Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2) (46 page)

Brent knew Mica
to be the type of person that didn’t like to be out done. Mica crossed the tent
and started flipping through reports and maps.

Brent stepped in
close, startling Sasha, “I must speak with you in private.”

She rolled her
eyes, “What is it?”

“I am leaving in
the morning to find the Elder Wizards. Ria and I are going to aid them in
finding this soul wizard. We know that if they’re to stop this wizard before
another dark army is raised, we will need to act quickly,” He said so that Mica
would not overhear.

She looked at
him while finishing her piece of cheese, “What makes you think the elders
haven’t found them already?”

“It doesn’t
matter, Sasha. If they have, then fine. If not, we can’t afford to wait around
for them to call on us.” He was pleading with her now. “Will you consider
coming with us?”

“I’ve taken a
lot of flack from the king and traveled almost the entirety of this country
waiting on the Parkers to vacate the council seat so I can sit there. No. No, I
think I’ll stay where I am.” She picked up some more fruit from the trays and
gave him a half smile as she put the next piece of fruit in.

“If you
reconsider by morning, Ria’s wagon will be open for discussion.” He bowed his
head and left the tent. He knew he would have to update Ria on the
unwillingness of Sasha. Brent hoped that the earth wizard would not go
gossiping about their departure to Mica or the king. If she did, it would
complicate their matters with debates.

Outside, heavy
winded archers were pouring into the tents. Most of the men carried dead bodies
of other Earth Realm soldiers. The majority of them were archers but mixed in
the bunch were those of the wielders Atmos had left behind for this secret
mission.

Finally, Brent
laid eyes on John, Bowie, and the girl that followed him. A female wizard was
uncommon enough, but a female wielder was very rare in any elemental kingdom.
He wondered if she would refuse him as well.

“Sergeant
Curtain, may I have a word with Master Crescent?” Brent asked.

“We will have
business to attend to with the king soon. You may speak with him briefly.”

John stood
beside Bowie waiting to hear what the water wizard had to say.

Brent spoke
anyways, “I am leaving in the morning. I wish you to come with me.”
            Bowie scratched his head, “Leaving for where?”

“We’re going to
find the Elder Wizards and aid them in stopping this soul wizard. It seems that
King Atmos has done all that he can to doom us.”

“I cannot. I
would look like a traitor to the men here if I left. Besides, I volunteered to
join this army. I can’t just up and leave,” Bowie said.

“Actually, you
can. Chit is the only one from Humbridge that must do his duty. He must stay a
year in order for your town to be out of their responsibility of tax for the
upcoming year. Weapon Bearer Kilen and yourself are under no arrangement for
staying. You are paid for staying on, that is all,” Brent said pleading.

John cleared his
throat, “Wizard, I don’t think you understand what Bowie’s presence means to
this company.”

“Believe me I
do, Sargeant. I want to reiterate that if this soul wizard is not stopped, then
there will most likely be no company come next year. The dark army that rises
will not fall to your arrows,” Brent said.

“I have other
commitments to keep, Wizard Parker. Kara still survives only because I am
here.” Bowie looked as if his heart was set in stone, anchored deep
underground.

“I see. Well, if
you wouldn’t mind, please come say goodbye to Ria and I before you retire for
the evening. Bring Auburn with you, I believe Ria has a fondness for her.”

Auburn was a
little shocked by Brent’s statement and blushed when Bowie looked at her.

Brent looked
directly at the female wielder, “Will you come say goodbye?”

She smiled and
pulled her hair back over her shoulder, “I will be there as soon as I can. I
know how she is when you are late.” They shared a smile before Brent turned to
go.

**********

John turned to
Bowie after the councilmen departed, his robe billowing out over his skinny
frame, “I’m glad you decided to stay on. The men still look to you to lead
them, and you turned that battle in our favor more than once.”

“John, I
wouldn’t have lasted long if it wasn’t for Vincent or Lieutenant Borgen,” Bowie
said.

Auburn jabbed
him in the side, “I suppose I did nothing.” Her hand was on her hip as if she
was ready to argue.

“Yes, of course
I know you helped. You gave us all the jump on those men.”

