The Talisman of Ambrosius: Bartholomew Nelson and the World of Zathya, #2

By Antonio Gilyard

Bart made it.  Finally, he's home in Zathya.  Yet it doesn't quite feel like home.  His best friend, Charlotte, is gone.  His mom hasn't fully bought into Zathya being their new home.  On top of worrying about The Chaos Prince and what he's after, Bart also has to find a way to fit in.  Eager to make new friends, continue his training, and embark on adventures of his own, Bart is caught in the middle of an escalating war.  He knows he has an important role in what's to come.  He just hopes that he can live up to his fathers legacy.  Find out about all of this in more in, The Talisman of Ambrosius, the exciting sequel to The Prince and the Heir from the Bartholomew Nelson and the World of Zathya series.

 

Book 2 in Bartholomew Nelson and the World of Zathya series

55 Chapters

Book 1: Bartholomew Nelson and the World of Zathya The Prince and the Heir

• Language: English
• Publisher: AtgFiction
• Release date: Feb 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393533887

Book preview

Prologue

It was unusually quiet in the village of Morehan tonight. Darkness swept over most of the village with light shining only when the moon peeked through the intermittent cover of clouds. Snow enveloped the ground.  Not many townspeople roamed the streets of Morehan tonight, except for a few night owls headed to the tavern in search of a cool drink and a bite to eat.

One tavern patron stood out among them. He was dressed in black, with the hood of his cloak pulled over his head, concealing his identity. Though this dark figure imposed a feeling of certain danger, the townspeople were struck by his presence and followed his every move as he made his way into the tavern for a nightcap. Though no one in the tavern dared speak loud enough for their conversation to be understood, the whir of their whispers was deafening. Drunks stumbled from table to table, spilling drinks and singing silly pub songs.  Some patrons argued loudly with disinterested strangers and made sloppy attempts to woo any young lady who stopped at the tavern. In an attempt to control the situation before it got out of hand, the tavern owner busily yelled at a patron who’d obviously had far too many drinks and had vomited on one of his bartenders. The cloaked individual, paying no mind to the ensuing calamity, took a seat alone at a table in the back of the tavern and gestured for a waitress. She hurried over, dodging drunken patrons like a pro. 

A glass of water, demanded the hooded figure. The waitress, annoyed at such a meager request, didn’t bother to write down his order committing it instead to memory. She quickly turned and scurried off, using her slight skills in wielding to stop a mug from falling off a table a few feet away.

The mysterious man sat for a few minutes listening to his surroundings. He didn’t like being in this part of town but when duty called, he had no choice. 

Suddenly, all the noise stopped.  Keeping his face hidden by the hood of his cloak, he slowly turned and looked to see what had caused the abrupt silence. Three cloaked men stood in the doorway and presented a formidable presence. Everyone knew who they were; Mafortian, also known as the Shadow Warrior; Baron, the Boulder and Tyreekin Shapric, the Chaos Prince.

They passed the hushed customers and sat at a table in the back, behind the other cloaked man. The tavern patrons remained silent.  Even the drunk, who vomited earlier, was making a conscious effort to keep everything down.  Mafortian spoke with a bothered tone.

We didn’t come to be gawked at and annoyed by your aggravatingly loud thoughts, he said without looking away from the menu he was reading. Carry on.

No one missed a beat.  The noise picked up as if it had never stopped.  The original cloaked man sat up straight and cleared his throat.

It might be best to speak this way for now, Turokoi, Tyreekin communicated to the mystery man telepathically.  The name he said was in an ancient language that not many could recognize. 

Understood, Turokoi responded in kind.

Now, tell me what you know so far, Tyreekin continued. Turokoi sipped his water before speaking.

The boy is being trained everyday by Demetrius, Turokoi replied. 

Hearing that particular name made the Chaos Prince grunt in disgust.  He hasn’t attended the school because Demetrius believed his wielding training was much more vital to his survival right now.

Tyreekin gestured for the waitress to come over and the three men placed their orders.  When she walked away, the conversation continued in their minds.

Have you found what I’m looking for? Tyreekin asked.

No, not yet.  I truly believe that Bart has no idea where it is, Turokoi said telepathically. 

