by Aaron Thomas
Kilen took a breath, then turned to his sister and gave her a small nod. The smile on Kara’s face made the entire night worth this moment. Taking a step forward, Kara pushed the loose strand of hair out of her way, tucking it behind her ear.
“Lord Burnholt,” She said, giving a half bow. “I, Kara Everheart, Councilmen to the Water Realm, introduce his Majesty and King of the Water Realm, my brother, and Weapon Bearer to the Elder Wizards, Kilen Everheart.”
Kara stepped out of the way, and Kilen took a step closer so he was only a few feet in front of the desk. Being this close, he got a better look at the man. He was average height but carried a bit more weight than he should have, particularly around his middle. The belly protruded from underneath a fine blue jacket tightly covered by a silk button up shirt. The man had an almost unreadable face that was lined by a small point of a goatee and thin mustache.
“Majesty, I had no idea you were still awake. I only just returned a few moments ago and was going to finish my records here and make my way down to the banquet,” Burnholt said.
Brent leaned in close, whispering in Kilen’s ear, “Mind your temper. He’s playing games with you. Keeping your composure will win this game.”
Kilen took a deep breath in and looked at the chair in front of him. Touching the seat with his fingers, he looked over the room. It was covered in ornate objects, small paintings, and furniture made with the finest materials. He slowly took a seat and motioned for Burnholt to do the same.
“My name is Kilen. I would like you to call me by my name and not my title. Being a king is new to me, and I find it difficult to concentrate when someone calls me something other than my name,” Kilen said, trying to relax.
“Of course, Sire,” Burnholt said, taking a seat. “It would be ostentatious then for you to call me anything other than my name, David. Please, Sire, call me David.”
Kilen took a moment to look around the room a bit more as he thought about how to proceed with the conversation.
“I was hoping to make my stay here a short one. Not that I don’t like Ellipse, but I have an army gathering on my doorstep. A more lengthy stay here will have to wait until King Atmos is dealt with,” Kilen said, still looking about the room.
Burnholt smiled, “I hope that your stay here has been enjoyable so far, besides my absence of course?”
Kilen ignored the question, “Your presence is what matters the most and to say the least, I’m a bit irritated that you have ignored me, David.”
Burnholt put his hand to his chest, “Ignored you, Sire? I would never. Ignoring the king of this land would be near treason. I’m sure you can understand the time and effort it takes to run a city this size. Of course, you have to run an entire realm, so you know just how much work it is keeping a balance within your borders.”
Kilen knew that he didn’t have the experience needed to run a city, but he also knew better than to advertise that. Admitting he knew nothing would give Burnholt the upper hand in the conversation.
“Yes. Well, I suppose planning a banquet, running a city, and having a king reside in your manner has been taxing, to say the least. So taxing, in fact, that you’ve been so absent from your own home that your servants think you aren’t even here,” Kilen said, sitting back in the chair.
Burnholt gave a small smile, “I can see that you understand. Now that we’re together, perhaps we can talk about why you came so urgently to Ellipse.”
“I’m not here to play games, David. You know why, as well as the rest of the kingdom.”
“Thank the Brights you’re not playing games, Majesty. I’d hope you would treat the matter of men’s lives as anything but a game. Any help I send you, if I send some, should be treated with the utmost respect,” Burnholt said, flipping through the papers on his desk.
Brent gave a small chuckle that was followed by a straight face.
Kilen leaned in again, too nervous to sit still in the uncomfortable seat, “Lord Burnholt, I’m not some privileged noble’s child. I know the value of one man’s life. When you do lend me some troops, I will not squander their lives in frivolous pursuits of grandeur.”
Burnholt tapped his fingers on the desk and studied each person in the room, seemingly ignoring Kilen’s elemental friends. “Yes, well. I would love to have a more formal meeting tomorrow. Perhaps in better light where I can look over the reports I’ve received and come to an agreement?”
