The Weapon Bearer (Book 1) (21 page)

I saw him too, maybe we aren’t dead after all. Let us watch, and see if he will show us how to return to our bodies.

The voices were silent, but Kilen decided that if he could hear them, they could probably hear him. He spoke out to the empty room, “Hello? I can hear you talking. If you want to keep it private please be quiet.”

He can hear us, Joahna. Make him give us back our bodies!

The person called Joahna spoke angrily,
MAX, hold your tongue. Do not speak to him you stupid oaf. You will learn enough if you be quiet and watch.

Kilen spoke out into the room again, “Hello? Why are you watching me?” He waited but no answer came. He moved around the room checking the walls seams and the ceiling. The cracks between the thick log walls were sealed with a tar to keep them from being drafty, they should have held out any voices as well as wind. Kilen peeked out into the hall and found no one outside the door, but heard music playing down stairs that would have drowned out anything he had said in his room. “Why are you watching me? Maybe if you told me what you want I could help you,” Kilen pleaded with the two men watching him. He remembered hearing the men call each other Joahna and Max. If they wouldn’t show themselves then he would listen for anyone in town to mention them. Kilen put on his sword belt with considerable difficulty using one hand and decided to test his strength. He put the sword on the belt and untied his hand, he lifted his hand from the hilt and a wave of fatigue hit him. He was still able to stand and move on his own, so he decided he would be ok without tying his hand back. Kilen packed his things and took another look into the mirror to straighten his hair. He checked Kara, she was in a subdued state. He left the room and locked the door behind him. He moved to the rooms on either side of his and listened at the door. A girl came up the stairs and curtsied to Kilen with a curious look on her face. She stood in the hallway saying nothing to him with her head of long brown hair looking at the floor. Kilen spoke first, “Excuse me milady, can you tell me who is staying in these rooms here.” He pointed to the rooms on either side of his own.

The girl looked nervous and unsure how to answer or even if she should. She curtsied again and spoke in a shaky voice, “My lord, only your friends are allowed on the third floor.” Kilen thanked her and she moved on down the hallway to a door. Kilen followed and saw her cleaning the rooms. Bowie’s bow rested against the wardrobe, it must be where Bowie was staying. Kilen carefully walked down the stairs, being careful not to fall in his weakened state. He was thinking about what the two men were talking about, getting their bodies back. He thought that it was impossible for people to be separated from their bodies and laughed at the thought of bodiless men haunting him. He looked over his shoulder anyway, checking for the eyes he still felt watching him. When he arrived at the bottom floor, Brent was sitting at the inn’s table tapping his foot to the minstrel playing, The Wind Worn Ridge. Kilen took the seat next to him, as it was the closest, and easiest to get to. His muscles were a little shaky pulling the chair from the table. He sat down with a plop and rested his hand again on his sword. Brent smiled and motioned a serving girl sitting on another man’s leg. She got up with haste and returned with a two pheasants, bread, cheese, wine, and fruit. Kilen started to eat ravenously. He hadn’t noticed how hungry he was until he started in on the plate. The eyes watched him still but he began to ignore them, besides there were other sets watching him now. Only the new sets of eyes had bodies to go with them.

Kilen finished his plate while Brent spoke quietly. “You did well boy. Even the best trained weapon bearer’s fear is taking on a fire wizard that’s in control. When you are fully trained you should be quite a show. I think that you have just proven your worth and gained your sister quite a few years in training under the king’s protection. I know the people of Gulrich will sleep better knowing their home won’t suddenly burst into flames. They are extremely grateful, the people here. They have brought all the supplies we will need to arrive at Deuterium safely. We will continue our ride without stopping in another city. When you are done eating the people here have gifts for you. After that we will get on the road, if you are able. Are you able to continue?”

Kilen did feel a lot better after getting some food in his stomach. He felt the strength returning to his limbs. He stretched his legs and feet under the table. Kilen nodded, “I can ride if needed. I don’t know how much help I will be with sustaining the others, but I can ride.”

Brent stood and held out his arm to shake hands, “That is all I ask.”

Then Max’s voice screamed at the fire bracer sticking out of Brent’s sleeves,
MY BRACER, the traitorous wizard is wearing my bracer!

You were never worthy of that bracer, you couldn’t control yourself. In the end you wore it and have got us condemned to this place,
Joahna answered Max. The voices were quiet once again. Kilen had stood up at hearing Max scream, his heart was pounding as he looked around the bar. Brent still had his hand extended and was looking about the room and back at Kilen with his bushy eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The rest of the people hadn’t noticed Kilen and Brent, now standing awkward at the table. Kilen realized that no one had heard the voice’s except him. Kilen wanted to be alone to think, but he needed to get away from Brent in order to do that.

“I…need to buy another book to write in before we leave. If you will excuse me?” Kilen hurried past Brent, out the tavern door and out into the street. He didn’t get far before Bowie called out his name. Bowie was being followed by the mayor and a few aged men all smoking long stem pipes.

The mayor called out immediately to Kilen, “My lord weapon bearer, I am certainly glad to see you awake and around. Please accept my humble thanks for stopping those two Fire Realm heathens.” The mayor turned to children on the street, “Fetch the blacksmith. You get the tailor, and you go get the stable master. Tell them the weapon bearer has wakened.” Children ran off to see to the mayor’s wishes. Kilen was sometimes given orders like that from Mayor Bingham. The moment of watching the children run off, reminded him of home, and that made him smile.

“Please sir, I’ve heard that your gracious town has already given us ample supplies. I don’t want any additional gifts. You should take the money and repair the buildings that were damaged instead,” Kilen told him earnestly.

