The Aurora Stone (4 page)

“Excuse me, Excuse me!” Eve yelled as she ran towards the group. Looking up they were stunned to behold an elfin maid, running toward them, russet hair flying and with such a determined look on her beautiful face. Lighting cut across the sky illuminating Eve. The witches gasped as her eyes flashed with green-gold fire.

“So it is true,” the youngest member of the gathering, whispered.

“Please, use your magic to end the suffering,” Eve begged, skidding to a stop before the group. She looked each member in the eye, hoping that one would see the folly in abstaining from magic when their Kin were dying.

” We never interfere with nature's course young elf,” snapped a witch with hair the colour of iron though her face was plump with youth.

“People are dying!” Countered Eve, completely enraged that these people would not act, knowing they could. “You are cowards! Children are dying! People are losing everything. And you stand back, feeling no guilt because you won’t interfere with nature’s course! I am very sorry we may be allies, but no Elf would stand by and let their kin die, and I will not stand back and let these people die now.” Eve blasted.

Turning to the well she began to draw the pail up.
If only to slow the inferno and give them a chance to get away,
she thought. Unhooking the bucket from the chain she ran to the flames closest and soaked the wall to its left, she continued this for what seemed like forever. The witches looked on with expressionless faces and hands behind their backs.

It was dawn before the rain began helping to douse the flames. Eve had worked tirelessly all through the night and no one helped her. The anger and disappointment she felt towards these people was swallowing her whole. Returning the pail to its chains, she slumped down resting her back against the rough stone of the well. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she was bone weary and filthy.
Violet,
was Eve’s last thought before she drifted into exhausted oblivion.

Two days later, Eve was reading in Violet's snug, a steaming cup of sage and honey tea was on the table beside her. Coughing, she placed her book down and took a sip of the savoury –sweet brew.

“Ugh, I don’t think this will ever be one of my favourites,” she grimaced.

“Maybe not but it will make you feel better,” Violet assured her. Taking the chair opposite Eve, Violet looked at the elf with new eyes. That terrible night when the storm had hit, Eve made a stand and helped people she had never met, risking her very life for others and a town she had no ties to.

“Thank you for everything, I cannot begin to express the gratitude I feel,” Violet said. Looking at the painting her great- grandmother had left her she continued, “The fire, the blood… I couldn’t be near the blood.” She admitted sadly, Eve placed the unpalatable tea back on its saucer.

“That is nothing to be ashamed of; many folks cannot bear the sight of blood. Indeed, my mother turns a wonderful shade of green if she gets so much as a paper cut. There is also no need to thank me. What I did that night was what I was able to, nothing more,” she stated.

Getting up Evangeline stretched, then deciding that a walk was just what she needed, she headed for the hall to retrieve her cloak and shoes. Opening the front door, Eve stepped out into the late over- cast morning. Half way down the main avenue, she heard feet pounding against the road, a muted thud, thud, thud gaining on her fairly quickly. Eve stepped aside to let whoever it was past.

“Thank the Goddess you stopped! I haven’t run like that since being chased by an angry goose four years past.” Eve turned to see a young man doubled over clutching his side. He seemed familiar to her; most likely she had seen him the night of the storm.

“Can I be of some assistance to you?” She inquired.

Straightening up, the man looked down into her mysterious eyes. “I just wanted to meet the woman who stood up for what she believed; and look once again, into your extraordinary eyes,” He complimented. Unsure whether this witch was trying to court her or just had a funny way of saying thank you, Eve smiled and responded politely

“I did only what I could, I will be on my way now if that is all, I feel the need for a walk.” Turning, Eve was about to continue on her way; when a hand gently touched her forearm. Turning back, she once again looked up into the young man’s eyes.

“Please, I would very much like to walk with you, if you are not averse to this?” He asked. It was only now that she noticed this witch had eyes as extraordinary as her own. His were were blue, but not just any blue they were the blue of the sea with flecks of silver that seemed to swirl like the crest of a wave breaking on the rocks.

“If you like; my name is Eve. It is a pleasure you meet you,” Eve introduced herself and offered her hand in greeting. Taking her hand, all the time looking into her eyes the witch replied.

“It is my pleasure, Eve; I am Caleb.”

