The Path of Decisions (6 page)

“We need to stop her. That’s all there is to it. I know she was
our friend. But this has gone on too long. Someone could get hurt. She could
get hurt.”

“We've been through this over and over Thomas,” said Karel. “What
can we do?”

“Remember when she used to talk about freedom through peace?”
reminisced Stephanie. “Now she won’t have anything to do with anything
peaceful. She is making things worse for the farmlands.”

“She even looks sick,” Karel continued. “I think Jain was right
when he said it’s just not Christine anymore. Something snapped in her.”

“She won't even talk to me,” added Anya. “We used to be best
friends. I’ve known her most of my life. I want to help her.” Anya put her face
into her hands. “But I can’t stand being around her right now.”

The talk continued, going over and over what they had already
discussed time and time again. Something had to be done, but they didn't know
what. When it came down to it, she was still their friend, but she wouldn't
listen to them or anything reasonable. Finally, Thomas stood up.

“I don't care if she is our friend. This has gotten out of
control. The King’s army will in all certainty march into the farmlands and
take what they want as soon as they return from the other cities. As her
friends, it is up to us to stop her. I have a plan, but we will need Jain’s
help too.” The group of friends moved closer together as Thomas started
explaining his idea. As he did so, one by one, frowns covered the faces in the
small room.

THE BLACK RIVER

T
he sun shone the day after Darius and Kelln’s reunion, promising
warmer weather. Darius and his unit of the Elite Army, along with the captured
Belorian soldiers, faced the task of trying to cross the Black River. It had
swollen with the recent storm, and the water raged with small white caps as it
bounced off rocks and fallen trees. A group of soldiers spent the first part of
the morning scouting up and down the river for the best spot to cross. A few
miles downriver, closer to the Gildanian swamp that bordered the Realm’s
southern neighbor, they found a place where the river seemed to be narrower and
less rough. Darius had two men take a rope across on horseback to the other
bank. The men struggled but were able to cross with the help of the Belorians’
strong horses. The men tied the rope to a sturdy pine on each side of the
river. This would give something for them to hold on to as they crossed through
the chilling water.

The water was a numbing cold and would send them into hypothermia
if they did not get warm on the other side. The first soldiers to cross had the
task of starting a fire and setting up the tents. One by one they crossed—
Darius waiting until the last. The prisoners were escorted across first; then
two of the captains helped Leandra and Alastair. Only Alessandra, Kelln, Mezar,
and Darius were left. Alessandra and Kelln began to walk across the waist-high
water.

In front of Kelln, Darius watched Alessandra stumble. One arm came
off the rope as the raging current pulled at her body like a leaf in a
windstorm. Instinct caused Kelln to reach for her, but in doing so he lost his
own footing. The rushing river swept one foot up out of the water, one hand
remaining on the rope, the other flailing around for something to grab on to.
Mezar, who stood behind Kelln, had only begun walking across. He reached out a
sure hand for Kelln and steadied him.

Alessandra’s eyes glazed over in helplessness. Her feet were being
pulled by the river, and one hand had slipped off the rope. She screamed as the
strong fingers of her remaining hand continued to slip off of the slick rope.

“Help,” she continued shouting. Her cries were lost in the roar of
the river to all but the few around her. Men watched from the other side with
helpless stares. She hadn't been able to regain her hold, and her face shivered
white in the bitter, rushing water.

Alessandra kicked wildly, trying to get upright. Kelln reached for
her once again, but he was too late. Her last fingers slipped from the rope,
and she disappeared beneath the powerful current. The others caught a glimpse
of her head for only a second before the water swallowed it up.

Kelln shouted to the other side for some men to ride down river
and find her. They looked to Darius, and he reiterated Kelln’s command.

Alastair looked about wildly, not seeing what was happening.
“Kelln, where is she?” He roared over the din of the river.

Kelln felt dazed and only looked downriver until he realized that
Alastair couldn’t see where he was looking. “She fell into the river. Darius’s
guards will find her.”

Alastair sat down hard onto the ground, his weathered face crushed.

Darius reached for the rope and started to cross as fast as he
could. As he did so, he felt the rope begin to sag and unravel.

