Heirs of the Enemy (58 page)

Samuel frowned in confusion. He looked at the blind man smiling at him. Wylan made no move to get up from his seat, and Samuel started to wonder what he was afraid of. He could easily run back to the monastery before Wylan could do anything to stop him. As his limbs stopped shaking, the monk stared at the blind man curiously again.

“Why are you telling me all of this?”

“To help you see the truth,” answered Wylan. “I asked you a few days ago what you would do if you had the ability to help the people of Spino. You said that you would feed them, clothe them, and heal them. I want to give you that opportunity to make the world a better place.”

“I cannot do any of those things. I am no longer the heir to the throne. You should already know that.”

“I was informed of that, but it doesn’t matter. If you had the opportunity to do those things for your people, would you truly do them? That is the real question.”

“Of course I would,” Samuel answered without hesitation, “but that will never come to pass. Even if I was given a chance at the throne, the gods would still forsake this land.”

Wylan sighed deeply with frustration. “For eight years you have been letting Brother Nicholas do your thinking. Now, I am asking you to think for yourself. I know from our talks that you are beginning to suspect the truth about Nicholas and the Cult of Everlasting Bounty, or I would not be exposing myself to you. Take that last step, Samuel. Stand up for your people and heal your country.”

“I would like nothing better than to heal their misery, but I just cannot believe your stories. They are nothing but fairy tales.”

“Fairy tales?” echoed Wylan. “What do you know about fairies? Have you ever seen one?”

“You play word games with me,” Samuel sighed. “You know what I meant. Your stories are unbelievable. You must expect me to be rather gullible.”

Wylan extended his hand straight out before him and whistled. Twerp immediately responded by landing on Wylan’s palm.

“Is this more believable?” smiled Wylan.

Samuel’s eyes grew as large as coins as he stared at the little man. “What is it?”

“It?” scowled the fairy. “Do I call you an it?”

“His name is Twerp,” chuckled the Knight of Alcea. “He is as real as you and I. Ask him about King Arik if you still have doubts. The fairy people call King Arik the Bringer, for he fulfilled their prophecy on his way to restoring the Sword of Heavens.”

“Our sapphire was the first gem restored to the Sword of Heavens,” boasted Twerp. “We were the Bringer’s first allies.”

Samuel could not resist. He moved closer to Wylan and sat on the rock next to him. He stared at the tiny man with undisguised wonder. “I must be dreaming. This is not possible.”

“Can I pinch him?” Twerp asked excitedly.

Wylan laughed. “I do not think that will be necessary. Samuel, fairies have several unique talents. They can fly, as you just witnessed, but they can also recall their memories and display an image of them. I am going to ask Twerp to recall an image for us. It is an image of Brother Louis and Brother Nicholas speaking privately just before Nicholas left the monastery. Twerp?”

The fairy leaped off of Wylan’s hand and hovered in front of the two men. The air shimmered beneath the fairy and an image soon formed. Samuel immediately recognized Brother Nicholas’ office, and he listened intently as the two monks discussed Wylan and his gold. When the conversation turned to Queen Samir and Samuel, the prince’s jaw tightened with anger.

“Stop! Enough!”

The vision winked out of existence.

“How do I know that this vision is real?” Prince Samuel asked, his anger quite evident.

“Twerp has been spying on everyone in the monastery,” answered Wylan. “It was the only way that I could feel safe within those walls. I can understand your suspicions regarding a conversation that you were not privy to, but Twerp can prove his abilities to you. Twerp, show us a private conversation that Samuel had with someone today.”

The fairy immediately called forth another vision. It had been a chance encounter between Brother Samuel and Brother Dominik, and the prince recognized it immediately.

“Would you care for another?” asked Twerp.

The prince shook his head and turned to stare at Wylan. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Three things,” answered Wylan. “I want you to keep all of this secret from the monks here. I want you to voluntarily leave this monastery and come with me, and later, I want you to lead the people of Spino in the manner that you said you would.”

“I will keep your secret,” promised the monk. “As for leaving the monastery, I doubt that Brother Nicholas will allow that.”

“What Brother Nicholas wants is of no concern to me,” replied Wylan as he flipped the fairy into the air so that Twerp could return to his patrol. “Will you come with me of your own free will?”

