by Aaron Thomas
“Thank you very much, Mary. I wish I had time to battle you again, but it seems that with training starting now I won’t have very much time to spare.”
Gortus interjected, “I had hoped to match you against her next week. I wanted to test your new skills on an opponent that would not pull punches.”
“I won’t be needing your…skills as much now either, Kilen. The king has another armor bearer he would like to train me against. If all works out I should be going into town twice a week. Don’t worry, though I made a promise. I will still check in on your sister for you.” She put her hand on Kilen’s leg for reassurance. “Keep training hard. She is a sweet girl and I don’t want to see her down there forever.”
Kilen perked up at finding a clue to her whereabouts, “Down where?”
“Why, underneath the castle, of course. That’s where all the fire wizards are. Their rooms have pipes in them that lead up to different parts of the castle. Your sister uses my tip and focuses all her efforts into the pipes.” Mary smiled despite of herself.
Leroy threw his hands in the air, “Well that’s why I can’t cook anything right. I’m going to have to go to making my own fire like we did in keepers now that I know where the fire comes from.” Leroy kept complaining to himself as he wandered off towards the castle’s kitchen.
Mary stood as he left, “I would love to stay and chat, but with present company I think I had better leave. Train hard, Kilen.” With a nod, Mary walked away and very soon regained her stomping rampage through the training grounds.
Gortus stood after finishing his plate of food and started to pick up the scattered pieces of broken practice swords. “Seems as good a place as any to stop for the day. Brandon, the earth wizard, requested that you meet him outside your barracks a little after noon today for some earth magic training. You should go to him now. Then you are to find Jace in town for scout training after the evening meal.”
“Where would I find him?” Kilen asked.
Gortus stopped with arms full of what had become kindling, “I think that’s the training. You’re supposed to find him.” Kilen’s mind raced. He had no idea where to find Jace. He knew nothing about the man, except for where he shopped. He decided that he would have to start there. “You had better get going, Brandon isn’t as patient as other wizard trainers.” With a nod, Kilen turned to go and jogged his way to the barracks door where he found Brandon walking up.
“Wizard Parker, I only just found out that you are supposed to train me now,” he tried to remember anything that Brent had told him about his brother. The only thing Kilen really knew was that Brandon had killed trainees by pushing them too hard too fast. That is exactly what Kilen needed, to train fast.
“Very well, let’s get started then. I was told my brother tried to do his best to train you in earth magic on the journey here, so I’ll be testing your abilities.” Kilen held his hand on the sword, ready for anything. The wizard knelt down and stuck a single seed into the ground. Standing he said, “Make it bear fruit.” Kilen thought that it was an easy enough task. He felt the seed and forced it to grow, providing water from the air and nutrients from the ground it sprouted and grew. The seed grew to a waist high bush and sprouted large black berries. One of which was plucked from the bush and plopped into Brandon’s mouth. “Very good,” was all he said, as he filled a small cloth with berries. “I will see you in one week at this same hour for more training.”
Kilen was confused, this lesson only lasted a few moments and had taught him nothing. “Wait, uhm. Are you supposed to teach me something?”
“I am sorry, Kilen. I wish that I could, but my brother gave me specific instructions not to push you too hard. He had words with Twilix, also. You’re blackout during her training has put us on a very slow training path. Remember one week from today, right here.” He was popping more berries in his mouth even as he turned to leave. Kilen watched him as he walked away, while stretching and testing his bruised muscles.
We will have to practice on our own if he cannot teach us more. I have learned some of the earth magic, Max said. I use to be an armor bearer of earth, but they don’t let you carry any imbued materials while still getting use to the fire armor, just in case you decide to leave or you destroy them while burning yourself up.
Kilen agreed, but didn’t speak because of the people around now enjoying fresh berries he had provided. He moved inside to his room and found a stack of clothes on the bed, including a pair of worn leather boots that had been broken-in to perfection. He took his time getting out of his armor and changing into his newish clothes. Kilen had nowhere to be until after evening meal and enjoyed doing some of his own work. He polished his armor and sword, patched his clothing, organized his wardrobe and chest, and even had time to work in his book. Still, there was not enough to keep him busy, so he picked up the bow Bowie had bought him and strapped it on. At least he could get some practice on the bow before he had to find Jace. He crossed the training grounds and found Bowie in the same uniform as the full soldiers, standing with a patch on his chest showing the rank of a sergeant. The trainees he had were all new and were fumbling to keep up with his commands and instructions. Kilen leaned on a post setting out distances on the range until Bowie saw him observing.
“John, can you take over with this lot? I have a weapon bearer to attend.” A couple of the trainees stared slack jaw at Kilen when Bowie shouted. “Finally decided to pay your friend a visit, eh? well, it’s about time.”
“Sorry, I have been a little busy lately, but I have been trying to make it over here. Is this a good time?”
“Are you kidding me, it’s always a good time. I took this position was so I could train you whenever you could come by. Oh, I’m also the tester for the bow skills so if you want to test out now, and save yourself a week of training…”
Kilen stretched the bow string on the bow to test its strength, “Let’s just see if I can hit the target before you try and test me.”
