The Songster in Revenant Kingdom

Chapter 11

As Evan and Gascon explained to Roland how Kingmakers worked, he started to understand why Oakenheart, the Kingmaker of Ding Dong Dell, could never belong to Evan now.

"...I see." he finally said at the end. "So in all likelihood, Mausinger has taken control of your kingmaker already." Evan nodded.

"Yes. Which means I'll have to find a new one. A new kingmaker for our new kingdom." 

"And where do we find one, exactly? There can't be too many of these things." Roland asked. Surely it couldn't be so easy to become a king."

"There's a king's cradle on the other side of the mountain right here in Autumnia!" Camilla piped up. "That's where Antioch came from!" 

"That's where Antioch lives." Gascon corrected her. "You can only get one kingmaker from one cradle." She slumped against her pillow at that.

"I think we might have a chance of meeting one if we visit the king's cradle beyond Cloudcoil Canyon," Evan told them, thinking to the locations he had been shown in his classes. He couldn't think of anyone else who might use that cradle, other than perhaps sky pirates. 

"The king's cradle...?" Roland asked, thrown off yet again by the younger ones' knowledge that he couldn't possess. 

"It's a holy place where a kingmaker is enshrined. Every kingdom has one." Evan explained, nodding his head.

"The king has to go and meet the kingmaker, pass some quizzes, and then if the kingmaker likes him, then they join forces!" Gascon added on excitedly.

"So, if a kingmaker happens to be at loose ends, we could visit them at their king's cradle and try to convince them to sign up with us?" Roland could hardly believe it would be so simple for them, but Evan simply nodded. 

"Exactly. And if the stories are true, there is a kingmaker in the place I mentioned which has yet to be claimed." Camilla threw her covers off and threw her feet over the edge of the bed.

"What are we waiting for then? Let's go!" She jumped to her feet but nearly fell over, only being caught by Roland, who rushed over as soon as he saw her going down.

"I think you're still a little too weak to be going anywhere, Camilla." He told her, helping her sit back down. "After all, you were attacked by a giant rat." Camilla punched the bed.

"I'll be fine!" She shouted. "Gascon, use a Healing Touch spell on me!" Gascon held his staff close to his chest.

"Camilla, you know I can't do magic well! I don't want to hurt you!" She groaned.

"Fine! Evan! You do it! You paid more attention in class anyways!" Evan stiffened at the thought of trying magic just yet.

"Well, hold on. Let me get my wand out." Evan slowly pulled it out from his arms band that he had put on after changing his clothes that morning.

"You can do magic too, Evan?" Roland asked, and Evan nodded.

"I'm still practicing, but I'll be able to help fight beside you all!" Roland chuckled, putting his hand on Evan's shoulder. 

"Just take it easy, alright? Don't push yourself." Evan nodded, then pointed his wand at Camilla, slowly creating the healing symbol and using his wand to push the spell towards her. She sat there, wincing a second, before letting out a soft sigh as the spell washed over her, healing her wounds and making her aching feelings fade away. 

"Thank you, Evan." She whispered, standing up slowly, Roland standing ready to catch her in case she fell again, but she didn't fall. In fact, she ran. She ran straight for her closet. "Get out! Everyone out! I need to get dressed! We're going on an adventure!" 

NI NO KUNI

Leaving Hamelin wasn't easy. Swaine was adamant that Camilla couldn't go, but Nichole convinced him that there was no stopping her at that point, especially with the examination that was done to be sure that all of her scars had been healed. Marcassin was against the idea of Gascon and Evan trying to start their own kingdom by themselves, but Harmony was the one who stood on the front line of that argument, despite her own feelings about her young son, niece and the child she had watched grow up leave her nest to go and create their own.  

"Evan is adamant on this one, Marcassin, there's no getting around it. And he's not going to stop until he's made the kingdom he and Aranella dreamt of. The least we can let them do is go and get a Kingmaker to protect themselves with." Marcassin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was fighting a battle in his own mind on this one. On one hand, he never said no to his wife, but one thing he was more than willing to fight over was his son. 

"And if Mausinger were to go after them?" He asked, sitting down. "We've learned he's more than willing to try and kill Evan. What if he takes out Gascon in the process?"

"They will not be returning to Ding Dong Dell." Harmony practically threatened, turning to look at the two boys, who straightened themselves. "Mausinger is not unreasonable. He will not rage war unless Evan were to attempt to reclaim Ding Dong Dell. And I will personally see to that not happening." Marcassin sighed, throwing his arm down on the arm of his seat.

"Fine! Fine!" He said, standing up and walking towards the two boys. "Go and make a kingdom." He told them, standing before them, and Gascon gulped. When he was serious, his father was a truly impressive man, and it was no wonder he was seen as such a great Emperor. "But remember this, boys. Starting a kingdom from the ground up, that is no easy feat. You will face hardships, and you will face failure. And you will face those who won't believe in you. But know, that Hamelin will always be at your side." He stood before Evan, who stood as tall as he could, feeling a rush of determination. "King Evan. Consider the Kingdom of Hamelin as your first alliance. In the event of war, my army will stand at the side of yours, and as you fight for mine, we will fight for your honor." Evan nodded, shaking Marcassin's hand.

"Thank you, Emperor Marcassin. I will do you proud, and make sure that my army is worthy to stand alongside yours, as my kingdom thrives!"