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

probably no more than thirteen or fourteen years old nervously clutching a spear in his hands.
     
    Kurtis wondered, exactly what it was they believed in that was worth dying for. Once more Katria answered his question without it actually being asked. "They fight for their freedom Kurtis, as will I. Is a life as a prisoner and slave any life at all," she asked looking up in to his young eyes. He knew only too well, what it felt like to be a prisoner, albeit he had been one only a short while. However even in that short time, the loss of freedom, the solitude and restrictions imposed had become almost unbearable.
     
    Kurtis would have been first to admit that when it came to intelligent thought, he was not the smartest guy around. Yet he was no so dumb as to understand the message Katria was getting across to him. These people around him were going to fight, not just for a chance for their own freedom, but for those children in the keep, that mother and babe he had seen on the foyer and even for those not yet affected by the growing conflict. Noticing the penny had dropped, Katria patted his arm, "Today Kurtis you have a chance to redeem yourself. You are probably as power a magician as we have left in Pitford at the moment. Will you stand with us and fight, or do you wish I have you escorted back to your room and await the inevitable?"
     
    Taking a deep breath Kurtis stepped forward, closer to the edge of the wall standing defiantly at the hordes that were lining up ready to attack. Katria smiled, before looking to the east to see if she could see any sign of Ramon and his army returning, but could not. She closed her eyes a moment, sending out a message, a request, to one of her birds. The small creature soared up from somewhere in the keep garden and headed eastward to Denley. The images sent back would likely be the most important she would ever receive; for now she needed to wait and prepare for the inevitable.
     
    In Waltham, capital city of Bosaria, Gorius paced around his desk occasionally drinking from the glass he held half full in his hand. The war with Kothia was hung in the balance, and quite likely, the next twenty-four hours would determine the outcome. His forces pushed ever forward, and were now within a day's ride of the Kothian capital Berxsley, a battle he was sure they could win. Despite that normally being a conquering army's main goal in defeating a country, he knew it was not the case for him. However, the battle that held the most importance was already taking place in the south of Kothia, the outcome of which could see him victorious. Here his forces of soldiers and magicians, aided by their allies from across the mountains, had the chance to eliminate the last enemy forces capable of stopping him.
     
    With plans already in place for taking the other smaller nations that shared his borders, this one single victory would allow them to be put into action. Although he knew he had the greater numbers, he was also painfully aware Kothia had several powerful magicians that could cause him severe problems. The outcome of the battle, and possibly the entire war would depend on whether his superior numbers could overcome them.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9.
     
     
     
    A series of loud horn blasts sounded from the warriors of the Mountain tribes, which were soon answered by their Bosarian allies gathered to the south of Pitford. This was their predefined signal to let the other know they were in position and ready to begin their attack.
     
    Kurtis stood amongst his compatriots watching on as the tidal wave of warriors and beasts swept down the sloping hillside to their position, picking up the pace as they went. He felt his heart pounding like a hammer in his chest, and wondered if everyone else was as nervous as he felt at that moment. To his left he caught sight of several archers pulling the strings on their bows back, ready to fire as soon as the enemy got within range, and he thought he should