The Path Of Peace (The Cremelino Prophecy Book 3)

by Mike Shelton

  Sean and the prince fought the last remaining attacker together. The two of them pushed him toward a drop-off. A small ravine went down thirty feet at the edge of the battlefield. The Realm soldier was quick but no match for two trained swordsmen. Down went the third man.

  Sean heard a loud yell and turned toward its source. Darius had seen the two of them and began pushing through the crowd. Everyone else fell away from his advance. Desperation seized Sean’s mind. The next moments would determine his fate.

  “My benefactor will hold all of the Realm, letting you take the fertile grounds of Sur.”

  The prince breathed deeply, still holding his sword in his hand. “What if I want more?”

  Sean’s eyes opened wide. “More? Don’t be greedy, Bronwyn. And don’t be a fool.” Sean didn’t want the plan to fall apart. “Take what you are given. The man who gives it to you is more powerful than your entire army.”

  The fighting moved closer to them with Darius nearing them. Sean smiled at the opportunity. The two of them could take him and end this folly.

  The prince laughed. “How is one man more powerful than my army?”

  Sean grew angry at the prince’s doubts, and Darius was almost there. Seconds away. “He is a wizard more powerful than the King. Don’t cross him.”

  Bronwyn lunged at him just as Darius arrived. “You are in league with those blasted evil sorcerers. I knew you were a traitor.” The prince swung his sword at Sean.

  Sean jumped back and brought his sword in front of him with both hands. Back and forth they went. Sean pushed the prince back, but then with a desperate move, the prince rolled in front of him under Sean’s sword and hit him in the knees, taking him to the ground, the deep ravine mere inches away.

  Sean tried to stand, but the prince, bigger than him, rolled on top. Sean’s sword fell to his side. Prince Bronwyn brought his sword high in the air, aiming at Sean’s head.

  “Traitor. Now justice will be done. “ Bronwyn began to bring the sword down on Sean.

  His life would be ended in a valley in the Superstition Mountains. No glory. No power. No rule. What a waste, Sean thought. He closed his eyes, bracing for the killing blow.

  It never came.

  Sean San Ghant opened his eyes again and saw Darius, now off his horse, blocking the prince’s killing stroke. Sean was amazed. Why would he do that for him? Sean had hated Darius his entire life, teased him, kidnapped him, turned traitor against him.

  “Why?” Sean yelled. “Why?” Why would a man that he hated and detested save his life?

  Darius was busy fighting off the prince’s attack. Sweat poured down his face. His purple cape fluttered behind him, hanging over armor and thick clothes. His sword glowed brighter, and the King pushed the prince back.

  Bronwyn tripped and fell to the ground, much in the same position as Sean had just been in. Time slowed for Sean. He peered around the battlefield. Hundreds lay dead, but the battled raged on. Wounded horses and men lay across the valley, but strangely it was only the three of them left alone to determine the fate of the battle.

  Sean sucked in a quick breath and yelled at Darius again. He needed an answer. “Why did you stop him from killing me?’

  Darius, keeping his sword at the neck of his enemy, shifted his attention to Sean. “It’s not his right to condemn you, Sean San Ghant. As much as I think you were part of this plot, you are not the power behind it. It’s the Preacher. It’s him I want. The prince does not have a right to kill you. You are still a noble member of the Realm and my responsibility. I will decide your fate.” His face was wolfish, but his eyes held some compassion. “I am not the same person you kidnapped and brought into the cave months ago.”

  Sean was drained of energy and sunk back to the ground. He didn’t know what to think. He had never warranted such attention or compassion. All he had believed about Darius came into question. In one swift act, his nemesis had shifted his whole outlook on life.

  “What about him?” he said, arms pointing to the prince.

  “I will not kill him. At least not until I get more answers.” Darius motioned two soldiers to tie the prince’s hands.

  The ground began shaking violently. Rocks starting to move around them, coming up out of the ground and forming small barriers around the fighting.

