Kingdom of Refuge (Gemstone Royals Book 1)

by Kelly A. Purcell

  “We must ready ourselves for opposition then.”

  Jasper nodded, the set of his jaw showing that it was not something that pleased him. But he had always done what was necessary for the Kingdom.

  CHAPTER 4

  Stone Vale square was bustling with activity. For two days a month, vendors would travel from around Aldor to sell their goods at the Royal city. It was the only time during the month that such a variety of goods could be found in one place, coming directly from its producers instead of through merchants. The goods were cheaper and of a better quality and people from villages all over the central territory came to the Royal City to see what bargains they could find.

  Deswald walked through the square perusing the stalls on his way to Elmer’s Inn to meet his old mentor. He was glad that his break between shifts fell around the same time that Sir Drafer was in town, he had not seen him since he had finished his Pledge-ship almost a year and a half ago. He was the reason Deswald had even been considered for the program in the first place, even though he was a year older than most pledges.

  He stopped at a blacksmith’s stall and picked up one of the blades on display, testing its weight.

  “Nice ey” the vendor said, grinning his chipped front teeth.

  Deswald nodded, “I love the weight, it is well balanced.”

  He peered down the length of it and twirled it around his fingers, “very nice. I have never seen a blade like this before.”

  “Nay sire. This right ‘ere is from the outlands. Very rare piece I collected.”

  “The outlands?” Deswald frowned, he had never heard of the outlands before, he looked down at the blade in his hand, focusing on the intricate design on the wooden handle and the odd quality of the blade itself. He had handled many weapons working with his father and training with Sir Drafer but he had never felt anything like it.

  “Aye the outlands,” the man replied, “never been, but back in Dravia every now and then some of these outlandish pieces would pop up on the market. I have been keeping this ‘ere for some time now but it brings back too many sad memories. I will give you for 10 gold coins.”

  Deswald looked up at the man, taking in his non-Aldorian features and proud grin. Deswald often got this and it saddened him that non-natives were so eager to see themselves represented among the ranks in direct service to the king, that he was often celebrated and looked up to by people he had never met before. All he had to do was take off his helmet or boldly wear his father’s refugee bracelet and people looked at him in awe.

  He looked down at his wrist where the leather bracelet sat snugly around his wrist, the blacksmith wore a similar one. His father had worn his bracelet every day since he had arrived as a reminder of what he had endured for the safety of his family and would have continued to endure. Deswald wore it as a reminder of what he longed to accomplish.

  “You are from Dravia?” Deswald asked, balancing the blade on his index finger.

  The man shook his head, “not really. I was captured and put to work in their mines. I was there for a treacherous five years when I was rescued by a secret group in Dravia. I managed to snag this blade and a few other items from the Dravian soldiers before I left. I spent some time with the people who rescued me and then a few of us got together and escaped to Aldor when tensions started rising between the monarchy and the rebels.”

  Deswald nodded, “I see. Well I am glad you escaped there. I hear it is a terrible place.”

  The man nodded, “the worst.”

  Deswald considered the blade, “I will take it,” he finally replied, smiling at the blacksmith.

  The man grinned, “excellent, let me get yeh one of my leather cases, it will fit nicely on yeh sword belt.”

  “That is very thoughtful thank you,” Deswald said as the man scurried around behind his stall.

  Deswald left the man’s stall with questions he had not had when he left the castle to meet Sir Drafer. His confusion must have shown on his face when he finally met Sir Drafer at Elmer’s Inn.

  The man was sitting at a table peering over his glass at the people around him; people watching. People watching was Drafer’s favourite past time, he always considered people to be fascinating creatures worthy of study. In fact, he had studied all the people groups of Saharia extensively, making him a valuable strategist to the king while he had served him as a knight. Now he served the king’s daughter, the governess of the North as her advisor. Deswald concluded that Drafer was the man to ask about the Outlands, he had countless books about people and places and had written a few himself.

  Drafer’s perceptive grey eyes fell on Deswald and instantly they lit up.

  “Deswald my boy!” he exclaimed, standing to his feet and extending his arms.

  Smiling Deswald approached him and took his offered hand as they drew each other into an Aldorian embrace.

  “Please sit, tell me all about your time at the castle.”

  Deswald sat down, “I would love to Drafer,” he replied, “but there is something that has recently come to my attention and rests heavily on my mind.”

  “Oh? Well let’s have a look at it son.”

  “What do you know about the Outlands?”

  “The Outlands? Why do you want to know about that dreadful place?”

  “I just bought this blade from a man in the square who says it comes from there. I had never heard of such a place before, but I thought you might.”

  Drafer reached for the blade and took it out of the case, “oh this is excellent craftmanship. I have heard of the Outlands of course,” he shook his head, “dreadful place I have heard. Home to a primitive people, or at least so they say, shrouded in darkness and mystery. It is said the darkest minds find refuge there.”

