Free The Elementalist : Next of Kin: The Kothian Chronicles by Andrew Wood Page A

He wandered forward without any particular purpose, glancing left and right looking for a familiar face to ask what was going on.
     
    He froze as he felt a hand upon his shoulder, and turned his head slowly knowing he was in trouble for sure. The person behind him was much smaller than he had expected, but as he looked down at the aged face peering back at him, he grimaced. "I'm in trouble again aren't I?" he uttered letting his shoulders drop. "I would suggest you go get yourself something warmer to wear. I think a young man with your particular talents is needed more than most," came the unexpected reply. "Go on Kurtis, quickly...I'll wait here for you," Katria added giving the larger youth a little shove back towards the doorway.
     
    Kurtis did not hang around, and after thanking Katria, he darted back inside, returning within just a couple of minutes donning a black cloak. "Come with me," Katria asked him, as she headed off far more quickly than he had thought possible for a woman of her years. As he followed, she led him through the gateway of the inner wall into the outer section. Aside from those queuing to get inside the inner gateway, the outer section was devoid of the usual people seen about at that time of day. There were no street traders, nor were there any shops open, then again, he supposed there were no customers either.
     
    Katria paused at the bottom of the steps that led up on to the top of large outer wall. Kurtis could already see far more people than usual moving around up there, and had already deduced Pitford was under attack. Katria placed a hand on his chest, firstly affirming those very thoughts, before explaining the situation as it stood. Kurtis nodded just slightly as she explained Ramon leaving to fight at Denley, taking not only a large proportion of the army, but also many of the more senior magicians. Katria looked up at the young man, "I know what you have done Kurtis, perhaps it is time for you to show your true colours," she added tilting her head just a little. Kurtis did not reply other than a slight nod of his head, before Katria gestured they continue up the steps. He was about to ask if she needed a hand to climb them, but realised she climbed them well enough without his aid.
     
    As the last step was climbed, Kurtis glanced around him. Firstly at his fellow countrymen beside him, old men and boys stood side by side what few soldiers still remained, and here and there a small black cloaked figure of a young magician. He then looked outwards, beyond the safety the wall gave them. He gasped as he watched hundreds, maybe thousands, he thought, of fur-clad warriors from the mountains. Here and there positioned among them were huge creatures he had never seen before. "There are called Caruc," Katria told him, judging the question he was going to ask. "Capable of smashing through almost anything," she added telling him what they could do. "Even walls?" he asked glancing down at her. She simply nodded, "Yes Kurtis, even walls if allowed to amass together."
     
    Kurtis listened further as the old lady told him what he could see was not all of it. Surrounding the northern part of Pitford were several hundred Bosarian soldiers, "With magicians of their own," she added, saying it in a way that made it the key point of the matter. Kurtis puffed out his cheeks, exhaling, taking along look at the enemy before him, before glancing once more at those left to defend against them. "We do not stand a chance," he said as much to himself as Katria, "We can have no hope of surviving such a force," he added before she placed her small bony hand up onto his cheek.
     
    Kurtis silenced as Katria smiled up at him. Her hand surprisingly warm on his cold skin, "There is always hope Kurtis. Look about you. We have boys who have probably never wielded a sword, let alone fight with one. Yet they stand here, willing to fight and die if needed for what they believe in." Kurtis nodded, noticing a youngster