Rise of the Flame

  The other men joined Lukas and dismounted their horses. A young boy ran from the gated village and gathered the reins, leading them toward the stables. He snuck a peek at the twins and grinned as he walked past. When Risa glanced back at him, he turned beet red and ran along. Like most boys, he fell in love instantly.

  One of the men stepped forward. He resembled Lukas but his hair was cut very short.

  “I heard that they fly around on wyverns.” He spoke directly to Jaiza and Risa who nodded aptly, excitement in their eyes.

  Lukas nodded. “Yes. This is Bryson, one of my sons.” He looked back at the girls.

  “What’s a wyvern?” Risa asked. Her nose scrunched up as she spoke the foreign word.

  Bryson stepped in closer to her. “They’re creatures that resemble dragons. But these are much smaller and trainable, like horses; they have saddles and everything.”

  “And they’re fast!” one of the others added.

  “These are just rumors?” Everyone's eyes moved to Delia. “Or is there any proof of such things?”

  Lukas gave a slight bow to her. “Yes, ma’am, there is proof. We've seen hordes of folk fleeing those areas, and all have spoken of the sightings. All of Eura is now at war with the Empire. And we hear that the emperor may be a sorcerer of some sort.”

  Pirin sighed. “Let’s go.”

  Risa and Jaiza grumbled and didn’t move.

  Pirin waved for them. “I said let’s go,” he said sternly.

  Lilae heard whispering as they turned to leave. She noticed that their eyes looked up at Jaiza and Risa occasionally and Pirin noticed as well.

  “Wait!” Lukas called out to them.

  “Yes?”

  Lukas approached Pirin and they began speaking in hushed tones.

  “I have an idea to get you temporary citizenship, if not permanent,” Lukas said. He looked them all over. “You’re Northerners, you say?”

  Pirin nodded.

  Lukas smiled wide. “Perfect.” He clasped his hands together. “Well, the North is allied with Partha,” he added. “I can't just let you and these young ladies wander such territories with the kind of terror we’ve been seeing out there.” He nudged Pirin’s shoulder. “Can you believe it, after centuries, we’re going to have to deal with the other races again?”

  Pirin shook his head, eyeing Lukas’s hand on his shoulder. “We will manage.” He shrugged free from Lukas’s grasp. “Tell me; how can you help us?”

  Lukas cleared his throat. “Your daughters…I assume they don’t have suitors? Are they betrothed, perhaps?”

  Lilae gasped. She looked from Lukas to Pirin in shock.

  Pirin’s eyes widened. He glanced back at Jaiza and Risa, then to Lilae, his eyes resting on her. While Jaiza and Risa stepped forward, Lilae withdrew closer to Delia, locking arms with the woman.

  “I see what you're getting at, and you can stop right there,” Pirin said motioning for the girls to start walking away.

  Lukas held his hands up. “No, no, don’t get me wrong. I have sons. They are good men, with titles. As High Regent, my sons are subsequently barons. They would like to court your daughters.” He motioned toward two young men who stood beside Bryson. “Bryson, Andrew, and Jarred.”

  They were already making eyes with the twins, and Jaiza and Risa seemed to enjoy the attention. They gave the young men secret smiles.

  “With a union of our families, you all would be considered Parthans. You could freely live wherever you choose in this territory.” Lukas looked pointedly at Pirin. “More importantly, you’ll be under the protection of the crown. King Morr takes care of his people. There are soldiers in every city, town, and village.”

  His expression suddenly darkened. “There aren’t many eligible young women in Partha anymore. The Sisters come by and claim at least thirty percent of them every season. You are lucky you still have your daughters. Those Sisters are said to have a divine right to claim the girls that Elahe calls. Not even King Morr can stop them.”

  Pirin didn’t care. He began to shake his head, but then noticed Risa and Jaiza smiling at the young men.

  “Pa, please,” Jaiza whispered. The twins looked at their father with eyes that seemed to beg their father to say yes.

  “Come now, my love,” Lhana whispered close to his ear. “We are tired, worn out from travel, and the girls need this. You’ll have them waste their youth wandering around like this. At least give them a chance. Or a choice.”

