The Elementalist : Next of Kin: The Kothian Chronicles (22 page)

Chapter 27.

In Pitford, the latest council meeting had just finished, and Anden watched on as the others left him alone with his two red-robed guards. A few of them had dutifully stayed behind to protect him and the town of Pitford, against any further Bosarian attack, although nothing of any note had actually taken place.

Last evening had seen Danton return with a handful of youngsters keen to start a new life in Pitford, learning their art of magic. Furthermore, if reports were to be believed, the Mayor of Eldin had supposedly gotten a list of over thirty volunteers to join the army, all of whom would be arriving within the next few days. The council had just discussed on how best to rebuild both the army and the force of magicians, as well as how they should be housed, paid and catered for. The young monarch had not realised just how tough a job it was being King, and was certainly thankful for the small team he had around, taking much of the burden from him.

Those Icenians currently under his command had barely spoken a word during their entire stay, only speaking when asked to do so. He then wondered how Max was getting along with his father, thinking fondly of the young red headed lad, so highly thought of by pretty much everybody. He supposed Maxim must return one day with his father, if only to collect the Icenians they had left behind, but he was not so naive as to think he would simply return and continue where he had left off.

Mikel walked hand in hand with Melia, as Shadow followed dutifully behind them. Ramon had been forced to have stern words with both about returning to their respective lessons, and hence, both had spent the morning in the classroom.  The problem where Mikel was concerned was his tutor being busy with other matters, namely the duty of being on the King's Council. As a result, the elderly tutor had been setting him a series of tasks to carry out with Shadow. The wolf was as much part of his life as any person, both creature and master knowing they would put their own life on the line to protect the other.

Melia placed her head lovingly on Mikel's shoulder as they walked towards the main doors. They had both decided to venture outside for some fresh air and to allow Shadow the opportunity to stretch his legs. Katria had told Mikel it was not healthy for the dire wolf to be kept locked up in the keep all day, and that the creature needed to be out in its more usual surroundings, or it risked becoming nothing more than an oversized puppy, as she had called it.

After making sure they were wrapped up warm, the trio ventured out of the keep, through the gates and out into the town beyond. People roaming about the town as per usual appeared to take a wide berth from them, something Mikel could not understand, although was becoming accustomed too. As Melia had pointed out previously to him, he might know Shadow would do them no harm, but other people saw nothing but a ferocious wild animal, and as a result usually tried to avoid it.

The guards on the outer gate paid them little heed as they passed out beyond the wall and into the wide-open space beyond. "Go on then," Mikel said, "Go stretch your legs," he added. Shadow wasted no time, and bounded off at speed heading towards a distant tree line. Mikel immediately turned to the young girl that had stolen his heart, and thought it as good a time as any to move in for a kiss.

After spending a couple of hours out in the wilderness, Shadow returned somewhat dirtier than when he had left them, and Mikel knew what he would have to do when they got back. "Did you find every puddle and jump in it," he complained to the wolf, as Melia thought it incredibly funny. "I'll help you," she said softly leaning in and pecking him on the lips.

As they approached the outer gate, Mikel felt a shiver and suddenly came to a halt. Shadow had sensed something nearby, a danger of some kind, invisible to humans, but it was there. Melia immediately perceived something was not right, and held herself tightly to Mikel, but casting her eyes about. Neither he nor she could see anything in the gloomy late afternoon light, but Mikel remained wary. "What is it?" Melia whispered. "I'm not sure...Shadow thinks someone or something is nearby, but he seems as unsure as we do," he replied. "Come on Melia, let us get back inside," he added making sure Shadow remained alert as they moved.

As they passed through the gate, he noticed the guards were also behaving a little oddly. Several of them had their weapons drawn, but were creeping about as if looking for something. Mikel enquired as to what they thought was wrong, "Not sure," one replied. "Felt like someone brushing past us...but no one was there," said another. Mikel left it at that, but quickened the pace, causing Melia, who was holding on to him to do likewise. "Why are we hurrying?" she asked being half dragged along as he walked. "Something is not right," he replied keeping his pace going, "Shadow can sense danger," he added.

Melia thought what might have caused the guards to react so strangely, "Teleporters!" she suddenly said as the idea popped into her mind. Mikel pulled to halt, "Good thinking," he said, "Perhaps that is it...Come on Melia we must warn Ramon and the others," he added breaking into a run. Melia had little choice but to run with him, as he headed for the inner gate. The guards there at least seemed to be acting normal, which possibly meant any intruder had not passed this way. Mikel however stopped and looked up, if he were a teleporter, would he have tried to pass through the narrow gateway. Probably not he thought, having already spooked the guards on the main gates, any intruder would surely not risk the same again, "I'd jump up to the top of the wall and down again," he said thinking aloud.

The guards at the main doors also seemed unaware anything untoward was going on, and Mikel knew that any perpetrators wanting to gain access to the keep would have to enter that way. "Be alert, I think there are enemy magicians about," he told them as he entered. Whether they believed him or not, Mikel did not hang around to find out. Instead, he carried on running, leaving Melia lagging behind him, heading up the main staircase towards the royal quarters.

As luck would have it, he actually caught sight of Ramon entering a room off to his left, "Ramon," he shouted hoping he could be heard. The seer stopped in his tracks and turned at hearing his name called out from somewhere down the corridor. As Mikel came to halt, he caught his breath, "Ramon," he said blowing hard, "I think we're in danger," he added. The seer remained calm despite the panic being shown by Mikel, and suggested the young man join him in telling the king what he knew.

