He looked at the floor and after a bit of silence added, “Nix may keep us safe, but she is not good.”
The Guide stood.
“Jasper,” his voice was firm. “I wanted to help you. I know you shared some time with Kalina and I thought this was your way of mourning the fact that she left you. But I think it's more serious than that.”
Jasper suddenly felt cold.
“Things are not perfect, but you didn't see the wars. You didn't see your family slaughtered or dying from disease. That is the evil, not Nix. And I have vowed to do everything in my power to protect what we have. And that means removing any threat.”
Jasper's heart began to race. Things were happening too fast. Yes, he had been angry. Yes, he felt Nix was evil. But no, he didn't see himself as a threat to Gardone. How was he a threat? He loved his people. Yet, now he sat on the brink of banishment. His eyes misted as he thought of his parents and sister. He wouldn't even get to say goodbye. He didn't want to leave.
“Are you a threat, Jasper?”
“No, I love Gardone. I love my family and friends. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Then you must recognize the importance of the Offering and the goodness that Nix offers. She is the foundation of our society because without her, we would crumble. There are sacrifices, but we are thankful for them. Everyone here understands and supports our devotion to Nix. I’m sure you, like them, can accept that the peace she brings is worth the price we have to pay.”
Jasper’s mouth fell open but no words emerged. He knew the Guide was right, but it didn’t make sense. And why all this fuss for merely asking questions? Banished for wondering? How was that right? His best friend had betrayed him, his own father had sent him to the Guide, his first love was murdered by the “foundation of their society,” and now he would always be looked down upon for being sent to the Guide. Those things he could have lived with. But what bothered him the most were the lies; Nix wasn’t a kind, loving creature and Kalina wasn’t taken by her into service. What else were they hiding from him? He’d been an idiot too long, believing all of their twisted truths. He could accept that the sacrifices to Nix were for the good of the nation but he wasn’t going to participate in the lies.
He took a deep breath.
“I am not a threat, but I don’t believe Nix is good.”
The room was quiet.
“Well, you know what that means?”
“Yes,” Jasper answered in a quiet voice, “I know.”
More silence.
“I am sorry it has come to this, Jasper. This isn't what I wanted to see happen.”
“I know,” Jasper lifted his head, “but this is what I want.”
The Guide nodded. “Very well then, by your own admission, you have chosen banishment.”
* * * Len bounced his knee under the table, his outlet for tension. Above the table, he sat relaxed and engaged with his advisors discussing the fall harvest where his nervous glances at the entrance to the throne room went undetected by the others. Ideally, Jasper and the Guide would enter the room. Jasper would appear ashamed yet humbled and the Guide would warmly introduce him. After Jasper admitted his weakness and expressed a desire to recommit to his beliefs, a plan would be devised to help him that included special classes and service in the marketplace. Len frowned at this thought, but he knew it was the only way to keep the family intact.
“Your Majesty, do you agree?”
The question snapped Len from his thoughts and he looked at the Minister of Food.
He nodded. “Yes.”
He had no idea what he agreed to, but it was not only safe to agree with council members, it was expected. He knew that his role as king wasn’t to manage the affairs of the kingdom. He was a token king placed between those who controlled the kingdom and the citizens of Gardone. The villagers viewed him as one of their own and thought him to be a wise leader supported by a staff of intelligent advisors. But Len was a puppet and the Guide pulled his strings. He shuddered to think of what would happen if he made decisions based on his thoughts and ideas.
Chairs scraped against the stone floor and a murmur of chatter forced him to abandon his thoughts. The meeting was over. He stood and saw Tari walking towards him. He searched her eyes for information and felt hope. They met with a cordial embrace.
“Migun slipped the note in his pocket. Have you heard anything?” She whispered.
“No,” he said and ended their hug.
Tari’s eyes focused on something across the room behind him and her face drained of color; she looked mortified. His heart sunk and he turned, although her pale face had already told him. Sir Knudsen approached. A chill shot through his arms, and the corners of his mouth twitched. His face burned and he struggled to stay calm. This wasn’t what he had expected. The Guide and Jasper were supposed to come, not the Head of Arms. This meant the worst.
“Your Majesty, My Lady, the Guide requests your presence.”
Len nodded. Sir Knudsen turned, expecting them to follow. Len tried to maintain a confident smile, but the world blurred and he couldn’t fake it. He glanced at Tari; tears streamed down her face.
* * * The Guide sat motionless, eyes wide and unfocused. What could he say to Len and Tari? He had selected Delorah because he needed a solid family to take the throne. Gardone needed it after last year’s fiasco. They were highly respected and their children were ideal examples. But now what? Jasper’s attitude had shocked him. When Knudson, his captain of the guard, first brought the news, he was sure there had been a mistake. It wasn’t until he heard Jaspers own words that he even considered the possibility that he was a threat. But once Jasper had spoken, there were no doubts.
Hopefully Len and Tari would be strong. He expected tears and heavy sorrow, but would they hold fast to the ideals that had kept peace in the land for so many years? Gardone needed it, and he needed Gardone.
“Your Holiness?”
