Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2)

by Aaron Thomas

  Ria nodded and put her finger on a word in the book.

  Brent nodded and continued to speak, “The first is you still need a third mark on your blade. Of course you knew that, but we only have inexperienced fire wizards.”

  Twilix smiled, “No, we have Kara.” She winked at Kilen’s sister. “Brent, since when has an Everheart failed at performing a task with magic?”

  Right where they were, Kara stood and walked to Kilen holding a hand out. Kilen unsurely pulled the blade free of its sheath and handed it to his sister.

  She leaned over and spoke to Twilix as if suddenly embarrassed, “What do I do?”

  Twilix stood to the side of Kilen and Kara and spoke so everyone could hear her. “This is a time honored tradition that originated with the very first weapon bearer, Lord Ruler Efrindoel. Close your eyes and do what I say. Feel the metal. Feel the magic inside you. Take that feeling and push it at the blade. Do not push with heat but push with the place in your heart that the magic originates from. Push so hard that the magic feels like it will leap out of your heart and into the blade itself.”

  Kilen watched her with the vision of fire magic and saw no movement. With the earth vision, he saw a flurry of activity as Kara’s entire body released energy into the hand in which she held the blade. Silence around the campfire lasted until Kara opened her eyes. She looked around and was almost shaking.

  Ria stood and placed a hand on Kara’s shoulder and a green cloud of energy flowed back into her body. Bowie quickly stood and added his energy to Ria’s. Kara smiled and slowly opened her hand. Underneath, the blade was moist with blood from where the blades sharpness had cut her hand.

  She held out the sword for Kilen to take, but instead he took her wounded hand pushing water magic into the wounds to heal her.

  “Thank you,” She said, smiling.

  Kilen used his pant leg to wipe the blood away from the blade and found the mark of fire underneath. He could feel the warmth of the fire magic before he could see the mark, but seeing it brought more comfort.

  “Thank you, Kara. When I am crowned, I would love it if you would be a member of the council.”

  “I am not sure I am worthy, but I will do my best.” She smiled and bowed her head.

  Brent coughed, “This is all wonderful. There are still some problems that we have not discussed. We can crown you king now, but you will have no castle.”

  “I won’t have a castle?” Kilen said coming to sit beside Brent who was reading intently.

  “Yes, I have the words needed to raise the castle from the depths, but there have to be a few ingredients. You have to have a three element blade, an imbued crown, also…” Brent looked up licking his lips looking at Kilen, “a king and a queen.”

  “You’re telling me I have to have a wife?” Kilen’s body slumped where he sat. “I don’t know how long that would take to find a worthy woman to be queen.”

  Kara came to sit beside him in an excited voice, “You know a woman that be willing to marry you.”

  Kilen shook his head, “It’s no use. I spoke to Daniel yesterday. He married Jessica Jarrad.”

  “Who is Jessica Jarred?” Twilix asked from across the fire. Her arms were crossed and finally Kilen could see the tiny girl he had come to know. The way she was standing reminded him of the times she would stomp around the wizard training ground, mad at the smallest things.

  The woman who use to be Kilen’s younger sister spoke to her across the flames, “It was his betrothed.” Kara turned back to Kilen, “I’m not talking about her. I am talking about Twilix.”

  Twilix, still standing with attitude from across the fire, watched as Kilen almost fell over backwards.

  His face was red and he pulled at the cloak he had just put on. “Twilix! I barely know her! I can’t marry her.”

  The blonde headed woman shouted, “I’m not good enough for you!? I stuck my neck out for you many times and you still can’t see me a worthy wife? Do you even remember me representing you at your trial?” She stomped off through the trees towards the lake.

  Kilen looked around the fire at awkward faces.

  “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” Kilen chased after her.

  Bowie called to him, “Don’t apologize! That’s how they get you.”

  He saw Kara and Auburn both glareing at Bowie before the tree’s blocked them from view.

