by Aaron Thomas
“They just appeared on the battlefield?” Kilen asked.
“They all start with a glow of light walking amongst the undead who then stopped attacking when they were near. There were a couple of that said they appeared in a ray of light from the heavens. One said they walked out of a burning temple, untouched by the flames.”
“So how do we even know the Brights even know what is going on?”
Paul cleared his throat, “Tara says that by the records she read, they were brought here by boat. She said the Kesterton pirates found Brights on an island containing a city built out of gold and jewels.”
“Is this their only one record of this island?”
Paul shook his head no, “Ajuit says he’s read about the gleaming island of Hertha. In his readings it was just an account of an island covered in gold and riches, but said nothing about being the home to the Brights. Errent also confirms tales of the Island of Hertha. He says it’s been lost to the pirates and they have been searching for it since the war “
Kilen gave a frustrated laugh, “So the Brights either appear out of nowhere, or they come from an island made of gold and jewels that has been lost for one thousand years. Both scenarios don’t do a thing to help us find them.”
“Perhaps I could seek Hertha after we secure Leviathan? I can travel to Kesterton and ask more about the island when I get there. Perhaps aid a ship in searching for it?” Paul asked.
“Paul, I have seen Kesterton and believe me, it’s not an inviting place for people who aren’t pirates,” Kilen said, frustrated. “For now, we will continue trying to save Leviathan. If its walls are still standing when we arrive, and Atmos has been defeated, we will revisit the situation.”
Paul nodded, “In the meantime, I will focus my efforts on continuing to collect information about the Brights.”
Kilen gave Paul a nod and spurred his horse forward. On his way to the front, Leroy gave him a waterskin Kilen was sure was filled with his special tea, meant to rejuvenate the body. Kilen drank enough to wet his throat and thanked his friend. He was sad he didn’t have enough time lately to spend with Leroy. The boy had joined his cause and now devoted his life to watching after his needs without asking for anything in return.
Beside him in the seat was a woman at the prime of her life, sewing a shirt and chatting his ear off. Erica was not a woman to hold her tongue, even around Kilen. He couldn’t complain, though, she’d saved his life once already. She too had devoted her life to serving him as long as she could return home to Leviathan. Kilen gave them a wave and tossed the water skin to Leroy before riding to the front of the column.
Kara must have been watching because when he rode up next to her, she smiled.
“I don't know how you can keep eating the things he makes. It’s either bitter or like chewing fire,” Kara said.
“You get used to it,” Kilen replied, smiling back. “It’s not like mom’s cooking, that’s for sure.”
Kara was silent for a moment and then asked quietly, “Do you think that mom will be okay in the Wind Realm?”
Kilen took a deep breath, closed the gap between his and Kara’s horse and pulled her into him. “We can’t dwell on what could be, only what we know to be true. We know mom has gone after dad and if they find each other,well, I like to think of them being together already.”
“But what if they’ve both been caught by the Dark Army?” A tear touched her eye.
Kilen gave a half smile, trying to comfort his sister, “I don’t know, Kara. I try not to think about it. Just like I try not to think about my wife having to defend an entire city without me with her. Spending too much time on thoughts like those will only make me crazy.”
Kara turned to look back down the line of the traveling soldiers, “Crazy like your friend Paul?”
He gave a glance over his shoulder as Paul sat on his horse moving his lips.
“He is a lot saner than people give him credit for,” Kilen said, giving a small chuckle.
Kara turned around to face forward again, “I hope so. The way Brent talks about him makes it seem as if he is very dangerous.”
Kilen nodded his head, “Brent is right, Paul is dangerous. What Brent doesn’t know is that Paul is dangerous to our enemies as well. I believe Paul has the potential to control and walk beside his elemental’s like I do. It will take some time, but I think I can train him.”
“If he can, he would be a great ally to the throne. Why does Brent not want you to try then?” Kara asked.
“Brent is very protective,” Kilen said, smiling. “He knows that my every move is being watched. If I continue to walk around with a crazy man at my side, what does that say about me?”
“That you're crazy.”
“Brent is trying to build an army and realm that is confident in their king. Everyone that I ally with or befriend becomes a part of my men’s confidence in me. For example, before Ellipse, I was having trouble recruiting men. After Lord Burnholt gave me the two hundred, it changes the realm’s image of me. If Burnholt was confident enough to give me men, then they feel confident in me as well.”
“Then why do you continue to be seen with a man that looks crazy?”
“Because,” Kilen said, turning in his saddle. “One man with abilities like mine is like an entire army by himself. If I can teach him to use his, together we will be able to do impossible things. We will be able to save hundreds of men’s lives that could potentially die in battle. That single reason alone is enough for me to try.”
It looked as though Kara took a moment thinking over everything Kilen had told her. They rode for a few miles before she spoke again. When she, did her head was raised in confidence as if she had come to some sort of conclusion to her thoughts.
Kara looked at Kilen and said, “What can I do to help you?”
He knew that if he were to ever convince people that Paul was as talented as he thought, he would need to show them. Only he couldn’t give his triple imbued blade to Paul to summon multiple elementals. If he could get his sister to make a imbued blade, he could have Paul summon two elementals at once.
