Free The Path Of Peace (The Cremelino Prophecy Book 3) by Mike Shelton

further? To
the Black Forest or to the Blue Sea?
    “Sadly, no.” The prince motioned
for the two of them to sit down on some stone benches. “The wealth of what the
Realm contains must be incredible.”
    Sean could see where this was
going, and he decided to be bolder with the young prince. “So having a part of
the Realm’s resources under your control could be an advantage to you?”
    The prince frowned and looked
around. “You must be careful of what you say, sir. The Realm has a new young
leader.”
    “Young, yes. He is not
experienced in statehood and did not desire his position. People like us—you
and me—we want power, we want control. Am I right?”
    “Let’s just say I would like to
take advantage of the weak situation in the Realm right now. An annexation of
part of that fruitful land into the Kingdom of Arc would make me very popular
here.”
    “Even more so than your father?”
Sean ventured, enjoying the conspiratorial conversation.
    The prince leaned back in his
chair and looked up at the sky. “Some might call me an ambitious man. But what
do you get out of this?”
    “I get power and control over
Darius,” Sean almost spat with vehemence. “He doesn’t deserve what he has. If
he is weakened or even removed, then opportunities arise for me and my
benefactor.”
    “Speaking of your benefactor.”
The prince frowned slightly. “I was not informed of who he was or what his
plans are.”
    Sean had to be careful here. He
knew that the power of wizards was not popular with Arc’s next ruler. “He is a
man who prefers to work behind the scenes right now. He has contacts in Belor,
Mar, and Sur, and even the eastern kingdoms. Once unrest and discord is spread
throughout the Realm, he, too, is looking for power. That is his plan.”
    The prince stiffened.
    Sean continued. “However, he is
more than willing to share a piece of the pie with those who help him. He seems
to be a reasonable man.”
    One of the guards came out of the
building and motioned toward the prince to get his attention. “We followed the
High Wizard and know where he is staying, my Lord. All will be prepared for an
attack tonight. He will not expect it here or now. He will not have time to
react.”
    “Good. Good.” Prince Bronwyn’s
smile lit up his pale face, made more so with the contrast of the black clothes
he still wore. The kingdom elite, although desert dwellers, prided themselves
on their pale skin. Those that were tan were lower caste and worked outside.
“Just make sure you do not harm my sister. I am sure she has been brainwashed
by that trickster.”
    The guard went back inside, and
Sean turned back to Bronwyn. “Then we have a deal? We can count on you to begin
to spread discord down into Sur and the Realm?”
    “Oh, yes, my friend. And I know
the perfect time to start. As you heard, my father has asked me to meet the new
royal couple.”
     “Remember he is a wizard also.”
    The prince’s face hardened and
his teeth clenched. “All the more reason to destroy him.”
    Sean smiled and laughed softly.
Oh, how he longed to see Darius and his little pet girl from the farmlands
destroyed.
    Bronwyn broke through Sean’s
revelry. “First, we destroy the High Wizard. Are you ready, my friend?”
    Sean nodded and followed.
     
     

Chapter Five
    A TRAITOR IN THE MIDST
     
    P rince Mezar Alrishitar, second heir to the
throne of the Empire of Gildan, sat in the library of the wizard’s school on a
hill overlooking the city of Gildan. He kept his black hair long, currently
tied in a ponytail behind his neck so as not to bother him as he read. Mezar
had been researching the history of King’s and Emperor’s in the western
kingdoms and their connection to the three wizard powers. He had promised his
friend Darius that by the time he and his wife arrived later in the fall, Mezar
would have some background information to help Darius understand the heredity
of the power of the throne along with a history of Wizard