by Aaron Thomas
“I wouldn’t be saying that so soon. I’m afraid I have my work cut out for me. I have twelve bows, a thousand men, and we haven't slept for a day and a half. I can only hope to get to a city and see what kind of supplies I can negotiate from them. Assuming those miracles happen, I might stand a chance to survive the rest of the week.”
The Lieutenant unrolled a map,“Shouldn’t be as hard as you think. The next town is only a day’s ride from here. Of course, it will take longer marching with the army, closer to three days, I presume. The town is just on the other side of the river, soldiers will need to be ferried. It will take time to have that many cross, but the town is large enough to support the army on the other side until all can resume the march.”
Bowie thought a moment, then said, “Maybe I can work something out there.”
McClanahan said something about ‘good luck’ but Bowie heard none of it, his brain was too busy planning.
He quickly caught up to John and took Charger’s reins. Mounting, he began to issue orders, “John, hurry now. I need half the bows and nine Black Hats to the front. I will also take six of the fletchers and Miss Auburn. Unhitch one of the horses from the wagons, have them saddled and brought to the front. We are about to see if I am as good of a strategist as Lieutenant McClanahan thinks I am.”
“Aye, sir.” John started yelling out to the sluggish group that seemed renewed by the new orders being handed out.
Charger danced with Bowie on his back, waiting for the moment that he could run. Bowie wondered if the men just needed something to keep their mind off of being tired. He kicked Charger and blew past the men in a flash to get to the front. Soon he caught up to Auburn’s cart, with Tyler in the seat next to her. Bowie called them to a stop.
The archers following Ria’s cart looked to be happy about stopping to rest, even after they had just gotten started. He watched as the men started to beat the dust out of their hats that the morning walk had kicked up from the road. He was happy to see they still took pride in their namesake, even though they were the subject of ridicule for the other soldiers in the army.
“Tyler, I need this cart unloaded with as much as you can packed onto the other carts. We need a few tents, arrows, some food, and tack. We are taking some fletchers and Black Hats up to the next town to gather supplies and set up a camp for hunting. Go now!”
Tyler tipped his hat after he handed the reigns to Auburn.
Bowie said to Auburn, “You are to accompany us on this trip. I may need you to help me gather supplies for making some arrows.”
She stood and curtsied from the driver’s seat. Bowie nodded at her in return and rode back to Ria’s wagon where other Black Hat was driving.
“Where is the wizard?” Bowie asked.
“She is inside resting, Master Crescent. She told me to follow your orders.”
“So am I commanding you, or is she?” Bowie snapped at the man.
“Uhm um, you are, Master Crescent. What are your orders?” he was practically shaking.
Bowie had never had that kind of response from anyone before. He kind of liked it, yet felt guilty all at the same time. He hadn’t meant to snap at the guy, just wanted to make sure no one was doubting him as being in charge.
“Good, now I want you to set the pace for our travel. Move this wagon up the road as fast as you can while letting the wizard sleep. If we can't keep up, stop at the river and wait for us. Do you understand?”
“AYE, sir!” he said, cracking the reigns. The wagon sped up and went around Auburn’s cart, now being stacked with supplies.
“I want room for the six fletchers in this cart plus the driver and Miss Auburn up front.” Bowie barked to the men loading the cart.
Men started to jump in the cart and Tyler took his seat back next to Auburn. She gave him back the reigns as she started to assess each of the men’s skills in fletching. John Curtain came up with men, bows, and horses.
John shouted, “Mount up men, we are going to try and make the ferry by nightfall.”
The men mounted and Bowie waved them down the road. Tyler set the pace to catch up with Ria’s cart.
Bowie leaned in his saddle, “John, get the rest up the road as best you can and catch up to us on the other side of the river.”
Bowie turned to address the rest of the followers waiting to start the march again.
“Men, I am taking a small group ahead to get supplies before this army arrives and cleans them out. If you want a chance at getting a bow, new boots, ale, or anything of the sort, you had better give up some of that coin in your pocket.”
Most of them turned to look at each other, then a few stepped forward and handed Bowie any spare copper and silver they had. More and more fished some out of their pockets and brought it to him. Bowie remembered taking most of the men’s first bit of pay when he brought in a cart of merchandise from Deuterium. He stood in his saddle and fished out his own coin purse. Putting his hand inside, he took a handful of gold. Slowly, he dropped his gold in the pouch containing the soldier’s money, one at a time, for all to see.
“I will do my best to get everything we will need for battle. I do not intend to be on the front line without every Black Hat holding a bow, and every quiver full of arrows!” He shouted so those still arriving in the back could hear him. He turned and rode off to catch up with the small group as the rest of his troop cheered at his words of promise.
Halfway to the front of his troop line, he started to doubt himself. He had no idea what it would take to gather supplies, or if he should split his troop. He should have consulted with Lt. McClanahan, or at least John. It was too late now. He could not bring his troop back together and rescind his orders. It would make him look a fool. Looking down with disappointment in himself, he saw that his wrist guard had come loose. He pulled the leather strap and felt the wind magic flow into him again.
