Citrine

  ***

  The ceremony was private and beautiful, the bride stunning, the groom handsome. Grey thought of everything. Eyes glistened on many in the crowd, including a few of the men who, even though they would never admit it, wiped away a tear.

  “You have pledged your love and fidelity before the gods, now you are bound in union together for all your days,” the minister spoke as he watched over the happy couple. “You may kiss you bride.”

  “It’s about time,” Grey growled as he leaned down, a ripple of laughter ran the group as his lips caressed Olivia’s gently.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to give you his highness, Prince Greyson and Princess Olivia.”

  A roared cheer arose, as the friends and family gathered for the ceremony wished the happy couple all the best. The joy of the wedding, coupled with the celebration of the people of Elden when Tyrone was once again crowned their king, made for a celebration the like of which they had not seen in a quite a while. Olivia had convinced them that they needed to do this, to make the people know that it was real.

  The only pall was the slowly dwindling hope of the Cameron sisters that they would ever get home again. They watched the celebration rev into full swing, as they sat with an air of sadness settling over them. Kira floated around them, as she twirled and whirled to the music, before she settled on the table, studying them, not liking their sadness.

  “Why so sad, my warrior women?” She had taken to calling them that, no matter how often they had asked her not to. “The music’s divine, the drink splendid, and the food, though it’s not as good as your donuts, it is fine.” Kevan laughed, shaking her head. For someone as tiny as Kira, she never got enough food. “Kira, we’re just a little sad. We haven’t found any way to get home, and it’s looking like we might not be going home,” Kevan explained. “We miss our family.”

  “But you have everyone here,” Kira pointed out.

  “Yes we do, and we do love all of our friends here, Kira, but that doesn’t mean that we miss our family any less,” Eve pointed out. “Don’t you miss your family, Kira?”

  Kira tilted her head while she thought about Eve’s questions. “I miss Tatiana, but I was only one of her guards. Bella is her main guardian Fay, so since I came to be with Kevan,” she curtsied to Kevan, “you’re all my family now.” She giggled as she flew over to Kevan, kissing her on the nose. “All of you!” she exclaimed, as she did the same to each of them.

  “You’re family now, too, Kira,” Kevan told her.

  “But you’re still sad,” Kira sighed. “I don’t want my family sad.” She reached into the pocket of her skirt, and pulled something out. Hovering about Kevan, she smiled, and held something up.

  “Kira?” Kevan questioned warily.

  “Hold out your hand,” Kira told her.

  Kevan lifted her palm up, and Kira dropped what looked to be a tiny pebble in the center of her palm. Kevan jumped, almost dropping it when it began to grow in her hand. “What is this?” she asked, when it stopped expanding. She stared at the stone that now covered her palm. Kira giggled, and then handed Kevan a piece of paper.

  The women’s eyes grew wide as it began to unfold itself, growing until Kevan could see something written on it. Picking it up, she read the words that were written on it, and then she looked to Kira. “Is this real?” she asked Kira, who nodded. “But why did you not tell us before now?”

  “I forgot,” Kira ducked her head, looking sheepish. “Tatiana gave it to me before she called Kevan.”

  “What is it?” Kaitlyn questioned, as she took the paper that Kevan handed her, scanning it quickly.

  She looked back up to Kira, and yelled! “You forgot!”

  “Don’t get excited,” Kevan warned, as she looked over, spotting Caleb. She got his attention and waved him over.

  “Yes?” he asked, as he kissed the top of her head, his hand curling around her head, the others joining them. “What’s up? Have you changed your mind, would you like to dance?”

  “Have you ever heard of a wishing stone?” Kevan asked.

  “Of course, that would certainly be something that could get us home,” Caleb sighed. “Then again, maybe not, they can be unpredictable if you aren’t careful. But that is wishful thinking, as there are only five known wishing stones, which are part of the Elfame crown jewels; it would mean your life to take one ...” His voice trailed off as Kevan opened her hand, exposing the palm size, egg shaped, multi coloured crystal that lay there. “Uh, Kevan, where ...?”

  “Kira!”

  “How?”

  “She said that Tatiana gave it to her, along with this.” She passed him the piece of paper, and began reading it aloud, so that everyone could hear. “Greetings Kevan and friends. If you are reading this, you have succeeded in finding and retrieving the grimoire. Congratulations! But you are now searching for a way home. As you can see, I have given Kira an item that I believe will aid in your quest. Wish carefully, and hurry, time is running out. Safe journey, Tatiana”

  Kevan looked to Caleb, excitement filling her, as she watched his reactions. “This can get us home, can’t it?”

  “Yes, I believe that it can,” he told her. “But we need to be very careful when we wish.”

  “But it will get us home,” Eve prodded for the answer that she wanted.

  “Yes!”

  “Then let’s go!” Kaitlyn shouted, as she jumped to her feet, eager to get home. “We could be in our beds tonight.”

  “No,” Caleb warned then. “We will not jump into this without seriously talking about it first.”

  “But?” Eve, Kaitlyn and Kevan started to argue.

  “No buts,” Marcus barked at Kaitlyn, as he scooped the stone from Kevan’s hand.

  “Hey!” Kaitlyn snapped.

  “Patience is definitely not your strong suit, is it?” he accused Kaitlyn, while she pouted.