The Path of Decisions (17 page)

“You will be wonderful.” She leaned over and kissed him on the
cheek.

“I don’t know who knows about my growing powers though. That might
still ruin everything.”

“Will you tell them?”

“How? I think they suspect something, but people don’t ask me
directly, so I haven’t said anything.”

“You’ll find a way, Darius. I believe in you.”

A huge smile spread across Darius’s face. “Thank you, Christine. I
have missed you so much! I have done some things I am not so proud of, but when
I am with you, I feel that everything will be all right.”

Christine felt she would burst with happiness at seeing him smile
again. Her heart lifted, and she, too, felt better being next to him. “Both of
us have learned a lot this year.”

Darius nodded.

“When will they tell the people?” Christine asked.

“Tomorrow, at a meeting in the coliseum. All the dignitaries of
the Realm will attend...” Darius paused as if thinking. “Oh no! I have to go!”

Christine watched Darius jump up. “What's wrong?”

“The Preacher I told you about, he is bringing his troops here to
meet me... tomorrow. I have to stop him.”

“Will he listen? We have heard about the unrest in Belor.”

“I don't know.”

Darius ran to his horse and Christine to Lightning, and both
headed back through the forest and then down the road through the farmlands.
They stopped briefly at Christine’s house, and Darius told Christine good-bye.
They lingered a moment, not quite knowing what to do. Darius reached over and
gave her a hug before leaving.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Darius rode at a quick pace, skirting around the merchant section
of town, and went directly to the castle. He looked up at its lofty stone
towers and ancient, high walls. The pit of his stomach churned. This would
someday be his home. Not just his home, but his castle. He shook his head,
trying to clear away what seemed like a dream. But this was no dream, and the
fear didn’t go away.

After talking to Christine, his spirits were higher. It had gone
better than he had supposed. Actually saying out loud that he was a wizard and
the heir to the throne had been good for him. It made it seem more real. Of
course the throne could be years off still, as he was sure the King would
recover from his illness.  But his powers as a wizard would have to be dealt
with much sooner.

A guard saluted him as he walked toward his father’s office.
Rumors were still flying around of who he had become and what he had done in
Denir and Belor. He imagined there were some of the Elite Army soldiers who
were not too fond of him. He truly felt sorry for anyone he had treated badly.
It had been wrong for him to act the way he did, and he would have to find a
remedy for that also.

There were so many things to take care of at once. And now, having
to work with his father seemed to be another inevitable chore he would have to
get through.

Darius entered his father’s sitting room and found Richard writing
at a table. Darius quickly revealed the Preacher’s plan.

“I’ll send a battalion of men out to stop him.” His father moved
to call a messenger.

“That will only start a war, Father.”

“Already thinking of th
e Realm like a king, I
see.”

Darius didn’t smile. “I hope not for a long time.” The next day’s
ceremony was not to anoint him king, only to declare King Edward’s intention of
succession and Darius’s lineage. “I will go myself to him.”

That did not sit well with Richard. “Darius, you must stay safe.”

“I have thought this through. The Preacher knows me as a leader of
the King’s Elite Army. He will assume I have returned to finish our plan
together. I will take Mezar with me.”

“The Gildanian?”

“Yes. The Preacher knows I left Belor with him, so it won’t be
surprising. Do you have a problem with that?”

Richard sighed. “No, Darius. It’s just I am not used to you being
a commander. You have grown up this past year.”

Darius realized his father was trying hard to make things work and
nodded to him at the compliment.

“I don’t know if you should trust Mezar,” Richard added.

“Do you trust me?”

Darius saw Richard blink at the question. This is what everything
came down to, didn’t it? Could they trust each other? Could Darius trust
himself? He didn’t blame his father for mistrusting him. Just a few days prior
he had been planning on bringing his army to Anikari to fight. Now, with
newfound feelings and new information, it seemed ludicrous. Of course, his
father didn’t know the extent of his powers either, so maybe his father
shouldn’t trust him.

His father looked up at him. “Since you have arrived you have not
given me any reason not to trust you, Darius.” He smiled genuinely. “Not yet,
at least.”

Darius saluted, realizing how hard it must be for his father to
let go. They both had to learn to trust one another.

Before riding off to intercept the Preacher’s men in Forest View
with Mezar, Darius asked Kelln and Alessandra to ride back to Belor and tell
his army there what was happening. He rode off within the hour with Mezar at
his side. He felt stronger now. With his new basis of power growing within him
he could fight off the Preacher’s spells. He realized the man had just enhanced
through magical means what Darius’s frustration and thoughts of revenge had
already been.

Now his thinking was different. He also felt more comfortable with
Mezar at his side.

The two rode the horses hard and arrived in Forest View that
evening. The Preacher’s army would be staying in the smaller town that night.
Belorian soldiers filled the taverns and inns. The local citizens looked
nervous, but they had long gotten used to foreigners stopping in the night
before they arrived at Anikari from Belor, Mar, and other foreign Eastern
Kingdoms.

Darius was not sure how to find the Preacher. They decided the
best way was to pretend the old plans were still on. Once Darius met him, he
wasn't sure what would happen next. The two of them went into the nearest inn
and found someone from Belor. Darius asked where the Preacher was staying, and
the man, recognizing Darius, directed him to The White Sands Inn on the other
side of Forest View.

Darius led while Mezar followed. The buildings in this part of
town were larger and sturdier on their foundations. The inns and shops were
clean and straight. The White Sands Inn was no exception. Two large double
doors out front greeted them, with a man guarding both. Sounds of a late-night
meal floated past Darius. The smells made his stomach growl. It had been a
while since he had eaten.

