Wild King and the Three Cities

By Drew G. Mitchell

Wild King and the Three Cities is about five combatants. Regalia is a tribesman in Nepaga, one of the many different private military companies that are the tribes. Amman is a bow and bombs user of the military order familie, a group of orphan protector and rescuers. Nae Koola is a powersmith of Tubal, a smithing guild that can be located in Onnota. Beretta is a huntress and botanical expert. Rawl is a former knight turned experience patroller and respected Onnota citizen.As they battle and conquer foes of human form and animal persuasion, from bandits to monstrosity and their evolutionary statuses, which are known by the weapons that can be forged from them. There are strange weapons for offense or defense, starting at monstrosity being of a physical effect; terror, being of a magical effect; and originals made into living weapons being the last but a mix of both. Our story follows them through each city, town, and the wilds in between.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685261900

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Wild King and the Three Cities

Drew G. Mitchell

ISBN 978-1-68526-189-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-190-0 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Drew G. Mitchell

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

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H ow's your wound, brother?

Once we get some more distance between us and them, we'll tend to it.

Elder brother is right. I'll be fine.

Little sisters, do one of you need to switch again?

They answer together. Not yet. Hopefully, we don't have to fight them like that again.

You two did great.

Thanks, elder brother. It was Regalia that gave us the opening.

How are your wounds?

You two focus on your breathing and pacing. All of us, we'll be with the rest of the tribe soon.

Can't believe you two could cause those rocks to fall like that, and using the mountain was your idea.

Don't talk too much like Regalia told us. You need to focus too.

From the rear, They must be after our necklaces, eldest brother.

We aren't giving them up, they said again in unison. Damn straight, we aren't.

Regalia, do you see them at all?

Not yet. Eldest brother may be never again. More group speech. But the meeting point for us is still far off, so we have to keep running. And keep making sure there aren't any animals in front of us, eldest brother.

Do you need us to slow down at all?

No. Our line is as it should be.

The twins talk this time. We did whittle them down.

A lot every time. They caught up with us.

We didn't even fight all the ones on horseback.

Regalia is right, and that guy with the two swords looked hard to handle.

His techniques wounded our middle brother. He uses a strange-to-say long sword style.

It will be night soon. We'll likely lose them then. A setting sun causes some reds, oranges, and yellows to mash together with a dark-blue sky. Farther back, a few stars are showing already. They're running on arid stone. An arrow comes in but gets captured by Regalia's left hand. They finally caught up with us.

Keep going. I'll catch up.

They all yell back, We continue!

He whirls around to face a total of nine enemies, five of them clearly tag-along mercenaries riding on top of a horse-driven carriage. The other ones are the woman driving the carriage and three others on horseback, one man and two women. Clearly skilled in their abilities, he tightens his fist. The five on top of the carriage jump down when the woman driving the carriage yells, Form up!

Her voice echoing, they arrange themselves. With two in front, one on either flank, and one behind, the other enemies are still on horseback. Hoping that their attack from before tired him out, the woman driving the carriage looked at the tribesman's chest. She sees scars under the wounds and that his fists are still bloody from their last encounter. You again! he says to the man on horseback.

Yes, us again.

Advance! the woman orders, her voice echoing again. The five mercenaries barrel at him, but he is unfazed and charges them. The merc to his left swings recklessly, so he spins to their left flank, cracking then denting that flank's mercenary's forehead. Their other flank's mercenaries are surprised by Regalia's remaining energy, for he was in front of him in two blinks of his eyes. A frightened downward swing, and his left arm blocks him by the pommel. Then, he gets his liver bruised even through his armor.

Regalia cocks back his arm, which is used to perform a deep under-the-chin uppercut. It detached his brainstem from his spine, so he is dead before he falls back on the ground. Their closest merc to his front tries a midsection thrust but is deflected. Again, with a left hand, Regalia continues with a past-the-temple punch, adding another skull being caved in.

The last mercenary to his front has his sword in hand but is kind of frozen and kind of shaking. Gets rushed with already seen speed Regalia's right hand dents in his forehead too. Their back mercenary tries his hand with his sword, stabbing downward, but he's easily overpowered and is gutted with his own blade. The man on horseback sighs at the display. Their money paid for, he dismounts his horse to face the tribesman and draws his sword. Well, do I go first, or do you go first?

Taunting him, the tribesman charges with the gutted mercenary's sword. He swings furiously, but the blow is deflected by the unnatural strength of this man. As he moves to the side, he swings downward, but he is blocked. Their swords locked till the tribesman is pushed back. He takes a few steps back, as does his opponent. Their positions switched. The tribesman charges again. But before they connect, chains wrap around him, thrown by the other woman horse rider with their weight increased by magic, causing him to crash to the ground.