Mayor Thornhill shook his head, “Nonsense, they are only small items, but we are proud to have provided them for a weapon bearer. You protect our nation and our way of life so we will not have you running around in shambles of armor to defend us with.” The other men started to nod their heads and agree with the mayor. Kilen knew that he was getting nowhere in his attempt to be alone to figure out the presence he felt watching him. “Please come and sit with us and have some wine. Lord Crescent here was just telling us of your victory over the Fire Realm.” The short man stuck out his chest and tucked his thumbs into his loose breeches held up by suspenders, trying to give the impression it was his victory also. Kilen sighed and took a step to the side then held out his arm for Mayor Thornhill to lead into the way.

The mayor started telling the innkeeper all they would need to eat and more importantly drink. He told the large innkeeper named Ned to bring out red, cherry, and white wines. He listed off the people in town that said they would donate brandy and ale for the occasion. The list of food items was astounding; three cheeses, breads, four types of meat, fruits, stews, and even candies. Each item was being donated from people around the town that had been relieved to hear of the defeat of the fire wielders. Leroy came out of the kitchen to serve Bowie a plate of poached quail eggs, steak, and cheese. Musicians stumbled in and played with the inn’s minstrel until there was a whole band. Girls lined up to dance with Bowie, once again playing a lord. Each song started to agitate Brent more and more. he was anxious to be departing Gulrich and get back to the King’s protection. Kilen ate plate after plate of food, and then the gifts started coming. First a tailor with two sets of fine clothing fit for a warrior, dark leather pants thick wool shirts a deep color of green. There was one thick leather jerkin for putting armor on top of to protect the skin from the metal digging in. The tailor took pride when he knelt down to ask Kilen if he would wear a sword belt that he had made just for Kilen. Kilen took it. The belt was pure black leather with polished metal studs along the outside. Kilen put in on in the middle of the bar and allowed the tailor to help adjust the belt to fit properly. Kilen slid his sword on scabbard into the pocket made to hold it. The sword was comfortable and allowed him to rest his hand on it easier. Kilen thanked the man, the tailor beamed and bowed three times walking out. Each person was just as honored when they presented gifts to Kilen and Bowie. Kilen received a new quill and ink set inside a sturdy oak box. Someone must have mentioned that he liked to write.

When the blacksmith came in he was still wearing his working apron and belt. His face was covered in black soot. The workers of the forge were still wearing their steel working attire. They all stopped at the bar to drink deeply of wine and partake in some of the food laid out there. When they were done the blacksmith came to stand in front of Kilen, “I have worked through the night to do what I could for your armor.” The man pulled each piece of Kilen’s armor from a bag. Each piece was now scratch and dent free. The leather bindings were made from new black leather with studs to match his belt. The chest piece now had painting on it in deep green, a tree to match the symbol of the Earth Realm. The tree exactly matched the magic mark left on his blade and rings. The bracers, helm, and shield were in total repair and also polished to a high gloss. Brent smiled at seeing them laid out on the table. Kilen picked up the shield, painted on its surface was the same tree with such detail Kilen could make out the individual leaves. Kilen reached out and clasped the smith’s still sweaty and grimy hand while holding the shield in his other hand.

“You have done an excellent work. I’ll prize these and take pride in such a gift given to me. If I ever find others in need of armor be assured that I will send them to your forge. These are beautiful and I cannot thank you enough for them,” Kilen said still holding the man’s hand.

He spoke back with a smile from ear to ear, “My wife did much of the polishing and painted the tree’s herself. You have saved our town much loss. I was one of those men selected to go after the fire wielders because I can stand great heat. I wouldn’t have survived the encounter I’m sure. I stand here today because you have stood in my place. These are not a gift, but a representation of the lives you have saved. Use them well weapon bearer,” he said as he bowed his head and walked away. Kilen noticed a woman bouncing a baby on her hip follow him out the door.

Kilen said nothing to anyone as he collected his new items and headed up the stairs taking three steps at a time with renewed energy and pride. He went to his room and starting putting all the clothing and armor on. If he was going to leave this town. He would leave it wearing the town’s best work. He looked in the standing mirror and didn’t recognize the warrior looking back. He looked powerful, deadly, and intimidating in his polished armor, black leather bindings, silver worked sword sheath, and green riding cloak. Kilen placed the helm under his arm and went back down to the gathering in the dining hall. The crowd went silent as he walked through in his new equipment. Bowie stood and motioned for Leroy to come over, “Gather our things, we are leaving now.” Brent followed out the door and the wizard, weapon bearer, and Lord stood in the street saying good bye and taking final thanks. Men came out of the inn carrying Kara. Very carefully they placed her into a small cart that one horse could pull. They lashed her down so that she would not bounce and tucked goose pillows under her body and head. They would be able to travel faster than they had before, and with much more pride. To anyone that passed she would just be a sick girl.

When they were all mounted and ready to leave Brent did one final wave then sprinted his horse through the town and onto a more traveled road. Kilen was waiting for the pace to slow, but they didn’t. Kilen felt his horse starting to breath heavy and sweat. Brent turned back and yelled to Kilen, “The longer you wait to restore them the more energy it will take. We have lost precious time.” Kilen reached out and restored the horse’s energy. The riders needed it less. The party kept that pace through the rest of the remaining day and slowed only at night because the horses might misstep in the darkness. As soon as it was light enough the race began again. Brent quickened the pace. Town after town blazed by in the next days. Kilen was slowly regaining his energy through magic. He constantly held on to his sword. He healed saddle sores and riding blisters, restored water in each person’s body. Maintaining a balance between using too much of his magic and keeping the party moving at a fast pace. They stopped once to feed the horses. Kilen slept only a moment, while the others stretched their legs and prepared food for the road. The only other thing that was spoken Brent said to the group, “You lacked discipline in Gulrich. So now I must teach you that. This is how we will travel until we reach Deuterium.” He said nothing more, and no one else did either.