  He turned the knife handle towards Deswald and pointed to a spot on the top of it, “you see this marking here, on the handle?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have seen it before, in books on the subject but it’s all speculation. No one has ever been there, because no one ever really comes out of there alive, but every now and then items like this turn up that tells us that maybe just maybe there is a place out there where darkness really knows no bounds.”

  “Well the Dravians must have found some kind of way to get in there and live to talk about it.”

  Drafer frowned “what makes you say that?”

  “The blacksmith said he got this from Dravian soldiers.”

  Drafer looked up at Deswald and instantly Deswald could see him grow cautious, there was something more to all of this. Deswald immediately knew it.

  “What blacksmith?”

  “I met him in the Square on my way here,” he replied.

  Drafer nodded, “I see.”

  He was never one to lie to those he cared for, he often preferred to just stay silent on matters he did not wish to discuss.

  “You know more than you are letting on, but you cannot talk about it?”

  Drafer sighed, shaking his head as he handed Deswald his blade, “there are certain things that are carefully safeguarded by the king and for good purpose. Aldorians are here to feel safe from the darkness out there, in order to do that, there are certain things we must keep from them.”

  “I do not see why? People deserve to know what is going on.”

  “I agree, but what people deserve and what they are ready to handle can often be in conflict with each other.”

  Deswald sighed, “Well sometimes it is just a matter of trust, Drafer.”

  “Ahh well sometimes it is. And you have shown that trust can be earned, no matter who you are or where you come from.”

  “At what cost? I have not seen my family in months. I work twice as hard as the natives in my unit only to get a sliver of the attention they get from the first day they walk into orientation. What is considered to be Aldorian passion for my counterparts is Dravian bloodlust for me. How fair is that?”

  “I can only imagine how hard it is for you my boy. But you have come so far, I know
that you can be whatever you want to be in this kingdom. Your loyalty to El does not go unnoticed and El honours those who earnestly seek him. Your time will come.”

  “I hope you are right Drafer, I do not like to get impatient.”

  “I know,” the old man smiled, “that is why I took the liberty of ordering your meal before your arrival.”

  Deswald chuckled, “always a step ahead.”

  “Of course. Now I have a question for you.”

  “Sure.” Sir Drafer pointed to the knife on the table, “have you any idea how to use that?”

  Deswald laughed, “do not insult me old man.”

  The moment he picked up the knife and unsheathed it, Drafer snatched up a pear and tossed it at the wall behind Deswald. In one swift seamless move, Deswald spun around and launched the blade after the flying pear, pinning half of it to the wall. Before the other half could fall to the floor, Drafer pulled out a tiny blade and pinned it to the wall mere inches from the floor. Elmer’s disapproving shout could be heard from across the room.

  “Aye there will be none of that in this here establishment.”

  Drafer and Deswald bowed their heads and laughed, “you still got it old man,” Deswald teased.

  “But on a serious note Deswald, forget about this Outlands nonsense. It is miles from Aldor and does not concern us at all.”

  Deswald nodded, but he had already stored this discussion away in his heart. Hopeful that one day he would know the full story that Drafer was trying to keep from him.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  With a book to her face Ruby made another stroll around the garden fountain. The sound of falling water was a soothing reprieve to the hustle and bustle happening within the palace walls. With Jasper’s return, there was always a great celebration in the Royal City. Her father always hosted a banquet in Jasper and the Knights honour, with kingdom officials, and other people of importance, like King LaBar and his son.

  She saw him approach from the corner of her eyes just as she had expected. She maintained her steady pace, her feet finding it’s place on the lush grass beneath her slippers like it had a mind of its own.

  “There is only one person I know who can walk and read and be utterly involved in them both.”

  Ruby paused and pasted on a smile before turning to face the prince. His sturdy frame had never done justice to his height, as was the case for most of his people. Tyattarians were a strong people, though limited in stature they were proud and charming. There were no Tyattarians in Aldor, except their ambassador. With their strong alliance there was no need to seek out Aldor for sanctuary like so many others had.

  “Hello Haydward,” she greeted.

  “Ruby,” he replied, standing with that upright princely confidence that he had always seemed to possess.

  As he stepped close, Ruby found that she was looking down a bit. The last time she had seen him they were ten and twelve, and quite content with running about the garden and playing pranks on the palace cook. It seemed that since then he had reached his maximum height.

  “It has been a long time,” he said as he reached for her free hand, lifting it to his lips.

  “Yes, it has,” she said, “what brings you to Aldor?”

  He shrugged, “ah my father has business with your father as usual.”

  “And you? We both know your father’s business has never interested you before.”

  He shrugged, as he walked over to a pink tipped flower, “I thought it might be a good time to pay a visit to an old friend,” he leaned forward with his hands clasped behind his back and sniffed.

  “Oh?” “Yes,” he turned to look at her now, “I know it has been a long-time princess but surely you remember the grand times we used to have together.”

  Ruby smiled, “I do.” If she were to get into her father’s good graces, she had to play along.

  “And do you not miss them?”

  Ruby sighed, “we are not the same people we were back then Haydward, I hardly look forward to running amok through the castle halls, drenched in sweat and dirt.”

