Firebrand

by Prioleau, R. M.

  Xavorin’s face was clearly panic-stricken, and the commotion drew the attention of a few guards. He promptly walked away.

  After Xavorin disappeared into the crowd, Jarial regarded Kaijin. The electric sparks around Jarial’s eyes dissipated. “Are you all right, lad?”

  Kaijin winced and rubbed the back of his throbbing head, but managed to give Jarial a small nod.

  “Good.” Jarial began tidying the books into neat piles, swearing under his breath. “I’m sorry you had to witness that. Please don’t hesitate to browse more, if you wish.”

  Kaijin opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. The thought of browsing more books sounded much more appealing. His eyes scanned for a new stack to search and stopped on a large, locked chest sitting at the rear of the booth. A small pot sat on top and a mysterious, cerulean flame burned from within.

  Jarial continued his work, seeming to pay little mind to Kaijin’s actions. “So, tell me. Where are your parents? It is strange for a young child to be wandering alone in a busy city like this. Though, I will admit, I’ve never met a child outside the Citadel who was so young and eager to learn magic.”

  Kaijin approached the chest to investigate the strange pot, his eyes fixated on the dancing flame. “Why is the fire blue?”

  “A magical component makes it burn that way, lad.” Jarial sounded amused.

  Entranced by the beautiful flame, Kaijin extended his hand to touch it. The heat from the fire intensified the closer his hand drew, as did the tingling sensation in his body, which caused him to shiver. Running his hand along the top of the pot, Kaijin studied the flame that emitted tiny showers of blue sparks as it licked between his fingers. The flame eventually seared his fingertips, causing him to let out a small cry of pain as he jerked his hand away to nurse his injury.

  Jarial hustled to Kaijin’s side. “Now why in the hells did you do that?” He smacked Kaijin on the back of the head before moving the pot out of his reach. “You burned yourself, didn’t you?”

  Before Kaijin could respond, he felt a firm hand grab his forearm and heard his father’s stern voice bellow, “Kaijin! Don’t ever do that again!”

  Ramon spun Kaijin around to face him.

  Kaijin cringed, holding his injured hand.

  Ramon examined the burns on Kaijin’s hand and grabbed it, igniting another flare of pain. “Serves you right for getting burned.” He scowled. “Now, maybe next time you won’t do it again! And another thing ...”

  Kaijin was scolded for several minutes. When they finally turned to leave, Kaijin heard Jarial’s voice. “Excuse me, sir. I presume you must be this boy’s father. May I, perhaps, have a word with you?”

  Ramon glared at Jarial. “Fine, but make it quick.”

  “Of course, sir.” Jarial ushered the man to a more secluded spot in the booth where they spoke in hushed tones.

  Kaijin remained silent and still, minding his manners and not eavesdropping on the two adults. His eyes drifted to the burning pot which now sat atop a towering stack of books. A brief sense of peace filled Kaijin’s mind when he stared at the entrancing blue flame, its glow ebbing and flowing smoothly. When the sensation subsided, Kaijin could feel his heart pounding anxiously. He clutched the haversack containing his new books, not daring to open it until he was safely home.

  * * *

  Ramon flung the front door open and yanked Kaijin inside. He thrashed Kaijin’s bottom with his calloused hand until Kaijin could no longer shed a tear. Afterward, Ramon dragged him to the kitchen.

  He sat Kaijin on the hard, wooden chair, the solid impact increasing the pain in his stinging rear. Kaijin winced and held in his newly-formed tears, not daring to cry any more in front of his father. He kept his face down and didn’t acknowledge his mother, who had come to investigate the commotion. Instead, Kaijin rested his eyes on the burning candle in the center of the table.

  “What in bloody hells were you doing wandering off by yourself?!” Ramon barked. “Gods, you could have gotten lost out there! What if ...”

  Kaijin briefly glanced up and saw Elianee purse her lips while Ramon continued to scold. The volume of his voice rose, and she quietly padded out of the room.

  Kaijin, his rear still throbbing from the spanking, managed to stay in his chair. He felt weary from the day’s events and enduring his father’s long-winded lectures. His gaze momentarily shifted to his father’s back before returning to the candle. He fantasized about the strange blue flame he had seen in the bookseller’s booth.

