Bound by Fire

Chapter 40

  The power flowed across Ilian's flesh, tickling the hairs on his arm. He grit his teeth, and swung the sword towards Dagfinn's head, but it was repelled once more. An explosion of dark and light fire filled the air around them.

  Ilian jumped back and took up a defensive stance. His breath was already coming in gasps, but Dagfinn hadn't even broken a sweat. Each of his attacks had been turned aside with ease.

  I've got to find a way to defeat him, Ilian told himself. My endurance is limited.

  Dagfinn stood in front of him with the butt of his spear pressed against the ground. “Do you know why Bale and I fought for so long?” He seemed relaxed as he spoke.

  There's no reason for him to take any of us seriously, Ilian thought. We're all mortals. He's a god.

  “You were equal. Dark and light.”

  Dagfinn nodded. “That's right. Darkness cannot extinguish the light any more than the light can snuff out the dark. No matter how bright the light shines there will always be shadows.”

  He leaned the spear forward so the tip of it was pointing towards Ilian. “The difference now, is that while our power may be of equal nature, you're still just a human boy. You have far more limitations than I do.”

  “Then, perhaps we should double the odds,” Kane said from behind Ilian. He walked up next to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I can't sit here and let you do this alone. We need to combine our strength if we're to have any hope of defeating him.”

  Kane raised his sword.

  This isn't the heroic save I envisioned.

  He nodded. “We'll see how well he does against the both of us.” His strength renewed, Ilian brought his sword up, and prepared to charge once more.

  Dagfinn sighed. “How many flies must I swat down today?”

  Ilian and Kane moved as one, surging towards Dagfinn. Their swords sliced through air, dark fire, and red-hot metal coming together. The god swung his spear up, and parried each blow with ease, sliding between them as if they moved in slow motion.

  Dagfinn spun around behind Ilian and Kane, and slammed the spear into their backs.

  Pain lanced through Ilian, and he crashed hard into the ground, tumbling twice before settling to a stop on his stomach. Blood covered his face where it had scraped against the rough stones littered across the earth.

  Kane groaned a short ways off, looking no better. He leaned up against the burned remains of a building, his face covered in soot.

  Ilian cried out, and dropped back to the ground as he tried to rise. The pain in his back was immense, and it brought tears to his eyes.

  His sword lay in the dirt a short ways off.

  I have to reach it.

  Ilian crawled over to the weapon, inch by inch, the pain in his back causing his vision to swim. He reached for it, nearly there, but Dagfinn kicked the sword away, and stepped on his hand.

  “We've played this game long enough. It's time to end it.” Dagfinn raised the spear up high, the tip pointed at Ilian's neck.

  “Don't do it,” Kane shouted. He was back on his feet, sword in hand. “I'm still not through with you yet.”

  “I'm quite through with you,” Dagfinn sneered. “If you wish to die so badly, you can get in line.” The muscles in his arms bulged and he brought the spear down towards Ilian.

  Ilian wanted to roll away, grab his sword, and leap to his feet. The blade would come to life in his hands, and pierce through Dagfinn's guard with ease.

  However, his body protested his efforts, and no strength would come to him.

  He closed his eyes, prepared for death.

  A grunt, and a curse from above him.

  “Why aren't you dead, you bloody giant?” Dagfinn choked out.

  Ilian opened his eyes to the sight of Amaren standing behind Dagfinn, his giant hand wrapped around the god's throat.

  He's alive!

  The hole in Amaren's chest was gone, replaced by new, hairless flesh. “I thought you were dead. But, how—”

  Amaren waved his stump. “I'm immortal, you bloody idiot. If this guy had killed me, I'd have come back from the grave to thank him.”

  If he could heal himself, then why did he still have all those scars?

  “I can't let this guy kill you. I gotta get revenge for my hand one of these days.” Amaren shook Dagfinn for emphasis.

  Ilian slid over to his sword, and wrapped his hand around it. The flames burst to life on his touch, and snaked around his arm to the shoulder once more. He felt a cool touch on his body, and then a hot pain as the flesh and bones mended. After a moment of intense pain, he pushed himself to his feet feeling rejuvenated.

  That was close. If Amaren had been a second later...

  Kane hobbled over beside him.

  Ilian eyed Kane. He was bent-backed, the sword hanging from his hand, and his eyes were fixed on the ground.

