Free The Golden Symbol by Andrea Pearson Page B

place been inhabited? Hundreds of years had passed, it seemed. But impressions could be deceiving. For all he knew, the place had only been cursed for twenty years, but things had gone downhill quickly.
    Jacob got a creepy feeling looking at everything. It was almost like the ruins were looking back at him. Dead moss covered the north-facing walls. The huge trees had died years ago. In fact, there wasn’t anything living in the city.
    They walked down some streets that were covered with dead vines, and at first, Jacob and Gallus tripped several times. Then they adjusted to the awkward footing and kept up with Azuriah’s brisk pace. They entered a section of the city where the vines had been pushed to the sides of the roads. The thought occurred to Jacob that the Shiengols had made the vines grow across the streets on the outskirts just to discourage visitors. He smiled to himself. That would be a very Shiengol-like thing to do.
    Azuriah led them deeper and deeper into the city. Why hadn’t he asked Jacob to Key to a door in the middle?
    They’d been walking for half an hour when Jacob realized Azuriah was grumbling.
    “Stupid idea—mine is better. A reminder to the people.”
    “What’s that?” Gallus asked.
    Azuriah flipped his robes back. “Nothing.”
    It looked like Gallus was about to question him further when Azuriah suddenly stopped and whipped around. “Jacob, your father is stubborn. Very stubborn!”
    Jacob took a step back, surprised at Azuriah’s intensity. “About what?”
    “The stone waterfall. He wants to rid the land of it completely, but it needs to stay! At least part of it. Humans fall so easily into evil. They need the reminder.”
    He continued forward, but Jacob wasn’t about to let him drop the conversation.
    “What’s your idea?”
    “Turn it into a magnificent arch over the road to Maivoryl City. Give everyone who died in it proper burials and etch their names into the stone of the arch.”
    Jacob immediately thought of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. He and his family had gone there a few years ago, and he’d never forgotten the strong emotions behind that wall. So many names. “What happens to the rest of the stone?”
    “We scatter it across the land—bury some of it, drop some into Sonda Lake, place several sections in Ashay Hills. Put sections in prominent places where they’ll be seen frequently.” He flipped back his robes again. “Because trust me, you humans will soon enough be looking for ways to gain power.”
    Jacob didn’t respond for a moment. He agreed with Azuriah. Right now, the people were humbled. Most everyone—except for those from Ridgewood—were excited to have a good man for their king. But it wouldn’t always be that way.
    “I like your idea.”
    Azuriah didn’t respond.
    “Let Dmitri think it over for a while,” Gallus said. “After we’ve taken care of the Lorkon, you can bring it up again. I’m sure he’ll be more open to it when he’s not under as much stress.” He crossed a tree that had fallen into the road. “Speaking of cleaning things up, what do you propose King Dmitri do about the air in Maivoryl City? It can’t possibly stay the way it is now.”
    “No, it can’t, and Dmitri won’t personally be able to do anything about it. Only a Shiengol can clear it.”
    “How?” Jacob asked.
    “Same way we removed Lirone. We’ll cleanse it, using the sun.” Azuriah motioned to Jacob. “Except this time, only you, me, Pambri, and Britt will need to be present.”
    “That’s good—it would be frustrating to always have to get Renforth.”
    Azuriah grunted. “Don’t worry, he won’t be coming again.”
    No one responded, and Jacob’s thoughts drifted as they walked forward. The Shiengol had said earlier that after everything was finished with the Lorkon he, Pambri, and Britt planned to live in two locations—the fortress in Taga Village, and their old house in Maivoryl City.
    Jacob wondered what would happen with