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"It is nice to see that you have returned safely," smiled the regent. "Was your trip successful?"

"Much more successful than what I see on my return," scowled Prince Zinan as he locked eyes with the Crown Prince. "Was that supposed to be an army that I passed on my way in?"

"The army is growing," answered Naveena. "It will be ready when the time is right."

"When the time is right?" echoed Prince Zinan. "And when will that be?"

"We spoke of three years," reminded Naveena. "We are only just getting started. These thing do not happen overnight."

"Overnight?" balked Prince Zinan. "I have been gone for months, and I see little sign of a great army upon my return. What have you been doing while I was off seeding our enemies' cities with spies?"

"Garrick has had trouble raising the armies," declared Naveena. "Be patient with him. Everything will fall into place."

Prince Zinan saw the Crown Prince glare at the regent, and he began to understand that there was a problem in Tarent, a problem he planned to rectify.

"Leave us, mother," Prince Zinan said softly. "I must speak with my cousin alone."

"Leave?" balked the regent. "There is nothing to be said to the Crown Prince without my knowledge."

"Leave us!" shouted the dark prince as he glared at Naveena.

Naveena's mouth fell open and she stared in disbelief at the boy she had raised as her own. She was of a mind to stand and argue with him, but the contortions visible in his angry face told her that he was beyond reasoning. She huffed and exited the room without a word. Prince Zinan walked to the throne and perched on one of its arms. He put his arm around his cousin and spoke softly.

"Tell me what the problem is," Prince Zinan softly commanded.

"The people do not respect my authority," confessed Prince Garrick. "They still see me as a boy instead of a king. I have tried everything that I can think of, but nothing works."

"How do the generals treat you?" asked Prince Zinan.

"The same as the people," answered Prince Garrick. "Oh, they pay me the proper respect in their mannerisms and protocol, but I know what they are thinking. I am still the boy, and my wisper is still raising me. I do not think we will be ready in three years."

"The three year pact that I made with Naveena is over," declared Prince Zinan. "The other countries of the Land of the Nine Kingdoms are not going to sit idle while we build our armies. Already Arin is increasing theirs so fast that they have to import weapons and armor."

"Already?" gasped Prince Garrick. "How dare they? Don't they know that is a provocation?"

"They are careful to conceal it," shrugged the dark prince, "and we are hardly in a position to complain about it. We can claim to be merely enlarging our army because we have three major cities to defend, but that excuse would grow tiring rather soon. "

"What are we going to do?" asked Prince Garrick. "We cannot let them build up an army to resist us."

"As long as Arin is isolated," mused the dark prince, "they will not present a major problem to our plans, but we must accelerate our own schedule. We cannot afford to wait for three years."

"Naveena will not stand for acceleration of the schedule," Prince Garrick shook his head. "She is very much enjoying the headiness of her new found power."

"Naveena is of no concern," Prince Zinan replied dismissively. "The question is, are you ready to be king?"

"Of course," brightened Prince Garrick. "I despise just sitting here watching someone else run my country."

"Do you think you have the ability to raise the armies that we require?" asked the dark prince.

Prince Garrick quickly answered that he was capable, but that was to be expected. Prince Zinan needed to know the truth, and he used the Talent to probe Prince Garrick's mind.

"Stop that!" shouted the Crown Prince. "Naveena is always doing that, and I forbid it. Do not ever do that to me again."

Prince Zinan was taken aback at his cousin's reaction. He slipped off the arm of the throne and stared at the Crown Prince in amazement. Prince Garrick had always been so easily manipulated that he thought his cousin had no way of feeling it.

"For years you have done that to me," sighed Prince Garrick, "and I never took it to mean anything other than your way to help me, but Naveena has unwittingly helped me to understand things differently. I will not have either of you entering my mind for any reason. Do you understand?"

"I am sorry," bowed Prince Zinan. "I have always used it to help you, and that is only what it should be used for. It would appear that Naveena has overstepped her bounds. I merely wanted to ascertain that you were indeed confident enough to build the armies. So much depends upon that happening."

"I understand, Zinan," nodded Prince Garrick, "but I will no longer allow it. You will advise me because I value your advice, not because you think you can control me."

"I understand," Prince Zinan replied, his mind seething with anger over Naveena's bungling.

"Remove the regency, and I will raise the armies needed to vanquish our foes," promised Prince Garrick. "Do what you must, but get her away from me."

"As you wish, Your Highness," bowed Prince Zinan.

The dark prince left the throne room and marched angrily to Naveena's chambers. He burst into the room without knocking and closed the door.

"You seem to have lost your manners while you were away," Naveena replied, trying to seize control of the coming confrontation.

"I learned much while I was away," Prince Zinan said softly. "I learned that the mystery bodyguard was Prince Antion of Arin, and I learned that he has gone into hiding. I also learned that Arin is preparing a large army to defend against us. It is only a matter of time before they convince other countries to join with them against us."

