The Path Of Destiny (10 page)

The new soldiers were dismissed one by one with their
escorts, guards from the perimeter of the yard. The escorts were coming down to
the end and an escort hadn't been assigned to him yet. Time was running out, he
thought.

He would have to figure out a way to get rid of his escort
for enough time to get to Christine's house. He felt a sudden pushing in his
mind to get the Cremelino to Christine before he left, almost like a voice
pleading with him. It shouldn’t be too hard. He was fast. If he needed to, he
would even use his powers, but only as a last resort.

All of the boys were gone except for him. His father walked
up to him and said, “I will be your escort, Darius.”

Darius’s heart sank. How could he get rid of his father?

* * * *

The sounds of the busy city floated through the air, but
empty silence sat between the father and son. Horse hooves on the cobblestone
were heard coming around a corner, children playing outside, the distant sound
of a voice singing. Yet the quiet surrounding Richard and Darius was palpable.

Their steps matched each other as Richard realized his son
was now an adult, full-grown. Each one walked, deep in his own thoughts. Each
one wanting to say something to the other. King Edward had been talking to
Richard for months about this idea, yet he had kept hidden from even Richard
the ages of the men he had in mind. Richard had supposed they would be seasoned
warriors, men who had been trained. Instead the King wanted young men in their
early twenties, and then Darius, his son, was younger than them all.

His own son, leaving to become someone that Richard didn’t
have any control over. Edward had assured him that it would be the best thing
for Darius. A chance to become strong both physically and mentally. A chance to
become a leader without Richard or the King around. His age would force him to
either succeed brilliantly or fail miserably. Richard didn’t like the odds.

He looked over at his son, walking beside him. He had become
large and strong in the last few years. He knew Darius must hold tremendous
grudges against him for this. He just wanted what was best for Darius . . . to
be raised right and to be prepared for his future role.

The one thing he didn't understand about his son was his
attraction to the young woman Christine and the other outsiders. He wished he
were able to make him understand his heritage and his obligation. He was a
noble and a city man, and was better than the uneducated farmers living in
wrecked houses on dirt roads outside of the city. He tried not to think about
what else his son was.
A future king?!

Richard could imagine what his son was thinking about him.
He knew that Darius didn’t agree with the way Richard saw things. He knew he
wanted to stay out of politics. But he didn’t know the truth. The one thing
that Richard couldn’t tell him. Now this sudden quest would upset him even
more. He could see his son’s clenched jaw, the anger building in him.

“You will learn a lot, Darius.” His father interrupted his
son’s solitude. “This can be a great opportunity!”

“But why so soon?” Darius turned to face him. He stood only
inches away from Richard and looked him in the eyes. “I know I wanted to go
train and protect the Realm, but not this way. And I am sure you noticed that I
am younger than everyone else there. Are you setting me up to fail? Is that
what this is all about? You want me to fail so you can have your way of me
following you in politics?” Darius let all his frustration rush out at once.

“It is what the King wants. I . . .” Richard’s voice trailed
off. What could he tell his son? He wished he could spare him the pain.

“You what?” asked Darius.

Richard looked at Darius with a tender glance. “I wish it
weren't so. At least not this way, but the King has his reasons.”

Richard almost saw the walls break down. Could his son
finally understand his feelings? But as quickly as he thought he saw a
softening, firmness replaced it moments later and Richard realized an
opportunity had passed.

“Oh come on,” Darius said. “Reasons I bet you can’t tell me
right? This is what you want anyways. To keep me away from Christine.”

Richard stopped. They stood in front of the house now. It
had been a mistake to show his feelings. The councilor had thought he saw a
spark of understanding within his son, but once again Darius wouldn’t even try
to understand. How could his son be so blind and rebellious?

Anger came to Richard and he grabbed Darius by the shirt,
looking him straight in the eyes, up close. “I don't care what you think of me
anymore,” Richard snapped, not holding back. “I’ve given you the best I could.
It may not be the best to you. Maybe nothing is. You treat me like you are
better than me because you see the way things should be. You want everything
peaceful and everyone getting along. You can’t have it all. The world doesn’t
work that way, Darius. There are nobles, merchants, outsiders, and thieves.
This is an opportunity for you to make something of yourself. Don’t mess it
up!”

