{"id":4631,"date":"2025-04-28T00:05:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T04:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/?p=4631"},"modified":"2025-04-26T16:31:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T20:31:01","slug":"x-xylophone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/?p=4631","title":{"rendered":"X – Xylophone"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to <\/span><\/i>https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/?p=4443<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When last we met in <\/span>Part 23 – Wander<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We found out more about Rowan\u2019s past. Alondria and Rowan also discovered their love for each other. Now they are preparing to call in all their supporters and confront King Yarek.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Destiny<\/b><\/span> – Part 24<\/b> (Xylophone)<\/span><\/p>\n

The time had come. It was time for all the supporters of Princess Alondria to gather for the confrontation with King Yarek over the rule of Tirea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alondria had a method to notify everyone, but how would they know where to go when she didn\u2019t even know where to go herself?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As they marched towards the heart of Tirea, villagers began to follow. Each carried whatever they could find that might be useful in case they were called to fight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alondria turned to Rowan and asked one of the questions that had been troubling her thoughts.\u00a0 \u201cHow do we know where to find him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She heard a reply, but it was not from Rowan. It came from behind her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dYou must go to the center of Tirea. There is a hill there we call King\u2019s Sleep, in honor of your father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Alondria turned around and stared at a man whom she did not recognize. Rowan was quite familiar with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dPrincess Alondria,\u201d Rowan said. \u201cThis is the man who helped me find you. I\u2019d like to introduce you to Marvelous Marco.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dIt is an honor to meet you,\u201d she said. \u201cI am ever so grateful for your help. It saved my life. How is it you know where to find Yarek? And, how does this King\u2019s Sleep honor my father?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dTo answer your first question,\u201d Marco replied, \u201cLet\u2019s just say I have connections. There are those who owe me. And part of my recompense is information when needed. The information I desired was where the king was planning to meet up with you. As to your other question, King\u2019s Sleep is where your father fought valiantly against Yarek. It was there that he was killed in battle. He was buried by his armies before Yarek could get his body to taunt the citizens of Tirea, claiming he was weak. Yarek does not know that he was buried there, but the rest of your father\u2019s supporters do. We think of our great King Petyr as being asleep, not dead. And that some day he will awaken and rid us of this menace. We believe that you are the embodiment of both your parents, and you are here to do just that and restore the crown to him, through you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dThat\u2019s a lot to ask of me,\u201d Alondria said. \u201cBut I do intend to take up that challenge. It is my desire. It is my destiny. But knowing where he\u2019ll be is one thing. I can summon all that follow me when the time is right for that confrontation. But how will they know where to go?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another voice spoke up nearby. \u201cThat would be my responsibility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rowan and Alondria turned toward the voice. Alondria needed no introduction, and Rowan was pretty sure who she was.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Marco turned to them both, \u201cAllow me to introduce you to my wife, Lidea. Princess, I\u2019m sure you recognize her as the lady of the lake; and Rowan, I surmise from your expression that you had figured that out already.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dIt\u2019s a pleasure to see you again, princess, and Rowan, to meet you in person,\u201d Lidea said. \u201cNow, before you ask, I know you have set up the code word for the group, and you know how to send the signal; that is all you have to do. If you let me hold the flower with you when it is sent, I can add a certain element to that signal that will sustain it. As long as those who hear the signal can follow it, they will arrive at King\u2019s Sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dI don\u2019t understand,\u201d said Rowan. \u201cHow will they know which way to go?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lidea continued her explanation, \u201cThey will be following a strong sound. If they veer off course, the sound will decrease in volume. While going in the right direction, the signal remains strong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dThat\u2019s kind of like a game I played with my brother and sister when I was young,\u201d Alondria said. \u201cI would hide something, and the others would have to find it. If they were close, I would say that they were getting warmer; if they were moving in the wrong direction, I would say they were getting colder. This continued until they found what was hidden, then we\u2019d switch roles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dExactly,\u201d was Rowan\u2019s remark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo when should we send this signal?\u201d the princess asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marco answered that one. \u201cNow is as good a time as any.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dSo be it,\u201d was Princess Alondria\u2019s response. So saying, she pulled out the blue flower that Lidea had explained would send the tune. Lidea stood beside her, and they both held on to it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dSend the message,\u201d Lidea said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0While holding onto the flower, Princess Alondria thought. \u201cPlay for Adriana.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, Lidea thought, \u201cCome to King\u2019s Sleep.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what was heard: (Readers, you can hear the tune that was sent by clicking on the link below:<\/span>**<\/b><\/p>\nhttp:\/\/hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rowans-lullaby-music-3.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alondria could tell by the expressions on the faces of those around her that her message had been received.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Time to move on to King\u2019s Sleep Hill and a meeting with Prince Yarek and his forces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they all moved forward, heading for what all hoped was Princess Alondria\u2019s destiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

——<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**Author\u2019s note<\/b>: <\/span>If you were able to hear the tune that was played for all of Princess Alondria\u2019s followers when you clicked on it, then you are truly a follower of the princess. It was played on a <\/span><\/i>xylophone<\/i><\/b><\/span>. If you are reading this and can\u2019t click on the song or hear it, trust me, I played it on a xylophone, and deep down, you are probably not a favored friend and supporter of the princess.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To be continued in<\/i><\/b> Y – Yearn<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[482,4,7],"tags":[70,484,485],"class_list":["post-4631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-to-z-blog-challenge-2025","category-original-stories","category-story-writing","tag-a-to-z-blog-challenge","tag-a-to-z-blog-challenge-2025","tag-destiny"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4631"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4657,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4631\/revisions\/4657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}