Jarod swerved between trees, and then dropped from sight. Ariana wrenched Starfall after him. They plunged down a creek bed. Ariana hoped the mare could balance on the rutted trail. In two bounds, the horses splashed through the water and up the far bank. A barricade shimmered silver in the branches. Jarod charged into the underbrush, passing through easily. Ariana urged the mare after him. Sparks crackled rebuffing them. Starfall reared. The snarling closed in. Starfall’s ears flattened. Her nose went down and her back humped. Ariana wrenched the mare’s head up digging her heels into tender ribs. Again sparks crackled around them.
The growls grew louder. She pushed against the barrier. It resisted brightening as her hands touched it. Malevolent yellow eyes glared from the forest. Loud snarls filled the woods. Frantic, she pounded her fists against the barricade. White sparks waterfalled from her blows. A huge clawed paw swiped at them. Screaming Starfall lunged forward. The Heartstone burned against Ariana’s breast, the sparks died. They were through.
The panicked mare galloped away from the barrier. Ariana urged her forward. After a moment she realized the pursuit had stopped. They outstripped Firestorm. They burst through the trees into a meadow. A few more steps and the exhausted mare stumbled to a stop. She stood panting with her head down. She was lathered and trembling. Ariana felt no better. Her hands were clenched around the reins and mingled with the sweaty black mane like a vise. Jarod dismounted and came over to help her down. She almost fell out of the saddle. He steadied her as she slid off. He peered worriedly at her face. “Are you hale?”
She nodded, unable to speak. She looked around. On the right a waterfall, cascaded into a pool ringed by willows. Past the pool nestled a thatched house with a blue door. Around the back Ariana glimpsed a tidy herb garden.
Jarod looked at Starfall’s flank and whistled. “He got her a good one. Come on.” They turned to the cottage. The door opened and a tall slender man hurried over, gray hair tied back in an intricate braid. He wore a slate blue robe with silver embroidered stags on the cuffs, hems and collar. Cerynus was in his mid forties, younger than she’d expected. His pale scholar’s face calmly regarded the world. His eyes belied the serenity; deep-set, they devoured the world with intensity and fervor.
He barely spared them a glance, “Hurry get inside. There’s salve in the paddock.” Jarod nodded his mouth tight.
“Hurry up. I cannot hold him off all day.” Cerynus snapped.
He swept past them. The hair prickled on the back of Ariana’s neck as she heard a sizzle and smelled ozone followed by a loud feline squall. They hurried to the paddock Starfall stumbled a few times and seemed to favor her left hind leg. Jarod frowned. They quickly untacked both horses and found the salve Cerynus had mentioned Jarod cleaned Starfall’s flank. Ariana stood at her head. The mare rolled her eyes and snorted but stood still under his sure hands. Ariana tried not to look at the blood.
They walked to the cottage. Blue gray smoke rose from the chimney and ivy twined around the stone walls. A gray cat sprawled on the sunny flagstone on the threshold. It blinked at them from jade eyes, stretched leisurely and moved off into the long grass. They went in and hurried down the small hall into the main room. Whitewashed walls and bright rugs on the stone floor created a cheerful sanctuary dominated by the crackling fire.
They sat down wearily. Finally Ariana could take a breath. She sighed. After a few minutes, Cerynus joined them. They stood.
“You are welcome to my hearth.” Cerynus turned to Ariana with a gentle smile. He bowed deeply then straightened. His gray eyes stabbed her; there was a shock of visceral recognition. Cerynus turned away. She felt dizzy from the intensity she’d glimpsed before he veiled it.
“Jarod.” he bowed, slightly.
“Cerynus.” Jarod barely nodded in answer. Ariana wondered at the tension. Cerynus said nothing, gesturing for them to sit. After a moment Jarod sat. Ariana sat on a stool near the fire. Cerynus sat opposite her, studying them. “This is certainly an unexpected honor. So what brings you to my humble home?”
“We need your help.” Jarod muttered.
“So you barge through my shields? Leaving me unprotected while you continue on with the absolutely vital task your father sends you on. What is it, a large stag in the forest?”
