Kiing's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Kiing pushed through the snow, his axe heavy on his back. The trail had gone cold weeks ago. Every road led nowhere. The king who killed his brother was still out there, and Kiing was running out of leads. Then he saw smoke rising from a small cabin tucked between frozen pines. Inside, a group of travelers warmed their hands by a low fire. They shared bread with him and asked no questions. Kiing listened more than he spoke. When one of them mentioned crossing paths with a great army marching under a black banner, Kiing's chest tightened. He breathed through it. He asked where. A traveler pulled out a torn map and circled a spot in faded ink. "Three days north," she said. "If you're fool enough to chase them." Kiing left at dawn. The map shook in his gloved hand as he walked. On the second day, he heard something humming under the wind. He followed the sound off the path and found a stone well glowing pale blue in the snow. Frost clung to its runes. The water inside whispered his name. He stepped closer. The whisper sharpened into words. "A secret for a secret," it said. "Tell me what you carry, and I will tell you where he hides." Kiing stared into the glowing water. He set his hand on the cold stone rim. Then he leaned forward and began to speak.