The Path of Decisions (26 page)

“Thank you.” Jain added as they continued to ride out of the
castle grounds.

Darius continued walking back inside the castle. He liked Jain a
lot and intended to make good use of his services in the months and years to
come. The Anderssn family would be considered royalty now, at least once
Christine and he officially wed. He would give them the noble San title as soon
as the wedding concluded. He wished Christine’s father, Stefen, was still
alive. Darius had never had a chance to say good-bye to him. He had been a
good, strong man. Christine had told Darius her father’s mother had been from
the city. But then, Darius’s own father’s mother had been a farmer. If people
could just understand that they really were all the same, peace could be found.

Richard already stood waiting for him at the castle. Darius
wondered how he was so organized. M
aybe I can learn something from him.
They
disagreed on policies and on ways of executing decisions sometimes, but Darius
could finally admit many times his father was right.

His father smiled at him as he walked by his side into another
meeting. Darius was about as big as his father now. Over the last year as he
trained in the Superstition Mountains and marched to Denir and Belor, his body
had become strong. His shoulders were broad and muscular. He smiled back at his
father and realized they were indeed doing better.

The meeting was a short and simple one, and Darius soon found
himself racing back to his rooms to prepare to meet Christine. He stopped and
said his good-byes to Leandra in person. She was going to visit some family in
Tean. He figured it was because Tean was closer to Gildan than Mar was, which
is where she was from originally. Darius had made sure she had enough money to
be well cared for. He felt bad for what she had been through with Sean and him.
She had gone off to serve the Realm with the Elite Army and had been dragged
all over the Realm. When he asked her about the new necklace hanging around her
neck, she blushed and with a sly smile told him it was none of his business.

After offering an escort to ride with her, Darius returned back
inside. He grabbed a few things and rode off on his horse, sneaking away from
the guards who were always supposed to be by his side now that he was the King.
He knew he shouldn’t use his power so, but he had one more thing to do that
day. And it was a private affair.

WIZARD OF THE HEART

T
he day held warm, and the clouds from the previous day were long
gone. The trees through the farmlands and forest were almost full. The emerging
ferns and other undergrowth at the edge of the forest stood damp still from the
prior day’s rain. Darius sucked in a deep breath, and excitement grew within
him. His horse’s hooves splashed up bits of dirt and mud as he rode faster. He
emerged onto the field, looking around to make sure Christine hadn’t arrived
yet.

The sky overhead held a deep blue, and the lake reflected like a
magnificent mirror. A small number of white clouds showed in its smooth
ripples. He glanced toward the mountains and seemed to lose himself for a
moment, thinking about his time there and how much had happened since first
leaving Anikari last year. The foothills of the mountains stood covered in mist
as the sun warmed the grounds throughout the farmlands. It was still the most perfect
spot he had ever seen.

Darius busied himself for a few minutes around the field. He kept
looking up to see when Christine would arrive. Her Cremelino could be quiet and
sneaky at times.

A short time later Christine rode into the field. She had a quizzical
look on her face.

Good day, Wizard.

Good day, Lightning
. Darius sent the thoughts in his head toward the horse.

You powers are getting stronger.

Why do you say that?

Because you are a shout in my head now instead of a whisper.

Sorry. I need to control a lot of things with the power.

Yes, you do. We need to have a long talk about that, but that will
wait until later. Your lady seems to be perplexed.

Darius laughed out loud.

Christine looked over at him as she dismounted. Squares and
circles of rope covered portions of the field. She looked around at them with
no comprehension of what they meant.

“What is all of this?” Christine motioned as she approached him.

“All of what?” Darius tried not to smile, but it was difficult.

“All this rope.” Christine jumped off of Lightning and joined
Darius in the field.

“Oh, that.” Darius shrugged.

“Darius!” She leaned over to give him a kiss but pulled away as he
leaned into her. He almost lost his balance.

“Hey! Why did you do that?” He pretended to pout.

“Tell me about the rope, or I won't marry you.” Christine folded
her arms across her chest and stood in mock defiance with pouted red lips, her
hair sparkling in the sun.

Darius laughed. “Well, you said you didn't know if you could stand
living in the castle all the time, right? Too big and dark and old, I think you
said.”

“Yes.” She unfolded her arms, squinted her eyes, and wrinkled her
nose trying to figure it out.

“Well...” Darius spread his arms out toward the ropes, “Behold
your new house. The Diamond Palace.”

“My what?”

“We are going to build a house right here. Just for you and me.”

“It looks bigger than a house.”

Darius looked sheepishly. “We will need to have room for some
guards and servants, a few meeting rooms, but I promise to try and not bring
too much business out here when we are here. We won’t be able to be here all of
the time, but you won’t have to be at the castle all of the time either.”

Her eyes lit up. “Here in the field?”

“Why not? Do you know of any place better?”

“No. No I don’t.” She leaned into him. “And you called this the
Diamond Palace?”

“Yes. It will have a field of the greenest grass out front, with a
large window we can look out from. And when the sun rises high during the day
it will reflect off the lake and the grass and…”

“And we can put a swing in the big tree, just like my father had
when we were young?” asked Christine. She ran to the tree and swung her arms
around a lower branch, her gaze looking up into the tree.

Darius followed her over. “Anything for you, Christine.”

“And we’ll still have our Field of Diamonds.” She grabbed Darius
tightly until he pleaded to breathe again. “Oh, thank you. Thank you, Darius.”

“You’re welcome, you’re Highness.” His laugh was deep and merry.

“Not just for the house, but for what it means. It means you were
thinking about me. Even in the midst of all that has happened in the last few
days, you were thinking about me.”

