The Elementalist (The Kothian Chronicles Book 1)

by Andrew Wood

  Zack was becoming increasingly worried about Maxim, if he started losing control again, the two would likely panic and start firing those crossbows. Standing as close as he could, he placed one of the hands he was holding aloft on Maxim's shoulder, "We will be fine. Stay calm," he whispered again.

  "You...What are you whispering to him?" Linus shouted.

  "Probably telling him he loves him," Mikel said, interrupting, thinking he was being funny.

  Melia gave another sly kick his direction as a result.

  "I see them!" Karl finally exclaimed, before returning his gaze from the window to the room. "Another ten minutes and you shall be in chains and we shall be rich," he gloated.

  Danton was actually stood nearer to Karl and Linus than they would ever have thought. Invisible to the naked eye, he was trying to fathom out a way of disarming both simultaneously. Only to do so he would have to become visible again. Whilst out of sight he could not touch nor be touched.

  With the thought that they had only a matter of minutes before soldiers arrived, he had little option but to act. He prepared a clenched fist at the side of Karl's head, as he was the one looking more likely to shoot. Linus' attention appeared to be on the stairs, probably still waiting for him to make an appearance. He swung his arm back, and then launched his punch, making sure he reappeared at the very last moment. He felt his fist smack straight into the side of Karl's face knocking the bigger man straight over. As soon as he could, he barged the other way into Linus, knocking him off balance.

  As the man stumbled, Stanton stepped forward, picking up one of the pans from the stove, he smacked it over the back of Linus' head, knocking him down to the floor. "Quick help me with this one," Danton asked trying to stop Karl from getting back to his feet. Mikel, the obvious choice being the biggest and strongest of them stepped back. Zack however shook his head and jumped feet first at the man, knocking him back down again.

  Aileen was clearly shaken, "Quick you must all go before the soldiers arrive," she said looking out of the window.

  "What about you?" Danton asked binding Karl's wrists together with a piece of cord, as Stanton was busy doing the same to semi-conscious Linus.

  "Don't be worrying about us," the old man said looking over. "Now go...," he added.

  Aileen showed them all through the back door, so as the soldiers marching down the road would not see them leave. "There is a disused old barn a few miles downstream. Wait there and Stanton will bring you your horses," she said, pointing the direction they should go.

  They had no time to thank her or say goodbye, as Danton looked back to see the old lady moving as fast as she could back into the house. They all crouched low as they moved away, using the cover of a wall to keep them out of sight. Once satisfied they had gone far enough, Danton whispered for them to stop, before he slowly peered over the stone wall they were crouched behind. They had gone several hundred yards across an entire pasture field, and he could see the soldiers walking up to the house. They split, as a dozen or more ran around the back. Some had their swords out, whilst others were armed with crossbows, "Should we not go back and help them," Maxim asked, speaking for the first time during the whole ordeal.

  Danton shook his head, "As much as I would like to...I am afraid not. I just hope they can talk themselves out of it."

  "How are we going to cross the river now?" Mikel asked, "This is your fault Maxim, everything was fine until you turned up...," he hissed.

  It was Melia who felt the need to slap Mikel, doing so right across his face.

  "Ouch...what the bloody hell was that for?" he asked all innocently.

  She snarled at him, "This is not Maxim's fault, we are in this together. If you don't like it, then go crawl back to whatever dung pile you came out of," she snapped.

  Danton hissed, trying to get them to keep the noise down. "Arguing amongst ourselves is not going to do any good, now come on," he said gesturing for them to keep moving away from the house. With it being winter and them having no cloaks, they all very quickly started feeling the cold. Mikel, was naturally first to grumble, but everyone just ignored him. At least the freezing weather meant the fields they crossed were firm underfoot, and not knee deep in mud as they could have been.

  They found the old barn, just as Aileen had told them they would. One of the doors was hanging off its hinges and there was a huge hole in the roof in one corner, but this was where they had to wait. They did find an old canvas tarpaulin shoved against the wall, and despite it being a bit grubby and very smelly, Danton suggested they use it to wrap around themselves.

