The Quest of the Peace Stone Series/Heroes and Magic

By Robert Watt

For thousands of years the Ten Kingdoms have been at war. The white god Infinity has grown tired of the death and destruction. He come to Kelly An'Tanis in a dream telling her that she and the others she picks must go on a quest to bring true and everlasting peace and tranquility to all the Kingdoms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Watt
• Release date: Nov 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005764623

Robert Watt

Robert Watt lives in the small Montana town of Butte. He enjoys writing fantasy works. Love many fantasy authors.

Book preview

437

Volume One

Of

The Quest of the Peace Stone Series

Heroes and Magic

Prologue

"The Dream"

. . . Kelly stood on a large, white marble platform suspended in the sky by godly magic. There was gray-white fog swirling around in the air in fingered tendrils. In front of her was the most impressive thing about her surroundings.

Standing in front of her, the figure was tall and well-proportioned. He had snow-white hair with flowing waves down to the top of his broad shoulders with a full beard. In his left hand, he held a tall, white oak staff. It had the shape of an owl carved into its crest. In his right palm, he was holding a white stone that was smooth and rounded. He gazed into her intense, sky-blue eyes with a serious expression covering the features of his face. He relaxed, smiled and said to her, Kelly An’Tanis, my child. It is reassuring to me you are here at a time like this.

She dropped to her knees, and bowed her head to stare at the platform floor stones.

She rose to her feet, knowing this was only one entity. That entity was her god Infinity.

Infinity continued, I have an important task for you to perform for me. As you know well, there have been terrible battles and wars breaking out across the Ten Kingdoms. But, I believe I have found the perfect solution to all these difficulties that will bring true and everlasting peace and tranquility to all the Ten Kingdoms and beyond. I have it here in my possession now.

He reached out with his hand to allow Kelly the opportunity to examine it closely.

Kelly eyed it with a mystified countenance.

Onward the god continued, I need you to take this to Mount Charnel. Mount Charnel is located in the Quawear Mountain Range in the faraway Kingdom of Quentaria. On your arrival there you will place it on the top of the correct white marble altar in a special cavern to become active. You must be very careful, however. There are malicious visionaries in the Ten Kingdoms worshiping Dormanas the Evil One as their god. In their visualizations they will notice a party of individuals, with the leader being a white wizardress, proceeding to the Kingdom of Quentaria. They will endeavor to bring visions of just where it is you are going to, and just what it is you are going there for. There are others wanting to sojourn you from achieving your goal. Evil kings, who have one motive in their minds, with that being to rule over all the Ten Kingdoms of the continent of Babashalon and beyond. The evil is out there, child. You must find a way to transport the peace stone to Mount Charnel. If you are unable to accomplish your task, then your world of Elsonia, as you know it to be, will descend into severe chaos and very bitter wars. You will soon have an intelligent creature that will provide you with counsel when its necessary. He will also provide you with directions, if you somehow become hopelessly lost or disoriented. He will arrive before you leave the valley behind you. You will find this peace stone beneath your pillow as you awaken, along with this white staff that will be leaning against your door. Do you understand what I am commanding you to do for me, Kelly?

Kelly peered into his eyes. Yes, Infinity. I realize what you are commanding me to do for you, my Lord.

A relieved smile spread across Infinity’s lips. For that I am gladdened. Now, you take this stone to Mount Charnel. Leave the valley behind you to gather your party, and begin the quest. I must leave you now but I will meet you again, when and if you have achieved your goal.

The god and the surroundings faded and faded, until they vanished, and . . .

Chapter One

"Genesis"

. . . Kelly awoke. She was breathless. She jerked herself up into a sitting position. She was wide-eyed, with her jaw dropped open in awe. Was it a dream or was it real? Then she thought of what Infinity told her. She lifted the pillow with a gaze of astonishment covering her face. Lying on the sheet was the very same gleaming white stone she had seen in Infinity’s palm earlier. The peace stone, he called it. But, was it real? Reaching out with her finger, she touched it. She found it had substance. Oh, Infinity, it is real! Grasping it in her hand, she peered at it in wonderment. Could it have the power inside it; the power to create and spread true and everlasting peace and tranquility throughout the Ten Kingdoms and beyond? With amazement overcoming her, she regarded the door of the cottage. The dream was real! First, there had been the peace stone beneath her pillow, just as Infinity assured her it would be. Now, there was the white staff leaning against her door. She walked to the door. She gripped the staff in her hand. Carrying both items to her feather bed, she laid them on it. She wandered over to her small wardrobe. Wasting very little time, she dressed in her white wizardress robe and matching forest cloak, bearing the shapes of light blue lightning bolts embroidered throughout them. She reached inside of it, and grabbed her leather belt pouch. Securing it around her waist, she returned to the bed, seating herself on the edge of it. She pulled out her wool stockings and soft leather shoes from under the bed, pulling them on. She then placed the peace stone into the pouch and locked the clasp. Grabbing the staff in her left hand, she walked to the fireplace, banking the fire. She exited the small cottage.

