The Elementalist (The Kothian Chronicles Book 1) (14 page)

Inside the house, there was a small fireplace with a rather grubby looking rug in front of the hearth. A dresser stood against one wall that had a few plates and cups upon it, and a couple of cushioned chairs were positioned near the fire. Neither chairs looked particularly very welcoming, but Maxim was pointed to one of them. Had he not been a boy from the gutter, he may have thought twice about sitting on one of them.

He sat down and watched Darion shuffle over and sit opposite him, before the old man stared at him once more. "So why is that fool Ramon sending kids to my house?" he asked.

Maxim shrugged, he didn't know why he was there, other than Darion was supposedly the man to help nurture and control his magical abilities.

"Well, are you going to tell me? Or are you going to sit there looking all vacant."

"Ramon thinks you can help me," Maxim finally replied.

The elderly man scratched at his head, mumbling to himself, "Why does he think I can help you?"

"People seem to think I have some sort of mighty magical ability...I'm not so sure."

The man chuckled at Maxim's reply, "You don't think you're very magical, yet here you are asking for my help."

Darion asked Maxim to explain why others thought he had so great a magic. The youngster could only tell the old man what had happened in Woodhaven and the incident in the small house in the forest.

Darion asked him to explain in more detail. What had caused the events? How had he felt at the time? How had he felt afterwards? And Maxim answered as truthfully as he could to each.

"Yet if I asked you to produce a flame in your hand, you would not know how?" The old man asked after a short silence.

"No Sir," Maxim replied.

Darion scratched at his head again, "Give me your hands," he said suddenly.

Maxim gingerly moved his hands forward.

"Well come on, I don't want to die of old age before they reach me," Darion snapped.

The man grabbed both of Maxim's wrists, wrapping his thin bony hands around them. He closed his eyes and gasped before quickly letting go again.

Darion sat back in his chair, once more staring at Maxim, before the old man made a tutting sound and shook his head. "Is everything okay Sir?" Maxim asked, thinking there might be something wrong.

"I will teach you control...nothing more. Ramon has sent you to me to create a weapon, I will not do it."

Maxim then told Darion about how the others kept fearing he would lose control, but never truly understood why.

"And well they might young man. I have seen the damage an Elementalist can do when he has lost control of his powers. If not for the courage of a few others, the man would have levelled an entire city." Maxim gulped, not certain he was even capable of such a thing, and this is exactly what he decided to tell Darion.

The old man laughed. "Not capable...Already, you have burned two men alive without knowing how. Already, you have demolished half a house with but a wave of your hand, and no clue how you did it..."

Maxim grimaced, he had not really thought about it like that.

"Your power is strong, probably more so than anybody else I have ever known. I doubt anybody here could stop you if you lost control., and that is why I will teach you that...no more."

Maxim just shrugged, and eventually nodded. If he had the power everybody reckoned he had, at least he would have the knowledge to control it. That way he supposed he could not do innocent people any harm. "Well are you just going to sit there gawping at me, or are you going to make me a cup of tea?" Darion snapped.

Maxim could not help but chuckle, he had never met a man like Darion before. One minute all wise and sagely, the next some cantankerous grumpy old man. "What you bloody smirking at?" Darion snapped as Maxim stood to place the kettle over the fire. He walked over to the dresser, and found two cups that looked clean. He found the tea in a tin, and placed some in the pot. He was not certain how much to use, as he had only ever seen a couple of people make it before; and never actually made it himself.

After almost burning his hand trying to tip the boiling water into the pot, he went to pour it in to the cups. "What the bloody hell is taking you so long?" the old man shouted as he leaned forward to place another log on the fire. Maxim hoped he had done everything right, as he passed the old man one of the cups. "Oh, taking bloody liberties and made yourself one I see. I never said you could have one did I?" Darion grumbled.

Maxim sighed, but just sat down with his cup anyway. He watched as the old man sipped from his cup, and expected another complaint about him not making it correctly. The old man just sipped again and wrapped his thin bony fingers around the cup. "Right, now the first rule of controlling your magic, is never to lose your temper when casting," the man said calmly.

Maxim leant back in his chair, sipping his tea. It was a little stronger than he had tried before, and a little bitter for his taste, but it was nice and hot. He listened, as Darion seemed to talk endlessly, about the method of control. From what he was told, it was all in the mind. Focusing on happy and nice things would calm the mind into check, but let the power consume him, and it would likely destroy everything in his path.

