in different directions. One by one they use shields to protect their comrades as they work to free me. “Get her,” I hear from Therin somewhere nearby.

  Nope, things got worse, I think to myself as I’m pulled away from the fallen guard. More are taken out by arrows, their numbers are still large enough to take a few loses without causing much damage. From the last count I could make their numbers are close to seventy against our seven. Bad odds.

  “What did you do to me?” Therin blares into my ear, grabbing me by my hair.

  “Not enough,” I spit into his face.

  “All I need is your head for King Alex,” he growls as he throws me towards men who grab me fast. “Might as well collect it now.” Giving a signal, they bend me over towards the front. Not willing to die this way, I push back hard. This accomplishes nothing as they pull away my shirt to expose my neck.

  “Don’t do it, you bastard.” Angel yells from somewhere not too far off, but I can’t see him.

  “You need not do this, Therin.” Goss screams at her brother.

  My veins are thrumming from the power building within me, its presence now painful from the buildup. Deciding right now there’s only one way we all escape this. I scream to my friends, “get away fast as you can, I’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, run, save yourselves. We could use a good hunt once we’re done collecting her head.” Therin laughs goading them, I hope they understood what I’m trying to communicate. Unable to hold out any longer, I release almost everything that’s built up inside me. All I see is a quick blue flash. Hands are no longer holding me, I realize rising from my crouched position, I glimpse the carnage I just unleashed.

  “Holy hells,” I whisper at the mangled bodies. The shock of it almost causes me to faint, but Rabble has me before that can happen.

  “It’s ok Abby, you’re ok,” he whispers tightening his embrace.

  “I’m having a flashback to the camp outside of Renolt,” Angel whistles walking closer. “Just a much quicker death, which I don’t feel any of them deserved.”

  “Not the time for jokes, Angel,” Rabble hisses.

  At this I shudder, remembering the screams and flames. Now being compared to what my magic just did is an unsettling image. Hearing a loud sob escape Goss, my trembling worsens at the reality of Therin being one of the bodies surrounding me.

  Instead of running towards what is left of his body, she rips Rabble off of me. She holds me while whispering comforting words until I stop her. “Shouldn’t this be the other way around Goss?” I sniff.

  “I told you he was no longer my brother, again he proved himself to not just be your enemy but also mine. There may come a time when I mourn for him I just can’t see that being soon though,” she holds me at arm’s length now. The honesty in her eyes comforts me, a wave of relief washes over me.

  “Why didn’t anyone mention she could incinerate a small army,” Toad wonders aloud, joining us, with the rest not far behind. “When Talia said run after you yelled, some of us made it farther than others. Definitely see why now,” he lets out a long whistle, surveying the camp.

  “Where’s Razz? Is she here?” I ask.

  “Razz made it just in time. She’s closer to the tree line with the horses,” Toad gestures away from camp. The rest explain her role in my rescue, and I’m grateful for her fortitude.

  After everyone decides our next move, I turn not wanting to see more destruction or dismembered bodies. I head off towards the trees where Razz is keeping a watch on the horses. “Is everyone else ok?” she asks timidly as I approach.

  “They’re fine, just gathering our packs and supplies since the guards don’t need them anymore,” I sigh. “I expected you sooner, not that it matters your timing was impeccable. Goss said you led the charge with a bow to help my escape, thank you.”

  “It seems I was recognized in Declan by someone. It took time to evade an angry husband I left behind. I’ll explain all of that later, I promise. For now, I’m just glad I could catch up and help with your freedom. Although from here it looks like you didn’t need any help, Abby.”

  The deranged burst of laughter escapes me before I can stop it, “I’m sorry, Razz. Didn’t mean to laugh at what you said. It’s just my power only works in dire situations, it seems. Which that turned into rather quickly in the last hour. Also, the fact that if I drain the stones of their power, I can’t restore the amulet.” Kicking rocks with my foot to let out some frustration over that part, but it doesn’t seem to help. “To be honest, I’m scared. All this could be for nothing if I can’t restore the amulet and Fraine.”

  “Never think that Abby,” she slaps me lightly on the arm to keep my attention off the rocks. “Without you I’d still be a deer and Toad well a toad. Goss would have married that man I’ve heard about and Talia would still be lonely,” her cheeks redden subtly.

  She has a point. The rest of the group has rejoined us before I can ponder more about the Talia comment. Giving one last look at the camp, I’m glad it’s hard to see the devastation now. Only illuminated by small fires and a few lanterns left standing. Not wanting to stay around to see what or who’s left of it in the morning, I mount up quick.

  “Where to from here?” I ask, adding some slack to my reigns and checking the ties on my pack one last time.

  “Well, we’re still heading to Calisle, right?” Talia asks.

  “So that means what then?” Toad questions.

  “We go through the mountains,” Angel mutters.

  “Yes,” Talia answers a little too loudly. “We go through the mountains. The horrible, scary, unknown creature mountains… No towns, random hermits and a chance of death, woot.”

  “Gods, when did you get so bleak Talia,” Angel knocks her playfully in the shoulder. “If this is because of the hike we did in training, now is the time to inform you that most of it wasn’t real. The cadets were messed with, some even drugged to get them to lose their minds.”

