The False Prince (Fall Of A King Book 1)

by Fuller, James

  Ursa could feel the raw energy all around him - it made the hairs on his arms and neck tingle. It had been so long since he had last been to Solmis' Haven, but he still remembered it - down to the last blade of grass. He had spent the better part of his youth here - learning, training and practicing in the arts of his Gift. It felt like yesterday since he had been in the same spot he walked now, casting his first spell - a bolt of energy that he did not release in time and had left him very sore and humbled.

  He chuckled at the memory - it reminded him of Meath's first attempt at the same spell. Ursa smiled widely and shook his head; in his youth he had been so much like Meath. The questions, the eagerness, the stubbornness and even the attitude, yes, how they all seemed to fit, more than one would have thought, since Ursa was not his blood father.

  He came to a well-worn path that led to a thickly wooded area - beyond those trees was the man he had come all this way to see. The man who, in so many ways, was the closest thing to a father he had ever truly known and respected. A man who had changed his life and gave him an opportunity to be something more than what he was becoming.

  Ursa released the reins so his horse could graze freely on the sweet, grass and cloves of Solmis' Haven. Then he began down the path into the woods toward the large stone and log cabin that waited. It was not a long walk, but each step brought back many memories - all of them made Ursa smile wider. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the same cabin that he had lived in for so many years. A place he would always call home. Excitement welled up inside of him like a child about to receive a Gift - he could not wait to see Solmis again, though he knew he could not stay long to reminisce with his old mentor, he would be sure to come and visit again as soon as possible. He had promised Meath once everything was put right that they would travel - this would be among one of the places they would visit.

  Ursa knocked firmly on the door and waited. Several long moments passed and still nothing inside the cabin stirred. Ursa knocked again, then slowly pushed the door open, almost expecting a word to be expelled to detour him any further. Familiar smells assaulted his nose, from the mint and pine leaves Solmis used for his tea, to the smell of oak and cedar that the cabin was built from - it even smelled the same.

  Ursa looked over to the low burning hearth. It was emanating just enough light in the dark corner to show Solmis form sitting in his cushioned chair, where he spent many hours in meditation or just relaxing watching the flames of the undying fire. It had been over thirty years since Ursa had seen his mentor, and from what Ursa could see, he had barely aged at all. Solmis had been somewhere in his sixties when Ursa had first arrived more than a half-century ago. Ursa was not surprised that the man was still alive. He had heard stories about Solmis' Haven being enchanted and those who stayed there would live long past their expected years.

  Ursa waited, not sure how to approach his old Master and friend - he was beginning to wonder if the old hermit even realized anyone was in the house with him. The man in the chair did not stir an inch or voice any words. Maybe time had finally gotten to the old Wizard - the thought almost brought a tear to Ursa's eyes. No, it was a test, he was sure of it.

  "After all these years, you still feel the need to test me?" Ursa asked, about to take a step toward him when he was assaulted with an uneasy feeling.

  "Another step and you will find yourself to be a dead man," a woman's voice said coolly from behind him. "Who are you and what do you want?"

  Ursa fought the urge to spin around and attack, "My name is Ursa and I came here to see my old friend and mentor about some deeply urgent matters," he replied calmly, listening intently for any movements to indicate exactly where she was.

  "You make it a habit of just letting yourself into other people's homes without being invited," the woman's scowl deepened, stern lines edging her face.

  "I knocked, and when there was no response I began to fear the worst for my dear friend and thought it acceptable to let myself in to check on him. But it seems I was not cautious enough," Ursa replied, his voice hinting dangerous intent. "What have you done with Solmis?" he questioned.

  "I have done nothing with Solmis," the woman shot back. "Now turn around slowly," she ordered. "And do not think to try anything foolish or I will kill you."

  Ursa gritted his teeth, resisted the temptation to attack, put his hands out to the side, and slowly turned to face the fiery red haired woman who held a finely crafted staff pointed straight at his chest. He could tell she meant what she said, for the staff's head was fitted with a perfectly round obsidian gem that swirled and sparked with raw power, ready to be expelled at either a thought or command word.