  Sean studied Darius, and the young King shook his head, signaling that he didn’t know what was happening. It wasn’t his power causing the quake. The rolling continued until two people rode down into the valley. They glowed with power. The fighting had ceased with all men from both sides watching the two newcomers ride full speed toward Darius, Bronwyn, and Sean.

  Darius kept his sword drawn, power crackling on its tip. Two men held the prince tight between them.

  Up rode the two wizards Sean had seen at the lodge weeks before: the old man with his green cape and gray beard and the young girl, barely of age to be out on her own, with her short, blonde hair, flushed cheeks, and determined gaze.

  They continued riding, stopping directly in front of Darius. The horses were breathing hard. The girl noticed her brother being held and brought her hand up in front of her. The earth exploded at the guard’s feet, knocking them over. The prince tried to move, but Darius intervened. He blasted a powerful wind at the girl. The guards stood up and grabbed the prince again. He fought against them but was held tight.

  “Stop this now!” the older man shouted. Flinging his arms in the air he stilled all motion. He sent the girl a grave look, and she subsided.

  “King Darius DarSan Williams, I presume.” The man spoke in a deep booming voice.

  Darius nodded. “And who might you be?”

  “I am High Wizard Olan Sallir, personal advisor to King Anwar of the Kingdom of Arc.”

  “And her?” Darius motioned to the girl.

  Olan smiled and held in a laugh. “Oh. She is my headstrong apprentice, Danijela Anwar. A growing earth wizard, daughter of the King, and younger sister to Prince Bronwyn, whom you hold behind you.” Olan examined the prince and frowned. Turning back to Darius, he smiled. “I am sure this was not the reception you had planned.”

  Darius, who still looked angry, let out a deep breath. “It is well to make your acquaintance, High Wizard. I’ve heard of you.” Darius held on to diplomacy by a thread. “Your prince here has abducted my wife, the queen.”

  “I did not,” the prince said, sounding defiant.

  “I will speak to you in a minute.” Olan dismissed the Prince with a wave of his hand.

  Darius continued. “Eyewitnesses saw men in black, garbed in the Kingdom of Arc’s battle attire, attack my wife and carry her off. We came to meet the prince as previously arranged for a friendly meeting. Your prince had over five hundred men waiting here with him.”

  The High Wizard looked at Bronwyn and raised his eyebrows. “Seems like a lot of men for an honor guard to meet the new King of the Realm, my Prince. I remember your father directing a few dozen.”

  “You still attacked him on our soil.” Danijela’s first words were directed toward Darius.

  “He took my wife.” Darius gritted his teeth. The ground quivered slightly at his retort.

  Olan glanced around a moment then back to the King. Men had begun to retreat back to their own sides, stepping over the small rock walls that had been erected.

  “A lot of bodies fill this valley, King Darius. The young lady does have a point.”

  “I had reinforcements arrive when they heard of an army building up in the pass. Then shortly afterward, another battalion of Arc soldiers came down the pass just ahead of your arrival.” Darius pointed to the soldiers. “They had obviously been directed ahead of time.”

  Olan glared at Bronwyn. “A fine mess you have gotten us into, my Prince. You will be taken back to your father.”

  “High Wizard, with full respect, I cannot let you take him back until I find out about my wife. He will be a prisoner of the Realm, though I will let his remaining men leave in peace.”

  Men fr
om both sides started to tense up and move farther away from the small gathering. The young wizard lifted her hands once again; the rocks once more rose up and flowed together. Dirt and trees began to fall, and a wall erected itself between the two camps.

  “Don’t do me any favors, sister,” Bronwyn shouted. “All of you wizards are an abomination. No one should have that much power.” He pulled away from the guards and ran toward the group along the edge of the ravine. His unfocused and wild eyes missed seeing a large root sticking out of the ground. With no warning at all, the prince tripped on the root, his speed carrying his body off the cliff and down the embankment. His wailing echoed off of the walls until he landed with a distant thud on the rocky bottom.

