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His feet moved without command and he fled before his mind could stop him. The ground was slick, he stumbled and fell to his knee. He pushed up and continued to run as if nothing had slowed him down. The ice gave way to compacted earth which provided traction as he sped downhill. He didn’t stop, didn’t slow. He let his thoughts cease, relying on instinct to make his way down the mountain. Night fell, darkness encasing him, and Kael carried on, going as far as he could while his strength remained. Only when his legs failed him did he collapse to the ground in exhaustion and fall into a fitful sleep.

She was here with him, standing beside him in the tunnel opening over the mountain glen, holding his hand. He watched her, witnessed the emotions cross her face: the surprise, the relief, the joy. Love bloomed within him, threatening to lift him right off the ground.

And there she was showered in light on the lake’s edge, face turned over her shoulder, staring back at him with her emerald eyes glinting with her last secret. I saw it…in a dream, she called, wading into the lake and diving into the water.

She was sitting next to him, bathing in the sun’s rays with the miracle stone resting on her leg. Hair had slipped over her shoulder, hiding her face. He lightly swept the strands behind her ear so he could view her raw emotion.

Panic was all he could see from her face now, as she clung to life on the icy edge. There was fear, but determination as well. I love you and I need you to save my brother. Protect my family. Leave me. Never come back. The ice cracked and she fell.

Kael woke, heart racing, pulse pounding in his ears. He clambered to his feet, yanked his pack over his shoulder and fled from the pain. By the time Kael reached the base of the mountain, he could barely remember how he got there or how much time had passed. The whole journey after…it was all just a blur.

Now that he had reached level ground he slowed and examined his surroundings. The lack of trees meant he had traveled farther south than he had planned into northern Nodin. He would have to backtrack a little way to the border, so he changed direction, heading north. This was the closest that he’d been to his home in years, and yet he felt no pull, no desire or need to go any closer. He had a mission now, had to finish what Prea started…no matter what. That was his destiny now.

The sun was high, bearing down on his bare neck as he walked through the tall grass native to this canton. By nightfall he had made it to a town on the bank of the River Nairne and walked straight through the mass of buildings towards the dock. The moon had taken her leave, disappearing as she did every month, leaving behind only the stars as a guiding light in the darkness.

The reflection of the stars dotted the surface of the empty river and Kael’s heart dropped at the lack of boats. He would have to wait for morning to acquire passage down the river and waiting was the last thing he wanted. He didn’t have time to sit around and do nothing; Carr needed his help. But he couldn’t keep traveling, his legs wouldn’t allow it. The only option was to rest for the night and look for a boat come dawn.

He traced his steps back into the town and found his way to the tavern where he collapsed into a chair and ordered a pint. If he had to stop and take a break, he wasn’t going to do it with a clear mind; the truth was too painful.

On his second round, he asked the tavern owner’s son, “Excuse me, can you tell me when the next boat will dock on the river?”

“I’m not sure of the exact time, but there should be one around dawn or a little after. There’s an inn down the street if you need a place to stay the night,” the son offered.

“Thank you, but I’m fine,” Kael answered. “When you get a chance could you grab me another pint?”

“Yes, of course,” the son replied.

“Thanks,” Kael replied.

He sat alone, drowning his sorrows as the crowd’s voices buzzed loudly around him. Without thinking, Kael pulled the stone out of his pocket and held it tightly in his hand. The weight and power steadied him, made him feel closer to Prea even though she was gone.

He should despise this piece of rock, shouldn’t he? Prea had died to get it. But, then again, the stone was the reason they had met in the first place. It was a lose-lose situation. So he drank and played with the only thing he had left of his love, never realizing that the glowing rock was catching the eye of several other patrons.

After many pints, the tavern closed and Kael staggered out into the night. He wandered aimlessly through the streets in his drunken stupor, avoiding all other walks of life. Somehow he made his way back to the river and found a grassy spot on the bank where he fell to his hands and knees. He shrugged his pack off his shoulders and rolled over until his head hit the ground. He threaded his fingers through the tall grass and gripped it tight as he stared up at the sky.

