“Fine,” Royce said, tossing it toward the prince. “Your sister told us to return it to you when we got to the prison.”
“She did?” Alric looked surprised. He slipped the ring on his finger, and like his sword, it did not quite fit and spun around from the weight of the gem. “I thought she took it. It has the royal seal. She could have used it to muster the nobles, to make laws, or to announce herself as steward. With it, she could have taken control of everything.”
“Maybe she was telling the truth,” Hadrian suggested.
“Let’s not make snap judgments,” Royce cautioned. “First, let’s see if this works. Your sister said you would need the ring to get into the prison. I thought she meant to identify you as the king, but I think she meant it a bit more literally. If I’m correct, touching the stone with the ring will cause giant doors to open.”
They all gathered at the cliff face close to Alric in anticipation of the dramatic event.
“Go ahead, Alric—do it.”
He turned the ring so the gem was on top, made a fist, and attempted to touch it to the cliff. As he did, his hand disappeared into the rock. Alric recoiled, wheeling backward with a cry.
“What happened?” Royce asked. “Did it hurt?”
“No, it just felt sort of cold but I can’t touch it.”
“Try it again,” Hadrian said.
Alric did not look at all happy with the suggestion but nodded just the same. This time he pressed farther, and the whole party watched as his hand disappeared into the wall up to his wrist before he withdrew it.
“Fascinating,” Royce muttered, feeling the solid stone of the cliff. “I didn’t expect that.”
“Does that mean he has to go in alone?” Hadrian asked.
“I’m not sure I want to enter solid stone by myself,” Alric said with fear in his voice.
“Well, you may have no choice,” Royce responded, “assuming you still want to talk to the wizard. But let’s not give up yet. Give me the ring a moment.”
Despite his earlier desire for the ring, Alric now showed no concern at handing it over. Royce slipped it on, and when he pressed his hand to the cliff face, it passed into the mountain-side just as easily as Alric’s had. Royce pulled his hand back; then he took the ring off, and holding it in his left hand, he reached out with his right. Once more, his hand passed through the stone.
“So you don’t have to be the prince, and you don’t have to be wearing it. You only need to be touching it. Myron, didn’t you say something about the gem creating a vibration?”
Myron nodded. “They create a specific resonance with certain stone types.”
“Try holding hands,” Hadrian suggested.
Alric and Royce did so, and this time, both could penetrate the stone.
“That’s it,” Royce declared. “One last test. Everyone join hands. Let’s make sure it works with four.” They all joined hands and each was able to pierce the surface of the cliff. “Everyone, make sure you remove your hands before breaking the chain.”
“Okay, we need to make some decisions before we go any further. I’ve seen some unusual things before but nothing like this. I don’t have a clue what will happen to us if we go in there. Well, Hadrian, what do you think?”
Hadrian rubbed his chin. “It’s a risk, to be sure. Considering some of the choices I’ve made recently, I’ll leave this one up to you. If you think we should go, then that’s good enough by me.”
“I have to admit,” Royce responded, “my curiosity is piqued, so if you still want to go through with this, Alric, we’ll go with you.”
“If I had to go in alone, I would decline,” Alric said. “But I’m also curious.”
“Myron?” Royce asked.
“What about the horses? Will they be all right?”
“I’m sure they will be fine.”
“But what if we don’t come back? They’ll starve, won’t they?”
Royce sighed. “It’s us or them. You’ll have to choose.”
Myron hesitated. Lightning and thunder tore through the sky, and it began to rain. “Can’t we just untie them, so in case we don’t—”
“I don’t intend to make plans based on our expected deaths. We’ll need the horses when we come out. They’re staying—are you?”
The wind sprayed rain into the monk’s face as he stole one last look at the horses. “I’ll go,” he said finally. “I just hope they’ll be all right.”
“Okay,” Royce told them, “this is how we’ll do it. I’ll go first, wearing the ring. Alric comes in behind me, then Myron, and Hadrian will take up the rear. When we get inside, we break the chain in reverse order: Hadrian first, then Myron, and Alric last. Enter in the same place I do, and don’t pass me. I don’t want anyone setting off any traps. Any questions?”