The Path of Decisions (23 page)

An elderly man in front stood up… Jonathan, one of King Edward’s
councilors. The man’s hair was gray and receding, but his large frame stood in
defiance. Before he could say anything, Darius spoke out first.

“Jonathan San Alver, is it only I whom you protest as king—or
anyone else other than yourself?” Some of the crowd looked puzzled, others worried.
“Do you deny that even before the announcement naming me as King; you were
scheming in secret against King Edward, to position yourself as the next heir
to the throne?”

The long-standing councilor cleared his voice and began to
protest. “There was no heir before.”

Darius cut him off before he said more. He had something more
incriminating. “And do you deny it was you, along with your supporters, who let
the Preacher and Sean San Ghant out of prison?”

Many in the crowd gasped.

“I do not have to take this harassment,” Jonathan stated as he
turned to leave.

“Guards!” Darius called them forward. “This man may leave the
castle with an escort in peace, stripped of his rank, never to return, or you
have my permission to take him to the dungeon. He is no longer welcomed in
Anikari.”

Darius could see his father out of the corner of his eyes. They
had discussed this earlier. His father did not agree with Darius’s approach.
Darius knew he had to show firmness to the other leaders at first. His father
thought a more softened approach would best support his new reign; but he in
turn supported the new king. 

“Are there any others among you?” asked Darius, hoping for one
more.

“You are too young. You do not understand any of the politics of
the Realm,” shouted another of the councilors.

“Aaron San Silva, I am surprised. I am surprised at all of you.
You sit here in your cozy rooms in Anikari, thinking you know her people. How
many of you have slept for a week in the Superstition Mountains alone? How many
of you have led an army to Denir in the middle of the winter and conquered
without losing a soul?”

Darius let some of the power come through his voice and magnified
it louder. “How many of you have marched across the Black Forest? Or through
dark and ancient tunnels into Belor?” He could see heads dropping.
Good! It
was working.
“When was the last time any of you walked out in the fields
surrounding our great city to consider how much work goes on out there in order
for you and your families to have food on your tables?”

Darius moved away from the podium and paced the length of the
stand as he spoke. “I may be young. And I do admit I have things to learn. Many
things. But so do each and every one of you. We will council together to meet
the needs of our great land, but I am the King.” Darius hoped he wasn’t shaking
as badly on the outside as he did on the inside.

The group sat stunned. They didn’t know whether to call his bluff
or not.

“Aaron, would you like to resign from the assembly of councilors?”
Darius was giving the man a way to leave on his own terms. Aaron was not a bad
person and had not worked behind the King’s back as Jonathon had done, from
what Richard’s research showed. Darius wanted to encourage opinions spoken by
his councilors, but he couldn’t have one of the councilor’s voice concerns
about his leadership at this point and time.

Aaron nodded once, but kept his chin up.

Darius softened his words. “You may retain your home here in
Anikari, your riches, and any estates accumulated during your term as councilor.
Thank you for your service to the Realm.”

Aaron looked mildly surprised at the concessions and left without
any further problems.

There were only a few young men and women in the crowd. That would
need to be remedied. Age brought experience and wisdom, but youth brought
enthusiasm and new ideas. Once again he asked, “Any more objections?” No more
objections were raised. Darius’s plan had worked. The councilors would follow
him. Darius realized they would test him at every turn. But he would be ready.
His power would guide him, and his power was centered in his heart. He would
temper firmness with compassion for all citizens of the Realm.

Darius continued his speech and announced the Preacher would be
sentenced to death for his crime of attempting to assassinate King Edward, for
murdering and torturing, and inciting rebellion in the Realm. Sean would be
sent to the Twin Cities to work in the mines there. The prisoners brought in by
Jain and the farmers would be led around the Realm for two years, performing
manual labor for the King in rebuilding roads and homes, and then returned home
to Belor.

 Richard returned to the pulpit and announced that the next day an
official declaration and ceremony would be made to the entire Realm in the
coliseum. It was there Darius would announce his new councilors.
And one
other surprise!
Darius thought.

Afterward, some came up to Darius, congratulating him and trying
to get into his good graces before the announcements. Weakened and tired
inside, he smiled and continued to visit and talk to people. He would have to
get used to the new hectic life of a king. He reminisced inside on the easy
days at the academy with Kelln.

* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * *

Just outside of the city walls two men came riding out of the
gates. Christine and Jain had just left Anikari and were walking back home to
see their mother. Lightning had been left behind this time and had not
accompanied Christine to the city. One of the men kicked his foot out and hit
Jain in the head, knocking him to the ground. “Stay out of our city,
outsiders!”

