“That was amazing!” Benny exclaimed. “I wonder how high it’ll go.”
Brock wrapped his arm around Ashland’s shoulder. “See, I knew you could do it.”
Ashland smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Benny was right; it was amazing. She glanced around to find Benny, Cameron, and Lars staring into the evening sky.
“I can’t believe it’s real,” Lars turned toward Brock. “This is what you did to the catapult that caused it to launch the ball so far?”
Brock looked over at Lars. “Yeah, but that was different. That rune made the catapult more powerful while the rune Ashland used here simply makes things super light, apparently even lighter than air.”
Lars looked at the night sky again. “Will it keep going all the way to the stars?”
Benny laughed, reaching up to pat his tall friend on the shoulder. “I don’t think so, Lars. Those stars are millions of miles away. Plus, the effect won’t last long.” He paused, looking up at the night sky. “No, it should continue to rise for a while until it’s no longer lighter than the air around it. The wind will blow it far from here, and then it will drop as it returns to its normal weight. Hopefully, it doesn’t drop on anyone when it comes down.” He grinned and bobbed his head at the idea.
Brock’s head spun toward Benny, looking worried. “I hadn’t thought of that. I figured it would be a safe rune for practice. I never considered that the log might drop quickly as the effect wore off.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine, Brock,” Ashland said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s done now anyway. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
He leaned in for a kiss, the softness of his lips contrasting the firm muscles of his fit body. When he pulled away, her eyes opened to find his intense green eyes gazing back at her.
“Okay. Are we done playing so I can eat?” Cameron asked. They were his first words since his last complaint of being hungry nearly as hour earlier.
Benny laughed. “You’re always hungry. We’d never get anything done if we always had to feed you first.”
Lars laughed heartily and slapped Cam on the back. “He’s got you again, Cam.”
Benny walked over to the fire, checking on the jackaroo roasting on the spit they had fashioned. With all sides now darkened to a golden brown, the smell of fresh-cooked poultry filled the air.
“You’re in luck, Cam. The bird’s done,” Benny declared with a nod. “Can you grab that end so we can take it off the fire?”
Cam eagerly looped around the fire, grabbing the other end of the stick that skewered the large bird. He and Benny hoisted the bird, walking a few feet before leaning it against a tree to cool. The others began claiming seats on the logs surrounding the clearing, eager to eat. Since it was a warm summer night, they kept a comfortable distance from the heat of the fire.
Lars drew his knife and began carving sections of the bird for each of them. Brock brought Ashland a hot slab of meat sandwiched between two halves of a hard roll. With her mouth watering from the savory smell, she took a big bite. The meat was juicy and complemented the chewy bread. It was a nice change after a day of eating trail rations. She felt thankful that they had decided to buy the jackaroo before leaving Fallbrandt the day prior.
Ashland glanced around the now quiet camp, observing her companions. All four boys were quiet, focused on their meal until Benny broke the silence.
“If we get an early start tomorrow, we should be in Selbin in time for lunch. After we get a hot meal, I’m going to the temple to see my father.” He pushed his rectangular spectacles back into place. “Are you guys staying for a day, or are you planning to continue on?”
Ashland glanced toward Brock, who looked toward Cam before answering. “I think we’ll just restock and continue west. We still have another two days of travel beyond Selbin before we reach Nor Torin.”
“Same here.” Lars said. “Heck, I’m not even stopping in Selbin for lunch since my folk’s farm is just an hour beyond the city. My ma will have something delicious ready for me.”
Lars stared into the night, smiling after the mention of home cooking. The big guy with curly black hair was the hardest of the group for Ashland to read. While often jovial, he seemed a bit guarded, as if he was hiding something.
“Can I ask a question, Lars?” Ashland asked.
When Lars shrugged, she said, “You mention your parents owning a farm.”
He nodded. “That’s right.”
“I assume that means that they’re marked by Artifex Cultor runes.”
He nodded again.
