The Heart of a King (A Tale of Faith): Of a King, #2

By Candace Christine Little

Faith. Doubt. Darkness. Light. Betrayal. Redemption. A journey without a map. A kingdom without hope. A thief. A battle. A promise. Secret messages. Clandestine departures. And...oh, yes...lots and lots of singing! Expect to find all this and more in The Heart of a King (A Tale of Faith) by Candace Christine Little. This tale recounts the adventures of Artemerio and Barto as they travel on a long-anticipated but unexpected quest to accomplish...the impossible.

 

The Heart of a King (A Tale of Faith) is the second book in a set of four. The first three books tell the stories of two brothers, and the fourth book tells the story, set many years later, of two important characters from the third book. Each story is complete, however—no cliffhanger endings.

 

Though the books are appropriate for children, they are entertaining enough for adults to enjoy. All the stories involve battles between good and evil, but they are told with a light, family-friendly touch. Looking for a feel-good adventure? Want to escape for a while to an imaginary land? Experience the adventure and the hope in The Heart of a King (A Tale of Faith).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Candace Christine Little
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224989966

Candace Christine Little

Candace Christine Little has a B.A. from Dallas Christian College and a J.D. from Regent University School of Law. She has written six novels. Four are part of one series: The Pursuit of a King (A Tale of Wisdom), The Heart of a King (A Tale of Faith), The Honor of a King (A Tale of Mercy), and The Son of a King (A Tale of Love). Two are part of another: Where Dragons Dwell and Whom Dragons Rule. Candace believes in the power of stories to nourish, to teach, and to inspire, and she is wholeheartedly committed to endings that are happy.

Book preview

The Heart of a King

(A Tale of Faith)

by

Candace Christine Little

Copyright 2011 Candace Christine Little. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1:  A Secret Meeting

Chapter 2:  The Wooden Box

Chapter 3:  Elders of Lagal

Chapter 4:  The Story

Chapter 5:  A Clandestine Departure

Chapter 6:  Wild Waves

Chapter 7:  Only Sand

Chapter 8:  The Bread

Chapter 9:  Imposters

Chapter 10:  Disguises

Chapter 11:  The Royal Guard

Chapter 12:  A Question

Chapter 13:  Doubt

Chapter 14:  The Last Entry

Chapter 15:  Ralo and Milant

Chapter 16:  Fiducia Trees

Chapter 17:  Letters

Chapter 18:  A Shield

Chapter 19:  The Port

Chapter 20:  Darkness

Chapter 21:  The General

Chapter 22:  The Mountain

Chapter 23:  Justice

Chapter 24:  Battle

Chapter 25:  A New Name

Chapter 1:  A Secret Meeting

Light, shining out from the edges of the doors to the throne room, pierced the midnight darkness of the palace hallway and caught my attention. Not quite an hour before, I had set foot in Windsal for the first time in many months, and as much as I was looking forward to the happy reunions a long absence always brings, I was looking forward even more to the incomparable comfort of a good night’s sleep in my own bed. But I found myself drawn to the light, and curiosity triumphed over comfort. I opened one of the doors and peeked in.

My brother, the king, was pacing back and forth in front of the thrones, hands clasped behind his back. I stepped into the room.

King Artemerio, I said.

With a start, Artemerio turned toward me. He strode forward, a smile spreading across his face as he drew near.

Welcome back, Prince Barto, he said. But then, rather than stopping when he reached me, he rushed past, his royal robes flapping wildly around his feet. Follow me, he said over his shoulder. With hardly a pause, he threw open the throne room doors and charged outside, leaving me in stunned silence.

Follow you where? I asked as I caught up with him. You are acting very strangely. And why are you awake at this hour? Has something happened?

He glanced at me, and I could see, even in the dim lamplight, that he was extraordinarily pleased.

I have been waiting, Prince Barto—waiting for answers—waiting for you—and now you have returned. At last!

Oh—it all makes sense to me now. Did someone spot my ship and bring word to you that I would be arriving tonight? Is that why you are awake? Please do not tell me you want to hear a report on the Unconquered Lands at this hour. Ordinarily, I might be persuaded to give such a report. But not tonight. Tonight I could lie down right here on this cold, hard, drafty floor and be sound asleep in minutes. That sounds perfect, in fact. I stopped walking.

Artemerio took a few steps beyond me, but then he stopped and looked back. I received no word of your return. I was not expecting you at all. I am awake because I am having trouble sleeping. I have had trouble sleeping for this entire month. And the Unconquered Lands are the last thing on my mind. We have something much more important to discuss.

I started walking again, alert with concern. What has happened? Are you ill? Perhaps a trip to Lagal—

No, I am not ill. I am perfectly fine in every way, except... He paused and glanced around.

Except?

In almost a whisper, he said, Except that I have had strange dreams. He looked at me and seemed to be studying my reaction to his words.