  The courage he showed before must have taken all the strength he had. I wonder if Bale's power works on others.

  Ilian touched the tip of his sword to Kane's shoulder.

  Kane howled in pain, dropped down to a knee. A moment later he stood, his eyes wide with shock. “You healed me?”

  I can at least control the power enough to decide whether it heals or harms. It'll be useful in the future.

  “I healed you,” he said plainly.

  “I've had about enough of this,” Dagfinn said. His eyes darkened, and a blast of flame burst from the ground around him. The force of it sent Amaren flying backwards into a thick stone wall. It cracked from the force of the giant hitting it, and Amaren slumped to the ground, his skin charred.

  Amaren tried to rise, grunted, and fell back down. “I'll be fine. Just need time.”

  Kane rushed forward, sword in hand. “It's now or never! We can't let him regain control of the battle, Ilian.”

  His father's sword arced down, the blade a red-hot blur as it whipped through the air.

  “Father, wait!”

  The blade stopped short as Dagfinn caught it in the palm of his hand. Blood trickled down the edge of the blade.

  “No,” Kane exclaimed. His arms shook as he tried to rip the sword free from the god's fingers, but Dagfinn held onto it without budging.

  “Heal this,” Dagfinn said. He thrust his spear through Kane's chest, and tossed him across the courtyard.

  He landed with a thud near the fire demon.

  “Father, no!” Ilian rushed across the courtyard, but Chaerok blocked his way.

  Ilian brought his sword up. “Get out my way.”

  Chaerok smiled. “I don't think so. Besides, I have a new dog now.”

  The fire demon that had once been red as the sword in Kane's hand was now black as night.

  It lumbered towards Kane, each of its steps shaking the ground beneath it. The demon stopped in front of him, and laid the great war hammer in its hand across its shoulder.

  “You said you'd free me, human. I'd be free of my strings like you.” It raised the hammer above its head with one massive arm. “But you lied. And now, I have a new puppeteer.”

  Kane moaned, and pushed himself up onto all fours. Blood trickled from the wound in his chest, and when he coughed blood spattered the ground in front of him.

  He met Ilian's gaze. “Looks like—” he broke into a coughing fit, and more blood poured out onto the ground. “...we won't be going home together after all.”

  He vanished underneath the hammer as it crashed to the ground. The sound of the impact was like thunder, and the earth shook all around them. Dust rose into the air, and large chunks of stone toppled from the remains of the ruined tower.

  “No! No, no, no!” Ilian dropped to his knees. His eyes stung, and the strength left his body. Defeated, he let his sword clatter to the ground.

  Chaerok walked up beside the demon, and patted him on the leg. “That's what happens when the dog betrays its master.”

  “Wh—Where
's Karena?” Amaren muttered.

  Chaerok pointed to a splotch of red on the ground. “She made the mistake of underestimating me.”

  Dagfinn shook his head, and looked at Karena's body. “That's why I told you to kill him right away, woman. Humans always let their emotions get in the way of what needs to be done.”

  He looked to Chaerok. “I'll be with you soon as I dispose of this boy.”

  Ilian stared at the ground.

  It's not real.

  Tears streamed down his face, and fell onto the dusty ground below.

  A familiar voice touched his mind. You're crying. Why?

  Have you never known grief? Do you not feel remorse, Bale?

  Ilian sobbed, and pounded the ground with his fist.

  You've never felt this pain?

  The voice was quiet.

  Bale!

  No, it responded, never.

  Ilian touched his face, tasted the salt on his lips, and looked up once more. Blood pooled around the spot where the demon's hammer lay planted in the earth.

  He screamed.

  The world around him grew small.

  Now is not the time for despair, Ilian.

  He raged against the voice in his mind. I have nothing left! Everything is gone. My father, my life, everything. I don't have the power to do anything!

  You do.

  Ilian shook his head. I don't. There's nothing left.

  Ilian, the power is here within you. There's more to my power than this. Use it. Use my power. Touch it.

  He reached out, and touched the warm metal next to him. His fingers wrapped around the blade, and drew it into his palm. Despair turned to rage, and rage turned to blind hatred.

  Ilian drew the blade savagely across his arm, and pain mixed with pleasure as blood spilled forth from the wound. He let the blood gush across his body, and rubbed it into his face and clothes.

