The Path of Decisions

by Mike Shelton

  “Did Richard tell you anything about the ransom?” Sean asked Kelln.

  “Only that they hinted at causing more trouble if they didn’t get it. I don't think he knows who they are. I can't imagine why anyone would kidnap him.”

  “Me either,” said Sean. “He is a fine young man, with a fine future...”

  “What do you know of his future?” asked Kelln. He worried that Sean knew more than he was saying.

  “Only that he is a noble and his father is second in power to the King. He has a life many of us wish for.”

  “From what I saw of him, I don't think he wanted that life,” added Alessandra.

  “Then he is a fool!” Sean almost shouted. “Maybe he is better off where he is.”

  Kelln was becoming more suspicious of Sean. “And where might that be, Sean?”

  Sean coughed. “That’s why we are here, right? To find out.”

  Kelln watched Sean stare into the fire and smile to himself. He brushed his goatee with his fingers and a small chuckle escaped his lips.

  “What do you find so amusing, Sean?”

  “Oh, I was just thinking how no one is ever happy with what they have. Take Darius, for example. He is the son of the King’s closest councilor, with the ability to follow in his footsteps and to become a great councilor with power. Then, over and above that, he has some kind of magical powers giving him even more advantage. But he doesn’t even care about these things. Then there is this Preacher in Belor, who wants change and power but can’t seem to get all he wants.”

  Alessandra looked over at Kelln. Neither of them had told Sean who Alessandra’s father was, but Alessandra shifted uncomfortably.

  Sean continued. “Then, there is you, Kelln. I don’t understand your motivation in all this.”

  “My motivation is to help out my friend. And what do you want, Sean?”

  “Oh, that is easy. I want power and influence.”

  Kelln looked at Sean with distrust. He was hiding something. In fact, as Kelln thought back on the day, it seemed like every time they found a clue, Sean had dismissed it. At first they had trusted in his abilities. Richard had sent him along with them, so Sean must be useful to their task. But the more Kelln thought about it, the more he didn't like having Sean around.

  Kelln felt heaviness within him when he realized the burden he carried in the awesome secret. Why did the councilor trust me? he asked himself repeatedly. Looking over at Alessandra, he longed to tell her the secret. But she had betrayed him twice already, and even though he really wanted to trust her, deep inside he didn’t. Not yet.

  Kelln shook his head at such thoughts. Beautiful, lovely Alessandra. She had been caught in her father's unrighteous quest for power. He felt bad for her and gave her a smile.

  She smiled back at him and moved to lie down inside her blankets. The night was cool, but not uncomfortably so. Soon the small camp fell asleep.

  By lunch the next day no new clues had been found. The small group had moved farther east on Sean’s instructions. He said maybe it would be best to backtrack to Forest View and start from there.

  “We don't have the time,” Kelln explained, becoming angry over Sean’s self-proclaimed role as leader.

  “What is another day, as long as we find him?” said Sean.

  Kelln knew the other two did not feel the urgency he did. “I think we should look closer to the river and farther south. Alessandra has seen some signs.”

  Sean laughed. “The councilor sent me along to be your guide, didn't he? What does Alessandra know about tracking?”

  Kelln had had it. “Look, Sean. You have been leading us around in circles and seem to be ignoring signs we have found. Alessandra grew up outside of the Everlasting Meadows and the south side of the Black Forest. I’m sure she has spent more time out here than you have. I think we should listen to her. You are obviously not getting us anywhere.”

  “Oh, Kelln,” Sean became condescending. “You comprehend so little about politics and power. I have had enough of you two getting in my way and disrupting my plans.”

  Alessandra looked over at Kelln with a look of warning.

  Sean grabbed his sword and began moving toward Alessandra. She had taken off her knife when they sat down to eat, and she eyed it on the ground, too far away from her to do any good.

  Kelln pulled his sword out. “Get away from her.”

  Sean jumped without warning, reaching for Alessandra with his outstretched sword arm. Kelln stared in horror. He was still too far away. Fortunately, Alessandra was quicker than Sean. She jumped to the side and tried to move behind a tree, but on the second swipe from Sean, the sword caught her just below the elbow, drawing a deep gash. She yelled for Kelln and fell behind the tree. Kelln maneuvered up behind Sean and pulled out his own sword.