“I need you to find an extra dagger and imbue it with your magic,” Kilen blurted out.
Kara looked at him with an arched eyebrow, “For Paul?”
Kilen nodded back.
“I have only given one imbuement so it may not work, but I will try on one condition,” She said, staring at him.
“Name it,” Kilen replied.
His sister smiled a mischievous smile that made the hair on his neck rise, “I get to teach him to use it. Maybe then we will be able to convince the others he’s not crazy, together.”
Kilen nodded slowly, “We will teach him together.”
Chapter 25 - A New City
After finding no way into Leviathan except by boat, Calvin made his way to Basham to acquire a ride. The former adviser to king Atmos had traveled more in the last months than in decades being confined to Deuterium in his duties. Despite his great station, no one recognized him.
The city of Basham had changed a lot in the last few decades and by the look of it, it would be again soon. The city was surrounded by the throng of people being trained and outfitted as soldiers. The camp was being inundated with smaller divisions of civilians selling food, clothes, weapons, and medicines. The farmland was being trampled by the new soldier's feet and tents being erected in the area.
A small wall being built out of stone and logs would soon become the new perimeter of the city once the battle was over. What use to be the large stone wall that surrounded Basham was now only separating those who already lived there from the new arrivals. A small platoon of soldiers now stood at the heavy wooden doors keeping the new soldiers from entering the city.
Calvin tried to blend into a small caravan entering the city but was stopped by the guard.
“State your business, old man,” The guard said as he stepped in front of Calvin.
Calvin gave a slight bow of his head, “I am trying to reac
h my son in Leviathan and want to book passage on one of the ships.”
“Ain't nobody getting on a ship unless they’re pledging their allegiance to King Everheart and fightin’ in the army. If you don’t mind me saying so gramps, you look a bit over the hill to be swinging a sword,” The guard said as he looked to the others attempting to get a laugh.
Giving a small chuckle, Calvin looked around, “My son is Brent Parker, Water Wizard, and Councilmen to the King. I am Wizard Calvin Parker, formerly the Earth Realm Adviser to King Atmos.”
The guard gave a chuckle, “Yeah, aren’t we all. Listen, you’re holdin’ up the line. How bouts you step aside and find your place amongst the soldiers. Perhaps you could find passage when there isn’t a battle going on.”
Calvin took a deep breath and pat his horse on the neck to calm him for what was coming. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the ground and forced the earth to shake beneath their feet. The horses in the area whinnied and a couple tents fell in on themselves. The guard's eyes widened as he steadied himself.
“Perhaps if you cannot help me gain passage on a ship, there is another I can speak with?” Calvin said, still patting his horse’s neck.
The guard nodded his head, “Mayor, Mrs. Rianna, should be able to help you. I’ll send one of the men to show you the way.”
Not waiting for his escort, Calvin pressed into the city. The state of the city was much like the outside as soldiers slept in and out of tents in the street. Officers attempted to organize troops and take notes on their supplies. Each one he passed looked more and more outfitted for the battle they’d be entering.
The people that weren’t being fitted for armor or practicing the sword were helping repair buildings, cook, and fetch supplies for the soldiers. Surprisingly, the entire city appeared to be aiding one another in every task that needed to be done. He saw no fighting or drinking, only people helping each other.
The guard sent as an escort led him to a nicer portion of the city. Even here soldiers lined the streets, all though, here, they were being given instruction on marching and attack formations between the houses and in allies.
Calvin was lead to a large stone house inside a brick wall, setting it apart from the rest of the city. Inside the wall, a set of twenty to thirty soldiers stood watching a woman pace back and forth in front of the house. He assumed this would be the mayor, but the words she spoke made her sound more like a general.
“Today you will travel to Leviathan where a battle has already started. I assume you know by now that the city is being besieged by King Atmos and massive weapons attempt to break the city walls. I am here to tell you that Leviathan needs you to aid in holding those walls. We have been sitting by while a tyrannical king suppressed this land. He has been squeezing taxes and children from us to build up his own realm leaving us weaker with each coming year.
I implore you to make a stand now while we still have a chance. Make a stand now for your children, and your children’s children. Stand and fight King Atmos so that the Water Realm can be free of his reign. You already can see the greatness that King Everheart has brought our city. Think of what he can do if you stand beside him and free this realm of King Atmos. Go and fight for your people. Fight for Leviathan!” She screamed and saluted the men with her fist clasped to her chest.
Calvin watched as the commanders gave orders to the men and marched them out of her courtyard. The woman saw Calvin just before her hand reached her door. She stopped and waved his escort over. He patted his horse’s neck while waiting for the exchange to take place. Eventually, the woman came to him, which was a good sign.
“Good morning. I hear you want to get to Leviathan?” She asked.
Calvin gave a bow of respect before speaking, “As I was telling your wonderful guard, I am Wizard Parker, a former adviser to King Atmos. Last I heard, one of my sons was inside of Leviathan. I would like to have a place on one of the ships going to Leviathan to see him.”
