The Prince of Warwood and The Rise of the Chosen

by J. Noel Clinton

  “There’s no hurry. I have an early meeting with Governor Bracus and the rest of the High Council. So if you and your friends are still going strong tomorrow morning that will be fine. Just be home for lunch, okay?”

  “Yes, sir. Goodnight, Dad.”

  “Goodnight, son. Stay out of mischief,” he warned.

  Five minutes later, Xavier, Court, and Caleb slipped through the secret passage in the palace’s wall. The academy’s windows were ablaze.

  “Hey! What’s going on at Wells Academy?” Caleb asked.

  “God, Caleb! Do you live in a cave or something? It’s where they’re keeping all the kids in the Dark Army until their trials.”

  “Oh,” Caleb whispered.

  “About time! How slow can you get? We’ve been waiting for hours! What’s the matter? Did you girls have to do each other’s hair or something?” Beck called from the edge of the woods.

  “Shut up, Beck! You nag worse than my mother,” Court bellowed with

  a laugh.

  As they approached the group of boys, Beck’s grin slipped as his eyes drifted on Caleb. “Damn, Hardcastle! We’re not running a nursery!”

  “I know,” Court groaned, giving Caleb a shove. “The little git whined to the old man until he made me bring him.”

  “I didn’t whine...”

  Court moved in on his brother. “Shut it, Caleb! You invited yourself along, but that doesn’t mean we have to listen to your mouth all night.”

  “You can’t make me...”

  “You want to bet? See Harry there?” Court asked, nodding to the dark-haired, dark-eyed boy leaning against a tree trunk. “He’s a glaciator. All I have to do is give him a sign, and he’ll freeze your mouth shut.”

  Harry nodded, but didn’t say a word, which was more intimidating to the younger boy. Caleb visibly gulped and gave a nervous nod.

  “Okay...okay. I won’t say a word. I promise.”

  This seemed to satisfy the group, and they began their trek into the woods. When they arrived at the lake, the sun had set, and its fiery glow was beginning to fade into the horizon.

  “Okay, mates. We should build a fire first, and then we can go skinny dipping,” Beck announced, plopping his sleeping bag and duffle onto the ground.

  “Skinny dipp...” Caleb began, forgetting his promise and was met with half a dozen piercing glares. “Sorry, I forgot.”

  “Well, don’t forget it again,” Court spat. “And for your information baby brother, we skinny dip because it’s fun. We skinny dip because we can’t just run home for dry clothes.”

  “Oh,” Caleb muttered.

  It didn’t take long for the group to gather firewood and start the fire, and within minutes, they were stripped and splashing riotously in the lake.

  “Hey, Hardcastle. I hear you and Jefferson have a thing going. Are you really that sick in the head? I mean, why would you want her for a girlfriend? She’s bossy, pushy, and a complete pain in the ass!” Beck asked.

  “Hey, I like my women with spirit!” he defended as he splashed Beck.

  “What about you, Xavier? Are you and Robbie still sucking face?” Beck questioned snidely.

  “Back off, Beck,” he warned quietly.

  The other boy shifted uncomfortably, but not another word was said about Robbie.

  The boys were so preoccupied with swimming, mucking around, and splashing each other that they never noticed their clothes had mysteriously disappeared until they were ready to dry off and enjoy the warmth of the fire.

  “Hey! Where are our clothes?” Frankie piped up as they swam toward shore.

  A muffled group of giggles brought the boys to a halt before climbing ashore.

  “Who’s there?” Court demanded.

  “Who’s there?” a high voice mocked before bursting into snickers with at least three other voices.

  “X? Can you listen in and see who it is?” Garrett whispered.

  Xavier paused and stared into the dark trees before finally smiling. “It’s Erica, Robbie, Rene Jones, and Melissa Dorne.”

  “Melissa Dorne!” Garrett exclaimed, looking at Beck. “I told you she was sweet on you!”

  “Shut it, Bracus,” Beck hissed before bellowing into the wood. “Hey, Jefferson. You better give us our clothes back, or you’ll be sorry!”

  There was a loud giggle. “And just what are you going to do stark naked, Wilson?” All the girls burst into laughter and started squealing out catcalls at the boys.