Strange dreams?

Yes. Very, very strange. He said nothing more, but I had the impression he wanted me to save my questions until we reached whatever destination he had in mind.

A few hallways later, I began to have some idea of where he was taking me, and my guess was proven right when he pushed open the door to the library, crossed the room to a particular bookshelf, and triggered the secret panel behind the bookshelf to open. After grabbing a torch from the library wall, he led the way into the secret room, where the charts and maps of Windsal and of the known world were kept.

Take that map—there, King Artemerio said, pointing. He lit lamps in the room and set his torch in its place.

I unrolled the map that was on the large table in the middle of the room. It was a map of islands I had never seen before.

What is this place? I said.

I do not know where the islands are or what they are called. I have only dreamt of them—but in such detail that I could draw this map.

Have you discussed this with Prince Vestero? Surely in his role as chief of the Royal Guard he has learned—

Prince Vestero says he knows nothing about these islands.

I suggest again to you a trip to Lagal. Perhaps the elders or—

Artemerio shook his head. The map is to be kept a secret. Only you, Queen Folasade, and Prince Vestero are to know for now. He gestured toward a chair and, once the two of us were seated, continued. The Great King has an important quest for me—for us. We are to sail for these islands as soon as the time is right. He paused and looked at me very strangely, as if I were not reacting as he had expected. I was to draw this map exactly as I had seen it in my dreams. And I was to wait for your return. And now you have returned. So...go ahead. Tell me everything. Explain away. I am eager to hear what you know.

I don’t know anything, I said.

That cannot be right. Here—have another look at the map. I am sure you must know something. His tone expressed a surprising level of certainty. He seemed so certain, in fact, that for a moment I wondered if I might actually know the things he expected me to know. But his certainty was not powerful enough to give me answers I simply did not have.

This is the first I have heard of any of this, I said.

He studied my face as if he did not believe me. Then he frowned slightly. So it appears. But Queen Folasade and Prince Vestero have also had strange dreams. You are sure you have had no strange dreams? Perhaps you simply were not paying attention to them. Any little detail may be important. He stared at me expectantly.

I waited a moment before answering, trying to recall anything that might help. I could see how desperate Artemerio was for some small clue. But I had none to give.

Who does not have a strange dream now and then? I said. But I know the difference between dreams that are the bizarre creations of the imagination and disagreeable foods and dreams that are...dreams that feel like they are an answer to a question one has not yet thought to ask. I have not had any of the sort of dreams you are interested in for quite some time—not since I left on this last journey, anyway.

Again he studied my face. Then he frowned a little more deeply. So you have not. An uncomfortable silence followed.

I don’t understand. Why were you so certain I would know something? I said, anxious to learn the reason for his obvious distress.

He raised his downcast eyes and stared at me as he struggled to explain. Everything I have told you has...has come to me in the strange dreams I mentioned...including the part about waiting for your return. Your part has been the first part of it all that could be...that could be tested, and if your part proved true, then—

Then you would take it as a sign that you could trust the rest of it. I see.

Artemerio nodded glumly and looked away.

I am going to make a guess here that the dreams are not keeping you awake, I said. Your doubts and questions about them are.

Artemerio shifted his gaze toward me. Funny...Prince Vestero said much the same thing. And he reminded me of Black Rock Forest and said something about trusting and not seeing and...something...something... He shook his head and waved away the thought. I have forgotten. He says so many things. But Barto, what you do not understand is the tremendous risk involved in this...dreaming. No—I can guess the objection you are about to make. You had those strange dreams, too, before we were sent to solve that riddle. I remember. But without those dreams, we would still have gone on the quest. They were a confirmation, not a call to action. In this case, the dreams are the only reason I have for setting sail for these mysterious islands. So...what if I am wrong about...about everything? The map, the...the secrecy... He paused. I was wrong about you, apparently.

What about Prince Vestero and Queen Folasade? You said they have had dreams, too. I hoped his answer would have a stabilizing effect on both of us. In my desire to make sense of the situation, I had begun to question whether his old longing to be an adventurer was really the source of whatever dreams he had been having. As strongly as I had been affected by his certainty, so I was affected by his doubt. I did not like the back-and-forth feeling at all.

None of our dreams are anything alike. And I am the only one who has seen the map and been told about the quest. I— He stopped speaking and sat still, staring off beyond me. Then he looked at me. "I can’t not do the things I have seen. The dreams will not let go of me, and I cannot let go of them. But there is nothing at all outside of my own thoughts that validates them. I was hoping you... He smiled half-heartedly. You know what I was hoping. But I have kept you awake long enough. You have humored me beyond what kindness demands at such a late hour. I trust I will see you at breakfast? I am eager to hear your stories of the Unconquered Lands."

