The latest of, “When Troubles Follow You Home”.

There comes a point when everyone has to decide between fighting and solving problems more peacefully. This is something I take seriously when I consider my plots because personally I hate war. Why would I want to spend my career romanticizing it? When I was trying to think of an ending to this story this kept popping into my head again and again. We’ll see how you guys like where I’m going with it.

Audio version narrated by David Carroll:

As always, I hope you enjoy the story.

Darren knocked on the door trying once again to hide his nervous shaking.  Everything around him was falling apart.  He thought his Amery dead, but then found a note from her in his pocket when dressing this morning.  It made no sense, but he knew it must be, he’d never said such things to anyone else.

At her bidding he had raised questions to five of the Order today.  Or almost five anyway, there was one left on the short list, one that was supposed to come last.  Elder Hemmon was the oldest living member of the Order, of those that had been found at least.  Nobody believed that all surviving members had found their way here yet.

The door opened only enough to permit a slice of the man’s face in the light of the hallway, he looked out suspiciously then looked down the hall.  The suspicion had spread all over the house throughout the day.  The surprise attack had failed miserably and many of them lost their lives to it.  Darren felt responsible for that, but it seemed many of the others blamed Zydala.  That she too blamed him had only fueled the fire.

Not only did they feel she should have been honest about what they were up against, but a lot of them took serious issue with the crippling attack she had directed at Darren out there, another member of the Order.  Darren hadn’t woken for an entire day.  He still felt weak.

“What is it you want, Boy?”

“I must speak with you, Elder Hemmon.  It is important.”

The old man looked behind Darren again, as if expecting a trap.  Then he opened the door wider and motioned him to come in.

Hemmon’s room was an absolute wreck.  Books by the dozens lay half opened and discarded.  Darren had never seen an elder’s room look like this before.  The windows all were drawn shut and only a single candle burning on the table near his chair gave light to the room.

“Excuse the mess.  I have been looking for information and cannot seem to remember where it is written.  It is something I haven’t thought of in some time, I’m afraid.  Anyway, enough of that, what can I do for you?”

Darren took a deep breath to steady himself.  “What do you know of Ambassador Sarrell?”  Elder Hemmon lost his composure and stared in open shock at him.

“What do you know of him, Adept?  How do you even know that name?  I must admit it is suspicious that you mention the name of the very man I have searched through my notes to find.”

“Here,” Darren said, handing over the note from Amery.  “I am supposed to show this to you.”

Darren waited while the man read through the note just as he had waited four other times today.  None reacted so strongly to it though.  The man actually looked excited as his eyes moved down the page.  Most of the other men had only looked more and more suspicious.

“So, he will come in two days.  Good, good, I have many questions for him.  There is the problem with Zydala.  She will never let the man have his say before all of us.  She will never let it go through.”  He paused in thought, Darren just waited patiently.  “For so many years I have sat back quietly while she tore apart everything we once stood for.”  The old man turned to him before going on.  “Of course, none of us have the strength to stand up to her.  But you…”  He let the thought hang in the air as he eyed him.

“Elder, you cannot be serious.  There is no way that I could stand up to Zydala.  And why should I?  Since I came to this place she has been in charge, she has cared for us and watched over us.  Everyone keeps saying that we should just turn on her.  Well, why should I!”  Darren collapsed onto a chair near the door having trouble finding his breath.

The man was on his feet and coming toward him in an instant.  “Cared for you, has she?  Watched over you, you say?  Open your eyes, Adept.  There is nothing she cares for beyond revenge on the man who ruined her plans.  I have suspected it for some time, she told us that the man you asked about was dead, and, in a way, I suppose he is.  That part of him, anyway.”

Darren hadn’t the strength to retort, nor did he have anything to say even if he could.  Besides, the man had Amery and she seemed to trust him after only a day.  Even if they had talked for a number of hours, it felt too quick to judge.  Everyone seemed so ready to betray Zydala.  He tried to stand and couldn’t, maybe they weren’t wrong about their mistrust.

“Very well, then.” He said, defeated.  “I still don’t see how I can stand up to her.”

“Yes, well we have some time for me to teach you.  Two more days that note said?”  Darren nodded.  “It should be time enough.  There are many lessons Zydala has forbidden.  I worry much has been forgotten or lost to time.  It pains me to see how much knowledge can be lost in less than a decade.  Some knowledge is not lost though, things that might just turn things in our favor.”

“What sort of attack are you talking about?”  The man paused and pursed his lips.

“The things I have to show you are not any sort of attack; think of it more as ways to protect your mind from the attacks of others.”

Darren couldn’t deny that he was excited.  He had a thirst for knowledge that he felt the Order was lacking.  The idea that there was more to learn, things that may have been lost in the last few years, well it was exciting to say the least.  Perhaps he could take Amery, and they could travel about, looking for remnants of hidden powers.  He noticed that Elder Hemmon was talking again and left his excitement for the time being.

“The great Ambassador Sarrell, I still cannot believe it.  One of the greatest philosopher’s of our Order is coming here in only two days.”  He stared off to the window as if talking to himself.  “It has been so long since I last saw a chance of hope for us on the horizon.”