The Legend of the Euranian Stone

It was the day before Daymore and King Evan were to leave and search for the Euranian Stone. King Evan was in the castle basement, searching for a map, or directions, or something to guide them on the journey. Evan's study was where he went to spend some time alone, and he could often be found there if his family didn't know his exact location. Although he loved his wife and children dearly, he felt it necessary that he should leave them for solitude every now and then.

King Evan had thousands of books on everything there is to know. Astronomy, science, history. And local legends, but the one thing he did not posses a book about was the one thing he needed to study. More about the Euranian Stone. He tore his entire study apart and still found nothing. It was late into the evening when he came upstairs.

"It's hopeless, Daymore. It looks like we'll be doing a blind search."

The boy gave his father a pitying look.

"It's going to turn out to be a lost cause." King Evan sighed and walked off to his room, shoulders slumped and hope lost.

The next day, the pair stood outside the door to the castle. Milianna, LeVette and Aisha wept, and Kiona and Devon stood to the side sullenly. It was brighter than usual, and it surprised Daymore. He mounted his horse, and his father followed after a moment or two. The boy was happy to be leaving the gloomy realm for awhile, and he stared down at the town of Kazlas from the steep cliff where the palace was perched. The long, sloping, curvy pathway led down the cliff to a set of wrought iron gates, which would soon be opened for the king and his son to step through.

"Are you sure you don't want to take Ronald, or Mikey, or Keisha?" Milianna asked.

King Evan shook his head. "This is strictly a father and son expedition."

"Um, Father? I think you're making a big mistake," Daymore protested, recalling his dream.

"Oh am I? We should take servants?"

Daymore frowned. He couldn't believe that his father was actually listening to his opinion. "I . . . I had a dream about it, Father. The dream warned me about not taking servants with us."

King Evan stared at the boy for a minute, and then turned his horse to face his wife.

"We shall bring three servants. That stable male. . . uh, what's his name?"

"The tall, strong one? Isaiah."

"Okay," Evan said, "we'll take Isaiah, and. . . Keisha to cook for us, and. . . hmm. . ."

"What about Willie?"

"Sure."

Soon, the king and his son set off, followed by their slaves. They slowly made their way down the pathway, toward the city of Kazlas. The rising sun was peeking over the trees in the distance, giving the sky a pinkish cast. The cheers of the crowd that had gathered near the gates jerked Daymore out of his daze, and the hands of exuberant peasants lunged out at him as he rode past. When the group had reached the city limits, they stopped at a creek for a short drink, then set off again. The next time they stopped was noon, for a quick lunch and rest, and they then continued on their way.

"What do you say about looking into the legend, son?" King Evan asked, as he and his party rode into a small village.

It looked like a good source of information, and the king decided to stop there, regardless of his son's opinion.

"We'll need to find some information in order to get to the Stone, Father. So I don't see why it would hurt to see what the people here know. But uh. . . why are we looking for the Stone anyway?"

Evan ignored the question and kept his gaze fixed on the town they were approaching.

The group rode through the tiny village, looking for a good place to start asking questions. They passed houses with quaint little gardens, shops that were bustling with activity, and even a small church with elegant stained-glass windows. Eventually, they made it into the part of town that Evan had been searching for. The streets were lined with several different colored tents, and shady-looking people shuffled along the alleys. A man in a purple hood and cape glowered at them as he passed in front of their horses. He was holding a large package that was wrapped in silver paper, and his pockets jingled with change.

Finally, they came to a tent that was made of pink satin. The sign above the door read:

Madam Zelda

Fortuneteller Extraordinaire

Daymore and his father dismounted their horses, and the king ordered that the servants stay behind while they entered the tent. Evan pulled back the flap door, and the prince stepped inside.

"Welcome! Welcome! I am Madam Zelda. What are you boys here for?"

The question had been asked by a middle-aged woman with dark, curly hair and bright hazel eyes. She was dressed in a white blouse and a dark green silk skirt adorned with a gold belt. She had a bandanna tying back her hair, and she was barefoot. The woman wore ten or fifteen gold bracelets on each of her wrists, and they jangled as she moved.

Madam Zelda sank into a chair behind a round table draped in purple silk.

