by Mike Shelton
Now she had to find Darius and inform him of the general’s plans.
Chapter Twenty
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
Danijela stood next to her Cremelino, Spring. The horse’s quick step and bright personality reminded the young earth wizard of springtime. Thinking of springtime, she shivered and wrapped a dark cloak tighter around her. Snow had fallen up in the mountains the previous day, and now thick clouds rolled in, engulfing the area around Denir. Winter was a horrible time to have a battle. She missed the warm deserts of Arc.
The young girl stared wide-eyed at the troops that had been amassing on both sides over the past few days. At the request that was more of a demand from the High Wizard, she had ridden her Cremelino from Sur to join with Darius and the others. The ride had been exhilarating, and it allowed her some time to get used to the incredible bond without others being around.
The wind gusted, and she brushed her blonde bangs out of her eyes. It was hard to imagine that fifteen months ago she was taken under the tutelage of the High Wizard. They traveled to the Wizard’s Conclave in the Kingdom of Arc, where she’d began her studies. Then upon news of problems on the border, she had traveled there to witness those horrifying events in which her brother had died.
Now she stood to the side of not only the High Wizard, but the King of the Realm also. The sixteen-year-old girl felt a little out of place in such esteemed company, however, the gifts of comfort and the Cremelino from Darius would forever hold him in her heart. She pouted momentarily wondering if she would ever grow taller and slender. She felt self-conscious next to these great men.
Danijela looked up at the King standing next to her. He was talking with Roland and giving him instructions. He seemed so confident. His firm jaw, brown hair, and gray eyes made her heart flutter. He wore the red and purple of the Realm well. She envied his wife and the deep love that he had for her. She hoped that someday someone would care for her as much, and not just think of her as their little sister, which seemed to be the relationship she had with most men.
Darius must have sensed her looking. He turned toward her, smiled, and waved her over to join him. She hoped her reddening cheeks were covered by the cold.
“The High Wizard would like to speak to us.” Darius motioned toward his tent. “I think he has a plan, now that you are here.”
Their two Cremelinos walked beside them on their way to the command tent. She could see Jakob off to one side with Lightning and the other two horses, feeding and caring for them. The young boy took pride in his work and was a very serious young man.
Without warning, a scream sounded in her mind. It was like the screeching and whining of hundreds of horses. She covered her ears, but the sound was internal to her. Spring and Thunder rose up on their hind legs and made an awful, loud sound. Off to the side, Jakob tried to grab the other Cremelinos he was watching, but they too reared up on their hind legs.
Soldiers and servants stopped and backed away.
Then as if in one solid chorus, she heard, We will prevail! echo through her mind. A powerful magical force seemed to rip through her body, giving her clarity of thought, vision, and hearing beyond a normal person. She could hear the sounds of the camp magnified around her.
Then it stopped.
Lightning raced to Darius, almost sliding into Thunder.
“She is free!” Darius yelled. “The queen has escaped!” A large smile engulfed his entire face, and tears filled his eyes.
Followers around the field clapped and yelled in delight. They had mourned with their young King. He had tried to hide the sorrow from them at first, but it was too much for them not to notice how it affected him.
Turning to Danijela, he said. “Now it is time to end this battle here before it even gets started.” The two walked into his tent, where High Wizard Sallir was already seated.
“What was all that noise?” the Wizard asked.
“The Cremelinos. It seems to have been brought on by a fight with the Preacher,” Darius informed him, “and my wife has escaped with Mezar. They ride his Cremelino to us now.” Darius didn’t stop smiling as he practically bounced on the balls of his feet.
The High Wizard looked slightly forlorn.
Darius looked concerned. “What is the matter, master wizard?”
“Oh, nothing.” Olan tried to brush it off.
“Tell me.”
“It actually seems kind of silly. I am, what, three times your age or more, been High Wizard for many kings in Arc, and am one of the most knowledgeable practitioners of magic in the western lands, yet you two have been given this amazing opportunity to communicate with your Cremelinos.”
Danijela reached her hand over and patted the High Wizard’s knee. “Oppa, you know so much more than we do.” She glanced at Darius to make sure she wasn’t overstepping her bounds. “We may have the opportunity, but we don’t have the knowledge to do what we must do. We need your guidance. We always will.”
The High Wizard smiled. “Thank you for your words, young one. And I do believe their sincerity. But alas, I have seen your magic. You won’t have need of me for long and will surely surpass all of us soon.”
“Danijela is right in one thing, High Wizard. We are untrained in our power.” Darius stopped for a moment as if listening. “I am sorry. Thunder has just told me that the situation in Mar has been handled. The Preacher is indeed dead.” Darius paused as if to gather his thoughts. “It’s just been so long it is hard to imagine the Preacher being dead. Sean San Ghant and Ambassador Kelln, along with another young wizard, defeated him. There does however seem to be some eastern kingdom wizards on a ship in the harbor.”
“My Lord. This means of communicating will change warfare, politics, and trade in our kingdoms forever.” The High Wizard spoke in awe. “It really is amazing.”
