Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2) (65 page)

“You have sealed
this gate?” Kilen asked.

  “Yes, sire.”
Pete said, still kneeling.

  “Stand, Master
Bradley. Is the other gate sealed as well?”

  “It is, my
lord. You have control of the city for the time being. They sent about two
hundred after us. We think they only had one wielder with them.”

  “Good. Where
is Sergeant Wells?” Kilen said pulling Leroy up from his kneeling position.

  With his shirt
covered in blood, Leroy spoke, “He lead the attack on the second gate once this
one was sealed. He has sent two men back to report.” Leroy pointed at two boys
with swords and chainmail too large for their bodies. “Perhaps you would like
to look for yourself from the tower?”

  Kilen shook
his head. “If the gates are closed, I want everyone to get the women and
children into these buildings and to safety. We need to keep guard on the gates
until we can see the other side of the bridges in the morning.”
            Leroy nodded and began spreading the word. Pete finally stood,
still looking down at the woman on the litter. She had an arrow in her chest.

His eyes were
filled with tears as he looked up at Kilen, “Thank you, sire.”
            Kilen shook his head and tried to comfort the man patting his
shoulder, “I am sorry her life was taken.”

  Pete cleared
his throat, “No, sire. Her dying wish was to see the castle one last time. You
have given her that wish. Although, I did not want her to die with an arrow to
the chest, it was a quick and honorable death.”

  Kilen didn’t
understand, but wiped the tears from his own eyes and tried to pretend as if he
did understand. The man’s wife had just died and he was thanking Kilen, while
crying tears of joy.

  Most of
Leviathan did not sleep through the night, instead they sat along the building
walls and talked about the future. Some ventured into the city streets looking
for prospective homes. Kilen waited by the gate with Twilix, accepting thanks
from those native to Keepers.

  Kilen listened
to mothers telling their children stories about the city and how their parents
had met. He listened to the joy coming from the people who had returned to
their former homes. Fathers walked the battlements in shifts. Some men returned
with fish from fishing in small pools within the city. Kara and the other fire
wizards provided heat to cook them while master Bradley took up the spices in
his vest and did what he did best.

  Kilen watched
Bowie and Auburn pace along the wall waiting to see something out in the
moonlight. Kilen had wandered up to the battlements but could barely see
halfway to shore. Bowie walked back and forth, often glancing down at Kara.
When he was asked what he was doing, he responded he was making sure she was
safe. Kilen didn’tt know anything safe about playing with fire, but somehow it
looked natural for Kara.

  Finding
himself alone for a moment, Kilen found his way down a side street and into an
alleyway. Before turning into an empty tavern he saw a cloak around the corner
behind him. “Who is it?” Kilen called out.

Leroy stepped out
and walked down the alley closer to him. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure
you were safe.”

“It’s okay, Leroy.
You have been looking out for me since we left Keepers and I appreciate
everything you have done for me. Actually, I want you to keep doing it for me.
At least until I can build a proper replacement. Then you can go with Izabel to
finish building your inn.”

Leroy smiled,
“What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to
watch my back. I need you to keep your ears and eyes open for anything that
could help or hurt me. I will send my elementals to talk with you and gather
that information and give you tasks to carry out. Everything you do must be
discreet, no one must know you are working for me. It would be far too
dangerous for others to know.” Kilen looked up and down the alleyway as if a
spy would jump out of the shadows. He felt like the empty city was watching
him. A wind gusted past him, urging him inside. “For now, wait out here and
make sure no one wanders inside. I need a few moments alone.”

Leroy nodded and
took a seat on the steps.

Joahna, in his
winged form, stood just beyond the door and closed it behind them. Before Kilen
spoke, Joahna motioned him up the stairs to the second floor in a room with no
windows.

Kilen spoke into
the darkness, “I have no idea what to do now.”

  “You are doing
what you are supposed to do. Give these people meaning and purpose. As long as
you sit in the throne, people here will come to help you.”

Kilen still didn’t
know if it would be enough, but he trusted Joahna so he nodded his head.

“Now then, Jace
has spoken with Max. After first light, go the wall and he will be at the
bridge to rejoin us. We don’t want others to see him walk into the city without
you there first.”

Kilen nodded.

“Jace says the
Earth Realm’s army is broken and is attempting to retreat. Max fought the
majority of the soldiers and broke them. They have wielders that can heal the
men, but it will take time,” Joahna said.

