Some wanted to stay at the icy edge of the Neutral Lands, but Asha insisted that they press on. Perhaps they would settle there, in that icy plain, but she wanted to show them the Neutral Lands so they could decide for themselves.
As they approached the treaty signing field Asha saw a huge gathering of people who had made camp. They wore the red of Pyria.
“It’s a trap!” Icicle cried out, “I told you she was leading us into an ambush! This is a Pyrian invasion army!”
“No, they’re the refugees of my people,” Asha cried out, realizing. Whatever had happened, Pyria had fallen. Had Mount Flame finally erupted and destroyed the city?
There was confusion in the camp behind her and she rallied the people of Wynter, “Let me ride to meet them,” she said, “I fear that Pyria has also fallen, but there is room for both our peoples to live and work together.” Her eyes searched around the camp for Shard, but she did not see her. Had something happened to the love of her life? She wanted desperately to see her again, to hold her, to have her tell Wynter’s people that everything was all right.
She did see Blaze though, riding out on a salamander. She ran to meet him.
“Asha,” he said, dismounting in the middle of the field, “You’re alive!”
“What has become of Shard?” Asha asked, terror rising in her gut. Then she looked up to see Shard riding towards her, her long, white hair blowing in the wind. Asha knew it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. Then Shard rode right past her, towards her people.
“Blaze, what has happened?” Asha asked, “Please, tell me!”
“She was magnificent,” Blaze said, “Shard erected a barrier that held back the lava while I helped the people evacuate… but… she blames herself for the people that were left behind. Pyria was swallowed into the earth and filled with fire. Nothing short of godly intervention could have stopped it, but still, she is ashamed even to look at anybody, to talk… She has been silent the whole journey, making liquid for us when we thirsted, but never speaking. It wasn’t her fault, Asha! The volcano exploded with little warning. She saved hundreds of lives…”
Asha looked over to where Shard stood with her people. Icicle hugged her tightly and the hunters surrounded her. Icicle pointed away from the camp, to the colder parts of the Neutral Lands and they started to move, Shard following along.
“Wait!” Asha said, “We could have all lived together! Shard!”
“Let them go,” Blaze said, “They belong in the cold. Perhaps Shard just needs some time with her people.”
“I don’t understand,” Asha said, “I did everything I was supposed to do, I risked my life to save the people of Wynter, and now they walk away from me, even Shard?”
“You can’t expect people to change overnight,” Blaze said, “Even our people prefer the warmer side of the Neutral Lands. We’ll be neighbors, and we’ll still need each other. What, you expected us to crowd into one big city and live happily ever after?”
“That’s what I dreamed of,” Asha said, “When I saw you here, I thought it was fate. I could survive the destruction of Pyria knowing that something new and great was going to come from the joining of our people. That’s not going to happen though, is it?”
“Probably not,” Blaze said, “Maybe with time and patience, we will live together happily as neighbors. That doesn’t mean you can’t be with Shard though, Asha. She told me that if anything was to happen to her, that I should tell you she loves you. I assume the feeling is mutual.”
Asha looked back at the path she had just taken. Her body was just starting to warm up and protested against the thought of going back into the cold, but she was determined to go and break Shard out of her silence, to tell her she still loved her and that she was grateful that she’d done so much to save the people of Pyria. She walked off into the cold, leaving Blaze standing behind her.
“Shard!” Asha felt the cold sting her face but paid it no heed, “Shard!”
Shard was walking with the others but stopped when Asha called. Asha ran to her and hugged her tightly. Shard’s body seemed stiff and unresponsive.
“Shard, you saved my people… What you did was incredible, by all accounts. Yes, you couldn’t save everybody, but I couldn’t save all the people of Wynter, either. We did our best and we’re here, now. Our people are safe and we can finally be together!” Asha let go and lifted Shard’s face to look at her. She let her hands stroke Shard’s silver hair. “I love you,” she said, “Thank you for helping the people of Pyria.”
