The Elementalist : Next of Kin: The Kothian Chronicles (25 page)

Chapter 31.

Maxim awoke, excited at the day ahead, so much so he almost leapt from the bed he had been using, before hurriedly getting dressed into one of the red robes worn by the Icenians. He scurried down to the room he could sense his father was in, to discover the man already eating breakfast. Although sliced fruit was not normally the ideal start to the day, Maxim decided to join him nonetheless.

After exchanging greetings, Maxim had barely started eating before he asked, "Are we ready to go Father?" he asked. Joren smiled, "As soon as we've eaten and allowed a few of the others to do likewise, we shall be off." Maxim nodded with a grin almost as big as his face, as he shoved several slices into his mouth in one go, thinking it would save a few precious seconds more. "Excited are we?" his father enquired, Maxim could not reply in words due to his mouth being so crammed full, but nodded profusely.

Maxim felt every second feel like minutes as he waited beside his father, impatiently it must be said. "Why do we need so many others with us Father?" he asked noticing they already had at least two dozen in their group. "Just because," came the reply, to which Maxim nodded, before realising that was no kind of answer at all. He was about to speak, when he felt a hand link into his, "Come on no time for chit-chat," his father told him as they finally headed off.

Most of the Icenians would remain in Berxsley, for now at least, making use of the empty cities garrison buildings, whilst still flitting back and forth bringing the seemingly endless supply of crates and boxes they had brought with them on the ships. Crossing hills and valleys in the blink of an eye, Maxim still knew the trip would take a while. Whilst he was carried ever further southwards away from the capital city, he decided to try to think of all the things he wanted to ask Zack as a means of passing the time.

Davan, the deposed leader of the Bosarian forces had little option but to continue his trip eastwards, heading back the way he had spent week s travelling. Each town or village he had conquered had seemingly been liberated by this massive unknown army of robed figures. Despite having a force of several hundred, maybe more, retreating with him, he at no stage thought about turning round and making a stand. Instead, he worked on the principal of getting as many of his men back across the border alive as possible. His king would not be happy, but Davan was smart enough to know whoever these mysterious people were, he had nothing in his arsenal to oppose them.

His scouts had informed him that his movements were being tracked by the unknown figures, and as such, Davan was left with little choice to keep moving. Stopping only to rest the few horses that they had managed to escape with, the matter of food was now becoming his greatest concern. Having not had time to gather any supplies, there was nothing for him or his men to eat, and knew that starving men would soon become desperate ones. His fear however was soon alleviated, as those walking in front of his horse spotted a dozen or more red robed figures stood beside several crates.

As the man in charge, he was permitted to advance alone, and ride right up to the robed figures stood in their path. "You are to make use of the supplies we give you and continue back across the border. If you try and cause any trouble on your journey or attempt to return, you will be destroyed," he was told by one of the hooded figures. He tried to peer under the hood to see if he could catch a glance at the face of the person speaking, although he need not have bothered as the man eventually lowered his hood for him.

Davan was stunned to see a tall man with red ginger hair, and although at first he did not realise the significance of that, he did not argue. "Who are you?" he uttered, feeling cold tired and hungry. "You do not need to know that. Use the supplies we offer you and you will be allowed back to your lands. Alter from this course and you will all be destroyed," he was warned again. Davan nodded his understanding, and although his men outnumbered these strange foreigners by at least fifty-to-one, he did not doubt they could or would carry out their threat.

He looked at the crates of supplies, and although he did not know what they contained, he knew he had little option other to accept the rules, as they were, "We will go back, and you have my word we shall do so peacefully," he added. He attempted to sound sincere, but whether they actually believed him or not he was unsure. He turned to see his men slowly trudging nearer and before glancing back to the robed men before him, only to see them teleport off into the distance, leaving him alone with the supplies.

Inside the crates were hundreds of loaves of some kind of bread, although it tasted like none he had eaten before. There was fruit in abundance, and even sacks of grain for the horses, and he was happy at least none of his men would starve on their trip back. It dawned upon him, just how strange these people were, had he had the same power he would surely have obliterated every last one of the men opposing him. Yet here they were being gently coerced back home, and even being fed by this unknown force of magicians. Perhaps he thought the Kothians and these strangers helping them, had different views on how an enemy should be treated, luckily for him he thought, as he took a bite from a juicy apple.

Maxim felt the level of excitement rise significantly, as the group he was travelling with appeared beside the main gateway to Pitford. Those on guard duty did not stand in their way, and merely stood aside for them to enter, although he did notice a runner being sent, probably to let the king know of their arrival. Although he wished they would just teleport right up to the keep doors, his father insisted in walking along the main street and up to the keep gateway.

Maxim glanced about, and noticed the people in the streets stop and stare their direction as they passed by. With his hood over his head, he wondered if anybody even knew it was him returning, and sniggered to himself as he thought of how to surprise his friends. As was to be expected, Anden and the other members of the council all stood waiting for them in the foyer of the keep entrance. Maxim had slowly drifted to the back of the group, hoping to remain anonymous, for the time being at least.

Joren pulled back his hood, and looked to his left where his son had been, only to sense he was several paces further back. He thought about calling his son forward, but realised that the youngster probably wanted to greet his friends in his own way, and left it at that. The young King Anden stepped forward, "My Lord," he said, "You are most welcome back here amongst us." Joren bowed his head just a little, more as a show of respect than as a show of any subservience.

