Path of Kings

by James Dale

  "I wouldn't dare." Jack laughed, climbing back into the saddle. "Come on Kirk, stop drooling and let's be off."

  "Good day Lady Gweneveare," Vanar said, bowing once more. "I will guard him with my life." he vowed, saluting sharply.

  "Oh pleeease," Jack snorted, while Kirk's squad struggled to contain their laughter.

  "Lions!" Vanar barked, cutting off the snickers like a sword stroke, "At a trot! Forward!"

  Chapter Fifteen

  The Prophecies of Aaracus

  The Duke of Thonbor and his newly christened Golden Lions had only ridden a short distance from the Arthol estate when Jack sensed something was bothering his young captain. Beyond behind the subject of their jests. Several times Kirk seemed about to say something to him, only to change his mind as he was about to speak, the words apparently drying up in his mouth. This went on for several minutes until Jack could stand it any longer.

  "Okay Kirk, what's wrong?"

  "m'Lord?"

  "Spit it out before you choke," Jack insisted, producing amused chuckles from the other riders.

  "It is nothing," the young captain replied, shooting his men a venomous glare suggesting otherwise.

  "Something is bothering you," Jack prompted. "If you tell me maybe I can help. Wait a second!" he said as it suddenly dawned on him. "It's Gweneveare isn't it?"

  "Yes," Kirk nodded finally. "I can't seem to stop...thinking about her."

  "He's been mooning around like a love-sick poet ever since he met her last night," Anghol laughed from the rear of the group. "Well it's true!" he cried, receiving another baleful glance from Vanar.

  "Gwen is a very beautiful woman," Jack observed.

  "She is," Kirk sighed wistfully. "And strong willed and gracefull and...and I think I'm in love with her."

  "You know," Jack said hesitantly, "she holds your brother responsible for what happened to Thessa last spring? I'm afraid...in her mind...you are also guilty by association."

  "I feared such a thing was the cause of her enmity." Vanar groaned. "It is hopeless."

  "Nothing is ever completely hopeless," Jack said him comfortingly. "If anyone knows that. I do."

  "This is not quite the same hopelessness as being imprisoned in the Iron Tower. I mean...not ...you know..."

  "I know what you mean," Jack replied. "And I'm not talking about the Iron Tower. I'm talking about Annawyn Ellgereth."

  "The Princess of Doridan? Now she is a beauty for sure. She attended Thonicil and Thessa's wedding last fall. There was a quiet, ummm...rumor she aided in your escape from...My God!" Vanar whispered as understanding came to him, "Are you saying…are you saying you are in love with the Princess of Doridan?"

  "Heart and miserable soul," Jack admitted.

  "And I thought my situation was hopeless."

  "Nothing is ever truly hopeless," Jack repeated. "Thanks to Thessa I have recently learned my feelings are not without...shall we say...some measure of reciprocation."

  "Even so," Kirk ventured. "She is engaged to the Duke of Raashann and you...well...you didn't exactly leave Dorshev with the blessings of King Ellgenn. No offense intended your grace," he added hastily.

  "None taken," Jack shrugged. "Your right. King Ellgenn doesn't have a high opinion of me. It probably won't change a great deal after he hears Theros pardoned me and made me a duke. But soon I promise, even a former pirate is going to be higher on his list of prospective son-in-law’s than Kiathan Ellgaer."

  "What could possibly change Ellgenn's opinion of Kiathan Ellgaer?" Kirk asked curiously. "I mean...he's the Swordmaster of Aralon for Yh’Adan's sake!"

  "That…is a secret," Jack said. "For the time being at least."

  "This...secret of yours, can it help me with Gweneveare?"

  "Probably not," Jack admitted truthfully. "What will help however, is if you to stop thinking your situation is hopeless and get to work."

  "What can I do?" Kirk sighed dejectedly. "The lady hates me."

  "Hate...no. Despises? Maybe," Jack smiled. "She just doesn't know you yet. As a remedy to this unfortunate situation, I think we will start off by having you join me for dinner this evening."

  "I couldn't possibly..." Kirk began to protest.

  "We'll make sure he's there, your grace!" Cyran interrupted quickly. "Looking every inch the captain of the Golden Lions of Thonbor."

