Rise of the Flame Read online

  “It was always you, Pirin. Coincidences don’t just happen. We have all been chosen, so long ago that the world has forgotten. We cannot escape our fate; not when the entire world is at stake.”

  Chapter 1

  Lilae floated bare-skinned beneath the bright crescent moon, her arms outstretched on the lake’s calm surface. Winter never seemed to end in northern Eura, but she braved the frigid water for the solitude offered in an evening swim. Alone, she thought, just how I like it.

  Just as she began to relax, Lilae felt the presence of her Elder in the black shadows of the forest. This is not good. She peeked over and saw Delia in the human form she’d stolen when she was forced to leave the Underworld, her pale face illuminated from beneath the hood of her wool cloak. She held her wooden staff in one hand and Lilae’s discarded cloak in the other.

  “Lilae!”

  Lilae swallowed, and then flipped over to swim back toward the shore, closing the gap between them. She quickly got out of the water and dressed, taking the heavy cloak from Delia’s grasp and flinging it over her shoulders to ward off the chill in the air.

  “What is it? What’s happened?” Her breath escaped her lips like a puff of smoke in the darkness.

  Delia looked over Lilae with dull blue eyes. “I don’t like how close they are getting. We need to leave before dawn.”

  Lilae tucked her boyish pants into her boots. Only a few years ago, she would have refused; she would have run away to stay with another family in their village. Now, at almost eighteen, Lilae resigned herself to their nomadic lifestyle.

  That’s because she finally learned why they moved so much: Lilae was being hunted.

  Lilae swiftly followed Delia through the forest to their little cottage on the edge of town. It was a small structure, built into the side of a hill. Though it was once a cave, Pirin made it into a real home. A squat chimney protruded from beneath the soil, a trail of smoke wafting from its mouth into the gray sky.

  Lilae ducked as she stepped inside. Pirin, Lhana, and the twins, Risa and Jaiza, were already awake. Her surrogate family. They glanced at her and, without a word, returned to their preparations. They all moved slowly as the cold air in the room bit at them.

  Pirin put his arm around Lhana. She stopped packing and buried her tears in his shoulder, sighing, “Why? Just tell me why? Every time we finally get comfortable, and make friends, you make us leave.”

  He smoothed her blond hair and kissed her cheek. “And every time you ask me this same question. The answer will not change. They are coming. We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Let us stay behind. It’s not the girls and me that he wants.”

  Pirin grabbed Lhana by the elbow. The room fell silent and Lilae tensed, her eyes darting from Lhana’s stunned face to Pirin’s stern expression.

  Pirin lowered his voice, but Lilae heard every word. “We stay together. She is my responsibility.”

  Lhana swallowed and arched a brow, her jaw clenched. Her eyes may have glared in defiance, but her voice wavered. “I thought she was the Elder’s responsibility. You trained her; your duty is done.”

  Pirin pulled Lhana closer. “I will not hear another word about it.” The discussion was over. Pirin’s word was law. Everyone went back to packing.

  Lilae glanced at Lhana and wondered if the Ancients knew how much Lhana hated her. Lhana met Lilae’s eyes with what was clearly resentment. It was a look that hurt Lilae more than anything; there was almost nothing she wanted more than to finally feel that woman’s love.

  Despite the tension, they all enjoyed a hasty breakfast of buttered toasts, eggs, and fried potatoes, aware that this might be the last they would have for quite some time. They all ate silently, and packed their leftovers in sacks. Lhana also packed dried toasts and fruits for the journey. They would have to buy more supplies as they went on, or rely on Pirin to hunt while in the wilderness.

  While the others gathered their belongings, Lilae sharpened her dagger. For her, packing was always quick. She had nothing of value. She wore her only trinket of worth around her neck. It was a simple silver necklace with shiny stones around a ruby. Besides that, a sack of clothing and an extra pair of boots was all Lilae needed.

  Her dagger, however, was Lilae’s most precious belonging. Pirin gave it to her years ago, and she trained with it more than any other weapon he introduced.

