The LEVELER King ✔

BOOK 2: CHAPTER 11

Idrus stared out at the blue-gray sky. The clouds rolled back and spill water from the heavens. He'd seen heavy rains like these now and then, but this time was out of the ordinary.

In a way it was fitting, because he felt equally as torn in two. His gaze shifted as it always did, to the courtyard below, and the quiet Summoner who brushed the sloths there.

Months had passed since Nala last said a word to him. That was equally the same amount of time as Nala had shared his moss bed.

The queen's very vocal disgust with Nala had piqued everyone's curiosity, though Citel didn't dare go into great detail. She couldn't; Idrus had had enough. So Levelers ignored her, leaving her disapproval for a mystery no one cared to solve. But Nala...other Summoners stayed clear of Nala, and Nala had taken the queen's words to heart. She no longer allowed even Indel's affection. And Idrus, having wasted three cycles already, hoping to bring Nala to him again, now kept to his first stage. There was no point in forcing a change again with no yield. Day in day out, Idrus feared he'd awaken to find Nala gone, but the quiet Summoner stayed.

Nala worked as if she was at her farm; taking care of the animals and the garden without anyone's prompting. She slept on the hay there as well.

Idrus had long since given up trying to talk to her, Nala never responded.

Today he thought to try again but it was less than appealing. His movements lethargic, due to his bulky exoskeleton, Idrus walked out of his nest.

Citel was fit and ready to put the eggs to rest. She had a bountiful amount. That was good because Idrus refused to stay in any room she'd entered.

Tradition dictated that he should be present when the eggs came, but he decided to see to Nala once more. At least his Summoner was eating now, and that was a comfort because she'd gone days without food some months after Citel conceived.

It had taken only one attempt. For that Idrus was thankful.

As he walked, his bodyguards scurried behind him. He traveled down the stone steps rather than crawl along the walls which was faster. He'd had those steps designed specifically with Nala in mind, he wanted to walk them.

When he finally ventured out in the rain, the sight of Sessel, a large harala leaf as her only shelter, calling to Nala, surprised him.

"You'll get washed away in this rain, Summoner. At least come into the structure for a time!"

Nala kept at her work, steadfast and silent.

For a moment, Idrus feared Sessel's temper would get the better of her. Instead of letting out a shriek, however, Sessel put something on the ground, well out of the rain, and hurried away.

Idrus wore no covering as he marched out to see what it was. Wrapped in a leaf much like the one Sessel used to guard herself against the rain, was a sarel loaf.

The sweet was popular among the young. It made Idrus smile somewhat. He decided to take it and put it aside somewhere safe where Nala could find it on her own.

Today, instead of trying to talk, or demand a response, Idrus decided to follow Nala's routine. It would be some hours still before Citel was ready, and he was in no way eager to see her.

When Nala began brushing one of the eight sloths there, Idrus followed suit, careful not to squeeze the brush too hard lest it break.

The beasts didn't like Idrus much, he didn't blame them. Levelers preferred inos, big ones with armor similar to their own. When they rode, it would complement them in a fight rather than meander about as sloths often did.