“What about that?” Kull said, pointing to a small circle near the southern border. The label read HEARTSTONE.
“Well, that plant doesn’t look like any sort of stone I’ve ever seen, but it is drawn circular, just like that wall.”
We moved toward the flower, keeping an eye out for enchantments or traps, but found none. Sunlight, unhindered by brush or tree limbs, shone down onto the ground, highlighting the flowers and making them sparkle.
Kull knelt, lightly touching one. “These aren’t flowers at all. They’re jewels.”
I knelt by the flower and inspected the petals. Cradled inside each bloom, I found a jewel. Pink, purple, and cobalt stones glittered in the sunlight, refracting around the small grove.
“I guess we know why it’s called the heartstone,” Kull said.
I reached out and gently touched the leaves, feeling a steady hum of power coming from the plant. As I touched it, the stream of magic joined my own, a presence that reminded me of the Everblossom tree that had once grown beneath the pixie lands. Its magic seemed to speak to me, but whatever it wanted to say was snuffed out by the influx of magic surrounding us.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kull said. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yes. It’s odd, but it reminds me of the flowers that bloomed around my grandmother’s house. And it also reminds me of the time I heard the wind chimes when I went near the Everblossom tree. Do you think it could have been put here for a reason?”
“What sort of reason?”
“I don’t know. Maybe to help us or something? Do I sound crazy?”
“We’re in Faythander. Anything’s possible.”
“True.”
I touched one of the jewels, the cold stone smooth under my fingertips. Magic pulsed from the jewel, and I had an urge to take it from the flower but decided against it. I wasn’t sure what it would do to me. What if it had been cursed? Or what if the magic was unstable?
I stood and stepped away, looking from the plant to the wall instead. “Maveryck, can you read this?” I asked.
“Not very well. Some of the symbols are familiar, but it’s old elvish. Flourish for eternity.” He ran his fingers over the symbols, his face puzzled. “I can’t make out the rest.”
“It’s an odd place,” Heidel said, glancing around, “but we’d be wise not to linger here. We’d be easily ambushed in a place such as this. It’s too dangerous for us to stay any longer.”
I glanced at the plant as we left the clearing, wondering how the wall had gotten there and wanting to know why the plant felt so familiar. Was it connected to the Everblossom somehow? I wanted to stay longer and learn more about the flower, but for the time being, I would have to wait to get any answers.
We entered the dense jungle once again. The suffocating air returned, making me feel as if I’d been smothered in plastic wrap. When the sun reached its zenith, we still hadn’t found the path, making me wonder if we were traveling in the wrong direction.
Something fell from the canopy and landed in front of us. I stumbled back as a large, scaled creature stood before us. Black, prismatic scales covered its body, and it had a snakelike tail studded in barbs that whipped back and forth. Its lithe body reminded me of a panther. The creature had a snake’s head, with long, slitted pupils focused on us. A forked tongue licked the air as it took a step forward. The beast stood as tall as two men. Its mouth gaped open, revealing fangs dripping with saliva.
“I’m just guessing here,” I said, “but I don’t think it’s friendly.”
“I believe that is a well-educated guess,” Kull answered.
We scrambled as the thing leapt forward, lashing out with hawk-like talons. It nearly missed gouging Heidel’s midsection. She cursed and drove forward with her dagger in a powerful attack, ripping a hole in the beast’s leg.
The creature let out a scream that sounded almost humanlike. Maveryck lashed out with a short dagger, but the beast knocked him backward.
“Maveryck,” Heidel shouted, “you’re useless in a fight. Let us handle it.”
Maveryck stood, brushing off his tunic. “I fight just as well as you!”
“No you don’t!”
“I do too!”
“Then shut up and prove it!”
The monster snapped at us, so close I felt its fetid breath from where I stood.
“Split up,” Kull yelled. “Don’t stay in one place.”
I clenched my knife hilt tight as I scrambled into the forest. With the thick jungle obscuring my vision, I only saw flashes of scales and claws as the monster pursued us. Kull’s screams came from somewhere as I readied a spell, only to find that my magic refused to come to the surface.
I focused on calming my mind and tried again, but when I called the magic a second time, it still wouldn’t come to the surface—as if the potent power surrounding us kept it from responding.
“This isn’t good,” I muttered as I tried a third time with no success.
The monster broke through the jungle where I hid, its eyes livid and yellow, magic pulsing hot and strong from its body. I fisted my hands and faced the beast, a flimsy dagger my only protection. A quick search for Kull and Heidel revealed them both struggling to get to their feet behind the beast. Maveryck was nowhere in sight.
Backing away, I stayed focused on the monster as it dove for me, its massive talons outstretched, intent on tearing me in half, when a burst of silver light blasted from the jungle and hit the beast square in the chest. The monster’s body exploded in a fireball of white-hot heat. As the flames died away, nothing remained of the beast but wisps of glowing embers carried on the jungle breeze.
Maveryck stepped forward holding a basita weapon as Kull and Heidel both limped toward us, focused on Maveryck’s gun.
Maveryck stood tall as he clicked the gears back into the safe position. “Does that prove I can fight?” he asked smugly.
Heidel
