The Elementalist (The Kothian Chronicles Book 1) (17 page)

"Maxim you have two friends, who would stand by you regardless of what you did," Danton added to the conversation. "It was only Zack's intuition knowing something was not right, that alerted us. Now promise me, you will never do anything like this again," he added in a firm but understanding way. Maxim nodded, and then apologised again, for causing everybody so much bother.

"So you bloody should be, stupid fool pup," Darion added with his usual style. "Mind you..."he added, "Been a while since I had so much fun. Old grumpy here don't much like me killing folk," he gestured to Ramon. "Thinks it's bad for his reputation," he chuckled, revealing his few remaining teeth.

"Yes, thank you for your wisdom as always Darion," Ramon said shaking his head at what he was hearing.

Mikel had to admit, the old man may have been rude, crude and have table manners worse than most farm animals would likely have, but he was certainly different. They all knew it was Darion, who had virtually singlehandedly dealt with the men trying to get away with Maxim. Using whatever power he had to move from place to place in the blink of an eye, and then using some kind of force to scare the horses and throw the riders from their saddles.

"Do you need another pupil Darion," Mikel asked hoping he might teach him a few of those skills.

"I'm not having that dirty mutt of yours in my house. I have standards you know," the man snapped back.

There was a low growl at the end of the table from Shadow, at hearing himself being referred to as a dirty mutt. "Easy boy," Mikel said, "I wouldn't want to visit your house. Maxim told me it was a right dump anyway," he replied.

"Oh did he now?" the old man spat.

"Enough!" Ramon shouted, raising his voice to stop the nonsense getting out of hand.

The group fell silent. Despite Maxim having promised he would not try to leave again, Ramon however had to think of safety, and security. He needed extra help just in case Maxim was made a target again. "I want you three, well four with the wolf to remain together. You go to lessons together, you eat together, sleep together...No exceptions."

"I told you I'm not having that mutt in my house...No offence wolf boy," Darion added sarcastically.

"None taken old man," Mikel replied the same.

Ramon sighed, "Well then you'll have to teach all three here. I'll have a room allocated for you...Right that's settled then," he said not giving anyone any time to complain. He quickly stood up, "Right let us all get some rest. Darion you will report to me at ten in the morning, to arrange their teaching."

"What I got to teach all three of them?" the old man said sounded exasperated.

"Excellent, I knew you wouldn't mind," Ramon added before walking away.

Mikel chuckled as he could here Darion swearing and calling Ramon names under his breath.

"What you smirking at?" the old man snapped noticing him.

Mikel just grinned, and got to his feet, "See you in the morning Sir," he said.

"Bloody impudent little sod..."

Zack was taken to one side by Danton, before he had chance to leave. "Stay with him Zack," he said in a low whisper. "I have never seen Ramon so scared. Lord only knows what images he foresaw if Maxim had ended up in their hands. We must keep him safe, no matter what." Zack nodded, he would stay at Maxim's side whatever anyway. "I will call round after Darion tomorrow and teach you a few tricks that might come in handy," Danton added sparking Zack's interest a little further.

The three youngsters returned to their room. At some point during the day, most of the black burn marks had been rubbed from the walls, and a new bedside table had replaced the old one. Aside from the faint smell of burning, nobody would ever have known Maxim had almost torched the place; a comment that Mikel decided to share, as they all readied for bed. After a glare from Zack, and the older boy realising his poor choice of subject, the room fell silent.

They were all ready, and Zack blew out the lamp that illuminated their room, when a knock came at the door.

"Bloody hell..." Mikel sighed, "Zack you're nearest you'll have to answer it," he added.

Zack did not argue, and after relighting the lamp he had just extinguished, he got up and answered the door.

He had barely opened the door when two figures pushed their way in. "Melia," he cursed as he was nearly knocked over.

"I just came to see how you all are," the young girl said jumping onto Zack's vacant bed.

Zack blushed as he realised he was only in his underclothes, and that Melia and the other girl with her were staring right at him.

Mikel sat up, "Want to come and sit on my bed Melia?" he asked.

"No thank you Mikel," she said, "I am fine just here on this one,” she said tapping the blankets.