  Jaiza’s grunt sounded like exasperation as she stuffed a worn old book and her favorite dress into her travel bag. She reached for her bow and arrows and headed toward the door, not even looking at Lilae as she passed by.

  Once everyone was ready, Lilae hooded herself and followed the procession into the woods. Soon, the sun would rise and farmers would tend to their cattle and crops.

  Delia led the way as they quietly crossed the village to the path leading east. Always east. She cut through the darkness, taking them from gentle paths directly into the thickness of the woods where the grass was knee high and the hungry bugs were ready to feast on any exposed skin they could find. They were all used to it by now. It would be just another long, hard journey to a foreign land.

  Whenever she saw Delia look into the sky, eyes glowing and staff raised, she imagined that she could actually see the Ancients peering down at them from their homes in the Overworld. When Lilae glanced upward, she saw only stars.

  “I am glad we have a moment to speak, Lilae. I’ve been wondering how you feel now that you’re approaching your eighteenth birthday.”

  “I feel fine.” She stuffed her gloved hands into her pockets to warm them. “I am ready for a new journey. I feel more at peace in the wilderness. No one can be mean to me out here; and no one can hurt me.” She shrugged it off and forced a smile Delia’s way. She didn’t want to complain.

  “No one can hurt you, Lilae,” Delia said. “Unless you let them. Have The Winds spoken to you lately?”

  “No, they have been quiet.”

  “Well. Perhaps it is a good thing. They warn you of danger that even I cannot see.”

  Lilae nodded. “Yes. I don’t need The Winds to tell to look out for boys. I’m glad to be free of Jameson’s taunting.”

  “Tell me about this boy.”

  “He smells like the pigs and always tries to wrestle me in the pits.” Lilae scrunched up her nose. “I won’t wrestle him, even if I want to twist his arm off.”

  Delia chuckled softly as she glanced at her. “I’m glad to hear it. I hope you know he wants more than to wrestle, Lilae. I’m sure he fancied you.

  “Gross.”

  “Risa and Jaiza enjoy the company of boys. I’m sure they are ready for marriage, but you know you’re different, right?”

  “I know. I guess I don’t care about the same things that they do. I do not care about friends, or boys, or starting a family of my own.”

  A small smile formed on Delia’s lips. “Of course not”— she winked at Lilae—“you’re too young to think of such things.”

  “Am I?” She couldn’t see a boy falling in love with her or raising children of her own. But that didn't mean she wouldn't like an adoring, handsome boy professing his love to her; she just didn't think that it was possible. She looked odd. She acted differently. It was better not to dream about such things.

  “Don’t most girls get married at my age?” She stepped over a fallen tree and waited for the others to do the same.

  The grass grew taller, nearing their necks. It was covered in ice, making it so sharp that they had to walk through it with caution. So many years of walking, of moving. When would they stop?

  “Sure, some do. There are scores of young girls who at the first sign of womanhood begin bearing children, too. And they will do so continuously until the seed no longer catches. But that’s not the life for you. You have a future, Lilae. There’s a bigger, more important task for you than just producing babies. You are different.”

  “How? Why? Because there's something wrong with me?”

  “No!” Delia waved a flippant hand an
d peered at Lilae. “Nonsense. There's nothing wrong with you. You’re special. You have a very important destiny.”

  “But why, Delia?” For as long as she could remember, she just went with whatever Delia or Pirin said was best. “How am I special? Why am I being hunted? I’ve never hurt anyone innocent. I have killed, but I follow the judgment of The Winds.”

  Delia was silent for a moment. “Soon,” she said and patted Lilae on the shoulder.

  “She is ready,” Lilae heard Delia whisper to herself, as if praying to the Ancients above.

  ***

  The Ancients heard Delia and sent word to the Guardians. At each of the four realms across the entire world, the giants stretched and opened their eyes. They were ready to release the locks on The Barriers.

  The Guardians pushed the doors. A hazy film stretched from its top to the smooth, black ground. And then they returned to their posts, their golden swords ready at their waists, and waited for Lilae’s arrival.

