The Path Of Destiny

by Mike Shelton

  His mother handed him the note and he opened it with curiosity.

  “It’s a summons from King Edward.” Darius was surprised. “I don’t have much time.”

  Elizabeth nodded as if she knew, then walked out of the room. “I have breakfast ready. Don’t run off too quickly.”

  Darius glanced out of the window from his second-floor bedroom. From high up on the hill he could see much of the city from his vantage point. He supposed that was why they lived in this section of the city. So his father felt even more superior to everyone. When Darius was a younger boy they had lived down in the lower parts of the city. That was when his father had spent more time with him and his mother.

  His mother pretended to be busy around the kitchen as Darius ate, but he watched the worried glances towards him when she thought he wasn’t looking. His mother, Elizabeth, liked to cook, so she shooed the servants out that morning.

  She was still a striking woman into her early forties. With long brown hair and blue eyes, she kept up with the latest court fashions, though Darius thought this was more out of duty than real interest. She stood behind her husband, but was much softer in her approach to Darius and his interests, especially with Christine.

  His mother seemed more somber this morning. He looked at her. “Mom?”

  She just shook her head and kissed him on his forehead as she encouraged him to hurry to the castle. He sensed concern.

  The castle wasn't too far from his house. With a brisk step he walked along the cobblestone streets that marked his neighborhood and wondered what the King wanted. King Edward was, but still, a summoning by him must be something important. Due to his father’s position, Darius had met the King many times.

  Lost in his thoughts, he tripped over a broken stone and winced as his knee hit the ground. He hated these stones. They always came out. His father would tell him they marked the upper-class neighborhood of Anikari. He liked brick himself. His father, having grown up laying bricks with his father, was adamant about surrounding himself with stone. Darius also liked the simple thatched houses of the countryside rather than the tile roofs now popular in the upper part of the city. Thoughts of the countryside brought thoughts of Christine back to his mind and he smiled, excited to bring her the Cremelino today.

  The early summer air was warm already that morning. Darius now wished he had worn something less formal. The wool coat over a silk shirt, along with the woolen pants tucked into his high black boots seemed to hold in the heat. A summons by the King, however, did warrant the nicer attire. He ran his hand over his hair once again making sure it wasn’t sticking up anywhere.

  He arrived at the castle. Other young men a few years older than him were walking in through the same gate. He recognized many of them from the academy from when he was a few years younger. They weren’t all sons of nobles, but most seemed to be from the city.

  An old, wrinkle-faced guard stood at the south gate to the castle and nodded to him as he entered. “Darius, looks like something exciting going on today.”

  “Nothing exciting ever happens around here, Robert, not like when you were out traveling the Realm.” He had grown up listening to all the stories of the guards. They had recounted their adventures to him of when they traveled away from Anikari in guarding the Realm.

  The guard seemed to get a dreamy look in his old, tired eyes. “That is true, young sir. It’s not like it was in the days of King Charles or his mother. Those were the glory days of the Realm. Seems like we are kept closer to home now lad.”

  “Not me. I am going to go out and fight for those glory days again, Robert.” Darius smiled, hurried through the broad stone gate, and climbed the smooth carved granite steps.

  He followed the others, even though he was familiar with a short cut to the palace court. The King’s court sat outside for the most part. Up front stood a raised diadem where the King and his councilors were covered by a large canopy. The rest of the court had benches of varying lengths spread throughout. The castle surrounded the open court on all four sides, except for the small walkways where the young men had just entered.

  This was where King Edward held large meetings, gave out sentences, made official announcements, and did everything that was outwardly important to the Realm and city of Anikari. This differed from the inner throne room, where the Throne of Power resided. It was in there that petitioners would gather once a month and where matters that were more private were discussed.

  Darius looked up at one side of the castle wall, and even though he had seen it many times, he still marveled at its size. Legend said the castle had only taken ten years to build, a feat that was amazing for this size of structure. Of course, it was also rumored that a few wizards had contributed their help. He wondered again at the potential of his power. Would he be able to build something some day? Would he be shunned for it or, worse yet, kicked outside the city, like the wizards of old? Maybe living in the countryside with Christine wouldn’t be so bad after all. He blushed at the thought and turned his attention back to the gathering.

  Looking around the large area, others were already sitting down. Within minutes, more than 200 other men arrived. With a quick glance Darius noticed he was the youngest of the group, and a small feeling of dread began to creep into his heart.

  Royal guards stood at attention around the perimeter of the courtyard. Darius sat in nervous anticipation, wondering again what was going to happen. He wished that Kelln was there. It had been a month since his best friend had left for Belor. He was anxious to hear what he had found out in the southern Realm city. If he didn’t hear from Kelln soon he would plan a trip there himself.

  The power within him began to gather, even without any prompting, rising up in him as preparation for any trouble. It seemed nervous too, if that were possible. At one point, his feelings almost made him get up and run away, though he didn't know where. Only his strict upbringing and teaching kept him in rooted to his hard seat.

