Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Danger in Town
Chapter 2: The New Plan
Chapter 3: Captured
Chapter 4: A New Mission
Chapter 5: Infiltration
Chapter 6: The Rescue Attempt
Chapter 7: A Difficult Choice
Chapter 8: A New Destination
Chapter 9: The Turned
Chapter 10: Home
Chapter 11: Across the Sea
Chapter 12: Myths of the Sea
Chapter 13: Questions and Plans
Chapter 14: A New Path
Chapter 15: An Unusual Priest
Chapter 16: The Sunweaver Council
Chapter 17: The High Councilor
Chapter 18: The Frigid Sea
Chapter 19: The Man in the Shadows
Chapter 20: Secrets and Threats
Chapter 21: The Sardek Empire
Chapter 22: A Dangerous Road
Chapter 23: Nights of Fear
Chapter 24: The Imperial Library
Chapter 25: New Plans
Chapter 26: The Rescue Attempt
Chapter 27: The Realm of Shade
Chapter 28: Chaos in the Temple
Chapter 29: A Revelation
Chapter 30: The Monks of Duran
Chapter 31: An Unexpected Meeting
Chapter 32: Secrets from the Past
Chapter 33: The Enemy of an Enemy
Chapter 34: Monsters in the Mist
Chapter 35: The Path to the Source
Chapter 36: A Meeting with a Dark God
Chapter 37: The Dark God's Plan
Chapter 38: Into the Tunnels
Chapter 39: The Battle of the Cavern
Chapter 40: Secrets and Lies
Chapter 41: Blood and Vengeance
Chapter 42: The Beast with Nine Heads
Chapter 43: An Impossible Choice
Chapter 44: The Battle of the Fortress
Chapter 1: Danger in Town
Rella wrapped a fur scarf tighter around her neck and cast Red to battle the bitter cold. The party stood on a hill overlooking Kalindel, a city a few days' march north of Haladel.
"We need to get in and out quickly," Talin said. "The Fire Guard will be looking for us." He brushed snow from his graying beard. "Deril, you and the other Sunweavers need to stay here. Only Fireweavers should enter the city."
"I understand," Deril said, but he looked miserable. Rella could imagine how much he wanted to go somewhere with Sunlamps. Even with nearly constant use of Red Firecasting, Rella couldn't stop shivering. The Sunweavers couldn't even do that much without depleting their reserves.
Talin surveyed the party with a discerning gaze. "All right. Rella, Kae, and Davin, I'd like you to come with me. The rest of you are staying here."
Rella thought Faina might argue, but she didn't. Instead, she huddled close to Kadin, Deril, and the Sunlord. Maybe she could keep them warm.
"Rella, you'll need to keep your hood up," Talin said. "Red hair isn't all that unusual, but we shouldn't take any chances."
"Of course." Rella had no desire to remove her hood anyways.
"Let's go," Talin said. "Don't worry. I have some gold."
They started down the hill. The sky was clear, but the snow was slick beneath their fur-lined shoes. The dim white sun looked weaker than ever. Kadin and Sunlord Zaren had been fueling it, but did they have enough strength to keep it alive?
Rella's feet hurt, and her legs felt weak. It had been a long time since she'd had a proper meal. They'd acquired some provisions from a village a couple days back, but now their food had dwindled to nothing. Entering the city was their only choice, however dangerous it might be.
After a few minutes, they reached the edge of the city, where the warmth of Sunlamps dulled the bitter chill and well-kept stone buildings bordered the zigzagging streets. Rella kept her hood up, noting that nearby townspeople were doing the same.
Where were the Fire Guards? Surely they'd question anyone entering the city.
More importantly, where was Atarin? Had he stayed in Haladel?
Rella hung close to Talin and the others as they navigated the city's rocky, uneven streets, heading toward the market district. She still didn't know how she felt about him. Yes, she'd accepted his apology, but when she looked at him, she still saw the man who'd tortured her.