"No," frowned Naveena. "This can not be allowed. Those despicable Arinites will be the first to fall before our armies."

"Somehow," smiled Prince Zinan, "I thought you would see things that way."

Naveena smiled at the compliment.

"Unfortunately," continued the dark prince, "that is exactly the wrong way to attack this problem. I will not lose a third of our army to crush only one country. The Arinites are only a problem if they manage to unite the others. I will make sure that never happens."

"We can discuss strategies another time," smiled Naveena. "Let us not get into such arguments upon your return. This should be a joyous occasion for all of us."

"You have failed me, Mother," Prince Zinan said softly. "There are no great Borundan armies forming. The men do not have weapons to train with, and worst of all, you allowed Prince Garrick to understand that we were probing his mind."

"I thought that he could not feel anything," frowned Naveena. "You told me that you had been probing him for years."

"I had been," nodded Prince Zinan, "but one must be careful when doing so. He thought I was trying to help him, but your manipulations proved to be rather crude. You have only succeeded in making our tasks more difficult."

"I have done the best I can," defended Naveena.

"That has not been good enough," declared Prince Zinan. "This afternoon you will call a meeting of the king's advisors."

"For what purpose?" balked Naveena.

"To announce that Prince Garrick is ready to take over control of the country," replied the dark prince. "You will demand that he be coronated as soon as possible."

"I am not ready to be just the king's advisor," scowled Naveena. "We made an agreement."

"I am breaking it," declared Prince Zinan, "and you will not be the king's advisor. I will be."

"Inconceivable!" shouted Naveena. "I raised you from a newborn and I did not do so to be treated so brashly. I will not call the meeting, and I will not step aside."

"You will do as I say," threatened Prince Zinan, "or you will not be the advisor to the king's advisor."

"Your advisor?" balked the regent. "Oh, you place yourself too high, Zinan. If you think I will stand for this behavior, you are wrong. I am the regent and regent I shall remain. Perhaps I will even extend my rule beyond the year that we agreed to."

"I don't think so," Prince Zinan sneered as he glared at Naveena.

Prince Zinan's lips curled upward as he stared at Naveena. The regent stared back in a contest of wills, but her hands soon flew to her head, and she screamed out in pain. Prince Zinan's sneer grew broader, and Naveena's legs buckled as she fell to the floor begging for mercy.

They were ten days out of Kyland traveling south along the Anatar-Kyland Road. Monte rode far ahead of the wagon as he normally did. Horst and Jared rode just before it, as the Odessian continued the lad's riding lessons. Behind the wagon Gunnar and Talot rode silently. The Arin prince was admiring the beautiful sunset, which was beginning to paint the sky in shades of red from a bright pink to an angry scarlet.

"I will never get tired of that sight," Gunnar said softly. "It is different every day."

While a response was not necessary, Gunnar frowned at the Lomite's continued silence. He turned to look at his partner and saw Talot looking over his shoulder at the road behind them. The Arin prince turned to look for himself and saw nothing but the road snaking over the rolling hills of western Arin.

"Are you still with us," Gunnar asked loudly, "or are you thinking of your homeland?"

Talot seemed to snap out of his daze and looked at Gunnar. "Sorry, I was just waiting for something to occur."

"Other than the sunset?" chuckled Gunnar.

Talot glanced once more over his shoulder and shook his head. "Each of the last two days around this time," Talot explained, "I thought I saw a rider behind us. I was expecting him to show himself again."

"Why haven't you said something before?" asked Gunnar.

"Because I was not sure," shrugged Talot. "I still am not sure if I can trust my eyes. The setting sun can play tricks on one's mind."

"Tell me what you saw," urged the Arin prince.

"Just a rider," sighed Talot, "and only for a moment. Both days around sunset I thought someone was following us, but each time we were just cresting a hill. On both occasions, he was gone by the summit of the next hill. I was hoping to see him today so that I could go back and look for him."

"That explains your preoccupation with sentries during the night," nodded Gunnar. "You should have said something sooner."

"I see no reason to raise alarms when the problem may merely be my own tired eyes," Talot shook his head. "In any event, a single man is not going to attack our campsite. It could just be a fellow traveler."

"A man on a horse who takes as long to travel the road as a wagon full of weapons?" questioned Gunnar. "I don't believe that any more than you do."

"It could have been two separate riders," sighed the Lomite. "They each could have passed us during the night, or they may even be locals just using the road for short distances. It makes sense that men would use the road around sunset to go home after a day of hunting."

"That is a possibility," agreed Gunnar, "but I would feel better knowing for sure."

"That is the type of worry I sought to avoid by remaining silent," Talot replied. "You have enough on your mind without worrying about phantom riders."

