Chapter Twelve

I opened my eyes, stifling a cry of relief. Griffin peered down at me with an anxious expression, and I laughed with joy. “We’ve got to stop meeting this way.”

He took my hand and held it to his cheek. “Welcome back.”

Danya stood behind him, holding the drum. “How do you feel?”

“No pain or headache. The doctor gave me more medication, so I’m good for a while.” I lay in bed, covered with a blanket. “How long was I gone?”

“Through the night and into the day. You returned an hour ago.”

I sat up straight. “The Rose Stone?”

“Safe at your side,” said Griffin.

I dropped Griffin’s hand and threw back the covers. The velvet bag lay next to me. I opened it and breathed a sigh of relief at the rosy glow from within. “We have to get going,” I said in a rush, swinging my legs to the floor. “We’re running out of time. The darkling followed me into my world and is inching through the systems. I have to stop it before it controls the power grid and the carvers come—”

“Where exactly do you wish to go?” said Griffin with a smile.

I froze. “I-I know the general direction. Somewhere in the hills.”

“Peace, Jess.” Griffin helped me to my feet. “You have new information. That’s good, but we can’t rush blindly into the wilderness. First, we need a plan. Tell us what happened.”

I described the addition of the tiny rose to the painting and the confrontation with the spark. “I’m sure we have to head to the same spot as the rose on the contour map.”

Danya said, “Before anything is done you must keep up your strength. Breakfast will be ready by now. I’ll make tea, and we’ll discuss our plans.” She left the room, and Griffin and I were alone.

“Actually, breakfast sounds good,” I said. “I’m hungry and Danya’s tea is as charged as a cup of strong coffee.”

“You’ve spoken of coffee at other times. Is it a medicine?”

“Not really, but it sure gets me going in the morning.” I felt a draft on my legs and looked down. I was barefoot and wearing nightclothes. “Um, something’s different.”

“After you returned, I brought you here. Abril and Danya dressed you in one of Abril’s old gowns. Your clothes are on the chair.”

“Thanks. Sorry to be such a bother.”

“You aren’t.”

There were shadows under Griffin’s eyes. “You must have been awake the entire night,” I said. “Did you eat anything?”

He shrugged. “I had little appetite.”

My heart beat faster. Despite wearing a nightshift, I wasn’t cold. The surrounding air even seemed to grow warmer. “I heard you calling.”

“And you answered,” he said.

“Yes.” Awkward silence stretched to several seconds and then I said, “I take it I’m in the farmhouse.”

“This is my old room. I’ll wait for you downstairs in the kitchen.” He stepped into the hallway and shut the door.

The thought of sleeping in Griffin’s bed brought a smile to my face and a tingle in parts of me that hadn’t tingled in a while. I hurriedly dressed and then sat on the bed to pull on my shoes and felt a nudge at my side. The sack with the Rose Stone had rolled next to me. I took her out and rubbed my finger over the surface.

In outward appearance, the stone had the same warmth and glow, yet something seemed different. Frowning, I peered into the facets, hunting what hid beneath. A sensation of falling enveloped me, and then I spotted the black knot buried deep inside her. The location had shifted. No—the location was the same, the facets were identical in size and shape, only the knot differed. The tendrils remained, but some were stunted and wizened. As I watched, one broke off and faded to nothing.

I blinked and found myself rising to the surface again, but this time with renewed hope. “If the darkling’s knot shrunk and some tendrils have disappeared, does that mean the same for my tumor?” I asked. In answer, a sense of encouragement filled me. That was good enough for now. “So before I toss you back in the bag, any thoughts on Griffin’s feelings?” I asked with a grin.

The Rose Stone deepened in color. I laughed and slung the sack over my shoulder. “Yeah, my feelings about him to a T.”

I went downstairs to the kitchen, and Griffin pulled out the chair next to him for me. Danya tended a kettle of water at the stove, while a servant bustled about setting the table. “Will there be anything else?” she asked Danya, putting down the last plate.

“No, thank you.” Danya took the kettle off the stove.

The woman grabbed a basket from the floor and opened the back door. Paxton stood on the stoop, knocking mud off his boots against a scraper. Apparently, having a strange woman collapse and vanish in his front yard and then reappear hadn’t altered his work schedule. The servant edged past and scampered away as if eager to go.

Paxton grunted. “I see she’s awake.”

“She has a name,” I said. “It’s Jessica Rose Stone, but please call me Jess.” Griffin turned his head away, but not before I caught the hint of a smile.

“Paxton. But I suppose you know that already,” he muttered.

“I do, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Is it now?” He narrowed his eyes at his son and then strode past to wash his hands in the sink.

“Yes,” I said. “Your farm is beautiful. I love the blue door.”

