Wielder's Fate (2 page)

He wasn’t sure why the roiling clouds in the distance made him feel so worried.  He had seen plenty of storms.  Why should this one cause him to feel such alarm?  He glanced behind him and was surprised to see the grass and trees lush and green.  In the distance rose a tall, snowcapped mountain, enshrouded around its middle by white clouds.

“It’s coming,” Kalista stated in not much more than a whisper.

Traven turned his head back towards the dead, barren field and the raging storm in the distance.  It was already much closer than it had been.  He watched with a sense of foreboding as deep, red streaks of lightning lanced through the dark clouds.  It was unlike any storm he had ever seen.  Something about it seemed unnatural to him.

“We better seek shelter before it reaches us,” Traven said.

He looked from side to side, searching for some type of building.  All he saw were open fields and trees.  One of the trees would have to do.  He removed his arm from around the princess and grabbed her hand.  He took a step towards a clump of trees in the distance but stopped when Kalista didn’t move.

“You know you cannot hide from it,” she said with a sad smile.  “You have to face it.”

He turned back in the direction of the storm just as a huge, red bolt of lightning shot from the roiling clouds and slammed into his chest.

* * * * *

Traven jerked awake.  He calmed his breathing as his racing heart slowed.  That had been a strange dream.   From the clarity, he supposed it was really a vision, but it had felt more like a nightmare.  He sat up on his small cot and rubbed his eyes.  The dim light coming through the thin opening of his tent attested that morning had arrived.  He yawned and stood up, rubbing his back.  The cot was better than sleeping on the ground, but he was excited that for the next week or so he would be sleeping in a comfortable bed at the palace.

As he walked to the opening of his tent and looked out, Darian sat up and yawned as well.  The elf wasn’t looking forward to arriving at the large city of Candus, but Traven certainly was.  He was excited for the parade, the celebration, and a solid room in the palace.  It would be nice to rest comfortably before heading back to Faldor’s Keep.

“You can stay outside the city if you want to,” Traven said as he turned away from the opening of the tent.  “I’ll be fine.”

“No,” Darian replied.  “I will remain by your side.  I am interested in seeing the inside of the city and the palace.  Sooner or later I must overcome the anxiety I feel from being surrounded by so many humans.”

“I’m glad you’ll be with me,” Traven stated.  “I’m sure you’ll get used to it quickly.”

He really was glad Darian would be staying by his side.  Things had been different over the last few days.  It would be nice to have someone familiar with him that he could trust.  Blaize was nearby, but he was occupied most of the day with the responsibilities of his new position in the Royal Army.

On the march from the battlefield, Traven had been treated differently than ever before.  He knew that most of the soldiers were talking about him and that rumors were running rampant through the ranks.  He couldn’t help but notice the looks he received no matter where he went.  Some looked at him with fear, some with awe, some with respect, and some with defiance.  It felt strange that he could cause such diverse feelings in so many people he had never even met.

On the first day of the march back to Candus, he had ridden near the front of the company of soldiers, just behind Gavin, Kalista, and Blaize.  No one had dared approach him while he was in such close proximity to the leaders of the army, and he had been left alone.  Once they halted to camp for the night, Traven had set up his tent and eaten dinner with Blaize.  As soon as Blaize left, some of the soldiers took the opportunity to approach Traven and ask questions.

The crowd had slowly grown larger and larger until he had attracted a sizable audience.  Several had pleaded with him to perform some magic.  At first he had declined, but eventually he conceded to their wishes and demonstrated some of what he could do with the ambience.

The results of his demonstration weren’t what he had expected.  Instead of appeasing the soldiers, the crowd had swollen in size and gotten rowdy.  A messenger soon arrived to disperse the gathering, and several fights broke out.  Traven had suddenly found himself at the center of a small riot.  It was obvious the soldiers were still on edge from the recent battle and the deaths of so many of their comrades.  He had quickly put a shield around himself and Darian after the elf unsheathed his sword.