Gunnar stared the Lomite in the eyes. "I would rather be bothered by ten false alerts than miss one possible threat. Do not worry about the frailness of my mind. I have been trained to deal with stress as an everyday occurrence. It comes with being a member of the royal family."

"I keep forgetting your station in life," chuckled Talot. "Most royals that I have met thought so highly of themselves that they never let others forget who they were."

"Then you have spent too much time outside of Arin and Salacia," laughed Gunnar. "The western countries do not think in such ways. Here it is the people who are served, not the other way around."

"You have no poverty in Arin?" questioned the Lomite.

"There is poverty everywhere," sighed the Arin prince, "but the reasons are multitude. Some refuse help out of fear or pride; others have no inclination to raise themselves out of their poorness, but Arin does not tax her people into poverty."

Talot looked over his shoulder again and then turned to smile at the Arin prince. "I look forward to seeing Anatar. Perhaps our discussion today will make me look at it in a light I have never considered before. The happiness of your people will tell me much."

"You will be pleased," grinned the Arin prince. "It is time for me to relieve Monte so that I can choose the campsite for tonight. Keep an eye out for our mysterious follower."

Gunnar rode past the wagon and let his horse run until he caught up to the Caroomite. He slowed down as he took the lead, and Monte slowed to let the wagon catch up to him. The Arin prince knew the territory well, as Anatar was less than a day's ride to the south. He already had selected a defendable site for the evening's respite, so his mind was free to think about Talot's words. A lone rider was not an immediate threat to their party, but if the rider was following to keep the party in sight while a larger force was gathered, it could be a serious problem indeed. The site he had chosen for their last camping before Anatar was perfect for defending, though. As he looked for the turnoff, he once again noticed an Arin soldier deep in the forest. Word had not yet arrived from Caxon.

Gunnar recognized the trail leading towards the coast. He halted in the middle of the road until he was sure that Monte was watching him then he proceeded along the trail to a high cliff overlooking the sea. It was one of his favorite campsites and was especially nice for watching the sunset, but the sun had already dipped below the horizon. He ignored the sight of the quickly darkening sky and checked the area for any signs of people.

There was a spring-fed pond nearby, and just the sight of it brought back memories of his youth. Gunnar grinned subconsciously at the thought of those memories, but he quickly scouted the area for potential dangers. Satisfied that the campsite was secure, he rode back to the highway to meet the rest of his party.

Within an hour the camp was set and the meal served. Under Monte's tutelage, Jared had bagged his first turkey, and everyone congratulated him. After the meal, the pond proved to be a popular spot as everyone was anxious to bathe for the visit to Anatar the next day. Gunnar was the first to dive in, and while everyone else was getting wet, he dressed and walked back towards the highway. He stood among the trees as the night darkened and brilliant stars appeared overhead. Soon he heard a sound coming from behind him. He whirled to find Talot walking through the woods.

"I was afraid that you would react this way," greeted the Lomite. "I never did see him today. Come back to the camp and relax."

"I am as relaxed as I can be," Gunnar replied, making no effort to return to camp. "Do not think that I am overly troubled by your report. Being alone allows me to think more clearly."

Talot nodded in understanding. He often sought solitude to dwell on problems and concerns.

"What troubles you?" the giant asked. "If not the mystery rider, is it going home to the palace tomorrow?"

"It is the palace," nodded Gunnar.

"You fear being recognized?" inquired Talot.

"No," laughed Gunnar as he fluffed his beard. "It is amazing what a little facial hair can do for one's appearance. It is the meeting with my father that concerns me. He will try his best to make me stay in Anatar, and I just cannot do that."

"He is the king," shrugged Talot. "He could merely mandate that you remain in the palace."

"He could," nodded Gunnar, "but he would never do that. He is not that kind of man. He respects me as much as I respect him. He will try to reason with me and make me see the truth of his convictions."

"And if that fails?" questioned the Lomite.

"He may resort to enlisting the aide of my sister and mother," chuckled the Arin prince. "He can be devious when he wants to be, but he is always thinking of my best interests."

"And if you are insistent?" probed the Lomite.

"He will not stand in my way if my mind is made up," answered Gunnar, "but he would probably send half the army after me to protect my foolish hide."

"That would leave the kingdom open to attack," frowned Talot. "Would he truly risk such a disaster?"

"He would," nodded the Arin prince, "for if I died, he would never forgive himself for letting me leave Anatar."

"You are his son," frowned Talot, "and destined to rule this country one day. How can he place so little trust in your judgment?"

"I have been well-trained from birth by the greatest minds of the kingdom," replied Gunnar, "and my father trusts me wholeheartedly, but I am not yet done with learning all there is to know. I still have pitfalls in my future, and he is trying hard to help me avoid them without crushing my independent spirit. I do not envy his task, but I have something inside of me that is driving me beyond reason. I know not whether it is good or evil, but I must yield to it."

