by Aaron Thomas
He nervously dipped the blades in his lethal poison, “Can poison kill that thing?”
Wells shrugged, “I’ve never fought one, but it seems to be our only choice. I’ll distract it and you take it down.”
Leroy nodded at him and practiced his throwing motion.
The flames light and low growling was the only warning signaling that the dog was coming. Wells jumped clear of the structure and started banging his sword on his shield and backed down the path, luring the beast towards Keepers. Leroy held his ground as he felt the dog's heat pass him, gaining on Wells. Quickly, he released his first blade which bounced off the ground behind the dog and hit its leg with the knife’s handle. Wells screamed and held his shield to protect him from any flames that could leap out.
The dog only turned his head towards Leroy for a moment before turning back on Wells. Molten liquid burst out of the dog’s mouth every time it barked. Wells jumped side to side to avoid the danger. The smoke coming from the beast's path was now in the structures, making it hard to see. The dog’s drool was like lava that melted the ground as it landed. Leroy dispatched two more poison tipped blades, landing them deep into the its flesh. A yelp came, followed by a blast of fire as the dog looked away from Wells.
Leroy turned to run but saw the dog stumble to the side and fall into what was left of a home. The creature smelled more natural now, a smell of burnt hair and meat. Leroy was breathing heavily as Wells joined him to make sure the imbued beast was dead.
Wells bent over and checked the straps on his charred shield, “Thanks, friend.”
Before Leroy could answer, an arrow landed near their feet. It snapped them out of their celebratory stupor and back to the impending battle. The home was that now burning showed the advancing army had come halfway the distance to town, and now Leroy’s element of surprise was gone. Wells tugged at his shoulder, ushering him deeper into town just beyond the flames. Leroy glanced at the soldiers placement, but when he turned back Wells was gone. Leroy ducked into a nearby structure and dipped two more non-lethal blades.
The soldiers made quick work of searching the structures by lifting the cloth coverings or hewing them into pieces. Leroy watched one particular soldier that was making his way towards his hiding spot. When the brute of an armored man lifted the cloth covering a nearby structure, Leroy sidestepped and threw a blade out of his place between the cover and the wooden beam. The blade took the man in the calf and sent him sprawling backwards onto the path. The poison left him confused and vomiting by the time he had pulled it free.
Two more soldiers readied their attack of the same structure but were brought down by two more blades. Each time he threw one, he prepared another for flight amongst the tents.
A man with a bow stopped another set from attempting to attack the same structure. “The blades came from over-”
Leroy threw his knife before the words left the man’s mouth. He watched the man crumple as his next knife took the man in the throat. Leroy stepped over a pile of crates and lifted the cloth covering in the back, escaping his hiding spot. He moved quickly to a structure deeper into Keepers to start over.
He could hear the men ripping apart the area he abandoned moments ago. “Nothing, sir.”
A voice called back, “Burn it. Move on. We need to press towards the beach. I’ll send more men here. Keep moving.”
Leroy watched as a fully armored officer walked away through the partial buildings.
Leroy was distracted when six Keepers men charged out to meet what was left of the earth realm in battle. He watched the disorganized fight as men on both sides crashed shields and swords. Neither group dealing damage or receiving any. Leroy jumped from his spot and into the back of another structure just as an arrows zipped past his head. Freeing his polished blades, he leapt out, coming out behind the enemy's line. It took only moments to nick each of the men on exposed flesh and duck back into another building. He doubted either side knew he had even taken part in the battle. Soon, the Earth Realm soldiers wobbled and fell. Some of their lives lasted long enough to see their last meal return. Some were skewered before they hit the ground.
The men of Keepers cheered and ran amongst the tents looking for the next fight.
Leroy came out to follow and was caught by smoke and flames. As he stood to his full height and looked out over Keepers, a quarter of the town was now in flames. The men he had caught with knives were now struggling to avoid being consumed by the very fires they started.
