Emerald Fire

by Kathryn Blade

  The daerveth, not to be outdone, roared at the sky as massive feet stomped the ground. Even the githok screeched their song of victory.

  The next morning Kaegan and Loriann packed provisions before mounting their horses. Derek and Orizahr met them at the camp’s perimeter.

  “I wish you would stay, Loriann,” Derek implored as he clasped her hand.

  “Two traitors remain, your grace. I will not know peace until they are dead,” she replied, emerald eyes impassively catching his gaze for a moment.

  Kaegan shifted restlessly. “Nor will I, your grace. You should know my place is always by Loriann’s side.”

  “I understand,” Derek sighed. “I hope you can forgive me, Loriann. You both are welcome in the Keep at any time.” Orizahr remained silent, eyes misting with tears as they rode away.

  “Where shall we go, love?” Kaegan inquired.

  “Astor, where the traitors are. Then I want to visit Riverpoint again,” Loriann replied, nudging the mare onto a well-travelled path leading south. “I miss Haymo and the others there.”

  They rode in silence until Derek’s camp disappeared in the distance. “Are you sure it won’t cause you more pain?” Kaegan caught her gaze as the question came.

  “I want our child to be born there. It was a happy place until Ghedrii found us. If it bothers you, we can live elsewhere.” She paused, breath catching in her throat as she waited for his answer. There was no question he would agree. Kaegan had always done everything in his power to make her happy.

  “I’d like that,” he mused. “Perhaps Haymo will show me how to build a hut. It will have to be large enough for us and the babe.”

  The threat of the king’s guard no longer forced them to travel at night. Their journey to Astor passed without incident. Within a week, they rode through the gates. The horses were housed in a rented stall in the stable.

  Kaegan approached the innkeeper at the inn that served as their home when they had lived in Astor. The man fell to his knees, begging for mercy.

  “There was no thought of mercy when Willem bought your allegiance.” Kaegan’s voice was low. “Come with us, old man. You’re not the only one we seek.”

  Kaegan’s hand grasped the man’s neck, fingers digging into the flesh. Loriann led the way to the docks, nimbly picking her way along the rotten boards until Ghedrii’s hideout came into view. “There,” she called.

  The innkeeper sobbed and moaned as Loriann pushed the door open. Ghedrii snored as he leaned against a wall.

  Loriann dug through the rubbish on the floor until she found two mugs. A bottle of cheap wine sat on a table placed against the wall where Ghedrii reclined. She caught the cork between her teeth, tugging until it popped free. A good measure of wine filled each cup.

  “Wake up, Ghedrii,” Loriann cajoled as a swift kick caught the man in one side. A second kick followed.

  Ghedrii’s eyes opened, a choked cry of horror breaking the stillness. “You no die!”

  Loriann smiled as she removed a small vial from a hidden pocket within the cloak she wore. Half of its contents was poured into one mug. The remainder found its way into the second.

  “Stand and face us,” she ordered as another kick caught him in the ribs. Turning for a moment to address the sniveling innkeeper, she added, “Stop crying like a little girl, old man.”

  Kaegan shoved the innkeeper against the wall where Ghedrii stood. He drew the sword, point extending toward the men. “If you move, I’ll cut your heart out. Now listen to Loriann and do as she says.”

  “Each of you take a mug.” Loriann paced back and forth, hands behind her back. “Now you must drink all of the wine in your mug. Don’t spit it out or try to trick us. If you do I’ll roast you both before Kaegan cuts your heart out.”

  Both men drained their cups, glancing furtively around as if hoping to find an avenue of escape. Loriann continued. “Ghedrii, thank you for teaching me about poisons. I managed to create the poison you just drank the first time we were in Astor. What do you think it does?”

  The men remained silent. “Very well then. Let me tell you what it does. Your blood will fail to clot.” A trail of blood poured down each man’s face from a nostril a moment after she spoke.

  “Then the pain will begin as it destroys your internal organs.”

  The men fell to the floor, writhing in agony, fingers clawing at their guts. Loriann kneeled beside Ghedrii. “I destroyed the city where your family lived. First with fire, then the ground swallowed it whole. I want you to know that.”

  Kaegan knelt by the innkeeper. “We were going to kill your wife. We decided to let her live. She will find someone new to love. Hopefully someone more honorable than you. Think about that as you die.”

  The gruesome sounds of their gasping, groaning, and strangled breath ended after a few moments. Loriann released a small flame to feed upon the corpses before they left. The old dock collapsed into the sea before the sun moved a finger’s breadth closer to the horizon.

  They did not remain in Astor. Their path turned once more to the southeast and Riverpoint. Haymo and the others welcomed them with open arms. The larger hut was built on the site where the first had stood.

  The simple life of Riverpoint filled a void left by the search for allies and the chaos of war. Kaegan once again bartered with a skill any nomadic merchant would envy. Loriann learned to weave baskets.

  Their days were filled with work. Their evenings filled with communal gatherings around a central campfire. Storytelling, dance, and song were a way of life in the village.

  Loriann swore she fell in love with Kaegan all over again as she watched him fish in the surf or play with the children. He built a bamboo cradle as she grew heavy with child. She spent hours sewing tiny garments for the baby.

  Though late fall had come, Riverpoint remained temperate as Loriann’s time drew near. Kaegan remained with her when the pains of labor began. He refused to leave her side. Their son took his first squalling breaths as the sun set over the ocean.

  The next day the irrational fears of losing the child were laid to rest as he woke them with howling cries of hunger. Kaegan changed the babe’s diaper before proudly presenting him to Loriann. The soft grunts as he nursed at her breast soothed their worries. He was strong and healthy. Tears of relief fell upon their cheeks.

  It was time to leave the old life behind as they embraced the new.

  The End