1 Chapter 1

Good morning, dearie, may I have a cup of soup." I said to the woman at the soup kitchen, in the town square, who filled my bowl to the brim. I accepted it gratefully and asked if my two friends could also have one. She looked at me quizzically, and denied me with a quick shake of her head and aversion in her eyes. The town square was congested. I walked with my warm bowl of soup, brushing shoulders with peasants, my soup slightly spilling with every jolt. I resided in the lowest level of the kingdom, level 3. The two upper levels had less people, who were treated with grand accommodations. I was born into level 1, but at the age of seventeen I left.

"Sorry guys, I will have to find you food later." I said to my two friends as we continued through the square. Bodhi and Cassiel were their names. They showed little concern.

"Today is going to be a marvelous day! The wind has spoken!" I said to my friends. People started to stare at me, thinking me mad. I finished my mashed rat soup and handed the bowl to Cassiel, commanding her to return it. I wandered around town square, seeking my daily entertainment. The King's soldiers hollered at a man outside my favorite pub, proceeding to rush towards him and violently arrest him, cracking his head repeatedly with their cudgels. I walked past them with the good sense to avoid this trouble. I decided this was an omen that today I shall find my entertainment elsewhere. I consulted Bodhi, and he agreed.

I continued down the street passing the Opulentia Inn. It was the most popular place to stay in level 3. There weren't any permanent residences here, people were forced to lease from the king. As I passed, I waived to the prostitutes who stood on the balcony.

"Poor souls, go bless one of them. The one who holds the purest soul." I said to Bodhi. He nodded and left my side. I went over to a row of people sitting on the side of the street, noticing my sitting partner Witt. I walked to him and took a seat, pulling out a piece of somewhat molded bread and handing it to him. He broke it in half, and we shared it.

I sat there with him until both my friends returned. I gazed at the strange people walking through the street, pondering what was on the agenda for each of these people. The gracious people tossed coins in front of us, as a generous person would give any beggar. Cassiel returned, and I thanked her for completing the quest. Witt looked at me and laughed. He often asked who I was talking to, but he did not today. I laughed too, pretending my friends were some joke. My laugh was much higher than his. It carried throughout the crowd of people walking by, igniting joy into the ears of everyone who heard it.

"There is your entertainment!" Bodhi exclaimed as he pointed to a fair skinned young lady who glided with long slow strides by us.

"Ma'am! Could you spare a few coins?" I asked the young woman as I stood up from my seat. My legs ached with the sudden movement from my comfy position. She nodded and handed me two gold coins. More than anyone had given me in years. It did not surprise me, something about her was different from the people who walked by me every day. She radiated happiness. I continued to walk alongside her, to her surprise. She seemed to mind.

"You are very pale ma'am, not many people down here are." I said with a smile. The young lady showed fear as I spoke to her, not responding to me. She quickened her step. I quickened mine as well.

"You seek entertainment today, same as me!" I exclaimed. "I propose we go to the fight center; do you accept?" I asked. She stopped in the middle of the street and thought for a moment. People bumped against us as we stood there clogging the thoroughfare. Looking fearful, she examined me. Fear was part of the reason she had decided to come to level 3.

"I accept, show me the way." The woman said with a soft voice that slowly rose in volume. I smiled upon her affirmation, never doubting she would accept.

"You need to look, uhm, different to fit in at the fight center." I explained, grinning. The young lady did not understand. I took some dirt and threw it onto her face, resulting in her gasping for air as she spat dirt from her mouth, cursing me. I grabbed another pile of dirt and rubbed it on her arms.

"Much better!" I exclaimed. I sent Cassiel to fetch me a scarf for her, to cover her face. Starting to walk towards the fight center, I motioned for her to follow me.

She was frustrated with me, still attempting to get the dirt from her mouth, but followed anyway.

The fight center was the roughest place in level 3. It wasn't the fact that people below in the pit, were smashing each other's faces to the point of near death. It was the crowd of spectators who inhabited the center. The upper class of level 3. Now, people from level 1 and 2 thought the rich members of level 3 are the better part of us. They were far from correct. The aristocracy of level 3 were the criminals who were skilled at not getting caught by the king's soldiers.

We walked to the ticket booth. I locked eyes with the lady behind the counter, asking for front box tickets. As I slowly smiled at her, letting my fingertips gently brush across the fleshy part of her thumb, she blushed and shyly pushed my front row tickets toward me. She returned my smile and shook her head when I offered to pay.

