Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2) (36 page)

Bowie cut in, “I
will have John get them started. I am sure Kilen can offer you training that
Ria may not be able or willing to. It may very well help keep me alive.”

She nodded and
Max started to walk away.

Kilen waved her
towards Max, “You will train with my elemental. He will be able to teach you
while my wind elemental teaches Bowie.”

“Wait, no. I
thought I would be staying with you. I- I can’t leave him.” She nodded towards
Bowie.

Kilen spoke in a
more commanding tone, “We have little time to prepare and much must be done. I
have to split my efforts to train you all for what may be coming. If you want
to protect my friend, go with my elemental.”

She shuffled
after Max, passing the watchmen surrounding the camp and looking back at Bowie
the entire time.

Bowie clasped
Kilen on the shoulder, “Thank you. I thought I wouldn’t be rid of her for a
moment.”

Kilen did not
look as pleased at Bowie, “You need to find an empty space. Alone where you can
train. I will be there in the form of a wind elemental. Take your bow and
whatever else you will carry into battle with you.”

Bowie didn’t say
anything only stared at Kilen.

“Like you said,
we don’t have a moment to rest. I fear even if this battle is stopped and the
armies go their separate ways I will not be able to stay to train you. You have
to learn this now, while I am able.”

Bowie nodded and
waved John over. “John, this is Kilen. If he needs anything you get it for him
straight away. I also need you to see that the fletchers all get the training
they want with the bow.”

John clasped his
fist to his chest and ran to do as he was ordered.

“He has been
stoic since he received his imbuement,” Bowie said.

Kilen watched
him run away, “I won’t have time to teach him.”

“Ria may find
the time if you ask her nicely,” Bowie gave Kilen a sort of half smile and
jogged off.

Kilen felt Jace
brush his face with the wind as he followed Bowie through the camp.

John began
barking out orders and filing ranks amongst the fletchers. Some looked too old
or too young to pull a bow, but each gave a huge effort to do the things John
asked. A short description was given of how to hold the bow, how to breath, and
how to aim. The session did not fall on deaf ears and each man seemed ready and
eager to learn.

Kilen listened
as John shouted the commands that would be given during a battle.

“Knock, raise,
loose!”

Each man
followed his command with empty bows as the orders were given in a repeating
fashion.

Kilen found a
log used to sit on and rested. Joahna stood beside him, fluttering his wings
from time to time. Kilen lowered his head and rolled his shoulders as if they
hurt. His shoulders were fine, he just needed to speak to Joahna.

“I need you to
go and heal these men. Find their aches and pains and renew them. Keep a close
eye on Auburn and Bowie, as I’m sure Jace and Max will be less than unforgiving
in their training.”

Without any
audible acceptance, Joahna flapped his wings and walked amongst the men,
reaching out to some that ducked to avoid his touch. Tucking his wings in, he
approached a man from behind on silent footsteps. The man gasped when the icy
finger touched his body and began healing his traveling wounds.

When Joahna was
finished the man stood and looked at the elemental and then turned to Kilen,
“Thanks.”

The man began
talking with others who then stepped up to be healed by magic. Kilen knew that
this experience was probably one they would not turn down since it was so rare
amongst a normal person.

  All three of
Kilen’s elemental friends were busy preparing the men of the camp. He found
himself alone to ready himself the only way he knew how; he opened his book and
started writing.

Chapter 20 - Making friends

  Each man was
complaining of minor inconveniences and Captain Lorusk did what he must to keep
them in line. His men had grown soft in Deuterium. He knew he would have to
bring them back inline. It had been a long time since King Atmos had taken his
wielders out of the castle to a fight. Many of them should have been retired,
but springing a new war required all the men the king could find.

  Most of the
soldiers held imbuements, even if they did not know how to use them. Chit was
no different in his ability to use magic. Riding beside Lorusk, Chit finally
managed to restore his own horse’s energy. The stupid oaf was now laughing at
the troops behind him as he purposely steered his horse into loose dirt to stir
up dust clouds. Chit had almost run into Lorusk twice, trying to hit a patch close
to his horse. Lorus knew the boy was an idiot, and if he continued acting like
one the rest of the troop would probably kill him.