Rage filled Darius’s face. He reached his hand toward
Richard and pushed him on the chest with the palm of his hand. Richard flew
back ten feet, stumbling to keep from falling into the short bushes next to his
home.

Darius shook with anger. His temper seemed out of control.
“I want to see Mother,” he said as he barged through the large front door and
stood in the two-story entryway, “by myself.”

Richard was afraid. More afraid than he had been in a long
time. Darius should not have been able to push him that far. He didn’t
understand what had happened, but he sensed a power from his son that confused
him and brought a thousand questions to his mind. Questions he didn’t want to
think about.

He sat down on the front steps, honoring his son’s wishes
for some time with his mother, not out of concern for Darius, but out of fear
of what else could happen.

He hoped Edward lived for a long, long time, because he was
truly afraid of what might happen to the Realm in the hands of his son. He
hated feeling this way. He hated the fact that he thought his son would never
be ready to rule. He choked back the tears and looked off at the summer
thunderstorm coming in the distance. 

A MISSED GOODBYE

D
arius walked towards the
kitchen, where smells of food reached his senses. He stopped once in the
hallway and breathed in a deep breath of air. He had lost control again. Anger,
more often than not, seemed to be the driving force behind his powers. He knew
he shouldn’t have pushed his father, but it had felt good to release the
frustration. He couldn’t believe his father was acting like this was good for
him.

It finally felt good to be angry. His whole life he had
tried to be understanding of his father and others. He always tried to do what
was right. He wanted to feel pride in the Realm, but at the moment he didn’t
care anymore. He wanted to feel the anger. His power boiled inside him.

He went into the kitchen, closing the door behind him with a
loud bang. The cook was not in the kitchen, but a meal sat on the table. The
large oak table was set for a small, informal meal. Three places were set. His
mother looked up from one of the seats. He watched tears come to her eyes and
some of his anger abated, leaving him feeling empty and hollow. She was aware
of what was happening, or at least sensed it.

Darius went over to her and hugged her. Sitting down, her
head reached only to his middle. He wondered when her hair had begun to grey.

She looked at the other two place settings. “I was hoping
that maybe. . .” she trailed off.

Darius shook his head and she took the meaning. There would
not be a last meal with the three of them. He gulped in huge breaths of air,
trying to regain control over his emotions. He couldn’t bring himself to speak
yet.

Elizabeth spoke again. “It will be lonely here, Darius. I
will miss you.”

Her words broke his heart and he finally spoke. “I’ll miss
you too, Mom. But I will think about you all of the time,” answered Darius. The
tears of his mother softened his anger. He felt like a small kid again. All the
memories of his childhood seemed to flood into his mind. He remembered her
teaching him to read and write, encouraging him with his many interests,
helping him with his problems. She was always there for him. She was his rock
he relied upon when things got bad with his dad, or at school, or with the many
other problems facing a young man. She didn’t live the life of many other
nobles’ wives, always involved in parties and court functions. She liked being
in her home. She would always be there. Never judging. Just loving.

He took a few bites of food, but was not really hungry. He
was not ashamed of the tears in his own eyes. His emotions swirled inside. He
wondered how so much anger and love existed in him at the same time.

“How long do you have?” she asked.

“Only a short time. Father is my escort to watch over what I
do. We must return in a few hours. I need to pack.”

“Then you must leave right away.” Elizabeth smiled through
her tears, thin lines of wrinkles showing at the corners of her eyes.

Darius wasn’t sure what she meant.
Leave?

“What do you mean? Leave where?”

“You will want to see Christine, won't you?”

It was then that Darius realized again why he loved his mom
so much. She always knew what he was thinking and what he needed.

“You can go through the back door. Your father will not
realize for a while. I will talk to him. I will have him bring your things to
the castle.”

“Mom, I love you,” smiled Darius as he gave her a kiss.

They stood for a moment longer; then she shoved some food
into his hands. He would have to rush to the back of the castle grounds to get
the Cremelino first. He would have to run hard. So he started running,
calculating in his mind the quickest route.

He ran through the back alley and down the cobblestone
streets of the nobles’ neighborhood. Tall houses flanked him on either side. He
made it to the school and through the fields behind the school. He wound down
the hill and to some forgotten stables.

