by Adam Drake
Kingdom Level Four
(Kingdom Series Book 4)
by
Adam Drake
Copyright © 2018 Adam Drake
Table of Contents
Kingdom Level Four
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Kingdom Level Four
Kingdom Building 101
Rob's grasp on his fledgling kingdom is tenuous, at best.
Expansion is impossible thanks to an angry war-clan of goblins encroaching on the eastern border. Also, monsters and bandits run rampant within the valley threatening his subjects.
And since trade is nonexistent and supply lines are dead, the ramshackle village must be kick-started into an economically viable town – one that generates income for the meager royal treasury, instead of sapping it.
The responsibility for each of these problems are his alone whether he likes it or not.
But there's a larger concern which casts a dark cloud over everything.
His is not the only kingdom and neighboring rulers have started to view this janitor-turned-king as either an exploitable ally...
… or easy prey.
CHAPTER ONE
“We're going to die!”
Another wave crashed into the tiny rowboat, nearly knocking both men over its sides.
“Stop saying that!” Rob shouted back at Erwin. “It's not helping! Grab the oars!”
The little dockmaster who's job was to row them out to sea, grabbed the side for dear life. “I... I can't.” His eyes were wide with fear, taking in the roiling waves around them.
Muffling a curse, Rob shifted from his seat at the bow and shoved Erwin aside, taking both oars. Did he have to do everything himself in this world? Apparently so. Quickly, he wrenched the starboard oar repeatedly, until the boat was pointed in the direction of an approaching wave.
Thankfully, they weren't slammed by the wave and, instead, were heaved over it.
“Bail, for heaven's sake!” Rob roared, as he struggled to keep them from tipping over. They were in a pocket of waves, the ocean seething around them.
“Yes, my Lord!” Erwin said, snatching up a little bucket and scooped out the water which filled the bottom of the boat.
Rob eyed the wall of waves that blocked the entire horizon. What a stupid idea it was to come out here! But he'd wanted to get away from the village for a little while, and all the responsibilities that stalked him there. Going out for a little jaunt on the kingdom's only boat seemed like a great opportunity to escape from the questioning looks his subjects gave and the incessant prodding from Saif.
Since rescuing his people, and returning from the Western Mountains, Rob wanted a few days off from killing, running and worrying. But Saif was having none of that and was perpetually at his elbow asking questions and making suggestions as to what he should be doing. Rob just had to get away.
His excuse to the Sage was to finally get a handle on the quest to figure out why all the fish in the sea had vanished. Erwin was eager, too, so tired of casting out his fishing net and coming up empty.
When they'd rowed away from shore, the seas were calm, almost tranquil. But the further they went out, the rougher the conditions got.
That had been several hours ago. Now they were in the middle of nowhere, with every wave making the point their presence wasn't welcome.
“I'm sorry, my Lord,” Erwin said after a few moments of bailing madly. His rapid movements bordered on panic. “I should have known she'd take a turn.”
Rob focused on keeping them level. “Not your fault, buddy,” he said, making an effort not to shout. No need to rile up his only crew member even more. He'd never paddled a boat before, and felt he was getting the hang of it. Why wasn't this a skill he could level up?
“Yes, but had I taken more time to feel her mood I wouldn't have almost drowned our king!” Erwin's expression morphed from panic to anguish in the span of a heartbeat.
“I haven't drowned!” Rob barked, as he suddenly steered the boat toward another wave. This one was smaller than the others. In fact, the sea appeared to be settling down although it could be his imagination. “And we're not going to, right?”
“Right, my Lord,” Erwin said. His tone made it quite apparent he was just saying what his king wanted him to.
Rob sighed. “This was my idea, my responsibility. Besides, things look to be getting better. The worst is over.”
Erwin gazed about, and actually managed a smile. “Very true, my Lord. You are most astute as always.”
With the threat of death momentarily averted, Rob needed to make a decision. Stay out here, paddling around like fools, or return to shore and all the questions and responsibilities he needed to deal with. Going back would feel like some form of defeat. Better to keep to the quest at hand.
“So which direction should we go?” Rob said, oars at the ready.
“Direction?” Erwin asked, in surprise. “I thought you had a destination in mind.”
“No clue. I'd hoped paddling around might update my quest, but nothings happened.” The quest description was frustratingly vague. What was he looking for, and was it suppose to be out here at all?
“Allow me, my Lord,” Erwin said, and closed his eyes.
Rob watched the dockmaster curiously for several moments then asked, “What are you doing? Meditating?”
“Listening to the sea,” Erwin said, eyes closed. “She whispers in my ear. Sometimes she shares her secrets although most times I don't understand.”
