The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations (39 page)

             
“What does that even mean?” He asked chuckling.

             
“Think of your father and your mother and the people they were.”

             
“If I knew who my mother was, that would make sense.”

             
“Think of your grandparents and their parents and all the generations that preceded you.  Think of the times they lived in and the ways in which they survived their trials and tribulations.  Think of the good and sometimes evil ways they solved the mysteries of their worlds and their times.  Think of all the men and women whose lives and experiences throughout human history have been passed down to you and to this very moment.  It is not you who has been chosen, Kenner of the hills; but rather your history and the man it has made of you.  A thousand hearts made yours and ten thousand souls come together in yours.  I have faith that all of this history in you will lead you to the right decision and one which a thousand years will benefit from.”

             
Hearing those last words, he looked up into the night’s sky and saw a sight in the sky that everything inside of him told him to be impossible.  All the stars had aligned into the image of the face of a woman.  A thousand glittering points of light looked down on him with eyes of confidence and a smile.  He gazed with wonder and felt more awed and inspired than he would ever thought possible in a lifetime.

And then he fainted.

Chapter Forty Four

             
Bleylock was disappointed at the news that his servant was dead.  He reminded himself that he should have never have placed such an important task of maintaining control of King Melkur in the hands of an idiot.  However, he knew that this was merely a temporary misfortune.  It didn’t even mean a delay.  Instead, he knew that he would have to accelerate his plans.

             
The pieces on the board were now moving.  The Grand Army of Walechia would move into Masallah.  There they would meet the largest army in human history and they would both destroy each other.  The Lady of the Woods would soon die and the new one would stay out of the affairs of the world.  Sheyron would soon tear itself apart when the people revolted against its tyrant.  His own Black Sword was finished and soon it would be in the hands of one who would wield it for his purpose.  And then Kenner would have no choice but to follow the destiny that he had set for him.  Everything was proceeding along the path of destiny he had started for the world long before even the Dark Times.  He had been patient and he had played the game well.  He had only one more piece to play and then wait for the results he’d planned for to happen on their own.  Nothing could stop it now.

             
However, something else was moving that he was aware of but was not sure of its intent.  It was a loose end that he would have to investigate, but one that he would ultimately take care of.  It would likely prove to be only a minor inconvenience.  And then nothing could stop destiny.  He was sure of it.

              Terri was beginning to get worried.  It had been hours since Kenner had left through the door which was now closed.  She had a sensation that something was wrong.  She didn’t feel that Kenner needed her help in any way; however, she couldn’t stop thinking that whatever was happening out there would change things and in a way that couldn’t be changed back.

             
To relieve her tension, she looked up at the Father on his pedestal.

             
“I don’t suppose I could get a hit of that?” She asked, referring to the pipe.

             
“This is the strongest tobacco in the known world.” He answered.  “I doubt you could handle it.”

             
“Try me,” She said and stepped forward to the pedestal.

             
At that moment, a shadowy figure bathed in a silvery light appeared in the temple.  Terri recognized her and the Father seemed to know her as well.  Even Shela appeared to know her, Terri thought.  She appeared in front of Terri and smiled at her sweetly and knowingly.

             
“You must be that shadow Kenner talks to at night.” Terri said to her.

             
“Yes, that would be me.” She said gently.

             
“Is Kenner alright?”

             
“He’s fine.”

             
“Good.  When is he coming back?  I need to talk to that boy about his cat shedding all over my gear.”

Sha
dow laughed a little and then looked at Terri sadly.

             
“I’m afraid Kenner won’t be coming back.” She said.

Terri suddenly felt afraid and angry at the same time.

              “You want to run that by me again?”

             
“He knew that you would likely not approve of his decision…”

             
“His decision?”

Shadow paused for a moment hoping Terri would calm a little.

              “He has decided on a path of his own and he has decided that it is a path you cannot follow and a task you cannot aid him with.”

Terri’s anger began to boil over and she
could not control the urge to go after him.

             
“The hell I can’t!” She yelled.

She then pulled an arrow and shot it at the door.  The arrow simply bounced off of the door.  She readied another arrow and said, “Fire” as she shot it.  The flaming arrow blasted
against the door, but it remained unharmed.  She then turned back to Shadow.

             
“Where has he gone?” She asked in a near panic.

             
“I cannot tell you.”

Terri readied an arrow and pointed it directly at Shadow.

              “Oh yes you can!” She said desperately.

             
“I’m sorry,” Shadow said firmly.  “I cannot tell you because I do not know.”

It took a moment, but Terri regained control of her senses.  She was still angry and scared, but also frustrated as she began to understand that there was nothing she could do.  There wa
s something in the way the shadow had said, “He is gone” that sounded as if he was too far from there for her to find him if she looked.  She lowered the Bow and felt tears welling in her eyes.

             
“What am I supposed to do?” She asked with her voice cracking.  She felt lost for a moment.  The best friend she’d ever known; the man who had been with her at her most vulnerable time was now gone.  What was she going to do without him to guide her?

Shadow came closer and her presence seemed to be soothing.
  She looked into Terri’s eyes with a gentle, but firm expression, but still the same sweet smile.

             
“He asked me to tell you that you have a task as well; a very important task.”

Not wanting to be seen as weak or frail, Terri choked back the crying and wip
ed the tears from her eyes.

             
“What task is that?”

Shadow’s smile turned from sweet to confident and determined.

              “You and Shela have a war to prevent.”

This was not comforting to Terri.

             
In the clearing in the forest, Kenner came to better terms with his decision and better formed his plan.  For the first time in his life, he felt as if his future was completely his own.  No “destiny” was holding him or guiding him now.  He had been taught more about how to use the Black Sword to its fullest power and potential and now he felt as if the world were under his father’s boots.

             
A white mist began to come to him from all over the forest.  It gathered around him and then felt like it embraced him.  Smiling broadly and feeling stronger and more determined than ever, he gripped the Black Sword and said to the mist, “Let’s go.”