**********
Kara loved every minute spent in the sun after being stuck down in the dungeons for so long. It seemed like she had spent an eternity down in that cell. Sometimes she still awoke at night, thinking she was inside. Her life was better now; laying in the tent, feeling the sun’s warmth through the canvas walls. She reached out to the heat and soaked it up. She use to do this before she was a wizard, but now it seemed to give her energy. She used to lay in the sun for hours until her mother would call her in to help with chores. It invigorated her, refreshed her, and made her feel happy.
Standing, she took a brush that Twilix had laid out for her, and brushed her hair. She was now dressed in one of the water wizard’s blue dresses; the two were almost the same size. Looking in the mirror, she wished she had a ribbon to tie her hair back. A ribbon like the one she had hung from the pommel of her brother’s sword. She teared up any time she remembered the sacrifices her brother and Bowie had suffered for her. She heard more about Kilen’s sword training and torture everyday. Soldiers and wielders alike, talked about him as a very impressive soldier. Most had made a legendary figure out of her brother from seeing him fight the king’s Champion on their graduation day. Now, he was off fighting the world to make sure she stayed safe.
Kara peeked out the tent flap to see four hulking men in imbued armor facing her tent. They were wielders of earth and water, sent to contain any danger she might cause. They watched her day and night without reprieve. She had taken to giving them nicknames, since none would talk directly to her, let alone introduce themselves.
Twilix said these men had spoken to the guards in the dungeons and thought they were too soft on her. She said they considered it a disregard for their duties to fraternize with the fire wielders.
They stood in unison as she peeked her face out the slit in the tent. She ducked back inside and laid down on her cot.
“Don’t any of you come in here! You might get burned to a crisp by the big bad thirteen year old fire wizard!” she shouted. No response came from the outside.
Even though she was out of the dungeons, she was still a prisoner.
Picking up one of the books Twilix had brought her on fire wizards, she started to read about ways to use fire magic. The books held instructions on using fire magic when a new wizard or weapon bearer had no teacher. Kara would have normally found them very exciting, but every time she wanted to try something she read about, Twilix would say no. She said that it could be dangerous without an experience fire wizard to watch over her.
She read them anyway.
She had started with one that Twilix recommended to learn to control her anger. Kara was already in control of her emotions and had barely skimmed the pages of the old, fragile book with burnt pages and binding. Next had been a book on creating flames as an outlet for anger, and the one after that was on using anger to increase heat in a flame. The books were nothing that she had wanted to read until she came across one called “Inferno Fire.” She’d read it with particular interest. In its binding it contained instructions to create a sphere of heat smashed together on top of a ball of more heat. Each layer of heat adding intensity to the sphere. When the swirling ball of heat was released it could burn through a stone wall, or melt the skin off of a warrior without even touching them.
The effects of the weapon didn’t interest her, but the instructions on how to make it were fascinating. Turning the fire inside itself like rolling a ball of yarn, smashing it together while feeding heat in at the same time. The fire would turn a color of white and begin to shake with the fury contained in the ball of flame. The book said there was so much fury contained in a ball of Inferno Fire that it should be used only as a last resort. Kara wanted to make sure she knew how to use it in case that time ever came. Today she started reading the book again in case she got the chance to make one, she would need no instruction.
From outside she heard a commotion amongst the guards. She gently put the book down and went to the tent flaps, only to be knocked over by a rushing Twilix. The water wizard’s arms were full of blankets and food. Kara hadn’t seen her wake, but she obviously had not brushed her hair or washed properly. Twilix looked frantic and then Kara saw it. What she thought were white gloves on the wizard was actually a thin layer of frost. Twilix turned to face Kara, her eyes were hollow and dark. She looked pale, like she might sick up at any moment.
“I need your help Kara,” she forced out through strained voice.
Kara placed a hand on Twilix’s arm, which was so cold that she yanked her hand back, “Whatever I can do.”
Twilix put out a hand and lowered herself on to the bed, “I need you to help me to stay alive. Normally a water wizard would watch over one like myself, but they have all gone to war. I am the only one left. I need you to keep me warm or the magic will freeze me solid.”
Kara opened her arms and put her palms up and brought a flame to live in each. “What is wrong with you? Why is the magic trying to kill you?” Kara asked concerned.
Twilix closed her eyes and seemed to welcome the warmth of the flames. “It’s not trying to kill me, Kara. I’m aging. It’s something that happens to young wizards like you and I. Normal humans take a long time to age,” Twilix let out a groan of pain. Kara brought the flames closer to the bed and watched as the thin layer of frost melted, making the blonde wizard’s skin glisten with droplets of moisture. Twilix continued through obvious pain, “Normal beings take sometimes several years to pass from children to teenagers. When wizards age, the magic we posses fuels us in our process. Some magics are easier to age through than others. I’m sorry that I must tell you that fire seems to be the worst. Water is not so bad. Water magic helps to heal my body as it changes. The process will change my body like a caterpillar into a butterfly. In a short time, my body will mature into one of a woman. I would like it if you helped me through this trial.”
Kara was scared, the wizard seemed to be freezing, yet sweating due to the pain. “How can I help? Tell me what to do,” Kara said, holding the flames as close to Twilix as she could without hurting the wizard.
