Veil Of The Monster

By P. D. Stargazer

Some time had passed since Von brought the rest of the family out of TowHummy and into Exiland. Donna gave birth to another son, Hunter. She wasn’t alone as the population had tripled in size. Although not needed Von and his now teen son Rory, helped build a small army, just in case.
The Lossmen stayed an intimidating barrier to outsiders. The TowHummy and all their gold itched in the back of their minds as kings came and fell in Sawtee. On the other side, the Cods lived well and had commerce with the Misch.
Elleyn worked as expected with his grandfathers in the laboratory. Michael loved medicine and was also often found in the laboratory or the library. Hunter was still young and could be found anywhere and everywhere.
Blair’s sons were architects and were responsible for the expansion of the palace grounds, roadways and were in the midst of carving a massive fortress wall from a mountain.
Then there was Gabe. He was at the center of everything, he handled the kingdom purse strings.
But no matter how content, comfortable and secure you are, tucked away in your warm corner, eventually you have to come out for some reason.

• Language: English
• Publisher: P. D. Stargazer
• Release date: Sep 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463653036

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Some time had passed since Von brought the rest of the family out of TowHummy and into Exiland. Donna gave birth to another son, Hunter. She wasn’t alone as the population had tripled in size. Although not needed Von and his now teen son Rory, helped build a small army, just in case.

The Lossmen stayed an intimidating barrier to outsiders. The TowHummy and all their gold itched in the back of their minds, as their kings came and fell in Sawtee. On the other side, the Cods lived well and had commerce with the Misch.

Elleyn worked as expected with his grandfathers in the laboratory. Michael loved medicine and was also often found in the laboratory or the library. Hunter was still young and could be found everywhere.

Blair’s sons were architects and were responsible for the expansion of the palace grounds, roadways and were in the midst of carving a massive fortress wall from a mountain.

Then there was Gabe. He was at the center of everything; he handled the kingdom purse strings.

But no matter how content, comfortable and secure you are, tucked away in your warm corner, eventually you have to come out for some reason.

1.

BRYENT SPOTS

The family, all but the king had gathered in a room with physicians to bid a sad farewell to Nina and Gabe’s three week old baby, Bryent. This is the third child they will lose to a strange ailment, spots covering his body and a high fever. Nina and Gabe couldn’t believe that not even the wonders of Exiland could save the child.

King Vincent entered the room demanding to know how this was possible. He was assured that all had been done. The infant had perhaps one more day. He stood over the crib alone, almost angry. He turned to Gabe and Nina, staring them down with a scowl but said nothing. He turned back to the babe and then his brow lifted. He slowly turned to his Queen, Kissna. He pulled her aside and whispered something in her face. Whatever it was, terrified her, she covered her mouth with both hands.

The king turned to his son Gabe, Do you trust me with what’s left of your son’s life?

Gabe and Nina lifted their heads with hope. Yes father, anything. The king picked up the child and handed him to Kissna.

Kissna looked up at the king with pleading watery eyes. What, what do I do?

He wasn’t smiling, It’s your mess, you fix it. And in a huff, he was out the door.

With all eyes tight on her, Kissna pulled herself together as best she could. Looking down at the child, she expressed in a manner uncommon to her. I, I, I’ll do what I can. She rushed from the room as questions raced her down the hall. But none would be answered after she slammed the door behind her.

Nina paced the floor, pining for her child. It had been three weeks, and no one had seen the queen but Rose, who was also tight lipped and scarcely seen. Gabe was grateful for everyday he was not informed of his child’s death. Another day, whether he saw him or not, he was alive, and now it had been three weeks.

Von and Donna were also a little anxious. Their last son Hunter had two of the same spots on one of his small legs. Not knowing what it was, they ignored it, and it faded away. Now they were concerned and curious at the least.

At last, word came for Nina to come to the queen’s private chambers and it invited just her, not her husband. Her body could not get there fast enough. On the way, she discovered her sister and Donna had also been invited.

