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

by Aaron Thomas

  Underneath the stone roof structure was a brilliantly colored painting of a past war. The Dark Army swarmed and burned cities. A depiction of a shadow-like creature sucking the soul out of a beautiful woman sat in the background. As Kilen moved further down the pillared corridor, he saw depictions of great armies failing to stop the Dark Army and retreating into forests and into hiding. Just past the middle of the overhanging roof, the dark depictions gave way to glowing men in white cloth standing their ground against a shadowy commander, holding the Dark Army at bay. Finally, the mountains and city of Ellipse stood as the last depiction, their mighty walls holding strong against wave after wave of the soulless forces. The Water Realm flag flew unfaltering atop the wall he had just seen.

  When Kilen looked away from the masterpiece, he saw a tunnel built into the mountain side. Sunlight appeared at the other end but in between was darkness only held back by the occasional torch. Paul spoke under his breath as Kilen watched a wind elemental sweep ahead. In an instant, three of Kilen’s four elemental friends were in front of him, walking amongst his soldier’s mounts. Joahna held a blue ball of flame that licked the ceiling of the stone tunnel.

  “The tunnel goes on too far for my liking. It feels too much like my room back in the estate,” Paul said, not looking away from the light at the distant end.

  Brent spoke in a serious tone while looking at the man, “You wouldn’t be here unless it were for your king. I would trust him that he would lead you out the other side.”

  “I didn’t say I wouldn’t follow, it’s just too far for me to feel comfortable,” Paul said, smiling back.

  Kilen smiled at his new companion, “After being stuck in a room for so long, I can see why.”

  The small troop passed through the tunnel taking in the walls covered with the tool marks that carved it. Every couple hundred paces a small slit was made in the stone wall. In the ceiling, a large foot-thick wall hung ready to fall into place if they were to be attacked. Behind each wall was a small alcove cut away and a small barracks tucked neatly inside. A large brazier warmed soldiers even on a hot day from the breeze that blew in from the cave. Kilen counted ten men outside warming themselves as he passed.

  The smell of fish was thick on the breeze that blew through the tunnel. It was mixed with the smells of a heavily populated city. The sound of the horse's hooves on the stone echoed and blocked out the sounds that traveled the man-made cave. The farther in they went, the more racks of weapons, shields, and stacks of bolts they saw. The closer they came to the far end of the cave, a stronger smell of fish and human refuse assailed him.

  Kilen choked back the bile building in the back of his throat and resisted the urge to pull his shirt over his face. He hoped that once they exited the cave, it would get better. Paul seemed to have no regret in his performance of wrapping a spare shirt about his face. A bit of muffled voice made its way out of his wrap, but the sounds in the cave made it inaudible.

  Finding solace in the light ahead, Kilen reigned in his feelings to hurry. Clearing the cave, he was blinded by the sunlight parting the clouds. He halted his horse until his vision could be regained. Jasper danced underneath him on a stone pathway that lead off in two directions, one leading down and to the right, and one up and to left as it wound its way along the coast of the circular bay. Only about ten feet in front of him were the wooden dock planks leading out onto the water.

  Various ships of different sizes and styles littered the docks and waters going about their normal business. Men attempted to sell fish and nets along the water’s edge. Kilen even saw some pirate’s ships docked together at the city's southern point.

  Brent pointed up the backside of the mountain, “We’re going there. We need to follow the path winding upwards.”

  Kilen looked at the stone road that zigzagged up the mountain. The pathway was wide enough for one cart to travel in either direction at the same time. Houses lined the road, and every stretch of mountainside was covered with the civilization. Clothes hung to dry, and planter gardens grew at every window.

  The farther up Kilen’s gaze went, the larger the structures became, the biggest was where Brent’s finger was pointing. A large stone home with pillars in front much like the entrance to the mountain rested at the end of Ellispe’s roadway and the pinnacle of the mountain. At this distance, Kilen could make out small specs of men standing guard beside the pillars.

