by Aaron Thomas
“There are much far more trustworthy than me, Majesty,” Paul said, smiling.
Kilen was caught off guard by the statement suggesting Paul was not trustworthy. He cleared his throat, “Feel their feelings as well as their willingness and intent. When you find the one that is the best choice, let me know.”
“Wait, am I choosing the one that is the best choice for me or the best choice for you?” Paul asked, giving a small laugh.
Kilen tightened his jaw in frustration, “Let’s just say that you can choose either. If it turns out to be the wrong choice, one of my elementals will sever your head so that you might end up being useful as one of the spirits inside me.”
Paul smiled, “So the best choice for you then, got it.”
The man once labeled as crazy walked off a bit into the grass and stared at the ground while whispering to himself.
“Do you really think this is wise?” A small flame on Kilen’s piece of wheat asked.
“Yes, Joahna. We may need help, and one man wielding four elementals could tip the scale of battle in our direction. Secondly, if we are ever to convince the world that spirit wizards are real, we will need more than the rantings of a crazy king,” Kilen said, staring at Paul.
The man walked back with a grin on his face, “I have had several volunteers, all of which are anxious to breathe fresh air again.”
Max gave a laugh, “None of us can breathe air, but we do have our mind to ourselves.”
“I guess that will have to do,” Paul replied.
Kilen made Paul lay down. He gave the instructions for summoning an elemental as exactly as he could remember the words from Twilix’s mouth. Kilen handed Paul his dagger imbued with the wind, sheath first. After a few minutes of frustration on Paul’s part, there was a visible convulsion of his body.
Using the wind vision, Kilen could see two areas of stagnant wind. One was Jace, the other was unknown. Kilen quickly retrieved his blade and tucked it in his belt. Both wind elementals remained.
Chapter 17 - A Hammer
The stack of books seemed to get larger by the day. Twilix thought that she was spending only a few moments on each one but found it to be the days end only after finishing examination of just a few books. Some distracted her by the knowledge they contained. Still, even with Ria and now Jessica’s help, they had not found the requested information.
Every book simply stated ‘The Brights faced the Dark Army and won.’ There was no additional information. The Brights seemed to appear when the world needed them most and vanish when their job was complete. Jessica found the only brief explanation of what a Bright truly was. A being with immense power, a wizard able to wield all four types of magic at once. Since no wizard was ever recorded as having the ability to use more than one magic without an imbuement, after the Brights defeated the Dark Army and disappeared, their legend became a religion.
Jessica poured Twilix a fresh cup of mint tea to calm her stomach. Twilix’s stomach problems had been getting increasingly worse over time. Even with preventative measures, she was still having to consciously hold her food down. Ria had ordered Jessica to try the food to see if she was poisoned. Jessica had no problems with the food until Ria told her that she was tasting it for poisons.
After that, Jessica didn’t eat around Twilix for two days. Twilix still had to apologize for something that she didn’t even do. Otherwise, having Jessica as a confidant was very beneficial. Twilix now had a full wardrobe, a room with furniture fit for a king and queen, horses, curtains and many more items filling the castles previously empty walls.
Twilix sipped the tea, the taste was becoming bland, and it only seemed to work if she drank it very slowly. She looked down at the bucket that had been hidden beside her seat just in case she became overwhelmed.
She looked at the list of things to look after but found that Kilen had done a fine job of sending her workers. The city of Basham had finished all repairs and began running well with the new mayor’s appointment. With Basham’s dock finished, the workers were all sent to Leviathan to repair and build anything that was requested. They were supposed to work an hour a day to repay the damage they did to their city. A week in Leviathan was the same as working a couple months worth of their commitment.
Her castle now had doors at every entrance, and benches, weapon stands, docks, firewood, and crops were now an abundance. New stores were opening, and the soldiers were being placed throughout the city as guards.
She wondered if Kilen knew what he was doing or if it just seemed to fall together at his request. She shrugged to herself, it didn’t matter now. Twilix was just happy that the city was coming together.
Ray’s threat to the Earth Realm seemed to do the trick. The soldiers had left the gates alone long enough that her own trained wielders were now able to stand guard. The retired king had been working hard to ensure Leviathan’s safety. They now had what he called one thousand basic trained soldiers and two hundred basic wielders. He claimed to be able to train twice as many in the next week with the help of the trained soldiers.
She doubted him until she watched a training session. New water wielders healed anyone that got wounded. Earth magic wielders replenished energy to keep not only the healers standing but the trainees as well. This kind of training reminded her of Chit’s training under Captain Lorusk, but anyone taking unnatural risks was removed and sent to stand guard at the gates. Ray warned the men that if they wanted to take risks, then they wouldn’t mind being the first to fight should Atmos send a surprise attack.
The one statement kept most from taking risks or getting sloppy. Each man trained hard and used every bit of energy they could. In addition to the sword training, anyone wanting to learn to be a wielder would use the rest of their energy every night to replenish others before retiring. It meant that training could be kept up all hours of the night. Ray made sure it was kept steady, even during meal times.
