Her Heartstone Preview: Chapter Two

Artwork by Michael Kucharski

Click The Cover To Order!

In a modest forest at the edge of a riverbank, some distance from the blackened kingdom, lived a man who understood life in ways few others could comprehend.  He escaped from the tyrant decades ago when he saw the oncoming storm of his wrath. 

The man lived in concert with the world, moving from one sunset to the next in harmony with nature and the spirit of growth.  He shared his life with two beautiful dogs who chose him just as much as he chose them.  They were kindred souls, a rare family, serving, supporting, and nurturing each other.  Few humans understood their bond, and even fewer possessed hearts large enough and egos small enough to replicate it.  Together, they shared a gentle life, well-protected from the bleak existence of those inside the walls, especially the King.

One evening, while the trio sat together in a comforting silence at the base of a waterfall, watching the brilliant colors of a spectacular sunset dance in and out of the tumbling river, a child of about thirteen years came upon them.  She moved tentatively, hiding behind one tree and then the next, simultaneously mesmerized, and afraid; yet still drawn to approach.  She'd never seen a man like him before.  He was bigger than any man she'd ever met, including the fierce soldiers of the King's Guard.  He wore soft textiles of muted hues.  He wore no armor, held no sword, and invited a quiet calm she didn’t think was possible.

"Don’t be afraid,” he said softly.  “We won’t hurt you.  You may sit with us, if you like.”

The girl was a bit uneasy, but when the dogs on either side dropped their heads into the man’s lap, worry left her, and she came closer. 

She sat near the man and his dogs, dangling her legs over the riverbank, her feet just out of reach of the water. 

The girl looked at the dog who sat between them.  “She is so beautiful… snowy white and so quiet,” the girl whispered.

The dog regarded her momentarily with gentle steel-blue eyes and then returned her gaze to the sunset. 

The second dog, who appeared quite a bit younger, rose quietly, sniffed the air for a few moments as she inhaled the girl’s scent, then took up a resting place on the grass on the other side of the child.  The puppy’s tender amber eyes closed as she tucked her nose under a fluffy brown paw, clearly comforted by the oncoming warmth of evening.

“You seem troubled,” said the man, his eyes never leaving the watercolor sunset painting the evening sky.  “Would you like to talk about it?”

The girl held her breath.  Few people were inclined to listen to her troubles, for fear of retribution from the King.  You see, Empathy was outlawed in the kingdom.  It was difficult to share the right words without breaking the law.

The man sat in silence, waiting until she was ready.  He patiently stroked the white dog’s fur as the two gave her the time and space she needed.

The puppy slumbered peacefully nearby.

 At last, as darkness fell upon them and the stars welcomed the group into the evening, the child found her words.

“I come from the kingdom beyond the wall.  Life is difficult.  The people… my family… we are all so very sad. Leaving the village is against the law, but I heard stories when I was little about how the world is kinder outside the wall.  I needed to find out if it was true.  So, while the guards were busy watching the market square, I snuck out a small opening in the wall near the river and followed it here.” 

The girl looked toward the darkened sky, her eyes wide in wonderment.  “I’ve never seen such a sky.  Are they… cracks…?”

“They are called stars, little one,” said the man gently.

“Can you see them every night, or is tonight special?” she asked.

“Yes,” said the man.  “They are here every night, and tonight is special because you are here to see them with us.”

They sat silently together for a long while, watching the twinkling stars dancing between tree branches in the distance.  The girl reached out to pet the magnificent white dog, then withdrew her hand quickly, fearing its attack. 

The dog did not move.

“There is no need to be afraid… of any of us.  We will not hurt you.  We can feel your kind heart, and we know you are a friend.  We want you to know the same of us.” 

The white dog licked the girl’s hand, and she giggled at the sensation.

“Did you ever live under the castle?” asked the girl.

“Yes, a very long time ago, long before the walls went up.”  The man looked toward the direction of the castle.  “I saw the black heart in the King growing stronger, so I moved away before he could imprison me and my friends.”  He nodded to the dogs.

