by Linda Jordan
She sat looking at the ground. She had always hated feeling trapped, pushed into things. She had fought it her whole life, between Aunt Rita and her mom. Back in her world, what would she do about the horn? She couldn’t cut it off, knowing what it symbolized. What if she had to stay here? There was no requirement that she marry Ronan. Mira could do what she wanted, go where needed and learn. But replacing Nakia, being a Queen, a ruler, was truly beyond her. She felt absolutely unprepared to do such a thing.
She shook her head to clear it. Who was she kidding? Of course she would marry Ronan. She’d be crazy not to. Lately she woke every morning warm from dreams about him. She would take her time about this, but felt clear they would be a couple. “If I am not allowed to leave, then I guess I’ll be staying in this world, won’t I? But I don’t have a clue how to be a Queen.”
“Few people do. Nakia was one of them. I suspect it is something you learn as time goes on. Have you considered what you want to do here?” asked Aste.
“There’s so much I want to see and learn, I don’t know where to start.”
“At the beginning of course.”
“I’m not sure how much patience I have for starting at the beginning. I never have been good at that. I always want to jump right in the middle.”
“Well, that comes from a fear there is not enough time and a desire to learn everything at once. Time acts differently in each world. It flows more slowly here and you can allow yourself the luxury of slowing down to learn things thoroughly from the start,” said Aste.
“Perhaps you’re right. Aunt Rita says I’m always too impatient and that’s why my spells fail so often.”
“Your Aunt Rita sounds like a very wise woman,” said Aste. She stood and they began to stroll through the garden, passing hedges with doorways cut into them.
“Do you think I will see Amanda again, if I stay?”
“Ah, Amanda, I think she will become a great traveler.”
“What do you mean, a great traveler?” asked Mira.
“I think she and Ewan will journey a great deal. He has always moved about in this world. I suspect he will return with Amanda to your world for a time and then who knows?” said Aste, smiling.
“You’re not telling me everything you suspect, are you?”
“No, but I will tell you this, Amanda has the breath of the Enigmatic Pearl imbedded in her soul. She will seek out that world. Who knows what will happen? I truly do not, but it will be an interesting tale to hear.”
“I must get ready to go and see what happens. You said we can leave from here and return through the cedar tree, right?”
“Yes, if the Opal allows you to leave.”
“I don’t know how to say goodbye to you. We owe everything to you and I’ve learned so much ....” She didn’t have any of the right words and it almost made her choke to say anything.
“That is because this is not goodbye. You will return here because you have much more to learn from me as well as from this world, but mostly to learn from yourself. The Black Opal will call you home,” said Aste. “All you need do is choose to answer.”
They walked into the palace and descended downwards along several stairways until they reached a long corridor. The cold dankness of the earth enveloped them. The skull-lined passageway ended at the great, underground cavern.
There she saw Amanda standing beside Ewan. Amanda wore the same clothes as when she entered this world, cutoff jeans, a T-shirt and her yellow sweater. However, instead of being barefoot, she now wore white sandals. Ewan, dressed all in black with boots, looked like a normal guy, except twice as gorgeous. He hugged Roderick and then Ronan, who was shadowed by two pooka. As she and Aste approached, Ronan turned to them and smiled.
He took her aside and said, “I will miss you terribly, I hope you hurry back.” From a pocket in his pants he pulled a blue-black heart-shaped stone set in intricate, silver filigree on a long silver chain and put it around her neck. The pendant shimmered with a rainbow of colors. “This piece left the Black Opal long ago, before the tower was built and has been handed down over time. I wish you to have it. Perhaps it will draw you back sooner,” he said, kissing her on the lips.
She had never been kissed like that. If felt sensual and warm; her entire body woke up, shaken to the core. She clung to him, her head spinning. More kisses like that would be worth coming back for.
She said, “Thank you. I just don’t seem to have any of the right words today.”
“Words are not important right now,” he said, putting his hand above her heart and pulling her hand to his heart. He drew them closer and his forehead rested against her horn as they both breathed deeply. Beneath all her neurotic fears about failed relationships, she felt such a deep connection to him.
Finally, he put her hand on his arm and led her back to the others. She joined Amanda and Ewan.
“Amanda, it’s possible I won’t be able to go through.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Opal might not let me leave,” she said, hugging her sister. She caught Ewan’s eye and he nodded. Mira could tell he had the same thought, probably from Ronan.
“That’s not possible. You have to come home with me,” said Amanda, breaking off the hug and grabbing her arms.
