The Path Of Peace (The Cremelino Prophecy Book 3)

by Mike Shelton

  “You did well, daughter,” the Preacher said.

  “They are easy, Father. They jump at anything to believe in. But do you think it will work? Will he come?”

  “Yes, he will come,” the Preacher said. “He won’t be able to resist the temptation.”

  Kelln had an uncomfortable thought that he was the “he” they were talking about.

  “Once the ambassador is gone, then we can take down the governor, and I will take control of Mar through my new Guild of Protection, “ the Preacher said.

  “First, I need information on my mother,” Alessandra said. “The guildmaster said he would investigate for me.”

  “Alessandra!” The Preacher threw up his hands, looking exasperated. “What is this obsession you have with your mother? She is either dead or doesn’t want to see you. But I am here, my daughter. I want you. I need you.”

  “I need to find her, Father. You don’t have to understand.” Her voice stood on the verge of tears. “I just do—she is my mother after all. I have lived most of my life without her. I need to just see her. If it means betraying Kelln again, I will do it, don’t you worry. Your little plans of taking over the city are safe with me.”

  “Little plans? Alessandra, don’t you see what we are doing? Chaos here in Mar, a war brewing with Arc, Belor barely restrained. The Kingdom of Darius DarSan Williams is about to topple over, and there is nothing he can do about it.” The crazed wizard paced the floor in front of his daughter.

  “Once chaos is in place, I will hand these lands over to the eastern lords. They will save the people from destruction and gain their trust. Then they will give me the western lands to rule.“ The Preacher lowered his voice. “And I want you by my side to rule with me. Someone has to keep my legacy going.”

  “But I don’t have your powers.”

  “Not yet you don’t. But we will continue to work with them. Any time now we will see a breakthrough. You will see.” The Preacher stopped and looked around the darkness with alarm on his face.

  “What is wrong?”

  “Someone is using the power.”

  Tali stopped the amplification of the sound, and the three of them huddled in silence.

  “There is no one here,” Alessandra remarked. “It must be your power residue from earlier.”

  Rapp’s leg twitched against the door, echoing in the dark empty room.

  “Who’s there?” The Preacher’s voice boomed, and a light began to spread out over the room.

  “He knows we’re here,” Kelln whispered.

  “Hold on, boys. Here we go.” Tali stood quickly and, with a sweep of her hand, sent a blinding light and spray of rocks across the room.

  “Go now!” she ordered the other two, and they began to run toward the entrance. Light came through the doorway from the starlight outside, but the opening was still halfway around the room.

  The Preacher answered with a bolt of lightning, but because of the earlier blinding light, his aim was not true.

  “You?” they all heard the Preacher roar.

  He had spotted them.

  “I will kill you once and for all.”

  The three ran even faster toward the door. They looked back over their shoulders, and energy built up around the dangerous man.

  Alessandra grabbed her father’s arm and screamed, “No, Father, you promised you wouldn’t kill him.”

  Kelln, suddenly glad to overhear the sentiment that could save his life, didn’t know if her father would heed the reminder. Still running toward the doorway, the three of them spotted Radiance just outside the doorway. A glow became visible around Taliana, and she pushed a blinding white wind into the Preacher and his daughter, then dove through the doorway. On the other side, she collapsed the doorway around the door and buried the opening in rubble.

  Taliana hugged her Cremelino. “Such power. Such emotion. Incredible. Radiance amplified my power tenfold.”

  “Are they dead?” Kelln asked.

  As if to answer, a blast hit the wall from inside and bricks began to fall from the outside of the building.

  “Run!” Rapp shouted.

  The group ran through the streets. They heard blasts and explosions behind them. The sky lit with fire as one building after another exploded.

  “I guess you made him mad,” Rapp said matter-of-factly.

  The other two laughed.

  Soon they were in another secret residence the governor kept, safe from the Preacher and his daughter. After cleaning himself, Kelln sat in a study alone while the other two finished up. He couldn’t help think about how Alessandra didn’t want to kill him. He could take some consolation in that fact. But he was beyond that now. The words she spoke about taking him and the governor down and the Preacher talking about taking down the rest of the Realm frightened him and solidified in his mind that Alessandra and the Preacher both were now enemies of the Realm, and one of his responsibilities as ambassador was to protect the Realm.

  “Berlain,” he said out loud. The name of Alessandra’s mother. He had known earlier in the year of her desire to see if her mother still lived. He didn’t blame her for wanting to see her mother again, but things had gone too far—past the point of reason in that search.

  Then a thought came to him. He could find Berlain first and get Alessandra away from her father. By separating the two of them, he would have a better chance of stopping the madness and restoring order to the city.

  “Oh, Rapp,” he called. “I have a perfect job for you.”

  Chapter Ten

  SUR

  Darius rode his Cremelino at a dangerous speed for a day and a half before he had to stop. Both of their energies were depleted, and though he was wild with worry over Christine, he knew Thunder could not take much more, and he needed some sleep to be able to think clearly again.

  The path down the mountain communities had been painstakingly slow. Riding in the darkness of night had been hard, and they had to constantly watch out for turns, roots, and rocks on the poorly maintained road. Since meeting up with the main road running from Mar to Sur, he was able to use Thunder’s full resources of strength and speed.