“How do you live alone, without the village?” she asked.  “Isn’t it a hard life, so far away from the King and the Guards to keep you safe?  I was frightened to leave.  The King tells us all the time that we will die from wild animal attacks – or worse – if we go outside the walls.”

“So, why did you leave if it was such a scary thing for you to do?” the man asked gently.

“I couldn’t imagine anything scarier than how we live inside the walls… so much anger and darkness – even in the daytime.  I thought there might be a chance… so I tried to see…”  Her voice evaporated into the forest, and tears stained her face.

“So, curiosity… was that the only reason to risk your life?  Is that all, little one?” the man asked as he smoothed the hairs of his silver beard.

The girl drew a long breath, held it for a moment, then let it float out over the river.  She gently laid her hand upon the white dog’s coat and suddenly felt safer. 

“My brother – my twin – is suffering in the grottos below the eastern tower.  He was taken from us and caged there last autumn because the King decreed that he broke the worst law…”

“Empathy,” the man whispered.

“Yes,” she said.  “He listened to the little children as they shared their pain of empty stomachs at bedtime.  He quietly held the mothers’ hands when they felt sad that their husbands or sons were sent to war.  He understood everyone’s whispering heart.  He never allowed his complaints to become louder than anyone else’s.  He always reminded us that feeling helpless wasn’t the same as being hopeless.  He is fearless.”

The two sat in silence together, quietly holding space for the memories of her brother.  Both knew the truth of his bravery. 

A star shot a trail across the sky just then.  It seemed to the girl that the man asked the evening sky to mark the moment.

The child drew another breath and continued.  “At night, as we gather near the hearth for the evening meal, the grandmothers tell stories about a box hidden away… a box that holds the secret to defeating the King’s evil.  They told us that inside that box is a special amulet and a Magic Spell that is so powerful, it might banish the King from the land forever, so that we can live in happiness again.  The grandmothers said that the river would teach us where to find the box.  So, I left to follow the river… and I found you.” 

She raised her eyes to meet his.  “Can you help me find the box and save my brother?”

The man was quiet.  In those long moments, as she waited for his answer, the girl felt the dark blanket of night wrap around her as it had so often in the past.  But tonight, that darkness was different.  She felt surrounded by the warmth of possibility.  There was no sadness, only stars… and hope.

Finally, he stroked the white dog’s fur, and the brown puppy raised her head to look at him.

She is waiting for a command, the child thought, a bit of worry rising inside her once more. 

The man turned his gaze upon the girl.  “What you ask is not an easy thing… it is not impossible… but it is far from easy.  It will take some time and perhaps some pain, but if you are strong, truly want the change, and are ready to live the life that comes afterward, it can be done.” 

The girl let go of the breath she was holding, relieved that she would not be attacked by the dogs' strong jaws and sharp teeth.

The man offered her a gentle smile and stood.  The dogs also got to their feet, taking their places on either side of him.  He held out his hand to the child.  Her small hand was lost inside his giant one… but still, she was unafraid.

The man led her away from the river, down a narrow path through the forest, and to a small cottage.  He opened the door and lit the lantern. 

“Welcome,” he said.  “This is not a castle, but it’s comfortable and safe.  You may sleep there, on the cot in the corner.  The dogs will watch over you, so there is no need for fear.  In the morning, we will talk more and make a plan.  For now, rest.”

The girl hugged him just as her brother taught her - gently, fiercely, hopefully - as if it might be their last moment together. 

“Thank you for your kindness.  I know helping me puts you in grave danger, should the King discover you.  I am grateful that I found you.  I hope that alone, is worth the risk to your life.”

“There is no risk, little one.  I have lived in safety for many years.  The King’s reach is not long enough to find me here… nor do I believe he could manage what he found, even if he did find us.”  The man’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Rest now.  We’ll talk more about what comes next in the morning.”

The girl moved to the cot as the man added a few logs to the hearth and started the fire.  She curled up, pulling the thick wool blanket around her shoulders.  The dogs stretched out on the floor nearby.

The brown puppy found a spot closest to her, and the white dog chose a place on the rug between the cot and the man’s chair. 

As the man sat reading by the fire, the girl fell asleep with her arm resting on the puppy’s back, her hand gently caressing her comforting fur.