The Sword and the Seven Stones: Ruby

By Karen Doherty

Liiam felt like his whole world had just come crashing down. As he lays his wife and daughter to rest, he feels that nothing will ever be the same. Ishma knows the grief that Liiam is going through and worries that he may not make it through the quest that he must take. As Liiam holds the sword in his hands, everything is about to change. He must do this for his son, for the kingdom, for himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Doherty
• Release date: Feb 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310670817

Karen Doherty

I have always been writing. I love to write and it is the one time in the day that I can take myself away and enter into another world. to bring stories to others is a dream and one I hope I never wake up from. I live in the country with my husband, three children and two dogs. I love being close to nature.

Book preview

Other Books by Karen Rouillard:

Stasha’s Legacy Series

Stasha’s Cure

Franny’s Way

A Mother’s Love

The Sword and the Seven Stones

Diamond

Non- Series

Being Alive

Non- Fiction

Surviving Parenthood

The Sword and the Seven Stones

Ruby

Sword and Stones Series

By

Karen Rouillard

Copyright 2015 by Karen Rouillard

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2015 by Karen Rouillard

Cover design by: Book Cover by Design

P.A: Scottica Rapp

Proof and Editing: RL Freelance Publishing

Photography: Chelsea Wilcox (Snapshots of Time)

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.

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She stood on the mountain top and watched in horror as tears fell down her cheeks. Walls were being built, people being separated. Families crying out for others who they would see no more. What was to come of Aries? Ishma turned and walked away. She could not stop was to become.