“That’s fine with me. By the way, I heard about your fight with the fire wench. Nice job.”
Kilen turned to face Bowie, “The fire wench is the council seat for the Fire Realm and she’s helping train Kara so that she won’t be stuck in a dungeon below the castle. Please don’t call her that again.”
“Yeah sorry, I didn’t know.” He paused before resuming the conversation, “She’s helping Kara, eh?”
“Yes, and checking on her because I won that match on the field. She killed the last wielder that went up against her. I was just trying to help Kara.”
“You don’t have to try so hard Kilen. I am here to help, remember? My pay as a sergeant will more than cover her training costs. Here, let’s just get some shooting in. It will calm you down.” Bowie showed Kilen where to stand and handed him a quiver of arrows. “Remember, elbow straight out, string and knock to the cheek, release at the pause in your breathing, and use only the first two fingers to pull the string.” Bowie had given him these instructions before and they had helped tremendously. Kilen concentrated very hard on his breathing, holding the bow at full extension with little effort, thanks to his rings. He released the arrow and it struck the outside of the target. “Again,” Bowie commanded. Kilen pulled another arrow and made adjustments to his aim, then let a second arrow fly. It landed closer to the middle of the target. Bowie pulled Kilen by his shirt back to the next further post. “Try this one, but this time put your elbow just a little higher. Remember it should be straight out and level. If you were in a battle formation it would pointing up at an angle to match the archer to your right.” Kilen pulled the arrow tight and pointed his elbow as Bowie had instructed. He let the arrow fly and it landed between his first two shots. Bowie smiled, “Congratulations, you just passed archery.” Kilen lowered the bow and turned to Bowie with surprise.
“You don’t have to take it easy on me, Bowie. I really want to learn this.”
“Don’t worry. That was farther than what John had required before I took over. Just kee
p coming back and training with me and I’ll do my best to make you even better.” Kilen nodded and Bowie dug into his belts pouch to produce a small silver pin. “Keep this pin. It will be presented to the armies’ commander the day before graduation. All the classes you pass will have one similar. The more you have the higher in status you will be amongst the soldiers in the army.”
“Thanks, I need as much time as I can get to train in some of the others. This will put me ahead of the schedule that I was going to have to keep.”
“Yeah, any little bit helps. In order for me to keep the rank I have to pass a few classes, also. I might come looking to you for advice.”
Kilen smiled, “I have a book with a lot of good information on herbs, cooking, and the like.”
“Actually, it’s more of the battle strategy, history, and maps classes that I will need help with.”
“That won’t be a problem. I should be able to teach you but you will probably want to go to a few classes just to make sure. Sorry Bowie, I have another appointment to make today and I need to eat dinner before I can make the appointment.”
“That’s ok. By the way, thank you for sending Leroy to go to town with me last night. We had a good time and won a few dice games as well. That kid sure can throw knives. He made all the money I lost on dice back and then some.”
Kilen was already walking out of the arena while he spoke, “No problem. Oh, by the way Chit is an armor bearer. Keep an eye out for him, will you?” Bowie nodded to Kilen and then went back to shouting commands at the new recruits. Kilen meant it as more of a warning, than as looking out for their friend Chit. Kilen wanted as much time possible to search for Jace so he made his way to the kitchens in search of an early meal. He found Leroy outside the kitchen looking at a pile of thick stones, cook pots, and travel stoves.
“I’m telling you Master Harvel, I will not cook anymore inside that kitchen until the heat pans out. Those fire wizards are making too much heat and it’s causing my recipes to be robbed of their nutrients. It’s build an outside kitchen or I go back to scrubbing pots.” Harvel scrubbed his stubble covered chin with his knuckles as he thought.
“Fine, but by tomorrow you had better be able to make more of those Kapal dishes.” Master Harvel waved his ladle around his head yelling at Leroy like he had done when they had first arrived. “The King is quite fond of them. He said that I had better start making them for his champion also. I gave the King my word I would provide it for him. You had better hurry and start making your kitchen and making me some proper food.” He walked away still muttering to himself about some fool champion eating too much as it was.
Leroy started to pick up the stones and set them in a ring. He didn’t notice Kilen walking up behind him. “I can help if you want, Leroy.” The young boy looked up while still holding a stone in two hands.
“I could use the help. Have you ever built a cooking ring before?”
Kilen smiled, “I helped build a couple for spring fest a few years ago. Of course, the inn keeper just told me what to put where.”
I believe we can help him better than just moving stones around Kilen, Max announced. I have some experience with earth magic, perhaps I can describe it to you just like Brent did on the way here. You need to practice with earth magic anyway, so I might be able to provide help in that area.
Joahna joined in, I think this is a great idea. Tell the boy to step back and let Max guide you.
“Leroy, can you step back. I think I can build one a lot quicker with magic than both of us can together.” Kilen put a hand to his sword to gain as much control over the magic as he could muster. He wanted to ask why Max hadn’t attempted to teach him before this. He was thinking of multiple opportunities where Max could have taught. Leroy took a few steps away and braced himself for feeling Kilen’s earth-shaking magic.