“Are you the only person in your family to be marked with the rune of Issal?” she asked.
Lars stared at her, silent for a moment.
“My Ma had a brother who was marked with an Order rune, like me. He also went to the Academy.” Lars stared off into the night for a long pause. “I met him once, when I was ten summers old. He looked the part of a hero in his Paladin armor. He let me hold his sword, though I could barely lift it. I wanted to be just like him.” Lars looked down toward the fire. “He died in a skirmish with the Tantarri a year later.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Lars.” Brock said and the group fell to silence as they resumed eating.
Ashland looked about the fire, searching the faces of her travel companions. She was still getting to know Brock’s friends but she liked what she saw in them so far.
Brock’s roommate, Cam, seemed as loyal as a friend could be. The tall blonde boy didn’t talk much, but he seemed to be honest and friendly when he did speak. Having a big, strong friend like Cam was reassuring. She certainly would not want to be on his bad side, not after seeing him soundly defeat every opponent in the Arena Championship duels.
Other than a similar sense of loyalty, Benny was the opposite of Cam in every way. With a short and soft build, he would intimidate nobody. However, he had already proven to be among the smartest students at the Academy, and his talkative enthusiasm helped to balance Cam’s quiet nature.
Ashland noticed how they gravitated toward Brock, happily following his lead. They formed a tight group who looked out for each other, making her feel good to be among them. She felt a brief pang of regret for not allowing anyone to become close to her until she met Brock. Now she knew what she had missed.
She shifted her gaze to Brock, appreciating his handsome looks. His brown hair stood tall on his head before tipping to the side. His chiseled face mirrored the lean muscular frame of his body. He glanced at her, smiling when their eyes met. A wave of happiness welled up inside of her. She didn’t know how he did it, but Brock seemed to have a way of making others like him.
Brock leaned close and spoke quietly. “Now you know how Chaos feels and how different it is when compared to Order.”
Ashland nodded. “Yes. Order is so calm and peaceful. Chaos is crazy, even frenetic. Chaos feels like a herd of stampeding horses while Order is more like a frozen lake.”
Brock laughed. “I think you get it now.” His laughter died down and he became serious. “Since you’ve now made it work, it will become easier. We can practice together, getting better at both Order and Chaos. Who knows how it might help in the future? After all, if I hadn’t been able to use both, we’d both be dead instead of Corbin.”
Ashland stared into his eyes, her thoughts reflecting his. It still seemed unreal that Brocks’ rivalry with the Archon’s son had led to Corbin’s attempt to kill them. How close they came to death was far too real. If Brock hadn’t used Chaos to charge himself with a Power rune to free himself and kill Corbin, he would be dead. If not for his super-charged use of Order to bring Ashland back to life, she’d be dead as well. As far as they knew, it was the first time Order had successfully brought someone back to life. The unique circumstances made it likely.
Ashland shook her head to clear her thoughts and resumed her dinner. Once she finished eating, she found that the fire had dwindled to orange coals. Exhausted from a day of travel, the group spread out around the fire to find a
comfortable spot to sleep, although comfort was an overly generous term when sleeping on the ground.
Resting her head on Brock’s chest, she snuggled up to his neck. Typical of when she was near him, everything felt right in the world. It was as if she saw life through a different set of eyes, helping to heal the scars of her past. She might never forget them, but she could overcome them.
With her head rising and falling with the breath filling his lungs, she drifted asleep.
CHAPTER 2
Benedict Hedgewick waved to his friends, smiling as they waved back before turning toward the gravel road ahead. With their backs facing him, he noted how Cam’s head towered above Brock’s and Ashland’s by a solid foot, his imposing frame making the other two seem smaller than they were. At six and a half feet, Cam’s muscular frame struck an imposing image. The trio rounded a bend and were soon obscured by the thick woods enveloping the road outside of town.
