

Jade

Out of the Ashes

by Angela Schroeder

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 ANGELA SCHROEDER

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.
JADE

Copyright © 2015 ANGELA SCHROEDER

ISBN: 978-1-942246-43-5

Cover Art by P.S. Cover Design

To my children who never once complained when I would take fairy tales and twist them around into my own stories.

# PROLOGUE

Like grains of sand through her fingers it was all slipping away now. Everything that she had strived for. All that she had known. The only love she ever had was being ripped away from her, and for what? What cause was there to this madness? It was as if society had lost all hold on what is good and pure. They had been corrupted. A world she longed to be a part of, but was kept from most of her life, had proven to be one she should have continued to avoid.

Tears slipped down her dirt-streaked face. She rubbed at her raw and bloody wrists. It was hard to believe that just a few days ago everything had seemed perfect. Her entire world had been like a field of flowers. Now, well now she sat on the dirt floor locked away, waiting for them to come back for her. Why had she left her home? She had been safe. Hidden away from the world, she knew happiness.

Voices echoed from the other side of the door.

"When will they come for her?"

She slid closer to the door to press her ear to it.

"Sunrise."

"They're not wasting any time then?"

"The square is ready for her."

"No trial?" That voice, even in its muffled state, seemed so familiar to her.

"She was seen. There is no need for a trial."

"There is always a need for justice." The sound of footsteps came closer to the door causing her to want to draw away from it. She forced herself to stay where she was. She had to know her fate.

"To send her to certain death is wrong. How can this be considered right?"

She knew that voice! Her heart ached. In the dim light she looked down at her wrists to see where the ropes and shackles had cut through her skin. The cuts were now covered with dried blood and dirt. If she closed her eyes she could escape here. She could go back to where she belonged. Perhaps she had been hidden away but she had been safe.

"There is nothing that can be done." The second voice came from the other side of the door.

"There is always something that can be done so long as there is someone willing to do it."

Footfalls fell away from the door until she could no longer hear them. Closing her eyes tighter, she allowed herself to fall against the wall. Safety, she needed to be safe. It could be found again; certainly she wasn't truly lost. At least not until the morning. If she would meet her end then the least she could do now was relive her beginning.

# CHAPTER ONE

The wind lifted her long dark hair off her back whipping the tendrils around her face. Arms thrown wide she spun around in the open field before collapsing onto the ground to look up at the bright blue sky. Shielding her eyes with one arm she looked up at the clouds picking out shapes in them.

"Jade! Stop day dreaming and get your work done." The booming voice of the older woman brought her back to reality. She picked herself up from the ground and wiped the grass off her skirt.

"Coming!" she called as she headed away from the edge of the woods. The woods that she was forbidden to enter. Often she had found herself thinking about what was beyond those woods. Stephen went into the woods to go hunting or to go to the village. He would always bring something back for her along with the things that they needed here at the cottage.

When she turned fifteen she had begged to go along with him, explaining that she would be able to help bring things back. She could help take what they had to trade. But Mona had forbidden it. Danger was beyond their fields. Danger that was waiting, lurking, and ready to pounce upon her.

She finally reached the barn and walked around the chicken coop. Picking up a basket, she slipped through the door and began to collect eggs. What they did not use Stephen would take to the village. Mona would bake and he would take her things in as well. With all the eggs collected, she walked into the dim house. After setting the basket down she threw open the windows to allow some light and fresh air in where Mona was already working in the kitchen.

"Finish the sewin'," Mona ordered her.

In silence Jade picked up the sewing and took it to the doorway. She sat down and started stitching together the pieces of the beautiful silk gown. The feel of the green silk was cool against her hands, a nice contrast to the heat that was coming from the kitchen. Mona had stoked the fire hot to bake. With the sun warming the house and the heat coming from the stove, the breeze and the silk were a nice welcome of cool.

Jade spent the remainder of the day bent over the delicate material, stitching together the pieces. Near dusk she looked up from the cloth to see Stephen step out of the woods. As he came closer to the house she could see the mess of fish that he had caught.

He stopped about six feet downwind of the house, pulled out a knife, and began preparing the fish to be cooked for dinner. "Wanna help, wee one?" He grinned at her.

"If you want to finish this dress." She offered a smile in return.

"Don't think Mona would want me near that fancy thing." His attention went back to the fish and he lopped off another head.

Setting aside her sewing she walked over to him and sat on the ground. "Can I go with you this week?" The words were a whisper in the hopes that Mona would not hear. "It has been three years since I last asked. Certainly I can go now?"

"I'm not the one to be asking." He glanced up then quickly turned his head back to the fish.

"Askin' 'bout what?" Mona's voice came from behind her.

Jade turned to face her. Mona had to be near sixty years old. Her face was weathered by the elements and her hair had turned gray with time. Dull blue eyes peered at her.

"We have more than the usual amount of items for Stephen to take to trade. I was offering my help. I'm eighteen now and I can do more than just help around here."

A scowl crossed Mona's face. "No. You've no clue what is out there. You stay here. It is where you belong. Safe, safe from them..." A cloud seemed to shift over Mona's eyes.

"Who?" Jade could hear the puzzlement in her own voice.

"All of 'em. Long ago, times were different. Safer. Then the world fell into chaos."

"Stephen goes out all the time. Surely it cannot be so bad."

"Are you forgettin' what happened to your parents?" Mona's voice grew colder, stiffer. "They never returned for you because of what is out there. They would want you to be safe. To be here. You're not goin' to leave this place. I won't hear of it."

"Yes, Mona." Feeling defeated, her shoulders slumped as she took her seat back at the doorstep. She would finish this dress and the other silk gown before Stephen left to go to the village. She moved out of the doorway to allow Stephen to go in with the fish.

After a simple dinner of bread and fish Jade resumed her sewing knowing that Stephen would have to take these orders into town soon. As the sun sank into the horizon coloring the world wonderful hues of pink, red, purple, and gold, Jade glanced longingly toward the woods. Someday she would know what was beyond them. She would know what happened to her parents. Mona never went into detail about why they had not returned. Stephen brought a lantern to her side so she could see as she finished sewing.

****

In the middle of the night she woke in a cold sweat having had the same nightmare she always had. In it her parents were calling out to her, trying to reach her, but a fire and a mob of people separated them. Her eyes darted around the dark room in the attic. After finding a match, she flicked it until a tiny flame appeared then used it to light the lantern by her bed.

It was coming; she could feel it. She slipped out of her bed then picked up a skirt and pulled it on. The knife strapped to her thigh was still there, a constant protection. It had been a birthday gift from Stephen the day she turned fifteen. He had taught her how to throw it with deadly accuracy. She yanked her long dark hair up then wrapped some cloth around it to hold it out of her face and hurried down the stairs. She knocked on Stephen's door as she passed.

"What is it, wee one?" his sleep-filled voice questioned as he opened the door but she was already on her way outside. Heavy footfalls sounded on the wooden floor behind her. "What?"

"It's coming."

"Jade?" Mona's voice croaked at her as she reached the door. She turned to see the old woman standing in her nightgown with a shawl wrapped around her.

"It will be here soon. We have to get the animals to safety."

She rushed out of the house into the dark night, the lantern casting shadows in front of her. Once in the barn she pulled open the door to the underground room. The cows protested loudly as she lured them down the ramp into the large room. "Come my sweets. Come along," she crooned to them. The little calf darted behind her nearly causing her to topple over.

With the cows safely underground she rushed back up to the get the chickens. Stephen was bringing down the one horse they owned. Tucking herself out of his way she noticed a light shining through a crack under a doorway. _Mona must be in the tunnel that leads to the house._ Just as the last of the animals were herded down to safety fat drops of rain began to fall in sheets from the sky.

Jade closed the doors to the barn and ran to the house. In her attic bedroom she grabbed her bag with her most precious items and a blanket. Lightning brightened the sky as thunder shook the house. The wind howled, causing the shutters to bang against the walls. At the window she allowed the wind to rip her hair free of its bonds. When the sky lightened again she saw it. The finger reaching from the clouds down to the ground. Two of them, seemingly dancing around each other. Entranced with their movement she let out a yelp when a pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Stephen barked at her.

He pulled her down the stairs and into the cellar. A lantern cast a soft glow, illuminating the dark room. If it were not for the fact that they were here to seek shelter from the storm that was destroying the land she would have been able to find comfort here. The walls and floor were of brick. She remembered Mona telling her when she was much younger that this place was where she played when she was a little girl. That was before everything changed. Mona claimed that the world had grown violent. They now lived as outcasts, hidden from the cruelty of the world — the cruel world that had persecuted people for not believing what society told them to believe.

It had all started before Mona was even born. Certain children were not allowed to go to school. They had been turned away, told that they were not welcome there. Mona had never made it to school. By the time Jade was born her family had sought refuge here. The way that Mona told stories though the world had once been beautiful. She told of taking trips through the woods to see buildings filled with light that held no fire. Water that came directly inside with the turn of a knob.

Her mother had been taken away on one of those trips though. Taken and never returned. Mona had only spoken of it once but her words echoed in Jade's head on nights like this. _They saw she was special. Monsters, all of 'em. They stole her from me because she knew. She knew things they didn't. Like you._

Jade shook off the memories of Mona's words and picked up a book that was worn with age. She and Stephen had both learned to read. Mona had insisted that they learn as much as they could so if they ever had to face anyone from the other side of the woods they would not be ignorant. She read through the pages of the old book reading about the history of their people. Jade loved reading about television and tried hard to imagine what it would be like to see moving pictures inside a box. It all seemed like a fairy tale to her but she would venture out someday to see if these things still existed.

Closing the book she stood and stretched. "I'm going to check on the animals. The worst of it is over."

"I'll go up and check on things outside then," Stephen answered then left the room going up into the house as Jade went into the tunnel that led to the stables.

# CHAPTER TWO

Her feet sloshed in large puddles when she finally stepped out into the world. Everything was thrown into blackness. The only light came from the occasional flashes of lightning and the lantern she held. Despite the fact that the lantern did not illuminate much, Jade could tell there was a great deal of damage. "It can wait until light."

She sighed and walked into the house, crying out in pain when a piece of broken glass sliced the tender flesh of her foot. She hobbled across the floor to sit in a chair. With her foot pulled onto her knee she found the offensive shard and pulled it out of her instep then found a piece of fabric and wrapped it around her foot. Mona swept up the glass while Stephen located the branch that had crashed through the window and took it back outside.

"Sleep now. We'll talk in the mornin'." Mona patted the top of Jade's dark head and walked away to her own room. Stephen disappeared to his room not long after, leaving Jade alone. The darkness felt peaceful despite the chaos that had just ripped through the place.

As she climbed the stairs to her attic room she ran her fingers through her tangled hair. Plopping down on her mattress she set her bag down then pulled out her brush. It had belonged to her mother, or so Mona had told her. After pulling it through the snares of her hair countless times she soon had the long tresses smoothed down and braided. Even with her hair braided it still reached her waist. Mona had told her that her hair was her one true beauty. That it should never be cut.

Pulling her feet underneath her she looked up to the ceiling to see that there was a hole in the roof. Clouds parted and stars shone down on her, letting her know that no matter how dark it seemed she was not alone. Her parents were watching her. They had become the light that shined down on her during dark nights.

Lying down on the bed she kept her eyes on the stars that twinkled and danced in the sky for her alone. She found herself wondering, not for the first time, what it would be like to get away from here. She wanted to see the things that Stephen told to her in secret. How lights came on with the flick of a switch. Carriages moved on their own without a horse. Stephen had seen the horseless carriages when he had gone to the large city. It had taken him such a long time to get there and back but he had made the trip to get medication because Jade had been ill.

As she thought upon the things Stephen told her when Mona was not around she noticed the sky was beginning to brighten. With a yawn she sat up and changed the bandage on her foot then went down to the kitchen. She lit the stove and fried up some eggs and potatoes for breakfast. The table was set with the food on it when Mona and Stephen entered the room. Jade had cleaned up the room while waiting for them.

"There's a hole in the roof," she said as she took her seat at the table. Mona shot a look of disapproval at her. "It needs to be fixed."

"It will be, wee one. I've gotta look around to see what else needs done." Stephen speared some food with his fork.

"These knowin's of yours are gettin' more accurate." Mona quirked an eyebrow up at her.

"I can't help it. I woke up feeling that it was almost here. I don't know how to stop it." Shame filled her; she always felt bad when something happened and she knew ahead of time.

"Ain't nothin' you can do. It is a gift, though some will see it as a curse. This is why you must stay here. You cannot leave this place. Danger lingers out there." The old woman jabbed her fork toward the doorway of the house."

"I know Mona, you remind me every time I ask to go with Stephen. Nobody needs to know." She heard the pleading in her voice.

"You will not end up like your mother. You stay here." Mona dropped her fork onto her empty plate and walked away from the table.

****

The barn was a mess and the chicken coop had disappeared into the storm. As a result Stephen spent the majority of the morning building a new one. The end of the day brought with it the cool of night though Stephen refused to go to bed. He climbed onto the roof in the dim light with tools and some wood to fix the hole. Jade found a spot on the ground and lay down with her hands propped behind her head. She watched him move around the roof, and found herself singing as she watched him.

Broad shoulders strained against his dirty shirt. Golden strands of hair clung to his sweaty forehead. She knew his light blue eyes would hold a hint of a smile even though he was working hard. Jade felt lucky to have grown up with him. She wondered if other men were as handsome as the man she claimed for a brother.

Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her side and she heard a crash and scream come from the roof. Her eyes shot back to where Stephen had been. He was no longer there. Jumping up from her spot she heard Mona yell from inside the house. Dread filled her as she ran into the house. She followed the sound of Mona's sobs until she found Stephen lying on the floor surrounded by broken bits of wood. It was the large piece of wood that was sticking through his stomach that caused her to force back a sob.

The world felt like it was going to spin around her and the wind picked up as she swayed back and forth. Pulling herself together she rushed to his side. The frantic beating of her heart echoed loudly in her ears.

"Stephen?" she whispered through the roaring of the wind overhead, her hair whipping around her.

"Shhh." His hand reached up and lifted a bit of her hair. "It will be alright. Calm yourself my wee one."

Forcing her breathing to slow, her heart began to beat normally once again. The wind suddenly dropped back to the cool breeze it had been. "What can I do?" She blinked back the tears as she took in the sight of his blood-soaked shirt.

"Get the sewing basket and the water I had ready for the baths." Mona barked out the order.

Jade ran through the house getting what she was told to bring. She found that Mona had managed to get Stephen to his own room through a combination of dragging and him trying to slide. The trail of blood on the floor testified to how quickly they needed to act.

"Give it here. Start a fire." Mona did not slow as she moved faster than Jade had ever seen. With a fire going in the fireplace she turned to see that Mona had a cloth in one hand. A needle had been threaded and was lying on the table.

Jade rushed over to Stephen's side. Since he mumbled she could not hear so she leaned her ear down to his lips and he repeated himself. "The map in the hollow." She nodded then pressed her lips to his forehead.

"Hold him down." Mona gripped the wood that was still imbedded in him. Jade placed a hand on each of his shoulders and pushed down. With a smooth, quick movement Mona had the piece of wood out and a rag pressed against the wound that now gushed forth blood. Stephen screamed out in pain before falling motionless against the bed.

"Hold this."

Jade reached over and applied pressure to the wound. Mona readied the water and needle. The old woman brushed away Jade's hand and washed out the wound then started sewing.

"Stay holdin' him down 'til I tell ya to move."

Jade nodded as she watched Mona whipstitch the skin back together rapidly. Stopping the bleeding where she sewed. They had to roll him over so Mona could sew up the other side. By the time the wound was closed the mattress where Stephen now lay was covered in blood on the one side. Jade looked down at her red hands and shook her head back and forth.

"Will he be alright?" It came out a whisper. Mona did not answer her. "Will he die?" she asked more forcefully.

"Probably. Don't know if all the dirt and wood was out, if it punctured anythin' on the inside."

"How can you sit there so calmly?" Jade pushed herself up to her feet and paced the floor. "What can we do?"

"I don't know. The medications we have here won't help him if he makes it through the night."

"What will help him?" Her hands shook as she looked down at the only friend she had ever known.

"They say there are people in the city. People who can fix things like this."

"Then we take him to the city." Jade reached into the drawer and began to pull out some of Stephen's clothes. He would need something to keep him warm on their journey.

"Foolish girl!" Mona's eyes sparked with fire. "He will not make the journey."

"Then I will bring one of those men here."

"No, this place must remain a secret, hidden from the outside." Mona stamped her foot on the floor. "You will NOT bring the outside here."

"I have to do something!" Jade raised her voice at Mona for the first time in her life and the second that she did a hand stung her face. With wide eyes she looked at the old woman who had raised her. "You would sentence him to death to keep your home a secret?"

"Stephen knows. This is right. You cannot be found." She stepped closer to Jade, causing her to shrink back. "He would sacrifice himself for your life. This is as it should be. Out there you would only join him. If he is to die, he will die here having protected his family." Mona stormed out of the room.

Jade thrust her blood-soaked hands into the basin of water and scrubbed until they were clean. She dried them on the back of her shirt then turned back to the mattress that Stephen was on. His breathing was slow. Kneeling on the floor she prayed asking for his life to be spared. Begging for him to survive. Hours passed with her falling in and out of sleep.

"Wee one..." Her head jerked up and her eyes flew open at the raspy voice.

"I'm here. What do you need?" She grasped his hand.

"Listen, go to the hollow. Leave this place."

"I'll bring someone back for you."

"There's not enough time. In the hollow you will find what you need. Go to the city." He coughed causing the bed to shake. "I will not make it to the dawn. But you will not be her weapon. Escape this place now."

"I cannot leave you." She clung to his cold hand, tears sliding down her face.

"You must. The world is dangerous. It is not how it should be. But she will use you to make it worse. I planned to take you away from here, to have you go with me to market, and then never bring you back. You must go alone now. There is nothing here for you but death and destruction."

As the tears flowed more freely rain splattered against the window. "You are all I have."

"You need to be free of her. You must do this for me." His eyes opened to lock on hers. "Go, now. Before she wakes."

"No." She shook her head.

"You have power..." his voice cracked "...Control your emotions." His eyes closed. "Be free."

She heard the last rattle of breath and felt his hand go limp in her own. As her body shook with grief a storm brewed outside, beating the earth the way she wanted to beat the ground. She kissed his forehead then turned and grabbed some of his clothes. Next she went to the kitchen to grab some loaves of bread and dried meat. She took up Stephen's travelling bags then tiptoed up to her attic room. After tossing the clothes into her precious bag she pulled the bags over her shoulders, grabbed her shoes, then climbed out the window.

She shimmied down the tree then slipped into the barn and led the horse out into the night. The animal seemed to sense her grief; with stealth they left the barn behind. She swung onto his back once she was in the middle of the field and rode toward the hollow. She had to do what Stephen had instructed — escape from the only home she had ever known — but her heart ached at having lost him. Would Mona even give him a proper burial? The world seemed to be in a haze as Stephen's smile and bright eyes flitted through her mind. How could he be gone? What would she do without him?

# CHAPTER THREE

When she arrived at the hollow she slid down from the horse's back and went to their secret spot. For as long as she could remember this was their hideaway. A place where Stephen told her stories of the outside world without worry that Mona would hear. Toys and books, which Mona would never have approved, always found their way here. When she was little she had thought the place was magical; later she discovered that Stephen was the one behind the sudden appearance of gifts for her.

Tears slipped down her face mingling with the rain as she thought back to the last time they were here. It was only about a month ago but it seemed even longer now that he was gone. After a weeklong trip to town Stephen had brought her a book that looked like it had never been cracked open before. Jade hated having to leave it there but if Mona had found it she would have lost the book and been punished too.

She found a box hidden in the hollowed out tree. After pulling it out she opened it to find knives, a map, money, and three books. She tucked the books into one of her packs then looked at the map. Stephen's handwriting was scrawled across the map with instructions. _So it is to be like one of our treasure hunts we did as children._

She longed for the days when what the map led to was a special gift from one of Stephen's trips. The best prize she had ever found had been a ragdoll he brought one Christmas. It had played a soft lullaby. Stephen had kept it hidden in the house and when he heard her wake from a nightmare he would sneak it into her room and allow the quiet song to lull her into a calmness and eventually back to sleep. If only she could feel safe by holding that doll right now. _I can do this,_ she thought as she tucked the map away into a bag. She hid the knives then swung back onto the back of the horse.

A nudge to the horse had them moving toward the dense trees heading into the woods, finding some reprieve from the rain. It was an eerie quiet that filled the air. The darkness of the night compounded the darkness of the woods. Fear trickled through her, running down her spine.

Her entire life she had been warned that going into the woods and beyond would only lead to monsters and death. Staying with Mona had led to the death of her only friend. He had warned her, told her that she needed to escape. Pushing the horse forward she decided that once she made it to the first destination on the map she would look through the books. There had to be something incredibly important in them for Stephen to have hidden them in the hollow.

Some time later she noticed light filtering through the leaves. She had been so lost in her thoughts the sun had come up without her realizing. Reaching into a bag she pulled off a chunk of bread and ate while she rode. Distance, she needed distance between herself and Stephen's body. How could Mona have been so cold? He was her grandchild. Should she not have cared more for what happened to him? "What do you think Horse?"

She slid from his back and walked beside him. He had carried her through the night and she wanted to give him a bit of a break. But they still needed to put more distance between themselves and Mona, so she tried to hasten her pace. The urgency that Stephen had conveyed with his dying words echoed loudly in her mind. Trapped forever there. Something about Mona was not what it had seemed. The morning passed as the two of them journeyed through the woods. Rabbits scurried across their path and Jade delighted in the sight of them. If not for the ache in her heart she could have truly enjoyed this moment. Her first time away from all that she had ever known. Heading into the unknown.

****

By dusk she was exhausted but had reached the first village. Looking down at her clothes she noticed that she still wore the blood-covered items from the night before. She backtracked to a little pool of water then stripped down and jumped in and washed the blood and dirt off. After dragging herself out of the water she pulled on a fresh skirt and shirt. She quickly brushed through her hair then braided it and twisted it up. Prepared to see a new world, she climbed onto the back of Horse and rode slowly into the village.

Never in her life had she seen more than one house. Here, there were several buildings. Lanterns filled the windows with light. She saw a sign that read "Rooms" so she nudged Horse in that direction. It seemed that butterflies were wrestling in her stomach as clouds crowded the sky. Stephen had often told her stories about his trips, so she felt like she knew what to expect and how to handle herself, but at the same time she desperately wished that he had been able to be there with her.

She tied Horse up at the post and walked into the building, her bags slung over her shoulders. Men turned to stare at her. So many unfamiliar eyes were upon her causing her to want to run in the opposite direction. With her head held high she found a man who seemed to be in charge, wiping a glass clean.

"Can I help ye miss?" he asked with a slow drawl.

"I need a place to stay for the night and some hot food." She had heard many stories from Stephen about staying in places like this. Glancing around, she was almost certain that this place had been in the stories more than once. Her heart pounded so loud she worried that the man would be able to hear it. Thunder rumbled in the distance but rain had yet to fall.

"I have a room available. Do you need a place for your animal?" She nodded not sure if it was the right thing to do. She had never bothered to ask where Horse stayed when Stephen was gone. "You can put him in the stable behind the building."

She asked how much for dinner and the room then handed him the coins. She took Horse to the stable, brushed him down, then fed him. Tending to the animal, as always, calmed her anxiety. As she walked back to the building she noticed that the sky had begun to clear. A plate with chicken, peas, and a piece of bread was waiting for her when she walked inside.

"Can I take this to my room?" She turned her big eyes up at the proprietor. She needed to be away from all these people. It was something she had always wanted to see but after the day's events she needed time to figure out what to do, time to think. And she didn't know how anyone could think with so much noise.

"Ye just bring it back down in the morning before you leave."

With the key to the room, the plate, and a cup of water she walked up the stairs as quickly as she could without spilling anything. Once inside the sparse room she locked the door. A small bed and a little table were the only furniture in the room. A lantern was on the table. She dropped her bags on the floor then went to the bed to eat her food after giving a quick prayer of thanks.

After setting the empty plate on the table she went to the window to look out. Men strutted from one building to another, some swaying as they went. Most of them were rather loud and their speech sounded odd, slurred. She shook her head at their strange behavior. Even though she was locked safely in this room she felt a small sense of dread fill her at the thought of so many people being near. What if everything Mona had told her was true?

Reaching into a bag she pulled out one of the books that Stephen had left for her in the hollow. She opened it to find what appeared to be a book filled with history. Mona had older books like this that she had used to teach her and Stephen to read, but this was newer than the ones that she had read before. It told of the past one hundred years.

Jade read about the falling of society, the dependence that people had on technology, the fear that filled them when they learned about others who were different from everyone else. Fear spread through the land, which lead to accusations of witchery following the panic.

Nobody could explain how the technology that had been depended on for years could fail so they blamed it on dark magic. When technology failed it took society as it was known with it. Apparently the governments had depended too much on computers and spent more money than they had in their banks. When the monetary system crashed everyone had turned on each other. Wars broke out and people were persecuted as witches when they expressed different opinions and views.

Chills ran through her; she was different. Not only did she think differently than others, but she truly was different. Did they still persecute people as witches?

Her eyes gradually became too tired to keep reading. She slipped under the blanket falling asleep as soon as she was settled into the comfort of the mattress.

# CHAPTER FOUR

With the morning sunshine came the sound of people moving about the village, doors opening and slamming shut, children yelling and laughing. Jade stretched out her arms and legs then climbed out of the bed. She ran the brush through her long dark hair and fixed it so that it was wound on top of her head. It would be nice to have it down but she needed it to be up while she travelled — there was just too much of it. Now that she had gotten some rest and was not in shock from Stephen's passing she felt like she was looking at the world through new eyes.

Going to the window she peered out at the children who were running up and down the dirt road. They were kicking a ball between their feet and back and forth to each other. A few ladies were sitting in chairs outside a building with sewing in their laps. Such a different scene than the night before. Jade watched them, longing to be a part of something like this. It would have been wonderful to have grown up with someone other than Stephen. She wondered if these children were allowed to go to school. This place was amazing! So many people together in one place and it seemed like they were all getting along.

Nobody came across as the monsters Mona had portrayed them as. Instead they appeared nice and considerate the way Stephen had described in his stories from his trips. This place had once thrived with things she could not even imagine. She read about devices that people talked into and someone holding another one could hear them and talk back even if they were long distances away from each other. The mere thought of it all stunned her. She had yet to see the things that Stephen and Mona had told her about but what she had seen was enough to make her wonder at the seclusion she had always known.

With one last gaze out the window at the bustling street she let out a deep sigh and decided that she would have to face the world now. After referencing Stephen's map she learned that her next stop would be three days' journey by horse. She was certain that she had enough bread and dried meat to last the journey, but thought it may be nice to have a bit of cheese.

Down in the main room of the building she handed the plate and cup to the owner. She then bought some breakfast and ate quickly. When she was finished with her meal she purchased some cheese to take with her. After handing over the key she grabbed her things and went out to get Horse. She had to be on her way. She was not sure where she would be when night fell but that was something she would have to deal with when the time came.

As she rode Horse out of the village she watched the children who were running around kicking a ball. Women whispered and looked in her direction as she rode past them. Men openly stared at her. Nervous energy filled her; could they tell that she was different? She had not spoken to anyone except for the man she had rented the room from. Not knowing how she could have caused a problem she urged Horse out of the village.