Chapter 1

Liiam looked out the window at the gray clouds that still hung in the air, making everything look so dull. It was how his heart felt at that moment. The rain had finally stopped but it was too late. He looked over at the bed. His wife and daughter, laying there so peacefully. He brought them to his father’s castle to try to save them but instead he would be burying them today. It had been too late. Looking back out towards the village where he lived for seven years, he thought about the day he left the castle behind. His father thought that he was crazy to leave all this. Who is going to be the next King? He shouted at Liiam as he rode towards the village. Liiam did not care anymore. He remembered the first day he met her. She had been walking in the field behind the castle and he was out there playing with his dog, the only companion that he had. She was beautiful. Her long blonde hair trailed behind her and when she was close enough, he could see that her eyes were a crystal blue. Her smile reached right into his heart and from there, there was no going back. He took every chance he could to see her. When he went to his dad and asked his permission to marry her, his dad denied him. He did not take the response well and left for the life he really wanted. His heart breaking for this woman that now lay still, no breath coming from her body. The baby lying next to her, still as her mother. Dad? he felt the tug of his pants. When is mommy and Lila going to wake up? Looking down at Waine, he did not know what to say to his small son. He picked him up in his arms and held him close. He turned to the windows and looked into his son’s innocent eyes. Son, mommy and Lila will not be waking up again. We will take them to the hill and place them beside Nana and Papa. Waine looked over again at the bed. I don’t want her to go to the hill. I want her to wake up. Liiam’s throat closed with emotion. The door opened and his father walked into the room. Liiam put Waine down and the child stepped behind his father, using him as a shield. Liiam looked at his father, what is it that you want? He did not want to talk to him. He still felt that in his heart, that if his father had said yes all those years ago, then Catilina would still be alive. His daughter would have grown so she could run through the gardens with beautiful dresses on and bring happiness to these old stone walls. He wanted to be able to grieve and thought his dad would understand how he felt since his own wife died while giving birth to his sister. Heshmere looked at the pain that sat within his son’s eyes. He could not change what happened in the past but he could help him with the future. It is time son. The tone was still the same; his father never showed emotion. It was weak to show emotions he had told Liiam repeatedly as he grew up. People do not follow men, who are weak, he would tell him. The women came into the room to do the wrapping. Liiam picked up Waine into his arms and held him. Before they covered them completely, Liiam went over to the bed and looked down. Catilina had been everything to him. They had a simple life in the village and they were extremely happy. When Waine was born, Liiam thought life could not get any better until Lila came into their lives. She was the sunshine to them all. Looking at his daughter while his son rested his head on his father’s shoulder, he remembered how happy they had been when she told him that she was pregnant again. They had tried for years and thought that they would only be blessed with their son. She was everything a father would want in a daughter. She never cried and smiled every time he walked into the room. Now they were getting ready to be buried. The sickness came upon them after the accident. He tried everything he could before he brought them to the castle. The staff at the castle was amazing and they were so happy to see the young prince back where he belonged. As they carried both of them out of the room, he walked behind them, carrying his small son in his arms. They gently placed both of them in the carriage to be brought to their final resting place. Waine cried softly against his neck. Liiam opened the door to the carriage and noticed his father sitting on the other seat. He was shocked to see him sitting there. They did not say a word to each other the whole ride. He heard that friends of his and Catilina would be joining him at the hill. When they arrived at their destination, he was overwhelmed with the amount of people who were there to pay their respects. Catilina had been loved by all in their village. She was the sweetest person who would go beyond all to help others. She showed the good in things to him and that was why it had been so easy to leave the castle behind. The service was short and as they walked back to the village, one of their friends told him they had food back at their house and everyone was going there. Liiam did not want to go back to the castle yet. He watched as his father went back to the castle and he was fine with that. He did not want to face his father and listen to him talk about everything that was not important to him. Once they reached Trina’s house, he took Waine and laid him down. He had cried himself to sleep while they buried his mother and sister. He walked back down stairs and talked to people that he had not seen in a few weeks. Trina had been Catilina’s best friend. Liiam looked over at her as he took another drink from the beer someone had handed him. The girls had grown up together and there wasn’t anything they wouldn’t have done for each other. He took another drink and then put his mug down and walked over to her. I need to take a walk and get away from everyone for a bit. Can you watch Waine for me please? Trina hugged him and told him it was no problem at all. Liiam walked outside, pulled his coat on, and started down the muddy streets. The rain had been ferocious when it came and lasted days. Then unexpectedly, it just stopped but the number of people that had been taken from them was large. Almost every family had been affected by the floods. He walked up to his house and notice a candle burning in the window. No one had been in the house for weeks. Who could be in his house now and why? He picked up a branch that was laying on the ground in the front and opened the door slowly. Walking slowly into the sitting room, he looked at the old man standing there with his back to him. Who are you and why are you in my house? Liiam asked the old man. Ishma turned around; a carefully wrapped piece of leather lay across his hands. He walked over to the table and laid it down. Liiam still had not gotten an answer from the old man. Again, I ask you why you are in my house? Ishma pulled the leather back slowly and as Liiam looked on, he could not take his eyes away from the perfect steel that lay on the worn leather. Ishma knew that Liiam was suffering a huge lost but he knew this was the man he had been searching for. I am Ishma and I have been looking for you for a long time. I bring you this in return for something from you. Liiam touched the steel and a current shot up his arm. He looked back up at Ishma in shock of the power he felt surge through him. Ishma stood there smiling. Now he was sure Liiam was the right one. Liiam carefully picked up the sword with both his hands and felt the steel come alive under his touch. The ruby in the hilt glowed a bright red and as Liiam looked into the stone, he said to the old man, I think you need to explain yourself. Why are you really here? Ishma folded the leather and put it back into his robes. He would not be taking the sword with him. The sword is yours and with it you can right the wrongs that have happened to you. I ask you only to do one thing for me. I need you to bring back the borage plant. It must have a single flower blooming when you give it to me. Turning the sword in his hands, he let the words go through his mind. Right the wrongs that had been done to him. It would not bring his wife and daughter back but he knew of things that could have had a different outcome from this. His son deserved better and if he had not been so selfish, his wife and daughter would be alive, safe at the castle instead of buried on the hill. Okay old man, tell me what you need me to do. Ishma could feel things were going to be fine. He pulled the chair out and sat down. Liiam put the sword on the table, took the chair across from him, and listened to what the old man had to say. An hour later, Ishma was satisfied that Liiam still agreed to go, after he discussed the perils that could lie ahead for him along the way. Ishma stood up and walked to the door. The feelings you have may bury themselves within you but remember who you have to live for before you die yourself. Ishma walked out the door and Liiam stood up, put the sword in the sheath on his belt, and went back to Trina’s house to get his son. Walking the streets around the village, he could tell that they had been hard at work to clean everything up. Waine would have to stay with his dad while he was gone. A few men said hello to him as he passed them by. There was never a worry at night. Everyone knew everyone and they helped each other out. If a stranger came into town, they would find out why they were there and if they looked like they were just looking for trouble, they were escorted out. The bar was open and he could hear them singing to the same tunes they did every night they were there. The regulars would make sure that others were smiling from some of the antics the older men would do. Feeling the sword rub against the side of his pants, he knew that he swore to do something but what he hoped for the most is that he could set a better life for Waine. He did not want to take the chance that he would come back to find he was gone too. At the castle, he would be safe with all the staff there. Nette adored him and Waine enjoyed the time that he had spent with her. Ishma said that he needed to have this plant by the next new moon. By his calculations, he only had a week to accomplish this. He walked into Trina’s home and was relieved to see that everyone was gone. Trina looked at him and felt so much sorrow for her friend’s husband. How are you doing, Liiam? He did not want to tell her what was going on. Better. I needed that walk. Thank you. I had to get away from everyone for just a spell. Is he still sleeping?" Trina nodded and Liiam went into the bedroom to get him. The carriage was outside waiting for them. He picked Waine up in his arms and the boy was so tired that he did not even wake as they got into the carriage. Trina watched as he put his son down gently on the seat next to him. Catilina had been her friend since they were young. When she told Trina about Liiam, Trina thought her friend had stars in her eyes, thinking that the prince would marry her. When Catilina told her that they were going to marry but they would live in the village instead of the castle, Trina knew why. The king would not allow it but she was happy that her friend found a man who would leave all that behind to be with her. Now she knew with Liiam being a widower, many women would be vying for his attention. He was young still, very handsome and standing over six feet tall, anyone looking at him could tell he was physically fit. His brown hair was curly and short. When a person looked into his eyes, they knew he was a man they could trust. Trina knew for sure he would not be single for long. When he married Catilina and moved to the village, at first people were wary about having the prince living amongst them. As time went by, Liiam was there to help when it was needed and he was the only one that was allowed to hunt on the king’s lands so he would bring meat home for them all. There was always an abundance of animals to choose from in that forest. Since he took Catilina and their family to the castle, no one had seen him until today.

The carriage finally stopped at the castle and Liiam picked up his son. Waine stirred a bit then put his arms around his dad’s neck and went back to sleep. Walking through the front doors, Liiam saw his father walking towards him from the great hall. Father, we need to talk. Let me put Waine to bed and I will meet you in your chambers. He did not wait for an answer but continued up the stairs to put his son to bed. Heshmere watched as his son brought his child upstairs. He knew what it felt like to lose a wife and child. He lost his own many years ago. He knew he should have married again but he just did not want to. His son would take over one day. Heshmere walked up his stairs to his chambers. He was slower now. His time was coming soon.

Liiam took Waine’s clothes off and put him into a nightshirt. He pulled the blankets back and laid him down. Waine did not stir once. Liiam placed the covers gently around his son. Since they came to the castle, Waine had shared his bed with him. He knew how lonely it could get in the nursery. If he stayed at the castle, then he would have the small room off his converted for him. He looked down at his child lying there. He would do anything for him because he knew that if he lost him too then his life would not be