The Path of Decisions Read Online Free Page A

doing, Alessandra?”
    Alessandra looked to the ground. He could tell that at least part
of her wanted to stay. She paused as if considering. “I can't, Kelln. Not now.”
    Kelln walked over to her and held her face in his hands. “Why not?
I don't understand you. Why save me, but not save yourself? I can tell you have
doubts about what is going on. If you stay you might die.”
    Tears gathered in the corners of Alessandra's eyes. She tried to
brush them away. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep the wind from
blowing her clothes around. “You just don't understand.”
    “What don't I understand? Tell me,” he pleaded. She was right, he
didn’t understand. He had watched how the Preacher not only intimidated people
with his size, but with his evil powers. He was charismatic to the people, but
he didn’t care one bit about anyone other than himself.
    Alessandra looked across the meadows and took a few moments to
compose herself. Kelln’s heart lifted. He hoped she would change her mind. She
would be better off away from Belor.
    She turned around and walked back toward the hidden cave they had
emerged from moments before. “I have to go. It will take me a while to get
back. I don’t want them to be suspicious of me.”
    “How did you know the way out?” asked Kelln, knowing he wouldn't
get an answer. She made him so angry sometimes. She was so beautiful, he
couldn't stand it, yet she hid herself so much that Kelln didn't know who she
really was.
    “You’d better hurry away from the city. They will be searching for
you soon.” She brought a black cap out of a small pack she carried and tossed
it to him. “And cover up that unruly red hair. You will be seen for miles if
you don’t.”
    “Sure.” He smiled. “I don’t understand, but I do appreciate you
helping me.”
    “I am not a monster.” Her voice was tight with emotion. “I do care
about you. I couldn’t bear it if you were killed.”
    “Are you sure you won’t come with me?”
    Kelln thought he heard a whispered “yes” as Alessandra moved back
behind two rocks toward the cave. He stood looking out across the meadows. A
barely discernible spring green was starting to show through the winter brown.
The wind blew across the blades of grass like the waves of an ocean bringing in
a storm.
    With careful, painful steps he descended the rocks into the
Everlasting Meadows. His short legs shook from the exertion of the escape.
However, he felt alive again. The wind grew slightly warmer as he descended
into the grassy plain, and his spirits lifted.
    He smiled to himself as he remembered how he and Darius had talked
of wanting adventure. Well, this qualified as an adventure. It felt good to be
free again. There were dangers, and ever since he had arrived in Belor his
energy and free will seemed sapped from him. Now once again he was free and in
control, and it felt fantastic.
    The escape had come upon him so suddenly, he hadn’t had time to
think. He decided to head toward the Black Forest and then across the Black
River. From there he would head north. He would not be able to hide long in the
open meadows.
    Kelln El’Han, the son of a swordmaker, had been Darius’s best
friend throughout most of their time in the Anikari academy. After leaving to
Belor last year, Kelln was sure his friend would have tried to visit him. Maybe
he tried and couldn’t get through. Darius’s father would be keeping him busy in
learning the politics of the Realm. Darius despised it, but Kelln wondered if
his best friend would be able to get away from it all or not.
    Looking around him, Kelln kept an eye out for anyone following or any
other dangers. As adventuresome as he used to dream of being, he realized he
had never really been out alone very much. The quiet bothered him. He started
whistling a silly tune and tried to keep his pace up.
    With multiple stops to rest, it took him a grueling four days to
reach the Black River. Kelln dropped exhausted onto the sandy