Hidden City: The Kingdom, #1

By Cameron Kielb

Endless human conflict has ended the comfortable technological era known to man – cell phones and video games are a thing of the past. Taking its place is an age of magic, earthly power, and an unknown disease, ravishing humanity. As fear of the unknown, of contagion, and of magical power creates divides and pushes people into hiding, a young man named Mox seeks answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cameron Kielb
• Release date: Dec 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393695004

Cameron Kielb

Cameron Kielb has published 'Hidden City' and 'A Solemn Truth' in 'The Kingdom Series'. He enjoys writing and reading before working as a Registered Nurse. He writes fiction/fantasy and enjoys incorporating today's problems into his work. He is currently working on book three in 'The Kingdom' series as well as short stories. He lives in the Chicago land area with his wife, daughter, son, and two dogs.

Book preview

Chapter One

The cold, bitter, snow whipped from all directions. Mox had always hated the wind most; the way that it cut through his body like a knife through butter. Even through the surrounding trees, the wind continued to whirl rendering no place safe.

Along the dusty street, Mox continued to walk with his backpack, which was tattered from miles of wear. It had been ten years since he’d watched his mother pass, but he could remember it like yesterday. His face had hardened much since those days, and his shaggy brown hair was now trimmer. He often slicked it straight back but not now. Today it hid, concealed beneath a warm wooly hat, which only exaggerated his tall, six-foot stature. The sun shone high above, combating the cold as the clock approached noon. He gathered kindling to start a fire, utilizing magazines and newspapers that littered the road. Each paper talked about the same event.

Death! Death count to nearly a million as unknown disease continues to grow!

With the Government’s estimated death toll nearly hitting one million, they admit they are still no closer to finding the cause or cure. Government officials advise everyone to stay inside and minimize all contact with outsiders. Although strict, they urge people to comply in order to prevent the spread. Furthermore, if you begin to notice signs of fever and diaphoresis (sweating), contact the health district immediately. Other symptoms include hallucinations... (Cont. on p4).

January 15, 4018.

Mox had read enough. For while there was no page four to turn to in this paper, he’d read it all before. This disease had been what afflicted his mother long ago...

Mother? We’re here. I brought some help! Mox yelled, barging into the small house he called home. He was only twelve and wasn’t ready for this. An older man, Burt, lagged behind. This way, hurry!

Burt bound after him, clearly out of breath. He followed Mox down the hall into a bedroom. There, atop a flimsy, sweat-stained mattress, lay Fay, gasping for air. Drenched in perspiration, her clothes clung to her skin.

Fay! Burt gulped.

Raylin told me to get you if this day came before his return, Fay whispered softly. I don’t think I can last much longer.

Mom? Mox spoke timidly. You can do it. You must!

Fay smiled at her son softly. For you, I’d do anything, sweetheart. But I’m afraid I don’t have a say in this.

Do something! Mox yelled at Burt.

Burt looked at Mox gravely. Okay, go fetch some cold water and bring something to fan her off. We need to cool her down. Go! he finished, sending him out of earshot.

Mox ran to the nearest faucet and filled it. Running back, he did his best not to slosh it over the edge. I’ve got the water! Mox said busting back through the door.

Burt smiled softly at Fay and held intense eye contact. Very good, boy. Grab some towels from the corner and soak them. We’re going to cover her body to help her cool down.

Mox worked meticulously sponging his mother off with cool water. Her muscles unclenched, and she seemed to be breathing easier. Hey, Mox, I love you, Fay said quietly. I think it’s time to go... she finished screaming out in pain, eyes clenched shut. Fay squeezed Mox’s hands tightly before her hands went limp.

Mom?

No response.

I love you, too, Mox yelled, tears sprinkling down his cheek.

Fay started seizing and shaking violently.

Mother! Mox cried hysterically, jumping on her to hold her down.

Burt chanted silently until an electrifying white, blue ball appeared in his hands. Burt’s skin glowed a soft shimmering yellow. Move, Mox! he yelled. Hurriedly, he spread his hands up and down Fay’s skin allowing the energy force to pass to her, numbing the pain.

Fay stopped shaking and immediately sighed in relief, for one final time. Be free, Fay. Come with me now, Burt said gently putting an arm around Mox. Your mother has asked I watch over you until you are of age. Are you okay with that?

Mox stared silently at his mother’s pale body. Was he okay with that? With what? Trying to process what had happened, his head swirled. It felt like a hard lump of hot coal weighed in his stomach. Leaning off to the side, he wretched, coating the cool wash clothes within the bucket with yellow vomit. His father had warned him this day would come all those years back when Mox first realized he had powers. He had also told him not to try and do anything magical in her presence because it made it worse. If he needed to talk to anyone or show off a new trick, he could do so with him, or the neighbor down the street, Burt. Burt had powers like them, he said. After his father had left, Mox had done just that. At least once a month he would show Burt a new trick and he would always clap and ask him to do it again. Mox would happily oblige.