Once alone on the road she felt herself relax. The tension in her shoulders eased; her grip loosened on the reins. Every once in a while she passed by large branchless trees that had metal devices on top. Some had what looked like really thick shiny threads running from one device to another. She recalled a picture from the book she had read the night before that showed these things. They had carried electricity through them, making it so that houses could have light with the flick of a switch. Stephen had once told her that some of the buildings in the city still had those lights.

With the sun high in the sky beating merciless heat down on her, she led Horse into the shade of the woods. Allowing him to graze she ate some bread and a bit of meat then found a clear creek to drink from. She leaned against a large boulder near the creek and shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun. Horse drank from the creek as well then wandered to nibble more grass.

The village had been loud and filled with eyes; this was natural. It was her and nature. This felt like home but incredibly more lonely. Her thoughts went back to Stephen. Was this what he had wanted to talk to her about? This journey? He must have had it planned for some time; everything had been ready and waiting for her. Tears threatened to fall as she remembered the doll he brought her for Christmas. She had treasured that little lullaby playing rag doll with red yarn hair and button eyes.

A shadow fell over her causing her to look up. Standing over her with a nasty sneer on his pocked face was a man who had to be more than twice her age. She turned to look more closely at this intruder only to discover that he had two friends with him. One a few years older than herself with straw colored hair and the other appeared to be a similar age as the first man. Though far better groomed than the other two, he was still quite filthy.

"Is there something that you need?" she asked as she pushed herself to her feet. Something about the way the pocked-face man stood put her on her guard. Horse was being held by the younger one.

"Aye, we were thinkin' of somethin'." A cloud shadowed his eyes like she had only ever seen when Mona was incredibly angry. He reached out and grabbed her wrist yanking her toward him. The stench that filled her nose as her face came in contact with his chest caused her to gag. "A pretty thing out wanderin' alone."

"Release me," she commanded, forcing authority that she did not feel into her voice. Her heart began to race as her eyes took in her surroundings searching for an escape route.

"Maybe later..." He yanked her away from the creek bed toward the woods, to the shadows. Pulling and twisting backward she tried to wiggle free. With her free hand she reached out and slapped him across his face so hard her hand burned from the impact. Seemingly stunned, his grip on her loosened momentarily and she yanked free. She stamped down on his foot as hard as she could then spun and ran back toward the water and her bags.

A heavy force hit her from behind knocking her forward so that she fell and hit a boulder. Warm fluid flowed down her cheek as she was rolled over. The grimy man stood over her, sneering down at her. "Ye will pay for that."

Her head pounded and panic nearly set in, but she had to think. Being a victim was not an option, she had to figure a way out of this. What was it that Stephen used to tell her? Every man had a weakness and most let down their guard when they thought they had won. She reached to the small of her back and found the small dagger that was strapped there. Fingers trembling as she gripped the handle she heard thunder echo off the boulders on the opposite shore. She pulled the dagger out and held it in front of her with a shaky hand. "Leave now."

The three men roared with laughter. The two older advanced on her as the younger stayed in place. "A lost lamb trying to be a lion." The cleaner of them said as he lunged forward with his cohort knocking the knife from her hand. She was hoisted over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The frantic need to get away enveloped her as she screamed out for help. Lightning streaked across the once blue sky.

"Let. Her. Go." A commanding voice echoed through the woods.

The men stopped in their tracks. She tried to twist out of the grip she was in and was rewarded when the man holding her dropped her to the ground. Pain seared through her as another crack of lightning sizzled through the sky hitting a tree in the distance, sparking a fire. A sudden downpour was released as the three men faced her would-be rescuer who had emerged from behind a massive tree. Jade crawled away from the spot where she was dropped to find her dagger.

The young hero was fighting with the two older men when she finally found what she had been searching for. The third villain had let go of her horse and was coming up behind the man who was beginning to gain the upper hand against his partners.

Jade moved rapidly through the rain and came up behind the man. She pounced on him knocking him to the ground. He managed to turn as he fell so that he was facing her but she held her grip. With a thud they landed on the hard ground and she thrust her dagger to his neck. "Do not move." The words came out in a hiss. He was frozen under her.

She glanced up to see the unkempt man with a short sword charging toward her rescuer. Without a thought she yanked up her skirt with her free hand, found her throwing knife, and flung it. The knife imbedded itself into the man's hand causing the sword and the man to fall to the ground. The final man stopped and looked at his companions. He threw his hands in the air.

"Leave your weapons," the hero called out.

The man threw down his weapon and the young gentleman approached him and leaned in close, seemingly whispering something into his ear. Whatever he said caused the defeated man's eyes to grow wide and his face to pale. He nodded and mumbled as he helped the wounded man from the ground. He yanked the knife from his companion's hand causing him to yelp in pain. With the knife on the ground they started to stumble away.

"Miss?"

She looked up to see clear blue eyes staring down at her. A hand held out toward her.

"You can let him up now. They will not be bothering you again."

Jade glanced down at the man under her then back at the guy in front of her. He moved his hand closer and with a bit of hesitation she accepted it and allowed him to help her up. Her prisoner ran the second he could move.

"Let's find some shelter."

He offered her a smile that seemed to light up the woods despite the storm that raged. There was a kindness in his eyes that reminded her of Stephen. This man's presence was comforting in the same way her doll had been when she had nightmares as a child.

On teetering feet she found her bags and Horse then allowed the man to lead her to a house not much further up the creek. He took Horse and put him in a shelter then took her into the house. She found herself shivering standing in a puddle that pooled at her feet and she glanced around the small cabin. There was a bed in the far corner of the room and a doorway that appeared to lead to another room. The man worked quickly and soon had a fire lit in the fireplace and candles placed on the large table near the cupboards that made up the kitchen and eating area.

"Come stand by the fire. You'll warm more quickly." She nodded numbly and shuffled her feet across the wood floor.

"Do you have clothes in one of those bags?" he asked, his voice smooth like the silk she had sewn for Mona's clients. Again she nodded a confirmation. "Would it be alright if I see if there is anything dry?" Turning to look at him she found herself lost in the kindness she found expressed on his handsome face.

"I will." She moved stiffly over to her bags that he had placed on the table. Finding that her clothes were still dry, she pulled out the trousers and shirt she had taken from Stephen's room then turned back to her companion.

"Oh, you can change over there. We only use that room if it is hot outside. It's of no use when you need a fire to warm you." He pointed at the room just beyond the fireplace. She picked up a candle and carried it along with the clothes.

She took in the bare room. The only thing in it was a mattress and one tiny table next to that. Noticing that there was no fireplace in this room she could see why it was only used in the summer months. She set the candle on the smooth wooden table and with the door closed behind her she peeled off the wet dress, wincing in pain when it brushed against her shoulder. Twisting her head around, she saw a small gash there. Gently she slipped on the large shirt that fell just above her knees. She then pulled on the pants, fastening them around her waist with a belt.

She walked back into the main room with the fire then placed her wet dress over the back of a chair to dry. She turned to look at the man who stood close to the fire rummaging through something in a drawer that was just off to the side of it. He was tall, slim, and muscular. His light brown hair had a bit of a curl to it. When he turned to look at her she felt a blush creep up her neck as his smile warmed the room. She felt the shirt slip off her left shoulder and she pulled it back up.

"Have a seat." He gestured to the rocking chair next to the fire. "We should clean up that nasty cut on your face." He pulled out a tube of something along with a square that looked like cloth and removed a kettle from the fire. Then he poured some water into a basin and set it down. Dipping a cloth into the water he rubbed a bit of soap onto it then very gently washed her face. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and sighed as his skin touched her face. "It does not look too bad." He rinsed the soap away and put some ointment on the strange looking cloth.

"What's that?" she asked, her eyes locking on the thing in his hand.

"A bandage and medicine to keep it from getting infected. I use it all the time," he said as he gently attached it to her cheek. The ointment was cool and felt good against her skin.

"Thank you." She breathed out as he stood back. "My name is Jade."

"I'm Blaise." He walked to the table and grabbed a chair that was next to it. Her shirt slipped off her shoulder again. "I didn't know your shoulder was hurt as well. " He said so softly that she almost thought she imagined it. He set the chair next to hers. "May I?" he gestured toward her shoulder. Jade nodded consent.

A sharp intake of breath when his fingers grazed the back of her neck as he moved her hair away from her shoulder broke the silence in the room.

"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly, his hand falling away from her skin. "It's still bleeding. I need to close the wound." Blaise brought his face around so that he was facing her.

"Do you know how?" She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

"I do." He rolled up the sleeve to his shirt to show her a small scar on his bicep. "I was out hunting and had to do this by myself. Hold this there." He placed a cloth to her shoulder blade; her fingers grazed his as she put her hand over the cloth.

"What can I do to help?" Her voice quivered as she watched him rummage through the drawer once again. He picked up a small table and set it down in front of them. He laid out needle, thread, ointment, a bottle of bluish fluid, another bandage, and the basin with rewarmed water. He picked up the oddly colored liquid.

"This will help to wash out anything that may cause infection." She turned her eyes to the fire and watched the flames dance. The rain outside still pounded against the house; she found the sound mixed with the crackling of the fire soothing. Jade turned so that her back was directly in front of him. He moved the shirt further down her arm then pressed the cloth with the liquid against the wound. She closed her eyes to the stinging that she felt.

"Do you need something to drink? I think there is something strong around here."

"Don't touch that stuff," she whispered. "Just do what you have to do." Jade gripped the arm of the chair so that her knuckles turned white. She had withstood a whipping from Mona when she was sixteen and had tried to sneak away with Stephen; she could get through this.

"I'm sorry that I have nothing here to numb it. If we were in the city this would be less painful." His voice was soft. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him hold the threaded needle over the flame of a candle.

"If you can handle it I am sure that I can," she forced herself to quip, trying to make light of the situation.

"That so?" She could hear a hint of laughter in his voice.

"It is. You've been to the city?"

"Yes, I live there." He pulled the needle away from the candle. "This is going to hurt."

"No more than how I got it." Her eyes locked on the window watching the rain beat against it. "Will you tell me about the city? Do they really have horseless carriages?"

"Ready?" He waited for her to nod and brace herself before he shoved the needle through her skin. Pain seared through her body, her back stiffened and tears streaked down her face. She could feel the world spinning around her each time he shoved the needle through her skin. "You've never seen one?"

"No." She hissed, fighting back the urge to faint. She willed herself to stay still.

"They are wonderful machines made of metal. They're called automobiles. In the city you see more horse drawn carriages than vehicles but they are certainly a sight. They go a lot faster than a horse can run. If you've never seen one then maybe you have not seen electricity?" She gently shook her head no. "It's a wonderful invention. I'm not quite sure how it works, but with the flip of a switch you can illuminate an entire room. Some of the streets in the city have electric lamps instead of lanterns to light the night."

He worked quickly and talked of the city but she no longer heard him. All that reached her ears was the howling of the wind and the blood rushing through her body. She felt herself beginning to slip out of consciousness.

"All done," Blaise said as he applied a bandage with cool ointment over the now closed wound. He swept her into his arms. "You were very brave but now you should rest." He carried her the few steps to the bed and laid her down. She shivered and rolled over to her stomach so that she was not on her shoulder. She moved her face so that she faced him. He was incredibly handsome. A blanket was tucked around her. "Your hair is still soaked, no wonder you're cold."

"Don't leave," she whispered, her eyes half closed. His fingers were in her hair unraveling the braided bun that was only partially up. She could feel him undoing her long locks and then rubbing a cloth gently through them.

"Rest. You're safe here. I'll wake you later to eat." He splayed her hair out across her back so that it could dry easier. She knew that with it down it reached her knees. "I've never seen hair so long," he whispered as she slipped out of consciousness.

# CHAPTER FIVE

"Jade?" a voice called to her from the other side of the darkness. A soft groan escaped her lips. "You should eat." She felt someone touch her arm and she jerked quickly away and wide awake.

Eyes wide she glanced around until she focused on Blaise. Remembering recent events she allowed the tension to ease from her body as she pushed her hair away from her face and took in the room. The fire cast shadows on the walls from the little bit of furniture in the plain room. Her eyes landed on the table where she saw bowls set out; her stomach grumbled in anticipation.

She looked away embarrassed. "Sorry." After stretching out her legs she put her feet on the floor. Her body ached but her stomach persuaded her that moving would be worth it.

He stepped away from her and she stood to follow him over to the table. He brought over a pot of stew and set out some bread. Blaise stood behind a chair and pulled it out for her. Stopping next to the chair she tilted her head and quirked up an eyebrow.

"Have a seat." The smile he offered sent heat spiraling into her stomach. Once she was seated he took a seat across from her. She watched intently as he moved, filling a bowl with the aromatic stew, and setting it before her with a piece of bread.

"Thank you." She dropped her eyes to the bowl. Waiting for him to give thanks for the food, she wondered why he was here if he lived in the city. She lifted her eyes to his when he cleared his throat. His gaze locked on hers and then he bowed his head giving a quick thanks for the food and for his finding Jade. When he had finished he broke off a bit of bread and dipped it into the stew.

"Why are you alone?" He broke the silence.

With the spoon midair she stopped. "I was told to leave." She put the spoonful of food into her mouth and chewed while watching his face.

"Leave where?" he gently persisted between bites.

"Home." She cut her gaze to the window to see that the storm was still brewing even as night had settled in. "I could not stay there anymore."

"But why are you alone?"

"Stephen died." The words fell flat from her mouth.

"I'm sorry." His eye grew dark for a second then lightened again.

"He told me to leave, that I would be safe from her. Free." With Blaise she felt free.

"Who is _she_?" he prodded.

"Mona. She raised me. He was her blood but he protected me."

"Did you need a lot of protecting?" An edge crept into his voice.

Her eyes dropped to the bowl full of food. "Sometimes, but he seemed to think that things would get worse with him gone."

"Alright." He finished his meal without asking any more questions.

"Thank you," he said as he pushed the bowl away from him.

Surprised, she looked up. "What for?"

"Saving me today. I'm not sure how I would look as the sheath of a sword." He winked at her.

Spirals of warmth coursed through her. "If not for me you would not have needed to be saved."

"Well, there is that," he teased as she ate the last of her stew. "I'm glad that I was there."

"I am as well. But why are you here if you live in the city?" She stood and took the empty bowls and spoons with her. She had seen a basin and went over to wash the dishes.

"I had some business to do for my father. I am on my way home now." He picked up the clean dish and dried it off then placed it in the cupboard. "This place belongs to my family as well. I use it when I have to come this way."

"It must be nice to have more than one home." She handed the last spoon to him then turned away from the basin

"It is nice to not have to stay at a hotel or boarding house." He took out a deck of cards and shuffled them. "Do you know any games?" He asked sitting at the seat he had placed by the fire earlier.

"Stephen taught me how to play poker after he had returned from a trip to the city." She found herself smiling as he dealt out cards.

"You were close then?" His face was expressionless as he spoke, looking at his cards.

"He was like a brother. I never knew my family. Only Stephen and Mona." She glanced at her cards seeing that there was nothing useful in her hand.

"Oh." The sound of his voice was a little more chipper. "He told you to go. Did he say where you should go?"

"There is a map. I have not figured out where I am to end up but I do know that I am to go to Chidesworth next."

"That's on my way." His blue eyes twinkled in the firelight when he looked up. "We can travel together for now. It would be easier to save you that way."

"And for me to save you." A grin flashed across her face as she laid down her complete hand with a four of a kind beating his three of a kind.

"It's settled then."

They played on for a while before she caught him hiding a yawn.

"We'll stay here tomorrow. Give you a bit of a chance to get some proper rest. Take the bed."

"What about you?" She looked at him.

"There is a spare mattress in the next room. I'll be fine in there." He gestured toward the back of the house. "There's an outhouse out back if you need to use it before bed."

She headed out the door and ran through the rain to the outhouse. When she was back inside she stood before the fire to dry herself then, hurried to get ready for bed.

"Here."

He handed her a clean shirt then exited the house. Quickly she pulled off her wet clothes and slipped on the shirt that fell to her knees, her bare legs sticking out from under the borrowed garment. Going through her bags she found her brush and fixed her hair.

Blaise came back in soaked. "Your horse is settled in for the night." He disappeared into the other room and emerged a few moments later in dry clothes. "Summer has ended, there's a chill in the air tonight, other than the one that comes with a storm."

"You could move that mattress out here if it would be warmer for you," she offered feeling guilty for taking his bed away from him. Plus she did not want to be left alone after the encounter she had earlier that day.

"That's a grand idea." He chuckled. "I think I'll do that."

"Good night, Blaise." She walked over to the bed and slipped under the covers aware that he was watching her walk away. Sore and emotionally exhausted, Jade found herself lying in bed looking across the room at the sleeping form of Blaise. His chest rose and fell rhythmically. He looked innocent, a partial smile on his lips as if he were dreaming of something sweet. It pleased her to know that he was there. Curious as to why she wanted to know more about him she turned onto her side so that she was not lying on her shoulder blade.

She wondered what his home was like. Was there someone waiting for him back in the city? He mentioned being here for his father. Was his family important to have business that would take him away from home enough that he had a house to stay in on these trips? After they got to Chidesworth would that be the end of them? She was not sure what _they_ were but she could not tear her eyes away from him. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

She knew that she had not seen many men — Stephen, the men from the village, and the men who had attacked her — but she was certain that no man could ever capture her attention the way he had. She closed her eyes after a while. He was close and she felt safe.

****

The following morning the sun was still hidden behind the menacing storm clouds. She slipped out of the bed and stretched after her feet hit the cold floor. Blaise had been right when he had said summer was over. Quietly, she tiptoed over to the fireplace where she stoked the fire, adding logs to it. She found the kettle that was still filled with water and put it on to warm. Rummaging through the cupboards she found tea. She went to the door that she assumed led to the cellar. Upon opening the door she discovered that she was correct.

Taking a candle with her she went down into the cool darkness where she found potatoes, eggs, and a fresh slab of bacon. She cut off some of the bacon then took her items back up to the warmth of the main room where she took down a plate and sliced up the bacon into strips then peeled the potatoes. After removing the tea kettle from the fire Jade went to the large metal stovetop that had been rigged so it could go over the fire then swing out when done cooking. She thought the fact that it tucked neatly against the wall so that it did not take up extra space was ingenious. Having everything arranged, she began to cook their breakfast. The bacon, potatoes, and eggs sizzled on the fire as the comforting scent filled the air.

"Mmm, that smells good."

She jumped at the sound of his voice. With a glance over her good shoulder she smiled at Blaise, his tousled hair making him even more attractive.

"I'm going to go check on the animals."

She nodded as she watched him pull on his boots and head out into the storm. She had not changed out of his shirt when she woke up, only pulled on a skirt. The feel of his shirt was different than anything she had worn before. It was softer. She reveled at the feel of it.

After pulling the stovetop away from the fire she scooped the food out onto two plates and carried them over to the table. Blaise returned, quickly shutting the door behind him. He was soaked from the short time he had been out in the elements.

"Go change into something dry then come eat."

He flashed his pearly white teeth at her and went into the other room. A few moments later he emerged in dry clothes, rubbing a piece of cloth through his wet hair. His face lit the dim room. "This looks wonderful." He took a seat across from her at the table. As he looked down at the plate before him she was able to see the genuine happiness that he seemed to be feeling.

"You made us dinner last night. I thought it only fair." She waited until he took his first bite and the noise he made in appreciation had reached her ears before she began to eat.

"Not only do you travel alone, rescue men who are attempting to rescue you, and play a fair game of poker, but you are also an accomplished cook. I'm impressed. I've not met any women who could do what I've learned of you in this short amount of time."

"I would hardly call eggs, bacon, and potatoes accomplished." Jade smiled up at him.

"Oh but it is. My mother does not cook at all."

"How do you eat?" Astonishment filled her when she looked at him to find that he was not jesting with her.

"My parents pay someone to cook for the family." He looked at her, tilting his head slightly to the right. "They pay many people to do many things for them."

"What is it like where you live?" The question was quietly uttered.

"There is not a lot to tell really. My family enjoys the luxuries that only those with money can have. We have a television and a machine that shows movies." He looked up at her. "Moving pictures, like a play inside of a little box. Anyway, we enjoy the movies that used to be made before the collapse. I think you would find some of them interesting."

"Perhaps, I do enjoy books."

"We have a library. A room larger than this house filled with books. You are welcome to come take a look around. Is there something in particular that you enjoy?"

"I am currently reading history. It was hidden from me my entire life. I want to know what really happened. The book I started reading just the other day tells of a world filled with all the things that you have talked about and much more. Then it all came crashing down, something to do with money from the way that I have read it."

"Ah, yes. Something, a virus that affected the computers, brought everything to a screeching halt. It seemed that the world had become so dependent upon the help that they got from technology that many had forgotten how to do simple things on their own. The governments that ruled over the countries could no longer pay for the things that they needed. Our country went into a horrible downslide. People blamed each other, nobody trusted anyone. The people revolted against the government causing a civil war, the second one our country was to see. This one far more deadly and lasting much longer than the first. The government and the loyalists who sided with them began to accuse the rebels of witchery. Burning innocent men, women, and children at the stake. Causing dissention and mistrust amongst the rebels."

"Why? Why would they stoop so low as to kill innocent people?"

"When a group of people want something bad enough they will get it by whatever means necessary. Our government wanted peace. They wanted to pretend that democracy ruled the land while they played the puppet master behind closed doors. The rebels felt that perhaps the countries that had not faltered as much as ours were the ones to copy. Ones who had a monarchy in place. It took years, twenty-three to be exact, before the war officially ended and a royal family chosen."

Jade looked at him, her green eyes meeting his blue. "Did it work? Having a royal family?"

"In the time since the royal family took its place things have calmed a lot. Trade with other countries grows with each passing year. Slowly, things are being brought back that had been lost, but this time education is not so easily dismissed. The cities have devices that can assist with the average day to day duties, like math. These things are not allowed in the schools. Children must learn how to do basic sums in in their heads, they must learn to read, to write, and learn history. Scientists and professors have been brought in from countries that had recovered more quickly to help teach the people here how to do the things that were once so easy."

"It sounds like it is working then. Why is it that places like this do not have the things that the cities have?" She stood and cleared away the dishes from the table.

"Some are afraid to rely on those things again. Some are afraid of history repeating itself. Some are still wary of witchcraft. Here, it is almost like stepping back to the dark ages, mentality wise. Anything different they do not want. That is why I came this way. I am trying to help to bring electricity back to this part of the country. It could help to make life much easier."

"How?" She began to wash the dishes trying not to notice that he came to stand next to her.

"Meat, eggs, milk, cheese they would all last longer if we could get electricity here. We could get proper doctors with proper medical training out here. Farming could be made easier." He leaned against the wall and peered at her. "There is so much that could benefit the people. It seems though some are still loyalists at heart. They desire to bring down the new crown."

"Another war?" She turned to face him completely. "I just gained my freedom, I do not wish to lose it to a war."

"Then I'll make sure that you do not."

His smile was contagious; she felt one of her own growing across her face, wiping the worry of a war away.

"Let's play a game to pass the time."

# CHAPTER SIX

The day passed with the two of them playing cards. Blaise taught her to play Eygptian Ratscrew. It took a bit for her to learn that she needed to try to remember which cards had been faced up.

"What was it like where you grew up?" Blaise questioned in between games.

"Quiet. Secluded. Lonely." She sighed and sat back in the rocking chair. Her shoulder hurt and she longed to rub at it.

"There were no other people your age to play with in your village?" His smooth voice pulled at her.

"I didn't grow up in a village. Mona kept me away on her own place. I was not allowed to go to the village when Stephen went."

"You had nobody to play with? Who exactly is this Mona?" He leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees.

She took a deep breath. "Only Stephen, but he was older than me by twelve years. He is — was — Mona's grandson. Who Mona really is to me, I am not certain. My entire life I grew up being told that my parents were taken away, that the monsters in the village took my parents because they were different. Stephen once said that my mother was the most beautiful woman he had ever met, with eyes the color of jade."

"Like yours?" he whispered watching her speak.

"Yeah. He said her hair was as red as a rose and she was the kindest person. My father was tall with dark features. Stephen said they were as different as night and day in appearance but their kindness always shone through whenever they had come to visit."

"Why would anyone want to hurt them then?"

"I don't know. All I know is what Mona has told me, but I do not know how much of my life was a lie. The night Stephen died he told me that I needed to get away from her. Warned me that she would use me, he didn't want me to get hurt. He made me leave, said he left all that I needed to help me along the way." She gestured toward the bags.

"Did she have a history of hurting you?" His eyes grew dark as he spoke.

"There were times when I disobeyed that I got the whip. Stephen cared for me after those times. Telling stories about the city and the villages he had been to."

"That is where the scar on your thigh came from?"

She jerked her head up to stare at him. A blush crept up his neck and to his cheeks. He must have noticed when she was stretching in the nightshirt the evening before.

"Yes, I tried to sneak away to the village. I only wanted to see what it was like. To see other people. I wanted to see women wearing the dresses that I helped Mona to make but never got to wear myself. Dresses of silk and satin."

"Did you see any women dressed like that?" The change in subject was welcome since the air in the room was becoming tense.

"No, I wonder if they were not made for the women in the city." She sighed remembering the purple dress she had made months ago. She had longed to wear it.

"Probably so. I see women wearing fancy dresses all the time. My little sister is only ten but even she has a lot of dresses. More than I care to know about. " He glanced up at the window. "The rain has stopped." He walked over to the door and opened it allowing a cold breeze to gust in. He closed the door quickly. "But it's still cold."

"Will we leave at first light then?" she questioned standing, prepared to go outside. She had not wanted to go while it was pouring down rain and now that the rain had stopped she could make it to the outhouse without getting soaked.

"We should if we want to get to Chidesworth soon."

She nodded then rushed out into the brisk late afternoon.

****

After the evening meal Jade allowed Blaise to change her bandages. Shivers ran through her when his fingers grazed her skin. She knew it was all innocent to him; he was only changing a bandage. Perhaps this was the sort of thing he did back home. He had to have someone waiting for him there. For her, him touching her even in such an innocent way sent spirals of warmth flooding through her veins, awakening feelings she had never known to exist.

"Your shoulder looks alright." His breath tickled her neck. "Now, let's look at your cheek." Gently he peeled away the bandage. "Good." The word was so soft but he sounded pleased. She sat still as a statue while he used his finger to apply more anointment then secured a fresh bandage over it.

"What was it like growing up in the city?" she finally asked.

"My sister Teresa and I are very fortunate that we have such a loving family. Our parents were busy with their obligations but they always made time for us, even if it was just to read a story to us before we went off to bed. I've always lived in a house with electricity though. We even have indoor plumbing. Many of the things that were once taken for granted in this country, we have."

"Indoor plumbing?" She did not recall coming across this in her books.

"I'll show you when we get there. It's great. I look forward to the day that everyone can enjoy it again. No outhouse, no heating water for baths, no carrying buckets of water from a well."

"Really? You don't have to go out for all of that?"

"No, pipes bring the water in and they take it right back out. Water is stored in a large container that heats it so you have hot water waiting for you."

She knew her eyes had gone wide as he described it all to her, the slightly amused look on his face confirmed it for her. "That must be nice."