The Guide focused and saw Knudsen at the door. Nodding, he stood and Len and Tari entered the room.
“Len, Tari, please sit.” He motioned to the couch.
Tari avoided his eyes completely; Len made brief contact and looked away. Unable to gauge their thoughts, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. He waited for them before sitting himself. The room was quiet except for sobbing from Tari’s hunched figure. He decided to proceed cautiously, but as if they were supportive.
“I can understand Jasper’s confusion, he is a good boy.” He spoke slowly and with heavy emotion. “I feel responsible for his loss. I never…” he paused. “I never imagined he would choose to leave us.”
The Guide looked down at the floor waiting for them to respond, but the room remained quiet. Keeping his head down, he rolled his eyes upward to watch them. Len was looking at the floor, his face sullen yet firm. His arm draped Tari, who leaned on his shoulder with her face in her hands. He felt hope. They didn’t appear aggressive.
“Were there warning signs? What did I miss? Where did I go wrong…” he asked them.
Tari looked up, her face streaked with tears. “No, it isn’t your fault, it’s mine. I shouldn’t have let him spend so much time with Kalina. He must have become too attached and then irrational.”
He stood, smiling gently, then sat on the couch next to Tari and put his hand on her quivering knee. “This is not your burden to carry. I alone must answer for failures in the kingdom.”
She took his hand. “I just can’t believe… I just can’t believe Jasper would…” She resumed sobbing.
He squeezed her hand softly. “This is a difficult time. You have my support. We will make it through this. It will hurt, but I promise you, we will make it.”
She nodded, still crying. “I don’t know how.”
He looked at Len and with a slight frown, nodded in a sympathetic gesture. Len avoided eye contact.
This had gone well. He stood. “Stay as long as you like but I must make preparations. If you need me, I am here for you.”
Len nodded.
“Thank you, your Holiness.”
The Guide walked from the room, smiling to himself. It was still a difficult situation, but perhaps could be used to his advantage.
* * * Len closed his eyes as Tari wept on his shoulder. He had faced difficult situations before and everything had always worked out for him. But this was too much too soon. His worst fears had materialized the moment Delorah had been chosen. But he knew there was a year to think and plan for her. Now he had only hours. He wasn’t angry at Jasper; he was angry at himself for not speaking to him the moment the Offering concluded. Jasper did what he was taught: expressed himself and stood up for his beliefs. How ironic that the advice he failed to give Jasper was to be dishonest, at least to certain people, about some of his thoughts.
Tari shifted her head. He wasn’t sure where she stood on issues. She had shown a willingness to bend the rules for the sake of her family, but she still showed devotion to the Guide. How far would she really go to save their children? Both Delorah and Tari saw it as an honor to be taken into the service of Nix; they admired the Guide.
Even with such heavy thoughts, Len smiled. Not one you’d see by looking at him, but a buried one. His soul cheered that his own son harbored the ideals of the Resistance. But unless he came up with a plan, Jasper would soon perish.
* * * In darkness, Jasper sat on the cold rock floor, his back pressed into the corner of his cell while his knees supported his drooping head. His cheeks and eyes were dry and his face hollow. Everyone had turned against him. The bitterness of being rejected and disowned for asking questions was enough to bury a lifetime of fond memories. He wasn’t a bad person. He had honor and integrity. If they couldn’t see it, he didn’t care.
Would he get an armored escort from the city? He hoped so. Once, years ago, he had seen a banishment and the guards had carried shields and swords. That was the only time he had seen real weapons and the thought of being escorted by armed guards excited him. He would be led out of town to the south, a journey of perhaps three days, and given basic items to survive. There he would begin a new life in a dangerous world.
He had never imagined leaving Gardone. In the past two months he had gone from being a normal boy, to prince, and now to an outlaw. Yet, in spite of all the changes, he felt the same. How was that possible? He hadn’t changed yet everyone would remember him as a traitor.
Footsteps approached, metal jingled, and a key clamored in the lock. With a click the door swung open and flickering light and shadows filled the room.
“Time to go,” said a voice under a torch.
Jasper stood and walked towards the light. In the dim and narrow corridor, four guards waited. Jasper smiled; they had swords. No armor, but they did have swords.
The torch moved and he followed, weaving, ducking, and sometimes stumbling through the deep passages of the dungeon. If only he could tell Endell. He choked back a lump in his throat. Now he knew the dungeons really existed, but he didn’t have anyone to tell.
The ground became soft and he realized he wasn’t walking on stone. Was there a different way out of the castle? A twinge of fear replaced the arrogance he’d felt at being an outlaw.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“Just walk, no questions,” said a voice behind him.
He was still the prince and these were only guards. It’s not as if he had been banished by the Guide. He had chosen it himself. Their rudeness irritated him.
“I’d like to know what—”
“—SILENCE!” A shove in his back made him stumble forward.
Jasper regained his balance. The torch in front stopped and the voice under it barked out angrily.
“Calm down Gorath, there is no need for that, you’ll just make our job harder.” He continued in a kinder voice, obviously addressing Jasper. “We take a different way out. Just keep following.”