  Entering a small village about half a day’s ride from Sur, Darius found a decent inn, gave Thunder to the stable boy’s keeping, and stumbled into the common room. He had decided to keep his identity hidden, not for any more reason than to be able to eat and rest undisturbed. He vowed to himself to come back at a later time and visit with his subjects as King.

  The warm platter of meat, potatoes, carrots, and fresh bread filled his body with new strength almost immediately. After eating his fill, he retired to his room. A few hours of sleep should be enough for him, but he didn’t know how much time Thunder needed. He sent the question out to the Cremelino, always a background presence in his mind now. The answer back came in a whisper, signifying the horse’s tired condition; however, he said he would be ready to go when Darius was.

  Three hours later, approaching midnight, a knock sounded on Darius’s door. He jolted out of bed, realizing he had slept deeper than intended. It was the young son of the innkeeper, the boy he had paid to take care of his horse.

  “Sir,” the boy mumbled, embarrassed to have woken a customer at this time of night. “I am sorry to disturb you, but a trader came in from Sur just now. He was stabling his horse when he caught sight of yours. You told me to tell you if anyone paid special attention to your horse.”

  Darius nodded for the boy to continue. Darius hoped the man didn’t recognize the type of horse it was. That would send rumors flying around the area. The Cremelinos were a breed used by the King and those closest to him. Of course, he had given one to Christine as a gift, and now one had gone with Taliana Penrose also. It had availed him the means to communicate with Kelln about the disappearance of Christine.

  “He told me he thought it funny he had come across two white horses of the same size and appearance that same day.” The boy yawned. The late night traveler had obviously woken the boy up. “W
e don’t see too many horses of that color around these parts.”

  Sleep left Darius. “Where did the man say he had seen the other horse?”

  “I don’t know. I was barely awake.” The boy still had a hard time keeping his eyes open. “By some barn outside of Sur or something. You can ask him yourself. He’s sitting in the common room drinking ale.”

  Darius grabbed a coin and stuck it in the boy’s hand. “Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere.” He rushed back into the room, put his boots on, and gathered his things up.

  The man sat drinking ale by himself. Two other men were still up at the late hour, nursing their drinks in a far corner. Darius approached the lone man. Sitting down opposite him, Darius began drilling him with questions on the horse he had seen. The man was taken aback and didn’t seem to trust Darius at first. A few coins and drinks later, however, and Darius had all he needed.

  Sending a quick thought to Thunder just moments before arriving in the stables, Darius informed his horse they were on their way again. As soon as Darius was on his back, Thunder galloped off into the dark night. Even at a fast pace, it would still be early morning before they arrived in the area where the man had seen Lightning.

  As the sun began to rise over the Superstition Mountains, Darius noticed more and more villages along the highway. Sur was a short distance away now. The man had told Darius he'd been visiting a farmer friend of his who had found the horse lying down and hurt. He had coaxed her up and into his barn.

  After turning off the main road and asking a few directions, Darius found himself riding down a small lane.

  A weakened thought came to his mind. Darius?

  “Lightning. I am close.”

  Who is with you? Lightning asked.

  Thunder! came the proud thought from Darius’s newly bonded horse.

  A sense of pleasure from Lightning intruded upon his thoughts but no other words.

  Soon they found a small farmhouse with a large green barn. Dismounting quickly without stopping, Darius ran to the barn. He found Lightning lying on her side. Taking off a makeshift bandage, Darius found a large gash still oozing pus and blood. Another cut stood out across her white leg. She had been given some straw and food.

  His heart constricted to see his wife’s horse in such bad shape. He wiped the tears from his eyes and knelt down. Without thinking of what to do, he instinctively covered his hand over the Cremelino’s wound. He drew strength from his own heart and opened himself up to the horse. He thought of Lightning and what she meant to him and to Christine. He thought of Christine being taken, and a sob escaped from his throat. He tied to concentrate on Lightning and drew strength from Thunder. Soon a soft glow overlaid the wound, and it began to close up. He then proceeded to run his hand over the smaller wound on her leg.

  Sighing from the energy drain, Darius finally opened his eyes. Turning toward a sound in the opening of the barn, he saw a man silhouetted against the barn door.

  “I’ve never witnessed anything like that before, young man. What did you do? Who are you?”

  Darius smiled, stood up, and placed his hand on a wooden rail to offer himself support. He could hardly stay on his feet. “Thank you for caring for her, sir.”

  The man moved closer to Darius. “She was hurt something terrible. Looked like a sword wound, though I don’t know who would slice up a horse around here, especially such a beautiful creature like she is.”

  The two watched as Lightning slowly stood up. Silently she sent her thanks to Darius.

  The man stood there, still waiting for an answer to his questions.

  Darius put out his hand to shake, “I am Darius DarSan Williams, King of the Realm.” The man reached out his hand in shock and surprise. Before Darius could shake it, he collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

  A short time later, Darius opened his eyes. He realized he was laying on a floor, staring up into the underside of the roof of a small modest home. Sitting up with care, though no longer dizzy, he glanced around. The man and his wife were sitting on two chairs, gaping at him.

