Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2) (34 page)

“We’ll avoid
confrontation at all costs,” Bowie said as John approached, out of breath.

“Sorry, Master
Crescent. I just learned that he arrived.” John quickly regained control of
himself and Auburn went to touch his shoulder. John stood straighter and flexed
his muscles. Bowie had been so concerned about Auburn he had forgot to make
sure John rested.

“John, will you
see to it that one of the men makes a place for the Councilmen to rest tonight?
Also, they need to make preparations for the king's arrival tomorrow.”

John clasped his
hand on his chest and jogged off to see to the tasks.

“Master
Crescent, you have pushed your men hard. I’ll report your efforts to King
Atmos. I’m sure he will be pleased.”

Bowie
straightened his hat a little.

“I think we have
some hot food right over here. I’m sure you can find the way. I have some other
matters that need tending to.”

Mica inclined
his head and started towards the fire that was abandoned at Auburn’s command.

“You took my
request to train the men, Auburn?”

She smiled, “I
did. It took me a moment to see reason. They’re gathering targets and setting
aside some of the less appealing arrows for practice. We’ll begin training
within the hour.”

“Good. If you
have any trouble in the training, talk to John.”

She nodded her
head and John came running towards them with an urgent look on his face.

“Speaking of
John.” Bowie passed Auburn and met John halfway.

“Sergeant,
there’s a knight coming this way from the Fire Realm’s camp.”

Bowie was
flabbergasted for a moment, “Which direction?”

“The direction
of the Fire Realm army,” John said to Bowie, still showing signs of confusion
on his face. “That way.” John pointed the way he had been running from.

Bowie finally
took control of himself and nodded his head. He started walking the way John
had pointed, “Ria, Auburn, will you come with me? John, I need you to get Mica
and let’s say...fifty archers.”

John clasped his
fist to his chest and immediately started barking out orders.

Ria followed and
spoke in a calm voice, “Sergeant Crescent, it’s only one man. Are you sure that
you need such a welcoming party?”

Bowie slowed his
pace and thought about her statement, “Perhaps not, but I do want to make a
statement that says we are ready at a moment’s notice to defend ourselves. I
also want Mica there to be a witness that I did not seek out the Fire Realm.”

“Both are wise
decisions. I don’t want you to scare the soldier away if he’s here to present
terms of a peaceful negotiation.” Ria did her best to slow Bowie by placing a
hand on his arm.

He slowed, but
only because he could finally see the man approaching. The horse looked strange
and the rider was not what he would have expected for a knight. He was tall and
rather slender on the horse and looked too young to be a representative. His
armor shined in the sunlight, as did his shield bearing a large oak tree. The same
oak tree that identified him to be a knight of the Earth Realm. As the night
galloped closer he saw the strange horse slow to a walk. The rider reached up
to take off his helmet. He finally recognized Kilen riding a stone horse.

Bowie turned to
watch archers coming from every direction to stand in a formation behind Bowie.
John was organizing them into ranks and telling them to knock arrows.

“Stop! John, the
knight is Kilen Everheart, the Weapon Bearer.” Bowie shouted.

Mica walked up
still licking his fingers from whatever he had eaten,

“The traitor
weapon bearer is here?”

“What makes him
a traitor?” Bowie snapped.

Ria walked
between the two, “Oh, this is your friend, the weapon bearer. I’d be glad to
meet such a person that can walk beside his elemental, or even ride one.”

“Ride one?” Mica
asked as he followed her.

“Yes, I believe
he is riding an elemental shaped to be a horse and it’s quite impressive. Oh
the possibilities.” She said smiling.

Bowie was as
confused as Auburn and Mica, but he followed and listened, “Possibilities?”

“Yes, Master
Crescent. Think. Your horse has no need for food, sleep, or water. The
elemental can’t succumb to injury or sickness. An elemental is an almost
perfect transport. If, of course, the wizard has the skill to use it and
maintain it. The possibilities are nearly endless,” Ria’s emotions had taken to
that of a schoolgirl that just learn her crush knew her name.

