into the King’s
Elite Army. A lot had changed since then.
That had been over eight months before. He remembered the day
well. With no warning at all, Darius and other men a few years older than him had
been taken to the castle and informed by King Edward and his councilor Richard—
Darius’s father— that they were now going to be part of a specially trained
Elite Army. It was that day, upon the sudden news of being subscribed into the
new army, and the inability to see Christine before they left, that made Darius
fully realize his path in life: restoring glory again to the Realm, and
fighting for the underprivileged people in its borders.
Kelln stood looking at Darius as if trying to figure out what to
say himself. “Who was that? What about Christine?” His eyes followed Leandra as
she walked away.
Darius frowned. “Christine is probably better off without me.” He
said it more gruffly than he intended.
Kelln stiffened. “Why do you say that? You’re not saying this…
this girl has replaced Christine as the love of your life? I haven’t been gone
that long, Darius. You two were in love. Real love.” Kelln’s hands waved
around the air as he talked.
“Nobody has replaced anyone, Kelln, but people change. I have changed.”
Kelln glanced over toward where Alessandra and Alastair stood
talking.
Darius followed his eye movements. “So what is the story between
you and her?”
Kelln sighed and began to tell Darius everything that had befallen
him since he had arrived in Belor: the growing powers of the Preacher and his
plans to defy the Realm, lead the city, and maybe take over the Realm; Kelln’s
own imprisonment and torture and finally his escape; meeting Alastair and
eventually being recaptured.
Darius listened intently, especially about the Preacher. He gasped
at Kelln’s torture and wondered how he could now be so jovial.
“Well, we certainly aren't boys anymore,
are we?” said Darius.
“No. I guess not. We have grown and discovered new things about
ourselves.” Kelln looked at Darius as if he hoped Darius would talk more about
himself. Darius did not, so Kelln continued. “I have even found the peace of
God.”
“You found what?”
“I found out that what we are inside is what makes us who we are,
Darius.” Kelln continued in all seriousness. “That is the only way I can deal
with everything that has happened to me.”
“I’m not sure I’m following you, Kel. I have been trained in the
King’s Elite Army, become the first commander, won my first battle, and am
leading men now to Belor to capture the Preacher. I am a commander now. A
commander with power. That is what defines who I am.”
“But you are more, Darius. Don't you understand? You don't have to
be just a commander if you don't want to. Power is not what you wanted.”
“But power is what I have now.” Darius retorted. “You are the one
who told me to embrace my powers, Kelln. You told me not to hide them.”
Darius breathed deeply and looked around the campsite, making sure
no one had heard his outburst. He was changing inside, and not even his best
friend could understand that.
Kelln spoke more softly. “Remember you wanted to travel the Realm
and do things differently than your father.”
Darius frowned at the mention of his father. Anger began mounting
again. Darius forced a laugh. “I thought that once too, Kel. But events didn't
seem to work out that way. Look at me now. I have become the mightiest leader
in the King’s army. He will revere me when I return victorious to Anikari. The
Realm needs protection, not only from outside, but from within. I need to make
the King and his councilor’s see the people for who they are and understand
that they can’t control everyone. They sit in their meetings and make decisions
without being out among the people and understanding them.”
“Does he know about your power?”
“My power?” Darius glared down at his old friend. “I know how they
all talk
Elite Army. A lot had changed since then.
That had been over eight months before. He remembered the day
well. With no warning at all, Darius and other men a few years older than him had
been taken to the castle and informed by King Edward and his councilor Richard—
Darius’s father— that they were now going to be part of a specially trained
Elite Army. It was that day, upon the sudden news of being subscribed into the
new army, and the inability to see Christine before they left, that made Darius
fully realize his path in life: restoring glory again to the Realm, and
fighting for the underprivileged people in its borders.
Kelln stood looking at Darius as if trying to figure out what to
say himself. “Who was that? What about Christine?” His eyes followed Leandra as
she walked away.
Darius frowned. “Christine is probably better off without me.” He
said it more gruffly than he intended.
Kelln stiffened. “Why do you say that? You’re not saying this…
this girl has replaced Christine as the love of your life? I haven’t been gone
that long, Darius. You two were in love. Real love.” Kelln’s hands waved
around the air as he talked.
“Nobody has replaced anyone, Kelln, but people change. I have changed.”
Kelln glanced over toward where Alessandra and Alastair stood
talking.
Darius followed his eye movements. “So what is the story between
you and her?”
Kelln sighed and began to tell Darius everything that had befallen
him since he had arrived in Belor: the growing powers of the Preacher and his
plans to defy the Realm, lead the city, and maybe take over the Realm; Kelln’s
own imprisonment and torture and finally his escape; meeting Alastair and
eventually being recaptured.
Darius listened intently, especially about the Preacher. He gasped
at Kelln’s torture and wondered how he could now be so jovial.
“Well, we certainly aren't boys anymore,
are we?” said Darius.
“No. I guess not. We have grown and discovered new things about
ourselves.” Kelln looked at Darius as if he hoped Darius would talk more about
himself. Darius did not, so Kelln continued. “I have even found the peace of
God.”
“You found what?”
“I found out that what we are inside is what makes us who we are,
Darius.” Kelln continued in all seriousness. “That is the only way I can deal
with everything that has happened to me.”
“I’m not sure I’m following you, Kel. I have been trained in the
King’s Elite Army, become the first commander, won my first battle, and am
leading men now to Belor to capture the Preacher. I am a commander now. A
commander with power. That is what defines who I am.”
“But you are more, Darius. Don't you understand? You don't have to
be just a commander if you don't want to. Power is not what you wanted.”
“But power is what I have now.” Darius retorted. “You are the one
who told me to embrace my powers, Kelln. You told me not to hide them.”
Darius breathed deeply and looked around the campsite, making sure
no one had heard his outburst. He was changing inside, and not even his best
friend could understand that.
Kelln spoke more softly. “Remember you wanted to travel the Realm
and do things differently than your father.”
Darius frowned at the mention of his father. Anger began mounting
again. Darius forced a laugh. “I thought that once too, Kel. But events didn't
seem to work out that way. Look at me now. I have become the mightiest leader
in the King’s army. He will revere me when I return victorious to Anikari. The
Realm needs protection, not only from outside, but from within. I need to make
the King and his councilor’s see the people for who they are and understand
that they can’t control everyone. They sit in their meetings and make decisions
without being out among the people and understanding them.”
“Does he know about your power?”
“My power?” Darius glared down at his old friend. “I know how they
all talk
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