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  The minutes passed with tedious similarity. I lifted various pebbles from the murk, but when I wiped them on a dry patch of my tunic, they were all just pebbles. I threw each to the far bank when I found them, so I wouldn’t take time checking the same pebble multiple times, but there was a never-ending supply at the bottom of the moat.

  “This could take days,” I said, careful not to allow a grumble into my tone. I was the guardian; if it took days to help the kings, then I’d spend those days working as hard as I could.

  “We’re close, I know it.”

  I didn’t argue, but ‘close’ seemed like it left an awful lot of stones to check. I turned back to the job and we worked in silence for a while.

  I found another promising-sized pebble, only to be disappointed when I wiped the mud from it. As I turned to toss it onto the bank, my gaze snagged on Essa and Leea. They hadn’t moved from the drawbridge, although Leea was distracted enough by whatever Essa was saying to her that she wasn’t actively watching Rey and myself.

  “I don’t trust Leea. Is that wrong of me on so short an acquaintance?”

  Rey followed the direction of my gaze. “No. I don’t trust her either.” He turned back to the work. “I’m not sure whether she’s more afraid we’ll find the gem, or that we won’t.”

  “That’s exactly what I thought.”

  Rey straightened. “And I don’t believe we’re going to find it here.”

  I stood straight and wiped the mud from my hands. “It isn’t here after all? Or you think it’s moved?”

  “It’s still where it was.” He turned to scan the wall of the castle where the moat lapped against it. “The impression I get is that we’re searching at the edge of where it might be, instead of looking right in the centre of where it is.”

  “You think it’s in the castle itself?”

  “I’m starting to think it’s been hidden in the walls of the castle.” He touched the stone to indicate where he meant.

  “Hidden is quite a different matter from being thrown away,” I commented. My eyes tracked to Leea, still watching us, Essa at her side. The sun was setting behind them, so their expressions were cast into shadow.

  “Isn’t it just.” Rey folded his arms. His eyes sparkled, while his dark hair made his skin look paler than it truly was.

  “Do you think she lied to us?”

  “I hope not. For her sake.”

  “Do you want to bash a hole in the wall of the castle?” We’d have to get Leea out of the way if that was the plan.

  “Can you imagine Lady Leea’s face if I did?” Rey winked. “No, it’ll be far more convenient to track the gem from inside the castle.” He held a hand out to me. His skin was warm against my chilled fingers. “Come on. It’s growing dark. There’s little chance of finding anything out here now.”

  We discussed our plan as we walked back to the side of the moat, scrambling out on the far bank and joining Axxon, Fon and Vashri who’d been sitting on the ground, either casting spells or just taking in the sights.

  The moment we reached the top, Rey relaxed his spell and the moat water rushed back so the surface was unbroken once more.

  “Nothing?” Axxon asked.

  “Not yet,” Rey said. He gave me a significant look. “But I’m sure we’ll find something soon.”

  The five of us rejoined Essa and Leea. Our hostess remained stiff and unwelcoming, but I was sure she was more relaxed now we hadn’t found the gem. She was afraid of us finding it, definitely. I wondered if it was Leea herself who’d hidden it. And why.

  She extended Baloa hospitality far enough to offer us food and shelter for the night. A servant escorted me and Essa to the room we’d share, and another brought water for me to wash off the moat mud, along with a spare gown for both of us. I raised my brows but didn’t comment. Clearly, we were dining formally today. I’d try not to disgrace myself.

  When the servants left us alone, I turned to Essa. “What did you learn?”

  “Not much,” my sister confessed. “Her mother is dead. Her father, head of the family, is away on business. She wouldn’t say what sort of business, she kept changing the subject.” She sat on the bed while I scrubbed my hands. “I don’t trust her, Kyann. It’s not so much that I thought she was lying, but that she wouldn’t give a straight answer to anything. She’s clearly afraid of something, and it’s not the arrival of the kings.” Essa picked up the dress she’d been given and began to pull it on.