"Young man," Darion said. "Do not ever underestimate what you are capable of. You have the power of the elements at your fingertips. You can summon walls of flame, part rivers, blow down buildings, and probably even flatten mountains if you wished," the old man added before taking another sip from his cup.

Maxim was a little shocked, "Is that why Ramon suggested he should kill me?"

Darion chuckled, "Oh yes young man. You are not only a danger to your enemies, but just as great a one to your friends. Lose control of your skills and it will be they who die first."

Maxim was not certain he wanted to listen to anymore. Having magic had appeared to be a good thing, and it had been that magic that had brought him and his friends together. Since Danton had discovered his skills, his life had changed so much, but he was not so sure anymore. As if Darion could suddenly detect his new solemn mood, the old man leaned forward. "I will help you. Do as I say, and we should all be safe," he said in a much softer tone than he had used before.

The next hour or more, passed by with Maxim learning to control his breathing, and focusing his mind. He needed to be able to transfer his thoughts from rage to calm instantly. Darion nodded, as he sat back in his chair, seemingly pleased at how fast Maxim was learning. The room went silent, aside from the crackling of the logs on the fire. Maxim was not sure he was supposed to be saying something, or be remaining in a state of peace and calm. He left it at the latter, and thought Darion would say something if he needed him too.

He watched as the old man placed his cup down on the hearth. Holding one of his thin bony hands out, he clicked his fingers. Maxim was amazed as a small flame appeared on the tip of Darion's index finger. "You have the same power?" he asked. The old man chuckled, "Not even close, but I guess it would not harm you learning this. It will help with you keeping control as well." Maxim puffed his cheeks out, as the thought of doing something similar made him nervous. Darion picked up on his inhibitions and reminded him of the methods of keeping calm.

By the time Maxim emerged from the home of Darion, it was mid-afternoon. The man was still as frosty as when he had first arrived, but in a strange kind of way, Maxim had gotten on quite well with him. Despite the sun making an appearance in the sky, it was still bitterly cold, as he walked back past the rows of stores. He had to turn around as he remembered he wanted to call in at the butchers, and after passing over a few copper coins, Maxim carried a large wrapped parcel back towards the keep.

Chapter 13.

Maxim found Mikel dozing on the bed in their room, and sprawled alongside his friend was the huge dire wolf, which lifted its head as he entered. "Hello Shadow," Maxim said closing the door behind him. "How did you pair get on with Ramon?" he added as Mikel waved an arm up in greeting. The wolf appeared calm enough, and content there was no threat to Mikel, and decided to lay its huge head back down beside its master.

Maxim lay the package from the butchers down on the small table in their room. "I have something for Shadow here," he told them unwrapping it. Mikel sat up as Maxim held up a large bone still with some of the meat and sinew attached to it. Mikel smiled, "Thanks Maxim," he said. "Go on get it then, and say thank you," he told the wolf.

Maxim watched on as the large creature stood and got down off the bed. It walked slowly over towards him and he offered the large bone out for Shadow to take. However, much to his surprise the creature first licked his hand, and if he were not mistaken, bowed its head a little before gratefully taking the bone in question. "He's got more manners than you," Maxim quipped.

"Hardly difficult," Mikel chuckled, still lying back on his bed.

Mikel told Maxim he would wait for Zack to return, before giving the run down on how the meeting with Ramon went. Maxim thought he would do the same, and delay in telling about his rather strange day with Darion. "I will start lessons tomorrow," Mikel said, "I have a couple of tutors, depending on the magic I wish to learn," he added. "One is apparently completely insane and talks to birds, so that should be fun."

Right on cue Zack walked in. He carried a few books and bundles of papers, which he dropped down on the bed, before doing likewise with his body. "Phew, I am absolutely shattered," he exclaimed. Maxim looked at his two friends, both lying lazily on their beds, and the wolf was sat contently beside Mikel with the huge bone in its mouth. Zack quickly sat back up, "I hope that was a bone from an animal and not Ramon." If not the funniest thing they had ever heard, it did at least cause a few chuckles.

With all three in the room, Mikel shuffled into a seated position and told them about his meeting with the man in charge. "I think I got off quite lightly really," he concluded, with the others agreeing. Zack offered for Maxim to go next and tell them about his day, but he said he would wait until the end. Zack shrugged and told them how he had been to see two different teachers. One had made him do the same thing over and over without any apparent reason. "I had to vanish and re-appear, vanish and re-appear. I did not move more than a foot back and forth, back and forth," he added gesturing with his hand.