“My late wife’s idea. She had an eye for such things.”

“She saw beauty everywhere,” said Griffin in a low voice.

“She loved the farm,” said Paxton. His expression softened and then hardened again. “Unlike others who saw fit to leave.”

Griffin rolled his eyes, and the muscles in his jaw clenched. I braced for another argument, but the door opened, and Abril and Bram entered. “We did a circuit of the farm, Captain, and rode to the base of the hills, but did not venture farther as you ordered,” said Bram. “The perimeter is secure.”

Abril went to a drawer in a sideboard, took out the sketchbook, and handed it to me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I showed the map to Grandfather.” Her eyes sparkled. “You had a vision of Father as a child and drew him, too.”

“Yes, well, not exactly a vision,” I stammered. “I mean, I thought it was my imagination, but, obviously, it wasn’t.” Stop babbling. “Wow, that smells good.”

“Breakfast is ready,” said Danya, pouring the tea.

As we ate, I explained what happened at home. Paxton’s gaze stayed fixed on the bag holding the Rose Stone. “Do you want to see?” I asked. Without waiting for an answer, I took her out, and she glowed softly in my hand.

Paxton’s eyes widened, and he drew in a sharp breath. “It’s magnificent.”

“She,” I corrected lightly. “Do you want to hold her?”

He seemed to regard the suggestion with horror and shrunk back in his seat. “I don’t dare.”

“She won’t bite.” Before he uttered a protest, I grabbed his hand and placed the Rose Stone on it.

“I-it, I mean, she is warm,” he stammered.

“The Rose Stone lives in her own way,” said Danya. “She’s a loving mother who watches out for her children, even sending messages to other worlds for help.”

Paxton stroked the Rose Stone with a gentle touch, and a slight smile twitched his lips. The first one I’d seen today. It vanished in a flash, but not before I marked dimples in his cheeks, too. Like father, like son.

He handed her back to me. “Thank you, Lady Jess.”

“Anytime.” I returned the Rose Stone to the bag. “And call me Jess.”

Danya cocked her head and studied me with sharp eyes. “The darkling followed you. That is troubling news. I’m sorry, Jess. Linking to the Commonwealth brought danger to your world, and if we cannot heal the Rose Stone, worse will come.”

“It’s not your fault,” I said. “The darkling hunts the spark and may have found its way to my time and place, eventually. At least we have warning, although no one will believe me.” I made a face. “They think I’m having hallucinations.”

Bram chuckled. “I understand their concern completely.”

“The darkling is weakening,” mused Griffin, rubbing his chin. “Now, that’s interesting. We believed its power intensified, but the increased frequency of the attacks is merely a sign of desperation.”

“I don’t see how that helps us, Father,” said Abril.

“A desperate enemy makes mistakes. We have always thought the darkling unstoppable. The Rose Stone is our most powerful defense, but even with the boundary in place, she can only keep its evil at bay. Jess discovered a hidden truth. The darkling has a link to the Rose Stone and infected her with poison. The purpose is not destruction but to weaken the boundary enough to forge through, capture the Rose Stone, and bind her power. Sever the link, and perhaps the Rose Stone will be able to halt the final confrontation before it begins.”

Paxton’s eyes widened, and he turned to me. “Killing the darkling is possible? The breaches will end?”

“I can’t say for sure,” I said. “I have just bits and pieces of information and a sense from the Rose Stone we’re on the right track. I only know I have to find a way to help her.” I pushed the sketchbook to him. “Check out the map. Maybe you’ll see something familiar.”

Paxton opened the sketchbook and slowly turned the pages, pausing to peer at the ones of Griffin and the farmhouse. “You drew these as a child?”

“Yes. Strange, huh? I’d forgotten about them until a short time ago. Even now the memory is hazy, but that must have been the day I formed the link with the Rose Stone.”

“Or with Father,” said Abril with a cheeky grin.

Paxton shot me a curious look and then flipped to the map and pointed to the little rose. “This is on the easternmost trailhead along the foot of the hills, an unusual location to mark.”

“Why?” I asked.

“As a boy, I’d go with my father to search for metal scrap to sell. Pieces were common then and fetched a good price, but over the years, the land shifted and became unstable. Landslides killed scavengers. No one goes there now. It’s not worth the risk.”

“Boulders block the end of the path, but the warbirds might find a way around or the rocks may have shifted again and cleared the route,” said Griffin.

Paxton narrowed his eyes. “How do you know that?”

“I explored on a hunting trip but wasn’t able to get that far.”

He stiffened. “I ordered you not to take the trail to the hills. The ground was too treacherous.”

“I told the deer, but they didn’t listen, so Cirrus and I followed them,” Griffin said coolly.

“You could have been killed,” he snapped.