  “She has nothing to fear from the kings,” I said, struggling into my gown. I wasn’t used to formal clothes, or even particularly feminine apparel. I only ever wore leggings and a tunic, practical clothing.

  Essa helped with the buttons, which were stupidly placed down the back of the gown. “You’re supposed to have servants to dress you,” Essa told me with a laugh while I complained.

  “Then I’m glad I’m not a fine lady. Not able to dress yourself? That’s just stupid. Here, I’ll help you now.”

  I felt uncomfortable when we were done. There was no mirror in the room, so I could only evaluate my appearance by craning down at myself. I wasn’t impressed.

  “It’s not that bad,” Essa told me.

  I pulled a face. I didn’t like to ask if I looked as bad as Essa did. My sister’s dress was too big for her, moving a second after she did so I couldn’t be sure whether she was wearing the gown, or it was wearing her. “Let’s get to dinner, then. I’m not wearing this monstrosity any longer than I have to.”

  Chapter Eight

  The kings and Lady Leea were already within when a servant showed us to the dining room. I lifted my skirts so I wouldn’t trip over them.

  When I looked up, the kings were watching me. My breath caught at the power of their gazes. I glanced down at myself. It was a stupid design, sucking me in at the waist and tight across my stomach and ribs so my breasts were pushed to the top of the gown, threatening to spill over.

  The kings didn’t appear to be complaining, though. I’d seen admiration in their eyes before, but that was admiration for their guardian, the certainty that I was the one who would help them defeat the Stalwart Emperor. This was different. Standing in front of them, it was very obvious that the four kings were men before they were royalty. The admiration on their faces now was entirely different.

  Heat burned my skin. This was … strange.

  Lady Leea scowled. I wondered if she wished she’d sent a sack for me to wear rather than a gown that I clearly wore better than she’d intended. “Finally!” she complained, swishing her own skirts as she made for the head of the table. “Let’s eat.”

  Dinner was venison stew, of course; a feast made from the gift we’d accidentally brought to the Baloa family.

  “I am sorry you didn’t find anything,” Lady Leea said, her mendacity obvious.

  Rey gulped down his mouthful of venison and assured her, “Not to worry, Lady, we’ll find the gem eventually.”

  Leea’s expression twisted with displeasure. “You are welcome to continue your search, of course, but I fear it will be fruitless.” She turned to me, her pinched face tightening further. “I understand you are the kings’ guardian. It is a role of great honour.” Her tone suggested that she couldn’t understand how such an honour had fallen to me. “Can’t you simply make another gem for the kings?”

  I coughed into my stew.

  Rey looked like he would have protested, but his mouth was full.

  Essa spoke up. “As I’m sure you know, Lady Leea, the Gems of Giera are imbued with power from the goddess herself. They cannot simply be remade.”

  Leea pouted. And turned to Rey, leaning forward across the table. The top of her gown gaped. I thought she had moved deliberately to make it do so. What a shame her dress wasn’t too small; her breasts didn’t threaten to spill out as mine would with the same manoeuvre. “King Nashrey, I have a little magic myself. I would be happy to try and help you.”

  Rey glanced at her as though he didn’t even see the way she was half-spr
awled across the table. He helped himself to another portion of stew. “That won’t be necessary. We will find the gem, and then we’ll leave you alone.” His attention shifted from the food to me, and the heat that had been entirely lacking a moment before flared to life in his eyes. I put my hand to my throat, so my arm covered the worst of my chest spillage. I swear I saw the light in Rey’s eyes dim. I looked away. Only to find Fon across the table was also watching me with a similar, burning intensity.

  Short of alternatives, I raised my eyes to the ceiling, inspecting the carving on the beams.

  “But what if you don’t find it?” Leea cried, her voice overloud to draw attention back to herself.

  Rey folded his arms. “Oh, we will,” he promised.

  She slumped back. I hid a smile. Leea might be wealthy and powerful, but I wouldn’t change places with her for anything, not even the Gems of Giera. She should hope Rey did find his gem soon.

