The Sword and the Seven Stones
Diamond
Other Books by Karen Rouillard:
Stasha’s Legacy Series
Stasha’s Cure
Franny’s Way
A Mother’s Love
Non- Series
Being Alive
Non- Fiction
Surviving Parenthood
The Sword and the Seven Stones
Diamond
Sword and Stones Series
By
Karen Rouillard
Copyright 2015 by Karen Rouillard
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2015 by Karen Rouillard
Cover design by: Book Cover by Design
P.A: Scottia Rapp
Proof and Editing: RL Freelance Publishing
Photography: Chelsea Wilcox (Snapshots of Time)
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.
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To my son Levis
You gave me the opportunity to take the story you started and
bring it to life.
I love you
She stood on the mountain top and watched in horror, tears falling down her cheeks. Walls were being built, people being separated. Families crying out for others who they would see no more. What was to come of Aries? Ashma turned and walked away. She could not stop was to become.
Chapter 1
Summer Solstice
Alman had this conversation with his father once before and he knew that it wasn’t going over well now. It wasn’t easy trying to converse with a King. “You want to do what?” his father shouted at him. “No one in the Kingdom has ventured through that part of our land.” His father walked over to the window. From his private quarters he had the best view of his kingdom. The village below to the mountains in the distance. Turning to his only son, he tried to figure out what was going through his head. Could it have to do with the passing of his mother? No, it couldn’t be. She had been gone for two years now. “Father, I will bring an army of men with me if that makes it any better. Alman watched as his father took a seat behind his desk. The weather was getting worse outside. The storm started to roll in just after noon. Now the skies were dark and the lightening spiked down. The rain was hitting the windows from the gusts of wind that seemed to get stronger with each passing hour. Nicholis looked at his son. “I forbid you to go. Not another word.” when he saw Alman was about to say something else, he held up his hand and stopped him. “Now leave me. I have work to do.” With the end of the conversation, a clap of thunder shook the castle walls. Alman got up from his seat. “I didn’t come here for your permission. I came here to tell you that I’m going.” With that, Alman walked out of the room. Nicholis sat back and watched as his son left. No one in the history of Maramar had ever ventured to that part of the kingdom. He threw his quill down and yelled for Gavin, his right hand man. Gavin heard the shout from the staircase and walked into the room. “Did I hear someone calling my name?” he said with a smile on his face. He took the chair that Alman had just vacated and waited to see what his majesty wanted from him today. “I need you to follow Alman. He has this idea to go to the west mountain.” Gavin shook his head when he heard this. He knew why Alman wanted to go there. He had been trying to show his father that he was a man now for the last year. Unfortunately, his father was King first, then father. Gavin looked at his friend. “You know what you have to do, don’t you?” Nicholis looked at his friend who had been by his side since they were babies. “Gavin, he is not ready yet. When he is, then I will make him King.” Gavin stood up. “There may not be enough time for that.” Nicholis looked at his friend. “I know but he doesn’t need to know right know. There is still time.” As Gavin left, he hoped for his friend’s sake that there was enough time.
Alman got back to his room. Another loud clap of thunder shook the walls again. It seemed to get stronger with each one. He thought to leave in the morning but now with the way his father acted, he decided to leave right away. He swung the bag over his shoulder and left the room. He went down the service stairs and out through the kitchen. As he did, he filled a bag full of food because he knew it could take days to get there. As he left the kitchen, the stables were only a short walk from there. Walking into the stables, the stable boy rushed over to get his horse ready for him. He liked Alman. He was pretty good to him. “Here he is, sir,” He said to Alman as he brought his horse out of the stall for him. Alman threw a couple coins in the air and the boy caught them and smiled. Alman mounted his horse and nudged him with his knees. It didn’t take long after they were out of the stable and onto the road that would take them into the village.