  Pirin’s shoulders slumped as he turned away from his daughters’ anxious faces. “I don’t like this,” Pirin whispered to Lhana who nudged him to be quiet. “This is far too quick.”

  “This is good, Pirin. Don’t ruin it.” She spoke quietly as she straightened his collar. “We can have a home, and the girls would be cared for. Think of it, honey. Baronesses.”

  “We don’t even know these people. You want to pawn our daughters off to strangers?”

  She arched a brow and whispered, “And they don’t know us, either. They want to court the girls, not drag them off unwillingly. Let the girls have a chance. You owe me at least that much.”

  Lilae saw the dilemma Pirin faced. They had to stay together, but he couldn’t deny them the chance to find love and start families of their own. Maybe it would be best to let the twins stay in one place. Then he would only have to worry about himself and Lilae.

  “What about that one?” Lukas added, breaking Pirin from his thoughts. His dark eyes had finally caught sight of Lilae’s face, and Pirin could tell that her eyes intrigued him. “How old is she?”

  Lilae had tried to keep covered by her hood, shielding her eyes, but it was too late. He stared at her so intently that Pirin put his arm across her, as though shielding her. Pirin pushed her behind him. She was glad for the cover. She looked nervously at Delia.

  “No.” Pirin clenched his jaw. “Only the two are up for consideration.” Pirin’s voice was firm. “Your sons can speak to me about courting my daughters, Risa and Jaiza, and I will decide if it’s appropriate.”

  Lukas nodded in agreement. His eyes lingered on Lilae’s face and she lowered her head again. “Fine. Follow me,” Lukas replied turning toward the tall wooden fence that was still being built. “There is an empty flat near the blacksmith.”

  “That was fast,” Lilae said to Delia. She couldn’t believe that they hadn’t even gotten inside the gates of the village yet and Risa and Jaiza already had suitors.

  “It was bound to happen,” Delia muttered.

  “How much?” Pirin followed behind Lukas into the town square.

  Lukas glanced back. “Sixty quinne.” He raised a questioning eyebrow. “Reasonable enough?”

  “We are all hard workers. We will all take jobs in the morning. I can hunt, and the girls can do a number of things: sew, plant, harvest, domestic work. My wife can bake and cook as well as any palace chef, and my sister here,” Pirin said and nodded to Delia, “she is an herbalist. Your village would be very fortunate to have her. The sum shouldn’t be a problem.”

  Lukas smiled. “Good man. We’re happy to have you all.”

  They walked through a gate guarded by Parthan soldiers who nodded to Lukas as he passed. No one stopped to question them; Lukas’s word was enough in this case. They entered the bustling market square. Lilae was intrigued by the expanse of it.

  People sold their dried meats which hung from hooks. There was fresh fish, colorful produce, and expensive spices. Being so close to the kingdom gave the people of Lowen’s Edge such delicacies and luxuries. Lilae looked curiously at the assortment of selling carts. The town was so lively, she already felt optimistic.

  “Why are you building such a tall fence?” Jaiza asked, as she looked up at the men who worked above. The men were shirtless, sweating profusely as they lugged heavy logs and rope. The fence was comprised of dark logs that stretched at least twelve feet tall and encircled the entire village.

  Lukas glanced over his shoulder at her. “To keep out the beasts.”

/>   Risa was skeptical. “What beasts are that tall? Don’t tell me you have giants here?”

  “No, dear girl,” Lukas said. “Worse. Ever hear of a basilisk?”

  Delia stopped walking. Lilae noticed and stayed back with her.

  “No,” Risa and Jaiza said in unison, shaking their heads.

  “Well, I hope you’ll never have to see one.”

  “What are basilisks doing in Eura?” Pirin asked.

  Lukas turned to face them, and his sons stopped behind him. “The Swartelves are not the only danger coming from Nostfar.” He sighed. “Every now and again, I gather a few strong fighters and we go out and hunt these creatures. It’s a dangerous task though, and we have lost more than I wish to count.”

  Lukas frowned as he looked out into the distance, as though he still grieved for his lost men. “You girls,” he said, narrowing his eyes at Jaiza to Risa, “stay out of the forests after dark.”