He slowly cut the non-lethal poison free; everyone he had tried to save by debilitating was going to die by sword or fire. He watched his blades in the firelight as he carefully dipped them into the deadly snake poison. The sounds of battle called to him; the Keepers men had found another fight.
He rushed towards the fight through the burning tents, jumping over piles of discarded crates and planters. He lept through smoke without looking to see what was on the other side and finally found the battle. Two larger groups fought between tents. The Earth Realm, with their backs to the flame, stood side by side and were beginning to overwhelm the defending force of Keepers. Leroy moved down to a row of tents even with the line of fighting men. One of the aggressing soldiers followed Leroy but wasn’t quick enough to stop him from slicing a hole through the cloth, letting him exit out the back.
While running down the line of men, he dragged his blade across their flesh, leaving one long cut spanning several men. He wasn’t sure if it was the pain or the poison that made them fall and let the Keepers men get the upper hand. He stopped when he heard a shout from behind him. A line of archers let out a flurry of arrows into the Keepers army. Some fell and some had shields at the ready. Leroy ducked in time to avoid the assault.
When Leroy started to attack the row of archers by throwing one of his many knives, the ground bucked as they were attacked by a wielder, sending him sprawling onto his back. He scrambled to his feet, seeing the archers nocking their second volly. Leroy ducked into one of the structures to avoid the arrows. One pierced through the cloth coverings he hid behind.
He could hear Sergeant Wells shouting, “Retreat!”
The presence of a wielder would certainly make this battle more difficult, and Leroy was unsure which of the soldiers it was. He still wanted to fight but knew with the others retreating, he could not take the rest of the army alone. He quickly moved from cover to cover trying to create distance between the enemy and himself. When he was sure he had, he stood straight and sprinted to catch up with the others. Arrows still arched overhead and landed amongst the building. Some of the arrows were on fire, causing more flames to consume the small village.
Wells stood amongst the people helping usher the last of Keepers across a bridge made of frosted bricks. Leviathan’s tall walls loomed over them as a giant sanctuary only a short span of water away. Leroy ran to traverse the bridge into the unprotected city as arrows flew overhead, catching some those trying to escape. Ahead, Leroy saw a litter being carried towards the city gates and could just make out Izabels face struggling to pull it inside. An arrow fell into the crowd and the litter fell along with its carriers.
Afraid for Izabel, he rushed past those lying on the bridge to aid in picking the litter back up. Leroy’s father darted out of the gates and grabbed the litter in one hand and drug it into Leviathan. Leroy could see the arrow sticking out from his mother's chest and he stopped in the middle of the bridge. Arrows still passed by as soldiers tried to rush by him to the protective walls of the city. It was the sight of Izabel that brought him out of his stupor. She was unharmed, and calling to him.
**********
With the four women in tow, Kilen chased down the echoing footsteps. The sounds that traversed the city echoed off the building’s walls, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint its source. The city walls were all made of the same stone as he had felt underwater. Each stone was like looking into a block of frosted ice. Shadows moved inside the stones which Ria said was actually fish. Kilen did not sto
p to ask how fish were swimming inside the stones of the city.
Jace guided his movement through the streets by telling him which way to turn and with each moment they grew closer to the sound of footsteps. Only now the echoing had grown in number. Kilen hoped the rest of his group had found each other.
As they approached an intersection of streets Kilen felt a rush of wind from the front. He stopped hoping that is what Jace had intended. If not, he would feel the push to go forward again. He heard shouting and one of the voices was Bowie’s. Kilen pulled his sword out of its sheath and the Auburn drew her bow waiting for something to round the corner.
A man, wet in shredded robes, slid to a stop in front of them. His robes had extra folds and had been burned and ripped. They hung on him like vines on a willow tree. Kilen saw Mica’s face behind the tendrils of wet hair.
When he saw Kilen he held out his hands but no attack came. “It was you!” Again, he tried to push his wind magic at Kilen but he had no power.