  King Atmos had
ridden hard trying to catch up with the archers troops. Lorusk often wondered
how the archer had gotten so far ahead that one hundred of the kings best
knights were having trouble keeping up with one thousand archers. Most of the
archers had to be on foot since supplies and mounts were scarce. He knew it
would possibly be a few more weeks until the rest of the army could cover the
ground. The archer’s troops could be crushed by the time the army arrived if
the Fire Realm decided they wanted the battle practice.

  Lorusk was
disgusted by how many soldiers in the king’s army were new recruits, or those
hired by nobles to guard their treasures from bandits. He knew they would be
fighting the best the Fire Realm had to offer. He had heard of the Crimson
before and had nightmares of fighting men who were deadly with the sword or
with flames like the wizard Mary. He looked back at her, still as angry as
ever, muddling to herself and cursing at the king’s so-called Champion.

  Most new
recruits would be mucking out stables or standing in towers until they could
stand no longer, but Chit had risen in inexplicable haste. Lorusk had to give
it to him though, the boy had strength. The Captain had done all he could to
beat the insolence out of him and failed, only to make it worse. Lorusk smiled,
hoping today was the day the Champion was dispatched.

  In the last
month of traveling Chit had acquired a full set of battle armor. He usually
stole pieces from other men’s armor lying about the camp. He watched and
laughed when they couldn’t find it. Not one spoke up though, just in case they
offended the king’s new pet soldier. He knew soon enough Chit would have to
prove himself.

  Lorusk turned
in his saddle to inspect the line of men, they were keeping pace for as far
back as he could see with the dust Chit stirred up. The day before he had sent
Chit to the back to see if everyone was keeping up hoping the Champion would
coke on his own dust. The boy had returned too soon for Lorusk to stir up much
to add to it. He would have to wait for a narrow area in the road so that Chit
couldn’t pass and would have to ride at the back of the column. It would show
him how the rest of the men felt riding behind a jerk.

  The captain
pointed out a small creek ahead. He knew the king would want to stop and water
the horses. Brent, their water wizard, had given out too many imbuements before
departing the castle and was still too weak to provide the water. Some water
bearers restored their horses on the ride, but it was taxing on their strength.
He watched as his king gave the signal to slow. Chit seemed disappointed to
slow his ride, and his horse probably needed more water than most from jumping
from side to side to avoid Chit. It was a wonder the horse hadn’t broken
anything yet. Lorusk laughed at the idea of Chit and horse tumbling end over
end just to be stomped on by the wizard’s mounts. Perhaps if it did happen,
something would get through that thick skull of his.

  Lorusk
repeated the order as did lieutenants down the line. Finally, they pulled their
horses to a stop and spread out along the water’s edge to drink. Water skins
were filled and horses were provided food. No one really spoke to one another,
they knew they would be on the road again soon enough. As soon as their horses
were done drinking they would cross to the other side and wait. Lorusk crossed
first to water his horse on the far side away from the muck the others stirred
up. Chit followed like a pet dog. Lorusk watched as Chit pulled the strange
horse-headed blade from his back and looked around the trees as if something
was about to attack. Lorusk felt like he was taking a kid on their first hunt.

  Lorusk bent
down and removed the plug from his water skin while his horse drank. He felt a
gust of wind from behind and turned his head to see Mica gently touch a soft
soled shoe to the ground.

“Captain, I have
just come from Sgt Crescent’s camp. The weapon bearer has arrived and already
passed through the Fire Realms army,” Mica said looking about for the king.

  “Are you
staying to report to the king?” Lorusk asked.

  “Yes, I will
report directly.” Mica walked to the water and eye’d Chit, still looking around
at the trees.

Chit noticed the
weird look Mica was giving him and sheathed his sword. He watched Chit examine
the trees while his horse drank without the so-called Champion watching over
it. Mica walked over and retrieved the reins so that the horse would not wander
off.