  Risa and Jaiza nodded and quickly followed behind him, wrapping their arms around their waists.

  Lilae trailed behind with Delia, who was as stiff as a statue. “What is it Delia?” Lilae whispered, afraid of breaking Delia from her thoughts.

  Delia hushed her. Her eyes were fixed on the forest, yet Lilae could tell that she was listening to something. Lilae listened herself, to the quiet winds, and heard nothing out of the ordinary. She watched as Delia closed her eyes and tightened her grasp on her staff.

  When Delia opened her eyes, they went directly to Lilae’s. Lilae swallowed. There was something different in Delia’s eyes that frightened her. Usually, Delia looked so confident. For the first time, Lilae thought she actually saw fear on the Elder’s face.

  “What is it?”

  Delia held Lilae’s by her shoulders. “Listen closely, Lilae,” she began, and Lilae nodded fervently. “We must be very careful here. We are getting closer to The Barrier. You must control the urge to use your power. Do you understand?”

  “What power?”

  Delia squinted and pointed at Lilae’s forehead. Her soft fingertips pressed into the space between Lilae’s eyes. “For years you’ve been aware of your mental powers, Lilae. The Winds speak to you, and your fighting skills are heightened because of your power.” She moved her finger down to Lilae’s heart. “But, as you approach your eighteenth year of life, you’ve noticed something more, haven’t you?”

  Lilae looked away. She thought that it was her secret. She could feel that something was changing inside of her. “Yes,” she admitted in a hushed tone. “I do feel something…odd.”

  “You see.” Delia stood up straight. “This power, the power of the Ancients, given by Elahe himself”—she poked at Lilae’s heart—“is the one you must control, for it can destroy, and it is so strong that our enemies will sense its presence. Wexcyn’s disciples are looking for you. They will rip this realm apart to have your power.”

  Lilae frowned. “Why have we traveled so close to the Nostfar barrier then?”

  Delia looked behind Lilae, far past her. “Your calling has arrived, my dear. Soon, you’ll need to start the most important task of your life.”

  Lilae was about to ask more questions when Pirin came back for them.

  “Come, we must settle into our new home.” He motioned for them to follow.

  Delia pushed Lilae toward the village. “Go, child. We will talk soon.”

  Lilae wanted to stay back and ask more. She sighed in exasperation but didn’t have a choice but to obey. She followed behind Pirin and contemplated what Delia had said. It vexed her. Lilae had been trying to keep that burning power a secret for a while now. It was as though she knew the damage it could do, yet, something urged her to test it. It fought to be free.

  They were led to a wide roadway near the town square. The buildings were made of log and brick and reached at least two stories. The stone road was shaped like a tree, with wider roads resembling branches that held clusters of homes and shops. Lilae was intrigued by the style of dress of these Parthans. The women all wore colorful bonnets on their heads even if their dresses were plain and almost uniform. It seemed as if their accessories were their only ways of expressing themselves.

  Hyper children ran past them, playing and giggling. They rolled colorful balls down the street, kicking them to each other with such energy that Lilae couldn’t help but smile. The cottages were set in attached rows. The architecture was impressive in comparison to the other villages they’d lived in. Most of the homes were on the second level, whereas the bottom floors were shops. Across from the blacksmith’s shop was where Lukas opened a heavy door. It creaked on rusty hinges.

  “The old apothecary used to live here.” Lukas walked inside the dark room and started opening windows. Light spilled into the room. “She died about a month ago, so you can help yourself to whatever you find in here. Oh, and there’s quite an herb garden in the back,” he said. “If you don’t mind, perhaps that sister of yours can fill a few orders for remedies during the week. Those fees alone should pay half of the rental fee.”

  Pirin nodded. “Of course.”

  “But don’t worry,” Lukas said. “If things go well with our children, you’ll have to move to the Garden District with us. It would only be proper. Trust me, I know it sounds pretentious. I was only a councilman before the king gave my family titles. This whole nobleman system is still new to me.”

  Lilae covered her nose with her sleeve as she stepped into the dust-filled room. She waved the thick motes from before her eyes. It smelled old and full of mildew. Lhana lit a candle in a wall sconce and more light revealed scant furniture and shelves full of bottles, jugs, and stacked clay bowls.