Tyreekin sighed. 

Is it possible that Alexander let you read false information from his mind? Mafortian asked. 

Tyreekin looked up and glared at him. 

Next time, I’ll let you do the searching of our victim’s mind, since you seem to be so well versed in the art.  Mafortian just put his head down in shame.  Listen to me.  Tyreekin continued.  Bart has what I’m looking for, whether he knows it or not.  Now someone in that castle knows the truth.  Search their minds!  Find what I want or I will remove the mind-altering spell, and you will be exposed.

Turokoi coughed up his water at the mention of the spell.

I will continue looking, sir, he added after wiping the spilled water from the tabletop. 

Good.  We must keep them on Angelo’s tail.  They must believe it was him who betrayed the boy’s father or Demetrius will start to dig.  The spell only keeps you safe if people don’t know about it.  If a powerful wielder like Demetrius suspects something is up, he will discover the spell and undo it without you ever knowing.  You must stay vigilant and smart.  The waitress came over to place the orders on Tyreekin’s table, then turned and left. 

I understand, Turokoi said. 

Unexpectedly, Tyreekin turned and faced the door across the pub.  Mafortian and Baron quickly did the same.  Turokoi looked, but didn’t understand what he was looking for or what triggered the abrupt pause in mental conversation.

It seems you were followed, Tyreekin said inside his Turokoi’s mind. 

The anonymous man looked toward a table by the door where a man was sitting by himself.  He was wearing a black cloak as well, with the hood up. 

I hate loose ends, Tyreekin said aloud. 

The man by the door must’ve heard him because he bolted out of the tavern without delay.

As if running would make a difference, the Prince snickered. 

He slowly rose from his seat, as did his companions, and walked outside.  The patrons of the bar followed, their interest sparked by the sudden departure of the man in the cloak. Turokoi finished his water and then headed outside as well.  Everyone had gathered outside, a few feet behind Tyreekin, Mafortian, and Baron.  The man who’d fled in the cloak stood between those three and Talion, the assassin who had just arrived.  Talion, also known as the silent executioner, was the younger brother of Mafortian and Baron and leader of Mafortian’s assassins. He was well known throughout Zathya having struck fear in the heart of many of its residents.  The cloaked hood of the runaways laid on his back, exposing his face.  His hands were up in a defensive position as he readied himself for a fight.

Shall I kill him? Mafortian asked calmly as he studied the face of his frightened opponent. 

Tyreekin put his hand up to stop him.  The cloaked stalker turned his back on Talion and faced the Prince.

I haven’t stretched my muscles in quite some time, Tyreekin joked as his cloak magically untied itself and floated into Mafortian’s hands.  I’ll deal with this one, he threatened. 

Everyone began to whisper as they backed up to give Tyreekin some space.  The thought of seeing the Chaos Prince fight must’ve sobered those from the tavern, because no one seemed to be stumbling or making loud and belligerent sounds. 

Now, see my teacher always told me to allow my enemies a fair fight, Tyreekin said.  I confess I do not always do so.  However, in this moment, I plan to do just that for you.  The man never took his eyes off Tyreekin.  Before we begin, tell me, what is your name and why have you come?  The man didn’t answer right away.

My name is Vladimir Crest. I am one of the defenders of the Crestcon guard and I’m here because I followed him, he said, pointing at Turokoi.  His meeting with you proves my suspicions correct, and I plan to take this information back to the kingdom.

Interesting, Tyreekin smiled.  Did you hear me speak to this man? he asked gesturing toward Turokoi.  Vladimir didn’t respond.  Hmm, in that case, your accusations are false.

I know he met with you, Vladimir yelled.  His presence in this town, knowing the rules, can mean nothing else. 

Tyreekin continued to smile as he looked back at his mysterious subordinate.  He turned back toward Vladimir and his smile faded. 

You seem to know the rules, he said softly. Which means your presence here is just as illegal as his, yes? 

Sensing the change in the situation, Vladimir threw off his cloak.

Are you prepared to give me a fair fight? he asked Tyreekin. 

The Chaos Prince let his smile stretch across his face once more.

Indeed, he said.  However, it won’t be even. 