  Little by
little, one hundred of the finest wielders of the Earth Realm passed across the
water and tightened their saddle straps for the rest of the ride. The king
crossed amongst the middle of the men in case of an ambush.

  Mica waved to
him and finally clasped his hand to his chest as he held the reins to the
king’s horse “My lord,” he cooed.

  “Your report,
Mica.” It was a command, not a question.

Lorusk liked how
the king was always straight and to the point, especially on matters concerning
the war.

  “My lord, the
weapon bearer has arrived at Bowie’s final camp no less than a half day’s ride
from here. He apparently spent a few days with King Rekkan and the Fire Realm.”

  The king
almost smiled at what Mica said, “So, he is a traitor.” His voice was almost a
whisper as he spoke the words. “How long did he stay in our camp?”

  “I left less
than an hour after he arrived to report to you. I believe when I left he was
preparing to train some of the wielders in Sargeant Crescent’s camp.”

  “There are
more wielders in the camp?” Lorusk asked.

  “Yes, my lord.
Ria has given Corporeal Curtain, and a fletcher woman both imbuements of earth
magic.”

  “Is there
anything else you need to report?” The Captain asked.

  “A couple of
things, sire. The weapon bearer claims to be a True Weapon Bearer appointed by
the Elders. If this is true-”

  King Atmos cut
him off by holding up a gauntleted hand, “I know they appointed him. I know
what it means. Have you seen Alexander?”

  “I haven’t
seen him. Kilen has stated that if I continued to attack Elder Wizards, that I
would be one of his targets,” Mica said seeming shrinking in size.

  Atmos uttered
a growl, “We won’t have to worry about him much longer.”

  “My lord? I
have also seen large amounts of movement in the area. Peasants are scattering
from the Fire Realm’s defenses. Their wagons are laden with tools. They keep to
the roads less traveled.”

  “They helped
prepare the Fire Realm’s defenses?”

Mica nodded in
response.

“Mica, fly ahead
and see if you can halt some crossing over this main road. We will try to catch
up and teach these peasants a lesson,” The king said as his face turned the
shade of a furious red.

Mica inclined
his head and pulled wind magic into the folds of his clothes. One yank of the
sash holding back his robe sent the wizard to the heights of the tree tops.

Atmos did not
wait for the wizard to disappear from view. “Captain, bring Wizard Tarka up
here and all others bearing the earth emblem.”

  “The
Councilwoman Tarka has not crossed the water as of yet. I will gather the ones
here first.” He clasped his fist to his chest.

  Atmos raised
his hand, “Captain, we need to be back on the road as soon as possible. When
you find an earth weilder, have them start restoring others until the entire
troop is ready. The archer and his friend Kilen may be causing more trouble.
It’s time they both be reined in.”

Lorusk bowed his
head and carried out the king’s orders. He grumbled under his breath as he
departed, still not understanding the king’s obsession with the boy.

**********

  Kara was still
not use to life in the castle. After all it had only been four days, and the
change very dramatic. She had gone from the dungeons under the castle to one of
the emptied rooms set aside for councilmen. Mary had been very gracious to let
Twilix stay with her and had given her permission to use it until she returned
from battle.

  Kara was use
to waking early in the morning, but the shutters and heavy curtains blocked out
the sunlight coming through the windows. She stretched and walked about the
room in her new nightclothes. She practiced tiptoeing and walking slowly and
then fast, trying to get use to her new adult body.

  She didn’t
quite understand how she had aged so quickly. Twilix had been stuck in a
thirteen year old’s body for years awaiting the time she would age. Kara on the
other hand, had only recently been awoken as a wizard and should have had to
wait some time. Twilix said that it was probably because she was so close to
the time when she would have started puberty naturally. Apparently, when Twilix
had her awakening she was still some time from starting puberty.

  Kara looked at
where Twilix slept. The large bed with curtains covering it from every side
blocked out much of the remaining light in the room. Most mornings Twilix slept
while Kara waited looking about the room. Twilix wouldn’t wake until Kara had
fallen over or accidently knocked a cup off a table with her new long arms.
Some mornings it took more than one accident to inturupt the sleeping water
wizard.