Hiraeth: Bonding (III)

Chapter Six

Since Mike was mayor of Obsidian City, it wasn't difficult to meet with Kassandra Green in the diamond mansion. We stopped by there on our way to the River of Gemstones.

"And are you certain you must meet with her right now?" one of the officials asked as Mike, Derek, Vincent, and I followed them through the halls.

Halls that Mike used to be trapped in.

"Yes," I replied. "It's an emergency."

The official looked Mike and Derek over, nodding with a solemn face. "Alright. Anything for you heroes."

Green was in the middle of some paperwork in her office, so the official had to go in before us to ensure we could speak with her. Not a minute passed when I heard the governor's voice ring out in excitement. Her hurried footsteps quickly made their way to the door, which swung open to reveal Kassandra Green's open arms and smiling face.

"My heroes! How have you been? I haven't seen you in too long!" she exclaimed, embracing each one of us. "You've gotten taller, Vincent! And Roxie, I love the new style!"

The governor's face fell, however, as soon as she looked at my cousin and boyfriend.

"Oh my..." she whispered, pulling them into a hug. "Oh dear stars, what's happened?"

Kassandra Green called for sandwiches and sat us down in her office. Mike stuttered through the story of the past few weeks, then Vincent explained the curse's Magical details.

The governor leaned back in her chair and sighed. She watched Mike and Derek desperately scarf down food with a sad smile on her face.

"I'm so sorry to hear about this. Is there any way I can help?" she asked. She placed her hand over mine, earnest eyes like emeralds in the Sunlight. "Please let me help. After all you've done for this continent."

"Well..." I began, but couldn't bring myself to finish.

Vincent did it for me. "... We need to gather a few things in order to manually break their curse. One of those things is..." He lowered his eyes to the floor and muttered, "... Your starlight jewel."

Kassandra Green's jaw clenched for only a moment. The wrinkles around her beautiful, deep green eyes creased as she reached a hand to the necklace hanging over her chest: a diamond locket that radiated soft golden light.

How could we possibly ask this of her?

Jewels of pure starlight weren't bought or found. They weren't given away for just any reason. The very Magical essence and soul of a being had rained down from the space beyond and chosen Kassandra Green to guide and protect Idyll. Her very purpose in life was determined by the jewel in that locket.

We were asking for more than we knew.

Green looked at Mike and Derek. I knew she saw their suffering just as much as I did. I knew she saw heroes who had done too much to lose their lives now. I knew she saw teenage boys who never deserved the things they'd gone through (and were going through). At the very least, they deserved to live the rest of their lives in spite of the horrors they'd seen. They deserved to go on and experience the joys everyone else got to experience.

The governor reached behind her neck and, with trembling fingers, undid the lock on her necklace. Glistening golden chains fell into her open palm.

"Ma'am, wait!" the guard in the corner suddenly blurted.

Green turned to her.

"It is my life's duty to protect that jewel. I cannot let you simply give him away like that."