Chapter 2

Malcolm seems to be weighing my words, unsure if I mean them or not. I mean them more than any other words I have ever spoken. I will trust this man but I will have to watch my back.

“You need a history lesson,” Malcolm tells me. “You have one task right now. Listen. Do not ask questions. Just listen and remember.

“Verilius is a kingdom that is not part of the world you grew up in. What was once a peaceful, prospering kingdom now has factions that do not trust each other. Factions that live at the mercy of a corrupt king who sits on his golden throne.”

I bite back words of protest. A thousand questions fly through my mind already, trying to find my mouth. As much as I want to ask, I know I must listen to the rest. I nod for Malcolm to continue.

“We don’t have time for me to explain everything. You will learn enough along the way, as we meet the factions. There are four factions here: the Nisse, the Nanus, the Elvin and the Court. After your mother left, the King grew very bitter and took his pain out on the kingdom. The court has grown gluttonous at the downfall of the other factions. The time has come for you to claim your place at Court and, with the help of the factions, take the throne from the King.

“When your mother discovered she was pregnant with you, she decided to leave. She had heard the stories of people crossing to other worlds and went to the Healers. With their help, you and your mother were sent to a safe place. You were allowed to grow up away from the corruption of the King. However, you were watched.”

“By you, correct?” I can’t help but interrupt.

“Yes, by me. The Healers would allow me to cross as long as I did not alter the course of your life and reported your well being back to them.”

“You never said a word to me. You would watch me but were always gone quickly.”

“I could not let you question my presence. You could not know the truth until the time came. That time is now. You, Lucas Roberts, must reunite the factions and take the throne.”

My mind is reeling. I cannot do this. I’m only 18 and a stranger in this world. How am I supposed to unite groups of people that I know nothing about? My mother was a queen? I almost don’t believe him. But I know my mother and I know that her silence must be as important as everything Malcolm is trying to tell me. She wouldn’t keep something like this from me unless she had to. I’m supposed to listen but I need to know.

“Tell me about my mother,” I demand. “I don’t want to hear anything else until I hear about her.”

Malcolm studies me and then reclines on his elbows with his face up to the clouds.

“Your mother was a beautiful girl. The Healers found her alone in the woods when she was about seven or eight. She said her parents were just off the trail and would be right back. They were never found. The Healers took your mother in and raised her. You need to understand that that is not the job of the Healers. The Healers do just what their name says; they heal. They are allowed to cross faction boundaries without cost. They do not raise orphans. Why they took your mother in, no one knew. But I do. The Healers took her in because they saw something in her. They saw that she was destined for great things. It would be because of her that Verilius would prosper.

“As she grew older, your mother began to venture out with the Healers. She befriended the people of the Realm. Her beauty and her kindness made her so desirable. She could have chosen any man to marry and she would have had him. However, everything changed on her first trip to the Court. She was 16 then. One look at her and Prince Tiberius was in love. Since she had no parents, the Prince had no one to ask for her hand. He asked her and she said yes, to the displeasure of the Healers.

“It wasn’t until after she married the prince that she realized her life would change. She wanted to be able to travel the Realm and help people. She wanted to make things better. The prince would have none of it. As a princess, she was forbidden to leave the Court unless in the company of her husband. To him, your mother was a possession, something to be brought out for the Court to fawn over. She was sad. You could see it in her eyes. Eyes that once shown like emeralds in the sunlight were now dull and tarnished. Not long after they were married, the king died and Tiberius rose to the throne. Your mother became a queen.”

As much as I need to know this, it hurts me to hear that my mother wasn’t happy. She’s always been the happy one in our house. I’ve been the one who was pissed about almost everything. Suddenly, I realize how unfair that was to her. Malcolm looks lost in thought, almost regretful. “Is there more? I assume I play some role in this story at some point.”

“You do. If I were being completely honest, I would say that you are the reason all of this happened,” Malcolm responds flatly.

“So, this is my fault?”

“I did not say that. When your mother realized she was pregnant with you, she had seen how evil Tiberius had become. She knew she had to leave to keep you safe. She went to the Healers and asked for passage through the worlds. The Healers offered her help but at a cost. You see, they knew, just like you mother did, how evil the new king was and they knew the Realm would need a savior of sorts. That would be you.”

“So, you’re telling me that my mother ran away from here so that I would be safe, but in order for that to happen, your Healers were allowed to bring me back?” I have no idea what is going on.

“You are a quick student. Things are a little more complicated than that but you understand the basics of our situation.”

Malcolm seems pleased with me, or himself. Because I can’t sit here any longer and I have no desire to let him see me upset, I get to my feet and do what comes naturally, I bounce on the balls of my feet. I’ve been wrestling since I was a little boy. For some reason, before every match, I would bounce on the balls of my feet. This habit has somehow become what I do when I’m stressed or anxious or when things just plain suck. At this moment, I can’t tell you for which specific reason I’m bouncing.

My thoughts keep jumping. My mom was a princess and then a queen. I grew up in Kansas. My dad is a king? I have a wrestling match this weekend. Should I trust Malcolm? I wonder if there are dragons here? Oh, dragons, those would be cool. Maybe one will eat Malcolm?

“Highly unlikely. And, if I were you, I would not wish that your only hope in the realm would be eaten by a dragon,” Malcolm responds to my thoughts.

“Stop doing that! Stay out of my head! Just stop it!!” I yell with more force than intended. “Do you think you can do that? I just need to think.”

“I will give you time to think but not much. We need to be on higher ground before sunset. You may come with me when I leave or you may stay here and do this on your own. The choice will always be yours.”

As much as I hate to admit, I need Malcolm. I don’t know this world, have no clue about the people that live here and don’t have the first clue about how to overthrow a king. I know I will follow him and I’m pretty sure he knows it too.