He grabbed the Cremelino by the reins, knowing that he
couldn’t ride the animal. The Cremelinos only took one rider in their lifetime,
and that would be Christine for this horse. There were stories of people trying
to ride one without the Cremelinos permission. They talked about feeling a deep
burning pain inside and being thrown from the horse. He hoped Christine enjoyed
the Cremelino. Not many people owned one, and none who did lived in the
farmlands. He was so excited to see Christine’s face when he gave her the
Cremelino.

He took roads that skirted the city, as far away from the
castle as he could go. The homes and storefronts in this area here were smaller
and less attractive. A few street vendors yelled to him to buy their wares.

No need to pull me so hard, wizard. I will follow you.

Darius stopped so suddenly that the Cremelino bumped into
him, almost knocking him over. Who had just spoken to him?

I did.

Looking into the horse's light blue eyes, he got a funny
feeling inside his mind.

Yes, wizard, I can speak to you.

Darius looked around. Some street kids stopped and looked at
Darius. He still wore his finery and stood out in this seedier part of town. He
didn’t want someone to report back to his father that they had seen Darius
leaving this way.

“I am not a wizard,” Darius growled out loud, but softly.

Call yourself what you wish, but the prophecy says
otherwise.

“Prophecy?” This time Darius tried to speak in his mind, as
well as out loud. He was shocked to find it actually worked. He was really
communicating with one of the Cremelinos. He didn’t know that it was possible.
Could others do it to? Or was it due to his emerging powers?

The horse recited in his mind:

Forgotten lines of ancient magic

 and the power of the throne

One will make them both
his own

 if his heart sees the
true power. . .

More people began staring at the young noble facing his
Cremelino horse. Darius looked around and decided he needed to keep moving.

I will follow you. Run, wizard, run!

Darius didn’t feel like arguing again. Besides, arguing with
a horse seemed silly. Talking with a horse seemed foolish also, but that was
what he was doing.

The Cremelino followed behind Darius as he picked up his
pace. He rounded a curve in the road and began running harder. He stopped to
pass through a small back gate out of the city that wasn’t used much. He was
now in the farmlands. He ran faster over the pastures and farmlands, jumping
fences as he needed. His legs burned and his lungs drew in deep breaths.

He brought the power up and found he could direct some to
release some of his pains as his long legs carried him faster. His hair stood
just above his neck and blew in the breeze. He reached the main road into the
farmlands and appreciated the firmer ground. The ancient oak and maple trees
became a blur of green and red. He had to see Christine.

Christine’s father had been quite sick lately and Christine
spent more and more time helping to work the farm with the others. Darius
wanted to help, but his father had insisted on Darius accompanying him to more
and more meetings. He wondered now if the whole plan had always been to get him
away from Christine. His time away from her had made him grow even more fond of
her. Darius couldn't believe how intelligent, compassionate, and fun she was.
He smiled, thinking of her soft voice and laugh. Only seeing her for a few
moments would sustain him for now.

He saw her house ahead and stopped a little ways before to
catch his breath. The Cremelino stood next to him, hardly breathing at all. He
was amazed at the horse’s endurance, as he knew that he was already running
faster than was normal. His power washed over him again to take the tiredness
away. His heart beat with excitement as it always did when he anticipated
seeing her. This time, however, he also carried a heaviness, and he realized he
would have to say goodbye for a while.

“Hello, Darius,” greeted Caroline, Christine’s mother. She
met him on the porch and ushered him into the house. “Will the horse be all
right out here by itself?”

“Oh, yes.” Darius guessed she would be.

“She is beautiful.”

Darius felt a glimmer of pride come through his mind. He
looked at the Cremelino and smiled.

Darius tried to catch his breath from the long run, but was
sweating from the summer afternoon heat. The clouds had become thicker, but as
yet no rain fell. “Is Christine out in the field?”

“No, Darius. She isn't here.”

“What do you mean she isn't here?” Panic began to set in.
“Where is she?”

“She went to Forest View to deliver food from the farmlands.
It was a sudden thing. She wouldn't let Stefen go alone. He was feeling sick
again. They won't be back until early tomorrow morning, I'm afraid. Why?”

Darius found himself speechless. He felt like someone had
taken his stomach and torn it out of him. His face winced in pain and he put
his hand up to his chest to stop the growing ache. Sweat started dripping off
his face and he turned pale. How could his father do this to him? How could the
King send him off so quickly? What right did they have to push him like this?