  “Huh?” Toad stares confused at Angel, but he’s far from alone with his sentiment.

  “So fine, a bunch of asshat’s take the cadets out for an overnight hike into the mountains. Then torment us until dawn, hoping to break as many as possible. I swear some of it wasn’t them, I saw things Angel.” Talia crosses her arms with a glint of fear in her eyes.

  “I think we know who got drugged.” Goss whispers so that only I can hear, I nod in agreement. “I’m sure it can’t be that bad,” she offers to the rest of the group.

  “Really wish you hadn’t said that girly,” Rabble mutters what I’m thinking whenever that statements now made. “So how far is the trek from here to Calisle, any guesses?”

  “I’d guess about three days, Talia any thoughts? Anyone else want to take a crack at it?” Angel asks, surveying the group. “None, thanks for the help guys,” and with that he whistles, leading us north again into the darkness.

  21

  Waking the next morning is easy since it doesn’t feel like I’ve slept any. Every noise woke me, thanks to Talia’s fear. She again explained in more detail while we set up camp just inside the foothills last night. And when I slept, images of devious magical creatures assailed me, leaving me in a cold sweat and trembling. But from the look on everyone’s face it may have just been me that was affected by nightmares, well and Talia from the bags now visible under her eyes.

  Rolling her blanket and repacking supplies, she’s mounted before any of us even start. “Let’s go, the earlier we rise, the sooner we leave the Brays Mountains behind us people.” Without a backwards glance she heads off alone at a slow pace, not wasting any time.

  “Damn,” Toad mutters fitting the large piece of bread he’d just started into his mouth and follows.

  “I’ll grab his pack,” Razz sighs while adjusting hers to the saddle. “Take your time, I’ll do what I can
to keep her pace slow,” and within two minutes she’s off at a quick trot in the same direction.

  Mumbling as I chew my piece of bread and jerky, admonishing myself for acting like a scared child throughout the night. Yet thankful to not be in the shape Talia’s in this morning. Within twenty minutes, the rest of us are off at a gallop to catch the rest of our party. We reconnect not long into the morning at the top of a small hill that affords us a spectacular view of the sun shining just over the larger ridges near Madera to our east. The peaks to our north are still daunting, we decide it’s best to stay in the canyons before descending into a rocky terrain for a long day in the saddle.

  By lunch we feel somewhat accomplished with the distance we’ve put between us and Therin’s camp, the pace we’re able to keep is quicker than before since most of the area is level except at the base of the hills. As we approach larger hills lending themselves to small mountains, we have to slow back down. Much to the dismay of Talia. She knew there was no way we would make it through the entire range in one day, but I’ve got to hand it to for her optimism in not spending another night here.

  Stopping to make camp at the base of an enormous mountain, we’re afforded some last bit of daylight to set up and get a small fire going before we’re completely in the dark. Everything tonight is quieter than last night by leaps and bounds, chatter is a whisper because of exhaustion, the horses are happily grazing so not a peep out of them and with one final joke at Angel’s expense I pass out into a deep sleep.

  “Wake up, Abigail,” Verona prods at me. “We need to speak my child.”

  Opening my eyes, I realize that I’m sitting on the ledge of her cave under a clear star filled night, as I did not too long ago. “Am I here? Back in Mystic?” I ask, not knowing since it feels and looks so authentic.

  “No, my dear. I’ve pulled you into a vision so we can catch up. I don’t know how long I can hold it, but you are still sleeping on the ground surrounded by your protectors.”

  “Why not just yell from a distance while I’m awake?”

  “I wanted to offer you advice and your mother insisted I check on you in person,” she snorts.

  “Could my mother be in this vision too?” I question.

  “I’m afraid not. My power has dwindled too much, and she is not a seer. Shall we discuss why you’re here. Since your detour in Town I lost track of you, now you are in the mountains instead of heading due north from Declan. Why is that?” And with that question, I shudder about my coming explanation.

  After summarizing what happened in Declan without leaving much out, I explain in greater detail what happened with Therin. Verona listens carefully, even showing anger at Therin’s attempt to violate me. “So I’ve ruined it, haven’t I?” I ask after going over what I did to the camp. “I used the stones to escape in a much larger fashion this time.”

  “Hmmm,” she’s thinking how to answer which to me isn’t a good sign at all. “Let me see the stones dear,” pulling them out of my shirt she waves me over to her. Holding them in her hand, I gasp as all three shimmer to life, releasing a bright glow. “It would seem you did not use the stones last night, that power was only yours.”

  “My mother mentioned that emotions would cause them to increase, but I thought I needed the stones to even spark them.”

  “What you need to learn now is how to focus the energy, not worry that it’s coming from the stones themselves, but from you alone. Come, this is something you need to work on before reaching Calisle. Now I know how your mother trained you, I’m going to show you another way to harness your own magic with less effort.”

  For the next few hours, although it seems longer. I train with Verona and hope that at the end of our time together I’ll be able to conjure my power just as easily as I am here right now.

