Stone King - Chapter 14 - Their Place - Ongoing

Gita easily found her throne, and was tempted to sit upon the warm stone.  She placed her hand over her swollen belly, and smiled.

"Soon, my love.  What is a dozen or so years compared to hundreds?"  She took her daughter's hand and walked out of the mud hut that Kivi had not taken down.

"Now we know why he didn't remove our old home."  She said softly.  Thea nodded, and smiled a soft smile.

"At least I now know that this home meant as much to him as it did to us.  Do you think...."  She couldn't finish the statement.

"Of course he'll wait for us, baby.  Have you ever met a man like him before?"  Thea shook her head.  "Then trust in his love for us."  She lifted her eyes, and sighed sadly.  Several of her village's older couples, along with some children began to come to the new Stone City, fear etched deeply upon their faces.

"But now is not the time to worry about that.  We have work to do."





"Do you think...."  Hella bit her bottom lip.  Banus wrapped a long thick arm around her shoulder and urged the horse into a trot.  They sat side by side for the whole journey, and only stopped during the late nights to sleep and cook a quick meal.  They would sometimes stay at an inn, but most often, they preferred the open sky to a solid roof and four walls that could become a prison.

"Has he ever lied to us?"  He asked softly.  He didn't need to hear an answer, so she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"A thousand years?  A new life at the end, and more children perhaps?"  She asked hopefully.  He chuckled.

"A thousand years is a long time, love.  And this may only be the first of many, according to Cally.  Could you leave your children behind to sleep beside our son?"  She smiled.

"We wouldn't have to join him right away.  Cally said how he insisted she live a life to its full many times, but she still ends up right by his side at the end.  As long as I know he's safe, then I can keep living, and have children again.  But not this time.  The wound is still too fresh."  Banus held his wife closer.  She didn't object as she normally would have, and knew her words were true.  She was still too wounded by her son's perceived death.  He smiled.

"Does this look familiar?"  He asked softly.

"The brazier where Kivi found Jaana."  She murmured.  "That means we're almost there."





"I hoped....."  She smiled.  There, in the familiar clearing, and near the pile of stones that once made up the golem that chased them, stood two glistening white granite thrones.  Then she heard something.

"Excuse me, we're a bit lost."  Hella turned her head, and was greeted by a pair of eyes that looked so much like Jaana's that she looked a bit startled.  "Sorry, didn't mean to.....um, could you help us?"  Hella smiled.

"Of course.  Where are you looking to go?"  She saw a baby in the woman's arms, and the male, a human, who trailed behind her.  He looked much too timid to be of much help to her.

"We heard that the Stone King built a great Stone City!"  She blurted out.  "That he welcomes the Mirri there!  But....."

"We aren't sure he would accept our daughter."  Banus looked at the boy now, and gave him a better then cursory glance.  There were bruises on his cheek, so he knew the boy had some trouble recently.  Banus spoke gruffly, to see if there was any steel in the lad's spine.

"And why wouldn't he accept a child?"  the boy blushed.

"She's half Mirri, and half human."  Banus frowned.

"Really?  So you're the father?  Of this half breed?"  Hella sucked in her breath, but saw the boy come between the mother, and Banus.

"Half breed!  She's a beautiful child!  I should be so fortunate to be her father!"  The woman put her hand on his shoulder.

"Its alright.  No, sir, he's not, but he's been kind enough to help us when no one else would.  I'm half Mirri, and so my child is not pure blood, either human, or Mirri."  Hella looked at her husband, and saw the smile creep onto his face.

"Boy, look at me."  He lifted his gaze and saw the big man pull out a sword from its sheathe.

"Sir?  He didn't mean any...."  Banus laid his sword across his palms.

"This sword was a gift from my son.  The Stone King.  Use it well to defend your family.  My son will watch over you once you enter the city."  The woman stepped back.

"But...."  Hella smiled softly.

"My son married two half Mirri women, and one full blooded Mirri woman.  They wait within the city to welcome those who seek his protection.  Mirri, or half, it matters little to him.  Only that you protect those you love.  Now take the sword.  You will need it between here and the city."  Banus handed him the sword, and his backpack.

"Once you reach the river, just passed the Mirri village, follow it north west.  The city will be hard to miss."  He took his wife's hand, guided her to her throne, and both sat down.  To the couple's surprise, they turned to stone instantly, and sank beneath the surface of the soil.

"What just happened?"  She asked in shock.  The boy stepped gingerly towards the spot, but only empty soil greeted his eyes.

"Mother and father of the Stone King?  Could it be possible?"  He looked towards the sky.  "Its getting late.  Should we make camp for the night and start out again in the morning?"





"Mother.  Father."  He spoke softly, though the rumble seemed to shake the very earth they stood upon.  "You'll soon be here."  They heard a girlish giggle.

"Kivi, that was mean!"  Jaana stepped out of the mist, followed by Cally and the largest man they had ever seen.  His eyes were gray, as was his hair, but the face was Kivi, just much older.

"I think he just wanted to see how they would jump!  Not very nice, Kivi!"  Cally giggled again.

"Is that you, son?"  Hella asked.

"Sorry, but this is my true appearance.  At least it is within the dream.  Come.  Much has happened in these last few months."

"Are we going to the city now?"  He turned back.

"Oh, that's right, I forgot.  You don't know yet."  Cally smacked him on the arm.

"Sometimes, I think he's as thick as the stone he plays with!"  She took each of their hands.  "Now, just think of where you want to go.  Think about....the house where Thea and Gita live!  Just outside their door.  Then take a step!  You can walk where you want to, and see whatever you would like to see, but if you know where you're going, you can travel right to that place in only a few seconds."

Cally pulled them along, and after two steps, the scenery flew by so fast, Hella thought she was turning around in circles.

"No!  Mother, think of where you want to be!  If you think about something else, like spinning, that is what you'll do!"  She took a deep breath, took another step, then appeared right beside her husband.  His face was awestruck.  She looked out and also lost her breath.

Before their eyes, a shining white stone city appeared.

Gita was outside, sharpening a knife, her belly now massive.  She was nearing the time to give birth.

"Kivi!  You'll soon be a father!"  He smiled.

"You should see Thea!"  Cally giggled.  "Poor girl can barely walk, her belly weighs her down so much!  That boy she's got inside her is going to be a monster!  Just like his poppa!"