Kilen was
standing his ground atop his elemental horse. The small party got closer and
Bowie could tell it was made from stone. The eyes moved along with its
grass-like tail that swooshed back and forth as if it were a real horse. Kilen
dismounted as they neared him. The horse shifted its rocks, crumbling to the
ground into a gravel pile.

The small pile
of rocks began to rearrange and take new form. A figure of a man rose out
rubble to stand before them.

Ria curtsied,
“Master Everheart, I presume. I am Ria, an earth wizard. Your skills at
handling elementals are quite impressive.”

Kilen went to
one knee, set his helmet down beside him, and clasped his fist to his chest.

“Please, no need
to be formal, Weapon Bearer,” Ria said motioning Kilen to stand.

Kilen didn’t
move, “I shall wait on the councilman's orders, madam.”

She let out a
laugh, “Of course, the Councilmen.”

Before Mica
spoke, a crystal bird flew out of the sky and landed beside Kilen and changed
form into that of a man with giant wings of an eagle.

Mica did not
look impressed by the display, “You know my name, Weapon Bearer. You may rise.”

Kilen picked his
helmet off the ground and tucked it under his arm. He spoke with authority like
Bowie had never heard from him before.

Kilen paid no
attention to his childhood friend, only the wind wizard. “You know mine also,
Mica. I would like to speak with King Atmos.”

“The king hasn’t
arrived yet. I’m surprised that you did not know that, seeing how Alexander has
been keeping a close watch on you.” Mica’s face was as bitter as Ria’s tea.

“Alexander was
supposed to see Bowie to report my mission. The wind wizard is
not
my
keeper.” Kilen said dusting off his helmet.

Bowie took a
step in to draw Kilens attention which he received with a smile, “Alexander
did
report. The king has declared Alexander a traitor. Mica has been tasked to
bring him to justice. Last time we saw Alexander he was doing well enough on
his own.”

Kilen turned
away from Bowie and focused on Mica again, “I know I haven’t been doing this
wielding thing as long as you have, but I know wizards are not subject to any
king except the Elemental King. How is it Alexander is a traitor if he has no
ruler?”

“I have cause
enough to call him a traitor, and if you speak to me like that again, he will
not be my only target.” Mica spoke with a voice that dripped of malice.

Auburn began to
draw her bow back a moment, but was clearly confused as to which one she should
be pointing at. She lowered the point with it still fully drawn.

“Mica, I am a
True Weapon Bearer and it’s my duty to seek out justice as I see fit. I will do
that until the Elder Wizards take the title from me. I am ruled by no king and
no wizard. If you wish to attack a wizard, you better have cause enough for me
to justify it. If I don’t see it your way, it will be your head.”

Mica laughed,
“Yes, yes. The Elder Wizards chose an impressive magic wielder to play their
games. I guarantee you that even with your two elementals, I will still cut you
down. You should remember Alexander teaching you that wind magic may be the
most powerful. I would watch my tongue when when speaking to a wind wizard if I
were you.”

Without warning,
vines wrapped around Mica’s feet and Bowie watched as wind magic crashed all
around Mica, but the air felt calm to his skin. He watched with wind vision as
yellow violent swells of wind crashed into each other around Mica, causing his
robes to flap and finally force him to the ground. The wind died down and Mica
struggled with the vines to stand. The temperature dropped and Bowie could see
the breath coming from each of their mouths. He watched Kilen step closer to
Mica.

“Three.” Kilen
whispered to Mica, now inches from his face.

He continued on
and bumped shoulders with Mica as he passed. Bowie was confused for a moment,
but soon understood what had happened just before Auburn asked.

“Three what?”

“Three
elementals, Auburn. He is controlling three elementals at once.” Bowie said as
he jogged to catch up.

Ria struggled to
keep pace with Kilen. “I don’t usually approve of the so-called Elder Wizard’s
choices, but they know where I stand with appointing weapon bearers. I hope
they’ll appoint more in the future.”

“Are
you
an Elder Wizard, Ria?”Kilen asked.

She said almost
blushing at is question. “No, no. I studied with them for a time. I found their
rules upon helping others restricting. I would rather follow my own heart
rather than the heart of a council. Which is why I get along so well with your
friend.” She nodded to Bowie stalking behind them. His best friend hadn’t even
acknowledged him coming into his camp.