  What sort of magical component turns fire blue? He recalled the vendor’s words.

  He stared at the candle’s flame, hypnotized by its little dance. He held his breath and inched his hand toward the incandescence. Kaijin’s mind drifted.

  Beautiful ...

  Rubbing his fingers through the flame, Kaijin felt them burn, further searing the soft skin. He exhaled and retracted his hand. He held back his whimpers and nursed his seared fingertips.

  Ramon spun around in time to notice Kaijin’s wincing and stormed over to him. The man’s face flushed deeper than his red hair. “Damn it to the bleeding hells, boy! Have you still not got it through that thick head of yours?” He grabbed Kaijin’s hand, pressing firmly against the wound, and yanked him out of the chair.

  The pain was unbearable, and Kaijin was no longer able to hold back his emotions. He cried out, tears streaming down his face, but he didn’t resist his father’s strong grasp.

  Ramon dragged Kaijin upstairs to his bedroom. “I try hard. Really, I do,” Ramon said as he cleared all of the candles from the room. “I don’t know where I’ve gone wrong with you. Your mother says you’re smart, but I see nothing but foolery from you.”

  Kaijin sat at the edge of his bed, rubbed the tears from his eyes, and sniffled.

  “This is a sickness, Kaijin, don’t you see? It’s not normal for children your age to be so obsessed with something so dangerous as fire. This needs to stop.”

  “B–but Papa, I don’t feel sick,” Kaijin said timidly.

  Ramon groaned. “Sickness of the mind, son! Fire is not meant to be touched.”

  “But, Papa—”

  “Common sense doesn’t come from books, Kaijin. It comes from the hard lessons in life.” Ramon scowled. “Now stop all that crying. Only little boys cry. You’re not a little boy, are you?”

  Kaijin sniffled and wiped away stray tears. “No, Papa ...”

  “Good. Take these lessons like a man, and learn from your mistakes, understand?”

  “Yes, Papa ...”

  Ramon nodded firmly. “This is for your own good, son. You’ll thank me later.” He left.

  Kaijin buried his head in his hands and sobbed. His father’s words were jumbled in his mind. Kaijin heard the footsteps drift away from the other side of the door. He was alone.

  For the remainder of the day, Kaijin found it difficult to read. His bottom still hurt, and his eyes were dry and bloodshot. His fingers stung every time he turned a page. From his parents’ bedroom, he heard raised voices.

  His father said, “... Yeah, he thinks we should consider enrolling him in a mage school ... What do you mean? ... Damn it, how should I know? ... I know the boy is smart, Elianee, but he lacks any sense. I tell you! What do we do? ... Yes, I know, dear....”

  Kaijin managed to tune out the voices and continue reading. After the sun had set, the natural light ebbed from his room. With no other source of light available, Kaijin felt his eyes grow heavy. Eventually, he slumped over his desk and drifted off to sleep.

  “Kaijin ... wake up, dear.”

  The sound of his mother’s voice and the feel of her gentle touch on his shoulder roused him from sleep. Kaijin lifted his head from his desk and stared down at the open page of the thick tome, uncertain of how much time had passed. He scanned the room with sleepy eyes before acknowledging his mother and smiling softly at her. The dim light emanating from the candle she carried outlined the soft features of her face.

  �
��Mama,” he mumbled, “am I still in trouble?”

  Elianee set the candle on the bedside table. “No, dear.” She gently combed her fingers through his hair. “Your father and I thought it might be ideal to enroll you in a mage school. What do you think? Would you like that?”

  Kaijin relaxed under his mother’s touch and pondered her question. “M–me? A m–mage?” He paused, his eyes drifting to the candle. “I ... I don’t know. Will you and Papa be mad if I don’t learn magic?”

  “Of course, not. We were only thinking of your best interests.”

  Kaijin kept silent, his eyes scanning the complex words in his book.

  “You are a bright boy, Kaijin,” Elianee continued. “You know, much of my family studied magic at a young age, too. It is a common occupation amongst the people of Ankhram.”

  Kaijin peered up from his book. “Really? Are you a mage too, Mama?”

  “No.” Elianee smiled briefly. “Your grandfather, Ashai, was a master of the arcane arts. He tried teaching me when I was your age. Unlike you, I lacked the interest. But that is another story.”

