Chapter V: Twenty-Eight Seconds Rushing Down the Stairs
Jarred was running, from the third floor to the chapel. The small time-worn book wobbled under his shirt as he skipped the stairs. His heart was beating fast and his mind was racing with his feet. The guards standing on either side of the square space of the landing, keeping watch for that faithful night, had only a short moment to recognize the young boy, with his long, tangled hair flying around him, as the prince's friend—the king's friend, they would both correct themselves.
I must tell Endon, he had decided when he left the library. I must tell him!
His mind repeated this over and over again as if constantly reminding himself would calm his bursting mind down. There was no time to waste; he was sure, absolutely sure, that what he had concluded was right; that Endon had to wear the Belt of Deltora always; that there was a great threat in keeping it away.
He will wear it. And then he will realize that there is no harm in wearing it at all; what is more, it is absolutely necessary, vital! I will show the book to him. He will understand!
He almost flew over the turn of the stairs to the second floor.
Then Endon would understand that the Rules needed to be revised He would reconsider the rule of keeping away from the outside world. Then Jarred could visit the beautiful city of Del without being afraid of getting punished. He would come back to tell Endon all about it, and he would realize that there is no harm either in going outside the palace zone, walking among the people, talking to them; again, what is more, it is absolutely necessary, vital!
Endon has the power in his grasp now, the power to change wrong traditions. Perhaps he was once a prince that needed to heed his father and his father's advisors; but his word is the final verdict now, no one can talk against his command, not even Prandine. He had a shadow of doubt about that, but he knew that as long as he was by his side, he would keep his friend's eyes open. Even if Prandine had succeeded in bending the late king to his own will, he could not do it to Endon; Jarred would not allow it.
He ran past the small group of courtiers that had stayed in front of the Great Hall to discuss the new king's coronation.
You cannot hold him back from wearing the Belt. Your flawed policies are long expired. Soon, you old fossils will belong only to history, not the court anymore.
Jarred could imagine how their lives would change should the Rules be lifted. As the king's trusted man, he would travel the kingdom to observe and make reports for his king. He would meet the legendary tribes they always read about in school and he would see the wonders their land bred.
Endon and I could travel together, for why not! When he sees that no harm comes from walking the city, then surely there comes no surprising harm in traveling the country.
So much would change. The dull life in the palace would be no more; instead, with the connection to the outer world, life would be as exciting as it could get.
He jumped down the half-circling stairs to the front of the chapel doors. His heart was full and his head, brimmed with ambitious ideas. A new era was going to start right from this day. And so it was that he threw open the doors wildly, without giving it a second thought.