“Hold the rope!” he commanded. He looked ahead and saw Mezar
pushing Kelln forward. Kelln seemed to stagger in a daze as he looked
downriver.

The rope slipped from his hand again as Darius’s foot slipped on a
rock. One leg kicked out into the water. But he held on. Kelln had reached the
other side, and Mezar was halfway between Darius and the eastern bank of the
river.

“Hurry, Mezar!” yelled Darius. “The rope cannot hold both of us
much longer. It is too wet.”

The rope was splitting right between them. Darius’s mind reached
out without him realizing it. The power in him surged, but before he could do
anything, he became aware of the touch of another power. This was the first
time he had ever felt someone else’s magic so directly, but he recognized it
for what it was. The power held the rope together. Darius didn’t have time to
think but grabbed ahead on the rope as fast as he could. He slipped once and
hit his knee on a rock, propelling himself toward the other side.

Darius saw Mezar fall onto the other bank in front of him and the
soldiers reached up and pulled him to safety. He felt the other power leave, so
he pulled upon his as much as he could to keep the rope stable. He tugged hard
on the rope and thrust himself out of the water, falling on the bank where two
men caught him. He looked back at the rope and let the power go. The rope split
in two, its two ends dangling back into the current of the river.

He fell over on the ground and fought to stay conscious. Using the
power had drained him. His head hurt, his knee was swollen, and his strength
was failing. The numbing water had made his legs stiff. Some men picked him up
and brought him to the fire. He propped himself up against some logs and was
given something warm to drink. Soon he stood up.

“Sir, you need to rest,” said his medical officer.

Leandra came over to him to comfort him. Darius tried to stand on
his own, but his knee started to buckle. He locked it and stood firm.

“This is a test of our strength.” Darius spoke to his men. “These
are the things we were trained to do. We will rest tonight and then go forward
into Belor tomorrow.”

“Not everyone made it, Darius,” Kelln pointed out.

Darius looked from Kelln to his soldiers. They shook their heads
in silent acknowledgement of Kelln’s statement.

“You tried, Kelln,” whispered Alastair.

Kelln’s face grew hard. “I don't know why I did. She betrayed me!”

Alastair winced and looked like he had been physically hit by the
remark. “You must forgive her, Kelln.”

“How? Why?”

“Remember who her father is. He has manipulated a whole city. She
doesn't understand what she did. She was a sweet girl,” Alastair said sadly, as
if remembering past times.

“I don't know. It’s one thing to turn someone in. But I thought
she liked me, really liked me. She helped me escape and then turned me in
again!” His temper flared.

“Kelln, remember who her grandfather is also. Try to forgive her
for my sake.”

Kelln looked into the old man’s blind eyes and breathed out a deep
puff of air. “I am sorry, Alastair.” He turned his face away in shame. “My pain
is not half what yours must be. Your son’s betrayal and now your granddaughter
gone.”

“They are not lost yet.”

“But...” started Kelln.

“Alessandra is tough, Kelln. You know that. She has had to survive
many things.”

Darius limped over to Kelln. “We’ll find her. I will keep some of
my men looking.”

Kelln rounded on him, his anger flaring up once again. “And you,
you could have saved her. “

“What? We all tried, Kelln.”

“No, you didn’t. You could have used your power.”

Darius looked around to see if anyone was listening. He grabbed
Kelln by the arm and pulled him away from prying ears. “Kelln, I don’t know
what you think I am or what you think I can do. We were all on the edge of life
and death back there. We all did what we could.”

“I saw the rope fraying, Darius. I’m not stupid. Then all of a
sudden the threads came back together. I don’t know what you have learned since
I’ve been gone, but you alluded to the fact that you have grown in your power.”
Kelln stood close to Darius and looked up, wet red hair plastered to his head.

“Kelln, listen. It wasn’t me using power on the rope. Someone else
here has some kind of power also. I sensed it. “

“Don’t give me excuses.” Kelln picked up a stick and threw it
toward the river. “Now you are just passing blame around. No one else here
has…” Kelln stopped mid-sentence.

“Has what?” Darius asked when Kelln stopped.

“Alastair.” He whispered.

“What?”

