The Path Of Peace (The Cremelino Prophecy Book 3)

by Mike Shelton

  “Yes. Yes, I did.” Kelln laughed. “That was quite fantastic. I must admit being a little confused at first.”

  “Wouldn’t it be fun to be an actress and perform with the bards and playwrights all around the Realm?” Tali added.

  “Well, you have my vote.”

  Tali leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Ambassador.”

  “And what’s the kiss for?” Kelln smiled mischievously.

  “Well, you wanted one earlier, didn’t you?” Tali teased with a swish of her wide multi-colored skirt, her long brown hair moving around her shoulders.

  “Oh, gross.” Rapp sighed. “Stop flirting with him, Tali. He’s a representative of the King.”

  Kelln almost said something when they overheard voices outside of the door they hid behind. The man from the market spoke to someone else. They were still on the lookout for him. They stayed quiet for a few minutes, and the voices drifted away.

  “Now.” Kelln got down to business. “Who was that man?”

  “He works for the assistant governor, well, at least unofficially,” Rapp said. “We have suspected the assistant governor and his secretary both work for the Thieves’ Guild.”

  Kelln frowned, but had to agree with their suspicions. “I met his secretary. All nice and polite until you do something he doesn’t agree with and then . . . he changed very quickly into someone with dangerous undertones.”

  “My father has been trying to get proof for years on the assistant governor, but they have covered things well,” Tali said.

  Kelln considered both of them. “So, Rapp, you work for Governor Penrose?”

  Rapp beamed. “I sure do. The Merchants’ Guild is the biggest guild in the city.”

  “That is how Daddy got noticed by King Edward. He tried to build up an honest guild. That earned him the governorship four years ago.” Tali continued, “But as of late, the Thieves Guild have been trying to cause trouble, skimming money off the top of trade and undermining my father. Now, there are a few new people trying to take over the smaller guilds and form them into one. They have approached my father about siding with him against the Thieves’ Guild.

  Kelln was amazed at the amount of information he was gathering from these two. It was much more than he had gained by sitting around the city offices for the past month. “How do you two know all of this? You’re just kids!”

  Tali’s eyes flashed. “I’m not a kid, Ambassador. I am not much younger than you, I would guess.”

  Kelln realized he had said the wrong thing and just nodded his head in apology and said, “please just call me Kelln.”

  “All right. Kelln, I’ve been following my father’s work for years. When I was little, I brought food into his meetings. Now that I am older, no one pays much attention to me being there since they are used to me, but I hear everything. My father knows there are things Rapp and I can do that he can’t.”

  “Such as what you did today to help me?” Kelln understood. “I do appreciate that.”

  They stood in silence for a moment.

  “I think it’s safe to leave here,” Rapp said.

  The others nodded, and they stepped out of the door and continued walking away from the marketplace into a part of town Kelln didn’t recognize. The neighborhood was not the large rich houses up on the hills overlooking the city and the bay, but also it wasn’t one of the poorer thief-ridden neighborhoods. He felt quite comfortable walking the streets here. The bright-colored plaster houses stood neatly arranged, far different from the style in Anikari. Many had small courtyards out front with potted flowers, benches, and even some fountains. He imagined families and neighbors visiting outside during the hotter months. The materials used for the houses here came from rocks crushed along the shore that had fallen down from the White Cliffs.

  Kelln mulled over all of the information in his head and finally thought of something Tali said. “You mentioned new people coming in and trying to form a new larger guild out of the smaller ones. Why would someone want to do that?”

  “Power,” Tali said. “If they can form a guild equal in power to the larger guilds, they could have considerable influence in the city.”

  “But you don’t know who it is?”

  Tali shook her head. “I have not seen them. Though I have heard descriptions about a large man with short red hair and a woman with long, dark auburn hair.”

  Warning bells rang through Kelln’s skull. He stopped abruptly and grabbed Tali’s arm stronger than he intended. When she yelped in pain, he let go.

