The Power of The Ruby Ring Page 2

  The four boys had been inseparable in their youth. They had filled their days with work and service, but had occasionally played tricks on unsuspecting servants—always Will’s idea, of course.

  Tensions between Callair and Tonam had separated the boys, who had by then grown into men. Nathan and Lane went together to meet with leaders in the Southern Cities. Lane stayed there as a guard in the Outer Rim, bordering Tonam, while Nathan met Will in Anderon. Together they helped gather men for an army. Lane rejoined them when his time was finished at the Outer Rim.

  “Better hurry, Nate,” Will winked. “You do not want to keep the captain waiting.”

  Nathan rolled his stiff neck, then marched to the main tent. He didn’t know what the captain wanted, but he knew he could not compromise his duty.

  “Enter,” the captain called when Nathan rapped on the canvas tent door.

  “You wished to speak with me, sir?”

  “Yes, Mr. Meadows.” The captain lowered a paper he had been reading and studied Nathan for a moment. “You were to meet Princess Dannilynn here a few days ago and travel with us. Where is she?”

  “I know not.” Nathan shifted his weight. “I fear for her safety.”

  “I do as well.” The captain scratched his full beard. “I have received word that Lord Donavan has sent several small armies out to search for her. I cannot keep my men here any longer. It is my duty to return to Callair with these gathered soldiers.”

  “I understand, however, it is my duty to see the princess returned safely to Prince James. I must remain until I find her—especially with the news you have given me—but I will not ask you to wait any longer.”

  The captain folded the paper in his hands, then stood. Though nearly a head shorter than Nathan and not nearly as muscular, his stern features emanated authority. “Take seven men, two pack-horses, and two good riding horses to help you find her. I cannot spare more for you. The king ordered me to bring as many horses and men as possible for the army. We leave at first light.”

  “Thank you.” Nathan inclined his head, then left the captain’s tent.

  A beautiful sunset streaked across the sky. Nathan gazed at it while he considered which seven men he would take.

  He knew without hesitation that he would take Will and Lane, for there were few others he trusted so deeply, but he didn’t know who else. He thought through the men he had met while he gathered soldiers, as well as men he already knew. He readied himself for bed and crawled into his bedroll beside Lane who sat atop his blankets writing in the journal he always kept with him.

  Lane glanced at him, his gray eyes troubled. “Is all well?”

  Nathan shook his head. “The army will leave in the morning.”

  “What of the princess?”

  “I am permitted to take seven men to search for her.” The enormity of his responsibility weighed him down. “Will you go with me?”

  Nathan heard Lane’s book close and his bedding rustle.

  “I will remain with you—I always do.”

  Lane was a man of few words, and Nathan had learned to decipher the depth behind them. Though the task might be difficult, he could count on Lane’s loyalty and support to the end.

  Nathan slept little that night. He thought about what men to take and worried over the princess. He knew James trusted him with his very life—and more importantly, with his precious Danni.

  By dawn’s first glow, Nathan had made his decision. He packed his belongings, then searched out the men he had chosen. He asked Doc Poulson, an older, but accomplished physician to provide medical assistance if needed, two brothers, Peter and Colter Jacobs, who were stealthy and quick to act as scouts, and Edward Burrow and Garin Olden, who were honorable men, strong fighters, and skilled cooks. They all agreed to his appeal and gathered to begin their quest.

  Little spring birds chirped in the green mountain canopy that surrounded his gathered men, but Nathan was oblivious to their cheer. Even the golden rays of sunlight that broke through the leaves couldn’t lighten his mood.

  “Four days have passed since Princess Dannilynn should have arrived here,” he informed his men. “Prince James entrusted her to my care.”

  Will elbowed Garin who stood beside him. “Nate just wants to see if she is truly as beautiful as James claims.”

  “Will.” Nathan squeezed the bridge of his nose to harness his frustration. “This is serious.”

  “Of course. My apologies.”

  “As I was saying,” Nathan continued, “we must search every city and village surrounding Anderon and hunt for any sign of her. She has auburn hair, which is rather uncommon, but she would likely have it covered with a hood. Her ruby ring would be unmistakable, but she surely keeps it hidden under a glove.”

  Nathan paused, nearly overwhelmed with the impossibility of finding her. “James said that her eyes are an intense, sparkling emerald green. Though green eyes are not uncommon, he said hers are brilliant and unforgettable.”

  Edward raised a hand. “Do you not think this task might be too daunting for eight men?”

  “I would love to have the king’s entire defense force at my command, but without further word from James, the captain gave me seven men. It is a difficult quest, but one that I—I mean, we—must fulfill.” If he succeeded in this mission, perhaps he would finally be free from the guilt he had carried since his childhood—since the day he failed in his duty.

  “We will find her.” Doc nodded, then pulled his cloak over his balding head and began their quest.

  Chapter 3

  The air hung heavy with the impending storm. Danni leaned her head out the carriage window to watch the clouds gather in the sky. Her guards galloped alongside the carriage and the driver cracked his whip to keep the horses steady on the rutted dirt road.