  Mikel was clearly not happy about it, but did so without complaining too much. Zack huddled up close to Maxim, and Melia did likewise to Zack, and there they sat and waited. "How long do we leave it?" Zack eventually asked after realising Stanton might not be coming. "If Stanton and Aileen get arrested for harbouring us, then..." he did not need to finish the sentence for everyone to know what he was getting at.

  Danton told them they would have to wait until night anyway. If Stanton failed to show before then, then he would sneak back and bring what horses and supplies he could. "You could go back now Danton," Maxim said, "Keep yourself invisible, see what's going on. Give us a signal if it's clear, and we can run back to get all our stuff," he added. Danton nodded, "Okay but let us give it another half hour or so, to at least let the soldiers move on."

  "Oh I see," Mikel said, "When Maxim suggests it, it's a good idea. When I say anything I'm being stupid."

  "That is because you are stupid," Melia said sticking her tongue out at him.

  They sat a while longer, "I really do not know how anybody can survive in these conditions," Zack said breaking the silence. "How ever did you manage Maxim?" he asked. The young ginger haired lad just shrugged, as if to say it was no big deal. In truth of course, he knew only too well, how hard his life had been. "I just feel so cold," Melia said, huddling as close as she could to Zack, who put his arm around her. She suddenly felt much warmer, and even a little tingly; the young royal really was far more handsome than she had realised.

  Eventually Danton stood, "Right I'll sneak back and check to see what has happened. If everything is clear, I'll give a signal." After enquiring what that signal might be, he showed them his light orb he could magic. He told them to give him twenty minutes, and for one of them to leave the barn to check the farmhouse in the distance. "I will create the light at one of the windows facing this direction, it should be bright enough for you to see even in daylight."

  Danton trotted off out of the barn and out of sight. Now the others had to wait once more, with the four youngsters huddled together, and the dirty canvas tarpaulin wrapped around them. All were cold, and realising he had missed breakfast after all, Mikel felt hungry as well. In an effort to keep his mind off it, he suggested to Melia other ways in which they could keep warm, "I would rather freeze Mikel," she said with the look of horror on her face. As strange as it seemed, if he had suggested such a thing only a few days ago, she may have even considered them, but luckily, for her, she had learned what type of person Mikel really was. She turned her eyes to the younger man with his arm around her. Now, she thought, if Zack suggested such a thing. She shook the foolish notion from her mind, who was she kidding, Zack would never suggest such a thing, that was one of the attractions about him.

  Danton crept as close as he could, staying out of sight, and when he thought he dare go no further, he vanished from sight. He walked casually up to the rear entrance of the house, there were no soldiers to be seen, so he decided to walk around the front. Once more, there were no signs of any soldiers, although he could tell a good number of people had paced around here, by the footprints in the softer mud.

  He moved closer to the window, and peered through, and could see movement from within. Walking around the back again, he took a deep breath, before making himself visible again. He rapped gently on the dark painted wooden door, and waited. He had decided if an unfriendly showed his face, he would v
anish again before they had chance to get him. Feeling his heart pumping he heard a fumble at the lock, and the door opened.

  "Aileen!" he said pleased to see the old lady was okay, as she quickly gestured him inside. Before he could ask what had happened she started telling him, the moment she pushed the door closed. The soldiers had arrived just after they had escaped, and Stanton had managed to keep Linus out of it, by clumping him on the head again. Karl however had managed to get a hand free, and reach for his cross bow. Danton took a sharp intake of breath, expecting bad news.

  Karl was just about to fire as the first of the soldiers burst in. The bolt fired and hit Stanton in the arm, and as it happened, it could not have been timed better. Aileen afforded a smile, "Don't worry he'll live, He's had worse." With the soldiers seeing Karl firing the cross bow, they had dragged the man outside. "I then told them that Karl and Linus had tried to rob us, only Stanton had caught them unaware and hit them with the saucepan from behind." Danton looked at her, "They believed that?" he asked. Aileen nodded, "They must have done, they arrested the two of them and dragged them away."