The pathway and the gold autumn grass were saturated from the rain that had fallen during the night. A foggy mist pervaded the air that drifted around in the light breeze. The sun was now shining its golden rays over the eastern horizon, so soon the foggy mist would dissipate.

Kelly began her journey down the snaking pathway, meandering throughout the trunks of the towering trees. The trail would lead her out to the Valley Road, and the roadway, in turn would send her to her good friend, a cleric named Robert.

He would be the first person she would attempt to persuade to travel with her. Being in his mid-fifties, he was still resilient and in good health. He was gifted with spells of healing and protection, and also possessed some very effective, offensive attack spells.

Kelly continued down the winding path. Within moments, she exited the dense forest, and out onto the wet surface of the Valley Road. The roadway was inundated with puddles, so she navigated around them to make sure she did not get her shoes muddy. Accelerating her pace, she remembered Infinity commanding her to be prompt about the gathering of her party members and to begin the quest. After arriving at Robert’s cottage, she would inform him about her dream. She hoped he believed her enough, insofar as him taking on the quest with her. He had the carrier pigeons that would be so essential in transporting the messages to the others she was planning on taking with her on this excursion.

Kicking a stone out from in front of her, Kelly gazed farther along the roadway. She rounded a gentle curve to the left, and found herself standing in front of the small cottage. A steady stream of gray smoke curled itself skyward from the top of the chimney. Approaching the gate that allowed access into the fenced-in front yard, she lifted the latch on the inside of it, passed through it, and onto the flat stone walkway leading to the door. The small house was red in color with a white door in the center of the front wall. There was a large window on each side of the door with lush, green plants hanging in planters inside the windows.

Kelly walked to the door and knocked on it three times, her personal code. Being no response to her knocking, she waited a moment, while tapping her left foot with her arms crossed beneath her breasts. Once again she knocked. This time she could hear the sounds of shuffling feet behind the door.

The door opened enough to reveal a man dressed in a red and white cleric’s robe, poking out his upper body to occupy the doorway. Appearing to be in a state of shock for a moment, a wide smile brightened across Robert’s sleep-ridden face. Kelly! he piped up. What a pleasant surprise! What brings you by on this gloomy morning? he asked, his voice hoarse and raspy with sleep, although it did carry with it, a note of curiosity.

Kelly gazed into his soft blue eyes, responding to him, I had a dream about Infinity this morning, Robert. I must speak to you about it. She stared much deeper into his eyes. Can I come inside, please!

He rubbed his large nose with his right hand, massaged his pointed, clean-shaven chin, and relented, Yes, come on. Come on inside. Opening the door to allow her to slip past him into the interior of the cottage, he closed the door behind her, and turned to face the young-appearing woman.

Kelly was not young by any stretch of the imagination. She was centuries older than he was, but in appearance she seemed only thirty at the most. She displayed an attractive, oval-shaped appearance with intense, sky-blue eyes and a perfect nose, her long, brown hair flowed down her back to the lower area of her shoulder blades. She eyed him with an excitable countenance radiating her face. Can we sit down, please? she asked. I believe we have something important to discuss. Her gaze was imploring.

Sure! Robert pointed in the direction of the fireplace. Now. You go over there and sit yourself in that chair on the left in front of the fire. I will join you in a moment.

Kelly glided across the room, and seated herself into the comfortable chair facing the fire. Bouncing her knees up and down in anticipation, she lingered in the excitement of being able to reveal her dream to him. She leaned her staff against the small table between the two chairs.

Coming around the front of his chair, Robert smiled down at the woman. He arched his eyebrows. Now, he said in a soft tone. What was this dream of yours?

Taking a deep breath, she exhaled. She knitted her hands together between her knees, and took in another breath. It was so wonderful, but strange. I dreamed Infinity appeared before me with this staff in his left hand, she pointed to the staff, and this in his right palm. Reaching down, she unclasped her leather belt pouch. She pulled out the peace stone. She raised it before Robert’s eyes, saying, This is what was beneath my pillow this morning.

Shying away from it, his eyes grew wide. He arched his eyebrows to a degree to where his forehead was creased. What in the name of Infinity is that? It is so beautiful to behold.

A smile traversed her full lips. Infinity called it the peace stone. He gave me a task for this thing.

Robert sat back, taken in with the flow of her tone.

