The Path of Decisions Read Online Free

wondered if
it was a trap, but the alternative was to die in the dungeon cells below Belor.
His trial was a week away, and he was sure it would be a mockery of any
justice. It would be a time for the Preacher to show his followers that he
would not tolerate weakness or worse yet, rebellion in his ranks. In Belor’s
fight with the Realm, Kelln had disobeyed orders to kill a Realm soldier. The
Preacher was using him as a means to keep others in control— a message and
warning.
    Kelln stumbled, and Alessandra waited for him. His breathing was
ragged, and with limbs still recovering from the dungeon he barely stayed
upright.
    In all the months in prison, she had been the only one to see him.
Well, the only one besides those who beat him. He still had a hard time
sleeping at night. The horrors he went through would be a long time leaving. He
had hoped so many times that his father or family would come see him, but they
didn’t. He couldn’t understand how his father had been duped by the Preacher.
    They stopped again.
    Alessandra turned him yet again, through another hall. Off in the
distance, Kelln thought he could make out a faint light. His heart seemed to
lift out of the gloom toward a new sensation of hope. In the growing excitement
he began to move more quickly, almost knocking Alessandra down.
    “Just a minute,” Alessandra said in a stern voice. “You have to go
slowly.”
    “Why? I can see the opening.” Kelln tried to move quicker.
    Alessandra stopped and turned. She twisted Kelln's hand around.
The outline of her tense face in the dim light made him stop. She had been entrusted
with much under the Preacher’s regime. Smuggling people out of Anikari was one
of them. Being of Belorian blood himself, and with his father being a
swordmaker, he guessed their family had been a logical choice to recruit.
    “Why did you stop?” He tried to push past her slim but toned body.
    Kelln tried following her pointing finger toward the ground about
three feet in front of where they stood. It took a few seconds for the light to
let him realize what was there. What he saw made his face rigid and his hands
tighten; a three foot wide hole in the rock pathway.
    “I didn't know.” His voice quieted down.
    “That’s why I told you to follow me,” she said with a smile he
couldn't tell was wicked or congenial.
    One by one they jumped across the large hole in the rock pathway.
The sound of rushing water hit against the thick walls deep below. Alessandra
made the jump in one quick motion.  Kelln however had to rest a moment to
regain strength in his legs. With one false start, he jumped across the hole,
falling to the ground on the other side. He maneuvered his pack on his back in
order to stand back up. His weakened muscles were sore. He had never been tall
or very strong, but had been agile and active enough to keep up with most of
the stronger boys growing up.
    Sudden light poured into Kelln’s eyes as they emerged from the
cave. He brought his hand up to shield the worst of it away while blinking a
few times. His bright red hair reflected the western sun, and he soaked in the
light and warmth he hadn’t felt in months. He looked over at Alessandra and
smiled.
    “Where are we?”
    “West of the city. About three hundred yards outside the walls.”
    Kelln looked down at a small river moving a few feet from where
they stood. Looking west, he viewed the Everlasting Meadows. Doing so brought
back the memory of when he had first come to Belor with Alessandra. It seemed
so long ago. Belor sat at the southeastern edge of the Realm, close to the Blue
Sea and just north of the Gildan empire. It would take some time to get back to
Anikari, but he needed to find Darius and talk to his friend’s father, the
King’s councilor. They would know what to do. The Preacher needed to be
stopped.
    “I have to get back,” said Alessandra.
    “No! Stay with me!” Kelln blurted out without thinking. “Don’t you
understand what they are