Not wanting to waste any more time, Vladimir attacked.  He didn’t want to waste any more time.  Killing the Chaos Prince would not only mean the end of a long conflict, but Vladimir would become a hero like so many of his idols before him.  He charged while creating four spears out of thin air, floating above him.  As he approached quickly, one spear shot toward the Prince.  Tyreekin easily dodged it, but he didn’t move far.  Vladimir jumped in the air and small, sharp needles rained down from his hands toward his opponent.  At the same time, two of the three remaining spears jolted forward.  Tyreekin smirked and raised one hand in the air.  As if an invisible barrier appeared above his head to protect him, all the needles were deflected with no problem.  He raised his other hand and pointed at one of the spears, causing it to evaporate and then ducked under the other one. 

Gotcha, Vladimir said as he landed behind the Prince. 

He caught the spear that Tyreekin just dodged and as Tyreekin spun around, Vladimir plunged the spear right through the Chaos Prince’s chest.  The Prince fell to his knees, wide eyed and gasping for air as the blood rushed from his body.  The crowd fell silent and Mafortian stumbled back, dropping Tyreekin’s cloak.  Baron was prepared to attack, but shock immobilized him.  Vladimir turned and looked at all the shocked faces as Tyreekin fell by his side, dead.  Vladimir felt power surge through his body.  If he could kill the Prince, no one here could stop him.  Then everything changed.  The entire crowd began to disappear, one by one.  Vladimir turned and saw Tyreekin’s body lying lifeless, but he couldn’t understand what was happening.  Why had the crowd vanished into thin air?  Where were Mafortian and Baron and Tyreekin’s lackey? 

He wiped his eyes, and when he reopened them, Tyreekin was once again standing in front of him, with Talion at his back.  Fear sunk in like a fog creeping into the woods.  Vladimir noticed that Tyreekin had never moved from the moment he took his cloak off.  Mafortian still held the cloak and the crowd was still whispering.

So that is how you thought the battle would go, huh? Tyreekin said with a chuckle. 

The crowd burst into nervous laughter.

I don’t understand, Vladimir said, searching for answers around him.

It’s simple really, the Prince said.  Your mind was well guarded before the fight began.  I’ll give you that.  Yet, it is clear your training hasn’t progressed very far.  Blame Demetrius.  Once the battle began, it was all too easy to enter your thoughts.  I watched as you let the battle unfold in your mind, but to no avail. 

Vladimir’s eyes widened, as he glared at Tyreekin. 

How? he said, still staring at the Prince. 

You see I was in your mind from the moment you charged, Tyreekin said.  I allowed you to believe the fight was still continuing, but in fact, I already had you beat.  My mentor used this style of fighting and it’s something I haven’t used in a very long time.  You, however, presented the perfect opportunity for me to practice.  I believe I did well for my first time out in a while. 

Tyreekin looked to Mafortian and Baron for approval, as they both nodded in unison.

You’re a monster, Vladimir screamed.

I’ve heard that before, the Prince assured him.  Now you know the rules: Imprisonment to those who break them, torture to those who bend them, eternal life to those who abide by them and death to those who ignore them.  Seeing as you know the rules, I’d say it’s pretty clear what your punishment ought to be. 

Vladimir didn’t wait for Tyreekin to continue talking.  He started to charge, but just as quickly as he took that first step, a spear forced itself through his back and into the ground, impaling him.  He coughed up blood as the realization came upon him.  He was done.  Tyreekin casually walked toward him and tilted his head upward.

You are hereby sentenced to death, Tyreekin said as he touched his fingers to Vladimir’s head. 

The Prince entered his victim’s mind for a split second and then let his head drop, all life completely left from his body. 

He followed you of his own volition, Tyreekin said to Turokoi.  Your cover is still intact. 

Mafortian turned and waved his hand.  The entire crowd went back into the tavern, returning to their drunken state.  The Prince’s servant walked up and looked at the body before turning to his master. 

I knew this guy, he said.  He was a promising wielder.  Too bad. 

Don’t let anyone follow you again, Tyreekin ordered. 

Mafortian made his way over, as did Talion and Baron. 