"You said that you respected him," frowned Talot. "Were you speaking as a son or a prince?"

"Both," Gunnar replied. "I respect him as a loving father and a wise king."

"Then how can you reject his wisdom for this inner feeling of yours?" questioned the Lomite. "How can you endanger the kingdom for your own needs?"

Gunnar stared at his giant friend with a sudden understanding of the truth. The risks of his undertaking were not entirely his. He had managed to bring others into his circle of danger, and now he might endanger his family and the entire kingdom. No matter how strong the drive within him, he could not act so irresponsibly.

"You are wise beyond your years," smiled Gunnar. "My task is to convince my father that my journey is correct and necessary. Failing that, I will remain in Anatar."

"You will make a fine king when your time comes," smiled Talot. "You do indeed place the lives of others above your own. A kingdom could ask no more from their monarch."

* * *

Anatar was a prosperous city and well maintained. The streets were wide and clean, and Talot noted that most people sported a smile as they passed. Kerzi did not bother with his usual meanderings, as his destination was the palace. There was no way for him to avoid it. The sunshine glinted off the white buildings, and everyone was in a splendid mood. Only Gunnar appeared withdrawn and quiet.

The group approached the palace gates and Gunnar expected some inspection because of the size of the group. It was hardly common for a sole merchant to have five warriors accompanying him, but to his surprise, the gates opened wide when Kerzi presented the note from the armory in Kyland. The Arin prince frowned at the lax security, but he understood a moment later when two columns of soldiers suddenly flanked the group and escorted them to a door at the side of the palace. The soldiers were professional and did not interfere with the wagon, but their eyes constantly scanned the small group for any sign that something was amiss.

An officer at the door accepted the note from Kerzi and immediately shouted orders to unload the wagon. As the wagon was being unloaded, the sentries near the door suddenly stiffened. A warning was whispered, and the soldiers unloading the wagon halted and came to attention. Kerzi's group suddenly became curious and gazed through the door of the palace. Standing just inside the door was King Caedmon. The soldiers inside the palace bowed respectfully, and the king waved his hand dismissively allowing them to return to work.

"Who bears this cargo?" asked the Arin king.

"I do," answered Kerzi as he bowed in respect. "I trust it is to your liking?"

"It is," smiled the king as his eyes scanned over the small group.

Prince Antion felt his father's eyes upon his face, but they moved on with only a momentary hesitation. The king stared hard and long at Jared, and the prince knew what was going through his mind. He hoped that Prince Derri had properly explained the lad's identity.

"I require you inside, good merchant," stated the king, "and one of your warriors. Let that one accompany you," he added as he pointed at Gunnar.

It seemed so natural and no one suspected anything untoward when Kerzi and Gunnar entered the palace, no one except Talot and Horst who both knew the prince's identity. The merchant and his warrior bowed before the king.

"What are your names?" asked King Caedmon.

"I am known as Kerzi," answered the merchant, "and my faithful warrior is called Gunnar."

"I understand that you have traveled through Salacia recently," said the king. "While you receive your just wages, merchant Kerzi, I would like to talk to your warrior about his observations during the journey. Is that acceptable?"

Kerzi looked to Gunnar for guidance, which surprised the king, but Caedmon said nothing. Gunnar nodded his approval.

"Oh yes, Your Majesty," nodded Kerzi. "Anything we can do to aid the people of Arin makes us happy. Gunnar will be pleased to tell you what he can."

"Excellent," smiled King Caedmon. "An officer will compensate you well for your service, good merchant. He is just down that corridor, the third door on your left. He will already have the note from Kyland. Gunnar, follow me please."

The king turned and strode away from the door with Gunnar in tow. Not a word was spoken until they were safely inside the king's office and the door was closed. King Caedmon embraced his son as soon as they were in private.

"I fear for your safety," the king said softly. "You cannot imagine my feelings when I saw you through that door."

"But I can," grinned Prince Antion. "I felt the same. It Is so good to see you again, father."

"You look quite the warrior," the king chuckled as he held Prince Antion at arm's length. "Does it itch?"

"Not anymore," laughed the prince. "One gets used to it."

"Come and sit down," urged the king as he moved to his desk. "We have much to discuss while the wagon is being unloaded. I take it that Kerzi knows your true identity?"

"No," the prince shook his head. "Only two of the group know. What makes you think otherwise?"

"The way he deferred to you when I requested your help," answered the king. "Why would he do so if he does not know your identity? Such a man has no fear of attack here."

"He respects my advice," replied Prince Antion. "He is a good man, and I promised to introduce him to my father some day," he added with a grin.

"Well today does not count," chuckled King Caedmon. "I see that Prince Umal has also joined with you. Who are the others?"