Kael fought for control. He didn’t want to think, but the ale compromised his willpower. Grief doused him, flooding him on dry land, threatening to haul him away. He clutched at the grass, desperate for a connection, a foothold to this land. Tired eyes were no match and tears flowed as his eyes shut. All he saw was Prea’s smiling face and his heart shattered into a thousand pieces, just like the ice from which she fell.

When he couldn’t handle it anymore, he opened his eyes and looked to the midnight sky. He searched the stars, waiting to find Prea amongst the jewels of the night. That was part of the legend, wasn’t it? Kael thought. When you died, your presence passed on to live forever as one of the moon’s starry children, a bright light in the darkness. His eyes scanned, but he found nothing. He waited for her to brighten, light up his life and show him that he wasn’t alone. He fell asleep on the bank of the River Nairne, looking for his love.

* * *

In the shadows of a building near the riverbank, two men followed and watched Kael as he stumbled and fell to the grass. They knew the stranger was drunk and alone; they had watched him carefully. And it seemed he had something of value.

“Fletch? Did you see where he put the stone?” one whispered to the other.

“I think he put it in his pack,” Fletch answered quietly. “We just need to wait a few minutes, Raff, until he falls asleep. Then we’ll take it.”

“Do you think it was gold?” Raff wondered. “If it is, it’ll be worth a fortune.”

“I don’t know if it was gold, but it glowed. It has to be valuable.” They watched and waited as Kael laid on the ground, staring up at the sky. “How odd. Is he clutching the grass?”

“You know what, Fletch, I think he is,” Raff answered with a chuckle. “What a fool. Does he even realize how easy he’s making it?”

“After all that ale, he probably isn’t seeing straight, let alone thinking clearly,” Fletch replied lightly. Kael’s grip loosened on the dark green blades of grass signaling that he had fallen asleep. “Let’s wait a few more minutes just to be sure he’s asleep.”

“Then we’ll get him,” Raff added, pulling out a small dagger.

The night was quiet and few people still walked around outside. The two thieves soon left the shadows, stalking over to where their mark lay on the ground, uncovered and unprotected. Light on the their feet, they moved quickly and stealthily until they came upon Kael, appraising him silently. One hand remained on the ground, but the other rested lightly on his pack.

“How do you want to do this?” Raff mouthed. Before Fletch could respond, Kael shifted, rolling his hand over, revealing the stone was still clutched in his fist. He had never put it in his pack.

“Look,” Fletch said. “It’s still in his hand. Raff, hold him back if he wakes up. I’m going to get the stone.”

Raff got into position, blade at the ready, while Fletch moved closer to the stone, squatting down in preparation.

“One. Two. Three,” Fletch mouthed and then they struck.

* * *

Kael seemed to sense something just in the nick of time and woke up on the bank of the River Nairne with two strange men standing over him, one holding a sharp dagger. The ale still messed with his mind, but he instinctively tightened his fingers around the stone still in his grasp. Could he have possibly been more foolish?

One man tried to pin him down, clutching the blade against his throat, while the other attempted to rip the stone from his hand. Kael lashed out, thrashing against any potential hold and felt a sharp sting as metal sliced skin.

“Don’t move. If you value your life, don’t move,” the one with the knife threatened.

“Get off!” he yelled into the night, grabbing at the knife wielding arm.

Arms and fists were flung about, connecting with flesh. It should have been easy for the thieves; it was two against one, they had a weapon and Kael was impaired. But there was something or someone working to help Kael out of his predicament.

“Get off of me,” Kael yelled again, finally managing to twist the man’s wrist until the knife fell from his grasp. Kicking the blade away, he climbed into a sitting position as energy pulsed in his palm, power flowing into his hand, coursing up his arm and throughout his body. He pushed and punched, slapped and kicked. Any blow he delivered with his stone wielding hand rang true.