What do we do with him? the strangely strong man says while his sword is tapping Regalia's chin.

The woman from the carriage smiles a bit. He is strong, Rawl.

Why don't we bring him back home with us?

What do you think of that, tribesman?

Whatever you ask of me, I'll do. But in return, don't chase after my family.

Lower your sword, Rawl. We're bringing him with us.

What for, Amman?

I'll figure that out, Nae Koola. Let's just bring him back to port.

Rawl shakes his head, looking over at the dead mercenaries. Load him in the carriage, Beretta and Nae Koola. The sun was in twilight, with animals howling in the distance, waiting to devour the dead as before while Beretta and Nae Koola walk him to the carriage. You got a name?

Regalia.

I'm Beretta, and this is Nae Koola. Watch your head, Regalia. They close the doors on him and get back on their horses. Regalia's now in darkness. He's crestfallen, which he gets confused with the chain weighing on him. But there are no sounds of his brothers and sisters as they travel, only voices complaining about money wasted on weak mercenaries. I can't believe we spent that much on those useless people.

Those tribesmen and women were ripping through them during each encounter.

Beretta, they're dead now. Give it a rest.

I'd talked about it, Amman. In the plains, they ripped them to pieces, I said to them. In that small forest, they got ripped to pieces, I told them. On that large mountain road, they got ripped to pieces. I explained to them.

So I talked about it.

Yeah, but it was a good tactic at least, Beretta. You got to admit that. Exhaustion took him to sleep, then a cool breeze with salt in it woke him. Nae Koola and Beretta, bring Regalia out of the carriage. The port barricades view is far off. Take the chains off him, Beretta.

Okay, Amman. They're used up anyway.

Is selling his necklace going to get us back home, Rawl?

I hope so, Nae Koola.

You know what goes on here, Regalia?

I've heard the stories.

Well, let's get going.

If I can ask you, how did all of you get entrance into this port in the first place?

My order's name was useful for gaining access.

Halt. What's your business?

I am Amman. We spoke before. I hope you remember our encounter. The man gives a signal, and a strong bull tied to the single sliding door-style entrance pulls it open. They walk past the barricades and into the port town, which is a short distance. Take him to the merchant, Rawl. We'll wait at the tavern over there.

That is the plan, Amman.

Don't worry. You're not going to die here, Regalia.

We are just selling the jewelry hanging from your neck, though I did hear we would've had to kill you to retrieve it.

They arrive at the merchant, who has sacks on his table. How much do we get?

Fifty purple stone coins. Regalia takes off his necklace, and he gets the pouch of stone coins for it.

Come on, let's get back. They walk back and enter the tavern to see their group already seated.

How much did we get, Rawl?

Fifty purple stone coins, Amman.

This trip wasn't really worth it then, but gaining a strong companion is.

Regalia hands her the sack. Here, Nae Koola. Go make arrangements for a ship. I'll order some food and drinks.

Okay, but don't forget my firewater.

Beretta chimes in. Sit down, you two.

Regalia sits next to Beretta, and Rawl sits opposite of him. Talk being of what food and drinks Amman ordered plus Rawl complaining about his sea sickness. The only important thing was getting bandages for Regalia's wounds, and Rawl was asking Beretta not to smoke her brown herbs around him since it's for digestion.

They make their way to the ship after getting their food and drinks. When they get there, the ship's crew loads the carriage on the ship. Is it well built, Nae Koola?

We shouldn't sink, Amman.

Let's get on then. The ship sets sails into the sea. Beretta whispers to Regalia, If you start to get seasick, the herbs I smoke will help with nausea.

I thought it was for bowel movements.

I only told Rawl that because I think it's funny to screw with him. She laughs a little, making Regalia smile. Here is a healing potion. It will aid your wounds.

We can get you a shirt from the captain.

How long will our journey be, captain?

If the wind and currents are strong and in our favor, then it should only take a few days.

I also don't think we'll run into any storms or pirates uh…

Amman is my name.

All right, lass. Where do you travel to after leaving my ship?

Onnota.

Oh, the three cities. Which one do you live in?

The War City. I hear they're all good to live in, lass.

Yes, I've been to them all, and they're nice.

Well, Amman, you're free to stay on deck or go below.

I'll stay above for now, and take care of my friend with seasickness.

Rawl's head is hanging off the ship with puke spewing out his mouth. Nae Koola is drinking her firewater next to him. Can you quit it already, Rawl?

It's not like I can help it.

How's he doing, Nae Koola?

