Tales & Treasure Chapter 36

Vidmar - The Sister Stone

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Hobb's relentlessly pointless questions put Vidmar in a dark mood. He wanted to trust Hobb, but he knew the old man was withholding information. When Vidmar didn't know who to believe, he trusted his gut. He didn't know if it was hunger or nerves, but his ordinarily reliable instincts insisted that Hobb could help. A squirrel scurried across their path from under a bush; suddenly, it stopped as if confused by their presence. Its long, bushy tail twitched. A branch snapped beneath Hobb's foot, and the squirrel sprang up the trunk of a nearby tree.

"The stone is through that clearing," Hobb said, pointing ahead to a narrow gap between two birch trees. The white-barked trees looked out of place amongst the dark oaks and evergreens. "Find its place, and this arrow will point toward the destination."

Vidmar stopped. "You're not coming?"

Hobb sat on a fallen tree that looked somewhat like a bench. "I've taken you this far. The rest you will have to discover for yourself. But, as far as the stone goes, it will know where it came from."

Vidmar looked at the carved stone, finding the small notch that supposedly would point him in the right direction. This is ridiculous. "Fine," he said, stepping between the birch trees.

The Sister Stone was broader than he expected. It was more of a boulder than a stone, sitting in the clearing, illuminated by a ray of sunlight through the canopy. It will know where it came from, sure. I'm a fucking idiot. He circled the Sister Stone, holding his smaller rock against it like a whetstone sharpening a massive ax. There were no notches like he had expected, no holes for the stone to fit in, just a simple stone. Only one feature separated it from a standard rock; rivulets of bright silver flowed here and there through the fields of gray. 

He circled again.

And again.

A white lily growing happily from the stone's base was an unfortunate victim of his foot's fury. White petals burst into the air, trailing behind Vidmar like falling snow. A feathery dandelion met the same fate as the lily on the other side of the stone. He thought about dragging Hobb into the clearing and demanding answers when he felt something – a strange pull like his stone was being inhaled by the larger stone. The silver rivulets near his hand shined brighter. A peculiar light darted through the stream, moving faster as Vidmar brought the stone close. 

Vidmar released the stone. It snapped into place, the Sister Stone absorbing it into its surface. For one gut-wrenching moment, he thought he had lost his clue. Then, the silver light appeared. It lit the engravings on the stone before flowing into the arrow pointing north, slightly northwest – the direction of the Kokor Forest. Shit.

His gut was right. Hobb had been honest, though he didn't know if it was the whole truth. He sighed as he tried to pull the stone out, but it wouldn't move. He yanked the stone harder. Gripping was difficult with his left hand; his four good fingers slipped constantly. Finally, the silver light faded, followed by the engravings. Vidmar's throat tightened as if he'd swallowed an uncracked walnut. "No, no, no." He pulled out his cooking knife. Even in his panicked state, the thought of using one of his throwing knives to pry a stone loose sent shivers down his spine. 

"You don't need it anymore," Hobb said from the mouth of the clearing. Standing in the shadows, the old man looked ancient. His gray eyes looked like rocks, while his fingers snaked atop his jagged cane. 

Vidmar sheathed his knife. "How do you know that? What if it's a key or another clue?" 

Hobb stepped into the light. The darkness that surrounded him dissipated. "It served its purpose. Which way did it point?"

"To the Kokor Forest. What is this stone? Magic or something?" 

Hobb gently placed a hand on the Sister Stone. The silver light returned, dancing around his hand. "It's the Sister Stone." 

Vidmar rolled his eyes. "Is it magic?"

"Magic is such a…." Hobb seemed to search for words as he ran his fingers along the stone. The light followed wherever his fingers led. "Is such a strange term. A catch-all for anything people don't understand. Cicadas were sent by the gods, bringing famine in their wake, until people realized they came every seventeen years. To this day, people think rainbows are created by dwarves when they bury their treasure, but they are simply refracted light and water. There is power in the world, yes, and a few of us can wield it. There are a few who wield it without knowing."

Vidmar's head pounded. Magic. "Are you saying I can use it?" 

