The LEVELER King ✔

BOOK 3: CHAPTER 14

"Why do you walk so funny? You're walking funny," Boon said to his brother.

"Quiet you." Crane grumbled, "I'm just in a little pain. Don't you ever shut your mouth?"

That was unlikely.

Boon groaned and complained all the way from home. Surprisingly, Nala didn't tend to him. She and Indel traded a glance.

"I know, I know," Nala grumbled.

"So long as you admit to having a hand in him being such a pain."

"Me?" Nala shoved Indel. "You obviously don't remember how we met. Be certain and assured, he takes after you far more than you realize."

Sometime in their squabble as they pushed through the brush, Boon quieted.

Indel looked back to see why.

Crane, holding two gavberry sticks, balanced a rock back and forth as they walked.

"Brilliant!" Boon exclaimed. "Let me try!"

But he couldn't. The rock fell again and again. Each time Crane caught it, and each time Boon tried his luck.

Watching them walk side by side filled Indel with pride. They squabbled often, but Boon looked up to Crane, Indel decided. He could see that admiration drove the youth to shadow all that Crane did. And Crane, despite his larger size and strength, caught the rock to give it to Boon in an effort to help him because deep down, Crane admired Boon as well.

Boon was clever. Cowardly at times, but clever. Though he couldn't hit the rock back and forth, he did balance it on one stick.

Crane let out a shriek. "How? Show me how you did that!"

As they walked on, Indel decided to look ahead.

"And it is safe to go now?" Nala asked.

"Safe or not, it is the way. My fathers and mothers brought me to the mountain. I'll bring our sons." Indel glanced at Nala to see the Summoner's unease. "Yes. It is safe. It is the mating season. Usually we go after the spell, but as we are an uncommon family, we have the advantage of moving in contrast to the lands. Crane has already checked. He knows it is safe. So it must be safe."

A growl came from behind them, along with a laugh.

Try as he might, Crane couldn't balance the rock, while Boon, pleased with his failings, laughed out.

"It's not so hard. Even you can do it!"

Nala shook her head. "Those two...."

"Well, I give up," Crane announced.

"No, no. You don't give up. You're not supposed to give up." Boon took the sticks back and demonstrated how to do it. "You're never supposed to give up on anything. How can you give up?"

And on and on they went. When they reached the fog, Indel was pleased.

"Perfect. This will be nice. We shall demonstrate the dance before soaking in the water."

"The dance?" Nala asked. "What dance is that?"

Indel lowered the sack of grubs from his shoulders as they reached the thick of the fog.

"The dance for mating."

"Mating?" Nala's tongues clicked. "But...what? How? I do not know it."

"All Leveler Kings know it. We must teach it to both of them."

They took time to eat, as most if not all things for Crane had to start with a meal. As the suns set, Indel dropped the robe from his shoulders and demonstrated the basic movements of the dance. He didn't need much detail, as a Leveler new to mating often made mistakes. This basic dance was mostly symbolic with simple steps.