Rise of the Flame

by K.N. Lee

  Lilae trembled. She was afraid of his eyes. They were so dark that they were nearly black. The shape of his eyes were odd to her as well, thin with the corners turned down, a crease absent from his eyelids. His skin was dark like ash. He had long, straight, black hair that hung over his shoulders.

  There was a tattoo across Dragnor's face, symbols that she’d never seen, going across from one temple to the other. The tattoos were illuminated as well, as if a light shone from inside his body.

  Memories flooded Lilae's mind. She remembered the chains that caught her. How impossible it had seemed that they came from nowhere and ripped her from the sky. Now, she understood. His was the last face she saw before she blacked out that day. Lilae had watched him dart across the crowd like a shadow of death.

  Lilae remembered the glowing dagger that he had withdrawn from his cloak, how it had penetrated Pirin's chest. Lilae gulped back new tears. The memories twisted her gut in agony.

  “That show you put on in Lowen’s Edge is all the proof I need, that you are The Flame. We've been waiting for you for a very long time.” Dragnor stood and folded his hands behind him. “Wexcyn has great plans for you,” he told her in a whisper.

  Lilae withdrew from him, sitting in a corner. She pulled her legs into her chest and shook her head. “You killed him!” she cried. “If you try to put your hands on me,” she wiped her cheek. “I will kill you. I swear it.”

  “Such empty threats are of no concern to me. You might live if you learn to hold your tongue.”

  Lilae refused to let him see the fear in her eyes, though she felt fear like never before. Dragnor raised his hand to examine the room, the light from his right hand slowly going over the darkness around them.

  Lilae looked around, nervous about the silence. There was a row of cages filled with terrified girls who were all around her age. Only she was alone, every other cage was stuffed with the Parthan villagers.

  “Jaiza? Risa?” she called out raggedly. Everyone turned to look at her. “Risa! Jaiza! Are you there?”

  No one answered Lilae's plea.

  “Where are my sisters?” She turned on Dragnor. Her face reddened with anger.

  Lilae feared the worst. Anxiety took over. She remembered hearing their screams. She had failed them. She began to cry out with grief. She beat the bars with her hands as she howled through her tears. Just thinking that they were dead, made her stomach twist into hundreds of knots.

  They didn't have to fight with her. It was all her fault that they were ever in danger. It was her fault that they were dead. The guilt ate away at her. It twisted and burned like hot coals. She didn't care about anything else in the world.

  “Quiet!” Dragnor shouted at her. “I will not warn you again.”

  Lilae didn't feel too much concern for herself in that moment.

  “You killed them!” She screamed at him and rushed to the bars of the cage. The impact shook the cage and threads of light lit the room. Her glare cut into him.

  Dragnor grinned. “Yes, little flame. Show me more of that divine power.”

  The lights danced around her, flashing around the entire room. The other girls gasped and scrambled towards the walls, to get as far away from Lilae as possible.

  Lilae no longer cared. She let the light shine around her body. She would no longer suppress it. The power was nearly blinding, thrilled to be free. It wrapped around her, making her look like a goddess. Her secret was out and she wished Dragnor would try something. She pictured herself ripping his throat from his body, wiping that smug look off of his face. She wanted to pound his face into mush.

  But Dragnor just looked at her with a small grin. It confused her that he seemed so self-satisfied. She had wanted to frighten him.

  A second later Lilae regretted her actions. Dragnor grabbed her neck through the bars and his thin wiry fingers dug into her flesh. She felt his palm heat across her throat and she felt something course through her veins, burning her from the inside out. Her eyes bulged. It felt as though he were ripping out her very soul.

  Lilae felt those familiar powers that she had been keeping secret abandon her. She started to panic, willing it to stay put. She tried to harness it mentally but Dragnor was stronger than she was. It was as if he had done this before, and Lilae was a mere novice. He held on tighter and the power bubbled from her core. It flew to Lilae's veins and she felt as if it were soaking out of her pores.

