The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 1

Summer had been forgiving so far this year. Instead of pounding heat from the sun's rays and suffocating humidity that kept Iris covered in a thin layer of sweat, temperatures had been only slightly warmer than spring. She was enjoying the unseasonably cool weather. It wouldn't last, of course. The sun would eventually remember it needed to turn up the heat, and then she would be miserable until autumn came. But, for now, summer was nice.

Although she wouldn't have minded a little rain, she thought, watching the dust kicking up around her feet as she walked through the open-air market.

She sighed and looked up to see the stall she wanted had no line. That brought a smile to her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Smith," she called out cheerfully.

The shopkeeper's white mustache twitched up in an answering smile as she approached. "Good morning, Iris. Who are you shopping for today?"

"Mrs. Evans. She's still recovering from having a baby." Iris had already set an empty wicker basket on the counter and pulled several scraps of paper from a pocket of her worn blue dress, which she was shuffling through as she spoke. She selected one and handed it to him. "Here you go."

"I don't know what this town would do without you, Iris." He chuckled as he scanned the lines. "People would have to get up and do their own work."

She shrugged. "It just means more money for me."

A sudden shout followed by the wailing of a child interrupted their conversation. Iris closed her eyes and sighed again, her shoulders slumping for a moment before she squared them and turned around.

There she was, a little girl of about five years old, sitting at the feet of a surprised stranger and bawling her eyes out.

"Kayla, stop that," Iris shouted.

The girl's reaction was immediate. She stopped sobbing and screwed her face up into a scowl, her big blue eyes shooting a venomous glare at Iris.

"Get over here," Iris ordered her.

Kayla hopped to her feet and stormed over without sparing a glance at the confused man in the street. Iris made a mental note to apologize to him later and turned back to Mr. Smith, offering him a chagrined smile.

"Excuse me, Mr. Smith, I'll just be a minute."

He chuckled and waved her off. "Take your time. I'll just fill your list and help the next customer while you get her sorted out."

Iris' smile vanished when she spun back to Kayla. She pursed her lips and snatched the girl's hand in hers, leading her off the street and onto the boardwalk in front of the butcher's shop, where she sat on a bench and patted the spot beside her. Kayla beamed and climbed onto the seat, snuggling up to her side with obvious pleasure. That only exasperated Iris more.

"Kayla, this is the third time this week. You can't keep running off like this. There are a lot of strangers coming through town lately, and you never know when you're going to run into the wrong person."

"But I never get to see you anymore."

Iris' anger deflated with a single look from those imploring blue eyes. She sighed again, relenting and stroking Kayla's fine blonde hair soothingly. "I have to work, Kayla. And you're supposed to be studying with Father John. Did you even tell anybody you were leaving?"

"No," Kayla admitted reluctantly, dropping her gaze to her lap.

Iris glanced down the street. The middle of the road was empty except for shoppers moving between stalls. "Well, Fred should be along soon," she muttered.