  Kilen chased after Twilix, hoping to quell her feelings. When he caught up to her she was standing up to her ankles in the water of Lake Leviathan. Her slippers in one hand and dress held out of the water in the other. She stared at what seemed like an ocean to him. Kilen did not disturb her, he only stood at the edge of where the tide stopped and waited. He understood that he had insulted her, but was not sure how badly.

  He knew she could feel him there so he patiently waited. After what seemed a lifetime, she spoke in a soft voice that trembled, “When you stepped onto the platform on springfest, I was attracted to the man that stood before me. A seeker of knowledge that looked the way you do. I could see the town respected you by the way they held their tongues. Chit did not get that kind of reception. You were admired.”

  “After I gave you the gift of magic I wondered if I would ever see you again. You were, after all, not seeking the life of a soldier or wielder; you sought only knowledge. It was then I thought that you could be a perfect man for me.” She turned to face him still standing in the rocking tide washing the sand from beneath her feet. “When I found you riding with Brent, my heart nearly sank. I wondered if the Brights had willed you into my life. If you were a test or a trial that I must overcome.”

  “I thought that you liked me by the way you looked at me. I knew in my heart that thinking of marrying a man that was not a wizard would be a hard life. I knew that if I married you, that you would die while I was still young. Do you understand? I was, at that moment before even reaching Deuterium, willing to watch you, the love of my life, grow old and die. Knowing that I would have only the memories to live with for hundreds of years. Knowing that any children we had may or may not be wizards, and the ones that weren’t I would have to watch die as well.”

  She took a step towards him, “Not once was my choice altered by this. If you shared my affection, I would watch generations of our family live and die with only a memory of you to hold onto. I thought a few times that you felt the same way I did, but were too scared or too busy to settle down with me. Now I find out that you do not share my affections at all.”

  She stepped past him as she put her slippers back on her sandy feet, “I am sorry for reacting the way I did. I hoped there was still a chance for us. Everytime you leave I tell myself we don’t have a chance, and everytime I see you again I hope. I hope that the Brights are looking out for me.”

  She took another step and Kilen tried to speak over the lump in his throat. He hadn’t known she felt that way about him. He thought he should have seen it. He forced the words out in a bark, “Twilix!”

  She stopped just short of the beach’s treeline. He caught up to her, with her blue riding cloak flapping in the wind. “I am sorry. I have been very busy staying alive and preventing a war. A few months ago I was about to start an adventure that would lead me to libraries across the realms. Since that moment, I have become a soldier, scout, and True Weapon Bearer. I have been labeled traitor, murderer, and failure. Now I discover that I must become a king and a husband at the same time. I have had to overcome many things lately and I don’t want you to be one of them.”

  She turned towards him, face puffy and full of tears, yet she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

  “I am not worthy of such a beautiful woman both inside and out. You have been there beside me through it all. I don’t know if I would have done things differently if I would have known, but I am sorry for how I have treated you.”

  “I want you to know that marriage has been the farthest thing from my mind. Until a moment ago, I didn’t even consider that I could be married as a
weapon bearer. You are a wonderful person, especially when you are not stomping around and yelling with your hands on your hips.” He smiled and she laughed while wiping away tears, “You have been my protector and I truly thank you for that. I wish I had time to court you and get to know you so I could see if I was falling for you, but I don’t have that luxury. I just found out the woman I was supposed to marry just married one of my closest friends, and they live in my family home. I just need a moment.”

  He took a step away from her and ran his hands through his curly hair, contemplating what he should do. He was still unsure he could marry a woman that he barely knew. In his turmoil a single thought crossed his mind, I haven’t even kissed a girl yet.

  Kilen stopped in his tracks and turned to face the woman still standing on the beach, waiting. He walked up to her more nervous than he had been in his entire life and stood close to her. In a moment he soaked up what seemed to be a flood of senses as he tried to memorize the woman’s features. He cursed the moon for not being bright enough to let her eyes shine they way they had in the past.

