by Aaron Thomas
He winked at her as he spoke, “Oops, we aren’t supposed to let you know about the others. Guess we will have to keep that a secret for now.”
She winked at him in return, “I understand.” She was very happy at the way this meeting had turned out. She had thought it over in her mind for the entire day before. She wanted to show Mary she could control herself and this is the only way she knew how to impress her. When the door was shut Kara saw that the two men had left one of the stools in the room. “Chris! Ben!,” she shouted out the crack in the door.
“We are here, Kara. What do you need?”
“You left your stool in my room. I thought you would like to take it with you.” She waited and heard the key locking the door.
“Keep it until tomorrow. Don’t burn it to ashes and we will have lunch again.”
Kara clapped at his response in pure joy. She had received yet another piece of furniture. Mary had told her each piece she received would be a step in getting out of her cell. She pushed it to the corner, sitting it atop her box of candles. Kara wanted it far away from where she practiced her fire. It was now her most prized possession.
***
Kilen and Jace had stalked around the city for a couple hours now. They had followed nobles and thieves alike. They listened at windows while Jace gave directions on how to look as though you had a purpose for being at a window. He sent Kilen to steal a pie from a noble’s dining table while servants rushed to clean the remnants of dinner. He moved from project to project until they found themselves perched onto the same place he had been when he saw Izabel dealing with the thief girl. He lay with his stomach against the tiles as he observed the dealings of the market square. The girl was nowhere to be found. She had obviously been redirected to work another part of the city when Izabel left the town. This had been the single most productive night that Kilen had had with Jace since arriving in Deuterium. He hadn’t been caught once in any of his endeavors. Though, he had still knocked a couple of tiles loose from the roofs that he jumped on. He watched the merchant’s sleight of hand to acquire coppers here and there. He watched the faces of people coming and going. Then he saw her, a woman standing next to the alleyway on the far side of the market. It was his mother. The woman looked so much like his mother he was unsure himself whether or not to believe it. She put up her black cloak hood quickly before disappearing into the alleyway. He scrambled up the roof and crawled over to where Jace had taken to whittling a piece of wood. “I just saw my mother in the market. May I go after her?” Jace put away the wood and knife and nodded his head.
“It would be good practice stalking. Follow and don’t approach until you are sure it is her.” Kilen understood but didn’t wait around to talk. He jumped from the roof and landed softly on the ground below. He hooded his face slightly, as Jace always did before moving into public. He crossed the market and into the alley the woman had disappeared into. He looked behind but didn’t find Jace following anywhere. He couldn’t quite understand how Jace seemed to blend with every color of wall he stood next to. At the mouth of the alley Kilen looked for the woman in the black cloak but was unable to see her. He moved back from the direction he had come and leapt to the top of the buildings. Jace waited on the far end. Kilen looked far down the streets from his high vantage point, but saw no one in a black cloak. He jumped from roof to roof checking the adjacent streets, but found nothing on either street. Jace caught up with him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Perhaps tomorrow we can check local shops and taverns to see if anyone has seen her. It will be good for you to learn to find someone in a city using only a description and a name.”
Kilen was still looking in all directions, trying to find someone walking in a black cloak. Jace squeezed his shoulder and turned Kilen to face him. “If there is one person in this city that can find a new visitor in town, it’s me. Do not worry, if she’s here we will find her.” He patted his shoulder twice and began walking away, down the rooftop. Kilen reluctantly followed but he knew that he would not be able to find his mother without Jace’s help. Slowly they made their way back to the castle gates, Kilen still looking in every direction for his mother.
A guard stopped Jace at the gate and handed him a note. Jace nodded his head and moved with Kilen a few paces away, heading for the training grounds. “The king wishes an audience with me. I will see you tomorrow at the same time. Try not to threaten any more of the kitchen workers; Or anyone that works under his charge, for that matter.” He laughed as he moved towards a guarded door and disappeared inside. He wanted badly to find his mother, but he wasn’t entirely sure it was her. He kept asking himself questions like. Why would she have come here? Where would she look to find him? If she had read his letter, why hadn’t she come to the castle asking for him? He had to have faith that if there was a woman that fit the description, Jace would find her.
