Kingdom of Refuge (Gemstone Royals Book 1)

  KINGDOM OF REFUGE

  Gemstone Royals Book 1

  Kelly A. Purcell

  This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Thank you for your support.

  Cover Design by RebecaCovers

  Copyright © 2018 Kelly-Ann Purcell

  All rights reserved.

  Royalty Press Publications

  www.royaltypressutd.online

  For Aiden

  For encouraging me to take my stories as seriously as you do.

  Happy Birthday!

  PROLOGUE

  The woods were silent, eerily silent, the young prince’s warrior instinct, fueled by his anger towards his father, had him on high alert. He glanced over his shoulder at the small company of men who had joined him, strategically taking cover behind him, waiting for his command. From where he crouched, he could not see one sign of them, but he knew their eyes were trained on him, on his raised fist, signalling for them to wait, even as his trained eyes perused the entrance to the small village to whom his father, the king of Aldor, had sworn protection.

  The Nerubian people had captured his heart from the first time he had visited, and it had nothing to do with their extravagant gifts that royals from all over Saharia coveted. The eerie silence emanating from the usually lively village stirred a feeling of dread within him; something was not right. It was just like the dream that woke him up two days ago, that had occupied his mind even as they made the day long journey here. He opened the palm of his hand and slowly waved it forward, telling his men to proceed forward cautiously. The intel they had received had placed Dravian soldiers at the border, with plans to infiltrate the Nerubians. It would not have been the first time they tried but it would be the first time since his father let them, probably as another favour to his sister. He hated to think about what that would mean for his kingdom and theirs if that turned out to be true. Or what that would mean for his relationship with his father, because he would never forgive him if anything happened to the gentle souls who resided here.

  He stepped forward cautiously, and as he neared the clearing drew his sword. He could hear metal scrapping scabbards behind him in response, even as sweat dripped from his brows. He frowned, the Neru woods was usually a cool place, as the village was situated right next to the flowing Neru river, hidden away behind the lush rainforest. Something was indeed wrong. As he stepped into the clearing, the stench of their cruelty assaulted his nostrils before the evidence of it filled his vision. They were too late. The smell of death filled the air around them and despite having seen much death in his time as commander of his father’s army, he felt his stomach dip in dismay. These people did not deserve this, they were a peaceful and hardworking tribe, never succumbing to violence. It was why his forefathers had given them protection, because El knew that the riches of the river would draw the greed of men to the vulnerable people and that the rainforest could only protect them for so long. He could feel the presence of the small company of men behind him, even as his second in command came up beside him.

  “Their cruelty has gone too far,” he said with disgust, as they both looked upon the carnage left behind by the invaders.

  The smell of burnt flesh surrounded them, even as a fire died down in the midst of the village, huts lay in charred heaps, even as the serene river continued to flow undisturbed.

  “Do you think it was Dravians?”

  The young prince shook his head, “who else would do something so cruel. They had their eyes on this tribe a long time now. It was only a matter of time before they found them. I should have listened to my gut and left a company of men here with them.”

  “You could not have known.”

  But he could have, he knew the nature of his sister, her decline into darkness had been quick and the eyes of the prophets were not blind to the danger she posed to Aldor, but of course their father protected her. It was another of his father’s best kept secrets, he knew this was her doing.

  “Your majesty.”

  He turned in the direction of one of his men, “what is it?” The soldier pointed across the river and the young prince followed his direction with furrowed brows, until his eyes rested upon a lion. Lions were not out of place in the Neru territory for the people were known for their kindness to all kinds of animals. Regardless, the prince was weary of its presence; he was not lion-taming Nerubian. The Lion stood proudly on the bank across the river and it was looking intently at him, just like in his dream.

  “Dartlon, come with me. The rest of you stay here, look for any survivors, I refuse to believe the Dravians would wipe out an entire people for the sake of greed.”

  He stepped forward and hastily removed his chain mail, Dartlon followed suit. Then with his sheathed sword lifted above his head with one hand, he swam across the freezing river, this too surprised him, and he gasped as the icy daggers shot through his lower body. The last time he had been here the chief’s daughter had given him and his men a tour of the village and that included a refreshing dip in their serene river. It had been cool and refreshing then, nothing like the icy terror into which he had now immersed himself. He heard Dartlon’s sudden intake of air behind him as he pushed ahead. Once he was across and had lifted himself onto the bank, the lion took a step back, he moved cautiously, holding fast to his sword. But the thick maned lion gave no indication that it meant them harm, instead it turned and walked away.

  “Come on!” he said, about to launch out after it.

  His second in command, restrained him, “with all due respect sire, I do not think that is a good idea.”

  “Trust me Dartlon,” he said, yanking his arm from him, “stay if you wish. But I will not lose that Lion.”

  He dashed forward, hoping the swift movement of his limbs would soon return a semblance of warmth to his body. He finally caught up with the creature, again it was waiting for him, looking at him intently with those golden eyes. It stood at the mouth of a cave, then it stepped aside and dipped its head. The invitation could not get any clearer than that. The prince took a deep breath and crouching low, entered the opening of the cave.

