by Adam Drake
Livio had been making his morning trek to the well, lost in thought and contemplating the growing miseries of the kingdom, when he crested a hill and saw it. He stopped in his tracks and gaped in wonder.
The western wall.
It shouldn't be here, he thought. It's moved closer.
Livio's eyes scanned down the wall's great height to the grassy field at its base. The well had been in the middle of that field and now the way to it was blocked.
If he had to guess, the well was a good hundred paces or more behind where the wall now sat.
Yesterday, this wall lined the mountain range that defined the western edge of the valley. Now it was here in the valley plain itself. Three leagues distance traveled in one day. How was that even possible?
It will be at castle hill by tomorrow and then what?
Livio dropped the buckets he'd been carrying, icy fear washing through his body. He had to tell Saif, and quickly.
Turning away from the towering thing he hurried back down the grassy hill toward the kingdom's main road. It meandered from north to south through the center of the valley, occasionally revealing faded side roads or riding paths which now all went nowhere. Other than the main road everything else was blocked off as the walls squeezed in.
He followed the road northward toward camp, in the direction of the sea. The morning sun winked at him through the forest canopy to the east. A dull thudding sound carried through the trees. Jace was cutting wood as he always did. The hope had been to build some proper homes for future residents of their failing kingdom. But what good was that now if no one could even get in?
His mind raced with panicked thoughts. They could build a boat instead of more sad little houses and sail away to safety. With the rest of the valley encircled by walls, north was the only direction unobstructed.
But how long until even that last avenue of escape is denied them?
Like the rest of the few remaining residents Livio could not understand what was happening. Two weeks prior, the walls simply appeared at the furthest edges of the kingdom. And each day the immense structures moved inward from all sides passing over towns and villages.
What happened to the people inside those places? Did they simply go to sleep one night with the wall on one side of them, to wake up the next morning to find it on the other?
Some whispered they thought those people were gone. In fact, everything behind the walls was gone. The entire world had vanished, and all that was left was this pathetic little kingdom, shrinking smaller and smaller.
He huffed along the road as fast as his tired legs could move. He passed empty shacks and huts along the way, a stark reminder of the valley's other strange problem: people simply disappeared. It was thought a few were caught on the other side of the walls when they moved. But that could not account for all the missing.
The other day, Livio had helped George, a local farmer, build a pen to keep his cows from wandering into the lower valley where they could be eaten by trench lizards. When Livio returned the next morning to finish the work, George and his cows were gone. Morning cook fire still burning, the gate on the pen closed and securely fastened. He had searched for hours, but found nothing. No sign of struggle or hint as to what befell the poor farmer and his stock.
When folks tried to explain these disappearances, a word would inevitably bubble up in their conversations. A word so abhorrent and foul it was never usually spoken unless under the influence of one of Fumi's more potent alcoholic concoctions.
Deletion.
As Livio followed an elbow bend in the road, he caught a glimpse of the wall to the west through the trees, slicing through the lowland forests and stretching northward.
A chill ran up his spine at the sight of it. There was another bizarre trait the walls possessed that only added to the rumor they were the creation of some dark magic. They did not cast shadows. None. It was as if they weren't even there. An elaborate illusion placed here to thwart a rational mind.
But they were as solid as stone and completely immune to any attempts to break through them, magical or otherwise.
It had to be greater magic at work. Yet, how was that even possible?
Sure, the world was filled with fantastic things, he'd seen that himself. But nothing even came close to this.
Had they angered the Gods? Was this punishment for what happened before?
He shook his head with frustration. The answers were beyond him. It had never been his place to even consider such things. He was just a Castellan after all. Well, he would be one officially if the kingdom had an actual castle. He'd hoped one would eventually be built once a king had chosen to lead them. But with the walls closing in, it looked like that would never happen now.
Finally, he arrived at the camp at the base of castle hill (the one with no castle) and ran into its center space, looking frantically about. Only one other person was here amongst the tents and lean-tos.
Fumi was hunched over a table using a hand axe to chop a skinned rat into small bite-sized pieces. As Livio appeared she looked to his hands and glared at him. “Did you forget to bring the water, again?”
“No,” Livio said panting. He stopped to catch his breath, resting his hands on his knees. “Where's Saif?”
“How are we going to boil rats then without water?” the cook said. “Can't eat rat unless it's good and boiled. Makes the flesh less chewy.”
The thought of eating more rat made Livio sick to his stomach. But ever since the walls appeared, and halted all trade in and out of the kingdom, food stocks dwindled quickly. And even the wild game started to vanish. Now they had been reduced to eating the only easy meat source left in the entire valley. Rats.
Livio shook his head and pointed. “The western wall! It's past the well, now!”
