by Mike Shelton
“Anything that feeds his ego would work.” Darius took a spoonful of soup. The rest took a few minutes to eat some food that the innkeeper provided them. The warm fish soup and fresh bread warmed them inside.
“Roland.” The King turned to his trusted captain. “You will accompany Ambassador El’Lan back to Mar. You will stay in visible places so it will be harder for any harm to come to you. I will send for reinforcements from Anikari that I trust.”
“Sire, my place is with you. A King cannot be alone.”
“Kelln needs you more than I do right now. I can take care of myself.”
Roland seemed embarrassed to continue pushing the King in this. “Sire, please reconsider. It would not be seemly for the King to go riding around by himself without at least one guard with him.”
Darius let out a deep breath. “I surmise you are correct, Captain. It is still difficult getting used to being the King.”
“Miss Penrose here seems more than capable of protecting our ambassador,” Roland added with a toothy grin.
“Hey, why is everyone trying to protect me? I can handle myself.” Kelln almost pouted.
Tali rolled her eyes at him but stayed silent and ate her food, though her eyes did sparkle with amusement.
The King rethought his position. “We will visit with the master caretaker tomorrow morning after the storm blows over. Afterward, Tali will accompany Kelln back to Mar, and with the protection of the governor, whom I hope I can trust, Kelln will await for additional troops.”
Tali nodded.
Kelln mumbled something about not needing a babysitter to watch over him, but with the flash of Taliana’s eyes and a smack of air on the side of his head, he just glared at her.
“Miss Penrose,” Darius said in all seriousness, “we talked about not using the power for mundane, silly things. Once this is over, I will need to talk to your father and you about your powers and see what we can do about some training. Seems to be more wizards popping up around the Realm than we knew about. With your impetuous use of the power, you indeed might be a wizard of the heart instead of the earth. Mezar told me about a school in Gildan. Maybe you can study there for a while.”
Taliana smiled and agreed to try and be wiser in using her powers.
After that, the discussion moved to small talk about the weather and wondering why they traveled to White Island in the first place. Darius grew tired and excused himself to bed. Roland followed him, leaving Kelln and Taliana in the dining room alone.
The weather did not subside for two more days. Darius was told that the master caretaker was on the far side of the island and wouldn’t return until after the rain. They spent their time rehashing their plans and visiting with the few people that came into the inn during the storm.
Darius always found it enlightening to visit with his people and find out their thoughts of the Realm. White Island was unique among cities of the Realm. Most of the physical needs on White Island were funded by the King for the taking care of the herd of Cremelinos. Because of that fact, the people of White Island always stayed very loyal to the crown.
Early on the third day before Darius was even fully dressed, a knock on the door sounded. Roland, who had insisted on sleeping on the King’s floor to guard him in the small inn, jumped over to answer it. It was the innkeeper, who informed them that a visitor awaited them in the common room. Darius was excited to meet the caretaker and threw on his traveling clothes. He informed Kelln and Taliana to meet them downstairs.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, brightening up the common room. It was a clean establishment that catered to the locals, with a few traders making periodic visits as goods were exchanged from the mainland. Looking around the room, Darius almost missed the young man standing and looking out one of the rear windows. Darius cleared his throat and the boy, fifteen or sixteen in age, turned around. Darius recognized him from his earlier visit to the island.
The young man took a deep bow toward the King. “Your Majesty, my father Haman bids you to come to our home and visit your herd.”
Darius smiled. “Thank you. I have met you before. What is your name again, young man?” The small boy he had seen a year and a half earlier when he had picked up Christine’s Cremelino with Kelln seemed a foot taller but still as skinny. His brown mop of hair had a difficult time staying in place, but his firm jaw told of growth to still be had.
“Jakob. Jakob Widing. I will be master caretaker when my father gets older,” he said quickly then blushed as if he regretted what he said.
Darius tried to comfort the obviously nervous teen. “I am sure you will make a fine caretaker for our Cremelinos. The one you gave me before was perfect. You were right. It was meant for me. I gave it as a gift to a girl who is now your queen. Christine named the horse Lightning, and her speed has been a help in many circumstances.”
Jakob smiled with pride and led the way out. The group followed behind, being careful to not walk in the still existing puddles from the previous storm.
Haman Widing, a large balding man with a happy smile, met them at the gate to his property. His wife had prepared some refreshments of sweets and fruits that she shared with the visitors on the front porch of their modest but sturdy home.
Off in the distance Darius could see a few of the Cremelinos, always a brilliant white. As the horses came closer to the group, Darius began to sense voices in his head.
Wizard of the heart, we greet you and honor you.
A group of ten came to the edge of the fence and knelt down on their knees in respect of their King. Darius walked over to them.
Long has our prophecy foretold of your coming.
“He’s talking to those horses again, I’ll wager. Just like with the horse of the queen’s,” Darius heard Roland tell the others.
“He can speak to them without touching them it seems.” Haman nodded. “Good. Good.”
Are you ready young wizard?
“Ready for what?”