  “Looks like a long ride yet,” Kilen said as Jasper pranced beneath him. He gave him a gentle nudge and started the trek. The slope of the road stayed steady the entire length of the range of mountains. The incline wasn’t much at first, but after the first hour the horse’s neck was beading with sweat, and his pace had slowed. Rounding the first corner, Kilen saw a small stable filled with horses. A man came running out.

  “Fresh horses here for your ride!” He said as they approached. He must have seen the circlet around Kilen’s head as nearly tripped. He added to the end of his sentence a quick, “Sire.”

  Brent leaned his head in, “We switch horses, so they have the strength to ride to the top. Otherwise, the journey could take days.”

  Kilen thought for a moment as the others switched out their horses. He looked down at his own giant of a horse companion and patted its neck. “I will finish the journey on my own,” Kilen said as he rejuvenated the strength and eased the pains of Jasper.

  Seeing the horse already starting to dance, Brent shook his head, “I would advise you to save your strength, but I know it would fall on deaf ears. Give us a moment to transfer our belongings, and we’ll be with you, Majesty.”

  Kilen waited as the soldiers took their bags off the horses. Leroy began to unhitch the horse from his wagon. Kilen watched the city as a prospering people walked the streets staring at the king that lived so far away. Some offered a bow before moving along, others slightly inclined their head. The soldiers and guardsmen that marched offered no symbol of respect as they passed. Kilen knew somehow this city would be just like the others. He would find little to no help here. The thought grew in his mind as he waited, it became frustratingly obvious to him that the climb up the mountain was futile.

  Looking down at Kara as she received help from the other fire wizards lifting her bag, he realized that she was looking at him the same way. Since he had named her the fire councilmen for the wizards council, he had disregarded her thoughts and ideas. She mumbled to herself as she climbed in the new saddle. He knew the words were being directed at him.

  Kilen was growing angry because if he didn’t receive help in growing his army, the entire journey had been for nothing. He felt as if there was a rising inferno beneath his shirt. The thought came to his mind, “Why is the horse moving all over, maybe I should have switched it.” Then he remembered he had energized it and he was squeezing it with imbued strength. The crying man echoed a laugh in the recesses of his mind, and Kilen lashed out the darkness inside of him.

  A small spark snapped at his shoulder, and during his anger, he turned his horse to face Kara. Reaching out his arm in engulfed itself in flame. He had intended to bathe her in water, but his anger only allowed for the flame, he had lost control. The small fire-like elemental, Joahna, grew to an overwhelming twelve feet tall before disappearing into a small floating amber in an attempt to block and attack Kilen’s flame.

  The feeling of a concussion boomed in his ear, and he felt the presence of another in his mind.

  “What are you doing? You almost attacked her,” Joahna shouted to the void inside him.

  Kilen held his head in his hands trying to understand why he suddenly had been so angry, it had never happened to him before. Joahna must have read his thoughts and turmoil because he answered.

  “She was using an aura on you,” Joahna said.

  “Aura,” Kilen whispered as the unfamiliar word crossed his lips.

  Brent’s new horse came abreast of Kilen as onlookers and guards finally diverted their attention. Kara seemed shocked, but anger was not the emotion dis
played on her face. Confusion and terror seemed to keep her gaze frozen and locked with Kilen’s.

  “An aura, did you say?” Brent asked.

  “I’ve heard the term only briefly. Will you tell me and Kara more about it?” Kilen said, turning his horse away from his sister. They started another climb of the mountain as Kara rushed to catch up looking sick in her saddle.

  Brent cleared his throat and launched into his lecturing voice, “An aura is an ability that wizards have, projecting their emotions on others. The skill is strictly enforced and forbidden by the Elder Wizards.”

  “If it’s forbidden, why am I just now hearing about it?” Kilen asked angrily.