  “No, Bronwyn!” Danijela yelled, jumping off her horse and running to the edge of the ravine. Tears filled her eyes and surprise and frustration filled the other men standing close by. She sat staring into the deep opening while everyone else stood still.

  Danijela stood, turned around, and faced Darius. Her young eyes, red and blurred with tears, burned at him. She lifted her arms, and fire crackled from the foggy sky. Elements of earth began to gather around her, and her brother’s body lifted out of the ravine, settling onto a cleared patch of dirt in front of the group.

  Sean wanted nothing more than to be farther away from this dangerous group of wizards. He began to back away. Darius glimpsed him moving and shook his head. Without much thought, Sean found himself obeying and stopped. He watched as Darius walked with slow but deliberate steps toward the young girl. She bristled and stiffened as he entered her personal space. With gentleness, he wrapped his arms around her, closed his eyes, and held her. Rigid at first and crying, she eventually relaxed and fell into his arms.

  The small group gasped. Sean was certain they all felt a calmness and tranquility reach into their hearts, just as he did. Swords lowered, deep breaths were taken, and the battle ended. Sean found tears coming to his own eyes as he gasped in admiration and wonder at his King.

  Lowering himself to the ground on one knee, Sean, with newfound respect in his eyes, gazed up at his King, still amazed his life had been spared. He had never known such feelings of devotion before. His heart was open and bare. There was only one thing to do.

  In a voice raw with emotion, Sean bowed to his King and stated, “Darius DarSan Williams, King of the Realm and wizard of the heart, I pledge my life to your service as your humble servant until the end of my days.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  FRIENDS REUNITED

  The day after the battle in the mountain pass, Darius sat in a room of the mayor of Sur’s office. Gathered around a table with him was Roland, who had arrived with Jakob and the rest of the Cremelinos, High Wizard Sallir, Danijela Anwar, and Cray Dreydon. They would have to send word to the King of Arc about his son Bronwyn.

  The group had just eaten a light lunch of open-faced roast sandwiches with gravy and slices of melon. So far there was not much talk. Everyone was exhausted, and frustration and anger still hung in the air between the two kingdoms.

  “I’ve sent the rest of Prince Bronwyn’s men back to Herro except for a small group of loyal soldiers I have kept with me,” the High Wizard informed Darius.

  “Herro isn’t very far away. What is to stop them from coming back as soon as we leave?” Darius still hadn’t found any clues to his wife’s disappearance or why the prince had brought so many men to the border.

  “You have my word as representative of the King of Arc that they will not return.”

  “A King whose son may have captured my wife but in the least had other plans of invasion into my realm.”

  Olan’s voice rose, but he maintained control. “Young Bronwyn’s views did not reflect the views of his father. He was young and brash. The men were following his orders, and may I remind you that some of those orders came from sources inside your realm.”

  Darius groaned inside and put his hand out to settle the High Wizard down. “Forgive me. I am exhausted and not thinking clearly. I do take responsibility for Sean San Ghant as a member of the Realm. It appears he was part of the plans of an old nemesis of mine, known as the Preacher. He is a wizard of evil, learning his trade among a sect in the eastern kingdoms. He tried to take Belor, and now he has broadened his plans of chaos. We do seem to be trying to find a path for peace.”

  “May I make a suggestion, my Lord?” Cray asked Darius.

  Darius nodded his head in assent and took a drink from his glass.

  “This is not going to be solved today. You need rest.”

  Darius began to interrupt, but Cray continued. “You need rest to be able to think. I know you want your wife back, but you are King of the entire Realm. Word has come in just an hour ago that another army is forming on the border of Gildan across from Denir.”

  Darius slammed his fist down. “I thought Mezar had things under control in Gildan.”

  “It appears our neighbors are testing the new King of the Realm.” Cray said. “How will you meet these tests, young wizard?”

  Darius laughed out loud. “You give good advice. You are right as always. How will I meet these tests? I am young and untrained, and so they all push against me. The Preacher in Mar, the Arcs in Sur, the Gildanians in Denir.” He paused for a moment to think.