We walked into the fight center, politely greeting the affluent of level 3 as we walked past them. Seating for the fight center consisted of boxes, each holding ten people and arranged in tiers around the ring. It was clear who the leaders were of the group of people who sat in each. They wore silk clothes with long gold jewelry hanging from their necks.

"Who are those men with such expensive jewelry? Are they from level 1 or the noble village, here for entertainment?" The young lady asked as we entered our box.

"Here for entertainment, indeed. Upper level, not so much. Noble? In a way, some may say." I said smirking. The young lady did not understand, and not wishing to explain further I became silent.

We had come into the center in the middle of a fight. A large man swung with powerful force, missing the face of another man. His big gut hung over his trousers. He was clearly winning. The other man was bleeding profusely from his face, wobbling around doing his best to defend himself. He failed, as the huge man swung, connecting. A knockout punch. I could hear my companion gulp with nausea as his body flopped limp to the sand. Four men came out and prepared to drag him, bending over and gripping his bloody flesh. His body bounced across the ground as they heaved him towards the door.

The announcer walked out into the sand, telling the crowd how spectacular the next two fighters were. The fighters walked out into the pit. The crowd went wild, the young lady clasped her ears with her hands as the noise rose.

"Hello, Mr. Keen, it's always a pleasure seeing you here." A man from the Rita family said. The Rita family ran the fight center. "I have been instructed to take your bet first, like always." The man said to me. I looked to Cassiel and asked her who would win. She told me. I pulled out the two gold coins, the young lady had given me when we first met. I handed them to the Rita man. My wager was on Jason, a skinny fellow with a long reach. The Rita man slightly bowed to me as I handed him the wager and walked to the next box.

"You wagered all of your money?" The young lady asked. "My father told me about you people in level 3, spending all your money on addictions. Gambling, drinking, sex and drugs!"

"I would be careful how you speak of level 3, here with our finest." I said. "I have never lost a wager either. You are new here, love. I am known for my correct predictions." I said with my high-pitched laugh. The lady looked at me puzzled. I asked Bodhi what the young ladies name was with a whisper. Bodhi told me.

"Who did you whisper to?" The Young lady asked me. I had failed at not allowing her to hear.

"Nanda, why do these men look more wealthy than the majority of people in level 1? They look like they live in the royal castle, do they not?" I asked her. She began to ask how I knew her name, but I interrupted her. "They feed off everyone's addictions. All levels. Level 1's most of all." I said laughing. She looked puzzled, not uttering a word.

The second fight began. The man fighting Jason came towards him running at full speed. He leaped into the air, his arm winding back. Jason stood still in front of the other man as he swung his arm at him with substantial vigor. The moment before the other man's hand connected with his head, Jason jerked to the left. The other man missed and fell forward becoming off balanced. Jason moved in closely, connecting two solid punches. The man fell to the floor, and Jason fell on top of him, pummeling his face. The crowd hollered almost as loudly as he did. Jason stood up without a scratch. The four men came out again, dragging the unconscious man from the pit.

"How did you know?" Nanda asked.

"My friends told me." I gleamed, seeing that same look of confusion on Nanda's face as I saw on everyone's face when I explained that only I can see them.

"Why can you see these friends, yet I cannot?" Nanda asked.

"A gift?" I said with a slight chuckle.

"Mr. Keen, the man who knows everything. How have you been, old crook?" Mr. Hogan said as he entered my box. Three men accompanied him, trailing behind him and waiting outside. All were wearing silk, a couple of jewels placed in their noses and ears.

"I have been… how I have been? How have your Inns been?" I said shaking Mr. Hogan's hand.

"Fabulous, as always. This nice young specimen you have procured would make much under my employment." Mr. Hogan said, reaching a hand out to Nanda. She looked at him with revulsion, offending Mr. Hogan. He laughed it off and peered towards me again.

"Who shall I wager for the next fight?" Mr. Hogan asked. I looked to Cassiel and told Mr. Hogan who would win. He thanked me and walked back to his box, a couple rows above mine.

"Nanda knows of Mr. Hogan." Bodhi whispered. Nanda could not hear him, of course.

"How do you know Mr. Hogan?" I asked Nanda. Nanda looked dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how I knew.

"He does business with my father." Nanda said gently.

"Oh yes, her father is the king!" Cassiel gleefully chimed in. I let out a sudden guffaw. I knew she was something special by the look of her, but I would never have guessed she was the king's daughter. Nanda looked at me as if I was a mad man.