"We're here to learn about the Euranian Stone," Evan said, letting the tent fabric fall from his grasp.

Madam Zelda doused the candle that had been illuminating the room, and placed her hands upon her crystal ball. It began to glow, and Daymore watched in amazement as the ball filled with what looked like gray clouds.

The clouds began to swirl around, and Madam Zelda said, "What do you boys see for your futures?"

She stared into the crystal ball for a moment or two. Apparently, gypsies had no regard for royalty.

"Madam Zelda, I don't know if you heard my father or not, but we are looking for the Euranian Stone. We need some information on it," Daymore said, skeptically.

"Ahh. . . the adventurous type. Sit down, sit down!"

King Evan took a seat across from Madam Zelda, and she closed her eyes.

"Mm. . . I see uncertainty in your future," the woman said, mystically.

Her hands were surrounding the crystal ball, and it looked to Daymore as if she hadn't cut her nails in months.

"I see magic. Powerful magic, and it's at your fingertips. . . but oh! You cannot grasp it. It gets away from you. I see a very dark future coming for you. A dark one indeed." Madam Zelda opened her eyes and said, "Now let me read your palm to make sure."

King Evan held out his hand, palm up.

"Hmm. . . you're end isn't too far away. You will be killed by someone you love. Hmm. . . it seems that you're a deceiver, sir. You have gained many friends, as well as many enemies through treachery and dishonesty. I see an evil plot unwinding in you future. But. . . even your palm is mysterious. It refuses to tell me much else about you."

She let go of the king's hand, and Daymore took his father's place at the table.

He grinned. Daymore was excited about knowing what was in his future.

Madam Zelda turned back to her crystal ball. "I see. . . I see. . . oh dear! I can't see anything of your future! There is power blocking the stars. I can't read anything about you!"

Daymore's mouth fell open in disappointment.

"Wait, let us try again."

This time, the crystal ball went cloudy, and then started to glow red. Madam Zelda gasped in surprise.

"Oh my. Oh my! Get out of here! Off with you! Immediately!" she cried.

"What's the matter?" King Evan demanded.

"He's a demon! The boy is a demon!"

"He is not! He's ---"

"Get out!"

The woman shooed father and son out of her tent.

"Can't you at least read my palm or something?" Daymore begged.

"No. . . no! Just. . . that'll be twenty in gold, please."

"What?!"

King Evan was outraged. The gypsy's hand was shaking as she held it out for her payment.

"But you didn't even tell us what we wanted to know!" Daymore shouted.

"Fine. The Euranian Stone. What do you wish to know?"

"Where it's hidden," Evan replied.

Madam Zelda swallowed and took a deep breath. She kept her distance from the prince.

"Okay. . . okay. . . It's concealed deep in the jungles of Mitania: Land of Mystics, the island off the coast of Eurania. You'll have to ward off ugly, hideous creatures, and mermaids will seduce you. The Stone is hidden in a shrine called the Temple of Teconohuan. It is supposedly guarded by a pair of the dreaded Black-Nose Dragons. It's a dangerous trip. And there is said to be so many traps in the temple, you might never get out alive! I suggest you turn around now and go home, while you still have the chance."

King Evan gave the woman a glare. "We are not turning around. We can handle it. If, that is, we can trust that what you just said is true."

"I would swear my life on it," Zelda said, holding her palms up. "Now where's my twenty pence?"

King Evan shifted his weight onto one leg.

"Hand it over! Or, you can always pay me . . . the other way."

The gypsy sent Evan a seductive look. He knew what it meant, of course, and he was certainly not going to lie with that wretch. He paid her reluctantly, and the party moved on.

It was now almost dusk. The sky was a bright orange near the horizon, and it faded into deep blue.

"We need to find somewhere to spend the night, Father," Daymore said.

The king agreed. Eventually, the group came across a cave, and Evan decided that it would do for one night. Everyone went inside to inspect their new dwelling. The cave was a bit damp and smelled of animals, but they would have to make due. The servants set up the camp while Daymore and King Evan supervised. The prince helped once in a while with the permission of his father. Finally, when everything was situated, Keisha began the job of preparing the evening meal. It consisted of some herbs she had picked while the men had been setting up, and the fish that Willie had caught in the stream nearby.