  “What do we do?” Frankie asked, and every boy looked at Xavier.

  “Hey, Xavier. Why don’t you just summon our clothes back,” Court suggested, and the other boys nodded eagerly.

  “Uh, yeah. Okay.”

  After a deep breath, he closed his eyes and extended his hand toward where the girls were hiding. Almost instantly, he felt tingling in his fingertips, and their clothes flew from the trees and landed in a pile next to the fire. The group cheered around Xavier, but he didn’t have time to bask in the glory of his success for his fingers were still tingling. He couldn’t seem to disconnect his summoning powers. Suddenly, four girls flew screaming from the wood and splashed into the water in one tangled heap. The boys around him burst into uncontrollable laughter.

  The girls, on the other hand, were livid.

  “Who did it?” Erica blared, her soppy gaze darting from boy to boy before settling on Xavier.

  “Xavier? Why did you do that? That was mean!” Robbie asked, her voice hard and hurt.

  “Oh, come off it!” Beck bellowed. “You girls had it coming and you know it. Do you really think that swiping our clothes wasn’t a bit mean?”

  The girls didn’t have a comeback for that and simply stared at Xavier.

  “I thought so,” Beck declared triumphantly. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like to get dressed.”

  “Oh, no, we don’t mind at all, Beckley,” Melissa replied with a coy smile.

  “Come on, come on, turn your backs so we can get out and get some pants on!” Frankie bellowed.

  “Turn our backs?” Erica teased. “What on Earth do you mean?”

  “Fine. Turn your backs or don’t, but I am getting out,” Xavier spat irritably and waded through the water toward the girls in the shallow end.

  The girls squealed, ran out of the water, and disappeared into the trees. The group of boys burst into triumphant laughter.

  “Way to go, Xavier!” Garrett cheered, clapping him on the back as he made his way to the shore.

  “Wait! How do we know they’re really gone and not hiding in the wood?” Caleb asked.

  “Caleb, try not to think, would you? It’s just too hard on your feeble brain,” Court mocked, climbing ashore and pulling on his undershorts and pants. “Xavier has telepathy. He’d know if they were, you git.”

  “Oh,” the younger boy mumbled and climbed from the water and dressed.

  However, Xavier wasn’t sure if the girls were gone or not. His telepathy had suddenly gone silent. He couldn’t connect with the girls or any of the guys. What was happening to his abilities? In one day, he had lost his telekinetic grip on a boulder nearly crushing Harry’s dad, unintentionally dunked his girlfriend and her friends, and no longer seemed able to read thoughts. But he didn’t say a word to the others as he settled in his sleeping bag near the fire.

  Chapter 4: A Kingly Mistake

  Late the next morning, the boys packed up and went their separate ways. As Xavier, Court, and Caleb scrambled sleepily through the secret passage and circled around the palace, Erica skipped up from behind them carrying an overnight bag.

  “Hello, boys,” she chirped with a wide grin. “My, my, it’s good to see you actually wearing clothes, but I must say you have adorable backsides.”

  “Yeah right, Jefferson. Just keep pretending like you saw something. We know Xavier scared you off. But, seeing you in a wet t-shirt was definitely worth the price of admission,” Court teased, blowing a kiss at her.

  Erica’s confidence faltered briefly
, but within a fraction of a second, it was replaced with smug satisfaction. “And what makes you think Xavier scared us away...completely away.”

  Court laughed dismissively. “Fine. You say you were there; prove it!”

  Her grin widened. “Well, Beck has a scar on his left hip. Whereas, you have a birthmark on your left cheek, and I don’t mean the cheek on your face.”

  His jaw dropped as Erica flashed him a brilliant smile and walked ahead toward the palace entrance.

  “Oh, and Xavier? Robbie is really mad at you for throwing her in the lake. You better go and see her. She doesn’t see you nearly drowning us as fair play, like I do. She thinks you’ve betrayed her.”

  “Betrayed her? I didn’t...”

  “Don’t tell me,” Erica retorted impatiently. “Tell her!” Then she entered the palace.