Talin stopped walking. "Rella and Davin, you two should purchase the food. Kae and I will listen for information on Atarin."
Rella felt too cold to argue. She nodded, and Talin departed a few moments later with Kae in tow. Rella could see the defeat in Kae's posture as she walked away, fading into a small crowd. However much the former bandit tried to shrug off the loss of her husband, her grief was apparent in every move she made, every word she said.
"Let's find some food," Davin said, his breath misting in the air. He dug in his pockets and pulled out a few coins Talin had given him. Rella wasn't familiar with the currency of the Frozen Lands, so she had no idea how much money they had.
But she did know this. They had to make it last.
She and Davin made their way toward the center of the city, passing stone building after stone building. All around, the people of the city walked with their hoods up and scarves covering their faces. A bitterly cold breeze slapped against her face, and she pulled her own scarf tighter. Soon they reached the market district in the center of the city, where people hurried from one building to the next, sparing no time for Rella and Davin.
They stepped into a nearby shop, passing beneath the blessed warmth of Sunlamps, but Rella kept her hood up, hoping no one would think anything of it.
"I'll do the talking," Davin said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Just stay near the door and try not to look suspicious."
"Let's hope I’m convincing."
"Don't worry. You will be." Davin offered her a smile, then stepped farther into the large shop, passing other customers. Rella appreciated his encouragement.
She leaned against a stone wall, gazing around the shop. A few people looked in her direction, and she tried not to fidget beneath their gazes.
Carrying a leather bag, Davin made his way around the shop. He stashed bits of food into the bag, and Rella wondered if he was going to steal it, but then he stepped to the counter and deposited the food on the stone surface.
"That's a lot of food you've got there," said the shopkeeper.
"I'm going to be traveling," Davin said, sounding more confident than Rella felt.
"Guess that makes sense." The shopkeeper examined each item, then offered Davin a price. Davin didn't bother haggling because, like Rella, he had no idea how much these coins were worth. Talin should have been the one purchasing food.
Voices sounded outside the door, and Rella turned toward the sound, keeping her hood up. Three Fire Guards stepped into the shop, and her stomach lurched.
Calm down, she told herself. Maybe they aren't here for you.
One of the Fire Guards cast a quick glance in her direction, then turned away as the whole group stepped to the counter. Davin was still putting the food back in the bag, and Rella feared he'd look suspicious. Why were these Fire Guards here?
The Fire Guard captain, a middle-aged woman, leaned on the stone counter, facing the shopkeeper. "We'd like you to be alert for strange travelers. We believe that the people who caused all the trouble in Haladel may be traveling this way."
Rella's chest tightened, and she tried to keep her panic from showing. Surely this shopkeeper would find something strange in her behavior. She thought about removing her hood, but that would look even more suspicious.
Davin had frozen in the middle of stowing food in the sack. Don't do that, Rella thought. You need to act like nothing's wrong. She wanted to
send him a Blue/Purple message, but he couldn't do that weave. Of the whole party, he was probably the least talented.
One of the Fire Guards stared at Davin. "What're you doing?"
"Buying food."
"That's a lot of food," the captain said as she stepped closer to Davin. She squinted at the leather bag, examining its contents. Rella's heart was in her throat. Buying food should have been the easier task, and now it would get her killed.
"My family and I are traveling," Davin said. He looked like he was squirming under the woman's gaze, but maybe that was Rella's imagination. Keeping his gaze on the captain, he said, "I'm sure you know how difficult travel can be here in the Frozen Lands."
The captain ran a hand along her chin. "I do. But I also know that I'm looking for people who will most likely be traveling. You'll have to prove you aren't one of them."
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
A few customers had left the shop, but most remained, watching this exchange in silence. Rella tried to blend into the crowd, but no one else stood near her, and most of the customers weren't hiding their hair behind hoods. She had to get out of here. Now.
