Lord of Fire: #1 The Fire Chronicles

by Susi Wright

  The trio of onlookers in the tent watched the drama unfold in entertained fascination, the matron enthralled, Seren guessing the obvious, and Simban allowing due respect, conceding this final victory to Luminor.

  The matron, taking on her role as nurse-in-charge, cleared her throat, bringing everyone back down to earth. ‘I am sorry, but Miss Fralii needs privacy, we are sent to do her ablutions… and we have many other chores!’

  At the continued dazed stares from both men, she added, somewhat ruffled, ‘So… it is time you both left… to find some breakfast… or other business.’ She looked pointedly at the door with the sharp order, ‘Go, now!’

  Simban complied immediately, seeing no further reason to go without food. Luminor reluctantly loosened his hold of Fralii’s hand, tenderly sweeping her hair from her face and wiping the tear with his thumb. Finally tearing his gaze from hers, he left with a nod of thanks to the women as he passed.

  Outside, with the storm over, the sun was making a renewed attempt against the frosty grey clouds and the thin layer of snow that had settled and crunched crisply under their feet as the two men strode towards a nearby firepit, each absorbed in his own thoughts.

  Luminor emerged from his reverie, noticing two shivering volunteers trying ineffectually to rouse the hissing wet tinder to flame under their cooking pots. Almost without thinking, while still preoccupied with thoughts of Fralii, he urged the sputtering embers to life with a snap of his fingers, a surprising and impressive conflagration springing to life where seconds ago it had been threatening to die.

  Simban of course, was no longer surprised, putting his back into assisting the pleased and grateful cooks with their numerous heavy pots of porridge. With such a large blaze, the warming breakfast would be ready for everyone in the camp in record time. On such a soggy morning, that was nothing short of miraculous.

  Followed by the profuse and echoing thanks of the two female volunteers, Luminor excused himself to the privy. One of the obviously smitten girls inquired of Simban, who did not miss the fact that he, personally, had received no thanks whatsoever for his help with the pots, ‘Is that Lord Luminor?’ adding adoringly while following her hero’s retreating form with her eyes, without waiting for an answer, ‘My! He is as wondrous talented… and handsome as he is brave!’

  Simban answered sardonically, to no one in particular, ‘You have no idea!’ deciding forlornly he might as well go take a piss, and see to the samblars!

  Luminor made his way back to the tent with two steaming bowls of porridge which the adoring cooks had thrust into his hands, gushing praises, when he passed their fire. He had seen Simban jogging briskly off in the direction of a distant copse of trees to round up the samblars where they would have taken shelter during the storm, apparently very disgruntled, muttering something about no one caring if he fell down a hole, or missing him if he did not come back at all. Disturbing as the comments sounded, Luminor had assessed that it was only mild annoyance, and expected he would return to camp in his own time. Nevertheless, he had asked the girls to save a bowl for Simban and make sure he got it, with their due thanks, when he returned. Smiling agreeably, they would have consented to do anything for Luminor, and were not shy in telling him so, as one sidled up to him, batting her eyelashes with a coy smile and the other blew him a kiss. Intent on hurrying back to Fralii, he ignored the open invitation.

  Inside the tent, he was met by the welcome sight of Fralii, propped up, thin but refreshed and having her hair brushed by the Gaian nurse, Seren. The matron had already gone about her duties. At Luminor’s entrance, Seren stopped brushing, stood respectfully, and addressed him in Gaian, ‘Lord Luminor, good day! I must attend others now. Later, perhaps you would meet with our sisters to give your instructions?’

  Luminor acknowledged her request with a smile and a nod as she hurried out to complete her overdue rounds. He placed the porridge on the table next to Fralii, eager to take up where they had left off. He was relieved to feel the same clarity they had reached earlier, when he met her eyes. His elation returned, surging with the beating of his heart, followed by an intense pang of longing to take her in his arms and hold her close. He resisted the urge, realising she was only just beginning to trust him again, cherishing her budding acceptance of his true self, not wanting to jeopardise it.

  Fralii smiled shyly, ‘So… do I address you as Lord?’