I will be there, I said, in some ways less concerned about the king’s sleeplessness and in some ways more. I hesitated to leave, but Artemerio turned his attention to a wooden box on a nearby shelf. As he dug through the scrolls inside, I slipped out of the room.

***

Though I slept well following my conversation with King Artemerio, my sleep was punctuated by intrusive images and what seemed to be the same sort of strange dreaming Artemerio had been so curious to hear about. I hurried to the king’s breakfast table with much on my mind the next morning.

To my surprise, I found Artemerio alone. Where is Queen Folasade? And Prince Vestero? I hoped they would join us this morning. I sat at the table and took up my napkin.

Queen Folasade had business to attend to away from the palace, said King Artemerio as he passed me a plate of what looked like raspberries. Here. You must try this. Quite extraordinary. And Prince Vestero may be anywhere—or anyone! His disguises constantly change, and I can never quite keep track of him.

A silver-haired servant with a large wart on his nose appeared at King Artemerio’s side with a tray of various meats and silently served him. His movements were nimble and quick.

I took a bite of the bright crimson fruit Artemerio had handed me, but I did not recognize the taste right away. Only after a few more bites did I say, Patience! You are right. It is unremarkable at first taste, but a short wait yields a most extraordinary flavor. I took a few more bites and waited eagerly for the burst of delicious sweetness.

Pardon me, Prince Barto, said the servant as he moved toward me with the tray of meats. I believe I heard you ask about the whereabouts of Prince Vestero this morning. He is closer than you think, I am sure. Meat? He held the tray just out of reach and made no move to serve me, so I moved closer to him and lifted the serving forks from the tray. But before I could aim the forks toward any portion of the meat, the servant pulled the tray slightly backward and toward himself, as if to discourage my actions.

I am sure I am breaching a number of rules of palace etiquette, but if you will hold the tray still, sir, I am perfectly happy to serve myself, I said.

Meat? he said again.

I hesitated briefly but then aimed the serving forks toward the neatly stacked cold cuts, which were growing more enticing by the minute. But again the servant moved the tray slightly backward.

Meat? he said.

I studied the servant’s expression, but he gave me no clue as to how to proceed. His look was neither reproving nor encouraging. I returned the serving forks to the tray and held my plate toward him.

Yes, I said. The servant did not move. Please? I began to wonder if Artemerio was having him play some sort of joke on me. I glanced at Artemerio, but though he certainly looked amused, he also looked puzzled.

Meat? said the servant.

Oh! No—not yet, thank you, said Artemerio. When the queen returns, he whispered.

The servant nodded almost imperceptibly. Then he bowed and left the room, taking my hopes for the cold cuts with him.

King Artemerio, I must protest, I said. What reason could you possibly have for sending away—

That was Vestero, Artemerio whispered, warning me with his eyes to be silent.

And then I realized the servant had been saying the word meet not meat. That Vestero would go to such trouble to recommend a secret meeting was not surprising; that Artemerio would take one of his elaborate schemes seriously was. I nodded and changed the subject, convinced I should wait until servants would not overhear before I mentioned my dreams.

***

Once King Artemerio and I were in the secret room of maps and charts waiting for the others to arrive, I said, I have some news I think you will want to hear. I had dreams last night about the islands you showed me.

Yes? Artemerio leaned toward me. Tell me everything. Don’t leave out a single— The noise of the secret panel opening silenced him.

Prince Vestero, still wearing the silver-haired wig and the mask with the wart, accompanied Queen Folasade into the room.

In accepting the title of queen, Folasade had left her title of Lady Wisdom behind, but in her presence, the unmistakably lovely fragrance of wisdom hung in the air as a delightful perfume.

King Artemerio stood. He crossed the room, took Queen Folasade’s hand, and kissed it. My Queen, he said, gazing at her adoringly.

The queen curtsied elegantly in response. My King.

Prince Vestero bowed and walked toward the table. If I may be so bold, Your Majesty...we have much to discuss. He pulled out a chair at the table but remained standing, signaling, through his posture and unwavering stare, his intent for the king and queen to join him.

Of course, said Artemerio. He and the queen moved toward the table.

I took my seat. Prince Vestero pulled off the wig and the mask with the wart while King Artemerio and Queen Folasade settled into their chairs.

The Elders of Lagal will be here tomorrow for a secret meeting with the four of us, said Prince Vestero.

The elders? said Artemerio. Coming here? Why? Then he smiled, and excitement lit up his eyes. Do you think it has something to do with the dreams?

I do not know, said Prince Vestero. A Lagalian warrior brought the message, and he did not say. And such an air of secrecy surrounds the whole affair that I am not to share information regarding the time and place of the elders’ arrival even with you. King Artemerio seemed ready to object, but before he could, Prince Vestero said, Your Majesty, I am under orders.

Then of course you must keep your secrets, said Artemerio, somewhat begrudgingly. But then a new thought seemed to