The Elementalist (The Kothian Chronicles Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter 4.

After probably the most comfortable night's sleep Maxim had ever had, he awoke feeling completely refreshed. The turmoil of the previous day seemed an age ago, as he sat up in the bed he had been given, and looked around his room. The early morning sun was just casting its first rays of light through the small window, and although It was still a little chilly, he was still far warmer than he would have been out on the streets. He looked over to where Zack and Mikel were still asleep, and decided to quietly get up.

He would dress in the clothes given to him yesterday by the young man in the bed next to his. Nobody had been as kind to him as Zack had been, and he wondered if should try to do something in return. Even Mikel, despite the snide remarks treated him far better than most people had, when he lived in the gutter. If this is what it was like to have friends, then he thought he liked it.

Just a day earlier, he had been pondering if life was even worth living, and now for reasons still unknown to him, he was living in a small cottage with people that treated him well. Moreover, they would soon be travelling to a new home, all together. He removed his nightclothes and could feel the cold on his clean, fresh smelling skin. He quickly pulled on his under clothes, before dressing, and deciding it would be best to put his boots on outside of the bedroom, he picked them up and carried them to the door. He looked back to make sure he had not disturbed Mikel or his new friend Zack, and once happy they still slept soundly, slowly closed the door behind him.

To his surprise Danton was already up and dressed, and preparing a fire in the hearth. "Good morning Maxim," the man said not even turning to see who it was. "Hello," he replied.

"I trust you slept well?"

"Yes...thank you Danton," Maxim said wondering if there was any food going.

As if Danton knew what he was thinking, "Let us get the fire started first," he chuckled, "Then we'll find something nice for breakfast."

Danton was about to use the flint to create a spark for the fire, when he stopped. A thought occurred to him, "Maxim," he asked, "Do you want to try?"

Maxim was not sure what he was being asked to do, "I'm not very good at making fires...Sorry," he replied.

Whilst it was just the two of them, he quizzed Maxim about how he thought he had managed to burn the soldier. "I really do not remember. I am sorry, it made no sense and I don't know how I did it," he replied. Danton shrugged and explained he had hoped for him to use the skill again to light the fire.

Danton stood and walked over to the table, picking up a rather small, tatty looking book, "I want you to read this Maxim," he said thrusting forward. "It gives you the basics for magicians able to master the elements. It explains the do's and do not's amongst other things. I'm afraid I don't have any other books with me on your particular powers..." he stopped, realising Maxim was looking at him very blankly.

"I don't know how to read, sorry," he said apologetically.

Danton placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "No I am sorry, I wasn't thinking. Come on let's light this fire and have some breakfast, and then we'll start teaching you."

The mention of breakfast alone was enough to put a smile back on Maxim's face.

He watched on as Danton lit the fire, before the man disappeared outside, as Maxim stood mesmerised by the flames growing around the small pieces of kindling. He turned to see Danton reappear holding a brown paper package, and watched with intrigue, as the package was unwrapped. "Breakfast!" Danton explained revealing a dozen sausages. Maxim could not recall ever eating them before, meals at the orphanage had often been gruel. Meat was only kept for special occasions, usually when the premises were being checked by officials from mayor's offices.

It was not long before they were sizzling in a pan, and Maxim waited impatiently. He breathed in, savouring the aroma given off, thinking If they tasted half as good as they smelled, he was certainly going to enjoy eating them. Danton smiled as he watched Maxim clearly excited over the smallest of things. He also felt a sadness and pity, that life for the young man before him had been so harsh and cruel. Somewhere in that young mind was a magic that was so rare and powerful, although Danton almost shuddered at the mere thought of the destruction possible. He was glad nobody else had stumbled upon Maxim before he had, and realised the potential of the young man. Had he fallen into the wrong hands, he could have been used as a terrible weapon.

As it was, he hoped to help and nurture Maxim's powers, and when he got him back home, there were others there, who he hoped could aid him further. He firstly needed to teach him to read, which in its self was not going to be an easy task. Perhaps the others in the group could assist he thought. Zack had already taken quite a shine to Maxim, as he smiled thinking how strange it was, that two people from the very opposites of the social spectrum should become friends so quickly.

Realising the sausages in the pan were cooked, he removed them onto a plate, and turned to see Maxim waiting at the table. "Here you go," he said transferring three of them over to his plate, along with a couple of slices of bread. He watched as Maxim went to pick one up with his fingers before having to drop it again, "Ooh that's too hot," he said cursing. Danton chuckled, "Here use a fork," he said passing one over.

It appeared the smell of food cooking was enough to get the others out of bed. Melia emerged first, arms stretched out and yawning loudly as she sat down. Mikel appeared from the bedroom Maxim had slept in, and after barely casting him a glance, sat at the far end of the table to him. Finally, Zack appeared and wished everyone a good morning, before sitting himself down beside Maxim. "Danton has cooked us sausages," he told his new friend excitedly. Zack smiled, "They smell good," he said.

"They taste good too," Maxim replied.

"Pfft anybody would think he has never eaten a sausage before," Mikel mumbled snidely.

It was Danton who intervened, deciding it was time to put a stop to the remarks. "Perhaps because he has not Mikel. Now stop the sarcastic attitude, we are all on the same side."

Mikel grumbled under his breath, but left it at that. As punishment, Danton also told him he would be washing the breakfast things. "Zack," he asked, "I wonder if you might assist me in helping Maxim."

Zack swallowed the mouthful of food he had, before answering, "Of course I will, what is it you need of me?"