Melia caught up, and along with shadow, they all headed toward the royal quarters at a more composed pace. Whilst they walked, Mikel explained to Ramon everything he knew and felt, and although he had not actually seen anything unusual, other than the bemused looking guards at the main outer gate, he was certain something or somebody was out there.

They found the king in his room sitting peacefully by the fireplace with his younger sister. Two guards stood on duty outside the door in the corridor, whilst one of the Icenians stood with them inside, positioned along the wall. Ramon firstly apologised for interrupting the young king, before telling him everything Mikel had told him. Anden looked up at them from his seated position, "You think they are moving by some form of magic?" he asked Mikel. "Yes Sire, probably teleporting, but if that were the case they did so incredibly quickly," he replied.

Anden turned to the Icenian standing on duty, "Please be aware, it appears we may have an unwelcome visitor or two." The robed figure lowered its head just a little, "I will make the others aware Majesty," the man underneath the hood replied. Mikel expected the Icenian to leave and fetch the others, but was surprised to see him remain where he was. Ramon noticed the young man's confusion and explained that they appeared to be able to contact each other via some magical means. "A little like me and Shadow," he replied trying to understand how such a link might work. Ramon shrugged, "I assume it works along those kind of lines, it is beyond my skills however to fully understand," the seer admitted.

As the guards on duty were increased and patrols started around the keep, Mikel enquired as to whether there was any other way into the keep other than the main doorway. Ramon pondered a moment or two, "There is the doorway on the roof, but that is locked from the inside," he replied. Mikel was just about to suggest putting extra guards on the main entrance when Ramon thought of another possible way in, "The kitchen has a loading door that is easily accessible," he added realising he had been a fool for not thinking of it earlier.

Unexpectedly there was a noise outside in the corridor, and everyone suddenly became alert as to something going on. The door abruptly burst ajar, yet nobody appeared in the opening, although Ramon could see the slumped body of a guard on the floor out in the corridor. "Protect the king," he asked the Icenian still positioned along the far wall, as he and Mikel scoured the room for any sign of an intruder. Shadow arched his back, as his heckles stood up, "Somebody is in here with us," Mikel said sharing the wolf's senses.

The following few seconds seemed far longer as everyone looked around the room, expecting to find someone or something. "They must be able to blend in or become invisible as well," Ramon mumbled as much to himself as anybody else. The seer immediately thought of using his skill to negate any magic in the local vicinity, only thought better of it just in case he affected the Icenian protecting the king.

Ramon was glad he had not done so, as a dark clothed figure thumped to the floor just a pace or so away from the young king, his progress halted by an invisible shield. Shadow showed his wild instinct, as without any delay he pounced upon the dazed figure, clutching his powerful jaws around the throat of the intruder and ending his life. Mikel puffed out his cheeks thinking it was over until he sensed Shadow return immediately on the defensive. "There is more than one," he said quickly returning to his alert status.

The door burst open once more as two more Icenians quickly made their entrance. "Shut the door," Ramon shouted hoping it was not too late. If indeed there was a second intruder, he did not want it roaming around the keep causing havoc.  The Icenians however seemed intent on leaving it open, and Ramon was just about to shout the order again as a second figure hit an invisible barrier right in the doorframe. This time Shadow did not have time to react, as the Icenian who had blocked the open door with a shield, quickly had the intruder hanging helplessly in the air.

Shadow slowly walked around the room sniffing at the air, using his heightened senses to search the local vicinity. "I think that's it," Mikel told the others all looking to him for guidance. Anden, clearly shaken by the events, comforted his young sister who had made the mistake of looking at the dead man on the floor of the room. "Go and see Mother," he told her gesturing for her to go to the other room. Mikel quickly walked over to the young monarch, "Are you okay Sire," he asked still keeping his eyes peeled for anything untoward, but Shadow seemed to be relaxing, meaning he at least thought the danger was indeed over.

Anden nodded, and although he put on a brave face, was clearly as frightened as any person would have been in the circumstances. He had barely been on the throne a week or more, and already somebody had just tried to kill him. After checking the young king's welfare, Ramon turned to the captured intruder still hanging helplessly in the air by the doorway. "Are you alright holding him there like that," he enquired to the Icenian guard, "Yes Sir, I can keep him like this for as long as you require it." Ramon looked up at the captured intruder, and thought how young he looked, "Now what are we going to do with you?" he asked thinking out aloud. "Kill him," Mikel snapped still feeling his heart racing from the adrenaline pumping around his body.

Ramon turned to look at him, and although that would be the man's ultimate fate, he wondered whether it would be worth trying to get information from him before they did. A dozen or so more guards piled into the room, making it suddenly look very overcrowded. Commander Porter was amongst them, and he immediately checked on the king before ordering the dead body be removed, "Do it discreetly," he told the two men tasked with the job, "Cover him up, I don't want every man, woman and child in Pitford seeing it," he added.

Mikel noticed the similarity between the man Shadow had killed and the one still alive, "Your brother?" he hissed, "Don't worry you'll be joining him soon enough." Ramon glared his direction, but let the matter lie; after all, if not for Mikel's quick thinking and alertness, the young king would likely be dead by now, a point not missed by Anden himself. "I would like to thank you," The young man said looking up at Mikel, "You are one of Zack and Max's friends aren't you," he said gesturing if it was okay if he patted Shadow. Mikel nodded on both accounts, and watched the king scratch Shadow behind the ears, "And thank you for your quick intervention," he said to the wolf.