The Stolen Jewel Read online

  The Stolen Jewel

  Lisa Dawn

  Prologue

  Once upon a time, there was a magical kingdom known as Klingland that was blessed with enchanted runes, powerful jewels that grew within the earth that its people excavated from the mines. The color and symbols on the runes determined what sort of power they contained. There were many different types of runes. Some harnessed the power of the elements, such as fire, water, earth, or air, while others tapped into the minds of their targets, forcing them to tell the truth or to believe what the rune’s wielder told them. People born with the ability to wield these magical relics were known as mages.

  The people of Klingland rejoiced in their magic for many generations. They entertained each other with beautiful illusions of color and light, healed the sick, and harnessed the power of heat and water so no one in the land would go hungry. Knights were trained to use lightning runes to strike down their enemies in times of war, protecting the good people of Klingland from conquerors. Their valor granted the people the freedom to continually rejoice in the blessings of their homeland.

  Unfortunately, these happy times were forced to an end thanks to the jealousy of human nature. Other kingdoms thought it was unfair for Klingland to claim such wondrous powers for themselves, and thus began the Magic War. The first kingdom to attack was Sederia, but their brute strength could not compete with the cleverness of the mages. Their troops fell to the lightning runes that Klingland’s mage knights expertly wielded.

  King Mercer of Dorraine used a more tactical approach. Instead of facing Klingland’s army head on, he hired scholars who were well versed in the art of magic to create a powerful crystal with the ability to absorb the magic of Klingland’s runes. He intended to take the magic from the runes and give them to the people of Dorraine who struggled to survive without such blessings. The crystal was affixed onto a regal staff that King Mercer brought with him when he went to negotiate terms between Dorraine and Klingland.

  It all went horribly wrong. King Lionel and Queen Sonora agreed to meet with King Mercer, unaware of his ulterior motives. When he raised his staff to greet them, disaster struck. The crystal sucked up far more power than it could hold, causing it to backfire. All of the magic from the runes in the surrounding area exploded in a huge blast that shattered the crystal into a million pieces and ended the lives of the queen and king as well as many other good mages in the area. The people mourned for all that was lost on that darkest of days.

  Mercer had never intended for such dire circumstances to come from his failed attempt to bring magic to his homeland. He bowed out from the war with the decimated kingdom and spent years recovering from the effects of the shockwave. During this time, he also attempted to make peace with the queen’s sister, Denise, who was named regent until the young Princess Charlotte would turn eighteen. Denise’s legs were permanently damaged in the blast, forcing her to live out the rest of her days confined to a wheelchair. She knew that something must be done to prevent the good people of Klingland from suffering the same way that she and her family had.

  Thus, Regent Denise decreed magic would be permanently banned from Klingland. All mages were forced to give up any runes that remained intact after the war with unthinkable penalties to any who refused. The runes were kept hidden deep within the castle, and the mines were permanently sealed so no more could be excavated. Many saw Denise’s actions as weak for surrendering to the tragedy instead of standing tall and flaunting their most precious resource, but she knew in her heart that it was the only way to protect her family and the future of Klingland.

  Thus, Princess Charlotte grew up an orphan in a world with no magic, but she never forgot the wonder and warmth she felt as a child when she watched mages wield the runes. One day, she would become queen and have the power to restore the kingdom to its glory days. Until then, she studied hard to be a worthy leader as her cousins, Krystal and Henry, reveled in their mother’s new power.

  Chapter 1

  “I, Charlotte von Earenthrop, hereby accept this crown on behalf of the good people of Klingland and all those who came before me. I swear to uphold and honor the traditions of my motherland and place her above all else.”

  Chin up. Arched back. Kneel with humility.

  So many things to remember. I balanced an open book in my hand as I practiced my coronation speech in front of the mirror. Soon I would say those words to an audience of hundreds, but today I had just one. Lily, my best friend and lady-in-waiting, sprawled over the couch of our sitting room looking particularly undignified as her petticoats spilled out around her. She was never quite able to grasp the importance of matters of state, but there was never a dull moment with her around.

  “Are you quite finished?” Lily groaned. “It can’t be that hard to accept a crown and curtsy. You promised me a game of cards.”

  Following each instruction in the book, I bent my knees toward the ground with my hand on my heart and tilted my head just low enough for a crown to be placed on it. Unlike Lily, I needed to align my skirts just right so my petticoats wouldn’t peek through. I stood to face her when I finished practicing my curtsy.

  “It isn’t just about accepting the crown. I must demonstrate to Klingland that I will be a worthy queen they can rely on.”

  “You’ve done more than enough. Even queens need to take breaks sometimes.”

  I couldn’t imagine going a single hour without dozens of rules and protocols buzzing through my head. It would be wonderful to be as carefree as Lily, but Klingland was more prone to an attack now than ever. Magic had been banned for ten years, and no one knew how to do anything without it. Most of our knights could barely use a sword. My aunt thought she was protecting us, but she left our land vulnerable for too long. I was fraught with worry for the safety of my people.

  “Good, you’re both here.”