  Lilae shook violently. She bucked and fought it, but Dragnor sucked her power into himself. Defenseless, she saw into the dark slits of his black eyes once more and her entire body grew frigid. She saw evil in his eyes. Hate. Malice. And satisfaction that he finally made her wish she hadn’t been born. The pain went into her very soul.

  He released her. Lilae doubled over and squirmed violently, waiting for the intense pain to subside. It was like nothing she had ever experienced. She felt hollow. Only the pain remained. Everything else faded into the darkness.

  “When we reach land, offer as many as you can to the Sisters,” Dragnor ordered. “Sell the rest.” He stared at her as she cried out in pain. He played with her flames, throwing them from one hand to the other, taunting her. Her face laid against sour smelling water as she wept in misery. He looked to the soldier that waited silently by the door.

  “Take this one directly to the emperor.” Then they left, as the silence of the other girls was filled with Lilae's agonizing cries.

  Chapter 26

  They traveled nonstop for days along dirt worn paths. The sun was setting and it began to grow colder. The valley was filled with thick forests that reached up the mountains and down to either side of the Silver River. It was a straight path to Tolrin, where the fairy colony was hidden. Ahead, Liam and the Order could see a clearing from the thick forest.

  Liam rode Midnight, stuck in his own thoughts. He had withdrawn from the group ever since he had learned about Lilae. Her face was in the forefront of his mind. No one bothered him while he was in his reflective mood. Rowe and the others were too tired from the journey and the constant chatter from Wilem and Jorge filled every moment of the day.

  Liam could only envision Lilae in danger. There was a bond there that made him feel as though he already knew her, and he wanted to protect her with everything he had. He knew he had to hurry and lighten his load. He was ready to meet her and deal with Wexcyn as a team.

  Liam and the others approached the gates to the north of Kyril. It was sectioned off for the fairy territories. The Silver River ran through, breaking into hundreds of canals and brooks. The river glowed and shone beneath the crescent moon. The sky grew darker, but they couldn’t afford to set up camp. There wasn’t much time, and it was much too dangerous in this area.

  The northern lands of Kyril were wild and full of beasts and mischievous folk. Dryads and nymphs could steal horses and belongings while you slept. At least the other side of the gate was guarded by Nani’s kin. He urged Midnight forward and heard faint footsteps behind him.

  Liam paused and turned to look behind him to see the pale, almost luminescent faces of Vars and Ved, the fairy sentries.

  “Brothers,” Liam called to them with a grin.

  They both looked at him and returned the grin, their hands on the hilt of their swords. They looked similar, with short purple hair and slim faces with soft, almost feminine features. Their eyes were friendly. Each wore the blue of their kingdom and silver light armor. They each carried a sword and a long bow with arrows made from the bark of their enchanted mother tree. Their wings glittered in the moonlight, and they were barely taller than Liam’s chest.

  “Brother.” Ved spoke up. He drew his sword which caught the light of the moon, making it shine. The fairy Enchant was similar to the Tryans, however instead of making their weapons glow, it made them glitter.

  Vars did the same, and pointed it at Liam. They clinked blades and laughed.

  “It's been awhile,” Vars said as he approached Midnight, petting him.

  Liam dismounted h
is horse and stood before them. The others waited quietly behind, watching. “Indeed, not more than a week at home, and I'm already back on the road.”

  Ved raised an eyebrow. “And what is it this time? Why do you travel with the Order?”

  “Haven’t you heard?” Liam sighed with a shrug. “The Realm Wars are brewing.”

  “Aye. We’ve more than heard.” Ved nodded. “Two colonies have been rampaged by Shadow Elves already. You’ll find there are more than just my brother and I patrolling the road to Tolrin these days.”

  Midnight lowered his head in bliss as Vars stroked his soft, black, mane.

  “And why have you come this way?” Ved asked.

  Vars smirked, nudging his brother. “Everyone knows that where Liam goes, trouble follows.”

  Liam picked up that he was only half joking. “It’s a long story.” He held up his hands. “Trust me you don’t want to hear it all. Looks like I need to travel lighter, so I am dropping off my healing troupe and my soldiers. They will be glad to protect your people.”