With nothing left to do for the day Kilen made his way to the barracks to catch up on rest from the fight earlier in the day. Constant thoughts of his mother flooded his mind. Did she have enough money to stay in Deuterium? Was she staying in the right side of town? Once again he was caught unaware of his surroundings when out of the sky in front of him a man in tan cloth landed softly in front of him. The sight of a flying man would shock anyone and Kilen was no different. He stood as still as a statue, watching the man pull the loose cloth around himself and tie it up with a sash. “Weapon Bearer Everheart I presume?” Kilen closed his mouth and nodded his head
“Uhm I’m not a weapon bearer yet, Sir.”
“Well of course not in the eyes of the king, but you carry a weapon and are willing to bear it to battle. A weapon bearer you are, whether those around you or inside you see it.”
“Inside me?” Kilen panicked at the statement. What did the man know?
“Those voices inside you that make you what you are my boy. If you believe that you are a weapon bearer in the depths of your mind and soul, then a weapon bearer you will be.” He leaned near Kilen and spoke in a whisper, “I tell the voices in my head that I am a wind wizard. Sometimes they don’t like to listen, sometimes they beg me to be one.” He chuckled and Kilen wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. “That is neither here nor there, I came to tell you my name.” Kilen waited for the wizard in the loose clothing to speak, but he stood with his arms crossed, examining Kilen up and down.
“What IS your name sir.” He jumped as if he just realized he wasn’t looking at a painting.
“Of course, of course, my name is Alexander. Wind wizard and Wind Council Seat of the Earth Realm.” He bowed a deep bow. Cloth poured out around him as he did. He became erect again, “I will be conducting your training in wind magic tomorrow. You will not be learning how to control wind, but how to combat it. I would bring all the knowledge that you can muster. Sometimes the voices are not as forgiving as I.” He smiled a friendly smile that contrasted the words that he spoke. “Use the knowledge of the voices in your head, friends, or whatever you will call them while training tomorrow. Until then!” Alexander pulled the sash from his waist as a gust of wind buffeted Kilen from behind and lifted Alexander into the air. He disappeared into the black night sky as quickly and quietly as he had come. Still a little uneasy about the whole conversation, Kilen finished his walk to the torch-lit barracks. He walked past all the empty rooms and found room six closed. Leroy must be getting to bed early for the tasks he had to perform tomorrow. He entered his room and locked the door behind him. Max didn’t have to hope too hard before he was formed into a tiny man standing on the washstand. Kilen washed and readied himself for bed. Max closed ice fingers on the candles in the room and put the room into blackness. Kilen drifted off to sleep imagining how he would find his mother and explain what had happened to Kara. He knew that sleep would not come easy this night.
***
Jace entered the smoky great hall to see King Atmos sitting on the dais. Captain Lorusk and a young boy remained at a side table pouring over reports, and maps. The torch light reflec
ted off the grotesque suits of animal armor, casting shadows about the walls and pillars. He felt the tension in the air and imagined that it was as thick as or thicker than the smoke from the torches. His tan cloak let him blend into the wood surroundings of the hall. It billowed out behind him as he marched to the King’s feet. Kneeling, he crossed his hand across his chest. “I have come as you requested, my king,” he said with bowed head. The king stood off to the side of his golden oak throne and stepped down to Jace’s level.
“Stand, Jace. We have a problem in Deuterium. I require your more subtle skills on a traitor in our midst.” Jace stood and the king placed a hand on his back and ushered him to the table the captain and the King’s champion were at.
“Who is this traitor, my king?” The earth wizard, Brandon, came from behind a curtain to join all the men at the table. The map on the table was the area near the border of the Fire Realm. The map was marked with towers and military outposts. Numbers and names of officers lay next to each unit on the map.