“It may be that I am home.” She looked into Amanda’s eyes to make it clear to her. Amanda sighed. Mira nodded to Aste.
Aste directed them to stand beneath the three bone columns. Aste began chanting and walked around the outside of the columns. She burned some mixture of herbs in a large, cupped stone.
Mira smelled cedar and pine, but something else more exotic and elusive. She felt the energy of the Black Opal pulse and, interestingly enough, the heart pendant on the chain pulsed with it. She automatically tuned her energy to that pulse, feeling connected to the Opal, to the land.
Amanda grabbed one hand and Ewan the other, together the three of them formed a circle. The Opal’s light turned buttery yellow like their sun. A whirr of wind swirled around her. Her body tingled and she almost felt dizzy. This felt nothing like the other portal. The wind swirled fog around them and all they could see was each other. Amanda had a look of wonder on her face and laughed. Ewan looked like he was setting out on a great adventure. Mira felt like she shouldn’t be here, didn’t want to leave.
The fog cleared and the wind stopped. She could see the inside of the great cedar stump, but couldn’t move. Surrounded by the sharp, pungent scent of cedar, she looked for the hole where they first entered into another world, but could find no sign of any opening.
The ladder she had used to get down inside still stood there. Amanda, the athlete, followed by Ewan, climbed the ladder, whooping all the while.
Mira stood frozen, unable to speak or move. A huge lump formed in her throat.
Amanda turned as she climbed over the top of the stump. “Mira c’mon.” Then Amanda began to fade and Mira heard her call faintly, “I’ll come back and see you.” The inside of the stump faded completely.
Mira found herself back inside the Black Opal Cavern, alone with Ronan. He looked simultaneously full of joy and grief.
Chapter 39 - Nakia
Nakia sat on a large flat stone, watching the dragon. The monstrous red beast basked in the light of the Opal, seemingly asleep. She smoothed her ball gown and eagerly watched the progress of the morning, her mind racing with plans. The dragon never moved, except for breathing.
“Angus,” she said, “do you not think we should explore this island if it is to be our prison?”
“Why yes, my Queen,” he said, catching her point.
“Your Queen, no longer,” she said, rising stiffly and walking towards the water.
“You will always be my Queen,” he said, softly.
“Please, call me Nakia. I will call you Angus,” she said, touching his arm gently. She felt touched by his words. It had been a long time since she could trust anyone. Had she ever trusted anyone?
She picked up a rock a
nd threw it into the water. Bending to pick up another, she glanced at the still sleeping dragon. They casually walked along the beach, putting space between them and the dragon. When it felt far enough that the dragon couldn’t overhear them, she whispered, “Are there herbs here to make a draught of incapacitation for a dragon?”
“I am not sure, but I will look. I don’t seem to remember much. When Aste took away my power....”
“Yes, I know, poor dear. If you can remember the herbs, perhaps I can find them.”
“What then?”
“I’m not sure. A boat or raft. We will need to make one.”
“The nearest island is far away.”
“If we do not find one, we will die at sea. Far preferable to what my nephew or the High Council will decide on as our punishment. We must find a portal to another world.”
He was silent, thinking. “How much of your power did they take?” Angus asked hesitantly.
She picked up a shell and examined it, “I’m not sure. I have no stones to enhance what little remains and the Opal has bled away my vitality for turns, surely you knew that.”
“I suspected,” he said, softly.
“I still hold some, but very little. Although, I have felt a renewal, as life is renewed in the land. But I still have my knowledge. They did not take that from me.”
“Wormwood makes dragons sleepy. I know there are two other herbs that would help.” He looked confused. “We can make a fire and burn them. It is when they breathe the smoke they fall asleep.”
A roaring filled the sky and a blue dragon appeared, landing next to the red one. A guard change.
“You go talk to them, I must find some bushes and empty my bowels,” she said slipping into the woods. “When you go, begin to collect wood for a raft. Leave it hidden among the trees.”
She walked into the forest heading towards an exposed, gravelly slope which could be seen from the beach. That’s where wormwood would grow, if there was any to be found. She would not give up.
“What news from the city?” she heard Angus ask of the blue dragon who had just arrived.
“Quiet! Do not bother us with your questions.”
The dragons continued speaking in their own language. She could not understand them.
Nakia scraped her arm as she slipped and fell on the slope. Soon her green ball gown would have to be torn to make it shorter. It did not work either on the beach or in the woods.
