Maroz 35 - Dressed for Show

The next two days went by slowly for Keln and the rest of the group while they waited for Jahsen and Wenn to return with clothing. Though they had heard it a million times and had become used to it, sometimes it still bothered them when someone thought they were evil simply because they had been born with a special ability.

“When are they going to finally return?” Jemmel asked.

“I wish they would hurry.” Erek said. “I’m getting sick and tired of looking at your naked carcass!”

Ress slapped his palm against the table he was at, then got up and marched to a window. “I’m sick of looking at all of your carcasses!”

“I’m sick of hearing all of you gripe!” Dawan said. “Try shutting up for a while!”

Keln ignored it all as he watched Stepp. Since the other morning, Stepp had not said a word and it was beginning to worry Keln. Walking over to his friend, Keln sat down next to him.

“You haven’t been too talkative Stepp. I’m sure we can get you a new Lute.” Keln said.

Stepp continued to stare at the floor for a little bit before he finally lifted his eyes. “That lute was my pride and joy Keln. My son gave that one to me before he left.” It was a subject Stepp never talked about because he missed his son so much at times. When his son had turned twenty he met a merchant and had joined his guards. Every day he would wonder if his son was still alive or where he was, but since that day he had not seen him.

Keln nodded as soon as Stepp had begun talking. “I’m sorry Stepp. I am!”

Stepp nodded his head but before he could speak, Ress spoke up. “Well it’s about blasted time!”

As soon as he spoke, the sounds of horses became noticeable. A lot of horses! Hurrying to the door, Keln looked out at Jahsen and Wenn along with fifty soldiers and a wagon. The last two soldiers held lead ropes to nearly two-dozen horses. Seeing that there were no women among them, Keln stepped out and watched his brothers swing a leg over their saddles and drop to the ground. Wenn and Jahsen were both dressed up in black clothes with just a touch of gold trim to them.

“Well aren’t you two ready for the dance?” Keln asked.

Wenn’s face broke into a big smile. “Do you like them?” He asked while turning around once to show them off. “Jeed had his tailors fix these up while we got some sleep. Bet you wish you had some dandy clothes like this huh? Sure beats the hell out of sitting around naked in front of the others I tell ya.”

Jahsen walked up shaking his head in disgust. “Ignore him. Jeed sent the tailors with us to make all of you clothes as well. How is Mikal doing?”

“Still sleeping.” Keln replied. “I don’t mind saying I am getting worried.” The others within hearing range nodded in agreement.

The room was silent, nobody knowing just what to say at the moment when Jahsen and Wenn’s faces both suddenly lit up simultaneously.

“You guys want to see a cool trick?” Wenn asked.

“You guys will love this, Jahsen added.

Together the two brothers lifted their right hands and to the shock of everyone, tendrils of flame began to lick at their fingertips. Then on Wenn’s cue, their right hands became completely engulfed in fire. Lifting their left hands, a sphere of water formed around them.

Letting the two elements go, both the sphere of water and fire disappeared and Jahsen said. “And that’s not all.”

Small swirls of dust began to dance around them like tiny tornadoes and dirt began to pile upon itself making a small wall around their feet.

“Fire, Water, Earth, wind and spirit!” Wenn said excitedly. “We can manipulate them all now!”
Jahsen went on to explain. “We were all bound together the other morning, but what we didn’t realize was that in being bound together, it has aloud us to touch the other elements now as well!”

The others all began to reach out then, finding other elements that they had never used before. Jeed’s tailors were sizing Erek up when he created a ball of fire between his hands and both of the tailors jumped back and shrieked.

Allowing the fire to dissipate, Erek shrugged his shoulders and apologized. “Wasn’t thinking, sorry. The excitement just got to me is all. Wont happen again.” The tailors went back to work sizing him up but continued to look at him askance after that.

The others were all laughing and trying different things while shouting for one or the other to watch a new trick. They would see what someone would do in the element they already knew so well and show them other things they could do. Kelsy’s farmyard became one large party and at one time or another each of them would have to wait calmly while the tailors sized them up.

“What’s with the racket, and where are my clothes?” The whole party went completely silent as every person turned to see Mikal standing in the doorway with a sheet wrapped around him. Finally really looking at everyone else, Mikal added. “I don’t know if I want to know why everyone is naked. Maybe I don’t want to know why I am naked.”

Everybody broke out in laughter then and Keln ran up to Mikal and grabbed him by the shoulders. “You’re awake!” Keln shouted. “You won’t believe what happened.”

Keln went on to explain everything to Mikal and as he did so, the tailors moved in, lifting his arms out to the side and wrapping a strip of cloth around his waste as they marked his measurements.

As everything began to settle down, Captain Hanier walked up to Kelsy and stood next to him. “You have done a great service for Maroth in helping these men sir.”

Kelsy shrugged his shoulders. “I did nothing I wouldn’t do for any man in need.”

“Nonetheless,” the Captain continued, “You have still done a service and the acting Emperor would like to repay you.”

Kelsy raised one eyebrow then as he looked over at the captain. “Acting Emperor?”

“Malok is dead and Jeed is taking the place of the current Emperor until he returns.”

Kelsy turned to look straight at the captain then. “Who is the current emperor?”

Captain Hanier’s smile was broad as he nodded toward Mikal. “The lad there. He killed Malok in the throne room a few days back. I hear you have an interesting piece of furniture sir?”

Kelsy stared at Mikal and the others for a long time, his mind going in circles as he remembered the moment in the wagon when they told him and he did not believe them. “I’m sorry Captain. What was that you said?”

“Furniture. I am told to inspect a piece of furniture that you have? A particularly fancy piece I am told.” The Captain waited patiently as Kelsy’s overwhelmed mind put his question together.
“In my living room.” Kelsy still stared at Mikal. “The Emperor huh?”

Putting his hand on Kelsy’s shoulder, Keln smiled as he led the farmer inside. “Just show him your cabinet.”

Once inside, Keln stood back and watched as the captain looked over the cabinet then moved on to the other furniture in the house. It turned out that the Captain had a love for woodwork and knew good work when he saw it. The officer ran his fingers over the carvings in the wood and studied the flowing lines and the images.

Finally after he was satisfied, the Captain stood up and turned to Kelsy again. “After hearing about your work, Jeed had ordered me to take a look at it and see what I think. He said if you are as good as Wenn and Jahsen described that I was to offer you a job in the palace. Sir I would have to say, you are likely the finest I have ever seen and I think Jeed would be very angry with me if I did not talk you into coming to Maroth.”

Kelsy stood staring at the captain as if he was a mirage. The farmer’s eyes were wide and his mouth worked silently for a long time. Finally giving himself a shake, Kelsy managed to speak again. “What happens if I turn it down sir?”

Captain Hanier chuckled. “If you don’t come? I am to leave you with some gold for your service to Maroth, but trust me Kelsy, you would be far better off if you spent your time carving furniture for the palace.”

Kelsy looked around for a moment then shrugged his shoulders. “Aw I never really enjoyed farming anyway.”