“It is important. If you’d listen for a moment…”
“How does it feel to be a messenger Jarod? I’m surprised the great lords of Dun Caer would deign to speak to such a lowly scholar. I am honored.” Cerynus smiled; there was no humor in it.
“This affects more than Dun Caer,” said Jarod. “It was a long time ago….”
“It will never be a long time ago to me,” Cerynus uncovered his right arm, twisted and useless.
“What happened?” she asked, they ignored her.
“I can never forget what my beloved kinsman did or didn’t do.”
Jarod looked down,”It was an accident.”
“An accident? I can barely function.”
“Stop it! You dwell on your wrongs too much, it was long ago.” Jarod stood looking at the fire then turned to Cerynus. “We need you.”
“Why?” Cerynus pierced them with his gaze.
“You are the last mage still free.”
“So? Your father holds magic in contempt and me in particular. What is so important?”
“Dun Caer is under attack, our forces have fallen. Gareth is dead.” Jarod stopped for a moment. Cerynus’ mouth tightened and pain spasmed over his face.
“What can I do? I am no warrior.”
“You are the only one who can help.” Jarod continued doggedly.
“Oh now you come to the heart of it. After all your taunts you come to the weedy scholar eh? Where were you when I lay screaming under the tusks of the great boar? Where was your father boy?”
“He did what he could. He saved your life.” Jarod shot back.
“Better he let me die than leave me a cripple. I am useless.”
“Only if you make it so, we don’t have time for old hurts.”
Jarod turned to Ariana, “Show him.”
She took the stone from under her tunic. His eyes widened. Awe wiped his face of all expression. He closed his eyes. “Put it back.” He spoke calmly although the pulse at his temple throbbed skittishly. He rose and paced, then stopped looking at the fire.
“You are the only one who knows how to teach her to use the Stone.” Jarod said. “We need your help.” His voice was low pleading,
“Please Uncle…”
Cerynus winced. “How long?”
“We need to leave while the weather is still good. One moon at the most.” Jarod said.
“Impossible, I need at least six moons to teach her the bare essentials.”
“We don’t have that luxury.”
“Always hurrying, the great clan of Dun Caer, trampling over everyone else," Cerynus sneered. “Boy, what do you know of the magic arts?”
“Dun Caer, saved your family, the clan Dyffd from withering away. A once proud house of learning and grace puttering along...a house so lost in vitality there is only one son left.“
“Who was maimed by your father,” interrupted Cerynus. “Don’t forget your mother Dana, sacrificed...”
“They loved each other.” Jarod protested hotly.
“The white stag and the gold dragon both live in you, boy, don’t forget it.”
“I forget nothing… But you live in the past.” Jarod said.
“This is getting us nowhere.” Ariana said. “What was that thing that chased us? Is it gone?”
“You are right Stonebearer. Our family squabbles have nothing to do with the challenge at hand and should be put aside for the greater good.” With visible effort, Cerynus calmed himself.
“Peace, for now?” He put out his hand.
“Peace.” Jarod took it warily.
“I have been a negligent host, forgive me.” Cerynus forced a smile. “You need something to wet your throats after your long journey.” He went into th
e small kitchen. He returned a few minutes later with bread, fruit and cold ale. They ate silently, lost in thought.
Cerynus turned to Ariana. “First we must shield the Stone. The pull is incredible. The times to come will tax all our strengths but for you especially, the challenge will be great. We begin tomorrow. I must go create the shield spell and think on the best way to proceed. So if you will excuse me? Everything here is at your disposal. Your rooms are at the end of the hall. I’ll see you on the morrow.”
Cerynus left them with a smile for Ariana and a nod for Jarod who nodded back. Ariana looked at Jarod.
“What was that all about?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I need to know what is going on.”
“It was before I was born.”
“Alright... I know it must be painful. But...”
“No you are right. You deserve to know why Cerynus has no love for the house of Dun Caer.” Jarod sat down and looking stoically at the wall told her the story.
