The King's Ancestors

by Robin Simmons

  The King’s Ancestors

  Book Two in the Trilogy of Glenfair

  By

  Robin Simmons

  

  Contents

  Chapter 1A Balanced Kingdom

  Chapter 2New Secrets

  Chapter 3The Appearance of Evil

  Chapter 4Confronting Your Fears

  Chapter 5The King’s Ancestors

  Chapter 6Another Time, Another Place

  Chapter 7The Battle For All Ages

  Chapter 8Undoing The Evil

  Chapter 9Reunion

  

  The King’s Ancestors

  Book 2 of the Kingdom of Glenfair

  Prologue:

  “Is everyone here?” Daniel asked. Uriah nodded, they were both appalled at the number of people who secretly came to make the leap in time. There were over forty people who had found out about something that was supposed to be a secret.

  “This cannot work,” Uriah said. “Surely with all these people here, someone has made a mistake and Layton Teal will find us, and then we are all as good as dead.

  “I would rather die than live a moment longer under a tyrant as cruel as Layton,” Daniel echoed. “And it seems that everyone else who has gathered here feels the same way.”

  The scientist, Samuel came over as Daniel spoke, followed by Merry Sheldon.

  Looking at the scientist Daniel asked, “Are you sure the stones will work?”

  Samuel frowned, “In theory yes, but we have never tried to move this much mass with the isolinear resonating stone before. Everything now depends upon Merry.” All three of them looked at Merry Sheldon, the woman who possessed a very rare ability to shift time. All of their plans and hopes rested on her ability to take them and their equipment far away from the iron grasp of Layton Teal.

  Daniel gathered the people around the equipment and raised his hand to speak. “If any of you has a doubt about going, now is the time to leave.” No one said a word so Daniel continued, “Then it is time for us to go.”

  “Where are we going?” someone from the back shouted.

  Daniel smiled, “We are going back in time, back to where history begins.” Then looking at Merry Sheldon he said softly; “Go ahead, take us there Merry.”

  Merry Sheldon concentrated with all her might on the time and place so far back in time. The isolinear stone glowed and their surroundings began to shimmer and fade. Just when everyone started to feel frightened and lost, their surroundings began to take shape once again. Everyone found themselves standing in the middle of a beautiful, green valley beside a lake, four thousand years in the past. Cheers arose from the people as they realized their dreams of being free had come true. Daniel was congratulating Samuel, and Merry threw her arms around Uriah, hugging him tightly.

  “We are free of Layton Teal forever!” she said. Uriah smiled as he held Merry, but the joy was not there. Was it possible to really be free from Layton Teal? Somehow he did not think so....

  Chapter 1

  A Balanced Kingdom

  “When everything goest right, thou shouldest take heed to thyself, for temptation, trials, and disaster follow in the steps of good fortune.”

  --Chronicles of the Ancients

  The story I related in part to you of Glenfair’s shaky but noble history, of how the kingdom was almost torn apart by mistrust and then healed, and how a king rose from the nobility to govern his people not with the sword but the heart, is only the beginning of the tales of Raven Kallestor and his friends. An adventure of yet greater peril awaits them all.

  So many things had happened to alter Raven Kallestor’s life since the great war. Actually it was not a big war as wars go, but it was the only war that Glenfair had ever fought. He had become in that sole battle the hero of Glenfair by defeating the invading army of the Wickshields, and then king of Glenfair after his father’s death. Raven had never viewed his actions in the battle as heroic, he had worn some of the armor of the first kings and dukes of Glenfair he had found in his castle. While not making a person immortal, it did give him a great advantage over the conventional armor of the day. Raven tried to reveal that truth when he gave each duke their ancestor’s armor, equal to his own, but they still hailed him as a hero.

  As transforming as the battle had been for Raven, the greatest change came as he pursued the riddles of the ancients. With the help of his best friend Andrew Crestlaw, his wife Rebekka, and his sister Lorriel, they solved the riddles that led them to the place where the wisdom of the ancients was kept above Brickens' Falls. They not only found the wisdom of the ancients stored there, but an old man named Andronicus who was actually an android left behind by the ancients to watch over the kingdom of Glenfair.

  From Andronicus they learned about their inherited talents: Raven’s incredible reflexes, and gifts as a warrior in battle. Rebekka’s telepathic ability. Andrew with his ability to understand technologies far beyond his day. And lastly, Lorriel, who had inherited the ability to shift time.

  Her’s was the most fantastic gift, and the most dangerous to use. To travel in time carried grave responsibility which Lorriel had already learned by going back in time to save her mother from the death of a most terrible plague. Although her action did not dramatically affect the kingdom, it had caused considerable pain for her mother and immediate family. This had brought about the formation of the time council. The council consisted of Raven, Andrew, Rebekka, their mother and Andronicus which would convene before Lorriel would ever attempt to shift time again. This council would act in an advisory fashion, trying to determine any adverse effects Lorriel’s time travel would have. To this Lorriel agreed after seeing the pain she had inadvertently caused her mother. She promised never to shift time without the council convening first.