  “Well, My Lord, aura’s can rarely be used by Weapon and Armor Bearers. The ability is born from deep emotions. These emotions are rarely tapped into by anyone other than wizards that are affected by the emotional detriments they are afflicted with. Such an Aura is anger, like Kara’s. To tell the truth, the ability to use the skill is rare even amongst wizards,” Brent explained.

  The skinny wizard leaned in close, “Fire wizards are most likely the ones to develop the skill, so it’s no wonder your sister can use it.”

  Kara cut in, “I didn’t know I was doing it.”

  “It’s okay Councilmen, most people don’t know about it. It’s a long-forbidden ability, thank the Brights. The Elders will understand, so long as you do not use it intentionally on someone. Both of you would know about it if your elemental studies were completed in a more traditional manner. It’s no wonder that Kara has the skill; her name is Everheart after all,” Brent said, smiling to himself.

  “So, you and Kara have the ability to change people's emotions?” Kilen asked.

  “No, no. I have no skill in it, and I don’t want to try. In truth, she cannot really change your emotions, only influence them,” Brent corrected.

  “So she was angry?” Kilen asked.

  Kara interrupted, “I’m likely to get angry again if you keep excluding me from conversations.”

  Both Brent and Kilen eyed her for a moment as she rode beside them.

  Kilen gave her a nod, “Yes, you’re right. I still see you as my little sister, but I can see that we have both grown. I apologize for not treating you like the woman you are now.”

  Kara gave a small bow of the head as she seemed to accept his apology.

  “When we reach the top of the mountain I would be honored if you would introduce us. I’m sure Brent can provide you with some instruction if you need it. It’s time I start letting you perform as a councilman,” Kilen said.

  “I think that’s the wisest thing you’ve said in a long time, Majesty,” Brent said with a smile.

  “I need to know more about auras, Wizard Parker,” Kilen snapped back, still feeling some emotions from Kara’s gaze. “I think Kara may have unintentionally affected me more than once. We both need to learn about auras so we both can stop being so irritable.”

  “Of course,” Brent said, clearing his throat. “What I’ve learned is that some wizards are able to push their emotions on others. Where most of it’s voluntary, some don’t learn to control themselves and do it to many people around them. If we had an experienced fire wizard around with the skill in it, we might have noticed Kara doing it earlier. The act does use magic in an odd manner and is visible through the different types of vision. I presume the reason you have been able to help the other fire wizards overcome their emotions is that you have been influencing them emotionally. The ability may not always have the outcome you desire if you continue to use it.”

  “What do you mean?” Kara said.

  “Although you push someone's anger or passion to change, the subject of that change can be different than you intended. For example, you remember the wizard that attacked Alexander while you were training Al’tore? I now think that perhaps you may have him so passionate that he acted sooner than he wanted to,” Brent said.

  Kilen understood, and by the look on Kara’s face, she understood as well.

  “Al’tore.”She paused, thinking “Perhaps my passion was pushed on him to help him control his own emotions?”

  Brent nodded his head slowly, “Indeed, it may be so. There’s no way to tell other than having a wizard that can recognize when an aura is being used.”

  Kara nodded her head, “I will watch myself then. I don’t want to violate any of the Elder’s laws.”

  “No, we wouldn’t want that,” Brent said, giving a small chuckle.

  Kilen contemplated the effects of auras and tried to remember if he’d ever been the subject of one. Joahna and Max had bent his emotions to their will and had been caught. The situation seemed different because they were inside his head and not manipulating him from the outside.

  “Is there a way to resist an aura?” Kilen asked.

  Brent scratched his chin, “I cannot assume one way or the other. Perhaps I can consult the wizard's library for an answer.”

  “There are a lot of things I need answers for that I’m afraid no book can address,” Kilen said to himself.

  “What was that?” Brent asked, sitting forward in his saddle.

  Kilen cleared his throat, “For now, we need to focus on the task at hand, getting to the top of this city.”

  The ride was rather boring for the next hour up the mountain. His soldiers traded out horses while Kilen sat atop his large roan. With Max’s help Brent, Kara, and Al’tore’s horses were rejuvenated.