  My cousin Krystal’s commanding voice filled the room as she sauntered in wearing a glittering red gown. Her long blonde hair was partially braided while the rest shimmered over her shoulder in loose waves. A casual observer might think she was about to attend a ball, but Lily and I knew better. Krystal was also my lady-in-waiting. Ever since her mother became regent, she acted more like a princess than me. She never stepped foot outside her chambers without the most glamorous of hairstyles, makeup, and clothing.

  “Which necklace do you think would catch Prince Braydon’s eye more at the next gala?” she asked.

  Krystal held up two exquisitely jeweled chokers. One was made of golden leaves that were accented with glittering rubies, and the other had webbed silver branches that swirled around a series of piercing blue sapphires.

  “Did he write you another letter?” Lily asked as she sat upright with interest.

  “What do you think?” Krystal smirked.

  “Have you gotten over Prince Conroy already?” I asked over my shoulder.

  “Haven’t you heard? He attempted to kidnap his mother’s own lady-in-waiting! He’s been excommunicated from the castle,” Krystal replied. “Anyone who seeks his hand now would have to be seriously disturbed.”

  “How awful,” I retorted. “Sederia’s been in bad shape lately. I hope they don’t use this as an excuse to start another war.”

  “You worry too much,” said Lily. “Tell us more about Braydon, Krystal!”

  “You wouldn’t believe some of the things he wrote! I don’t want to start a scandal, but if it keeps going on like this, you might just be looking at the next princess of Dorraine!”

  “All hail Princess Krystal!” Lily giggled and cheered.

  I wished I could join their banter, but I had too much on my mind. As the next natural-born heir, I had taken it upon myself to restore magic to Klingland as soon as I took my place as queen, which
was now right around the corner. Aunt Denise did her best to keep things under control, but I disagreed with many of her philosophies. Maybe that’s one of the reasons she never quite treated me as part of her family the way she did with Krystal and Henry.

  “Charlotte? What do you think? The ruby or the sapphire?” Krystal asked. “Charlotte?”

  I was so lost in thought that I barely realized Krystal was still talking to me.

  “She’s been like this all day,” said Lily.

  “The sapphire brings out your eyes,” I responded, without looking up.

  Krystal’s large blue eyes stood out no matter how ridiculously gaudy her elaborate gowns that hugged her tall slender figure were. In truth, I always felt like Krystal looked more like a princess from a fairy tale than me with my modest chestnut curls, but appearances are far from the most important thing about being a princess.

  Lily’s gaze shifted between Krystal preening with her necklaces in the mirror and me reading my book about coronation procedures and practicing my curtsy. She cleared her throat, but neither of us looked up.

  “Would anyone care to join me in the gardens?” she asked in her singsong voice. “It’s a beautiful day today, and the petunias are finally in bloom.”

  “Hm, I’m just not sure,” Krystal said to herself as she switched between the necklaces in the mirror.

  “Sorry, Lily, but I found some old scrolls in the archives about the regulations behind training mages from before the war. I need to study them so I can incorporate them into the policy I’m working on to reinstate magic when I become queen.”

  Lily crossed her arms and gave me one of her famous puppy dog pouts.

  “Fine! You’re both a couple of party poopers.”

  Lily stormed off, rustling her uneven skirts. I almost chased after her to apologize when I saw Henry, my other cousin, through the open door. I knew I could depend on him to accompany her to the gardens. Henry and Lily were practically made for each other. They were the most energetic people I knew.

  “It’s true, my family can be a terrible bore,” Henry said loudly through the open doorway. “Fear not, for I shall accompany you on your noble quest.”

  When Lily left, Krystal turned to me as she tried on a pair of matching earrings she had brought in with the necklaces.

  “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this excited about a courtship,” she said. “Becoming the princess of Dorraine would open all sorts of doors for me.”

  “Are you sure your mother would approve? We haven’t exactly been on the best terms with Dorraine after what King Mercer did during the war,” I said.

  “Braydon’s not like that,” Krystal insisted. “Besides, Mercer has opened trade routes and offered us his troops to repent for what he did.”

  “That could just be a tactical response. How can we be sure his intentions are sincere?”

  “Why can’t you be happy for me? You have everything you could possibly want already,” cried Krystal.

  I loved her, but she could be quite the drama queen when she wanted to. When she had outbursts like this, it was easiest for everyone to tell her whatever she wanted to hear.

  “Fine,” I sighed. “I will do my best to put the past aside for the sake of supporting my lady cousin.”

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me. Love you, cousin.”

  “You too.”

  “Why don’t you try the rubies? They bring out your coloring well.”

  Krystal held two ruby earrings up next to my ears in the mirror. The large jewels overpowered the rest of my face in my reflection.

  “I don’t think it’s for me,” I said.

  “You’re way too hard on yourself. You’re a princess, but you dress like an old maid. You would look lovely if you took your hair down once in a while. Maybe you can talk to Chelsea about it.”

  “Her name is Elsie.”

