The Eye of the Stone by Tom Birdseye Page A

teenage boy would be caught dead talking that way to his father—not in front of anyone, anyway. It was the tone of voice used by little boys.
    Yed put his hand affectionately on his father’s shoulder and pointed to Jackson’s watch. “There, on that strap.”
    For a second Jackson thought he saw a hint of a wry smile beneath Radnor’s thick beard. “Of course.” The big man leaned close as Jackson offered his left wrist.
    Yed prodded Jackson. “Now show him. Show him the fire.”
    Jackson looked at Yed, then at Radnor. What harm could it do? Yed had gotten such a big kick out of it. “Okay,” he said, and pushed the button that illuminated the watch dial.
    Radnor’s eyebrows went up in surprise at the green glow. “Ehhhhh?”
    Yed smiled. “But that is nothing. Wait until you hear about …” And with that he went on to detail every single thing Jackson had told him of the magical wonders of Oregon.
    Several times during Yed’s grand recital, Jackson found himself thinking that he should interrupt and try to set things straight, explain what Oregon really was, and where. And that all the things Yed spoke of were just inventions, technology, ordinary stuff in Timber Grove. And that he was just Jackson Cooper with a new watch, not the something special they seemed to want him to be.
    But the simple truth was that Jackson was enjoying listening to Yed go on and on about him too much to cut the telling short. It felt incredibly good to hear himself praised. By the time Yed finished—“And with this thing called a gun, you can shoot from a great distance!”—Radnor, Chieftain of All Timmra and Commander of the Steadfast Order, was looking at Jackson with great appreciation. That felt even better.
    â€œJust as it was spoken to me!” Radnor said with a huge smile. “Welcome to Timmra, Jackson Cooper! Welcome, indeed!”
    Jackson grinned. No way was he going to admit that he’d never even pulled the trigger of his father’s pistol—he’d been too afraid—much less hit something, especially at a great distance. “Thank you,” he said, and bowed to Radnor.
    â€œHe’s come just in time, don’t you think?” Yed said.
    â€œYes,” Radnor replied, “but I’ve been given no instructions.…” His expression grew serious. He stroked his beard for a moment, then closed his eyes and gently placed his powerful hand over them. “Let me understand,” he said. He slowly drew his hand away to reveal his eyes open again, locked in a fixed stare off into the darkness of the hallway.
    Jackson looked at Yed for an explanation of what Radnor was doing. But Yed put his finger to his lips, signaling Jackson not to interrupt. Yed closed his eyes and waited in silence. Not wanting to offend, Jackson did the same. The foyer of the Hall of the Steadfast Order grew quiet, save the sizzle of the pine-pitch torch mounted on the wall.
    After a long moment, Radnor finally stirred, and Jackson opened his eyes to see the chieftain shaking his head as if coming out of a trance.
    â€œTo the armory,” Radnor said. “First, we must get Jackson Cooper a bow.”
    Yed’s eyes popped open. “A bow? But I thought—”
    â€œSo it has been spoken to me,” Radnor said.
    Without a blink, Yed nodded. “Then so it must be.”

9. Among Friends
    Radnor grabbed the torch from its holder on the foyer wall and led Jackson and Yed into the dark hallway beyond. No one spoke; the only sound was the scuff of their feet on the stone floor. They rounded a corner and the walls seemed to close in on either side, the air to grow musty. A large wooden door with heavy wrought-iron hinges and bolts loomed ahead.
    â€œOpen it,” Radnor told Yed.
    Yed unbolted the door at the top and the bottom, then grabbed the thick iron handle with both hands and looked over his shoulder at