Page 16 of Ruins of Magic
They all stood there looking out into the woods surrounding them. After several minutes of hearing nothing further. Garron finally holstered his weapon. “Maybe it was just an animal you sensed.”
Arion shrugged. “Maybe.”
The three of them turned back to the water. Arion took a seat on the large rock, and Valaria joined him. She put her head on his shoulder as they sat there in peaceful comfort. Garron joined them on a different rock nearly.
“You know, sometimes he treats me like a child,” she complained as they sat there.
“Who?” Garron asked.
“Sir Taneth,” she said with an irritated tone in her voice.
“He’s only trying to protect you,” Arion pointed out, but shut up when she turned her head and cut her eyes up at him.
“For once I just wish everyone didn’t feel I needed so much protection.”
“Ah, but a little princess wandering the woods alone would never do,” a creeky old voice said from behind them.
Garron jumped up and drew his sword again. Arion pushed Valaria down on the rock and covered her with his body trying to ignore that heat that always seem to override his senses when she was that near.
The old man walked out from under the cover of thick brush. He was short, perhaps because of his hunched back and he walked with a stick for support. He held up his free hand to show he meant no harm.
“My apologies if I frightened you, your majesty,” the old man said with a nod. It was odd for anyone to address Valaria in such a manner. Typically ‘your majesty’ was only used in reference to her father.
Valaria nudged Arion with her elbow and he hesitantly rose, keeping her behind him as best he could.
“You only surprised us is all. What is your business here?” she demanded with an air of authority.
“Oh, I was not speaking to you, princess,” he spat in disgust. “While I understand your place in the prophecies, it will take time for our kind to come to terms with it yet.”
“What is he talking about?” Valaria asked.
Arion shrugged.
“I think he’s mental,” Garron said.
“I assure you, friend of the High Prince, we have been watching and waiting for the three of you for many decades. With the plague on the unicorns, the prophecies revealed themselves and I am honored to have found you.” The old man, then lowered himself to the ground on one knee and bowed his head.
Garron and Arion rushed to assist him up.
“That’s really not necessary,” Arion said trying to piece together what the man was trying to say or if he was in fact not of sound mind as Garron had suspected. Once the man was standing again, Arion looked him straight in the eyes. “Tell me what you know of the unicorn plague.”
The man nodded and smiled. “The prophecy foretold it as the first sign that the stone of Gavalon was activated. Only the High Prince of the Druids could do such a thing. Dark magic has returned to Amaria and you will lead our people to secure these lands once more.”
“You’re a druid?” he asked.
“Yes, as are you, your majesty.”
Arion’s heart raced quickly as his words sunk in. “I am not of noble birth. I’m afraid you have the wrong man.”
“Are you saying Arion is druid royalty?” Valaria asked, shocked by the revelation.
“That is exactly what I am saying, princess. Now tell me your majesty, am I correct that the stone has been activated?”
Arion wasn’t sure what he was asking, but he had a sick feeling in his stomach remembering the amethyst he had shattered the encasement on and how it had glowed after he touched it. It had gone back to normal and never glowed again that he was aware of. He had put it out of his mind and given it no more thought, until now.
“The amethyst. It glowed when I picked it up,” he whispered to himself.
“The amethyst of Gavalon,” the old man said with a smile. “One of the six stones of Amaria. You are the long-lost High Prince of the Druids.”
