The Path Of Destiny (16 page)

ENEMIES OR FRIENDS?

D
arius continued training
with Cray over the next few weeks, but no other mention of his power entered
into their conversations. However, Darius took time each day on his own to try
and do new things and control the power within himself. More often than not he
was frustrated with the results.

After a particularly grueling and frustrating day Darius was
walking through the camp to go to his cabin. A few snowflakes lay on the
ground, but the skies were clearing to a clear, cold blue.

Without him noticing, Leandra snuck up next to him.

“Have you been hiding from me?” she asked.

“I have been . . . busy.” Darius looked down at the ground.
He couldn't figure out how he was so tough and in charge around the other men
and held so much power within himself, but when Leandra came along he seemed to
lose all intelligent thought. She seemed to enjoy making him squirm and get
embarrassed. So had Christine.

“Let's take a walk.” Leandra grabbed his hand and they
walked towards the lake. She wore a warm, multicolored cloak wrapped around
herself. There were thicker patches of snow in the shadier parts, but the
ground was frozen and hard, allowing them to easily walk around.

Darius glanced around for Cray, whom he thought would be
watching him from behind a wall or tree. He didn't see anyone, so he consented
to the walk.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, with only the
breeze rustling the pine needles, interrupted only by the calls of a few nearby
birds out scavenging in the winter air.

“Why are you so quiet around me? Do I scare you?” asked
Leandra in a straightforward manner.

“No . . . I don't know. Maybe I’m a little nervous.”

“But why?”

Darius turned and looked back at her. “Girls in Anikari are
not so direct.”

Leandra stifled a giggle. “Well, girls from Mar are.”

Darius had heard rumors of that. He blushed despite the
cold.

They approached the small lake and stood together at its
uneven edge, with only the sounds of the rippling water and an occasional
rustle of wind to break the silence
.

It doesn’t compare to our lake next to the field
. The
thought came unbidden to Darius’s mind. He pushed it down. Thoughts of
Christine were still painful, and he knew that he may never get back to her, so
he continued to deny thoughts about her.

Leandra pointed to something in the water, motioning for
Darius to have a closer look. As he squatted down to gaze more closely, a
handful of cold mountain water splashed him in the face. He yelled and fell
backwards, breaking the fall with his hands. Leandra stood laughing. He pushed
the now-wet brown hair from his eyes.

“Why did you do that?” Anger flared in him as he wiped the
water with his shirt.

“You’re too serious. You need to have more fun,” played
Leandra. “Don’t you ever have fun?”

Before Leandra finished the sentence, a handful of water
splattered across her face. Darius stepped back a few steps and enjoyed a good
laugh. She came after him playfully and tried to push him down, but Darius
squeezed away.

“Come back here,” she yelled after him.

“Sorry, I don’t need to go swimming today. It’s a little too
cold,” Darius laughed. He felt like a young kid again. It was good to let go,
if only for a few minutes. The laughter washed away the stress. He finally let
Leandra catch up to him, once the water had drained out of her hands. She was
breathing hard, the flush on her face highlighting her high cheekbones. Her
short, dark hair held a few drops of water. The look was alluring.

“That was . . . fun. I knew . . . that . . . I could get . .
. you to smile,” she said between breaths. “Better not let your men see you
smile. They all think you’re just a mean and hard commander.”

“Well, maybe I am,” mocked Darius, putting his hands on his
hips.

Leandra reached over to push a lock of wet hair off of
Darius’s forehead and took a step forward. She stood dreadfully close to him.
Her warm breath fleeted across his face, heating up the air around him.

“Darius . . .”

“Shh.” Darius quieted her as he turned around in silent
movements. Leandra tried to speak again, but Darius put his finger to his mouth
in an urgent request to keep quiet. He had heard someone or something behind
them in the nearby shrubs. He walked closer, with Leandra a few steps behind,
holding onto the back of his shirt. The birds and the water seemed to still
also, waiting to see what would happen.

“Are you playing games?” Leandra whispered.

“No, I heard something.”

As he neared the shrubs, out ran a wild rabbit almost
running into Darius and Leandra. Darius breathed a sigh of relief, and felt a
little foolish. Leandra let out a small laugh, and they turned to walk away.

Without any additional warning he heard Leandra scream. Two
arms tried to pull her into the bush where the rabbit had run from. Instinct
settled in. He jumped to intercept the arms that he now saw were connected to a
large, muscular body with strange painting all over the face. Darius had never
seen anything like it. The colorful designs confused his senses. He froze for a
moment physically, yet his mind was already steps ahead in what he must do.

