Episode 1: A Journey Begins

* * *

"The Heartstone," began James, "binds our family together. It is part of our family, and each of the principal members wears a ring with a chip cut from its side." He waved the large signet ring he always wore, and Abigail felt her face flush with anger. Her father had one, Helen had one, and David had one, but she did not.

Oblivious to this slight, James continued: "You have been told of the tale of the Sidhe who fell in love with one Lord Underwood, aeons ago?" She nodded. "And how, to protect their privacy, she cast a spell blinding the world from ever seeing them?" Again, she nodded. This was a story that Serena had recounted to her and David once, when they were still children. "The details are not clear, but whatever magicks were cast that day spilled out onto a stone -- this stone -- and it became entwined with our fates ever since. It has been a source of strength through hard times, and it alone has the ability to magickally spy on the members of the House."

He held the stone aloft. "With this stone, I have seen David. I know him to be alive, but I also know him to be abducted. When the stone is held to the sun -- preferably the noon-day sun -- and a member of the House concentrates upon it, it can project on a map the location of the person you seek, and more. It works for any member of the House -- and probably for a magicker," he added hastily.

What am I to him? Anger threatened to take Abigail's focus. Am I a member of this House, or am I just a magicker? If I had not learned magick, would he even be talking to me now?

James' attentioned was affixed on the stone. Within it, Abigail noticed the light play, almost liquidly. James continued, but his mind was obviously very far away from him. "With this stone, I first saw that David was on a ship, in the seas between the continents, roughly here," he pointed to a map on a drawing table. "But later, when I went to see where they had landed, it showed me only this: David has been taken into the desert -- into AEgypt!"

"Needless to say, this is serious; of the enemies I have, I can think of few who might go to this extent. I can only think that he was beset by slavers and captured. In any case, we must rescue him!" He took hold of Abigail by the shoulders gently and looked intensely into her eyes. "You must rescue him! I have sent word for a friend to assist you, but it must be you who leads them, for only you can possibly use the Heartstone!"

Abigail opened her mouth, but found no words to say. The weight of it came crushing in suddenly, and she steeled herself against tears. She had expected her father to talk about her affair with Aiden, but this...

"You want me to, uh, take the Heartstone?" she said after a moment. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Yes, and I am sorry that your life must be put in danger." He let go of her arms and wandered over to look at the map again, thinking more than seeing. "But it must be done. David must be returned to us; he is the heir of the House of Green, and without him, it will fall."

A flush of anger swelled up in Abigail, but she only turned away from her father.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I am feeling a little... ill." He said, sinking into his chair. "And there are arrangements to be made."

"Of course," she said, curtly, not looking back. She stalked out of the room and nearly slammed the door behind her. Hurrying upstairs to her room, she fought back angry tears and slammed that door instead. David! her mind screamed. Why is it always about HIM!

* * *