Listen closely, the Prince instructed.  We have a very hard road ahead of us, but it will all come together perfectly, if we remain sharp and focused.  You know your job, he said to Turokoi.  Make sure you find what I need, he commanded and turned toward Talion with instructions, You know what must be done, he said. 

The younger Bloodworthy brother shook his head in the affirmative and then, in an instant vanished into thin air.  Tyreekin then turned toward Mafortian. 

Find her, he demanded.  Without her, this plan will never work.  Her role is vital to our success.  Mafortian nodded.  Let this night be a reminder that we are far from our goal and any slip ups can cost us dearly.  In the meantime, I must return home to work on closing the exits.  When the moment arrives, there won’t be enough time for them to get out. 

With that, Tyreekin turned and walked away with Baron close in toe.  Mafortian headed in the other direction.  Turokoi remained until they were out of sight, then he too turned and vanished seconds later.

CHAPTER 1

Bart slid under the fireball with ease, due to the snow covering the ground.  He then hopped up and called upon the wind and it came to his aid easier than ever, charging toward his opponent at full force.  Jonah leapt out of the way just in time.  Continuing with his attack, Jonah created a giant chain and he shot one end toward Bart while planting the other end firmly in the ground. 

Bart was still shocked by Jonah’s ability to get out of the way of the wind, causing him to be wrapped in the chain and lugged toward Jonah who was airborne.  Jonah came crashing down, but Bart gathered his wits quickly enough to form an igloo from the snow that was piled on the ground around him.  Simultaneously, he used one of his favorite tricks to cover the chains in the snow and then turned them into ice allowing himself to break free. 

He waited patiently inside the snow dome for his opponent’s next move.  Then the heat began to set in as Bart realized Jonah was setting the outside of the dome ablaze.  Acting swiftly, Bart created a tunnel under the dome that led him directly behind Jonah.  Capitalizing on his new advantage, Bart called forth the wind once again, this time splitting it in two. Bart brought the wind down from above and head on like he’d done six months ago when he fought Beatrice in the woods.  With Jonah’s back turned, Bart now knew he had him.

All over now buddy, Bart snickered.  Then, as if he knew all along, Jonah turned and faced Bart. In one swift move, Jonah broke apart the flaming dome into a pile of rocks on fire.  Just as quickly, he used one hand to shoot them all toward Bart. Using the ice that Bart created with the chain, Jonah created a shield above his head and then reinforced it with pillars that shot from the ground. 

Bart was stunned.  His wind broke on the protective ice barrier while the other half of the wind blew out the fire on the rocks without slowing their progress.  To avoid being pummeled by giant stones, Bart dove out of the way.  Before he could collect himself, Jonah was right in front of him.  The punch came so fast that Bart could do nothing but accept it.  In a matter of seconds, he was on his back with Jonah right on top of him, fist cocked, ready for one more punch.

Enough, Demetrius announced.  Bart had come up short and Jonah just smiled as he let his fist drop to his side.

You’ve gotten a lot better in such a short time, Jonah said while helping Bart up.  Soon I’ll have to give it my best.  Bart sighed. 

The fact that he’d come so close to beating Jonah was something to be proud of, but if he wasn’t even fighting at his best, what progress had Bart really made?  He’d been practicing for so long against Jonah and still hadn’t won a single match.

Yeah well, I don’t know how soon that will be, Bart said, dusting himself off. 

Bart did believe he’d made significant progress, but beating Jonah had been his objective for the past six months and he still didn’t feel any closer to that goal.  He’d won on occasion against his uncle Caleb, but defeating him wasn’t a huge reward.  His uncle didn’t train as often as he had in the past.

Quite impressive, Demetrius proclaimed as he approached the two fighters.  You’ve definitely started to gain some battle savvy.

Tell that to Jonah, Bart replied rubbing his throbbing cheek.

Ah no worries Bart, it takes time, Jonah laughed, patting him on the back. 

He’s right, Demetrius added.  We’re all impressed with how far you’ve come.  It’s remarkable that you have been able to comprehend and utilize the wind to the level that you have so far.  Bart nodded, but it didn’t make him feel any better.  He wanted to be good enough to face Jonah at his best.  Until then, he would doubt himself. 

Demetrius stared at him for a few seconds, more than likely reading his mind.