  She thought back over her travels the past nine months and what she had learned. As a child she had lived quite isolated until her father died on the palace stairs. She had lived with her extended family in their hidden valley and everyone had loved each other and cared for each other, and little work was required for their survival.

  At the palace, she had servants and maids to care for her and tend to all the labor. She had never really understood how the world worked.

  But the cities and villages she had visited had shown her that life could be quite different. The people struggled for their survival and worked hard to provide for their needs. She had seen men pass out in the field from hauling hay and clearing fields in oppressive heat all day long. She had seen children brawl in the streets over a small scrap of food.

  Some villagers had lived quite comfortably, but she had been shocked to see how many did not, and to see how hard even the women and children had to work.

  A small part of her had been angry with James for living in luxury while people in his kingdom suffered and for not telling her that people lived in such a manner. It seemed he didn’t care for their troubles.

  “Tonam is much larger than our kingdom and inherited many of the Great Kingdom’s resources,” James has once said. “Many suffer, but we have little means to help them. It is almost as though our kingdom is fading and I fear it may someday be completely taken over by Tonam unless something changes.”

  What had James hoped would change? He and his father had sent men out to rally others to their cause, and had sent her to give the people hope. Perhaps that was all they had power to do to help their people. She had contented herself with such thoughts.

  “What ho!” The call from a guard outside her carriage pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced about as the company slowed and came to a stop before a felled tree. Tyrone spun his horse to search the trees. Danni followed his gaze, but saw nothing to concern her.

  “Be cautious,” he called. The other guards searched, but all seemed well.

  She couldn’t imagine what troubled them so. A tree had fallen across the road, nothing more. Tyrone dismounted along with three others and approached the log. He glanced around again
, then bent over and rolled the log.

  An arrow zinged through the air and landed with a thwack. Danni heard a strangled cry, then saw her driver fall from his seat with an arrow in his chest.

  She gasped and ducked back into the safety of the carriage. Her driver had been shot!

  She heard another arrow, then a shriek from a horse. Her carriage jolted forward and bounced in the road. It tilted and she fell against the door, then it crashed sideways and was dragged several paces forward before it smashed against something. She screamed and fell forward in a jumble of blue skirts.

  “Princess!” Tyrone’s voice called, then he appeared in the window above her.

  “I am all right.” She righted herself, then reached for his extended hand. He pulled her up and she scrambled onto the top—or actually the side—of the carriage. She gazed around, but before she could see what had happened, Tyrone pulled her low to the ground.

  She heard metal clash against metal and men grunt in battle. A sprinkling of rain touched her cheek.

  “Hurry! There!” Tyrone placed a hand on her back and pushed her forward, toward the dense bushes.

  She obeyed his order until she lifted her gaze and saw an armed soldier standing before her with blood smeared across his cheek and an evil gleam in his eye.

  “Give us the princess and we will leave in peace,” he said.

  Tyrone stepped in front of her. “Who are you?”

  The soldier gave a fiendish smile, and pointed to the engraving on his sword.

  “Tonam,” Tyrone whispered.

  The soldier aimed his sword at Danni and raised his eyebrows. “Lord Donavan has sent legions out to find the girl.”

  Three more guards appeared beside Tryone, though she hadn’t noticed their approach. Tyrone fell back a step to stand beside her and the other guards filled in his spot.

  “Princess, you must go,” he whispered in her ear. “Travel southwest to Anderon and find Nathan. He will take you back to James. You must make it to the safety of the Central Palace so that goodness might again unite the land. All our hope rests in you.”

  He kissed her forehead, turned her around, and pushed her away from the conflict. She hesitated, afraid to leave him, but more afraid to stay.

  She managed a few stumbling steps before the clash of metal and startled cries spun her around. Her guards, with raised shields, deflected the blows from the enemy and fought back with loyal strength.

  “Go!” Tyrone yelled.

  She ran, but the haunting sound of the attack chased her like a hound in close pursuit. A scream pierced the air, and the place on her forehead where Tyrone had kissed her burned.

  Her breath ripped from her lungs and the world flew by in a blur of blinding tears.

  A great thunderclap split the sky. The image of her loyal guards standing between her and the angry soldiers flashed across her vision. She hoped they would survive, but the ache in her heart told her she would never again see those beloved men.

  The wind picked up and howled in her ears, then mingled with battle sounds that still rang clearly in her head—men shouting, swords clashing, shields banging, and Tyrone’s final words, All our hope rests in you.

  More raindrops fell on her cheek and mingled with her hot tears. She pulled her cloak’s hood over her head and ran on, though she knew not what direction she traveled, but that she had to put as much distance as possible between herself and Lord Donavan’s band or she would meet her guards’ dreadful fate.

  ∞∞∞

  Nathan and his men searched for days. They entered every city and watched for any sign of the princess, but there was none.

  “What if something has happened to her?” Colter asked a week into their search.

  “Yes, Nate.” Will kicked at the ground, causing dust clouds to gather around his feet. “We cannot look forever.”

  Nathan rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. He couldn’t stop the search. Ever. “James asked me to bring her to the Central Palace and I will not rest until I have done so.”

  “I fear you will become rather tired.”

  Nathan scowled at Will’s banter, but Colter chuckled and pulled at his thick beard.