  Right on cue, Elsie, my handmaiden, appeared in the doorway. She looked at me with a hint of pity in her eyes, rousing my suspicion. This sweet elderly woman had all but raised me after my parents died. If she was concerned about something, I had reason to be concerned as well.

  “Good day, Princess.” She curtsied.

  “Is everything all right, Elsie?” I asked.

  “It’s just that the regent wanted to speak with you in the throne room right away.”

  I glanced over at Krystal.

  “Do you know anything about this?” I asked.

  “My mother tends to exclude me from boring political business that doesn’t affect me. You’re the one inheriting the throne.”

  I nodded and accompanied Elsie to the throne room, wondering what could possibly be so important.

  Chapter 2

  My aunt and I had an unconventional relationship. The events of the Magic War brought her closer to Krystal and Henry, but not me. She needed to make sure I took my responsibility seriously with minimal distractions. We only spoke during our weekly scheduled meetings and occasionally at formal events. She took her role as regent seriously and made sure to fill me on every detail of Klingland’s trade routes, alliances, and tax procedures to ensure I would be prepared when I turned eighteen. I knew my responsibility to Klingland was far more important than my own selfish wishes, so I never complained, even if it meant that I would have to be distant toward my ladies-in-waiting and never got to have a real childhood.

  “You wished to see me, Aunt Denise?”

  “Indeed I did. Walk with me, Charlotte.”

  My aunt sat in an ornate wheelchair that was designed for her when she was named regent after the war. It looked like a portable throne with its red velvet pillows and gold accents. Even though she never wanted to be regent, she taught me that keeping up appearances is important to maintain a strong monarchy.

  Whatever she had summoned me for, I knew it was important. Denise nodded to her attendant, who pushed her wheelchair toward the royal gallery. Paintings of the monarchs who came before me lined the walls, leading up to my parents. The tension grew thicker until I was ready to burst. She gestured toward the painting of my parents.

  “Your parents carried Klingland into an age of peace and prosperity, but the glory days of magic are over,” said my aunt. “I worry about the future I will be passing on to you.”

  The glory days were over because of her own decree. Didn’t she realize that? I gazed at my favorite painting in the gallery, the one that honored the mages of Klingland. It portrayed a beautiful summer day in the castle gardens where men and women of various ages, shapes, and sizes gathered together in long flowing cloaks of different colors that represented the runes they wielded. The mages held their runes proudly, releasing beautiful fireworks, illusions, and rainbows. I was grateful my aunt didn’t have it taken down when she banned mage activity. One day, I would make Klingland look like that again.

  “I can assure you I am prepared for anything,” I said.

  “I know you believe that, but as regent, I can only hope to give you your best chance,” she said with a hint of hesitation in her voice.

  “With all due respect,” I replied, “I’ve been studying for this day all my life. Surely I have already earned my best chance.”

  “There’s more to being queen than memorizing treaties. We are in real danger of being conquered by the Sederians.”

  Did she think me simple? Of course I knew about the Sederian threats!

  “Our defenses are down because of the ban on magic,” I said. “What if we gave the runes back to the people and hired new mages?” My aunt grew as horrified as if I had just suggested a mass execution.

  “What? No!” she cried. “You know how dangerous magic is. I brought you here for a different reason.”

  “What is it?”

  “I wish to perform one final act to prove myself before passing you the crown.”

  “Of course. Anything you want.”

  I was growing tired of this game, but I knew better than to pressure her. I followed her gaze to a smaller paintin
g of her standing with my mother when they were younger. There was a striking resemblance between them with their piercing green eyes and light brown hair that matched my own. My mother stood tall like she knew she was meant for great things. My aunt gazed meekly at the artist as if she were uncomfortable being painted for a gallery that would be looked upon for generations.

  “I have arranged an alliance with the kingdom of Dorraine for you to marry Prince Braydon,” she said at last.

  “Prince Braydon? King Mercer’s son?”

  “They are the only kingdom with an army strong enough to protect us from the Sederians.”

  This was so much worse than I could have possibly imagined. I wasn’t against the prospect of marriage to produce an heir, but I was hoping to have a few years as a sovereign queen to gain a solid understanding of what my people want and which policies would be best to enact. A husband could force me to compromise everything I’d prepared for.

  An alliance with Dorraine would also mean joining forces with the very person who caused my aunt to ban magic in the first place. I recalled my conversation with Krystal about how Denise might not approve of her marrying Prince Braydon, and now she was suggesting it for me! Krystal’s affections toward him could create even more trouble. I knew she could get fiercely jealous of anyone who got something that she wanted. Something like this could destroy her. I had to convince Denise not to go through with it.

  “He’s the reason you’re in that chair! He caused the downfall of my parents’ reign!”

  “Magic is what ended your parents’ lives and put me in this predicament, not the actions of one misguided soul.”

  For once in her life, my aunt remained resolute.

  “There must be another way,” I insisted.

  “This is the only way. It is your duty.”

  “I thought my duty was to protect my people, not to get married.”

  “Sacrifices are sometimes necessary for the greater good.”

  This was going nowhere.