Garthia: The Forgotten King

Chapter Nine

~Chapter Nine

It all makes sense now. The long business trips he went on, why Salem's voice sounded familiar, the look Eve and my dad shared, the reason why Eve ignores her parents, the reason why we even became friends in the first place, it was all because of him and his duties as king of Garthia. No wonder Eve hates him.

"Where is mother?" Eve asks, her voice dripping sarcasm on the last word.

"I don't understand why you say it like that. She is your real mother, after all." Salem says with a tiny smile at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh. Excuse me. Let me rephrase that. Where is the woman that gave birth to me but doesn't give a two hoots and a holler about me?"

Salem narrows his eyes. "I suggest you stop being so sarcastic."

"Oh right. It's not lady-like. Sorry about that."

"Eveline, where are your manners?" he chastises, "We have guests."

"Yes. I know. I did come all the way here with them. Remember?" He shoots her a warning look and she backs up to stand with Cam and I.

Salem goes back to his kingly self with his warm smile and welcoming stature. He looks first at me then at Cam, completely ignoring Eve who is standing in between us. "Welcome Hayden Blakely and Cameron Arlington to the beautiful city of Garthia, home to wizards."

"The pleasure is all ours." I attempt a curtsy again. Cam bows.

Salem steps down from the dais. "If you don't mind my asking," he says as he walks down the steps. "How exactly did you get here?"

"Downtown Brewery."Eve replies before anyone can get the chance.

Salem stops in his tracks at the foot of the steps, frowning. "So you met him, did you? The gatekeeper?"

"Of course!" Cam answers, "That is the only way, right?"

"Actually, no. There are a few dozen entrances just in your area. I don't know why you chose the one you did. Not many people go that way. There are too many resisters or people who got kicked out of Garthia."

"Well that's the one that Sawyer told us to go to."

The king cocks his head. "Did you say Sawyer?" We all nod. "Of course he would lead them to that one." he murmurs loudly to himself, "He's just as bad as the rest of them."

I look over at Cam. His hands are balled into fists. "Excuse me, Your Highness," I say quickly. "But why would Sawyer lead us to that entrance?"

Salem didn't seem to realize he was speaking so loudly. "Well," His eyes are on Cam. "Sawyer has been know to be a trouble maker." Cam grips the side of his jeans and Salem adds quickly, "But he has come through for us in certain instances. For example, he managed to lead you all here safely, correct?" This seems to call him down a bit. "Anyway, this isn't about Sawyer. This is about you three enjoying your visit. Stay as long as you like and feel free to explore." He walks back to his throne. Cam, Eve, and I take this as our signal to leave.

Just as we near the door, Salem says, "Oh, and Eveline, I believe you have some explaining to do." Eve just keeps walking.

>>>

We find a small cafe on one of the shop-filled streets and sit down at one of the outside tables.

Cam is the only one who ordered anything. I sort of lost my appetite. Eve is just staring at the table.

"So," I say just to get a conversation rolling. "Salem is your dad." Eve looks up at me and nods. "Must be, uh, different."

"Just a bit." She sighs. "Look, Haden. There are some things I need to tell you."

"Alright." I lean forward and brace myself. I've found out so many things and my life has turned completely upside-down. I honestly don't think it could get crazier than this. At least I hope it won't.

She looks at me sternly and places a hand on my arm. "Now. This my come as a shock to you," She sounds like someone giving the news of a dead family member. "But I'm-I know this might be hard to believe but I-" She pauses, then the words pour out. "I'm an Elemental."

This is not what I was expecting. Four Elementals. Three of them in one place. But why? Why here?

Cam looks up from his salad with his mouth gaping, chewed bits of lettuce and tomato still inside. "What?" he says, his voice muffled by the food.

"Wait. Since you're the king's daughter and everything, can you tell me why all of the Elementals are and one place?" Before Eve can answer I ask another question. "And how did you become an Elemental? Isn't Sierra Weston still alive?"

"Okay. First of all, close your mouth Air Boy, the birds will come and snatch the food right out. Second of all, just because I'm his daughter doesn't mean he tells me everything. I don't know why we're all here."

"Follow-up question." She looks annoyed that I cut her off twice now. "What do you mean we're all here? Where's the other guy?" Cam, his mouth now free of chewed food, nods in agreement.

Eve leans in closer and whispers, "Rumor has it, he's locked up in the castle dungeons. They say he murdered all of his siblings just to get the Elemental magic. Murder is a very serious crime around here. Sometimes punishable by death."

"So why didn't he get killed?" Cam wonders.

"Are you kidding? You can't kill an Elemental!" she chastises, still whispering, "It's like killing of the last of an endangered species. If anyone killed one of us, our magic would be lost forever." She leans back and carries on with our previous conversation as if nothing happened.

"As for how I became an Elemental," she continues. "I was a weak and frail child. I had a lot of illnesses and I got sick very easily. My aunt thought it would benefit me to have this power so that I could be better off."

"Makes sense," Cam says, twirling his fork in his fingers. "Family has got to watch out for one another. Right? I know I'd do that for my family."

"About your family," Eve pressures. "What happened to them? Is it just you and the old man?"

Cam stares down at his now-empty plate and stabs his fork into it for no apparent reason. "Yeah," he answers sadly. "It's been that way since I was a little kid. I've never really known anything else." He looks back up at us with renewed vivacity. "So that's why I'd whatever it takes to keep him alive and healthy. Because he's all I have left."

Eve seems to regret that she asked. She pushes her chair back and stands. "So what's the plan. Do we go home, or stay for awhile. All those for staying, raise your hands." All of our hands shoot up. "So it's settled. We-"

Just then, a sound echoes through the streets. A high shriek, probably from a woman. It sounds like it's coming from the next street over. Without any further discussion, the three of us rush over to see what's wrong, along with almost everyone on the street.

The woman is standing in front of a brick wall on the side of a building. Her face is pale and she's pointing a shaking finger at the wall.

On the wall are large letters written in what appears to be blood, but it could just as easily be red paint, although the first option seems more likely.

The letters form five words. It reads: The Forgotten King shall return.