Hobb laughed. "No, you can't wield it. This isn't a story. The hero doesn't discover he had magical gifts his whole life and then triumphs over the adversity he faced. You are a good man with incredible talents and the rare ability to do what's right, but you still have a long way to go." 

Disappointment burrowed down his throat into his stomach, where it scratched at the lining like a mole digging a tunnel. Vidmar didn't know why he was disappointed. He felt like a poor child who had just been told their dreams of becoming a knight were frivolous. "You think you know me so well," he said. His emotions continued their child-like behavior. "I've done horrible things. I've killed ten times as many people as I've saved. I've helped two blood-thirsty tyrants rise to power," Vidmar paused. The weight of his task never felt heavier. I'm tired. I hoped that by finding the crown, I could finally escape, let the kings battle for control, and spend the rest of my days in peace. I know now that I'll never have peace. That was a foolish dream. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"You can't," Hobb said, scratching his chin.

"Tell me why you sent Vatis away. The truth." 

"He's one of The Cursed," Hobb said, bluntly like Vidmar should know what he meant by 'The Cursed.'

"What do you mean he's one of The Cursed?" Vidmar said as his anger clawed its way to the tips of his ears. 

"He is The Wanderer. Montalvo was the most famous Wanderer, but there have been others. Curses never leave the world; they find new hosts," Hobb's unwavering eyes and posture showed no hint of dishonesty; even his usually shaky hands were steady atop the cane. "He's why my cherry trees are thriving, why the wolves attacked. He saved my cow, and I feared what would follow, so I sent him away. You must have noticed strange things happen wherever he goes."

Vidmar couldn't believe he had been so blind. The night he met Vatis, he told the story of Montalvo-The-Wise. How did he fool me, the arrogant little shit? His quest for the crown had hindered his usual astuteness. “So, Vatis is Montalvo-The-Wise?” 

The light from the stone faded as Hobb pulled his hand away. "Yes and no. He has the same curse, but he's not the same person. After discovering his curse, Montalvo wanted to help the people of Emre. I fear Vatis only wants to help himself. I don't know how long he has been cursed. We had lost track of The Wanderer for decades." We? Vidmar thought as Hobb continued. "But his good fortune in Yimser could be the start of something horrible. A young woman died because he lingered. He does not care for the people like Montalvo. He cares about himself, being remembered, and his damn stories. One other Wanderer tried to use his curse selfishly. The world nearly ended because of it. Now that we have located him, I will not allow Vatis to go down that same path."

Vidmar's head spun as questions circled his mind. "Why did you send him away then? Why risk losing this Wanderer?"

"We won't lose him. We have ways of locating him now that he has been identified. I do fear his recklessness, though. Emre cannot withstand another Awakening," Hobb said, looking upward through the narrow canopy. 

What is an Awakening? Vidmar thought as he wrestled with his emotions. It felt like ants were crawling up his legs. He couldn't stand still. Instead, he paced back and forth between the birch trees, shaking his itching limbs.  "Are you going to kill Vatis?" Why do I care about him? He's done nothing but lie to me and hinder my quest.

"I don't intend to. We can't risk cursing someone else."

A strange weight lifted off Vidmar's shoulders. Hobb limped toward the clearing. "So that's it," Vidmar said. "Vatis is cursed. I have to go to the Kokor Forest again, and you're a guardian of Emre." It was too much. How could he have more questions as his search finally neared its end? His thoughts raced from the crown to Vatis to Hobb, then to Mia and Kamet. He couldn't bring Mia into the forest. It was too dangerous, and Kamet wouldn't let him go alone. "I can't take Mia with me." 

The sun shined on Hobb's face as he answered, somehow showcasing the kindness behind his gray eyes and bushy brows. "She can stay with us." 

Tears tried to escape the corners of his eyes, but Vidmar sniffed them back. "Take care of her. She's a better person than I'll ever be. With a little guidance, she could change the world, but I'd settle for her finding a good home and happiness." 