“Where will you take me?”

“Someplace where you will be safe. I can say no more at this time.”

“You do not trust me?” frowned the prince.

“I believe that you will keep a secret if you have pledged to do so, but if you choose not to come with me, Brother Nicholas will get the information out of you. I cannot afford to have such knowledge in the hands of my enemies.”

“So you do not think of me as an enemy?”

“No, I don’t. I think of you as a victim of wicked people who have used you to enrich themselves. I have, however, met men like Brother Nicholas before. I fully understand what they are capable of. Should you choose not to leave the monastery, I will simply go on my way. Brother Nicholas will never be the wiser that we shared secrets with one another, and you will remain safe, at least as safe as you would have been before I arrived here.”

“Which doesn’t exactly sound safe anymore,” frowned the prince. “I cannot believe that I have been so foolish. I am willing to leave the monastery, but I must be honest with you. If Queen Samir finds out about my leaving, she will spare no expense in having me hunted down.”

“You will be far beyond her reach,” promised the Knight of Alcea. “Does this mean that you will leave with me?”

“No,” Samuel shook his head. “I said that I am willing to leave, but I cannot fulfill your third request. I am no longer in the line of succession. I will never get the chance to do anything for the people of Spino.”

“You will get your chance,” Wylan smiled. “You merely have to accept my offer.”

“I do not know why,” Samuel replied nervously, “but I believe you. I will go
 
with you, and I recommend leaving immediately. Once Brother Nicholas returns, he will do everything he can to stop me from leaving.”

“We must wait for him to return,” stated Wylan. “It is important that he knows that you are with me. You must trust me on this, but you will truly understand what Brother Nicholas is made of when it comes time to leave.”

* * * *

Wylan was in the dining room having the evening meal when Brother Louis approached him. The Knight of Alcea knew what was coming next because Twerp had already reported the return of Brother Nicholas.

“Brother Wylan,” smiled Brother Louis, “Brother Nicolas has asked to speak with you in his office.”

Wylan nodded and pushed his plate away. He rose slowly and turned, catching a glimpse of Brother Samuel on the far side of the room. Using his staff to test the ground before him, he made his way to the office of the head monk. Brother Louis followed him and opened the door to let him into the office. Louis followed him into the office and closed the door. As Wylan crossed the room, he let his staff slip from his hand. He quickly bent over to pick it up, letting Twerp escape from his pocket. The fairy hid under a nearby chair, waiting for a chance to hide under the door.

“Welcome back, Brother Nicholas,” Wylan said with cheery smile. “I trust your journey was a pleasant one.”

“It was not pleasant, Brother Wylan, but a monk’s life is never meant to be easy. Brother Louis, pull the chair up for Wylan.”

“That is not necessary,” Wylan said quickly. “I have been sitting far too much lately. It feels good to stand. In fact, I am thinking that it is time for me to be moving on. I am grateful for the hospitality your order has shown me, but I yearn to be under the stars once again.”

Brother Nicholas frowned at Brother Louis, but his words were directed at Wylan. “I am disappointed that our order has not been deemed worthy by you. I called you in here to offer you a chance to formally join the Cult of Everlasting Bounty.”

“That is an honor that I am not worthy of,” Wylan smiled thinly.

Twerp saw his chance as the two monks exchanged worried looks. He darted towards the door and slid under it, flattening his body so he could continue to listen to the conversation.

“I would not be upholding my commitment to the people if I let a blind man stumble about the Bloodwood by himself,” stated Brother Nicholas. “Especially in the winter. Surely you will stay until spring at least?”

“The monastery depresses me,” said Wylan, “but your concern is appreciated. Perhaps you would be kind enough to offer one of your monks as a temporary traveling companion for me?”

“That is out of the question,” Brother Nicholas replied without hesitation.

“I would be willing to pay for the services,” offered the Knight of Alcea. “I am sure that the monastery would make good use of the gold, so your monk would be performing a great service to the order by accompanying me.”

The mention of gold caused Nicholas’ eyes to brighten. “How much gold are we talking about?”