“Let me ask you a question first, Jace. How well do you know your student, Kilen?”
“I know him as well as any other recruit you have sent me to train over the years. If he is his father’s son, maybe a small amount better.”
“Do you indeed know he is his father’s son? Did Dylan Everheart ever introduce you to his son?”
“No, after the War of the Water Realm, I did not see him again to introduce us.”
The king turned to face him, “Did he ever tell you about his children, Jace?”
“I don’t remember him mentioning that he had children, but Dylan did keep to himself most of the time.”
“Then how do you truly know that this is Dylan’s son. I mean, sure he looks like Dylan, but do you have any hard evidence that he is the man’s son?”
“There is no evidence that I can provide that can tell you for sure that he is his father, other than finding the man to answer.”
The king started to walk around the table to stand on the other side between Lorusk and his champion. A moment later Brandon whispered something into Atmos’s ear. The king moved small papers around the table, never holding one for long enough to read its content. “Tell me about his skills, Jace.”
“He is smart in books, maps, adding, and from what I have heard, strategy. His skills with magic seem to grow everyday without an end of his capabilities in sight. He has little to no skill in the sword, but is growing fast from Gortus’s teaching. He is ready to be a weapon bearer at this moment if you were to test him. I would recommend you let him study longer and he will probably surpass my skills as a scout.”
“That, Jace is one of the reason’s he is to be eliminated as soon as possible.” The king paused to let his direction sink in, or to see Jace’s reaction. He wasn’t quite sure which Atmos wanted. “He has improved too quickly for us to believe that he was untrained before coming here. He is too skilled in magic to have never been trained before. He accomplishes feats that only seasoned veteran wielders can perform. The boy walks and fights while using elementals! That skill is rare even amongst elder wizards. He has become too dangerous for this kingdom to keep unchecked.”
“Perhaps he is a powerful tool that you could wield towards your enemies.” The king held up his hand to stop Jace from talking. He looked over another report before meeting Jace’s eyes once more.
“My advisors and I have already come to a conclusion that it is too coincidental that he has risen in power so quickly. In this matter I will have no rebuttal, Jace. I simply cannot let a potential threat rise so close to the heart of my kingdom at such a time as this.”
Jace’s face was as stoney as ever but inside he was twisting with anger, while listening to the king. He seldom let his emotions show, but he felt close to Kilen like he hadn’t any other. Perhaps it was because deep down, he knew that Kilen was Dylan’s son. “A time such as what, my lord. You have no definite enemies yet. Just rumors of enemies that we haven’t even had a chance at diplomacy with.” Captain Lorusk drew his sword and held its point in Jace’s direction.
“YOU will watch your tongue when speaking to my king or I will cut it out!” Venom rolled of his tongue as spittle landed on the reports on the table. King Atmos placed a single hand on his hilt and the Captain lowered it.
“No need for that, Captain. I would sooner cut yours out before his. He is open to speak to me as he wishes. This is one of those times that I need to hear it.” He turned to face Jace one more time, “I need you to kill this boy Jace. With all the training that he has received, you are the only one that knows what he is capable of.”
Jace stood silent as the king waited for a reply. Slowly he lowered his eyes and head. “I cannot do this task, my king.” Lorusk began to shout something but was cut off by a raised hand from the king.
“Cannot or will not, Jace. There is a difference. I need to know that difference. If you cannot, perhaps I should take what imbuement’s you have been given, and let you retire. If you will not, perhaps you should face the traitor bowls for disobeying your king. I would hate to see either, Jace.” Jace thought for a moment. Being a weapon bearer was the only thing that allowed him to live through most of the missions the king sent him on. He could not go back to being just a soldier. He knew that he would surely die if he did. On the other hand, he knew that he would surely die if he faced the traitor bowls. He had no choice but to complete the king’s task.
“I will carry out your request, my king.” Atmos smiled and nodded his head. He rounded the table and held out his hand to Jace.
