Kingdom of Refuge (Gemstone Royals Book 1)

by Kelly A. Purcell

  "Presenting," a voice boomed over the crowd. The music ended abruptly, and the crowd went quiet.

  "His royal highness king Kalgary The Great and Princess Ruby of Aldor."

  He held his breath, keeping his eyes trained on his shoes. What was he doing? What was he thinking? He heard the swish of a dress and the king's heavy footsteps and forced his gaze upward. Like a punch to his gut her beauty left him breathless. Some of her hair was clipped up atop her head, artistically braided, emphasizing her heart shaped face, and the rest of her red rivulets fell freely past her shoulders, something she was never able to do with her head wraps. He was glad that her father was letting her be herself and not hide behind those fancy pieces of cloth. From the murmuring around him and the timid look in her eyes, he knew that people were shocked to see her like this, from the corner of his eyes he even saw a man step out of the line. Instantly he felt the urge to protect her.

  At that moment, her magnificent eyes locked unto his and he thought he saw them widen with surprise, were they changing to a lighter or darker shade? He wondered, from the distance he could not tell. He groaned, he was not sure if she was surprised to see him or uncomfortable with the fact that he was waiting to dance with her. He feared that she would pick someone else and he would have to bear the embarrassment of this night all into his old age as a wife-less childless soldier.

  "The princess will now choose a suitor with which to have her first dance."

  She did not shift her eyes from him until her father took her hand and led her forward, he then stepped aside, beaming at her like any proud father would.

  She lowered her gaze and he felt his heart plummet to his newly polished boots. He dropped to his knees nonetheless and bowed his head, extending his hand as the other men did and waited. This was foolish, thinking he could compete with this sons of knights, dukes and kings, how did he expect to just show up here and win her heart? Then he felt it, slender gloved fingers wrapped around his. He lifted his head and lost himself in light brown eyes, the lightest shade he had ever seen them. She had chosen him.

  He stood and smiled as he guided her onto the dance floor, she seemed to glide beside him, so elegantly beautiful. He released her hand and she curtsied before him, he bowed low in response. A slow ballad filled the room and she stepped toward him taking his offered hand, his father had taught him as a youth how to dance like a nobleman and here he was making use of it with the woman who had captured his heart.

  "You look beautiful as always princess," he said.

  Ruby beamed at him, "thank you. You look unfamiliarly dashing tonight," she countered with a teasing gleam in her eyes.

  Deswald chuckled, "why thank you, that dull palace guard uniform was not really my colour."

  Ruby smiled, "you are right," she said, brushing her hand gently against the front of his doublet.

  "This colour brings out your eyes way better."

  Deswald blushed visibly, "careful now princess, you may mess up my concentration. I wouldn’t want to step on your toes," he teased as he twirled her with the confidence that their easy-going bantering had given him.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Ruby could not wait for the moment when the dance ended so she could pull him away from the eyes of their guests. She knew people were talking about her, and they would have to talk still. Her father was going to make the announcement after the dinner and then things would really get interesting. Until then, she wanted to enjoy this night with the one person who did not stand in that line looking at her like she was something strange.

  She tugged Deswald’s hand and drew him out of the crowd, as couples filled the dance floor. She was beaming at him and he looked utterly shocked. It made her grin wider. She pulled him out unto the balcony, finally she had him to herself.

  “You are a surprisingly fine dancer," she said.

  He smiled, "You mean for someone who did not grow up with drum beats for lullabies.”

  Ruby laughed, “well you said it, I did not.”

  Deswald smiled, “regardless, you can make anyone look a thousand times better than they are."

  "Will you look at that, he smiles."

  He drew closer to her, not wanting to miss any mesmerizing changes in her eyes. He could not believe that he had not noticed before how her eyes gave her away.

  "Only few things in this world can do that to me," he replied, "riding fast and unhindered through the pastures, my mother's cooking, a beautiful blade and now I get to add one more."

  "What is that?"

  "Getting to see you," he said somberly. Ruby smiled sweetly, reached up and caressed his cheek, her new ring glinting on her finger as she looked deeply into his ocean blue eyes.

  "I did not expect to see you," she said, "much less to see you in that line of suitors."

  "I hope you do not mind princess. As I am no longer your guard it was the most appropriate way to…" he cleared his throat, "get to see you after... everything that has happened. I have something I want to tell you."

  She drew her hand away from him, lowering her gaze, "so do I."

  "Then you go ahead," he said, a look of worry in his kind eyes.

  "Something amazing happened to me yesterday. My father has finally told me where I come from and... it was a terrible thing to learn the circumstances under which he became my father. But I feel so much more complete now and I would not have experienced that if you did not come after me when no one else would."

  Deswald smiled, reaching out to take her hands, "I am so happy to hear that Princess. So happy."

  "I have missed you tremendously since you left your post as my guard and when I saw you tonight my heart soared at the sight of you. I consider you a friend Deswald, a friend that I care deeply about. You have seen me at my worse, and you understand me in ways my family never would. I do not know want to think about what it would have been like if you did not come tonight."