First, feel the rocks just as you feel the water in the air. See them and know that you can move them just like water. When I learned, my teacher taught me to sculpt with the stones, seeing them as putty instead of solid stones. You need to change your perception of rock and see what it can be instead of what it seems to be.
Kilen muttered under his breath, “See the rock for what it can be, and not what it is.” He closed his eyes and felt the rocks. They were different than the water. As he looked closer he saw that in some ways it was the same. Small pieces of water made up a puddle, drop, or stream. Together they formed a mass that held together to become something larger than themselves. Kilen looked at the rock and found smaller pieces of earth formed together to make the stones. These pieces were small and sometimes made of different types of minerals. He felt each one and then attempted to move them like he moved the water. Each piece resisted his movements. He pushed harder, using more and more of his mental force to move the minerals inside the stone.
Be careful, Max said just before the stone exploded into particles of dust. The bits sprayed Kilen, Leroy, and a couple of soldiers that were passing by. It looked as though Kilen was an old book on a bookshelf covered with dust. Leroy looked about the same.
He smiled at Leroy, “Let me try one more time.”
Max chimed in, Maybe it’s not like water all flowing in the same direction. You need to…re-arranged the particles. Stacking them on one another to form what you want to make. This skill is finer than amassing one large ball of one type of element. Inside the stone are many types. You must re-arrange them like stacking toy wooden blocks on each other.
Kilen found a stone of his liking and began again. This time the particles started to move inside, each mineral switching with its neighbor until it had formed a square block with like minerals surrounding it. Kilen moved and picked it up and sat it away from the others. Kilen worked faster on the second stone and faster again on the third. Leroy moved the finished blocks and began building them in a circle on the dirt. Soon Kilen and Leroy had formed a stone block cylinder. Kilen remembered how they needed to be sealed with mortar so that no smoke or heat escapes. It needed a door to put firewood in and a chimney to let out the smoke. Kilen pushed the seams of the blocks together to make a solid mass. Then, as he imagined the rocks to be clay, formed a door for the fire and a chimney in the back. Leroy watched in wonder as the structure took form, seemingly of its own accord. Leroy smiled and was excited seeing structure. He gave a few adjustments to the design. After it was formed Kilen smiled at his handy work. The feelings were reflected from Max inside his head.
“I’m sorry Kilen, I have nothing for you to eat. I got tired of the food being burnt and over cooked. I stopped making it so I could collect the stuff for this cooker.” Kilen held up a hand to stop Leroy from gibbering.
“I think you have given me more that you thought today. Let’s just go and get whatever they are serving everyone else today.” Leroy nodded and ran off to find some food. Master Harvel soon returned to examine the new cooker. He moved to sit beside Kilen.
“Can you make more of those, Master Everheart?”
“I’m sorry, my name is Kilen. Yes, I can make more of them. If you find the materials for me.”
The scrawny man perked up, “I will find the materials for you. What can I pay you to make them for me, Mas…uhm Kilen?”
“Actually Master Harvel, I quite liked making it. If you find the materials and continue providing for Leroy the ingredients for his food I will gladly make you a few more. It will give me the opportunity to practice my skill in earth magic.” Kilen turned to see Chit and Brandon both looking at him from another table. Chit was red in the face and looked to be quite angry. Brandon on the other hand, lowered his head, showing his approval of the use of earth magic. Leroy returned with three plates and some boiling tea.
“See what I mean? I put the water on then fetched the stew. By the time I had returned it was already boiling.” Kilen cooled the tea in the kettle using his skill in water and poured himself a cup of tea at the perfect temperature. Leroy poured himself some and they sat and talked about what else they could make f
rom the stones that would aid in the cooking. Master Harvel was supposed to teach classes on how to cook food and decided to use the stoves for his classes. He said it would save his kitchen from being destroyed by new recruits. When Kilen was finished eating he excused himself and told Leroy he would see him later in the room. He departed and pulled the cloak’s hood about his face as he walked out the castle’s side gate which was set aside for soldiers.
He had thought a lot about where to find Jace and how to begin, but the truth was he knew little to nothing about the man. The only thing he did know was that everyone knew him as a different name, he shopped at specific shops in town. Kilen decided that he had better start by visiting the same places that he knew Jace shopped and move on from there. He would see if he could get any information from shopkeepers while he was there. Kilen moved casually amongst the people of Deuterium, finding his way to the run down shops. His water vision was being pushed to its limits constantly and he pushed it as far as he could around him. He was watching for people following him or acting strange. Soon he was passing by Izabel’s shop and he decided to go inside. When he cleared the doorway he saw the shop was empty and the plants had all been cut short. He could see the counter and the box with the scale inside from the front door. He walked to the counter and knocked on it a few times. Izabel came from the back wearing a bright green dress and had her hair done up in a bun. The same long stake was sticking out the side waiting for its next victim.
“I was wondering when you were going to show up.” she smiled from behind the counter, “You’re friend said you would be dropping by today.” Leroy didn’t mention that he had been there already.
“Did he come and get more herbs?” Kilen asked. She looked back, confused.