The crystal fell into his left hand, and he hissed as it sliced his palm, sucking in his blood. He tried to drop it, but it stuck to his skin. He shook his hand, but it only absorbed the crystal faster. His blood splattered on the wall.
The crystal began to glow in his palm, the silvery glimmer suffused with pink, as the crystal absorbed his blood, and his hand absorbed the crystal. He caught his breath as he clenched his fist; a blushing radiance escaped. He opened his hand, and a silvery light flared, suspended in the air. The crystal had gone. His stomach fluttered as he raised his hand and looked at the walls.
What had he done?
Markings were engraved in the walls which glowed green in the unnatural light. He traced an image of a tree and the moon, the Lady’s mark. Whatever had happened was under the Lady’s eye, so maybe he hadn’t erred after all. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his frantically beating heart.
When Jerrol opened his eyes, he was staring up at a tall tree looming above him. He lay at the foot of the largest sentinal he had ever seen. His vision was full of silver bark and high above was a canopy of deep green leaves, rustling even though there was no breeze. He inhaled the fresh greenness of the tree and levered himself upright.
His hand hurt. As he lifted it, he remembered the crystal. He smoothed his fingers over the fine, silver scar on his palm.
The Lady approached, her face serene. “You can’t stay here,” she said, resting a hand on the tree. “You must return and find the rest.”
“The rest?” Jerrol asked, watching her in awe.
“The rest of the Bloodstone,” she said as his vision shimmered, and he found himself lying on the floor of the underground tunnel below the Watch Towers.
Tagerill lent over him, shaking his shoulder. “Captain? Are you alright? What happened?” His voice was sharp with concern.
“I’m fine, I think,” Jerrol said as he sat up. The damp chill seeped through his clothes and, balancing his hand against the wall, he let Tagerill help him rise. His hand stung, and he realised it still bled. He pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and wrapped it around the wound.
Tagerill watched in amazement as a silvery light flared above Jerrol’s bandaged hand.
Jerrol’s eyes gleamed a luminous silver in the light. “The Lady’s visits always seem double-edged. You never know what to expect,” he said with a wry grin as he looked back down the corridor. Whatever had happened was meant to happen. He was supposed to have found the crystal; he knew it. His veins buzzed as the crystal worked its way around his body. It was part of him now. He sheathed his dagger. A fair exchange, he supposed; he provided a host for the crystal and gained the ability to hold a light in his hand. “Where’s Birlerion?”
“I left him on the steps.” Tagerill hesitated. “Captain? What did the Lady say?”
Jerrol walked back towards the stairs. “We shouldn’t leave him alone,” was all he said.
For a supposedly clever man, renowned for his intelligence-gathering skills, he was stumbling from one crisis to another, blindly following the Lady’s trail. He must be doing something right, though he wished he knew what it was. He climbed the curving staircase. They needed to concentrate on getting Birlerion out.
When Tagerill and Jerrol reached the top of the stairs, Birlerion had gone.
Chapter 26
Greenswatch
Captain Bryce led his party up the road to Greenswatch and heaved a sigh of relief as the trees opened and revealed the grey stone manor house. They had arrived.
Lady Alyssa waited for the stable lad to position the dismount block before taking the hand Captain Bryce offered and dismounting.
A slim, young man, with hair the colour of ripened corn, hurried down the shallow stone steps. “Alyssa, at last!” he said as he hugged her. He set her back, blue eyes scanning her face. “Are you alright? Why didn’t they provide you with a carriage? You didn’t ride all the way here?” he asked, appalled.
“Because I didn’t need a carriage. I rode to Deepwater, and I am more than capable of riding home again.” She wasn’t going to allow Simeon to start telling her what she could and couldn’t do.
“But you are in mourning for Father. You can’t be jaunting all over the countryside as if it was just some outing.”
“I can assure you that I am well aware of what happened to Father. I wasn’t jaunting. I was travelling home as quickly as possible, and a carriage would have delayed us even further. Allow me to introduce Captain Bryce from Stoneford Keep and Lieutenant Jennery from the King’s Guards, who escorted me home safely. Also, Hannah of Stoneford, who assisted me on my journey home.” Alyssa indicated her companions who were standing behind her.
“Captain Bryce.” Simeon stared at the man he had sent off to collect his sister. “Thank you for delivering my sister to us.”
Bryce gave him a stiff nod.
“Ah, Garrick.” Alyssa greeted the Watch steward as he entered the hall. “Please arrange for Captain Bryce, his men and Lieutenant Jennery to be accommodated. They will be staying to pay their respects to my father before returning to Stoneford. Also, if you would, please prepare a room for Hannah near me.”
“Certainly, my lady.” Garrick indicated the way to Bryce and Jennery. “Please, if you would follow me. I will ask your maid Millie to escort Miss Hannah to her room.”
“Thank you, ma’am, sir,” Captain Bryce said. “We appreciate your hospitality.”
“Garrick, please make sure you show Captain Bryce and Lieutenant Jennery where to join us for dinner tonight. I look forward to seeing you gentlemen later. Hannah, I must speak to my brother, but I will join you shortly.”