"Oh this is Lisandra," she added remembering her friend was still stood there. "That over there is Mikel and his wolf Shadow. The red haired boy is Maxim, and this handsome young man here is Zack," she said making him blush even more.

Lisandra was seventeen, slim with a rather curvaceous figure. Her hair ran almost the entire length of her back, and was as black as jet. Her eyes were brown, and Mikel thought she had the most beautiful smile. "Hello Lisandra," he said smiling at her.

"Hello Mikel," she replied giving a little girly giggle as she did.

Zack attempted to cover his modesty by pulling some of the sheets over his lower body, despite Melia insistent she was sitting on his bed. Mikel got all the more excited, as the new girl Lisandra asked if she could stroke Shadow. Naturally, Mikel encouraged her to come over and do so. Although he told her it would be best, that he hold her hand when she did so, just in case.

Melia turned from gazing at Zack's young, but slim body to look at the rather sad dejected looking Maxim. She felt so sorry for him. So much so, she went and sat on his bed beside him. "We are all here for Maxim," she said with a warm-hearted smile. He looked up at her and forced a smile in return, although he did not really feel like doing so.

Melia took his hand in hers, looking at those sad blue eyes. She looked at him differently somehow. With his red hair and sapphire like eyes, he was quite attractive in a different kind of way. His hand was warm, and she leaned forward just a little to kiss his forehead. Zack looked over, "Perhaps we should let him rest Melia," he said suggesting she move away. She held Maxim's gaze a little longer before nodding, and returning to sit on Zack's bed.

After just a few minutes, Mikel had told the girls everything that had happened, although he made the events sound more like an adventure story. Lisandra was clearly enthralled at the tale. So much so Melia had to nearly drag her out of the room, when it was time for them to sneak back to their own rooms. Girls and boys were separated for a reason, and visiting each other's bedrooms at night was not permitted, although it was evidently happening.

After they had gone, Mikel spoke constantly of how he thinks Lisandra liked him. "Oh yes, it was quite clear. She knows a good looking man when she sees one," he added. "I thought Melia always had an eye for you Zack, although I think if you're not quick and grab the chance, I think her eye might be roving towards Maxim here." Zack sighed loudly, "Whatever Mikel. Can we go to sleep now?" he asked.

Chapter 16.

Gorius cursed loudly, as the man in control of the creature known as an Eken had just given him the bad news. The men he had sent to capture the young lad capable of elemental magic had failed. The boy had been in their grasp, when a group of magicians, young and old had stopped them. This latest news had the Bosarian leader concerned.

The Eken had tracked them back to a ruined castle. Did this mean that Kothia had groups of magicians hiding out in these ruins? Moreover, did the king know about them? He would have to play this carefully. If indeed these magicians were as powerful as he had been told, then any invasion plans would be in jeopardy. His own magicians were not yet suitable for a fight against ones who, were clearly far more experienced. However, if he could start rumours the Kothian king knew of them, he could perhaps use this to his advantage.

He hoped perhaps that other opportunities would arise at capturing the young elementalist. Now he knew where he was hiding out, he could send others to try. If only he had teleporters powerful enough, to use the doorway Davan had discovered, he could himself be there and back in a matter of moments with the youngster in hand. With power like that at his command, he would be unstoppable. It was this thought that made him smile; something he did very rarely.

For now, he needed to think how to get the Kothian Government official under his command, to best play his part. He would firstly need to start rumours, that he thought would not be too difficult, as there were already some doing the rounds. Once they were flying about, he needed his man to make formal accusations against the king.

After pouring himself a glass of wine, Gorius sat at his desk, pushing aside a pile of papers to clear some room for his glass. He then leaned back and concentrated. Using the link given via the special rings, he could see his 'puppet' in Kothia. He sent forth the message that the king was hiding magicians in a ruined castle far to the south. The man was to spread this news, to everybody that mattered as soon he could.

Satisfied he had set wheels in motion, he finished his drink, whilst he browsed through the papers he had pushed aside. These were the evaluations of the latest intakes. All magicians, but none with any particularly useful skill, or of any great power. Naturally, he could still make use of them, and with a little tuition, one or two might prove useful in their own right. For now, he would have to bide his time, making raids over the border with conventional soldiers, and planting seeds of rebellion in the Kothian government.

