Echoes of a Fallen Kingdom

  ECHOES OF A FALLEN KINGDOM

  By B.T. Narro

  Book 1

  The Stalwart Link Series

  Copyright 2018 by B.T. Narro

  Cover and Map by Beatriz Rare

  Interior Illustrations by Beatriz Rare

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the copyright holder.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Supper was ready, yet Leo’s brother still wasn’t home. Leo was only nine—still too young to be out alone at night. But Andar was older, thirteen and nearly a man. Father didn’t seem too concerned as he sat before his plate. Perhaps Leo was wrong to be worried. Or perhaps Father was just hiding his worry again.

  “He’ll be here soon,” Darren said and pointed at Leo’s chair. “Let’s eat.”

  Obediently, Leo sat and stared at Andar’s empty chair. There used to be four places at this table, but they’d sold their fourth chair soon after Leo’s mother died. He couldn’t help but fear that one day they might have to sell Andar’s chair as well.

  Leo’s brother was a thief, though Andar despised that word. “Thieves steal for money,” he would say. “They don’t care who they take from so long as they can sell it, but I only take food or clothes from those who don’t need them as much as we do.”

  This was true, Leo knew. But there was no better word than “thief” for what Andar did, and unfortunately it came up more often than either of them liked.

  Leo and his father ate silently for a while. Without Andar bringing anything home, their meal tonight consisted only of a watery barley soup.

  Darren stood so suddenly his chair fell over, hitting the floor with a loud thunk. “I’m going out to look for him.”

  Was that concern Leo saw on his father’s face? The lines across Darren’s forehead always seemed to be there when Leo looked for them, as he did now. It was Rygen, Leo’s friend, who noticed something about Darren’s face that Leo hadn’t been able to forget.

  “Does he have bigger bones in his face?” Rygen had wondered aloud one day.

  Leo had asked, “What do you mean?”

  “Bigger bones than the rest of us,” Rygen had specified. “And his face seems to be made out of rock. All of him seems to be made out of rock. How did he get so strong?”

  Leo remembered the fear he’d heard in Rygen’s voice, as if Leo’s father was capable of great destruction.

  There were many possible answers to her question, but Leo didn’t know which one was right. His father never talked about his past, never even mentioned their mother unless Leo asked. Instead, Leo directed his questions about her to Andar, who always spoke freely about her.

  Leo did not fear anything happening to his father. He just hoped Father would find Andar quickly and bring him home. Most streets were very dark during the night. It was easy to become lost.

  Leo stayed at the empty table and finished his soup, though his appetite was gone. He cleaned up afterward, leaving his father’s half-eaten bowl for when he returned, as well as a full one for Andar. Leo’s brother and father always finished everything they could scrape off their plates or bowls. Leo sometimes left some of his helping for his brother to eat, for Andar was growing tall and would probably one day be the size of their father. Leo hoped the same for himself, but he was still small for now.

  He looked at the front door, which had no lock. There were similarities to many of the houses in the city of Jatn, Leo’s included. Most people who lived around here could not afford locks for their doors. The only lock in the house was the one that came with a small lockbox Andar had taken from the market years ago. It was where their father kept their money, which Darren never showed to Leo or Andar.

  They could’ve purchased a wooden beam and built their own holders behind the door so they could bar it from the inside, but the three of them were away from the house each day. Any intruder who wanted to get in could always break through one of the weak wooden shutters that covered the windows.

  There was no safe place in the house. Leo knew this. The only way to keep himself safe if his father wasn’t here was by hiding or finding something to use as a weapon.

  He finished cleaning up, then decided to fetch the largest knife they owned. It was nearly as long as his forearm, feeling akin to a sword. He set it on their table in the center of the small kitchen, the closest surface to the door.

  Leo waited by the window. By order of those who ran the large city, no one was supposed to be out when it was dark. He could faintly make out the street in front of him. Each passerby was nothing more than a shadow. They all turned to look at Leo as they crossed by his window, making Leo wonder if he should put out the lamp on the table behind him. But he didn’t want Andar or his father to have trouble finding the house. They all looked the same at night. They were nearly the same.

  The Farmers’ Guild owned all houses of this kind. Leo had lived here his whole life, but he knew enough about the world to understand that farmers were only powerful here in Jatn, and not farmer workers like him or his brother. It was the farmers who didn’t actually lift a finger around the farm—the guild master, the overseers, and other men of high rank—who took the income made by the many farms within the city.

  Leo palmed his thumb, pressing into the coarseness of his hand. He’d started his work at the farms four years ago, at five, an age when many other boys and girls started the same work. The harder he slid his thumb against his resistant palm, the more he tried to repress his worries. Andar was never this late. What if Father never finds him?

  Leo jumped, startled, as he heard a crash on the roof above him. Suddenly, he was at the table with the knife in hand. He didn’t recall shutting and latching the window, but it was so. He heard no movement from whatever was on his roof, but he could feel that something was still there.

