The Eye of the Stone by Tom Birdseye

is Dedron, and we are in love and want to marry.”
    The word marry hit Jackson like a fist in his chest. He staggered back, mouth hanging open, air coming in short, shallow breaths. Tessa was to marry him. Radnor had said so.
    â€œ Love ?” Radnor roared, pulling his bow from his shoulder again. “Marry? A Yako? It’s against the will of Zallis!”
    â€œFalse magic!” Yed cried. “The Yako wants to hold her hostage in his evil spell! False magic! ”
    â€œFalse magic!” the soldiers of the Steadfast Order shouted. They began banging weapon against weapon again.
    Tessa winced at the clanking din. She scanned the sky, fear showing plainly in her eyes. The clouds had begun to swirl as if whipped by some gigantic hand. Thunder rumbled, deeper, more cavernous than before.
    â€œSee what they can’t see, Jackson Cooper,” Tessa pleaded. “In the name of Panenthe, in the name of love and harmony, help us. Now is the time.”
    â€œYes, now is the time! In the name of Zallis, do something!” Radnor demanded.
    Jackson’s stomach twisted, his head swam. He began to tremble, then shake. How could Tessa talk of love when she’d turned so quickly from him to this—Jackson looked at the boy called Dedron—this Yako ? How could she—
    â€œJackson Cooper.”
    The words began low in Dedron’s throat, like a soft growl, so much like an animal, full of wildness. “Jackson Cooper.” He stepped up beside Tessa, his dark eyes locked onto Jackson’s, a penetrating stare that seemed to pry Jackson open, expose his very soul. Like a rabbit caught far from its burrow, like doomed prey, Jackson froze, his mouth suddenly wordless, his mind blank.
    â€œListen to me,” Dedron said. “After the Baen was defeated, the earth opened up and swallowed it, leaving only the tips of two of its fangs that had broken off in the battle. With those two fang tips Musa and Grier made this.”
    Not taking his dark eyes from Jackson’s, Dedron reached under his cloak and pulled out what looked like two short bone flutes lashed tightly together with a leather thong.
    â€œWe call it the Shaw-Mara.”
    A rich amber color, the twin flutes shined as if polished smooth by the touch of many hands.
    â€œIts notes, if blown together by a Timmran and a Yakonan, are the only thing that can stop the Baen from returning.”
    Even as Jackson recoiled from Dedron’s unnerving stare and animal voice, he felt himself being pulled toward the Shaw-Mara, wanting to touch it, to hold it.
    Dedron held the Shaw-Mara out toward Jackson. “But the Baen has somehow snuck his power into the Vale and silenced it. No matter how hard we blow, it makes no sound. Help us.”
    Jackson’s hands began to twitch, to ache for the flute.
    â€œUse your power to fix the Shaw-Mara.”
    A sudden spasm wrenched Jackson’s fingers out straight. His bow fell with a clatter onto the bridge planks.
    He started to reach out for the Shaw-Mara.
    â€œDon’t listen, Jackson Cooper! It’s a trick! He’s trying to capture your soul, too!”
    Yed’s voice jolted Jackson as if he had been in a trance. Relief flooded him, along with deep fear and anger. He had almost been bewitched by Dedron. It was evil magic. He did have Tessa and Arnica under a spell.
    â€œDestroy him and set my daughters free!” Radnor commanded. He scooped up Jackson’s bow and thrust it at him. “Use the magic power Zallis gave you!”
    But Jackson waved the bow off. Yes, his power—not the bow but the incredible black stone. How could he have forgotten, even in all the turmoil? Jackson reached up and grasped the pendant. Strength, more than ever, much more, instantly flowed into his hands. He glared at Dedron. “Leave me alone!” he said, his voice coming out like thunder.
    â€œJackson, please,” Tessa begged. “The Baen!”
    Dedron held the