“Come inside, won’t you, Wizard Parker?” The woman asked as she turned. “I am Mrs. Rianna. I was appointed by King Everheart a couple months ago as mayor and have been running ships back and forth from Leviathan ever since. Not that I could stop you, but why should I allow you to go to Leviathan.”
Inside the home, the interior was meager and without adornment. Several tables had been set up throughout the house’s lower level. A couple higher ranking soldiers sat eating meals as they discussed their matters for the day. Calvin weaved his way in and out of the tables trying to keep up with the mayor.
“If Kilen appointed you mayor, he chose wisely. You have done wonders in this city keeping it from falling into chaos with the number of forces throughout,” Calvin said as he caught up to her.
She sat down and pointed to the seat across from her, “I do what I was asked to do. The others in the town also do what they said they were going to do. We worked together to rebuild this city after its former government abandoned it. We aren’t going to let it fall into ruin again just because an army is passing through it.”
Calvin smiled as he removed his riding gloves and placed them on his lap.
“I would like to get into Leviathan to see my son. I will not force my way onto one of those ships. I wouldn’t want to interrupt the system you have in place already or cause any turmoil,” He said as he pulled a small bag of tea leaves from his pocket and offered it to Mrs. Rianna.
She smiled back and took the small pouch then handing them off to a soldier for preparation. She tapped a finger on the table, and after staring at Calvin, she gave a small nod of her head.
“I can see your features in your son’s face. Your son isn’t in Leviathan,” She said.
Calvin cleared his throat, “Yes, I heard he may be traveling. Alexander reported to the Elder Wizards just before I departed them. If it is all the same, I do believe I may be able to offer help to Queen Twilix. I spent a lot of time with King Atmos and know something of their families battle strategies.”
“Which is why I am hesitant to let you go. You’ve spent a long time with that family and would think you have developed a relationship with them that may be more than just politics,” The mayor said back as she poured a now ready tea.
Just from the few moments, Calvin had spent with the woman he knew Kilen had chosen the mayor wisely. She was stubborn but understanding, fearless yet careful. He would have to watch his words, or he might make an enemy of the woman.
“I would be lying if I didn’t have an interest in both realms. After all, I have a son as a councilman to one and an advisor to the other. It just so happens to be that I believe the Water Realm to be the victims. I have spent years advising King Atmos to treat this realm with equal respect and even put a noble of his choosing on the throne. King Atmos is power hungry and so arrogant that he refuses to listen to anyone except his own magically twisted ideals,” Calvin said.
He took a sip of tea and watched the woman’s stone face. She smiled in a way that did not allow him to see through her mask of emotion. He could not tell if he had lost or gained her favor by his last statement.
He swallowed the sip of tea and set his cup down gingerly, “If you wish to be cautious, I understand. I will wait outside of Basham or in a place of your choosing until you see fit to give me passage to Leviathan. Like I said before, I will not force myself onto one of those ships.”
“Oh, Wizard Parker, you will have passage on the next ship out. I cannot deny a wizard of your stature and wisdom access to Leviathan. I just thought we would be able to finish our tea first,” She said, giving a grin as she tipped her cup
Calvin gave a smile and a nod, “When should I be ready to leave?”
“The ship won’t leave until I give the okay. We have some time. Enjoy your tea, and we will walk down together,” She said, pouring a bit more tea into her cup.
**********
Twilix jumped every time another stone smashed into the side of the wall. Atmos’ men had kept a persistent beating all hours of the
night. The noise alone was causing some of the men to lose hope of surviving. She tried to provide confidence to her men by telling them as long as the wall holds, there is still great hope.
Pebbles of stone and fragments of the wall cascaded down around her troops as she watched from the command post’s windows. Other than the few men on the walls, the soldiers were all being kept at least one street away from the perimeter of the wall. Her wielders were having to heal too many men from falling ice shards and rocks to keep them close. The moment the wall started to fall she would have to come up with another plan, but for now, it was saving a lot of energy that could be better spent on fixing the damage to the city.
A person with basic healing skills was being used to combat damage from the trebuchets as they hurled a constant bombardment at her city. Even as the wielders handed off imbuements, they were barely keeping the soldiers on their feet in a rotation. Earth wielders had stepped in twice a day to rejuvenate the water wielders as much as they could.
Twilix was lucky in that some of her new arrivals took to wielding easily. Ray had the idea of testing each soldier as they got off the boat to see if they showed talent. If they did, they were put right to work fixing the wall or energizing those that could. With the promise of more new arrivals showing some talent, they had increased the amount of troops being brought into the city each day.
The city’s buildings, no matter their prior purpose, were now being used as barracks for the soldiers brought into the city. They started housing in the buildings one block away from the wall and slowly filled them all the way to the castle. They would continue to use each home, shop, or stable until the entirety of the city was packed with soldiers. The inner city and castle were being stocked with food and supplies to support those that came in.
Mayor Rianna said that Basham had been producing three times the amount of food and equipment it had ever made before. She said that Kilen’s inspiration for repaying their debt triggered a cascade of goodwill and hope for the inhabitants. Twilix had hopes that even if Leviathan was defeated and cast back into the lake’s waters, that Basham would be able to maintain its prosperity.