A servant brought some meat, cheese, and biscuits in for the three of them. Danijela was too nervous to eat anything, but High Wizard Sallir motioned for her to eat. She would need her energy later.
After the servant left, Darius continued. “It may be amazing, and we may have potential power, but we really do need your guidance, High Wizard. I do not know why you were not chosen to have a Cremelino, but I do know I cannot stop this war myself.”
High Wizard Sallir took a deep drink from a glass of wine he was holding and then, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “I do have a plan.”
Darius motioned for him to continue.
“There are instructions I have read before about constructing a large magical barrier. It takes great power and energy. But the thing it takes the most is balance and representation from all the wizard power disciples. An earth wizard, a mind wizard, and a heart wizard it seems is needed to make it work.”
“Luck would have it, we have those here.” Darius smiled. “How do we form this barrier?”
The High Wizard sat deep in thought for a moment. “That is the problem. I think I can remember it, but there seems to be something missing that I can’t quite remember.”
“We could try it”—Danijela motioned, always anxious to try new things with her earth power—“on a small scale.”
“That is a great idea, young apprentice.”
The three got up and exited the tent. They walked together to the edge of the camp. Danijela could see soldiers training and getting ready for a battle they were sure would come soon. There had been reports of thousands of foot and cavalry soldiers from Gildan camped within a short distance. Danijela was already sick of war, and she had only seen one battle.
Pointing to some trees not far away, the High Wizard instructed her and Darius to calm their minds, pull on their powers, and think about each other. Danijela closed her eyes so not to be distracted by what was going on around them. She felt the familiar stirrings of her power of the earth. She felt the power from the dirt, the trees, the wind around her, the rocks beneath her and brought it forth.
Soon she felt the light touch of her mentor and his power of the mind. It seemed mo
re firm and thoughtful than hers, then she felt the almost wild and volatile power of the heart come from Darius. The three powers circled each other in her mind, trying to come together. But they wouldn’t quite mesh. It was as if there was nothing to bind them together.
You are missing a piece, her Cremelino said. She opened her eyes and saw the King and High Wizard looking at her.
She told them what her Cremelino had said.
Tell the King and wizard to open their minds. It is time for them to know the final piece of what is missing.
Her Cremelino then spoke to all three of them. She watched a broad smile spread across her mentor’s face as he was granted the ability to hear the magical horse like she had.
The power of the mind, heart, and earth are only three parts of the powers of a wizard.
“That is all we have been taught,” the High Wizard said into all their minds.
There is one more, one that has been hidden since the persecution of our kind, one power that held the wizards of old together and brought them to such great heights, one other discipline of magic.
The three wizards stood in anticipation. Spring continued teaching.
You have been missing the power of the spirit. A wizard of the spirit is one that binds and bonds all others together into one great whole.
“Who?” The High Wizard was the voice of their question. “Where do we find a wizard of the spirit?”
Collectively, the Cremelinos in the camp answered. You have already found us. The Cremelinos are the wizards of the spirit—the power to bond, the power to bind, the power to guide the other powers.
Danijela laughed in delight. She watched Darius gasp and Olan smile with tears in his eyes.
Now concentrate your powers again, wizards, came the command from Thunder, and we will guide you.
Danijela closed her eyes again, felt the power of the earth, mind, and heart circle each other again, but now a fourth power came forth. Magnifying itself in a brilliant white, it engulfed the others, bound them to each other and became not four powers, but one.
The youngest wizard opened her eyes. All three of them looked out at the trees and saw a shimmering barrier of light. It began to grow until it covered their side of the camp. Darius ordered Roland to walk toward it and tell him about it. It was semi-transparent to look at, but when touched, it was as solid as a wall. Sight and sound permeated its barrier, though muffled, but nothing physical could push through.
“Looks like we have a way to stop that army now.” Darius smiled. “I do not want to fight or kill our southern neighbors. I don’t want any more innocent people to die because of someone’s thirst for power. We will stop them with the barrier and then try to negotiate with their general when he arrives.”
The King called his commanders to his tent to plan the final defensive strike to diffuse the war with Gildan.
* * *
Mezar stood with Christine, Leandra, and his friends in a copse of trees just behind and to the east of the main Gildanian army. He estimated that General Alrishitar had amassed over three thousand troops. He could see the flag of his father’s house along with that of Gildan flying high over the command tent in the middle of the camp. A mist still hung in the air, and the ground was wet from a soggy night.
By sending William and Allon into the camp disguised as soldiers, Mezar had learned most of what he needed. It seemed that today would be the day to march over the border and attack the Realm armies. The general had not yet received word of Christine’s escape. His plan to invade the Realm and then hold the land hostage over Darius for the exchange of the queen was still in play.
One disturbing piece of news that was rumored around the camp was of a stranger in their midst. A shorter, darker man with large tattoos accompanied the general everywhere and seemed to have great influence with the Mezar’s father.
Commanders began forming ranks of the soldiers, a company of sharp bowmen accompanying them. They would march first, with horsemen in the rear and the side. The army was disciplined and formed straight lines. Soldiers began marching to the cadence of the drummers, blindly obeying their senior officers.