"It certainly is a convenience. We helped others in the city who did not have the things that we had, so we grew up appreciating all that our family had given us."

"People should help each other, is that not common?" Her brows furrowed together at the thought of people not helping their neighbors. What if Mona had not wanted to be bothered with raising an infant? She would have surely died.

"It seems that no matter where society is there will always be those who look out only for themselves."

"Why would anyone want to be a part of that then?" She crinkled her nose at the thought.

"You're cute when you do that."

Her green eyes grew wide and locked on him as her eyebrows shot up toward the ceiling. "You think I'm cute?" She tried to hide a smile.

"Yes, I do." He ran a hand over his face, covering his eyes for a brief moment as he answered her. "I'm sure you will hear things like that more often now that you are no longer hidden away from the world."

"Perhaps." She tucked her bottom lip under one of her teeth. "Maybe I don't want to hear it from anyone else." She cut her gaze to the fire so she would not see his reaction. The embarrassment she already felt would only be worse if he looked appalled at what she had said.

"Hmm."

She imagined that it was a pleased sound that he made. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the slight upturn of his lips. He stood and stretched.

"I'm going to check on the animals before going to bed. Got to get an early start." She nodded agreement. Once he was out of the room, she slipped the skirt off so that she was standing in only the shirt that she had borrowed from him. With her brush in her hand she fixed her hair for the evening. It was always easier to sleep with it braided. After putting away the brush she pulled out the map with Stephen's writing along with the book she had started to read at the village.

"What is that?" The inquiry brought her gaze up from the map she studied.

"Some of the things Stephen said would help me." She was sitting on the bed, knees pulled up to her chest, under the shirt, and chin resting on them. The mattress sunk a little more when he sat next to her.

"Can I see?" Jade held up the map, allowing him to take it and watched with interest as he perused the paper. "You are headed to my home, well to the city I call home anyway."

"Am I?" Her voice quivered for a reason unknown to her.

"Yes, see." He pointed at the map. Tracing the spot from where they were all the way to the last spot on the map. "These few places in between, are they meant to be path markers for your journey or is there something waiting for you at each stop?"

"I don't know. I haven't read everything he wrote on the map yet. Then there were three books with it." She held up the one that she was holding. He took it from her hands and flipped through the pages until he found one that had been folded in half. He unfolded the page and they looked at it together.

There was an old photograph of a woman from about a hundred years before. Stephen had scribbled the word "tree" under the photograph. The caption told them that the woman was the Queen of Hale, a country to the north of theirs. She had kept her country from falling straight to its knees. With her as their leader she had managed to get the people to rally together, to help one another in their time of need.

"What did he mean by 'tree'?" She glanced over at Blaise who was still looking at the page.

"She seems so familiar. I think I've seen a portrait of her before. My family knows the royal family of Hale but I haven't seen them in many years. They stopped coming here when something happened on their last visit. I don't remember what it was though. Perhaps my father could help you." He folded the page back in half and handed the book back to her. "We better get to sleep, it will be a long day of travelling, but if we push it I think we can make it to Chidesworth by nightfall. I know a faster way to get there. If not, I have some friends on the way who will put us up."

A coldness filled her when he left the spot next to her, as if he were taking the warmth with him. She stretched out on the bed, tucking her legs under the blanket. There was a name on the map next to Chidesworth.

"Do you know Evans in Chidesworth?" She rolled to her side.

"The name sounds familiar. I think it is the name of the one of the tailors there. Why?"

"The name is here, a bit smudged though. Maybe I am supposed to find them." She tucked the map into the book then set it on the floor.

"We'll look for them." She nodded and closed her eyes. "I'll help you figure this out, Jade."

Comfort filled her with those seven words. With a contented sigh she allowed herself to find sleep.

# CHAPTER SEVEN

The sun shone brightly the next morning, but the air had a chilly bite to it. Jade pulled on trousers and a shirt for the day's travels. After coiling her hair around her head she grabbed her bags and followed Blaise out to the barn. The earth smelled clean and fresh after the recent rain. They saddled the horses and left the quaint house behind. It was a comfortable silence as they made their way through the woods to the road. Leaving the trees behind them, they burst out into sunshine. As the sun climbed higher in the sky it began to warm them.

"I thought summer would end early this year. I have seen animals tucking away food much sooner than normal." Jade shifted her weight to get comfortable, her shoulder felt hot and pain jarred through her with each step the horse took.

Blaise nudged his horse so that they rode side by side. "I've noticed the animals building their homes thicker. On the way here a few weeks back I saw more than one larger than normal muskrat lodge. Should be a snowy winter."

"Do you think it is true that summer lasts longer in the south?"

"It does, I've gone down south with my father. It was hot but when we returned here there was snow on the ground. I'll take you someday. You can see the ocean."

She turned to face him. "I'd like that. I've seen a few pictures in books but pictures never seem to do anything justice."

"They really don't." His voice was steady and smooth. "You've really never been anywhere but that farm you grew up on?"

"Yeah, is that bad?"

"No, it just makes me glad that I am the one to be travelling with you while you get to see and experience so many new things. This may be quite an adventure, Jade." He winked at her.

She ducked her head and smiled. This was already an adventure for her. "What is Chidesworth like?"

"It's a nice little town that is slowly progressing. The people there want to embrace the future."

"How can anyone say what the future holds?"

He quirked an eyebrow up at her. "I don't think anyone can but there are those who are willing to try to make it a good one. What kind of person will you be?"

"Me?" She sucked her lower lip in under her teeth and nibbled on it while she thought. "I want to be someone who helps others. I want to make a difference. Even if it is only to one person. Shouldn't that be what matters? One life, all lives? Are they not all as important as the next? The king no better than the servant?"

When she raised her eyes to look at him she saw the soft smile on his face. In the short amount of time she had known him she realized that he did not withhold showing pleasure in something.

"Jade, wouldn't this world be much better if there were more people like you in it?"

"Or worse..." Her thoughts went to what Stephen had said about her emotions and how she needed to control the power she had. She wondered though what power he had meant. There was no power in knowing when a storm would come. She did not control that either— it just happened to her when the storms were powerful. Maybe she would find the answers to the questions that Stephen could no longer answer while on her quest to the city.

****

Evening had fallen, and with it a chill crept in around her. She was exhausted and wanted to find a place to sleep, but Blaise had assured her that the town was not much further. Her sight adjusted to the dimness as Horse walked slowly along. She stopped him and slid off of his back.

"What are you doing?" Blaise stopped his own animal.

"He's tired."

"We will be there soon, even sooner if you get back on that horse."

"I will not. He has been carrying me most of the day with barely any rest because you wish to make it there tonight. He is my friend. Not a thing. He's tired, as am I. At least walking will help to warm me and stretch my sore muscles." She lifted her chin so that her head was held erect and shoulders were squared back. Walking forward she stroked Horse's white mane.

"You'll catch a cold." He said from the top of his horse.

"Then I suppose I shall deal with that. I will not wear him down to suit your wants." Jade wanted to go off in the woods and find shelter, to build a fire, but she would walk forward.

Blaise slipped to the ground, landing next to her. "Then you leave me no choice but to walk with you. Mind you, it will take longer this way."

"I know," her answer was soft. "But it is prettier this way too."

"What?" He stopped walking.

Pointing up to the sky she smiled. "They dance for the world, for anyone willing to stop and take notice of them. Letting all of us here know that they are up there, watching us."

"Who?" He started walking again but she noticed that his face was turned up to look at the stars.

"All those who have passed before us. Don't you think that they watch us, to keep an eye on us? I often imagined my parents up there watching through those little windows of heaven and dancing to help me through the dark of the night. Trying to lull myself to sleep, other times trying to let me know that everything would be alright. Because they would never be able to hold me, they would watch me to make sure I was growing up alright."

His eyes locked on her face. "I suppose that makes sense. If someone loved you enough to watch over you then of course they would shine for you when it is so dark."

"Exactly. Do you think many people take the time to notice them?" Sadness filled her voice.

"I am not sure that many people take the time to notice what is right in front of them half of the time." He reached out to brush a loose strand of hair away from her mouth. His touch sent shivers through her. He turned and rummaged through his saddlebag. When he faced her again he set a cloak around her shoulders. "Why didn't you say you were cold?"

"I am hungry and tired too but complaining won't help us get there faster will it?" She offered a smile. "Thank you. I am already warmer."

"We're nearly there. See the lights?" He pointed down the hill they had just crested to a large cluster of buildings and several lights burning. "There is a nice hotel there. We'll get some hot food and warm beds. Then tomorrow we can look for the Evans family." She nodded in agreement and hurried her steps.

About thirty minutes later they were standing in a large room of a two-story building that was much cleaner than the one she had stayed at in the village close to her home. The room was painted a nice blue, the tables were clean, and a stage was against one wall with a piano next to it. The savory aroma of food wafted through the large room. Cups and plates clanked as they were set down on tables around them.

"I've never seen anything like this."

"What of music?" Blaise asked as he held out a chair for her to take at a table. She sat down and pulled the cloak closer still.

"I've only ever heard Mona and Stephen sing. I know the songs they sung, but I have never heard any other music."

"Only read about it?" He teased as he sat down. He ordered food and drinks for the both of them. "They should have a show soon." She furrowed her brows together and he continued. "Someone will come play the piano and some women will come out and sing."

"Oh, are they good?" She looked around, noticing all the men that were seated and eating. A few women were scattered here and there but for the most part it was men. Feeling greatly uncomfortable she moved her chair the tiniest bit closer to Blaise.

"Yes," he answered, as steaming mugs were set before them. He had ordered them hot cider. Their food soon followed. Meat, vegetables, and bread. Her stomach grumbled, causing a blush to creep up her neck.

As they started to eat the piano began to play an upbeat tune. Four women came out onto the stage in silk dresses that were longer in the back but stopped just above their knees in the front. They sang and danced around the stage. Spinning, swirling, and kicking. Some of the men cheered and whistled. Jade ate quietly and listened to the music, her foot tapping on the floor. With her food finished she moved her plate away.

"This is how they pay their way?"

"The owner pays them well from what I have heard. They bring in customers who turn around and eat while watching their show."

"Hmm. I wonder how long it takes to learn how to dance." She sipped at her cider.

"I can show you how to dance."

She nodded in agreement and waited for him to finish his meal. She was ready to relax before searching out more answers.

# CHAPTER EIGHT

After the show they climbed the stairs together. Jade did not protest when Blaise took her bags. Her shoulder had grown sore and all she wanted was to fall into a soft bed and sleep.

"I've ordered a bath for you," Blaise told her as he opened the door for her. A woman was in the room filling a large tub with hot water.

"Sorry miss. I will be leaving now." The woman bowed her head as she walked past Blaise in a curious way. It was not the first time Jade had noticed people treating him with near reverence.

"Thank you," Jade called out to her. The woman had already scurried away as if she had been witness to something she should not have ever seen.

"I'll be across the hall. When you're done just come let me know so I can get the tub taken away and check on your back."

She watched him walk out then locked the door behind him. Stripping out of her clothes and allowing her hair to fall down her back she then stepped into the bath, reveling in the feel of the water on her skin. The tension in her muscles melted away as she slipped into the hot water. She dunked her head under to wet her hair and picked up the soap to scrub the dirt from her hair and body. The soap was nothing like what she had used at Mona's. This smelled of lilacs and was not as hard.

Satisfied that she was clean, she found the sheet that had been left for her and wrapped it around her body as she got out of the tub then stood before the fire and dried herself off. After pulling on some clean clothes she rubbed her hair dry then padded across the hall to knock on Blaise's door.

"I'll have them remove the tub."

He stepped into her room and pulled the tub out then disappeared for a few moments. When he came back into her room he held the ointment in one of his hands along with a bandage.

"Go on and sit by the fire. Get that hair of yours dry."

She sat on the hard wooden chair and he sat on the other one after moving it next to hers. She reached up and slid the shirt off her shoulder so that he could see her back. Hearing the slow intake of breath, she turned to look at him. "Is it bad?"

The twinkle had gone from his eyes. "It is not good." He reached out and gently touched her skin. "It's hot."

"Of course it is. I just took a hot bath and now am sitting in front of a fire." She would not get sick. Illness would not help her to get where she needed to go.

"No, it is red." He touched it again and upon hearing the hiss she let out continued, "And tender. We need to get you to a doctor. A real doctor."

"No, I'm alright." She shook her head and reached down to her bag to pull out her brush. Her arm grew tired as she pulled the brush through the knots and tangles.

"It is probably just that we were on the road for so long. I just need some sleep."

"How much pain are you in?" The concern in his voice screamed at her though his words were soft spoken.

"Can one measure pain?" She turned away from him, not wanting to see the pity in his eyes. "It is bearable. It has to be." She yanked on the brush with a grunt. His hand reached up and gently took it from her hand. Starting at the bottom of her hair he disentangled it.

"I would feel better if you saw a doctor."

Brushing her hair placated her. It was like a soothing balm. The back of his hand went to her forehead.

"You've got a fever."

"I don't get ill." She stared at the fire.

"Look, if you don't get better you will never find what you were sent out here to look for. Is that what you want? Do you want all of this to have been for nothing?"

"Nothing?" Her voice rose to match his. Finding herself on her feet with her long dark hair hanging around her, she turned to look at the man who now leaned back in his chair. "Do you think anything I have done was for nothing? At the very least this journey allowed me to see things I have only ever dreamed of. If I never make it to the destination that Stephen set out before me then perhaps I was never meant to."

"You're infuriating."

"You, sir, are insufferable." She stamped her foot down like a child, feeling heat rush through her body. She knew he was right, had known since she had woken up that morning that something was not right. When he stood and turned away from her she reached out and grabbed his hand. "Don't go." It came out a whimper.

"I'm having someone fetch a doctor." He glanced over his shoulder and offered a smile. "I'll be right back. I promise you." With a squeeze of her hand he turned back to the door. "Either get in that bed or get the blanket and sit by the fire."

Again, he walked out of her room leaving her feeling void.

****

The door to her room swung open and Jade looked up from where she lay on the makeshift bed on the floor. "What are you doing?" Blaise asked when he walked in.

"The chair was uncomfortable and it is warmer over here," she answered from the pallet on the floor.

"Come here." He grabbed her hands and helped her up. After guiding her over to stand by the door he grabbed the bed and pulled it around so that it was closer to the fireplace and away from the window. He pulled the blankets back and fluffed up the pillow. "Get in bed before you catch a chill." Not needing to be told twice she got under the covers and snuggled down into the soft mattress.

"Will you stay and talk to me?" Her green eyes searched his face until he nodded. He crossed the room and picked up a cup.

"I brought this for you." Sitting at the edge of her bed he handed her the mug of hot cider after she pushed herself into a sitting position. "The doctor should be here soon. He's a good man. He has taken care of me when I was ill passing through this way."

"I've never seen a doctor. I rarely ever got sick and when I did Mona took care of me." Her eyes felt heavy as she sipped the hot liquid.

"It will be alright. What do you want to talk about?" Blaise took the cup away from her and leaned back against the post of the bed.

"Hmm, it doesn't matter." Exhaustion filled her. He was telling her that he had run across Evans on the way to send for the doctor when she fell asleep. Even that bit of information was not enough to force her to keep her eyes open.

# CHAPTER NINE

"I have to cut it open and drain it. There has to be something in there."

"I cleaned it." Blaise's voice seemed to echo around her, bouncing off the inside of her head.

"It's easy to miss something. You will have to hold her down." Cold hands touched her skin and she tried to pull away.

"Blaise?" She let out a whimper.

"I'm right here. The doctor thinks there is something inside that is making you sick. He has to open it. But he is far better equipped than I was when you allowed me to sew it shut." She could feel his breath on her cheek. "Do you trust me?"

"With all of me." The words came out grudgingly.

"All right then, get on with it doctor," Blaise said as Jade peered out from under her lashes. She could see the straight line his lips had been pressed into. Wanting to reach out and wipe away the worry she moved her hand.

"She needs to hold still." The doctor's voice came to her. "Keep her still and I will do what I can to make this as painless as possible." She felt something wet press against her shoulder blade then her skin began to tingle like when she sat on her legs for too long. Soon it felt numb; she wondered if he had held ice to her back to make it do that.

"Here we go." Blaise held both her hands in one of his and wrapped his other arm around the small of her back. He pressed his forehead against her good shoulder blade. She felt a sharp sting and then dripping down her skin. Her body tensed as the doctor cut through the stitches. Whatever had made her feel numb before had not lasted terribly long. A harsh moan fought to escape her.

"Make him stop," she begged as it felt like he tugged at her skin. The world spun around her, black dots filled her vision. A loud crashing sound reached her ears just as she let out a scream of pain.

"Shh, it will be over soon."

"Got it!" the doctor proclaimed loudly. "Just got to clean this up and close you back up." She nodded as she felt herself begin to drift out.

"Stay with me," Blaise whispered in her ear. "Don't go. The Queen of Hale. The picture that we saw in the book. You remind me of her, of the stories I have heard of her. She was a brave woman who led her country during a horrible crisis. I wonder if she wanted to run."

"People with power cannot run," she mumbled against his cheek. "You cannot escape power. It follows you."

"So does stubbornness and you seem to have that in abundance. He is almost done." She felt him brush his lips across her forehead. "Are you done?"

"Yes, you may want to get her to another room. There is bound to be a draft through that window all night now." She forced her eyes open to see a large tree branch had crashed through the window across the room.

"This was causing the problem." The doctor dropped something incredibly tiny in Blaise's hand.

"A thorn?" Blaise tossed it into the fire.

"I'll come by to check on her tomorrow."

She felt herself being scooped up into Blaise's arms. He carried her out of the room and across the hall to his own room.

"She needs rest and fluids. You may be here longer than anticipated."

"As long as she gets better." He carried her over to the bed, which he then pulled into the middle of the room so that it would be warmer. Helping her get situated on her stomach he pulled the blanket up around her. "Do you want some water?" When she nodded he reached for a cup and pressed it to her lips. She sipped at it then fell back to the bed.

"I'm going to get your things. That room needs to be cleaned up." She closed her eyes against the pounding in her head as he walked out of the room.

Footsteps fell across the floor then weight pressed down on the mattress. "Read to me?" Jade requested sleepily, the pain from her back fighting with her desire to sleep. Peering at him from under her eyelashes she saw him open a book. It was the one with the photograph of the Queen of Hale. He told of the royal family of Hale as she drifted off to sleep dreaming of red roses and storms.

****

She couldn't see the stars. No matter how hard she looked. It did not appear that there was even one cloud in the sky but it was also void of the moon and stars. What happened? Why was the world a black void? She could hear him... his voice called to her, but she could not see him. No matter what way she turned there was no sign of anything. Emptiness.

"Wee one."

"I'm here." Her voice trembled.

"Your power, control your power."

"I don't have any power."

"You do. The blood that runs through your veins has carried great power for generations. It is what Mona is after. What you need to protect. Find your family. Learn your history. Hide your gift." His voice began to drift away.

"I can't control it if I don't know what it is." She reached forward in the darkness and felt herself falling forward.

Suddenly there was light. A fire roared in front of her in a fireplace. Blaise's arms were around her, helping her to get back into the bed she had nearly fallen out of. Concern etched his handsome face. "Jade, what can I do to help you get some rest?"

She grabbed his hand and held it in her own. "Find my family, they can tell me how to control it." Wide-eyed she kept her gaze on the fire. "Can't let Mona find me."

"I thought your family died?" He leaned closer to her.

"The gift comes from them, the curse. It is theirs. They'll know what to do. How to help me before she uses me to hurt someone."

He shook his head and lifted a hand to her flushed cheek. "You're burning with a fever. Drink this." He pushed a cup to her lips, parting them enough so she could sip the liquid. Turning her head away she felt tears run down her face. "Come here." He propped his back on the headboard and stretched his legs out across the mattress. With one arm he gently maneuvered her so that she lay with her head against his chest. One of her hands rested on his stomach. His fingers combed through the hair that had fallen loose.

"They all leave, nobody can stay. I don't want to be alone." She mumbled into his shirt.

"You don't have to be anymore, little one." He kissed the top of her head. Letting out a sigh she allowed her eyes to flutter shut. Feeling his heartbeat along with hers began to soothe her. "That day that I came across you fighting with those men I knew then that you were special. There you were, tiny as you are, standing up for yourself and fighting back. I think you would have managed all right if I had not come along but I'm thankful that I did. I've been searching for someone like you." She drifted off to a more peaceful sleep as he talked.

# CHAPTER TEN

Morning came and went with Jade still fighting the fever. She woke here and there to the sound of Blaise reading to her but she only caught bits and pieces of what he read. The Queen of Hale, all the queens of Hale, had a distinctive physical characteristic that seemed to run strongly only on the female side of their family. Their eyes were always the color of jade.

"It seems that the current queen married the second born prince from Papier. They were happily married for about fourteen years when they were finally blessed with their first child — a little girl who had her father's dark hair and her mother's eyes." The book closed softly; she peered over at him but the light hurt her eyes so she tried to keep them closed. "That is the couple that my parents are friends with. I remember when their daughter was born. They had a great celebration. Everyone was so happy for them. The happiness did not last long."

"What happened?" Her voice was little more than a whisper.

"They went on a trip. There was a dressmaker the queen was very fond of who lived here. They wanted a dress made for their daughter. She was not even a year old yet. I think it was supposed to be to celebrate her birthday. Anyway, during the trip something tragic happened. She was lost to them. They still mourn her."

"How did they lose her?"

"A fire, there was a fire at the hotel they had stayed at. It seemed to have started in their room where she had been left for her nap. They were downstairs eating or talking. I don't know the details. From what I remember by the time they smelled the smoke the room was engulfed." He shook his head as he recalled the story that he had forgotten until now. "They have not been back since."

"That is so sad." She tried to push herself up only to find him there helping her. "How old were you?"

"I had just turned ten. I don't know why I did not remember it until now. It was such a tragic event."

"When did it happen?"

"Around seventeen years ago."

"That's probably why you forgot. It was a long time ago."

"Some things should not be forgotten." He picked up a strand of her dark hair and twirled it between his fingers. "I could never forget you."

Her lips curled up and her eyes fluttered shut. "Of course not, I doubt you have ever met anyone who was so much trouble in such a small amount of time."

"You are not trouble. Just... complicated." She could hear the chuckle in his voice. "Are you ready to eat? I'll go get you some food."

She nodded; the space beside her felt cold when he got up. She opened her eyes after she heard the door close. Glancing down at herself she could see the wreck that she was. The clean shirt she had put on the night before had blood on it. Sliding her feet to the floor she then attempted to stand only to feel the floor sway beneath her. Deciding to simply grab her bag with her foot, she hooked the strap with her toes and dragged it closer to her. She rummaged through it until she found a clean garment and quickly changed into it. A knock sounded at the door before it swung open.

"That smells good."

Blaise had two bowls and a pitcher.

"Stew, not as good as mine though." He winked at her and handed her a bowl. She looked over at him as she allowed it to cool before she took a bite.

"Did you meet with the Evans family?"

"I didn't leave your side long enough to do so. I did send a message to them though."

"What did it say?" She savored the first bite of stew, the flavors blending perfectly together.

"Only that I had a question for them." He ate his own stew and set the bowl aside. "Would you feel up to a game of cards?"

She consented with a smile and finished her dinner. She wanted to stay here with him forever.

****

A knock at the door alerted them to the arrival of an older couple who turned out to be Mr. and Mrs. Evans. As Blaise ushered them into the room they explained that they had received his message and had come as soon as they closed their shop for the day. Jade wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, covering the loose fitting clothes she had on, and carefully moved to a rocking chair by the fire.

"Please have a seat." She offered right as Blaise set down two chairs he had brought in from the room with the broken window. Eager to know why Stephen would want her to talk to these people she had to force herself to be patient while they got settled for a private discussion.

"You knew Stephen?" Jade finally asked after the formalities were out of the way.

"He is a sweet young man," Mrs. Evans replied.

"Was..." Jade whispered looking away.

"Pardon?" the woman replied.

Blaise spoke. "There was an accident that took Stephen from us. He sent us here though, to find you, but we don't know why."

"You are the girl he thought of as a sister? The one he called his wee one?" Mr. Evans' voice reverberated off the walls.

"I am." She searched the stranger's features to find only kindness though he appeared as large as a bear.

"He ordered a cloak to be made for you. I will go get it." He left the room and his wife behind.

Mrs. Evans offered a sad smile. "He spoke of you every time he came this way. Always buying ribbons for you."

"They came from your shop?"

"They did. He paid for the cloak and a dress a few trips back. He said he was getting things settled back home and he was planning a special trip for your eighteenth birthday."

"I do not know where he was going to take me." Jade tilted her head to the side.

The door opened and Mr. Evans walked in carrying a package. He crossed the room and handed it to Jade. Slowly she untied the twine then opened the box. Red, the bright color of a rose in June, filled the box. With care she touched the silken fabric.

"That dress, he said, was for when you got to where you were going. It was going to be something special," Mrs. Evans said as she walked over to lift the dress out of the box. She held up the floor length dress with off the shoulder straps and a sweetheart neckline. "He wanted something that would be fit for a princess. He said you deserved it. The fabric is supposed to pool on the floor just a little to look a bit like a flower petal." The woman carefully folded the dress back up and set it aside then pulled out a blue velvet cape that swept the floor. The hood was lined with white fur.

"That is beautiful." Jade breathed, touching the garment. "I've never owned anything so extravagant. Thank you for making these. It must have taken a lot of work to get the stitching just right."

Mrs. Evans smiled. She folded open the cape to reveal embroidery on the inside of the garment. It was a majestic phoenix rising holding a rose with its claws. "Stephen gave me this picture." She handed a folded piece of paper to Jade. "He said it was very important. He didn't say why."

"Thank you, again," Jade said smiling at the woman.

"I'm just sorry to hear about your loss."

Suddenly tired again she forced a smile but could feel the blood draining away from her face. Blaise's voice caught her attention.

"I think we should allow Jade to get some more rest, she is still recovering. Thank you for coming so quickly." He walked out of the room with the older couple, closing the door behind them.

Jade ran her fingers over the cape. It was so soft and warm. Her head pounded as she struggled to remember if Stephen had ever said anything about a phoenix. The rose she remembered because every time he saw a rose he would tell her how it reminded him of her mother.

"You should get back into that bed." Blaise's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"Aren't they beautiful? I wonder where he planned to take me that I would need something so wonderful."

"Maybe he felt that no matter what you should have something as beautiful as you. Let me help you." He slipped a strong arm around her and pulled her to his side. He walked her slowly to the bed. Once she was situated he took the cloak and hung it up. He tucked the dress away into one of her bags.

"What do you think this means?" She held up the paper.

He took it and sat on the edge of her bed. "I'm not sure. I know the phoenix rises from the ashes. It is reborn. I think it has something to do with Hale. Maybe that is where your family is from."

"Maybe."

"You talked of them last night." He leaned back on one elbow.

"Of who?" She furrowed her brows.

"Your family. You said you needed to find them so that you would not be used to hurt others. Only your family knew how to help you with your power." He quirked up an eyebrow with that last word.

"I dreamt of Stephen. He was talking to me, telling me to find my family. Warning me that Mona would use me to hurt others. I don't know what it means. I wish he were here." Her heart ached as she thought of her friend. He was not even cold when she had run away. If things had been different he would be here with her now and she would not be in the dark.