The first sign that this was a happy occasion was the smile on Rose’s round face when she opened the door. Bustling dresses flooded the warm room with color and yearning excitement.

But if that wasn’t enough, seeing Kissna was another stunner, to say the least. She sat like a Queen on a large red velvet gold thrown. In her arms, suckling from her breast was a spotless child. Nina could hear him coo and see his arms wave and legs kick. She hit the floor at the foot of the Queen and burst into tears of joy. She wanted to thank her, but the lump in her throat was so large she couldn’t speak. Donna and Carla sat close as Kissna handed the baby to his mother. They were in awe, and tears of joy ran heavy.

Kissna covered herself. Yes, you have questions, how even at my age, I can suckle a babe, it can only be the wonders of this place. And yes, there are things you don’t know and that I must tell you. But for today lets just thank God for giving us our child back. Before you leave, for obvious reasons, I forbid you to speak of what you have seen here. Swear upon your lives that you will never tell another soul. Your husbands, the king, no one must know. I have given you back your son, please don’t taunt me. She gave Donna a stern look, I mean no one. Am I understood? Intimidated, they nodded in unison.

The palace was in a complete uproar. The royal infant was alive but how? Rumors ran the Queen from a gifted spiritual healer to a witch of the black arts. And the four ladies who knew the truth, claimed no knowledge. Kissna was right on all accounts. The King whom she would tell herself, was the only exception.

When Gabe laid eyes on his lovely wife, holding his now healthy and happy infant son, his heart burst with joy, and he couldn’t have cared less as to how it happened. But such was not the case for his brother.

The Queen had given Donna the harsh warning for a good reason, it seems she knows her son well. No one pressed harder than Von for the answers, he hadn’t forgotten the incident three weeks before, something about the way the king pulled her aside, what was that all about? He knew his wife knew nothing before, but she certainly did now. He was relentless, the more she refused, the more he obsessed over it day and night. He could hardly sleep, this was big, after all, it was his parents. First the pendant from hell and now this. Who are these people I thought I knew, he wondered?

At first, Von’s constant badgering was intolerable. The Queen simply ordered him away, but poor Donna was at wit's end until she took a good look at his tortured face. She felt sorry for him but at the same time, knowing the truth, that it was a sweet and wonderful thing, made it all laughable. The more he pushed, the funnier it became.

Where normally he would be about his business, he seemed to follow her around, sulking. He knew she was his best chance of solving the mystery. In the sitting room they shared lunch, honey baked nuts, cheese, fruit, and wine. It was a lovely spring day, and the windows blew in nose flaring fresh air.

I still can’t get over mother healing that baby. He waited for her to pick up the conversation. If the black rock couldn’t save him, how could she? He watched her and waits again.

Donna tries to change the subject. My father said they have started to quarry the mountain range and that one day there will be a huge fortress wall as high as the east and west peeks, can you believe it?

Yes, I was there, Slightly irritated but loving the subject, he added, The fortification itself will be the mountain, but on our side, it will look like a wall. Blair said it’s hard stone but when they are done Towten may get a little more sunshine.

That’s so wonderful, I hate to think of Towten or Hummy, cold and empty. Restoring them sounds fascinating.

Not as fascinating as my mother healing that baby. He bounced back to his topic.

Donna’s voice softened, and her eyes lit up. Dearest, you should have seen Nina’s face when mother handed her, her babe back. Oh God, She reached over and caressed his face. it made my heart swell.

In that case, he protested, you must see the importance of telling me how she did it. How could you not? You saw those same very spots on our own son. Don’t you think I should be able to protect him should they reappear?

With compassion filled eyes, You know I’m sworn to secrecy, I can’t tell you.

Von tried to reason, Whatever it is, it just saved a child’s life, and you keep it a secret? Knowing better, he tries, She’s my own mother I’m sure she wants me to know.

But Donna’s wise, "Then you should go ask her yourself.

He rose from his seat, and paced around the small table, pulling on his chin whiskers as if he had an idea. What if you just point at it, or keep your eyes on it, put it in your lap, leave one on the table? I’ll find it, and you will never have said a word.

