Canchock

Future Kings

Book Three:

Canchock

By Seth Giolle

Future Kings – Book 3, Canchock

1st Edition

Copyright (c) 2024 by Seth Giolle; Ottawa, Canada.

Published by Seth Giolle

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of cited quotations embodied in literary articles, social media posts, and general reviews. Game pieces and extras can be downloaded and printed privately for play, but individuals may not reproduce those same pieces and extras for the commercial goal of selling them for profit.

Cover Image by Seth Giolle.

ISBN: 978-1-300-89984-6

Prologue

Angelina, Gordon, and Simon grew up in a town gone mad, in a world bent on Stalking and killing all wizards, young and old.

Born magical, the fourteen, ten, and seventeen year olds have escaped Iroquois Falls with the help of a strong wizard, StarBen, and they’ve started their journey north to a wizard school where they can train and live free, magical lives.

On the way, they fell into a dark maze trap, pursued by darker creatures they’d hoped to have escaped from around town.

The three youth must face the rest of their trip alone while StarBen leads their dogged pursuers off, but what if StarBen should need help? What if the trio can’t make the trip north without him?

Future Kings

Book Three: Canchock

Page 4            Natural Wonders

Page 14            Gleam

Page 28            Lady in the White Hat

Page 45            Searching for Nothing

Page 58            Canchock

Page 65            Thought Weaver

Page 94            Canchock

Natural Wonders

Still nothing. Simon crept in by the low fire that Gordon was carefully tending. I found rabbit tracks. The traps are set, so we might get some fresh kills for when we head out tomorrow.

Angelina’s head shot up from her work skinning the last rabbit he’d snared. It was disgusting work, and she still wasn’t doing it right, but she was taking her turns like everyone else. And hunger had a way of steeling even most squeamish person’s nerves.

We’ve everything we need here, she insisted. We can wait it out.

Simon’s snicker was sarcastic with a hint of anxiety. Their coats were all dirty from recent rains and muddy runs, and boots showed new stains and random nicks. Hair and clothes were in bad need of a wash yet again. The local stream they’d found was too small, and they couldn’t afford to be out in the open long enough to bathe. Angelina almost wanted to risk being spotted just get properly clean. She missed clean.

We can’t keep using that stream you found, Angelina, Simon grunted, and this is the last of our wood. We can’t make wood rejuvenate itself like he could. That fire wood’s somewhere else.

Angelina could roll with the punches. So we’ll go find some.

Three days, Simon grumbled. The seventeen year old stared out into the morning haze. They’ve been around too. I found their tracks the one time. If he’s leading them off so they aren’t on us, I’d say he missed a few.

He stared back at Angelina in the hollow beneath the overgrown tree, the same hollow they’d moved to after that first morning’s escape from the maze trap.

They’ll be back again, Simon groaned, only, they’ll widen their search. They’re smart. We’ve lasted three days here, but we can’t wait any longer.

We’re not leaving him!

He left us! Simon ended his shout with a bitter hiss and quickly held breath. His face almost changed colour. Don’t forget what he told us, he added a moment later, not hiding a layering of contempt, what he told you at least. We’re supposed to leave him and go on our own.

And he’d still be there even if he wasn’t, Gordon interjected.

Simon tried to stare Gordon down, but Gordon just shrugged and looked to Angelina for support.

He said that, Angelina confirmed, swallowing uneasily, yeah. He just didn’t explain what he meant.

Of course he didn’t, Simon barked. He stabbed at the low fire with a nearby stick. I knew he’d leave us at one point anyway. They always do. His volume faded, and his shoulders slumped. He was starting to make me think he was different. Then this.

A guilty glance from Gordon to Angelina. Simon sat up with a more guarded expression. Look, even if his intentions are honourable, he isn’t here, and we can’t stay any longer. If he’s going to show up sometime, he can find us.

Simon got no nod from Angelina. Gordon pursed his lips and inhaled deep. We can leave him a sign, the ten year old suggested.

Simon smiled smartly. Yeah, we can do that. He glanced apologetically to Angelina. We can’t stay. You know that.

I know, Angelina grumbled. She hated what Simon was saying, but they couldn’t stay. She just didn’t want to leave. What if it was her out there? Would they leave her behind too? I know we can’t stay, she conceded sourly, but I don’t have to like it.

Simon’s guilty frown returned. None of us exactly like this.

What signal? Angelina demanded. What kind of sign will they not recognize if they stumble upon this place first?

Gordon was smiling. Leave that to me.

Angelina wanted to know what Gordon had in mind, but she was too angry with Simon for being so eager to leave. She was angry with the Algrineese for pushing them on. She was angry with StarBen for putting them in this position too!

She knew they had to leave. That wasn’t the point. There was just so much else, so she let Gordon take over making the covert symbol while Simon planned how they’d remove all other evidence they’d been there.

She skinned that animal as best she could.

It helped her work on her building emotions.

Before the sun had reached noon above, Simon returned letting them know the way was clear, and they did a final inspection. All seemed neutral enough.

Gordon’s version of the constellation Essapius would work. He explained again how it was supposed to be Cassiopeia sitting down, hence the ‘L’ shaped stick design with that pointed back. In his version of the constellation, he added the head he still thought it deserved. The head was looking in the direction they were headed.

Gordon almost burned the symbol into the ground to make sure it stayed, but that would prove it mattered. If the wrong people or things found it, they could then find them in short order.

Angelina figured it would work fine, but she still gazed out towards the maze and central bowl forlorn. Where was he? How could be with them but not? She didn’t want them on their own. She didn’t want him to be left on his own either.

Angelina took the lead with Gordon at the back. Simon walked in the middle working his cloaking spell as the main magicker. Angelina and Gordon were speaking the same spell, of course, but they were also distracted with where they were headed and what might be following, so Simon took point at keeping them hidden while out in the open.

We need a good water source soon, Gordon grumbled forward.

To drink, Angelina agreed.

For clothes, Gordon reminded her. My clothes are getting pretty tight. I think they’d stand up on their own at this point.

Angelina grinned. They smell like it.

Quiet you two, Simon hissed. I don’t know how he did it all that long with us talking around him. Just doing that spell in the maze with us all moving was hard enough. Holding this cloak on the move now is just too much with you two going on. Not to mention the fact that they’ll hear you.

Angelina almost spoke again just to see what Simon would do. It wasn’t like he could break his focus and hit her or anything.

StarBen had held the focus on the cloaking and muting spells since they’d left town and headed north. He’d been keeping ward signs active as they went as well. She was gaining more respect for the magic he possessed the more she practised her own, even if she was still convinced the old wizard was crazy and inconsiderate.

Around lunch, they stopped to set a low fire in slightly lower dip in the rocky terrain. Simon was learning how to control his iron rod StarBen had crafted for them better with each meal from the simplest spark to more lasting flame.

The remaining rabbit food they hadn’t eaten at breakfast was worked into a stew. Gordon was almost inhaling his lunch. Angelina was hungry, but not that hungry.

Simon spat out his last spoonful of stew. He picked at his lips and stared at the bit