"He brings women to entertain the men of my father's business." Nanda said trying to clear up what she meant. I nodded in approval. "I always assumed he was from level 1, I wouldn't have imagined he lived down here." Nanda continued.

"There are many things you would not imagine that are as they are." I said. Nanda didn't seem to disagree.

Two men came out to fight again. The crowd going berserk. It was the last fight of the day. The announcer prepared to tell the names of the fighters. The huge man from the first fight walked into the pit, the announcer roared his name. "Author"! Then Jason came out, and the announcer spoke his name in a soft manner. Bodhi informed me that Hogan placed four hundred gold coins on Author. I called the Rita family bet collector over to me.

"I wish to match Mr. Hogan's wager, on Jason." I informed the Rita man. Looking to Bodhi, I commanded him to go and help Jason win, as he was not predicted to.

"Are you sure you do not just wish to match the house?" The Rita man asked with confusion.

"Positive." I said. The Rita man walked back to Mr. Hogan to inform him.

"I do not understand, is Mr. Hogan not a powerful man in Level 3? He is feared in Level 1." Nanda said with confusion. "Will he not be upset if Jason wins and he sees you have lied to him?" Nanda continued

"Lie? I am unable to lie, Nanda. Jason was going to lose, in the moment that Mr. Hogan asked me. Now he will win." I explained. "As far as him being angry, yes, he will be filled with rage." I said with a snicker, making Nanda uneasy. "Is he powerful? In a way, I suppose." I stated as the fight began.

Both men slowly walked towards each other, measuring their opponent as they smoothly strolled to their left. The giant took the first swing, connecting with Jason's face. He wobbled. Author took another swing, thrusting at Jason's ribs. Jason wheezed as the impetus of Author's massive blow landed.

Jason recovered, swung and missed. As he did, Author jabbed him in the face twice and kicked him in the chest. Jason crashed to the ground, causing the pit sand to splash over him. The crowd grew quiet. Jason was getting obliterated.

"Looks like you were wrong, and Mr. Hogan won't be mad. I am glad." Nanda said with relief.

Bodhi stood behind Author as he prepared to jump onto Jason. Locking Author's arms to his side, Bodhi immobilized the giant for a slight moment. Not long enough for the crowd to notice, but enough time for Jason to kick him in the shin, with perfect potency. It gave a loud pop. The crowd roared in disbelief. Author fell to the ground. Jason put both hands into the air and gave his victory cry, banging his chest with explosive power. The crowd returned his cry with acclaim.

"Thank you!" I said to Bodhi as he returned.

"Who on earth do you keep talking to!" Nanda exclaimed.

"My friends, of course." I said as Nanda's attention switched to Mr. Hogan coming storming towards us.

"You ugly spawn of Loki! You fox! How dare you deceive me, challenging me in front of my men!" Mr. Hogan screamed as he entered my box. Nanda started to tremble, ever so slightly, as he yelled at me. She wasn't used to any form of confrontation.

"I would like two of your nicest rooms tonight at the Opulentia Inn, as well as dinner and a balcony seat to the theatre performance. The left over coin you may keep as a tip." I said smirking at Mr. Hogan. He returned it.

"All you had to do was ask! You and your frivolous humor." Mr. Hogan said hitting me on my shoulder.

We left the fight center with Mr. Hogan's men escorting us to the Inn. People looked upon us with fear as we walked. Peer association.

"We must talk about what we shall do with the new player, Goonba, I believe is what he goes by. He is disrupting the alliance that we love and worship in this grand kingdom. My vote, is that you give the command for his death." Mr. Hogan said to me as we walked.

"We shall talk business another time, not here in front of the lovely young lady." I said, Mr. Hogan nodding in agreement, but telling me with his eyes that he wished to speak of it now.

We walked into the inn. It was packed with the elite of level 3. Not being able to own land this is where the wealthiest people dwelled, unless they leased their own inns, of course. As we walked in, Nanda took notice of the sculptures that lay in the entrance way. They were much nicer than the ones in the noble castle. We passed the casino, going towards the men who guarded the room keys. It was loud with drunken laughter. We got our keys and Mr. Hogan informed us his men would bring us fancier cloths, for the evening meal and show. We thanked him and walked up to our rooms.

"Why does Mr. Hogan talk to you as he does? I thought you were a common person here." Nanda asked.

"What seems common about me?" I responded

"Well you dress in poor quality clothing, your hair isn't well groomed, you haven't showered in days and you were begging for money just this morning!" Nanda said.

I agreed with her, leaving her addled. We entered our separate rooms. "Is she who I think she is?" I asked Cassiel as I turned the golden knob to the shower.

