“We are waiting with love for a thread to be tugged, waiting for someone to reach out and ask the great questions. It is inevitable that all will come to see that day. Help is as far away as you perceive it and as close as you allow it to be. But remember that we cannot do it for you. You must be the main actor in the great epic story of your life.
“When men and women are no longer afraid to look into the mirror, they will see beyond their limits and expectations.
“You will never be alone.
“For the moment,
“Baté”
Silently appreciating Sebastian’s answer, the three of them exchanged hopeful glances. The bell rang again, and they started for their seats.
“Wait for me!” Jamie said, as she grabbed Valerie’s hand.
Logan took one last look at the fresco.
• • •
Logan sat between Valerie and Mr. Perrot at a table in front of the stage. The children sat next to Valerie. They were joined by Ms. Crawley, from Mason One Auction House, and her date, along with Mr. Rampart’s wife and daughter. Mr. Rampart stood onstage, delivering a few opening remarks. Logan was only half-listening to him, because he was thinking about the note that Sebastian had written, particularly the phrase about the mirror.
When men and women are no longer afraid to look into the mirror, they will see beyond their limits and expectations.
Logan hadn’t told anyone what had happened that day at Manikarnika Ghat, when he’d first looked into the mirror they had found in Deya’s Destiny Box. But what he’d seen was a reflection of his mother’s face, as clear as his own. He’d been so startled by it that he hadn’t looked into Deya’s mirror since.
Loud applause pulled Logan out of his contemplation. The curtain had been opened, and the painting that Logan had spent so much time restoring was now on view. He still couldn’t believe he’d restored an original Michelangelo. Mr. Rampart motioned for him to stand so he could be recognized for his contribution to the art world. He obliged but only for a few seconds.
“I have one last announcement regarding this work of art,” Mr. Rampart said. “While I would love to see this Michelangelo reproduction remain here as part of the museum’s permanent collection, it will soon be finding a new home. Mr. Quinn, its owner, has instructed me to deliver the painting to the newly established Camden and Cassandra Ford Studio of Art here in New Chicago. The studio belongs to our very own Logan Ford.”
Valerie leaned over and gave Logan a congratulatory kiss on the cheek. Mr. Perrot squeezed his shoulder. Jamie and Jordan cheered. Mr. Rampart once again asked Logan to stand and be recognized. The crowd applauded with enthusiasm. Logan stood and looked around for Sebastian. But, as usual, he was not anywhere to be seen.
Logan sat back down, and Mr. Rampart continued with the night’s festivities, presenting all of the other recently restored works of art. But Logan’s thoughts were still on Sebastian. How did he know three weeks ago that I would have an art gallery? He told me that he was donating the painting to an acquaintance of his who owned an art gallery. Did he know that it was going to be my gallery?
Logan turned and looked fondly at Mr. Perrot, who appeared enthralled by another painting that was being rolled onstage, then at Valerie, who was helping Jamie butter a piece of bread. He was happy that Valerie was moving back to New Chicago and was going to be a bigger part of his life. He wondered once again about the three missing sets of the Chronicles and what could have happened to them. He thought about his parents and how he’d seen his mother’s face in Deya’s mirror. Then his thoughts circled back to the mysterious Sebastian Quinn, whose life’s work seemed to be to contribute to humanity the one thing that it always needed and should never be without: hope.
• • •
Compass Park appeared empty except for a single man walking with a cane. The rhythm of his walk was jagged, inconsistent, with his right leg dragging. His cane supported him as he stepped into the fountain pool and splashed his way to the monument. He stood there looking at the names carved into it. He ran his fingers slowly across the name of Fendral Hitchlords. He whispered something to himself.
The sound of a struck match caused him to turn and look at the man seated on the bench behind him. The same bench where Logan had found his father’s hidden message. The man hadn’t noticed the stranger sitting there before.
“Did you know that Fendral fella?” the stranger asked, before dragging on his lit cigarette.
The man splashed forward, making his way back out of the fountain. He stopped a few meters from the stranger seated on the bench. As he stood, water dripped from the bottoms of his pants legs and puddled on the ground.
“Yes, I knew Fendral. He murdered me once,” the man said in a calm voice, as he adjusted the gold buttons on his coat. “There’s something his son owes me.”
The stranger on the bench began to nod. “The sins of the father are passed down to the son,” he said as he took a puff of his cigarette. “What’s your name, friend?”
“Giovanni,” the man answered, water still dripping to the ground. “Giovanni Rast.”
The stranger threw his cigarette to the ground and put it out by stepping on it. “Well, Giovanni,” he said. “My name’s Randolph Fenquist, and I suspect that you and I have something in common.”
T. R. WILLIAMS divides his time between Seattle and Chicago. He is a scholar of ancient texts and loves to ponder the mysteries of life.
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First Atria Paperback edition January 2014
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Designed by Jill Putorti
Cover design and illustration by Tony Mauro
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Williams, T. R. (Tyler Ronald)
Journey into the Flame : Book One of the Rising World Trilogy / by T. R. Williams. —
First Atria Paperback edition.
p. cm. — (Rising World Trilogy ; Book One)
1. End of the world—Fiction. 2. Survival—Fiction. 3. Rare books—Fiction.
4. Conspiracies—Fiction. 5. Quests (Expeditions)—Fiction. 6. Magic—Fiction.
7. Science fiction. I. Title.
PS3623.I5646J68 2014
813’.6—dc23
2013023972
ISBN 978-1-4767-1336-6
ISBN 978-1-4767-1340-3 (ebook)
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
>
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Epilogue
About T. R. Williams
Journey Into the Flame: Book One of the Rising World Trilogy Page 42
