by Aaron Thomas
Bowie nodded his head in understanding, “I caused this. I gave our position away and put our men in danger.” He slammed his hand down on the desk. He was expecting someone to console him, to tell him it was not his fault.
Ria stood and patted her lap, “Well, at least you are able to admit when you did something wrong.” She started to head for the tent flap to leave.
Bowie put a hand on her shoulder. “I will need bows very quickly.”
Ria curtsied and bowed her head, “I will get started as soon as possible.”
She left the tent and Bowie went right to work with the papers on his desk.
“John, you are in charge of the camp now. I will be spending most of my time out with the hunting parties. Auburn, I need the production of arrows doubled or tripled. We will need those arrows completed as soon as possible. Take any man that is idle in the camp and put him to work.”
Auburn accepted the assignment but John’s face turned red with frustration, “You cannot put yourself in danger like that Sargeant.”
Bowie snapped back, “Like the danger I put everyone else in yesterday?! I am in charge and you will do as I command.”
John’s jaw clenched as he stared at Bowie in defiance. “If you will not stay, then I will choose the men that ride at your side so you don’t get yourself killed.”
John left and Auburn remained seated on the bed, smoothing the purple dress she had acquired from Ramos.
“You still have to keep your end of the deal.” She said quietly, as if she thought she would not get her wish.
Bowie sighed, he had forgotten the promise he had made her. “Yeah, I will keep my promise. Go and get ready and I’ll give you a lesson before I ride out.”
Despite her sunken, sleep deprived eyes, her expression brightened. She giggled and left the tent.
Bowie changed his jacket to a deep green to match the moss clinging to the trees in the forest. He strung his new bow and tied a quiver to his hip. The camp was already in a flurry and no one would stop to look Bowie in the eye. He knew they thought he had given the order to kill the man. He had indirectly taken responsibility for killing a man. At least it wasn’t one of his.
He continued through the swarm of men moving in all directions to complete tasks given by John and Auburn. Bowie found his way to the makeshift range Tyler had been directed to set up. It currently consisted of wood logs with a couple rings of paint. He knew it would improve. He pulled an arrow from his quiver. The new bow was stiff and took a lot more effort to pull. The distinctive twang of the string being released helped calm Bowie’s nerves. He emptied his quiver and went to retrieve them from the log.
When he turned around he saw a woman with a man's linen shirt on and wool breeches. Auburn had braided her hair, it now fell over her shoulder just as Bowie’s did most days. She was stringing a bow. The pants were tight and didn’t fit right, but she definitely stopped Bowie in his tracks. She smiled at him and his mind returned from wherever it had been.
“You can shoot a bow in a dress, you know?”
He moved to stand a couple of feet away from her.
“I know, but if I am to join you on a hunt, I will need to be wearing something I can ride a horse better in.”
Bowie’s jaw dropped, “Joining me on a hunt!?! You will not be going hunting with me!”
Auburn set her jaw and put one hand on her now prominently displayed hip.
“You said you would teach me how to use a bow. Shooting at a log is one thing, but shooting at an animal or person is totally different.”
Bowie removed his hat as Auburn stretched her bow’s string a few times testing her strength.
“You cannot expect me to take you hunting for the Fire Realm while you are still trying to learn to shoot.”
“Of course not,” She laughed. “I expect you to teach me to shoot at the log first.”
Bowie didn’t know what say. He figured he would leave this battle for a day when he had a full night’s sleep. He gave in.
“The release is the most crucial part of archery. When holding the string, use only the very tips of your fingers so the string doesn’t roll along your fingers when you release. Breath while trying to aim your arrow, letting go of the string between breaths. There is a short pause in your breath, that is when your aim is the most steady. Try it,” He said while exaggerating his breathing and the pause.
Auburn flipped her braided tail of hair off her shoulder. She pulled the string back with a nocked arrow and Bowie stepped closer to her. He held her forward hand to steady her draw and help her look down the shaft of the arrow. She smiled, then giggled.
“What?” He questioned.
She slowly let the string’s tension relax and looked at him, “Do you hold all of your trainee’s hands, or just the pretty ones?”
Thrown off guard, Bowie took a step back and cleared his throat.
“Just, uhm. Just shoot it and I will help you make improvements.”
Auburn giggled and took a couple of shots before she truly felt the weight of the tension on the bowstring. He coached her on how to improve her aim, but her strength began to fail and she couldn’t pull the string back.
“I will see you tomorrow morning for another lesson. If your arm can manage by then,” He said.
Bowie walked away to find John and his hunting party, leaving Auburn to prepare for her woman lessons. He was glad that Auburn wouldn’t be joining him for a while. Her arms would have to build muscle in order shoot consistently, and then he would still have to train her to be accurate.
Bowie was nearly trampled when a group of archers ran through the camp carrying black bow staffs, three or four in each hand. Ria had begun her work and was keeping up her end of the bargain. He hoped he would be keeping his. That part of the promise was all up to the red haired girl.
