They walked for a long time before getting to the base of the mountain. It appeared there was already a sort of path that led up the jagged peaks.
She frowned at the path for a moment before letting go of his hand, beginning to ascend it determinedly.
He seemed nervous, following her up the cold stone. The sky was a bit cloudy. The rock beneath their feat was blue gray, and occasionally there would be a tree and brush.
She seemed intrigued and curious about the new surroundings, her ears pricked up in interest. She turned to look at him and noticed his expression and her face softened. She offered her hand to him.
“In the barn,” she told him quietly, “there’s a spot along the back wall where the roof needs to be repaired. At night, you can lie on your back and look at the stars. They’re so clear out in the country.”
She nodded, rubbing his hand gently. “Almost clearer,” she murmured. “They’re so bright out there.” She looked up at him. “I can’t wait for you to see it.”
I'm excited to see it too," he said softly. The path became thin; on one side the rock went straight up, but in the other end was a sheer drop off.
He smirked, continuing ahead. The continued walking along the wall before the path widened again. There was a huge concave section supported by two massive pillars, and a large, intricate stone box was carved into the far wall. Three key holes were in the base of the box.
He took it, retrieving the the three boxes with a small frown. He set them down and opened them, each holding a unique key. He gathered them and looked back at her. "I'm going to go unlock it."
He nodded, taking the keys and approaching the wall. He slipped all three in and turned them. There was a small rumble as small pebbles and dust fell as a very small section of the wall opened, revealed a hidden compartment keeping his hearthstone. It could fit in his palm and was the length of his ring finger, an oval shape with a deep red color that held an orange-ish hue in the sunlight.