He dove under the bush, reaching for the attacker's legs. He
grabbed onto his shin and pulled the attacker down into the bushes. He heard a
yelp and, from the corner of his eyes, saw Leandra fall and scramble away.

“Run, Leandra!” Darius commanded. A second body jumped onto
him from behind before he could get up and pull out his sword. He bucked his
legs to throw this second assailant over him and into the bush. He didn't quite
make it, but was successful enough to get up off of the ground, only to see the
first man starting to run after Leandra. She started to run towards the lake
and would soon be trapped between the water and the painted man. He wondered if
she knew how to swim. Maybe the stranger did also. Of course, even a few
minutes in the near-freezing water could cause problems.

Darius sprinted towards her as he searched the ground for
something to throw. He spotted a thick stick and scooped it up without breaking
his stride. The second man was gaining on him, but Darius didn't dare break his
concentration.

Darius realized he wouldn't be able to reach Leandra in
time, so he skidded to a sudden stop and drew upon his growing powers. The back
of the man’s head seemed to grow in his vision, as his bow targets always had.
He threw the stick with ferocious speed, end over end towards the attacker. As
soon as he did so, he dropped to the ground just in time for the second man,
who thought he had Darius, to fall over him. When the man stood up Darius
pushed his right hand towards the second attacker, knocking him back with a
hard push of air. Darius reached over to grab the wild-looking man, but the
man's head had hit a rock and he wasn't moving.

Leandra yelled, a high-pitched scream splitting the air.

Darius turned his attention back to her. His earlier
stick-throw had hit the mark and knocked the first man down, but he was
starting to get up again. Darius covered the distance with inhuman speed.
Pulling out his sword, he brought it above his head and was about to slice the
man when he heard a voice emerging from the trees.

“Darius, stop!” A deep, gruff voice echoed through the
valley.

Barely controlling his sword arm from running through the
man, he turned just in time to only scrape the man’s shoulder. It was still painful,
and the man howled out in anguish. Ready for another fight, Darius turned
towards the voice.

 Cray stood beside a tree, arms folded. Anger and pleasure
crossed over his face at almost the same time. Leandra came and grabbed hold of
Darius’s arm, almost sobbing with fright. She was shaking, and he felt the need
to comfort the poor girl. Marks of tears spread down on her unblemished face.

“You did well, Darius,” said Cray as he started to approach.
“Better than I would have expected. Much better.”

Darius breathing hard and feeling bewildered asked, “What
are you talking about? They tried to attack us.”

“I sent them, Darius. They are part of your test.”

“What!” yelled Darius becoming furious, “Who do you think
you are? Don't I have any privacy?”

“You must learn to defend yourself in any type of situation.
You actually did do quite well,” he said to Darius as he motioned for the other
two men to join him.

The first man, whom Darius had knocked down with the flying
stick, had been trying to help the other man up. The second man had a large
gash on his head and shoulder and barely stood without fainting. They did not
look well.

“I am sure my two friends here wished you weren't so good.”
Cray motioned to the two attackers.

Darius started to bring his hand up towards Cray in anger.
The power began boiling in him. It needed a release. He did not like getting
tricked. The power made him want to lash out.

“Darius.” Cray’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. “Make
sure you know who your friends and enemies are. You do not want to make enemies
out of friends.”

“And who are you, Cray . . . friend or enemy?”

“It depends on whose side you’re on, doesn't it?” Cray
mocked with a crooked half-smile.

“My friends don't attack me!” Darius shook with rage
. Who
are my friends? Do I have anyone I can trust anymore?

Darius wanted to be alone, but he felt the need to make sure
Leandra was all right. This was not her doing. He grabbed her hand and with
large steps walked back towards the camp.

“Sometimes friends must attack to make you stronger,” yelled
Cray after the young commander. “Far worse are enemies who hide and deceive
until it is too late. Sometimes the enemy is even within.”

Darius turned back around so quickly Leandra lost her
footing and would have fallen if Darius hadn’t caught her with his arm.

Cray turned and helped his two men back to the camp. They
would both need medical attention.

Leandra walked beside Darius, shaking and afraid. Darius
wondered how much she had seen and what she was thinking.

“Thank you for protecting me, Darius. You’re very brave.”
She snuggled up closer to him.