Jonah, go inside. I’m going to take a walk with Bart, he said. 

Jonah nodded and turned to go inside the castle.  When he was out of sight, Demetrius turned toward Bart with a smile. Walk with me, he insisted. 

Bart smiled and obliged his friend. They walked in silence for a few minutes before reaching the front of the castle. 

So, how’s your mother? Demetrius asked.

Good, I guess, Bart shrugged.  She’s finally comfortable living in the town.  I’ve told her, at least a hundred times, that she can stay in the castle, but she prefers to live away from all the politics of Zathyan war. 

Well, I don’t blame her at all, Demetrius, laughed. The politics in that castle can be very tiresome.  Not to worry, I’m sure she’s happy where she is.

I think she’d be happiest if I stayed with her, Bart acknowledged. 

Bart’s mom had chosen to let him stay in the castle to further his training.  She felt as though he needed to prepare for his role as a future king and that the best place for him was there in the castle, among his mentors.

I expect that the decision she made was in your best interest, Demetrius said, adding, Besides, she knows how important your training is now.  Hearing that made Bart happy.  It had only been seven months since he discovered he wasn’t fully human. He was, as those in Zathya labeled him, a new one.  He had been living a lie for the first fifteen years of his life. His mother had kept the truth from him every step of the way. 

Of course it was for good reason, but that didn’t change the fact that Bart was hurt when everything came to light.  When his father died, everything changed.  His mom didn’t have to go along with what Demetrius and the Queen wanted.  She could’ve made life extremely difficult for Bart if she had continued to oppose his training.  For her to recognize the truth and embrace it, was a huge motivator for Bart.  It helped him become more dedicated.  Yet, through all of his dedication, he still felt like he wasn’t where he needed to be.

Anna believes in you, Demetrius assured him.  She believes you have everything needed to become a bold and caring leader.  With that belief, should come courage. 

As they neared the gate that led off the castle grounds into Crestcon village, they stopped walking.

I see in you, a huge amount of courage, however, you lack faith in yourself. 

Bart seemed confused.  He’d thought being courageous meant having a certain level of faith. 

You are as brave as they come, but you do not believe you have what it takes to reach the next level.  You would run into a fight to save your loved ones in a heartbeat, yet, you worry that you can’t reach new heights in terms of your skills. Your bravery, therefore, is unfortunately wasted.  If you do not become honest with yourself, and believe in what you are capable of, you will forever be stuck at a level of mediocrity.  Albeit, brave mediocrity. 

As much as Bart hated hearing it, Demetrius was right.  Bart didn’t fully believe in himself.  Every confrontation he’d had since he arriving in Zathya made him feel lucky, not skillful.  He’d barely made it away from his own house all those months ago when everything began.  If it hadn’t been for Victoria and Jester coming to the rescue, he, his mom, his uncle Caleb and maybe even Jonah and Charlotte’s dad would’ve died that day.  It seemed that every single time he was faced with adversity, he was either saved or lucky. 

At the house where their cover had been blown, Bart made it out, thanks to Victoria’s valiant efforts to save him and Charlotte. And not once, but twice, he’d been saved by Angelo, the man who’d betrayed his father.  Even Demetrius had saved him when he was face-to-face with his cousin Tyreekin, the Chaos Prince. The only time he made it out on his own merits was when Mafortian’s thugs attacked him and Charlotte in the woods, only to be saved later by a teenager named Leo, who Bart never liked. This led to some of Bart’s doubts in his own abilities.

If you’re going to become the great leader and wielder we all know you can be, you must believe in yourself, Demetrius continued.  Believe that what you dream is possible. Work hard, stay focused and you’ll achieve it.  Bart took a deep breath.

You’re right, sir, he admitted.  I’ll definitely work on it. 

Demetrius smiled again and turned toward the castle gate.

That’s all we can ask for, he said.  Say hello to your mother for me.  He then gestured toward the guards to open the gates. 

Speaking with Demetrius made him feel somewhat better about himself and his abilities. He always seemed to know what to say. Over the past few months, he and Demetrius had grown very close. He thought of him almost as a father figure. They trained at least five times a week and Demetrius had become Bart’s mentor. Learning from him was what Bart needed and, under his tutelage, he’d thrived. Demetrius was a phenomenal teacher who knew quite a bit about everything and Bart felt extremely lucky to have him as his teacher.