“Alastair. Alastair has the power. I’ve seen him use it. He won’t
deny it.”

Darius tried to ask more questions, but Kelln was set about
getting back to the camp and didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

Later that night Darius found himself sitting around the fire with
Kelln, Alastair, Leandra, Mezar, and his captains. The other soldiers sat at
another fire nearby but out of earshot. At Darius’s fire they discussed how to
get into Belor. Kelln mentioned how Alessandra had helped him escape under the
walls of the castle and the city. He didn’t know, though, if he could retrace
his steps.

“I can,” said Alastair.

“What? You? But you can't see, old man,” said one of the captains
under Darius.

“I can see with my hands and my ears. I will remember.”

“What are you talking about, Alastair?” Kelln asked.

“Remember, I used to live in Belor. I used to live in the palace.
I was one of the councilors to the rightful governor.”

“Your son is this Preacher, right?” asked Darius. “He sounds like
an interesting man. I look forward to meeting with him.”

“He most likely will meet you first, or one of his guards will,
unless we get into the city unseen,” said Kelln.

“Where are these tunnels?” asked Darius.

“They begin at the southeast corner of the city,” Kelln said.
“They lead through a hill under the city wall and up into the castle dungeon
where I was imprisoned, and where, high above in the more lavish suites of the
palace, the Preacher lives.”

“Kelln can be my eyes. He can guide me, and I will guide you with
what I know,” said Alastair.

“I don't know...” hesitated Darius.

“Darius, the Preacher has an army there. You can't just walk up to
the front door and knock and be invited in to the party,” said Kelln.

“I have before,” Darius laughed, remembering back to Denir. “I
captured Mezar and his men without too much work.”

Mezar raised his eyebrows and smiled. His white teeth contrasting
against his darker skin. The foreigner made no attempt to escape and didn’t
join in many of the group conversations but seemed to always be listening.
Darius still wondered what the man’s motive was. He was looking forward to
bringing him, along with the Preacher, into Anikari and showing the King what
he had accomplished on his own.  For now, however, Mezar seemed content to stay
by Darius’s side.

“But maybe you are right, Kelln,” Darius continued after a short
pause. “Being cautious will help us to maintain our surprise arrival.”

The group lingered a while longer, planning and discussing the
entrance into Belor. Darius sent two scouts ahead to look for any Belorians.

Then he stood up and walked back to his tent. The difficult river
crossing had been harder on his body than he admitted to the others. His knee
and muscles ached. Bringing his arms back behind him, he stretched, longing for
a normal bed once again. As he opened the flap to his tent, Alastair came up
behind him.

“Commander, could I have a minute of your time?”

Darius turned around and raised his eyebrows at the question. It
was still unnerving to look at a man who was blind but seemed to see things
anyways.

Alastair reached over and touched Darius’s arm. His power stirred
within him. Who was this man? Had it been his power at the river? Darius didn’t
think so.

“You must be careful commander,” Alastair said in a loud whisper.
“There are many forces at play here and not only those you can see with your
eyes.”

Darius moved his arm away from Alastair’s hand. The power receded
again. “I have heard of this Preacher. I will be careful of him and his men,
but I have an army at my disposal also.”

“That’s not what I mean. You must be careful of what is inside
you.” His wrinkled, bony finger landed hard against Darius’s chest. Darius felt
a burning and backed away.

“What are you? How did you do that?”

“It is your power recognizing someone else with the power.”

“Was it you at the river today who kept the rope from breaking?”

“No. My power is weak and only good for a few things. I felt
another with more power than mine.” Alastair stood close to Darius.

“Another? Who?” Darius was excited at the increased help it might
mean, but also afraid of someone with that kind of power in his party.

“I don’t know, Commander,” admitted Alastair. “It is different
from what I have felt before.”

“But this Preacher of Belor, he has powers, too?” Darius asked.

“Ah, yes. But his powers were only partially inherited; the rest
were learned. And what he learned was bad— an evil side to the power. Do not
underestimate him.”

“I will be fine.” Darius smiled down at the old man and moved to
enter his tent again.

“You are a foolish young man. You might have power, but no common
sense. You don’t understand what is at play here.”