  “Protect our people?” Vars tilted his head. “Like we need a bunch of career Tryan soldiers crowding our colony.”

  “Our forests are well equipped for keeping outsiders out. You know that.” Ved tipped his head towards the darkness of the forest that surrounded them. “The other, smaller colonies, like Vickston and Terinton weren’t built as strategically as Tolrin.”

  Vars sighed. “I wouldn’t take anything for granted anymore.”

  Liam knew the dangers of their wilderness. The Attguart Forest was one of the most dangerous places in their realm. He also knew that wouldn’t be enough to keep Shadow Elves away.

  “I know, I know. You can protect yourselves, but it doesn’t hurt to have extra help. Am I right?”

  “Looks like you’ll need the protection. There are many who support the rise of Wexcyn, and the Forgotten Ones.” Vars glanced at those that waited on their horses. Their faces were grim and covered in dirt and grime. Everyone looked tired.

  Liam lifted a brow. It was surprising to hear a fairy sentry speak of the Forgotten Ones. “It seems they aren’t quite forgotten.”

  Vars shrugged. “You forget our history. Fairies take pride in the world as a whole. Not just our realm. We are spread throughout each realm. We do not claim a realm anymore Prince Liam. Our fallen Ancient will always serve as a reminder of the strength of our people. She many no longer be an Ancient, but she still watches over her people. Would you have forgotten Pyrii if the Tryans had lost the war?”

  Liam didn’t reply. He knew how sensitive fairies were about their own Ancient. She had died, and yet an Ancient’s energy could never be completely extinguished, and she had returned as what they now called their Mother Tree.

  Liam had always found it interesting to read about the fairies. Tryan were all created with the same features. Black hair. Blue eyes. No variations. On the other hand, the humans and fairies were created with much more diversity. He found that beautiful. It was too bad that their Ancient had sacrificed herself to get rid of another evil Ancient in the Great War.

  “Well,” Ved cut in, relieving some of the tension. He motioned to the river. “You and your men better have a drink from the river.”

  Its glowing waters rushed calmly downhill, a beautiful sight at night.

  “You can’t sleep in our forests, so it’s best that you replenish your energy now and continue traveling until you reach the city.”

  “Thank you. We greatly appreciate it.” Liam motioned for the others to dismount.

  The men didn’t hesitate. They were all desperate for a drink.

  “I’m serious Liam. Do not stop. Do not sleep.”

  “I understand,” Liam said with a nod. He walked to the river. When his hands entered the water, it was cool and instantly gave him energy. He cupped a handful of water and drank. The refreshing liquid entered his body and sent him into a euphoric state. It was as if his body was given something it had been craving for years and was finally satisfied.

  “Yes, fill a flask while you're at it. It'll keep your vitality at its maximum as you travel,'” Vars added.

  Liam filled his water flask with the rivers fluid. He stood and secured the flask in the bag tied to Midnight. All the while, the fairy sentries stared at him. “Well it has been a pleasure. But we must press on.”

  Ved put a hand on Midnight’s head, stopping him before he could take a step.

  Liam looked to him perplexed.

  “Wait,” Ved’s face had become serious, it made Liam feel uneasy. Ved looked around as though checking that they were alone. He seemed on edge. Liam had never seen him behave in such a way. The fairy sentry spoke in a whisper. “Be cautious on your journey. I cannot speak too much on it, but you are being hunted. Perhaps our queen will fill you in.”

  He checked for the hilt of his sword. He had known those fairies since he was a boy. You couldn’t tell by looking at them, but they were thirty years older than Liam and still appeared to be his age.

  Ved put a hand on Liam’s shoulder. He drew closer to his ear. “Obviously, there are those who would wish to see you dead before you reach your destination.”

  “There is unrest in our world.” Vars lifted himself into the air and motioned around him. “With the opening of The Barriers, everything will change.”

  “Do not forget that we are bound to this soil, we can feel when something is amiss.”