  She noticed his shoulders droop and his expression go blank. The sudden change in his demeanor brought a frown to her face.

  "Are you alright?"

  He nodded, forcing a smile into place, "Yes I... I... am happy to be your friend."

  "Good because..."

  "No I am lying," Deswald interjected, looking at her directly in the eyes now.

  "I came here to tell you that I love you," he blurted.

  Ruby felt her knees grow weak at his sudden and unexpected confession, not only did his words affect her intensely but so did the passion burning in his eyes.

  “Look Deswald,” she said, sobering completely, “yesterday I wanted nothing to do with love, I felt like I did not deserve it not after what I had done. But I have since then, learned some things about myself that has caused me to reevaluate everything in my life. And that includes the people I keep close. I… care about you and I want to get to know you. But I need you to understand that loving me is not going to be easy. Especially after tonight.”

  Deswald frowned, “what is happening tonight?”

  Ruby smiled sadly, “I am not Aldorian Deswald and after tonight, everyone will know.”

  “Neither am I,” he said, “I guess that makes us a perfect match.”

  Ruby chuckled, “You surprise me every time Deswald Arnell. But I seriously need you to understand what it means to love me."

  He shrugged, "trouble, what's new?" he teased.

  She laughed she had never seen this side of him before and she had to admit she liked it.

  "But seriously Princess, I just need to know how you feel about me. If all you want is a friendship then I will respect that and never bring this up again, but if there is the slightest possibility that you feel the same way, please my heart cannot take another minute of not knowing."

  Ruby sighed, "I like you Deswald but… we both know that we cannot pursue anything now," she whispered.

  "Why do you like me Princess?" he asked, reaching over touch her beautiful hair, he had been tempted to from the very first time he had laid eyes on it.

&nbs
p; "Because you are the one person who truly saw me, even when I did not see you. I was foolish, but you saw through that and you fought for what you saw. Not many people can see me the way you do."

  Her confession surprised her, she did not plan on opening up to him so soon. She did not even think she would see him tonight, or ever again for that matter. His eyes just had a magical way of drawing her in.

  "And I can say the same for you. But truly you captivated me my very first day at the palace when you offered to provide caregivers out of your own allowances, for those three orphans who had lost their parents in that horrible fire, rather than have them sent to a territory they were unfamiliar with. You amazed me with your courage and compassion," he took her hand and lifted it to his lips, "and then you screamed in my face and threw a cup of hot tea at me."

  Ruby gasped, remembering that day so clearly it made her flush with embarrassment.

  "I was insufferable," she said, "I am sorry about that."

  Deswald chuckled, "I still fell for you didn't I? Serin always had an eye for these things, and he warned me that if I did not let you know how I felt someone would have swept you away.”

  “Why did you not tell me?”

  Deswald smirked, “would you have cared?”

  “Maybe not, I was a different person then. I wanted to stick it to my father, and you would have been too much of the man he would want for me.”

  He laughed, “I do not know if to be flattered or worried.”

  “Be flattered,” she replied, “my father is a wise man and he loves me more than I ever understood.”

  She lowered her gaze, “even though I thought I was never really his, he kept meeting me halfway until I believed it.”

  He sobered then, lowering his gaze, “I understand where you are coming from Ruby and I respect it. I accept that loving you means letting you work through whatever you need to, even if it means it’s apart from me. I wish I could never let you out of my sight again. But I have been promoted by your father…”

  She nodded, “and I know what that means.”

  “I will have to go away to do my forty days beyond the Penzu wall…”

  Ruby had heard stories of what happened behind the Penzu wall, she had no doubt that Deswald would complete the challenges all soldiers had to face. But it would be an entire three months without him, she was just beginning to see beyond that perpetual frown.

  “So in a way I guess we both are not ready to explore our affections for each other. I respect where you are in your life, even as you respect where I am,” Ruby said.

  “I will wait for you and every day of those forty days I will keep you closely in my heart. I am hoping that when I return we can both make a decision?”

  When she looked up he was looking right at her with those hopeful eyes. She smiled. She would miss him, but she had learned a lot about love in her brief time in captivity; love was patient. She reached up and loosened the scarf she was required to wear at events like this and gestured for him to give her his arm.

  He complied with a confused look on his face. As she tied the scarf around his upper arm, she looked into his eyes, now beaming down at her.

  “I too look forward to exploring our affections one day. I will wait for you and with this scarf, everyone will know that my eyes are on you. That should keep some of those hungry eyed suitors I saw tonight off my back too.”

  Deswald laughed, “Whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

  “When you return we will finish this conversation. But until then is it okay if I consider you my friend?”

  Deswald nodded and offered her an embrace, she stepped into his waiting arms and rested her head on his chest, breathing him in.

  “I am glad my father chose you to watch over me,” she whispered.

  “Me too Princess.”

  “All my friends call me Ruby.”