Fumi's eyebrows beetled on her forehead at this revelation. “So you're saying there's no water for boiling rats. Is that it? Why don't you go see if there is anything left in the rain drums?”
Not wanting to get into another losing argument with the old woman Livio persisted. “Where has Saif gone to? I have to tell him.”
Fumi spat on the ground and wiped her face with her apron. “I think he's back up on the cliffs, still contemplating jumping. I wish he'd get it over and done with. We could use a new Sage. What good's a Sage if he ain't got any answers to our problems?”
But Livio was already running, following the road through the camp to the north.
“Tell him we're having unboiled rat for breakfast!” Fumi called after him.
He raced along the road as it slowly dipped toward the sea. Instead of following it down to the shoreline he left the road and went eastward to the cliffs.
Saif had been coming here daily now for over a week. Without a king to lead them he'd become the acting steward of the kingdom. Normally, a Sage would only council a king and, at times, act as his proxy when the king was off adventuring. The Sage was the person others could go to for guidance or answers.
But Saif did not have answers for what had befallen them. He barely could comprehend the questions. And who could? Other than the Gods, of course. Where had these walls come from? Who made them? What was going to happen? What should they do?
The pressure became immense. Each unanswered question a heavy stone placed on the Sage's shoulders. One that had to be carried on until he had an answer to remove it. But the answers never came.
Livio was relieved to see Saif standing near the cliff's edge. Each time Livio had come to give him more bad news he worried the Sage would no longer be there, dashed on the jagged rocks below. He felt guilty adding to the wiseman's misery, but who else was there to tell?
As he approached, he noticed Saif was facing the direction of the sea beyond the cliff, head bowed, eyes closed. Was he praying? Livio stopped and waited, unsure if he should interrupt. He shifted from foot to foot, nervous.
Then he saw something past the sea, far in the distance and his heart sank.
Another wall. This one stre
tched from east to west. Although he could not see it, Livio knew this one joined up with the others.
“We're trapped,” Livio said, his lips trembling.
At his words, Saif opened his eyes and looked to him.
Livio was shocked to see the man was crying.
“Livio,” Saif said with a sad smile. “My dear friend. Have you come with more news?”
“Yes, sire,” Livio said.
“Please don't call me that. I've asked you not to. I'm not your king.”
Livio shifted from foot to foot, embarrassed. “Sorry, Sage, I didn't mean offense.”
Saif shook his head. “No need to apologize. Not from you, of all people.”
Livio did not know what to make of this statement, he and the Sage had never been close friends. “The western wall has moved closer. Much closer. It's almost at the road and now blocks the well.”
Saif stared sadly at Livio for a few moments before speaking. “Do you believe in sacrifices, Livio?”
Confused by this odd reaction to his news, Livio said, “I don't understand, Sage. What manner of sacrifice do you mean?”
“One that could potentially save us all. A great sacrifice that might stop the destruction of our kingdom. If such an option existed, would you take it?”
Livio gave the strange question some thought. “I believe whatever option that could save us should be taken, regardless of the cost. Why?”
Saif's smile widened, but it did not lose its sadness. “I have something.”
His hands were cupped before him as if the Sage had caught a fairy which tended to come down to the shore and dance in the ocean spray. He opened his hands. Something glowed white from within his palm.
Livio's eyes widened in shock. “By the Gods! Is that a...” He was afraid to even say the words for fear it would make the object disappear.
“Yes,” Saif said looking upon it. “It is a Grand Gemstone of Summoning.”
The jewel was the size of a japper fish, but more beautiful. White in color, its faceted design was shaped like a teardrop. Its translucence made it appear ghostly, like a dream.
“Where did you get it?” Livio asked in amazement.
“What if I told you that my prayers had finally been answered? That Aggu'sun, herself, came out of the sea to give it to me?”
Livio blinked in disbelief. Aggu'sun? One of the greater gods? He gave a fearful glance at the sea beyond the cliff. Its waters roiled angrily as they always did. These waters had been the bane of any sea faring trade for the kingdom and could not be tamed other than by the largest of ships. But few ever did.
To Livio's relief, he did not see a great black dragon frolicking in its waves or rushing toward them. If Aggu'sun had been here, she had returned to its dark depths.
Livio looked at Saif. The Sage was still crying, his face a strange mix of joy and sadness. If the wiseman believed that the gemstone had been given to him by one of the gods, then who was Livio to tell him otherwise? Besides, he had the summoning stone in his hand!
“I would say it's about time,” Livio said with a smile.
Saif laughed and wiped a hand across his face. “Ah, Livio. I am so glad to hear you say that. But with the walls closing in we haven't much time.”
“The dais?” Livio whispered.