  "Even if we have to wash and dress him ourselves," Anghol promised with a huge grin.

  "Then I will expect him at seven sharp," Braedan laughed imagining the fight they'd have trying to wash and dress the fierce young man.

  "You can count on us!" Brian and Kaegel replied together.

  The remaining journey to the Dragonslayer's palace passed quickly as the Lions began to plan with amusing detail how they would prepare their commander for his evening at Count Arthol's. Upon reaching the Circle of the King, Jack's escort relinquished their charge to a pair of waiting Dragon Guardsmen, excusing themselves as they took Kirk by the arm and headed off to begin his primping.

  "If you will follow me your grace?" one of the guardsmen bowed.

  "Of course," Jack smiled, waving to Vanar as the man glanced pitifully back over his shoulder with a plea for help. "Lead the way."

  Into the heart of the palace the pair escorted him, to the base of Illroc Adar, where the three men entered a small, windowless room devoid of any features expect a series of curious levers protruding from the far wall. After closing the door, one of the guards began to manipulate the levers in a complex sequence of maneuvers which produced a most unexpected result. With a gentle shudder and a whir of unseen gears, the small room unmistakably began to rise.

  They were in an elevator!

  Jack reached out a hand to steady himself, surprise clearly evident on his face.

  "You are quite safe, your grace." one of the guards assured him with a smug smile.

  "I'm not afraid," Jack replied, though a slight quaver in his voice suggested this might not be entirely true. Not with the lift subject to intermittent shudders and loud popping noises every five or ten seconds. "I just haven't ridden one of these in a while."

  "You have ridden in a lift before your grace?" the other guard asked with an incredulous smirk. "Difficult to imagine, this begin the first of its kind in Aralon."

  "Who said I'd ridden one in Aralon?" Jack answered casually, removing his hand from the wall, despite the misgivings about his safety. 'Think about that for a while you smug bastard!'

  It took several minutes for the crudely designed elevator to arrive at its appointed destination, which Jack guessed from their rate of assent to be about twenty or so floors. Still, it was far faster than if they'd walked the same distance. A brief shudder announced the lift had reached its chosen floor, the guard once more manipulated the control levers. Hopefully to lock it in place! Jack prayed. The door opened slowly and the two guards moved aside to reveal a waiting Prince Thonicil.

  "Welcome your grace," the Heir of Brydium smiled as Braedan stepped from the lift. "We trust your journey was not overly... stressful?"

  "On the contrary highness," Jack bowed smoothly. "It was most enjoyable. A bit slow perhaps, but it's to be expected from such a primitive design. It works on a system of weights and pulleys does it not?"

  "Why...yes," Thonicil nodded with surprise, having hoped to find a more subdued, if not actually terrified Duke of Thonbor.

  "If we've the time later, I'd be glad to show your engineers how to improve it a bit," Jack offered.

  "I'm sure they would be most anxious to hear your suggestions your grace," Thonicil replied, mustering as much dignity as his years of diplomatic training could produce.

  "I'll draw something up for them then," Jack smiled. "Thank you, gentlemen," he said, turning to the guards. "I'll be fine from here."

  "Highness?" one asked hesitantly.

  "You may go Sergeant Leith," Thonicil nodded.

  "After you," Jack bowed to the prince.

  "We were most distressed to hear of the cowa
rdly attack on you last evening," the prince said as they began to make their along a narrow, curving hallway. "Father personally voiced his displeasure to Ambassador Hawthorne this morning. The Doridanians of course, denied all knowledge of the attack. We trust you were not seriously injured?"

  For once Jack could detect no hint of animosity in the prince's voice. If he was not genuinely concerned about his welfare, he was at least distraught over the Doridanian's swift and blatant disregard of his father's pardon.

  "It was just a scratch," Jack assured him. "But thank you for asking."

  "Though I doubt they will try anything so brazen again, we would suggest you refrain from further unescorted forays into the city," the prince suggested

  "Already taken care of," Jack replied, "Field Marshal Tolkaen has graciously placed me under the protection of Dragon Guards."