Twilix took a drink from a water skin and slowly answered as her eyes started to close. “Wizard Parker will be here soon to help. Do as he says and all will be well. He has done this before.” Her voice trailed off as she fell into unconsciousness.
She wanted to scream for help but found no moisture in her throat. She had never been alone with someone like this before. Kara started to panic. Her heart raced and her mind went in different directions of scenarios of what could happen as she stood there, holding flames near the water wizard. She increased the size of the flame in an attempt to wake Twilix, or at least keep her thawed. Soon she felt something hit her shoulder. She turned to see Wizard Parker throwing rocks at her.
She lowered the flames back to where they were, but it did nothing to sooth her panic. The wizard stepped inside, shielding his face from the smoke coming from the ruins of a burning tent roof. Water sprayed over the top, drenching the three wizards and nearly extinguishing Kara’s flames. One of her guards put out the fire that was eating holes in the canvas roof.
“Kara, she doesn't need an oven, she just needs to be warm. Just keep your flames about the size of those in a hearth at your home,” Brandon said while standing well outside the flames.
Kara adjusted the flames and took a step back so Brandon could examine her. He had never spoken to her before. He had always stood off to the the side of the training grounds while she battled with Twilix or one of the water wielders standing guard.
Wizard Parker’s touch seemed to help make Twilix more comfortable. Her breathing became deep, and color returned to her skin. She was sleeping, and that helped Kara relax.
“Kara, we have a long road ahead of us. I need to know right now if you are truly in control of that flame. If you have any doubt about your control over your emotions I need you to tell me now,” Wizard Parker said. His voice was calm as he continued to examine Twilix. He didn’t even turn to look at Kara.
“I am in control, but how can I help?” she said pleadingly.
He finally looked at Kara, still standing close, holding flames in both hands. He stood and put his hand on her shoulder.
“You are already doing it,” he said caringly. “Just keep her warm. Keep her blood from freezing in her veins, that is all.” He said it as if it was a small and simple task. Perhaps he saw the terror in her eyes. “I will have the hard part after all. I will have to return here a few times a day to help her body heal. If we are lucky, this growth will be complete in a few days. If not, well, we will do what we must. You are the only fire wizard here in control of their powers. So you are her only chance at staying alive. Keep her alive, Kara, because at the end of this I will have to make a report to the King. I would like it to say you were able to save her, instead of the alternative.”
He held up the tent flap to leave and Kara stopped him, “Wait. She was telling me about aging and she didn’t get to finish.”
Wizard Parker smiled at her, “She will finish when she wakes. I think that you should have had a pretty good lesson in wizard aging by the time she is finished. Just keep her warm and get rest when you can. The more rest you get, the less taxing it will be on me. I will have some food and water brought in to help keep your strength up.” He smiled and let the tent flap fall closed.
She was, again, left alone with books of instruction that she couldn’t practice, but now with good reason.
Chapter 4 - The Magic Word
The ground was covered with dew and the birds chirped amongst the trees. So far the morning was cool, but by midday Kilen was sure it would be stifling. He had slept well, almost too well. He took a moment to remember where he was and the tasks that he had at hand. Kilen rubbed the sleep from his eyes, even though he couldn't open them all the way yet. The sun angled through the trees just enough to blind him. Stretching his arms wide, he let out a yawn.The slow waking was abruptly interrupted when his own boots hit him in the chest. He grudgingly put them on his feet.
Joahna spoke in low tones and Kilen knew the reason was to not disturb the s
erene sounds of nature. “I found some eggs earlier while flying around. Max is hunting for some meat to put in your belly. It’s best to have a meal in you before we deal with whatever the elders have to throw at us.”
Kilen nodded, pulling his boots on, “What if there isn't anything to stand in our way?”
“Well then, we walk in over-prepared. Believe me, that is better than the alternative,” Joahna chuckled as if he has made a joke.
Kilen knew it was no laughing matter, he was the only one that could die. He was still unsure if they would die with him or not. He had already learned that once summoned, they could walk around without him maintaining contact with his sword. He stood and continued to get dressed in spite of the bad joke.
“Better wear all the armor and the shield.” Joahna laughed again, “Despite what Jace wants, we need to make an announcement of what you are and who you represent.”
He grudgingly went over to the pile of armor and picked up his leather vest. The armor underneath was polished so well that the light reflecting off of it temporarily blinded Kilen. He put his arm up in front of his face to block the light.
“Max worked on those all night long, so you had better not complain about it,” Joahna said.
A noise from in the brush revealed a stone man, covered in moss to represent hair and clothing, stepped into view. “Complaints about what?” he said. Max was carrying a rabbit in his stone hands.
“I was telling him not to complain about the armor’s polish,” Joahna said back.
“He can complain all he wants, I know Jace probably is. After all, I have never polished armor before. I did the best I could do with what I could find.” He turned his finger into a knife and started skinning the rabbit. “Polished armor is only good for two things. One is giving away your position. Can you guess the other, Kilen?”
“Blinding an enemy in battle?” Kilen retorted.