The Sage nodded. “Will you come with me and help me with the summoning?”
“Of course, Sage,” Livio said with a hint of pride. To take part in a summoning was unheard of. And here he was asked to help! Wait until he told Fumi, she would be beyond jealous.
“Come then,” Saif said, waving for Livio to follow. They walked together in the direction of the dais, side by side. After a few moments, Saif placed a hand on Livio's shoulder. “You are a good man, Livio. Have I told you that before?”
“No, Sage,” Livio said. In fact, Saif would often curse him when he made a mistake or spoiled an undertaking which was a common occurrence. The Sage was never cruel about it, just disappointed. Which made his praise of him now all the more important to Livio.
“Well, it's true. You are a good man. And one I will always hold in my prayers.”
Livio nodded with mild embarrassment. “Thank you, Sage.” Were they friends now? Did this mean he would no longer be cursed out?
The dais sat recessed within a rocky outcropping near the cliffs. As they approached Livio felt a sense of awe at the place. This was where the summoning would begin. Hallowed and sacred. It was from here that the kingdom might be saved.
The two men entered the recess and looked at the dais. A wide circular stone, like a table, sat up at a tilted angle facing them. Across its flat surface was a stylized carving of a black dragon. Aggu'sun.
Livio had only been here once before, simply out of curiosity. It was forbidden to be near the dais. But now he had been asked. His pride grew.
“Please, stand over there, would you?” Saif said.
Livio did as he was told and moved to a spot next to the raised section of the dais.
Saif held the gemstone in his hands with a reverence only the wisest of men could appreciate. He understood the principles of the summoning and the sacred importance it held. “With this stone, our kingdom will be saved. May the Gods bless us, from above and below.”
“May the Gods bless us, from above and below,” Livio said. He was familiar with the chant, considered lucky by some. He'd been saying it since he was a child. It made his mother laugh with delight each time.
“Please, Livio, could you place your hands on the dais?”
Livio did not notice the change of tone in the Sage's voice, so caught up in being in this sacred place. He placed his hands on the side of dais as if to push at it.
The dais was cool to the touch, but felt alive at the same time. Magic?
“Thank you, my friend,” Saif said. He leaned over and gently placed the gemstone into the empty eye-socket of the dragon. It fit perfectly.
The moment the gemstone clicked into place, the dais grew warm.
Livio gasped and smiled at the sensation. Magic! He was taking part in the grandest of magical ceremonies. Him, Livio. Wait until he told Fumi. He'd be able to rub it in her face for years!
The dais began to glow with a dark effusing light and grew warmer to the touch.
Both men stared at it, mesmerized.
Suddenly, a blue arc of electricity burst from the gemstone and danced across the surface of the dais. Then another. Soon the face of the dais was alive with electrical fire.
Alarmed, Livio tried to pull his hands away, but couldn't. His hands were stuck in place. He looked to Saif for help.
But the Sage didn't move to aid him. Instead, the wiseman simply stood and watched. As if this was exactly what he expected to happen.
Livio remembered Saif's words about sacrifice, and a sense of dread fell upon him.
Electricity traveled up Livio's arms, scorching his flesh and he screamed.
“I'm sorry, Livio,” Saif said loudly, so he could be heard. “But a life must be exchanged for a life. If a king will not choose us, then we must choose him. There is no other way.”
Fear seized Livio, and he struggled to pull away from the dais, but couldn't.
He knew then that he was dying.
As he screamed for the last time and his vision was consumed by electrical flames, a single thought popped into his mind.
Who was going to fetch the water, now?
CHAPTER ONE
“Someone puked in the men's room on the eighth floor. Clean it up, would you?”
Robert Barron looked up from scrubbing a coffee stain from the office kitchen's tiled floor. “Eighth floor?” he said. “That's Scott's floor. I'm nine through eighteen.”
His manager, Mr. Oswald, stood in the kitchen's doorway, frowning down at him. “Scott called in sick, so I'm going to need you to do his rounds as well. Sorry, but there was no time to call in for a relief janitor.” The last was said with dripping sarcasm. There was no relief janitor. Just Rob and Scott.
Rob sat back on his knees, annoyed and disappointed. Double rounds meant twice as much back breaking cleaning. “So, I'll get overtime for this, right?”
Mr. Oswald sniffed. “Sorry, as you're aware the company doesn't compensate employees for working additional hours. Policy. You'll still need to clock out at six, though.”
Anger prickled up Rob's neck. “How am I expected to clean eighteen floors tonight all on my own by six tomorrow? It's impossible.” It was more than impossible, it was insane. An entire eight-hour shift was needed to do his floors alone and that's with skipping lunch and taking shorter breaks.