The crowd had eventually been dispersed.  Traven was asked to refrain from any more demonstrations of his power for the rest of the march, and the soldiers were ordered not to trouble him.  He wasn’t sure how he felt about the incident and the outcome.  Even though he wouldn’t have to worry about the rowdy soldiers, the orders left him feeling embarrassed and isolated from the rest of the army.

It was ironic to think that only a month ago he had thought he would be more comfortable in the midst of soldiers than anywhere else.  Obviously, his thinking had been far from the truth.  He was no common soldier anymore.  He was a wielder.  He had been reminded of that fact over the last few days of marching.

Inevitably, several times each day during the march, some soldier would discreetly launch a rock in his direction.  He would always quickly form a shield when he sensed the disturbance, and the rock would fall harmlessly to the ground.  It had surprised him the first couple of times but then became commonplace.  He wasn’t sure if the soldiers were doing it because of dares, to show they weren’t afraid, or merely to see if he really was a wielder.  Regardless of their reasons, Traven didn’t like having rocks thrown at him.

He was fairly sure only Darian had noticed what was going on.  The elf began keeping a close watch and had located several of the soldiers who were guilty of the act.  He suggested they teach the soldiers a lesson in respect, but Traven had convinced him not to worry about it.  He would rather ignore the harmless rocks than create any more problems.  It was a relief they would be marching into the city this morning and would soon be free of the soldiers.

Traven stepped outside his tent and took a deep breath of the cool morning air.  They had arrived near the outskirts of Candus the previous afternoon and set up camp.  Preparations for the victory parade and celebration had been completed, and this morning there was a sense of excitement in the air.  Despite the early hour, the soldiers were already awake and beginning to break camp.

“Shall we get ready and pack up?” Darian asked as he stepped out next to Traven.

“We might as well,” Traven replied.

Darian already had on his cloak.  They had managed to keep secret his elven identity so far.  However, Traven knew Blaize was suspicious of his cloaked companion, and he planned on telling his friend everything once they reached the city.  Everyone else had been satisfied with the explanation that Darian was simply his servant.  Traven ducked back into the tent and donned a fresh set of clothes.  He had laid them out the day before in hopes of getting the wrinkles out.  He wanted to look his best for the parade.

When he was ready, they quickly packed up the tent and supplies, ate breakfast, and mounted their horses.  The army would be leaving early and marching the rest of the distance to Candus.  The victory parade was to take place just after sunrise, and Traven had been given a position of honor at the head of the army.  The baron’s casket would be at the very front of the parade.  Behind the casket would ride Gavin and Kalista.  Next would be Traven, Blaize, the other generals, and then the rest of the army.

He had tried to decline the invitation to ride so near the front of the procession but had been pressed by both Gavin and the princess to accept the honor.  He had given in to their wishes and agreed to the princess’ request.  This would be his first time inside the walls of Candus, and it would be interesting to see the city from a position at the head of a parade.

Darian stayed close by as they made their way towards the front of the army.  The camp was speedily being broken down.  Everywhere soldiers hurried to finish taking down their tents and packing their gear.  They had been restless ever since they had set up camp the previous afternoon.  It appeared everyone was excited for the parade and the day’s festivities.

Traven was happy to find Blaize already in position at the head of the army.  He didn’t feel as out of place with his old friend nearby.  Several of the other generals were also there.  They nodded to him as he arrived but didn’t say anything.  He nodded in return.  He always felt uncomfortable around them.  Several seemed to not like him.  He wasn’t sure if they didn’t trust him or if they were just resentful of his position of honor within the army.

“It looks like it’s going to be a nice, warm day,” Blaize announced as Traven pulled up beside him.  He turned from looking up at the clear sky and glanced between Traven and Darian.  “No need for cloaks today.”

Darian kept his head down and showed no sign of hearing the comment that was obviously meant for him.  He had played the part of a meek servant well ever since they joined with the army.  The elf had adopted a slight limp and had begun to slouch.  Blaize had made several comments relating to Traven’s cloaked companion but hadn’t asked about him directly.  He was sure that Blaize knew there was more to Darian than met the eye.

