Page 70 of Crown of Hearts
“Lance believed . . .”
“You’re going on what Lance said? Lance, who cannot stay sober for more than twenty-four hours. Lance, who hurt you and used you against me.”
“Because he knew it was real.” The realisation set in on her face. “That’s why he was willing to go to all those lengths. The stone is real, isn’t it? And it’s hidden somewhere here in Norrandale. Lance told me that King Evrin’s wife, Queen Riona,stole some of the stones and had them forged into magical objects.”
“Elara.”
“Don’t lie to me, Cai.” She pointed a finger at my face. “Don’t you dare lie to me.”
“I’m not trying to lie to you. I’m trying to protect you.”
“I’ll decide when I need protection.” She pulled the dagger from the pocket in her dress. “How does it work?”
“I don’t know,” I confessed. “I don’t even know if that is one of the three objects or if the necklace is or what kind of magic we’re talking about. All I know is what my grandmother told me after I was crowned.”
“Well, what did she say?”
I looked around, afraid someone might hear us. I pulled her into the nearest parlour and shut the door behind us.
“Most of it didn’t even make sense, to be honest. She sat me down one evening with such a serious expression I was worried she would tell me she was dying of some kind of illness.” I could vividly picture the two of us in my study, the flames from the fireplace casting a shadow across her face.
“Your father should have been the one to tell you this when the time was right,”she’d said.“It is unfortunate he never got the chance.”
I could never have expected what she was about to say.
“She briefly told me about the history of the Myrgonite stones and how it was Norrandale’s duty to guard them since they became part of the kingdom. As king, I am responsible for protecting them and making sure no one ever finds out where they are or what our ancestors might have done with them.”
“And what about the objects?”
“She doesn’t know what they are. It doesn’t seem like anyone does. The objects have vanished from history.”
She looked down at the dagger and then back up at me. “But what if they didn’t disappear?” Between assassins, peace treaties and marital alliances, I did not need another thing to worry about. But if there was a chance that these objects were more than myth and they were possibly here in Mistwood Palace, I could not ignore it.
“Where are the Myrgonite stones?”
“My grandmother gave me a map and then forced me to burn it so that no one would be able to use it. The secret is only to be known by the kings of Norrandale.”
I took her hand and led her to the door. “Come on, I want to show you something.”
Elara remained quiet as I asked the groom to saddle up two horses for us and then ordered him not to tell anyone of our visit to the stables. I couldn’t decide who was more confused, the young stable boy or Elara. She appeared hesitant and unsure of herself and yet there was curiosity in her eyes. The guards would be in a state by the time we got back but this wasn’t exactly the type of outing where you could invite everyone along. Not even those that I trusted with my life — the more they knew, the more dangerous it was for them.
We rode for a few hours, further away from the palace. The grassy fields became hills and the hills became mountains. Elara kept her horse closely behind mine. Cold air swept across the stones and into the deep valley that lay nestled between the mountains. I didn’t make a habit of coming here often, for more reasons than one. While most of the kingdom of Norrandale felt warm and inviting, these mountain ranges seemed to whisper a warning. The place was ancient and there was a haunting atmosphere. I ignored the shiver that ran down my spine. Elara looked like she sensed it too. She continued to follow me as we dismounted, and I led her inside one of the nearby caves.
“The Myrgonite stones were discovered by King Evrin’s men, who built the mine. They closed it just as quick, however, to keep anyone from finding it. The only way to get there now is through these caves.”
It was pitch black. I lit one of the torches with a knife and some flint, and held out my hand for her to take. She didn’t hesitate, grabbing it as I led her through the narrow tunnels. I’d half expected Elara to make some kind of joke by now, at the very least, but she was stunned into silence, perhaps from nerves, I wasn’t sure.
I eventually stopped and placed the torch in the nearest holder on the wall. The world around us lit up, the light reflecting off a thousand Myrgonite jewels embedded into the walls and the ceiling, completely undisturbed, as if they’d been resting for a thousand years, sleeping... waiting.
I watched Elara’s jaw slowly drop when she took in Norrandale’s greatest secret.
“That’s a lot more than I was expecting.”
I shrugged almost sheepishly.
“And the entire mountain range is filled with these caves?”
She looked up once more, to where the stones stuck out from the cave ceiling like a canopy of stars. “If these things are worth what everyone says they are, then you could feed a whole kingdom.”
