Emeralds in the Tower - Chapter One

When it was heard that Angela Henryson had fallen badly ill, it was true to say that all of Noxton was sad to hear it.

              “Fancy Mrs Henryson falling ill,” marveled Doris, a rather fat neighbor of the Henrysons. “I sometimes thought that she was unable to have anything go wrong with her. Strong and healthy she’s been since she was young. Very respectful family she came from. But, I suppose the death of her poor husband Renton – may he rest in peace – shook her up a bit. But that was years ago now.”

               Doris always loved a bit of gossip. She often grew tied of her nine children. As for her husband, some wondered why he ever married her. He always put up with her jibbering and jabbering, which was more than you could say for the rest of the village.

               In the village of Noxton, the most exciting times were when the pigs escaped or someone went to visit a friend in another village. The children enjoyed tales of adventure, excitement and strange mythical creatures, but the adults had little time for such things, and would spend their time preparing food for the next meal, or working to afford it.

               But I must introduce you to the two main people in this story. Their names are Jesse and Melissa, and Angela was their sick mother.

               Jesse was often more forward than his sister, with blonde-brown hair and dark eyebrows. He sometimes felt (as he did now with his mother being sick) that he had to play the part of the father of the house, and partly enjoyed it. He was (as he often reminded her) a year older than Melissa.

               Melissa was quiet and thoughtful. She liked having Jesse as her brother who could look after her when their mother couldn’t. She too had blonde-brown hair and dark eyebrows, but her hair went a long way down her back.

               The two Henryson children very rarely fought, but when they did, it was vicious. They were both worried about their mother as their father had died of disease when they were the ages of six and five, and their mother’s illness brought back memories and doubts.

                But Jesse and Melissa had always had doubts in their lives, for they had a frightening secret about themselves which they had never understood properly.

                It had started when Jesse was five, the year before their father had died. He had been sitting on the grass out the front of their house, trying to see how much grass he could pull up before being scolded, when a very strange thing occurred. He had looked up and part of the air in front of him seemed to have been torn away, leaving a rugged blurry outline. He had stared at it curiously as a moving real-life picture of Melissa appeared.

                She was climbing a tree with some of the other village girls when she fell out and started crying. Then the vision was swallowed up and the scenery looked perfectly normal again.

                Jesse was only five at the time and didn’t find it all that strange, so he kept what he had seen to himself. The next day, he watched from the house window as the same thing happened, but in reality. He had his parents then, but they simply laughed.

                A little while after, Melissa had a similar event occur as she watched her mother burnt herself on the kettle in a vision. She told her mother (who laughed) then burnt herself on the kettle that night.

                Ever since, the two of them had seen glimpses of the future. Once, Melissa had foreseen herself looking at her bedroom mirror, older and dressed in a simple country wedding dress. She had not shared that particular vision with Jesse.

                They had no name for these visions, but I can tell you, dear reader, that these two had the gift of foresight – looking into the future. Although it was rare back then, it is even rarer now. If you do happen to possess this gift, be assured that you are probably not alone. Some day it shall die out altogether, however. Later in this story the children learn more about it, so I will leave it at that for now.

                When Angela Henryson’s illness was started to get worse than better, Jesse asked his sister one day, “I don’t suppose you have had some vision to what will happen to our mother?”

                “Shhh,” Melissa hissed, checking to make sure nobody was walking past the open window. “No, I haven’t. You?”

                “No.”

                “How is she?” Melissa asked, starting to peel some potatoes for their dinner.

                “Not good. She was groaning and tossing around in her bed a few minutes ago.”

                Melissa shook her head and sighed.

                A week went by where the two of them had to do everything themselves, and Angela was looking worse. They were well supported by the village, however. A few kind housewives with a little extra time cooked them a few meals, bringing these over with kind words. Some people even offered for the two children to go stay with them for a while but they did not want to leave their mother.

                A doctor came a few times, but I’m sorry to say that the people in the country of Bidham were not known for their medical knowledge.

                Poor Mrs Henryson’s prospects weren’t looking good, and neither were her children’s.

                That is, until one strange day, when their famous tales started. The brother and sister were having a serious discussion about their visions at the kitchen bench again, wondering aloud whether they thought they might somehow learn to control the future (neither of their hopes were high) when there came a knock at the door.

                They exchanged a nervous look, hoping the knocker hadn’t heard what they had been talking about, and hoping even more that it wasn’t Doris.

                Melissa went to the door, wiping her hands hurriedly on her apron.

                She opened it to find the most curious person she’d ever laid eyes on. It was a woman whose age she could not guess, dressed in a peculiar outfit which looked suspiciously like part men’s clothes. A large, heavy cloak draped down her back. Her wild hair (Melissa was jealous to see) was much longer than Melissa’s and only half tied up. But this strange woman’s eyes were what caught Melissa’s full attention. They were very large and dark, almost black, and this made her appearance doubly frightening.

                Melissa stood silent in surprise and quite forgot her manners to invite the woman in. The stranger waited for her to say something, chin held high as if she was far too important to be standing on the threshold of Melissa’s house.

                When Melissa didn’t say anything the woman cleared her throat and said in a surprisingly strong voice for her skinny body, “Greetings. I bid you welcome.”

                She stepped past Melissa into the house. Melissa frowned. It seemed such a strange thing for a guest to say to someone who they were visiting.

                The woman removed her travelling cloak, hanging it on a hat peg next to the door. Her bare arms were revealed and she stood on a slight angle with her hands on her hips.

                Jesse was gaping at her from the grubby bench top where he had been stirring a pot. “Who are you?” he asked after a pause, trying not to sound too rude.

                “I am Hanniahidra, a messenger of the great Empress Sarifia, who is the true ruler of Doria.”

               The long-named stranger closed her eyes and sighed. She muttered something to herself then turned back to Jesse.

                “Doria is a country, just like Bidham – If you could call this anarchy a country – but it is a very different place. It’s somewhat difficult to explain, but the head landpater of Doria foresaw a brother and a sister from Lord Gendon’s original land, also blessed with the gift of foresight, who would come to give Doria a chance to overthrow the dark power which has ruled for so long. The great Empress Sarifia sent me, her trustworthy messenger, to lead you to Silvadale Castle and try to help save the land."

                Jesse and Melissa blinked in surprise.

                “Can you say that again, a bit slower?” asked Melissa, who – like her brother – hadn’t understood quite much of what had been said.

                The stranger turned to glare at her.

                “I would have you know, girl, that I’m not used to being addressed by people of your rank, so kindly show some respect. I would also have you know that I take no pleasure in being in your house."

                “Then why don’t you leave?” asked Jesse, who wasn’t taking a liking to this woman.

               “Don’t you realise that I’m not the only one who was looking for you?” she hissed. “Lord Gendon and his lot have been looking for you also... it’s lucky I found you first. One of his spies in Orstina – that’s where the landpaters live – heard about the vision and he’s been searching for weeks. It took me many weeks too, but I was quicker. And now you’re suggesting I leave?”

                “What are you saying?” Jesse asked quietly.

                “You need to come with me to Silvadale Castle to try to help with the war,” the woman said.

               “War?” Melissa repeated anxiously.

               The woman suddenly stiffened, as if she had heard or sensed something. “Someone calls me,” she said quietly, “Someone in Bidham – I have no idea who – but it’s urgent.”

               She then strode to the door, picking up her cloak and sweeping it back on as she went. The children went to the doorway as their extraordinary guest climbed majestically onto a magnificent black horse waiting outside and road off.

Chapter Two