The Other King

Crow- Colest

I stared at him in shock. I try to process what just happened. I look around and the others aren’t listening, they’re still recovering from being thrown back.
    “Where’s Krowel? That immortal bastard.” The god who claims to be Colest says with a shaking head. He sighs and looks at me. “You’re the shadow lifter that summoned me?” His head tilted and I didn’t say a thing. He nodded with a now relaxed face. “Yes I know you’re confused. That’s why I will explain on our way to my son. Anyone have clothes?”
    I just stared blankly like I’ve been doing. This guy is The Other King’s father and he’s supposed to be the tool that saves him? What kind of mess is this?
“Jackson?” I asked, I spotted the ghoul a bit away. “Do you know anything about this?”
“I told you I knew nothing of what was to be summoned.” He rubbed his head from getting knocked to the side. 

I saw Autumn still with his eyes closed. I ran to his side and held his head with my hand. “Autumn?” I asked with sincere worry and concern. His eyes creaked open and I sighed in relief. “Are you okay?” He made a small noise and his mouth opened for a dry ‘Yeah.’

“Should I repeat myself?” The man said and turned to me. “Anyone have clothes? And someone must explain how Krowel was not here to summon me. I gave that elve strict orders with my gift and he can’t even do so. Hell was so boring I thought he would bring me up himself.”

“We can head back to the hut, we have lots of clothes there.” I replied. “But here, I had an extra pair.” I threw him a pair of shirt and pants out of my bag.

“And he speaks!” The god laughed and started to dress. When he pulled on his shirt he started walking in the direction of the tall trees edging Deadman Forest. I looked around and made sure everyone was okay before walking instep beside him. “And Krowel?”

“We killed him.” I said, the gods face fell and he stared at me before scoffing. 

“With a being like him? You couldn’t have. I’ll have to go see him and kill him myself for not protecting the objects.” Colest scratches his head and looked around as if searching for him. 

“You can’t because he is dead.” I said more sternly. I told him all that happened. How we were hired to find four of the ten and how we were probably hired so that Krowel could protect the feather. I also told him about how we were going to end this mission of the truth until Autumn’s curiosity increased and that led us to stealing the other objects and killing Krowel in the process, how I was blackmailed and what Jackson’s plan was about stealing them to protect them and that he was always a protector for Alrik who went missing and he needed a shadow lifter to destroy the objects to summon him.

“Do you know where the king went?” I asked.

“You mean your king?” Colest asked, confused.

I shook my head. “No one’s ever my king. No one will ever be my king. Do you know where he is or not?”

“Yes. His original Kingdom but I’m confused. How are you living in his kingdom with no respect for him.” I shrugged and he only looked at me with a distant expression. I didn’t question the information missing because I figured he would share on this long journey to his original kingdom wherever that may be. “When we get to your home, pack everything, the journey will be long. Bring all the weapons you can. Even though I am a god, this mortal world weakens me more than I’d like to admit. But, I am still a god so I won’t need much but just in case for you mortals, you’ll need to protect yourselves. And you, Jackson. You are loyal to my son?” Colest asked him with an expression I couldn’t read. 

“I was always loyal to the king and for you and for the objects. My loyalty also falls to Crow, he summoned you.” Jackson walked to the other male. Colest stood taller and more starved. His ribs were showing and his limbs were bone and skin, I’m surprised he’s still standing and not falling down in a pile of bones.