There was no wormwood on this sunny cliff side. She would have to try elsewhere. The red dragon flew past, on its way to the mainland. Nakia’s mind had cleared since arriving on the island. She hadn’t realized how much influence the Opal had over her. The stone had driven her mad. She felt more whole now than in many, many turns.
Climbing down, she made her way back to where the dragon was. She picked a couple of wild apples from a tree. At least they would have lunch.
She heard a rustling behind her and turned to see Lord Montaine and another man.
“How did you get here?” she whispered, trying to keep her mouth from dropping open.
“I would be a poor island man indeed if I did not have a boat or two,” he said with a sly smile.
“How did the dragons not see you?”
“My Jeffrey is a cunning magician,” he said. “Are you coming?”
“I need to get my Sorcerer away from the dragon.”
“We came in two boats. Jeffrey will wait for the Sorcerer and join us later.”
She hesitated. Could this be some sort of trap? She did not want to be separated from Angus, but couldn’t be sure that Jeffrey would actually bring him. Both she and Angus were so defenseless. “I cannot repay you, Lord Montaine. Rufus.”
“I ask no payment,” he said, yet she felt some concealment there. He expected something. She would need to be careful.
“I will come.” She followed him through the underbrush, trying to reach Angus with her mind. ‘Follow, follow’ went her thoughts to him.
She hoped he heard.
Chapter 40 - Mira
Despite the bad news of the day, Mira felt blissful. It was Lammas, otherwise known as first harvest. She and Ronan had just been married. According to tradition the marriage lasted for a turn and one day and then could either be renewed or ended. This felt permanent. They would remarry every turn.
The unicorn population was recovering and black unicorns from the forests of Analla had returned to the plains with foals that were bay, roan, even pinto and appaloosa. Shadow visited her each evening and assured Mira that she carried a white foal, from the bay stallion who had been Ronan’s Pinecone.
Dragon eggs had hatched and the hatchlings had left their parents for the sea. The dragon’s recovery was well under way. Ronan planned to make the court nomadic as it once was. The better to be in touch with peoples and beings throughout the realm. All of it felt like waking after a long winter to see spring bursting out everywhere.
Mira focused on the bad news as she wrote the email to Amanda. Ronan had meant to bring Nakia and Angus before the High Council, but poof, the two of them had vanished. How they got off the island was still a mystery. They were sighted near a coastal town. Apparently Nakia still had enough magic left to use the portals, or perhaps her magic had rejuvenated along with the land. Aste traced her as far as the World of the Enigmatic Pearl.
“You and Ewan must go to the World of the Enigmatic Pearl immediately! Ewan is blood to Nakia and can track her. Ronan and I will not be allowed to leave. Roderick broke his leg and cannot go. Aste will come as soon as she is free. Nakia will attack that world and begin to move out into the others. You must leave before her trail is cold. Aste will open the portal for you.”
Mira hoped Amanda would answer soon. The memory of the serene, beautiful place burned in her mind. She could not let it be destroyed by that madwoman.
The Jeweled World Series is continued in Book 2 - The Enigmatic Pearl
About the Author
Linda Jordan writes surprising characters, funny dialogue and imaginative worlds. Her science fiction and fantasy stories contain strange settings, down to earth characters and unusual tales. She writes both novels and short fiction, serious and silly.
Fascinated by nature’s peculiarities, mythology and spirituality, Linda digs deep to find what makes humans (and aliens) tick; particularly in the realms of political systems and the creation of music and art. She loves including all this and more in her stories.
In another lifetime, Linda coordinated the Clarion West Writers Workshop and Reading Series for two years. She also spent four years as Chair of the Board of Directors during Clarion West’s formative period. She’s worked many other jobs, more than she cares to count. Eventually, she fled the city to live out among the tall cedars.
She lives in the rainy wilds of Washington state with her husband, daughter, four cats, eighteen koi and an infinite number of slugs and snails.
Visit her at: http://www.lindajordan.net/
Metamorphosis Press website is at: http://www.metamorphosispress.com/
Her other work includes:
~The Enigmatic Pearl: The Jeweled Worlds Book 2
~The Flaming Ruby: The Jeweled Worlds Book 3
~Elements: 5 Stories for Young Adults
~Infected by Magic
If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review and telling other like-minded readers about it. Thank you!
Get a FREE ebook!
Sign up for Linda’s Serendipitous Newsletter at her website: http://www.lindajordan.net/
and get a free copy of ‘Infected by Magic’
The Black Opal copyright by Linda Jordan, 2011
Published by Metamorphosis Press
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
> Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
About the Author
Copyright Information