Bart headed for his mom’s house in the heart of the village.  It was their dinner night, which they had agreed to have twice a week just to stay relevant in each other’s lives.  It also helped them to adjust to their new situations better.  Being away from home was already an adjustment, and training and learning about his new world had taken its own toll.  Not to mention the fact that he was being groomed to become a king.  It was all so much to take in.

As he made his way through the town, he noticed four people walking toward him.  He’d seen these individuals a few times in the past few months, perhaps at the Crestcon Academy where they all lived and trained together.

The school was located in the castle and appeared much bigger than Bart had ever imagined. There was an entire wing of the castle dedicated to the Academy’s students and teachers.  That’s where most of the classes were held and all the living quarters.

The entire castle grounds resembled a college campus.  Bart still hadn’t explored all the buildings, which were mostly located behind the castle itself.  He had wanted to attend the academy too but not just for training.  He at wanted to also make new friends.  His best friend in the world was off becoming some great wielder of the light.  Bart felt alone more often than he was ready to admit. 

In any case, the castle was indeed where he recognized the four kids.  In the front of the pack was a short girl with medium brown skin and long red hair.  She was laughing as she walked. 

Behind her, to the right, was another girl, who was significantly bigger with pale skin and black hair. 

Right next to the second girl was a small-framed guy who looked just like the pale skinned tall girl.

Following behind them all was a huge guy, who Bart figured was at least six feet tall, with light brown skin, like the girl in front, and he was bald. 

Bart stood completely still as they passed.  All of them, except the redheaded girl in front, ignored him.  She glanced over and gave him a smile before continuing on with the group toward the castle gates. 

I’ve seen them around before, Anna Nelson said as she came out of her house.  Bart was startled by his mom’s sudden appearance.  Didn’t mean to scare you, she laughed.

You didn’t scare me, mom, Bart assured her as he entered the house.  She followed closely behind him.

How was training today? she asked as she hugged her son.  He let out a sigh as he dropped into the chair by the dinner table.  Did you learn a lot? she asked politely.  Bart chuckled at the question.

If getting beat up again after Jonah considered himself taking it easy on you is learning, well then yes, I had a good lesson today, Bart responded, rubbing his cheek in the spot where Jonah’s fist had connected.  It brought back memories of the first time Jonah punched him, the same night Charlotte was kidnapped by Talion Bloodworthy, one of Mafortian’s brothers.  That night was one of the scariest of Bart’s life.  He tried to block it out of his mind and to only remember Char’s rescue instead.  Jonah had to knock him out to stop him from trying to go after Talion by himself.

Aw, I’m sure you are getting better sweetheart, Anna said while placing a plate of food in front of her son. 

Bart enjoyed the dishes his mother made from homemade recipes, which helped with his occasional homesickness.  She also returned to their house to gather familiar things to make this Zathyan house feel more like home.  Pictures of his friends and family at different events, the table the her father had built from scratch that Bart nearly broke one time, and even his favorite couch were just a few things that she retrieved from Dorman Falls. 

She made sure to bring some of Bart’s school pictures too.  Sometimes, it was good to see old photos with Charlotte, Stacey and his old gang. 

It takes time, love, his mother continued.  Your father wasn’t considered skilled right away.  Bart sat up straight at the mention of his father keenly aware that his mother didn’t like talking about him.  It was still hard for her, knowing he’d died without the two of them ever reconciling. 

How long did it take dad to excel? Bart asked. 

His mom sat across the table from him and smiled, staring off into the distance, considering how she might start. 

Your father was always trying to find a shortcut in doing things, she said.  You see, his cousin Lazarus was a phenomenal wielder. 

Bart instantly recognized the name Lazarus Thyasis as the son of Castien Thrack and Princess Natasha Thyasis. He and Natalie Thrack, Zathya’s current queen and Bart’s cousin, overthrew Castien Thrack, Lazarus’ father.  The defeat had carved a path for Lazarus to become king of Zathya.  From everything Bart had heard, Lazarus was a great king during his short reign.