  Danton asked about what they did when they had not found magicians here. She told him, that she and Stanton had no knowledge of such a thing, and that Karl and Linus must have made it up. They walked into the main room, where Stanton was sat on the chair, nursing his wound, and noticing Danton's looks of concern, the old man waved it away, "I am fine."

  Stanton told him that the soldiers had bought the story that Karl and Linus had planned to rob them and kill them, then probably use the rumour that magicians were on the loose so as to deflect any blame. "With them witnessing Karl shoot at me, I guess that was all the proof they needed." Danton looked at the old man's injury, "Melia can help you with that," he said.

  Whilst Aileen decided it was time to make them all something eat, Danton asked if they minded the others coming back. "We just need to collect our things and we'll be on our way," Danton added, not wanting to burden the old couple any more than he had to. He went over to the window facing southwards and created a magical orb of light. He had no worries about the old couple seeing him use magic, they had probably guessed the rumours to be true.

  "Our son could do something similar to that," Aileen said watching him, before Danton turned to her, surprised at the words. "They took him away and hung him without so much as a chance," Stanton added sadly.

  "I am so sorry," Danton said, genuinely feeling their pain.

  "It was a long time ago," Aileen said, "You just make sure you get those poor children to safety."

  "I will try my best," Danton replied.

  He peered out of the window for a while, until he could see the others sneaking back towards the house. "They are coming now," he said turning his attention back to the elderly couple, who had seated themselves at the table. "Where are you going to take them?" Stanton asked him. Although the location of the magicians was supposed to remain a great secret, he figured telling this couple would not matter.

  "We have an old castle, which we are still currently repairing for our needs, at the foot of the White Mountains; a place called Pitford. It was mainly destroyed in the last war, but we call it home now," he told them. What came next was something Danton had not accounted for. Stanton and Aileen sat side by side each holding the others hand, "Would it be possible for us to come with you?" Aileen asked. It must be said that for the first time in his life, the young man was stunned to silence.

  "What of your farm?" he asked them. "We must leave as soon as possible. The others are not safe until I can get them to Pitford. Maxim especially..." he uttered under his breath.

  "Aye! Something about that one," Stanton said as if he knew what he was talking about.

  "The farm is too big for us now, and we have no heirs to carry it on when we are gone. The only men we trusted to run it have proved to be...well a bit of a let-down," Aileen said putting it mildly.

  "We can be packed in an hour. We have two good horses and a cart to carry all your stuff as well, so as not to burden your own horses," Stanton added trying to persuade Danton it would be a good thing.

  "And we know another way across the river, further south it can be forded if you know where to cross," the old man added.

  Danton smiled, "How can I refuse such an offer." The old couple quickly stood, "Oh thank you Danton," Aileen said, "I promise you won't regret this." Stanton quickly shuffled out of the room and headed for the staircase. "He's going to start packing our things," she said, "I'll get us some breakfast, and then I'll start loading some supplies on the wagon."

  As Mikel rather cautiously put his head around the opening in the door, he was greeted by Danton. "Is it safe?" he whispered. Danton nodded the affirmative. "Did they kill the old codger and his crone wife?" he asked.

  "No we are still here," he heard the voice of Aileen shout back.

  Mikel stepped through the door, his face suddenly much redder than it normally was. Aileen looked at him sternly, hands placed on hips as if she was going to say something. Instead, she just smiled, "Oh I how miss the candid remarks of the young," she said breaking into a chuckle. "Come on in you lot, sit yourselves down. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." Mikel did not need offering twice, and after giving Aileen a rather apologetic look, scurried past her and sat down. Maxim and Zack were quickly followed in by Melia.

  "Oh you poor little thing," Aileen said to Melia. "You look half frozen to death," she added rubbing her hands on the young girl's arms. Melia looked toward Danton, as if to say what was going on. He just shrugged, and she assumed he would tell them all in a minute.