  Luminor looked serious again, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. He replied fervently, ‘No, never! I am who I am… Lumi, to you… always!’ Attending to practicality, he removed his hand to retrieve Fralii’s bowl and place it in her grasp, urging, ‘Now, please eat… or you will be too weak to say even that!’

  She accepted the food and began spooning mouthfuls of porridge quite enthusiastically. That she was improved enough and willing to feed herself pleased him greatly. Soon she would be able to travel. To finally take her home—what a wonderful thought! And bearing in mind that bad weather seemed to be closing in, two days hence would not be too soon! He did not overlook, for that matter, the urgent need to move all the injured further south, before winter really set in. He would meet with the Gaian women later that day, and with Doctor Melis, to organise it. ‘We will leave here after one more day,’ he informed her, ‘I will send Simban ahead today with the samblars and wagon. Other wagons will go also, carrying patients who can travel. After you have one extra day’s rest, I will carry you as far as I can. We will meet the wagons halfway to Splendo.’ He sought her eyes for approval. ‘You will finish the journey in the back of a comfortable wagon.’ Fralii abruptly put down her spoon. The petulant look was back. Understanding, he hastened to add, ‘I will stay with you… of course!’

  She smiled and finished off her breakfast. Luminor knew he would be powerless, for quite some time, against her every whim, if she was ever to eat enough to regain her former strength. Beyond that, he was certain he would forsake all his powers just to be with her!

  Anxious to make full use of their privacy, as Simban could be gone for a while, either by design or circumstance, it mattered not, Luminor wanted to put voice to more of his thoughts. ‘Fralii, if you will give me a chance, I will never leave your side again! You are my soulmate.’

  Fralii looked away, trying to conceal her pleasure at the words; to her bones she felt the sincerity of his declaration. Luminor, perceiving it even before he saw the rising blush in her cheeks, hooked a finger under her chin so he could once again immerse himself in her glorious violet gaze, clear and unhindered by doubt. His mind took a wayward turn, setting itself to reeling as it did when they had first met, feeling so close yet longing to be infinitely closer. He reined his thoughts, as one would a galloping samblar before it took to bolting, grateful for the hard-won gift of self-control, putting his attention to making Fralii comfortable and tidying up their gear, ready for loading on the wagon. He would be busy elsewhere soon, organising the relocation of the patients. ‘Fralii, when Simban returns, I must go for a short while to arrange things… you understand? Everyone must leave here by the end of the week!’ He had a nagging feeling of uneasiness and urgency about leaving this place. ‘Yes, Lumi,’ she replied, enjoying the new familiarity, ‘but when I am strong enough… I will follow you… everywhere!’

  Lumi stated with a brilliant smile, ‘No doubt, you will!’

  A breathless Simban arrived scant minutes later, a worried frown on his face. In his hand he held a rolled piece of parchment. ‘This arrived a moment ago… fast carrier pigeon… it is for you!’ He pressed the scrap into Luminor’s palm.

  Unrolling it, his trepidation growing, Luminor deciphered the scrawled Gaian handwriting:

  There is trouble. Please return with haste. Altor.

  Luminor had been expecting something untoward, and this missive spelled exactly that. Altor’s authority was being challenged in the Capital. From the beginning, Luminor had foreseen some difficulties ahead, even for himself, trying to make the Alliance work. He had hoped for more time.<
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  Taking Simban aside, he confided, as he scribbled a reply to Altor, ‘Things have changed! Simban, we cannot wait another day! Can you ready the wagon, comfortable enough for Fralii to leave as soon as possible? Whatever happens, I must go to the Capital!’ Simban assured him all would be ready in two hours, and headed off to send the reply and begin loading.

  Luminor took a few moments to think, before ducking back into the tent to break the news to Fralii. He worried at his lip while he searched for the best way to say it.

  She was curious at the meaning of the hushed exchange between the men. ‘What is it, Lumi?’

  ‘I must… change the plan…’ Despite her developing frown, he pressed on. ‘I am sorely needed by my brother, in the Capital. There is political trouble. I feel his life may even be in danger.’ His eyes were pleading. ‘I fear you will be in danger there too, if you are with me…’ He tried a suggestion he did not expect to meet with favour: ‘I prefer that you go to Splendo… safe with your family… while I deal with the problem.’