“I am glad you could see things my way, Jace. Someday I will prove to you that you did make the right choice.” Jace gave the king a nod of the head and turned to leave without a salute. He heard the captain start around the table after him but was stopped by the king. “Jace,” the king said in a tone that told him there was more. Jace stopped but did not turn around. “I cannot express my concern for subtleness in the matter. Next year there will be much potential for second generation wielders coming to this army. I cannot have them scared off because one dies.” Jace nodded his head again in understanding. “One last thing, you have until tomorrow at sunset. We cannot afford for his strength to be increased anymore than it has been.” Jace all but stormed out of the great hall.
Max was about to wake Kilen, but instead used his icy fingers to strike a match and light a candle in the early morning darkness. The candle lit the room and his body gave off sparkles and rainbows on the walls. Max thought he would never get over having a body of ice. He felt no pain or tiredness. He was made of pure elemental magic. He noticed Kilen’s eyes were already open when he turned around.
“I still am a little creeped out by having an elemental wake me in the morning. To think only three short weeks ago I had never even seen one. Now I’m being woken up by them every morning.” Max gave a small chuckle and filled a cup with water dripping off his fingers.
“Well if you want I could, not wake you. I would much rather be out learning how to use this water magic. I will have to say that being out here is a lot better than being stuck in your brain.” They both laughed.
“I’m sorry, Max. I didn’t mean to take your spirit. If I could have stopped it I would have.” Max turned his elemental body to face Kilen even though he could look out of the back of his head. It was the funny thing about being an elemental, you looked where you wanted. Your eyes could be anywhere in that element.
“Do not be sorry, Kilen. Joahna always told me that being a wizard was a gift. A gift with lots of consequences and responsibilities, but a gift nonetheless.” Slowly Max started to steam himself into a smaller version of the water elemental. The steam filled the room and Kilen used a washcloth to wipe himself clean in the heat and steaming water. When Kilen was finished Max moved the water into the cracks in the floor and into the crawl spaces, and finally he melted himself into an empty pitcher. Kilen felt the concussion and steadied himself on the bed post. He was getting better at controlling it, but
it still made him a tiny bit dizzy. I think I understand Joahna better now that I have been able to control an elemental as much as I have. I think that it’s similar to being a wizard.
Only when you are a pure elemental you can’t die, Joahna said, joining the conversation. Kilen dressed himself after wiping the sweat and water from his body. Kilen, in my solitude I remembered a small bit of information that most wizards and wielders pass down when they teach. I will pass it down to you now if you would allow me. Kilen nodded his head while looking into the mirror. In some situations a particular element is not available to be used, so you should always carry some with you. This is in case you need to use it in an emergency. I often carried a skin full of lamp oil. When I needed the extra heat I would pour it out on the ground and light it for the extra strength in magical power. You should always carry a water skin or bag of stones that you can use in such an emergency.
“Is this some way to win back my trust, Joahna?” He had stopped dressing and gave the coldest stare that he could muster while looking in the mirror. Kilen did his best to stare into his own eyes as if here were talking to another person. He was in such deep thought about what Joahna had said that he didn’t see Leroy enter the room.
“I can come back later if you want, Kilen.” Kilen cleared his throat and continued to dress.
“No, no. I was just practicing a little of what Jace taught me. Being a scout isn’t all it seems on the surface. I thought it would be mostly navigation, tracking, and wilderness survival, but it’s much more than that.”
HA, quick thinking, and good cover, Kilen, Max chuckled in his head.
Leroy smiled and moved to clean up the water left from Max’s transformation and steam bath. He looked around the room as if he was trying to piece together what had happened and where the water had come from. “Well, don’t let me interrupt. The more practice you get the better you become at it, is what my father use to say. Uhg, I can’t believe I just quoted my father.” He shook his head while whipping down the desk and shook Kilen’s book like it had water on it. Then he flipped through the pages. Finding none wet, he returned it to its place. Kilen ate and downed the pitcher that Max had filled and grabbed a water skin before running out of the room.