Ready to bring peace and glory in times of darkness?
“Wasn’t that already fulfilled?”
Oh no, young King. You have not seen all the darkness yet. You have not seen fear yet. Real fear comes from harm to those you love. Darkness gathers in the south in Gildan, in the west with Arc, and in your own realm.
Darius felt fear tear a hole in his heart. “What can I do? I am only one person. An untrained wizard at that.”
Remember these three things: Rely on your friends; remember where your power comes from; seek out all the powers at your disposal when the time is right. Only then will you chase evil and darkness away and find peace.
Darius turned and looked at the others. They watched him expectantly, waiting for him to share what he heard. But he did not. He couldn’t scare them. He needed to protect them.
Summon the young wizard to us.
Darius asked for Tali to come forward. She did so with glee and delight in her eyes. She approached with caution and began to put her hand out to touch one of the Cremelinos.
“Don’t. Stop.” Darius grabbed her hand away. “You can’t touch them without their permission. Once a person rides a horse, they are bonded together forever.”
“But this one spoke to me and asked me to touch his mane.”
Darius asked the Cremelino if this was true and received an answer in the affirmative.
Taliana reached out again and touched the smooth white mane of the large powerful horse. Holding her hand there for a moment, Darius knew they were communicating with each other.
“She wants to go with me.”
Darius was surprised. These horses traditionally were only held for the King and high-ranking nobles to use to pull their carriages. Lightning had been the first Cremelino he’d known that was given to another. Lightning had explained to him it was because of her proximity to Darius. Lightning had been sent to help guide the prophecy along, and at the time, Darius had not been ready for one.
Times are changing. We have not been used prope
rly for years now. Our original use was to be bonded as a partner to a wizard. You have opened the way for that again, King Darius DarSan Williams. We are meant to work together, wizards and Cremelinos.
Darius informed the group what the Cremelino said.
“What will you name her, Tali?” Darius asked.
Tali thought for a few moments. “Radiance. She brightens my heart.”
Haman smiled. “For generations, we have waited for this day, Sire. Histories have been passed down for centuries through each master caretaker. The stories of old are returning. The Cremelinos and the wizards will be united again.”
Darius talked to the horse again and was informed that five other Cremelinos would accompany them back to the mainland. When asked who they were for, he was told one was his when the time was right, and the others would be shown in due time.
“How will we travel and take care of them? I’m on my way to Sur after I leave here to meet a delegation from Arc with my wife.” Darius looked out at part of the herd.
“I will go with them,” Jakob blurted.
His father frowned.
“Father, remember the day that the Cremelinos first spoke to me? They said I would meet the wizard they had felt come into his power. I am meant to be with him. I can take care of the Cremelinos for him.”
Haman looked at Darius.
“It would be practical training for him in becoming the next master caretaker,” Darius said to Haman. “He will be paid well and protected. If you can do without him here.”
Jakob’s mother, Nhila, wiped a sleeve across her eyes and laid a gentle hand on her husband’s arm. “Haman, I think this is right. This is what Jakob was raised to do. As they said, times are changing. Wizards walk the land again, and these Cremelinos are meant for them. Jakob is well-trained.”
Haman agreed. They all made arrangements to meet in town the following day with Jakob and the six Cremelinos, including Tali’s. Darius and the group began to walk away when one more message came to him from the lead horse.
Christine says she loves you, my King Wizard.
Darius was taken aback. “How do you know that?”
Lightning has told us. We can communicate across distances together through the power of our wizards.
“But Christine isn’t a wizard.”
No, but Lightning is special, and Christine has enough old wizard blood in her from the farmlands to make the bond work. Lighting was born as part of the prophecy.
“Ah. The prophecy,” Darius said out loud. “Why do I sense sometimes I am just a puppet in everything I do?” He didn’t say the words in anger, only a feeling of being overwhelmed by what was required of him. Did everything circle around him and this prophecy?
* * *
Deep in Mar’s underground, a young, beautiful woman met with the head of Mar’s Guild of Thieves. Her mission was the same as her father’s when he’d met with the governor two weeks before: They wanted him to help sponsor a new guild for certain favors in return.
Alessandra El’Lan was following her father’s commands in order to find her mother. He had told her the Guild of Thieves might know where her mother was, and so she went along with his plan. The outcome of the Preacher’s plan was to sow discontent and anarchy in the Realm. Soon he would be meeting with representatives of the eastern kingdoms to finalize their support. Alessandra knew all this, and felt bad for Darius and the Realm, but she needed to take care of herself. The Realm hadn’t done anything for her. Except Kelln.
That is what hurt her the most. Her betrayals and dishonesty with him. He was so open, honest, and likeable that Alessandra had found herself falling for him at their first meeting. It had been a year and a half since she had first met him. Even with her shortcomings and ties to Belor, he liked her, and all she did time and time again was betray him. She was a horrible person. She knew that. She didn’t deserve him. But that didn’t mean she didn’t think about him. But once again she was betraying him.
“And what will you do for us?” the guildmaster asked.