Yeah, I’ve heard the stories about King Lazarus, Bart said. 

Yes, well they’re true, Anna added.  I’ve seen his skill first hand.  He was miraculous, to say the least.

Was he better than Demetrius? Bart asked.  Bart was always curious to learn about legendary wielders.  His goal was to become one of the best around. To do that, he had to study the great ones who came before him. Tovram Yessiah, Turin Anaclime and Castien Thrack were the three most powerful, non-majestic wielders in Zathyan history, not only for their wielding skills, but for their intellect.  Bart was intent on becoming better than all three, in all skill areas.

Now there weren’t too many people I’ve ever known who were better than Demetrius, his mom said.  That just made Bart admire Demetrius even more.  Nevertheless, Lazarus was good.  Your father looked up to him, even though Lazarus was slightly younger.  Lazarus helped Alexander become a much better wielder.  It wasn’t until your father was nearly 20 years old that he really started to come into his own as a wielder.  You’re only 15. You’ll be 16 in three months.  For you to be as good as you are now is remarkable. 

Bart had no choice but to feel good about this.  If his father was as good as he had heard, then Bart must be on the right track.  He figured that a five-year advantage had to be a good sign.

Yeah, I guess everyone is right, he said. 

Just don’t give up honey and you’ll be great in no time. 

Bart smiled and placed his hand over the necklace he always wore around his neck.  It was the only thing his father had left him.  Sometimes it would glow a dull blue, but that wasn’t often, and Bart wasn’t too sure why it did.  Having it made him feel a little closer to his dad.  His mom and Demetrius were right.  He just had to keep up the good work and eventually he would be able to take Jonah on at full force. 

Just don’t give up, Bart whispered to himself.

CHAPTER 2

As his eyes opened , Bart realized he must’ve fallen asleep in his mom’s house.  He sat up and stretched as the moonlight bled through the window of the living space.  Looking around, he noticed his mom had already gone to her room and fallen asleep.

How long have I been out? he said aloud as he slowly stood to his feet. He walked to his mother’s room and watched her for a moment as she slept peacefully.  He closed the bedroom door quietly so he wouldn’t wake her, and left the house.  He walked back to the castle following a path blanketed with snow and illuminated by a full moon that shown brighter this night than any he’d ever seen. 

The night was so quiet that he could hear the snow crunch underneath his feet.  It seemed that everyone had retired for the night.  He stopped for a while and looked up at the night sky, which was as clear as he’d ever seen.  Even when he was a young boy and his mother took him on a vacation to the Midwest, the skies never seemed to have this many stars.  If Van Gogh had seen this night sky, Starry Night would have been an entirely different painting.

I wonder what Charlotte is doing now, Bart pondered.  Charlotte was his best friend.  She had left Crestcon six months ago and he missed her.  He didn’t even get to see her for her birthday.  She was always there for him and they were never apart this long. Being in this new place without her was difficult. He reminded himself that he could survive the separation from his friend as long as he remained focused on his training. He was anxious to see how she had progressed in her training. As he approached the gate to the castle, the guards on duty stopped him.

Who are you? demanded one of them.  Bart didn’t recognize him. He seemed young, unusually nervous, and probably new at the post.

That’s Bartholomew Nelson, ya moron! yelled his supervisor to cover his embarrassment at not having trained the recruit well enough to recognize the heir to Zathya’s throne. 

The heir to the throne? the wide-eyed recruit replied, obviously embarrassed at being called out by his supervisor. Bart tried not to laugh at the young man’s mistake as he brushed past him.

S- sorry Mr. Nelson, he stuttered.

Trying to get fired on the first day, one guard said to admonish the other as Bart walked away.  Bart decided that he wasn’t tired enough to go to sleep yet so he headed to the training grounds.

It’s never too late to train, he said.  He made his way to the training grounds through some of the buildings where the younger students trained and arrived at one of his favorite spots.  The grounds, however, were already being used for practice by Jester Bloodworthy, the queen Natalie Thrack, and Bart’s uncle Caleb.  Bart had always known him by his hidden name, Caleb Ellis Johnson.  It wasn’t until he met Caleb’s adopted son Jonah that he found out who he really was.  Bart had seen Jester practice from time to time and he’d even faced his uncle several times a month when Jonah was away. 

