Chapter 1

The King’s Delusion

Thirteen year old Jordan raced on his hover disk at break neck speeds through the endless maze of thick trees and dangling vines in the ancient forest.  The animals of the woodland sensed his anger and dashed out of his way.  Even the mighty behemoth, fearful of the power the youth emitted, lumbered out of the boy’s path.

Jordan did not see nor care about the beasts or anything in front of him other than getting to the palace.  The last place he sensed his mother's and father's presence.  He felt his father's pain but what worried him more was that he could not feel his mother's essence at all.

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Years of addiction had taken its toll on the once mighty king.  His withered form topped by a few strands of thin white hair hunched over in a dark hall hidden deep in the lowest depths of the palace.  Cush concentrated on one of the few torches hanging from cold marble walls as he prepared himself to use his device.

“Your Majesty!” Adam shouted at his king frantically. “Where is my wife?” His voice echoed throughout the great room as he sped on his disk towards the monarch.

Cush whipped his head towards the intruder, his countenance twisted in anger as he spoke sarcastically.  “She is in service to the king.”  He chuckled sinisterly.  “However, your services are not needed.”  He leveled his eyes at the trespasser. “You may leave now!”  The command was evident.

Adam closed his eyes and reached out with every fiber in his being but could not detect his wife.  He glared at the feeble old man he once called friend.  “I will ask you once again.  Where is Prin?”  He demanded.

The king matched his glare.  “You forget yourself Councilor.” The monarch snarled.  “I do not answer to you.”  His hands shot forward sending a torrent of air to assault his adversary.  “I do not answer to anyone!”  His eyes blazed in anger as his transparent weapon shot towards his foe.

A blue shimmering wedge instantly formed around Adam as his shields formed a barricade causing the onslaught to split harmlessly to his sides.  “That’s the way you want this.”  He gritted his teeth.  “Fine!”

The flames from a dozen wall torches sprung at the king like huge glowing serpents attacking their prey only to die in a hiss of steam as they met a wall of water Cush called up from nearby troughs.

Adam continued his telepathic search of the room.  There was an area just behind the king his mind could not penetrate.  He thought to himself.  "She’s got to be in there!”  He turned his attack to break through the void beyond his adversary.  Wind knives flew at the black device.

Instantly Cush threw a barrier across the room between himself and his onetime friend.  In less than the blink of an eye, blue energy flickered as a massive wall formed between them.  He stood behind the barricade and watched the blades strike the wall trying to bore their way through.  He chuckled in contempt as he watched them fizzle out of existence.  

“Very good Adam, but not good enough.”  The king mused as he turned to face some glowing object on the dark device behind him.  He placed his hands on both sides of the article.  Within seconds power coursed through every vein in his frail body.  His eyes slammed shut and his head rocked back as one word hissed from his twisted lips. "Yyyyyyyeeeeeeeesssssssss."

Even through the massive blockade Adam felt the limitless power radiating from Cush.  His psychokinetic power battered against the king’s consciousness as he pleaded for his wife’s life.  "Your Majesty you have got to stop this tragedy."

"No!" Foam frothed from his mouth like a rabid dog as the king barked the order. "I can do it now.”  He opened his eyes and slowly turned his face towards Adam, “Nothing that can stop me now.”  Cush returned his attention back to preparing to leave his fragile shell once again to accomplish his goal.

Adam calmed himself and focused his thoughts.  He straightened his lean but powerful frame, every muscle in his body tightened.  The air stood deadly still as he summoned all the energy he had left into one last attack.

A few heartbeats later a huge marble pillar broke loose from its holding and leveled itself at the king.  Adam’s eyes flashed as his hands lashed out.  Faster than thought the pillar launched itself towards its target striking the force field with a resounding crash.  But to no avail.

The king sighed then glanced at this trespasser.  Without warning, Adam flew through the air slamming against the back wall of the chamber then slid to the ceiling.  He was being crushed.  

“It did not have to be this way.”  The king murmured as he stepped toward his one-time friend.  His anger building as he punched out each word.  “I told you to leave.  But you decided to stay.  You thought you could keep me from my calling.  So now you will pay the price for your arrogance.”

The king walked back and placed his hands once again upon the glowing item and closed his eyes stripping all the power he could from it.  

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No one in the room heard her scream.  But five miles from the palace a young thirteen year old boy speeding on his hover disk was hit by an excruciating pain.  Jordan paused for moment, his face widened in fear.  "MOM?!"  His eyes formed into slits of rage as the ground below him shook violently.  Trees, hundreds of years old, ripped from the forest floor and flew out of his way.  His path now clear he sped directly to the castle unheeded, "Mom, Dad I'm coming!"