Kindle's Secret

Kindle’s Secret

                As Elan rushed into the cottage, he headed straight into Kindle’s room.  What stone could she be talking about?  Surely not the one from last night’s celebration.

                He threw opened her box in which she kept all her stones from her ascensions.  What stone are they after?  Certainly not these.  They are worthless to anyone who is not of the Myriad.

                Then his eye caught a burlap sack beside Kindle’s bed.  Slowly, he picked it up.  Heavy, he thought to himself.  With some reservation, he opened the sack and was astonished at what he saw inside.  Reaching in and holding the green looking stone, he realized he was holding the Eye of Alia.

                My little sister had been keeping a secret.  He thought as he shut his eyes and shook his head.

                At that moment he heard his mother Aliana who was standing behind him the whole time, gasp.

                Elan spun around to face his mother who was on her knees praying in ancient tongues.

                “Mother.”  He waited for her to look up at him.  When she didn’t he shouted “MOTHER!”  Aliana finally looked up,  but not at Elan, her eyes were fixated on the Emerald.  Its light sparkled all over Kindle’s room.

                Aliana finally found her voice “Where is Kindle?” she demanded of Elan who was already heading for the door.

                Aliana screamed “Elan, the stone!”

                Elan stopped long enough to give the stone to Aliana, then raced out of the cottage toward the Elourna.

                Aliana returned the stone to the sack, then headed to the Myriad Temple for an emergency meeting.  Trusting that Elan would bring Kindle home safely.

                Elan ran as fast as he could to reach his sister on the bank of the Elourna.  When he finally  reached the trio, he was even more angry than worried.

                This scene that greeted him was one he had not expected.

                Bytor.   Standing in front of him with his sword drawn.  Kindle was lying on her back with Carum hovering over her.  Elan brushed past Bytor, then pulled Carum off of his sister.

                And for once in her life she was really afraid of her own brother.

                “You have a lot to explain.  Time to go, now” he demanded.

                Kindle knew she was in a lot of trouble.  Keeping secrets from the Myriad was a punishable crime.

                They walked in silence until they made it to their village.

                Elan finally turned to Kindle and said “They are waiting for you in the temple.  Go!”  Then simply turned and walked into the cottage leaving a scared Kindle to face the Myriad alone.

                She slowly made her way to the temple, trembling in fear.  She knew this was about the stone.  Why was it about the stone?  She thought to herself.

                When she got closer to the temple she could hear voices discussing something other than the stone.

                “She is too innocent Aliana” She heard the Elder telling her mother.  She went on to say “Maybe it is time to tell her about her sister, Ryanne.”

                This stopped Kindle and her tracks.  Sister?  She asked herself.  I have a sister?  Then she told herself Mother seems to have been keeping secrets herself.

                As she stood at the door of the temple she could hear her mother say in a worried manner” Yes.  I do believe it is time.  If Ryanne knows that Kindle has the Eye of Alia, she will kill her to get it.”

                At this, Kindle entered the Holy Chamber.  The Elder managed a weak smile.  “Come my child, have a seat.” The Elder directed Kindle to a seat beside her.  As Kindle sat next to the Elder,  she noticed the beautiful stone in front of her.

                “Where did you get this stone?”  The Elder asked Kindle gently.

                Kindle looked quickly at her mother Aliana who nodded with permission to recall the events leading to the discovery.

                Kindle, her voice shaking recalled how she went swimming in the Elourna, finding the altar behind the waterfall where she found the stone and almost drowning and having to be saved by Carum.

                “I just thought it was beautiful, so I brought it back to show mother”  She informed that Elder.

                The Elder stared at her in astonishment at how innocent this girl actually was.  “Do you know what this stone actually is?”  She asked the terrified Kindle who thought about this for a moment then admitted she did not.

                The Elder took Kindle’s hand then explained gently “You have found the Eye of Alia, my dear.”

                Kindle’s head began to spin.  She stared at her mother looking for some sign that this was not true.  But looking into her mother’s eyes, she knew it to be true.

                Aliana asked the Elder ”Is she the one?”

                The Elder placed the palm of her hand on Kindle’s forehead.  She read Kindle’s mind and future.  Then informed the rest of the Myriad “I am sorry.  No she is not the one.  Her child will be the one.”

                Now she knew that she was not in trouble with the Myriad.  Kindle turned her attention to her mother.

                “Who is Ryanne, Mother?”  She asked.

                Kindle watched as her mother’s head dropped.

                “It’s not a nice story, dear” was all Aliana said.

                “I don’t care mother.  Who is Ryanne?”  Kindle asked again.

Aliana chose her words carefully.

“She is you older sister.”  She told the already confused Kindle.  “Her sorcery is dark and dangerous.  She was given up at birth.  I defied the Myriad.  Ryanne was supposed to be put to death at birth, yet I took her to the Sirens in the forest instead.  I couldn’t not kill my own child”

Kindle was crying now “I have a sister and she was supposed to be put to death at birth, why?”

Aliana and tried to console her daughter by placing her hand on Kindle’s but Kindle pulled her hand away.

“I can’t believe the Myriad would allow the innocent to be put to death” Kindle said incredulously.

Aliana informed her “It was the Myriad that wanted her dead.  She is dangerous Kindle and will stop at nothing to possess the Eye of Alia”

Kindle’s head was spinning, trying to take it all in.  She had a sister?  One that was evil?  A sister who wanted the beautiful stone she had found?  It was too much for her to handle at this time.

Kindle watched as all of the Myriad left, all except her mother Aliana.  Kindle turned her attention to her mother once again.

“The one?  What does that mean?  My child?  I am not with child mother”

Aliana looking older and more drawn, patted Kindle’s hand again.  This time Kindle did not pull away.

Then Aliana spoke.

“Only the pure of heart can return the Eye of Alia back to her statue.  You may not be with child as of yet,  but when you are, you need to protect the child with your life.”

Aliana rose from her seat

“It is time for bed, let’s go home” She told Kindle.  “The stone will be safe in the temple for tonight” With that, Kindle rose from her position and followed her mother to their small cottage.