  We didn’t tarry long over dinner after that. Oddly, Leea didn’t protest when I announced my intention to retire. I waited until Essa was asleep, then got up and dressed in my own clothes, sighing with relief to be comfortable again.

  Once I was ready, I waited.

  The moon was high when a scratch sounded at my door. Rey stood outside. His gaze darted up and down me. “Shame, I thought you might still be wearing that dress.”

  I pushed him out of the way with more force than was entirely necessary. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but it’s hardly practical for sneaking about.” I slipped out, closing the door softly behind me.

  He caught my gaze, snagging my fingers and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “You never disappoint, Kyann.”

  “Huh.” I tugged my hand free. “Let’s hope I don’t disappoint in finding this gem. Can you find the spot closest to it?”

  “I’ll try.” He turned, leading me confidently through the castle. He didn’t know the layout, but he could clearly sense the gem.

  Grabbing a torch from a bracket in the wall to light our way, we continued down until we reached the cellars of the castle, where the air clouded our breath even though it was summer, and the walls shone with damp. This must be where the castle met the moat.

  Rey paused, then tugged me through a doorway and along a dim passageway. “It’s close. I can feel it.” His tone vibrated with excitement. My breath hitched with anticipation.

  We reached a corner, and Rey stopped.

  “Which way?” I prompted.

  He shook his head. “It’s here.”

  I looked down, then up, peering through the shadows cast by the torch as though the gem might be sitting on the floor, or dangling from the ceiling. “Where?” I prompted.

  “It’s inside the wall,” Rey said. He touched one of the stones. “I should have woken Axxon.”

  “Then it’s a good job I followed you.” The king of earth’s voice rang in the darkness a moment before he stepped into the light of the torch. He smiled. “Why should you have all the fun, Rey? Where is it?”

  “Here.” Rey tapped the stone he meant.

  Axxon took his place, his fingers caressing the stone. A trickle of sand flowed to life, cascading to the floor. He was turning the stone to dust.

  “Wait, wait!” I called.

  Axxon paused, his fingers on the stone, the trickle of dust stilling. “What’s the matter?”

  “If we destroy the wall, it will be obvious we’ve found the gem’s hiding place.”

  “What does that matter?” Rey demanded. “As soon as we have the gem, we can leave.”

  “I’m sure Leea hid the gem.” Axxon and Rey nodded agreement. “So why has she done so? Why not reveal it to us when we asked for it?” My gaze darted from one to the other. “What if she’s working with the Emperor? Wouldn’t it be better to find out what her intentions are?”

  “Perhaps you’re right.” He shifted his hands and muttered a different spell.

  I’d been poised to pry the stone with my nails, but there was no need for that. With a grinding sound that set my teeth on edge, the stone began to move, shifting out from between its fellows and dropping into Axxon’s waiting hands.

  “There’s something in there.” Rey pushed forward, pressing his hand into the gap. “Argh!” He swore and pulled his hand back out, shaking it.

  “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”

  “That must be the stone,” Rey said. “It’s magically protected. A shield spell.” Like the one that had hidden the Silent Castle – making the gem within unreachable.

  Axxon frowned. “Let me.” He reached inside, extending his arm. “Ah!” He pulled out the same way Rey had done. He looked at Rey. Concern was etched on both their expressions. “We are the kings. How can it be protected against us?”

  “The family must be more powerful than they appear,” Rey suggested.

  I stepped forward. “Shall I try?” There was no chance I could break the enchantment if it held for the kings, but I stuck my hand inside the stone wall regardless. I expected some kind of shock or pain. I had no magic; if the kings couldn’t overcome the enchantment, I didn’t have a hope. And yet, nothing happened. I reached the back, where another stone filled the gap. I dropped my fingers, searching for … there. I snagged a piece of cloth, my fingers closing around a bag with something hard within.

  “I’ve got it!” I cried, drawing my hand out of the wall.

  I was grinning when I turned to the kings, the bag containing the jewel safe in my fist.

  But they weren’t looking at the prize I’d just uncovered. Axxon and Rey were staring open-mouthed at me.