Now he had set new recruits sparring against the basic trained soldiers. The fights helped increase confidence in both men and build skills as they fought real fights with wooden swords. With the rigorous schedule, the improvement was noticeable in every soldier in just one day’s work.
Captain Wells and Ray had used every resource they could, even calling on Twilix and Ria to heal and re-energize the soldier showing the best effort for the day. Ray said having the queen or a council member heal the men gave them something to work hard for. Twilix took pleasure in it, after all, she wasn’t using her energy for anything other than trying to stay awake while she read the more boring selections.
Twilix took another sip of her mint tea and looked again at the bucket with aversion. She had lost her stomach so many times in the last week she was well acquainted with the small wooden vessel. She willed herself to not use it by pushing it further away with her foot. The small act itself made her almost lose her meal, but she closed her eyes and took deep breaths to quell the feeling rising in her throat.
When she opened her eyes, she noticed Ria was holding her breath as well. Twilix gave her a pale nod and looked back down at her book. She hadn’t read a single line in the last half hour. She started the line again as Daniel walked down the steps to the open armory in the floor. The strong man disappeared below the surface of the water that was a magic barrier and into the armory.
Twilix was intrigued by the new stable master. He left the work to be done at the stable and spent as much time as he could finding jobs that would put him near his wife. Jessica was always with Twilix, so Twilix was seeing a lot of the man. He never seemed to care how much work was put on his shoulders. The harder Daniel worked, the more pleasure he seemed to take in it.
When the man’s head rose up out of the water, Twilix looked away attempting, to look as though she weren’t watching the spot in which he had disappeared. Daniel’s arms were laden with shields and armor imbued with magic. He wore thick leather to ensure that his skin didn’t touch any of the imbued pieces. The odd man seemed to have an aversion
to using magic. He gave the excuse that he was unworthy. She thought it was funny that the more the person was adverse to using it, the more worthy they were.
He disappeared at the top of the steps and closed the door behind him. Twilix looked over and saw Jessica smiling back.
“Your Majesty, I have already lost one man to you. I will not lose another,” She said, smiling.
Twilix smiled back, “Do all the men from Humbridge work as hard as Daniel and my husband?”
“Most. Although Bowie Crescent worked harder at avoiding work than actually doing work,” Jessica replied. “Chit, of course, flat out refused work at all. We were quite happy when he stopped making work for the rest of us when he joined the army.”
“I had forgotten Chit came from Humbridge,” Twilix said.
“He had little to do with the town unless of course it meant emptying casks of ale,” Jessica said bitterly.
“Yes, well he’s someone else’s problem now,” Twilix replied.
Ria laughed, “He’s still your problem. Chit is actually a rather large problem at that. The so-called Champion is the dangerous lapdog of your enemy. When he attacks Leviathan, that ‘other person’s problem’ will kill your men relentlessly. You better start thinking of him as a big problem.”
Twilix swallowed but was unsure it was fear at Ria’s words or another lump of nausea. She bowed her head slightly anyways, saying she would adjust her image of Chit. Ria gave a nod in return and went back to her book.
A commotion in the hallway distracted the earth wizard enough that she stood. Ria was about to go inspect the noise in the hallway when Captain Wells burst through the door.
“Your Majesty, a Kapal is on the grounds,” Wells said catching his breath, looking back down the hallway.
“Why are you breathing so hard?” Twilix asked. “A Kapal could be a good thing.”
Wells turned his attention back down the hallways, “I don’t think this one is. He knocked out the Commander with one punch. He’s walking here now. I don’t know if I can stop him. I think it wise if you leave the throne room through the side entrance and hide.”
“Nonsense, let him through. If he tries to attack me, then you may defend me your best. I will not run and hide from my own throne room,” Twilix said, straightening her back trying to look as tall as she could.
Wells drew his sword and waited just inside the doorway. A short Kapal dressed in black spiked armor entered the door, placing his forearm into Wells’ chest. When Wells didn’t budge, the Kapal showed his pointed teeth in what could have been a smile.
Twilix recognized the spiked armor, she had spent many years staring at this particular Kapal from a distance. Recently, she had found him irritating, but she knew the Kapal had meant well.
“Gortus?” Twilix called.
“My lady, Twilix,” Gortus said, stepping back to bow.
“Let him in, Captain. I know this Kapal. He is not here to harm me,” Twilix said, standing.
The motion of standing made her stomach turn. By instinct, she grabbed the bucket and emptied her stomach, again. She hadn’t been able to eat much, so most was the mint tea. She used a towel to wipe her mouth and sat back on her throne.
“An odd way to greet an old friend,” Gortus said, pulling off his helmet as he descended the stairs. He laid his helmet on the last row of seats before taking a knee in front of the throne. “Where is the king?”
“King Everheart has business recruiting an army outside the castle’s walls,” Twilix said.
Slamming his fist against his chest, Gortus bowed his head, “By the Elder Wizard’s honor, I pledge my unquestionable service to this throne. I will protect this throne from rogue wizards, unjustified wielders, and uncommissioned Kapal. All these things will I do so forth as the crown is worthy held upon your head and you will have me in your court.”