  He laughed, “quite a sight we must have been. I do not care for it now neither. We should get to the matter of getting to know the people we are now.”

  Ruby chuckled, “I see no harm in that.” He grinned, revealing the pointed canines on his lower jaw that was characteristic of his people.

  Tyattarians were originally a barbarous people, their animal-like instinct had earned them great fear throughout the land and may be the reason they were so successful with dragon taming. Ruby had never seen a dragon, but from what Haydward had told her, they sounded horrid. With time, like most of the kingdoms throughout the land, the Tyattarians had learned to become more civilized, there came a time when alliances were necessary for survival against the dark power that had seeped into Saharia and like most kingdoms they adapted to their needs.

  “As you know my brother is in line for the throne of Tyattar.”

  “I have heard. He must be so excited.”

  “Hardly, he sees the task as a great burden that he should not take lightly.”

  Ruby shrugged, “as he should. Ruling a kingdom requires great wisdom, compassion and sacrifice.”

  Haydward was looking at her as if mesmerized, “I love to hear a woman speak with such intelligence. Not many women at Tyattar could stimulate my mind the way you do. You would make an excellent queen Ruby.”

  “Yes well, I am glad you think so, but I am the third of five and hardly Aldorian leadership material.”

  Haydward dipped his hand into the fountain and sighed, “it is unfortunate that tradition does not consider skill as a determinant of responsibility. We are forever at the mercy of our birth order.”

  Ruby tucked her book under her arm and regarded him thoughtfully, “you wish to be king,” she said matter-of-factly.

  Haydward looked over at her with a smile, “like I said, you are brilliant. We all have our dreams, the sooner we accept that they would never come true the better it will be for us.”

  “I still believe there are dreams worth fighting for,” Ruby replied.

  Haydward nodded, taking a step towards her, “Do you still give tours?”

  Ruby smiled, “oh yes, I am my father’s designated tour guide now.”

  He grinned, “wise man, your father. Can I request the honour?” he asked with an extended hand.

  Ruby started to smile politely, but from the corner of her eyes she saw a familiar figure step beneath the archway. It was for a moment, but it was the signal she had been waiting for. She knew that Haydward’s request was just so that he could spend more time with her, something she did not look forward to doing. It was clear to her what his unstated intention was.

  “I am afraid I cannot, not tonight. There is… there is somewhere I must be…excuse me,” holding up the folds of her dress she eased past Haydward.

  “It was nice talking to you Haydward,” she called over her shoulder, excitement making her feet light on the grass.

  CHAPTER 5

  Ruby ensured that she was not followed this time, as she made her way to the roof. Topaz’s story may not be true, but she could not help taking precautions. She had deliberately avoided seeing Serin last night and as she had expected she had had the most tortured sleep. The reality of how much he had captivated her had finally set in and she knew that somehow, she had to make this relationship with Serin happen.

  As she pushed the heavy wooden door behind her, the familiar chill of night greeted her. It was on chilly nights like these that she appreciated her head wrap even more. She made her way to the spot and leaned against the wall that reached her just above her torso and looked over.

  “I have not quite mastered the art of flying yet, princess.”

  Ruby jumped, even as the familiar voice warmed her with delight. She turned around to find Serin making his way toward her.

  “I am sorry?” she asked with furrowed brows.

  Serin chuckled, “You were looking over as if you t
hought I had leapt off and flown away.”

  Ruby smiled, “I would not blame you if you did.”

  Serin reached out and took her hands in his, “never Princess. I have been counting shadows and rushing out to the castle court to see the temple clock all day.”

  “Really? Did you have an engagement to get to?” she teased.

  “Oh yes, a rather important one. I missed you last night.”

  Ruby blushed, “I am sorry, I have been hearing troubling things. But now I know that I cannot be apart from you for very long. I have looked forward to this evening. I… I could not stay away.”

  Serin reached his hand toward her cheek and then touched the edge of her head scarf, a curious look forming behind his eyes.

  “Why do you always wear this?”

  Ruby shrugged, but stepped back from his curious hands, she was always cautious about people touching her head wraps. After years of keeping her secret safe, she had developed anxiety over someone yanking off her protection. With Serin, she had to force herself even more to remember. Being so close to someone as handsome and confident as Serin was a new and exciting experience. She did not want this night to end, but she did not want to risk being rejected by Serin once he found out what she was.

  “Maybe I am bald and hideous without it,” she teased.

  Serin froze and she laughed out loud, “just a joke silly, are you that superficial?”

  He chuckled, “actually I am not, I could care less about what you wear on your head, your heart is the most beautiful thing about you.”

  Ruby blushed, “you always know the right things to say. Did you mean what you said? The other night? About…”

  “Running away together?” he added, shifting his focus to her eyes. Ruby nodded. If Serin truly meant what he had said about travelling the world together, then he may truly wish to marry her. And Ruby knew that if they were to be together they would have to run away. No way would her father approve.

  “I… I would do anything to be with you Ruby. Even if it means leaving Aldor. That is what you want is it not?”