“I was careful and returned when Cirrus decided the route was too unstable.” Griffin leaned forward, the muscles in his neck tightening. “You should have trusted me to make the right decision. After all, I am your son. You taught me to hunt and tread carefully, not wander blindly into danger.”

I decided this was no time to hash out old family issues and jumped in. “So, these are burial mounds from the old days. What did you see?”

“Not all hold the dead,” said Paxton. “Most are barren, craggy hills, but the ones with bits of metal had an eerie feel to them. There were cracks and crevices with deep shadows that appeared to lead underground. We camped at the base, and my father forbade me to explore them because of the danger.” He glowered at Griffin. “I obeyed him.”

If he expected an argument, Griffin refused. He pushed back his chair and stood up. “I’ll send Racer and Sojourn to sweep the area and hunt for the best passage.”

Paxton’s face reddened. “I suppose you’ll take my granddaughter, too. It’s foolish to risk her life.”

“He’s my captain,” said Abril sharply. “I’m proud to follow him. I trust his judgment as you trusted your own father’s.”

Paxton swung his head toward me. “How can you be certain you’ll find something there?”

“I’m not, but I drew the rose in that location for a reason, and I agree with Griffin. We have to go.”

Griffin strode to the door. “Sergeant, Corporal, with me.” They rose and followed him, so did Danya.

Paxton watched them go. His expression twisted in a scowl, but I caught more than that—fear welling in his eyes.

“I get it,” I said. “You’re more afraid for them than angry but too stubborn to admit it.”

“You know nothing of me.”

“I know it’s a good thing Griffin was on patrol when I arrived in the Commonwealth. If he hadn’t been in the guard and killed the carver, I wouldn’t be here today. No one would know the darkling is poisoning the Rose Stone. She might even be under its control by now.” My exasperation rose with his silence. “Your son is a brave man, an exceptional warrior, respected by his troops, his commander, and the chancellor. Do you think they would have sent him on this mission otherwise? That’s quite an accomplishment for a man who started as a farmer’s son. Stop being angry at him.”

He gritted his teeth. “You are free with advice, Lady Jess. My family is not your concern.”

“I told you to call me Jess,” I said. “Let’s not be so formal, if we’re going to yell at each other.” He merely grunted, but the tense lines on his face eased. “I haven’t known your family long, but they mean a lot to me. Make your peace with Griffin now. Because if the worst happens, and he doesn’t return from this mission, you’ll never forgive yourself.” I added in a joking manner, “Besides, Abril’s young. She’ll eventually marry and have kids. Maybe you can turn one of them into a farmer, but that won’t happen if your attitude chases her away.”

Paxton turned his piercing gaze from the window to me. “The same can be said of Griffin.”

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks and decided it was time for me to exit. Griffin was in the yard, standing in front of a low fence ringing the garden. Racer and Sojourn perched on the top rail, cocking their heads as Griffin spoke to them. Racer screeched, flapping his wings. He launched into the air, and Sojourn followed. I stood next to Griffin and watched with him as the warbirds caught a rising thermal and then banked toward the hills.

“I see you survived your first conversation with my father,” he said dryly.

“Aw, Paxton’s not so scary. He’s still miffed at you though, for taking Abril away and allowing her to join the guard. He can’t see she has a will of her own and would have left eventually, the same as you.”

Griffin shot a dour look at the farmhouse. “The world turns, seasons change, but my father’s mind remains rooted in place.”

“Paxton is more afraid than angry. He understands the danger faced by the guard. He loves you and Abril. What comes across as anger is actually fear for your lives.”

“You are so sure.”

“No doubt about it.” I gave him a playful nudge. “Don’t forget, he’s my hallucination.”

I was pleased to see a smile. Griffin shaded his eyes from the sun, following the track of Racer and Sojourn as they shot toward the hills. “The path we need to follow is thick with undergrowth. The warbirds may not be able to spot an easy passage from the air.”

“Oh, I was hoping they’d find a direct route.”

“Their eyesight is keen, but warbirds can’t see through trees. Danya may have better luck.”

“Danya?”

“She has her own methods. She took her drum and went in search of a quiet place.” Griffin snorted. “She said adverse vibrations near the house blocked her perceptions. I sent Bram and Abril along to keep watch. Do you feel up to a walk?”

“Yes, thanks.” He offered his arm, and I took it. The medication Dr. Turner shot into my veins did the trick, no pain and not a single tremor, but it crossed my mind the support I enjoyed was more emotional than physical. The sun shone brighter with Griffin at my side.

