Leviathan's King (The Search for the Brights Book 3)

by Aaron Thomas

  “Instinct. Really? The answer you’re going to give me is that it's instinct?” She said sarcastically.

  He gave a half smile, “It’s the only answer I can give that makes any sense.”

  She stood at the railing angrily, looking out on the water until sparks started popping off her shoulders. Some of the crew gave her a worrisome glance, but Kilen gave them a smile and waved them away.

  “Kara, I’m sorry, but that is the only way to explain it. Maybe I can describe how to summon an elemental. If you can master that part, maybe you will understand better.”

  Kara was pursing her lips, causing the air to make noise as she sucked in and blew out her breath. He looked down at the ribbon attached to his sword and tried to picture her as the girl that had chased him around for so long. Her breathing slowed, and the sparks stopped. Kilen thought that he heard a couple of the sailors started breathing again as they resumed their work.

  “Sorry, I have to remind myself of my purpose every now and then. If I don’t know then the passion takes over for whatever I am doing,” Kara said smiling.

  Kilen nodded and wondered what it was like to have only the magic of fire flowing through you. He remembered when he had only earth magic. It had almost driven him to kill himself of thirst. He shook it off as best he could and praised the Brights that he did not have to experience it.

  “I will learn what you can teach me,” Kara said bowing her head.

  “Twilix taught me how to summon an elemental in water. It is similar to the other magics, but you will have to understand this is the way I was taught,” Kilen said.

  She nodded in acceptance and looked to be hanging on to his every word in anticipation of knowledge.

  “First, you must gather some of your element and form it into your likeness. Twilix said it would be easier that way. Once you do that you must lay down and close your eyes because once your mind leaves your body for the elemental, your flesh body will go limp.”

  “Yes, she told me that when you are in an elemental form your body is vulnerable to anything,” Kara said excitedly

  “Yes, well that and you will fall to the floor,” Kilen replied. “When your eyes are closed, and you see your elemental using the magic vision, you must concentrate on it. Concentrate so that you see through the eyes of the magic body. If you do it right, you will be looking down on your physical body using the magic vision as your sight,” Kilen said looking off the boat towards Leviathan.

  “What then?” Kara asked.

  “That’s it. I suppose you could try using some magic,” Kilen said.

  Kara let out a huff, “She could have taught me that a long time ago.”

  Kilen turned towards her, “There are dangers that come along with using an elemental, Kara. You know about the unprotected body, but you can also use more magic than your body can handle, sucking it dry of life. You can die if you use too much magic. Before you use your elemental, you need to learn to use the element’s magic instead of what is stored inside your own body.”

  “Is this how you are able to maintain four elementals at once?” Kara asked.

  “No. Like I said, it’s different for me. When I first summoned my elemental I was looking through two pairs of eyes,” Kilen said finally lying to his sister. In the past, he had stretched the truth or twisted it so that what he said wasn’t a lie but did not make him sound crazy. He knew no one would understand spirits in his head or in his elementals. He knew lying would protect him from others thinking him crazy, but he still felt guilty.

  Kilen cleared his throat, “If you have the ability to use more than one elemental I would suppose that you would have a similar experience to mine on your first try.” Kilen nodded and stepped away from the edge of the boat. He knew he couldn’t continue to lie to Kara without saying something suspicious.

  Brent was conversing with some of the sailors about how fast the boat was going. They seemed pleased. When Kilen approached, Brent inclined his head but did not give any other indication that Kilen was a king.

  “Kilen, I would like you to meet the Captain of the boat. He refuses to give us a name and doesn't want to know ours either. He says it’s to protect him and us both,” Brent added at the end.

  “Very well, Captain, how long till we reach Basham?” Kilen asked.

  The gruff man spit a wad of tobacco over the railing to the lower deck where one of his crew had just mopped. “We will be there within the hour if the wind keeps up,” He said.

  “The wind will stay strong, and we will be off your boat as soon as we make a dock,” Kilen said putting a hand on Brent’s arm pulling him away.