“We will remove the ambassador from Mar. We know you almost had him the other day.”
The guildmaster frowned at that. “How will you do this? You are new in Mar. You have no ties.”
“My father and I share a past . . . let’s say a relationship with his royal ambassador. With him out of your way, you can take down the governor and his powerful Trader’s Guild, correct?” Alessandra had to be firm.
The guildmaster sat back in his big soft chair. The man had survived now more than seventy years, controlling the guild for thirty of those. Alessandra let him think about it.
She looked around the room, the den of a large mansion. Antiquities from around the world filled cases around the room, almost in a cluttered look. It was as if the guildmaster wanted to show off everything he had ever taken. His glory, his life, was filled with the things he stole. His soul was his mansion.
“There is one more condition,” Alessandra added. “We are looking for a woman about twenty years older than me. She used to go by Berlain. Auburn hair, wide eyes, and tall.” Alessandra could barely picture her mother in her mind; it had been far too long.
“I have heard of this woman before,” the guildmaster remarked, “but I am not sure she wants to be found.”
Alessandra’s heart dropped.
“But I will ask around and let you know. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of that frown on your face,” he teased.
Alessandra regained a small amount of hope. “We will proceed with the plans then. I will let you know when things are taken care of.”
A servant showed Alessandra out the door and escorted her back into a more crowded part of town. There she met her father.
“Did they accept?” her father asked.
“They did. And they will search for my mother also.”
The Preacher waved his hand in dismissal. “Our spies tell me the ambassador is back in town now. He is guarded by the governor’s daughter. Although she is gifted with the power, she is no match for me.”
“You promised you wouldn’t kill him,” Alessandra reminded her dangerous father. It was all she could do to ease a portion of her conscience. She wished she could find her mother on her own, just see her one last time, then she would leave. But it seemed she needed her father’s connections. When she looked at him, she sometimes had to take a step back to avoid the evil shine from his eyes, but he was still her father and deep inside she still loved and cared for him. It was a twisted life she led, a life of betrayal.
“Yes. I won’t kill him. Just remove him far, far away. Maybe the forgotten lands would do him good.” The Preacher laughed and laughed, attracting attention from people crossing the small city square. “Unfortunately, the young ambassador won’t be around to see my triumphal return to power.”
Chapter Seven
JUSTICE OR MERCY?
Jakob had a way of finding water in the White Sand Desert. Darius wasn’t sure how he did it, but was glad for the boy’s talents. Even his own wizarding powers were not adept to that task, though he wondered if an earth wizard would find it easier. The Wizard King was excited to visit with Mezar in Gildan. The thought of a library that might help him understand his power drew him south. It seemed that everything he did came to him naturally when the time was needed, but it was frustrating to not understand how he did it. However, first he must travel to Sur, meet with a representative from the Kingdom of Arc, then travel to Denir, all the while spending time in small villages and towns along the way.
After traveling back to the mainland south of Mar from White Island, Darius bid farewell to Kelln and Taliana with a reiterated promise that he would send soldiers to Mar to help Kelln. Not wanting to get too close to Mar with the Preacher still loose in the city, Darius along with Roland, Jakob, and five Cremelinos cut west through the White Sand Desert. Eventually they would run into the Crystal River and would use that to guide them back north to the road that ran from Mar to Sur.
“O
ver here.” Jakob motioned to the group. Once again, he had found a small spring oasis of water among a few short trees and reeds. The men let the horses get their fill first. Having open access to all the water and food they needed on White Island, the Cremelinos were not used to the dry, barren desert. Their physical abilities were stronger than a normal horse, but the heat of the desert was new to them.
The group sat next to the small pool of fresh water and took some meat and cheese out of their bags. Food was no problem since Haman’s wife and the innkeeper had provided them with far more than they would need. Any town they passed through, no matter how small, would declare a feast in honor of their King. The night before they passed through a small sand village. Some nomads that didn’t usually have much to do with the Realm as their government still insisted on feeding the group and serenading them with tribal songs.
After resting, they headed west again. Darius was grateful for the cooler autumn nights that kept the desert from getting too hot during the day this time of year. The nomads provided covering for their heads out of a strange white material that seemed to reflect the sun and keep them even cooler. They even retrofitted them to fit on the heads of the Cremelinos.
Two days later, they found the river and a small village next to it. Traveling north for the next few days found them connecting to the main road. Darius, anxious to meet back up with Christine again, wanted to continue riding toward Sur now that they were on the road. However, Jakob recommended they stay for a few days to allow their normal horses to hydrate and regain their strength. The Cremelinos seemed fine.
Knowing the young caretaker was right, he agreed. It gave him time to find a rider and write a message to deliver to his father. He also sent another rider on ahead to Sur to let Christine and the rest of his guards know they were on their way.
It had now been a few weeks since they’d split up, far longer than Darius had been prepared for. He missed sitting beside his wife. His thoughts turned to her, and he smiled. After being reunited again a few months earlier, it had been hard to be away from her. He felt empty without her around.