  “I need to try something,” he whispered. He reached up with his right hand and placed it on her neck. His fingers wove their way into the thick of her wavy hair as he leaned in. He noticed she closed her eyes and her lips parted ever so slightly. He felt as if his heart would beat out of his chest as he crept his face towards hers.

  When their lips touched he felt a flood of memories. These memories were altered by the willingness of his mind to see Twilix for who she really was. Each and every memory of her being a tiny girl was forgotten in an instant and replaced with the grown version of herself. The existence of every moment changed with only a touch. He saw each moment of defiance he had given her responded with care or a fury of love. She had protected him, given him imbuements for free, and taught him lessons in life and magic. She had risked her life for him without asking for anything in return time and time again. He could hear her voice demanding Gortus to stop his training. He could hear the tenderness of her words while caring for his wounds after. She truly did love him, and he her.

  Kilen stepped around Twilix and ran through the trees, “Wait here. I will be right back.” Kilen’s mind was racing and his heart was still thumping in his chest. He ran into the camp ground and pulled the small crown out of Auburn’s hands as she examined its jewel and then ran back the way he had come.

  “C’mon!” Kara said to Bowie as she pulled him to his feet.

  They ran after Kilen, followed by Brent, Ria, and the others.

  Twilix remained right where they had kissed, staring out at the moon reflecting off the water’s surface.

  Kilen moved around her and threw out his cloak behind him and kneeled. “I don’t know if I will be the best husband or king. I don’t know if I will ever have time to court you or love you the way you deserve. In that kiss I have found everything I have ever wanted in a woman and I am sorry that I did not see it earlier.”

  “What kiss?” Kara squaked from the trees then covered her mouth.

  Kilen ignored her and continued, “What I do know is that I will be faithful. I will try my hardest to live up to the standard of the man you spoke of moments ago. Twilix, I need a wife and a queen. It would be my honor if you would be that queen. If you would be that wife. If you would honor me by living a life of which I would do my best to make you happy.”

  Kilen’s followers all stayed behind the treeline and watched the moment unfold. Kilen pulled the small crown out and held it in both hands before Twilix.

  Bowie ran his hands through his hair and whispered to himself, “What are you doing? At least visit a couple taverns before getting married. Have a couple dances and-”

  Kara punched him in the arm, and nearly knocked him over with her new adult strength.

  Twilix leaned over looking back into Kilen’s eyes, “Say, ‘Will you be my bride.”

  Confused, Kilen said nothing.

  “Say it, or I walk away,” She said, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Twilix, will you be my bride?”

  Twilix stood for a moment glaring at Kilen, he guessed it was just to make him sweat. With one hand she brushed aside the crown and the other grabbed his shirt pulling him to his feet. His strength was no match for her but he complied as if it was. When he was standing she pulled him close and kissed him, wrapping him up in her arms.

  The onlookers clapped as they enjoyed the kiss as much as the newly engaged did. Bowie, however rolled his eyes and started to walk back to the camp. A glare from Kara set him in his place and he began clapping slowly.

  Kilen was confused as to what to do now and was still a bit dizzy from his first and second real kiss. He watched at what seemed like hallucinations as Twilix ripped a strip of cloth from the hem of her dress.

  She leaned over and tied it to his sword next to his sister’s blue ribbon. “There, now you have representation of what else you fight for; me.”

  Chapter 31 - Firelight

  Everyone patted the newly engaged couple on their backs and shook their hands. Brent still held onto the book and Ria carried the large crown.

  Bowie even managed to give Kilen a hug in congratulations, “If not anything else, she isn’t bad to look at.” He smiled as he backed away.

  Kilen knew it was Bowie’s smile that meant he was up to no good.

  Kilen arched an eyebrow at Bowie as he backed away with the smile on his face.