  Just as Lorriel had a time council to give wisdom and direction about the possible adverse affects of time travel, so too, King Raven had an advisory council to help him with running the kingdom. The council was formed at Raven’s coronation when he attempted to give the throne to the Crestlaws. They refused to accept it and had rushed Raven back inside the castle for a conference with some of his closest friends. That circle of friends who loved him dearly, was made up of Sauron Crestlaw, his son Andrew, Rebekka Prescott, his sister Lorriel, and Master Fields who was Raven’s mentor and weapons instructor. He made them promise two things that day if he was to be their king. One, to be his advisors, and to keep him from making the same mistakes his father had made. And two, for Rebekka Prescott to be his queen. To this they all agreed, especially Rebekka.

  What followed was a grand coronation and a double wedding a short time after, for Lorriel his sister and his best friend Andrew Crestlaw were married along with the king and queen.

  What Raven Kallestor did not know, was the that his leadership coupled with that of his friends helped to bring about the greatest peace and prosperity Glenfair had ever known in her 1000 year history. This was due in part to the trust he had built between himself and his four dukes, for the kingdom’s strength depended on that trust and cooperation. No other kingdom functioned the way Glenfair did. The dukes willingly placed themselves under the king’s law and took the guarding of their respective passes very seriously, especially in light of the recent war. In exchange for guarding their passes, each duke was given freedom to rule his lands as he saw fit. Tribute was collected only once a year from each dukeship and was not overly burdensome. The collection took place in the summer for the two southern dukeships and in the fall from the two northern dukeships. Each of these collections proceeded a feast provided by the king. It was easier for the people to pay the tribute when they knew a portion of what they gave went to providing the feasts. The king’s sum
mer and fall feasts were a time of great rejoicing and celebration throughout the kingdom, and more so since Raven had become king. Because of this the dukes gladly paid their tribute, but none more gladly than the Crestlaw dukeship, who always gave more than they were asked. They were the most loyal to the throne because their dukeship was given to them by the Kallestors.

  The Kallestors had not always been the kingly line, in fact they ruled the northwest dukeship for 600 years, and a family named Brickens were the kings. But about 400 years ago when the Brickens had failed to produce an heir, and the old king had died, Damen Kallestor was chosen to be king by the other dukes. He then gave his vacated dukeship to an honorable but poor family, the Crestlaws who vowed never to forget the generosity of their new king. Thus, for successive generations the Crestlaws pledged loyalty to the Kallestors, leaving the Kallestor crest hanging in the great hall of their castle encircling it with the this pledge:

  “To the bearer of this seal we do pledge our allegiance with our lives forever.”

  Now that Raven had given the Crestlaws the Brickens’ former crest, armor and ring, they were even more loyal. Besides this, Andrew and Raven were the best of friends, and Raven looked to Sauron Crestlaw as he would a father.

  Thus the land grew and prospered under Raven’s rule. The kingdom was not without difficulties or problems, but they were solved justly and with the kingdom’s best interest at heart, which brought Raven to the present crisis facing the kingdom.

  Balcor Zandel, the duke of the south east was ill and was not expected to live much longer. Raven wondered with the passing of Balcor, how his son Mason would rule the dukeship, for Mason had a hard edge to his character and leaned toward cruelty at times. Not that Raven knew Mason very well at all, but his hardness and cruelty were well known at the summer feast’s dueling competitions, where he had injured a few opponents in his duels. Raven remembered his own duel with Mason and the shrewd drawing of the knife that would have surely drawn his blood had not Raven knocked Mason down with an unexpected blow to his chin. Raven had made the best of a bad situation by complementing Mason’s smooth quick draw of his knife. This gained Mason’s respect and tempered his loss in front of the crowds. How much Mason respected him Raven did not know, but something during the great war came flooding back to his memory. It was during the war council their eyes had met and he saw in them, and the nod Mason gave him, that they were fellow warriors in this fight. And when the battle had ended, Mason was the first to recognize the great slaughter Raven had inflicted upon the Wickshields and led the chant, “victory to prince Raven”. However, that was many years ago, and this was the time when the power of a dukeship would change hands. Raven believed he still had Mason’s respect, but that was not what Raven wanted. He wanted a duke who would be just and kind to his people, and put the welfare of the kingdom ahead of his own ambitions. Of that Raven was not sure, and he had no idea what to do about it either.

  At the moment though, there was nothing to do but wait for the inevitable outcome of Balcor’s condition, which was surely to end in death. It was not that Raven would not help Balcor recover if he could, he was a good duke and was well loved by his people. Raven had helped people in sickness before by finding a cure for a terrible plague that had crippled the northeast dukeship. It was Andrew actually who had found the cure by using the wisdom of the ancients which was stored in the machine at the glass mansion above Brickens' Falls where Andronicus lived.