  "What would you like now?" Ursa asked politely. He could tell she was nervous - her blue eyes radiated uncertainty and her slender frame was fidgeting with insecurity.

  She licked her lips nervously. "If you are who you say you are, then you will not mind answering a question."

  "I will answer to the best of my ability," Ursa replied with a slight bow of his head.

  "What was Master Solmis' favorite spell?" she asked, shifting her weight slightly onto her back leg, preparing to defend herself if Ursa attacked.

  "He always favored ice, believing it was more natural and powerful to fire," Ursa answered.

  The woman eyed him for a long moment before lowering the staff - the obsidian orb blackened and the unnatural light faded from the sphere as she relaxed. "My name is Talena and I am sorry, but I had to be sure it was you, I was told to take no chances."

  "I understand - I would have done the same if I were you." Ursa relaxed his posture. "Now it is imperative that I speak with Solmis!"

  Talena flinched at the name. "I am afraid that is impossible."

  "What do you mean?" Ursa questioned, looking back to where he had seen Solmis in his chair but now there was nothing - then it dawned on him that Talena had questioned him in past tense.

  "He passed last winter," Talena said, knowing that is what he was wondering.

  Again, grief struck him - another of the people he loved was gone. "And you?" Ursa asked. "Who are you and where do you fit in?"

  "I will tell you all you need to know on the way. We must not waste any time - we need to get going," Talena pressed, reaching for a pre-packed bag near the door.

  "What do you mean we need to depart? I am here for reasons of great import and I cannot leave until I find what I am looking for," Ursa countered, searching the room with his eyes for any sign of the dagger.

  "You are looking for the dagger of Tabal. You need it so you will be able to identify the false prince, no matter what form he is hiding behind. I have the dagger with me."

  Ursa stopped in his tracks and turned back to her, his mouth slightly agape. "How did you know that?"

  "I will explain everything on the way, I promise, but we must hurry. We are wasting valuable time," she urged him.

  Ursa followed her out onto the cabin's cedar deck and stopped. "Where are we going and why such a hurry?" he question, still not sure of the situation that was occurring.

  Talena stopped and sighed in frustration. "We need to reach Dragon's Cove quickly. An army of barbarians - the size of which has not been seen in a score of decades - is marching there as we speak. If we are not within the castle walls before they arrive, everyone within the walls will die."

  Ursa's face went ashen. "How do you know this to be true?"

  Talena walked up to Ursa and stood face-to-face with him, her blue eyes glistening with urgency. "I promise you, I will explain everything on the way. But I need you to trust me right now, and Solmis, for he is the one who has prepared me to help you. If we do not leave right now, everyone you know will die."

  They rode hard through the day and stopped for the night only when the final rays of sun faded from sight. Ursa had wanted to keep going, but knew the horses were exhausted and the terrain was hazardous even in the light. They could not afford to risk injury to their mounts.

  Ursa tended to the
horses while Talena gathered wood for a small fire and began mixing several leather-wrapped ingredients that she had packed into a small tin pot to make soup.

  Ursa finally sat down on the opposite side of the fire and inhaled the flavorful aroma that steamed from the pot.