Then Shard started to cry, great heaving sobs and she fell into Asha’s arms, clinging to her for dear life. Asha held on tightly, soothing Shard as she cried, even though Asha was shivering from the cold. She was used to the cold, but she couldn’t stand to see Shard in pain.
“I failed,” Shard said, breaking her silence, “I said I’d save your people and I failed! You’ve lost your city, your home…”
“You’ve lost yours too,” Asha said, “There was nothing we could do, nothing… The world is broken and this was inevitable. Perhaps, in a few years, even the Neutral Lands will be uninhabitable. For now, we’re alive and we’re here, together.”
Shard kissed Asha deeply and Asha returned it with all her love flowing through her. It had all been worth it for this. Every ounce of struggle, every day when she had been so cold and tired that she had not wanted to get up again, it was all okay, because Shard was here with her now.
“I love you,” Shard said, “I must attend to my people now… Meet me in one week’s time, where we used to sign the treaty. Come at night, and be prepared to travel.”
Asha’s eyes widened, “Where are we going?”
“You said it yourself – this place won’t last,” Shard said, “We must discover what has caused the disturbance to this world’s natural cycle and restore the balance, if it is possible. So our people won’t lose another home.”
“I will see you in one week, then,” Asha said, “Be safe, Shard.”
“You as well, Asha.” Shard said, and wandered off up the snowy trail.
* * *
A week passed, and Asha wondered if she should go. She wanted to be with Shard, but this was a fool’s mission. There was no way to change the climate of a world, it was nature, and nature’s ways could not be changed. Perhaps though, she thought, looking at Blaze, it was time to go. He was doing a fine job of rallying the citizens and they were already building new homes for themselves and settling in. Asha’s magic, the one thing that had made her rise in importance, no longer seemed so vital to her people in a land where food and firewood were plentiful. She could be with Shard now, travel the world, try at least to change the world’s doomed future.
She packed the few things she was taking and headed out of the tent. The night was still, the air cool. The stars were out, and she headed to the treaty table, and waited for Shard.
* * *
“Where are you going?” Icicle’s voice cut through the night as Shard left the tent, “Packed supplies… A journey. Why would you leave us now?”
“The world is still in danger,” Shard said, “The climate is growing harsher with each passing year. Soon, even the Neutral Lands won’t be safe to live in. Then, where will we run to?”
“Asha is going with you, I take it?” Icicle said.
“Yes,” Shard said, “If we don’t find the answers we seek, we will return. We have to do something… We can’t just sit here while the world falls apart…”
“You are just like your mother,” Icicle said, “She was always determined to sign that treaty each year, even after it became clear that it was no longer needed. Now I understand why. She wanted to keep relations up with the Pyrians, to see if their climate situation mirrored ours. She was the one who insisted we abandon the city and move underground, even when her health was failing… She knew this would happen…”
“Perhaps,” Shard said, “I have to go, Icicle. Thank you… for always being such a good mother.”
&nbs
p; “I’m sorry that I was hard on Asha,” Icicle said, “I didn’t believe that she came for our good at first. I still remember the war…”
“It’s okay,” Shard said, “I know she forgives you. She’s a loving person, and I know she won’t hold a grudge.”
“You have to go, it’s okay,” Icicle said, “Be well, Shard, and take care of Asha as well.”
“I will,” Shard said, heading out into the night.
* * *
When Asha saw Shard, joy and relief filled her. She stood up and embraced Shard, kissing her deeply under the stars. Shard took her hands.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Shard asked. “We could stay here, enjoy all this life has to offer, and perhaps the climate won’t become too harsh in a lifetime…”
“No, we must try,” Asha said, “For all the people in Wynter and Pyria, and all the people who still live, we must try to save this world.”
Shard held Asha’s hand as they walked towards the edge of the camp, but they did not look back as they headed out into the trees and the dark night… together at last.
Frozen Flame Page 3