  Chapter 2

  Weeks has passed since Lilae and the others saw another village. They kept off the worn paths and stayed as close to The Barrier as possible. The massive stone structure stood as a constant reminder that they were far from civilization. No one ventured near The Barrier; it was feared.

  Sometimes, Lilae wondered if the other races were as afraid of The Barriers as the humans were. As they climbed over foothills and through mountain passes, she periodically glanced at the top of The Barrier, where a green haze rippled from the top of the stone to the clouds. She hoped that she’d catch a glimpse of a Silver Elf. Silver Elves shared a wall with the humans, and in her mind, they were the friendliest of the six remaining races.

  The terrain changed from treacherous mountains and valleys, where the snow and wind whipped past their nearly frozen faces, to smooth plains and dense forests. It was like a dream to see the different landforms of Eura.

  They crossed over a bridge that connected two massive mountains. When they reached the top, it felt as if they were in the clouds. Whenever Lilae had the nerve to look down, all she saw was a white mist that resembled smoke. Though she couldn’t see it, she knew that a river rushed through the valley below. Its waters crashed along the rocks, causing a deafening roar to fill the valley.

  Too high, Lilae thought. The wind whipped around her, making her red hair fly into her eyes.

  Lilae gulped and tried to catch her breath. Her hands started to shake as she imagined herself plummeting to her death. She hoped the bridge was sturdy enough to support them. Her hands gripped the rough ropes that served as railings so tightly that they cut into the palms of her hands.

  Lilae was usually at the head of the pack, but now, she was the last to gather the nerve to cross. She willed herself to move her feet, forcing her mind to stop feeding her images of falling and hitting her head on every rock that lay below.

  Her breath sped up. The slats of the bridge were cracking; some were already missing. She looked to Pirin with terrified eyes.

  He seemed too far away. Lilae saw him motion for her to cross.

  “You can do it, Lilae,” Pirin yelled above the roar of the river below.

  Lilae looked down again, the mist curling up around her ankles.

  “Just take your time.”

  His patience with her gave her courage. She nodded, more to convince herself that she was ready than anything else.

  Lilae took a deep breath and headed toward Pirin. She would hate for him to think of her as a coward. She walked carefully across, praying the entire time. She drew a breath of relief when she safely reached the other side and joined the others.

  They began down a steep trail that led back into the wilderness. They were all tired. Everyone was moody. Risa and Jaiza stayed close to each other, as always, and looked simply miserable.

  Lilae walked ahead of them all, trapped in her thoughts, clinging to her more pleasant dreams to keep her going. Hunger nagged at her stomach. Her feet were callused and sore from hundreds of miles of walking. Still, she refused to complain.

  Pirin once told her that complaints, and excuses, were signs of weakness. From as early as she could remember, his words were like law and she lived by his and Delia’s teachings.

  “Please, Pirin.” Lhana stopped abruptly. She breathed heavily, coughing from the cold in the air. She dropped her bags onto the ground with a thud and folded her arms across her chest. “We have been walking since dawn, and without a decent break. I am exhausted.” Her shoulders slumped. “Please, darling, can we rest now?”

  Pirin gave her one look. She was pale, her cheeks red from the wind. He nodded and looked around. There was a small clearing at the mouth of a cavern. He looked to Delia. The Elder placed her staff in the ground, looked around, and nodded her approval.

  That’s how it always was, Pirin checking to make sure Delia was in agreement. He shrugged his heavy pack off of his back and held it with one hand.

  He nodded toward the cave. Lilae looked at it. It was a small opening in the side of the gray mountain, and all she could see was black inside. She was glad that she wasn’t as afraid of the dark as she was of heights.

  “This way,” Pirin said, leading them to the clearing. They climbed the rocks and heaved their sacks inside the shelter. “This will suffice for the night.”

  There was a collective sigh of relief and everyone busied themselves with setting up camp inside the hollow mouth of the cave. They would make it as comfortable as possible.

  “Looks like rain anyway,” Pirin said, and peered into the night sky. He sniffed the air. “I’m sure of it. Build a fire inside the cave and we’ll sleep there.”