Kilen gave a slow nod while looking into the noble’s eyes, “We are in a meeting now, and the lighting was good enough for you to examine your papers before we arrived. I’m sure it’s fine now as well. Besides, I don’t want to have to chase you down to get answers again.”
“Very well, but if I’m forced to make a decision tonight, I’m afraid you won’t like the answer,” Burnholt replied.
“Why not?” Brent asked from behind Kilen.
Burnholt crossed his arms and sat up in his chair, “Even if I lent you the troops, you wouldn’t arrive in time. Atmos is already at Leviathan. His attack will begin in days. No, you’re more useful here and behind the walls of Ellipse.”
“More useful?” Brent asked.
“Let’s say that Leviathan does survive King Atmos’ attack. Surely there will be casualties on both sides. These losses along with the damage to the city, loss of skills obtained by wielders that die in battle, and a bunch of untrained soldiers coming into the city, will make it very difficult to survive against an undead army,” Burnholt said as he pointed at a map as if Kilen didn’t know where his own castle was located.
Moving his finger to Ellispe he began again, “Now, if you stayed here along with any troops we can gather together we will have Ellispe’s never before penetrated defenses to stand behind. Sure the city of Leviathan will be crushed, but Atmos has plans to relocate the survivors of both armies to this city should the elders fail in eliminating the Dark Army. I mean you have to know that Leviathan just doesn’t have the numbers to stop Atmos.”
“How do you know if Atmos has the numbers or not?” Brent asked.
Burnholt cleared his throat, “A wind wizard named Mica came to me a few days before you arrived. He carried a scroll from Atmos. The scroll gave me current numbers and made me an offer that I had to consider, and since it seemed to cause me no harm, I agreed with Atmos’ terms.”
“What were the terms,” Kilen said at almost a growl.
“Atmos proposed that if you came to Ellipse, that I was to delay your departure for as long as possible. Bursting into my office cut my plans rather short but I did delay as long as I could. If I did this, he would send Ellipse ten thousand gold and issue the order for me to have a third imbuement,” Burnholt said smuggly, looking directly into Brent’s eyes.
“May I see the document?” Brent asked.
The man gave a nod and went to a nearby bookshelf. Pulling a red-bound book out of its place. He opened it to reveal a hollow chamber where the pages should have been. Inside was a series of documents the top of which he pulled, and replaced the book amongst the others. Handing the page to Brent, he sat back down and waited for it to be read.
As Brent read the page, he started to smile and handed the page to Kilen.
“I’m afraid you’ve been beaten at your own game. Your greed for power and wealth has clouded you to the fine print. The document says you will get a third imbuement, but it doesn’t say on what or if it will be stacked with another. He may just give you a imbued ring to add to your collection. I’m sure it’s worth a great deal of wealth, but certainly not the station you were hoping for,” Brent said, giving a small and satisfied chuckle.
After reading the part Brent was talking about, Kilen handed the page back to Burnholt who quickly read it over again. The noble’s cheeks grew a slight bit red, but the man’s demeanor never faltered.
“Even without the power associated with another imbuement, I could not refuse this offer. As I see it, the world will soon be rushing to my gate. The world will be fleeing the army of the soulless ri
ght into my arms. When Atmos has lost everything, he will flee here as well and agree to give me whatever imbuements I wish for his passage through the mountain. I wish you would consider standing here with me inside these safe walls,” Burnholt said, tucking the document into the desk drawer.
Kilen cleared his throat, “You would let the world die for a chance at power?”
Burnholt sat forward, folding his hands together with a wicked smile, “I cannot bring all of the world into my walls. I could only bring the strongest and most powerful so that when the smoke of the battle clears, we could hope to rebuild society.”
“If you need the strongest and most powerful in the walls, then why do you refuse to lend me men to face the army out there. If there’s a chance to save half or even a quarter of the elemental realms, why won’t you help save them?” Kilen asked pleadingly.