“When my mother Dana was pregnant with Gareth, she went to be with her mother. Father came with her. He felt cooped up. So he planned a hunt to pass the time. Father taunted Cerynus, into joining the hunt. It was two summers before his naming day. He was no warrior but had a promising future as a mage.
All went well, the hunters found spoor easily, and after a long chase the hounds cornered a wild boar. The boar charged. Bleeding dogs flew. Men scattered. Cerynus fell. The boar caught him by the arm. Father rushed back and killed the boar.
Healers saved Cerynus’ life, but couldn’t save his arm. With only one arm Cerynus couldn’t become the lord of Dyffd or a full mage. As soon as he could he left Dyffd and stayed here in seclusion at Shady Vale. He still blames my father although his life was spared.”
No wonder he’s bitter, Ariana thought, left alive but deprived of his dreams. “It’s not your fault.” She put out a comforting hand.
“Cerynus forfeited his lands. I swore. I’d never leave my people. But here I am.” Jarod rose sighing.
“Jarod, wait.” He turned back. “You’re going back to Dun Caer aren’t you?”
He froze, trying to deny it. “I made a vow to my father to protect you. But I have a duty to protect my people. Which is the honorable course?”
“Jarod, disobey him. You have the right to defend your home. I’ll be fine here.”
“Two seven days, that’s all I need. Whatever happens; The Heartstone is more important than Dun Caer.”
“For two weeks then, Jarod. I’ll be fine here. Besides I have your dagger. But be safe, I don’t want to have to come get you.”
“I’ll be safe. Don’t worry.” He smiled.
She hugged him. He held her tight for a moment. She closed her eyes and clung to him praying he’d be safe. His arms loosened.
“Goodbye, Jarod.” She tried to smile.
“Fare well Ariana.”
He let her go and turned abruptly, striding out the door. Ariana was surprised at how cold she felt. She stood there for a moment looking at the doorway.
Later in her bed, Ariana tossed and turned. She didn’t have the strength for this. She didn’t believe in magic. The image of her mother’s face came to her. Her mother had been young and scared too. But I’m not strong like her, she thought, I can’t do it. The figure of the man crept into her mind. She shivered. He frightened her more that anything else. His eyes were so cold and flat. The night crept by.
At the first blush of dawn, she went down to the deserted kitchen to find porridge bubbling in a cast iron pot on the hearth. Beside it was a small teakettle. Ariana looked dubiously at the cereal. She wasn’t hungry. But she supposed she’d better eat. On the white oak table a crock of sweet milk, butter and a bowl waited for her. Dutifully Ariana ate. The more she ate the better she felt.
After breakfast, she went up to Cerynus’ study. At the top of the stairs a round window looked out over the mist rising from the meadow. The trail Jarod had taken through the dew-covered grass was dark in the rising sun. Jarod was her only ally here. Cerynus had been abrupt last night. Ariana wasn’t sure about him. He reminded her of Dr. Farrell her freshman lit professor. He’d been the hardest teacher she’d ever had, very fond of pop quizzes. But it had ended up being her favorite class. She opened the door and walked in.
Books filled the shelves lining the walls and the overflow piled unevenly around the room, papers scattered and stuffed among them. The large window facing the waterfall was partially obscured by books and scrolls. Dominating the center of the room was a polished oak table. On the table were a small pile of books, a white candle in the center and an unrolled parchment. Cerynus sat reading in the window seat. He looked up with a smile. She sneezed. Papers ruffled.
“I’m sorry.”
“No my dear it’s a mess. I’m not a good housekeeper.”
“That’s OK.” She looked around. “Uh, Thanks for the oatmeal.”
“You are welcome, my dear. I must apologize for my lack of manners yesterday. I am not usually so churlish.”
“It’s alright.” Ariana said.
“No it isn’t. There is no excuse for inhospitable behavior. Let me explain.”
“That’s OK. Jarod filled me in.” Ariana said. Cerynus lifted an eyebrow.
“Please, sit down.” He gestured to a chair “Don’t be nervous. Nothing here will harm you, all is warded.”