  Fralii began shaking her head. Luminor could sense her rising agitation.

  ‘No! Lumi. I told you…’ she insisted, looking as if she would cry. Luminor, who had already envisioned this scenario, hastily decided to prevent further upset, taking her gently by the shoulders to emphasise his sincerity, and to exert just the smallest amount of calm, for her own sake. ‘Fralii, I care too much for you to put you in danger. There is a ruthless man in the Capital, who could use you against me! You could be taken, again!’ She had visibly relaxed with his touch; nonetheless, she continued to resist. ‘Not if I stay hidden!’ Her voice had taken on a plaintive tone, which teased at his resolve. ‘Can you not hide me… Please, Lumi… do not send me away!’ She turned her violet weapons on him.

  Once again, all power seemed to leave him under the force of her imploring gaze. This phenomenon threatened to be the cause of his complete undoing, one way or another! He would need his wits to return to him more than ever if he did agree to her wishes. And, looking into her welling eyes one second longer crumbled the vestiges of his resolve, a second plan forming as he spoke. ‘So… I will hide you, at first with two of my warriors, outside the city… I must seek a safe place for you inside the walls. Then, I will fetch you. Simban will go to your father with news.’ A hiding place would not be easy, not knowing at first whom he could fully trust, apart from his own men. It would take some probing to understand the extent of his opposition.

  ‘Fralii. This is the only way I will take you!’ he warned, feeling a little righteous authority seeping back into him. Pure intention had its own power. Acquiescent, she leaned back on the pallet, the exertion of her resistance draining her shallow reserves. ‘Now, I must go, for a short while!’ he said, kissing her gently on the forehead and leaving her dozing, while he went to organise the evacuation of the camp.

  Chapter Forty-six

  The meeting was fruitful. By early afternoon, all able-bodied people had wholeheartedly engaged in preparations for departure. The commanding officer had readily agreed with the idea of evacuating immediately, directing his soldiers to equip all wagons with furs and food supplies and informing Luminor that the entire company would be ready to move in two days, but would be travelling necessarily slow because of the weak state of some of the patients. But they all agreed the gamble of moving them was their only chance to survive, with the merciless onslaught of winter at their doorstep.

  Anxious to be on the road, Luminor went to check on Simban’s progress, finding him almost finished loading. He stood by a large covered wagon, talking to a little girl about eight years of age. As Luminor approached, Simban looked up and introduced his young friend. ‘This is Ana… Fralii sent me to find her an hour ago.’ His apologetic expression boded another of Fralii’s whims. ‘She is an orphan. If we leave her, she has no one. She is very attached to Fralii…’ Simban smiled hopefully; he had a soft spot for her too.

  Complication was Luminor’s first thought, but regarding the child closely and sensing her utter loneliness, his compassion spoke, a soul so full of suffering for one so young. He could not find the heart to refuse. ‘Good day, Ana, I think you will join us,’ he said kindly, then to Simban, ‘But she must go with you, to Splendo. Place her with Runo, in Sala’s care until we return. I will be taking Fralii with me,’ he rolled his eyes at the other man. ‘Believe me, I tried to send her with you!’ Simban nodded sympathetically. He did believe it. Fralii’s stubbornness knew no bounds.

  By mid-afternoon, the frosty stillness with occasional glimpses of watery sunlight which had accommodated their preparations threatened to deteriorate rapidly. Shortly after the midday meal, thick, dark-grey thunderheads could be seen gathering in the northern sky, and the cold northerly wind picked up, boding another storm within hours.

  With the wagon ready, Luminor went to fetch Fralii. They were to leave immediately, travelling in the warmth of the wagon until sometime the next day. It was far too cold to fly with Fralii anyway, so to remain by her side, he would have to accept the slower pace. When they reached the crossroads, he would drive the wagon east, to the outskirts of the Capital, while Simban would take Ana with him on samblar-back, to Splendo.

  Fralii was wide awake, sitting on the edge of the pallet, looking notably small and frail to Luminor, as he moved forward protectively to scoop her into his arms.