  Chapter Nine

  “How did you do that?” Rey continued to stare in surprise. Axxon edged me aside and thrust his hand into the gap.

  “No magic. It’s vanished.” He watched me, his expression bemused. “Kyann, you’ve destroyed the spell.” He said that as though it shouldn’t be possible. I swallowed, my mind flooded with memories of the night with Essa when she’d tried to share her magic with me and I’d destroyed it instead.

  “I—” I looked down at the bag in my hand, the solid lump inside the material. “That’s a good thing, isn’t it? Under the circumstances?”

  “Yes.” Rey took the bag from me. “That’s very good.”

  “Except that we couldn’t break it.” Axxon watched as though he expected me to sprout two heads or turn to smoke.

  I forced a smile. “Well, I am the guardian. There has to be some use to me.”

  “We’d be stuck without you right now,” Axxon said, but that tone of anxiety didn’t leave him.

  Rey no longer cared about the mystery. He loosened the drawstring top and tipped the bag’s contents into his palm. He sucked in a breath as the gem touched his skin.

  “It’s the right stone?” Axxon asked.

  Rey nodded without taking his eyes from it. “Oh, yes.”

  The Tears of Giera was as he’d described, and yet, nothing like I’d expected. It filled Rey’s palm, a regular oval, its facets sparkling in the torchlight. Its transparent clarity was tinted the palest shade of blue as though it had been sculpted from deep ice. It was beautiful. And compelling. It seemed to glow, a light shining in the centre of the gem. My fingers itched to touch it.

  Rey folded the gem inside his hand, closing his eyes with an expression of bliss.

  “Do we just leave now?” Axxon asked, his voice a low rumble that stayed within the circle of light surrounding us.

  “We have what we came for,” Rey said.

  The idea of running away without challenging Leea over what she’d done raised my hackles. “No. You’re the four kings. Not sneak thieves. Lady Leea should never have hidden the Tears of Giera from you. The Baloa family ought to support the four kings. If they don’t, we need to know why. And we must change their minds. We can’t run the risk that Leea runs to the Emperor as soon as we’ve gone.”

  Axxon nodded slowly. “Kyann is right. We have the gem, but that’s not enough. We need the support of all the families f
or the sake of Charnrosa’s future.”

  “Do we challenge Leea?” I asked. “Demand to know why she hid the gem?” Now we had proof, perhaps she’d be more forthcoming. Although, perhaps not. I wondered if she was working to her own plan, or whether she was following the instructions of her absent father. I’d dearly love to know what “business” he was about.

  “She has deceived us from the start,” Rey pointed out. “I’m not sure an open challenge is the best approach. We should watch her for a day or two, see what we can discover.” He looked from Axxon to me. “We can spare two days to ensure the family will be on our side.”

  “I agree.” Axxon looked down at Rey’s closed fist, then at the hole in the wall. “In that case, we should replace the gem, so she won’t know we’ve discovered it.”

  “No.” Rey’s fist tightened. “The Tears of Giera stays with me.”

  “Leea will know it’s gone as soon as she checks,” Axxon said, not condemning, just stating a fact.

  “We can put the brick back in the wall.” I was glad now that I’d stopped Axxon destroying it. Provided Leea didn’t actually get the bag out, she wouldn’t know anything had changed. If she did… “What if we put a pebble in the bag? Then, she might not realise the gem’s gone.” I glanced at the floor by my feet, seeking a suitable piece of debris. I’d have kept a pebble from the moat if I’d known it would come in handy.

  “We can do better than that,” Axxon said. He shifted the torch to inspect the ground, tracking the surface more closely than I’d done, taking two steps and swooping to snatch something from the ground. He tightened his fist and muttered a few words, unleashing his magic.

  When he opened his fingers, a perfect duplicate of the Tears of Giera lay in his palm. It lacked the inner glow of the real stone, but you’d need a close inspection to see that.

  “Wow.”

  “Just a little magic,” Axxon said, although the corners of his lips tilted up at my praise.