We strolled past the garden, bordered by the same blue and white flowers as in the sketchbook drawing of the farm. They emitted a delicate lemony scent, and I gazed around with a smile. So much was similar to my world. Bees and butterflies danced around the blossoms, but many of the vegetables had unfamiliar shapes and sizes and resembled an assortment of exotic legumes and squashes. I didn’t have enough of a green thumb to guess at the herbs, but nothing screamed, “This isn’t real. You don’t belong here.” Except for the zebra-striped pigs and the lyrs, even the livestock wasn’t totally out of place. Although, what Griffin called chickens swam in a pond and resembled a weird mashup between a cardinal and a duck.

We followed a footpath and then stopped at a plot of land ringed by trees and blooming with wildflowers. “My mother, my grandparents, and their parents are buried here along with Litha. My father will join them one day.”

“It’s a peaceful spot.”

“When the war first began, panic set in, families were separated. Soldiers died far from their loved ones. Their bodies were buried where they fell. We sowed seeds on the graves and watched new life spring from the old. It brought some comfort to believe their spirits were bound with the earth. In this way, lost friends and relatives have remained connected to the Commonwealth. Do you have such beliefs?”

“We have many beliefs, but yours suit me better.”

“Perhaps it bothers my father, too, that when the time comes, Abril and I will not be here to join with the land of our ancestors.”

I tightened my grip on his arm. “Paxton will have to get used to the idea because you’re not going to fall here. Not here, not now, not for a long time. I won’t allow it. This is still my story.”

“You may not be destined to write the ending.”

“Try me.”

He smiled and touched my cheek. “At times, you are as fierce as a carver.”

My pulse raced. “Only when I don’t get what I want.”

He leaned toward me. The heat from his hand spread from my face through my body. “I’m a soldier, Jess. I lead a rough life with nothing to offer.”

“Except your heart.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Whoever says I need more than that is a liar.”

The earth seemed to pause to draw a breath. Our lips touched, and I felt that kiss right to my soul. It was an offer and a promise. I didn’t need to hear the words. He would stand by my side and love me forever, and I accepted with my entire heart. I slid my hands up his chest to his neck. One thought filled my head. Everything I ever wanted was here. His hands went up my back. He pulled me hard against him, and the burdens I carried slipped away.

Griffin whispered in my ear, “Even as a boy, I sensed something missing from my life. The guard and Abril were enough to ignore the empty space in my heart. Duty and honor were all I required. Then the Rose Stone sent you to me, and the emptiness vanished.” Griffin drew back. He cupped his hands around my face and gave me a searching look. “I have no right to your heart.”

“Too late. It’s already yours.” I kissed him again and then laid my head against his chest and smiled. His heart beat as wildly as mine. “I want nothing more out of life than to stay here with you.”

“As do I, but you will be called down the other road soon, back to your old life,” he whispered softly.

“No!” I swallowed a knot in my throat. “Don’t say that. I’ll fight to stay, use every ounce of strength—”

“You can’t.” Griffin’s eyes held wistful yearning. “Even drummers such as Danya with all their power can’t cure your illness. The only hope is with your people. You must go back.”

Tears stung my eyes. “That world has nothing to offer me.”

“It has life, which no one here can give you.” The naked desire in Griffin’s face stole my breath. No man had ever looked at me that way. “I never would have believed a few hours with a woman who found me in a dream could fill my heart. Jessica Rose Stone, know that in either world my love is always with you.”

“And mine with you.”

I clung to him. Was this what my future held—the love of a man who can never be mine?

Thump-THUMP-tap-tap, thump-THUMP-tap-tap.

The bag at my side twitched. I startled and looked around.

“What is it?” asked Griffin.

“Danya’s drum.”

He gave me a puzzled look. “I hear nothing.”

“It’s not a sound, but a feeling. The Rose Stone senses it, too.” The tug became more insistent, and I pointed into the woods. “She wants to go that way.”

The Rose Stone led me through the trees and past a thicket to a small sunlit glade. As we approached, drumbeats became audible. Bram and Abril stood by a tree watching Danya. Her eyes were open, but they had a faraway look as she rapped lightly with palm then fingers, palm then fingers. Unconsciously, I swayed to the rhythm. No words or messages shot into my head, but I got an impression of Danya standing at the edge of a shoreline. She cast a wide net, first one way, then the other, a mystical fisherman hunting an elusive catch.

Bump-BUMP-bump-bump. Bump-BUMP-bump-bump.

The Rose Stone throbbed against my hip, pulsing in time to the beat. I took her from the sack and stood next to Danya. The stone’s light brightened and dimmed, the cadence echoing the drum’s rhythm, as if they sang in chorus. The Rose Stone shifted in my grip, and now the tug went toward the hills.

Danya’s shoulder’s sagged, and then she straightened and drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I can’t find the path.”

“That’s okay,” I said with excitement. “The Rose Stone can.”