  “And we know something is coming,” Ved finished.

  “What is coming?” Liam raised an eyebrow.

  “Something darker than you think,” Ved said.

  All traces of a smile left Liam’s face and he thought a moment about what they had said. He knew the Dark Nation of Nostfar was on the rise, but he somehow felt that what Ved alluded to was more sinister. He couldn't imagine what could be worse.

  “Tell me what you mean.”

  They heard something crunch in the woods and Vars and Ved’s perked up as they listened. Then they both looked to Liam, then to Sona and Rowe, and began to return to their posts.

  Vars and Ved shared a look. “We believe the Ancients are keeping something secret.”

  Liam tensed. “What?”

  Sona walked up and put a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

  “Rumors,” Vars said, walking backwards.

  Ved nodded but his look to Liam confirmed otherwise. “Just rumors.”

  He wished he could read the minds of others like his mother.

  Chapter 27

  “Welcome to Avia’Torena,” a soldier said to Lilae as he unlocked her cage. The rusty metal door creaked as he opened it. “Your new home,” he added with a sarcastic smile on his sun darkened face. His large hand reached for hers.

  It had been what felt like weeks and Lilae was more than ready to leave that dreaded cage and the wretched smell of that room. She took his callused hand and climbed out of the cage. Her feet were bare as she stepped onto the wet, slippery deck.

  The other prisoners watched as she was taken away first from the filth. Her limbs ached from sitting in such an enclosed compartment for so long but she walked behind the soldier, anxious to get away from the ship. She desperately craved fresh air.

  Lilae squinted when she emerged from the low deck, the sun shining bright and hot onto her face. She took a deep breath of the crisp, clean, air and let it out slowly. Her savory moment didn’t last long. It ended when she saw Dragnor waiting for her above deck.

  Seeing him in the daylight didn’t make him appear any less sinister. Dragnor stood out amongst everyone else and the soldiers seemed to avoid being close to him.

  He wore a long dark cloak, its hood hung behind him. His hands were folded before him and his eyes pierced into hers. His gaze was so unsettling that she had to look away. She would never forget the pain he had caused her. Lilae still wasn't sure exactly what Dragnor had done, but she feared the worst. She had been too afraid to use her power, to see if it would still come if she called it forth
. All she remembered was the pain.

  “Shall I take her to the litter now?” the soldier asked Dragnor.

  Dragnor nodded and turned to lead the way.

  As she walked behind Dragnor, a troupe of soldiers surrounded her as though she were a dangerous wild cat. Lilae felt numb. Everyone stared at her as she followed them to the litter. It was a box shaped device that had a cloth covering, four poles extended beneath it, two in the front and two in the back.

  “Sit,” Dragnor commanded.

  Lilae sat down inside and Dragnor joined her. She was unsure of what to do, so she sat completely still, afraid of what was next.

  Lilae was surprised when the litter was slowly lifted by eight men and started to move down the path from the ship’s dock.

  There were tall tropical trees all around, their branches thin with large waxy looking leaves. She saw fruit hanging from the trees, large melons like she’d never imagined. The sounds of animals and birds chirping all around them was deafeningly loud. The trail led up a steep hill that cut through the dense jungle.

  After hours of lush jungle, the trail stopped before a gate that extended as tall as some of the trees. Lilae looked high up at the top of the gate with sharp pointed edges.

  At the clearing, Lilae saw that they were entering a highly populated city. Lilae beheld the lower land of the mysterious Avia’Torenan palace. The city was the size of four normal sized kingdoms. This city was one that she couldn’t have imagined in her dreams. She felt oddly excited. Something in the air that made her hopeful.

  Thousands of people walked in every direction. They filled the street. There were people laughing in large groups at puppet shows. Women danced to small bands in shadowed alleys to an audience of captivated men. Prepubescent children ran after each other with big smiles on their faces.

  Lilae had thought that she was well traveled, that she had seen it all. She had never seen anything like this. Large four to six story homes and shops clustered around the city. People hung their clothes to dry from lines high above the ground.