But she couldn't do that, couldn't leave without Davin. Yet she had no idea how she could help him. Her Fireweaving was powerful, but not powerful enough to stand against three Fire Guards. She had to think of something else.
Her mind was blank.
The captain's voice jolted Rella out of her thoughts.
"I'm not going to ask you again," the woman said. "Tell me who you are and why you're here. If you have nothing to hide, there's no reason to be nervous." She stepped closer to him, looking large and threatening. "But you're nervous. I think we're going to ask you a few questions. Come with us."
It was not a request. Davin nodded, his face suddenly pale. For a moment, his gaze locked with Rella's, and she felt she could almost read his thoughts. Taking deep breaths, she watched as the Fire Guards led him out of the shop.
She hated doing nothing. It went against her nature. But she had to remain free so she could find a way to help Davin.
After a few moments, she slipped out of the shop. She had to leave before anyone remembered that she'd entered the shop with Davin. A few people glanced in her direction, but they didn't seem overly concerned. Or was she only hoping they weren't paying attention?
She wished once again that she could live without worry, but that dream belonged to another life, another world. In her twenty years, she'd known nothing but paranoia.
Leaning against the shop's stone wall, she watched the Fire Guards lead Davin away. To his credit, he didn't glance back at her or give any indication that someone might come looking for him. He'd been a member of the Brotherhood a long time. This kind of thing must have felt normal to him. If only it hadn't become so normal for Rella as well.
She walked slowly, keeping a safe distance behind the Fire Guards. Though she knew she needed to get Talin and Kae involved, she also knew she might lose track of Davin if she didn't follow the Fire Guards. Her chest tightened. What would they do to him?
In truth, she'd had little time to get to know Davin, but she wanted to know him better, and she liked what she'd seen in him. He'd risked a lot to stop the plot to free Halarik.
The Fire Guards moved along the branching streets, staying close to the Sunlamps where the ground wasn't covered by snow. They moved from a wealthier part of the city to an area where Rella felt she had to peer into every alley, where cracked stone buildings leaned against one another haphazardly, looking on the verge of collapse.
The people here were also dressed in thick fur robes and covered their heads with hoods. There weren't as many Sunlamps, and the Fire Guards left footprints in the deep snow.
This didn't seem like the kind of place Fire Guards would normally take a prisoner.
The deeper they penetrated into this section of town, the more Rella glanced around. She felt as if everyone were watching her, and her stomach twisted as she realized how vulnerable she was. Fireweaver or not, she was still one woman.
Eventually, the twisting streets came to an end. The Fire Guards led Davin into a nearby alley, and Rella took a position across the street, hiding behind a stack of crates. Hoping she remained concealed, she peered around the crates and watched.
One of the Fire Guards touched the wall at the end of the alley, and it rumbled open a few moments later. They slipped into the opening, leading Davin between them.
The last Fire Guard to enter sealed the opening behind him. Even if Rella had raced toward it, she wouldn't have made it in time. Now she felt powerless, oppressed by the sudden weight of what she had to do. How could she hope to free Davin?
How long would he survive their questioning?
Rella remembered all too well how it felt to be questioned. A memory of that pain rushed through her. Before then, Orange castings had always seemed distant, the kind of thing other people endured. Now she hated to think that anyone had to suffer them.
Why would the gods give people such cruel powers?
Those were thoughts for another time. She turned around so she could find Talin and Kae. But when she stepped out from behind the crates, she stood face-to-face with a Fire Guard.
The man stroked his dark beard. "Now this is an interesting situation, isn't it?"
"I don't know what you mean," Rella said, heart hammering.
"Did you think you weren't seen following us?"
"I-I wasn't following you. We must have been going the same direction."
The man chuckled. "You're a terrible liar."
Rella trembled beneath his gaze. She glanced around, looking for an escape. Maybe she could use her Fireweaving against him. Surely she was powerful enough. Taking a deep breath, she tried to weave Red and Orange, but he was holding a shield around her.