Before she could
open her mouth Vincent pushed his way into the conversation, “All of you, with
me. Now.”

They followed
him through the crowd to find King Atmos standing outside his tent. The
remaining wielders were standing in formation in front of the dead bodies lined
up in five rows.

King Atmos
walked around as they came to stand in the line with bows still in hand. “Where
is Lieutenant Borgen?”

Vincent ran to
the front, “Sire, he fell in battle. I have collected his imbuements.”

“Very well,
Roads. Report on the battle.”

“The Fire Realm
is fleeing to the south of the valley. We were able to take a few over six
thousand of their men. Including wizards, wielders, and soldiers. The skill of
a few of your archers saved us as we invaded their defenses. Their numbers
forced us to lose a little over three hundred men. Those included Lt. Borgen,
and nine of the twenty five armored wielders.”

“The Fire Realm
was fleeing?”

“Aye, Sir.”

“Very well.
Bring me the spoils.”

Bowie watched as
the wielders stepped up and dumped their canvas bags that they had collected
the imbuements inside of. Each one poured the contents of his bag on the ground
in front of the king. When the line reached Chit he stepped up and poured the
contents of his bag reluctantly and watched as Lorusk glared at his companion.

Bowie finally
ran forward and pulled the imbued dagger from where he had tucked it in his
belt. Vincent waved him back before he could drop it on the pile.

The king saw him
coming forward with the dagger then turn away, “Wait. Archer, what do you
have?”

“I have a
dagger, Sire”

“Put it with the
others,” he commanded

Vincent cleared
his throat, “My lord, he killed the weapon bearer that had it in battle. I do
not think that this blade belongs with the rest.”

The king looked
at Vincent, “Lieutenant Roads, before I fully declare your promotion and new
assignment taking up the war leader’s position for Lt. Borgen, I will advise
you to not to speak out of turn.”

Ria’s voice
wafted over the formation as she walked between the wielders, “I do not believe
he spoke out of turn. By wizard law, if Master Crescent took the weapon in
battle, then it is his.” She reached the king and turned her back to him to
address Lt. Roads. “Are any of these other imbuements due to his skills?”

“Madam Wizard, I
believe a large portion, maybe even half of the imbuements, were taken due to
his skill in wind magic.” Vincent said.

“Just how did he
win this battle and claim so many imbuements, Lieutenant?” Ria asked.

“The “archer” as
they call him, summoned an elemental. Using this blade, he took off a wielder
and tore apart the army that was beginning to advance on us. If it was not for
his skill, we surely would have lost-” He said.

Atmos
interrupted, “I thought I told Sergeant Curtain he was in charge. Are you
saying that this archer took this blade without permission?” Atmos asked.

“No, my lord. He
was assigned with me to advance. I saw him kill the wielder and ordered him to
take it and use it. I was abiding by wizard law in battle, my lord.”

Atmos took a
moment to collect his thoughts and any argument he might have to reclaim the
armaments. He ground his teeth and finally gave the order, “Keep the blade. Lt.
Roads, I have a blade for you in my tent. Accompany Captain Lorusk to retrieve
it. The rest of the imbuements will go in the tent to be distributed later.”

Ria held up a
finger, still in her place between Atmos and Vincent, “I believe he said half
of the imbuements were taken by Master Crescent. I wouldn’t want to anger an
already volatile situation with the Elders. I am sure they would be unhappy to
hear of the events that took place today. After all, I am on my way to visit
them first thing in the morning. Perhaps Master Crescent and I could arrange a
deal so you can acquire some of the imbuements claimed in battle. I am sure I
can negotiate in favor of the Earth Realm.”

The king said
nothing but his expression was given away with the veins on his forehead about
to burst.

She held out her
hand to Vincent, “May I borrow your sack, Lieutenant?”

He handed her
the canvas sack hanging from his belt.

“Master
Crescent, come and pick up your imbuements. I am sure the Lieutenant will help
you pick the ones that are yours,” Ria commanded.

Bowie slowly
started forward, but before he could get to the pile Vincent had already begun
picking up handfuls of the imbued jewelry and dropping it into the bag. When
half of the pile was gone he stood and handed the bag to Bowie. Ria turned to
the king and smiled.