“I receive an allowance of fifty gold a month,” replied Wylan. “I would be willing to assign those monthly payments to the monastery for as long as the monk travels with me.”

Brother Nicholas smiled as he saw a way to get Wylan’s gold without having to suffer another body in the monastery. It was the very gold he had been after in the first place. “Which monk did you have in mind?”

“It hardly matters,” lied Wylan, “but I would prefer chance to choice. If you are agreeable, let us agree to the first monk to enter this office.”

“I think that will be agreeable,” smiled Brother Nicholas. “How long do you think you will need the services of this companion?”

Twerp heard the agreement, and he quickly slid out from under the door and into the corridor. He shot into the air and soared near the dim ceiling as he maneuvered the corridors to the library. He shot down and landed on Samuel’s shoulder.

“It is time for you to go to the office,” whispered the fairy. “Do not dally or someone else might get there first.”

Brother Samuel quickly rose and headed for the office. Twerp shot on ahead to use a sleep spell on anyone else heading towards the office, but it was not necessary. Brother Samuel arrived and knocked on the door. The voice of Brother Nicholas gave permission to enter, and Samuel opened the door and walked into the room.

“Welcome back, Brother Nicholas,” Samuel said pleasantly. “I wanted to ask something, but I can see that I am interrupting. I will return another time.”

“Good,” snapped Brother Nicholas as he cast a wary glance at Brother Louis.

“Brother Samuel?” called Wylan. “Is that you?”

“It is, Brother Wylan,” Samuel answered innocently. “Is there something you need?”

“There is,” Wylan nodded. “Come in and close the door. We were just talking about you.”

“We were not talking about Brother Samuel,” scowled Brother Nicholas as Samuel entered the room and closed the door behind him. “He is not to be the one. Leave us, Brother Samuel.”

“If he leaves,” Wylan warned angrily, “it would leave me with a troubled feeling about the worth of your word, Brother Nicholas. I would have to return this pouch to my belt and leave here without an agreement.”

Brother Nicholas noticed the fat pouch in Wylan’s hand for the first time. He stared at it greedily. “What is in the pouch?”

“The monthly allowance I spoke of was meant to compensate for the personal services of the monk who would accompany me,” answered Wylan as he opened the pouch and placed five one-thousand-gold coins on the desk. “I had planned a much finer gift for the Monastery, but if you are not interested…”

“I did not say that I was not interested,” Brother Nicholas said quickly. “I was only suggesting that a more suitable companion be found for you. Brother Samuel is quite young. You deserve someone with more experience living under the stars.”

“I am a strong believer in fate,” smiled the blind man. “While almost any monk would do for a companion, it was Brother Samuel who walked through that door first. Now, I will accept no other. Either way, I am leaving immediately. Do we have a deal, Brother Nicholas?”

The head monk stared at the gold coins with desire. Brother Louis moved away from the wall he was leaning on and started inching toward the coins. Wylan moved his staff and placed one end on the desk, blocking the monk’s attempt to get close enough to grab them.

“I have excellent hearing, Brother Louis. Please do not disgrace your order.” Wylan reached with his free hand and scooped up the five coins.

“Alright,” Brother Nicholas said hastily. “We have a deal, but you will return Brother Samuel in the spring. Will you agree?”

“Brother Samuel will be returned to this land in the spring,” declared Wylan as he placed the five coins on the desk again. “I give you my promise on that. Brother Samuel, pack your belongings. We are leaving on a journey until spring. Wait for me outside the monastery while I conclude my donation to the Cult of Everlasting Bounty.”

Brother Samuel looked at the head monk before moving. Nicholas nodded his permission and Samuel left the room to gather his meager belongings.

“If you will draft a letter for me,” Wylan said to the head monk, “I will authorize the withdrawals from my account.”

“I guess I am not needed,” stated Brother Louis as he moved towards the door.

“You are needed here, Brother Louis,” Wylan said sharply. “This document will require a witness.”

Louis looked to Nicholas for direction. The head monk nodded as he sighed and waved Louis back to the desk. Wylan smiled inwardly as the head monk hastily drew up the agreement. He knew that Samuel already had his pack ready to go. Wylan only had to stall long enough for Samuel to reach the rock where they usually met.