Christine screamed and moved out of the way, barely missing the
kick of the other man. The two riders started to move in closer but stopped at
the sound of riders coming fast down the road from the direction of the
farmlands.

“Go back to your mud,” said one of the young men as they turned
the other way and rode out toward Forest View.

Christine leaned down to see how Jain was doing. His arm had hit a
sharp rock, and a small amount of blood dripped to the ground. She helped him
sit up. Four horses came into view from the farmlands. Christine flagged them
down for help.  It was Karel, Thomas, Anya, and Stephanie. In quick succession,
the friends ran to Jain. Scrapes and bruises already showed up on his dirtied face.

Christine explained what had happened. She expected sympathy but
only got cold looks from her friends.

“Well, what did you think would happen?” asked Anya. Her lips were
pursed, and a scowl covered her face. “One minute you are fighting against
them, and now you are cozying back up with them in their big castle. They will
never accept us, Christine.”

“I will always be from the farmlands. I might have gone about
things the wrongway, but it was all I knew to do at the time. I still want
peace for us.”

Karel nodded his head, but no one else said anything.

“All I want is peace. Real peace. For both peoples. There
shouldn't be any differences in how we are treated.”

“Some of them might like us now.” Jain added his support to his
sister. “We did help to stop the Preacher’s army in Forest View.”

“I’m sure they will find a way to explain the battle to make them
look better than us,” Karel said. “Christine, you think peace can be found. I
just don’t know if it can.”

“A way will be found, Karel. Darius…I mean the King, is
fair-minded. When I live in the city I will find help for us.”

“You are going to live in the city now?” interrupted Anya. Her
eyes flashed in anger, and she paced back and forth. “That’s just great.”

Christine tried to calm her friend down. “I’m not supposed to say
anything yet until the official announcement, but the King and I are going to
be married. I thought my friends should know.”

“Congratulations, my Queen!” said Thomas as he made a mock bow.

Karel stood in shock. “You know, Christine, I may have been wrong.
You’ve always wanted to marry him. I told you it was impossible, him being a
city boy and the son of a councilor. But now, who knows, maybe there will be
peace after all. If the two of you can marry, maybe there is hope for peace.”

Stephanie and Anya began asking Christine about the wedding plans,
what dress she would wear, where it would be held, and the three young men
stood off to the side and talked about how it would be to be friends with the
King and Queen.

The more they talked the more they felt better about things.
Christine and Jain joined two of them on their mounts and soon were riding back
into the farmlands. Christine couldn’t wait to tell her mother and sister the
news.

BETRAYAL

T
hat evening while Mezar and Kelln met with Darius and his father
to further discuss recent events, a lone visitor made her way through the
dungeon tunnels. It smelled of mildew and mice, and the young lady, dressed in
black, tried not to touch the cold, hard walls. Up ahead she heard voices. It
sounded like two men. They would be no problem to her.

A lone torch flickered against the walls up and down the corridor,
sending larger-than-life shadows across her vision. She shielded her eyes and
stayed close to the walls. The two men noticed her as soon as she rounded the
corner. One of them ran up and grabbed her, forcing her over to where the other
was so they could see her better in the torchlight.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I just came to visit you two lonely men.” She batted her dark
eyes at them.

“No one is supposed to be here,” said one of the guards. “Orders.”

“Well, I don't think I can find my way back. So I guess I’ll have
to stay for a while.” She moved up close to one of their faces and smiled.

The guard smiled back, but his smile soon turned to horror as a
cold knife swiftly appeared up against his throat.

“What... do you want?” his voice was hoarse.

“The keys to the door.”

The other guard tried to back around her. She kicked her foot out
and knocked him to the floor. He stared up at her in fear.

“This knife can cut two necks as well as it can cut one,” she said
with a gleam in her eyes.

“But we can't... He'll kill us.”

“Who will?” she demanded.

“The new King. We are ordered to guard the prisoners.”

“He won't kill anyone. He’s too soft. But I can.” She pushed the
knife a little sharper into the guard’s neck, drawing a small droplet of blood.
Her heart beat with wild betrayal at what she had to do. She hated herself for
it, but it was the only way she could think of to get the information she
needed to find her mother.

“Give her the keys,” the other guard said.

The guard with the keys gave them to her. She unlocked a door to
an unused cell, then at knife point pushed the two guards into it, locking the
bars behind her. She then stepped over to the cell holding her father, the
Preacher.