"If you have family out there, we'll find them." He reached out and placed a finger under her chin to lift her gaze to his. "We will find them." His blue eyes pulled her in, she found herself leaning toward him, moving slowly closer to his lips when a knock at the door caused her to jump away. Frustration and embarrassment warred inside her when she saw how quickly he moved away from her. Whoever was on the other side of that door had just unwittingly saved her from making a fool of herself.

Blaise opened the door to reveal the doctor who had come to check on her. The old man did not stay long but left with orders for her to stay in bed at least another day.

# CHAPTER ELEVEN

A second day in bed had Jade on edge. She wanted to move about, to be outside. Blaise seemed to feel her anxiety over the confinement as well. He spent the day reading to her, teaching her new games, and telling her of his travels. After spending hours in the room she finally asked the question that had been nagging at her mind for what seemed like forever.

"Do you not have someone waiting for you? A family of your own?" Her heart beat wildly against her chest. She was certain that he would be able to hear how it played rhythmically against her as if trying to escape.

"I have not settled down yet."

"Why not?" There was no hiding her surprise at his answer.

"I refuse to marry someone I cannot respect and love. I will not have a marriage of convenience. I want, no I need, someone who will stand beside me." Her heart eased its excessive beating. "Someone who would stand by me in a fight, stay up with me playing games, debate over society and human nature." He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, which was now healed.

"When you find someone like that, what then?" It came out with a small squeak.

"I will not allow her to go. I will treat her like a princess, for she will be mine. I would do whatever I had to do to make her happy, to secure our future."

He leaned in so that his breath tickled her cheek. The warmth she felt against her skin caused spirals of heat to course through her. His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb caressing her cheekbone. His lips brushed against hers, soft as a butterfly lighting on a flower. A soft moan escaped her causing him to fully claim her lips with his. Her arms slipped up and around his neck, her fingers finding their way into his hair. When finally he pulled away her lips still tingled with the feel of his. She turned her head so that her lips found the palm of his hand and when she laid a kiss to his hand she turned her gaze up to him.

His eyes were closed, a soft smile on his face. He pulled her onto his lap to hold her close to him. She sighed and nestled into his embrace. "Blaise?"

"Hmm?" He opened one eye.

"Nothing." She shook her head; she did not want to ruin the moment with the questions that ran through her mind wondering what the kiss meant.

"Something, love." His fingers found her hair, weaving their way in and out. "I'm not letting you go." He kissed her forehead and pulled her even closer. She felt him sigh when she nestled closer to him.

"You don't have to," she whispered, finally feeling loved for the first time in her life.

****

She woke to darkness. Blaise's chest rose and fell rhythmically beneath her head. Jade could not imagine being happier than she was at this moment. She slipped away from him quietly so she would not wake him. Pulling on an old pair of trousers and a long sleeved shirt she glanced out the window to see that the sky was illuminated by a full moon. She pulled on her shoes and slipped out of the room to seek out the outhouse.

Jade made her way down the stairs and immediately upon hitting the landing someone reached out of the dark and grabbed hold of her. She let out a yelp before a filthy hand was clamped over her mouth. While she was dragged from the building she kicked and struggled to escape. A rag was tied around her mouth and a second pair of hands grabbed her writhing body holding her captive while the first tied ropes around her wrists behind her. Panic surged through her body, heart pounding wildly, as she tried to get away. The next thing she knew she was flung onto the back of a horse.

After working her jaw until the rag loosened and fell a little, she screamed as loudly as she could with the rag muffling some of the yell. "Blaise!" He had to hear her. Someone slapped her across her face then joined her on the horse. The animal was nudged into a run. The jostling caused her to bite her lip, drawing blood. She was torn between wriggling off the large beast and chance being trampled or giving the appearance of accepting her fate until she figured out a better plan. What did they want with her? What good would it do if she managed to escape this man only to be killed by his steed?

It seemed like they rode for hours with her slung across the animal like a sack of potatoes. Finally, the men slowed their pace and she was set right. "You can sit here so long as you don't try to escape."

"What do you want? I have no money." She forced bravado into her words.

"You may not but we will get money one way or another."

"Either the hag or the prince will pay for your return," the other voice reached her ears; he sounded vaguely familiar.

"What prince?" she scoffed at them.

"Your travel companion."

"He is no prince." She laughed at them only to be rewarded with another slap across her face.

"But he is — Prince of Centuria." The man chortled. "The hag sent us for you though, told us where to take you. But should your prince come first we will trade you to him for the right price."

A prince? Not just any prince but the prince of this land, the royal family he had spoken of had been his own. Her head swirled with the new information. No wonder he had grown up with such fineries. Of course his parents had known the royal family from Hale. It was all beginning to make sense now. Travelling so far from the city on business for his father. His knowledge of the history of Centuria and the countries that neighbored it. Anger filled her as the knowledge that he had kept such a huge secret overcame her.

The wind howled, growing with intensity just as her anger grew. Lightning split the sky open and rain as cold as ice pelted them.

"Where'd the storm come from?" the second man asked.

"Don't know, don't care. We've gotta get her there." The horse protested beneath her as the man urged it forward.

Where had the storm come from? The sky had been clear; that is it had been clear until she allowed her anger to fill her. Could that be what Stephen had meant? She scanned her memory. Every time she had been furious or in great pain a storm of some kind was there. As if it were showing the world what she felt. Forcing her breathing to calm, Jade focused on how peaceful she had felt in Blaise's arms. As her anger melted away the storm weakened. She opened her eyes to see that the clouds were beginning to disappear.

"Black magic... Gotta be." She glanced over to see the man who spoke now that the moon shone brightly down on them. It was the younger man of the three who had come across her in the woods. He appeared to be jittery.

"No such thing," the other man said from behind her. It had to be the cleaner man from that same day. The one that Blaise had sent on his way. She recalled that he had a trim goatee. Twisting around enough she saw that it was him. "Miss me darlin'?"

"Not at all. How is your friend?" The corner of her mouth quirked up as she recalled the man bawling like a baby.

"Left him behind. Allowing a girl to beat him. Useless." He sneered. She fell silent and allowed them to travel in silence. She noticed a sign that read Wapeno.

_Wapeno_ , she thought the word over and over. She had to figure out how to get a message to Blaise; his face appeared behind her closed eyes. " _Wapeno"_ , she whispered in her mind as she memorized his face. It was a face of concern that she saw, like the one he had the other day when the tailors had come to visit. He mouthed something; she could see his mouth moving. " _Don't let me go_ ," the words screamed in her head, screamed at him. She willed him to come find her. Her heart belonged to him; she could not lose him now. Not after a lifetime of not feeling love, she could not give it up now.

"Will she be there?" the younger man asked.

"O' course. Mona is nothing if not greedy. There is something that she needs from this one. She'll do anythin' to get her back," goatee man replied. Jade held herself rigid as she wondered what it was Mona wanted from her.

# CHAPTER TWELVE

They rode all night and half the morning. Repeatedly, Jade found herself pulling up the image of Blaise in her mind — his slightly curly hair standing on end as if he had been running his fingers through it.

Wapeno had to be getting closer. The road was beginning to look more travelled. The men turned into the woods, riding along the road but in the shadows. They had replaced the rag over Jade's mouth to keep her quiet since people were beginning to pass by on the road. She could not remember what she had read of Wapeno, though she did recall having heard the name before. It had to have been something in one of the books.

"We'll be there soon." The one she decided to call Baby Face sounded relieved as he talked to Goatee Man.

"We'll collect our money and go."

"The woods are filled with dark magic." His eyes darted around the forest, seemingly looking for something to jump out at him.

She wondered again if the power Stephen had talked about was connected to her emotions. Was that why he said she had to control her emotions? During the night ride she had been able to calm herself and in turn calmed the storm. She wondered now if she could do more. Scanning the area she found a dead tree across the path in the distance. Locking it in her gaze and tuning out the sounds of everything around her, she thought only on that log and fire. Her eyes began to water from the strain of not blinking and just before she was about to give up she saw it. Zigzagging down from a blue sky, that was only visible through the trees that were losing their leaves, was an arc of lightening. It struck the log with a large _crack_ , lighting it on fire.

A yelp came from Baby Face and she fought off a smile of satisfaction. She pictured herself over the log, dancing with arms flung wide, spinning rapidly. A whirlwind burst forth like a miniature tornado snuffing out the fire and lifting the log off the ground.

"Witches!" he hollered from beside them. He kicked his horse, urging it forward to get out of the forest. The horse she was on lurched forward as well.

She was wondering if there was anything else she could do when they came to a clearing where a small house stood alone. At the door was Mona with her long graying hair tousled on top of her head, her wrinkled face, and the clouds of anger in her eyes.

"I told you to NEVER leave home!" the old woman barked at her, arms crossed over her chest.

"That was not my home," Jade bit out once the gag was removed.

"Stephen, what would he say?"

In a deeper than normal voice Jade replied, "Great job, wee one. But I told you to run away from Mona. Not to get caught."

"Doesn't matter now. Bring her inside," Mona ordered before turning to go into the house. The men dragged her off the horse. She was too tired to fight them and she needed to relieve herself since they had not allowed her to do so.

"Hold her there." Mona pointed to a chair. They shoved her down onto it and held her in place.

"When do we get our money?" Goatee Man asked boldly.

Mona shot a dirty look at him, silencing him but not his insipid partner.

"There's witchery about in these woods. We jus' wanna be on our way."

"Witchcraft? Is that what you are afraid of?" Mona stalked toward him mumbling something under her breath. A ball of fire appeared over her hand, seemingly to float. With the flick of a wrist she tossed it toward Baby Face's pants catching them on fire. Jade watched stunned as the man swatted at his clothes to snuff out the flames.

"Mona!" Jade yelled from the chair where Goatee Man stood still as stone holding her tightly, bruising her skin.

Dark eyes turned to her. "I told you to not leave. I have plans for you. I need you. We are goin' to do many great things together."

"I want nothing to do with you." She refused to look away. Her entire life she had cowered to Mona and this was not going to be one of those moments. This was not a moment to lose the inner battle for bravery. "You can't make me do anything."

"Really?" Mona flung up her hand throwing another ball of fire to the door. The wood there caught fire. The flames licked hungrily at the house. "Put it out or we all die."

"I can't," she spat out.

"Can't or won't? You wouldna let even men like these die if you could help it." Mona hissed.

The flames crawled across the wall. Baby Face whimpered and backed away from the only exit. The man who had helped to steal her away from Blaise was now begging for his life at her side. He did not deserve to die here; she did not want to die here. She wanted Blaise, wanted to be in his arms again. So she drew an image of water in her mind putting out the flames. Suddenly the walls had water cascading down like a waterfall. Once the flames were out the water disappeared.

Mona turned her lips up in an evil smile. "I can make you do anything. I know your weakness." She turned to the men and tossed a purse at them. "Leave now, but stay in Wapeno. I may have need of you again."

The men nodded and fumbled their way out of the house. "Five miles north. We'll find a doctor there to check those burns." Jade heard Goatee Man attempt to reassure his friend. Mona left the door open allowing the burnt smell to escape.

"I have to use the outhouse," Jade said through her teeth.

The old woman nodded. "Don't try to run off again. I know about your prince."

Jade felt herself pale as she was led out to the foul smelling building. With her wrists now bound in front of her she thought of attempting to use her teeth to untie herself but thought it best to wait until Mona slept. After finishing up she walked back out into the freshness of the open clearing, gulping in the clean air.

"Why?" Jade turned to look at the woman who had raised her.

"You've only ever been a pawn. Nothin' more." There was a coldness in her tone as she grabbed the rope bound around Jade's wrists and dragged her toward the house.

"You never cared?"

"For you?" She cackled. "Not even for Stephen. You were both part of my revenge."

"What revenge?" Jade shook her head, none of this made sense.

The old woman shoved Jade down in the corner. She picked up a piece of bread and tossed it at her. It landed on her lap but Jade refused to eat it until she saw that Mona was eating some from the same loaf.

"Long ago I was a great seamstress in Hale. I was sought out by many. The royal family frequented my shop until a boy claimed that I killed his dog with magic. I was banished from my home. I could have been burned at the stake if the townsfolk had their way. But the king sent me away, telling me I would face death if ever I returned. That was fifty-six years ago. The man who banished me is gone but his family is still there. Still livin' comfortable while others toil away in the dirt enjoyin' no luxuries."

"What does that have to do with me?" Jade questioned after finishing off the bread.

"I started my revenge seventeen years ago. With a baby and a fire. I took away his only grandchild. But that wasn't enough. I would raise her as my own, use her against them. Against the townspeople who told lies about me. Ruinin' my life!" Mona pounded the table with her fist.

"They weren't lies though. I just saw you use magic."

"That? That was something that I learned along the way. The royal family of Hale, the females all had something unique about them. A born ability. A gift. The one you have."

"I have no gift."

"You do. It is power. Power is what everyone craves."

"Not everyone. Those who use it properly know that it should never be used to hurt others."

"The king had power and he ruined my life by banishing me!" Mona shouted, standing so quickly that she flipped the chair.

"He had power and could have had you sentenced to death. He gave you compassion," Jade retorted.

"No matter, I took you from him. I will soon finish my revenge. You'll do it for me."

****

Jade shivered in the corner; darkness had fallen. She thought of all she had learned from Mona's mad ranting. She had a family; they had not been killed. They had not abandoned her. An insane woman had stolen her away from them to hurt the king of Hale, to hurt her grandfather. The tragedy Blaise had told her about with the fire and the hotel — that was her — only Mona had already stolen her away from the hotel before she started the blaze.

Her heart ached for the parents she had never known, the hurt that was caused them over an old vendetta. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard shouting. A strange glow came in through the window. Mona had drunk herself into a stupor but before passing out she had bound Jade to the wall.

"Witch!" She heard the chant as the glow got closer. The door burst open.

"That one!" Baby Face pointed at Mona who was still passed out on the floor. Men grabbed Mona and pulled her out of the house; they bound her as they went. Someone released Jade from the wall and yanked on the shackles that were now over her wrists. He yanked knocking her to her knees and pulled her out of the house. A torch was thrown on the roof. She watched as the house burnt to the ground.

"The old lady, she pulled fire from the air and burned me."

"What of this one?" the man holding Jade hostage asked.

Goatee Man stepped forward. "All we know is the old woman wanted her for some reason." Jade saw him turn to whisper into Baby Face's ear. She recalled the talk on the way here about ransoming her to Blaise. They probably thought they could get even more money for her. If not then they would tell them she was a witch.

"Then we take her to town and lock her away until we know why." The man pulled on the chains causing her to stumble.

"Take the witch to town. She will face her sentence there." The mob forced Jade to walk toward the town. Still unconscious, Mona had been tossed on the back of a horse. Jade could feel blood running down her wrists as they made their way past a sign that read "Wapeno 5 miles."

Mona came to somewhere along the way. She slid from the horse, mumbled slurring words, and fire leapt forth but dissipated quickly. A shot was fired and Mona collapsed to the ground.

Jade sobbed as she watched the life begin to drain away from the woman who had raised her, the woman who had destroyed her parents. Some men from the crowd grabbed Mona's limp form and tossed her back across the back of a horse. Jade was pulled away and into a large brick building by the shackles that bound her hands. Dragging her feet to prolong whatever her fate might be did not help.

She stumbled as she followed the man down the crooked steps. The floor turned to dirt when she was shoved into a dark room. The man released her from the chains and then slammed the door shut locking her in. Allowing herself to collapse from exhaustion she pulled her knees to her chest and lay there, tears running down her face as she called for Blaise in her mind. She drifted into a fitful sleep where Blaise was there holding her, only to be yanked away.

# CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Hours later Jade awoke as the door briefly opened and food was shoved through along with a pitcher of water. A tiny amount of light streamed in through the little window in the door. Examining the room she found a chamber pot in the corner and cringed at the thought of it. Shackles were attached to one wall; she was thankful that her captors had not felt a need to use them.

After picking up the pitcher she sipped some water then gave thanks for the food and ate it slowly, saving some for later just in case they did not bring more. Her entire body ached. She took a bit of the water and wet part of the hem of her shirt to attempt to wash her wrists. Frustrated, Jade sighed when she realized that she would not get them completely clean, not here.

A man came to the door and spoke through the little window. "Why does the witch want you?"

"Revenge," she answered honestly, her voice cracking when she remembered how Mona had collapsed after being shot. She had heard men talking about her earlier. Mona was confined in a steel room. At the moment she was alive but they planned to sentence her as soon as she was aware of her surroundings. They were convinced that it was the only way to break any evil enchantments she may have placed on anyone.

"Against who?" His voice was steely.

"A family that ruined her life over fifty years ago." Jade sighed; she did not know what she could tell this man.

"How did they do that?" he questioned through the door.

"She said she was a dressmaker, a favorite of the royal family of Hale. That a boy accused her of witchcraft, killing an animal. I think that is what she said. The townspeople wanted to burn her but the king banished her from the kingdom."

"How does this involve you?"

"Apparently, I am related to one of the families involved."

"If your story checks out, you will be free to leave. But _only_ after I am convinced that you tell the truth."

She heard him scuffle away and once again she was alone but at least for this moment she did not fear for her life. The ache in her wrists was a constant reminder of how she had been so cruelly taken away from her love. She stood and paced the room. Feeling the need to be moving she simply walked back and forth imagining that she was somewhere else.

****

At the edge of the woods he stood with one foot in the shadows motioning for her to come to him. He stepped back. She called to him but it seemed that he could not hear her. Her legs would not listen to her; they refused to move. "Wait!" she screamed for him as the trees began to swallow him up. "Don't leave me!"

She bolted awake, a cold sweat across her brow. Jade was in darkness, the only sound the scampering of the feet of mice. Pulling her legs closer to her body she rolled over to stare at where she knew the door was. It was only a dream; Blaise would not leave her by choice. With Mona gone they could be together. If she was free they could be together. The long hours in the disgusting room seemed more like days.

Rocking back and forth trying to warm herself as a chill had crept in, she started to sing. It was a simple song, the lullaby that had always comforted her. The song that her ragdoll from Stephen played. It had not been overly fancy but it was her treasure. It was what Stephen had used to get her to sleep on nights when she had bad dreams.

"Hush now, wee one. You cannae wake Mona. Please don't wake her." Stephen's voice sounded more mature than he appeared. He sat with his legs folded under him next to the bed that Jade was lying on. He picked up the worn rag doll with red yarn for hair and twisted the key in its back then placed it into her arms. The soothing song started to lull Jade as her tears dried.

"Why does she hate me?" She hiccupped the question.

"I don't think she likes anyone." He reached out and tugged on her long dark hair.

"Is this what all families are like?" Her large green eyes looked over at him.

"No, this is no family. I've seen families. I'd like to have a family someday. Maybe when I get married you can come live with my family. I can't leave you here alone."

"Tell me about them?" Snuggling under her blanket she sighed as she held the doll close to her.

"All the ones I have seen in the village have a mom and a dad and kids. Sometimes the moms yell at the kids to stop doing something but for the most part they seem to really enjoy being around each other. The kids get to play with each other; they go to school. It seems that anyone can go to school, rich or poor, not like what Mona told us. The dads work a lot, some of the moms work too. In the town I go to most of the time there is a couple I stay with. They are really nice. The lady always makes sure I get enough to eat. The man will pop corn over a fire some nights and we sit around while he tells us stories. Then, I sleep on the extra bed in their son's room. She always comes in and checks on us before she goes to bed. I think that is what families are supposed to be like. It is really nice but we won't have that here."

He looked at her; her eyes were slowly closing.

"Sounds nice," she mumbled.

"Someday, I will take you away from here. I promise."

A single tear rolled down her cheek and across her nose as the memory faded. If only Stephen had taken her away back then. Though she supposed that Mona would have found them just like she had found her this time and then her childhood would have been even more restricted than it had been. She had finally escaped and found freedom only to end up a prisoner once again. At least here she was not going to be forced to hurt anyone.

"I brought you a blanket," a deep voice said from the doorway; it opened allowing more light to shine through. A short man with a bald head held out a thin looking blanket. She scrambled to her feet and stepped forward to take it. He tossed it to her outstretched hands.

"Thank you." Her words seemed strangely loud.

"Don't see a point to you freezing in here." He closed the door behind him, shutting out the light as well. A _click_ told her that the door had been locked. Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders she went to the wall by the door finding that it was the warmest spot in the cell. Leaning her head against the wall she allowed herself to drift off to sleep.

# CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Seems it is a little difficult searching the capitol for someone who remembers events that happened over fifty years ago," the man with the steely voice said through the little window of the door to her cell.

"What about the royal family? They must have record of it," Jade replied.

The tone of the man's voice told her not to give him any more information than she already had. He was a man with power. He sounded like a man who liked to wield it.

"I have someone waiting for an audience with them but don't know how long it will take them to see him. You may as well settle in here." He chuckled.

"I have no choice but to do that." She sighed and resumed her pacing of the floor. She found herself wondering what would happen to her if they discovered she was no ordinary person. Certain that they would kill her, she decided that thinking on it would do no good. Instead she turned her thoughts back to Blaise.

Closing her eyes she could picture him as if she were right beside him.

The usual smile on his handsome face was not there. A deep scowl twisted his features into a sight she wished she would never have a reason to see. His back was straight as a rod, head held high as he rode a black horse. There was someone with him but she could not make out the person's features. Brown hair fell down brushing Blaise's forehead. The longing to reach out and brush it gently back into place overwhelmed her. Without thinking she felt herself reaching for him as if he were in front of her, but when she saw the look of shock cross his face at the same moment his hair moved off his forehead she dropped her hand.

"Jade?" His voice whispered into her mind, his eyes scanning the area around him.

"What did you say?" the man riding next to him asked. "Do you see her?"

"I thought... never mind."

"We will find her soon, my prince," his companion said before Blaise began to fade from her mind.

"Wapeno!" she thought loudly, pushing the thought toward the fading image of her love.

"We will, in Wapeno." Determination filled the prince's face before his image vanished.

A sigh of relief escaped her. Allowing her body to relax she leaned against the warmest wall in the room and thought of the first thing she would do when she left here. She would throw her arms around Blaise and hold on to him for as long as possible. It wouldn't be long now she knew he was coming for her.

****

The sheriff threw open the door to her cell and pulled her up. Jade cried out in pain when he gripped her raw wrists. Before a coherent thought could enter her mind she was bound in the shackles on the wall.

"The enchantress is awake. She claims that you are her child."

"I'm not her daughter." Rage filled her.

"Of course not, you just happened to be there with her in that cottage." He sneered at her.

"I told you, she is using me to get the revenge that she wants against my family."

"A family you have yet to name." He smirked at her.

"Ask those men. They were paid by her to bring me to her. If I was her daughter would she have to pay someone to kidnap me? Why would she have shackled me to a wall in the cottage if she were my mother? Don't you see that she is lying?"

"Why would she lie?"

"You trust the woman who set a man on fire over me? I haven't done anything to hurt anyone. I have sat here for I don't know how long being compliant. But the moment that evil woman wakes and makes an accusation you believe her." Jade took a deep breath to try to calm herself. She pushed it out slowly. "She does not care how she hurts my family just so that she does. If she is sentenced to death then she will take me with her so that she can die feeling she was avenged."

Skepticism flashed across his face. Doubts, he had doubts about what Mona had said. "What men?"

"The man who she burned, he and his partner with the goatee stole me away from a hotel in the middle of the night. They took me to her. She gave them money. Words were exchanged. She said something and set that man's pants on fire. They can tell you."

"I doubt they would tell me anything. Working for a witch could get them in a lot of trouble."

"I don't think they knew she was one." Her eyes grew big.

"Kidnapping is a crime in itself."

"A crime, yes, but isn't it a bigger crime to allow someone to die because you don't want to fess up to what you did?"

"I'll see what I can find out." The man turned and walked calmly out of the room leaving her shackled to the wall. The cold iron bit into her already raw skin. It did not take long before she felt little droplets of blood ooze from the reopened wounds.

The chill in the room grew until her fingers became stiff. Being forced to hold still in that little spot was not helping her. At least before she could pace her cell. The kind jailer had even given her a blanket; cruelly it was now out of reach. There had to be a way to move, to get her blood pumping so she could stay warm.

She took four steps forward; it was all that the shackles would allow. She stepped back to the wall and crouched down on her heels then stretched upward onto her toes. The process was repeated over and over until it hurt her wrists too much to move. Slowly, Jade allowed herself to slide down the wall to sit on the floor hoping that the bleeding would stop now that the iron was not rubbing against her skin.

She wondered how they were keeping Mona restrained. The little bit of power she had revealed made Jade believe that simple walls would not hold her. How long until she did some real damage here? Jade shivered at the thought of what Mona might do. It seemed that the more people Mona hurt, the more she delighted in it.

The door opened casting away the shadows that had filled the room.

"I brought you some dinner." The bald jailer had returned, kindness etched on his face. He set the plate and pitcher of clean water down next to Jade. Then he picked up the blanket that was just out of her reach and handed it to her.

"Thank you, mister..." she whispered.

"Bertrem." He offered his name with a smile. "I don't believe any of it, miss. You're too kind to be in league with her. I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice."

The man left the room, leaving the window in the door open so that some light could shine in on her dark cell. She found herself giving thanks for his generosity. The food, though simple bread and cheese, was delicious. The water was a relief. When she had finished eating she ripped some cloth off the hem of her nightgown and shoved it up under her new iron bracelets in the hope that it would ease the pain and stop the bleeding. Exhausted, she sat back down against the wall, closed her eyes, and drifted off in a restless sleep where Blaise and her parents were always just out of reach.

# CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Murmured words echoed around her. Nothing _that she could make out, but the low whispered voice sounded so familiar. Despite the darkness she could see the starlight through the trees. Crunching, clopping, and twigs snapping caused her to turn around. A black horse emerged from the shadows. As the horse drew nearer she could make out Blaise stooped over the saddle._

"Blaise!" Jade ran toward him.

He lifted his head but did not look at her. The horse stopped in front of her. Laying her hand on the horse's neck she stroked it gently as she peered up into the face of her love. He was just as she remembered him; it seemed that she had not seen him in months. He was in need of a clean shave but other than that he was still the strikingly handsome man that she had grown to love.

"Blaise, I'm here." Her voice lifted up to him.

"Jade?" He shook his head slightly, eyes never landing on her. That was when she noticed them. His sparkling blue eyes no longer shone. They were blank, dull, unfocused. "Where are you?"

"Here, right here." Reaching over to the reins where his hands were she placed one of hers over his. "I'm right here."

"Everything is dark. I knew I would find you though. I had to find you." Relief filled him. It echoed from his voice and surrounded her in warmth.

"What happened to you?"

"She appeared in the road from nowhere. Just out of thin air. Jappeth vanished. The old woman mumbled and a bright flash came from her hands. I can't see. I haven't seen since then. But I knew I would find you."

Jade forced tears away from her eyes. "You did. All you have to do is find Wapeno and you will find me. I'll be waiting for you. I have always been waiting for you."

Fog rolled in separating the two of them. As his image dissipated into the mist she heard him call out, "I won't stop looking!"