They walked for a while, Caleb telling Eve about Clear Water Valley, pointing out historical landmarks and introducing her to any witch that passed them. After about an hour Eve was feeling a bit tired, though she would never admit it to Violet, she was still feeling a bit run down. The chill she had caught the night of the storm had almost gone, but it had left her drained of energy. Heading back towards Violets’ home, Caleb became aware of the sickly pallor of Eve’s skin.

“Are you feeling alright, Eve? you are looking a little pale.”.

“I am just tired, a sit-down and more of Violets awful sage tea shall set me right I am sure,” she replied wearily. Not liking the colour her skin, or the light sheen of perspiration that followed her hairline; or the way she swayed as she walked, Caleb mad a suggestion.

“My home is close by; my father is there and my sister. I will take you there, make you some tea and you can rest for a moment. I will escort you home after you have some colour return to your cheeks. How does that sound?” Caleb coaxed.

“I think that may be a very good idea Caleb, thank you,” Eve said weakly and swooned. Panicked, Caleb caught Eve and lifted her into his arms, and ran the remaining quarter mile to his home.

“I am so sorry, Caleb, I am not making a very good impression here,” moaned Eve as she sat drinking a cool glass of apple juice. She had come around as Caleb had entered the cottage.

“Oh, I don’t know, you have made quite an impression on my family,” he smiled. A small girl skipped into the room when she caught sight of Eve on the sofa she began hopping up and down,

“My angel! Daddy, Daddy my angel is on the sofa talking to Caleb!” She squealed. Eve was quite sure she was not an angel but the child seemed so pleased to see her, then it came to her. The girl covered in soot without a pulse. Could it be her? This child was beautiful with blond hair that caught the light, shining in golden tendrils around her face, eyes as green as emeralds and the most glorious smile Eve had ever seen.

Her inner musings were confirmed when the girl’s father entered the room. “Hello, my name is Robert, and this is my daughter, Grace. I see you have already met my son,” Robert smiled. Eve was speechless for a few moments, then remembering her manners she rose to her feet and held out her hand.

“A pleasure to meet you, my name is Eve, I am so very glad to see you both again, and under happier circumstances,” she beamed at them.

After finishing her juice and having to promise to come back and see Grace again, Caleb and Eve left for Violet’s house.

“Why didn’t you tell me you already knew who I was?” Asked Eve and fiddling with the hem of her cloak.

“Well, for one thing, you would have thought I only wanted to thank you for saving my sister. Also, I am not proud of our first encounter, so I hoped that if we met and you were unaware of the connection, we already had, that I might be able to make a better second impression,” Caleb hurried. Puzzled by this, Evangeline took a moment to think where she had seen Caleb and how it could have been a negative encounter. Then it came to her, the gathering by the well.

“You were the young man with the group of cowards at the well,” she responded an accessory tone entering her voice.

Looking her in the eye, Caleb answered. “Yes, I was there, having the same argument as you had with them.”

“Then why didn’t you speak up while I was making a complete fool of myself?” Eve countered.

“I couldn’t, I was busy trying to stop a tree falling onto the Mathews house, four houses down from where we were standing, which is not easy when you are…never mind.” Not wanting to have an argument about this on the street or say more than he should about certain things, Caleb took Eves hand and hurried her up to Violet's door. Once they were sat in the sung, and very sure Violet was out, Eve wanted answers.

“You were doing magic to save other witches, but that is forbidden; your kin made that perfectly clear” she spat, the accusation twisted her expression. His face blank, Caleb waited for Eve to calm down.

“Yes I was trying to use magic against the rules; however, I do not regret it,” he stated: Stoney faced, his eyes burning with indignation. Not sure what he meant by
‘trying to use magic’,
and not wanting to question him about it, as it was clearly a touchy subject, Eve remained silent. After a few minutes, Caleb got to his feet.

“I’m sorry you think badly of me, I was doing what I could, just as you did.” Sighing he headed to the front door. Eve got up and followed him.

“Wait, please don’t go, I feel terrible about my reaction.”

Hand on the doorknob ready to leave, Caleb turned back to face her. “It’s fine, I am not mad with you, far from it, you saved my sister.” He said smiling down at her; Caleb opened the door and stepped out into the dusk. “I will call on you tomorrow if that’s ok, I would like to talk some more.”