Jace held the wind and Mica thought it was Kilen.
Behind Mica, Bowie emerged with three of the fire wizards and his bow. He released an arrow and hit his mark. The arrow’s point exited Mica’s shoulder out the front and sprayed blood on the ice-like stones of the street. The wizard collapsed and wailed. Kilen held out a hand for Bowie to stop.
Bowie lowered his bow but shouted, “He caused the storm!”
Kilen shook his head, “No, I caused the storm. I was keeping him away from us.”
Bowie took a step back in shock. A gentle breeze gave Kilen the hint that he was correct in his assumption.
Mica growled from the ground, “A Chaos Storm is not to be used. Alexander, your master, taught you that.”
Brent and Alexander rounded a corner.
“I didn’t teach him not to use it. I did however, tell him it was very dangerous. It looks as though he has found the safe way to use it: from a distance.” He smiled at Kilen as he approached. “Although, you could have let me come and aid you. I would like to have been near you when you spoke the words.” Alexander smiled, “You know, you are infuriatingly hard to track down, my boy.”
Kilen laughed at seeing all the people safe, even happier seeing more wizards there to help him.
Twilix curtsied to the wind wizard and stepped between him and Kilen, bringing him back to the urgency of their mission. “Your majesty, my husband, we still have gates to close if you are still to have a city or a neck by morning.”
Hurriedly, they ran through the city's empty streets reflecting the moon’s light causing weird shadows as it was split by the stones. Kilen remembered the city from when he was little, but it was filled with people then. Stores were open, signs hung, peddlers, drunks, and thugs walked every corridor. Now it was empty of anything but the shadows that swam through the walls of ice.
Kilen rounded a corner and almost ran into a woman being followed by two children. The woman in a dirty dress dropped to the ground and Kilen immediately went to help her up.
She fought Kilen and his imbued strength until Twilix laid a hand on his arm,“She is bowing to her king.”
The woman looked back at the kids and motioned them down to bow as well.
Kilen shook his head trying to wrap his thoughts around this behavior. Inside, he was still a farm boy. “Stand, please stop that. Are their any others?”
“Yes, your majesty. They are securing the gates.” She pointed down a street.
Kilen thanked her and ran the way she had indicated.
“That was your new king. See how he runs to the battle willing to fight beside your father?” the woman said.
Kilen almost tripped hearing the woman’s words, but there was a truth to what she spoke.
As they came closer to the outer city walls Kilen began to distinctly hear Pete’s voice giving orders. When he finally came into view he saw a flood of people. They tapped each other, drawing the crowds attention. Slowly, the crowd behind the gate clasped their fists to their chests and kneeled. Kilen walked amongst them until he came to Pete, kneeling next to his wife and son.
“You have sealed this gate?” Kilen asked.
“Yes, sire.” Pete said, still kneeling.
“Stand, Master Bradley. Is the other gate sealed as well?”
“It is, my lord. You have control of the city for the time being. They sent about two hundred after us. We think they only had one wielder with them.”
“Good. Where is Sergeant Wells?” Kilen said pulling Leroy up from his kneeling position.
With his shirt covered in blood, Leroy spoke, “He lead the attack on the second gate once this one was sealed. He has sent two men back to report.” Leroy pointed at two boys with swords and chainmail too large for their bodies. “Perhaps you would like to look for yourself from the tower?”
Kilen shook his head. “If the gates are closed, I want everyone to get the women and children into these buildings and to safety. We need to keep guard on the gates until we can see the other side of the bridges in the morning.”
Leroy nodded and began spreading the word. Pete finally stood, still looking down at the woman on the litter. She had an arrow in her chest.
His eyes were filled with tears as he looked up at Kilen, “Thank you, sire.”
Kilen shook his head and tried to comfort the man patting his shoulder, “I am sorry her life was taken.”