  "I was Solmis' last apprentice for the last half score of years," Talena said, stirring the continence of the pot. "He never intended on taking in another apprentice for his final years, but quickly dismissed the idea after he had a very disturbing vision of the future to come. At first, he decided not to concern himself with the outcome, for it would be after his time on this earth, but then he came to reason that he was granted the vision from the Creator in hopes he could change its outcome. He knew he would pass before the vision would begin to take place; therefore, he knew he would need someone to carry out his will after he had left this world. That is where I come in." She paused and tested the soup. Satisfied with its taste, she poured the broth into two tin mugs and handed one to Ursa along with a small loaf of flavored flat bread. "Solmis left his dwellings and went to the city of Kaltra near Ceta Lake in search of an untrained Gifted. It was truly happenstance that we came upon one another. I was one of the city whores. My parents died when I was young and I had no other family to take me in. I did what I had to, to survive. I saw Solmis in the market, noticed his bulging coin purse and approached him. My thought was even if he did not want my flesh - I could easily overpower him and take his coins. I knew I had the Gift. My parents had told me, though they told me never to tell a soul. On two occasions when I found myself in a very precarious situation, I had summoned my Gift by chance, but I was confident that I could do it when needed. I approached him and tried to sell my wares, but as expected, he refused. So, I followed him and when the time was ripe, I tried to rob him. To my surprise, I soon discovered he was Gifted too. I was sure he was going to kill me so I unleashed my Gift and tried to save myself." Talena paused and smiled, remembering the memory fondly. "He tossed me his whole coin purse and told me that if that is all I wanted out of life then there it was, but if I wanted to change my life forever to meet him at the northern gates at sunrise. All night I fought with the idea, I had more than enough coin in the purse to live like a Lord for a very long time, yet his words burned into my soul and would not allow me to sleep. On the journey to Solmis' Haven, he explained to me what it was he needed and expected of me. He did not try to lie or hide any of the truths behind it. Once we reached Solmis' Haven, every waking moment was dedicated to training me for this single purpose of ensuring his dark vision did not play out as it had in his mind."

  "Did he tell you his vision?" Ursa asked, finishing off his soup.

  Talena nodded. "Yes, but I cannot tell you yet - please do not ask. If you were to know the details, things may not work out as they must and then this all would be for naught."

  Ursa had expected as much and so he did not press the subject. "May I see the dagger of Tabal?"

  Talena smiled and pulled her staff to rest across her legs. "It is in here now."

  Ursa gazed at her, perplexed. "I am not sure I follow you." When he had first seen the magical weapon pointed at him, it had appeared to be no different from many other enchanted staves he had seen in his time. Its gnarled appearance resembled some long ago petrified oak, or other powerful tree. Now that he looked closely, he could see that was not the case at all. Yes, there was indeed a base of a wooden staff among the construct but most of what he could see along the length was not wood at all instead it was different shades and colors of melded metals and stones.

  "No, of course not, I shall explain. Near all Solmis' enchanted items are now infused within this staff. After Solmis' vision, he knew you would come to seek his guidance. He also feared he would be long dead before you ever got here, yet he knew he could not search you out and disrupt the flow of events that would lead up to now. He trained me to the best of his abilities with the short amount of time that he had, but that would never be enough. He needed me to have the ability to call upon an immense amount of power, far exceeding my short years of training."

  "So he found a way to fuse together all his enchanted items into one?" Ursa asked, truly confounded by the idea.

  "Even more than that," her eyes flickered off his.

  "What do you mean, more than that?"

  "His research led him to a Shyroni Warlock of unfathomable power and knowledge. Solmis bargained a deal with the Warlock for his help and knowledge in this area."

  Ursa's eyebrow rose. "Solmis bargained a deal with the Shyroni for their help?"

  "Not the Shyroni - one of their powerful Warlocks. He did so behind the backs of the other members, for if they knew of it they would likely kill him," Talena explained.

  "What deal was made? And why would this Warlock risk such a deal?"

  Talena sighed. "When I am done fulfilling what Solmis has prepared me for, then I am to seek the Warlock out and give him the staff."

  Ursa nodded his understanding. The staff was clearly a powerful weapon and one that likely could never be replicated. Once the staff was in the Warlock's hands he would likely be the most powerful among the Shyroni and therefore, their leader. "So Solmis told you how we will defeat the false prince?"

  Talena smiled at him. "As long as he is in the presence of this staff, it will show his true form."

  Ursa nodded. "So what will happen when we reach Dragon's Cove?"

  "I do not know details - all I know is as long as we make it before the enemy does, many lives will be spared."