Benny’s gaze shifted to look out over the lake. Large enough that he couldn’t see the far shore across the widest parts, Lake Selbin was an intrinsic part of his childhood. Over the years, he had caught a fair share of fish from its shores. On hot summer days, he and Jimmy would find refuge in those cool waters where they would swim and play as if they didn’t have a care in the world. He tried not to think about Jimmy too often. Memories of his childhood were mostly pleasant, but such thoughts often led back to the night Jimmy died. Though six years had passed, he missed his friend dearly and the pain resurfaced upon thinking of him. Benny closed his eyes and listened to the rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the shore. After finding a bit of peace, he opened them and released a sigh.
Returning to Selbin was bittersweet. So many good memories, overshadowed by a singular horrible event. It felt unfair that one small mistake could completely alter his life and the lives of those he loved. Leaving for the Academy had allowed him to bury the pain and live without the ghosts of the past for almost a year. With his return to Selbin, those ghosts began to creep back into his consciousness.
Shaking his head to clear it, he turned and began making his way through town. As he strolled the busy gravel streets, he took comfort in the familiar sights around him. Shop owners waved as he passed. The counting house where he had worked for five years looked the same as ever, its weathered wooden façade overdue for a fresh coat of green paint. After passing the counting house, the large building looming over the road ahead caught his attention.
The Selbin Temple was among the few buildings not made of wood. Built upon a hill, the pale brick structure towered over the homes and shops in the area. Benny ascended the stone steps and entered the cool environs of the temple.
After passing beneath the wide arch of the open doorway, Benny stopped to observe the empty rows of benches encircling the glow-stone altar. Colored beams of sunlight filtered through the stained-glass panels in the small domed ceiling high above. He circled the room toward a side door.
“Benedict?” a voice called from behind. “Is that you?”
Benny turned, a grin splitting his face when he recognized the man.
“Hi, Minister Nassim. I’m back from the Academy.”
As the man approached, a smile emerged from the depths of his thick white beard. “I see you have an apprentice cloak,” Nassim said. “Congratulations.”
Benny nodded in reply. “Yes. You’re looking at the Academy’s newest apprentice Engineer.”
The minister nodded. “As I expected. You were always too clever for your own good. Perhaps your cleverness can now be properly channeled.”
Benny’s smile faltered as Nassim reminded him of what his cleverness had done. Those thoughts made him think of his father.
“Is he here?” Benny asked, knowing he didn’t need to say who he was.
“Yes.” Nassim said, his face showing concern. “He’s always here. Never leaves.”
“How is he?” Benny asked, afraid of the answer.
“Oh, he has his bad days, but they’re now rare. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you,” the old man said, trying to sound reassuring.
“I suppose he’s in his apartment then?” Benny asked.
The minister nodded. “He usually is. Good luck, Benedict.”
Benny turned to pass through the side door, entering the multi-level building attached to the temple. He knocked on one of the two doors on the main level. With his stomach aflutter, he waited for it to open. After a minute, he heard the bolt slide and saw the knob turn.
The door opened to reveal what remained of his father. Patches of sparse hair grew here and there on the man’s otherwise bald head. His good eye focused on Benny while the clouded one stared somewhere beyond. The rippled leather-like skin covering half of his head looked just as bad as Benny remembered. As he recognized Benny, half of the man’s mouth broke into a smile while the other half barely moved.
Benny’s father held his arm out wide. Benny stepped in and hugged him, closing his eyes as he imagined how the man had looked before the accident. After a moment, he released his arms and wiped the tears from his eyes.
“It’s good to see you, Benny,” his father said. “I’m so glad you came back for summer break. It’s good to see you in an apprentice cloak, too. Congratulations.”
Benny smiled. “Thanks Pa. I made apprentice Engineer.”
“I knew you would, son. You’re the smartest person I know.” He awkwardly shuffled backward. “Come in so we can sit and have a chat.”
