LIGHTNOVELONLINE 06 - The Guide Stone.
The sisters rode slowly and silently through the forest of oaks, pines, and junipers. They were accompanied by the gentle murmur of the breeze passing through the trees, carrying with it a pleasant scent of resin, and the occasional chirping of sparrows. They had set off at dawn, but after several hours of travel, Sunno was shining high and strong in the clear sky, and it was quite hot. The clothes they wore were not the most appropriate for these temperatures, as they were designed to protect against the cold and rain. Lysandra turned to check on her sister. The poor girl had a completely flushed complexion, her forehead beaded with sweat, and an agonized expression.
"Do you want us to stop for a while in the shade, Zari?"
"Yes, please," the young woman replied in a desperate whisper. "I’m cooking alive. I need to loosen my bodice. And take off my boots. I’d strip down to my petticoat if I could."
They left the path, heading towards a nearby clearing. There, they let the horses graze freely, though there wasn't much grass. Most of the ground was covered with dry pine needles, fallen pine cones, and the occasional rock protruding here and there, covered in whitish lichen. They took a waterskin and some hard pastries from the saddlebags, spread the blankets on the ground, and leaned against a thick trunk, one on each side.
"How can it be so hot? This morning I was freezing, and now I feel like a potato in the oven," Zari lamented, absentmindedly putting a piece of dry biscuit in her mouth.
"We’ve just passed the first equinox. This is normal for this time of year, you know. Cold nights and warm days. And we'll be lucky if we don’t get caught in a sudden storm that leaves us soaked," replied Lysandra, who at that moment passed her hand over the waterskin. She whispered some strange words, and suddenly frost covered the leather, making the water inside as cool as if it had just come from a spring. She briefly remembered how exhausted she used to feel when performing such a simple spell at her sister’s age. Undoubtedly, she was much more skilled now. She had hardly noticed the Power channeled through her body.
"Well, I wouldn’t mind it raining now, honestly," Zari remarked lazily.
They had taken off their riding boots to cool their feet a bit and loosened their dresses, trying to be more comfortable. Zarinia lay down, arms crossed behind her head. They maintained silence for a few minutes, listening only to the sounds of the forest. A squirrel passing by watched them curiously from its branch for a while before deciding to go on with its business.
"Do you really think they tried to deceive us? They seemed pretty sincere to me. I mean, that they weren’t trying to swap the amulet for a fake one, or something like that," Zarinia said thoughtfully after a while.
"I don’t know. I don’t trust them, but I don’t think they would try to deceive us so foolishly. Besides, that copy was too good. Impossible to order without having seen the original first."
"Then why are we following them? I don’t really understand."
Lysandra sighed and pondered for a few moments before speaking. All this was improvised, and she wasn’t at all sure it would even work. Inside, she was not only upset about the fake medallion but also for not having an alternative plan ready. She, who always had everything meticulously studied...
"Because I have no other options, Zari," she replied wearily, taking the opportunity to lie down like her sister. "The last information I had about the amulet ended at Brademond Castle, and if they only found a copy there, then I don’t know where to go next. I’m hoping they try to sell it, and someone shows interest in buying it. At least that way we’d have another lead to follow."
She closed her eyes and let out another sigh before continuing.
"Now we’re at a dead end. Anyway, this path takes us to Rocavelada, so we don’t lose much by following them; it’s almost on our way."
"And what if they don’t sell it?" asked her inquisitive younger sister.
Lysandra didn’t respond. She remained thoughtful, looking at the sky peeking through the branches, a deep blue.
"I think we should continue; they might get too far ahead, and we’ll lose them," Zarinia said after a while, yawning loudly and stretching without disguise, unlike how refined ladies should do.
"Wait a moment, let me check," Lysandra replied, sitting up again to lean against the trunk.
She took a carved wooden box from her pocket and opened it. She briefly studied the small glass sphere inside. A tiny pebble floated motionless in a yellowish liquid, viscous like oil.
"We have time; the guiding stone isn’t moving. I think they’ve stopped to rest, just like us. As soon as it starts to vibrate, we’ll continue."
"I didn’t ask you, where did you put its twin stone?" Zarinia said, lying back down, closing her eyes, and letting out another yawn.
"It’s sewn into the double bottom of the fine leather pouch I gave them. I don’t think they’ll get rid of it, even if they spend all the coins. I chose it carefully to have value, even empty."
"That’s my big sister. Always prepared. Wake me when it’s time."
Lysandra watched her younger sister, who, two minutes after closing her eyes, was already snoring. She was fascinated by how quickly she could fall asleep in any position and in such a short time. She, on the other hand, had more trouble falling asleep. Especially when the images of what she had to do came back to her mind. She tried to erase those thoughts from her head and rest like her sister. Remorse and looking back were of no use.