  Chapter 8.

  After a good breakfast of bacon, sausage and egg with as much bread as any of them could eat, they all sat around the table. Danton had told them all of the elderly couple's intentions to travel with them. Only Mikel, unsurprisingly, showed any sign of disagreement, although to his credit he did keep his opinion to himself.

  Whilst they had been eating, both Stanton and Aileen had managed to pack their wagon although only after Melia had woven her magic, by healing the crossbow wound to the older man's arm. They had watched on as trunks, sacks, cases, baskets, pots, pans and just about anything else that was not fixed down, went out of the door. "I thought you said they were travelling light," Zack whispered, as they watched the old lady carry another basket outside. Danton could only laugh, and just shrugged.

  True to their word, the old couple were ready within an hour. Wrapped up in their winter woollens, and their wagon loaded with as much as their stuff as they could carry, they sat waiting. Danton and the others had to ready their own horses, and this naturally meant somebody having to help Maxim. Zack of course was on hand to help, explaining where each bit went, and how straps needed to be fastened and checked. "Don't worry, stay close to me Maxim, and I'll talk you through riding. It's quite simple really, and Danton has got you the perfect horse for a beginner."

  Maxim patted the mare on the side of the neck and she nodded her head forward as if in greeting a new friend. "See she likes you already," Zack said watching his young colleague familiarise himself with the creature. "You will have to think of a name for her," he added as he checked the stirrups. "Her name is Mist," Maxim replied almost immediately.

  "Oh okay, that did not take you long to think of," Zack said a little surprised.

  "I didn't think of it, she did," Maxim said as he patted Mist once more on the neck.

  Zack stopped what he was doing for a moment, a little unsure of what he had heard. He thought about questioning the matter, but decided to let it drop.

  As they all mounted up, Mikel turned immediately to look at Maxim, "I wager you a silver crown he falls off within the first ten minutes," he said to nobody in particular.

  "I'll wager you ten gold crowns he does not," Zack said trotting up beside him.

  "You don't have ten gold crowns," Mikel said in reply.

  "How do you know what I have and don't have?" Zack replied with a grin. "Fine I'll
bet you your silver crown Maxim does not fall off," he added as Mikel looked sternly at him.

  Melia just trotted past, "Boys..." she mumbled as she did.

  Mist stood perfectly still, allowing Maxim to climb up without any mishap, and after shuffling a little in the saddle to get comfortable, he took the reins. Without even a nudge or kick, Mist started trotting forward, and Zack gave Maxim a smile and a wink as he watched him pass by. "I think you are going to lose your silver crown Mikel," Zack chuckled looking across at the older lad.

  "Give him time," Mikel said with a little more concern on his face than he had a few moments earlier. He had hoped the horse would have moved when Maxim tried to place his foot in the stirrup, but the stupid creature had stayed perfectly still.

  With the wagon now joining them, they all followed the road south, now that the plan to cross the river via the bridge at Fordham was no longer feasible. Instead, they now followed the line of the river south and slightly westwards of where they actually needed to be going. Stanton had told them he knew a different, less travelled route, and as a result Danton bowed to the man's better geographical knowledge, and let him lead the way.

  The only drawback as far as he could tell, would be the length of time it took to get Maxim to Pitford. As long as things remained calm, and Zack was on hand to help, he hoped the red-haired young man would not lose control. When they had been at the house earlier, during the time Karl and Linus held them captive, Danton had gone invisible. This always allowed him to see the auras given off by magicians. That strange glow around the others was always constant, but around Maxim, it was almost blinding to the eye, and he thought it had only been Zack's calming words, that had stopped Maxim from losing control again. With the power emanating from the youngster, it was clear he would need more than calming words in the future. If Maxim lost control again, he dared not think of the damage he might cause. The youngster needed guidance and tutoring, and this was available at Pitford; it just seemed everything and everybody seemed intent on stopping him getting there.