Her eyes flew open to see the shadows of her cell. He was not there. Dread filled her. Mona had done something to him. Jade knew Mona was capable of many things and she would do what she could to ruin any happiness that Jade could find. But even Mona could not stop love; Blaise would find her. He would not stop looking for her. Hope swelled inside her as she stood, the chains a burden that only added fuel to her determination to find a way out of here to find Blaise. She would not leave him to wander in the dark forever.

****

It seemed that whenever he had the chance Bertrem came to the door to talk to her. Jade discovered from the balding jailer that it was suspected that Mona had cursed the town. Children had fallen ill not long after Mona had regained coherency. A doctor had been called but could not find anything wrong with them. The enchantress only spoke of her vengeance.

"She said the Allaway family will pay for what they did to her."

Jade could see Bertrem's outline through the door he had opened slightly in an attempt to allow some warmth into her cell and so he could talk to her.

"What does she have against them? The royals have always treated us well."

"At the cottage she said that she was accused of killing someone's animal. She was a dressmaker to the royal family and then banned from the country after the accusations."

"Most anyone would have been dragged away by villagers. She's lucky that the royals stepped in. They saved her life." Bertrem's raspy voice reached into the room.

"I don't think she views it that way. From what I gather she has made it her mission to ruin them."

"Why go after the children here?" Concern rolled off him and into the cell.

"What's wrong with them? What are their symptoms?" Her curiosity grew.

"Fevers, ramblings, vision that comes and goes, and stomach pains. The doctor cannot figure it out. He says it's nothing he has ever seen. It has to be the witch."

"Is she still awake?" Jade inched as close to the door as she could. Berterm's face turned to look at her through the doorway.

"Yes, every time someone gets close to her she begins to mumble. They say that she can carry fire in her hands."

"I saw what she did to that man," Jade whispered. "Is she not eating then?"

"They stopped taking her food. They're too afraid to get close to her."

Jade bit her lower lip. "Will the doctor go see her?"

"Whatever for?"

"Can't he do something?" she asked quietly.

"He's not like the fancy doctors in the big cities. We have one of those on the way."

"She can be stopped. There has to be a way to stop her." Jade jumped when she was suddenly shut into darkness. Bertrem was speaking to someone on the other side of the door. Straining to hear what was said she leaned as close as she could, allowing the shackles to bite into her skin.

"We burn her. It is the only way to save our children." The voice of the sheriff came through the door. Bertrem had told her how he ran the town as if it was his own tiny little kingdom. The people feared him to the point that they did everything he asked of them.

"When?"

"Tomorrow. We need time to get the pyre ready."

"What of the young girl?"

"We will wait and see if they get better. If they get well after the witch is gone then we can assume that she has nothing to do with this. If they stay ill, she'll be next." Heavy booted feet caused the wooden floor on the other side of the door to creak as he walked away.

A few moments later Berterm opened the door a tiny crack. "They will get better. Once a witch dies the spells she casts die, right?"

"I don't know. I don't know. I didn't even know anything like this happened outside of old fairytales until those men stole me away that night."

"Where were you going?" Bertrem asked.

Jade let out a sad little sigh. "I was searching for my family."

"Is nobody looking for you?"

"He is looking for me. I know Blaise will search until he finds me."

"True love?" The question had what she assumed to be a fatherly tone to it.

A soft smile crossed her face. "I certainly hope so."

# CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jade could hear Mona yelling from outside the following morning. "He'll never see you again!" Jade's heart pounded rapidly against her chest. "They will not find you! They are not even lookin' for you!" Her words echoed off the buildings reaching Jade's ears. Silence filled the cell until bloodcurdling screams reached out. Jade could only assume that the fire had been started.

She trembled with fear and heartache at the same time. The dual emotions fought inside her as tears slipped down her face. She heard rain begin to patter against the little widow that was at ground level. Memories of Mona from when Jade was a child surfaced as if the child within her was desperate to grasp onto some happy memory. All the happy memories were of Stephen. It was then that she realized Mona had paid little attention to her except when a storm seemed to appear out of nowhere or when Jade warned them of one coming. Bitterness replaced the sorrow she had been feeling a moment before. She had been a pawn her entire life. No more, she would be free now. Free of Mona at least.

Her cell was dark as night when Bertrem opened the door to bring her some food. "She's gone."

"That smell," she muttered, trying to force back the need to gag as the stench of burnt flesh wafted in off Bertrem's clothes.

"I thought I would tell you that they are monitoring the children now. The sheriff seems to think that it should only take a few days to see an improvement in them now that she is gone. If there is none..." She could see the sadness in his eyes.

"I know," she whispered as he closed the door then walked away. At her spot on the dirt floor she thought of what she had heard Mona say. She was right, her parents were not looking for her, but she would get out of here and find them. If they believed her or not she would never know until she did find them. At the very least she had to try. It was what Stephen wanted her to do; it was what she felt she needed to do.

What was it Mona had said about him never seeing her again? Who? She pushed herself up to her feet and took the four steps the chains allowed then walked back. Certainly a groove would form in the dirt from that little path she kept walking and thinking.

Her dream! Blaise — Mona had to have been talking of Blaise. What if it had not been a dream but a vision? Had Mona done something to his eyes? Was he really out there wandering around the forest without his sight? His handsome eyes to shine no more, to never look upon a beautiful sunset again? It all seemed so tragic. Would he be able to rule over his country without the use of his eyes? Concentrating on him she allowed herself to slip to the dirt floor.

The black horse was near the cottage that had been set on fire. The cottage where Mona had held her captive for a few hours. Blaise's shoulders were slumped forward. He was alone, no one there to help him if he should need assistance. Jade saw a shadow move through the trees, darting between them quietly.

"Blaise you're close. Wapeno is so very close now." Jade whispered. As the horse turned toward the village she let out a sigh of relief.

The man in the shadows was forced into the clearing. It was Baby Face, no wonder the sheriff had not been able to locate him. He had been off in search of Blaise. Feeling helpless as Baby Face inched closer to the spot the horse had just left, she tried to figure out how to stop him. The wind picked up some debris from the burnt house knocking Baby Face in the head. Watching him stumble back as the horse leapt forward she smiled to herself. She knew the man would make his way to Wapeno eventually to meet back up with his partner if to do nothing else. Meanwhile, Blaise's horse had put him on the road to her and at a decent pace. He would find her soon and everything would be all right.

****

Bertrem came in and handed Jade a plate of bread, cheese, and a little bit of meat. He set down a clean pitcher of water then left. He then reappeared with a mug. "I brought you some hot cider. Thought it might help ease away the cold. Noticed that you've been shivering lately."

"Thank you Bertrem. I don't feel very well." She picked up the mug and inhaled the heavenly scent of warmed apple cider. Sipping the drink, she lifted her eyes to see Bertrem taking his seat next to the door.

"Maybe that cider will help. If the children start getting better I might be able to take those shackles off."

"That would be nice," she replied before taking a bite of the meat. It was the first bit of meat she had eaten in several days and it was divine. Wanting to savor each little piece of it, she nibbled at it until it was gone. Then she ate the bread and cheese.

"There is someone looking for me. I need him to find me."

"What can I do to help?" He shifted in his chair to look in her direction.

"Could you let him know where I am? His name is Blaise." She was not certain if he really was a prince so she left off that part. She described him to Bertrem who nodded and informed her that he would check out the inns after his shift.

"Now, try to get some rest. Maybe we can get the doctor in here to look at you." He closed the door. They both knew the sheriff would be down soon to check on things and to goad her some more.

Jade leaned against the wall pulling the blanket up around her. With her knees pulled close to her body she used them to lay her head down. The iron bracelets biting into her skin made it nearly impossible to find comfort. But sleep found her, not caring if she was comfortable or not. The exhaustion claimed her body.

# CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The children were slowly starting to get better. Bertrem reported to Jade that the fevers had started to break about ten hours after Mona died.

"So, it was a spell?" Jade questioned the older man.

"It seems that way. They fell ill when she woke and started to get better when she died. What else could it have been? We know she was a witch. She set that man on fire."

"Yes, she did. I wonder if all her spells will weaken and break," Jade mumbled.

"Do you think she had more?" Berterm quirked an eyebrow at her.

"I don't know. She was bent on revenge. Who knows what that would have caused her to do?" Jade wondered if Blaise would be able to see again. Would he find her? The words Mona had screamed as she was being dragged away echoed in her head.

"I looked for your young man but haven't found anyone matching his name and description in any of the inns."

"Thank you for trying." She looked down at her hands and clasped them together. "Perhaps the sheriff will let me leave soon. Then I can go find him."

"I'll see about removing those shackles today," was the reply that met her before the door was softly closed and locked. _Blaise, had it only been a dream?_ She was certain that what she saw had been real. He was so close; she could almost feel him. Hearing Berterm tell her that he had not been found dampened her spirits.

The door flung open and the sheriff stomped into the room. He stood over her; his mustache had been twisted into neat little points stopping at the corners of his mouth. Currently he wore a scowl. "It seems that the illness left when the witch died."

"Then I can go?" Hope filled her voice as she looked up at him.

"Not yet. I am still checking into your story. I am willing to let you out of these chains though." He reached out, grabbed a wrist, and yanked it toward him. Stifling a cry of pain, she felt the weight fall away from her wrist. The other hand was released then he stormed out of the room.

Her arms felt nearly weightless now that they were not being held down with heavy iron. Her wrists were rubbed so raw that she knew there would be scars but she did not care. At this moment she could move around the cell. It was not much freedom but it was something. She stood and crossed the room, thankful that she no longer needed to be near the chamber pot. Walking across the room she felt everything begin to spin. The tiny hairs on her arms rose up. Something was coming. Hurrying to the window that was at ground level she stood on tiptoe trying to see out. All she could see was a flag being flopped about by the wind. Rain beat the ground. It was coming though; a storm was coming.

People had to get to safety. It was rare that a twister came through in the fall but she had seen it so many times, felt it so often, that she knew it was on its way. Knowing that the sheriff would accuse her of witchcraft, she called for Bertrem anyway.

The door opened behind her and she turned around. "You have to warn people to take shelter underground."

"What are you talking about?" The jailer looked confused.

"A twister is coming." She pointed up at the window. "It will be here soon. I've seen it so many times growing up on the farm."

"Don't fret, girl. It is just your fever causing you to worry."

"Please, Bertrem. Sound the warning. Please," she begged him. "It was a storm just like this where we lost our barn and sheep. Stephen took me to shelter and we were alright. Please." Her voice came out in a pitiful squeak.

"I suppose it won't hurt to sound the bells." He locked the door behind him. Crossing to the corner away from the outside wall she picked up the blanket and wrapped it around herself. The bells sounded loudly overhead. She heard people come down the stairs some voices sounding scared. Other voices sounded annoyed. Letting out a sigh, she closed her eyes to see if she could find Blaise.

He had a bandage wrapped around his head covering his eyes. An elderly man with silver hair led him down a hall and to a room that was filled with other people. "Have a seat here."

"What's going on?" Blaise's voice was as strong and smooth as ever.

"A storm." The elderly gentleman said, patting a hand against Blaise's back.

"This time of year? Is everyone safe?"

"The warning went off a few minutes ago and already there are several of the neighbors down here as well. Those who do not have their own cellars. We'll be alright. This storm will pass without much damage."

A shrill voice came from the other side of the elderly man who had been talking to Blaise. "It's because we burned that witch. That girl they found with her must be doing this!"

Blaise turned his head in the direction of the panicked voice. "What witch and what girl?"

"They found her some time ago. The girl they say has eyes that are a bright green, like that of a cat. She has to be a witch."

A look of hope crossed Blaise's face. "Green eyes? Is she here?"

The elderly man stepped forward again. "She is being held in the jail. Why?"

"My travel companion was stolen away in the middle of the night some time back. I have been searching for her ever since. There were three men who had accosted her during our travels before. I assume these men came back for her, that they were after her for a specific reason. She has the greenest eyes I have ever seen."

"I can take you to her after the storm."

****

A crash against the wall brought Jade back to reality. She was alone in the cell but could hear voices on the other side of the door. Some of the people were making accusations about her similar to those she had heard when she saw Blaise. She could hear the fear in their voices. As the storm raged on outside, ramming the building with its screeching winds, a voice of reason came through the noise on the other side of the door.

"She has been in that cell for over a week. If that girl had been in league with the witch then why did the children get better? Why did she allow the witch to burn at the stake?"

"It rained while she burned!" a man's voice boomed through the door.

"Why was she found chained to the wall in that cottage?" Bertrem's voice brought to mind the image of a white knight charging in on his valiant steed. Jade knew that those people were afraid; she was afraid. And Bertrem was out there with them trying to come to her aide.

"I don't know," the man's voice was a little quieter now.

Jade pulled the blanket closer and thought about Blaise. He was near; that man with him would bring him to her. She would get to see him again soon. Butterflies danced in her stomach. She thought of her love as the storm began to calm. To be in his strong arms again would be heavenly. Eventually, the storm dissipated enough that the people felt safe enough to return to their homes.

The door to her cell opened only wide enough for Bertrem to check and make sure that she was all right. "There has been quite a mess made, no lives lost though." He told her as he allowed the candle to lighten the room.

"That's good." She hugged her knees to her chest. "Everyone in town is alright?"

"A few people have some cuts and scrapes but nothing more than that. The doctor is tending to them. Some men have ridden out to see to neighboring farms. It's a good thing you insisted that I ring the bell." He offered her a smile then closed the door behind him.

She assumed that he was going to go out and help with any clean up that may need to be done and to check on others. Thankful that nobody had lost their lives, she allowed herself to think back on Blaise. He was near but he had no vision. Had Mona cursed him as she thought? If so, why was he not getting better as the children were? It made no sense to her. She had to find a library; she was certain she could find something in a book. It seemed that they were filled with all sorts of knowledge that had been forgotten in the past hundred years. A hundred years of sliding backwards.

Blaise and his family seemed to be fighting to push their country, their people, forward again. He had said that the Queen of Hale had managed to keep her country from falling into complete devastation while so many other countries hadn't been as fortunate. She had rallied her people together. They had fought to preserve what they had. Certainly Hale had lost a lot, but from the bit she had gleaned from Blaise and the books Stephen had left her, Hale was a country that was leading in medicine and education.

She stood to pace the floor. Anxious to see Blaise, she found herself even more anxious to find her family. Jade was filled with a determination to find the royal family of Hale and see if what Mona had claimed was true. Was she their daughter? Would they recognize her? She had only been a year old when she was taken away from them; they had been led to believe that she was dead. Heat pooled in her stomach and boiled as she thought of all the years lost because of Mona's need for vengeance. Never knowing a mother's gentle touch or a father's reassuring words. Could she make up for all the time lost if she found them?

# CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The door to the cell flung open casting shadows onto the far wall. Jade bolted upright and turned to see the sheriff there with Baby Face. The sheriff's face was contorted with hatred while Baby Face was ashen. "Is this her?" the sheriff demanded. He had a hold of the back of Baby Face's shirt.

"I—I think so. I don't know," he stuttered though for what reason she was unsure.

"Is this the woman you saw in the woods before the tree fell on Cameron?"

"Who's Cameron?" Jade asked pushing herself up to her feet. She was met with a hard blow across her face sending her back to the dirt floor. Tasting blood in her mouth, she turned her head to peer up at the sheriff.

"Is this the woman you saw before he lost his life?" the sheriff demanded again.

"I—I didn't really see anyone," Baby Face finally stuttered out. It must have been the wrong answer because the sheriff knocked him in the back of the head.

"You. Saw. Someone." He ground out the words. "Was it her?" Jade saw the sheriff's blade pressed against the tender flesh just below Baby Face's ribs.

"Yes, yes, sir." The gulp that followed his words was audible enough for Jade to hear from where she lay on the floor.

"You stand hereby accused and found guilty of sorcery. Tomorrow, you will be brought before the pyre where you will pay for your evil craft. You've taken a life and will pay with your own."

"What life? How could I have done anything? I have been here forever!" she raised her voice at him while pushing herself off the floor. He reached out and grabbed a handful of her long dark hair. Tangling it in his hand he pulled back on it.

"You killed Cameron. You will pay." He flung her down then turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him and Baby Face.

After spitting out the blood in her mouth she reached for the pitcher of water to rinse out the metallic taste. She swished the cold water around then spit it out in the direction of the chamber pot. Who in the world was Cameron? Why did the sheriff coerce Baby Face into falsely accusing her of killing him? Finding her legs, she paced the dirt floor pondering the situation. The only thing she could decide upon was finding a way to escape. Perhaps Bertrem would leave the door open a crack tonight as he had on the nights she was shackled to allow some warmth to reach her. She could sneak past him once he fell asleep and make a run for it.

"You'll not run," she told herself. "That will make you look guilty."

A light came from behind her; she turned quickly, ready to defend herself if she needed to. It was only Bertrem. He stood at the little window in the door, having opened it. "I'm sorry miss. I brought you some food."

Slowly she made her way over to the door. Bertrem thrust the bread and cheese through the tiny window. Gratefully, she accepted the food. "What is going on?" Her question came out as a plea.

"The sheriff's brother was out in the storm with young Bailey. They ignored the bells. From what I gather they were headed back to the witch's cottage to see if there was any more money. Seems they had been expecting her to pay them more for stealing you away in the middle of the night. A tree was struck by lightning. It crushed Cameron. Since Cameron was out there because of the witch and you, the sheriff decided the only way to get vengeance for his brother was to accuse you of his death."

"You know?" she stood on tiptoe trying to see Bertrem's face. "You know they kidnapped me?"

"I do, they admitted it to the sheriff the day after you were brought in here. Cameron claimed that there was a way to get money out of you. So his brother has kept you locked away in here."

"Bertrem, help me," she pleaded quietly.

"I've sent to the capitol, telling them of the happenings here. It has been my hope that someone would be sent from the court to deal with this. Nobody around here will dare to stand against the sheriff."

"Why?" Furrowing her brows together she clutched the food in her hands.

"He's cruel and merciless. He fuels the fires of superstition and fear. Those who have come against him in the past have met the same fate as the witch did — despite the fact that they were innocent. Every single person who stood before him in an attempt to stop his reign of terror has fallen."

"Are we still in Centuria?" Hope filled her voice.

"We're a border town. Half the town in Centuria, the other half in Hale. For this reason the town has been left in the hands of the sheriff."

"But a member of the royal family, from either country, could overturn what the sheriff orders?" She nearly bounced on the balls of her feet.

"They could but none of them ever come here." Bertrem let out a very audible sigh. "They have forgotten about us."

"No, they've not. The man I described to you. Find him, he can help. He. Can. Help." She leaned her forehead against the door. "He can help us all." The last words came out a whisper. Bertrem walked away from the door. Jade understood why. If the sheriff came down here to find him speaking to her about this he would be punished. Blaise was her hope now. If only that man would bring him here now.

****

Seconds slipped into minutes, which slipped into hours. Jade paced the dirt floor. Night had fallen long ago. Her last night and she could not even look up to watch the stars dance for her. Blaise had not come for her. Stephen was gone and when she died in the morning would there be anyone left to remember him fondly? How had the society she had read about in history books come to this? What cause was there to this madness? Society had lost all hold on what is good and pure. Those who tried to reclaim peace and harmony were punished. Blaise had wanted to help people and Mona had crippled him because of her need for vengeance. Jade should have stayed hidden away from the world she had always longed to be a part of.

Tears slipped down her dirt-streaked face. She rubbed at her raw and bloody wrists. It was hard to believe that just a few days ago everything had seemed perfect. Her entire world had been like a field of flowers. Now, well now she sat on the dirt floor locked away. Waiting for them to come back for her. Why had she left her home? She had been safe. Hidden away from the world, she knew happiness. She knew now that it was a false happiness but perhaps it was better to be ignorant and happy than to be sentenced to death simply for being in the wrong place, with the wrong person, at the wrong time.

Voices echoed from the other side of the door.

"When will they come for her?"

She slid closer to the door to press her ear to it.

"Sunrise," Bertrem answered.

"They're not wasting any time then?"

"The square is ready for her."

"No trial?" That voice, even in its muffled state, seemed so familiar to her.

"She was seen. There is no need for a trial." Betrem's voice sounded defeated.

"There is always a need for justice." The sound of someone approaching caused her to want to draw away but she forced herself to stay where she was. She had to know her fate. "To send her to certain death is wrong. How can this be considered right?"

She knew that voice! Her heart ached. In the dim light she looked down at her wrists to see where the ropes and shackles had cut through her skin. The cuts were now covered with dried blood and dirt.

"There is nothing that can be done," Berterm replied from the other side of the door.

"There is always something that can be done so long as there is someone willing to do it." Footfalls fell away from the door until she could no longer here them. Closing her eyes tighter she allowed herself to fall against the door. Safety, she needed to be safe. It could be found again; certainly she had not truly lost. At least not until the morning. Nearly giving in to the voice begging her to shut down, she heard the man's voice again.

"I've sent for the king of Centuria." That voice, smooth as silk. She jolted up.

"Blaise!" She pounded her fists on the door. "Blaise! I'm here, I'm here." Tears flooded her cheeks, pouring down and dripping off her chin to the dirt below.

Footfalls came closer to the door. She stayed pressed against it. "Jade?"

"You've come." The words came out in a sob.

"Is it really you? Is it another dream?" He sounded unsure of himself.

"Bertrem, open the door. Please."

"If the sheriff comes..."

"Bertrem, if I'm to die in the morning the least you can do is let me see him one last time." She pounded a fist against the door. She heard the key slip into the lock and turn so that the latch unlocked with a _click_.

The door opened slowly and there in front of her was Blaise. The lighthearted smile that had seemed a permanent feature was now gone. His forehead was creased with worry and exhaustion. Reaching out her hand, she gently touched his bristled cheek. Rubbing her thumb across his cheekbone, she stepped forward and found herself caught up in his arms. Her lips crushed against his. She needed to keep this moment forever.

Finally, she pulled away from him and reached up to cup his face between her hands. "She took your sight," Jade whispered.

"I can see you." His lips found the top of her head.

"How?" She turned her face up toward his seeing that his eyes were still clouded over.

"I memorized you. The way the firelight shines off your long, dark hair. How your eyes get an even brighter green when you are about to win a game. I can still see the brilliant smile that you flash in my direction when you're happy. The way your brows furrow together when you're thinking. How you bite your lower lip when you concentrate. I will always see you even if I never see anything else."

She stretched up onto her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and brushed her lips across his. "I knew you would find me. I didn't leave you."

"I know." Warm tingles shot through her everywhere his hands touched. Blood coursed through her veins. She could not leave him again.

"Blaise, I love you." She snuggled her head into his chest. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close so that their hearts beat as one.

# CHAPTER NINETEEN

In his arms she felt like she could face anything that came her way. The warmth that his body lent to her started to chase away the constant chill she had grown accustomed to. She sighed and nestled closer.

"How long have you been here?" Blaise's voice was soft as he ran a hand through her tangled hair.

"I don't know. I was brought here the night after the two men took me from you."

"You've been gone nearly two weeks." He pulled her closer. "How did they treat you?"

"Bertrem did his best to keep me comfortable."

Blaise slid his hands to her arms and down them in search of her hands. When his fingers grazed across the raw flash of her wrists she let out a hiss.

"What's this?" Anger edged his voice as his fingers moved gently over the wounds.

"The men tied me, Mona put me in shackles, and then the sheriff did the same." She carefully entwined her fingers with his. "I'll heal, especially once I am out of here and cleaned up."

"Yes, let's get you to the doctor." He slipped his hand around her waist and tucked her into his side. "Lead the way out of here Bertrem."

"I can't. The sheriff—"

"Will deal with me. If my father does not get here in time, I will deal with him myself. I did not know it was my future wife he had sentenced to death."

"Your father?" Confusion pushed the question from Bertrem's mouth.

"The King of Centuria."

"Why does she call you Blaise?" Bertrem shifted his gaze from her to the man who was holding her.

"My family calls me Blaise. My given name is Augustus Leopold Blaise Fortrex, the Crown Prince of Centuria." His voice resonated with power. Bertrem dropped to his knees before them.

"Forgive me your highness." His head bowed down before them. Jade reached out and helped him to his feet. "I did not know. I would have sent for you instead of sending a message to the courts of Hale."

"There is nothing to forgive. Jade says you treated her as well as you were allowed. It's time to leave here."

"What are you doing with my prisoner?" The sheriff's voice boomed through the room causing Jade to jump and squeal. Feeling Blaise's arm pull her close, she managed to stand taller. But the memory of the sheriff hitting her the last time she stood before him came back.

"The woman you claim to be your prisoner is your future queen."

Jade swelled with pride for the man at her side. The way he quietly commanded attention.

"Queen? No, I know the royal family. The King of Centuria appointed me," the sheriff scoffed. "Who says she is the future queen?"

Bertrem stepped forward. "Sheriff, this is the Crown Prince of Centuria, Prince Augustus Leopold Blaise Fortrex. He has been searching for his betrothed since she was stolen away while they were travelling back to his home. She was telling the truth about Cameron and Bailey kidnapping her."

Anger flashed through the sheriff's eyes. "I refuse to believe this. She placed an enchantment on the prince. Come dawn he will be released of her spell when she goes to the pyre."

"She will leave with me now. When the king arrives he will sort out this mess. Until then she will stay with me in the hotel of my choosing. Bertrem here will come stand guard to ensure that there are no attempts to harm her. If any attempts are made the person responsible will be held for treason against the crown." The authority in his voice resonated off the walls. The sheriff mumbled as he stepped out of the way. Bertrem led Jade and Blaise out of the jail.

****

The cold night air shocked her but she breathed deeply of the freshness. Bertrem led them across the town square to what appeared to be a brick three-story building. Inside, a gentleman sat behind a counter nearly asleep. Bertrem cleared his throat, causing the man to jolt upright.

"What can I do to help you?" the man asked sleepily.

Blaise turned so that he faced the man. "I am in need of your finest suite. Do you have running water?"

"No sir, we do not."

"Then I will need water brought for a bath. We need the physician and some hot food if you have any available." He reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. He held it out toward the man whose eyes grew huge at the amount of money he was being given.

"I will get someone in there cooking right now. How many baths will you be needing? Do you have bags?"

"Enough water for one. The bags are with the doctor. Bertrem, will you go help the doctor to bring them here?" Blaise asked.

"I'd be happy to do so, your highness."

The man behind the counter stood and limped across the floor. They followed him up the stairs to the third floor. He unlocked a door and swung it open revealing a room with a fireplace, sofa, table, and chairs. They stepped in and he pointed across the room. "There is one bedroom through that door." Then he gestured to just beside the fireplace. "The second bedroom is just through that door."

Jade opened the bedroom door close to the fireplace. "The bath can be brought to this room."

"Very well, miss." The man handed the key over to her and then limped out of the room. Bertrem followed to go find the doctor. With the door closed behind them, Jade turned to Blaise and leaned into his chest.

"Come sit." She took his hand and led him over to the upholstered sofa. The thing was worn with age but comfortable in appearance. After helping him to sit on the sofa, she sat on the floor.

"Why are you on the floor?"

"I've been in a dirt cell for over a week. I'll sit after I bathe. Do you want to tell me what happened to you now or wait?"

"We'll talk after your needs are seen to." A _knock_ sounded at the door. Jade called for the person to enter. It was two young men carrying buckets of steaming water. They opened the door to the bedroom and entered. She followed them, curious as to why they did not have a tub. Off the bedroom was a smaller room with a large tub in the middle of the floor. They poured the water into it making quick work of filling the bath.