  Because of Andrew’s grasp of the wisdom of the ancients he had consulted Andrew on what could be done for Balcor. Andrew left for a couple of days with Lorriel and visited Andronicus and searched the wisdom of the ancients. When he returned he wore a grave expression and informed the king that there was little they could do for Balcor’s heart condition. When Raven questioned him further he explained there was a medical surgery that could extend Balcor’s life and he understood how it was performed. But they had neither the tools nor the skills necessary to perform such a procedure. And even if they could, Andrew believed they should not. For the Ancients had left their medical technology behind to start their life in Glenfair, and to perform such an operation would be too much out of character for the time in which they lived. To this Raven sadly agreed so they all waited for nature to take its course and Balcor’s heart to finally give out. Raven knew it would not be long from the last report he had heard on Balcor’s condition.

  You have lived a good life, Raven thought to himself, an honor to your family name.

  Raven leaned on the railing of the balcony that overlooked the courtyard of the king’s castle. It was a beautiful day and he was thinking how great life in Glenfair was. There were many demanding duties of a king, but he separated those from his personal life which enabled him to enjoy his family and friends like anyone else.

  He heard the steps behind him and greeted Rebekka without turning around, “How is my wonderful wife today, your steps are getting heavier”.

  As he turned and looked, Rebekka was smiling, her stomach showing the early signs of their child growing within her. He focused on her face and saw the glow that comes from a mother joyful in her pregnancy. Then his eyes caught movement and out from behind her came bounding little Edward. He had just turned five and was a bundle of joy to the both of them. How good God had been to them to give them a son and now a second child was on the way.

  Raven always took advantage of these opportunities to share with his son, first his love and second the laws of God that would aid him someday in being king over Glenfair. He kneeled down and took Edward in his arms and hugged him.

  He then asked him a question, “Do you like people to be kind and good to you?” Little Edward narrowed his eyes in thought, for he knew this was a teaching question by the way his father had asked it and said; “Yes father I do like people to be kind to me.”

  “Then,” answered Raven, “you must always treat others as you wish them to treat you, do you understand?”

  Little Edward nodded and then asked, “What if people are mean to you instead of being kind?”

  Raven smiled at the depth of the simple question Edward had asked, “You must always try to be good and kind to people even if they are not kind to you.”

  “But what if they are really mean, and real bad, and want to hurt you,” Little Edward asked.

  Now Raven frowned, these were not easy questions simply answered for a young boy, but he had begun this so he would do his best to answer them.

  “You must do all you can to settle disputes peacefully, but if that does not work you must protect yourself, your family, or your kingdom from harm by defending them by force if necessary.”

  Little Edwards eyes grew very large and he said knowingly, “Like the great war?”

  “Yes,” was all Raven said.

  “Did you like fighting in the war?” Edward asked while he squirmed in Raven’s arms swinging an imaginary sword.

  So Raven put him down and answered softly, for he knew that boys always fight imaginary wars and tended to glorify combat, “No Edward, I did not like the war. People die in war” (he said this to no one in particular as it took his thoughts back to that terrible time).

  Little Edward was more subdued now and only said; “Like uncle Edward? You named me after him, did you not father?”

  Raven’s thoughts were once again focused on his little son as he spoke; “Yes I did. You see, when the Wickshield army came into Glenfair, we asked them to leave peaceably but they would not. So a war was fought to protect the people of Glenfair. Many people died in the battle including your uncle Edward.”

  “I wish he were still here so I could play with him,” Edward said and then ran off to play.

  “I do too,” Raven said softly.

  He then felt in his mind a soft sigh and turned to look at Rebekka who stood there viewing Raven with a tear running down her cheek.

  “It never seems to go away does it,” Rebekka said of the pain she knew Raven must feel
thinking back on Edward’s death.

  Raven went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. He held her a while saying nothing but feeling her bulging tummy pressed to his.

  “It is ok,” Raven said, “I do not think about the battle as much as I used to. I try to focus on what we have now.”

  While saying this he patted her tummy and thought about the blessings of a growing family. He also thought of Andrew and Lorriel and their two children. They had a son, Jason, about the same age as Edward, and a daughter, Lucinda about two years old. The two boys already were good friends and liked playing together very much when they visited each other.

  Raven’s thoughts were shaken by someone calling to them. Rebekka and Raven turned to see his mother Joanna, who they called aunt Jessica, calling them to breakfast.

  It was strange calling her aunt Jessica, but they were used to it now. They did so because everyone else except Lorriel and Andrew thought their mother dead.

  Lorriel had gone back in time and had saved their mother’s life from a terrible plague, but everyone else in the kingdom thought she had died. A few years later their mother was able to return with Raven from the mansion of glass where Andronicus lived with the new identity as the long lost aunt Jessica.

  When Master Fields first met her, and saw the obvious affection between her and Raven he was very uneasy, almost afraid and confided in Raven; “She looks and sounds just like your mother, it is unnatural.”

  Raven only said; “She has become like a mother to me, and aunt Jessica will be living with us from now on.”