  “What exactly did they look like? What are their names? Where are they from?” Kelln’s eyes were intent, jaw set firmly. Had he finally found the Preacher and his daughter?

  Tali stepped back from his gaze. A man and his wife glanced up at them from their front garden. Rapp motioned for the three of them to move along. They didn’t want to attract attention.

  After walking further down the street, Tali answered. “I don’t know the answer to your questions, but my father might.”

  “Does the man have powers? Like a wizard?”

  Tali’s eyes now opened wide, and she covered her mouth. “How did you know? I have heard someone mention it in passing.”

  “The Preacher,” Kelln could feel apprehension, excitement, and fear hit his gut all at once, “and his daughter, Alessandra.”

  “You know them?” Rapp swiped his long messy hair out of his green eyes.

  “Yes, I do.” Kelln’s thoughts raced back over the last year. Alessandra had taken him from Anikari to Belor where through misunderstanding and mistrust the Preacher had imprisoned him. Twice Alessandra had betrayed him to her father, the Preacher. The Preacher later had been imprisoned himself in the dungeons in Anikari for trying to rule Belor without authorization from the Realm. His daughter had helped him escape. Kelln hoped she was manipulated or threatened by her father, but he had doubts about her motives and needed to find her and get to the truth once and for all.

  The man only known as the Preacher was a wizard who used his powers for evil. Originally, he tried to convince Belor to separate from the Realm. At one point, Darius had contemplated siding with him—two wizards together—to fight the Realm and King Edward. Luckily, Darius had come to his senses and through unforeseen events had actually become the next King. The Preacher hated Darius and Kelln and had promised to destroy them and the Realm in his quest for power and revenge.

  Tali, Rapp, and Kelln stopped in front of a larger two story house. The home had a balcony with a view of the street. A trellis in front had vines with white flowers. A man strolled down the walkway toward them. He was a man in his forties, trim and well-dressed, with a comfortable walk. His bright blue hat shaded his face. He approached the three, removed his hat in greeting, and turned to Kelln.

  “Ambassador, I am Governor Penrose.” He took Kelln’s hand and shook it firmly. “I am sorry I haven’t been able to meet with you until now. There were important matters that I have been dealing with.” Looking up and down the small street and deeming it safe, he motioned for the three of them to join him in the house.

  He opened the front door and proceeded to take them down a wooden-floored hallway to a sitting room. A quick hand motion from the governor had Rapp scampering away from the group.

  “Taliana, could you please find some refreshments for our visitors?” He smiled at her.

  Visitors? Kelln thought suddenly.

  Entering the room, Kelln immediately spotted another person standing next to a painting on the far side of the well-furnished room. It depicted a setting sun over the bay, White Island in the distance. Before Kelln could think, the man turned around.

  “Ambassador now, are we? My, my, you have risen in rank since we last saw each other.” The tall, large man rubbed his short red hair and grinned wolfishly at Kelln.

  The Preacher!

  Chapter Three

  THE PREACHER

  Rappatorian Hume was small for his thirteen years. In his line of busin
ess, it was a benefit. No one stopped to notice a younger child running around. Without any formal education, Rapp had learned the ways of the world through listening and selling tidbits of news. Information was a big business among the guilds in Mar. His father had died years before from an accident while experimenting with glass. He, his mother, and his older sister were becoming destitute when Rapp had decided to sell a secret about the governor. It had been a trap, and he had been caught.

  Fortunately for Rapp, the governor felt sorry for the family and agreed to hire on his mother as a cook, and Rapp became, unofficially at first, the governor’s newest runner. A runner would run errands for his master. Now he did all sorts of jobs for the man in charge, those things the older men couldn’t or wouldn’t do. He had a way of discerning people’s character and listening without being noticed.

  Right now, he judged that his new friend, the ambassador, was in trouble. He hadn’t known this other man was going to be at the governor’s meeting house. Rapp had been drawn to Kelln instantly and would have warned him if he had known. The governor had informed Rapp, by his hand language, to stay close and alert. The newcomer made everyone nervous to be around.

