77 Ryder Manual (1/2)

”We should probably get to the stables.” Maya wiped the tears from her eyes. ”The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get home.” She beamed with excitement when thinking of their new home in Ember.

”Then we can come back here for my father's feast, then depart for New York.” Will said with a smile, then put his arm around Maya as they walked a path around the castle to the stables.

The path was lined with trees on either side. Most of them seemed to have grown over hundreds of years, while some may have been planted less than thirty years. ”I remember my father telling me when these trees were planted.” Maya said with a half smile. ”He said for every king that is born, a new set of trees are planted.” She walked over to one of the younger trees. As Will got closer, he noticed scorch marks at the base of the tree. His heart sank as he noticed it was writing.

'King William Ragnos

Queen Isabelle Davereaux

Prince William Ragnos the Second.'

As Will looked on, at least ten trees on either side held the same inscription. ”So this could be considered as the records of kings.” He said to himself. He noticed at the end of the line of new trees, the path continued for miles without any others planted.

The inscriptions on the trees made Will think of his mother. He could tell from the fine writing on the trees that she had been the one to burn the names. ”More than two years in this world and I haven't had any clues as to where she went.” He placed his hand on the last tree in the line.

”Wherever she is, I know she would be proud of the man I see before me.” Maya grabbed his hand in hers. ”We should get going.” She began to softly pull Will alongside her as they continued down the path towards the stables.

”They will have to find a new king to take up this space.” Will said as they walked through the open areas not yet occupied by trees. ”I don't have such a destiny.”

Reaching the end of the trail, Will noticed a large building coming up in the distance. The smell of wild horses was carried to him with the breeze. For a moment, he was transported back to his world. He remembered the many fields in which he and Jonathan had driven through to get to their new homes. He remembered the many cattle farms that occupied half of those fields.

As they neared the stable, Will could hear the restless horses within their stalls, waiting for their chance to get out and stretch their legs. 'Sorry guys,' Will thought. 'We aren't here for you this time.' He and Maya made their way through the plain wood door entrance and looked at the various stalls.

”Um, hello there!” Will heard an awkward voice sound from behind them. ”Can I help you?

Will turned around to see a young girl by the age of thirteen if he guessed. She had nearly pale skin except the red burns which rested on her shoulders from the many days out in the sun. Her blonde hair hung in curls which were pushed to her back, which helped her deep blue eyes shine in the light filled cracks from the sun shining through stable ceiling

”I think maybe you might.” His warm and gentle smile made the girl's pale face turn as red as her shoulders. ”My friend Leo may have left something in your care?”

”Yes Majesty!” The young girl quickly guessed Will's identity and promptly lowered her head. ”If his Majesty wishes, I can bring you to the device now!” She turned in a hurry to lead them to the stall that Leo's present was located.

”Please, wait a moment.” Will called out the the girl that seemed to be on a mission. The girl stopped in her tracks and looked towards him, a questioning look in her eyes. 'Is he that kind of man?' She asked herself as she slowly walked back.

Will ignored her for a moment and whispered in Maya's ear. Her eyes went wide for a moment before a smile replaced her surprise. She then took her coin purse out and handed a coin to Will.

The girl stopped a few feet from Will and Maya with her head still lowered. ”Is there something my lady and lord request?” her voice quivered as she tried to keep her composure. Her father had warned her about getting a job at the castle, though she believed since the prince had returned, maybe things would be different.

”What is your name?” Will asked in a gentle tone. The young girl looked up to see her prince with a look of genuine curiosity. His lips curved up into a smile as he waited for her response.

”M-my name is Sadie, my prince.” She stuttered as she lowered her head once more. She had never been noticed before even by common folk, so it was strange to see someone as important as royalty take an interest in her.

Sadie watched as Will went back to Maya, whispering in her ear. She hadn't known many totals within her lifetime, but if she had to guess, he would have been the most weird.

Maya gave a little chuckle and put something within Will's hand. Sadie's face turned pink as she noticed the prince had turned toward her again. ”Is there something you need, my prince?” She asked as she lowered her eyes.

”Yes,” Will smiled once more as he walked towards the young girl again. ”My friend Leo left a present for me in one of your stalls, I was wondering if you might be able to help me find it.”

Sadie's eyes lit up momentarily. ”Of course!” she ran back into the stalls and returned with a cupped hand. ”He left this rock here.” She uncovered her hand to show him a shiny crystal which fit in the palm of her hand. ”I don't understand why this would be so important, but he made me promise to put it somewhere safe until you came for it.”

Will looked at the small stone within the girl's hand skeptically. 'How exactly is this supposed to be better than five carriages?' He thought to himself as he lightly took the stone from her hand. ”Are you sure this is all he left you?” The stone itself could have been a key of some sort for the transportation he had thought would be there, yet the jagged edges seemed to have no pattern.

”That is all my Prince, I promise.” Sadie gave Will a questioning glance. She didn't like the thought of royalty questioning her loyalty. ”He came to me one day and told me to give you this stone.” Will could tell that she was trying very hard to recall the whole event of that. ”Wait!” She yelled to herself and pointed to her head. ”He told me to tell you to hold the stone here,” She said as her finger hovered an inch above her temple. ”He said that the thing you were looking for was in the shiny stone.”

Will did as she said and held the stone to his temple. He also inserted a wisp of his aura into the stone to search for any clues. As his power poured into the stone, he could sense that there were many items stuffed within.

Will stared wide eyed at the stone for a moment with a thought forming slowly. ”Spacial magic?” He hadn't seen such magic since the bag that Jonathan had given him a few years ago during his departure to Crystallia. ”He figured out spacial magic?”

After a few moments of looking through the items within the stone, Will glanced away for a moment and saw Maya impatiently waiting for him to say something. She glanced at a nervous young Sadie who seemed to be waiting judgement.

”Sadie,” Will said with a kind voice. The girl looked up to notice that he was pushing something into her hand. ”Thank you very much for looking after my gift.” Will took his hand away and a little wisp of fire was absorbed into the girl's hand. She let out a small yelp and opened her hand to see that not only was she not burned, but she was holding a gold coin. ”Take care of yourself.” Will said as he and Maya walked to the stable.

Sadie's eyes watered slightly as she watched the prince leave. By that one gesture, he had given her more money than she had expected to see in her lifetime. She bowed silently and left with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

Will watched the young girl leave the stables with a smile on his face.

”You know you probably made her life more complicated with that second gift, right?” Maya shook her head. ”You don't have to give that gift to everyone.”

”That was the second part of my gift.” The smile dimmed somewhat, yet his eyes still lit up tenderly. ”If one accumulates wealth, one has to have strength to protect it.”

Will looked back down to the small crystal in his palm. ”Since when can we make spacial magic?”

”I don't know the specifics, but Leo has been hard at work researching a great many things while you were gone.”