Oh, Darius.
The Cremelino sighed in his mind.

“Sit down, Darius.” Caroline sounded worried. “Here on the
chair,” she motioned.

After a few minutes of silence, Caroline’s concern got the
better of her. “What is going on, Darius? Are you sick?”

He trusted Christine’s family. They had accepted him and
taught him much about the simple things in life. But he knew he couldn’t share
too much with them. The King had ordered silence on the matter, and as much as
he disliked King Edward at the moment, he was an honorable citizen and knew
that to disobey the King could bring more trouble.

“I can’t tell you much, but I have been called away to the
mountains for some military training and I don’t know when I will be back…or,”
his voice caught, “if I will be back.”

“And you just found out?” Caroline’s lips shook, holding
back her own tears.

“Yes, and we leave in a few hours. I am not even supposed to
be here.”

“Oh, Darius, I don't know what to say. Christine will be so
. . . so . . .” She couldn't say anymore after that. Darius knew how close she
and her daughter were.

Darius sat, leaning upon the edge of the chair with his face
in his hands. Tears fell through his fingers. Caroline came over and put her
arm around him, trying to comfort him.

Darius looked up and wiped his eyes. They were red and
running with tears. “I have to go now,” he whispered shakily. “I have to get
back, but I brought her a gift.”

“The Cremelino?” asked Caroline.

Tell her, her daughter was chosen. We are meant to bond
together.

Darius paused, listening to the Cremelino in his mind.

“Yes,” Darius continued. “Just tell her they chose her. Only
one rider may ride a Cremelino and this one is hers. I am not sure why, but I
know she is meant to have her. “

Caroline nodded, trying not to cry again.

Darius stood and dragged his feet to the door. “Also tell
her . . . tell her that I . . .” He began to choke up again. He tried to summon
the power to help him, but it wouldn’t come. His despair ran too deep.

Caroline grabbed a piece of paper, an inkwell, and a pen.
“Why don't you write a note?” she offered.

Darius took the paper and sat down at a small table by the
front door. He just gazed at it for a few moments as he felt tears drip like
rain over his reddened cheeks and onto the blank paper. He finally scrawled a
few words, folded it, and gave it back to Caroline. He smiled at her through
the tears, hugged her, and went out the door.

We will be waiting for your return
, the Cremelino
spoke to Darius’s mind as he passed by.

He walked with his head hung low, in a daze, not really
thinking of anything in particular. He was lost. He was numb. He felt cold and
afraid. He looked up at the dirt road before him.

Darius started to run.

He needed Christine, he thought. He needed to hear her voice
of reassurance. Now he was alone. So alone. He ran faster. His lungs ached; his
legs ached. He let the anger build. It felt good to feel something. He vowed to
remember this anger. It made him feel more alive and powerful.

He hadn't realized his feelings for Christine had grown so
strong. He ran even harder. It seemed to help to have something else to focus
on. He felt his insides rip apart. Alternating feelings of love and hate tore
through him.

Darius.
A voice in the back of his mind called,
almost pleading.
Don’t let anger control you.

Go away!
He slammed his mind shut.

He raged in anger at his father for doing this. He cursed
the King for his plan. He hated life right now. This whole thing was unfair and
wrong. He thought it unfair that Kelln had been able to go to Belor. He should
be here with him. He should be going up into the dark Superstition Mountains
with his friend. Darius tried to run harder and realized his legs were cramping
with tightness and his head was spinning with illusions.

He passed through the city gate without even slowing. He
crossed through the field behind the school. He stopped and fell to his knees
into the dark dirt. He cried out in anguish again, in between breaths of
survival. He kept the ancient sword concealed next to the hidden doorway they
had found behind the school. He had removed it a few times over the past few months
to practice, but had never wanted to leave it in his home. He was aware that
the sword somehow magnified his power. If he ever needed power, it was now!

Darius knew he didn't have much time. He dragged himself to
where the hidden door sat in the back of the hill. He pulled at some bushes. He
began to dig slowly at first, then in frantic scratching at the dirt. His
emotions raged within him, jumbled between anger, rage, loneliness, sadness,
and excitement. He could feel the sword calling to him and thought of the times
he had held it before. He felt the package before he saw it. The power raged
through him as it recognized the ancient weapon. He swayed at the force of it.
It washed away all his weariness and replaced it with purpose.