about charging
him. It would not do any good. Not with the kind of power Darius now had.
Darius opened the door.
“What will happen to me?” asked Kelln.
“That is up to the Preacher.” Darius walked out holding his back
straight. “You are his prisoner.”
After Darius left, Kelln tried to rinse his face off in the water
basin, but the water hadn't been changed from earlier, and it seemed to smear
the dirt over his face. What was Darius saying? Surely he wouldn’t sacrifice
his old friend like this . Maybe no one was strong enough to resist the
Preacher’s power.
He sat down on the floor and leaned back against the rough brick
wall. His lip and eye were swelling, making his face ache with pain. He closed
his eyes and found himself dreaming of Anikari. A pleasant dream. Kelln knew it
to be a dream, but it helped him relax. He saw old friends in his dream. His
heart jumped as he remembered his family. He wondered what had become of them.
Chapter 9
KING EDWARD
K ing Edward DarSan Montere had been King of the Realm for many years
and his reign had been mostly peaceful. Lately however, too many events were
getting out of hand. Today he sat slumped in his tall, cushioned chair. The
dark velvet drapes were pulled shut, and despite the numerous lamps, the room
seemed dark and depressing. Edward’s once-large frame seemed to have shrunken
in recent weeks. His face seemed older, and his thoughts were not always clear.
His first councilor, Richard San Williams, sat on a chair facing him.
“One of your messengers came in from Belor this morning, your
Highness. It seems my son, Darius, has been there for a few days. He crossed
through the Black Forest directly to Belor. I have sent a messenger requesting
him to return once again.”
“Good, Richard. It won't be long now. It won't be long.”
“But Sire, he has already disobeyed your orders, and there are
rumors of him becoming cocky and boastful. And now we find him in Belor
consorting with the Preacher.”
“He is young, Richard. Remember at that age what we all wanted? We
wanted to be noticed, to have people look at us, to have power.” The King
stopped and placed his hand against his head.
“What has happened, Edward? You were fine a few weeks ago.”
Richard stood up and paced the floor of the King’s private chamber. His dark
brown hair was similar in color to his son’s, but unlike his son, he kept a
trimmed mustache and goatee. He had noticed recently that his beard was showing
more gray.
“The doctor is convinced I was somehow poisoned. There is no other
explanation. He thought it would pass. However, I’m not so sure. It’s still
working deep within me. I can feel it. I think it started with those headaches
months ago. It must have been planned back then. A slow process that would not
attract any suspicion on anyone. It might be my time.”
“What do you mean, your time? You are still young. You could rule
the Realm for another twenty years. We will find an antidote.”
“We are all given a role to play, Richard. I kept the peace the
best I knew how. I realize I may have been too harsh at times, but I felt I had
no other choice. My purpose is gone. I wasn’t the rightful heir, anyway. Maybe
that is why my family has all passed on before me. Once my wife and daughter
died in the plague, I decided to do what was right and bring the throne back to
its rightful line. I was just bridging the gap until it was time for another…
your son… to take the next step.” The King coughed and took a deep breath. “I
recognize the look in your eyes, Richard. You think he is too young and too
brash. Maybe he is. But strength and wisdom brought on by age are not always
what is needed. Youth many times brings the vision and energy that is better in
certain circumstances. It’s not always our choice. We are directed by one
higher than us.”
“Who is higher than you, my King?” Richard felt helpless. Edward
must get better. Darius wasn’t
him. It would not do any good. Not with the kind of power Darius now had.
Darius opened the door.
“What will happen to me?” asked Kelln.
“That is up to the Preacher.” Darius walked out holding his back
straight. “You are his prisoner.”
After Darius left, Kelln tried to rinse his face off in the water
basin, but the water hadn't been changed from earlier, and it seemed to smear
the dirt over his face. What was Darius saying? Surely he wouldn’t sacrifice
his old friend like this . Maybe no one was strong enough to resist the
Preacher’s power.
He sat down on the floor and leaned back against the rough brick
wall. His lip and eye were swelling, making his face ache with pain. He closed
his eyes and found himself dreaming of Anikari. A pleasant dream. Kelln knew it
to be a dream, but it helped him relax. He saw old friends in his dream. His
heart jumped as he remembered his family. He wondered what had become of them.
Chapter 9
KING EDWARD
K ing Edward DarSan Montere had been King of the Realm for many years
and his reign had been mostly peaceful. Lately however, too many events were
getting out of hand. Today he sat slumped in his tall, cushioned chair. The
dark velvet drapes were pulled shut, and despite the numerous lamps, the room
seemed dark and depressing. Edward’s once-large frame seemed to have shrunken
in recent weeks. His face seemed older, and his thoughts were not always clear.
His first councilor, Richard San Williams, sat on a chair facing him.
“One of your messengers came in from Belor this morning, your
Highness. It seems my son, Darius, has been there for a few days. He crossed
through the Black Forest directly to Belor. I have sent a messenger requesting
him to return once again.”
“Good, Richard. It won't be long now. It won't be long.”
“But Sire, he has already disobeyed your orders, and there are
rumors of him becoming cocky and boastful. And now we find him in Belor
consorting with the Preacher.”
“He is young, Richard. Remember at that age what we all wanted? We
wanted to be noticed, to have people look at us, to have power.” The King
stopped and placed his hand against his head.
“What has happened, Edward? You were fine a few weeks ago.”
Richard stood up and paced the floor of the King’s private chamber. His dark
brown hair was similar in color to his son’s, but unlike his son, he kept a
trimmed mustache and goatee. He had noticed recently that his beard was showing
more gray.
“The doctor is convinced I was somehow poisoned. There is no other
explanation. He thought it would pass. However, I’m not so sure. It’s still
working deep within me. I can feel it. I think it started with those headaches
months ago. It must have been planned back then. A slow process that would not
attract any suspicion on anyone. It might be my time.”
“What do you mean, your time? You are still young. You could rule
the Realm for another twenty years. We will find an antidote.”
“We are all given a role to play, Richard. I kept the peace the
best I knew how. I realize I may have been too harsh at times, but I felt I had
no other choice. My purpose is gone. I wasn’t the rightful heir, anyway. Maybe
that is why my family has all passed on before me. Once my wife and daughter
died in the plague, I decided to do what was right and bring the throne back to
its rightful line. I was just bridging the gap until it was time for another…
your son… to take the next step.” The King coughed and took a deep breath. “I
recognize the look in your eyes, Richard. You think he is too young and too
brash. Maybe he is. But strength and wisdom brought on by age are not always
what is needed. Youth many times brings the vision and energy that is better in
certain circumstances. It’s not always our choice. We are directed by one
higher than us.”
“Who is higher than you, my King?” Richard felt helpless. Edward
must get better. Darius wasn’t
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