Reflecting on what had actually saved the child, caused Donna to cry out laughing. But Von persisted, Whatever it is, I know I can find it, I can do it.

Donna laughed all the harder and louder. No, my heart, you can’t.

Knuckles to the table, he leaned over it, looking a little defeated. Donna understood his pain, and with a little wit, she relented. Okay, okay, you’re such a big baby about it. I’ll tell you.

Von grinned from ear to ear, grabbed his chair and swooped down beside her. She paused for a moment. It was the smoke from the purple stones, she had the baby inhale it day after day, the whole time she had him. She would put the stones onto a physician’s tray and set them ablaze. Donna’s voice changed, her eyes widened as her hands told the story. Then she blew the smoke into the infant's face and all over his body.

Von’s eyes darted, he slowly rose from his seat. Purple stone, Amethyst? But I've never seen them burn.

No, no, not like any stone I’ve ever seen.

A stone you can burn. It must have come from deep in the Lossmen somewhere. He clasped his finger and rubbed his thumbs.

Not wanting him to journey too far for her fictional remedy, she added, No, I’m sure it wasn’t from the forest. And remember, I didn’t tell you anything. You mustn’t mention it to anyone?

In deep thought, as though he didn’t hear a word she said, he replied softly, Sure. And swiftly left the room.

Donna breathed a sigh of relief. She imagined the yarn would keep him deep in his books for a few days, maybe even a week.

2.

THE LAUGHING ANGEL

A week later, Von saw Nina joyfully bounce from a room with her healthy babe in her arms. After a short greeting, he peeps in to find his wife and mother. It looked like the perfect time to confront her with the question that had been biting at him for two weeks. He had spent hours hovering over book after book looking for anything about a purple smoking stone. He found nothing, even in the old books of the Lossmen Forest, with all its peculiar oddities, it made no mention of purple smoking stones.

As Von made a beeline to the queen, Donna took notice, as it was out of character for him to pop in for a casual chitchat with the ladies. Standing close to his mother, he leaned over and whispered, We need to talk, you need to tell me about the cure.

Kissna looked him straight in the eyes, I told you, I have nothing to tell you.

Mother, I already know, Kissna raised an eyebrow. about the purple stones.

His words put her mind at ease. "What stones? She blurted out loud enough for Donna to hear, and she starts to snicker.

Von whispered lower, I know, I know about the smoking stones, but you need to tell me where to find them and how to use them.

Kissna frowned and shook her head. I have no idea what you’re talking about, purple stones. She pushed him out of her way and moved to a table where she had been rearranging flowers in a vase. He followed.

Mother we need more of those stones. What if it happened again? This isn’t the kind of healing you should keep to yourself. Teach me, so I will at least be able to administer such a cure.

Kissna became more irritated and louder. I have no idea what you’re talking about, purple stones and smoke. What purple stones?

Donna, sitting at a right angle, watching and hearing everything, could hold it in no longer and her giggle could be heard. Von froze, something about the way his mother’s response was all wrong. Normally when she held a secret, she wears a certain smile of satisfaction, but she wouldn’t tell an outright lie. She’d rather you pine and smolder for it. And then, in the background was that meddlesome giggle, telling him something. He dropped his head and blinked his eyes, he had been had.

Just about then, Donna eased out of her seat and slips out the door. Von takes another exit to cut her off. She checks to see if he’s following, and it looks like he’s not, but when she turned around, she bumped into him. Laughing hysterically, she wiped the tears from her eyes. He cornered her against the wall with his arms.

You lied to me, you of all people. The one person I know would never like to me, you, my angel.

Catching her breath, You made me lie, you knew I was sworn to secrecy, but you just wouldn’t stop. Still laughing, So I told you the smoking rock story. And you weren’t supposed to say anything. Now I see you can’t be trusted with my secrets. She snorts her way from under his arms, he is dumbfounded. She snickers her way down the hall occasionally turning to point.

I will never go in that room again.