Limping as he walked, the man squeezed the handle on his wooden leg with each step. The artificial limb that Benny had invented three years prior appeared to still function as intended. With the handle attached to the stump of thigh remaining, a squeeze of his fist triggered an actuator that flexed his fake knee with each step. He shuffled across the room to his chair, lowering himself into it. Benny followed and took a seat on the adjacent sofa.
“I brought some gold, Pa.” Benny said, extending his hand toward his father.
His father stared at the pouch in Benny’s hand, silent. After a long moment, he spoke.
“Benny, the past is the past. Put it away and leave it there. You don’t owe me anything.” His father’s good eye locked with Benny’s eyes. “I have everything I need here. This apartment is paid for, you saw to that. I’m still useful enough to be an asset to the temple, so they feed me. I’m content with my life now. I miss your mother as much as you do, but I’ve made my peace with it. When it’s my time and Issal takes me, I’ll join her. Until then, I’m going to keep living the best I can.”
His father leaned forward, pushing Benny’s outstretched hand back toward him. “Keep the gold, Benny. Use it to build a life for yourself. You’ve only seen twenty-two summers. While you may be a bit old for an apprentice at the Academy, it’s quite young in the scheme of the world. You still have most of your life before you; do what you can with it. I want you to be happy, and your mother would’ve wanted the same. The time for guilt has past, Benny. Embrace life and make it your own.”
With tears in his eyes, Benny nodded. He wanted to leave the past behind, but the screams remained in his memory.
CHAPTER 3
“There it is,” Cam said, smiling as he pointed toward the city below. “Nor Torin.”
Brock’s eyes drank in the beautiful vista as they descended the hill toward Cam’s hometown. The sun hovered low in the west, painting the clouds orange and red above the dark ocean waters beyond the brick walls surrounding the city. The vibrant green foliage made the area appear far more alive than the brown scrub and bare earth that surrounded Kantar. With the tall trees surrounding it, Brock wouldn’t have even been able to see Nor Torin until they were upon the city if not for the elevated height of the approaching road. When he commented about the size of the trees, Cam mentioned trees far larger growing in groves south of the Torinus River. Locals called the groves The Red Towers due to the color of the wood and height of the trees. Cam explained that some of the trees had trunks wider than most
roads. Brock found it difficult to believe, but Ashland confirmed it, having seen them herself as a child.
Brock and Ashland followed Cam into the city, passing through the eastern gate and down the busy streets lined with shops, inns, and street vendors who would not have looked out of place in Kantar. Many vendors were packing their carts as they finished the day’s business before heading home. Citizens on foot milled about, carrying bags of goods as they avoided the occasional horse or wagon passing by.
Upon reaching heart of the city, they came to a brick wall surrounding the citadel. The Nor Torin Citadel was a squat, blocky building built of a dark stone, making it a stark contrast to the pale narrow towers of the Kantar Citadel.
They looped around the south side of the citadel wall to circumvent the restricted area. After a quarter mile, the wall ended and the street turned north. Turning at the fountain outside the western citadel gate, they resumed their journey and the slope increased as the road descended toward the docks. While scanning the view of the wide harbor, Brock noticed something odd south of the river.
“Cam, what’s that?” he asked, pointing south.
Cam turned to where Brock pointed. “Those are the shipyards. Most of the ships on the west coast were built in those yards.”
Several large structures occupied the shipyard with each cradling a partially built hull. Men scurried about the area, carrying lumber and scaling the scaffolding that surrounded the cradles.
As the western wall came into view, Cam led them down a side street and up a short flight of stairs that led to a three-story house.
Cam opened the door and stepped inside. “Hello? It’s Cam! Is anyone home?”
A large sitting room with a brick fireplace waited just inside the entryway. As they stepped into the room, the smell of spiced sausage and boiled cabbage teased Brock’s senses and left his stomach to growling. A tall blonde woman came around the corner, wiping her hands on the tan apron she wore. Her face lit up when she saw Cam.
The Emblem Throne (The Runes of Issalia Book 2) Page 2