  The men seemed to quiet down as they looked up towards the podium. Darius’s father, Richard, stood up in the front. He looked Darius in the eyes, but gave no outward indication he saw him. Darius sensed a strange air of sadness and exhaustion on his face.

  Richard motioned for all to stand.

  In came the King in his entire royal splendor, from his brilliant golden crown atop his head to his purple cloak swirling around his tall frame. It was the first time that Darius really noticed that the King’s eyes were similar in color to his own.

  King Edward proceeded to sit on a throne that was a smaller and less ornate version of the Throne of Power. Richard motioned for all of the men to sit.

  “Our loyal King Edward, friend of the people, protector of the people, and one of the people, has summoned us here today,” began Richard.

  Darius had heard these lines before. A rhetoric that was repeated each time a king spoke. The words were supposed to make them proud of the Realm and honor her king. He was proud of being a citizen of the Realm. He loved his kingdom and would fight for it, but growing up with his father as the first councilor to King Edward he didn’t like the game of politics and its impact on his family. He felt like his father gave more loyalty to the Kingdom than to his own family.

  The King stood and walked to the podium. His fierce, greyish eyes looked at each young man. It seemed he lingered just a brief moment longer on Darius before looking back over the crowd to speak.

  “My young men of Anikari and of the Realm,” the King’s voice boomed. “You have been gathered together this day for an exceptional purpose. You have grown up in a world of relative peace and safety. That was not always so. Many people among your ancestors and mine fought for this long reign of peace that began with my father and that has carried into my reign. It is not I who established the peace. It is you. You the people. You the young and the brave and the loyal.”

  Darius still wasn't sure what was happening, but he joined many of the other men as they moved to edges of their seats. Anticipation filled th
e air.

  “The peace I have spoken of is becoming fragile. There are those in, and out of, the Realm who would like to watch us fall and fail. In order to protect our peace and our people I have selected you, a chosen group, to become what will be known throughout the lands as the King's Elite Army.”

  The King paused, letting his words sink in. Darius’s heart leapt with joy. He was finally going to be trained in the army. That is what he had wanted all along. He wondered why his father had said nothing to him, or why he had experienced a change of heart from Darius being trained as a councilor. He looked at his father, but got no response back.

  “You will work and train hard to become one together. A group so cunning, strong, and brave that no one would dare take our freedom and peace away. You will be trained, as warriors of old were, to become one with your weapon, one with yourself, and one with the Realm.”

  Darius heard cheers and handclaps emerge from the others, rising to their feet. He found himself bewildered and full of questions, but joining the others in praise of their King. He felt a sudden sense of pride. Who wouldn’t? He would be trained as in the legends of old. He looked around the room and realized again that he was the youngest by at least two to five years. What did that mean? Was he being given special treatment because of his father? He hoped not. He wanted to prove himself on his own. He couldn’t wait to tell Christine that news.

  Darius thought once more of Kelln. Maybe he could get his father to allow Kelln to join him also. He could ride to Belor and back in a week’s time and bring Kelln back to Anikari before they started training.

  The King sat down and Richard returned to the podium. The crowd resumed their seats. Darius’s father looked tense and stern as he began to layout the finer details of the plan. Darius half listened as he daydreamed about what the King had said. Every young boy dreamed of being a great warrior, like in the ancient tales. His power flared inside him with those thoughts.

  “ . . . We will leave late tonight,” was all he heard to shake him from his dreams. What? He almost said out loud. Leave where? The King hadn’t said they were going anywhere. Didn’t they have to get ready and train first?

  To answer Darius’s silent question, Richard continued. “We will be going up into a special camp that has been set up in the Superstition Mountains. There you will not be distracted. You will leave here when I dismiss you, to go home, pack any clothing and weapons you have, and return in three hours’ time. Everything else will be provided for you. An escort will accompany you to make sure everything goes according to plan. This news . . . this idea of a new Elite Army will be kept confidential for now. The location of your training will be guarded and kept secret.”

  Darius felt his world slam shut. Why this sudden move to the mountains? How could his father do this to him? It must be a plan to keep him away from Christine. Thoughts of her made him swoon in his seat. He had to tell her. He had to hold her one more time before he went. He had known that he might have to leave for short periods of time to defend the Realm, but not like this. Not so suddenly and secretly. He thought about escape, but he realized it would never work. Not now. Maybe later, after he had time to think about the situation. His heart ached, and he choked back the lump forming in his throat. What would he do without her? He wasn't prepared to deal with this now.

  The new soldiers were dismissed one by one with their escorts, guards from the perimeter of the yard. The escorts were coming down to the end and an escort hadn't been assigned to him yet. Time was running out, he thought.

  He would have to figure out a way to get rid of his escort for enough time to get to Christine's house. He felt a sudden pushing in his mind to get the Cremelino to Christine before he left, almost like a voice pleading with him. It shouldn’t be too hard. He was fast. If he needed to, he would even use his powers, but only as a last resort.