Zack's second tutor had sat him down to try to sense other magic he may be capable of. It was commonplace that magicians could usually do several, although one skill usually stood out from the others. "That is what all these papers and books are for," he said. Apparently, they were a series of little tests for the various types. If nothing happened when he tried, it was probably because he was not particularly skilled in that magic. "We can help you, Can't we Mikel?" Maxim said trying to cheer his friend up."

"What...Oh yes...of course we will," Mikel mumbled.

Zack then looked at Maxim, "So how did you get on?" he asked. Maxim took a deep breath and told them about the strange, rather surly old man he had spent most of the day with. He also told them how Darion had said he would not train him, other than to remain in control. "No bloody point in going is there?" Mikel said interrupting him. Maxim smiled "I can do this," he said clicking his fingers and concentrating ever so hard.

A small flame appeared at the end of his finger, just as it had done when Darion had showed him. "I have to do this and concentrate it slightly bigger and then smaller again. Apparently it will help me with control," Maxim told them, quite impressed with himself. He looked up to see if the others were equally admirable in his skills, and he thought they both were. Zack gave him a big smile, and Mikel nodded.

After a few seconds of the flame appearing, "How big can you make it?" Mikel asked.

"I am not sure," Maxim replied, "I am not sure I am supposed to make it too big, in case I lose control."

Mikel nodded again, "Makes sense I guess. I wouldn't want you setting our room alight, at least not whilst we're inside it."

"I'd rather not set anything on fire," Maxim said deciding to err on the side of caution and extinguish the flame from his hand.

"One step at a time," Zack said looking at him with his head tilted just slightly to one side.

Mikel stood, "Anybody want to come for a walk? Shadow wants to go outside," he asked. Both Maxim and Zack shook their heads, as they sat beside each other on the bed. Mikel shrugged and after telling Shadow he did not need to take the massive bone for a walk as well, the wolf placed it in the corner of the room.

Once Mikel had shut the door, Zack asked if Maxim wanted to try some of the spells with him. "Well I cannot read them, but I will help where I can," his friend replied. Zack smiled and suggested he start with the very basic ones. He picked up the book, and decided it would help Maxim as well, if he read the words out with him. What neither of them had considered were the consequences of him doing so.

Zack flicked through the pages of things to try, none he was certain he could do. There were some that he thought they could try, the first of which was to create a small light, as Danton could do. He read the words, on the page, and followed the instructions. He was to move his hand in a certain way and picture a small light in his mind, and once he had done that, he was then supposed to transfer that image of the light to his hand. He re-read the words out, pointing each out to Maxim in hope that it might help his reading. Zack tried a few times, and although he was certain he was doing it all as described, nothing happened.

Not deterred, he moved on to another. This was, he thought, something that Maxim may be able to try as well. We are supposedly able to light a candle or lamp with a wave of our hands. The instructions did explain that although the hand waving and clicking of fingers was not actually required, magicians often did it out of habit. Moreover, it was thought by some of the great magicians, that it also gave some element of better control if they did.

Zack focused on the candle sat upon the small table beside his bed. "Oh piffle," he snapped as nothing happen. "Perhaps you try Max," he said. Maxim nodded, and Zack went through the words with him. He nodded once more when he thought he understood what he was to do. He cleared his mind, and thought of a flame, and thought this was a little similar to what Darion had shown him earlier. Now, he needed to transfer that flame over to the candle, but this was something the old man had not covered. Wondering how he was going to do that, he thrust his hand out towards the candle in question.

The candle did not light, but it was instantly melted by the torrent of fire that roared forth from Maxim's hand. Zack jumped up, "Bloody hell Max," he shouted as the flames set alight the table, and moved up the wall. He grabbed Maxim's hand that was still spewing forth fire. "Stop," he shouted, "Max...Please," he gasped. Maxim shook his head, and everything stopped. Zack quickly stood and ran over to the washstand and picked up the jug of water. He threw it over what little remained of the wooden table and down the wall.

Maxim apologised, "Sorry Zack...I don't think I should have tried," he said. He looked over to his young friend, "I have hurt you," he said getting to his feet. "Your hands are burnt..." Maxim added with ever-growing concern and remorse. "I am fine Max," Zack replied, trying to play it down. Zack checked the fire was out, before actually looking at his hands. One was a little red and sore, the other was slightly more so. By no means life threatening though, it started stinging.