“So now what?” Ariana said.
“First how did you get here?” He leaned forward. She was silent. How much to tell him?
“I got the Heartstone as a birthday present from my Aunt Fiona. It used to be my mother’s. I put it on and it brought me here. Jarod found me and brought me to Dun Caer. They saw it, said I was the Stonebearer. So here I am. I never asked for this.”
“I understand. Do you know how your mother got the stone?”
“No.” She remembered the vision.
Cerynus looked intently at her, “Are you sure? You have no idea?”
Ariana squirmed. She wasn’t ready yet to let him know about her dreams. She hadn’t told anyone about them. They were private. “I have no idea.” She looked out the window.
He leaned back in his chair. He looked at his nails. “There’s something you aren’t telling me.” He sounded indifferent but she knew he was anything but.
“I don’t believe in magic. It’s not real.” She blurted.
“Then how did you get here? Why can’t you take off the Stone?” Cerynus pinned her to the chair with his eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“You’re keeping something back. I can’t help you if you don’t trust me. You are in grave danger. You need all the help you can get.” His gray eyes were gently questioning. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to confide in someone. Maybe he could explain the vision.
“When I first came here I had a dream or something. “ She began haltingly. “It was my mother as a girl. She had the Heartstone cradled in her hands and she was running away from something. She was terrified. As she came closer she looked right at me. Then her face changed and there was a man. He was scary. He looked right at me. Then the face changed again and it was my face.”
“Show me.” Cerynus held out his hand.
She took it closing her eyes and she was Julia, running panicked from the destruction of all she’d ever known. Lightning flashed, rain pelted her as she fled up the mountain trail. She had to keep the Stone safe. Tear blinded she ran, heart pounding, hair a sodden mass down her back. She clutched the bundle in her arms tightly. The Stone flickered a warning. She glanced back. The soldiers were closing in. She put on a burst of speed, just a little further. The mountain was black with rain. Desperately she searched, wiping her eyes and pushing her hair back with one hand. There it was.
She scrambled up to the small cave hardly a crevice hidden by dead underbrush. She ducked inside, pulling the briars over the entrance. She huddled trembling in the darkness. Tenderly she opened one end of the bundle, a whimper greeted
her. She soothed the baby and took the Heartstone out of the tightly wrapped swaddling. The light of the Heartstone burst forth. Grimly she looked out at the pounding rain.
There was no time. This might kill them but she had to do it. She held the baby tightly in one arm. There was a whimper that quickly died. She turned away from the cave’s entrance and took a deep breath. She brought the Heartstone up before her face. She focused and spoke the forbidden words. The world turned and heaved. She saw a young man’s face, black eyes wide mouth open in a silent scream. There was a flash of light and everything went black. Ariana opened her eyes. Tears streamed down her face.
“It was me. I was the baby, Oh my God.” She got up and went to the door.
“Ariana, wait.”
“No leave me alone,” she rushed out the door.
“Ariana!” Cerynus called.
She ran downstairs and outside. She swished blindly through the dewy grass. She ran until a stitch in her side stopped her. The cottage was out of sight. She heard the soft rushing stream and the sighing leaves. Ahead of her a pine tree beckoned. Large branches waited to hold her shielded from the world. She sank down on the lowest branch sobbing. Sandy wasn’t her real father. She’d always known that. Her real father was dead. Ariana had tried to ask once but her mother had looked so sad she stopped. But this was incredible.
The world she’d grown up in wasn’t her world. She’d been born here. The place she'd thought was home was as alien as this place seemed. Where did she belong?
Once the tears stopped and the panic receded she trudged back to the house. Cerynus was waiting by the door. “Come inside, my dear. Have some tea.” They went into the kitchen and he gave her a mug filled with hot sweet tea.
“Do you need to talk?”
“No.” She whispered, still stunned.
They sat quiet for a moment. “You are truly the Stonebearer. Only one of the blood can carry the Heartstone. Your mother saved it and you when Galancarrig was destroyed. Now it is your task to return it.”
The Heartstone Page 5