one has ever said that to me before. We Mordelanders don’t compliment each other.”
“Not even within families?”
“My father and mother never said it,” then her face tightened a bit. “I remember once when I was fourteen. I went out with my hair loose. When I returned, my father angrily said my hair would soon put me in trouble. He never liked it when I wore my hair that way. He always looked at me like I was something cheap and bothersome. Since then I always pack it in a bon or in a ponytail.”
Cealia looked at her. “You have beautiful hair. It goes so well with your eyes.”
Aelia smiled; pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ears. “Has the prince shown up since then?”
Cealia chuckled. “No he hasn’t.” And she was not sure that would be possible anytime soon.
This was the third person Leon was trying for a farmland. His house was on the other side of the city. It appeared news about Leon had travelled round the city because when he got to the house he was looking for, the manservant let him in without asking questions.
Upon stepping into the place, Leon saw a man standing bent over a table and facing him. He looked about fifty years old. Leon couldn’t make out the man’s height since he was bending.
“Have a seat young man.” He pointed at a group of chairs to the side of the door. Leon did as told. And the man left the table and strolled gently towards the chairs. As the man left the table, Leon observed that he was still bending. He tried not to act surprised at the sight. The man was very oddly bent when he came out into full view.
It seemed he knew what Leon was thinking; for the man announced. “I have a burden on my back.”
Leon was embarrassed that he had not done a good job of hiding his surprise. Leon had heard of the man from one of the farmers outside the city. He was told the man’s name was Paka. The farmer had told him that Paka sold land at cheap prices.
“I’ve heard about you young man. You are the foreigner they call Leon,” he paused a little. “Can your powers remove this burden from my back?”
Leon did not plan for this. He only came to buy a land. But he schooled himself and replied. “I am not the source. I am only a channel. The power actually comes from my Father. And yes that burden can be lifted.”
FIFTEEN
MORE DAYS PASSED and more news travelled around the little land of Mordelan. Unknown to Leon, he had become the subject of a very critical discussion happening in one of the most important places in Mordelan—the chamber of the High Council.
“I told you that there was something strange about that foreigner. He may be just one man but it seems like he came with an army. His presence is affecting this land subtly but surely.” Councilman Kin spoke gruffly as he rubbed his full grey beard.
Councilman Gaard added. “I heard a while ago that the innkeeper Ivo no longer walks with his stick.”
“That’s not it,” another council man put in. “I heard that the burden on Paka the landowner’s back has lifted.”
Upon hearing this they all fell silent. Each knowing what that meant.
It took a while but someone finally spoke up. “These events don’t so much concern me as the fact that the people may begin to receive another idea about how they may live their lives. Once they begin interacting with him, their reasoning will change and they would not want the kind of life we afford them.”
Council man Kin put in again; this time with more intensity and a somewhat fearful tone. “That foreigner must truly have great powers seeing he was even able to enter Mordelan in the first place. Anyone that can break the curse of gates must be taken very seriously.”
After much deliberation, the council decided that they must find a way to drive him out of the land. And figuring that this foreigner would probably prove stubborn, they decided they may end up needing to eliminate him somehow.
At the end of the meeting all were satisfied except one council man. In fact Council man Eli was very unsettled about the conclusion. And he remained restless all day until he decided that paying the foreigner a visit was the only way he could receive rest. Sure enough, at midnight there was a knock at Leon’s door.
Leon stirred. He’d heard something in his dream. What was that? It was a continuous sound. Leon’s eyes suddenly opened. It wasn’t a dream. Someone was knocking at the door. So late? Who could that be? His wife also woke up when the sound persisted.
“Who’s there?” she whispered.
“I don’t know but I’ll find out. Stay here,” and he was out in a flash. With a lantern in his hand his first point of call was the store behind the kitchen. Leon had never been a weapons person. His eyes travelled through what was there and spotted a thick hard looking stick. He picked that up and taking a deep breath, he headed for the door. He opened it ever so slightly.
“Who goes there?” his voice shook at that moment and he hoped the person outside did not detect it. He studied the silhouette and discovered a man wearing a dark cloak with a hood. By his average height, Leon could tell that he was not the prince.
“I am from the high council. I know this is outlandish to ask but I am begging you to trust me and let me in. I have news that you must know about. You and your family need to move.”
Leon checked. Not with his eyes or with his heart; but with discernment. He felt good about it and opened the door. A plump man rushed in as Leon shone his lantern on his face. He was shaking.
“I am sorry if I frightened you and your family. I must not stay too long. I have put myself at great risk doing this.”
“What is the matter?”
“I am a member of the high council and earlier this morning it was decided that you are gaining too much influence in the land too quickly. They feel threatened that your influence is competing with theirs. And they cannot have that. No, they will not have that. They’ve acquired too much through this method of ruling for you to spoil it. The council has decided that it would be better to try to drive you out now, but I doubt they have the patience to plan that. Since they also decided that they may need to eliminate you at the end.”
The man was almost out of breath when he was through. His fast talking and probably his having to sneak around at this time of night had drained him. He stood silently and stared as Leon stood and stared at the floor.
Then raising his head, he questioned the councilman. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I believe Mordelan needs its beauty and smile again. The stain of our sins is crimson. We need to be clean again. This is not how to live.”
“So what do you suggest I do?”
“Don’t stay within the city. Look for somewhere in the outskirts to stay for now.”
Leon nodded. “Thank you.”
“I must get going. I hope that power that has been helping you will be there for you at this time.” The man turned back just as he was about to leave. “I know someone who tried to do what you are doing for Mordelan. I hope yours turns out differently from his.”
Leon did not know who he was talking about and did not bother to ask. His mind was already very busy. Once the council man had left, he began to strategize. Top on his list was getting his family to safety.
SIXTEEN
IT WAS TOO early in the morning. Leon had packed his family. Cealia informed Sophia that they were moving for a little while so she would not worry. They headed immediately to Ivo’s Inn and arrived there just before dawn.
Agatha was surprised when she saw Leon and his family at the door. Seeing that it must be serious, she opened the door and hurried them in.
“Where is Ivo?” Leon asked.
“He’s upstairs. He’s an early bird so he should be awake already. I’ll go fetch him.”
“Thank you.”
His little Keren was still asleep in her mother’s arms. The other two children were still sleepy as they stood by their father. In some reasonable amount of time Ivo strolled down the stairs. Leon recalled the first time he’d seen Ivo come down the
se same stairs. He had wobbled with a stick. Now he walked down upright and steadily. And now Leon and his family were in trouble because of this. The crafty one had done a good job in this land. But it was not over yet.
“My son,” Ivo greeted. “Are they after you already?”
Leon smiled weakly but said nothing.
The old man turned to Agatha. “Get Haro to move their carriages to the back of the house. No one must know they are here. Do you understand?”
“Yes sir.” she was off in no time.
Then Ivo turned to Cealia and told her to go upstairs with the children. He offered the same room they had stayed in the last time. Cealia knew the way. After planting a gentle kiss on her husband’s cheek, she immediately took their children up.
The two men sat in the living room as soon as Cealia and the children went up. Leon intimated Ivo on exactly what had happened during the night. Ivo listened intently.
“I knew this would happen. That’s why I tried to warn you on your last visit.”
At that moment the last statement the council man made before leaving popped up in Leon’s head.
“The man said something that I did not pay attention to.”
“What’s that?”
“Did someone come to Mordelan before me?”
“What do you mean?”
“He said he knows someone who tried to do what I’m doing for Mordelan and that he hopes mine turns out differently.”
Ivo did not answer. He suddenly had that same expression that Leon could not read. Leon’s eyes narrowed. The