It all began two weeks before. They went into the village because Harry wanted to go see his girlfriend and since he had nothing better to do, he went along. They tied their horses and Harry took a walk over to the water hole. A pretty girl smiled as soon as she saw him. Alman decided to walk down to the market to see if any of the craftsman had any new things displayed. As he walked by the blacksmith shop, he noticed someone new standing there. He held a piece of iron with prongs and placed it into the coals. “Hello there,” Alman said to the man. As he got closer, he realized that the man was very old. The way he handled the hammer and used the fire, Alman knew he must have been blacksmithing for most of his life. “You’re new here. What is your name?” The old man turned and looked at the boy who stood in front of him. “My name is Ishma. You are the reason I am here.” He turned and walked over to the table and picked up the piece of leather that lay there behind him. Alman followed him out of curiosity. As he watched, the old man unveiled what was hidden in the wrap. Alman felt a sense of calm come over him. The old man’s hands pulled back the worn leather and Alman looked down at the most beautiful sword that he had ever seen. Trailing his fingers over the hilt. The detail in the craftsmanship was something to envy. As his fingers crossed the stone, the diamond shone bright for an instant, then faded out. The old man smiled and then held the sword up. The steel gleamed. Alman took the sword from the blacksmith and he would have sworn it was made perfectly for him. The weight was precise and the swing was good. “How much for the sword, blacksmith?” The old man looked at the sword, then back at Alman. “This sword can be yours for free but it comes with a price. If you commit to the price then the sword is yours.” Alman looked at the fine details interlaid in the steel. “How can it be free if the
re is a price, old man?” The blacksmith came around the table and leaned against it. “Bring me back an almond sapling from the clearing in the west forest by the new moon.” Alman heard the stories of the west forest and knew that most men were afraid to go there but for this sword, Alman would do anything. “Once I commit to the deal, the sword is mine then?” The old man nodded and Alman put the sword in the wrap and shook the blacksmith’s hand. “Then I commit to the deal.” The old man went over to the coals and took the poker to them. “You will go through many trials when you search for the thing that you need. You must conquer them all to save those around you. Alman looked down at the wrapped leather, then looked up to see that the man was gone. Alman tucked the sword under his arm and looked around. He was standing in front of the only door to go out of, so the old man had to be in here somewhere. He looked in each room but no one. The blacksmith’s dwelling was only three rooms plus the outside lean-to for working. The walls were done with river stone and clay. All the houses in the village were built in the same technique. He came out of one room and turned around quickly at the sound behind him. “Hello Sir, is there anything that I can do for you?” Burtis stood there in his apron holding the shoes in his hand that he had taken off one of the horses in the stalls behind him. “Burtis, did you see the older man I was just talking to? The new blacksmith. Burtis looked at him a little strange. Had he been into the cups already? It was past noon. “Sir, I am the only one here. Does your horse need to be done?” Burtis put the shoes down on the wood table. He would always do Alman’s horse first. He was the King’s son. Alman put his hand up. “My horse is fine. Never mind, Burtis.” Alman walked out of the smith’s shed and back to the water hole. Harry and the girl were still sitting there. He nodded to Harry when he finally got his attention. Harry kissed the girl’s cheek quickly and then ran over to him. “Let’s go get a cup and some food, then head back to the castle.” They walked into the meeting place and sat down. It wasn’t long before they were served by a beautiful waitress who tried to get Alman’s attention. Harry just laughed and took a drink. Alman looked at him. He lowered his voice almost to a whisper. “I went into the blacksmith’s just now and talked to an old man there. I didn’t realize Burtis had someone new working there. This guy pulls out a beautiful sword and told me that if I went into the west forest, and brought something back, I could have the sword. I shook with him that I would, because Harry, you haven’t seen a sword like this.” He took a drink of his beer. “I turned around for less than a minute, then looked back. Harry, the guy was gone.” He told Harry how he searched the whole place and he wasn’t to be found. Harry thought the best thing they could do at that moment was to get Alman and the sword out of this place. If anyone were to overhear them, they could get ambushed after they leave. He said as such to Alman so they left the pub and got on their horses.
Soon as they got back to the palace, Harry followed him up to his room. They shut the door as soon as they were there. The fire in the fireplace kept the room comfortable, with the dampness from the mist that occurred almost daily. Placing it on the table, Alman unwrapped the leather. Harry reached his hand out to touch it but before he could, Alman grabbed his arm. Harry looked up into his friend’s eyes and noticed something strange about them.
“What happened to you while you were gone?” Harry pulled his arm from Alman’s grasp. Alman looked down to see that he was holding Harry’s arm, then let go of it. “I just went up the street to the blacksmith’s, got this, and then came back.” He walked over to the window.” I’m going to the west forest, Harry. You coming with me?” Harry and Alman had been friends since birth. Harry’s mother was best friends with Alman’s mother and Harry lived at court with them since his birth.
The rain was coming down hard as he thought back to what his father said and what happened two weeks ago. He knew this time, like so many others, he would disobey his father. This time it wasn’t out of fun though. This was out of need. There was something inside him that was letting him out of this. As the storm rolled over their heads, their horses spraying mud behind them, Harry and Alman knew that the travel will not be easy but Alman knew he committed himself to a higher force and he knew that he couldn’t turn back now.