"Father? Why did Madam Zelda call me a demon?" Daymore asked, as they were eating.

"It was nonsense, dear son. That woman was absurd. Just plain nonsense. Now forget about it and finish eating."

"What did she mean by telling you that you'll be killed by someone you love? And what of all that stuff on dishonesty and trust?"

"'Stuff,' Daymore, is not a proper word for a prince."

"Sorry."

"And who knows? It might be true," the king remarked, and then took a large bite out of his fish sandwich.

"But you've never deceived anyone, Father," Daymore said, confused.

Little you know, Evan thought. But he didn't let his son know what he was thinking. Instead, he said, "For the final time, Daymore. Finish your supper."

The prince caught the hint and did as he was told. He didn't ask another question the rest of the evening. . .

That night, when the fire had been put out and as King Evan and Prince Daymore lay on a blanket, moans could be heard throughout the cave. Daymore sat up.

"Ghosts! Father, it's ghosts!" the boy cried.

Evan sighed. "I fear we are in for it," he mumbled, sitting up.

Suddenly, Willie appeared out of the darkness. "Master, Your Highness. Isaiah is talkin' about ghosts, sir. He says some people were torched to death a long time ago in this here cave."

Daymore listened to the howling of the spirits. He lay down and pulled his pillow over his head to drown out the noise. It didn't help.

"I can't sleep, Your Majesty," Willie went on. "I just can't. And all o' them moans and groans are makin' it worse!"

King Evan sighed, and finally, Daymore couldn't stand it any longer. He sat up and groped around in the dark. His fingers brushed something cold and hard, and the boy's hand closed around it. He stood and hurled the rock at the wall of the cave. It made a loud sound, and the moans stopped.

"Shut up!" Daymore cried. His unchanged boy's voice echoed through the cave.

There were some rustling and whooshing noises, and then all fell silent and hushed again.

"You're a very clever boy, Young Master. Thank you, Your Highness." Willie bowed, and returned to his bed.

King Evan then turned to his son. "I hope you didn't hurt anyone when you threw that rock."

Daymore giggled.

"I told you bringing servants along would be nothing but trouble. All they do is complain and stir things up."

Daymore groaned. "They'll be needed," he said, after a while. And with that, the party settled down for a night's rest. . .

* * * * *

Griffin had stayed with the Royal Family of Rainbow Valley for almost three months courting King Raymond's daughter, and he was glad that he was now home. He had already given his mother the precious jewel he had bought her, and she had thanked him for being so responsible and considerate. Griffin told stories of his love for Jezebelle to the stable boys his age, and he described the Dream Palace in great detail to his family and friends. He had just gotten to know his way around right before he had had to leave. Griffin vowed that he would visit again soon, but Jezebelle made him promise that he would write to her in the meantime.

Today was a different kind of day. It was noisier than usual. Griffin happened to be out in the stables, and he was watching as a stable boy attempted to saddle a pair of the great Winter Plains Percherons. Griffin laughed at this, and then helped the small boy. Two knights, armed with bows and arrows, mounted the horses.

"Where are you going?" Griffin asked.

"Oh! Prince Griffin! Does your father know you're out here?"

"Yes, he does. And so does Mother. But where are you headed off to?"

"We're going to hunt mink. Queen Nancy and Princess Lilaina would like new fur coats."

"Oh. Well. . . do you think I could come along?"

The knights exchanged wary glances, and the lieutenant finally responded.

"The wilderness is really no place for a prince. Your mother and father would not wish for you to come. You might get hurt or lost."

"Oh, come on! I won't be any trouble! And you guys are knights in Father's army! A division of the most powerful army in Eurania! You'd be able to look out for me!"

The sergeant gave Griffin a debating look, and then pulled him onto his horse. The lieutenant sent a messenger to tell King Homer that Griffin was going on the hunt.

"I've never seen a mink before," Griffin admitted, as the party rode out of the town and into the forest. "They're white, aren't they? Their fur sure would make a pretty coat!"

Prince Griffin chattered on and on during the ride. The knights dismounted when they thought they found a considerably decent spot and grabbed their weapons. Griffin followed.