“It does look like it’ll be a nice day,” Traven replied, ignoring the cloak comment.  “I’m glad the weather’s cooperating with the army’s plans.”

Blaize chuckled and stopped looking at Darian.  Traven smiled and glanced back over the gathering soldiers.  Most were still packing but some were already beginning to line up in their formations.  It wouldn’t be long before the army was ready to march the rest of the way to Candus.

Gavin and Kalista had continued on to Candus the previous afternoon, accompanied by a small group of soldiers.  They had taken the body of the baron with them to allow a viewing and vigil to be held before the festivities of today.  The vice baron and the princess would meet the army outside the gates and ride at the head of the soldiers as they marched through the city to the palace.  Commander General Blaize would be leading the army until it reached Candus.

Blaize motioned and a trumpet sounded, signaling that the march was about to begin.  The last of the soldiers hurried to gather their equipment and move to their designated positions in the ranks.  Traven watched the final remnants of the camp vanish.  Soon, all the soldiers were in their ranks.  Blaize signaled again, and the trumpet sounded a second time.  The army surged westward in unison towards Candus.

The sun rose at their backs, warming them and bathing the path ahead in light.  Traven stared forward, keeping a look out.  He knew it wouldn’t be long before he would be able to pick out the city walls against the green fields on the horizon.  He also had to admit that he was searching the horizon for a glimpse of the Princess Kalista.

She was still very much on his mind.  The princess hadn’t disappeared from his visions as he had expected.  He thought that once he saved her life she might disappear from them.  Instead, he had not only dreamt of her every night since, but she was always next to him, comforting him in some way.  He was beginning to lose hope that being near her would help him sort out his true feelings for her and move on.  His visions were so real that he had a hard time separating his closeness to her in them from the gulf that existed in reality.  He had only briefly spoken with the princess a couple of times within the last week, and yet he felt as though he were spending extended time alone with her every day.

Behind him, the marching of the army thundered loudly in his ears.  He questioned again whether it was wise to spend any time in Candus at all.  It might be wiser to head directly back to Faldor’s Keep.  However, he didn’t want to miss the parade, and he wanted to sleep in a comfortable bed before the lengthy journey back to the keep.  He didn’t think it would hurt to spend a few days at the palace.

In the distance, he finally saw the sun glinting off the walls of Candus as the city slowly came into view.  Traven straightened in his saddle and then slumped back down feeling slightly foolish.  It would still be awhile before anyone in the city would even be able see the army.  When the other soldiers finally began to spot Candus, an excited murmur made its way through the ranks.

As they marched closer, Traven was able to pick out the small group that was waiting a short distance outside the city gates.  He could see the princess, Gavin, the coach that held the body of the baron, and roughly forty guards.  Traven straightened in his saddle with a smile while the rest of the soldiers tightened their formations and stood taller.  Now was the time for the army to look as grand as possible.

Blaize signaled, and a sharp burst of the trumpet brought the army to a halt.  They waited as the party outside the gates made their way to the front of the procession and settled into their positions.  Kalista was wearing an elegant dress of blue under her long purple cloak.  Her golden hair was dotted with small white flowers and flowed softly in the light breeze.  She flashed a dazzling smile at Traven in greeting before turning her back to him.

He let out an involuntary sigh.  He wished she was next to him like she had been in his recent visions.  Instead, Gavin was at her side in a crisp uniform embroidered with gold and a long cloak of royal blue fluttering in the air behind him.  Traven knew he would never look as grand as Gavin and could never hope to compare to the future king of Kalia.  He supposed he should just be grateful the princess had spared a smile for him.

Once everyone was in position, a sharp blow of the trumpet informed the army that it was time to continue marching.  The soldiers surged forward once again but at a slower pace than earlier.  Traven smiled back at Darian and then turned forward, watching with excitement as they rode closer to the city walls.  The enormous east gate of the city was wide open, inviting in the heroes of the recent battle.