“Sending men out to face the Dark Army without a city's defenses would only get them slaughtered. There is one thing you said that I will agree with; I do need the strongest men. So I propose to send one hundred of my newest recruits to travel with you. If you manage to go and get to Leviathan in time for a battle, you can use them. You can have their lives at your service so I may make space for finer men here,” Burnholt said.
Kara stepped up behind Kilen and placed her hand on his shoulder, “You would give one hundred men to us, thinking that they would die just to make room for someone better?”
“I’m not giving anything. If you decide to take the one hundred men, then you would have to agree to bring them all back alive. Come back without them, and you have to pay the price,” Burnholt said with a confident tone.
“What’s the price?” Kara asked.
Burnholt smiled, “For every man you don’t return with, you will need to slay a hundred of the soulless before I let you in the gates,”
Brent held up a hand, “And if we manage to not only defeat Atmos, but destroy the Dark Army, what then?”
“Then we will all sing and dance and celebrate the occasion,” Burnholt said.
Kilen shook his head, “No, we’ll send those hundred men back to this city to remove you and all the other nobles from their seats. One hundred men will show you how much cowardice this city’s walls hide,” Kilen said, standing. “One hundred men, ready to leave by morning, Burnholt.”
“I’ll have the men ready and awaiting your command,” Burnholt said as he stood and gave a bow.
Kilen turned and walked out of the room feeling frustrated and defeated. Atmos had managed to poison the nobles at even the farthest reaches of his kingdom. Before Kilen could reach the stairs, Kara was by his side.
“Are you really going to accept only one hundred recruits?” Kara asked.
“One hundred men,” Kilen corrected. “Yes, I will take any number of men that we can muster. We’ll need them before the battle with the Dark Army. Even if we don’t make it in time to stop Atmos from taking Leviathan. Either way, we can’t waste any more time here in the city.”
Kara gave a small nod as she tried to keep up, “Kilen.”
He stopped in the hallway and turned to look at his sister. In that small moment, he could see his little sister looking at him as if requesting his approval. He waited for her to speak as she fidgeted her feet on the stone floor.
“I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn back there. I couldn’t hold it in much longer,” She said.
Kilen placed his hands on her shoulders, “You did wonderfully. I should have trusted you earlier. Keep speaking up, no matter how much I protest.”
She gave him a nod with a smile on her face. He just hoped he could continue to see her as a grown woman and not his little sister.
Chapter 21 - Defenses
Alexander strode through the streets of Zepher, clinging a light brown cloak to his body. The early morning hours left a thick fog this deep in the valley, letting him move without suspicion. Although, since he had entered, he thought he might have no reason to sneak about anywhere. The sounds of any normal town rang out around him in the darkened haze over the city.
Blacksmiths worked hammers against pieces of metal. Horses whinnied in the distance and conversations could be heard coming from places of business. Zepher seemed to be just as ordinary as every other city Alexander had ever been too. Hearing the squeaking sign overhead, he stepped into an inn.
A sparse morning crowd littered the main room. Some seemed to be attempting to drink away any leftover problems from the day before, but most were eating breakfast. Alexander dropped a couple silver on the bartop and took his seat. Before he could ask, he was brought a plate of eggs and ham.
“Ale, milk, wine, or water?” The young woman behind the bar asked.
“Water, please,” Alexander replied while taking a bite of the food.
When she returned with a cup of water Alexander put another silver piece on the counter and waited.
“Need a room as well? It’ll cost you twice this,” She said, making the silver piece disappear.
“Not yet, just a bit of information. Which noble runs this city now?” Alexander asked.
“No one knows. Decrees are put out at night, and we follow them,” She said as she started to resume her cleaning behind the bar.
“No one has ever tried to meet the rulers of Zepher?” Alexander asked before taking a bite of his biscuit.
“I’ve been here for seven years and I’ve learned not to question the ruling class. The few times I’ve heard of someone disagreeing with the decrees, it ended with the person’s body hanging from a tree. You better be careful about how you ask questions about them as well. They seem to have ears everywhere,” She said, giving a half smile.