  It could be Andar, he realized, but why would his brother climb up onto the roof? And wouldn’t Leo have heard him climbing? Instead, it sounded as if he’d landed on the roof after an impossible leap.

  Perhaps it’s a thief. Leo was painfully aware that he was the only one here to defend their meager belongings. Losing their robes and coin could be the end of them. He wouldn’t hide. His father had taught only Andar how to use a knife, telling Leo he needed to be older. Leo would curse the thought right now if he was allowed!

  At least Andar had promised he would teach Leo how to use a blade if Father didn’t by the time Leo was ten. So much would change in Leo’s life upon his birthday, and it was soon. Perhaps he should hide after all…no, he wouldn’t.

  The door opened, startling Leo again. Weapon at the ready, he spun to face his attacker but let out a relieved breath when he recognized his brother. Andar didn’t notice Leo as he quickly shut the door behind him and pressed his palms against it. He struggled for breath, his wide shoulders lifting with each inhale. One hand went to his pocket with speed. He seemed about to pull something out when he looked over his shoulder and spotted Leo. Andar removed his hand from his pocket to reach for the knife.

  “Give me that.”

  Leo handed it over. His brother kept a tight hold as he walked to the window and opened it with his other hand. He peered out silently for a moment, glancing in each direction, then closed the window and gave the same two looks to the kitchen.

  “Where’s Father?” Andar whispered.

  “Out looking for you.”

  “Keep your voice down.” With the knife still in hand, Andar blew out the lamp on the table. It put them in complete darkness.

  Leo stood in silence, wondering why his brother didn’t seem to be moving or speaking. He was too afraid to say something, for whoever was on the roof might hear it. Perhaps Andar had seen the thief and was devising a plan. He did seem to be listening for something.

  There was a scream in the distance, a woman. Leo’s heart trilled as a gasp came out.

  “That’s too far to be from Rygen’s house,” Andar said as if reading Leo’s thoughts.

  Suddenly, Leo felt something in the room with him and Andar. Leo focused his mind on it. This thing was unfamiliar, yet he welcomed its presence like a new aroma.

  But something told Leo it didn’t belong here, in their house. A suffocating fear came over him, stopping him from speaking. This was the only safe place for Leo’s family, and Andar had just made it unsafe.

  Leo knew he couldn’t wrestle it from his brother, whatever it was. Andar was too strong. But he had always been honest with Leo, even when their father had not. He would answer Leo’s question.

  “What did you bring here?” It might’ve been the only time Leo had asked that question with dread rather than excitement.

  It was also the only time Andar had come home with worry after having taken something. Usually his smug expression put Leo at ease. Leo wished he could light the lamp again and see that same smile, but everything was different about tonight. He knew Andar would lie.

  “Andar,” Leo tried again. “I know you brought something here that you shouldn’t have. What is it?”

  Andar still didn’t answer. It was too dark for Leo to see anything, but he could hear his brother moving away from the front door and toward their shared bedroom. Leo followed.

  He usually wanted to be more like Andar in every way, strong and confident, with sharp eyes an
d quick hands. But now all Leo felt was anger toward his brother. Andar was keeping this from Leo, which only made him more drawn to it. What was it? Nothing had given Leo this feeling before, as if he were a dog and his brother was teasing him with a meaty bone.

  Leo needed to see it, to touch it. He followed Andar into their room. Did his brother still have the knife?

  “Andar!” Leo whispered with anger.

  There was another shout from outside, closer this time. It was from a man. Not Rygen or her mother. The scream sounded as if was out of fear or shock.

  “Little brother,” Andar said as he put his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “I need you to be completely quiet and crawl beneath the bed.”

  Fear took hold of Leo’s body, putting him on his hands and knees. Andar had addressed him as if desperate for Leo to obey. Neither of them had actually hidden under their beds before. It was something their father said to do when he left the house, more so when they were younger: “If someone comes in while I’m gone, hide under your beds.”

  It finally had happened, and it was Andar who had brought the danger to their house.

  “Are you going to hide with me?” Leo asked.

  “Yes, in a moment. Go.” With his shin, he pushed Leo toward his bed. Leo crawled the rest of the way. His eyes had adjusted to the dark enough to make out his bed frame. Dust stuck to his palms as he scampered beneath it. He turned around to face outward, the stirred-up filth beneath the bed making his tongue feel dry.

  Andar went to open the one window in their bedroom. He took something from his pocket and cocked his arm as if to throw it out, but he hesitated. Leo understood his brother’s internal struggle, for Leo felt the same way. He knew Andar should get rid of whatever this was. And yet, Leo couldn’t bring himself to urge his brother to do what he needed to do. Leo’s will was weak. Hopefully Andar was stronger in this moment, as he was in everything else.

  Andar grunted as he finally threw the object. Then he shut and latched the window shutters. Leo felt at ease for just a moment before worrying that now it would be close to Rygen’s house.

  Andar got under Leo’s bed with him. Leo expected his brother to say something, but Andar was silent.

  “What was that?” Leo asked.