Looking up, Eve could not deny Caleb looked breath- taking, with the blush colours of the dusk behind him. Standing at six foot two with sea blue eyes, chiselled features, and although he was wearing a jacket, it was clear that he was muscular and strong. Remembering Violet saying not to stare Eve looked past his left ear, noticing the way his blond hair curled on his collar.

“Yes, I would like that,” Eve replied. Smiling once more, Caleb turned and headed in the direction of his home. Eve was still staring after him when Violet returned with supper.

Eve and Caleb spent every day together. Sometimes Violet would tag along, and they would have a picnic by the river, Eve had come to think of them as her friends, this worried her, as she knew that staying here was not an option. There were other realms to venture through and a prophecy to fulfil. On her eighth day in the valley, Evangeline decided it was time to leave. Grace was becoming attached to her, and she did not wish to cause the child pain. Violet, she was sure would be pleased to have her house back. Then there was Caleb; he had become a close friend in such a short space of time. It would be difficult to say goodbye.

Packing her bag up the next day was hard, she was truly sad to be leaving. Eve hoped to return after her quest, with stories to tell Grace and a new book for Violet. Gathering up her bag, she headed for the snug to bid Violet farewell and continue on her adventure. Violet was waiting for her, and so was Caleb.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Caleb. We said goodbye yesterday,” Eve murmured.

“So we did, however, it occurred to me this morning that a gentleman would escort a lady to where ever it is she was headed, to make sure she arrived safely,” he replied with a bow. Suppressing a giggle, Eve smiled and replied.

“Indeed, it would be. However, I don’t know exactly where it is I am heading or how long it will take to get there. You would miss your dinner for certain.” This she thought would seal the deal, as Caleb really loved to eat; she had no idea where he put it all. Looking rather pleased with himself, Caleb stood to his full height and produced a backpack from beside the chair.

“All present and correct,” he laughed. Now she was out of bluffs. Eve was going to have to tell them the truth. Just as she was about to, she noticed a lump under the collar of Caleb’s black t- shirt and it was… humming! She was sure only she could hear it, yes it… Yes, the hum seemed to be emanating from the hidden item around Caleb’s neck . Walking towards him, she touched the lump, it moved; the humming reached a crescendo.

“What’s this?” She asked eyes still on the lump. It was no bigger than her little finger. Reaching under his shirt Caleb withdrew a chain, suspended from it was a smooth point of stone. It was all the colours of the sea combined; grey and green with flecks of electric blue, it seemed to change colour when viewed from different angles.

“Oh it was my grandmothers’; it has been passed down forever. It’s a gem called labradorite.”

I have found one of the three,
was Eves first thought. Suddenly realising he had to come with her; she grabbed his hand and smiled. “I would love for you to escort me at least to the border of the realm,” Eve gushed. Picking up his backpack and Eve’s bag, he headed for the door, leaving Eve to say her goodbyes to Violet. “Thank you for allowing me to stay with you, I am so pleased to have met you.” Eve embraced Violet and kissed her cheek. Violet replied rather gruffly.

“Don’t mention it, maybe next time you will be better behaved.” Smiling at her friend, Eve put on her cloak and headed to the door. Taking her bag from Caleb, she slipped it over her head, checked her belt for her purse and knife; she was ready.

“Come on then, Caleb, lead the way,” Eve chuckled. Knowing that she was going to have to reveal some pretty amazing things to him shortly, Eve wanted to keep the atmosphere light until they were away from the town.

“Let’s get this show on the road!” Caleb all but sang.

Oh boy, are you in for a surprise
, Eve thought as they headed up the main avenue that leads out of Clear Water Valley.

When they were four miles outside of the town, Eve explained to Caleb all that she knew of her quest, the prophecy and his part in it. To his credit, Caleb listened to her all the way through before he uttered a single word. Once Eve was done, he took a moment to compose himself. Caleb had known there was something about Eve the night he saw her eyes flash in the lightning, now he understood, the legends were real. Glancing at Eve, he saw how anxious she looked, waiting for his reaction. Taking a breath, Caleb smiled at her and responded with confidence.

“Well, I guess you have a travelling companion Evangeline, and I do believe the next realm is Olia, the realm of the owl riders.”