John was just as excited to see the wizard-grown bows coming to his hunting party. Tyler and a few other faces Bowie recognized where mounting horses. Charger awaited Bowie near the front. A lump grew in his stomach, he was worried that not all of the hunting party would return from this hunt.
**********
Kilen reached down into his shirt and pulled out his father’s rings. The rings made his training easier by giving him energy throughout the night. He gently placed them in a leather pouch beside the bed and sat up. The stone floor was always cold and refreshing to his warm feet. He pulled on his boots and smelled the cooked eggs and bread already on the table. The house was empty, Kilen had heard Ray leaving before the sun had come over the horizon.
Schedules were almost nonexistent in this town. At least none that the wizards or weapon bearers held him to. The lack of schedule made it hard to get out of bed. He had nowhere special to be and no sense of urgency to finish a job. His only responsibility was to prepare himself for whatever answer the wizards gave him. He had been thinking about it for days and wondered if the wizards were waiting to give him an answer dependent upon the one he gave them. Whether or not he wished to be named a true weapon bearer, Kilen knew that if he didn’t give them an answer, then they wouldn’t have time to stop the impending battle. He decided his only choice was to become what they wanted and protect not just his sister, but everyone in the Earth Realm’s army.
The room was empty so he spoke aloud to the men inside his mind.
“What do you guys think I should do?”
Joahna was always first to give his opinion, “I think you are overthinking it. The choice is a win for everyone. You will get your dream of being able to roam the realms in search of knowledge. The world will gain a true weapon bearer, a man who seeks justice for the world. We also get to look for a way to get our bodies back.”
Max said, “Being a weapon bearer is an honor I have always wanted. If I have to be inside your head to do it, I’ll do my best to live the standard from in here.” Jace had a very proud feeling associated with his words.
“Then it’s decided. I will tell Ray today that I will be a weapon bearer.”
>
Kilen ate his breakfast while the others talked in his head about getting into the wizard’s library as soon as possible. They wanted to research how to get into new bodies. They talked about the first thing they wanted to eat or drink once they were out of the prison that was his mind.
“I’m sorry you all haven't been able to be elementals for the last couple weeks. As soon as we are out of here you can resume your forms.”
The men said nothing in return, but their emotions told him they knew it was not his fault.
Kilen picked up his sword and strapped it on. He made his way through the misty village to the place where he practiced with Ray. Ray was waiting as normal, straightening the small area from the previous day’s practice. Kilen helped pick up some broken pieces of practice swords. He knew that a wizard had come in the night and grew new sparring weapons for them to use. Everyone here worked together for the good of all, just like Leroy’s family in Keepers.
When the wooden shards were clear Ray picked up two, ready to start training for the day but Kilen came forward with empty hands. “I’ve made a decision.”
Ray lowered the two swords, “What is your decision then?”
“I am going to be a true weapon bearer.” Kilen stood straighter as he said it.
Ray’s face went from serious to a huge grin behind red facial hair. “Let’s go tell the wizards then.” Ray held up his hand for Kilen to lead the way even though Kilen didn’t know which wizard lived in which building. “I am glad you have chosen the way you did. You have the potential to become a great weapon bearer. If you can treat each person you meet as you would your friends and family, you just might fulfill that potential.”
Ray stopped Kilen outside a house with white stones and a small chimney. “The Elders should be inside. I will be here when you get out.”
Kilen nodded to Ray and made his way up the cobblestone path to the door.
“I would knock.” Ray called from the path.
The statement sounded ominous and made a lump rise in Kilen’s throat.
Max pushed courage at Kilen’s emotions, “We’re here with you. You are making the right choice for us all.”
Kilen knocked on the door and stood holding his hand up, unsure if he had knocked hard enough.
A man’s voice called out from inside, “Come in, Kilen.”
Before he could enter the tiny home, and a young woman in white robes stepped out of the house. She didn’t look at Kilen or acknowledge him in any way. He watched her walk the path to the road where she waved at Ray.
“I assume you have come to a decision?”
Kilen turned back to the old wizard and saw that a wizard in blue robes was offering him a seat. Kilen sat down and took a drink of the wine sitting on the table.
“I have decided that I am a weapon bearer,” Kilen said in his most confident voice.
The old wizard smiled, “Indeed you are.”
The wizard got up from his seat and put a blue cylinder on the fire. Soon, blue smoke was coming from the cylinder and rising up the chimney. The wizard then grabbed a book off the shelves and started to flip through its pages until he found the one he wanted. He set the book down in front of Kilen. It was a list of names and blank spaces for new names to be written down. The wizard picked up a bottle of ink and a quill handing it to Kilen.
Kilen looked down at the list and read a few of the names and one was Ray’s. There had only been two true weapon bearers added to the list since Ray. Kilen knew he was joining a select few people in the world. He felt proud, and wished his mother and friends could be there to share his moment. He dipped the quill in the ink as the door burst open to admit a couple of women who clapped quietly at arriving in time to see Kilen sign.
Kilen turned back to paper awaiting ink and placed the quill against the paper.
The door burst open again and Alexander stumbled in, “Did he sign yet!?!”
