Gift For The Queen (2)

Edmund's head lowered, his voice growing quieter. "No! I just … went to find something."

Before Primrose could ask what that something was, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in a filthy, crumpled handkerchief.

Primrose frowned.

Was this … some kind of joke?

He left for an entire week, came back looking half-dead, and now he was handing her an old dirty rag?

But when he carefully unfolded the handkerchief, something brilliant caught the sunlight, blinding her for a moment.

A gemstone.

A deep crimson gemstone, glowing as if it held a heartbeat of its own.

As the sunlight hit it, ribbons of orange and gold flickered inside.

It wasn't just dazzling, it was mesmerizing.

So clear that not a single imperfection could be seen, yet so intense that it looked like a burning ember from the heart of a star.

It wasn't a gem. It was a piece of the setting sun, frozen in time.