  “You feeling better, son?” the man said.

  His wife ribbed him and whispered, “Don’t call him son. He’s the King. You have to call him Your Majesty or Sire or my Lord or something.”

  Darius shared a weak smile and held up his hand. “It’s fine, sir. Thank you for taking care of the horse and for bringing me in here.”

  “What you did out there with that horse was truly amazing,” the farmer responded. “I wouldn’t have believed you were King No offense, Sire, but you are kind of young, except I had heard our new King had wizard powers of old. It must be you.”

  “It is me. I know, hard to believe, sometimes even for me.”

  The wife stood up and went to the kitchen, “I have some food here for you, my Lord.”

  “I need to leave right away.” Darius stood and wobbled for a minute. He had to find Christine, but he didn’t want to alarm these people with that news.

  The man helped Darius to the table. “You wouldn’t want to miss my wife’s cooking, now would you?”

  “And you do need your strength,” his wife piped in.

  Darius was moved by the compassion of these people. He sat at the table and found himself suddenly ravished. He ate three platefuls of potatoes, eggs, and hot griddle cakes. “That was one of the best meals I have ever had. The castle chefs could learn from you.” He beamed.

  The lady blushed, and the man looked down in embarrassment. Darius realized they were just average farmers trying to make their way in life.

  “What can I do to repay you?” Darius asked.

  “Oh no. Nothing, Your Majesty. It’s our pleasure to help you,” the man answered humbly. “Just watching you heal that horse was a treasure for me.”

  “My powers . . . ?” Darius still didn’t know what people thought about his powers.

  The lady of the house smiled. “Don’t worry about that. We are not as superstitious against magic around here as they are in the capital. It’s like any kind of tool, I gather. You can use it for good or bad. Every once in a while, there will be talk of some wizards from Arc coming into Sur. They’ve never caused any trouble from what we have heard.

  Darius, touched at their humility and understanding, felt proud of how many good people were in his realm.

  “You have been so helpful in events that you are not even aware of. I will repay you somehow, but now I need to get to Sur.” He stood up from the table and hugged each of them, sending traces of his power into them to thank them.

  The two backed up from him with amazement on their faces. Then they bowed low to him and bid him farewell.

  Darius climbed back on Thunder, and with Lightning by their side, they rode off at half speed. Lightning, still weak, would be fine after the healing completed.

  Wizard, I have lost contact with her. Lightning sounded frightened.

  “It’s probably the injury you suffered,” Darius suggested.

  There is a spark every once in a while, but it gets farther away each time I try to find her.

  “Have they taken her to Arc then?” Darius mused out loud.

  They entered Sur a short time thereafter, and Darius found the Governor’s home and the rest of the guards that had been with his wife. They were devastated and afraid of punishment. Darius was tired and frustrated but tried not to take it out on the men. They were doing their best. One of the guards recounted to him that she had gone out on an early morning ride and had never returned. After searching, they found the two dead guards north of the city. Neighbors mentioned seeing black-clad riders in the area.

  “Why would Arc take her?” Governor Bree Handover asked out loud. The man was a good steward of the city and seemed genuinely concerned for the queen’s disappearance.

  “A good question that we will soon find out. Can you send some men up in the mountain pass and see what they can find out?”

  The mayor nodded. “The Arcs have a small army camped on the border, Sire. We don�
��t grasp their full intentions. They have said it was an honor guard to meet you.”

  “An army for an honor guard!” Darius grew angrier. “Are they taunting us now?”

  “It is said Bronwyn Anwar, the King’s son, waits there to meet with you as you invited.”

  Darius stood, exhausted beyond measure. He had to keep going. The longer he waited, the further Christine could be. “Then I will ride to meet him and force an answer as to where my wife has been taken.”

  One of the guards stepped over to Darius. Eric was second in command to Roland. “You are tired, Sire. Why don’t you rest first?”

  “I can’t rest,” he almost wailed. “My wife has been taken. I will not rest until I find her.” Anguish bubbled up inside him, testing his limits. He reached inside himself and pulled on strength he didn’t know he had. He pushed away the tiredness and set his mind for the task at hand.

  The guard, Darius’s elder by twenty years, continued, “Let us at least get you cleaned up and presentable, my Lord. If you are going to meet the prince of the Kingdom of Arc, let’s show him the King of the Realm in all his glory and power.”

  Darius smiled without it reaching his eyes. “Very well. You are right. We must have a show of power.” Turning to the mayor, he gave orders, “Mayor Handover, contact the garrison here, and tell whoever is in charge to bring his battalion. We ride at noon.”

  Two guards accompanied the King to wash and change clothes. Somewhere in the midst of their help, they also fed him. In the back of his mind, he communicated to Thunder and Lightning for them to be ready to ride. The stable hands were feeding and watering them well.

  Their ride in the late autumn air began clear but grew cooler close to the mountains. Leaves hung in oranges, reds, and yellows, sending a glorious splash of color throughout Sur and its surrounding lands. The greener evergreens of the mountains were sprinkled in, growing thicker closer to the mountains themselves.