“Oy!” Raff yelled when Kael’s fist met his face.

“I. Said. Get. Off. Me.”

“Give it to us,” Fletch muttered, clawing for the stone.

“It’s not yours. It’s mine,” Kael growled, kicking his way free of his attackers.

A few more blows with the hand holding the stone and Kael managed to break away from the thieves, free himself and his pack. By then, he had rained down enough punches, forcing the men to retreat empty handed.

Kael kept moving on the bank, not wishing to stay in any place too long. The thieves had managed to get a few good throws in, with both hands and knife. His body was sore, on its way to bruising and blood was flowing from lip, neck and hand. And he couldn’t seem to release the stone, it remained clutched in his fist. The power still radiated, causing his skin to vibrate.

How could I be so stupid? Kael thought. Drinking obliviously in a strange town playing with a legendary object was beyond idiotic. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice, so he kept moving for a while before finally picking a spot to rest under the cover of a tree on the riverbank. Now sufficiently out of sight and seeing no one else around, Kael sat down and was finally able to uncurl his fingers, revealing the stone laying on his palm.

“How is this possible? How can I feel the power?” Kael murmured in the darkness, his mind still fuzzy from ale. “Why did it help me?”

The stone only held a faint glow now, as if the power had gone dormant for the time being. “Why am I surprised? After all I’ve seen, this is par for the course.”

He studied the stone for as long as he could keep his eyes open, trying to feel the power again or sense the energy within. He wanted answers, but whatever it was seemed to be gone and eventually he succumbed to a fitful sleep.

* * *

The growing warmth and loud voices woke Kael on the grassy waterside. He lumbered into a sitting position, rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes and sat with elbows on knees, squinting in the bright light. Just as the tavern owner’s son had said, there was a boat sidled up against the old dock, unloading cargo that appeared to be fruit or vegetables. He didn’t know how long they would remain, so Kael jumped up with his pack and started over. He tripped over his feet a few times, the last of the ale still asserting its power.

The wood creaked under his weight as he strolled down the dock past the workers and sailors exchanging goods. Kael scanned the boat and dock, trying to make out the captain among the men.

“Oy! What are you doing just standing there?” a burly man asked and it took Kael a minute to realize the question was directed at him.

“Uh,” Kael muttered, mind still a bit fuzzy.

“Get moving! We need these boxes unloaded before the captain gets back,” the man yelled.

“Sorry, I think you’re mistaken,” Kael replied, but the man was no longer paying attention. Hoping that this would benefit his request for passage, he complied, helping to unload the cargo boxes from the ship.

“Thanks,” the man said when Kael finished.

“Actually, I’m looking for passage downriver,” Kael said. “Do you think the captain would be willing? I’ll pay, of course.”

“Possibly. If he’s in a good mood.” The burly man’s eyes narrowed as he appraised Kael. “You’re not a dock worker?”

“No.” Kael shook his head.

“But you helped unload anyway?” The man eyed him suspiciously.

“Yes.”

“Huh. Well, if it was my ship, there would be no problem. But it isn’t, so you’ll have to wait and see. I’m Cap, by the way,” he said and held out his hand.

“But you’re not the captain?” Kael wondered.

“Nope.”

“That’s not confusing at all,” he replied and shook Cap’s hand. “I’m Kael.”

“Where are you headed, Kael?”

“The Bay of Aldin.”

“That’s at least a five day trip with stops in between. You shouldn’t get your hopes up.”

The planks of the dock vibrated as a new addition approached. “Cap! What are you doing? We need to be pushing off in a few minutes. We have a schedule to keep,” the tan, dark-haired man screamed.

“Looks like you might be in luck,” Cap muttered to Kael. “Just waiting for you,” he added louder. “We’re all set and ready to go.”

“Who’s this? Who are you?” the captain demanded when he reached the end of the dock where Cap stood by Kael.

