Broken

“I wish Octavion could help me pick one out. He’d be much better at this than me.”

“Yes, yes. Perhaps we should venture outside to ask his opinion. I must warn you, however, it is more likely that the stone pick the person than the person pick the stone.”

Kira tried not to decipher the little man’s riddle as she followed him out the door and into the street. Octavion leaned lazily against the wall, twirling a length of leather lace in his hand.

She looked at him curiously. “What is that for?”

He winked then stuck it in his pant pocket. “Later,” he whispered. “Did you find a stone?” he asked loudly enough so Kueelok could hear him.

She turned up her nose and made a face. “Not really. I can’t decide. I thought you might help.”

Kueelok had scooped the whole lot of gems in the black cloth and now held it open in his palm with the stones piled in the center. Octavion fumbled through them, examining each one with care, holding it up to the sun and testing its weight in his hand. Then he’d hold it near Kira’s face, examine it again and quickly put it back. It didn’t take long for him to veto the entire handful.

“You are right. Not a good one in the lot. Is this all you have, old man?”

Kueelok scrunched his face in disgust. “It is, Prince Octavion. It has been too long since we have needed such a stone.”

Octavion rubbed the whiskers on his chin as he looked at Kueelock who was clearly uncomfortable in the presence of his prince. He fidgeted like a young girl waiting for her prom date.

Finally Octavion spoke. “I seem to remember you finding a rare gem when I was a boy. Dug it up near the entrance to Fire Canyon. Would you still have it in your possession or have you sold it?”

Kueelok looked confused at first, but then his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers in the air. He uttered a chain of words Kira didn’t understand and then disappeared into his shop again. When he came out, he held a small wooden box in his hands. He presented it to Octavion with his biggest grin yet.

“I am not certain of its charming strength, or if it will even hold a charm, but if it serves your needs, it is yours.”

Octavion opened the lid of the box so it blocked Kira’s view. He sighed. “It is more beautiful than I remember. The shape you have chosen is magnificent.”

Kueelok jumped up on his toes to get a better look and pointed into the box. “There are two smaller stones as well. They were left over after the first cut, so I polished them.”

Octavion smiled. “I would, of course, want those as well.” He put his hand into the box and carefully withdrew the larger stone. He held it in his fist, closed his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. As he did a warm glow seeped from between his fingers, then dissipated.

Kira took a step back. “Whoa.” She’d never seen him use his powers as a Jayde before and it was rather shocking. “How. . I mean what-Whoa.”

Octavion smiled, then opened his fingers revealing the stone. It didn’t appear to be different. Holding it between his thumb and forefinger, he presented it to Kira.

Cold to the touch, she took the stone in her hand and studied it. As it warmed, she realized it seemed familiar to her. So many times she’d found peace and love looking at what this replicated-Octavion’s eyes. Deepest blue, the stone sparkled in the sunlight. Shaped into an elongated tear, Kira thought of it as a happy tear.

“It’s perfect,” she said.

Octavion reached down, put it between his fingers again and held it up to the sun. “Look again,” he said.

Kira squinted to see it better. The radiant glow of the sun brought out tiny veins of gold throughout the entire stone-even more like his eyes. She took the stone back and held it tightly in her palm.

“Now, go away,” she demanded. “I want to see if this thing works.”

He smiled. “As you wish, my lady.” Then he simply melted away. He’d only been gone a second when she heard his thoughts.

Can you hear me now?

Kira laughed. He sounded like a stupid cell phone commercial. Yes, now come back, I miss you.

He reappeared instantly, barely warned of his arrival. “How long will it take you to set the stone?” he asked Kueelok. “I would like a unique setting, perhaps thin strands of silver embracing the stone,” like my arms embracing her, he thought only to Kira. “And a silver chain, just long enough to graze her collar bone,” where I desire her the most.

He made her blush without even trying. Stop that, she begged.

He shot her a glance out of the corner of his eye and winked. Make me, he teased.

“Two days, maybe three,” Kueelok said, bringing the couple out of their private conversation. “Will that do?”

“That will be fine.” Octavion held out his hand for the stone, which Kira handed back reluctantly. He slipped it into the box and gave it back to Kueelok.

Kira and Octavion spent the better part of the day going from one place to another. Most of the shops were set up outdoors, like a flee market, so it made it easy for Octavion to shop with her. About halfway through the day, Kira realized that, even though they’d made several selections and Octavion had asked the vendors to have the items sent to the castle, he hadn’t actually paid for anything.

“What kind of money do you have here, coin or paper?”

“We have gold coin,” he explained. “Some merchants prefer to barter their services, but when someone comes from another village they usually pay with coin.”

“So when these merchants bring my things to the castle, someone will pay them?”

“No, we do not pay for our things,” he said as though he were a spoiled middle- aged geek still living at home with his mommy.

“What do you mean, you don’t pay?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It is our way. Everything in the kingdom is ours. Why should we pay for something we already own?”

“Are you serious? That’s insane-not to mention wrong.” Talk about uncivilized.

Kira had raised her voice slightly, causing him to look around to see who watched. He turned to her and whispered. “Can we discuss this later, please?”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I will send everything back.” She turned and walked away from him.

He quickly caught up, grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. “Kira, do not do this. It is our way. It is considered a privilege for royalty to desire their goods. They will brag about it to other merchants and to their customers, which will cause more of their wares to be purchased. It is actually good for their business.”

Kira folded her arms and stood her ground. “You pay or it all goes back. They work hard making everything with their own hands. They should be properly compensated, regardless if it is for royalty-which, by the way, I’m not. So, technically, I should pay for my stuff. Maybe I should get a job at the royal palace.” She stuck her nose in the air and looked away.

Several seconds passed before he let out a rumbling growl. She jerked her head back and glared at him. They engaged in a staring contest and Kira was determined to win. She raised her brows to question his intentions and he finally caved.

“Fine, I will make sure they are compensated.” He breathed a sigh of defeat. “Now can we get back to shopping? I’d like to get you a shawl to match your new dress.”

Kira happily grinned at her victory and motioned for him to lead the way. After passing several street vendors, they stopped at the weaver’s table. While Kira inspected the intricate detail of each hand-woven shawl, Octavion watched her every move. When she looked at him, he’d wink or smile, making her insides turn to mush. The old woman waited on her patiently, letting her examine the shawls, comparing the shade of the thread to her dress. Nothing matched.

“I’m sorry,” Kira said. “I don’t see anything I like.”

“Serena, dear,” the old woman called over her shoulder. “Bring out the new shawl you finished this morning. Perhaps Lady Kira would like to see it.”