Maxim was not having any of it, "Come on we need to get you to Melia...she can help you." Zack had little choice as his friend yanked his sleeve and half dragged him across the room towards the door. The two ran down the corridor, towards the girls rooms. Maxim felt panic taking over his body, "Out of the way," he shouted at two other younger students stood talking in the corridor. They looked at him as he approached, but he did not have time for this, he had hurt Zack, and he needed to get him help.

Without even thinking of the consequences, Maxim pushed his hand out, and the two youngsters were slammed aside against the wall. He turned and grabbed Zack's arm and pulled, running as hard as he could.  His friend shouted something, but the words were all meaningless and oblivious to his thoughts.

After a minute, they were outside Melia's door, which Maxim burst off its hinges. The girls inside screamed as he ran into the room, "Zack is hurt, heal him," he said in a voice that did not sound his own. Melia nodded her head, scared of what her friend might do. She looked at his eyes, and they looked red like fire burning behind them.

Trying not to panic, or upset Maxim in anyway, Melia took a few deep breaths.

"Quickly, he is in pain," Maxim snapped.

She nodded again, and placed her hand over the worst burns on Zack's hand. The effect was almost immediate, as the stinging subsided. Zack turned straight away to Maxim, and placed a hand each side of his friends face. "Look at me Max," he said. "Calm down... I am okay...Breath, like your tutor taught you."

Zack took deep breaths and Maxim imitated them, inhaling and exhaling in time with him.

Melia noticed the burning eyes slowly return to Maxim's more natural blue colour. The two girls in with Melia quickly darted off out of the broken door, and into the corridor sobbing. Melia ushered Maxim to sit down on the edge of her bed. Zack sat with him, and placed an arm around his shoulder, "It's okay Max," he said calmly. "Everything is okay," he reiterated.

It took barely a few minutes, for several of the older, more powerful magicians to burst into the room. Little surprising Ramon was the foremost of them, with Danton stood just behind. Maxim had his head in Zack's chest, rocking just slightly back and forth, as he kept his arm around his friend he looked up, and it was clear none of them in the room were best pleased.

One of the teachers at the back mumbled something about punishing Maxim for his outburst. It was Danton who turned around and told the man to stop being a fool; "Perhaps you might be stupid enough to try," he said sardonically. Ramon shushed both of them. His stare was hard, and aimed at Maxim. "We cannot allow this here. If he loses control he risks killing us all," he said.

Zack still comforting his friend snapped back, "If he goes, I go," he said. Melia stepped forward, and despite being absolutely scared to death of what Maxim could do, she echoed Zack's sentiments.

"This was my fault, not Maxim's," Zack said. "I foolishly got him to try something I should not have...and well he lost control... a little. So if anyone should be punished it should be me."

Ramon nodded; he certainly had to admire Zack's loyalty to his friend. Naturally, it also helped the fact that he was nephew to the king.

Surprisingly, Ramon was much calmer than Zack thought he would be. That was until Mikel pushed his way through the door, with Shadow at his side. "What did I miss?" he asked innocently. "Your friend went out of control again," Ramon snapped at him, clearly not impressed by the way he had barged in.

"Really? What happened?" Mikel said not letting Ramon's words get to him.

Mikel sat down the other side of Maxim, and Shadow did likewise just in front of him.

Ramon turned and gestured for everyone else to leave the room. "Danton please stay and find out what has happened. We will meet in an hour and decide what to do," he said as he followed the others out. Danton nodded his understanding, and waited for Ramon to leave, before turning his attention towards the group huddled on the bed.

At first, Danton was uncertain how close Shadow would let him get. He had his answer at about four paces away, as the huge dire wolf turned his direction and showed its teeth, growling just a little as he did. Mikel told Shadow it was okay, and immediately the wolf stopped. "Maxim," Danton said as he edged a little closer. The youngster lifted his head up, recognising a friendly voice. "Are you alright?" He asked. Maxim nodded, although Danton could clearly see he was upset. "What's done is done. The main thing is nobody got too badly hurt. The two in the corridor suffered a few knocks and bruises, but are being healed as I speak," he explained.

Danton asked him what happened, although before he could answer, Zack started explaining. "It was my fault really Danton. I should have known better..."

"I hurt you," Maxim said looking pained at his friend sat beside him.