“I’m looking to buy passage downriver, if you would be so willing. I need to get to the Bay of Aldin as fast as possible. You won’t even know I’m there,” Kael promised rashly.

“We don’t have the capacity to take on any passengers for the entire trip downriver. You’ll just be in the way,” the captain answered. “I’m sorry.”

“I can fix just about anything. I can work if you need things repaired,” Kael added desperately.

“Blake, he did help us unload the cargo,” Cap mentioned in Kael’s defense. “And he doesn’t even work here. He might be of some use.”

“Cap, you’re my second in command, but I make the decisions around here.”

“I know, Blake. I’m just saying we do have a few things that need fixing. Kael here could do them while we’re sailing which means we wouldn’t be wasting time waiting dockside on repairs in the future. We might be gaining more than we bargain for.”

The captain considered Kael’s proposal for a few more moments as desperation became more evident on Kael’s face. Cap had made some good points.

“All right. My name is Blake,” he said reluctantly and held out his hand. “But this is a temporary arrangement. If you get in the way at any point in time, you’re off and you’ll be on your own for the rest of the way. I won’t even stop. I’ll just toss you overboard.”

“I understand. Kael Farron,” he replied, grasping the captain’s hand firmly.

“You should just be glad I’m in a good mood right now,” Blake muttered and Kael looked sideways at Cap. If this was the good, he most certainly did not want to see the bad. “All right. Anchor’s up!” he added and they all boarded the vessel.

Kael moved to the port side and tried to stay out of the way as he waited for them to set sail. He minded his own business, watching as the crew returned and went about their duties. All but Cap avoided Kael in his place leaning against the side of the boat.

It was a beautiful morning, the sun’s rays glinting off the surface of the river. Kael closed his eyes and focused on the brush of the fresh river wind against his face and the wash of sunlight that bathed his skin in a welcome warmth. He focused on the elements around him as their presence steadied his breath. It wasn’t serenity or peace, but a brief moment of surprising calm filled him on this new summer morning. And, as quickly as that calm filled him, he opened his eyes and it was gone, a wisp of cloud passing by.

* * *

Kael’s presence onboard was soon accepted by the rest of the crew and he was put to work, fixing all sorts of things around the boat, on deck and below. Warped wood, loose boards, ripped sails, little things here and there that had gone a long time without the necessary mending. It kept him very busy, all day, every day; but the nights were another story.

When only darkness was left, spotted with dim light and accompanied by the sound of wind and water rushing by, Kael laid down on the sturdy wood of the boat deck and looked up. He gazed at the stars searching for Prea in the night sky as he waited to find sleep. Another reality was setting in as the bay drew closer. Questions began popping up in his mind and fear blended with his grief.  

“Prea, what I am going to do?” he whispered into the dark. “What am I going to tell your family? How am I going to explain all that’s happened?” He paused as if waiting for an answer. “How are we supposed to go on without you?”

* * *

Just before they reached the Bay of Aldin, the small boat sidled up to the Alder bank and Kael hopped out on the go. He followed along the river until he came upon the first few houses in the town of Beech. He hurried through the river and dockside parts of town before he started the climb towards the center of Beech and the cliffs.

Afternoon turned to evening, the sun sinking in the western sky. No more time could be wasted, enough had been spent already. Kael knew that Prea’s house was located on the cliffs, but not much else, so he was heading in that direction and would ask for help if need be.

He traveled the road that hugged the coastline until it leveled off atop the cliffs and forked, one side leading to the center of town and the other leading the rest of the way down the coastline. He paused for a moment, deciding which path to take. He’d find more luck following the cliff; something was pulling him in that direction, be it intuition or something more.

Kael moved further away from the town center and he could make out a few possibilities off in the distance. Before he could look more closely, a woman and a young boy turned onto the road a little way ahead of him. The woman had fiery red hair and she was chasing after a boy with golden curls.