Chapter 18 - Spirit Soldiers

After walking for some minutes on the path that kept opening up as they moved deeper. Quentin, James and Harold got to a place- Quentin's home.

"Now, here we are" Quentin took a seat.

"This is your house? We will never find this out on our own" James mentioned as he also took his seat.

"That is the main reason why I came to pick you" he laughed.

"You seemed nice but why has my father wanted you dead?" James was curious about that. He felt that had something to do with him and now that he was face to face with him. He would hear in details.

"I think we should focus more on why you are here, James" Quentin repudiated.

"You should know if you are Quentin, the banished sorcerer" Harold said slowly. He was still unsure whether to trust Quentin or not.

"He is fighting for what is rightfully his. He is losing the game of throne slowly. And he has come to me to regain his right. He want me to be on his side because my side will win" Quentin related staring straight into Harold's eyes. He was sure that was enough to convince him.

"Do you read minds?" James was astonished. Quentin said all he had in his mind.

"If that is what you say it is, Prince" Quentin paused and laughed. "Prince, that is all what your father want you to be" he laughed again like he was taunting James.

"And I want you to change that" James asserted strictly.

"Actually, it was the prophecy that foretold you will be a bad king that is to blame" Quentin was just making James more curious.

"A prophecy? That I will be a bad king?" James had never heard that before. He turned to Harold without saying a word. He wanted to know if that was not new to him.

Harold shook his head negatively. He had obviously not heard about that before.

"So a prophecy is strong enough to convince Father to give his son's birthright away?" he evoked doubtfully.

"He is a strong believer but to me, he came short as a Father. Even if my son is destined to destroyed everything. I am going to stand by him" Quentin opened up and breathed deeply.

James had now understood why he was banished from Darnley kingdom. It was his own perspective of viewing things that contradicted his Father's.

"What do I have to do to become King?" James overlooked all what had passed. He wanted to focus on what was coming.

"Yes, that is why we are here" Harold said angrily. It seemed what he just learnt was annoying to him.

"You are out of it. You can never become the Alpha King after your father's death. He had arranged to make sure everything fall in place after his death, James" Quentin must have known that would irritate him but he seemed not to care.

"There must be a way if you are by my side. Your side will win, you said that just now, you remember?" James entangled him using his words.

"The only thing you can do to avert this is to foil his plans. There is a time he has believed his death will strike. Just make him die before then and you will be at advantage" he laughed to accompany such horrible words.

"Are you saying I should kill my father?" James didn't want to believe he said that.

"That is what he meant" Harold held his hand to console him.

"Is that the solution or you are trying to get back to my father for your feud?" he snatched his hand from Harold furiously.

"Get back to your father?" Quentin started laughing. "The son of a king. I could have kill your father before now if I want him dead" he boasted.

"I can't kill him. If he was convinced by a prophecy. I could convince him by my actions" James asseverated.

"Then, I don't think you need my help then" Quentin stood up.

"No. You must have heard his story how he was declared fit for a king for single handedly killed a hundred soldiers. What if I kill two hundred?" James thought deep.

"You still do not need my help. I have no soldiers for hire" he responded with remorse.

"Yes, you have. You are a sorcerer. I need two hundred illusions that couldn't kill me which I will take out easily" James stood up and moved close to Quentin.

"You are as wise as your father. I hope you will be a better father than him" Quentin rubbed his own chin.

"I am a sorcerer, a very powerful sorcerer" he yelled suddenly and frowned.

"What do I get for this? You won't get two hundred illusions with empty hand and words coming out of mouth" Quentin was asking for compensation.

"It is what we have been mentioning since, a place beside me when I am the Alpha King of Darnley kingdom" James offered.

"Then where will you put him?" Quentin asked pointing at Harold.

"Why do you care about what he gets?" James asked furiously.

"I do not care about what he gets. I am just trying to let you know I can not be easily fooled" Quentin said like he was threatening him.

"You have my word, a place by my side" he moaned.

"You are going to come back for that. And this is an illusion. There are things to make it seem real. War just don't break out. They are triggered by something. Enemies attacked when they feel they have advantage. Can you make that happen?" Quentin asked him.

"What are you talking about?" James couldn't understand him.

"Wait" Quentin moved to a corner. He came back with something looking like a talisman.

"Use this on your father, it will make him sick. Then I will bring the soldiers. It will make it believable. The enemies strike when your king is bedridden" he explained.

James took it from him and examined it. It didn't smell like a poison.

"What is the name of this?" he asked curiously.

"Put it in his pillow. The more he sleeps on it. The more sick he will be but trust me he will not die" he assured him.

"This soldiers, I must be able to kill them" James reminded him.

"There will be a wand to control them. They will not die until the magic wand is destroyed. But they can kill anyone else that comes in their way except you. Whoever you know you love should be kept away from them" he warned and glanced at Harold.

James was relieved. This journey has been fruitful. It should work unless his father was worse than he seemed. He was about taking his leave when Quentin called him back.

"I have done a great job for you and you have given me your word. Let us drink to the start of an alliance" he raised up his hand and a cup filled with wine appeared In his hand.

"Take your cups, what are you waiting for?" he urged both of them.

They looked around for cups. James and Harold was confused when they couldn't find any.

"You saw where I took mine from" he murmured.

James raised up his hand, immediately a filled cup was within his grip. He smiled. Harold did the same and got his own cup.

"Wonderful!" Harold groaned.

"My house is a wonderland. To the formation of a new alliance" Quentin brought forth his cup and the three of them toasted with some of the wine spilling out of the cups.

They drank the wine afterwards and put down the cups. Harold and James walked back to where they believed was the entrance.

"Where are you going?" Quentin asked like he didn't know what they were trying to do.

"We are going back to Darnley, of course" Harold said quickly.

"Converge here" Quentin said but they did not want to do that. Both of them hesitated. "Come closer" he yelled at them.

They walked back to him. He placed his hands over their shoulders. Harold and James didn't understand what he was trying to do. They kept looking at him with a face full of questions.

Suddenly, the place became more lighter like they were outside the house. James looked around. This was exactly where they had fallen into the pit.

"We are back here?" Harold said in disbelief.

"But how are we going to locate you the next time we come here" James believed there would be a total confusion if they tried to find his house by themselves.

"How did you locate me today?" Quentin laughed. "It is going to be like that everytime you come around" Quentin started turning around on a spot.

"What are you doing?" James was baffled.

"Going back home. Our words remain as we decided" Quentin disappeared before James could reply him.

"He is gone?" Harold asked in amazement.

"He is and I think we also have to be" James uttered happily but when he remembered how they would be trekking back home, he shook his head.