  There was a large living space right inside the door. The outside was deceptive. Lilae was surprised that there was so much room. She followed the twins as they ran through the cottage with excitement. Besides the large living space with a dining table, large fireplace for cooking, cabinets, and a washbasin, there were two rooms for sleeping.

  “This small one will be for Pirin and me,” Lhana said as she stepped into the bare room. She glanced back at Lilae. “You know, when Pirin and I were first wed, we had a master suite, as big as this entire cottage. It was a beautiful manor, with staff and horses.”

  “It sounds lovely,” Lilae said. She offered a smile.

  Without returning the gesture, Lhana quickly hurried into the small hallway to the other, slightly larger room. There was a loft space above a small bed. “Lovely,” she said. “You girls can sleep in the loft and this bed will be perfect for Delia.” She beamed. Lilae couldn’t help but smile as well.

  Lhana spun around. “A real home again!” She hugged the twins. Her eyes lifted to Lilae’s. She tilted her gaze to the space beneath the window. “We can put some blankets down there for you, Lilae. It’ll suit you well.”

  Lilae stepped back into the front room, bowing her head. Her smile faded. When would someone hug her like that? She didn’t mind sleeping on the floor. It was the small spark of hate in Lhana’s eyes that made her stomach twist with dread. She sighed and stood by the front door, her back leaning against the cold stone wall. She suddenly felt like sneaking out.

  Risa and Jaiza grinned. They’d already rolled up their sleeves and started to rearrange the furniture. Lhana searched for a rag to clean out the large pot that hung from the hearth in the corner of the room.

  “You girls get settled in.” Pirin nodded to Lukas. “Let’s talk outside.” They left the cottage and Lilae walked out quietly behind them.

  Lilae waited for them to head down the road, and turned to go the other way when they did. She paused when she saw a young man walking from the blacksmith’s shop. She stepped away, her back pressed against the wall as he walked past her without a glance.

  She watched as he carried a large crate of scrap metal. Chestnut hair cascaded over his eyes, and he tossed it out of his vision. His arms strained to carry the heavy load and she saw sweat dripping down his body. The smell of coal was thick in the air an
d she felt the heat radiating from the shop across the road.

  He barely noticed her, but she noted every detail of his face. Something about him caught her interest. She darted down the road behind him and turned the corner to the marketplace. It was crowded and loud with merchants shouting about what they sold. He was lost and Lilae was caught in the mass. She stood on her tiptoes to try to spot him again, but he had vanished into the energetic crowd.

  She pushed her way to the entrance of the forest. Once she was free from the crowd, she sighed with relief. She already felt smothered by the swarm of people; she'd never seen such a vibrant marketplace.

  “Where are you going?” Pirin tapped her on the shoulder.

  Lilae swirled around to face him. “I thought you were speaking with Lukas,” she blurted.

  Pirin narrowed his eyes. “That’s not what I asked you, Lilae. You heard the man tell you girls to stay out of the forest. You can’t just go running off all the time like you did in Sabron, or Halwan before that. It is time to get serious about things. We are closer to enemy lines than we’ve ever been and you can get hurt.”

  Lilae nodded, looking off into the thickness of trees. “But I feel more at home…out there.” She marveled at how the forest extended farther than her eyes could see. It was so green, not full of the browns of withered trees or the white of snow that she had lived in for most of her life.

  Nature called to her. It was clean and fresh, and full of solitude. She yearned to be free from this life. No one had ever asked her if she wanted to be the Chosen one.

  Lilae’s shoulders slumped. She was trapped by this fate. How many people will I have to kill in order to be free?

  “You’ve never been one to enjoy enclosed spaces, like the little wolf you are,” he said, and smiled. “Wild and brave, my little Lilae.”

  She spoke softly as she looked up at the sun. “I like that, little wolf. It does fit me doesn’t it?” Her smile faded. “Pirin, do you ever wish that you could stay in one place? That you didn’t have to follow Delia and me around all of the time. I know I am being hunted.” She loved Pirin deeply. He was the only father she had ever known, and he’s always treated her like his real daughter. She would always remember and appreciate that. “Please, tell me the truth. I won’t be upset.”