"There are four of us and one of you," he said. "You can't win." He stepped closer to Rella. "Now remove that hood. Show us your face."
Trembling more fiercely than ever, she pulled the hood back.
The Fire Guard's smile was chilling. "Looks like you're one of the people we've been searching for. You'll have to come with us. And don't even think of trying anything."
Rella nodded her agreement. There was no point resisting against four skilled Fireweavers. Whenever she tried to perform a weave, nothing happened.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked as they started walking.
"Firelord Atarin would like to speak to you."
Chapter 2: The New Plan
Karik sat in a cushioned stone chair, within a chamber of dull stone. After life at Atarin's palace, after growing up in the Temple of Aralea, this place seemed dark and gloomy, bereft of life. But Atarin had said they needed to keep their mission secret, and Karik would do anything to support Atarin's mission.
If only he knew what it was.
Soren sat across from him. Karik had never taken a liking to the former bandit. He lacked Atarin's purity of vision, focusing instead on what benefited him the most. In truth, Karik wasn't sure why Atarin had agreed to keep Soren with them, especially since Soren seemed infatuated with Andra. That woman had tried to stop Halarik's return.
"Are you sure you don't know what Firelord Atarin's planning?" Soren asked. It wasn't the first time.
"How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Why don't you like me?" Soren asked.
Karik rose and turned away from Soren. "It doesn't matter."
"I'm just trying to make conversation."
But Karik didn't feel like talking. He'd been that way his entire life. For most of his childhood, he'd buried his troubles beneath a relaxed exterior, a perfect mask of contentment.
A perfect lie.
His father had always joked that Deril was the serious one, but he'd never known the truth behind Karik's mask. He'd never bothered much with Karik.
Why could Karik's father love a Fireweaver as his wife but fail to love his son? He'd always considered Deril the favorite, ever sin
ce Deril had emerged as a Sunweaver and Karik had shown himself to be a Fireweaver.
From that moment on, Karik had been useless to his father. Karik couldn't become a Sunlord, so he wasn't truly part of the family.
Well, his father should have thought of that before marrying a Fireweaver.
Karik stepped away from Soren, toward some of the other Firelords, who sat in cushioned chairs on the other side of the dim chamber. The air was cold, and Karik shivered. He'd never grown accustomed to places without numerous Sunlamps, so maybe he'd been a fool to flee to the Frozen Lands.
No. That wasn't true. He was doing the right thing. People like his father and brother didn't understand. Once Atarin freed Halarik, there would be no need for Sunlords.
Firelord Narine sat at a small stone table, speaking to Firelord Meran. In his time at the palace, Karik had come to know both of them very well. He'd known them back in Tarileth, as they'd been part of Halarik's Chosen and had infiltrated the Brotherhood. In those days, they were the first to offer Karik a new path, a better path.
In truth, he'd been scared to join Atarin at first. He'd almost changed his mind about kidnapping his father. It was still hard to believe he'd thrown away his whole life.
But it hadn't been much of a life. Not for him.
"You look troubled," Narine said, gesturing for him to take a seat in a third chair.
Karik sat down. He thought about draping his arm casually over the cushioned arm of the chair, but he didn't feel like pretending anymore. Narine and Meran had seen the true Karik. Even back in Tarileth, they'd known him better than his own family did.
"I wish I knew what Atarin was planning," he said.
Meran chuckled. "If it makes you feel better, we don't know either."
"I know," Karik said. "It just seems odd to me. He was never this secretive about our last plan. What makes it so different now?"
"Perhaps he's afraid of a similar result," Narine said. "He was too trusting that last time, especially with that niece of his."
Rella. Her face flashed behind Karik's eyes. He could see her red hair, her angular, attractive features. Though he shouldn't have felt anything for her, his stomach did a little twist whenever he thought of her. She'd betrayed them, yes, but he didn't care.
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