  “Oh El be with me,” he muttered, this was where his dream had ended.

  When he entered the cave however, it all made sense. Laying in a woven basket with a lioness lying next to it, was a baby, carefully wrapped in a patterned quilt. The lioness stared at him, then got up slowly and walked around the cave. Bravely, he took another step forward and stooped down over the basket. The baby cooed and lifted big light brown eyes to him as she smiled, her curly red hair was pulled up into a string above her head and as she fussed, her blanket fell away, revealing a gold string around her neck. He reached forward and lifted it out and as his gaze fell on the object attached to it, he knew what he had to do and as if she agreed, she wrapped her tiny hand around his finger and cooed.

  “You are a very precious little one, are you not? El himself sent savage lions to watch over you.”

  He lifted her out of the basket and held her close enough for her to tug at his braided beard, but not too close to his wet clothing. An overwhelming need to protect her fell upon him as he held the child in his strong arms.

  “Already you have the makings of a princess,” he said with a tender smile. All was not lost after all.

  CHAPTER 1

  Many moons ago a favoured people made a dangerous journey across the icy sea of Dunis, in search of a place of their own in which to settle. The mighty warrior who guided them forward, was said to have the ear of God. The weary travellers came upon a land of kings and magic, a place they were to call their own.
”

  A loud pop echoed through the room and a thin tendril of smoke rose from the stage. Ruby chuckled, her lone laughter amplified in the arrested silence that filled the theatre, as the hunched over narrator drifted across the stage in a less than graceful shuffle.

  “The rich soil and breath-taking forestry drew them as did the certainty of their leader.” A thin man in a long robe and staff, stepped onto the stage and bellowed, “This is the place to which our God directs us” and a loud shout erupted from the meagre crowd surrounding him.

  The narrator continued, “The people had rejoiced, at last they had found a home, a place free of oppression where they could freely serve their God. But the darkness that filled the land was great, the kingdoms that surrounded were hardly welcoming and even though their God was powerful, and their leader was fearless, many adopted the ways of Saharia, forsaking El, the only wise God of Aldor. It had been a long journey for the travellers from the time of their arrival on the shores of Saharia, and during that time the many trials they endured caused division among them, scattering their kind throughout the lands. It was of this people that the great Kingdom of Aldor emerged, the only people who had not forsaken the God who had brought them to this new land.”

  As the drumming intensified, Ruby looked over at her sister, who despite having seen this play numerous times before, was utterly enveloped. Ruby rolled her eyes, she could think of so many other things she could be doing right now.

  “The kingdom of Aldor began as a fortified city upon a cliff and nestled against majestic mountains. With time the small kingdom expanded into prosperous villages and farmlands and neighbouring cities, over which the main city overlooked, now called Stone Vale after the first king of Aldor. Now under the wise leadership of King Kalgary of Stone, descendent of the first king of Aldor and a loyal servant of El, the source of good and highest of all…”

  “Ugh, how many times do we have to hear this story?”

  “Quiet Ruby. And it’s not a story, it’s a history lesson.”

  Ruby sighed and slouched lower in her chair, feeling the sharp ache in her posterior grow into a persistent throb.

  “If we are to listen to this again, the least they can do is get us more comfortable chairs and better actors.”

  Topaz, her sister shook her head, “maybe if you stopped acting like you were so ignorant of Aldor’s ways, father would not keep asking Baron Enis to keep putting on this play for us.”

  Ruby rolled her eyes, “this is doing nothing to help my ignorance. If we are bound only by our loyalty to El, then why is there discrimination, why is there disdain towards those who do not look like natives… like me!”

  “Princesses!” came Baron Enis’ disapproving reprimand. He was sitting one row in front of them and had turned around to level his signature glare at the princesses.

  “Sorry Baron,” both sisters muttered simultaneously, earning Ruby a hard glare from her sister.

  The king had five children, a son and four daughters, Jasper, Pearl, Ruby, Topaz and Diamond. They all grew up within the safety of the kingdom, all they had ever known were the ways of Aldor, ways they were expected to uphold and defend as future leaders. But Ruby, Ruby never quite felt like she belonged, and in a way, she might have been right. See, the king’s blood did not flow through the veins of the troublesome princess, and so the power and honour that royalty afforded her, seemed to pale in comparison to her desire to be accepted for who she was, starting with the lengths she had to go through to hide her differences. As her most recent rebellion proved, Ruby was set on doing as she pleased, even if it meant going against the ways of the kingdom, ways that she felt herself despising more every day.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Just outside the theatre, standing as still as the stone sculptures lining the hallway in front of him, was a palace guard. He was dressed in a dark plated armour, which was lighter and cooler and preferred for ordinary days like this one. Days where the young soldier was stuck following the princesses to field trips like the theatre. This dreary task of shadowing the princesses, particularly the older of the two, was taking up more and more of his responsibilities and he knew that it would not be long before it was all he ever did. He glanced over as his colleague strode toward him, his hurried strides indicating that he knew he was late to report for duty as usual. As he took his place on the other side of the door he shot him a mischievous grin.

