Destined

3. Make a Move

The next morning, I got up groggily from a long night. It was late morning, and I sighed. A knock on my door and I made my way to the door.

"Yes, what do you want?" I pinched the bridge of my nose and realized it was Artemis. I tensed up instantly. Her eyes puffy and circles under them. "Artemis, I need to-,"

Artemis shook her head. "You are going to listen this time, and I do not want another angry word." She glared and then huffed. "My father always disliked me, I think despised would be more accurate."

"I apologize." I interrupted her and she stared at me unsure who took me over. "Look, I was the idiot last night. Your brother gave me an earful."

Her eyes widened. "I don't need him budding in like he always does. I can handle myself." She frowned.

I laughed.

"What's so funny, idiot?"

"He told me loud and clear that I went too far, but I already knew. Besides, with what you said last night I could not stand myself either." I dropped my smile. "Artemis, you do not need to protect me."

"Idiot, I have not forgiven you yet. Stop acting like your going to protect me, I know full well you can't." She tore her eyes away.

I hugged her and her shoulders tightened at my touch. "You were right to get mad and upset. I let my anger lash out at everyone because I was so restless."

She gripped my arms. "Idiot, you always let your heart take you over."

I lowered my arms quickly when I saw Kay running over. "Hey, we got trouble, Annalise ran off." He stopped and noticed how close Artemis was. "Did I interrupt a moment?"

"What happened to her?"

"Earlier this morning, Zelme told me she headed back to Amerlise. She received a letter from her family back home. Trouble is brewing over there, attacks involving many officials and higher-ups."

I scowled. "Let's regroup with everyone. I got warning things are going to get dangerous from Mesmer last night." Artemis glanced at me and I walked past them both. "Meet me in the courtyard, I have something else to attend to." I broke into a stride.

Running through the palace halls, I hurried to the throne room. I rushed inside to find my father and the Tyrant having a discussion.

"You cannot expect much from Amerlise, they don't ask for help." The Tyrant rambled on.

I took a moment to calm down. "Well, they may need it." I reasoned. I strolled over to them. "I think there may be cause for the corrupted king to attack them now. He could be ready to start his plan."

"Little lamb, you know full well they will not be welcoming. The north is nothing like the south."

"Annalise came to my aid, but that is not my only reason for going. I got a tip from someone he would move soon and now may be the time I should go to Amerlise." I relaxed my shoulders. "I am tired of him getting his way, he takes what he wants while we all scrounge up what we can."

"Jaiden, I know you feel this paramount, but you must exercise more caution. We do not have many details on what is happening in Amerlise."

"Then I better go, you know as well as I do if the situation escalates before any help comes, they will be overrun. He has more monsters in his arsenal than their guard can handle."

"I will not send my own son into a skirmish that he may not come back from." My father rose his voice to me. His eyes hardened on me. "You came back but there is no guarantee this time what will happen. You will stay put for now."

I made a fist at my side and grit my teeth. "Then prepare yourself to drag me back because I am going. No matter what course you choose he will draw me out, after Judas passed on, I have had the same dream." I stared at my father while his anger began to vanish. "Monsters overrunning a town and then a realm. It will only take one kingdom for the spread to begin. Something tells me Amerlise will be the first to fall because I saw their emblem in the dream as well."

"Why did you not come to me sooner about this?" Ascelyn stared with his fatherly concern. "Since when did you possess my ability to predict events?"

"A long time ago when a certain crow decided to prey on a young mind. I did not say anything because I did not believe in it." I withdrew my eyes from him and stared at my own hands. "But there was another dream that filtered in, not sure what to make of it."

"Little lamb, interesting you developed an ability only your father possessed up until now."

"Well, I have been developing more abilities since the Ravelian Isles. I can see the dead, summon ice and fire. Stranger still, I cannot give a full explanation of what happened there." My thoughts ran to Eulis who stayed behind to deal with the aftermath I left there. "All I can tell you is that I somehow possess the phoenix of Rebirth on my arm instead of the impaled crescent I had."

"A phoenix will rise from the ashes before the battle of the world will begin." My father uttered the line. "Then another prophecy has been proven true. The king of this world will be decided in this battle."

"What do you mean?"

"Long time no see, kid." Zazi walked in with Mara. Stunned to see them, I searched for Eulis. "My king sent us here in time it appears. Afraid the monsters are breaking through the barrier from the isles. However, we are here to relay a more pressing issue."

Mara handed me a rolled-up parchment scroll. I opened it hastily. I looked up in confusion. "What is going on?"

"Mesmer disappeared and we have not been able to find him anywhere. My lord thought you may know where he is."

"He was here last night."

They both searched me up and down. "He left without a word to anyone," Mara stated and then walked over. "Did he tell you what he was planning to do?"

"No, but I have a feeling he is done being used. He said he made his choice a long time ago and that this was something he needed to attend to himself."

"Who are these two, little lamb?"

"Allies from Ravela, they were sent by Eulis." I handed them the scroll back. "He stopped here, but not for long. He gave me a warning that was all."

"Kid, we need to know what is going on? He never leaves as angry as he was acting. Something happened a week ago and he has not been the same since."

"If you know anything, we need to know now."

I thought over carefully why Mesmer would hide from them. I sighed. "Maybe he has finally had it with his situation, I know I would not let someone else dictate my every move. He was angry last night, but not at me." I turned to leave the room. "He must mean to defy the one person he hates most, his father."

"His father, but there is no reason for him to go alone?"

"Threats only last so long before they become useless."

"Your highness, there is no time for you to draw this out."

"His father blackmailed him, and with an unpleasant threat I also want to shove down his throat myself." I glanced over my shoulder and a fist formed at my hip. "I am going to Amerlise for the sake of everything I believe in. If I run from this, I know I could never forgive myself."

I pushed the doors open and ran for the courtyard to meet up with my friends. Guards and soldiers stared at me uncertain what had gotten into me, but I had been waiting for the move from my opponent. I will not stand down now. It was time to make my own move.

Hope you enjoyed the extra chapter. Until the next chapter my dear readers...