  All of the boys were gone except for him. His father walked up to him and said, “I will be your escort, Darius.”

  Darius’s heart sank. How could he get rid of his father?

  * * * *

  The sounds of the busy city floated through the air, but empty silence sat between the father and son. Horse hooves on the cobblestone were heard coming around a corner, children playing outside, the distant sound of a voice singing. Yet the quiet surrounding Richard and Darius was palpable.

  Their steps matched each other as Richard realized his son was now an adult, full-grown. Each one walked, deep in his own thoughts. Each one wanting to say something to the other. King Edward had been talking to Richard for months about this idea, yet he had kept hidden from even Richard the ages of the men he had in mind. Richard had supposed they would be seasoned warriors, men who had been trained. Instead the King wanted young men in their early twenties, and then Darius, his son, was younger than them all.

  His own son, leaving to become someone that Richard didn’t have any control over. Edward had assured him that it would be the best thing for Darius. A chance to become strong both physically and mentally. A chance to become a leader without Richard or the King around. His age would force him to either succeed brilliantly or fail miserably. Richard didn’t like the odds.

  He looked over at his son, walking beside him. He had become large and strong in the last few years. He knew Darius must hold tremendous grudges against him for this. He just wanted what was best for Darius . . . to be raised right and to be prepared for his future role.

  The one thing he didn't understand about his son was his attraction to the young woman Christine and the other outsiders. He wished he were able to make him understand his heritage and his obligation. He was a noble and a city man, and was better than the uneducated farmers living in wrecked houses on dirt roads outside of the city. He tried not to think about what else his son was. A future king?!

  Richard could imagine what his son was thinking about him. He knew that Darius didn’t agree with the way Richard saw things. He knew he wanted to stay out of politics. But he didn’t know the truth. The one thing that Richard couldn’t tell him. Now this sudden quest would upset him even more. He could see his son’s clenched jaw, the anger building in him.

  “You will learn a lot, Darius.” His father interrupted his son’s solitude. “This can be a great opportunity!”

  “But why so soon?” Darius turned to face him. He stood only inches away from Richard and looked him in the eyes. “I know I wanted to go train and protect the Realm, but not this way. And I am sure you noticed that I am younger than everyone else there. Are you setting me up to fail? Is that what this is all about? You want me to fail so you can have your way of me following you in politics?” Darius let all his frustration rush out at once.

  “It is what the King wants. I . . .” Richard’s voice trailed off. What could he tell his son? He wished he could spare him the pain.

  “You what?” asked Darius.

  Richard looked at Darius with a tender glance. “I wish it weren't so. At least not this way, but the King has his reasons.”

  Richard almost saw the walls break down. Could his son finally understand his feelings? But as quickly as he thought he saw a softening, firmness replaced it moments later and Richard realized an opportunity had passed.

  “Oh come on,” Darius said. “Reasons I bet you can’t tell me right? This is what you want anyways. To keep me away from Christine.”

  Richard stopped. They stood in front of the house now. It had been a mistake to show his feelings. The councilor had thought he saw a spark of understanding within his son, but once again Darius wouldn’t even try to understand. How could his son be so blind and rebellious?

  Anger came to Richard and he grabbed Darius by the shirt, looking him straight in the eyes, up close. “I don't care what you think of me anymore,” Richard snapped, not holding back. “I’ve given you the best I could. It may not be the best to you. Maybe nothing is. You treat me like you are better than me because you see the way things should be. You want everything peaceful and everyone getting
along. You can’t have it all. The world doesn’t work that way, Darius. There are nobles, merchants, outsiders, and thieves. This is an opportunity for you to make something of yourself. Don’t mess it up!”

  Rage filled Darius’s face. He reached his hand toward Richard and pushed him on the chest with the palm of his hand. Richard flew back ten feet, stumbling to keep from falling into the short bushes next to his home.

  Darius shook with anger. His temper seemed out of control. “I want to see Mother,” he said as he barged through the large front door and stood in the two-story entryway, “by myself.”

  Richard was afraid. More afraid than he had been in a long time. Darius should not have been able to push him that far. He didn’t understand what had happened, but he sensed a power from his son that confused him and brought a thousand questions to his mind. Questions he didn’t want to think about.

  He sat down on the front steps, honoring his son’s wishes for some time with his mother, not out of concern for Darius, but out of fear of what else could happen.

  He hoped Edward lived for a long, long time, because he was truly afraid of what might happen to the Realm in the hands of his son. He hated feeling this way. He hated the fact that he thought his son would never be ready to rule. He choked back the tears and looked off at the summer thunderstorm coming in the distance.

  Chapter Ten

  A MISSED GOODBYE

  Darius walked towards the kitchen, where smells of food reached his senses. He stopped once in the hallway and breathed in a deep breath of air. He had lost control again. Anger, more often than not, seemed to be the driving force behind his powers. He knew he shouldn’t have pushed his father, but it had felt good to release the frustration. He couldn’t believe his father was acting like this was good for him.