mindcracklove | Chapter 19 of The Kingdom

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mindcracklove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSEfx6D8mA

(Don't watch because language if you no like)

STORY TIME!

Chapter 19

-Guude-

Over a year has passed.

Over a year since the storm—which has become known just as the storm, with extra emphasis to make the point clear.

Guude sighed and leaned on the rail of his bedroom balcony, feeling the early autumn wind blow through the hair that was left on his head. It seems like he lost more every day, with the pressure he had been under.

He sighed again, looking out at his kingdom. He was on the side of the castle that faced the large market, where the servants of the castle regularly travelled back and forth, shuttling various bits and bobs to the castle. He liked the market, with its foreign entrepreneurs and good prices.

When the storm ripped through the capital, the west side—with the market—wasn’t damaged. This news was to the delight of Adlington, who was panicking over the food at the market more than anything else.

The other side, though, took a beating. A large section of the city burned to the ground, leaving hundreds without homes for the whole summer. Also, the river off in the distance overflowed its banks, flooding the fields on the outskirts of the city. Thankfully, the fields were just used for space that wouldn’t be useful to attackers, so no crops were destroyed.

Then there was the temple. It was completely destroyed—blasted to smithereens, in fact. It was a wonder that Nebris had managed to make it back alive.

When he had finally made his way back to the castle—after three days of being holed up in a half-burned house near the temple along with a terrified elderly couple—he had immediately told the others about his terrifying experience at the temple site. Guude had felt a sickening feeling in his stomach when he had heard the news.

If the gods weren’t on their side, then they were good as dead.

-Pause-

Massaging his shoulder with his good hand, Pause walked down the hallway in the castle. The chill that crept into the stone structure—a sure sign of the cold autumn and winter to come—was doing no good for his lame arm, which felt like lead in the cool morning air that leaked in from the open windows.

Tugging his coat further up his shoulder, he turned out of the hallway he was in into another one that led to the castle library. He was on a mission.

Looking up at a sudden noise echoing off the ceiling, his eyes widened at what was quickly approaching him. He swiftly shuffled over, pressing himself against the wall to avoid a pair of young maids, running down the hallway at top speed and laughing loudly. One of them yelled “Hello, Sir!” as she hurdled past.

Pause, smiling briefly, raised his left arm in a small wave as they ran off into another part of the castle.

He continued walking as if nothing happened after that. Down the hallway, around the corner, and to the tower on the other side of the castle.

When he got there, pushing open the heavy wooden doors, he entered the library with a purposeful stride propelling him forward. But, when the doors swung closed behind him and he was enveloped in silence, he grew unnerved.

He wasn’t used to the dead silence in the library. Even when he was sleeping, sound from the strong northern wind was slicing around the tower, creating a soft howling that got into his slumber.

Silence wasn’t a friend. It was definitely a foe.

Looking up into the darkness that seemed to swallow up all sounds, Pause was impressed at the large room that had contained the kingdom’s history for thousands of years.

“Your father’s information is over here.” A voice said, making Pause jump.

Dammit. I’m losing my cool in here. He thought to himself, turning towards the voice, a hand on his sword hilt anyway. “I don’t really care that much, but thank you.”

Sixelona looked at him, but said nothing about his comment. Instead, she asked, “Why are you here, Pause? You never come to the library.”

He took another look around the room, taking note of the enormous amount of books. “Guude just got a letter from Etho, asking about how the new weapon design is coming along. He wanted me to come and ask you about your progress.”

Sixelona pursed her lips. “I knew that he’d be nagging me about this.” Lifting up a hand, she ushered him over to the enormous desk she was currently leaning over. “Come here and see for yourself, then.”

Pause, knowing that she wouldn’t take no as an answer, was obedient and made his way over to her. He had to weave around tall stacks of books, tables and desks that were strewn about the floor. The book piles were as tall as him, and the furniture was completely covered in papers and random objects.

Finally reaching Sixelona, he looked down at the complicated drawing on the enormous paper that covered the entire table, weighed down by thick books at the corners.

“What is that?” He asked, unable to discern what the seemingly random lines—varying in thickness—were supposed to be.

Sixelona glanced up, turning her head a bit to try and see the drawing from his perspective. “Oh, yeah. You’re looking at it from the wrong direction.” She moved over, patting the table next to her. “Come over here and look at it.”

Pause, upon walking around the desk and seeing the drawing from the correct viewpoint, let out a noise of recognition. “Ah, these are the plans you’re sketching out?”

Sixelona nodded. “Who knew that my ability to hold a graphite stick would be used for such a foul purpose?” She said bitterly. “Just look at these plans.”

Pause leaned in a bit to look at the plans. They were for…

“Don’t know what it is?” Sixelona asked from behind him, making him lean back to look at her.

“No, I have no idea.” He answered, looking back at the plans. “Is it a weapon, or a tool? Or neither?”

She sighed, then, leaning on the table. “Pause,” She said, reaching up with her finger and pointing to the object sketched out, “That, right there, is a weapon of pure destruction.”

Pause was confused. “What, and our swords aren’t? And neither are our longbows, or the crossbows?”

Sixelona tapped a certain part of the sketch. “I’m calling this the barrel.” She said, pointing to a long, narrow, and straight tube, which took up the better part of the object.

Pause leaned in to get a better look it. “Why? It looks nothing like one.” Pause protested. “It has a hole at the end!”

She ignored his outburst, moving her finger to another part that looked like a candle wick. “This, I’m calling the fuse.” She then pointed to the barrel-thing again, saying, “And you slide a round rock into this, steady this part on something—” She pointed to a piece of the weapon that jutted out the end of the barrel, opposite from the hole. “—Maybe your shoulder—and then light the fuse.”

“What happens after that?” Pause asked, intrigued at what direction the explanation was going.

Turning to him, she said, “And the rock flies out of the tube at a great speed, with enough force to punch through armor.”

Pause blinked, trying to comprehend the power the weapon sketched down would need to have. “How will this weapon be built? And what is its name?”

Sixelona stepped back and made her way around the desk, pushing the books holding the paper in place aside. “First off, I need you to take these plans to Paul, and ask him if he could try to create it in his blacksmith.”

Handing the rolled up sheet to Pause, she gave him a pat on his good shoulder. “On your way, then.” She said, turning around and going back to her spot at the table and flipping open her worn leather book.

Pause, knowing that she wouldn’t hesitate to give him a good slap with her book, turned to set out for Paul’s smithy. But, before he opened the door to leave, he turned around to ask one more question.

“So, Six, what should I tell Guude to write to Etho about?”

“Say that the weapon is being constructed and tested as he reads it.” She replied, writing madly in her book. “It’d be best that he doesn’t know that much about it yet, in case it doesn’t work.”

Pause nodded silently, turning around and opening the door.

“Six?”

She looked up, an eyebrow raised at his tone. “Yes, Pause?”

Looking down at the large roll of parchment tucked underneath his good arm, he swallowed. If this weapon is as powerful as she says it is…

“Pause, what did you want to ask me?” She repeated.

He looked back at her, the feeling of dread heavy in his stomach. “What have you named this thing?”