  Kilen paced
inside the building, “By the time they heal there will be a larger army coming.
We need to act now and prepare for this battle.”

  “You are
correct.” Joahna stayed close to the walls; muffled voices could be heard
outside. “Word of your crowning will spread quickly. You will have an army at
your disposal soon as well.”

  “We will need
to find a way to gather them quicker. If Atmos comes, we will be destroyed,”
Kilen said.

  “You will not
be destroyed. You will provail. If you think any other way you have already
lost,” Joahna corrected.

  Kilen
reluctantly agreed, “How many people of Keepers died?”

  Joahna did not
answer specifically, “Some. The number does not matter. If you are to truly
take up the throne and fight for this land, you must come to the reality that
men will die for you. They will die and you must not be sorry. Men like my
brothers put their life on the line for the rest of the realm’s well being. You
must celebrate their sacrifice and not mourn the loss.”

  “I have a lot
to learn about being a king.”

  “You need to
go be a king now before someone grows suspicious. You have those in your
company that will help guide you in being the king you need to be. Listen to
them and we will be there to aid you in the best way we know how. Remember that
you are in more than one place at a time.”

Kilen nodded and
walked out the door.

  Turning back he
spoke to Joahna, “Stay with me for now.”

Kilen strode
through the streets back to the gate where most of the new residents
congregated. He pushed his shoulders back and walked as strongly as he could.
The people looked at him and he felt like they noticed the change in his
confidence.

He walked directly
to Pete, “Master Bradley, I have already waited too long to take charge of this
castle. I need to start appointing those around me to positions. We need to get
to work.”

The large cook
nodded his head.

“Master Bradley,
will you resume your position as the Kitchen Master?” Kilen asked.

  “My lord?” The
large cook looked around as if confused, “I thought you might choose my son for
Kitchen Master.”

  Kilen shook
his head, “I need someone with experience for now. As for your son, I have
other plans.”

  “I will accept
then, my lord.” He bowed.

  Kilen did not
waste a breath, “I wish you to start appointing others as you know their skills
best. Anyone working directly in the castle needs to have a room to live here
until we start running out of rooms for nobles. I need Wells here, quickly.”

The chef bowed and
started shouting orders. Men scrambled and scattered into the city. The fat
chef walked around writing down names and titles on a scroll as Kilen waited.

  Twilix came to
him, “What is it you’re doing?”

  “I do not want
to wait until the sun rises to begin saving the people of this realm. If we do,
we have waited to long.”

  She patted his
chest lovingly, “It is ok to rest for a day.”

He gave her no
response but continued to look at the people beginning their work.

“To help you rest,
I will help you with whatever task needs doing. I
am
the Queen after
all.”

  Brent appeared
behind her and cleared his throat before speaking, “Your Majesty.”

  Kilen directed
his attention to Brent as Twilix moved to stand beside him.

“I see that you
are starting to appoint people to positions in the realm. I am not well versed
in the ways of an advisor, so I cannot perform that job. I am however, prepared
to offer my support as a councilman. If you will have me?” Twilix said.

  Ria stepped up
beside him, “As soon as possible I should like to return to my life of
traveling. However, seeing that it will be some time until you can receive a
proper councilman for the earth seat, I offer my experience.”

  “I accept both
of you on the council. Can an Elder take a councilman's seat?”

  Brent spoke
with a certain proudness to his voice, “If the Elders have a rule against it, I
do not know it.”

  “Very well. as
soon as Alexander returns I shall ask him to take up the seat. I will begin
taking recommendations for the Fire Realm seat.

  Twilix placed
her hands on her hips, “You aren’t going to choose your sister?” Her eyes
displayed a wrath he had seen a couple months ago when he disobeyed her.

  “She doesn’t
have the experience to sit in a council seat.” He said, trying to look past the
demanding eyes of the queen.

  Twilix bowed
deep, “Of course. How did I not see it, my lord. We would not want a wizard in
a council seat with no experience, or a man on a throne for that matter. Wait,
didn’t she awaken before you became a weapon bearer?”

  Brent laughed
then cleared his throat as he stepped back. “Sorry, this is nothing I should be
privy to.”

Ria had no problem
staying to listen to his response.

  “Yes, well I
suppose I can trust her word over the others. I will accept her as a
councilwoman until someone more experience can be trusted,” Kilen said giving
in.