Zack was stood beside the king, looking a little disappointed, he had hoped Maxim would have travelled down with his father, but it appeared not to be the case. Mikel, Melia and the others had also ventured down, and waited off to one side hoping to see their friend, as Zack had. Anden suggested they talk in more private surroundings than the keep hallway, and gestured for his guests to walk along with him. Although the need to know what had happened was strong, he knew such matters were best discussed in the proper way.

Zack waited for all the Icenian robed figures to walk by, before glancing over to where Mikel and Melia were stood. He shrugged, as the disappointment on his face was clear for everyone to see, as he turned to follow the others. As his head was hung low, he almost bumped straight into one of the Icenians bringing up the rear. The man turned, and Zack was about to apologise when the figure slowly removed his hood to reveal a most welcome smiling face. "Max," he shouted out far louder than he intended, before leaping forward and wrapping both arms around him. Anden turned to see his cousin and smiled, "I think we'll give them a few minutes. They can catch us up," he said.

Zack did not want to let his friend go, but thought he probably should let the others welcome him back as well. Melia leaned forward first, "Good to have you back Maxim," she said with a warm smile and a much smaller hug. Mikel was next, "Look at you," he said smiling, "All robed up, and sneaking in," he added giving his own hug. Connor ran towards him, "Master," he shouted, "You have returned for me," he added. Maxim immediately felt the awkwardness of the situation; he did not think of himself as anyone's master, but for some reason the young Bosarian seemed intent on thinking of him as such. He had hoped during his time away Connor would have become accustomed to living a more normal life in Pitford, it was clear that was not the case. Maxim gave the youngster a warm welcome and although he knew he would need to have another talk with him, it was something that would have to wait.

Zack and Maxim eventually left their other friends, as they were expected to join the others. "I thought you had not come back," Zack said, looking his friend in the eye. Maxim grinned, "They wouldn't have kept me away even if they had wanted to," he replied. Zack said nothing, but walked along with a renewed spring in his step. "Are you going to tell me what has happened Max?" he asked, before realising he probably should not have done so. "I guess we'll all find out in a minute," he added giving his own reply, as he picked up the pace just a little.

With all the members of the Kothian Council present, they eagerly awaited the High Lord of Icenia to give them the news they wanted to hear. "Berxsley and the other towns and villages in the north have been liberated," Joren told them. Ramon clapped his hands together, "I hope you did not suffer any casualties my Lord," he said sounding sincere in his reply. Joren shook his head, "Nothing the Bosarians had, caused us anymore than an inconvenience," he replied, before telling them that the remaining enemy forces were being escorted back to their own country.

Darion was clearly not quite so impressed, and although the others may have been thinking similar things, it was no surprise when the old man spoke his mind. "You are letting them all live?" he snapped, sounding a little more harshly than he meant. Joren looked over to the oldest man in the room, "Sir...We agreed to help you get your country back, we did not return here to eliminate your enemies," he replied sternly. Anden quickly intervened, "For which we will be ever thankful," he said trying to deflect Darion's words.

Although it was clear the old man was not particularly happy with the way things had worked out, Joren did tell them that several hundred of the enemy had thrown their lives away in trying to put up some resemblance of a fight. The Icenian lord looked over to the old man to see if that at least satisfied his apparent lust for death. "Those that chose to flee will be allowed to do so, however, I have men following them to make sure they do not decide to cause any more trouble," he added, reassuring them that the force would not be allowed to run amok as the retreated.

Joren also explained that he had travelled with so many so that if they wished it, the royal family could return to the capital, and once more reside in the palace. "We have enough of my people to take you and your family, as well as a few of your guards and house staff. We can come back and fetch more over the next few days," he said, explaining the reason why more than the necessary number needed, had arrived with him. Maxim sat their grinning; now understanding their purpose, as he sat beside his father listening to what he had to tell them, whilst keeping his eye on Zack to see his reaction. Although a thought suddenly struck him, if Anden went to live in Berxsley, then he would want Zack to go with him. This was something he had not thought of, and was quickly trying to think of scenarios where it would not happen.

Anden sat there delighted that his nation was once more free, and that if his father had been alive, how happy he would have been at the news. He knew there would never be anyway to repay the Icenians for what they had done, and he would forever be in Joren's debt. Now the man before him had explained all he needed, Anden knew it was time they discussed the contents of the third letter he had been sent. "Perhaps Maxim and Zack would be so kind as to leave us discuss personal matters," he finally said getting to his feet. Joren quickly cottoned on to what the young king was referring too, and readily encouraged his son to leave.

Both Maxim and Zack were confused as to why they had been excluded from the room, but neither appeared overly bothered by it. Instead, they decided to catch up, and go find the others, Maxim for one had questions to ask, although he was not sure he wanted to know the answers. If Zack went to Berxsley with the king, would he be left in Pitford, living apart from him? As strange as it seemed, Maxim was not sure he could do that.

Zack was unsure for how much longer Maxim would be with him. Now he had found his father he would surely want to go and live with him on the other side of the world, so far away the land was not shown on any map he had ever seen. Once he had gone back, there would never be any way for him to even pay a visit, and this very thought caused him great sadness.

They found the others in their room, although as Maxim felt a little peckish after his travels, he asked if anybody wished to join him in the dining hall. Zack naturally agreed instantly, as did Connor who quickly reattached himself to Maxim's side, and then the others all readily followed suit. As they made the short way to the hall, they chatting amongst themselves, as Zack was finally allowed to tell them all of what the Icenians had achieved. Mikel punched the air, "Yes...Got to love those robe wearing weirdo's" he blurted out forgetting Maxim was actually walking just half a yard away, dressed in exactly the same thing.