The Path of Decisions

by Mike Shelton

  In a slow rotation, Darius brought his hands back down to his side and grabbed hold of Christine’s hand again. The song faded, but the rapture lingered, almost sparkling in the air.

  Christine stood in awe for a moment, then her knees buckled, and she knelt in front of him. Lighting, in all her pure white glory, knelt down on her two front legs. Richard approached and, with the two guards, knelt also.

  Richard spoke first. The words were thick and difficult to bring forth through the emotion. “I never realized there was so much power in love.”

  Darius smiled. “Neither did I.” He, too, was overwhelmed with what he had just done. He felt a love for his people that was without limit and condition. He knew he would make difficult decisions as king, but now he understood how to make those decisions. “It is truly how we are meant to rule.”

  All was quiet. Then Darius broke the silence with a soft but powerful whisper. “Father, I assume that I will be the first in many years to combine the powers of a wizard with the true power of the throne. I am a Wizard King!”

  Richard looked up at his son, opened his eyes wider, and spoke. “I pledge my life and love to you, Darius DarSan Williams, King of the Realm, Protectorate of the People, and Wizard of the Heart. Your command is my wish. Your love is my desire. May you always rule in wisdom, judge in fairness, and serve in love.”

  Darius had a hard time seeing his father for the tears in his eyes. He accepts me. He pulled his father up into a strong embrace.

  Christine, the two guards, and Lightning all bowed their heads in tribute to their new king. Darius motioned for them to rise. A glow surrounded him, and love engulfed him like never before.

  Lastly he reached out to touch Lightning, still not understanding his relationship with the Cremelino fully, but realizing it was meant to be.

  Wizard, you have made us proud. The prophecy is beginning to be fulfilled:

  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.

  He will bring light to fight darkness

  and love to fight hate

  if he reaches into the power of his heart.

  He will find new allies, turn enemy to friend and

  find the binding of all power on the path of peace. . .

  You said beginning to be fulfilled? Darius asked the Cremelino of her cryptic prophecy.

  Young Wizard King, you have found your heart and inherited the throne, but now you must establish peace. Only by binding together all of the power and light at your disposal can you defeat the darkness and triumph against your enemies once and for all.

  Darius laughed. “Oh, that’s all!”

  EPILOGUE

  The Preacher and Sean San Ghant huddled around some damp wood placed into a makeshift fire pit. The late spring rain still kept the distant Mountains of Gold shrouded in gray clouds. In the plains south of the Twin Cities sat a copse of trees surrounded by grassland. It was the only place offering some type of shelter in the area.

  Sean sat on his haunches, trying to light the wood with flint and steel. The wetness of the wood restricted his ability. With a gruff growl, he threw the steel to the ground.

  The Preacher walked over and, with a snap of his fingers, sparked a fire in the pit. He then proceeded to dry off a log to sit on using the same power.

  “That would’ve been easier in the first place,” snapped Sean.

  “But not nearly as much fun as watching you struggle,” said the Preacher with a large smile on his now red-bearded face.

  “You should be a little nicer to me, Preacher, seeing I seem to be the only man around to help you.”

  “Others will come.”

  Using the map from Alessandra, the two men had wound their way through old tunnels and out the back of the castle walls and then eventually out of the city itself. The ceremony at the coliseum and the festivities following had allowed them the freedom to move around unnoticed. The Preacher surmised that the new King would be looking for him closer to Anikari or south toward Belor.

  They had taken some horses and ridden together north from Anikari, traveling in the dark. They were to meet with some of the Preacher’s other men south of the Twin Cities, far enough away from Anikari that they wouldn’t be searched for there.

  Sean sat back on a log and pulled some jerky out of his bag. They had stolen it from a small village north of Anikari. “Why do they call you the Preacher? You don’t look like a religious man to me.”

  “Religion comes in many different forms, Sean. I follow a religion from the Eastern Kingdoms, one that teaches purity of thought and allows us to choose for ourselves. I preach to people that they should decide for themselves what they want. People should not be held captive by others’ ways of doing things.”

  “It sounds good in theory, I must admit. I’ve never liked others telling me what to do. But I believe someone needs to be in charge. Someone has to set the rules and hold people to them. Someone has to hold the power.”

  The Preacher turned a log over and dried the other side with his powers. “That is why I brought you along, Sean. You like power.”

  “I just want power over our new king.” Sean stood up and threw a small branch off toward a tree. With his face reddening, he paced around. “I can’t believe Darius’s luck at being named the King. He didn’t even want to be a noble.”

  “And you?”