Alexander cleared his throat, “I’m not questioning anything. I only wanted to know who was in charge here. It seems as if Zepher is doing rather well.”
“It gets better here year by year, especially with crime being dealt with so swiftly,” She said while refilling his cup of water.
“Oh. Do the guards deal with criminals as well? I didn’t see any on my way into town,” Alexander said, looking around as if he would see a guard pass the windows.
“I haven’t seen any guards, but crime is dealt with before anyone even knows what happened. We just find a body in the morning either burnt, twisted, crushed, or drowned. When we find one, there’s usually a note attached to them stating their crime. The only crimes being committed lately are being out after curfew,” She said, stepping away from the bar to refill a few mugs.
The description she gave of the dead bodies sounded as if the victims were killed by a wielder of each element. He knew it could certainly be Dylan’s elementals roaming the town and keeping order. However, how they would know about all the crimes being committed was beyond his knowledge.
The young girl returned to the bar, and Alexander held up an empty cup which she promptly refilled.
“Perhaps I will take this room. I have some friends staying on the outskirts of town that I may bring back with me. What time is this curfew?”
“You need to be in and stay indoors by dusk. If you go out after that, whatever guards are roaming the streets will leave you dead where they find you. You should at least go to your friends and warn them not to come in the city if it’s past dark,” She said, sounding truly concerned.
“Thank you, I’ll go to them as soon as possible,” Alexander stood and put two more silver pieces on the bartop. “These two are for the room, the other is for your hospitality.”
She bowed her head and he pulled the hood of his cloak around his face.
The streets were still thick with fog, but with the morning sun peeking through the clouds, Alexander was able to make out more shapes as he walked. Walking away from the center of town, he soon found himself on limestone brick walkways. Surrounded by limestone buildings and the smell of a variety of spices and baked goods filling the street. He passed a couple of stores that were lit from the inside to show the wears. The light from the windows barely touched the street with
the fog only getting thicker.
An hour more of walking let him know he’d found his destination and reason for this trip into Zepher. A river fifteen feet across and twenty feet deep rushed over a chiseled limestone surface surrounding a thirty-foot high castle wall. Alexander couldn’t see the castle over the walls because of the fog and was being too cautious to direct the wind for his sight. He noted its location and walked away, trying not to think about the evil the walls contained.
Winding his way through the town, he made his way as quickly as he could to find Warick and the rest of the Elders. Small camps had been spread out along the countryside as to not draw attention. Warick was cautious, a little too cautious for Alexander’s liking.
Pushing back the small tent fold, Alexander squatted in. The smell of leather-root tea assailed his nostrils. The old wizard seemed to drink it whenever he was nervous, and at this rate, the countryside would run out before the week’s end.
“Where have you been, Alexander?” Warick asked in a huff.
“I went into Zepher and learned much about the town,” He said as he unstoppered the cork on his water skin.
“You know I forbade that, Alexander,” Warick said.
Alexander gave a small nod and stared at Warick, waiting for the old man’s wrath.
Warick’s jaws unclenched, “It’s a wonder you made Elder. You will not leave my side until this is seen through, do you understand?”
“I have to leave your side if I am to warn the others,” Alexander replied as he sat his water skin down.
“What others?”
“King Everheart, Queen Twilix, the Fire Realm and the rest of the elemental realms. If we fail here, they need to know what happened so that they can prepare,” Alexander said pleadingly.
“If we fail here, they will not stand a chance. The combined magical powers amongst every living Elder and the Dark Army must overcome this problem, or there won’t be a power great enough to stop Dylan,” Warick said. “Besides, if Kilen finds out that his father is a spirit wizard and his mother is a soul wizard, he may try to stop us. The boy may even join one of their sides. We cannot afford to fight two spirit wizards at once, one will be bad enough.”