  "Ruby," he said softly as he pressed his lips against her hair.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  So, peace was restored to the royal household of Aldor, the plans of the evil prince were thwarted by the powerful kingdom and the unsettled princess found the truth she needed to settle her restless heart. All seemed to be well in Aldor, its banner flying high as a beacon of hope to all who would seek refuge within its walls. But unknown to the kingdom the battle had only now begun, for somewhere in the kingdom of Dravia an evil prince sat plotting, looking in glee upon his newly acquired prize.

  “The princess’ ring, just what I needed,” he crooned, lifting his gaze to the stout man standing before him.

  “How did you manage to get it?”

  Haydward lifted his chin proudly at the prince, “you will be surprised how much you can get away with when people trust you.”

  “Thank you for your alliance. Please give your father my regards when you take away his throne. Together we will crush Aldor!”

  “Oh be sure that I will. But there a still the little problem of my older brother. I need something to make that problem go away, as you promised.”

  The prince grinned, “Of course,” he gestured to his servant, who handed Haydward a stone box.

  The prince of Tyattar, opened the box and a maniacal smile spread across his face.

  “This will do.” He said, warming prince Haddin’s heart at the unfamiliar camaraderie. He had longed for a partner that did not look like the creatures of nightmares.

  “I look forward to working with you Haydward.”

  EPILOGUE

  Somewhere in the forests of Aldor a weary farmer awoke from his sleep. The sound of low growling broke into his consciousness and he jumped awake as best as he could in his weakened state. Light broke through his blurred vision and he turned to find a lioness lying a little way off licking her paws. He froze, blinking rapidly to clear the sleep and fear from his eyes.

  “Do not be afraid Ajorel,” a gentle voice said.

  Sitting at his feet poking a fire, was a strange man dressed in white. Looking at him was like looking at light so bright it brought tears to his eyes. Ajorel looked away, lifting his dsuty hand before him.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “My name is not as important as the one who sent me.”

  Ajorel tried to sit up, still casting a wary eye on the Lioness not too far away from him.

  “Who sent you?” he asked.

  “The God of Aldor. I am a messenger of El, sent to bestow upon you a great task should you accept it.”

  Ajorel frowned, “me? Why me? I am a man of no consequence, the son of farmers and herders. I have no name nor any possession of worth, why would the mighty El want anything to do with me.”

  “El has seen your heart, your loyalty and longing for him. He has seen your sacrifice and your obedience when he placed the desire on your heart to abstain from sustenance and seek him in solitude. Come,” the man said, “eat and be refreshed and I will tell you all.”

  Ajorel did as he was asked and joined the man around the fire, where he was handed a wooden bowl. He ate hungrily, forgetting the man and the lioness until his body has it’s fill. When he finished, he placed the empty bowl on the ground and took the offered flask of water.

  “Now you must listen,” the man said, when he had quenched his thirst.

  “El has called you to be his oracle and to bring the message of warning to the people of Aldor. You must go with boldness among the people and never draw back from the threats of anyone, you must trust El with everything, your very life included. Will you accept this task?”

  “You are asking me?” Ajorel asked in confusion.

  The man stayed silent, his gleaming clothing still dazzling Ajorel’s eyes.

  “Okay,” Ajorel replied, “if it is El’s will that I do this, then I surrender to it completely. I am his, may his word go forth from my lips to the hearts of men and women.”

  The messenger nodded, “Good. Now, listen carefully. You must take your staff and nothing but the clothes on your back and go to Stone Vale, there you will wait for the L
ord El to tell you what you must say.”

  Ajorel nodded, “as you wish Lord.”

  “Destruction is coming to Aldor and from its rubble heroes will rise to fight for the salvation of Saharia.”

  “But why? If I may ask. The people of Aldor have been nothing but faithful to El for centuries.”

  “They have burned strange fires on El’s altars, he has sent his light to you and you have rejected it, living in darkness while pretending to be of light. The darkness you have harboured and coddled as a people will soon consume you. Your hypocrisy will be your undoing, but your undoing will bring your salvation.”

  Ajorel gulped and dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead against the ground.

  “Oh forgive us Lord,” he cried, feeling the weight of El’s accusations like it was his own.

  “Go now,” came the firm command, “El’s light is with you.”

  Ajorel looked up and the man was gone, it was like he was never there. He looked over at the lioness, but she was gone too, even more strangely was that when he looked up he found that he was no longer kneeling in the forest but standing outside the gates of the Royal City of Aldor. He looked at his hand and in it he held his staff. This was it, he was the oracle to break El’s silence and it was to bring news of dark days ahead. With a deep breath, he took a step forward and with every step he took towards the city of Aldor, he felt the power and presence of El surge within him mightily.

  Note from the author

  Hey Royal! You have made it to the end of my first fantasy novel, thank you! I know this is the part where I include my third person biography about me. But I prefer to speak directly to you and express my sincere gratitude for giving this story a shot. Gemstone Royals is a story that has gone through numerous changes since its debut as a blog series I started a couple years ago. But all the possibilities that this story possessed continued to weigh on my heart until I picked it up again and fully explored it's potential. So I just want to express my gratitude to those of you who have followed this story since its inception.