"When you're done just pull on that chain there. The water will go down the drain. We'll be out of your way in a moment," the older of the two said as they brought in four more large buckets of water and set them on the floor. "For you to use if you need to freshen the water."

"Thank you." She followed them to the sitting room and to the door.

"Father said to let you know that food would be brought up in about fifteen minutes."

"Thank you again." She was getting ready to close the door when Bertrem appeared with the bags and the doctor. Happily she accepted her bags from him and took them into the bedroom that she had decided to use.

"If you don't mind, doctor I'd like to get cleaned up." Jade turned her eyes to the man she had seen in her vision, the one who had been with Blaise during the storm. He nodded in agreement. Quickly, she went into the room and stripped out of the filthy nightclothes she had been wearing for nearly two weeks. She found her brush and pulled it through her hair, knowing it would be easier to wash once there were no knots. Finally, she slipped into the tub.

The hot water eased the aches in her body. Picking up the soap, she scrubbed at her skin and hair for what seemed like hours. The water had turned brown from all the dirt that had been on her body. She allowed the water to drain from the tub while she soaped up her hair and body once again. Picking up one of the clean buckets of water, she poured it over her head. She repeated the process until the water that ran out of her hair came out clear. Washing her face and body one more time, she used the last bucket of water to rinse off then stepped out of the tub wrapping a large bath sheet around herself to dry off.

She found clean clothes in her bags and pulled them on. With her hair as dry as the sheet would get it, she padded softly out to the sitting room with her hairbrush in hand. She stopped by the fireplace, which now had a fire roaring in it, finding the doctor, Bertrem, and Blaise sitting around the table.

Bertrem stood when he saw her. "Already you look much better," he said pulling out a chair for her. She crossed the room and took the offered seat across from Blaise.

"Thank you."

The doctor leaned forward. "May I see your wrists?"

She stretched her arms out across the tabletop. He looked over them quietly, frowning. Looking down at them, she saw that some spots had broken open again while she was bathing. The doctor gently took one hand into his. He applied an ointment to her wrist then wrapped it in a clean bandage. He repeated the process to the other wrist.

"Check her shoulder." Blaise finally spoke. "Before she was snatched away she had been stitched up." The doctor stood and came around the table. Jade slipped the shirt off her shoulder only enough for the man to look to see if it had healed.

"It's closed now. It is not a pretty scar, looks like it was ripped open. Probably the night she was taken. There are no signs of infection. Please, open your mouth." The doctor shone a light in her mouth and then took out what looked like a long slender piece of glass. He told her to keep it under her tongue. Looking down at the watch in his hand he removed the glass stick after a minute had ticked by.

"What is that?" Jade questioned, peering at the tiny thing that had numbers running up the side of it and a red liquid in the center of it.

"A thermometer. It checks for fevers. You, young miss, have one. I think some proper food and rest will help. I'll be back to check on you both tomorrow." He turned to Blaise. "Try putting the compress over your eyes. Don't leave it on longer than ten minutes. Be sure that you do not use it again for thirty minutes. Maybe there will be some improvement soon." The doctor bid them a goodnight then left the room.

Bertrem took up sentry in the hallway outside the door once the food arrived leaving the two of them alone.

# CHAPTER TWENTY

The food caused her stomach to grumble in anticipation. She filled a plate for Blaise and then one for herself. The two of them bowed their heads and gave thanks for the meal and for finding one another. The bacon, eggs, and potatoes were cooked to perfection. Forcing herself to eat slowly she turned her gaze to the man who sat across from her.

"What happened to you?" she finally asked again.

"What do you mean?"

Her hand reached across the table and grasped his. "When did you lose your sight? What happened?" Her voice was soft. She kept her hand on his and ate with the other one.

He set down his fork and leaned back into the chair. Blaise ran his fingers through his brown hair causing it to stand on end.

"I was riding through the forest with Jappeth. I thought I saw you and had the sudden urge to go to Wapeno. We had been travelling for a day and a half in the wrong direction, so we had to head back to Chidesworth and then on to Wapeno. The only rest I got those first three days were when Jappeth forced us to stop to rest the horses. We were in the woods when a shadowy figure appeared in a mist, an elderly woman. A light brighter than anything I've ever seen flashed from her hands. I heard Jappeth call out but I could no longer see. I never did find him. I don't know who the woman was or where she went."

"She's dead." Jade said the words so calmly that she surprised herself.

"How do you know?"

"It was Mona, the woman who raised me, the one Stephen said I needed to get away from."

"I remember you telling me a little." He shook his head and his brows furrowed together.

"The men who attacked me in the woods the day you came upon me, two of them came back and stole me away from the hotel. Perhaps they were tracking us the entire time and waiting for their chance. They took me to Mona. She had sent them after me. When the younger man angered her she threw fire at him. From. Her. Hands."

Jade moved to the chair that was closest to Blaise and put both her hands on his before he spoke. "The doctor told me they burned a witch."

"That's not all. She was planning on using me to get revenge on the family who ran her out of her home. She said it was my grandfather who had her banned from Hale. When I was barely a year old she stole me away from a hotel where his daughter and her husband were staying. She set fire to the room that I had been left in so they would assume I had died. Mona planned to use me to get revenge on them."

Blaise's expression was cool; he leaned forward setting his elbows on the table. Keeping her hands clasped in his. "She told you that you are the daughter of Elspeth and Christian Allaway of Hale?"

"She gave no names. Only said that my grandfather was the king of Hale. He had banned her from the country when she was accused of witchcraft. She wanted to make the entire family pay for destroying her life. Blaise—" she leaned closer to him "—I don't remember my parents. I was always led to believe that they were dead. Killed on a trip to town. Stephen told me that my mother had the most brilliant red hair and vibrant green eyes. He told me they were kind people."

"That guard..."

"Bertrem?" Jade stacked the empty plates in the middle of the table. Then poured some warm cider. She placed a mug into Blaise's hands.

"Yes, he said he sent word to the royal court of Hale. I can send a rider out tonight to request for someone to come here. If you're their daughter they deserve to know."

"How can they know?" She stood and paced the room. "You know the family. If there were some resemblance would you not have seen it?"

"Jade, I told you I haven't seen them in seventeen years. Not since they lost their daughter. We can figure out if what she said was true after we straighten out this sheriff. What makes you say that it was Mona who is the reason I cannot see?"

"The day the sheriff took her to the stake I heard her yell out 'he'll never see you again.' I knew in my heart she was talking to me. I could see you, in my dreams. When I closed my eyes I could see you travelling. I knew you were looking for me."

She stopped pacing to stare into the fire. Watching it leap and lick at the logs, Jade forced herself to talk more slowly. "She did not say that you would never find me but that you would never see me. The children here fell ill, they had fevers, and their sight was fading in and out. Bertrem says that they all started to get better after Mona died." She closed the space between them in four long strides. Settling her hands on either side of his face she leaned her forehead down to his.

"My vision has not improved."

"No, it hasn't. I don't know why. If she is the reason, why are you not getting better as the children did? Was there something different about you? Since you saw her in a mist in the woods was it more potent? I need a library." Desperation filled her voice as Blaise grabbed her hands and gently pulled her down to his lap.

"Shh, you need to rest." He cradled her close to him trailing kisses along her hairline. Shivers of pure delight ran through her.

"I have to find out how to fix this." She kissed his closed eyes one at a time. "I have to make it so you can see again."

"You'll see for me." He shifted under her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll see through your eyes."

"Then you'll see a lot of you. I don't think I ever want to look away from you again." She took his lips with hers and kissed him softly, electricity shooting through her. When she pulled away she saw that his smile had finally returned.

"You need to get some rest."

"You do as well. The doctor said to put the compress on your eyes. I'll go to bed after you do that."

She stood and then led him to his bedroom. After helping him get settled into the bed she placed the compress over his eyes and took up his watch to keep time. The minutes passed away in silence. When she removed the compress she realized that he had fallen asleep. He looked so peaceful. She set the compress and his watch on the little table near the bed, pulled the blanket up around him, then left the room to go to her own bed.

It seemed that Mona would have the last say in this matter. Even with her gone, would she always have a hold on Jade's life? Jade was determined to find a way to fix Blaise's eyes. Mona would not steal their happiness. Sinking down to the bed she realized she was exhausted. It felt wonderful to sleep on a soft mattress instead of a hard dirt floor.

****

Sunlight shone brightly through the window rousing Jade from her sleep. Quickly she searched through her bags and found clean clothes to put on. She brushed out her long hair, braided it, and then twisted it into a bun, pinning it into place. Emerging from the bedroom, she walked quietly over to the door of the room Blaise had slept in. She knocked softly on the door.

"Enter."

She pushed the door open to see him still on the bed, the compress over his eyes, his long body stretched across the mattress.

"How long have you had that over your eyes?" she asked stepping into the room. She went to his bags and pulled out a clean shirt, trousers, and socks. After she laid the clothes out next to him on the bed she looked down to see that in his hands was his watch.

"I've been counting the seconds."

A smiled flitted across her face. "How far did you get?"

"I was at 375 when you knocked."

"Then it is probably time to remove it." She watched as he set the compress aside. "Are they any better?"

"Not a bit, but I'm alright now that you're here." He sat up and placed his feet on the floor.

"I set your clothes out next to you. Should we go down to eat or have food brought here?"

Jade crossed the room to look out the window. Upon seeing the town square, panic rushed through her when the image of the little wooden platform with a large stake going through the middle of it came into focus. Wood was piled up around the platform. Had Blaise not come for her last night she would be nothing but a putrid smell of smoke and burnt flesh at this very moment.

"We'll eat up here. I'm sure my father will arrive today."

"How can he get here so quickly?" She forced herself to look away from the square.

"I told you that my family is accustomed to some of the great amenities that were lost decades ago."

"Yes, I forgot. I'll leave you to get dressed."

She stepped out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her as she went. She found Bertrem leaning back in a chair next to the door to the suite. "Could you get us some food, as well as some for yourself? We'd like for you to join us."

"Of course." She watched as he went down the stairs then stepped back into the room, closing the door as she went.

Footfalls from behind her brought her attention to the bedroom. Turning, she saw Blaise standing in the doorway between his bedroom and the sitting room. His tall lean figure was highlighted in the well-tailored black trousers that he was wearing with a white button down shirt. His brown hair had been combed back neatly. She decided then that she much preferred it tousled.

"Are you going to stare at me all morning?" he asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"But, how?"

"Where else would you be looking?" A flirtatious grin flashed across his face.

"I could've been looking out the window. It is the better view," she teased.

"No, you're too far away from it to see anything but the other buildings or the sky."

She watched in awe as he walked steadily to the sofa and sat down as if he had no problems with his vision. Joining him, she took his hand in hers and kissed his palm.

"We'll fix this. Do you have a large library at your home?" Hope filled her as she studied him.

"We do. I told you. I have you. You can be my eyes." She leaned her cheek into the palm of his hand and smiled sadly. "Come now, we have to straighten things out here. I expect father to be here soon, at which time you and Bertrem will have to fill him in on the goings on."

"The sheriff runs this town using fear to get what he wants. Bertrem told me. Nobody will stand up to him. They think that they have been forgotten because they are a border town."

A _knock_ came at the door before Bertrem opened it. A young lady followed him helping to carry plates, a pitcher, and mugs. She set the spread on the table then took the empty dishes from their midnight meal before she left.

They sat at the table, a comfortable silence falling over the room as they ate the warm food. Jade speared some food on her fork and glanced over at Blaise who was drinking from his mug. Bertrem polished off half the food on his plate before Jade had even had two bites.

When the food was gone Blaise finally spoke. "What is the sheriff doing this morning?"

Jade began clearing the table and set the dishes on a small table next to the door so they could be taken down to the kitchen.

"Trying to convince everyone that you've been enchanted by Jade."

A slow mischievous grin crossed Blaise's face. He slid his hand across the table until it grazed Jade's fingers then he took her hand into his. "Ah, but I have been enchanted. Have you seen this amazing creature?"

"I have," Bertrem replied.

"Blaise, you can't go around saying that sort of thing. The sheriff would have burned me this morning if you had not come last night." A shadow seemed to be cast over the room at her words.

"We would have gotten you out of there somehow," Bertrem offered up.

A _knock_ sounded at the door. Bertrem was quick to open it. "Your majesty!" Bertrem bowed low when he realized who was at the door. He stepped aside to make room and kept his eyes downcast.

"Where is my son?" The authoritative voice carried through the room. In the doorway stood a tall man with silver hair and deep brown eyes. They had the same sort of persistent shine that Blaise always had in his before Mona's curse. His grey silk shirt was tucked neatly into a pair of finely pressed pinstripe slacks. The matching vest held a red silk handkerchief in its pocket. Jade stood quickly and offered a curtsey.

"Your majesty," she said so quietly that she was not sure anyone could hear her.

Blaise stood to his full height of six feet, two inches. He faced in the direction of the doorway but his eyes refused to focus on the man who stood before him. "Father, it's good that you could come so quickly. Please come sit. We'll have refreshments brought up immediately."

The king crossed the room and embraced his son. Stepping back, he looked upon Blaise. "What happened? Are you ill?" His tone softened a little from the bravado it had been when he first spoke. He took a seat at the table. Jade waited until Blaise sat before she did. Bertrem left the room, closing the door behind him.

"No, I'm not ill. The sheriff here has been ruling this town as if he has nobody to answer to. The people fear him. Just a few days ago he burned a woman at the stake after she had been accused of sorcery. If I had not arrived here last night Jade would have been burned this morning."

The king's gaze cut to her then back to Blaise. "How long has this been going on?"

"We would need Bertrem here to confirm that." Blaise turned his head toward Jade.

She leaned forward and spoke low. "He stepped out, I assume to give us some privacy."

Blaise nodded. "Father, this is Jade." He held onto her hand giving her a light squeeze. "Jade, my father, Edmund, King of Centuria."

"It is an honor to meet you, your majesty." Jade forced herself to meet his eyes. She would not allow herself to feel lower than anyone ever again.

"Likewise." Edmund turned his attention back to his son. "What is wrong with your eyes?" he demanded.

"That's not important now. Right now we have to figure out what to do with the sheriff. He has been abusing his power and he needs to be stopped. He murdered that woman in the name of king and country." His voice rose with each word. "I'll not allow a man like him to commit such crimes against humanity, against the crown. Not only does he do this against Centuria but also Hale, since Wapeno is a border town."

"Why has no one come forward?" Edmund leaned back in his chair steepling his fingers together.

Jade tilted her head. "It seems that they are afraid. From what I have learned those who have stood up to him have paid with their lives. Bertrem is a good man, a just man, but even he cannot do anything against the sheriff. After all the sheriff was appointed by you."

Three hours later Bertrem reentered the room with a tray for morning tea. After setting it on the table he stepped back. Jade quickly poured tea into cups and set pastries on plates. She insisted that Bertrem take the seat next to her. Once he was seated she handed him a cup and a little plate. "Thank you for going to get this for us Bertrem."

"You're welcome, Miss Jade," he replied shyly.

Clearing his throat so that all looked at him, Edmund locked his stern gaze on Bertrem. "This sheriff, tell me what he has been doing in my name."

Bertrem told of the past sixteen years of terror, the many men who had been falsely accused of crimes and then sentenced to death. Finally, he told of Mona. Then he got to Jade. "The prince arrived at the jail last night to take away his fiancé who had been wrongly jailed and sentenced to death. When he insisted that she would be leaving with him Sheriff Clive implied that the only reason the prince would be there to get her would be if she had cast a spell upon him. By this morning the rumors had already spread through the town. He is fueling their fear, using the fact that the prince has lost his sight and is being seen with someone who appears to them to be no higher than a servant. The people would seize her upon his command the second she steps out of this building."

Kind Edmund's attention turned to Jade. "Have you enchanted my son?" His lips pressed in a tight line.

"No more than your wife enchanted you the day you fell in love with her." She cocked her head to the right. She was not expecting the bark of laughter that came from the king. Blaise's smile returned to his face, a small dimple peeking out.

"Tell me your story then. How did you come to meet my son?"

Jade relayed the events of the past few weeks. The only details she left out were who Mona claimed her parents to be and that she had some sort of connection to the weather and to Blaise.

Edmund nodded as she spoke. "Alright, we'll take care of this matter directly. Then we'll get my son home so the best doctors can look at him. You will, of course, come with us." He took up his cup of tea as if to dismiss the conversation.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Before the sun set, King Edmund had ordered a trial to be held at the town hall. It seemed that all the villagers were there. Jade was wearing a pretty satin dress, which Blaise had asked Bertrem to go purchase ready-made from the dressmakers. The soft silver of the dress brightened her eyes even more. King Edmund had suggested that Jade sit with Bertrem at a table that was perpendicular to the king's and to the left. Sheriff Clive sat at a table to the king's right, glowering across the room at Jade.

Holding her head high, Jade turned her gaze to King Edmund and Blaise who were both sitting at a long table on what appeared to be a small stage. The men who had accompanied the king stood behind them with their arms crossed over their chests. Intimidating was the only word that came to her mind when she saw them.

"I have requested that you all come here so I can hear for myself what has been going on for the past sixteen years. I appointed Clive sheriff many years ago. I had never heard much from this town so I thought it to be in good hands. It was brought to my attention that things here are not as they appear. Any who speak here have nothing to fear from Clive." Edmund's voice carried over the crowd with authority and understanding.

People came forward one at a time to voice their experiences with the sheriff. Some women had lost their husbands because the sheriff had them executed for treason. The more Jade heard the more she cringed; she could not bring herself to look at the man who sat across from her. Then a voice she recognized caused her to look up from her hands. Standing there before the king was Baby Face Bailey.

"Your majesty—" he bowed low then straightened up "—I've come to make my own confessions this night."

"What sort of confessions?" Edmund inquired.

"Some involve the sheriff, some do not. All have to do with the events that have led to you being brought here." Jade could see Bailey's hands tremble slightly as he spoke.

"Very well." King Edmund waved him forward to speak.

"Cameron and I were hired by Mona, the woman who was burned at the stake, to kidnap the young miss there." He pointed toward Jade. "We made our first attempt with another man in the woods. It was thwarted by the prince and the young miss. She refused to run away when the three of us turned on him. She could have run to safety but refused to leave him. After that failure, the third in our company decided it was not worth the money to go against the prince. Cameron and I trailed them until they came to Chidesworth. There they stayed for a few nights. Cameron rode off to meet with Mona. She gave us a new place to meet her once we had the miss in our possession."

Bailey glanced down at his hands before continuing. "We waited for her to be left alone then stole her away in the middle of the night. We rode hard and fast to meet Mona at a cottage outside of town. We collected our money but there was a small dispute. Mona pulled fire from nowhere and threw it at me. The fire was somehow extinguished. Perhaps she did not want to burn herself. I don't know. We were told she would have more work for us and to wait for her here. When we arrived in town Cameron insisted that I see the doctor and Clive came to check on us. Cameron being his younger brother, I think he wanted to make sure that he was alright."

"Bailey..." Clive started to stand but was pushed back down to his seat by one of the king's guards.

Bailey cleared his throat and continued on. "A group of us got together. We went to the cottage. There we found Mona passed out, the miss was chained to a wall. We took them both. On the way to town Mona came to and was shot by one of the men. I don't know who shot her, it happened so fast. They were put in separate cells. Cameron thought we could ransom the miss — get some money from the prince. While we were waiting to find out where he was, we went to search the cottage for any money that was left there. A storm came through. A tree was struck by lightning. It split in half crushing Cameron."

"Shut. Up. Bailey." Clive growled out the words.

"I'll have silence from you," King Edmund demanded. "Continue." He nodded toward the young man who stood before him.

"I came and got Clive. I told him what happened. We'd given him a cut of the money and agreed to give him a cut of the ransom should the prince pay for her safe return. All Clive had to do was keep her locked away until we got the money. Clive lost it when he saw his younger brother dead. He told me I was to accuse the miss of witchcraft. To say that she appeared out of nowhere in the woods right before the tree came crashing down on Cameron. I didn't want to accuse her. I knew he would make her pay for Cameron's death with her life. He had to blame someone and she was there. After all, we would not have been at the cottage had we never been hired to kidnap her in the first place. I regret all that I've done. I'm ready to pay for my crimes." Bailey's shoulders slumped forward when he finished speaking.

"I will let you know what I decide to do with you after I figure all of this out. Bertrem, will you take this young man to the jail?" Bertrem walked over to Bailey and led him out of the building. The king and Blaise spoke in hushed tones for some time then the two of them stood.

"Clive, Sheriff of Wapeno, you are hereby found guilty of several counts of murder, attempted murder, the aide in the kidnapping of this young woman, and in the attempted ransom of her. You have used your position to intimidate these fine people, to line your own pockets with money. You are sentenced to prison for life."

"I'd rather die." Clive spit out the words glaring around the room at everyone who had spoken against him.

Blaise's voice echoed through the room. "That could be arranged." Clive shrunk down in his seat a little. He was pulled forward by the king's guards who then shackled him and took him out of the building.

Jade waited anxiously to go to Blaise. Once the building began to clear of people, she made her way to his side. Standing quietly beside him, she felt his arm snake around her waist.

"Let's get you out of here so the doctor can check you over again." She nodded and smiled, walking out of the building tucked into his side. She whispered so only he could hear when he needed to take a step down.

****

King Edmund secured an entire floor for himself and his guards at the hotel. Dinner was brought up to a room that looked like it had once been a library. It now had some long tables in it; Jade wondered what it was used for normally. Perhaps this was a common room that soldiers used when passing through. With her hand looped through Blaise's arm, she walked into the room. The aroma of the feast spread on the table caused her mouth to water. She had never seen so much food at one time. It was not a huge variety but there was so much of it. After leading Blaise to the head of the table to sit at his father's right hand, she then took the seat next to him.

"This smells delicious," Blaise broke the silence. The men all took seats and began to pass the dishes around the table so everyone could fill their plates.

It seemed that they did not stand on ceremony when alone with their king. Jade filled a plate with roasted boar, carrots, and potatoes for Blaise. She set a piece of bread on the plate as well. Then she filled a cup for him, setting it to the right side of his plate. In hushed tones she whispered the whereabouts of the food on his plate as well as where she had set his cup of fresh milk. He smiled in response.

"How is mother doing?" Blaise inquired in his father's direction.

"She and your sister miss you. They seem to think that there is something special about you." A teasing tone filled his voice.

"Nothing more than there is about you. Mother says I'm the spitting image of you when you were younger."

"Hmm, perhaps." Edmund took a bite of his food.

Jade ate quietly watching everyone and listening to them talk. When Blaise's father spoke to her it nearly caused her to jump.

"Pardon me, I did not catch that, your majesty." Her cheeks tinted pink.

"I simply asked if you were ready to travel back with us tomorrow."

"I'm going with you?" She cocked her head to the side. He had mentioned it before but she had not thought he was serious.

"Of course you are. Blaise refuses to go without you. He insists that we help you find your family and that there is business that requires you to have the use of our library."

"I hope I can find what I am looking for. Blaise told me that you have an expansive library."

"One of the best. Though our friends from Hale have an even bigger library. Theirs is housed in its own building."

"That would be wonderful to see." Jade breathed out the words.

"You seem to have the heart of a scholar," Edmund said before taking another bite of his food.

"I wanted so desperately to go to school. Stephen told me of schools. He taught me what I know, brought books to a secret hiding place, which I read once I knew how to read them on my own."

Blaise's hand covered hers. She turned her eyes to him to see the smile on his face, a smile that brightened the room. "You can learn anything that you want to learn. I'll see to that."

Jade picked up her cup and took a drink of her milk in the hopes of hiding the blush she felt creeping up. "I know." She softly squeezed his hand.

Edmund brought their attention to him. "What do you think of leaving this Bertrem as sheriff here? Or should I leave one of my men until I pick someone from the court to send here?"

Blaise turned his head toward his father's voice. "I believe Bertrem would be a good choice. Not only did he assist me, but he took it upon himself to send word to the court of Hale. I say appoint him as sheriff. Perhaps we send someone out here to check up on the town, as well as other border towns, from this point forward."

Edmund nodded. "That is what we shall do. I'll send word to the Allaways that the matter here has been settled. I'll be sure to inform them of what has transpired."

Blaise rubbed his thumb over the back of Jade's hand as he spoke. "Invite them to come visit us. You can discuss the matter in person. There is more to this story that seems to involve them more than anyone knows right now."

"Such as?" The king raised an eyebrow.

"I'll discuss it with you further when we are home. Has the doctor been sent for? I want him to make sure that Jade is well enough for the journey ahead. I doubt the day's activities have helped in her healing."

One of Edmund's men stepped forward. "He is on his way, said he should be here in a few minutes."

"Then, we shall go wait for him. If you'll excuse us father."

Edmund bid them both a good night and they left the room.

In the hallway Jade stopped and wrapped her arms around Blaise's neck. She laid her head against his chest and stood there listening to his heartbeat.

"Let's get to the room and you can rest some." He kissed the top of her head sending a delightful shiver down her spine.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The doctor ordered both Blaise and Jade to rest after checking them over but confirmed they were healthy enough to travel. Blaise refused to lie down in his room so Jade helped him to settle down on the sofa. She took up his watch and applied the compress to his eyes. After tossing another log on the fire she went to his room and grabbed a blanket. She laid the blanket over him then removed the compress and set it aside.

Not wanting to leave Blaise, she pulled out the mattress that was in her room. After retrieving the blanket from the other room she stretched out on the soft mattress. The fire crackled not far from her and she snuggled under her blanket listening to the sound of birds calling out goodnight to each other. The sun had just set but she was ready to get some sleep.

After tossing and turning for a bit she tiptoed to where her bags were. She pulled out the books Stephen had left her and carried them back to the mattress. By the light of the fire she soaked up the words on the pages learning about Hale and Centuria. She had known basic information about both countries but after reading in further detail what had occurred in the past hundred years she felt more confident that perhaps things could finally be turned around. According to one book Centuria had been working toward bringing technology back to the entire country.

She recalled that Blaise had said something about that when they first met. She wondered what it would be like to see all the things that were still around for those who could afford it. The cities had many of the things that these little towns and villages did not. It would be nice to see it all.

Jade found a section about physicians. Losing herself in the book, she discovered that there were doctors who had been striving to regain the knowledge and technology that had been lost, as well as learn more than what had previously been discovered. They had hospitals with good medications available in the more privileged areas. Could a hospital and the things it contained — the doctors, nurses, and medications — have been able to save Stephen? She missed him, missed his stories.

Jade closed the book and set it aside. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to drift off to sleep while thinking about what she might soon discover.

****

"Jade?" A sleep-filled voice mumbled out her name in the dark. Her eyes flew open. The dying fire cast shadows about the room. "Are you awake?" There was something different in Blaise's voice. An uncertainty that had never been there before.

"I'm right here." She reached her hand up and grasped his. "Do you need anything?"

"I want to see again."

"You will," she assured him, though she was not certain how that would happen.

"Do you still want to be with me?" The vulnerability that came with those words nearly crushed her.

"Of course I want to be with you. Besides, I don't have to worry about looking perfect now." Lightly squeezing his hand, she rolled over and propped herself up so that her back was against the sofa. She felt his hands reach out and stroke her hair.

"You are perfect. For me, you are."

Closing her eyes she let out a contented sigh. "Blaise, you will see again. I'll make sure that you do."