  Through a hole in the wall in a nearby room, Rapp could hear and see the three men talking. All three sat in comfortable high-backed, cushioned chairs. Kelln sat on the edge of his and seemed very guarded and quiet. The other man, who only went by Mr. El’Lan, laughed and charmed his way through the conversation, asking questions about the formalities of forming his own guild. He asked the governor to be his sponsor in return for favors. The governor did not seem interested in the arrangement and excused himself to go and check on the food his daughter was preparing.

  That left Kelln and Mr. El’Lan alone in the room.

  “I could have you arrested and brought back to Anikari to stand trial,” Kelln informed Mr. El’Lan. “I have the authority to do that now.”

  “Oh, you may have the authority, boy,” the man almost growled, his eyes darkening, “but you do not have the ability.”

  “You cannot threaten me, Preacher,” Kelln said. “I have protection from the King.”

  Rapp was confused as to why Kelln called Mr. El’Lan “Preacher.”

  “But who will protect him?” the Preacher whispered. Rapp could barely catch the words.

  “You will not leave this city alive, you know. You are still guilty of sedition and treason under my command in Belor.” The Preacher stood, reaching toward Kelln. “You should still be in prison, or better yet, dead!”

  Kelln jumped to his feet and backed away. “Leave me alone. You have no authority here or in Belor anymore.”

  Blue fire crackled from the Preacher’s fingertips, and his eyes blazed almost red. “First you and then that pathetic King of yours. His power is no match for mine or for those I serve.”

  “You serve someone?” Kelln looked to be trying to distract the man. “I would think you are too powerful a wizard for that.”

  The Preacher paused. “You know nothing of power. I will rule the western lands for the eastern lords.”

  “Where is your daughter, Preacher? What have you done to her?” Kelln spat.

  Rapp was having a hard time following the conversation, but he surmised that Kelln was stalling, trying to stop the man in front of him from killing him. The man met Kelln’s words with murderous gaze. Rapp wondered what he should do. This man, Mr. El’Lan, or the Preacher, seemed to be a wizard from the fire dangling at his fingertips.

  Down the wooden hallway, the footsteps of the governor came closer. The Preacher had only moments to recall the wizard’s fire back into him before Governor Penrose turned the corner.

  “Is everything all right here?” the governor asked.

  The Preacher in an instant reverted back to his old self. “Oh, yes. The ambassador and I were catching up on old times.”

  The governor turned to Kelln, “You know this man?”

  “Yes. He is a dangerous man, Governor. I would advise you to have no dealings with him. He is wanted for treason by the King and escaped from prison there.”

  “Ambassador,” Mr. El’Lan jumped in, “I think the governor can decide for himself whom to do business with. The prison thing was just a misunderstanding.” Turning to Governor Penrose, he continued, “Sometimes young people jump to conclusions too fast. I am sure that you and I can come to a gentleman’s agreement of how things work here in Mar.”

  Rapp watched his employer think things over. He knew the governor, although trying to abide by the law most of the time, was a shrewd negotiator.

  The governor motioned for the other two to sit down. “I am sure we can, Mr. El’Lan.” As the leader of Mar sat down, he hand signaled Rapp. Rapp instantly understood the meaning and ran out of the neighboring room to find Tali before she brought in the refreshments. He caught her in the hallway and delivered instructions to her right before she entered the sitting room.

  Rapp stood just outside of sight but within earshot. His heart beat faster. Things were always exciting around the governor. He heard Tali serve the governor and the Preacher, then move on to the ambassador.

  A small crash erupted from the room.

  “Oh, I am so sorry, Ambassador,” Tali said in her most sweet voice. “I was merely being clumsy. I am sure we can get the stain out of your clothes if you come with me.”

  “Sirs,” Kelln addressed the other two gentlemen. “It seems I need to excuse myself from the conversation for a few minutes.”

  “That is all right, young sir,” came the governor’s voice. “Mr. El’Lan and I will continue discussing his business plans. We can catch up later, Ambassador.”

