Earland Khan's Arc

Chapter 7 of 7

The floor split under Earland's throne. Water gushed up through the cracks. The golden hall groaned and tilted toward the deep. Earland gripped the cold seat and understood the truth at last. He had won a castle no one could see. No subject would ever kneel here. A throne buried in the dark was just a chair for a drowned man. "This is not enough," he shouted over the roar. "We must lift the whole castle to the surface. And we cannot do it alone." Brave Khan clung to a fallen pillar, fire hissing on his fists. "Then who?" he yelled. "No wizard alive can raise a city!" Jimmy Khan braced against the wall, his wooden staff jammed into a crack. The old hermit's eyes went wide. "Not a wizard," Jimmy said. "A god. The sea god. Father owed him once and never paid. The debt passed to us." Earland's stomach turned. He knew the story. Three sailors saved, no thanks given. He raised his coral staff and struck the water. "Aquariun! Your ledger is open! Come collect from his sons!" The water stilled. Then it rose into a shape. A giant tail of scales curled up through the flood. A beard of tentacles writhed across a broad chest. In one fist stood a trident taller than the throne. Aquariun filled the sinking hall, and the falling castle held its breath. His eyes found Earland. "You call. I answer," he said. "Your father took three lives from my sea and paid nothing. The debt is yours now." Earland stood, though the floor tilted under him. "Raise this castle to the surface," he said. "Give me a city that men can find. Then name your price." Aquariun's tentacles curled. "A god does not give," he said. "A god trades. I will lift your castle into the sun. In return, you will owe me a service. One I will name when I choose. Refuse, and I let the sea keep you." Brave spat. "That is a blank debt. He could ask for anything." Jimmy gripped Earland's arm. "Brother, think." But the water was at Earland's chest now. He looked at the throne he had bled for. He looked at his brothers. "Done," he said. "Lift it." Aquariun drove his trident down through the golden floor. The whole castle shuddered. Then it began to climb. Water poured off the walls in sheets. Coral cracked and slid away. The great hall rose through the dark, faster and faster, toward a distant glow above. Light broke through the windows. The castle burst into open air and crashed down onto the waves, rocking hard. Earland fell to his knees, gasping real air. Sunlight warmed his face. Aquariun sank back into the sea beside the floating castle. "It is done," the god said. "The debt stands. I will come for it." Then he was gone. Earland looked out his throne-room window at open water and empty sky. His city floated in the sun at last. And it owed a god everything.