  Twilix let her
hands off her hips and put her arm around his, “I’m glad to see you honor her.
I
will be taking your advisor’s seat until when or if we can find someone
else to replace me to better fill the role.”

Kilen nodded and
gave in. He would likely never hear the end of it if he had chosen another
anyway.

  “All the seats
are filled. I must now see to the army.”

All three nodded
their head in agreeance and turned to Wells. Kilen started to pull off his
armor. Twilix looked confused and started to help him. Brent and Ria graciously
held onto the pieces he gave out.

“Captain Wells, I
need a blade,” Kilen said.

  Before he
could turn around, five blades were being unsheathed and handed to Wells.

“Forgive me my
lord, you said “Captain” Wells. I am not a Captain.”

  “I made a
promise to you a few months ago. I told you that if we ever met again that I
would face you. Today is that day, and when we are done you will lead my
forces.”

  “Sire, I
cannot face you.”

  “Captain, you
will face me or you will be banished from Leviathan. I want you to face me so
you know you have what it takes to be a weapon bearer.” Kilen stepped in close,
taking a sword from one of the men extending theirs outward. “If you think I
lack in skill of the sword you have some things to learn.” Kilen turned to
Twilix who stepped forward.

  “Kilen has
trained with King Atmos’ best scout, defeated his Champion, and is the only
human student to be trained by a Kapal. He is worthy of a blade, Captain,”
Twilix said.

  Kilen nodded
his head, “I have also trained with the Crimson. Do you know who the Crimson
are?”

The Captain shook
his head.

“Then you need to
learn about the possible enemies we face as part of your new duties. The
Crimson are a group of warriors in the Fire Realm. They are the men appointed
to protect the king and queen. Their best warrior is chosen to serve as king. I
have trained with them before King Atmos deceived and tried to destroy them.
Pick up your blade or be thrown over the wall.”

  “Kilen,”
Twilix said, drawing his attention. “Surely you do not mean to banish him if he
will not fight you?”

  Kilen smiled
at her and nodded his head, providing confidence. Turning to Wells he said, “It
would be a shame to lose such a great soldier and friend. There are only so
many men I can trust now. You once gave me advice not to let anyone hold my
sword. You told me to keep all of my imbuements away from others. You did not
take offense when after that, I hid them high in a tree. I trust you, Captain.
All I want to do is start my reign by fulfilling the promises I have given.
Today, I start with yours.”

  The newly
appointed captain hefted his sword. It was not a fine piece of work but looked
identical to what the other men that stood around were wielding. The blade
Kilen now had looked to be made by the same smith. Wells took a step back and
raised his sword, waiting for the first attack.

  Kilen took his
warrior pose, sword in his dominate hand, his feet shoulder width apart and
knees bent. Just as Wells had taught him. They began the dance as Wells
attacked with an overhead strike stepping towards Kilen. Kilen batted the blade
away and stepped to his left, causing Wells to step to his left and turn. The
give and take of the fight lasted only a few moments as the two soldiers spared
in the middle of the streets.

The blades clashed
and the noise they made bounced off the walls. The sounds added intensity to
Kilen’s emotions and made him push harder. Men had fought and died for him just
beyond the gate they now beside. Kilen wanted a fight. He wanted to fight the
men that killed the people of Keepers because a unjustly king had ordered it. He
knew deep down the only thing he could do was train Wells to do what he
couldn’t do as king; fight on a battlefield.

  Unfortunately,
he was a king now and no matter how far he pushed Wells, the man would not
strike him. Kilen waited for the man to lift his blade and when he did, Kilen
lunged at him with his sword over his head. Kilen’s shoulder met Wells’ chest.
The captain tumbled back and dropped his blade as he landed.

The new king stood
over him, “You will practice with me everyday. Each day, to make you better so
you can make our army better. Captain Wells, Council, Wife.” He turned so
everyone knew he was speaking to them. His voice was loud and bounced off the
empty street’s walls. “There is a war coming. We must prepare for the Earth
Realm’s attack and for what must come after. Together we will make the Water
Realm stronger than it has ever been. Together we will save this land from
destruction!”

The crowd clapped
and Kilen stepped off towards the city’s walls. Those in his path knelt down
and crossed their fist against their chest. He smiled and began climbing the
tower. He was happy, and he felt like he was finally learning to be a king.

The sky had become
lighter, turning a dark orange over the mountain ridge to the north. When he
reached the top of the tower, a large blob of dirt grew arms and legs and
walked upon the bridge.