  Rest, my young wizard. Things will work out for you. Just remember where your power comes from. Thunder interrupted the King’s thoughts. Help is on the way.

  “Help from where? Do you know where my wife is?”

  No, we still cannot feel her presence. Lightning intruded in the conversation. Darius could sense the sadness in her heart.

  Send the young girl wizard to us before she leaves, Thunder said.

  Darius smiled and stood up. “I am going to rest for a bit. You all should also. It has been a long few days, and I am afraid things are going to get worse before they get better. Rooms have been arranged for all of you at the mayor’s lodge.” He turned to Cray. “General, before you rest, send out some fresh men to once again study the area where the queen was taken and ask around for any more information. If we can believe them, both the prince and Sean say they had no knowledge of the abduction.”

  They all stood and bowed to the King.

  “Danijela.” Darius put his hand softly on her arm. “Stay for a minute please.”

  The young girl glanced at her mentor. He nodded.

  After the others left, Danijela looked expectantly at the young King. “My Lord, have I offended you?”

  Darius smiled, “No, no. You intrigue me. Your power out in the mountain pass was impressive. Your ability to reshape rock and the earth . . .”

  “Pretty amazing huh?” She smiled, seeming almost younger than her sixteen years.

  “I must admit, I am still a novice when it comes to my power, but what you did, I cannot even comprehend.”

  “It comes with the power of the earth I am told. I, too, am just a young apprentice, only taken in with the High Wizard this past year,” Danijela said.

  “Apprentice or not, you obviously have the makings of one of the most powerful wizards in the west.”

  Danijela laughed and twirled around, her cape flowing behind her. “That is what I am told. Won’t it be fun?” There was a sparkle of amusement in her eyes.

  Darius couldn’t help laughing also. “It won’t all be fun and games. Power is dangerous if not used in the proper way.”

  The girl grew somber. “I know. My brother was afraid and didn’t trust it. Look what happened to him.”

  “I am sorry about that. I was angry at him, but truly I would not have wished him dead like that.”

  “In my moment of anger and sadness, you held me. That was amazing. The comfort you sent into my being was beyond my powers. Thank you.”

  “A wizard of the heart does have some advantages, even if I can’t create walls out of rock.”

  There was an awkward silence for a moment.

  “The main reason I wanted to speak to you is this: I w
ant our kingdoms to be allies. I don’t want hatred or fear to govern us. We both have the ability to do tremendous damage to one another.”

  The girl started to say something, but Darius stalled her with his hands. “As a token of my appreciation and by their consent and asking, one of the Cremelinos has chosen you to bond with. ”

  Danijela’s eyes misted over, and she covered her mouth with her hands. She bobbed a short bow. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve read about them in my histories, but I never knew the Cremelinos of the Realm still bonded like old times.”

  “You have books about them?” Darius was excited. “All I know is from what they tell me themselves, and they aren’t forthcoming about things very often.”

  Darius felt a brief flicker of amusement in his mind.

  “In the time of the founding of most of our kingdoms hundreds of years ago, the Cremelinos were companions to the wizards,” Danijela said. “Each wizard had one to bond to. They gave their master power and strength in times of need and shared information among each other even over long distances. They are a race predating many of our western civilizations. They are the guardians of our land.”

  “Once again I find that I have a lot to learn.” Darius made himself a note to discuss with his Cremelino the sharing of power.

  Thunder and Lightning sent their approval through their bond with him.

  “The Cremelinos already think highly of you, earth wizard,” Darius said.

  “You just talked to them?” Danijela asked excitedly.

  “Yes, I did, in my mind. Now I need to rest if I am going to be any good to anyone, but the Cremelinos would like you to go to the stables with them.”

  Danijela bowed again. “This treasure will not go unrewarded, my Lord. My father will hear of your generosity. Just let us know when you need our help, and we will be there.”

  Darius and Danijela headed out of the room, she going one way, Darius the other. He almost ran into his captain commander.