Ria practically hissed at his words, Twilix knew she had been labeled a rogue wizard, but she had also spent time with the Elders.
“Gortus, last I heard from my husband and the king of this land if you two were ever to meet again you would battle him to the death. Is this true?” Twilix asked.
“The words you speak are true,” Gortus replied without looking up.
Twilix sat silently for a moment trying to hold back the urge to retch. The rest of the room must have thought it quiet contemplation, so she tried to look as if she were thinking.
“One day my husband will return to this throne, what will you do Kapal?” Twilix asked.
“I will honor my commitment to the throne and your crown. I will not fight him,” Gortus said, confidently.
Twilix smiled, “Why is it you said those things to him?”
“I would rather not say, Majesty,” Gortus replied.
Twilix watched a single bead of sweat roll down his cheek. In all her years, in skirmishes and battling with Kilen, she had never seen a Kapal sweat.
“What would dishonor you more, revealing your secret or being refused by this throne?” Twilix asked, sitting up straight.
Gortus gave a small growl under his breath, “I was prophesied to be the Kapal to find the savior of our people. I once thought I had made a mistake thinking it was Kilen. I see that he has taken a throne and has become more powerful than I ever thought he could be. I must admit that I may have made a bigger mistake in doubting him. If you allow me the honor of serving this crown, I will prove my faith in him to save my people.”
Twilix smiled, “Very well. I will honor your gift of service to this throne.”
Gortus stood and looked about for a moment, “How long have you been sick?”
“A couple of weeks. It’s not poison, Gortus. We check the food now. I’m taking some mint tea to help,”
“Mint tea won’t help you much, at least it doesn’t help the women in my tribe. I would ask Izabel to make you some tea. She has helped many mothers through their first months,” Gortus said before sitting down.
All three women were on their feet in a moment. The pot and book Jessica and Ria were holding crashed to the ground. It hit Twilix like a punch in the stomach, she knew she should have known. She felt it as soon as the words left Gortus’ mouth.
She was pregnant.
“I should have seen the signs,” Ria said over and over as she looked at Twilix up and down.
“I knew for being sick, you looked too radiant. We all should have known better. All this talk of poisoning and needing not be sick must have distracted us.” Jessica added.
Ria picked her book up, sitting on the chair’s arm, “If you don't need me, I will be off to find a water wielder sufficient to have a look at and confirm the baby.”
“Yes, and I will find this Izabel you are always talking about. We need to get the sickness under control before you lose so much weight you really do fall ill. Will you be okay if I leave you with the men?” Jessica asked while looking at Gortus as if she was unsure if he was a man.
“Yes, Gortus alone will be sufficient to look after me. You will protect me, won’t you?” She asked while looking at the Kapal.
“Normally I am not to be a protector to the king unless it is one of the traitors set forth by the Elder Wizards. I am not partial to letting a pregnant woman come to harm. It would dishonor me to refuse to protect you,” Gortus replied. “Besides, I have considered you a friend. You are one of a very few people who does not avoid my Kapal abilities.”
Twilix gave Jessica a nod, who then left the room to find the herbalist. Captain Wells stood at the entrance to the throne room as if he was unsure what to do.
“You may leave us, Captain. Oh, and Captain, this whole baby issue will be kept secret. Do you understand?” Twilix asked.
The captain saluted and closed the door to the throne room. Gortus stretched and started taking off his arm guards. She had seen him wear all his armor on few occasions. He mostly walked about with his leg guards and chest piece. When he wore all his armor, he was expected trouble. The fact he was taking off the pieces meant tha
t he no longer expected it.
“Your military commander may be a problem,” Gortus said, casually.
“I doubt that, but why do you think so?” Twilix asked, dumping the rest of the mint tea in the bucket. The sound almost made her sick up again, but she managed to hold it down.
“I use to serve your commander when he was king. I left him because he demanded that I train his troops to fight. When I refused, he then demanded that I lead the front lines of his army. I refused a second time, and he sent his best men against me. I left, and when I was gone, he knew their deaths were on his hands. I cannot break the vows our people gave to the Elder Wizards and my people.”
“Did he attack you because of this?”
Gortus shook his head, “I didn’t give him a chance. He knows how I felt about killing men I considered to be friends. He left me no choice.”
Twilix sat for a moment before asking, “Will you cause more problems for him or him for you?”
“He will cause no problems for me, I have an agreement with you to honor. I will follow that for my people until it is time to return to them,” Gortus said as he started to take off his greaves.
“Very well, I am sure I can keep Ray under control. So long as you agree not to hit him unless it’s in self-defense,” Twilix said.
“Agreed,” He said, just before the throne room door burst open.
Daniel stopped at the top of the stairs after he saw no one else was in the room. Twilix watched as he looked around and finally started to back out of the room.
“Come in, Daniel. I want you to meet Gortus. He trained Kilen how to use the sword,” Twilix said as Daniel slowly made his way to the throne.
Daniel stepped in close and lost his balance for a moment. Gortus didn’t flinch. Instead, he held out his dark-skinned hand. Daniel, having regained his balance, grabbed a hold and gave it a shake.