Pete cleared his throat, “No, sire. Her dying wish was to see the castle one last time. You have given her that wish. Although, I did not want her to die with an arrow to the chest, it was a quick and honorable death.”
Kilen didn’t understand, but wiped the tears from his own eyes and tried to pretend as if he did understand. The man’s wife had just died and he was thanking Kilen, while crying tears of joy.
Chapter 32 - Reborn
Most of Leviathan did not sleep through the night, instead they sat along the building walls and talked about the future. Some ventured into the city streets looking for prospective homes. Kilen waited by the gate with Twilix, accepting thanks from those native to Keepers.
Kilen listened to mothers telling their children stories about the city and how their parents had met. He listened to the joy coming from the people who had returned to their former homes. Fathers walked the battlements in shifts. Some men returned with fish from fishing in small pools within the city. Kara and the other fire wizards provided heat to cook them while master Bradley took up the spices in his vest and did what he did best.
Kilen watched Bowie and Auburn pace along the wall waiting to see something out in the moonlight. Kilen had wandered up to the battlements but could barely see halfway to shore. Bowie walked back and forth, often glancing down at Kara. When he was asked what he was doing, he responded he was making sure she was safe. Kilen didn’tt know anything safe about playing with fire, but somehow it looked natural for Kara.
Finding himself alone for a moment, Kilen found his way down a side street and into an alleyway. Before turning into an empty tavern he saw a cloak around the corner behind him. “Who is it?” Kilen called out.
Leroy stepped out and walked down the alley closer to him. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”
“It’s okay, Leroy. You have been looking out for me since we left Keepers and I appreciate everything you have done for me. Actually, I want you to keep doing it for me. At least until I can build a proper replacement. Then you can go with Izabel to finish building your inn.”
Leroy smiled, “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to watch my back. I need you to keep your ears and eyes open for anything that could help or hurt me. I will send my elementals to talk with you and gather that information and give you tasks to carry out. Everything you do must be discreet, no one must know you are working for me. It would be far too dangerous for others to know.” Kilen looked up and down the alleyway as if a spy would jump out of the shadows. He felt like the empty city was watching him. A wind gusted past him, urging h
im inside. “For now, wait out here and make sure no one wanders inside. I need a few moments alone.”
Leroy nodded and took a seat on the steps.
Joahna, in his winged form, stood just beyond the door and closed it behind them. Before Kilen spoke, Joahna motioned him up the stairs to the second floor in a room with no windows.
Kilen spoke into the darkness, “I have no idea what to do now.”
“You are doing what you are supposed to do. Give these people meaning and purpose. As long as you sit in the throne, people here will come to help you.”
Kilen still didn’t know if it would be enough, but he trusted Joahna so he nodded his head.
“Now then, Jace has spoken with Max. After first light, go the wall and he will be at the bridge to rejoin us. We don’t want others to see him walk into the city without you there first.”
Kilen nodded.
“Jace says the Earth Realm’s army is broken and is attempting to retreat. Max fought the majority of the soldiers and broke them. They have wielders that can heal the men, but it will take time,” Joahna said.
Kilen paced inside the building, “By the time they heal there will be a larger army coming. We need to act now and prepare for this battle.”
“You are correct.” Joahna stayed close to the walls; muffled voices could be heard outside. “Word of your crowning will spread quickly. You will have an army at your disposal soon as well.”
“We will need to find a way to gather them quicker. If Atmos comes, we will be destroyed,” Kilen said.
“You will not be destroyed. You will provail. If you think any other way you have already lost,” Joahna corrected.
Kilen reluctantly agreed, “How many people of Keepers died?”
Joahna did not answer specifically, “Some. The number does not matter. If you are to truly take up the throne and fight for this land, you must come to the reality that men will die for you. They will die and you must not be sorry. Men like my brothers put their life on the line for the rest of the realm’s well being. You must celebrate their sacrifice and not mourn the loss.”
