Chapter Twenty Five.

The necklace laid there as a common rock, decorated with an array of polished diamonds. Sometimes I wondered why it was called the dragon stone. Then I observed its appearance changed. All these while, it had just been an ordinary stone, shining majestically as a diamond. But now, now it was a greenish brown rock. The dragon stone; as bold and green as the skin, and red as the blood.

The dragon stone; royal betrothed,

mysterious and all-important as an enormous emerald. I walked closer, taking one small step towards the bed. Just about five more steps and I would reach for the stone. Decide what do do with it.

Five.

Eerie voices mumbled and maundered from below, but it sounded like the voices came from my head. They became louder and louder by the minute.

Four.

"Kerik. . . Come."  I tried to deny that voice. It wasn't supposed to overcome me this way. All the