Danton explained as nicely as he could that Maxim was not able to read, and would need some intensive tutoring. He himself needed to go back into town to start arranging supplies for their onward journey. Whilst they stayed in the cottage, he wanted Zack to try to teach Maxim. "I would like to help as well," Melia piped up, much to the disappointment of Mikel.

"Excellent," Danton said, "Then we start as soon as breakfast is finished.

After breakfast, Zach and Melia sat close, one either side of Maxim. Melia had thought it best to start on the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they made. Maxim told them he knew a few of them, because they had been taught to write their names at the orphanage. As it happened, Maxim knew most of the sounds the letters made, although when it came to putting them into words, he was somewhat less successful.

Danton thought it best that Mikel go with him into town to try to buy supplies; they also needed to find somebody willing to part with at least four horses. Danton already had a horse, but none of the others had, but fortunately for them, Zack's family had seen to it, he had been given a large amount of gold to help cover costs. Barring that, two horses and a cart would probably suffice just as well. He had already considered the fact that Maxim had probably never even sat upon a horse, never mind ride one. The next few weeks were going to see great changes for Maxim he thought, and there was certainly going to be weeks, perhaps months of hard work ahead.

Danton, as the person in charge of the small group of youngsters, held the door open for Mikel. As he went to close it, he reminded those remaining to behave and stay out of sight. After saddling his horse, kept in the small outbuilding beside the cottage, Danton climbed up and held a hand down, before Mikel grabbed it and sat up behind him. "Me and you can have a little chat as we ride," Danton said glancing behind him.

After trotting along the narrow forest trail, for a while they eventually joined the main track back towards Woodhaven, but a short way further on, they were stopped by a group of soldiers. "What seems to be the trouble Sir?" Danton asked politely. The man in charge looked up at him, "We are looking for a magician...killed a soldier in cold blood he did," he added staring at the younger man on the back of the horse. "Mind pulling your hood back," the soldier asked Mikel, who did so willingly. It was clear to the soldier these two did not match the description of the murderer. "Just be careful. The chap we are looking for has red hair, scruffy looking and probably no older than fifteen or sixteen," the man added preparing to move out and continue the search. "If you see someone that description, don't approach him, just call the town guard. We'll not stop until we find the little bastard."

With that passing remark, Danton nodded and nudged his horse forward, and only when certain they were out of earshot, did Mikel speak, "They were talking about Maxim weren't they?" Danton just nodded to the affirmative before adding, "Although he is most definitely not a cold blooded killer as they are making out." Knowing Mikel was only going to ask further question, Danton decided to tell him all the details on how he had seen Maxim.

Whilst being invisible in the town, he had seen a rather bedraggled looking youth scarper past. That in itself was not reason enough for him to follow. It was the fact around that young man, was a magical aura, the like of which he had never seen before. Only when two soldiers finally caught him did that power really emanate outwards. "Like it or not Mikel, but Maxim is...or at least has the potential to be far more powerful than you, I or anybody else I have ever met."

As they neared the town gates, they were once more stopped by guards. It seemed the soldiers were out in force looking for Maxim, "Won't they find the cottage if they look far enough afield?" Mikel asked in a loud whisper, as they trotted along the main route inside the town. "I hope not..." Danton replied. Although now it had been brought to his attention there was always that worry. "We need to get our business finished as quickly as possible here," he finally replied. "You go sort out the list of supplies, I will see if we can buy some horses."

Once they reached the market square, Mikel dropped down from the horse, and waited whilst Danton counted him out a few gold coins from his purse. He passed them down with the list he had referred too, "Meet back here in two hours," Danton said trotting away, "And stay out of mischief," he shouted across his shoulder.

Mikel watched a while whilst Danton trotted away and turn down a side street, and only when he was completely out of sight did Mikel look at the list in his hand. He browsed down the items, thinking where he needed to go to get each of them, although as he was not from Woodhaven, he was not sure of the best places to shop.

He ran his fingers through his thick black hair, as he looked around at the buildings in the square wondering where to start. How difficult could it be to do a bit of shopping he thought? He headed towards the first store, running the items he needed through his mind. After just a few minutes inside, he had already managed to clear several of them off the list, as he carried the paper in one hand and a wrapped package under his arm, feeling pleased with himself.

Danton was having little success in finding anybody willing to part with four horses in one sale. As a result, he had decided to buy them individually from different vendors. Knowing the people he was buying for varied in riding ability, he thought getting one for Maxim would prove to be the most difficult. As it happened, the first one he bought would likely be ideal. He had found a man willing to sell a mare, that despite being older than he would have liked, still looked in fine condition. The main reason however for buying her, was her placid temperament; the mare would never win any races but would suit Maxim perfectly.

Now he needed to cater for the others. Zack he knew would be an experienced rider, and would probably be able to handle any horse bought for him. Melia would also be best with a more placid horse and nothing to big, and Mikel was strong enough to handle most creatures, but Danton was unsure of his riding abilities.

As he moved between vendors, with the horses he had bought tied and following behind him, he noticed how many soldiers were on duty. Maxim, burning the guard had certainly caused a stir. He had just mentioned in passing to the last man he had bought a horse from, as to why there were so many guards. He was told that apparently a crazed magician was on the loose. Apparently this same mad man was so dangerous, the Mayor of Woodhaven had asked for reinforcements from neighbouring towns. "They say the very hairs on his head are flames," the man had said. Danton had just played along and had tried to look as shocked as he could, without laughing at the stupidity of some people.