The early indications of his raiding parties were all positive, and already the Kothian king was being put under pressure to deal with the problem. Each time another innocent Kothian was murdered, or another home burnt, Gorius' opposite number was put further under pressure. The more he could have this happen, the better.

Gorius had the man controlling the Eken continue to watch the castle ruins. If this is where the magicians were hiding out, he needed to find out the kind of numbers opposing him. There were many questions to which he needed answers. Moreover, if the Kothian king was aware of these magicians, were they really there at his order? If so, did that mean he was building his own army of magicians, or was it merely a humane way of dealing with them?

With the turmoil of the previous day behind them, the three young magicians in Pitford prepared for their first group lesson with Darion. Now they had to remain together no matter what, they would all be taught by the rather brash elderly man. They walked the corridor together, only to be confronted by a familiar face. Kurtis Raston and his group of followers stood in the corridor ahead of them. Mikel prepared himself for another confrontation, and was surprised when Kurtis stepped forward with his hand held out.

"No hard feelings. I am glad you are all back safely. Your little escapade is the talk of the place," Kurtis told them. It was Maxim who stepped forward and shook the older boy's hand. "Thank you," he said rather timidly.

"I'm still supposed to help you with your reading and writing. Ramon has already been to see me this morning about it," Kurtis told them. Only now, instead of doing so in the morning, he was now to spend an hour in the afternoon with Maxim.

"Yeh, well we will all be there when you do," Mikel added, still not sure of the other lad’s intentions.

"Yes, so I understand," Kurtis replied.

As nice as Kurtis had appeared, there was just something about him that Mikel neither liked nor trusted, and that feeling seemed to mirror in the behaviour of Shadow. The wolf watched him carefully, almost crouching low as if ready to pounce at moment's notice. "No I don't like him either," Mikel said, understanding the wolf's concerns.

Once Maxim and the others had found the room allocated to Darion, they knocked at the door, little surprised to see the old man being his usual abrupt self. "Where the bloody hell have you three been. I've sat here waiting for ages," the old man snapped.

"No you have not," Mikel replied stepping through the doorway.

"Mouthy little sod," Darion grumbled. "How do you know how long I been waiting?"

If truth were told, Mikel didn't know, Zack however was much more observant.

"We know you have not been here long Darion, because you are still wearing your cloak. The fire has only just been lit, and the boards are still covering the windows," Zack stated looking about the room.

Darion just grumbled something about Zack being a smart ass, and started removing the boards. The daylight immediately brightened the room up, and the three pupils took their positions. Sat at a long desk facing the front of the room they waited for Darion to start.

"What the bloody hell you three gawping at?" the man asked as he took down the last of the window boards.

"Waiting for you to teach us everything you know Sir," Zack said politely.

"That shouldn't take long," Mikel quipped.

Darion waved a hand, and Mikel yelped as he felt a sharp pain around the back of his head, as if someone had slapped him. "Ouch! What was that for?" he asked playing all innocent.

Darion just chuckled to himself as he walked aimlessly around the room.

"Can you teach me how to do that," Mikel asked rubbing the back of his head.

It was clear Darion was not used to teaching. The old man shuffled his way around the room, mumbling to himself, as the three youngsters turned their heads, watching him.

"Perhaps if you start with Maxim Sir," Zack suggested.

"I believe you were helping him with control, perhaps it is best to begin with that," the young royal added.

After two more laps of the room, Darion finally stopped and with the flick of his fingers produced a small flame. "You...The ginger one, whatever your name was...the dangerous one...," Darion mumbled.

"Maxim Sir...My name is Maxim."

"Whatever...I want you to concentrate on this flame here, and make it move over to your hand...When you done that I want you to move it from one hand to the other...then back...Got it?   Good." Darion said, without even giving Maxim chance to answer.

Maxim did however concentrate as hard as he could. "That's it Max," he heard Zack say, as he carefully watched the small flame move over towards his hand. Once Maxim had it hovering just above his left hand, he concentrated to move it the other hand, just as Darion had requested.

"Hmm... not bad," was as good as a well done from the old man.

"What other skills you got...you... the lad that sounds and dresses like a girl," Darion pointed to Zack.