Yeah, he finally sputtered, tears dripping from his cheeks. What did you do? His mouth watered excessively, and he spat a few times into the bucket trying to clear his mouth.

Eased her pain.

But how?

The power we share. We can harness it if properly trained to do all sorts of things. Pain relief is just one of these things.

Mox thought about this. Can you make my hurt go away?

Physical pain, Mox. Emotional pain isn’t so easy. Maybe someone can do it, but not me.

I want to learn, Mox concluded.

Burt smiled. Of course, child. We need to take care of your mother first, but training starts tomorrow.

Tomorrow? I’ll learn tomorrow? What will you teach me?

Control, Burt said simply. I’m afraid there isn’t time to waste, Burt assured him. We won’t be learning this exactly, but we need to start flexing those muscles. Now, come on. Let’s get her buried before we’ve lost all daylight. Think of a spot she would like.

They worked in silence, wrapping Fay in her favorite sheet before transporting her outside by the nearby lake. She had loved sitting by the lake watching the slow waves topple over each other. Mox dug continuously, trying to keep his mind preoccupied. The sun had finally set behind them when he finished the hold.

After checking no one was around, Burt extended his hands, skin shimmering. Fay’s body, wrapped tightly in pink, slowly levitated as Burt guided her body slowly down into the hole. You will be missed, he said to her, body laid to rest.

Mox grabbed the shovel to begin returning the dirt.

Let me, Burt said simply, arms still waving. Mox stepped back as the dirt funneled back to the hole like sand in an hourglass. Sorry I couldn’t help dig too, he said, seeing Mox’s face. Much harder to lift something against gravity than assisting its natural force. Same rules apply, even for magic. Burt said one last prayer before leaving. You can stay with me in my house if you’d prefer not to be in your house.

Mox stayed with his mother, watching the water as darkness continued to grow. Thank goodness for Burt. He owed him big time, and he knew it. The thought of returning to his house, the house his had father left him in, the house where, now, his mother had left him, made his heart hurt. He loved that house, but now? It felt cursed. Yes, he would stay with Burt. He would focus on learning everything he could from the nice old guy. And when he finished learning... he would leave town. Leave behind him the cursed house, the memories, the pain. How he longed to be on the other side of this. His father used to say, ‘The only way to get somewhere is to start going.’ Well, it was time to start going. He departed without looking back...

MOX CONTINUED PUTTING together the finishing touches on the fire when he sensed someone watching him. If he hadn’t been so lost in his tortuous memory, he would have been aware of their presence when they’d first shown up. Nonetheless, he did not let surprise show through, Burt would be proud. Never show surprise to a stranger, the old man would say. Although annoying, these lessons were more beneficial to his survival than any of the other skills.

Instead, he opened the conversation. Hey, strangers! I’m just about to cook a lunch and warm up by the fire. Won’t you join me? I prefer company I can see, as I’m sure you’d understand. Mox rather welcomed some company after the last few isolated weeks he’d had. He did not think they were particularly dangerous, unlike the last group. Just in case, he reached for the pistol tucked away in his pants.

We’d just as well you keep your hands forward in front of the fire! responded a hoarse voice just as the flames magically lit. We’re coming out, and we have you surrounded, he said triumphantly. So, please, don’t try anything stupid.

No worries there, men! Let’s just move this along, please. I prefer time moving forward, not still, Mox replied indifferently as half a dozen people came creeping out of the large knobby trees to the side of the road. He could also feel, not see, a few more men behind him.

What is your business coming through these woods, into the homeland of the Guillan people? the large, brutish man with graying hair and thick mustache asked.

My name is Mox, he responded. Born from a village just off Lake Ribose. I’m on a quest in pursuit of my father. While this was not a complete lie, it certainly wasn’t the complete truth either. What are your names, and what troubles you, gents?

The group exchanged uneasy looks before the leader relented. We are the people of Guillan, once the powerhouse of the woods. I’m Norton, commander of the people. He spoke smugly. These are some of my men. He gestured with his stocky arms, rather dismissively. We haven’t had many strangers in years, with good reason. Ever since the disease has ravaged this earth, we keep to ourselves.

You don’t have to tell me, sir, Mox replied calmly. It is this disease that is a big part of my quest. If you could grant me passage through your town, I’d very much like to collect some data and information. I don’t need food or shelter and should be gone within a couple days, I should think.

Norton gave him an uneasy look.