"It is improbable! Why would she wish to come to level 3?"

"For the thrill, I presume. It is unlikely any daughter of the king would come down here." I said.

Entering the shower, I shook my head in deep thought, letting the water run over me, hoping it would clear my mind. I walked out of the shower, freshly cleaned, to find a nice silk outfit that Mr. Hogan's men left on my bed. I put it on, instantly missing my cotton clothing and walked out to the balcony. Being on the twenty second floor I could see all of level three. Thousands of people walked the streets, brushing against one another's shoulders. Everyone was looking for a place to stay tonight. I looked to the wall that separated us from level two. It must have been sixty stories high. I imagined people in level two sitting comfortably in their homes, no one being denied a bed, or being forced to sleep outside on the dirt floors. I couldn't remember if level 2 even had dirt floors. It had been twenty-five years since I left level 1. Time flies. I hadn't missed it, not even for a moment.

I walked down to the dining hall, Nanda was already seated with Mr. Hogan on a balcony overlooking the rest of the tables. I took my seat next to Mr. Hogan. His top men and prettiest women sat on the balcony with us. As I sat down, Nanda and Mr. Hogan were discussing what tonight's show would include.

I was glad Mr. Hogan hadn't noticed who Nanda was. I must admit I would be hesitant to defend her if the people found out the king's daughter visited them unannounced.

The dinner was served, fresh duck, sugar cane and the finest of fruits. The show began, and the actors sang with voices that allowed the ears to understand love. They danced with pleasure, giving the audience the feeling of living in the performance. It was a spectacular show.

Nanda was gone the next morning, waking before me and leaving in secret.

"I hope she found the entertainment she was looking for." I said to my friends.

"I am sure she did." They said in unison.

*

"Nanda!" A deep and powerful voice roared through the air as Nanda walked into the noble castle. The king sat on his throne, enraged. The queen ran from her throne and embraced Nanda, glaring at the King.

"Do not do that again." The king said in an aggressive manner, leaving the room, taken aback that the queen wished to not discipline her daughter.

Nanda and the queen walked back to the bed chamber. Nanda hopped onto her bed, feeling proud that she had been successful in her travels to level 3, unharmed, and with the thrill of adventure still pooling in her stomach, she beamed with joy.

"Why would you go to level 3? It is of the utmost danger to walk among those streets, let alone as royalty!" The Queen lectured.

"Mother! It was not that bad, I saw many things, pleasant things. The hotel I stayed in was more beautiful than our castle!" Nanda said, still grinning.

"Do not speak of such things!" The queen roared, causing the grin to be wiped from Nanda's face.

"Mother, it is the truth., I stayed in this lovely inn that had the best food I have ever enjoyed, amazing actors and people who only wore silk!" Nanda said.

The queen showed a spark of intrigue and took a seat on the bed. She had never been to level 3 herself.

"I met this man, mother, begging for money, as I walked from the wall. He was quite mad, yet he seemed to be a respected member of the political system." Nanda continued.

"We are the political system! What could you mean by this claim?" The queen asked.

"He seemed to control everything, in level 3, in the strangest of ways." Nanda said thinking through every word, trying to paint a proper picture of her feelings to her mother. "He seemed to think that the highest members of level 3 had much influence on the kingdom, and from the look of their wealth, I would agree with him!" Nanda explained.

"Blasphemy! What has gotten into you! Level 3 is the lowest members of the kingdom." The queen exclaimed.

"This man was special, mother. You would have to meet him to understand. He was able to know anything, claiming his invisible friends told him! Quite mad, yet always correct."

The queen became uneasy. Standing from the bed and turning from her daughter, she softly asked, "What was this man like?"

"He was impeccably nice, but ever so strange! I have never met a man who was madder, yet everything seemed to be going his way. He had a special laugh, high pitched, that, made everyone smile around him." Nanda described as the queen shook her head slightly with surprise.

"Your father's older brother, the one we are forbidden to speak of, who was once in line to be king, used to have a laugh and friends like you describe." The queen said softly, in order to not be overheard.

"But he died. That is what the king told everyone. He couldn't have disappeared into level 3. The gods had chosen him to be king." Nanda said in confusion.

"He was not a man I could see dying of a fever, as the king told the city. It does not matter anyway. I am glad you are home safe." The queen said getting up and starting to walk to the door.

"Did you know him well?" Nanda asked.

"Yes, I was engaged to marry him before your father." The queen said leaving the room.