  “I’ve always wanted to be a noble. I always wanted power. If I had your power I would crush our new king and bring chaos to the throne.”

  “And what would chaos do, young noble?” The Preacher led his new student forward in his thoughts.

  “Chaos brings opportunity. I would step in and take control. They would gladly give me power at that time. I will be their savior.”

  Chills ran down the Preacher’s back. He had found an apt student. Sean would do nicely. He would listen to everything the Preacher would teach him. He was so gullible and full of revenge. It was almost too easy to lead him along, making the thoughts seem like his own, when in fact they were the Preacher’s.

  It was far easier than it had been with Darius. Darius wanted revenge and was confused, but deep down inside he had self-governing rules about how to act. Sean, on the other hand, had no scruples about getting his power any way he could.

  “Darius betrayed us all, Sean. I, too, want to crush him and the royal family. I will bring him down and then hand over the land to my friends in the Eastern Kingdoms. Then they will reward us for our loyalty and shower us with praise and glory and power. We will rule the western land.” He continued to poison the young noble’s mind.

  Sean sat mesmerized and only nodded his agreement.

  The Preacher looked up. “I hear horses.”

  Sean got up and moved silently out of the blinding firelight to the edge of the trees. Three horses came into view.

  The Preacher stood but stayed by the fire. “Welcome them in, Sean. These are my friends.”

  Three men in badly torn uniforms came into view. Sean motioned them to the fire.

  “The others?” The Preacher asked.

  The lead man shook his head from side to side.

  “Oh well. The faithful will be rewarded. Come sit down. It is time to plan.”

  The five men planned late into the night, the Preacher sharing his vision and goals with them. They were convinced of his plans, and their eyes glowed with the fires of rebellion. A hatred of Darius and the royal family and the greed for power drove them forward.

  After talking well into the night, the men all lay down to sleep. The rain cleared away, and although the night was cool, the air stayed dry.

  In the morning they ate a ration of bread and cheese the three men had brought, fed their horses, and prepared to leave their separate ways.

  “Sean, you are an important part in this plan.” The Preacher stroked the young man’s ego further. He had seen right away the usefuln
ess of this greedy young noble boy. “While we are busy in Mar preparing for the Eastern Lords, you will travel to Sur and then make your way to the Kingdom of Arc. There is a contact who will meet you at Herro on the border. He is a spy in Arc. The kings there are weak politically and are mostly ruled by the Conclave of Wizards; however, the spy will have insight and opportunity inside their king’s inner circle that we don’t have. From there it will be up to you to convince them of the plan.”

  “I will convince them, Preacher. Don’t worry about me,” Sean said as he accepted a bag of coins from his new benefactor.

  The gleam in his eye as he held the gold told the Preacher much about Sean’s loyalties.

  “Good,” smiled the Preacher. “Don’t spend the gold too quickly. I will provide a way for you to contact me later once the plans are in motion.”

  Sean smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

  The Preacher stroked his newly formed beard in thoughtfulness. “I need to take care of a personal matter in Mar, and then I will be in contact with the Eastern Kingdom. By then your part of the plan should be in full motion. We will gain power and control from the chaos we create.”

  They all mounted their horses. The Preacher felt renewed in the morning sunshine and felt the early signs of summer already warming his fair skin.

  “Sean.” The Preacher grabbed the young noble’s attention once last time. “Start thinking of what city you would like to rule. By this time next year, with the Eastern Kingdoms’ blessings, I will rule the western lands, and you will have control of a city all your own. Sean San Ghant, Governor. How does that sound?”

  Sean laughed and laughed. “Sounds perfect. I can’t wait to see the look on Darius’s face.”

  The two parties split, Sean going west and the Preacher and his men to the east. The Preacher spurred his horse on, sharing his power to increase the speed. His happy mood only slightly soured as he wondered what to do with Alessandra once he reached Mar. He was sure she would find him there eventually one way or another.

  # # #

  Read The Path Of Peace,

  Part 3 of The Cremelino Prophecy

  to continue the adventures of Darius, Christine, Kelln, Mezar, and their friends.

  About the Author

  Mike was born in California and has lived in multiple states from the west coast to the east coast. He cannot remember a time when he wasn’t reading a book. At school, home, on vacation, at work at lunch time, and yes even a few pages in the car (at times when he just couldn’t put that great book down). Though he has read all sorts of genres he has always been drawn to fantasy. It is his way of escaping to a simpler time filled with magic, wonders and heroics of young men and women.

  Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.

  Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys – writing!

  www.MichaelSheltonBooks.com

  http://www.amazon.com/author/mikeshelton