  “This is nothing to tease about, Will,” Nathan said. “The princess is lost and possibly injured. Her safety is our responsibility. If that is not acceptable to you, I will not make you stay.”

  “I was jesting, Nate. You needn’t be so tense. You know I wouldn’t leave you.”

  “Good. Is there anyone else who wishes to give up?” Nathan addressed the six other men with him. He trusted them all and knew they would remain faithful, yet he could not have them doubting.

  They all shook their heads.

  “We will remain loyal.” Peter’s light brown eyes shined.

  “Thank you.” Nathan patted him on the back, then scanned the road ahead. “We are approaching another city. Spread out and watch for her as we always do, then meet a mile outside.”

  “I am tired of our plan, though,” Will complained, pushing his dark blond hair behind his shoulder with one hand. “Is there no way to change it? Perhaps go through in a different order?”

  “Will,” Lane cautioned with a quick glance at Nathan.

  “If you desire a change so desperately, you could always trade Edward and lead the horses through.” Nathan smiled at Will’s grimace and tried to let Will’s humor ease the weight of his burden, though he feared that yet again his failure might have grave consequences. He couldn’t help but imagine the horrors that might have befallen the princess. Then unbidden, the face he imagined for her shifted to the young and innocent face of his little sister Emma, with her freckles and rosy cheeks—so delicate and fair until his mistake left her bloated and lifeless.

  Chapter 4

  Danni’s stomach growled and stirred her from sleep. She blinked at the bright morning sun. Pine needles crinkled beneath her when she rolled over, and the smell of dirt filled her nose. She couldn’t place her surroundings.

  She rubbed her eyes and sat up right into a pine tree branch. The needles whacked her in the face and became tangled in her hair.

  Then she remembered the previous evening and she shivered. Everything had gone wrong.

  A sob wrenched from her body and she wrapped her arms around her knees. She rocked back and forth and tried to draw a normal breath. She was lost and completely alone. Someone had always been there to care for her—her father, James, maids, guards—now she was entirely alone.

  She huddled underneath the tree and ignored the sharp hunger pangs that tore at her stomach. Fear held her nearly paralyzed. The snap of a twig, scurry of an animal, or flutter of a bird startled her time and again, and tears fell freely down her face.

  She dared not leave the low branches and their protection. Someone might see her or the army might come that way.

  Darkness fell and brought with it even more frightening sounds. She wrapped her arms around the tree trunk. The rough bark scratched her face and sap stuck to her fingers, but she ignored them and clung to the trunk as though it was someone who could protect her.

  The pain in her stomach when she awoke in the morning nearly doubled her over and her throat was too dry to even swallow properly. She had to find food and water, but knew not how. Meals had always been placed before her with no effort on her part. How she wished someone had taught her to care for herself!

  She crawled from under the pine tree. That trivial effort made her pant. Water. That was the first thing to find. She dragged herself to an opening in the trees and found it to be a grassy meadow dotted with little blue violets. She recognized the heart shaped leaves and five-petalled flowers from her childhood. Edible plants flourished in the valley where she had lived.

  In desperation, she fell to her knees, picked a violet, and put it in her mouth. A familiar sweet, perfume flavor spread through her mouth. She plucked the leaves and ate them too. Then she crawled through the meadow and ate several more flowers and leaves. Dew from the chill spring morning
clung to the leaves and moistened her parched tongue.

  When her growling hunger was pacified, she left the meadow and continued her search for water. Bushes and trees surrounded her and she searched for something else she recognized from her childhood. She dared not eat anything unfamiliar. She saw a bush filled with reddish berries and stepped to them to get a better look. Juneberries. She had eaten them nearly every morning in the spring when she lived with her parents.

  She took a handful of the familiar fruit. Childhood memories filled her mind and the delicious fruit filled her belly. Relief nearly clouded her senses to the sound of trickling water. She searched around and found a small streamlet that seemed to flow right from a rocky embankment against a hilly backdrop. The cool water tickled her hand when she cupped it to catch the precious liquid. Then she drew it to her lips and felt the crisp water travel all the way to her stomach.

  Feeling quite refreshed, but still unsure of where to go, she started moving. She scrambled through brush and down loose rock hillsides that nearly sent her tumbling, then finally reached the lower farmlands. Over the next few days, she passed a few small towns, but dared not enter them for fear of being recognized or running into Lord Donavan’s men.

  She had no idea where she was or what direction she needed to travel to get to Anderon. Her group was supposed to meet James’s friend Nathan a week ago, but she had no way of knowing if he still waited for her. Perhaps he was even searching for her because she hadn’t arrived.

  When night fell, she slipped into a farmer’s garden. Little yet grew, but she found rhubarb and a few onion bulbs which she hungrily ate.

  She spent the night in a haystack in the field, then fled before the farmer awoke in the morning. After scrambling along the edges of farmland, she found her way to a major road, though she knew not where it led. She dared not travel on it, but took comfort in knowing it was near. She remained in the hills and trees above it and kept it in her sight each day.

  When she awoke one morning to a churning stomach, over a week after she had lost her guards, she knew she had to find substantial food and proper directions to Anderon.