A Story Of River by Lana Axe Page B

page,
his eyes read the instructions hungrily. It would have to be oval-shaped and
contain hundreds of facets. The gem was sufficiently large, and he did not
doubt he would have the power to use it. With this stone and the extra power he
gained from his former Soulbinder, he should be able to control all of his
troops. They would fight without question and be incapable of fear.
    Energized, Ulda ran out of his laboratory
clutching the red book in his hand. He ran down the stone corridor and burst
through the door to the jeweler's workshop. The old man looked stunned as he
saw Ulda appear.
    “Your majesty,” he said, bowing. He was
shocked but not so much that he forgot his manners.
    Ulda slammed the book down on the
jeweler's table and opened it to the page specifying the precise details needed
for the gem. “Follow these instructions to the letter. I cannot afford to have
this gem destroyed.”
    Ulda turned to leave as the old man began
poring over the book. This was meticulous work that would take some time to
complete. He had no doubt he could do what the sorcerer commanded, but he
feared what purpose it might serve. However, he was in no place to question
him. That would only lead to his death, and someone else would step up to serve
instead. He sat at his bench and began the tedious work.

Chapter 21

 
    Three uneventful days had passed as the
companions headed for the Western Vale. The morning of the fourth day was heralded
by the birds singing high in the trees. They chipped and sang and played on the
wind without a care for the troubles of men.
    Long days of riding were beginning to wear
on the group. King Aelryk had insisted on haste, which left little time to rest
or stretch the tight muscles that were forced into the same position for hours
at a time. The horses were much more comfortable than their riders.
    The summer heat did not help matters as it
lay heavily in the dense forest. The humid air was filled with the scent of
leaves and bark as if the trees themselves were sweating.
    Mel led on throughout the morning as the
others followed silently. The night had not spared them from the heat, and they
were all still a bit tired. Finally, the trees gave way and a clearing lay in
front of them. The sparse trees gave way to brilliant sunbeams, lighting the
path to a meadow of purple flowers.
    Mel dismounted to have a closer look at
the ground. He was uneasy leading the group out into the open without first
being sure it was safe. Seeing no signs of any disturbance, he signaled the
others to wait while he scouted ahead. Once he had surveyed the area, he
remounted and motioned for the others to follow.
    Despite the lack of shade, the meadow was
cooler than the forest. A cool breeze was swirling all around them as the
wildflowers danced in delight. An open field lay ahead in the distance.
    Mel turned his horse to speak with the
king. “There is open field ahead. That means no cover should there be anything
looking for us.”
    “What are the alternatives?” he replied.
    “We could detour north. The Oak Leaf Clan
has a settlement about a day's ride from here.”
    “I fear we would lose too much time. Let's
cross here as quickly as possible.”
    They set out across the field of endless
golden stalks. What had appeared to be small enough to cross quickly turned out
to be deceptively large. This crossing was going to take over an hour at a good
pace. Far in the distance, another forest beckoned to them.
    Mel felt as if he had held his breath
throughout the crossing. Once the forest's edge was in sight, he felt safe
enough to take a deep breath. Here under the cover of trees, he was at home. He
halted immediately upon entering the forest. It was quiet here-too quiet. No
sound of bird nor scurrying of foraging creatures could be heard. The grass was
still and his horse neighed nervously.
    Suddenly, a blast of energy surged toward
them, knocking them all from their mounts. The horses reared and bolted through
the forest