  The young noble spun around and with wild eyes drove his body into Kelln. The ferocity of the move caught Kelln off balance, and he tripped on a root of one of the old cedar trees.

  Sean brought the sword down hard, but Kelln rolled away to his right, jumped up and regained his footing. Growing up the son of the kingdom’s best swordmaker, Kelln made up in control for what he lacked in size and power. The drills he had gone through in his early days of Belor also came back to him.

  Kelln moved from defensive to offensive. He went after Sean with determination and small, controlled strokes. He pushed him back toward a tree, trying to wear him out so he'd make a mistake.

  Sean fought back hard. Unexpectedly, he dropped and rolled away from Kelln, forcing Kelln to react in an awkward move and almost lose his balance.

  “They didn't teach you that in swordsmanship class, did they?” laughed Sean.

  It was hard to fight a man that didn’t think right or play by the same rules.

  Alessandra picked up a large rock with her unhurt arm and tried to throw it at Sean. The problem was, by the time the rock arrived, Sean and Kelln had changed places in their duel. The rock hit at Kelln’s feet. On reflex, he glanced at the stone.

  The quick diversion was all Sean needed. He drove into Kelln with his sword and sliced him across the thigh. The blood ran down Kelln’s leg, distracting him. Sean was stronger than he had thought and continued advancing forward, forcing Kelln backward into a tree. He was trapped.

  Sean stopped for a moment as he brought the sword closer to Kelln's throat. “I guess it ends here.”

  “What does?” asked Kelln, trying to buy some time. Alessandra began to move. Sean ordered her back or he would slice Kelln’s throat.

  “I will get what I deserve now. I should have power and riches, like Richard. Darius does not deserve what he doesn't want.”

  “What do you know about Darius?” breathed Kelln.

  Sean just laughed. But his laughing was cut short as the point of another sword touched the back of his neck. He straightened, stiff as a board, with surprise plastered on his face. Kelln limped to the side.

  “Who... Who are you?” asked Sean to the brown-skinned man who had a sword at his neck.

  “Not your friend.”

  “Mezar!” Kelln exclaimed, “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s a long story. First, what do you want me to do with him?”

  Kelln glared at Sean. “I could think of a lot of things I would like to do.”

  Sean paled.

  “Just tie him up for now against a tree,” Kelln said.

  Alessandra brought some rope over from her pack, and they tied him to the tree. Sean shouted obscenities at them and yelled until his voice was raw. Finally Mezar put a gag in his mouth so the rest of them could talk. As they did so, they bandaged Alessandra’s arm and Kelln’s leg. Alessandra’s wound was deep, and she had a hard time moving her arm. Mezar wrapped the bandage over Alessandra’s wound, and then held his hand there a few minutes longer. Alessandra gasped and declared how good it felt.

  When Alessandra turned away, Kelln gave Mezar a questioning look. The young Gildanian just smiled and put his finger to his lips. Ke
lln had a hard time believing what he saw. His head exploded with the secrets he held. Darius a wizard, Darius possibly the next king. In addition, now obviously Mezar was some type of wizard also. It was getting too much to bear. He put his hand on his head to steady his headache.

  Alessandra mistook his emotional strain for physical pain. She moved over to him and helped bandage up his leg. The cut was not as deep as they had originally feared.

  Mezar told them what had happened in Forest View and how he had followed the kidnappers and found a cave where they were hiding Darius. He explained to Kelln and Alessandra that he had seen Sean there also, that he seemed to be the leader.

  The hiding place was not far away. It was down the river, where Alessandra had wanted to go all along. They discussed what they would do with Sean. The three decided they would have to bring him along for their plan to work.

  Mezar walked over to Sean and knocked him out with the hilt of Darius’s sword that he still carried. They draped him over the back of his own horse. They looked overhead and saw the sky grow darker still with the clouds of an approaching storm. They hoped to rescue Darius before it hit. Kelln gave his horse to Mezar and he jumped up with Alessandra on hers. Then urging the horses forward, Mezar led them out in quick succession.