Perplexed, but not wanting to interrupt, Rob focused on keeping the little rowboat from sinking. The huge waves had tapered off into large, less threatening swells. Although doubtful, he wondered if there was anything to what Erwin claimed.
Suddenly, Erwin's eyes fluttered open. “Oh!” he shouted and pointed off the starboard side. “That direction.”
Frowning, Rob looked. All he saw were more swells and the occasional clashing waves. “Looks like more of the same to me.”
“It's where we need to go,” Erwin said with confidence. “She feels a pain over there.”
“A pain? What's that even mean?”
The dockmaster shrugged. “I'm only conveying what she said. There is a great pain within her watery bosom, and its source is over there.”
Watery bosom? Managing to mask his doubt, Rob asked, “How exactly are you communicating with the ocean?”
“Sea, my Lord. She not an ocean. That term is offensive to her. Ocean lacks a certain... class.”
“Uh huh,” Rob said, keeping a diplomatic tone to his voice. “Sea, then. How are you talking to her?”
“I was born with the skill, my Lord. Few others have it. I've been blessed by the gods, as my mother would often say.”
“What skill?”
Erwin removed his soggy cap from his head and held it out to Rob. “Here.”
Perplexed, Rob took it.
You have taken an item: Cap of the Sea
Durability: 15/15
+35% Voice of the Sea
Value: 10 Gold Pieces
“Voice of the Sea?” Rob said, handing it back. “What's that?”
“It allows me to speak directly to her,” Erwin said, dawning his cap, again. “I can ask certain questions and sometimes, if she's feeling generous, she gives me an answer.”
“Can you teach me this skill?” It sounded like something he should most definitely have, especially out here.
Erwi
n shook his head. “I'm sorry, my Lord, I cannot. Over the years I've tried, to no avail. Saif thinks it's a skill only the gods can bestow onto us. Onto me.” The last was said with a hint of pride.
“Okay, fine. So this Voice of the Sea is telling you we need to go over that way. Any indication as to what's over there?”
“None,” Erwin said. “But her pain is greatest in that direction.
With a heavy sigh, Rob turned the boat around and rowed. He felt foolish. Despite all he'd accomplished up to this point, the fights won, the experience points earned, the Kingdom levels gained, he really didn't feel like any true progress had been made. He was underpowered and underskilled in everything.
Sure, rescuing his people from the Pech had been one hell of an accomplishment, dragon or no dragon. But all of it didn't feel like he was getting closer to his goal: going home. That still eluded him. The only path laid out before him was finishing quests and gaining levels, both his own and the Kingdom's. But it was all going so damn slow! Things needed to move along a lot faster. There had to be a shortcut out of this place, somehow. He just had to find it before this game, or simulation, or whatever it was, made him lose his mind.
“There, my Lord!” Erwin suddenly shouted.
Pulled away from his dour thoughts, he craned his neck around to look.
At first he didn't see it; just more roiling gray waves and shifting swells. Then something poked up from the water's surface a dozen or so boat lengths away. He peered at the object.
“Is that a piece of lumber?” he said.
“It appears to be the tip of a mast, my Lord!” Erwin said, nearly overcome with excitement.
As they got closer Rob could see it did look like the very top of a ship's mast, its trunk barely noticeable beneath. He blinked in confusion. “This is where we're suppose to be?”
“Yes, my Lord. Most definitely.” A huge grin took up most of the dockmaster's face.
Well, at least one of us is happy about this, Rob thought, looking at the mast. Roughly two or three feet stuck up in the air. Looking over the boat's side he couldn't see the rest of the ship, masked by the slate gray murk of the sea. “How can a ship be so close to the surface here? Shouldn't it be deeper this far out?”
Erwin shrugged. “I don't know. I've never fished here before. Perhaps the bottom rises in this area.”
As they came up to the mast, Erwin reached over and grabbed it. Rob half expected something to lurch out of the water and snap up the dockmaster, but the little man pulled the boat up against it with a dull thud.
It made for a strange sight, this mast jutting from the dark waters out here in the middle of nowhere. A sudden sense of dread washed over him, chilling him more than the sea water could.
“How do you think it sank?” Rob said, glancing around with apprehension. Were there sea monsters in this world?
“I don't know, my Lord. But it must have happened a long time ago.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, we haven't had a ship at our shores in over, oh, I don't know. Months, perhaps. And those were high-seas traders, but they'd left in a hurry.”
“Why?”
“We had nothing to trade.”