Same as when we were on the last ship, Amman.

She places a hand on his back, trying to comfort him. You should just drink water and eat very little.

I talked to the captain, and he explained that it should only take a few days.

Well, it was like a week just getting here, Nae Koola complains. I'm watching him. You can go and get some rest.

We've barely been sleeping. And don't drink too much, all right, Nae Koola?

Yeah. I hear you.

The journey is going according to the captain's prediction, and they arrive at port in a few days. They disembark in the afternoon and spend half the day traveling by carriage. So Nae Koola tells Regalia about the three cities starting with their home city while Amman and Beretta slept. The War City has the most combatants in it.

What are combatants?

It's what we call ourselves. There are different kinds, like Beretta who's a hunter. They deal with the monstrosities in the Bloody Wilds or hunters that are dungeon divers like me that kill terrors.

We have dungeons back home in Nepaga.

So you know about red alchemic water?

A little.

Then you know it kills humans in large doses when consumed. But for some reason, when animals consume it, they're changed into monsters. The weakest we call monstrosities, and when a monstrosity drinks more red alchemic water, they turn into a terror and they gain magic. If a terror drinks enough red alchemic water, they'll turn into an original, the strongest monster. There has only been one original in Onnota's history, but that was thousands of years ago. A time before the cities even had their great walls.

I've heard that originals sometimes create progeny, Nae Koola.

Yes, Regalia, which is true of our original, but not all of them. And we call ours backbreakers.

Terrible fanged and albino skinned with red streaks, weapon wielders roaming in groups but never an army, Regalia.

They've plagued Onnota since the defeat of the original.

What are the other types of combatants?

There are gladiators like Amman. They compete in the colosseum for bodyguard contracts.

Good ones anyway, but they can also get them at the variety of guilds which are based in money-earning potential in the central and Wealthy Districts, but success in the colosseum means you won't get turned down by a contractor.

What about Rawl?

He's a patroller. They deal with crimes, or they'll guard companies or take bounties for specific persons. There are other kinds of combatants, but they're specific to a certain city.

What are the other cities called?

There is the Trade City to the north where there are the most different kinds of ways to make money. And the Agricultural City to the west which is the breadbasket for the three cities, though they all have their own way of feeding their populace. For instance, the War City's way is to hunt monstrosities, and the Trade City spends stone coins for food from other northern cities and kingdoms.

Here we are, Rawl yells back, waking Amman and Beretta. On the mighty War City gate is their emblem—a black-scaled bipedal reptile in a white suit of armor with a mohawk made of gold-and-silver horns, holding a golden human-faced cannon with black flames spitting out. He shows a paper to a combatant. After looking it over, he signals for the gate to be opened by great chains actuated by gears controlled by combatants.

Where are we headed, Rawl?

Southeast of the Poor District. That's where our manor is. The land there is good enough for farming.

But Beretta's knowledge of soil and plants really helps us make a profit.

Although some of our crops go to Amman's temple in the Poor District.

To help the unfortunate, some of our profits go to clothes for them as well, and in return, they give the patrollers and me information on criminals.

How many farmhands do you have?

Twenty, not counting their kids. But they live in houses around the property. How do you all make most of your money?

Beretta owns a successful apothecary shop in the Central District.

Nae Koola has one of the most popular blacksmith shops also in the Central District.

Amman has a fruitful gladiatorial career, and I make the most money bounty hunting.

It's just the four of you in the manor?

No. I have a wife, and we have three children together. I'll introduce you to everyone, hopefully before the sun sets.

There sure are a lot of people.

There are several hundreds of thousands of people, not including all the travelers looking for opportunities.

Though the Trade City is the most populated of the three cities and the Agricultural is third, making the War City second.

But there are the two towns, one between the Trade City and Agricultural City.

The other is southeast of here. The stone road turns to dirt. Great. We're home. A field hand sees the carriage and goes to get Rawl's wife. Another one walks up, welcoming Rawl.

Was your trip successful?

Some money and an addition to our family. He takes the reigns, and they jump out the back, his wife and kids already out of the manor walking over to greet him. She's wearing a well-made yellow dress and clean white shoes. His two boys are wearing white shirts and blue jeans, and his daughter is wearing a pink dress with black shoes.

Welcome home, honey.

It's good to see you, Emily.

Dinner is ready.

Daddy, did you bring us anything?

Only a new friend. Louise, his name is Regalia. We'll have a proper introduction once we're inside.

I sure do hope so, Rawl, while the kids are in the kitchen and after you all get changed. We'll talk in the living room.