  “How long can we stay?” Lhana wrapped her arms around his waist.

  Pirin looked at Risa. “Until morning.”

  Jaiza’s gaze went to the dark woods on the other side of the cave. “But what about wolves? I saw at least three carcasses on the way up here.”

  “We’ll make a fire. Don’t worry,” Pirin assured her. “Lilae, go out and place the rabbit traps.”

  Lilae nodded, uncaring about the cold; it never affected her as it did the others. She wanted to talk further with Delia. Their nights beside the fire, learning and hearing stories, were what Lilae looked forward to each day.

  “Who will keep watch?” Jaiza eyed the dark cave and then the forest again. If there was one thing that Jaiza was afraid of, it was wolves.

  Pirin already started to gather wood from fallen branches around the camp. “I’ll watch for half of the night, and then you girls can take turns. We’ll get horses from the next village and I promise we can stay at an inn.”

  The twins smiled. Lilae watched their faces light up, and it brought a small smile to her lips. The thought of sleeping in an inn excited them all. There, they could drink ale and meet new people. The food was always hearty even if the beds were sometimes infested with bed bugs.

  Lilae lingered near the slope into the woods while the others set up. She heard something. Her head tilted as she listened to The Winds.

  Delia looked back at her, concern spreading across her face. “What is it, Lilae?”

  Lilae held a gloved hand up and continued to listen. The Winds spoke to her. They were always there like an old friend. The voices that floated along the breeze or rushing winds always warned her when something was amiss. She had relied on them since she was a child, and they never lied.

  Now, they issued a warning.

  “Bandits,” Lilae said, standing tall. Her eyes searched for movement in the bushes.

  “Oh, great. She’s talking to herself again,” Risa whispered.

  “Shush, Risa.” Jaiza nudged her sister’s arm. “She may talk to herself, but has she ever been wrong?”

  Risa didn’t reply. They both watched as Lilae stood near the edge of the woods.

  “Murderers.” The Winds were sure to tell Lilae that and she gave the twins a look that they understood.

  “They followed our tracks, and they wish to rob and kill us.” Lilae s
aid it as if she was discussing the weather.

  “Humph. I wish they’d try,” Jaiza said with a glower in the same direction as Lilae’s gaze.

  Delia drew in a deep breath. “Holy Elahe. We can never travel in peace?” She stabbed her staff into the ground. “Those bandits are damned fools to be this close to The Barrier.”

  “I don’t like this.” Lhana’s eyes darted toward the forest as she withdrew to hide near the cave. “Why does this always happen? One day they’ll sneak up on us, I just know it!”

  “I won’t let that happen,” Lilae said, glancing back at her.

  “You will be the death of me,” Lhana said as she turned her back on Lilae.

  Pirin gave her a sidelong glance. “Perhaps you’d let me train you sometime, Lhana. You are not as defenseless as you pretend to be. Your trait is quite rare; it could be of use to us.”

  Lhana glared at him. “I don’t want to hear it. You seem to forget that I am a proper lady, only warriors use their traits.”

  Pirin shrugged. “Suit yourself. I don’t understand why you’d rather waste something you’ve inherited.”

  Lhana shook her head. “Never. So stop asking me.” She raised a finger. “The first queen of the black throne gave my family my dowry. Who else can make such a claim?”

  Risa sighed and gave Jaiza a look. They both sat their things down without a word. They’d trained for times such as this with Lilae since they were all children; and this wouldn’t be the first group of bandits to threaten them.

  Jaiza grabbed her bow, securing her quiver of arrows onto her back.

  Risa drew her sword quietly and put the scabbard down. She rolled her shoulders, as if loosening her muscles.

  Lilae grinned, her teeth shining in the moonlight. She loved when the twins were like this.

  Jaiza stepped beside Lilae, who was younger yet taller. Her keen eyes looked into the growing darkness. “I’ll go ahead and see how many there are.” She twisted her blond hair into a knot at the top of her head to keep it from getting in the way.