Rob could understand that. When he'd first arrived in this messed up universe the kingdom had absolutely nothing of value. It still didn't. Sure, there were the remnants of supplies the Troglodytes had given them, but those were being consumed fast as more people returned. A pang of anxiety fluttered in his stomach. Even with him as king, the kingdom was destitute.
“Think there might be treasure down there?” Rob said, squinting at the murk. It was as transparent as concrete.
“Oh, I don't doubt there might be items within the ships hold. Treasure, supplies, even. We can't know for sure. Well, unless you go down there, my Lord.”
The anxiety he felt suddenly intensified, swirling in his stomach. He closed his eyes and focused on regulating his breathing. This was unexpected. Although he didn't know what the quest really involved, he hadn't counted on having to dive into the cold angry waters of a sea with a voice. You can do this, he told himself over and over. No one else will.
“Are you okay, my Lord? You look a little pale.”
Rob opened his eyes. “No, I'm fine. Just psyching myself up. Are you absolutely sure this is the spot we need to be. The voice isn't saying we should go back to shore now?”
“Uh, no. This is the source of her anguish. Please, my Lord. She needs your help.”
Well, he needed to be sure. But if this is the spot, so be it.
“Okay, fine. I'll take a look, at least.” He didn't feel the conviction in his voice.
He switched places with Erwin so the other man could control the oars. Then he undid his leather jerkin and placed it on the plank-seat. He doubted the sea water was good for its durability. Then his boots and socks came off. He'd left his shield back on land, figuring there wouldn't be need for it out here.
From the bottom of the boat he picked up his mace and handed it to Erwin. “Here, hold onto this and don't lose it. Can I use that knife of yours?”
“Of course, my Lord,” Erwin said and removed it from the little sheath on his belt.
You have taken an item: Fishing knife.
Durability: 15/15
Damage: 1-5
Value: 15 Silver Pieces
Better than nothing, Rob thought as he slipped it under his belt at his hip. There was no way he could swing the mace under water, so he'd have to rely on this little blade if something happened.
After considering how he should get in the water, he ruled out sitting on the edge and falling backward like a scuba diver. Instead, he threw one leg over, then the other and slowly eased himself in, grabbing onto the mast to keep his balance.
Sweet lord it was cold! He bobbed in the water between the boat and mast, clinging to both, not wanting to let go. Beneath he could feel the emptiness of the water, cold and dark. For several moments, he fought the irrational sensation he was about to fall. Clinging to the side of the boat, he closed his eyes and gasped.
From the relative safety of the boat, Erwin leaned close and said, “She says you're doing a great job, so far, my Lord.”
Rob's eyes fluttered opened. “Who?”
“The sea. She says she has confidence in you.”
Rob blinked at the other man in confusion, then understood. “She does, huh? Well, then I don't want to disappoint her.”
He breathed deeply several times trying to expand his lungs, but just as he was about to drop down, Erwin suddenly lunged forward and grabbed his arm.
“My Lord!” the dockmaster shouted.
“What?! What is it?!” Rob said, alarmed.
“If you die, can I be the king?”
Rob stared at the other man, resisting the urge to strangle him. After a few moments he regained his composure and said, “Yeah, sure. Why not.”
“Oh, that's wonderful! First, I'd expel Saif, then hire a pretty Sage from Casso. Then, I'll -.”
But Rob didn't stick around for the rest. He inhaled deeply one last time, closed his eyes and pulled himself down. Water flooded his ears and into his nose, but he he didn't let these sudden sensations throw him off. After a couple of seconds, he opened his eyes.
He clung to the mast, barely a foot beneath the undulating surface. The bottom of the boat wobbled an arm's length away. He heard something, strange and alien, piercing the gurgling noise of the water in his ears. Then he realized it was Erwin, still chattering away to himself about all the things he'd do when he was king.
He looked down. The mast descended beneath him a dozen feet to fade into the dark below. This wasn't the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. The sea bottom, and the bulk of the ship, was hidden in a gray haze. Sunlight filtered downward to be absorbed by the darkness. Not very inviting.
Rob took all this. He wasn't a great swimmer, but he knew he could do this. Releasing the relative security of the mast he angled himself downward headfir
st and kicked with his legs, but only managed to move a foot or two.
Frustrated, he swam harder. Barely making any progress he kept at it. Soon, the strain of fighting against the water pressure was too much and he coughed. Air exploded from his compressed lungs and bubbles shot up from his mouth and blinded him.
Panicked, he changed direction and fought his way back to the surface where he clung to the exposed mast, gasping heavily.
Erwin was oblivious to this, still talking to himself. “Then, we'll have a parade for me once a week, just to remind everyone who's king. No! A parade every day! Perfect. That would annoy Fumi to no end!”
