The Path Of Peace (The Cremelino Prophecy Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: Mike Shelton
away from Darius
but held his hands in front of her. “No, it isn’t right, but you have done more
to help rectify that situation than anyone. You helped secure the city from the
Preacher with both farmers and city guards; you have named a farmer to your
council, and have made the rules easier for children in the farmlands to get a
better education.”
“I just wish they could see you
like I do, Christine. I wish they could know you like I do.”
“Remember the day we met?”
Christine mused. “You had no complaints about helping me back to my home after
I fell and hurt my ankle. You are different from them. You accept everyone. It
is a gift you have.”
“You had me smitten the first
time you looked up from the ground with those bewitching green eyes of yours.”
Christine laughed and hugged
her husband again. He rested his head on top of hers for a moment. “Just be patient.”
“I only wish it would change
quicker.” He walked with Christine into their rooms. The early autumn sunlight
streaming in danced along the floor, lightening the mood. Darius smiled.
At the end of the promised hour,
he returned to the study with his father. Some documents regarding the
leadership in Belor and a new trade agreement with Gildan dominated his time.
Mezar had made sure that Emperor Alrishitar of Gildan knew of Darius’s desire
for peace on all fronts.
The last piece of correspondence
would be a letter to Kelln in Mar. Kelln El’Han, a redheaded son of Anikari’s
once-famous sword maker, was Darius’s best friend since childhood. His jovial,
happy, not-worried-about-getting-into-trouble attitude had subdued somewhat
over the last year. Kelln’s travels to Belor and ultimate imprisonment by the
Preacher had affected him deeply. He was now in Mar on official business,
searching for the escaped Preacher and shoring up the local government that had
problems with corruption. Unofficially, he was looking for the beautiful and
captivating daughter of the Preacher, Alessandra El’Lan. She had captured and
intrigued Kelln’s heart multiple times but had betrayed him as many times
since. She was thought to be searching for her mother in Mar.
Darius had also asked Kelln to
attend to some needs on White Island, the island where the herd masters raised
and took care of the Cremelino horses that were used by the King. Through
Lightning, one of their own that Darius had given to Christine on her sixteenth
birthday, the other Cremelinos had been reaching out to his mind for something.
Kelln was tasked with finding out what he could until Darius had a chance to
travel to the island.
Finished up with the last minute
documents, he shook hands with his father, gave a few more final directions to
some of his other councilors, and headed to the front of the castle to begin
his honeymoon journey.
An hour later, he still stood in
the castle courtyard. As the King, everything took longer. Short speeches to
give, dignitaries to placate, entourages to put together, and guards to ride
lookout in front of and behind the royal couple. Darius and Christine, changing
protocol, had decided to ride on horseback rather than in a carriage.
“Your Majesty,” the captain of
the castle guard admonished. “This will make it much more difficult to guard
and protect you, being out in the open like this.”
They still tended to treat him as
a vulnerable young man.
“Roland, I have told you many
times: I am not defenseless.” He would have to teach a lesson now or they would
continue to second guess him the entire excursion. “Take your sword and come at
me.”
Roland’s eyes opened wide. “My .
. . my Lord. Never. I cannot do that.” Roland stood facing his King. The man’s
leather vest accentuated the muscles bulging from his arms and chest. His
stature, square face, and short, dark hair, were the epitome of the royal
guard.
“Do it,” Darius ordered. His jaw
was set firm, and his broadening shoulders held still under his red and
but held his hands in front of her. “No, it isn’t right, but you have done more
to help rectify that situation than anyone. You helped secure the city from the
Preacher with both farmers and city guards; you have named a farmer to your
council, and have made the rules easier for children in the farmlands to get a
better education.”
“I just wish they could see you
like I do, Christine. I wish they could know you like I do.”
“Remember the day we met?”
Christine mused. “You had no complaints about helping me back to my home after
I fell and hurt my ankle. You are different from them. You accept everyone. It
is a gift you have.”
“You had me smitten the first
time you looked up from the ground with those bewitching green eyes of yours.”
Christine laughed and hugged
her husband again. He rested his head on top of hers for a moment. “Just be patient.”
“I only wish it would change
quicker.” He walked with Christine into their rooms. The early autumn sunlight
streaming in danced along the floor, lightening the mood. Darius smiled.
At the end of the promised hour,
he returned to the study with his father. Some documents regarding the
leadership in Belor and a new trade agreement with Gildan dominated his time.
Mezar had made sure that Emperor Alrishitar of Gildan knew of Darius’s desire
for peace on all fronts.
The last piece of correspondence
would be a letter to Kelln in Mar. Kelln El’Han, a redheaded son of Anikari’s
once-famous sword maker, was Darius’s best friend since childhood. His jovial,
happy, not-worried-about-getting-into-trouble attitude had subdued somewhat
over the last year. Kelln’s travels to Belor and ultimate imprisonment by the
Preacher had affected him deeply. He was now in Mar on official business,
searching for the escaped Preacher and shoring up the local government that had
problems with corruption. Unofficially, he was looking for the beautiful and
captivating daughter of the Preacher, Alessandra El’Lan. She had captured and
intrigued Kelln’s heart multiple times but had betrayed him as many times
since. She was thought to be searching for her mother in Mar.
Darius had also asked Kelln to
attend to some needs on White Island, the island where the herd masters raised
and took care of the Cremelino horses that were used by the King. Through
Lightning, one of their own that Darius had given to Christine on her sixteenth
birthday, the other Cremelinos had been reaching out to his mind for something.
Kelln was tasked with finding out what he could until Darius had a chance to
travel to the island.
Finished up with the last minute
documents, he shook hands with his father, gave a few more final directions to
some of his other councilors, and headed to the front of the castle to begin
his honeymoon journey.
An hour later, he still stood in
the castle courtyard. As the King, everything took longer. Short speeches to
give, dignitaries to placate, entourages to put together, and guards to ride
lookout in front of and behind the royal couple. Darius and Christine, changing
protocol, had decided to ride on horseback rather than in a carriage.
“Your Majesty,” the captain of
the castle guard admonished. “This will make it much more difficult to guard
and protect you, being out in the open like this.”
They still tended to treat him as
a vulnerable young man.
“Roland, I have told you many
times: I am not defenseless.” He would have to teach a lesson now or they would
continue to second guess him the entire excursion. “Take your sword and come at
me.”
Roland’s eyes opened wide. “My .
. . my Lord. Never. I cannot do that.” Roland stood facing his King. The man’s
leather vest accentuated the muscles bulging from his arms and chest. His
stature, square face, and short, dark hair, were the epitome of the royal
guard.
“Do it,” Darius ordered. His jaw
was set firm, and his broadening shoulders held still under his red and