"Aye," Hobb said, nodding. That was all he needed to say. Vicus was a good home, a safe place with some kind of guardian watching over her, much better than Yimser, the road, or the Kokor Forest. There were other children to learn and play with; she would have a chance. He would miss her, though. 

"I should say goodbye," Vidmar said as they walked back to the farm.

***

They found Mia and Taldor on the side of the barn, throwing the blade Vidmar had given the boy a few weeks ago. Taldor threw the knife, and it bounced off the barn into the wispy fescue. "What are you doing, boy?" Hobb said as they approached. 

Taldor jumped. "We were just practicing, Pa," he said, rushing toward the barn to retrieve the blade.

A low growl escaped Hobb's lips but nothing more. Mia smiled as she gently swayed with her hands behind her back. Her mischievous grin widened when Taldor stuttered an apology. She has a chance here. Vidmar ignored the boy's rambling summary about his chores. Instead, he pulled Mia aside. "Let's talk," he said, leading her away. 

They walked to the southern edge of Hobb's property as Vidmar told Mia everything he had learned from the farmer. The only detail he left out was Hobb's true identity. He feared Mia would tell Taldor or Evanor and that the rift between Hobb and the boys would widen. Hobb can figure that out on his own. Mia listened without interrupting, twirling a knot into her hair with a finger. Vidmar stopped and leaned against a wooden fence overlooking a pasture filled with sheep and goats.

Finally, Mia spoke. "Vatis is cursed?" she said softly like she was still trying to comprehend all the information Vidmar had given her. 

"I didn't believe it either," Vidmar said, watching a black sheep graze on a patch of green grass amidst a sea of tan. "But it does make sense when I think about it." 

Mia shook her head. "He rambled about needing to leave Yimser the night I found him, but I thought he was just drunk. I trusted him," Mia said, looking down. 

"Me too. I don't believe he is a monster like Hobb thinks, but he'll have difficulty regaining my trust," Vidmar said, watching Mia struggle with the revelation. Vidmar exhaled, itching his scalp while he mustered the courage for his goodbye. "There's something else."

Mia's big brown eyes amplified her curious gaze. "What?" she said innocently. 

"I have to go," Vidmar said, forcing the words out.

"Alright, when are we leaving?"

"You can't come with me, Mia."

Mia took a hesitant step backward, whisking an ill-timed fly away with her hand. "I won't get in the way, I promise."

Vidmar choked down a lump in his throat. "It's too dangerous."

"More dangerous than what we have already faced? I saved your life. Please take me with you. You know I can help," Mia said as she stepped closer. She gently grabbed Vidmar's wrist. "Please."

Vidmar pulled back and turned away. He stared at the weeds around a wooden fence post. "I'm sorry, Mia. I won't risk your life for this foolish quest."

Mia pulled Vidmar back by his elbow, glaring at him with pleading eyes. She bit her lower lip, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "It's my life. I should be able to decide when and where to risk it. If this quest is so foolish, why continue? Why risk your life? People need you; I need you, Vidmar." Mia exhaled and scratched the back of her neck. Her powerful gaze left Vidmar and flashed back toward Hobb's home. 

I wish I knew that answer. Why do I keep chasing this crown? Vidmar placed a hand on Mia's shoulder. "I will come back for you. This is a good home, Mia. It's safe. You won't have to hide anymore." Mia never looked up. Vidmar watched her feet drift through the grass. I will come back for you. "Please, Mia. I only want what's best for you."

Mia stomped her foot. "How do you know what's best for me? How do I know you'll come back? You'll probably go off and die, and I'll be alone again." 

"You won't be alone. You'll have Taldor, Ev, and Hobb. You'll learn things I could never teach you, but most importantly, you'll be safe." 

Mia sniffed as she rubbed her eyes. Mia turned away with a final disappointment-filled glance and walked back toward the farmhouse. She dragged her feet as she walked; an orange butterfly swooped and glided around her. Vidmar thought about chasing after her; he didn't want to leave her like this. She stopped, turned, and rushed back to Vidmar, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. "Promise me you'll come back." 

Vidmar wrapped Mia in a tight hug. "I promise."