  After a short time of riding due south, along the banks of the river, Mezar slowed and warned them they were near. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if resting. When he opened them again he pointed down a small hill around the bend of the roaring river. The constant sound would help mask their approach. It was colder close to the river, and a late spring breeze blew past them.

  They slowed their approach. Through the dense trees they spied two bored guards in casual conversation. Their words drifted on the wind toward them. The men were hoping for a warm meal soon. Obviously, they did not expect visitors.

  Kelln, Mezar, and Alessandra put the plan into action. Alessandra dismounted and hid behind some larger scrub bushes. She was to stay hidden in case something happened. She knew her way around the forest and would be able get back to Anikari in a few hours, quicker than the others could. She would ride to Anikari and inform Richard they had found Darius. If they did not return the next day, then Richard would have to decide what to do. Kelln wondered what she would do if the storm was too fierce, but that was the chance they were all taking. He smiled at Alessandra, and she returned it with a wave of her hand. His heart fluttered a moment at her bravery, and he felt emboldened. He and Mezar moved out on their horses, with Sean still draped across the back of his.

  From the guards’ point of view all of a sudden two men on horses came bounding towards them. Confused shouts erupted. The men raised their weapons.

  “Sean’s been hurt!” yelled Kelln, hoping Sean had used his real name with them. He figured that with Sean’s ego he would have. It appeared he was correct.

  Worried looks crossed their faces as Kelln continued, “Some thieves beat him and left him in the forest. He needs to get inside.” Kelln did all of the talking, as Mezar's slight accent would alert the guards.

  Without hesitation, the guards opened a crude door to what appeared to be a cave inside a rock formation. Kelln and Mezar dismounted from their horses, commanding the guards to tie the animals to a nearby tree. Moving swiftly to gain as much time as possible, the two carried Sean inside. Once inside, they realized it was a rather large cave, divided into different rooms. Others directed them toward an area that Sean used privately. Kelln told them Mezar was a healer and a friend to the cause. During all of the confusion they did not question his lack of speaking. Once Sean was in the secluded area, Kelln informed them the healer needed privacy. They were left alone.

  A short time later, Kelln left Mezar alone with Sean. He had to find out if Darius was really there, but he knew how careful he must be. While wandering the corridor in the small multi-room cave saw he saw a room with a thick wooden door. It had a guard posted outside of it. That must be it.

  “What do you want?” asked the guard. Suspicion lined his young face. The man was much larger than Kelln, with a short black beard and small beady eyes.

  “Sean woke up a little while ago and wanted to know if the prisoner was still here.”

  “Why shouldn't he be? He can’t just disappear now can he? When I took him his last meal, he was just lying on the floor moaning.” The guard laughed. Two large swords hung at his side. Kelln knew he couldn’t fight the man alone. He excused himself and went a little farther to the outside door. Upon his leaving the cave, the same two guards from earlier approached him.

  “No one is supposed to leave here without Sean’s permission,” they stated.

  “I just need to check on our horses. We had to run quickly through the forest to get him here.”

  “All right, but hurry,” said the second guard with a strained voice for the protocol they were violating. Kelln walked over to where the horses were tied. He bent over, pretending to inspect their shoes. He heard a faint rustle through the bushes in front of him.

  Without looking, he whispered to Alessandra. “He's here. But it will be morning before we can get out again.” The sun was quickly leaving the sky ahead of the incoming clouds. “Are you sure you are fine out here alone?”

  “Yes. I should beat the storm back to Anikari. I will steal one of the other horses here. They are tied up loosely on the other side of the cave.”

  Then just as quickly, Alessandra was gone. Kelln hated sending Alessandra alone, but he had to admit to her highly trained skill in the forest. He remembered the first journey they had made together. From Anikari to Belor. It had been Kelln's first time in the Black Forest, and he had been so paranoid. He smiled at the thought as he walked back to the cave.