  I want it all. Give me all of your power, Bale.

  As you wish, the voice said.

  The ground exploded around him, and black and white flames snaked around his body. Everything came back to him all at once and he heard the voices once more.

  “...be taking the boy. You can't stop me from becoming compl—” Chaerok trailed off, his eyes widening.

  Dagfinn spun around. “What is this? Bale, what have you done?”

  Ilian rose to his feet. The power surged through every inch of his body.

  He took a step forward.

  When his foot hit the ground he found himself no more than a hands breadth from Chaerok. The blood drained from Chaerok's face and his mouth hung open.

  “Unforgivable,” Ilian said. “What you've done is unforgivable.”

  The fire demon ripped its hammer from the earth, and brought it down towards Ilian with speed that seemed beyond a creature that large. As the hammer struck the flames around Ilian it exploded into pieces, pelting the demons body. It stumbled backwards, swiping at the air in front of it.

  Ilian turned his gaze on the demon. “You. I release you from your strings.”

  Twin snakes of fire, one black, and one white, wrapped around the creature. It screamed once, and then went still. When the flames receded, all that remained was a stone statue of the creature. Its mouth was agape, its eyes wide, and two giant hands clenched into fists.

  Chaerok backed up a step. “Don't do this. I'm the same as you!”

  Ilian could see the reflection of himself in Chaerok's widened eyes. One of his eyes glowed black, the other white.

  He looked once more at the remains of Kane on the ground. “No. You and I are nothing alike.” He felt a strange calmness. It was as if his heart had broken into a thousand pieces, the shards scattering into the wind.

  “Begone from my sight.”

  He reached out towards Chaerok and sent the twin flames out once more. Chaerok brought up a wall of dark fire, but Ilian's flames penetrated it with ease. They wrapped around Chaerok's body and squeezed tight.

  “Please, no! I've come so far. I was supposed to be a god,” Chaerok sobbed.

  “A god?” Ilian shook his head. “You're scum.”

  He squeezed his hand shut and the snakes penetrated Chaerok's body, slithering in and out of him, burning him from within and without. The man screamed and squirmed, but there was no escape. His body fell to ash around him until all that remained was his head. Ilian recalled his fiery snakes and let the lifeless head drop to the ground.

  “May you suffer for eternity for all the despair you have brought.”

  Ilian faced Dagfinn. “It seems it's just you and me now.”

  The god regarded him coolly. “Death is inevitable for you, boy.”

  A smile crept onto Ilian's face. “Not on this day,” he said calmly.

  “Wielding both dark and light will destroy you. You can't hope to contain that power in a single body.”

  “So long as I take you with me, I can die in peace.”

  Dagfinn smiled. “It won't be that easy. I'll not hold back any longer.” The sky above him parted as a tornado of flame descended downwards. It enveloped his body and shrieked in fury.

  “This entire island will be dust. And when I'm done with you, the world will tremble.” He raised his hand.

  I will destroy him, and then my life will be extinguished like so many others on this day. One last stroke is all it will take.

  Ilian raised his hand, the snakes entwining around his arm.

  A footstep came from behind him. “Bloody fool.”

  Ilian turned in time to see a large hand smash into his face. He tasted blood, and everything around him spun before going dark.

  He was floating.

  Several times he heard cursing, and felt heat on his face. At one point the heat became intense, but it was replaced by a cool, cold, salty feeling.

  And then he was swaying steadily, back and forth, back and forth, for what seemed like ages.

  “Will he live?” A familiar voice asked.

  Of course I'll live, he wanted to say, but his voice wouldn't come to him, nor would his eyes open.

  “I'm not sure,” said another voice he knew. “Bale's power has taken him. I don't know if we can save him now. There's only one place we can go.”

  “Do you think they can seal it?”

  “We'd best hope they can. Who knows what'll happen if they can't.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “My stump hurts. I'm going to get some rest. You'd best get some too, Princess.”

  “Since when am I a princess?”

  A door opened and closed, and the voices trailed off into the distance.

  Father, where are you? I want to see you.

  Nobody responded.

  He heard voices from time to time after that, but he always slipped back into darkness.

  Don't worry, another voice spoke into his mind. I'm here, Ilian.

  Father?

  Rest now.