The Stone of Mercy

Saleen gasped. There on the table, sparkling with a light of its own, was the most beautiful silver object she had ever seen. “What is it?” she said with awe.

“This is the breastplate of the queen of Crystonia. It gives the wearer the power to rule the land in righteousness.”

“It is so beautiful.”

“Yes. It is indeed.”

Saleen looked up to the stranger’s face. His face was still shaded by his hood, but she could see a sparkle of light coming from his eyes. One hand went to her stomach as she felt her child leap within her womb. “It has been made for her?”

The stranger nodded.

“Are you going to give it to her?”

“No. I will leave it with you. You are to keep it safe until she reaches her sixteenth birthday. At that time, you are to give it to her and her journey will begin.”

“What do you mean by ‘journey’?” asked Saleen, feeling a sharp stab of fear pierce her heart.

The visitor extended his long arm, revealing his slender fingers once again. Saleen noticed the large blue and red stones set into the rings that adorned both of his center fingers. With one of those fingers, he touched four holes in the breastplate, one at a time. “Each of these will hold a stone of light. When complete, the breastplate will give her both power and protection—the power and protection she will need to rule the land.”

Saleen tensed as she felt the first strong contraction flow through her body.