Once again, Kilen was interrupted. no one said anything as Alex shut the door and came to sit beside Kilen. He finally put the quill to the paper and signed his name to the list. The old wizard took the book and blew on it to dry. More wizards of every element came to join them in the tiny house. Blue smoke still billowed up the chimney. The only reason Kilen could see for this was to announce his decision.
Finally, after all had congratulated Kilen, a few remained to listen to the old wizard’s words.
“Now that you have signed and taken the commitment of being a weapon bearer, we can give you the direction you seek. We, however, are not allowed to tell you what to do.”
“I did seek knowledge when I came here, but really my mission was to get you to help fight a war.”
Kilen was looking between Alexander and the Elder Wizard.
“We will not help with this war. In order for the Elder Wizards to act, the requesting realm must follow the elemental realm’s laws set forth by the realm’s creators. King Atmos blatantly breaks those laws. We will not act. If you think there is justice to be served or a war to be prevented then you may choose to prevent the war yourself. You, are after all, a weapon bearer,” the old wizard said, closing the book.
Kilen was possibly more angry than he had ever been before.
“Are you saying that I traveled here, fought through your forest, and spent weeks training all for nothing?! My friends’ and sister’s lives are depending on you preventing this war!”
“Kilen, you had to know in your heart there was no way for the Elders to participate. We are the only ones that keep King Atmos from conquering all the realms.” The old wizard sat in a wooden chair across from Kilen. “We will give you all the knowledge that you will need to stop this war. The Elders have known it to be a priority of yours. We also know it to be a just cause to prevent war and the destruction it would cause. We are unable to prevent this war, but you can do what we cannot.”
“I’m just a kid from Humbridge, what can I do?”
The old wizard slowly stood. The room seemed to dim and a cold breeze blew through and ruffled the flames. The wizard said nothing so Alex did.
“You are a kid no longer. You are a weapon bearer. If your family and friends are in danger by an unjust cause, then it is your duty to fix it.”
Kilen didn’t know what he could do to prevent the war. The voices in his head were quiet and listening to the whispers of all the wizards that had come to watch him sign.
“We will leave you two to talk. Perhaps he can help you find a way to stop this war.” Alexander gave Kilen a pat on the back and left with the other wizards.
When the door was closed and only the old wizard and Kilen were left to stand in the room, he finally introduced himself.
“My name is Roedan. I am a wizard of the original Elders. I come from the late days of Heathmos. I can help you find a way to prevent this war.”
Roedan walked to a cabinet and pulled out an item wrapped in a velvet cloth.
“I would like you to use this for a while, Kilen.”
He slid the package across the table. Kilen hesitantly pulled back the velvet cloth to reveal a tiny dagger and sheath. The sheath was lined with black studs and had a black chainger to match. Kilen took the tiny blade from the sheath and saw that it had an imbuement of wind.
“I know you have a rare talent. You have the ability to use multiple elementals at the same time and that is how you will prevent this war. War is a struggle for power between two forces. In this war you will be a third power. Just as you now have a third element to summon. To prevent it from happening you must show the world that there are more dangerous things to worry about than a war between realms.”
“You want me to use three elementals at once?”
“I want you to be a force for good and justice. I want you to gain respect by showing restraint of power where two rulers would not.”
Kilen let the words sink in as he put the small blade in his belt and attached the chainger.
“Try it now.”
Kilen looked up in confusion
. He had not been able to manipulate any elements since being in the wizard’s camp. All of the Elder Wizards had put such a tight magical hold on the elements that he could not hold them. Kilen closed his eyes and found that there were small amounts of elements open to his use around the room in small disc-like pans.
“We are ready, Kilen.” Joahna said.
Soon, Joahna took form as a small man of water and Max took form as a man of sand. Kilen had a hard time thinking of wind as an element that could be formed. He struggled with the wind coming from the window but finally Jace was whisking about near the fireplace, stirring up dust. A goblet got knocked over and a book’s pages turned as Jace moved about the room. Kilen opened his eyes and found himself staring into those of the wizard’s across the table. Roedan looked at each elemental slowly in turn as if examining them for some hint of Kilen’s ability.
“Have you ever heard of the Dark Army?” The question caught Kilen off guard. He wondered if Roedan was trying to find out if he was a soul or spirit wizard. None of the voice’s were in Kilen’s head to help him figure out what to say. His friends in elemental forms around the room seemed to stiffen at the mention of the Dark Army.
Kilen cleared the lump in his throat, “I read the book when I was little. I am not sure anyone hasn’t heard the scary stories about the Dark Army snatching kids in the night.”
Roedan smiled, “Well, they do not typically snatch children in the night. However they are not just stories. The Dark Army is very real.”
“You mean was real.”
Roedan shook his head, “No, I mean they are real. Long ago, when we found out about soul wizards, we requested weapon bearers go to invite them to a meeting for joining us. The weapon bearers returned as a mere husk of their former selves. None of the men would think on their own or cared for their own well being. They simply handed a written scroll to Heathmos that thanked him for sending them soldiers. The former weapon bearers then attacked the wizards and were able to kill seven of them before they were stopped.”