  ‘No! I will walk!’ she insisted, in her maddening, hard-headed way. Luminor sighed and, with a resigned smile, offered her his arm for support. This she accepted, and she made it out almost to the wagon, her knees buckling in defeat at the last couple of paces. Luminor swiftly caught her, swinging her into his hold and boosting her up inside the wagon to join Ana, already settled in the furs. He followed, leaping lightly into one of the driver’s seats next to Simban.

  The two samblars hitched to the front of the wagon, were stomping and snorting, impatient to be moving after so much inactivity, lazily grazing around camp for too long. Accustomed to a regular and heavy workload, they were both loyal and willing beasts of burden, with great energy and endurance. A good samblar was unmatched in the world of Nature, for its devoted and eager service to man. Fralii’s big black animal was tied to the back of the wagon, prancing and pawing on the spot. Too valuable to be left in the public livery in the Capital, and the strongest and best for riding, he would carry Simban and Ana to Splendo.

  Luminor gave the signal to move out, and all three samblars leapt forward enthusiastically, lugging the wagon several metres in one movement. Feeling the resistance of the weight, they quickly settled to a regular pace, knowing from experience, the road ahead was long.

  Trundling southward, the wind behind them, Luminor and Simban had good shelter on the driving seats up front. The girls were cosily ensconced inside the wagon. Fralii dozed intermittently, while Ana on the other hand, almost fully recovered, directed a constant barrage of questions and chatter at the men’s backs. When, some hours later, a prolonged silence fell, both men breathed a sigh of relief that at last she had succumbed to slumber. They enjoyed a merciful period of peace and calm, with only the samblars’ regular footfalls, an occasional snort, and the quiet squeak and creak of harness and wagon.

  Unfortunately, the steady tailwind had developed to gale force by nightfall, bringing with it the bite of fine sleet, directly into their faces at times as it swirled around the wagon. Simban was taking a short break inside the wagon to warm up his hands. Alone in the driver’s seat, while urging the bedraggled samblars forward, Luminor was forced to expend a great deal of energy deflecting the freezing wet gusts from entering the dry interior, where the others were huddling under the furs.

  It was not long before Simban’s pride and conscience allowed him the bare minimum respite, and he returned to take the reins while Luminor lashed a burlap sack over the opening as a windbreak, to save his energy. Refusing to leave his position as guard beside Simban, Luminor kept watch as well as anyone could in the bad visibility, knowing this stretch of
road came closest to the area where he and Fralii had encountered the kudros. At this point, the atrocious weather was actually in their favour, hampering sight, sound, and scent. He hoped he remembered correctly that he had wounded the second beast, causing its eventual demise, but failing that, perhaps its survival instinct had driven it to some far-off place to find another mate. Either way, he was not about to become complacent. He carefully scanned the treetops and skyline all around, trying to detect an ominous presence. Constantly vigilant, he was relieved when all he could feel was the empty buffeting wind.

  The two men weathered the conditions for several more hours, their cloaks and hoods wrapped tightly around them. Luckily, Luminor had been able to give Simban a spare Gaian cloak before they left camp, and made as they all were from tightly-woven waterbird feathers, it was superbly waterproof and warm. They were well equipped, with hooded under-tunics, fur mittens, and oiled leggings, faring well enough until the storm swept westward, allowing them a weak and very brief glimmer of late-afternoon sun, before nightfall plunged them into a foggy, but blessedly still, darkness. They pressed on well into the night, with only one toilet stop, forced after midnight to consider resting the samblars, and taking a short sleep themselves. Luminor deemed it safe enough.

  Stopping off the road, they hobbled, fed, and watered the animals before lighting a campfire, now damp tinder would never be a problem, and quickly cooked a warming broth of jerky and sliced yams.

  Ana and Fralii had woken earlier and were playing a game of cards when Lumi called them to eat and stretch their legs. He handed Fralii her bowl as they leaned against the side of the wagon, cherishing the few moments they had now to talk. The art of conversation, which had been for him, in the beginning, so alien, more so in a different language, had gradually become a fascinating aspect of his interaction with Fralii. Circumstances, however, had afforded them little time to even be in each other’s company. Every minute was precious.