I am to take it to Mount Charnel in the faraway Kingdom of Quentaria. I am to place it onto the top of a certain white marble altar in a special cavern. He said it has the power inside it, to create and spread true and everlasting peace and tranquility throughout the Ten Kingdoms and beyond. But, in order for it to become active, it must first reach the correct altar.

Robert’s face was set, transfixed. He blurted out, My Lord, Kelly! Reaching outward with his forefinger he touched the texture of the peace stone. It is amazing it has all that kind of power inside it!

Kelly sunk deeper into the softness of her chair. She moved her lips with speed to expel her next words, "He also gave me a special gift. It is a small, white, blue-eyed owl he calls Peko. He is to help guide us along the way. He also commanded me to form a well-balanced party to begin the quest. You have at least one of the means for making this possible. I need you to send one of your pigeons to Sandra and Sabrina. One will also be needed to be sent to Corey and Elijah. I want them to meet us in the small village of Quarr at The Inn of a Thousand Dreams to begin the quest."

Robert sat dumbfounded; jaw dropped open.

I am banking on Elijah to finance us on this expedition. We will need to purchase mounts when we arrive there. Stablemaster Brinn should have some available.

He stared into her eyes with a questioning visage. Slow down here a moment, he expressed in a strong tone, you are moving much too fast. First and foremost, we have to go to the school administrator. I am sure the old hag is not going to appreciate that much. Perhaps, I can persuade her to do so. I still do maintain a certain amount of power and influence here in the valley. Touching a finger and thumb to his right temple in thought, he elaborated, I will also have to ask my high cleric, Arraron Fernal to oversee my duties at the church while I am away. He will not appreciate that, either.

You mean you will go with me. For certain? she asked. I figured I would have to encourage you more than I already have to do so. I did not know you would be so accepting of the idea.

Chuckling, Robert returned. Valid choice of words there, young one. You see, this is very important we do this. If Infinity wants us to do this for him, then it must be done. I am a man of peace and tranquility, and I do obey my Lord Infinity. It would be so awesome to have the Ten Kingdoms coming together in harmony. He rubbed his temple again. Now. Are you disturbed by the time we may have to waste before we get your replacement straightened out, and leave the valley behind us?

Well, yes, I am. I expected to leave with speed, like Infinity commanded me to do.

Creasing his forehead in a show of casual frustration while conveying a countenance of full concern, he said, Then this is what I suggest we do here, Kelly. We will visit the administrator, and see her about getting your replacement. Then we will talk with Arraron at the church. We will lay down to him everything you have told me. Believe me, he is a god-fearing man, and he will understand what is involved here. He patted his thighs. He will probably find this to be so important he will press forward with his decision to leave the duties of the running of the church to himself. He kneaded perspiration from his brow with his knuckles, and swept it to the carpet. I also suggest I write those two messages to the others this moment. We will head out to the dovecote to send the pigeons on their way. He rose from the chair. Moving over to the writing desk, he sat onto the chair in front of it. Grabbing a feather quill, inkwell, and a box of writing sand he began penning on two small pieces of soft parchment. It was an excellent occurrence that those of the rest of the party lived within a fifty league distance from where he was positioned now.

Kelly glanced into the dancing flames in the fireplace. She knew they were about to embark on a dangerous quest, and she also knew this quest would be a quest of great importance and full of peril. She scrutinized Robert’s curved spine as he sat slumped over the top of the writing desk, penning the two messages he would soon be sending off to the others.

After ten minutes ticked by, Robert laid the feather quill down. He put the inkwell away. He opened the box of writing sand. He scattered the grains of sand across the messages to set the wet ink. Now satisfied with his work, he placed the remainder of the sand back into the box. Then he rolled up the messages tight, and slipped them inside message bones. Taking the candle from the desk he sealed the open ends with wax. He replaced the candle, then marked them with numeral scratches with a file he acquired. He blew out the candle. He deposited the bones into a pocket of his robe. He rose from the hardness of his chair, and collected his red and white forest cloak, which had been draped over the chairback, and put on the garment. Walking over to the fireplace he banked the fire. He moved around the circumference of the room, blowing out all the candles, which plunged the room into near pitch-black darkness, except for the dim daylight streaming in through the two large windows.

Kelly came to her feet, and grabbed her staff. She followed Robert to the door.

They exited the cottage. They ventured out into the warm, sunny morning. She followed him around the front of, and to the right side of the house. Continuing along the wall, they soon heard pigeons cooing. They persisted around the backside of the small house to where the cote was standing against the back wall.

Seven sleek pigeons populated the large birdcage. He placed his hand into the cote to retrieve a certain pigeon. It cooed. Extracting it out of the cage he peered at Kelly, smiling, saying to her, This here is Sofi. She flies to and from the village of Arieal where I believe Sandra and Sabrina are living. Am I correct?