  Brent came to stand in front of the two. “Looks as though we have everything we need to raise this castle and crown you. A three element blade, you two, and the words needed to raise the castle.” He held up the book. “We can begin the ceremony in the morning. There are some warnings here that I need to read through beforehand though.”

  He opened the book and started to riffle through the pages and hold it so the moonlight would allow him to read. One of the large men dressed in farmer's clothing held up a hand and a blue flamed sphere appeared in his palm, temporarily blinding everyone. The ball of flame allowed them to see the words on the pages of the book. Pictures inside the book showed faded drawings of a crowned man dipping his sword in the water.

  Brent leaned over so Kilen could see better, “Performing the last bit will trigger a spell placed on this lake by Lord Heathmos. The castle and its city will raise out of the water. We then will just have to wait as people gather to the city to see their new king.”

  “We still have the problem of a couple thousand soldiers from the Earth Realm camped outside of Keepers. Chit leads another small force inside Humbridge,” Kilen said.

  A cold wind blew over the group, causing the book’s pages to flip and the hair on the back of Kilen’s neck to stand on end. The group looked towards the cook fires down the shore line as torches began lighting.

  A white bird landed on Kilens shoulder, “Looks like they’re on their way now. Put out the flame!”

  The man’s blue sphere vanished in a plume of smoke.

  Bowie pulled Auburn, “We need to get our bows and anything else we can carry.”

  Brent held up his hand, “Wait. If those soldiers are outside of Keepers, we have time to gather our thoughts.”

  Bowie returned and stood nose to nose with Brent, “We have no time to plan. At least two thousand soldiers and wielders are coming for us. We cannot out run them because we don’t have enough horses. We cannot hide, they will track us and find us. We certainly cannot fight them.”

  The red haired woman stepped beside Bowie, “You have stood against thousands of soldiers before, Master Crescent.”

  “Master Crescent?” Kara laughed, “Do you make her call you that?”

  Bowie tried to adjust his hat and ran his hand through his unevenly cut hair instead, “Kilen, tell them I am right. We cannot fight them.”

  Auburn’s cheeks and become red but she said nothing to Kara while being laughed at.

  Instead of answering Bowie, he also faced Brent, “How long will it take to raise the castle?”
<
br />   “It will only take long enough to speak the words of your marriage and the words to raise the castle. Kilen, it will do nothing to protect us.” Brent opened the book to a marked page, “There are three ways into and out of Leviathan by three bridges.” A picture in the book showed a map of the castle and surrounding city. “Even if we do raise the castle, we will have to go through the soldiers to get Keepers where the bridges will be.”

  Kilen looked down at the map of the lake and castle. The three bridges connected the cities wall to the land shaped like that of a trident. Each point of the fork extended out of Keepers.

  Kilen looked at the map and saw a large flat piece that exited out the back of Leviathan, “There are docks here. If we can find some boats, we can enter the city through the docks. We will need to travel light along the shoreline. Go and gather your things. Anything that isn’t essential, we leave behind,” Kilen commanded before he realised what he was doing.

  Twilix took his arm as if he was all she needed. Max emerged from the bushes carrying supplies,weapons, and Kilen’s armor.

  “When we are in the city it won’t take long for the soldiers to take those bridges and then we will be trapped,” Brent said.

  Bowie waited as Auburn fetched his things, “We will still have boats. Let’s hope they send all the soldiers to chase us now. It will be a lot easier to defend the castle by water than by trying to defend three gates.”

  The small, brown haired woman Kilen had thought might be his sister stepped forward, “Excuse me. I use to live in Basham. All the boats big enough to carry us were from that city or from Keepers. No cities reside on this side of the lake. The mountains that surround it to the north did not give way to trade routes.”

  Bowie ran his hands through his hair again, “So there are no boats?”

  She seemed almost skittish and Kilen watched as sparks snapped off her shoulders. The woman tried to concentrate and keep them at bay, “Maybe a rowboat, but nothing to carry us all.”