The Catalyst

Chapter 62

The Azurians arrived to Veicira the next day, while the sun shone in a clear afternoon sky.

They didn't attack, didn't even come close to the castle, but within the walls, things still turned frantic. Soldiers, guards and archers were in full preparation, stacking clay pots filled with lamp oil on the walkways, and placing countless arrows in large baskets below the battlements. Blacksmiths, masons and fletchers had abandoned all other tasks and were hard at work making more arrowheads and shafts.

Nervousness coiled Noah's chest as he scoured the keep searching for Jaden. He wasn't in his chambers, and when Noah found the council room, he saw Kitera, Dharkan, Moira, a soldier, the young Nightvale twins, two older men, and a girl who must be the Azurian Emperor's daughter. But still no Jaden.

They all sat around a large sketch of the castle grounds.

"Of course they'll find a way to cross the moat," Kitera was saying. "They have dark mages and demons. Don't doubt for a second that they'll come at us from any side. We should have just as many men on all four walls."

Moira was the first to notice Noah standing in the doorway. "Would you like to join us?"

"Actually, I was looking for Jaden."

"You missed him," Dharkan said. "He left a few minutes ago. Didn't say where to."

On the sketch, Kitera slid her fingers to the gates that led to the stone bridge. "Noah, before he left, Jaden said he wants you with him on the east wall tonight."

"So you reckon they'll wait for nightfall to make their move?" Noah asked.

The Azurian girl straightened and looked up at him. "It would be foolish to attack in daylight. They'd lose too many men to our archers."

He nodded. "I'll try to find him, thanks."

Everywhere, people thronged the upper floors of the keep – families sharing rooms, elderly folks and youngsters, some of them having to settle for hallways. Noah was about to give up and head back down when, clear and sharp over the hum of conversations and wailing of infants, he heard Jaden's voice. "The roof."

He spun about, only to realize that Jaden wasn't actually here. His voice had resonated in his mind. Noah hurried back to the spiral stairs and climbed up until his legs were on fire. Finally he reached the top floor, finding it dusty and abandoned, with heaping rubble and crates in every corner.

Sunlight slanted in from an open hatch in the ceiling. As he approached, a whiff of cold wind seeped in and his skin prickled with goosebumps. Noah lowered himself, jumped, caught the edge and hoisted himself all the way up.

Panic seized him. He wasn't normally afraid of heights, but then he'd never been so high before. The view was breathtaking though, especially the snow-capped mountains to the north, and Sapphire Lake to the north-east. The clear sky enabled him to see the distant Fel River if he looked west, and a southward glance revealed farm lands dotted with villages and towns. Slowly, the initial fear faded and dizziness released his legs.

Jaden stood facing east, spyglass in hand, not even wearing a coat. Shivering in the strong, glacial wind, Noah carefully stepped closer.

"Aren't you cold?" Noah rubbed his own arms.

"Touch my skin," Jaden said with a small smile.

Noah touched the back of his hand, which felt as warm as the kiss of the summer sun.

"Shit, how do you do that? Also, can I cuddle you? Because I'm freezing."

Jaden chuckled as pink flared up his cheeks and ears. "If I maintain a close connection to the catalyst's energy, it keeps me warm. You should try it."