  "So, we have been informed," Thonicil nodded. "Thessa was...pleased to hear you have chosen a Vanar as your captain. She was fond of Lieutenant Brand. May Yh grant him peace. If young Kirk is half the warrior his brother was, he will serve you well."

  "Speaking of Thessa..."

  "What of her?" the prince asked, enmity creeping back into his voice.

  "Well..." Jack began hesitantly, seeing the storm brewing beneath the surface of Thonicil's eyes. "I know there are probably rumors about our...relationship? What with me being a pirate, former pirated and all..."

  "Have a care," the prince warned coldly. "You are speaking of the Princess of Brydium and my wife!"

  "That's exactly my point!" Jack retorted. "From the moment I met Thessa, I treated her with nothing but the utmost respect! I am sure she has told you this, but it seems to me you are willing to believe idle gossip over the words of your own wife. As her champion, I must warn you, though you are her husband and the Prince of Brydium, if you question her honor in my presence, I will not hesitate to defend it."

  Jack stopped and casually placed his hand on his sword hilt, leaving his words hanging in the air between them.

  "Do you love her?" Thonicil asked quietly, and though he had just been threatened in his father's palace, he made no move to The Talon of the Hawk hanging at his side.

  "Of course I do," Jack admitted. "She’s like a sister to me!" he added quickly. "Nothing more. If there had been anything between us, I would have kept her in Brimcohn and made her Queen of the Brotherhood. But there isn't! And never was! My god man, she's carrying your child!"

  The prince studied Jack with veiled eyes for several, tension filled seconds, and then sighed. "Peace Lord of Thonbor. You shall not be forced to defend Thessa's honor this day. Nor on any day henceforth on my account."

  "Good. I would have hated to kill the Dragonslayer's heir the day after his father made me a duke," Jack said matter-of-factly. "It would have put a slight...dampener on my plans for the future."

  "And I, would have been loath to test the reported skill of Thessa's champion," Thonicil nodded. "Or to use Bin'et Ardendel for the first time against the man who returned it the House of Th'nar."

  "Yes," Braedan agreed. "That would indeed have been... unfortunate."

  "Shall we try this again?" the prince asked, slowly extending his hand.

  "Are you proposing a truce?" Jack asked.

  "I am," Thonicil nodded. "And an apology. If you can find it in your heart to forgive my crass treatment of you?"

  "To a fresh start then," Jack said, accepting his hand.

  "Thessa will be relieved," Thonicil sighed. "She was most cross with me after our...exchange yesterday in father's study. And of late, it has not been too difficult to find oneself of her bad side."

  "Perhaps I should avoid her myself for a few days?" Jack asked, reaching up to the stiches on his head.

  "I think it might be wise," the prince said, smiling for the first time. "Fortunately, I know just the harbor where you can wait out the storm."

  "The library perhaps?"

  "And while we wait for her anger to cool, we can research the Prophecies of Aaracus. If that is agreeable?"

  "It's one of the reasons I came to Brythond."

  "Shall we continue then? It is but a short distance."

  "After you, highness," Jack bowed.

  A short distance proved to be only around the next corner, where Thonicil opened a door and showed Braedan into a large, circular room lined floor to ceiling with shelf after shelf of books. There were several people seated inside at numerous desks, engaged in intent study. Most looked up as the pair entered, acknowledging their presence with courteous nods before resuming their studies.

  "There are over ten thousand volumes on this floor," Thonicil informed Jack proudly. "And nearly as many again on the floor above us. Except for the High-King's library in Immer, there is none larger in all of Aralon. Of course, the Lords of the Staffclave have a larger one on Lordsisle. But it is half a world away."

  "Very impressive," Jack admitted.

  "I am glad you think so," announced a tall, slim gentleman with thinning gray hair, walking up to join them.

  "Allow me to introduce Paul Mannone," Thonicil smiled. "Chief Archivist to the Court of Brydium. Sir Paul, this is Jack Braedan, the Duke of Thonbor."

  "Your grace," Mannone bowed. "I was somewhat...surprised when I heard of your request for access to the Prophecies of Aaracus. Strange reading for a pirate."

  "Former pirate sir," Braedan smiled.

  "Of course. Forgive me your grace."

  "Think nothing of it."