"I don't know how I can rule over my country when I cannot see to do so. If I can't protect you, my family, my country, then what use am I?" Anger edged into the last few words.

"A person does not need to see to defend what is theirs. You're smart. Use your intelligence to accomplish what it is you desire to be done. Besides, should you have to continue on a while without physically being able to see, you will learn to see in other ways."

He pushed himself up into a sitting position, making room for her on the sofa. Jade sat next to him, taking his blanket to cover her legs.

"What do you mean?" he finally asked.

"In this short amount of time you have already been adjusting. You pick up on your whereabouts so quickly that you got around this room by yourself after only being here a few hours. When someone speaks to you, you know where to look. Blaise, every other part of you will awaken more than they ever were. Stephen told me once of men he saw in a village fighting blindfolded. The men were so skilled that they won against the men who could see. Stephen talked to them afterwards. They told him that it was through listening and even smell that they were able to know what was going on around them. I believe you can achieve that. If anyone could, it would be you."

"Why do you think so highly of me?" His fingers ran across her cheek.

"Why shouldn't I? You saved me the day we met."

"As I recall, you saved my life that day as well."

"You would not have needed saving if it was not for me." She leaned back into the sofa.

"Maybe, but none of this would have happened then would it?" She could hear a hint of a smile in his tone.

"You'd be able to see. She did this to get back at me for running away. I will find a way to fix it." Jade turned her head to look at him. His head leaned against the back of the sofa, as if he were gazing up at the ceiling. A lazy smile curled his lips upward.

"I have you to help me see. If you believe in me, then I have to as well. You will be my eyes. I need no more than that." He pulled her closer and held her in his strong embrace.

"It won't come to that though." She felt his lips on the top of her head and smiled. "Morning comes. When are we supposed to leave?"

"Early."

"Then I better put the mattress back on the bed and get dressed."

"You'll be meeting my mother soon. My father brought his automobile. We'll get there before morning."

"Should I worry?" She chewed on her lower lip as she tugged the mattress toward the bedroom.

"Not at all, she's an affectionate woman. I know that is something you've not had experience with. I just wanted to prepare you."

"Alright, you need to get dressed. Do you want help getting your clothes?" she called out from the bedroom.

"Yes." He walked to the other bedroom. Jade hurried after him then pulled out clean clothes and laid them across the bed. She closed the door as she left the room.

In the other bedroom she pulled out her clothes. There was no choice about what to wear. The red gown was too extravagant so that left the light green and white gingham dress. She pulled it on and brushed out her long hair. Twisting and pulling on the locks she got them into a wonderfully intricate braid that would keep it out of her face and shortened the appearance of it quite a bit. Stepping out of the room carrying her bags, she noticed that Blaise was already waiting for her.

"Are you ready?" he asked when she walked into the room.

"As I'll ever be." She stepped forward and slipped her arm through his.

"Let's get some food. I am sure my father already has it waiting."

The two of them walked to the floor that Edmund had taken over. The smell of breakfast wafted toward them. "That smells good."

"There is so much food," she whispered as they entered the room.

"Wait until you see the food at my home." When they reached the table Jade made sure he knew where his chair was. As she had the evening before she whispered the place settings to him. He smiled and nodded.

"Jade, are you ready to travel?" Edmund inquired over his half-empty plate of food.

"Yes, sir. Blaise told me that it would not take us very long to get there."

"Not long at all. Have you ever seen an automobile?" He motioned with his fork toward the window. "We have more than one out back."

"I've only ever seen them in a book. Stephen told me about them when I was younger. I was not sure if I should believe him or not." She took a bite of the eggs before she could be asked another question.

She ate the rest of the meal in silence, enjoying the simple breakfast of eggs and bread. After drinking a cup of milk, she set aside her empty dishes then waited for Blaise and everyone else to finish eating.

Edmund stood, which caused everyone else to follow suit. "Shall we go then? I miss my beautiful wife."

Blaise held his arm out for Jade and together they walked out into the cold morning air. A shiver went through her.

"Why aren't you wearing your new cloak?" Blaise inquired as they walked around the back of the building.

"I didn't want to get it dirty. It is so beautiful. I've never worn anything like that before."

"I'm sure Stephen had it made for you to wear and not to simply look at while you shiver from cold. Summer is gone and it will only get colder in the weeks to come, especially as we travel north."

"You're right." Jade stopped when they came around the corner. There in front of her were two long, shiny, black automobiles. "I thought they would be smaller." She said softly.

"Did he bring the limousines? He normally doesn't bring those unless he is travelling with my mom and sister. Wait until you see the inside." A smile tugged at his lips.

When they reached the door of one of the vehicles a man opened it for them. She bent down and peered inside to see that it had long bench-like seats. The seats appeared to be comfortable; they had to be more comfortable than the wooden seats of the wagon she rode in as a child. After guiding Blaise into a seat, she then sat next to him. His arm rested around her, tucking her safely against his side.

"You can see out the windows!" The words came out a little louder than she had intended.

"Of course you can," one of the guards replied; he had taken a seat across from her.

"But you could not see through them from the outside." She tilted her head.

Blaise smiled softly. "The windows are tinted. It allows the people inside to be able to look out but those on the outside cannot see who is in the vehicle."

"Are all automobiles like this?" she questioned.

"No, they're all very different. I'll show you when we get back."

Jade shook her head. "I'd rather see the library."

"What is so important in that library?" Edmund asked drawing her attention to him.

"I just need to look, I..."

"She is hoping to find a cure for me," Blaise interjected.

"Nonsense," Edmund replied. "We have access to the finest physicians. They will see to you. Whatever illness this is, they will cure it."

The vehicle started moving; the drive was a lot smoother than a carriage and far faster. Jade found herself drifting off against Blaise as they made their way toward his family's home.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Jade spoke in hushed tones to Blaise telling him of the things she saw out the windows. They stopped a few times on the journey to stretch their legs and eat. When night arrived, she witnessed lights on large posts as they drew closer to cities. Right before they reached the castle Edmund informed Blaise that his mother did not know they would be arriving that night. Since they would not get in until late he had no intention of waking her.

Finally, they pulled up to the palace; there was no other word that came to mind when she saw it. Blowing the air out her mouth she clutched Blaise's hand as they stepped out into the night air. "It is huge."

Edmund walked over to the two of them as they headed into the castle. "It is nearing two in the morning. I'll send Margaret up to your rooms to get them ready." Turning to Jade he offered a warm smile. "Welcome to our home."

"Thank you." She marveled at her surroundings and brought her attention back to Blaise when she heard him speak.

"There are fourteen bedrooms. Each has its own sitting room and bathroom. It is quite large but there is even more to see come light. There are more buildings out back. Tonight, though, let's get you to a room and let you get some proper rest."

"Bathrooms in the bedrooms? Like at the hotel?"

He let out a low chuckle. "Better, there is running water. No more outhouses for you. You are now in a place with indoor plumbing."

Her eyes grew large at the thought. She followed Edmund into the house, silently exclaiming at the white polished floors. A set of double stairs led up to another floor. Blaise led her toward them.

"Let me know when we get to the stairs."

Jade nodded and did as he had asked. He told her how far down which corridors to go and she let him know when they reached the places he spoke of.

"You'll stay in this room. Mine is just across the hall, that way if you need anything I'm close by. Go ahead, open the door."

Jade reached out and twisted the golden knob and pushed the door open. The floor was covered in some sort of fabric; it looked like a rug but covered the entire floor and appeared to be softer. The walls were painted a vibrant purple. A large sofa and two matching chairs were set before a massive fireplace. The furniture was upholstered with beautiful floral fabric. Shelves on one wall contained books. Paintings hung on the walls depicting beautiful landscapes that were both peaceful and welcoming. Stepping into the room her feet sunk into the floor a bit. As they walked through the room she quietly described it all to Blaise who smiled as he listened to her.

The bedroom was large with a huge bed with four posts at the corners with curtains pulled open. Several pillows were piled high on a black and white damask blanket that covered the bed. She reached out to touch it and marveled at the softness.

"It's plush. It will keep you warm," Blaise told her. "The wardrobe will have plenty of room for your clothes."

"I don't have many clothes," she offered back. Slowly she turned, taking in the little table with a mirror set on it. The thing that impressed her most was that the light was coming from the ceiling. "How is the room lit?"

Blaise arched a brow. "Father had Margaret come up to get the room ready for you. I assumed that you had turned on the lights."

"Turn them on? How do I do that?" She glanced around the room; a fire was burning in the fireplace.

"On the wall by the door is a little switch. Just flip it and the light will either turn on or off." He laughed as she dragged him over to the wall by the door. Finding the switch, she flipped it down and watched as the lights turned off. Then she flipped it up and the room brightened once again.

"How does it do that though?" Amazement filled her voice.

"Electricity." Blaise shrugged nonchalantly.

"How does electricity work though? What brings it in here? Why does it make the lights go on and off? What else does it do?"

"I'm not sure how it works. If you really want to know I am sure that my father knows someone who could explain it to you. It also works the heat, the stove, the oven, it warms the water, and so much more."

"The heat? I see fireplaces." She searched the room again confused. Blaise tugged on her arm and urged her to go toward the other door in the bedroom. As they walked across the room she saw some things that looked like pipes lining the wall.

"That is where the heat comes from." Blaise told her after she described it to him. "We don't turn it on until it gets really cold. But that will heat up the room just like a fire would, well more evenly than a fire."

Stepping onto the tile floor of the bright white bathroom, Jade drank in the sight before her. A long mirror filled one wall; a counter with a sink in it met the mirror halfway up the wall. The commode was in a corner with a little silver lever on it. She walked over to it and lifted up the seat. While exploring she spoke of all that she saw. Blaise reached out, fumbling until he found the lever, which he pushed down. Jade watched as water swirled around and disappeared then fresh water filled it again. Turning she found a large tub with a curtain around it.

"Why is there a curtain around the tub when it is in a separate room from the bedroom?" She turned a blue knob and watched as water poured out of a faucet. Twisting it off, she then turned the red knob. Placing her hand under the running water, she exclaimed at the warmth of it. Shutting it off, she looked up at Blaise.

"The curtain is for a shower. See that spout up there." He lifted his head toward the ceiling. Jade lifted her eyes to see what he was talking about. It looked like the head of a watering can. "Pull the curtain shut then turn on the water and pull up on the little button on the faucet." She did as he instructed and giggled as the water came out of the little watering can head.

"Wow." She turned it all off.

"That is so you can wash without taking a bath. A shower is a lot faster and you don't have to sit in dirty water."

"That's brilliant." She looked at the shelf along the inside of the tub to discover bottles labeled shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. All of which were scented to smell like roses. "It used to be like this everywhere?"

"That's what the history books say. We're trying to get it back there once again but this time without forgetting how to do things ourselves. There should be some clean clothes for you by morning if something has not been brought already." He waited until she walked out of the room. Jade turned out the light as they left.

"What is wrong with my clothes?" A twinge of hurt edged its way into her voice.

"Nothing, I thought you may like some nicer garments. Perhaps some that are warmer. You also need something clean while yours get washed. Set your dirty clothes in the basket in the bathroom. A maid will gather them in the morning and wash them for you."

"I can wash them myself," she said as they made their way to the sitting room.

"I know you can but you don't have to anymore. Is there anything that you need before I leave you for the night?" He slipped his arm around her and pulled her close.

Letting out an exhausted sigh, she snuggled against him for a second. "Could I borrow something clean to wear to bed?"

"Of course." They walked across the hall to his room.

She waited in the sitting room by the door, hearing him mumble when he accidently kicked something. He came back out with some folded clothes.

"Good night, Jade." He tucked her into his side and held her in his strong embrace. They were both worn out and needed rest but it was nice to just be held, if only for a brief moment in time. Blaise's lips fluttered across her forehead before he released his hold on her. A smile turned up her lips as she gazed up at him.

"Good night." She turned and went back into her room looking forward to getting cleaned up and going to sleep in that huge bed.

****

Jade opened her eyes when she heard someone moving around in the room. Looking over, she saw an older woman in front of the wardrobe.

"Excuse me." Jade pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"Good evening, miss."

"Evening?" Jade glanced toward the window but saw only drawn curtains.

"Yes, miss. The king said that nobody should wake you."

"I can't believe I slept that long."

"I'm sure you were exhausted from your ordeal." The maid offered a tentative smile. "I was asked to bring you some clothes. Would you like for me to lay something out for you? I could draw a bath." The woman who had turned to face her had just a hint of grey in her hair and a kind face.

"No, thank you. What's your name?"

"Margaret, miss." She crossed the room with a silk robe, which she laid on the bed for Jade. Then she went back to arranging clothes in the wardrobe.

Jade slipped into the robe, since all she had slept in was one of Blaise's shirts. She padded across the soft plush floor, enjoying the feel of it on her bare feet.

"Thank you again, Margaret. I should get dressed now though. Could you tell me where I might find Blaise?" Jade asked as she looked into the wardrobe to find several dresses. She selected a light green with sleeves that would reach her elbow. The skirt looked like it would stop just below her knees. She knew the scars on her calves would show in this dress but she no longer cared.

"There is a pair of boots that would look nice with that dress."

"Boots with a dress?" Jade asked, quirking up an eyebrow.

"Yes, miss. Princess Teresa adores boots with dresses. She insisted that I send some for you." She pulled out a pair of soft black boots with a heel. Jade took them before excusing herself to get dressed in the bathroom.

She tossed the shirt she slept in into the basket then pulled on the dress. She slipped on a pair of stockings and then pulled on the boots. Standing, she wobbled a little bit at first before finding her balance. Slowly she walked out of the bathroom and sat down to fix her hair.

With her hair braided and twisted partially up, she headed out into the sitting room then into the hallway. Standing there she glanced around then went to Blaise's door. After knocking on the door she waited for an answer but when she heard no movement coming from the other side she decided to look for him. Maybe she would find him in the kitchen. Her stomach growled reminding her that it was empty.

She walked down the hallway marveling at the paintings on the walls. Several portraits hung in a row with names printed under each one. She soon realized the people in the paintings were Blaise's ancestors. The oldest one she saw went back three hundred years. It amazed her that there was a family who knew their ancestry from that far back.

She turned to go down the stairs that led to the entryway she had come in upon arriving. A distant clanging caught her attention and she turned toward the noise. The noises grew louder as she moved through a hallway.

The smell reached her first; it was an assault on her senses. Her mouth watered and her stomach lurched and twisted. Walking through the door, she found a large kitchen but this one was so different from any she had seen before. There were large countertops covered with food. She saw a fireplace but it was not lit. Where was that delicious smell coming from? Pots were on a large shiny box. Steam rose from something inside one of the pans. Stepping further into the room, she saw several people rushing about. A large rectangular object covered with glass held vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, and so much more.

"Who are you?" a man gruffly asked as he rushed by her.

"Jade. I was looking for Blaise but... well this smells wonderful." Jade took one step further into the room and saw someone open the front of the shiny box to reveal food. The waves of heat coming from inside it were almost visible.

"Jade, he is not in here. This is my kitchen. Dinner will be served soon." The man hurried about the kitchen stopping at a pot with a spoon. He dipped it in then tasted whatever was on it. After adding some more spices he tasted it again before nodding and walking away to pick up a knife, which he took to some carrots. "Are you still here?" He glanced at her.

"I don't know where here is." Suddenly feeling very insignificant, she glanced down at her booted feet.

"Like I said, this is my kitchen. Sit there if you want." He pointed at a stool next to a large table in the middle of the room. She took the seat and watched as he chopped up vegetables.

"What is that thing with the food?" Jade asked him.

He glanced up; his eyes brightened a bit. "That, miss, is an electric oven. I have three of them in here but I only need to use them all if there is a holiday or some event with a lot of guests. You've never seen one?"

"No, up until last night I've never been anywhere with electricity." She tilted her head. "Does it cook differently?"

"It does, cooks faster and better. Though there are some things I'll always prefer to cook over a fire. That there—" he pointed at the thing with the glass holding the milk "—is a refrigerator. It keeps food cold and fresh longer."

"Really?" She looked at it.

"Grab that cup there and go get yourself a bit of milk." Jade did as she was instructed.

Opening the glass door she felt the chill from the inside. She poured some milk into the cup then put it away. She crossed back to the stool, sat down, and then sipped the milk. A large smile spread across her face before she drank the rest of it. "This is delicious."

"Wait until you see what else I have in here." He offered her a smile.

"Would you teach me how to cook with an electric oven?" She sounded like a child struck with awe.

"If you really want to learn. You can come in anytime," he answered scooping up the vegetables and tossing them into a large bowl.

"There you are Miss Jade," Margaret's voice came from behind her. Jade turned to face the woman and found that Blaise was standing next to her.

"Blaise." A smile spread across her face and she hurried across the room to him. "This kitchen is amazing!"

He chuckled softly, his hand held out waiting for her to take it. Her hand slipped into his. "Is Robert showing you the ropes?"

The chef cleared his throat. "What was I supposed to do? She walks into my kitchen wanting to know about everything." The gruffness came back into his voice. Jade glanced over at him to see a twinkle in his eye though his face had a scowl.

"I'll get her out of your kitchen then, Robert."

"Good, can't be expected to get dinner out if I'm explaining everything to the young miss."

Ignoring his tone, she looked at him and asked, "Anytime?"

His lip twitched as if fighting off a smile. "Anytime." He nodded then turned back to the oven.

Jade looped her arm through Blaise's and followed Margaret out of the kitchen to a large sitting room.

"What was that about? Are you wearing down the staff?" Blaise's left eyebrow shot up.

"I only asked if he would teach me how to cook with that oven."

"Oh, so you bonded." He smiled. "Robert doesn't allow many in his kitchen. He's such a wonderful chef that my mother allows him to run the kitchen without her. Though I think he would ignore any suggestions anyway." They sat on a lovely sofa covered with purple crushed velvet. It was the softest thing she had ever sat on. "I'm sure my mother and sister will be here soon."

"Really? Did I sleep the day away?" Jade asked after noticing the darkening sky out the window.

"You needed to rest. The physician will be here later to examine you. Just to make certain that you're alright."

"Did he come check on your eyes?" Hope filled her voice.

"He did." The words came out flat.

"Oh." She gently squeezed his hand. Her determination to find a cure for him renewed. "After dinner can I go to the library?"

"Of course, I'll go with you if you want."

She nodded. "I think I would like that a lot."

# CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Jade's hand was in the crook of Blaise's arm as she followed Margaret into the dining room. A large table with twelve seats was in the center of the room. Edmund was sitting at the head of the table. A beautiful woman with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes was seated at the foot of the table. An elderly woman sat to the woman's left. Jade took in the sight of her. Her silver hair was twisted up, every single hair in place. Cool brown eyes locked on her, they seemed to be appraising her, trying to size her up. The woman did not smile, her tight lips held a straight line. She was a picture of elegance. A deep plum colored dress and a necklace with a gem of the same color contrasted greatly with the simple refined attire of the woman at the foot of the table. That woman wore a soft smile, a few laugh lines gracing her face. Her hair fell down to just below her shoulders and she wore a soft white dress.

Edmund stood causing Jade's attention to turn to him. "Jade, this is my wife Catherine and my mother Georgina. Please, come sit here." He motioned to the seats to his left. Catherine offered a welcome to her but Georgina said nothing. At the seats that had been offered, Blaise took his spot next to his father. Jade had the seat to Blaise's left. She took in the layout of the table. Candlesticks with large white tapers sat in a straight line down the middle of the table, which was covered with a beautiful lace tablecloth. Each place setting contained linen napkins, silver utensils, and crystal goblets. She wondered where the plates and all the food were.

"Sorry." A girl ran into the room, her light blue dress flowing behind her. Long brown hair hung loosely except for two slender braids, one on each side of her face that met in the back. Gentle, laughing brown eyes shone brightly from her dewy face.

"Do not run child," Georgina said; her voice was as disapproving in tone as her eyes had been since Jade walked into the room.

"Yes, Grandmother." The young girl took a seat across the table from Blaise. "You must be Jade. I'm Teresa."

"It's nice to meet you." Jade offered her a smile and was rewarded with a beaming one in return.

Edmund cleared his throat and everyone bowed their heads. Jade was quick to bow her head as well, sitting reverently as Edmund gave thanks for their many blessings. Once everyone said 'amen' she lifted her head to see Teresa looking at her and Blaise, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the two of them.

Jade wondered where the others were. With so many seats, surely there had to be more people coming to eat. Just then a door opened and three women came out, each carrying two plates. With the plates set down before everyone, Jade glanced at hers to see nothing but vegetables on a bed of lettuce. It did not seem like a lot of food but she was thankful for it just the same. She ate quietly while listening to Edmund talk to his daughter about a litter of puppies the girl had found in the stable.

The women came out again to whisk away the plates that were now empty. Then they returned with larger plates. These had meat, green beans, mashed potatoes, and a biscuit. This was what she had seen Robert remove from the oven. The meat caused her taste buds to explode with flavor. It was the most savory thing she had ever had, tender and juicy.

"Are you enjoying the veal?" Blaise asked after he had taken a bite of his own.

"Is that what this is?" She turned her head slightly toward him. "It's delicious. Do you think Robert will teach me how to make this?"

A loud huff came from the end of the table. Jade turned to see the cause of the sound. A scowl was now across Georgina's face. "Why have you brought this girl to our dinner table? She sits here with ill manners, wishing to speak and play with the servants."

Blaise's silky voice sounded clearly through the room when he answered. "I will be marrying her, Grandmother. If you could show a little acceptance it would be appreciated."

"Marry her?" she exclaimed. "You cannot marry such a girl. You were supposed to marry the princess of Hale and when she died your parents should have secured a new match for you. Instead they decided to let you grow up without a future commitment to anyone. This is what they get for allowing you to have such freedom? You decide to marry a farm girl, to make her your queen?" Georgina shoved back her seat, standing abruptly. "You'll bring disgrace onto this family." Jade watched as the little old woman quietly stormed out of the room.

What in the world had she ever done to Georgina? Did the woman really hate her simply because she was not royal like them? Jade glanced around and tried to offer up a smile, not wanting anyone to know that what was said had hurt. She was a good person and she would prove that to Blaise's grandmother somehow.

A strained silence fell over the room. It seemed that Teresa would not have that though. She leaned forward in her seat. "Do you want to help me pick out a puppy to keep?" She directed her question to Jade.

"I've never seen a puppy," she admitted.

"They're so adorable. They're moving about more than they were five weeks ago. I can take you to see them tomorrow."

"I'd like that." Jade smiled, this child just might make staying here fun.

"Dear," Catherine directed toward her husband, "I've called upon the Allaways. They will arrive in two days."

"Good, I have a lot to discuss with Christian about that town," Edmund responded before taking another bite.

The conversation turned to how it would be nice to finally get to visit with the Allaways again. It had been too long and they had never even met Teresa. The women took away the plates replacing them with bowls filled with what looked a little like snowballs, covered with a dark liquid, then more white, and a cherry on top.

"It's an ice cream sundae. I asked Margaret to see if Robert would make them tonight. They're my favorite," Teresa said rapidly then spooned some of the ice cream into her mouth.

Jade looked down at her bowl. She had only had ice cream on the rare occasion when it hailed and Stephen would sneak away some sugar to make some. It never looked like this. She picked up her spoon and took a bite. It was so much sweeter than the stuff Stephen had made. The dark substance was warm and a delicious contrast to the cold of the ice cream.

"That's hot fudge," Teresa said nearly bouncing in her seat. "It's good isn't it?"

"It is." Jade ate her ice cream slowly, enjoying each bite. When they were finished, the table was cleared away once again.

"The physician should be here soon. Come wait in the sitting room," Catherine instructed as she left the table with Edmund at her side.

****

The physician was a kind older man with a soft demeanor. Jade went through his examination of her, surprised at the gadgets he used. She wondered at the stethoscope when he pressed it to her chest and her back. The light on the otoscope amazed her and the doctor was kind enough to show her how it worked before he used it to examine her ears, nose, and throat. As he inflated the blood pressure cuff she stared at the needles as they moved on the gage.

He announced that she was healthy but that her wrists would need at least a week to heal. When he informed her that there would be scars from where the shackles had ripped her skin, she simply nodded. Sitting on the settee, she watched while the doctor next looked over Blaise.

The man pulled out several strange looking items that he held up to Blaise's eyes. Silence fell over the room — the only sounds that of the doctor clucking his tongue as he switched from one tool to the next. He spoke so softly while shining a light at Blaise that she could not hear him. The response was clear though when Blaise simply said "no." Finally, the doctor put away all his tools and latched his bag shut.

"I don't know what the cause of his blindness is. I see no physical injury. The hospital can run more tests with their machines. It may be more accurate but I honestly don't know what good it would do."

"It was a curse," Jade finally said. "That is why you cannot heal him. He was cursed."

"I don't believe in magic." The doctor shook his head.

"It does not matter if you believe or not. He was cursed, the woman who did it is gone, and everyone else got better."

A soft sound came from the other side of the room. Jade peered around the doctor to spot Catherine looking extremely pale. "Cursed? Who would do such a thing to him?"

Jade glanced down at her fingers, which were worrying a bit of her dress. "Her name was Mona. I think she was trying to keep him away from me."

"Why are you so important?" the queen asked.

"Maybe she thought if he never found me I would give up hope and do whatever she wanted me to do." Her shoulders slumped forward. "There is a cure. Somewhere there is a cure. Blaise says that you have a vast library. Maybe there is an answer there."

Blaise stood and stretched out his hand. The doctor took it into his and shook it. "Thank you for your time doctor," Blaise said before Jade went to his side and slipped her arm through his. "Let's get you to that library. Teresa, do you want to come?" The young girl practically jumped up from her seat and the three of them walked through the corridors to the library in silence.

Teresa opened the doors to reveal a room filled with books. The room was so large that it could have been another building entirely. There was even a stairway leading to a second level. Jade took in her surroundings. It smelled of old leather, paper, and ink. It was something she could get accustomed to. Not only were the walls filled with books from floor to ceiling, but there were bookshelves throughout the interior of the room. Teresa led her to a large wooden desk filled with drawers that were small in appearance but when opened, she found them to be very long.

"To find a certain book, we use this." Teresa pulled open a drawer to reveal hundreds of little cards. She thumbed over the cards explaining that the books were listed by subject and then author. "What are we looking for?"

"I don't know. Magic, I guess," Jade replied.

"So we want nonfiction then," Teresa continued on.

"Nonfiction?" She arched a brow.

"That means it is true."

"Oh, yeah. Then we should start there."

Jade watched as the young girl found the drawer she wanted then worked over the cards until she discovered what she was looking for. Putting the drawer back, she glanced up at Jade. "Alright, follow me. They're upstairs."

The three of them walked up the steps to the second floor. A few tables and seats were scattered about. Teresa led the way to a far corner. Jade helped Blaise to find a seat on a sofa and then turned back to his sister.

"This whole section—" she pointed at several shelves "—these are all about magic."

Jade figured there had to be over two hundred books in the first two sections alone. "Best get started then." She pulled down a book and thumbed through it. Searching for something that would help.

"We're looking for eyes, right? Anything else?" Teresa asked holding a book in her hands.

"Eyes, curse reversals, breaking spells. Stuff like that."

The girls settled into a silence and flipped through book after book. Several hours later Jade heard a yawn. She looked up to see Teresa struggling to keep her eyes open. "Why don't you go to bed?"