Darius stopped and wondered if he should try to explain
anything. His physical body was exhausted and drained. All he wanted was sleep.
Leandra must be tired too, and he was not in the mood for any explanations or
for any romance
.

“I will walk you to your cabin. You need to rest,” said
Darius with exhaustion apparent in his voice. “I will talk to you later.”

Standing at the large cabin that housed all the female
staff, Leandra rose up slightly on her toes and kissed Darius again on his
check. It was soft and warm and lingered as if wanting more. He wished it was
Christine. He could use her support right now. She would understand him. He
sighed deeply.

Darius wanted to say something more, but his mind was too
tired. Instead he gave a short nod. “My lady, I hope you were not hurt. I’m
sorry that you didn’t get the walk that you wanted.”

Leandra smiled back and reluctantly removed her hand from
his and walked into her cabin. “You are definitely exciting to be around,
Commander. I look forward to our next walk, hopefully in less strenuous
circumstances.”

Darius just nodded. He wouldn’t mind another walk. It had
been nice at first. He smiled slightly, remembering the water that she had thrown
in his face.

Within five minutes, Darius found himself back in his own
cabin. Everyone else was out training still. Every time his power surged and
was used he felt tired. He lay back on his bed and thought about what had
happened. Before long, he fell asleep.

THE EMPIRE OF GILDAN

M
ezar sat in the ante-chamber
of the lavish palace, high on the hill overlooking Gildan, the capital and
royal city of the Gildanian Empire. The young man had been made an officer in
Emperor Alrishitar’s army just six months earlier. His father, the general,
currently met on the other side of the door with the Emperor himself. They were
deciding on Mezar’s first mission.

The young man stood and smoothed down his red uniform,
shifting his silver sword to lay in a more comfortable manner on his hip. An
arched window stood opposite him, and he made his way over to the opening. He
opened the glass casement and let a slight breeze blow across his brown skin
and ruffle his shoulder-length dark black hair. With a young-looking face, and
only of average build, he looked older with his hair down, although it was not
in keeping with the current fashions of tying it back.

The sun spread its morning rays through the late autumn air,
sending sparkling reflections onto the domed white rooftops. Mezar had lived in
Gildan his entire life. He knew the city well and loved his homeland. Gildan
was clean, secure, and beautiful, unlike some of the other cities in
neighboring kingdoms. His dark eyebrows furrowed over his slightly tilted eyes
at the thought that at least that was what he had been told in class. He was
somewhat sheltered in his young life, and as yet had not been allowed to travel
outside the empire, and hardly into the other provinces of his own kingdom. He
knew it was for his protection due to his family line, but he still wished to
see more for himself.

A serving girl walked through the room, with a tray of
breads and meats from the kitchen being taken to some noble somewhere in the
palatial complex. Mezar smiled at the girl and she began to curtsy. As she did
so, the tray slipped from her hands. Mezar, with a graceful, unmatched speed,
caught the tray within inches from leaving her hands, steadied the silver
platter, and gave it back to her with another smile. The girl, all flustered
now, turned red and headed out of the open chamber.

Mezar tried to remember her name, but there were too many to
remember. He felt bad, but most of his time of late had been spent outside the
palace at the training camp south of the city. He put his hand on the hilt of
his sword and smiled. He thought about the time away. He had enjoyed it and had
learned a lot. Many young men his age, if they did not have another trade to
apprentice to, went into the army for a few years. With his father, the
general, he didn’t have much choice in the matter, but it really was what he
wanted to do anyways.

Even though the empire hadn’t fought a major war in a very
long time, he did get a sense that tensions were beginning to run high with
some of its closest neighbors. The King of the Realm didn’t have an heir, the
Kingdom of Arc had started military drills on their borders, and the smaller
United Territories to the south had shown more bickering among themselves than
usual. For these reasons the Emperor had taken steps to strengthen his army in
recent months.

Mezar, still standing and reminiscing when the door to the
throne room opened, jumped out of his thoughts. His father marched out, lips
held tight and his face red, his anger barely held in check. “Mezar, the mighty
Emperor will see you now.”

Mezar’s brown eyes opened wide at the comment. The sarcastic
reference to the Emperor by his father, the general, showed more than anything
the obvious outcome of their meeting.

Mezar decided to say nothing, walking past the general into
the larger room. Gold and silver adorned the throne room. Ancient vases,
sculptures, and weapons hung around the gold-trimmed, red-painted walls with an
obvious show of the empire’s wealth. He remembered coming into this room as a
small child, yet even at twenty-one years old, he still felt dwarfed by its
overbearing opulence.