  “A gem, large.” Andar whispered the words slowly, with great care. Clearly this thing was of great value. “It was weightless, as if it should float.”

  Leo was jealous that he’d never had the chance to touch it. But it was close, still. Although Leo could no longer feel it, Andar couldn’t have thrown it too far. Perhaps they should go out to retrieve it.

  No, that would put them in danger again. But if they were safe, Andar wouldn’t be hiding.

  “I didn’t feel its weight when I lifted it,” Andar said. “I felt what was within it.” He paused.

  “What does it have within it?” Leo asked.

  Andar ignored his question.

  “Andar?” Leo prodded.

  “All I know is that I felt something. I don’t know what.”

  It was the same for Leo, and he hadn’t even touched it.

  Another question slipped out before Leo could stop it. “Did you see where it landed?”

  “No. It disappeared as soon as I threw it.”

  Because of the dark or because it actually disappeared? Another scream rang out from a woman who was close this time, from the sound of it. Close enough to have come from Rygen’s house. Perhaps it was her mother.

  Andar hurried out from under the bed and opened the window. Leo followed him and tried to see what he could. There was nothing but the night. Rygen’s house was not close enough for them to see its walls.

  “Should we go—?”

  Andar interrupted, “Father shouldn’t have gone out after me.”

  “Why?”

  Andar gave no response. This had to be the most times in their lives that Leo had asked his brother a question that went unanswered. It was maddening. Leo pulled on Andar’s shoulder to make him turn.

  “What is out there?” Leo demanded.

  “What—you mean who. I have no idea, but I think they want what I took.”

  If it was a who instead of a what, Leo doubted he would hear screaming. There were creatures that could enter this realm, summoned beasts. Andar knew this as well as Leo, but Andar chose to ignore it. They were common in stories but Leo had never encountered one. He knew it was unlikely for one to be here, but he couldn’t think of anything else that would explain the screams.

  Leo suddenly remembered he’d heard something land on their roof. He asked, “Did you see something on the house when you were outside?”

  “What do you mean on the house?” Andar replied.

  “On top. I heard something land there.”

  Andar sucked in a breath as he went still. He quickly closed the window. “No, I didn’t. But I didn’t look.” Andar walked away from the window, toward the kitchen.

  “What about Rygen?” Leo asked. He was too young to defend her from any danger, but he would try anyway if his brother didn’t.

  Andar stopped. He turned back and opened the window. “Rygen!” he shouted into the darkness. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she called back. “What about you and Leo?”

  “We are!” Andar shut the window. “See, Leo. Everyone’s safe.”

  For now.

  “Whatever was on our roof probably jumped off,” Andar said.

  “Or it’s still there.”

  “Or it’s still there,” Andar agreed, clearly perturbed. “But there’s nothing we can do about that right now. We’ll wait for Father.”

  Andar walked into the kitchen and lit the lamp on the table. He still had the knife in hand as he sat, cradling it. Leo sat in the chair across from him. The light played off his brother’s face, creating sinister shadows.

  “Where did you get the stone?” Leo asked him.

  “From the market.”

  Andar said no more. It was strange for him to be coy. He was rarely at a loss for words, particularly if he was trying to talk himself out of trouble. When he lied to Father, Andar usually provided a convincing story. He was the one who’d taught Leo how to lie, telling many details in a confident tone. Still, Leo had not made use of that skill as frequently as his older brother.

  Andar didn’t visit the market often. Because whenever he did, he came back with something that wasn’t food—something of value. Father had rightfully told him that taking something beyond the price of bread was more likely to get him caught. He might escape immediately, but all it would take to be caught was for someone to see him again. “They’ll remember you better the more valuable an item you take,” Darren had said.

  “Where in the market did you see it?” Leo asked his brother.

  “Just at a gemcrafter’s table.”

  “What kind of gemcrafter?” Leo figured he knew the answer, though he wanted to hear Andar say it.

  “The only type that comes to this city.”

  Leo stood up and glared. “Stop lying to me.”

  “It’s true. The only kind of gemcrafter who ever comes to Jatn sells rocks that look like emeralds or rubies but everyone knows are not. No one here has money for the expensive stones, so there’s certainly no reason someone with rift gems would ever come here, as you are implying.”

  Leo realized that Andar wasn’t just lying to him. He was lying to himself.

  Andar left the knife on the table as he stood. “I don’t know why we’re scared. No one saw me take it. No one followed me.” He moved toward the window as if to open it, then stopped.

  It had to be a rift gem. Or at least Andar had to think it was. He wouldn’t have been so afraid otherwise. He wouldn’t have thrown it out the window, nor would he have hidden under the bed.

  But if it was in fact a rift stone that Andar took, then the likelihood of a summoned creature lurking on their roof was far too real. Summoned creatures were from the same place as rift stones—somewhere other than this world. Leo didn’t know much about the other realm connected to this one, or whether it was just one realm or many. He’d learned most of what he knew from a book that he’d read with Rygen, but it was written as fiction: A Summoner’s Life. Nothing from it could be taken as absolute fact.