Atmos growled
out orders as he made his way to the tent, “Let us go inside. Captain, make
sure we get these men buried and the soldiers get some rest. We ride back to
Deuterium at first light. Roads, you are with me.”

Vincent, Bowie,
and Ria followed the king inside his tent as Lorusk began to bark out orders.
He heard Chit’s name specifically called out twice before they reached the tent
flap.

Inside the tent,
Atmos found a seat behind what use to be Bowie’s table. Another canvas sack was
brought in to what Bowie could only assume was the rest of the claimed
imbuements.

“Start
negotiating, Ria. I will have you out of my camp as quickly as possible. You
are beginning to vex me,” Atmos spat.

She smiled at
Bowie, then at the king. She curtsied and slapped Bowie on the back of the legs
with a root, “I taught you better than that. Stand up straight, you are in the
presence of a king.”

Bowie thought he
was standing up straight, but he tried to make himself look a little taller to
make her happy.

“My lord, I am
here in the interest of all. I want to make sure these imbuements are not
gambled away in every tavern from here to the Water Realm. I think they should
stay in the custody of a king and his army,” She said eloquently.
            “Yes, yes get on with it Ria. What does the boy want?”

“I believe it is
simple. He wishes for the release of the Weapon Bearer’s sister, Kara. After
all, they want to make sure she is safe. He will give you half of what
imbuements he has for that alone.”

Bowie spoke,
“Wait. I can’t just take her, she would destroy everything.”

“The boy is
right, Ria. She needs to be trained before she can go wandering about. I have
people to protect,” Atmos said.
            Ria smiled, “It just so happens that Brent will be leaving with me
tomorrow. We will leave here and pick up Kara on our way to the Elder Wizards.
Surely they have a wizard that is more adept at teaching those of her element.
Brent will be able to handle her until we can find them, as he did on the way
to Deuterium.”

“Brent had a
weapon bearer to back him up in case of emergency. He did not do this alone,”
Atmos retorted.

“Brent still has
a weapon bearer standing before you now to aid him in this. Bowie will also be
taking two water imbuements from the sack for this purpose,” Ria said.

Atmos took a
drink of wine and swallowed hard, eyeing the earth wizard over the rim of his
cup, “What are his other demands?”

“Only that we
have a week’s supply of food, horses to carry us, and to award some of the
other imbuements himself to members of your force.”

The king
scratched his beard and leaned back in the rickety camp chair. The wood
creaked, Bowie was sure that it would break under his weight. “You still have
only accounted for half of the imbuements. What of the others?”

“Well, I assume
that we’ll need some sort of insurance incase the fire wizard caused any
damage. I was thinking the imbuements that are not accounted for would be that
payment, my lord.” Ria stood with her hands folded at her waist and a smile
never left her face.

“How many
imbuements will you be awarding and to whom, archer?”

Bowie took a
moment to think before answering. He scratched his head, “There are two archers
that helped me teach back in Deuterium. I would give Andrew one of earth, and
Tyler one of water. Bobby, who has particular skill in surgery, would receive
water. I would like to give Sargeant Curtain a set of water and wind as well.”

Atmos nodded,
“Others?”

“My lord, I
don’t know Lt. Roads well, but it seems he could use one for his efforts
keeping us alive in battle today. I will let you choose one for him. I want to
keep one extra of water for the fletcher, Auburn.” He said almost as if asking.

Atmos tipped
forward putting all four legs of the chair on the ground, “No deal.”

Ria took a step
forward, “I beg you to reconsider. I have already discussed leaving with Master
Crescent. I know he will be considering it a lot more now that he has a fortune
of imbuements at his disposal.”

“I have his
friend’s sister. If he would like to see her remain alive, he will give up all
the imbuements, including the two he had before battle.” The king said it as if
negotiations had already been concluded.

A moment of
silence followed before Ria laughed a very loud and forced laugh, “I suppose
she is to be taken to the traitor bowls because you have bone to pick with her
brother. I swear your humor is dry but funny, sire.”