“Alessandra.” The Preacher looked surprised. “What are you doing?
How did you…” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Are you here to kill me?”

“That depends on the answers to a few questions. You’ve lied to
me. I heard from Darius that you spent some time in Mar. Why? What did you want
in Mar so badly?”

The Preacher laughed out loud, and he grabbed two of the bars that
made up the cell door. “Alessandra, let me out of here, and I will make you a
queen.”

“I don’t want to be a queen. Why did you go to Mar and lie to me?”
Her voice grew louder, and her body shook with anger.

“It wasn’t any of your business, Daughter. Why all of the interest
in Mar? It is a dirty city run by criminals, with nothing of worth there
anymore. Now Belor...”

“Is my mother there?”

“Your mother is dead. I have told you that before.” The Preacher’s
eyes hardened.

“She didn’t die. She left you because you were out of control. You
used to preach peace and love, and you would motivate people. Now you teach
fighting and death. All you want is power. Now, where is she?” Alessandra
yelled, not caring if her voice carried out of the cell. Tears poured from her
eyes and streamed down her face.

The Preacher dove for her through the bars, trying to grab the
keys, but she jumped out of the way and kicked his hand back.

“Who told you this? Have you been talking to your crazy
grandfather again?”

“Do you want out of here or not?”

The Preacher’s eyes brightened. “You would let me out?  I am
sentenced to die.”

Alessandra knew what she was doing could bring her own death, but
her heart ached to see her mother again. “Only if you lead me to my mother.”

“But I said—”

“I heard what you said,” Alessandra interrupted. “Do you want
out?”

“Yes.” The Preacher’s lips stretched thin. He never liked relying
on others for help.

“Is she in Mar?”

“I don’t know anymore.” The Preacher sighed and his shoulders
slumped down. “She once was. I can take you to people who knew her before.
Perhaps they know. Maybe she will see you. She wouldn’t talk to me ever again.”

A look of regret flashed across on his face, but was gone quickly.

Her father continued. “Don’t think she is so wonderfully perfect
compared to me. She has her own dark secrets too, Alessandra. All of Mar does.
As I said, it is a place ran by criminals.”

“Do you promise to help me find her? I don’t want any tricks. I
don’t want you to use your power on me as soon as we are out of here.
Grandfather told me how to protect myself from your power.”

“Oh, he did.” This perked the Preacher up. “And I thought I had
learned all of his tricks.”

Alessandra ignored his curiosity. She had to get this done
quickly. “Remember, I have a new friend who happens to be the King now. I walk
away from here or turn you in later and you are dead. You lead me to her and
maybe you will stay alive.”

The Preacher looked surprised at her vehemence, but Alessandra was
beyond caring. “But if they find out you let me go, they will have your head as
well as mine,” he said.

“That is a chance I have to take for my mother.”

“I will take you.”

“What about him?” she pointed toward another cell where a lone man
lay on the filthy ground. He glanced their way but said nothing. She gave the
Preacher the keys and a map of the tunnels under the castle.

“Sean may be useful to us,” said the Preacher. “I will see what
motivates him.”

“The map should show you a tunnel that leads out the back of the
castle under a small hill.” Alessandra directed. “I stole this from the
archives. You should leave as soon as you can. You will not be noticed until
the guard change in a few hours, and everyone else will be at the ceremony.
That’s all the lead you will have out of the city.”

“And where will you be?” asked the Preacher.

“At the ceremony. I can’t give them anything to be suspicious
about yet.” Alessandra tried to keep her voice steady. “I will be by Kelln’s
side as I’ve been for the last day.” Deceiving Kelln once again was going to be
the hardest thing she had ever done.

Alessandra unlocked her father’s and
Sean’s cell doors and began to walk away, needing to get back before anyone
noticed. She brushed tears from her eyes. Guilt almost buried her at what she
was doing.  She had committed treason against those who had actually helped her
and cared for her. But desperation to find her mother after all these years
overcame all of Alessandra’s rational thoughts

The Preacher went over to Sean’s cell as Alessandra turned the
corner. Before she was out of earshot, the Preacher called to her, “Be careful
my daughter. I will meet you in Mar in three weeks. I will leave a message at
the Boar’s Head Inn.”

The plan was foolhardy, she knew, but she couldn’t pass up the
smallest glimmer of hope. Her heart ached, and tears burned her eyes for her
betrayal, but hope rose inside her as she remembered her mother’s face. It had
been so long she could barely make out the features in her blurry mind.
She
had dark red hair like me.