He’d never seen the queen spar, though.  In all his time in Zathya, the Queen was either busy discussing battle strategy with her council or she was somewhere with Demetrius. The war that everyone said wasn’t really yet a war occupied a lot of her time.  Sometimes the queen and Bart would meet to just talk and catch up, but not too often.  He hid behind one of the trees and watched intently as the three of them prepared to spar.  Seeing this battle meant, that after today, the only high-level-wielder he wouldn’t have seen spar would be Demetrius himself.  A chance to watch high-level-wielding like that which was about to happen was too good for Bart to avoid.

Everyone remembers the rules, correct? the queen asked as she took a few steps back.  Jester laughed and Uncle Caleb smiled at the mere suggestion that they wouldn’t remember.

I’m a little rusty, so please go easy on me, Caleb requested. 

It’s two on one, wimp, Jester challenged as he looked in Caleb’s direction.  We should be taking it easy on her.  The queen smiled, signaling her approval with Jester’s suggestion.  Caleb rolled his eyes. 

I love your confidence, Jester, she said.  However, your partner here is not your sister.  I think you should give it your all if you want to win.  Bart couldn’t believe they were both going to fight the queen at the same time.  He had heard that she was talented, but he wasn’t convinced she was good enough to beat these two men.  Jester was an amazing wielder.  He wasn’t as good as his sister Victoria, but he was still one of the best in the kingdom.  He alone would have been a challenge for Queen Natalie.

If you say so, Jester said as he stretched.  Caleb removed his glasses and got into his battle stance.

Begin, Natalie demanded. Jester wasted no time getting the battle started. He charged ahead, his hands engulfed in flames.  Caleb took a deep breath and then, in a single motion, jumped in the air and landed behind the queen.  Natalie knew that she was in a compromising position, but she didn’t look worried.  She took one step back and closed her eyes.  Jester was closing in and it looked like the fight would be a lot shorter than anyone had anticipated.  Caleb shot his hands forward, creating a tidal wave of ice from the snow on the ground and charged toward the queen.  Queen Natalie opened her eyes and noticed that things had suddenly changed.  She turned to face the giant wall of ice and snow bearing down on her and charged it flinging thousands of tiny knives toward Jester, who easily dodged them while firing flames from his hands at the queen.  Before the fire could reach her, Natalie jumped directly into the wall of snow, exiting on the other side. The snow hardened and bonded to her body creating a beautiful, white suit of protection that shined in the moonlight.  The wall of snow fell to the ground and Jester leapt toward the queen who was closing in on Caleb.  Caleb slid out of the way of Natalie’s punch and turned to face her only to be caught with a kick in the chin, sending him flying about five feet. 

Nice shot, Caleb said, returning to his feet.  Jester jumped in front of the queen and the two of them engaged in hand-to-hand combat, except Jester’s hands were on fire.  The queen dodged what would’ve been a devastating blow and then did a backflip while almost landing a kick on Jester’s cheek.  Jester charged, trying to make sure to not give the queen any time to rest. 

Caleb then summoned the wind.  He noticed that it took his uncle a bit longer to call the wind to his aid than it had taken Bart.  Queen Natalie looked as though she was having trouble avoiding Jester’s flaming hands when the wind finally answered Caleb’s call.  The wind charged toward the queen.  She noticed it and jumped in the air, but it was too late to avoid it.  Bart was sure she’d get blasted when, unexpectedly, a ton of bricks appeared out of nowhere and encased the queen in a dome.  The wind crashed into the dome and exploding it and throwing the queen from it.  She somehow managed to regain her wits in time to land on her feet only to be punched right in the chest by Jester who had charged while she was airborne.  If it weren’t for the armor, she surely would’ve been killed.  The armor acted as a safety net for her and she flew out of it, landing on her back.  The armor turned back to snow and melted around Jester’s fist.  Queen Natalie slowly rose to her feet and wiped a tiny bit of blood from her mouth. 

Bart took a step, prepared to run to her aid, but he stopped himself.

Time to turn it up I see, she said with a smirk. 

Haven’t had enough yet, my lady? Jester said, obviously mocking