Magical Gifts and The Moonstone

Okay, since it's the day after Christmas, we have gifts on our mind--gifts that we are psyched to have gotten and gifts that perhaps weren't so enthusiastic about. (Personally, I've never had one of those.) So today I am giving you a peek at gifts: the Gifts of the nations in The Moonstone, the unwanted gift that Katryl received--her mother's Moonstone, and the awesome gift I have for YOU!

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The Gifts of the Nations

In this scene, Katryl is speaking to Alaya, a seer from a Dashani village.

Alaya: “There are things that should not be forgotten. I myself spent many hours studying the records of the Cursing, the Gifting, and the prophecies.”

Katryl: “The Gifting?”

“Hast thou not been told of the Gifting?”

“Nay. What is it?”

“Thou knowest the Cursing?”
​
“Aye.” Katryl nodded. “Long ago, the six nations broke an oath to a king, which brought upon them curses that sowed disease and discord among them. Ever since then, many good things have disappeared and many evils have taken root.”

“That is true. But the Gifting is the part that should not be forgotten... According to the records of Septerume, the king whom the six nations had betrayed took pity on them and offered each nation a Gift to remind them that the Curse would one day be lifted.”

Katryl's Gift

Katryl inherits her mother's Moonstone unexpectedly, not knowing previously of its existence.

​The Moonstone lay upon her palm as though the moon itself had been plucked from the sky and bound to a silver chain. Deep beyond its pale surface, the core illuminated with a thousand lights and colors, as though a galaxy spun at its center. The light that the stone cast was dim, like the light of a waning moon. It pulsed softly, as though with the breathings or heartbeats of some living soul.
...
“But why did my mother never tell me of the Moonstone?” Katryl’s volume was louder than she intended, and she curbed her temper.

Edric ignored the intensity of her outburst and merely shrugged. “The Septeru are a secretive people, even amongst each other.”

“But I thought they kept detailed histories.”

“They do. But amongst many Septeru families, those histories are secret. It is only the kings who have public histories, and even then, there are many private histories in the royal family.”

“Is there a history of the Moonstone?”

“Undoubtedly. But you would have to travel to Septerume and gain the trust of your mother’s House to find it.”

Katryl’s finger slid along the silver chain at her neck, and her brows knit together. The Moonstone throbbed like another heart beating against her own.

Follow The Moonstone's progress

My Gift to You

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To enter, just copy the text below and fill it in with your details. If you want to add anything to the "script" I've provided, feel free to do so; I believe in the freedom to be creative!

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