Rise of the Citadel (The Search for the Brights Book 2) by Aaron Thomas Read Free Book Online

laugh. Kilen placed it on his shoulders and
donned the hood despite Jace’s rebuke.
    Kilen thought to
end the lecture before Jace started, “I know, I look like a King’s fool. I’m
cold and you are the only ones here. Please Jace, don’t tell anyone.”
    Max laughed
inside his head at the fact that no one but Kilen could talk to anyone
directly.
    A white owl
glided out of the trees and landed on the wood that would soon be a fire. It
spoke with a human voice that Kilen recognized as Joahna; a fire wizard he had
slain and captured the fallen spirit of.
    “Good, you found
the location. We should be safe here for a couple days,” Joahna said.
    “A couple days!
What do you mean a ‘couple days?” Kilen asked.
    “We are getting
close to where Alexander said the Elder Wizards are supposed to be,” Joahna
reformed himself into the figure of a liquid man and acted as if he was warming
himself by the non-existent fire. “We will need to figure out a way inside once
we get there. For now, why don’t you start a fire?”
    “Well, I found
the Elder Wizards camp, only I'm not sure how to get you into it.” Joahna said
as he reformed himself into the figure of a liquid man and acted as if he was
warming his hands next to the non-existent fire. “While I try to figure a way
to get you inside, you should probably start a fire.”
    “I don’t know
how,” Kilen said, frustrated.
    “Well here, let
me show you. It is a little more difficult to teach weapon bearers, especially
ones that already have imbuements like water to counteract the effects of the
fire magic’s anger. See the stack of wood? Focus on it, let your eyes see
nothing but the wood you want to burn. Now, while looking at the wood, feel the
cold seeping into your body. Lose the cloak.”
    “While your
at it throw that cloak in there” , Jace said still irritated by it’s flashy
color.
    Kilen
reluctantly took the cloak off and placed it a few feet away.
    “Feel the cold,
and feel the need for fire, the need for warmth. When you are cold enough and you
want the fire bad enough, those sticks will light.”
    “So just stare
at them and be cold. Should I take off more of these clothes so I am colder?”
    “No, I will help
make you colder,” Joahna answered.
    Kilen watched as
frost began to cover every surface around him. The temperature dropped so
significantly, bumps formed on his arms and he began to shake. The frost crept
up Kilen’s boots and pants as Kilen stood. He started to panic.
    “Focus on the
sticks,” Joahna repeated, still rubbing his hands near the invisible flames.
    Kilen focused
hard, he blocked everything out except the cold and the sticks. Slowly, the
cold and frost started to creep up his shirt, soaking through to his skin. He
noticed he could see his breath prominently now. He longed for the hot days,
battling the sword with Gortus on the practice fields.
    Joahna’s figure
stood and threw out a hand which detached from his arm. The hand turned into a
ball of water mid flight to Kilens face. Kilen, covered in ice cold water,
looked down at his shirt and watched as water turned to ice, sending numbing
pain with it. Kilen glanced at the sticks and a spark popped at the top stick.
    Kilen sprang to
the small spark and yearned for a flame, the flame came slowly. Then it raged
four feet tall. Kilen welcomed the warmth and Joahna let go of the cold around
his body. The ice and frost melted quickly as Kilen threw more wood on the
fire. He began to warm his hands, letting the warmth surround him.
    Joahna melted
himself into a seated position on an ice stump next to the fire. Kilen looked
into the glass-like man watching the flames flickering reflection. The dead
glass eyes of the liquid man stared back at him from across the fire. The
flames shapes danced on the surfaces of his entire body.
    “Now that we are
alone, there are some things we need to discuss,” Joahna whispered.
    Kilen pulled his
fancy weapon bearer cloak around him and looked