  Kilen guided him to the other side of the boat hoping to be out of the Captain’s hearing, “Have any advice for when we arrive?”

  “I’m afraid my advice would be lacking. If my brother were here, he would certainly know who to contact in this town. I can only offer a few individuals in town to help. Starting with the inn we stayed at when you first found me,” Brent said.

  “Well, I think you technically found me, but it’s as good as any place to start. I would like to thank that girl again for saving me,” Kilen said.

  “Yes, Erica. She is a good woman. The castle has risen, and she will surely be looking to go as soon as possible. Her mother and father were in the castle the day it fell. She use to play there as a child and has been looking to return ever since,” Brent said.

  Kilen nodded his head, “Maybe she can be one of the first to return to the city. Having people that care about it will help it grow faster.”

  Kilen and Brent continued to talk about small things; money, supplies, and horses. Kilen had a hard time staying concentrated on the conversation as he watched Bowie. His friend worked as nimbly as he remembered from home. The fletching kit in his fingers making his famous arrows while the boat rocked on the water. Auburn sat beside him watching his face and his fingers move Bowie’s fletching tools. It seemed ages since they had left Humbridge and Kilen wondered if their friendship would ever be what it was before they both has so much responsibility.

  Bowie seemed distant now that Kilen had become a weapon bearer and king. Kilen could tell he wanted to say something witty at times but held back. He hoped as they rode on this journey that the distance between them would be closed. He needed his friends now more than ever.

  Brent tapped Kilen’s shoulder bringing him out of his staring stupor. When he looked up, he could see a pier graveyard as wood logs reached out of the water at different lengths. The docks of Basham had been ripped apart leaving only the beams poking above the surface like monuments of what was. Only two partial docks remained empty where they use to be filled with boats.

  Men raced out of buildings to their ship as it neared the dock. Kilen assumed it was sailors looking to the only boat left for work. Each man that caught a rope showed their strength, pulling the ship in and tying them off. Workers ran to the gangplank hoping to get some coin for their willingness to unload cargo. They were disappointed when there were only people aboard and no work to be had. Still, they attempted to help Leroy with Kilen’s bag. He refused and pushed through the crowd.

  Brent waded deep into the sea of workers with Kilen, “I sent him ahead to the inn. We will meet him there and make a plan. In the meantime, I thought we should walk around and find out what we can about the city.”

  Even though Kilen donned a worn out sheath and more humble clothes, his sword was still drawing attention with its silver-worked hilt. He tried to hide it with his cloak, but he had already caught too many eyes to escape without someone asking if he had any change to spare. Some followed him down the road as he separated from Brent, sticking to the main streets as he moved through town.

  Shedding all of his companions Kilen was left to walk the city by himself. He darted through a couple alleyways and took a moment to peruse at some jewelry merchants to find out if he was being followed. When he was sure he was safe, he tried to find his way to the inn. Jace had taught him how to stay hidd
en and avoid attention but had not yet taught him how to gather information. Kilen knew he would have to leave that to the others.

  It took him half an hour to finally find the wooden sign he needed. The Wandering Spring Inn was just as he remembered it, except for the two large men standing at the door.

  Kilen tried to slip past unnoticed, but one of the men caught him by the wrist.

  “You so much as hold that hilt wrong in there and I’ll break every one of your fingers, so you will never hold it right again,” The large brute warned.

  Kilen didn’t want to look weak but didn’t want to cause a scene either. He concentrated on the fire magic and heated the man’s grip on his skin. The guard must have seen something in Kilen’s eyes because he released before Kilen could get it very hot.

  “I’ll keep to myself if you keep to yours,” Kilen said in a quiet tone.

  “Your name, boy?” A second man said, clapping a cudgel in his open palm.

  Kilen turned to face him while looking out from underneath his cloak's hood, “Knowing my name will get you into more trouble than it’s worth. I am here to see Miss Reanna.”