Perhaps he can help us, piped in one young man, who looked barely twenty, with long dark hair toward the back. Norton turned toward this young man with fiery eyes as the young chap immediately fell back with a look of embarrassment. It reminded Mox of a look only a parent can give to their child; he had got that often from his father and later, Burt. To his surprise (and appreciation), he hadn’t received that look when he had left Burt back at Lake Ribose. Rather, he had offered encouragement, support, and a promise to always have a place to stay with him. In fact, it was Burt who told him about the hidden city ‘Guillan.’

Playing on this hunch, Mox spoke up. And what needs helping with, Mr. Norton? Why does your son say such?

Norton and his son’s faces immediately flushed. But he recovered quickly. I apologize, and you are right. My son, Norton gestured for him to come to his side, Has let his excitement get the best of him. This is Brand.

Mox nodded and said, Good to meet you, sir. Can we get this moving? Days such as these are short enough. I’ll gladly detour around your town if you’d like, I just need to know how to proceed. Mox gestured forward.

Very well, Mox, Norton replied. "You may pass through, just don’t linger. You’ll probably find most of our people very willing to help you on your little investigation. Norton put emphasis on the word investigation. But be forewarned that there may be some who will not trust you and refuse to talk. They have a good reason."

I bet they do. Don’t we all? Mox thought dryly. I thank you very much, commander, Mox replied enthusiastically, happy to avoid conflict and obtain passage to a town he’d only ever heard of. When do we leave?

Pulling out his gun, Norton said, As soon as you’re blindfolded! Mox could tell he loved being in the position of power and control. Sorry, but we’ve secret defenses we’d rather no one be privy to, Norton explained.

Mox didn’t mind playing into someone’s false sense of power and control when it fit him, but to do this gave Norton too much control. What if this was all some sort of trap? I’m going to have to have to decline that tempting offer, with respect, sir, he added, waving his hand up, skin glowing. As if pulled by a magnetic force, Norton’s gun flew from his outstretched hands into Mox’s.

What type of trick is this? Norton questioned, grabbing at air, eyes open wide in shock. The other men each did a double take. Mox nearly laughed.

Sir! an older guy with a long white beard shouted wispily. What luck, this is. It’s like our prayers have been answered. We need to take this man in, he added. I think he could prove quite useful.

Is that so, William? Norton asked.

I insist, William responded, beard swirling in the wind. You remember Conniah! He who constructed that magical station that protects us. And now with the, errr, glitches we’re having—

Very well. Let’s go then, Norton cut in. Mox deduced that the ‘glitches’ were not public knowledge Norton wanted to be spread around.

What’s this station? Mox asked curiously.

Follow us, he gestured eyeing Mox skeptically, ignoring the question completely. I’ll be watching you though, he growled shoving the blindfold back into a pocket.

Go ahead, big dog. I’ll be watching you too. Mox attempted a smile that felt fake, even to him, and held in his rebuttal. At least they were already moving forward. He had come a long way from his hometown at Lake Ribose. Mox smiled (a real one this time). Now he was getting somewhere.

Chapter Two

Mox was wondering when they’d arrive when Norton suddenly put up his hands. They had walked for miles through the dense trees winding through many small trails.

Are we there? he asked.

Norton and his crew exchanged grinning looks, some even chuckled. Are we tiring you out, sir? Norton mused. Yes, we’re here. Reaching out toward the nearest tree, he inserted his hand into a cleft in the trunk. Norton’s hand played around a little bit in the hole until an audible ‘beep’ rang.

What’s the password, a speaker within the tree asked.

Long live Guillan, town of the trees, Norton responded casually.

At first, Mox thought this must be some sort of a joke, for he had never seen anything quite like a talking tree. The fact that nothing happened didn’t help either. But Mox realized he was wrong, something was happening! Something unbelievable, in fact; right behind the tree Norton talked to, the dense forest faded away. Mox stepped forward and saw that the trees were getting stretched back in a large circle, a town appearing where the trees had just been. Looking up, he realized that some sort of magical dome receded up toward the sky. The town now left in front of him looked enormous. It had to have been at least three times the size of his hometown on the lake. That was amazing! he exclaimed, looking toward Norton.

Norton’s face beamed. Why thank you, sir. Guillan is very proud of what we’ve accomplished. Unfortunately, it’s more than just a luxury. This protection has kept us safe from the nearby Genos for nearly ten years now. The wars before that were brutal. Come, let me show you around.

For the next hour, Mox followed Norton through town. Farms littered its outskirts with many workers sweating in the fields despite the cold air. Due to the proximity to the forest, Mox doubted they were able to make a significant yield. Small shops soon replaced houses. There was ‘Merchie’s Fish Shop – best fish in town,’ (And probably the only fish, Mox thought) a few grocery markets, as well as a very old-looking bank.

Finally, they were in the center of the town jampacked with people bundled into jackets. There were many bars and taverns (where most of Norton’s crew left to) scattered on