Grasping Fate [F2R Book 2]

Chapter Seventeen

Yay, a new chapter! Sorry this one may be short.

Grasping Fate

Chapter 17

"The future depends on what we do in the present."

It was nighttime in Keuta. Outside hidden in the shadows of the Vesuvius home two people were having a quiet conversation amongst themselves.

"We need to move faster, the king is starting to stick his nose in our business."

"I know that, but it isn't so easy. It's difficult to reveal the sorcerer connections to your family without conflict. 16 years is a lot of time for hate towards them to spread."

"What about my cousin, he was tried as one, and persecuted. We must be able to use him in order to rally support."

"That is true, but there is another, probably more effective way. Mentionin' Aliss and James Magi."

"True--" the sound of stampeding steps alerted their attention, "Barter! Hurry and leave. We'll continue this later!" the younger man shooed the man he was talking to away. The younger man ducked and hid against the wall of his home.

"Open up!" he heard the sound of pounding fists against the front door. Good, he crouched and quickly scurried his way towards the back of the house. From there he grabbed hold of a ladder he'd propped up and climbed through to his window.

He pressed an ear against the door and listened.

"Hold on a moment!" he heard the sound of his father calling out to whoever was at the door. He stayed waiting.

Downstairs the door was slammed open, he made sure to keep quiet.

"By order of the king, you are hereby under arrest for suspected treason against his royal highness!"

He gasped, what the nether! Impossible!

"Treason? What are you talking about, no such thing has happened here!"

"Silence!"

He clasped a hand over his mouth and winced as he heard the sound of glass breaking. He stood up and swung open his door, "What's going on!"

Several soldiers were inside his home, armed, his father was being restrained.

"Calvin Vesuvius, you are under arrest for suspected treason against his royal highness!"

"We haven't done anything!" Cal retaliated, "Let my father go! Don't you know who he is, the former king! How dare you--"

"Former king, he's nothing more than a civilian now."

A soldier approached Cal, he took a step back before charging forward and knocking that soldier off his feet, "Let him go!"

"Calvin, stop!" but Cal did not listen. He caught another soldier by surprise. That soldier slammed against the wall knocking. Torch from its post off. The torch fell and slowly began to eat away at the floor.

Cal took one look at the fire and another at his father. He knew he needed to leave if he was to have any chance of saving his father, and his kingdom. So he ran, he fled to his room and down the window. A few soldier made chase but he easily lost them in the darkness.

~~~~~

There was silence amongst themselves as they listened to Cal's story. A dreaded sense of fear or guilt was building up.

"This is all my fault," Jordan said to Cal, "I shouldn't have needlessly involved your family like this!"

"It isn't your fault, it was due to my negligence," Cal reassured him.