"When are we going to see a mink? Aren't they rare? They'll be hard to see in this blizzard!"

The sergeant leaned over and whispered to his officer. "Is this kid always like this?"

The lieutenant replied, "Nah. He's usually pretty quiet. Maybe he's just excited."

They continued the hunt.

When they saw the first mink, the lieutenant aimed, but Griffin said, "Oh, you see one?! Where? Where?!"

The animal heard the exclamation, and darted off, causing the knight to miss his target. He went to retrieve his arrow, and the sergeant turned to face the young prince at his side.

"You need to be quiet, Prince," he said, his voice sharp. "Otherwise, we won't be able to catch a thing."

Griffin nodded, and followed the knights to a different spot.

At the end of the day, the knights had caught a total of ten or twelve mink, missing the other twenty they had seen because of Griffin. The two men were disappointed with their hunt, and angry with the boy. They declared that they had taken the prince on a mission for the last time. . .

* * * * *

The next morning, King Evan and his crew set out. They headed for the exit of the cave, and suddenly, a rumbling sound could be heard. Then, the ground began to shake.

"An earthquake, Father!" Prince Daymore shouted. They all mounted their horses and galloped toward the exit, but the roof of the cave collapsed inward suddenly. Fallen rocks blocked off the gateway to outdoors.

"We're trapped? Oh, we're trapped! I'm claustrophobic! This isn't good! Not good at all!" Keisha cried.

She sat down and began to take deep, cleansing breaths. King Evan swore under his breath as he lifted a rock.

"Father! My dream. My dream! This is why we brought servants! Many hands makes light work!"

The king looked at his son suspiciously, and then continued his work, joined by Isaiah, Willie and Daymore. . .

* * * * *

"Oh, I miss Griffin terribly!" Princess Jezebelle cried.

She was writing a letter to him at the desk in her room. Princess Amariah was sitting nearby in case her sister needed her help with spelling or grammar. Amariah's parents and siblings often called her the "human dictionary."

"Well, when is the next time he's coming to visit?" the eldest princess asked, adjusting her skirt and folding her hands in her lap.

"Soon. All he said was soon. He'll see me soon, he'll come again soon. When is soon?!"

Amariah sighed. "That can't be explained, sister."

The two were silent a while until Jezebelle finished her letter to Griffin.

"Is he the one you want to marry?" Princess Amariah asked, after reading the letter over.

Jezebelle only nodded.

"I shan't marry," Amariah said, standing up.

"Why not?" her sister questioned, tying the parchment to the leg of a magnificent bald eagle.

"Not a single man in this realm wants me as his wife, and I don't wish to marry."

Jezebelle fell quiet, then said, "Well, I heard Mother talking with Father, and they said that they should acquaint you with a prince named Deatrick from Autumn Springs."

"I don't want to meet him, Jezebelle. You just don't understand."

And with that, Amariah fled from the room, her dress and hair billowing behind her.

Why does no one understand? thought Amariah. Why do Mother and Father want me married off so quickly? I want to be queen of the Light Realm! Do they not think I can handle it? And I don't want an overbearing husband around to tell me what to do. I don't want to become someone else's property. Like a slave or something.

She headed downstairs and looked around for her mother. When she found Queen Maria, she sat down to have a talk with her about marriage. . .

* * * * *

It was almost dusk by the time King Evan Spencer and his crew got outside the cave. Evan was in a sour mood because they had wasted a day's valuable time.

"Look on the bright side, Father," Daymore said. "If we didn't have servants with us, we would still be back in that old cave, moving rocks!"

"I'm glad you're so optimistic," the king mumbled.

As they rode on, King Evan thought of the things they had gone through already. Ghosts. Earthquakes. Madam Zelda. . . . King Evan smirked at the thought.

"Son? Do you still want gypsy concubines after meeting Madam Zelda?"

Daymore gave his father an odd look, then said, "Not a chance, Father. Not a chance."

King Evan found that he was pleased with his son's decision, and settled himself on the thought of once again pushing the prospect of Daymore's possible marriage to Princess Tanea. As they rode on, Evan realized that this journey could turn out to be a major life lesson for young Daymore. . .