Wildgrass looked up at her. She didn’t understand what he meant, and he knew it, but she had plenty of time to figure that out.
“Just don’t forget about the people that love you. Cherish them, but most of all don’t lose that spark that gets you out of bed every morning—that’s the only way you’ll make it through life.”
Ester blinked a few times, then smiled.
“Thank you. Now, are you going to be around to help me move when I go back to the academy?”
“Sure, but you’ll need to pack everything up nice and tight if it’s going to make it all the way to Cha-la.”
“Cha-la? Why the heck is it going all the way out there?”
Wildgrass smirked. “I collect orphans, remember?
Ester’s eye’s widened.
“Besides, you’re going to need a place to go, you know, a home for when you have downtime. So come visit us. I’m sure Taxes would love the company.”
“Really?” Ester was starting to get teary-eyed.
“Hey, no waterworks.”
But it was too late, Ester had already tackled him.
“Hey easy!”
Wildgrass embraced the hug despite his protests. She was a good kid and family now, and he would see to it that she was looked after.
***
Dirt and sand drew up along the tunnels of a torch lit cave. Tall figures dressed in black robes walked by as if they were levitating. The lights flickered as the old stone doors were pushed open, revealing a room ancient and frozen in time. Five figures bowed in front of a shrine made of clear crystal. Others lined the walls in the shadows with their hoods covering their faces, as their leader rose. He moved across the room like an apparition and stood above his followers.
“Have you retrieved it?” His voice was deep and mincing.
“Yes, my lord.”
One of the followers pulled from their robe a crystal the size of their hand. It was dull and green and lifted it up to their master. The leader waved his fingers, lifting it with their magic. He examined the crystal with his large round black eyes then whispered a spell, bringing the crystal back to life. The leader turned and placed it on the shrine next to three others, nearly completing the set, with one missing. The leader waved away the others, and they joined their brethren along the walls. The leader stepped back and lifted his arms, extending his fingers as he chanted in an ancient language. The more he chanted, the more the shrine began to glow and glow until it radiated with energy. A whisk of wind blew out the lights as fog fell from the edges of the shrine and poured out onto the ground. In the middle, a shadowed figure appeared.
“Is it done?” a voice echoed from another world.
“Almost, my lord. We are still missing one stone.” The leader in the dark robe said with his head bowed.
There was a low growl of displeasure from the figure in the shadows, but that did not phase the leader in the robe. A smirked appeared on his face as he lifted his head to face his one true master.
“Fret not, my lord. Our plan was not for nothing. For we now know the location of the final crystal.” The robed leader formed a ball in his hands revealing a group of tribal people traveling together by hover cart.
“Are you sure this time?” The figure grumbled.
“Yes, my lord. Word is being sent to a highly efficient group of mercenaries as we speak.”
“Excellent!” The voice bellowed. “Secure the final crystal, and you and your followers will be rewarded with power beyond your imagination.”
“Thank you, Lord Vloss.” The leader bowed his head as the shrine faded to black.
Thanks for reading!
Ester and the gang will be back soon. To keep up with all the latest news, I invite you to join my mailing list here:
https://mailchi.mp/7d66c31464c4/emailsignup.
If you enjoyed the story feel free to leave me a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads, I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks again and take care,
-Blair
Photo Credit - Brittany Rose Photography
Blair Cousins is an author and avid genre hopper of many stories. In her free time, she enjoys pursuing the great American pass time of sleeping. During her waking hours, she grinds hard to make her dreams come true.
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