They walk in; and Beretta, Rawl, Nae Koola, and Amman go upstairs to their rooms to change while Emily shows Regalia to a chair. After a short time, they come downstairs and enter. Emily is sitting down on the couch, having already got a little acquaintance going. So you all kind of captured him.

Heavy on the kind-of part, I hope. And real light as a feather about the capture word.

I just used because we could all be homeless or worse if this doesn't sound right, Rawl.

Her demeanor about the people living in her home not gone but more of this again.

I know we told you we were after some jewelry, which is completely true.

It just happened to be around our tribesman friend here's neck.

Right. She looks over at him. You being of sound mind and body, you're fine with being here, right?

For the most part, yeah. I gave an oath to follow them, so for now, till it's time for me to leave.

Hand on head, with a little side to side with it. Sounds legit.

Let's go eat before our food gets cold. They enter the kitchen and sit down, Rawl sitting next to his family and the rest next to Regalia. Before you ladies get comfortable, help me put the food and plates on the table.

Okay, girl, all this smells good.

You know I do my best. The food is on the table with everyone sitting. It's time for introductions. This is my wife Emily and our three kids.

Louise, she's ten. Liam is seven, and Lucas is five.

It's good to meet you four.

Emily, the food looks and smells delicious.

Thank you. You're kind.

They begin to eat meats and vegetables mostly with bread. Beretta tells Liam to taste the food before he flings it. Louise complains of the smell of Nae Koola's firewater drinks. Emily explains manor life and business to Rawl. Food sales are high, and the field hands tended to your herbs as you instructed, Beretta. Good. I was a little worried, and Nae Koola's workshop next to the house went mostly untouched besides some small repairs to tools.

That's fine.

And Amman, your library books' wear and tear is a little bad due to the kids.

That's fine if all the pages are still there.

I can return them.

And Rawl, look at the pictures your daughter drew. They're over there.

He gets up to check them out. Nice flowers. Are these the farm animals? You're getting better.

And why'd you draw your brothers with fly eyes?

They were bugging me.

He sits back down to continue eating. It's not long before their plates are empty. The kids and I will clean up, Rawl. You all should get to bed.

Thanks, Emily.

I'll show Regalia to his room. He takes him upstairs and down the hall after getting a pillow and cover from a cupboard. Here's where you'll sleep. I'd like you to think of this as your home. Have a good night. He walks in and lays down to sleep. A soft bed aids his restless mind.

The combination of a morning sun peering through his window hitting his face and a knock on his door wakes Regalia. Behind the door, a voice called. It's Beretta. I've got a change of clothes for you. Can I come in?

Yes.

There is a twist of his doorknob, and she enters. I'll place them on this desk.

What are we doing today?

Same old, same old. Selling our goods. Breakfast is already made, but we're eating it on the go.

Our farmhands are already loading the carriage, so hurry up and get dressed. We'll be waiting outside.

She leaves, and he changes clothes. He goes to the kitchen, grabs some soft bread, then walks outside. Beretta was waving and talking with jerky in her mouth. Took you long enough. The carriage is loaded. Hop on the back next to Nae Koola. I'm riding next to Amman up-front.

Where's Rawl?

He already left with a horse to go on patrol. Regalia hops in the back, and Beretta jumps up-front. Amman takes the reigns, getting the horses into action. Where's are first stop, Nae Koola?

Beretta's shop.

Rawl told me it's profitable.

Yeah, she sells some of the best products. Skin and hair care and some just for everyday health that elderly people take.

Herbs that can keep you up and herbs for sleep. Some for simple cuts and burns. Specialty products for combatants like herbal potions for healing and stamina.

Some can increase strength and even poisons.

People around here sure do seem busy.

The Central District is always busy, judging from the surrounding building.

We are moving through the city easily.

This is our small factory district where this carriage we are riding in was made.

They also do safety equipment for the cities for instants putting out fires if you notice the water towers on that roof.

I hear they're trying to make a pressure system, they say.

I hear it works by holding the water under force then releasing it all at once with special piping.

I wonder how their demo will go.

Amman yells from the front, We're here. Hop on down. Regalia, help them unload!

Beretta jumps down and addresses her employees waiting outside. Let's get started. I'll unlock the doors, and the rest of you, start unloading the carriage.

Some men and women move to the back of the carriage. Nae Koola is already out of the way. Regalia is handing a box to the closest person. Others are grabbing boxes and going indoors with them. Others are passing boxes. The carriage becomes empty before long. Amman yells again. Hop back on!

Nae Koola, we're dropping you off next!

They take off, and Regalia questions Nae Koola, How long have you all been living here?

"I've been here my whole life. I was born in the