Emperor Alrishitar, dressed in his royal red robes, sat on
his golden throne, flanked by leopards made from silver. He looked almost as
frustrated as his father had upon leaving the room. Mezar wasn’t sure if he
wanted to meet with the Emperor or not in this current mood. He decided that
protocol necessitated his greeting.

Upon approaching the throne by way of the red carpet leading
to it, he stopped mid-way and bowed himself low. Keeping his waist bent and
head down, he recited a royal greeting that should suffice in the present
situation.

“Emperor of the Sun, brighter than the stars, your wisdom
guides us in the light. May thy humbled servant enter thy presence?” The words
were spoken in ancient Gildan as ceremony dictated. More modern Gildan was
simpler, and though different from the languages of the Realm and the Kingdom
of Arc, some newer, common words were used throughout the three western kingdoms.

Mezar heard a deep sigh emanate from the Emperor, then,
“Mezar, my young boy, no need for such formality between us. Rise and come
forward.”

Mezar rose, but still proceeded with caution. This was the
supreme leader of all of the Gildanian Empire. His moods could be fickle, and
even though peace had reigned for most of his time, his moments of rage were
also legendary. Mezar cringed at the thought of seeing that rage firsthand,
when as a young boy he had snuck to the back of the throne room and hidden
behind the curtains. He moved his hand over his backside, still feeling the
sting of the memory in his mind. He had behaved after that and won the heart of
Emperor Alrishitar.

The Emperor smiled. “You no doubt saw the general’s face as
he left my chambers?”

Mezar only nodded.

“Do not be alarmed. Haven’t I always told you, you were my
favorite?” The Emperor chuckled to himself.

Mezar was surprised at the admission in the throne room.
“Your Highness, you should not say that here.”

“And why is that, young Mezar? Are you afraid of your
brother’s ghost coming to haunt you?”

“No. No.” Mezar stumbled a moment. His older brother had
died of a fevered sickness the prior year. The wizards had done all they could
for him, but they had suspected some kind of poison that had been beyond their
powers to heal. His brother and the emperor had not seen eye to eye on things.
His brother had been a lot like his father.

The Emperor stood. “Come, let’s take some refreshments in my
study, where prying eyes will not overhear our conversation.”

Mezar looked around the room, wondering whom the Emperor
referred to. He stepped up to the elderly monarch and held out his arm for the
older man to use as support. The emperor’s mind was still bright and fresh, but
his aged years had begun to catch up to him physically.

They entered the private study, and with a flash of his
hand, the Emperor lit the lamps in the room. Mezar smiled at the use of the
power.

The emperors of Gildan were in a long line of those who,
besides accepting the monarchy, were also wizards. Emperor Alrishitar, while
not one of the most powerful in recent times, was known to have a fine finesse
of the powers that he did hold. Out of the powers of the heart, mind, and earth
this emperor was strongest in the powers of the mind.

Mezar poured some fresh pomegranate juice for the two of
them and sat down opposite his leader. The Emperor took an apple and cut it
with a long knife, then sat back, and after eating a few pieces looked with
intent at his young friend.

“Mezar, your father and I disagree on the course of action
to take at this time. I am always wont for more caution, while your father, the
general, tends to be more aggressive in his desires. I am afraid there are many
who follow his lead. However, for the time being, I am still the Emperor while
I am alive.”

“Your Highness, you have a long time still.” Mezar rushed to
defend the sole ruler of Gildan.

The Emperor waved his hand at Mezar. “We never know how much
time we have, though I agree with you. I am not yet ready to give up my throne.
Don’t worry about that for now. I can rein in your father’s cronies.”

Mezar didn’t like the division he observed occurring between
his father and the Emperor. Things could get dangerous for the empire, and for
him personally if the army split from the throne. “Sire, what is it you would
like for me to do?”

The Emperor smiled. “Now, I do temper things with caution,
but I am not above stirring the pot a little and seeing how others react. We do
need to know what is going on with our neighbors, and you have some unique
capabilities that I would like to draw upon for your first assignment.”

The ultimate authority in the Gildanian Empire then
proceeded to tell young Mezar what the plan would be. At first Mezar sat
astonished, but then he smiled at the wonderful opportunity he was being given.
At last he would step foot outside of the empire. Finally he would see the
world around him.