“I won't ever forget to think about you.” He gave her a kiss on
the cheek. She smiled and returned it with a kiss on the lips. Darius felt as
if he was being lifted off the ground. He had missed those lips so much over
the past year.

“It's so beautiful here,” whispered Christine, almost in
reverence.

“What's that over there?” Darius pointed to a glitter in the
grass.

“I don’t know. Probably just a water drop sparkling in the
sunshine.”

“It looks like something else.” Darius smiled a mischievous smile.

“All right, I'll go and investigate,” said Christine with a laugh,
knowing Darius was up to something else.

“Oh, Darius!” she yelled as she picked the ring up, “It’s
beautiful... and sparkles so much...”

“Just like you, Christine.”

Darius took it softly from her and slid the brilliant diamond ring
onto her slender fingers. “You did name this the Field of Diamonds, didn’t
you?” He laughed as happy tears rolled down Christine’s face.

“I love you, Darius.”

“I love you, too, my love.”

They embraced and held each other for a moment. Darius lifted
Christine’s hand and put his hand over the ring. He tried to remember what
Mezar had done. He called from deep inside him, and power rose from his
fingertips and encircled both their hands. Darius projected a feeling of love
into the power, and it flew up Christine’s arm from the ring and into her
heart.

She gasped, swaying on her feet. “Oh, Darius!”

Wizard!
Lightning
gasped also.
You are more powerful than we had ever imagined.

A light circled around their hands and
then settled back into the ring. It dimmed but left a small, glowing ember
inside. “Now you can know how much I love you, Christine. No matter where you
go, you will feel my love. Never doubt the power of love. I have learned this
past year that above all other emotions, love is the strongest. It is the
highest power there is. That is why the Preacher and his kind will never win.
Hate and anger can never win.”

A twig snapped. Darius drew his sword and brought forth his power
without a moment’s hesitation. It came to him almost effortlessly now.

“Darius, you aren't supposed to be out here alone. You are the
King now.” It was his father, Richard with two of his personal guards.

“My Lord.” Roland, one of the guards, bowed. “You should not
escape our sight. We are here to protect you.”

Darius looked chastised, but his father turned to the man.
“Roland, remember who you speak to.”

Darius waved one hand in the air. “It is fine, Father. Roland is
right in his protocol, and I have not been a good king.”

“My King…” Roland stumbled for words. “I would never say that!”

Darius laughed merrily. “Roland, I am joking.” Turning to his
father, he said, “For one moment I just wanted to be only a young man in love.”

Richard smiled as if he understood. “Just this once, Darius. After
today, duty must rule the Realm. I will wait at the edge of the forest for
you.” He turned to leave with Roland and the other guard.

“You are wrong, Father.” Darius said loudly in the crisp air. At
that moment he was infused with joy.

Richard turned around. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“You are wrong,” Darius repeated for emphasis. “Starting today the
power of love will rule the Realm.” And with those words he brought his arms
out in front of him and clapped. Flowers bloomed around the field, and music
filled the air… a song so sweet and soft it pierced the five of them. It lifted
the heart and brought joy to the soul.

Tears came to Richard’s eyes. Tears he was not ashamed to spill.
He felt his son’s love. Power radiated from Darius and reminded Richard of
every good thing he had ever had, every good thought, every good moment. It was
something he could hardly comprehend. He looked at the guards next to him.
They, too, were smiling with memories of joy and happiness.

In a slow rotation, Darius brought his hands back down to his side
and grabbed hold of Christine’s hand again. The song faded, but the rapture
lingered, almost sparkling in the air.

Christine stood in awe for a moment, then her knees buckled, and
she knelt in front of him. Lighting, in all her pure white glory, knelt down on
her two front legs. Richard approached and, with the two guards, knelt also.

Richard spoke first. The words were thick and difficult to bring
forth through the emotion. “I never realized there was so much power in love.”

Darius smiled. “Neither did I.” He, too, was overwhelmed with what
he had just done. He felt a love for his people that was without limit and
condition. He knew he would make difficult decisions as king, but now he
understood how to make those decisions. “It is truly how we are meant to rule.”

All was quiet. Then Darius broke the silence with a soft but
powerful whisper. “Father, I assume that I will be the first in many years to
combine the powers of a wizard with the true power of the throne.  I am a
Wizard King!”

Richard looked up at his son, opened his eyes wider, and spoke. “I
pledge my life and love to you, Darius DarSan Williams, King of the Realm,
Protectorate of the People, and Wizard of the Heart. Your command is my wish.
Your love is my desire. May you always rule in wisdom, judge in fairness, and
serve in love.”

Darius had a hard time seeing his father for the tears in his
eyes.
He accepts me.
He pulled his father up into a strong embrace.

Christine, the two guards, and Lightning all bowed their heads in
tribute to their new king. Darius motioned for them to rise. A glow surrounded
him, and love engulfed him like never before.

Lastly he reached out to touch Lightning, still not understanding
his relationship with the Cremelino fully, but realizing it was meant to be.

Wizard, you have made us proud. The prophecy is beginning to be
fulfilled: 

Forgotten lines of ancient magic

 and the power of the throne.

One will make them both his own

 if his heart sees the true power.

He will bring light to fight darkness

and love to fight hate

 if he reaches into the power of his heart.

He will find new allies, turn enemy to friend and

find the binding of all power on the path of peace. . .

You said beginning to be fulfilled?
Darius asked the Cremelino of her cryptic
prophecy.

Young Wizard King, you have found your heart and inherited the
throne, but now you must establish peace. Only by binding together all of the
power and light at your disposal can you defeat the darkness and triumph
against your enemies once and for all.

Darius laughed. “Oh, that’s all!”