  Kaijin tilted his head to the side, furrowing his brow.

  Elianee chuckled and ruffled his hair. “You don’t need to decide now, Kaijin. Perhaps it may be something to consider when you are a little older, yes?”

  “All right, Mama.”

  After hugging and kissing him goodnight, Elianee picked up the candle and walked out of the dark room, leaving him to his thoughts.

  II

  Five years and some months later, the night came in which the Sora family shared their final meal together. Kaijin and his younger brother, Rorick, now almost six years old, endured another of their father’s interminable lectures.

  Kaijin pushed his empty plate aside, half-listening to the speech. Propping his elbows on the table and resting his chin atop his hands, he stared at the lit candle next to his plate.

  I hope it won’t be too hard, he thought, his heart pounding. I can’t wait to come home again so I can show Mama and Papa my magic!

  His eyes settled on Rorick, who ate slowly, appearing uninterested in the lecture. A curious boy whose own imagination was larger than his tiny, thin body, Rorick had also shown interest—though, mild—in the arcane arts. His curiosity, however, seemed to mostly stem from imitating Kaijin.

  “... and I certainly expect you boys to behave yourselves.” Ramon directed his hard gaze at Kaijin. “That means leave the damn candles, fireplaces, stoves and anything else that’s hot alone.”

  Kaijin snapped out of his silent musings and regarded his father.

  “Yes, I’m talking to you, Kaijin!” Ramon continued. “You’re the oldest. You need to set a better example.”

  “I do, Papa! I give him all my old books to read once I’m done with them.”

  “Well, those damned books aren’t helping!” Ramon scowled. “I had to stop him the other day from burning himself with the candles.”

  Rorick sat up in his chair, looking at his father with fear-filled eyes. “Papa! The fire hurt bad! I promise I won’t do it no more!”

  Ramon sighed. “Well, it’s good to know there’s hope for one of you, at least.”

  Kaijin’s eyes dropped to his lap.

  “Kaijin,” Elianee said softly, “we ... we only want the best for you and your brother. I ... We hope that—” She seemed to swallow a lump in her throat as she choked up with tears.

  Ramon huffed. “What your mother is trying to say is that it’s high time you start acting like a normal child for a change. Hopefully learning magic will curb these strange obsessions you have.”

  Kaijin’s face fell. Elianee shot Ramon a dirty look.

  Rorick swiveled back and forth among the three of them, confused.

  Ramon locked eyes with Elianee and scowled before regarding Kaijin. “Look, just go learn some magic, all right, son?” He exhaled and rubbed his temples. “And learn a little more common sense while you’re at it.”

  * * *

  There was hardly any sleep to be had in the house, with the whole family knowing what the morning would bring. Kaijin woke before sunrise, got dressed, gathered his packed belongings and trotted down to the kitchen. While waiting for the rest of his family, he nibbled on an apple from the cupboard. He turned as he heard his father’s footsteps in the kitchen doorway.

  “Well, someone couldn’t sleep last night.” Ramon chuckled, crossing his arms.

  Kaijin stood when his father entered. “No, Papa. I’m ... I’m scared.”

  “Things won’t be so bad once you get used to your new home.” He patted Kaijin on the head.

  Kaijin turned to the doorway when he heard more footsteps. Elianee entered the kitchen, followed by Rorick, who clutched a handful of her skirts, his anxious brown eyes gazing at his brother.

  Elianee touched Kaijin’s hair. “Dear, you need to eat a hearty breakfast before you leave. You too, Rorick.” She tugged the edge of her skirt from the younger boy’s grasp.

  “That’s right,” Ramon added, “you two won’t be getting any more of her wonderful home-cooked meals for a while, so you better eat as much as you can.”

  Elianee prepared a pot of the boys’ favorite breakfast—spiced apple porridge—which Kaijin and Rorick devoured.

  “Mama,” Rorick said, once the table was cleared, “why can’t you bring us yummy apple porridge while we’re away?”

  Elianee chuckled. “I would love to, Rorick, but your father will go hungry if I make all the meals for you two.” She nudged Ramon and smirked.

  Ramon cleared his throat, trying to hide his smile. “Yes, that’s right. Besides, I’m sure you’ll get some good meals at your new home.”