  Kelln came around the corner. Rapp grabbed him by the arm and took him into a back room. Rapp and Tali tried to clean him off, Rapp offering him some new clothes. When Kelln motioned his head toward Tali, she got the point and left the room while Kelln changed.

  “What’s going on?” Kelln asked.

  “The governor signaled for me to get you out of here fast. The man inside, Mr. El’Lan, or the Preacher from what you called him, would most likely kill you if he sees you again.”

  “That’s probably right,” Kelln mumbled. “He is an escaped prisoner who tried to take over Belor. I need to find his daughter.”

  Rapp thought for a moment. “We need to get you out of the house first and on your way somewhere. You’ll need to leave Mar for a bit. I’ll ask around about his daughter.”

  “What about the governor? He’s in danger, too.”

  “Oh, Mr. Penrose? I think Mr. El’Lan would find quite an opponent in the governor.”

  “But the Preacher or Mr. El’Lan as he is now referring to himself, is a wizard who learned his craft in the eastern kingdoms,” Kelln explained as he finished getting dressed. “He doesn’t play by the same rules as others do. The governor is not seriously thinking of working with him?”

  “Of course not,” Tali said, reentering the room, “but he is wise to politics and the undercurrent of Marian society.

  Rapp pulled Kelln out a back door. Tali handed Kelln a pack with food and some other items. Kelln put the pack on. “I need to go to White Island on an errand for the King. I will be back in about a week.”

  Tali took out a cap and placed it on Kelln’s head. “That’s to hide those famous red curls.” She smiled.

  “Just be careful, you two and your father, Tali. Mr. El’Lan is very, very dangerous.” Kelln turned to leave.

  A dog started to bark in the next yard, and Kelln turned back and gave a nervous glance in Rapp’s direction. However, what he saw was Tali making circular motions in the air and then the animal quieting down.

  “You?” Kelln stuttered. “You. Are. A. Wizard?”

  “Well, I haven’t received any formal training to be a wizard, but I do like magic. My father is powerful also. We usually keep magical things a secret around here, so keep your voice down. “She put her fingers up to her lips to emphasize the need for secrecy.

  �
��That’s why I said he could take care of himself,” Rapp added.

  “That’s fantastic!” Kelln’s eyes lit up.

  Tali and Rapp told him he needed to move along. Soon with quiet stealth, he slid between some trees and back to an open property behind the house. Rapp motioned for him to hurry on his way. Afterward, he and Tali went back inside.

  * * *

  The King and Queen’s visit to Belor and the surrounding villages occurred without any problems or delays. The political structure in Belor was still being worked out, but Darius had sworn in a new governor while he was in the city. He had seen Alessandra’s grandfather to ensure that he had a safe place to stay in the city. He didn’t have to hide anymore. His wisdom and knowledge of Belor and the Realm would help the new governor stabilize the area.

  The citizens of Belor seemed to be doing well coming out from under the rule of their former master, the Preacher. They greeted their new young King with enthusiasm and an almost overwhelming display of trying to make sure they were forgiven for their earlier alliance with the Preacher. Darius and Christine had enjoyed their week in the southern city.

  The royal assemblage had spent an afternoon at Crystal Lake, taking some time to relax before heading toward Mar. Darius had sent one of his messengers on up ahead to inform Kelln and the governor of their arrival. The messenger took longer than expected, and Darius was getting worried.

  Roland, newly promoted captain of the King’s guard convinced the group to stay the night at a small village next to Crystal Lake. The fresh-water lake bordered the Crystal River, which ran from the Mountains of Gold to the lake and on to the Blue Sea. Darius, being closer again to Anikari, had received dispatches from his father. He sat down next to Christine by the river’s edge to read them. A few guards stood nearby.

  “You look flushed, Christine,” Darius noticed after reading the missives from his father.

  “I’m fine. Just all the riding in this late autumn heat.” Christine smiled. “It’s not usually so warm this time of year.”