Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I approached my…friend. Boyfriend? I loved him, yes, but we’d made nothing official. So many obstacles.
The growling ceased.
“If I’m recalling correctly, there’s a side effect,” my mother piped up.
I groaned. “Side effect?”
“Yes.” She nodded again. “The elixir brings forth what’s hidden in the heart. Love, rage. Whatever’s buried deepest.”
Didn’t sound like a bad thing. Not with an honorable man like Jasher. “Hey, Tinman,” I cooed. “I’m not sure how you’ll react to this concoction, but I can’t leave you like this.” Trembling slightly, I uncorked the top, reached up, and placed the bottle’s mouth at his parted, silver lips. Tilting… “Bottoms up, baby.”
The liquid poured into his mouth. Every—single—drop. Breath caught in my lungs as I stepped back and waited.
Minutes passed. Nothing.
Disappointment poured over me like wet cement.
Gasping, my mom pressed her fingers to her distended abdomen. “Oh! She’s kicking.”
Daddy wound an arm around her waist, holding her up in case she fell. The protective gesture melted me.
“So you know you’re having a girl?” I asked as casually as I was able.
“Mmm hmm.” She leaned against my father, just as she’d done throughout my childhood, welcoming his aid without hesitation. “On the day of my wedding, Elowen predicted my firstborn will rise as a queen who forever changes the fate of Hakeldama.”
Yikes. “That’s a lot of pressure to heap upon a newborn.” And a woman of twenty.
A soft smile teeming with affection bloomed. “Her name is Moriah Isha, after Morris, the first Ori’Emet king of Hakeldama.”
I held my breath, hoping she’d make the connection from Moriah to Rye.
“Mmmph.” With a groan, Mom bent over just a little. “More kicking.”
Okay, so, no connection yet. No big deal. We had time.
“Let’s get you inside to rest.” Dad urged her toward the barn door. “Rye, you wish to stay here with your…with him, I’m assuming.”
I almost snickered. “Yes, sir.”
“I’ll return with the pack when I can,” he said.
“Thank you.”
As my father led my mother away, emotions flooded me. From a longing to follow and enjoy them while I could, to disappointment that they hadn’t guessed who I was, to desperation to learn what I needed to learn, and fast. If I failed to save them…
Determined, I positioned an old, wooden chair a few feet from Jasher and settled in with the king’s journal perched in my lap. A light wind rustled outside as I tapped the fancy pen against my knee.
Wait. I should probably write the recipe first. Mom shouldn’t protest, since the journal was meant for her child.
Yeah, okay. I opened it, found blank pages toward the end, and wrote down everything I recalled.
“Our answers are here,” I told Jasher, willing him to respond. “I know it.”
Thick, oppressive silence greeted me.
I heaved a sigh. “Well, don’t you worry. I’ll find them, and all will be well.” I flipped to the first page and began to read…
To my dearest child,
War casts its shadow upon our threshold. If fate is kind, peace will return before your birth. But if not, know this. I will stand against the storm until my final breath is spent. Should I fall before I place a crown on your head, I vow I’ll leave you with the strength to overcome.
To understand what we defend against, you must learn what once was.
Centuries ago, in the days of destruction and terror, the monstra ruled with iron claw and breath of flame. The hearts of men grew faint as the beasts scorched the earth until even the mountains crumbled.
Yet from the ruin came the Ember of Everlight.
So far, I’ve found little about it. But I do recall the ancients whispering its name in my dreams long, long ago, with heroic tales about the man who discovered it. Our ancestor, King Morris Ori’Emet, used the Ember to stop the first rise of monstra and undo the myriad of wrongs perpetrated against our kingdom and its people. Then he made everything right again.
Morris was but a humble miner when he defeated the monstra. For his feats of strength and bravery, he was given the king’s daughter to wed. For the remainder of his life, he believed the monstra would come again. That we must be ready.
In the ensuing centuries, the monstra remained at bay and memories of their invasion faded. Legends became lullabies, the truth concealed in myth. Now, the darkness has indeed returned. Though I have scoured kingdoms and ruins for the Ember, I’ve not found it. Yet.
If you are reading this, I’ve given my life for my task. My only regret is leaving you and your mother.
I love you with all that I am.
I leave you with this request. Find the Ember. Then, and only then, can all be made right.
My heart forever goes with you.
Your father, King Ahav
My mind spun out. These were the first words my biological father had ever spoken to me, and I had thoughts. So, so, so many thoughts.