They continued. Now Jasper’s hands shook, his heart thumped, and his eyes darted right and left. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. Something was wrong and now he wished they hadn’t brought swords after all. He walked for hours and although tired and thirsty, said nothing. They passed through tunnels and caverns that on any other occasion would have amazed him.
At length, they stopped and keys again jingled. A loud creak prefaced a rush of cold air. Certain they had walked through the night, Jasper held his hand to block the brightness, but there was no light.
The front guard walked through the door and Jasper followed, stepping out of the mountain onto sand. Trees rustled and cool air against his sweaty body made him shiver. He stuck his hands into his pockets for warmth and was surprised to feel something waiting for him. It felt like folded parchment. He couldn’t remember putting anything in his pocket. He started to pull it out when a push in the back interrupted him.
He walked into a clearing. He looked back and saw a door imbedded into the mountainside, which mountain he didn’t know. He had no idea where he was. Looking ahead, the torchlight revealed a trail disappearing into a dark forest.
“Move it,” came an irritated voice from behind, followed by another shove.
The guard in front turned around. “We are almost there.”
“Almost where?” Jasper said.
“Here it comes,” complained the voice behind him.
“Shut it, Gorath,” said the front guard. He spoke again to Jasper. “We follow different procedures now. It makes it easier for everyone.”
“What kind of new procedures?”
“Nothing to worry about. It’s just a bit further.”
This guard seemed nice enough. “How much further? Why is it the middle of the night?” Jasper asked.
“Just follow me, we’re almost there.”
“No,” said Jasper, surprising himself at his defiant response. “I want to know what is going on.”
“Listen,” said the front guard as he took several steps toward Jasper. “Just do what I say. Follow me and stop talking and everything will be alright.”
Everything will be alright? Was that a threat? A threat meant they were willing to hurt him. It meant there was reason not to trust them. Now fear of the guards suddenly surpassed all other fears. He bolted. Without thinking, he ran down the clearing away from the guards. He stumbled in the dark terrain but managed to keep moving towards the thick foliage ahead. He heard them yelling and chasing him but knew he could make it, the forest was close. Then he saw a brief flash of light, but nothing else. He didn’t even feel his body fall to the ground.
Chapter 3
Painful Revelations
Len knew the only reason Tari no longer sobbed was because she was exhausted. This was good; he could take her to bed and slip away. He moved and she lifted her head off his shoulder. Her cheeks, normally firm and rounded, were sullen and her eyelids drooped. Seeing her like this scared him. He took a lock of hair hanging over her face and slipped it behind her ear. Normally, she would have done this herself.
“Tari?” he said.
She didn’t respond.
He nudged her chin to look in her eyes. “Everything will be alright,” he said, but still no response.
He picked her up and carried her through the darkened service corridors to their private chamber. He set her on the bed and she sank into the down blankets. When he released to pull away, she held him.
“Stay with me.”
He leaned down and she relaxed her grip. Her eyes looked vacant, detached. He had never seen her like this.
“I’m going to…” he couldn’t tell her the truth. “I’m going to try and do something.”
“Do what?” Her eyes opened wider.
That was a mistake. His words were meant to put her at ease not start a discussion, especially this discussion. She was in no state for another shock.
“I don’t know.” He caressed her shoulder. “I need some time to think.”
She sat up. “What’s going on?”
“I need to walk, to clear my head.” He shook her pillow, but she didn�
��t lie back down.
“Len? Tell me the truth. Please.”
He inhaled and held it long enough to build his courage. “I don’t want to lose our children.”
The two stared at each other. He knew she was waiting for him to say more but everything he needed to say was buried in those words. Finally, she shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes,” he said, louder than he intended. “I don’t want to lose Jasper now and I don’t want to lose Delorah next year.” His heart thumped and his hands quivered. This was it. There was no stopping now. His life could suddenly crash down around him.
Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open, she covered it with her hand. “You can’t be saying what I think you’re saying.”
Len rested his hands on her shoulders. “Our children are everything, and I know you don’t want to lose them either. I love you Tari. I love you more than anything and I don’t want to lose you over this. But I can’t just sit around while they are ripped away from us.”
Tari stared at him with shocked, horrified eyes. He could stop now; he hadn’t crossed the line yet. But what would that accomplish, except to delay the inevitable. He had to tell her. He couldn’t keep this secret from her another day, especially now that Jasper was involved.
“I don’t plan on sacrificing Delorah to the dragon next year.”
She pushed his hands off her shoulders. “Len!” she glared at him. “Sacrifice? How can you say that?”
“I’ve wanted to tell you, but I’ve been too afraid. I know how you feel about the Guide.” He waited for her to say something, to tell him everything was alright. She didn’t. “I’m living a lie, is that what you want?”
Fresh tears streamed down her face. She put her head in her hands and began to cry.
“I’m sorry…” he said.
“I know.” She sniffed and turned away from him. “I know you aren’t trying to hurt me but it doesn’t help. I don’t know what to think right now.”
“I’m not alone in this. There are others who know that something isn’t right. We have learned things…”
Mandala's Catalyst (Gardone Trilogy) Page 4