by Mike Shelton
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 the 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 remin
ded 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.
Darius could have talked his way in, but he didn’t want to cause a scene right then. He wanted the Preacher inside Anikari as little as possible. They took some blankets they had brought and laid down under some newly budding trees to rest until the gates were open for the day. Darius didn’t trust the Preacher and tried so hard to stay awake, but his body was just too exhausted, and after fighting it for an hour, he gave in.
The next thing Darius knew he heard loud voices waking him up. There were men on the road in the early hour. With a quick look around he noticed the two horses and the Preacher were gone. If it would have helped, Darius felt like shouting and screaming, but it would only give him a sore throat. He berated himself for falling asleep and not staying on guard. Jumping up off the ground, he raced toward the city gates.
Chapter 20
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND A PROPOSAL
Darius sprinted to the city gates as fast as he could. The puffs of smoke rose from the early-morning vendors selling food to the growing crowds of the day. The beautiful mid-spring morning was already warm, and many people were out and about. Excitement filled the air as rumors abounded.
He began to look for the Preacher. He thought of telling his father, but that would make him look incompetent. Darius realized there was no way he could find the Preacher without help. Before getting too far into the city, he turned around and headed back out to the farmlands. He would need Christine and her family to help.
With his horse gone, he had to walk to Christine’s house. It was good to stretch his muscles. He began to run. He took longer and longer strides as the power built up in him. Not realizing how fast he had been going, he soon found himself at the Anderssn’s property. He steadied himself against a tree to catch his breath and balance.
Darius described the Preacher to Christine and Jain and explained he needed them to gather some friends to help him look for the man while he went back to his father and prepared for the large gathering.
Jain asked what the large meeting was about, but Darius couldn’t tell him. He assured Jain, however, that it would be good news for the farmers. Jain gave him a skeptical look but didn’t prod any further.
Darius returned to the city and proceeded to his father’s office. He was surprised to see Sean sitting on a chair talking to his father. This time, though, he wasn’t wearing the smug face he usually displayed. His clothes were ruffled and his hands tied. Sean turned around to look at him. He sneered and turned his head away from Darius.
“Sean has been telling me who hired him to kidnap you. I think we will wait until after the assembly today to determine what to do.” His father smiled.
Richard called in two men. One took Sean to the prisons, and one he introduced to Darius as Roland, a fit but older man who gave a flourishing bow to Darius upon entering.
“Darius, I think you should stay in the castle until this afternoon,” Richard directed.
Roland proceeded to inform Darius that he would escort him anywhere in the castle that he would like to go.
“It’s only for your protection,” Richard said firmly.
Darius wanted to tell his father he didn’t need protection. His power emerged stronger every day; he could always feel the sensation at the edge of his consciousness. He wasn’t ready to tell everything yet, though, so he walked out feeling like a prisoner. It was a fine line he toed. He could slip away unnoticed, he was sure, but he was trying to uphold his father’s faith in him. He wanted to run out and find the Preacher, but he knew that wasn’t the actions of a king. He needed to be calm and calculating. He trusted Christine and her friends to be discreet.
As he was only allowed to wander the
castle grounds, the afternoon dragged on slowly for Darius. He went to the library and looked at some maps of Anikari and Forest View. He ate a boring lunch of cold chicken on fresh-baked barley bread he had talked the cook into giving him early. The assembly was approaching, and Roland informed Darius of the clothes he would have to wear.
While dressing in the royal colors for the announcement ceremony, he struggled with Roland wanting to dress him. He had been taking care of himself quite well out in the mountains and forest for almost the past year. “I can dress myself, sir.”
“I am sure you can, Commander,” Roland said as he continued to straighten Darius’s clothes, shine his leather boots, and clasp on his cloak.
Darius nearly choked as he observed himself in a full-length mirror. I am going to be announced as the next king! The thought seemed almost blasphemous. It had never even entered his mind. What would ruling entail? Whom would he choose as his councilors? Surely some of the existing councilors had masterminded his kidnapping to gain some political advantage from Richard.
But that would be in the future. Darius continued to assure himself he had plenty of time to learn. King Edward was still young. In fact, he was two years younger than Richard, even if he was ill.
My father should have been king. It was still somewhat confusing, but King Edward had explained it to him twice now. Since Richard was alive when King Charles had officially disowned Alric, his father was under the same decree.
Later in his life, King Charles’ heart had softened, and he had allowed Richard to become a noble and even add a San to his name. He had informed Edward on his deathbed of the situation. Why couldn't Edward have had more children? Then we wouldn’t have to mess with all of this.
“Darius?”
Darius turned around, the familiar voice snapping him out of his thoughts. “Cray! What are you doing here?”
Cray had been Darius’s teacher and trainer at the Elite camp in the Superstition Mountains. Still a master swordsman in his sixties, the dark-skinned man had been legendary throughout the Realm army for years. He had been one of the first to notice and comment on Darius’s power.