  "Are the copies I requested ready Paul?" Thonicil asked.

  "Not quite highness," Brydium's Chief Archivist answered sadly. "My most skilled scribes labored throughout the night to complete them, but I fear the words of the holy prophet are not easily translated. They are in truth, only three quarters finished."

  "Whatever you have ready for us will be sufficient," the prince informed him.

  "Then if you will follow me highness," Mannone bowed. "Your grace. I will show you what we have."

  Mannone led the pair to a secluded alcove amongst the sea of books, where a large desk and two chairs awaited them. On the table were two neat stacks of parchment and writing utensils.

  "You will find we have left a margin along the side each page for any observations or comments you may wish to make," the Archivist said. "If you should have any questions however, I fear you must seek guidance from some other source. The writings of Aaracus are beyond my poor ability. Lord Ulfilia studied them often but I have not seen her in more than a month now. Strange that?"

  "Indeed," Thonicil remarked curiously, though he knew she had most likely been called away by the Staffclave and their search for Bra'Adan's heir.

  "Well..." said Mannone. “I shall leave you to your studies then. I shall be in my office if you require anything highness."

  "Thank you, Paul," Thonicil nodded, taking a seat at the table. "We will call if we need you."

  "Highness. Your grace." the chief archivist bowed.

  "How familiar are you with the prophecies?" Thonicil asked, motioning for Jack to take a seat

  "Not very I'm afraid," he replied, taking the seat opposite the prince. "A quick look at the copy in Admiral Kailmax' library is the extent of my exposure. But I found even such a brief viewing ...intriguing."

  "Shall I give you a brief overview then, before we start?"

  "Please."

  "The original copy," the prince began, "was found by Lord Aringol not long after Aaracus entered...after the prophet..."

  "I..ummm...know about the Temple of the Door," Jack informed him. "And its purpose."

  "Oh?" Thonicil raised an eyebrow in surprised. Jack hadn't mentioned any knowledge of the temple during his long tale in the study. "Well then...you most likely have the gist of what they contain. After Aaracus entered the temple and sealed it, the other Lords returned to Dorshev, where as I said, Aringol found the prophecies. The prophecies are divided into two section, the first part being a vision of the rising of the Bloodstone and Graith's fall from
grace. The latter half predicts the return of the High King's heir through the Temple of the Door, and...some scholars warn...the eventual return of the dark-King."

  "Do you believe them?" Jack inquired.

  "If...we are to believe the predicted return of Bra'Adan's Heir," Thonicil replied hesitantly, "something many in Aralon have longed for eight-hundred years, there can be little debate."

  "You didn't answer my question."

  "I believe Aaracus was a man touched by the hand of Yh," the prince answered quietly, "It is unquestioned he saw visions permitted to no other. Both of the near future...and the far. Again, many in Aralon have longed for the day when Ljmarn's Heir returns, but we have conveniently overlooked the darker side of the prophecies. Believing one set of visions, how can we...how can I...deny the other? Reading of unbelievable joy and prosperity has long blinded us to the passages of unspeakable horror. Now...I am forced to accept both. It is also father's opinion. Here," Thonicil lifted the first sheet from his stack of papers and handed it to Jack.

  This was what Jack read.

  What was recorded next were the words written by the man who had opened a passageway between worlds with the Staff of Mikael, holding it as a bridge for seven hundred years until the exiled descendant of Ljmarn Bra'Adan...until Jack...could step across and claim his inheritance.

  "One the day of Roban Bra'Adan's death, the same hour his son Ljmarn ascended to the Throne of Immer to become sovereign ruler of the Kingdoms of Aralon, I Aaracus son of Ashmael, saw a vision of the Lord of Hosts sitting upon a Throne of Light, high and lifted up. Encircling the throne was a rainbow, resembling an emerald, and below it were clouds white like snow. And on His right hand was His Holy Son Yh’Adan, Savior of the Earthe, and before Them was a host of ten thousand angels singing,

  Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.

  Who on Earthe is worthy to go and speak for the Lord?

  And I fell on my face before the throne and cried, "Here am I Lord. Send me!"

  And the Lord of Hosts said to his humble servant, "Write down these things I will show you and seal them up until the appointed time."