  Ursa pondered what she had said as he watched her pack away the dishes. He wished he had more to work with on a matter such as this - his mind reeled with defense strategies and scenarios. "So how powerful is that staff?"

  Talena smiled widely, "Very powerful. It is connected to me, to my Gift, except amplified. The elemental summons are stronger, the mind abilities are enhanced and the flow of energy that is uses in me lasts far longer. Alas, the staff's potential far exceeds my abilities to wield it. If I was stronger with my Gift and more experienced, I am sure I would be able to do far more with it than I can. I just pray, that when the time comes, I will be strong enough to do what is needed of me."

  "Do not take so much of the pressure on yourself, you will do fine. I will be with you when we confront the false prince, you need just ensure he cannot hide behind some deceitful identity and I shall see to the rest," Ursa assured her with a gentle smile.

  "Yes, you are right." She smiled back at him anxiously.

  "That could be a very dangerous weapon in the wrong hands." Ursa replied, concern etched in his tone. "We must ensure that it stays safe until it is needed."

  "Yes, it could be," Talena nodded. "But it would do little good to anyone else." Ursa cocked an eyebrow and she continued. "The staff was created for me and during the melding ritual, a sample of my blood was required, I am melded with the staff in a sense. It will only work for me, so there is no need to worry."

  "It is getting late - we should get some sleep. We have a long way to go yet and will need all our wits about us," Ursa said, rolling out his bedroll. "We should be safe within the valley tonight - I see no need for us to stand watch. We will be leaving the valley tomorrow, so enjoy tonight, for tomorrow night we might not have that comfort."

  The weather was dreary and wet and they were soaked with thick summer rain for most of the day. They talked little as they rode as hard as they dared through the sodden day. The rain finally stopped, not long before dusk, and they were lucky enough to make refuge under a thick wayward tree. Ursa allowed a small fire only long enough for them to heat a small pot of tea to warm them so they did not fall ill.

  The next day the sun was hot and dried their damp clothes, warming their chilled bodies. When the sun reached its zenith, they stopped to rest.

  "How did he die?" Ursa asked. It had been a question on his mind since he had first found out, yet other matters had quickly forced his attention away. Now though, he had time to ask. />
  Talena's face went ashen at the question - her eyes darted away from Ursa's. "I am not sure you would want to know." She had hoped to avoid this conversation, but Ursa's eyes pressed the question and she finally relented. "After much study, preparation and guidance from the Shyroni Warlock, Solmis had everything he needed to meld his enchantments into the staff. The only problem was the spell's ritual needed the lifeblood of a Wizard, the more powerful, the better. I begged him to find someone, anyone, but he would not.…" Tears began streaming down her smooth cheeks. "The ritual required his death to be completed."

  Ursa nearly slumped to the ground at the news, but held his legs under him. He knew it should not come as a surprise to him - he knew most rituals Warlocks undertook involved blood sacrifices.

  "Are you all right?" she asked, truly concerned for the older Wizard.

  Ursa was about to reply when an arrow cut through the air and grazed Ursa's side, tearing a deep wound through his flesh, spinning him around and toppling him to the earth. Before he could gather his wits, a dozen armed men rushed through the tree line.

  "It is him!" one man cried over his shoulder to the others. "I knew it was."

  "We have you now, Ursa, you traitorous bastard!" another barked angrily, gripping his sword, eagerly awaiting a fight.

  "What is going on?" Talena asked Ursa, gripping her staff hard, expecting to be attacked, as several bows were pulled taunt.

  "Do not move a hair's breadth or you will feel the sting of a dozen barbed shafts!" the man who looked to be in charge hissed out.

  Ursa sighed and pushed himself up to his knees grimacing from the sting of the arrow wound that he had already begun to heal. He eyed the men around him, he had almost forgotten about the soldiers who would still be looking for Meath, the Princess and himself. These men had probably been out here searching since the first day.