  Back inside he returned to Sean’s quarters. People were asking questions about him, and Kelln had to keep them away with the guise that Mezar was still seeing to him. Once inside Sean’s room, Kelln pulled some leaves out of his pocket that Alessandra had found earlier. Given to Sean, they would ensure he slept at least through the night. Mezar ground the leaves up, mixed them with water, and poured the liquid down Sean’s throat.

  Looking at Sean lying on the ground, Kelln thought again, for a brief second, of just killing him and doing away with the trouble. He knew, however, that no matter what Sean had done, he couldn't kill like that in cold blood. Also, they would need to use him in order to get Darius freed. Mezar and Kelln sat down on the ground next to Sean and waited until all was quiet.

  Chapter 17

  THE RESCUE

  A few rooms away from Kelln, Darius picked himself off the cold ground and sat on the worn-out cot. He'd lost all sense of time in the dark stone cell, but figured since he was fed a few hours before, it must be late in the evening. He thought about escape until his head hurt, but he found no way out until they brought him out of this room, or until the drug that limited his power wore off. The day before, they had untied his hands and feet. Sean told him he had to go help Richard but would be back soon. Darius hoped his father could see through Sean’s antics and send help soon.

  He continued trying to reach for his power. He knew it was close, but they must be putting something in his food. He thought about not eating but decided he needed his physical strength more than his magical strength. He trusted it more, anyway.

  His time thinking had brought him to the conclusion that Sean was correct in the fact that Darius couldn't trust anyone anymore. Anger flooded through him, thinking about Leandra for the first few hours, but then subsided into mere frustration. Darius thought about Belor and the Preacher. He thought about his father. He thought about Kelln. Could he trust anyone? The Preacher wanted him just for his power. Kelln wanted things to be like when they were younger. He just didn’t understand that Darius was different now. His powers would always make him different. The King and his father wanted him to be a political leader. None of them understood and cared about what he wanted.

  Darius himself was not sure what he wanted either. At
first it was simple. While at the academy he learned about the Realm and wanted to be a leader that protected it. He wanted things to be fair among all the people that lived there. Then he found out about his powers and everything changed. He was different now. Anger seemed to fuel him, he became frustrated more often, and he saw more clearly injustices that were done throughout the Realm.

  He had to trust someone, but whom? Who could guide him and help him be what he wanted to be and do what he wanted to do in life? He felt a tugging inside that said he could trust someone.

  Kelln's few discussions on God as they crossed through the Black Forest on their way to Belor came to Darius now as he lay on the broken cot. Kelln always seemed to be jumping into something. Thinking of Kelln and growing up together brought Darius’s mind once again to Christine. The memories of the last year with her before he had left Anikari made him smile inside. He had felt so happy and alive then. He remembered the Field of Diamonds and felt a calmness come over him. Picturing the dew on the grass, the tall trees surrounding the small lake and the Superstition Mountains off in the distance, his breathing slowed. His mind began to relax.

  Christine was so charming and understanding. He remembered some of their talks about God. Christine seemed to believe in one even though her people from the farmlands were persecuted. Her simple faith and joy in life had always attracted him to her. He thought about these things and felt a small stirring of joy inside him. With this joy, his power began to rise once more. He felt an excitement as he reached for it, but it was still locked behind a barrier.

  He continued thinking of the past, and his thoughts took him to the King and his father. They had, with no explanation, sent him away as the youngest person among the new recruits to train in the Superstition Mountains. Anger built again, and he felt the power subside. He groaned out loud and became discouraged once more. What is happening to me?

  Then a stark realization brought him to his knees. Am I any better than they? He had done nothing to become the person he truly wanted to become either. He had entertained thoughts of marching against Anikari and the King. Why? Because of his relationship with his father? It had never been that bad. All of a sudden, nothing made sense. He and his father had not seen eye to eye in the last year before he left home, but he had fond memories of him when they were younger. It was his father who had instilled in him a sense of duty and love of the Realm, had taught him the bow and the sword. Their disagreement over his relationship with Christine had caused a large rift the past year. That was the one thing Darius saw that was hurting the Realm. The councilors couldn’t see how divisive things were becoming.