Mikel Sniggered at the remark, only to receive another magical clip round the back of his head.

"Will you stop doing that!" he cursed.

"I can teleport Sir," Zack replied to the initial question.

"I know you can bloody teleport you dope; I've seen you do that...What else can you do?

Zack shrugged, "I do not know Sir. Danton said he would teach me a few tricks..."

"Did he now?"

"I was going to ask how he did the glowing globe of light."

"Were you now...Well I don't know is the answer. I could never do it...I tell you what, you and chubby lad on the end there," Darion said pointing to Mikel.

"I am not chubby...It is all muscle," Mikel replied feeling quite hurt by the remark.

"Pfft more muscle on that scraggy looking mutt of yours."

"Do you have anything nice to say about anybody," Mikel asked.

Darion grumbled a bit more..."Nope," was the answer he gave. After that, he told Zack and Mikel to work together. Firstly, they were to try to use the older boy's skill, of moving objects with their mind. This of course was much easier for Mikel as he already knew the magic involved. Zack however did not.

"I cannot move anything with my mind," Zack finally admitted not being able to return the small objects being sent across the table by Mikel.

Darion scoffed at the remark, "Neither can I sissy boy. Only I use other ways to move stuff...see," he sent the small wooden block they were using scuttling across the floor with a wave of his hand.

"You know you are talking to the nephew of the king," Mikel replied trying to get Darion to let up on the snide remarks.

"Oh I do apologise your majesty," Darion shouted, mocking a bow. "I don't care if I am talking to the king...you stinking wolf boy."

Darion huffed. He told Zack to stop whining and think of a way he might move the block. Mikel did so with his mind. He himself used the power of the air to move it. Others would use the energy found in the very fabric of the atmosphere. "If you can do a light globe, then you can use the same power to do dozens of other things. You three just need to open your minds, you think you can only do little tricks...If you think on it, you can all do much more..." Darion spoke clearly for the first time that morning.

Whilst all the name-calling had been going on, Maxim had sat quietly moving the small flame from one hand to the other. It was surprising how doing the same thing over and over made it much easier. Darion stood and watched him, then told him to let the flame dissipate, then recreate it again. Maxim actually felt quite confident in what he was doing, although no praise ever came from Darion. Zack however was keeping a watchful eye on him, and gave an approving smile every once in a while.

Danton finally called time on their lesson. Whilst Maxim appeared to have actually learned a little, it was quite clear neither Mikel nor Zack had; other than the fact that they were now completely aware of just how rude and brash Darion could be. The three left the old man and headed off down the corridor to the dining hall, "I am not sure I can put up with him every day," Zack admitted as they walked.

"Nor me...I mean what did I ever do to deserve being clipped around the head," Mikel added to the argument.

After joining a short queue and each collecting a bowl of soup and some bread, the three found an empty table. It had been the first time they had joined all the others for lunchtime. There was certainly plenty of chatter echoing around the large room as several pairs of eyes seemed to be staring their direction, more so when Shadow sat himself down beside Mikel. Ramon had arranged with the kitchen to let the wolf eat with them, and as a result, one of the kitchen staff rather timidly walked over towards them. In her hand was a large slab of red meat for Shadow.

It was clear the woman did not want to get to close to the creature "I'll just drop it here," she said nervously. Mikel nodded, "He won't hurt you...Go on Shadow...say thank you to the kind lady."

The woman stood absolutely petrified, as the wolf stood and slowly walked her direction. The creature looked down on the floor at the piece of meat and then up at the worried face of the woman.  The wolf than sat and offered a paw, like a playful pup might do. The kitchen maid smiled, and after a few hesitant moves forward, she shook the paw. Shadow then picked the meat up in his jaws and returned to sit beside his master. "You old charmer," Mikel said reaching down and roughing his pet behind the ears.

The soup was filled with thickly cut vegetables, and some small pieces of meat. Mikel joked that Shadow ate better than they did, although it did not stop him finishing his before the other two had barely got half way. Zack looked at him, "Hungry Mikel," he chuckled.

"I'm a growing boy," Mikel said innocently. Maxim savoured his lunch, he knew only too well how you should appreciate every meal.