  The higher they went into the mountain, the more Kilen could view the sea. Just beyond the breakers, the water turned from a stagnant brown color to a clear blue with white capped waves. Ships were entering and exiting the port, being carefully directed by large, colored flags controlled by towers spread throughout the rocks. White birds swarmed every vessel and fisherman along every bank and dock.

  The site of Ellipse’s bay was something that Kilen could get used to. The smell in the lower city was something that he was unsure he could stand for much more than a day at most.

  Near the top of the mountain the road stopped at the large marble stone-like manner, he saw from the bottom. The manner was a monstrosity of a home and rivaled the size of Leviathan’s castle. Giant pillars gave way to covered gardens and pools of water. Soldiers stood every fifty feet in complete gleaming armor with weapons close at hand. Although the presence of armored men was abundant, Kilen saw none marked with the rankings of wielders.

  Kilen saw the front door to the building as the path they were allowed to travel narrowed with soldiers forming a line on either side. An open doorway with statues of soldiers cased a man in a blue silk robe.

  “Welcome to Burnholt Manner and Ellipse. May I inquire as to why you have come?” The man said, smiling.

  Only then did Kilen remember he was supposed to put on a serious, almost angry face through the city. He did his best to put one on now, although he assumed it was a bit too late.

  “You know very well who this is and why we are here, magistrate. Why has Lord Burnholt not come to greet us himself?” Brent said in a commanding tone.

  “My master, Lord Burnholt, was indisposed. Due to the suddenness of your arrival, he was unable to be here. He does send his regards and offers a meeting for a feast this evening,” The man coolly replied.

  Brent looked at Kilen. Kilen gave a slight nod of his head in return.

  “The King accepts Lord Burnholt’s request to have him for a dinner feast. We will be using some of your rooms to freshen up,” Brent said.

  Kilen tried to keep a straight face, but Brent’s words made him laugh on the inside. The way Brent spoke was as if Faris had invited Kilen, and what was even funnier; that Kilen was going out of his way to accept his invitation. Brent was playing some sort of game that Kilen just didn’t understand.

  The man snapped his fingers and soldiers came to help Kilen and his friends dismount from their horses. Brent was at his side in a moment.

  “Speak to no one, and keep that face. I will do my best at dinner to keep
the conversation on task. Be sure that you eat or drink nothing unless Leroy has given it to you himself. I will see you for dinner,” Brent said, falling in behind Kilen as they were lead to their rooms.

  **********

  Alexander paced as he and Warick waited in the empty mayor's home of Ebenstein. Warick puffed furiously on his pipe as he stared out the window. Dried blood still adorned many of the streets, walls, windows, and doorways of this town. It had been a week since any living thing had been allowed to roam freely.

  “Are you certain we can trust her, Alexander?” Warick asked for the tenth time.

  Alexander answered the question the same way he had every time Warick asked, “If what she says is true, we have no other choice but to give an alliance a chance, excuse me, the partnership.”

  “What keeps her from killing us both tonight?” He asked again as if he had the questions laid out in order just to annoy Alexander.

  Frustrated, he replied again, “She needs us, and we need her and the Dark Army. It is a means to an end.”

  “The discovery of spirit wizards is disturbing. We’ve had them amongst us and have been lucky to not have one rise to power. Now we have two to contend with, and one was put into power by our own hand,” Warick said in a grim tone.

  “We cannot change the past, we can only hope to secure the future. Having Sahera on our side will give us a more complete knowledge of the magic that we’ve been ignorant of for so long,” Alexander replied, changing his answer.

  Warick stopped puffing on his pipe for a moment and resumed his questions, “What will we do with her when this is finished? Will she submit to us?”

  “These are questions you will have to-” Alexander stopped mid sentence.

  A force of wind he had left as a trap in the streets was broken. The break in the wind caused by a foot stepping through it alerted him to the presence in town.