  “Holy Hell, X! Why didn’t you say something about the girls still being around? When the other guys find out, they’ll go barmy. Those girls are never going to let us live it down! We’re talking a lifetime of snide remarks and taunts,” Court hissed.

  But Xavier wasn’t listening to Court. His father and Loren had just exited the Governing Hall and were stalking across the horseshoe-shaped drive. It was clear by their expressions that they were both in foul moods and Loren was glaring lividly at Jeremiah’s back.

  “Sorry, Court. I’ve gotta go,” he mumbled and scrambled after the men.

  “Wait Xavier!” Court called after him. “What are we going to do about the girls?”

  “I’ll talk to you later,” he yelled over his shoulder and hurried into the palace after the men.

  He heard the men before he saw them. Loren’s shouts flooded out from the royal residence. Xavier scurried up the steps, and when he opened the royal door, he found them toe to toe.

  “This is none of your business, Loren.”

  “You were out of line. Jesus, Jer! What were you thinking?”

  “JEREMIAH WELLS!” Lucy shouted as she pushed by Xavier and into the room.

  Jeremiah paled at the sight of the furious woman storming across the room. She pushed herself between the men and poked the king in the chest.

  “You have gone too far this time! I just got off the phone with Lana. She was crying hysterically. I could barely understand her.”

  Jeremiah sighed, turned, and walked to the small bar near the hearth. He poured himself a drink and muttered without turning, “If she weren’t so stubborn, if she’d just listen to reason…”

  “Jeremiah Xavier Wells! Do not make this out to be her fault!”

  “Lucy.” Jeremiah turned to face her, his face set and stony. “I am your king. I would appreciate a less accusatory tone and more respect!”

  Lucy glared at him unflinchingly. “Then, act like it! I should have known your pride and ego would win out. I’m disappointed in you, King Wells.” The woman spun around in a huff and stomped to the door.

  “Lucy, stop!” Jeremiah called after her. “Please stop.”

  Lucy paused before turning back toward Jeremiah. “Remember when we were kids, Jeremy? Remember what you used to say about your father? You used to tell me that he was overbearing, insensitive, out of touch with the common man, and an outright bully? You promised, no you swore on your mother’s grave you’d never be like him. Well, sire, you broke that promise today,” she spat as she pointed accusingly at his chest. “And, if you continue as you are, you’ll not only rival your father’s cruelty, you’ll surpass it.” Lucy turned and exited the residence, slamming the door behind her.

  At the insistence of Mrs. Sommers’, later that afternoon Xavier begrudgingly began cleaning his room. He dropped the last of his dirty clothes in the hamper when his father strolled into the room.

  “Wow,” Jeremiah exclaimed, announcing his presence. “What on Earth drove you to do this?”

  “Mrs. Sommers,” he explained, grinning sheepishly at his father. “You know what she’s like. She’s a bit scary when she gets demanding.”

  His father nodded with a grin. “Yes, I know. She still scares me.”

  He laughed.

  “I know school doesn’t start for another couple weeks, but I think, under the present circumstances, we’ll start your impediment lessons today,” Jeremiah told him, crossing the room to the plush armchairs next to the windows and settling in one. He motioned to the other.

  “What? You mean now? But, Dad...I was going to take a shower. The guys and I went swimming in the lake and...”

  “Xavier, I have time in my schedule right now. Please sit, so we can begin,” his father replied shortly.

  “Yes, sir,” he muttered and moodily collapsed into the armchair across from his father. He wasn’t looking forward to this. Impediment lessons usually left him with a bit of a headache, and now that his father was overseeing his lessons, he knew the headaches would be undoubtedly worse. Not to mention, since the silence he experienced at the lake, he hadn’t tried to use his telepathic abilities. What if he couldn’t engage them? What would his dad say? Maybe he wasn’t the Chosen after all. Would the Chosen experience faulty powers?

  However, all his fears left him as he began to meditate and felt the power responding inside him. Overwhelmed with relief, he nearly laughed out loud.

  “Ready?” Jeremiah whispered.