  The thick man took a short look at Kilen’s eyes and stopped his cudgel. He seemed unsure of himself for a moment.

  “She’ll be in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t bother her if you know what’s good for ya,” the man said with a new shaky voice.

  Kilen gave a nod and pushed into the inn, pressing his back against the wall just inside the door. He leaned out and used his water vision to watch the two thugs.

  “Did you see that? He must have been wielding a lot of magic’s at once,” the first one said.

  “Yeah, I’ve never seen colors like that swirl in someone's eyes. If he causes trouble we had best fetch the town guard,” the second said. “Then again, he’s probably with them and found out Mrs. Reanna has been asking about where the noble’s loyalties lay.”

  The two men nodded together then stopped the next man coming towards the door. He skittered, off not wanting to bother with the two thugs. Kilen moved over to the bar and took a seat. The two men said “Mrs. Reanna,” which was weird; Brent had always called her Mistress Reanna. Kilen shrugged it off and saw Erica out of the corner of his eye.

  The young woman had saved his life when Kilen was too naive to understand the dangers of magic exhaustion. He hoped that she would remember him, but she wandered through the tables serving others without giving him a second glimpse. When she did round the bar where he sat, she didn’t even look at him when she spoke.

  “What’ll be, stranger?” She said, running a rag through a dirty mug.

  “I’ll have whatever you have cooking in the back,” Kilen said, putting a piece of silver on the counter just a finger's length in front of where his hand rested.

  Erica went to pick up the silver, and Kilen covered her hand as it touched the counter. She let out a squeal, and she tried to pull away, but with Kilen’s enhanced strength it took no effort to resist her tugs. While she pulled, Kilen used earth magic to fill her body with energy and then turned the magic to heal her wounds with water. Slowly, the tugging stopped, and she lowered her head to look inside Kilen’s hood.

  Before she could speak, he said again, “I’ll have whatever you have cooking in the back. A more private place to eat would also be welcome for my friends and me.”

  Erica went to her full height and looked around the tables but found no other members of his party.

  “They should arrive shortly,” Kilen added.

  “I’ll see what’s cooking in the back and ask Mrs. Reanna for a private room. How many will be joining us?” Erica asked.

  “It’s hard to say really,” Kilen said, trying to take a mental count. “I would say around fifteen.”

  Erica smiled and disappeared behind a swinging kitchen door. Kilen didn’t have to wait long before Mrs. Reanna was kicking some men out of one of the back dining areas. She waved Kilen back when the room was cleared out and began hustling some of the more drunk patrons. When Kilen entered the room, he remembered it as the room where Brent had given his first lessons in magic and healing. It was here he energized a tired and worn out Erica after she saved his life.

  Kilen ran his hands across the table and sat at the far end after removing his cloak. The cushioned seat was very welcoming after such an early morning. He might have fallen asleep before Mrs. Reanna burst in with Erica in tow.

  “I know you are a weapon bearer, but you have some explaining to do, Kilen. You just walk in my inn while half the Earth Realm is looking to collect a bounty on your head. What is going on? And don’t try and walk around the question like your wizard friend Parker.” Mrs. Reanna said.

  “A lot has been going on lately, I’m not sure where to begin,” Kilen said.

  “How about you start with Leviathan,” She said taking a seat next to Kilen.

  Erica sheepishly slid the plate of food across the table to where Kilen could reach it.

  “Yes, Leviathan has been raised. I am not sure what the rumors are-” Kilen said as Reanna cut him off.

  “Rumors?! We know the castle is up. I want to know how and who sits on the throne,” She said, looking to make sure the door was closed.

  Kilen nodded his head trying to think of how best to explain, “Well, it was only a few days ago when I found everything I needed to bring the castle out of the water. We were running from the Earth Realm, and while we had arrows streaking across the sky, I managed to raise it.”

  Mrs. Reanna stood knocking her chair to the floor, “My boy, you had better not be lying to me. Are you the Water Realm King?”

