A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3) Read Free

he would set in motion such a change that everything would be different. But he warned them also. They would not only lose their evil king, but their kingdom. They would be forced to leave the kingdom, never to return. The very ground that they worked would become a wasteland and poison everything that touched it. The people grew frightened, they worried about their futures. A moment came, the man called together all the various elders. Those who could make the decisions for their communities. He offered his services. A decision must be made. Keep living in darkness and despair or escape to a life full of laughter and freedom. To live on the land of their ancestors or to live the life of their ancestors. He told them a decision had to be made the next day. If they refused his help or failed to make an offer he would be leaving the kingdom to never return.
    The elders deliberated deep into the night. Some were scared, some were excited. Finally they asked the man two simple questions. What payment was he demanding for such a service and how was he going to do what he claimed to be able to do?
    The man stood before the elders and smiled. He declared that he desired no payment for freeing the people. He only wanted them to keep certain promises if he freed them. To live life to the fullest, to bring laughter and cheer to those they lived among, and to always teach their children to cherish the things in life that brought joy and laughter to it.
    The elders were shocked, having expected a large sum of money as the payment.
    He then answered their second question. He would destroy the kingdom in one night. He would destroy the very land that it had laid waste. He would bring such a destructive force down upon the kingdom that nothing would be left but burnt ground and the bones of a destroyed kingdom.
    The elders became more shocked and cried out in fear. Where were they to go if the kingdom was destroyed?
    The man grinned. He explained that the people must flee. That they would take the wagons and packs of their oppressors and leave the kingdom. They would have to seek out new homes and new lands. Or that they could travel the roads the rest of their days, never settling the land again.
    The elders argued more and some despaired that the man's offer would never be taken. Finally the sun rose and touched upon the window.
    A decision must be made, the man demanded. The time had come.
    The oldest elder stood shakingly to his feet. "My time of living is near an end. My life has been hard and I see nothing but my family to show for it. I say that you shall destroy this kingdom. Reduce it to nothing but rubble. We need time to prepare, to flee."
    Each elder stood, some hesitantly, some excited and all but one asking for time and the destruction of the kingdom. The last elder stood. A man strong and bold, he rose to his feet.
    "I have seen many things and heard many more. The ability to destroy a kingdom does not belong to a man. We will stay and see all of you fools abandon what little lives you have to run away. This man promises nothing but more suffering and I will have no part of it, neither will my people." He walked from the room.
    The man stood, "Two weeks is all the time I will give you. Prepare your people in secret. You will have a night to flee. When the moon is dark again you will fill your wagons and packs and leave this kingdom behind. That next day you must avoid all the kingdom's men for the entire day. That night you must be out of the kingdom or suffer the same fate as those bound to the kingdom."
    The next two weeks passed as people secretly packed all their belongings. Carts and wagons were built and loaded in secret, hidden from the kingdom's men. Food was prepared and weapons secured for the flight from their homes. During this time more and more sightings of the man occurred, driving the king into a frenzy. He decried the man an enemy of the state and put a reward out for his capture. It was all for naught.