  Xavier gave him a brisk nod and the session began with a jolting shock. His father was in his thoughts with no effort at all, and before he could even begin to repel him, he was penetrating the surface layer of his thoughts and accessing his memories. Suddenly, Robbie came into his mind, and their first kiss.

  “Dad! Stop!” he shouted.

  Jeremiah withdrew and stared at him placidly.

  “What was that?” he snapped, standing and glaring down at his father.

  “It’s what any telepath could do if he refines his skill,” he answered calmly.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think Fox even has telepathy!” he hissed angrily. “So why are we even bothering?”

  “Xavier...”

  “No, Dad! This is stupid. I’m taking a shower!” he blared and stomped toward the bathroom.

  “Xavier Wells!” his father’s voice held such unwavering authority that the boy froze. “Come here and sit down.”

  He obeyed.

  “Son, do you really think we should base your preparation on what powers you think Fox has?”

  He huffed bitterly before finally muttering, “No, sir. I guess not.”

  “Good. Now, let’s continue. When I infiltrate your thoughts, do not panic. Panic clouds your concentration. Instead, and I can’t believe I’m telling you this, think of a believable lie. Think of something that would interest the intruder and lead him astray. This is the first step in impediment, as I’m sure Spencer has taught you,” Jeremiah concluded.

  He took a deep breath and tried to relax. He closed his eyes and concentrated on a lie he thought his father would believe. He thought of Lana. He knew he was playing dirty, but he figured it didn’t matter since he would need to practice any and all means necessary to impede Fox’s attempts.

  “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Instantly, he felt the coolness of his father’s presence in his thoughts, but the force connecting them shuddered. Suddenly, his head began to spin, and he found himself in his father’s thoughts. Slowly, a white veil dissolved and he found himself in his father’s office at the Governing Hall. His father and Lana stood tensely facing one another.

  “Lord Lana! You know why I did it! Why are you being so stubborn? I know you still love me; I can feel it in your thoughts,” his father demanded.

  “Good Lord! You only seem capable of repeating the same lines over and over again,” she spat. “Yes, Jeremiah! I know why you pushed me away, but what you don’t seem to understand is that you were wrong!”

  “Wrong? I wasn’t wrong! Or didn’t you hear what LeMasters did to Milton? He butchered the poor man! He would have done the same to you...or worse!”

  “Yes, King Wells. I know
all of that! You don’t get it, do you? You really don’t see how badly you handled this at all! Well, fine. Keep thinking your holier than thou thoughts, but I’m not listening anymore,” she yelled and stomped toward the door.

  “Lana!” his father called, rushing after her and grabbing her arm. Not another word was said as he pulled her to him, trapping her against him with his arms. Her struggling stopped the moment he kissed her. After a moment, her senses returned, and she began squirming in his grasp. Finally, she shoved him away and swung an open hand at his face. He swatted it away lazily and kissed her again. Again, she wiggled loose.

  “You do that again and I’ll scream bloody murder, Your Highness,” she growled.

  “If you didn’t like it, why did you kiss me back? Why did you even come to my office to see me?” he asked smugly.

  This time her hand found its mark on his cheek, and she spat, “You boastful, egotistical pig! How dare you! I didn’t come to see you; I came to give you my resignation! I am resigning from my High Council position and judgeship.” She thrust a piece of paper into Jeremiah’s hands before turning and storming from the room.

  “Xavier!” the king boomed.

  The memory of his father dissolved away and Xavier found himself staring into the genuine article’s enraged eyes.

  “Da... Dad? I’m sorry. I...I don’t know how I did that! I...I...”

  His father’s eyes softened marginally. “No matter. I wasn’t prepared for you to be capable of doing that yet,” he grumbled. Then after a deep breath, he continued more steadily, “I know better now. I won’t underestimate you again.”

  The brief success of infiltrating his father’s thoughts and memories wasn’t repeated. His father had been restraining his telepathic strength before, but he didn’t make the same mistake twice. Soon, Xavier had a pounding headache and couldn’t stop his father from invading memory after memory.

  Finally, the king sighed and announced a bit too happily, “Well, I think we’ve done enough today. A hot shower will help ease your headache, son. But before you do, can you tell me what that last image was about? Did you truly throw those girls into the lake?”