  Erica dropped a set of cups she was stacking from the last party in the room and went to her knees. Kilen nodded his head and took the crown from his satchel placing it on the table. It took Mrs. Reanna a couple seconds, but she too went to the floor, touching her forehead to the patterned rug.

  “Please, get up,” Kilen said, standing to help them up. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to let anyone know what’s going on just yet. We needed to talk to you first,” Kilen said, looking into the inn keeper’s eyes.

  “You came here on your own, Sire? To talk to me?” Mrs. Reanna asked.

  “By the Brights, no,” Kilen said, taking a seat again. “I have a few friends with me. Wizard Parker, Master Cresent, my sister Kara, and a few of her fire wizard friends. I also have a man bringing my armor, his name is Leroy Bradley. If you could make sure they all find their way back here when they arrive I would appreciate it.”

  “As you command, your majesty,” She said, bowing and walking out of the room taking Erica with her.

  “That was not a command,” Kilen said as they closed the door behind them. He shook his head and started to eat his lunch. It was a meat and potato stew with a decent blend of herbs. The meat was tough but tasted fine, he hoped he could Leroy to make another when he arrived.

  A few moments passed, and Kilen made it halfway through his meal before Erica came back inside carrying a bottle of wine and a covered plate. She took his stew and replaced it with what she had. Erica lifted off the cover to reveal a smoked duck, vegetables, bread, and cheese. Kilen’s stomach growled in anticipation of the meal.

  Leroy walked into the room carrying his bag of armor. “What are you doing!? It’s the first day, and you are already eating food that I didn’t make! Your wife, the Queen, was very specific,” Leroy yelled, taking the plate.

  “You’re right, I’m sorry. I forgot,” Kilen said as Erica slapped Leroy on the back of the head.

  “You can’t talk to a king like that! Mrs. Reanna will have you strung up for tone,” Erica said snatching the plate from Leroy and putting it back in front of Kilen.

  Kilen stood and put a hand on each of their arms, “Erica, he is right. Now that I am a king I cannot just trust anyone with what I eat or who guards my door. Besides, I remember when a young woman spoke to me very sternly in this same inn less than a year ago.”

  Erica turned red, obviously re
membering the tongue lashing she had given him for removing his imbuements when he nearly killed himself.

  “Leroy, if you will taste the food so I can eat. I am sure Erica will bring you a plate of food as well,” Kilen said retaking his seat.

  Leroy bowed his head and cut away a slice of each of the foods, smelling and tasting every bite. When he was done, he put the plate back in front of Kilen and took a seat.

  “One more plate, Sire?” Erica asked as she neared the door.

  “Three, if you and Mrs. Reanna don’t mind joining us, Erica. I have some questions that I need to be answered,” Kilen said, slicing away a piece of meat.

  Erica curtsied and disappeared out the door. Leroy rubbed the back of his head as she left his sight.

  “She has a strong arm for a girl so small. What did she give you a tongue lashing for?” He asked.

  “The first night I had my imbuements I nearly killed myself from exhaustion by taking them off. She came in my room just in time to search me and put them back on before I died,” Kilen said before he continued his meal.

  Leroy looked through the bags, pulling out his spice vest and various knives and tucking them all away. Kilen had finished his chicken by the time the door opened again to admit Erica and Mrs. Reanna.

  “It is an honor to be invited to eat with a king,” Mrs. Reanna said, sitting beside Kilen and waving for Erica to sit beside her.

  “I don’t know how long I will be king. I am only taking up the mantel until I can find a more suitable replacement,” Kilen said, taking another bite.

  Mrs. Reanna cleared her throat, “The honor of dining with a king is the same on his first day or his last, and I will not miss the opportunity. Now, you have some things you wish to speak to me about?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Reanna. I mostly wanted to know the state of Basham. Will this city stand with me or against me?” Kilen said as Leroy added a couple sprinkles of spice to Kilen’s chicken as Erica glared at him.