  “Thanks for covering for me with the general.”

  Deswald barely turned to look at him, “what makes you think I did?” he asked.

  Serin smirked, “I just passed him on my way to the theatre and he said nothing to me, did not even give me that stink eye of his.”

  Deswald smiled slightly and shook his head.

  “Ahh there he is, a crack in the old armour,” Serin teased.

  Deswald nodded, “just do not make it a habit,” he warned.

  Serin nodded and turned to face the wall opposite them. Deswald stole a glance at him when he knew he was not watching. Carefully taking in his dark skin, locked jet-black hair and sturdy frame. Guard duty was a stepping stone for young men like Serin, but for him, if Aldor persisted in its ways, he would forever be a palace guard. Serin was two years his junior and already he was on track for century selection. Deswald was not Aldorian by blood, but a favoured refugee’s son. With his pale skin, slim frame and lighter hair, that he never bothered to grow out after being teased about it as a lad, he would never be suited to march with the Royal Centurions, much more become an Aldorian Knight. Which was all he had ever wanted to be, since he saw them march through his town on their way back from a mission. But even then, he had known that he would never be a Centurion nor a Knight. A sliver of hope had appeared when out of gratitude to his father, he was plucked from his father’s shop and trained as a pledge. Only to end up here, a palace guard. He sighed and turned his gaze forward at the sound of movement behind the theatre door.

  The door swung open and out stepped Baron’s Enis’ culture and history class. He kept his eyes trained on the group until they found that ostentatious gold head wrap, set on honey kissed skin. Her eyes saw right through him as she passed by, arm in arm with her scowling sister. As usual Princess Ruby was chatting and beaming, her hands moving in sync with her melodic voice. As usual she did not see him standing there, or even notice when he and Serin fell into step behind them.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  “I cannot believe he is still upset with me. I mean to send me to a history lesson with Baron Enis. The man is a walking lullaby."

  Bianca watched as Ruby twirled this way and that before her full-length gold-framed mirror. She was trying on a new dress Bianca had sewn her. Bianca parted her lips to respond, but Ruby continued to ramble on, recounting the events of last week's meeting with her father yet again, to her understanding but exhausted best friend.

  "Can you believe it? It is my eighteenth birthday next week, I am the one coming of age, and I am the one who would have to live with the man I choose for a husband. I would rather I live with a mistake that I have made, than one made for me by my father. Do you not agree?"

  "Well..." Bianca started.

  "I refuse to live like my sister Pearl. Her life is so boring, where is the adventure in having father choose the one you spend the rest of your life with. To live hidden away as Governor of the farmlands, with her stone cutter husband."

  Bianca gaped again, but her tongue was yet again not swift enough for Ruby's, she had the thought pattern of a waterfall, constant and loud.

  "I mean why do I have to choose now, why can I not travel the lands like my brother or have a suitor in every land and visit each one in a different season, like the Duchess of Maryland," she turned and wiggled her brow playfully at her astonished friend. She laughed.

  "Would you look at your face Bianca, you do not really think I would do such a thing?"

  Bianca took her time in answering, giving Ruby ample time to cut her off if she wanted, "the more you go on, the more
I doubt."

  Ruby grinned, she was beautiful which was typical of the king’s daughters, a fact which Ruby often doubted. Sure, she was different, her thick wavy hair was a dark cherry red. It was quite the contrast against her honey brown skin tone, and unique to the kingdom which is as far as both Bianca and Ruby had ever seen. But like much of her features, it worked well to create the unique beauty that was Princess Ruby. No one else but Ruby’s family and close friend had laid eyes upon her outlandish tresses, for she always hid it beneath stylish head ties, it was the way it had always been, for as long as Ruby could remember. Her mother, the late queen Kera, had always insisted that she protect herself from jealous eyes and people who would not understand how special she was. But as Ruby grew up in Aldor she realized what her mother really meant was that she could never truly be herself or anything more than her differences would allow.

  "Look Ruby," Bianca continued, "your father has responded the way he has because he is worried about you, and with good reason."

  "Good reason?" Ruby snapped, "for locking up this poor blue bird in this tower of stone!"

  She flung herself on her bed and threw her arm over her eyes dramatically. Bianca rolled hers. Ruby propped herself up on her elbows and looked solemnly at her friend.

  "All I did was suggest the Prince of the Kingdom of Dravia for a suitor, I thought it would be a politically sound match, to end the hostility between their kingdom and ours. That is all, and he got so angry, he locked me up with his goons at my door like I am some prisoner."

  "What did you expect, you threatened to go beyond the gates and find the prince yourself and then you went missing for half a day and up to this day, no one knows where you were. Oh, and let us not forget about that slimy merchant the guards caught sneaking outside the palace walls, after having sold you that abominable book from Dravia. We have been at war with that kingdom for ages, they are everything we are not, why would you even suggest a union with their prince or even poison your mind with their literature? If I did not know any better I would think you wanted to be one of them."