"I want to help," she protested.

"You have helped. Look at all the books you have searched through. You can always come back and help after you get some rest."

Teresa nodded and stood. She stretched out her arms and legs then turned to look at Jade. "I'll have someone bring you something to eat and drink if you're going to be here much longer."

"Thank you, some cider would be wonderful." Jade offered a smile. Teresa stopped at the sofa where Blaise had fallen asleep and gently hugged him before walking away. Jade kept looking through the books, finding each one useless. Forcing herself to keep reading even when her vision blurred, she managed to get through several books.

Blaise shifted on the sofa causing her to turn her attention to him. He looked so peaceful sleeping there. He would be a great king someday. There had to be a way to heal him. _An answer must be in one of these books_.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

A new day dawned with Jade asleep among a pile of books. Teresa bounded into the library looking for her and woke her, asking if she had found anything. After informing the young princess that she had not, she was soon following her out of the library and to her own room to get changed. Sometime in the middle of the night she had woken Blaise so that he could sleep in his own bed. He had been so fitful on the sofa that she wanted him to sleep peacefully.

"We'll go pick out a puppy for you after breakfast." Teresa skipped into Jade's room. "Can I wait here?" Her big brown eyes looked up at Jade.

"Yes, I'll go wash up and once I'm done you can help me pick out what to wear today." Jade hurried into the bathroom and showered. It did not take long for her to fix up her hair. With a robe wrapped around her, she stepped out into the sitting room and beckoned for Teresa.

"You should wear this." Teresa pointed out a pair of fitted pants and a long-sleeved knee-length dress. Jade ducked into the bathroom and put on the outfit. She loved the way the clothes fit snug against her.

"Oh and these."

Jade was handed a pair of sleek black riding boots. After putting them on Teresa grabbed her hand and pulled her down to the dining room.

Everyone was already seated and waiting, it seemed for the two of them. Georgina had a disdainful look on her face yet again. Jade wondered if she ever smiled. Edmund and Catherine both smiled warmly when the girls took their seats.

"Did you sleep well?" Queen Catherine questioned Jade as she motioned that they were ready to be served.

"I did not sleep much. Most of the night I was looking through books," she admitted before sipping the cool milk that was set before her.

Blaise's head turned to her. "I thought you went to bed when I did."

"I wanted to look more. I was certain that I could find something."

"You didn't then?" Edmund asked, as food was set before him.

"No sir, I won't give up though." She smiled at the servant who had brought her food and thanked her before turning back to the king. "There's an answer somewhere. I will find it."

"I'm sure that you will," he replied before bowing his head and giving thanks for their food.

After a few moments of silence Catherine spoke up. "Christian and Elspeth will arrive today. Will you need to talk to Christian right away about the border towns?"

Edmund locked his eyes on his wife as a slow smile spread across his face. "I am sure it can wait long enough for you to catch up with them for a bit."

"I have missed them." She sighed.

Blaise's voice broke through. "I have need to speak with them when they arrive."

Catherine seemed thrown off by the authority in his voice. "Whatever for?"

"There is a delicate and urgent matter that should not be put off."

Jade longed to reach out and hold his hand but with the disapproving glare coming from his grandmother, she kept away from him for the moment.

"Teresa, are you taking Jade to look at the puppies this morning?"

"Yes, do you want to come with us?" his sister asked, hope dripping from her voice.

"Of course I do. I've missed you and would love to see your puppies."

"How will you see them?" Her little hand flew up to her mouth after the words were spoken. The look of shame on her face and the large tears that formed in her eyes told Jade she was sorry she had said anything and that she was deeply concerned for her older brother.

Blaise offered a gentle smile. "Jade is my eyes. She'll see for me. Don't you worry. I will see your puppies." Teresa glanced at Jade and blinked back the tears when Jade nodded to confirm the words that Blaise had spoken.

"Alright." She smiled and finished her breakfast.

****

With cloaks wrapped around the girls and Blaise in a coat, they headed out to the stables where the puppies were currently staying with their mother.

"Are you nervous?" Blaise whispered into Jade's ear, the warmth of his breath sending shivers through her.

"What about?"

"If Mona spoke the truth, then today you meet your parents." His tone was low so only she would hear.

The realization dawned on her. She had been so caught up in trying to find a way to heal Blaise that she forgot that Mona had claimed she was the princess of Hale. With each step she took her heart pounded louder; the wind blew cold and large fat snowflakes fell from the sky.

"I don't want to think about that right now." She shook her head as if trying to lose the nerves that seemed to have attached themselves to her — the fear that they wouldn't want her even if she were their daughter.

"It's snowing?" Blaise questioned as they continued their way to the stables.

"Yes," Teresa replied dancing about.

"I was hoping we'd have another few weeks," he answered, his arm tightening around Jade's waist.

The three of them entered the stables; the smell of hay and horses filled the air. Jade closed her eyes and breathed in the scent; it reminded her of Stephen. Her stomach churned at the thought of him probably never having had a proper burial.

Teresa led them to a stall where a large white dog lay with five puppies. A white fur ball with three dark brown spots on the right side of his body and brown ears hobbled toward them.

"He's so adorable," Jade almost whispered, kneeling down to reach through and pet his soft fur. Blaise knelt beside her. She described the puppy that had come to her — his big brown eyes that seemed to beg for her to take him with her, the spots, and even how the brown patches left his ears to come together on the top of his head, leaving a little white heart in the middle of the brown. The rest of him was completely white. One foot seemed to turn in a little when he walked, causing him to limp. Another pup, slightly smaller than the first, with nearly identical markings but his spots on the left side of his body and his legs perfectly fine, came forward and nudged at Teresa's hand.

"This is the one I want," Teresa said caressing the back of the runt. The other three puppies were larger than the first two. They wrestled and pushed at each other, nipping playfully and using their newfound growls. "Can I take him today, Blaise?"

"I don't know. Is he eating on his own?" he asked while reaching out to pet the puppy that his sister now held in her arms.

"I think so, the others are too rough for him. They turned two months old a week ago. I'm sure he could gain weight and be healthier if I took him with me," she pleaded.

"You would be willing to get up with it in the middle of the night to tend to its needs? You'll clean up after it?" His voice betrayed his skepticism.

"Yes." She thrust out her lower lip.

Jade scooped up the little cripple and held him close to her. His warm little body snuggled against her. "It may be better for them to be where they won't get trampled." She spoke softly as the pup nuzzled her neck.

With a sigh Blaise raked a hand through his hair, causing it to stand on end. "You'll have to warm milk for them. Make sure that they are eating. What have they been getting to eat?"

"Table scraps," Teresa replied.

"That won't do. We'll get them some proper food. If you take them inside and keep feeding them table scraps they will beg for food and you know that will not go over with Georgina at all."

"Can we go get them collars?" Teresa bounced up and down with the pup in her arms.

"Yes, we'll go now. Do you have the pups?" he asked as he and Jade stood. Both girls answered in the affirmative and he led them out of the stables. With the snow still coming down he decided they should take a motor vehicle so the girls would not catch a chill. They waited for a driver to pull a vehicle around to the front.

At the store Blaise spoke with the clerk asking for what the girls would need and waiting while the owner fetched everything. The clerk got food for the dogs and had them fitted for collars and leashes. Teresa insisted on getting them both something to cuddle with. When everything was purchased it was all loaded into the vehicle and the driver took them back to the palace.

"Who is that?" Teresa asked as she noticed a large white limousine in front of their home.

"I wonder if it could be the King and Queen of Hale already," Blaise replied from his seat.

Jade tensed at the mention of them. She was not prepared to see them, not ready to know if Mona had spoken the truth. The fear of disapproval seeped into her. By the time they walked into the palace the flurries had turned into a blowing swirl of white, mirroring the flurry of her thoughts.

"It will be alright." Blaise gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She was not as certain as he seemed to be but she would have to find out the truth sometime. May as well be now.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Straightening her back and holding her head high, she stayed close to Blaise and allowed him to have her arm. Though now that they were in the palace he did not need it since he knew the place so well — she needed it. She needed the strength that he gave her, the love she could feel pouring from him.

Her long dark hair had fallen loose due to the wind and hung down to her knees. There was nobody new in the entryway; in fact it was empty. Jade wondered if everyone was seeing to the guests who had arrived while they were gone. The sound of the door closing echoed in the entryway.

"We should all go get cleaned up so that we can greet our guests," Blaise broke the silence. "Teresa, on your way to your room see if you can have Margaret bring up saucers of warmed milk to your room and Jade's for the pups." His sister nodded and scurried off with her new love cradled in her arms. Jade and Blaise ascended the stairs in silence together.

At their doors Blaise stopped her. "It will be alright, try to relax. I can feel the tension running through you."

She nodded and squeezed his hand. "What should I wear?" she asked allowing the trepidation into her voice.

"Whatever makes you feel confident. Be you, nobody else." His cloudy blue eyes flicked around, never quite settling on her face.

"Alright, I'll be ready soon."

"I'll wait for you. Just knock on my door when you're ready to go down."

They parted ways, each entering their own rooms. Jade set the puppy down and watched as he tried to scamper on the plush carpet. Remembering how wonderful it had felt the first time she had stepped on it just a few nights ago, she wondered what the pup was feeling. Deciding to call him Flurry, she called out to him and then carried him to the bathroom. She set him on the tile floor and then went out to search through her wardrobe. She found a simple silver knee-length dress and a pair of fitted white pants to wear under it. After laying the clothes out on the bed, she turned to head back into the bathroom when she heard a knock on the door. Margaret opened the door and stood there with a saucer of warmed milk.

"Miss Teresa said that you had a pup up here," the older woman said softly.

"Yes, his name is Flurry."

Jade accepted the milk and thanked Margaret. After the maid left, Jade crossed her sitting room to lock the door. Once back in the bathroom she set down the saucer and showed it to her pup. When he started to lap at it she turned to the shower. Washing off the dirt and tension allowed her to begin to relax. She found resolve to get ready and walk downstairs to meet her future, whatever it might be, and deal with it.

Once out of the shower and dried off, she wrapped a robe about her then sat before the mirror to work on her hair. She untangled the mess of dark locks and then twisted, pulled, turned, and pinned until the tresses were styled so that her hair appeared to be only half the length it truly was. Pulling on the clothes she had laid out, she then donned a pair of plain black ankle boots.

"Are you ready, Flurry?" The pup licked at her boots; she reached down and patted his head. "Let's go then."

She led the way out of the room and across the hall to get Blaise. He opened the door in a neatly pressed pinstripe suit. His hair was combed neatly in place and not at all wild like she loved.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yes." She forced confidence into her voice. Little Flurry walked alongside them. Glancing out the window as they passed, she noticed that the snow was coming down heavier. "Does it often snow this early?"

Blaise nodded slowly. "We usually have our first snow by the end of October. Is it coming pretty thick?"

"Starting to look that way." She turned her attention to the room ahead of them. She could hear voices coming from the grand parlor she had been in earlier that day. Taking a deep steadying breath, she walked into the room with her head held high. Teresa glided over to them, maintaining the appearance of a proper princess. Flurry found his sibling and curled up next to him by the fire.

Seated across from Catherine and Edmund was a handsome couple. The man had dark hair with deep brown eyes and a neatly clipped mustache and goatee. He wore a crisp white shirt with a grey vest that matched his grey slacks. The woman was beautiful with her porcelain skin, jade green eyes, and hair as red as a summer rose. Draping her body was a deep green silk dress that matched her eyes. Jade could not move her gaze from the couple. They were so beautiful; she felt like a combination of them. His hair and her eyes.

Catherine stood and walked across the room to Jade and Blaise. "Elspeth, Christian, you remember my son Augustus?" They both nodded and greeted him. "This is his fiancé Jade. Jade, this is Christian and Elspeth Allaway the King and Queen of Hale."

"It is a pleasure to meet you." The king stood and stepped toward her. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. Her eyes locked on his. The brown eyes seemed to hold a question. Did he see a resemblance in her?

"The pleasure is mine," Jade responded then followed Catherine across the room and sat on the settee with Blaise next to her.

"This is my mother, Mora-Leigh."

Jade looked over at the woman Elspeth had spoken of. She sat tall in the chair closest to the fire. Her eyes were the same color as her daughter's, the same color as Jade's. Her hair was nearly white, though there were still hints of the fiery red it had once been. Laugh lines softened her face and Jade decided that she had to be more welcoming than Blaise's grandmother had been.

Christian spoke, his voice gentle but commanding. "Augustus, your parents tell us that there is something that you need to speak with us about."

Jade stiffened, feeling her heart pound so hard against her chest that she was certain it could be seen through her dress. She clung to his hand as his smooth voice filled the room. "I have reason to believe that the woman who sits beside me is the daughter you thought you lost in a fire seventeen years ago."

A collective gasp resounded in the room. Before anyone could speak he pushed on, "She is the same age your daughter would have been. She was found not far from the village where the fire was. A man named Stephen left books and clues for her to follow that all point to your family. Finally, the woman who raised her claimed that she had taken her from you to punish your family for banning her from Hale for witchcraft."

"Where is this woman now?" Mora-Leigh was the first to speak, her eyes sharp as an eagle's. The expression on her face had not altered from the moment Blaise had begun to speak.

"She was burned at the stake in Wapeno by a power-hungry sheriff. Though she admitted to sorcery and was seen using it."

"Tell me about her, this woman. What is it that she thought she could do with a child?"

Jade decided it was time that she spoke; she could not hide behind Blaise. "Her name was Mona. She and her grandson Stephen were the only people I ever knew until I ran from the farm I was raised on at Stephen's request. She kept me hidden from the world or kept the world hidden from me. I really do not know which it is. What I do know is that my entire life she told me that my parents were killed by villagers for being different. She never elaborated, never spoke of them. Stephen did though. He said that they were the kindest people he had ever met, that my mother had beautiful red hair and green eyes."

Georgina stood, drawing attention to herself. "This is ridiculous. You will not put this family through such a heartbreaking tale of falsehood simply to try to elevate yourself to my grandson's level." Disdain dripped like venom from her voice.

"No, we will hear them out," Christian said his eyes never leaving Jade's. "Continue."

Jade cleared her throat then spoke again. "Blaise rescued me in the woods from men that Mona had hired to bring me back to her, though we did not know it at the time. He offered to help me on my journey, searching the clues that Stephen had left for us. I fell ill and we were at a hotel when I was taken by Mona's men. When they returned me to her, she was near Wapeno. She said that she had once been a dressmaker to the royal family of Hale. A little boy had accused her of witchcraft when his pet came up dead. The King of Hale, she said he was my grandfather, had ordered her to leave and never return."

"Why would she take our child?" Elspeth asked in a small voice.

Jade straightened in the chair. Her eyes fluttered shut and she took a steadying breath, it was time to reveal her secret. What she did not want anyone to know. Opening her eyes, she turned her gaze onto the Allaways and Mora-Leigh.

"She said that she could use my power against you. It was not enough that the man who had banished her was dead, and that you thought your child to be dead as well, but she wanted to punish all in the family — the entire kingdom — for causing her to live in poverty. I didn't know I had any power. I don't know where it comes from or what exactly it is that she wanted." She refused to cry though tears threatened to well up.

"The weather reacts to your emotions. If you're scared or injured and there is a storm then it intensifies it. Like this blizzard we are now in." Mora-Leigh gestured to the window that they could no longer see through. "Calm yourself child, there is no reason for you to be anything but what you are at this moment."

Jade took several breaths and concentrated on slowing her rapid heartbeat. She did not realize that the storm had worsened because of her anxiety over this meeting. How could she rid herself of this curse?

****

Tea and pastries had been brought into the room causing a disruption in the conversation while the servants bustled about. Jade accepted a cup of tea. Though she dearly wanted something to eat, for they had missed the second meal of the day while out getting supplies for the puppies, she did not think she could stomach anything at this moment. Not until this conversation was over.

Teresa, on the other hand, had no quarrel with the sweets as she scooped up two onto a little plate and settled down to listen to the rest of the tale. With the servants out of the room and the doors closed once more, Mora-Leigh brought the attention of the room to herself when she spoke.

"There was a woman named Mona who was banished from Hale for sorcery. She had been my favorite dressmaker. It was not the simple accusation from a little boy that led to her removal. A maid had gone to pick up an order I had placed and through the window witnessed Mona lighting the fire in her fireplace from across the room with a wave of her hand. It was not my husband who banished her. It was me. Our country needed to be free of witchcraft. I did not want that near my people, near my children."

"Mona was real then, but how do we know the rest is true?" Catherine asked hesitantly. "She does not have red hair like you and your mother, Elspeth. Though she does have the jade eyes that seem to run so strongly with the females of your family."

It was Elspeth who answered. "My Adelina took after her father. She had his dark hair. There is something else that she took from her father, something that nobody except us knows about. A birthmark in the middle of her back, it matches the one her father has."

Jade shook her head. "I don't know if I have a birthmark."

"The night you arrived, did Margaret assist you in getting ready for bed?" Blaise asked.

"She helped me to get into a dress the next morning." As soon as the words were out of her mouth Edmund sent for Margaret.

Once the maid was in the room, Edmund spoke kindly. "Margaret, when you were helping Miss Jade to dress the other morning, did you notice a mark on her back?"

Wringing her hands together, the older woman glanced nervously about the room. "Besides the scars, sir?"

"Scars?" Christian echoed, a fire leaping into his eyes.

"Yes, your majesty. One looks new, the others appear faded." She looked as if she wanted to run from the room.

"Besides those," Edmund prompted.

When Margaret's eyes met Jade's she offered her a smile that seemed to give her the encouragement she needed. "Yes, in the middle of her back, nearly on her spine, is a tan colored mark that sort of resembles an oak tree. It's not terribly big, perhaps a two inch circumference."

"Thank you, you may go."

She hurried out of the room once dismissed. All eyes turned to Elspeth and Christian once the door was closed. Tears flowed down Elspeth's cheeks as she stood, leaning on her husband for support, then walked to where Jade sat.

Jade's heart beat wildly and her mind raced. This was her family? She had a family! Gently she was pulled into the arms of her mother, who caressed the top of her head.

"We've mourned you all these years."

Jade sniffed back tears and allowed herself to be held. This was a moment she had only ever dreamed of. Allowing herself to place her arms around Elspeth, she leaned into her mother's embrace and felt a sense of belonging. When Elspeth pulled away, Jade looked up at her and Christian.

"I didn't know you were alive. I'd have looked for you sooner," Jade said quietly.

Edmund's voice sounded through the room. "I think your family is in need of some time alone. We will leave you so that you may talk until dinner."

"Thank you." Christian shook his hand.

Teresa bounded over to Jade. "Want me to take your pup with mine?"

"I named him Flurry. I think they both need to go outside for a bit, but don't go far and keep them both on their leashes. We don't want them to get lost in the blizzard. Did you name your pup yet?" Jade stroked Flurry's back.

"Caramel. That's the color of his markings. I think I may call him Car for short," she answered gathering the two pups and leading them out of the room. Blaise was the last to leave them; he kissed the top of Jade's head and told her that he would be back soon. With the door closing and leaving her with her family, she suddenly felt very alone.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

There was an uncomfortable silence over the room for the first few minutes after the others left. Jade worried her bottom lip then stood and walked across the room to the window. The snowfall was not as thick as it had been when she first came into the room. She turned to face her grandmother, suddenly recalling what she had said before.

"You said that I have powers that are tied with storms and my emotions. There is more though. There is more, and I don't want it." She crossed the room quickly dropping to her knees on the floor by the chair where her grandmother sat.

"What more?" The old woman raised an eyebrow.

"When I was locked away because they thought I was a witch, I thought of Blaise so much that I could see him. It was almost as if I was there with him. I knew that he could no longer see. I knew where he was, that he was getting closer. I think that he heard me when I called out to him. I don't want to be a witch!" she cried out. "I don't want to be like Mona. She took me from you, she made children sick, and took away Blaise's sight."

"Dear child, you are no witch. The women in our family have always had some sort of connection with nature. It goes away the first time the hair is cut and never returns, though your hair will grow back. You've never cut your hair," she stated.

"Never that I remember. Mona used to brush out my hair when I was a child. Once I was old enough to braid it myself she made sure that I kept it braided and up on my own. I asked once if I could cut it for it was so heavy but she told me that short hair would be a disgrace and forbade me from ever mentioning it again." Jade turned her eyes over to her mother. "You have cut your hair?"

Elspeth moved a chair closer to them and sat. "Yes, my mother cut my hair when I was three."

"Why does cutting the hair take it away? Is it a curse?" Jade asked.

Mora-Leigh reached out and patted her head gently. "My mother said that the family was cursed long ago by a witch, who believed that her love had been stolen from her by one of our ancestors. She tied the curse to her hair so that the only way to get rid of it would be to cut her hair. The sorceress thought that with her hair shorn the man would leave the woman he had fallen in love with. Though their love was true love, the curse was extended to all their female offspring."

"I can get rid of this then?" Hope filled her voice. She wondered if all those nights when she woke right before a tornado hit if it was caused by her fear from a nightmare. Was it because of her? The storm that ruined the roof and caused Stephen to fall — had it been her doing?

"Hearing her rant before the villagers came I think that she was going to use me to bring destruction to your home and the kingdom." Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"It sounds like it," Elspeth answered quietly.

"Let's cut it then." Jade stood and began pacing the room.

"No need to do it this second. Sit down and have something to eat," Christian insisted.

She took up a pastry and sat on one of the settees. She bit into the delicious treat finding that the inside was filled with cream.

"Do you know how to read?" he asked.

"Yes, I was taught only the basics by Mona. Stephen would hide books in the hollow and he would teach me more about history, math, religion, reading, and writing — things Mona would not allow in the home. He said I needed to know more, that someday I would get to leave the farm and I should be prepared. Stephen warned me to say prayers in my head when in the house. I forgot once and Mona punished me. She claimed that the people who killed my parents were Christians driven by fear. It made no sense though, the things that Stephen told me contradicted what she said. He told of kind people who wanted to help each other. He read stories to me from a Bible."

"Where is this Stephen now? It seems that we should thank him for trying to help guide you down the right path," Mora-Leigh said.

"He is gone." Tears formed in Jade's eyes. "He spent his life protecting me, I guess he knew who I was the entire time. He was older than me. Perhaps he was there when Mona took me from the village. He is the reason I left."

"I'm sorry to hear that," her grandmother replied.

"Were you punished for many things?" Elspeth inquired. Jade nodded her response. She saw the fire jump into Christian's eyes once again and feared to say any more on the subject. "You don't have to talk about it now. But what is this?" She reached down and traced a finger along Jade's wrists.

"That's from the shackles I wore while locked away in Wapeno. Clive, he was the sheriff there, had Mona burned. He was going to do the same with me, accused me of being the cause of his brother's death. But I wasn't. Kind Edmund got the truth out in a trial. Clive had been falsely accusing people for years, ruling over that town by driving fear into their hearts. Edmund appointed Bertrem the new sheriff. He's nice. He did his best to care for me while I was there."

"Where is this Clive?" Christian asked, his light tone sounded forced.

Jade turned to him. "I believe Edmund had him brought to the jail here."

A shadow flashed across Christian's dark eyes. Just then a knock sounded on the door and it opened slowly to reveal Blaise with Flurry in his arms. Jade hurried over to him and took his arm. Together they walked back toward her newfound family.

"He smells like roses." Jade said surprised when she had Flurry in her arms.

"I had Teresa give him a bath. He needed it."

Christian stepped forward. "Where can I find your father? I need to have a word with him."

"He's in his personal library. I'll take you there."

Jade watched as they left the room. She turned back to her mother and grandmother.

"What happened to his eyes?" her mother asked.

"Mona. As they led her to the pyre, I heard her call out that he would never see me again. When he made it to the town, the doctor and I thought it was similar to the children, but Blaise's eyes did not get better. The children started to get healthier once Mona was dead. Blaise did not. I'm looking through books to see if I can find an answer."

"I'm sure you will," her mother reassured her.

They then talked of happier things. Jade wanted to know about their home in Hale. She sat back with her puppy curled up on her lap and listened to Elspeth and Mora-Leigh talk about their home, her home.

****

Dinner that evening was a feast. Robert had certainly outdone himself; word had spread quickly that Jade was the daughter of the King and Queen of Hale. With this knowledge it seemed that Robert wanted the meal to be a celebration as well as a welcome to their guests. Jade was amazed when she saw the main course. She was informed that it was chicken but it was nothing like she had eaten growing up.

Teresa, who sat next to her, whispered that it was a grilled chicken breast. The grilled chicken had a piece of cheese melted over it, a basil leaf on top of that, and a juicy slice of red tomato on the very top. It nearly looked too good to eat. She waited until everyone else had taken a bite of it then took one of her own. Closing her eyes as the flavors exploded in her mouth, she smiled and then looked over at Margaret who was standing in the corner quietly waiting to see if anything else was needed.

"Margaret, please tell Robert that this is delicious," Jade said without thinking of Georgina or anyone else at the table and what they would think of her comment. Georgina scoffed and leveled her gaze with Jade's.

"You should not speak to the servants while there are guests here. Certainly not while sitting at the dinner table."

Jade furrowed her brows. "Robert did a wonderful job preparing this meal. I'm sure it took him a good deal of time to do so, shouldn't he know that it is appreciated?"

"That is what he gets paid to do." Georgina's voice rose the slightest of degrees.

Catherine smiled at Jade. "This is why he has complete control of the kitchen." Then she turned to Margaret. "Please give him my compliments as well." The maid scurried silently out of the dining room and into the kitchen.

Edmund set down his fork and glanced around. "Christian and I have discussed the matter and decided that we will have a large celebration to announce that Princess Adelina has returned."

Jade looked up surprised. Her heart pounded at the thought of being a princess.

Elspeth turned kind eyes to her daughter. "It will be alright. This is a reason to celebrate."

Scanning the room let her know that it had been settled. "I've only just met you, shouldn't announcing me wait?" Timidity edged her voice.

"There is no reason to wait. We want to celebrate your return. The more quickly we announce your return, the sooner you and Blaise will be able to wed," Christian replied.

"Wed? So soon?" It had definitely been something that she and Blaise had spoken of but a date had not been set in stone.

"You were promised from the time you were born," her father said as if it was commonplace.

"How can you decide who your child will love when they are born?" Jade questioned, gently pushing her plate away. She had suddenly lost her appetite.

"Others may marry for love, we cannot afford to do so. Love comes."

"Love comes?" she scoffed.

"Of course it does dear," Catherine spoke softly from her seat at the end of the table.

"We are not property." Jade shifted in her seat.

A hand reached over and gently covered her own. Blaise's voice was low. "Does the thought of marrying me suddenly repulse you?"

She whispered back, "Of course not. I just want us to decide when and how. Not have it planned for us as if we have no say in it."

A soft smile crossed his lips. "We'll be happy. Let them have their celebration. I'll help you prolong the engagement as long as you would like." His tone was so quiet that she was certain she was the only one who had heard him.

Sighing she nodded her head. "Alright, when will you have this celebration?"

"Two weeks," Edmund and Christian said together.

Two weeks.

She had two weeks to find a way to restore Blaise's vision.

Two weeks to learn how to be a proper princess.

Two weeks to get to know her family.

Two weeks to get used to the idea of her future being planned by others.

It couldn't possibly be any worse than the previous two weeks had been.

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