Through his Cremelino, Mezar learned that Darius had a plan and hoped it would stop any bloodshed, for the force of the Gildan army was fierce and strong. These were career soldiers who trained each day. Their strength, agility, and skills were the best in the empire. The general had spared nothing in his mad plans to annex the Realm.
The troops began their march north as the winter sun burned away some of the night’s fog. Visibility returned, and Mezar could see a few miles further. A mass of dark signaled the armies of the Realm at the border. There was a strange silence with only foot and horse steps marching in unison, occasionally being squawked at by large crows. Anticipation filled the air. The two nations had had a few skirmishes but no full-scale battles in over two hundred years.
As the soldiers moved out, they left behind their camp servants and followers. This would make it easier for Mezar and his group. They were still intending on getting Christine across the border. They had hoped to do so before the battle began but had been slowed down trying to stay hidden from the main army and it’s outriders.
Mezar tried to keep his Cremelino hidden by once again putting on a large brown blanket on him. The brilliant white coat of the horse would be too easy to spot. They made their way down a small hill. Each of them had a horse they kept quiet. Skirting to the east of the main army, they would try to reach the border with the Realm in the next hour or so. They rode east of Denir, where the ground was mostly grass plains—unlike the west, which rose in quick, rocky heights to become the Superstition Mountains—and with the full attention of the army facing north, they hoped to remain unspotted.
Suddenly, a white light rose in the air between the two armies. The party stopped and looked toward the border. A milky translucent sheen filled the air. Mezar could hear shouts of confusion as the apparent barrier seemed to spread and grow larger.
A warm feeling of accomplishment from Star came through Mezar’s bond with his Cremelino. His tilted eyes opened wide as Star informed him of the barrier and the fourth wizard power.
“How long can they hold?” Christine asked after Mezar had relayed the information to the group.
“A long time apparently, especially with the powers of the Cremelinos now helping,” Mezar informed her. “Let’s get closer.
The group rode up to the rear of the army. The ranks of the Gildanians held, just barely. Their disciplined training kept soldiers from running away from the barrier.
Mezar felt power crackle in the air and saw a bolt of fire hit the wall. That would be his father or one of his wizards. They must have marched forth with the army. Multiple barrages of power tried to crack the barrier, but to no avail. It stood firm.
Soon, however, he noticed smaller groups of men going off to the sides, trying to circumvent the barrier to the west and east. As they did, the barrier just expanded further. Mezar stood in awe at such power.
“How will we get back?” Christine asked. “The barrier is growing.”
“You are right. We can’t have you trapped on this side. We need to get you back to Darius.” Mezar motioned for the group to follow. “Ride quickly to the eastern side. Let’s try to get around the barrier!”
They rode to the edge of the barrier, but as they neared it, it expanded once again and they bumped into the invisible barricade. Mezar got down from his horse and walked next to Star, examining the wall.
“Star. Do something,” Mezar cried. “We have to get the Queen back to Darius.”
Suddenly a group of soldiers approached them. Leandra and Christine hung back, while the men walked out to meet the commander of the small group.
“I am Prince Mezar Alrishitar,” Mezar shouted while they still approached.
The leader of the soldiers hesitated. “My Prince. We have ongoing orders to bring you in should we find you.”
Gregor, the other wizard in Mezar’s
group, brought forth his hands. Mezar felt power building.
“No, Gregor.” Mezar put his hand on his friend’s arm. “We will not fight our own people.”
Gregor stopped but glared at the soldiers.
Mezar stepped forward. “I will allow you to take me, but the others will be free to go.”
The head soldier inclined his head. “The orders are only for you, Prince Mezar.” He said it almost apologetically. A soldier only doing his duty. “I am fine with the Gildanians leaving. However, the two Realm ladies I will have to take in for questioning.”
Christine looked at Mezar and shook her head to the side. He could not let her be taken again. Two of the soldiers raised bows.
Star touched his nose to the barrier, and an irregularly shaped door appeared. Without thought, Christine grabbed Leandra’s hand and dove through.
Arrows whizzed through the air and into the opening. One hit Christine in the side. She screamed, and Leandra caught her. The barrier closed and sealed itself again. Mezar could see the wound bleeding in Christine’s side as Leandra lowered her to the ground.
Gregor wheeled on the group of soldiers and shot out a blast of air, knocking two of them to the ground but not killing them.
The commander motioned for his men to grab Mezar.
“I told you I would come. Shooting them was not necessary.” Mezar gritted his teeth.
“Just doing my duty, my Lord.”
Duty. That is what Mezar had to do now. Duty to his country above supporting his father. He looked back through the shimmer again at Christine and whispered under his breath, “Darius, it’s up to you now. I returned her to your land as promised.”
He nodded to his friends, and they took off on their horses. The two Gildanian soldiers picked themselves up off the ground.
Mezar grimaced in determination as he allowed the soldiers to tie his hands and march him to the middle of his father’s army camp. Now he would meet his father head on and stop this battle from destroying two kingdoms.