The inn’s common room was filled to capacity. These were men ready
for battle. They drank up to bolster their bravado in preparation for the fight
that was to come.

Dark, polished wood from the edge of the Black Forest paneled the
walls, and the hall was filled with white tables of marble from White Island.
Definitely the nicest place in town. Nobles sat in small groups around the
three stone fireplaces.

“Almost like home,” Mezar whispered.

Darius turned to him with a questioning look.

Mezar continued. “As a young boy, one of my friend’s father owned
an inn in the nicer part of Gildan. We would try to sneak down and listen to
the stories of the travelers who would board at the inn. Many times we were
caught by his mother, and I was sent home. My parents didn’t think an inn’s
common room was a place for someone like me.”

“Now they are not here to stop you.” Darius smiled. He still
didn’t know what he would do with Mezar, but for now at least, Mezar seemed
just as comfortable staying around Darius. They were almost more alike than
Kelln and Darius were.

After waiting for what seemed like too long, Darius watched the
Preacher approach. Sliding gracefully but purposefully across the wooden floor,
the man seemed larger than life. Darius steeled himself against any possible
manipulation.

“Where can we talk?” Darius asked.

“We can talk here. On the eve of battle I have nothing to hide
from my men.”

Darius had to be cautious. He realized more than ever how
dangerous an alliance with this man would have been. He thought about arresting
the man and dragging him to Anikari, but looking around the room, he knew he
would have a hard time getting through the Preacher’s men, in addition to
having to face the man’s magical powers.

“Let’s sit.” The Preacher motioned to a table.

The Preacher and Darius sat at a table in a corner by the fire. A
serving girl brought them a cool drink. The Preacher used his power to glide
the glass down the table toward Darius. The server’s eyes went wide and she ran
off across the common room. Soon the whole staff would talk about the power
being used here. Darius figured it was the Preacher’s way to remind Darius of
who he was. The simple use of power also reminded Darius that he wasn’t the
only wizard in the Realm either.

Darius tried to clear his head. It had been the longest day of his
life. He had entered Anikari that morning amongst fighting, had found out he
would be king, reunited with Christine, and now had ridden to see this
dangerous man. His heart and mind had been in a constant battle all day. As he
sat down he realized that this day would be longer yet. He felt the weight of
the kingdom on him already. And in a way, he supposed it was. The Preacher was
here because of him. It was now his duty to make things right. “Have you
received an invitation to the coliseum tomorrow?” asked Darius.

“No.” The question surprised the Preacher.

“The King has invited the leaders from all of the cities in the
Realm to a special announcement tomorrow.”
Some announcement. “
But,
then, Anikari doesn't recognize you as the leader of Belor.”

“I am the only leader in Belor!” the man slammed his fist on the
table.

Why hadn't Darius seen how volatile this man was? Kelln had tried
to warn him.
Good ol' Kel. He's always been there.
The Preacher’s men
surrounded the table as if preparing for battle. Their hands rested mere inches
from their swords.

“I realize you are the leader.” Darius had to humor him. “That’s
why I am here. We can't fight until the announcement is made.” On his way here
Darius had tried to make a plan, but he realized he would have to wing it to
some degree depending on the Preacher’s reactions.

“What do you mean?” the Preacher asked with suspicion in his look.

“There are rumors they will be naming a new king. Since King
Edward has no children it will have to be someone outside of the royal family.
Fighting may start after the announcement. It would be much easier for us to go
in then.”

Darius watched the Preacher’s body relax.

The Preacher laughed heartily. “My, you are good, Darius. I didn't
know if I should trust you, but you have this set up very nicely, haven’t you?
How did you find out all of this?”

“I am the commander of the King’s Elite Army and son to the Senior
Councilor, aren't I?”

They both laughed.

The Preacher ordered another round of drinks.

“Where are my men?” Darius asked. “My unit that I left in Belor?”

“They were left in Belor. They wouldn’t follow me, and I wasn't
sure about your intentions. You don't blame me for being careful, do you?”

“No, no. That's fine.”
Or was it?
“Will you come back to
Anikari with me tonight? I will get you into the meeting, and then we will know
what to do.”

“Fine. I can leave the men here for a day. The townspeople
shouldn't mind so much. They are getting rich off all of us.” He took a long
drink and smiled. “By the way, have you seen your old friend Kelln or my
daughter Alessandra?”

Darius kept a straight face and hoped the Preacher wouldn’t see
through his lie. “I have been meeting with the King and my father all day.” He
skirted around the question.

“My daughter can be impetuous at times, and Kelln is still my
prisoner. You will tell me if you see them, won’t you?”

The Preacher talked to his men for a moment and gathered up a few
belongings before the two leaders headed back toward Anikari. The steadiness of
the horse’s gallop seemed to lull Darius into a state between full sleep and
consciousness. He was so exhausted he barely stayed on his horse.
Some king.
He wondered why the Preacher didn’t look so tired. Maybe something in the
power he had. He would have to learn about that.

Darius left Mezar in Forest View with some of the Preacher’s men
as a gesture of goodwill.  He knew his father wouldn’t approve of letting the
Gildanian out of their sights, but Mezar didn’t seem to mind.

The two travelers barely spoke during the trip back to Anikari. It
was easy to see that neither Darius nor the Preacher trusted the other more
than a few feet. Somewhere in his sleep-ride Darius figured out what he would
do with the Preacher and his army.

As they neared Anikari the sky was still dark, and the city sat in
a quiet that is only reached a few hours before dawn. The crickets from the
farmlands filled the night air as the two approached the gate. The air was cool
but promised a warmer day. A few early-morning birds flew out of the giant
oaks. The gate still stood closed for the night. Darius explained to the
Preacher the problems between the farmers and the soldiers.