Bowie listened
to Kilen as he traipsed through the camp. “I am sorry for the way I behaved
with Mica. Alexander is a friend of mine and he has always treated me well. He
doesn’t deserve to be treated like a traitor and neither do I.”

Kilen’s armor
rattled as he marched through the camp. “I know that he does what he can for
the people of this realm and it is sad to see that the king has turned on him.
I haven’t seen him in a week, but what the Fire Realm scouts tell me is that
Mica had attacked him. I didn’t want to believe it, but I see it now to be the
truth. Sorry, I will try and be more cordial from now on.”

“You needn’t
worry about your behavior with Mica. He’s like a distant cousin who has
outstayed his welcome before arriving. I would like to speak to you about other
things. May we meet inside my wagon?” Ria asked.

“I would like
that very much. I’d like my friend present as well,” Kilen gestured to Bowie.

Bowie thought to
himself,
Finally.

“Of course, he’s
the commander in charge of this troop. He will need apprised of the situation,”
Kilen said nodded to Bowie.

Kilen nodded and
held out his hand for her to lead the way.

Ria gave the
small wave to Bowie and she took Kilen by the arm.

Bowie gripped
his bow, “So glad I have the privilege to join you two.” Bowie gave a deep bow,
so deep his hat nearly touched the ground.

Kilen laughed
and continued on with Ria as she touched and healed each soldier she passed.
Kilen reached the wagon’s door and opened it before Ria could.

She smiled, “They
chose wisely indeed.”

Kilen held the
door for Bowie before he followed inside. Once inside Bowie had already found
his place on a stool and Kilen stood looking a bit awkward with his head
slightly bent so it did not rub the ceiling. Bowie pulled another stool from
underneath the table and thrust it in Kilen’s direction. Ria held out a hand
for him to sit.

Kilen did not
sit. Instead he held his arms as wide as the wagon would let him between
cabinets, facing Bowie. “We have been apart for about a month and already you
think you are too good for a hug from me?” Kilen said as he started to remove
his gauntlets.

Bowie put his
hat on the table which Ria responded with a click of her tongue. He removed it
and placed it on the stool. “I would have but you were being too high and
mighty bowing to the councilmen to give me one. You practically ignored me,”
Bowie said, not letting any emotion show on his face. He needed to know just
how much of his friend was left after the Kapal’s training.

“Excuse me, I
thought it better not to embarrass you in front of your men,” Kilen retorted.

They both stared
at each other. Bowie finally stood and gave Kilen a hug, pounding on the armor
covering his back. As Bowie held his childhood friend he wondered how much the
magic was affecting the decisions being made by the boy behind the armor. He
thought of his friend being buried underneath a mountain of magic confusion as
thick as the armor on his back.

“I hope you do
not mind if I stay here in your camp while I wait for the king’s arrival?”

“Are you
kidding? It will give me the time to catch up with you. We haven’t had a chance
to really talk since we left Basham.”

“It’s been one
thing right after the other. I wonder if I will ever get back to a normal life.
I always wondered what it must have been like for my dad to be a soldier. Now I
want to know what it’s like to return home with stories to tell. I traveled
through a pirate town!”

“Wow. You must
have seen some strange things. Do they really put collars on their women?”
Bowie looked to want to soak in Kilen’s experiences.

Ria cleared her
throat, “I am sure there will be time for you two to catch up with one another
later. I would like to speak about more pertinent matters.”

Kilen’s face
became that of the weapon bearer he was supposed to be. He took his seat
followed, by Ria and Bowie. “I have discussed terms of this war with King
Rekkan. He has agreed to discuss a truce before the battle begins. It was my
intention to do just as King Atmos intended for the Elder Wizards to do; to stop
this war. I believe that if I can get the council’s and kings in the same area,
we can reach a truce. There are more dangerous matters at hand,” Kilen said
ominously.

“Something more
dangerous than tens of thousands of men fighting to their death?” Bowie looked
at a cup of tea that had been poured for him and pushed it away.