Fire Prince

  Chapter Ten – Return to the void

  A white disc manifested in the air where the portal had stood. “Did we do that?” asked Andin incredulously.

  “I think not fire prince,” said Qin.

  The disc fully materialized revealing two familiar shapes. Andin ran to them. “Dad! Lord Crepus! You got it to work!” Andin exclaimed before realizing he was wrong.

  “No, I’m afraid you’re mistaken young prince” said Svoi.

  “Headmaster? Where is my father?” asked Andin.

  The Brothers joined Andin at the window. “For whatever reason mortal men are much better suited to this task,” said Svoi as his voice became more strained. “If one of the gods even came near the window it would collapse; we’ve tried,” said Svoi.

  “Can we use this portal to cross through Beldurian?” asked Qin.

  “I’m afraid not Waterlord; it is merely a window, not a doorway,” regretted Svoi. “Where are you Andin?” asked the headmaster.

  “It’s some new plane, completely barren, a natural portal opened here from Pelagos, then collapsed early,” explained Andin.

  “The universe seeks balance prince, perhaps the doorway will reopen,” consoled Svoi. “We managed to create this window using four disciplines, I’m afraid it won’t last much longer, the burden is great,” Svoi now sounded completely spent. As suddenly as it had appeared the window vanished. Helplessness swept through the camp.

  Their ship was still sinking, but now their tragedy could be observed. “Do any of your men know other disciplines?” asked Andin.

  “I’m sure they do, but they are already too weak, the rations will be exhausted in two days,” said Lin heavily.

  “Three days,” corrected Andin. Andin went to his tent to fetch four weeks of uneaten biscuits. There was now no denying Andin was an immortal like them. “I see your father has done the impossible,” said Qin voicing what he had suspected all along.

  “Even I don’t know how,” shrugged Andin. No child of mortal or god had ever been born an immortal. Bellos had somehow cracked it.