  “Not as good as Mama’s,” Rorick muttered.

  Elianee smiled and looked at Kaijin. “Are you ready, dear?”

  Kaijin sat quietly, staring at the candle in the middle of the table. He broke from his small trance and regarded her briefly. Several knocks at the front door drew his attention.

  Ramon turned to the door. “Ah, yes, that must be him, now. Come along, you two. Let’s not keep the driver waiting.”

  Without saying another word, the boys were ushered outside and loaded into the back of the supply cart. Once they were settled, Elianee approached the cart, reached over and showered them with hugs and kisses.

  “I love you both.” She handed the boys some cloth-wrapped snacks. “Mind your manners, Rorick. And Kaijin ... be a good boy, and don’t play with fire.”

  Kaijin forced a small smile.

  She gave Kaijin a small pouch weighty with coins. “Be sure to give this to the driver once you arrive.”

  Kaijin took the pouch and stuffed it in his haversack. “I will, Mama.”

  Ramon embraced Elianee from behind and slowly pulled her away from the cart. “It’s time, dear.”

  Elianee’s tear-filled eyes wavered. She relaxed into Ramon’s embrace and sobbed softly. “Kaijin ... Rorick ....”

  “Mama!” Rorick reached for her as she was drawn further away. He began wailing uncontrollably.

  Kaijin swallowed, attempting to maintain his composure. He was determined to not cry in front of his brother.

  “Ramon,” Elianee whimpered. “I wish ... Why couldn’t we have—”

  Ramon interrupted with a gentle, comforting kiss. “No. We’ve been putting this off for too long. This is the best option.”

  “But, Ramon—!”

  “We said we’d put a stop to it before Rorick’s habits got worse. This is going to help them both.”

  “Yes, but—!”

  “They’re going, now, and that’s final, understood?” Ramon gestured to the driver, sending the cart on its way.

  Elianee sniffled and stared into her husband’s stern eyes. She nodded slowly then watched the departing cart.

  As Kaijin watched his parents get smaller, he found it harder to hide the tears in his wavering eyes. He wrapped his arm around Rorick, who continued sobbing with his face buried in Kaijin�
�s chest.

  “It’s all right, Rorick,” Kaijin said, trying to smile. “We’re going to learn magic, remember? It’s going to be fun!”

  “But, I miss Mama and Papa!”

  Kaijin patted his brother’s back. “Don’t worry. We’ll see them again. We’ll write letters to them every day!”

  Their trip lasted over an hour. They rode out of the middle district through portions of the city unknown to them. The familiar tall, narrow cobblestone buildings that lined their street were soon nothing more than towering silhouettes in the distance. The scents of the bakery’s treats and the apothecary’s hanging herbs were gone. The throngs of people and bustle of the marketplace seemed non-existent in the far western district of the city.

  The clip-clopping sounds of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestone street lulled Rorick to sleep. Despite his red and tear-stained face, the boy slept soundly with his head on Kaijin’s shoulder.

  Kaijin watched his brother sleep, but the change in scenery soon caught his attention. He could see the city walls and portions of the outskirts and farmlands beyond.

  The cart halted abruptly before a winding, pebbled path. Kaijin’s body jerked forward, and he felt Rorick slide off him. The younger boy awoke, startled, before rubbing his sleepy eyes.

  “Where are we, big brother?”

  “I’m not sure,” Kaijin replied. “Perhaps this is the school?”

  Kaijin and Rorick stared up the path which led to a quaint, stone cottage sitting alone, partially hidden amid a mesh of trees and underbrush around its perimeter. A branch from which a bird’s nest could be seen hung mere inches from a second-story window on the side of the cottage.

  “Kinda small for a school,” Rorick whispered. He glanced sidelong at Kaijin.

  Kaijin thought for a moment. “Maybe ... Maybe it’s bigger inside. It’s magic, remember? Things aren’t always what they seem.”

  “Really? How do you know that?” Rorick’s curious expression turned to awe.

  Kaijin grinned. “I read about it in a book.”

  After the driver helped the boys off the cart, Kaijin handed the man the money pouch. The driver disappeared down the cobblestone road returning to the heart of the city. The boys stood before the path in silence.