  “I’m sure you will, just practice some on your ride. Be safe and remember I have faith you can do this,” she assures me as darkness falls over me.

  Waking with a jolt, I see it’s just before dawn and only Talia has stirred. Pulling into myself, like I practiced with Verona for hours, I’m able to conjure blue flames that dance in my palm. “Neat,” I giggle to myself at this new ability.

  “If you throw that at me, Abby…” Talia trails off. “Wait, when did you learn how to do that?”

  “Verona pulled me into a vision after I fell asleep. We spoke for some time, she helped me focus without using the stones.”

  “She should have done that a few days ago to save us the trouble with Therin and his goons,” she mutters, rolling her blanket already.

  “Actually, she was pretty concerned about that. She couldn’t see me the whole time we were with him. I had to explain what happened, what he did, what he tried to do…” I don’t venture any further. No one has got out of me what happened in his tent two nights ago, for now I prefer it that way. “Anyway, she thinks someone in his group could block anyone looking for me.”

  “So King Alex or Therin got the right idea to use magic against you, I was afraid that might happen at some point.” She sighs, taking a seat next to me and sharing her bread smeared in cheese. “Couldn’t bring any muffins back with you, could you?” With that, we both start laughing loud enough to wake the rest of the group.

  No one complains about the abrupt wake up, I think they all agree it’s worth it to see Talia act normal. Goss also agrees that I need to bring back muffins on the next vision, I gladly agree to try. Breakfast is more of an affair than it had been in days, Goss shot a few rabbits and after we roast them I’m feeling blessed for the meat addition to my cheese and bread.

  “The last good meal we had was at the inn. Thank you for killing the rabbits, Goss,” Toad blushes. “With your skill, we’ll be eating pretty well the rest of the way.”

  “Thanks Toad, although I’m sure whatever I bring to the fire won’t compare to the spread we’ll get at the monastery,” she mentions between bites.

  “Good point,” Angel injects into the conversation that has swiftly turned into a food debate. At a decent pace, we pack up camp to start another long day in the saddle. Today it’s a slow walk around the base of a gigantic mountain which will hopefully be the only large hindrance in our path. With how rocky the ground has turned, there’s not much in the way of trees to shelter us from the sun, blessedly the higher elevation is cooler without it.

  Every so often one of us jumps when a rock rolls our direction from higher up caused by a harmless animal minding its own business. At lunch we eat our salted meats, saving Goss the kill until dinner time while the rest of us make camp. This leg of the journey has been better since our rocky start. On the third morning, everyone is again jovial and eager to get going.

  “We’re ascending into the foothills shortly, any chance we make it tonight?” I ask eagerly, hoping for a yes.

  “Meh,” Rabble responds as he takes another look at the map before storing it in the pack. “From the landmarks I see it’s still a bit of time until we hit the foothills, then a short trek to the northwest to reach Calisle.”

  “So another night in the Brays hooray,” Talia groans. Although since the first day she’s been in much better spirits with Razz keeping her company.

  “Well, technically if we stop late enough we’ll be within half a day to Calisle or less. But no, sorry Abby, not tonight,” he offers.

  “The longer we linger, the longer it’ll be until we arrive, saddle up,” Angel announces to the group who readily follow his lead.

  “Are you getting excited or nervous?” Goss asks, catching up to me.

  “A little of both, to be honest. Just ready to get another step to the prophecy completed,” I admit.

  Goss nods my direction as I play with flames in my left hand, “at least it’s easier setting up camp at night with you to light everything up. You’ve gotten better at that and shocked Rabble only twice yesterday for teasing you. So it’s an improvement all around,” she laughs.

  “My ears are burning,” Rabble jokes as he pulls alongside us.
“And what are you two lovely ladies laughing about this fine morning?”

  “The control I’m using at this moment with my sparks.” I giggle, shooting a small one towards him but pull it back before impact. “And what has you in such a good mood?”

  “Not getting zapped for one. Pleasant weather and such friendly company adds to it greatly.”

  “Does anyone else feel like we’re being watched,” Goss mentions quickly breaking our banter.

  “No, I hadn’t notice. Let me catch up with Angel and see if they’ve noticed anything. Keep an eye out, shout if you see something,” and with that his horse takes off towards the group leads.

  After just a few minutes of watching them converse ahead, Rabble and Angel break off to our east together towards a rock overhang some sixty feet away. Goss and I exchange a look before digging our heels into the horse’s flanks, catching up with the rest. “What did they spot?” Goss asks Talia.

  “Some animal, they wanted to get a closer look. Nothing human though, so that’s a plus,” Talia offers as we watch them ride back towards us.

  “What did you find?” Toad yells before they reach us. The look on their faces is priceless as they shake their heads at him, Angel makes a crude hand gesture.

  “Remind me to never take you hunting,” Goss snorts.

  “Sorry. Figured no one was chasing them and it’s just an animal, so it’s safe,” he shrugs.

  “Not all animals will run the other way,” Razz mentions with a slight tremble. She’s already mentioned a large brown bear that stalked the woods around Town, waiting for something to escape Jobe’s protection. Remembering that, I give a quick shake to my head and agree that not all animals will leave us alone.