Yes, sir. Corey and Elijah live in the village of Tennase.

That is all very well. Robert directed his attention to another bird sounding off inside the dovecote, pointing it out with his empty hand. Pura, here. She flies back and forth from Tennase. Marvelous creatures these are, Kelly. They keep me informed on all the critical ramifications affecting all seven churches here in the Kingdom of Sardia. I take the information they supply me with, and forward it to Arraron so he can make decisions and such. Reaching into the pocket of his robe, he peered at the number etched into the bone. With a look of disbelief, by pulling out the correct bone for the bird, he cast his eyes on Kelly. Amazing, I am! he declared, chuckling. He wired the bone onto the bird’s fragile leg. Raising the pigeon, he released it. Airborne, it flew off in a northern direction. He reached back into the cage, gathering the other pigeon. He wired the message onto its leg. It flew off in a northwestern direction. Gazing at Kelly, he slapped his palms together, and exclaimed, That’s done! He began moving at a fast pace toward the front yard.

Approaching the gate she turned to him. Are you up to this?

Staring at her, he replied, Of course, I am. It is important we do this. Just you consider it as us obeying Infinity, and what it is he wants us to do. After all, they were godly commands.

Well, let us go, then. We must convince these people we are serious about leaving the valley behind us. Kelly was contented the school administrator lived a league away, and that the church was a league farther along the roadway from the administrator’s house.

Robert eyed Kelly as they walked beside each other along the muddy roadway, making their way around the puddles, but he did not say anything to her for a few moments. Then he said to her, Do not be so frustrated. I will take care of everything. You will see.

I hope you are right, she returned in a depressed tone. Like you said earlier. It is important we do this.

Indeed, it is.

The birds in the trees on each side of the roadway were chirping and singing.

Soon, they were at the administrator’s house, which stood in the depths of the forest on the right side of the Valley Road. A fence did not border the surrounding yard, for the plentiful trees sheltered the yellow structure in all directions. A twisting path led through the trees to the light yellow door on the left side of the house.

Robert led Kelly off the roadway, and onto the damp trail winding throughout the trees to where they were standing in front of the door.

Robert knocked on the door, waiting for it to be answered. He knocked again, and was not sure he was rewarded, when an elderly woman dressed in a flowing blue robe opened the door with a cross look on her face.

The woman noticed Kelly standing beside the cleric. You! Kelly An’Tanis! Why are you standing there? You should be at the schoolhouse educating your students! This is not proper! Her cross countenance grew darker with anger. I believe you have some serious explaining to do here, young lady! she growled.

Kelly’s own anger was flaring from the sudden mistreatment she received from the woman. She looked the woman square in the face, and said to her, Colina, it is imperative I speak to you. I have a critical problem to resolve. Can we come inside, please? I will explain myself to you.

All of the sudden, Colina’s expression changed from anger to befuddlement. Well, what is it? What is your critical problem?

What we have to tell you is going to be lengthy. May we come inside, please?

Colina led them into a large, decorated room of the house. Tapestries of different colorings and unusual scenes were displayed throughout the house in various places. A huge fireplace popped and crackled being nestled into the far wall. A fluffy-cushioned, two seated sofa sat in front of the fireplace. There was a plush, comfortable chair facing the sofa. Sitting between the two was a large tea table. A small globe of clear crystal with the image of a white angel encased inside it sat in the center of the table. It was a stunning piece to cast eyes on.

Colina peered at the cleric and white wizardress, casting an evil eye, and then she said to them, Come on, you both. Sit down on the sofa, and we will discuss this.

They made their way to the sofa, and sat down beside each other.

Walking over to the chair, Colina sat into the comfortableness of it. Now. What is this critical problem you are having, Kelly An’Tanis? she asked.

I am sorry to inform you of this. But, we must leave the valley behind to go on a very important quest. I have no time for further complications.

The cross look returned to the woman’s face, and she blurted out, spreading spittle across the tabletop. That Kelly An’Tanis is impossible! You are an excellent instructor, performing a prodigious assignment of educating your students. What in the world would your students do, if you abandoned them with half their studies completed? It is impossible, I say! You just forget about this critical problem you think you have. You are staying here to educate your students! Do I make myself clear!

Tightening her expression into one of flaming anger, Kelly replied, I am leaving you now, Colina! she shouted, and rose to her feet to glare down at the woman.

Robert, who had been unresponsive throughout the entire exchange, suddenly spoke up in a deep, sincere tone, I am sorry, Colina. But, what Kelly says is true. We must leave the valley behind to go on an important quest, and—

No! interrupted the woman, screeching. It cannot be! She shook as she spoke. "I will not be chastised in this manner. Kelly you