Fireweaver

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "You seem distracted," said Kadin's father, Sunlord Zaren as they fueled the sun early one afternoon. They were alone in the Sun Chamber—or the Chamber of Torment, as Kadin had come to call it. Every day, he was reminded of his failures as a Sunlord.

  "It's nothing," Kadin said.

  "Please don't lie to me."

  "There's no point. I don't think you can help me."

  "I can try." He scooted closer to Kadin. "Deril has told me of your problem."

  "Unless you have some kind of plan, I don't see how you can help me."

  "I do have a plan," said his father. It was still hard for Kadin to believe that the Sunlord was his father. Kadin was listening now. His father continued. "I know many of this temple's secrets. I've been down to the part of the temple you're referring to. And I am a Sunlord, and I've been one much longer than you. My name commands respect. I can get us past the guards."

  "But what do we do after that?" Kadin asked. "We'll still need the key."

  "Have you forgotten? Part of being a Sunlord is being a very powerful Sunweaver. Between the three of us, we should be able to produce a powerful enough Yellow/Green weave to break her out of that dungeon."

  Kadin frowned at him. "The three of us?"

  "Deril is going to join us. That's all right with you, isn't it?"

  "Yes, I suppose so."

  "You should spend more time with him," said Kadin's father. "He's a good man, and he cares about you. He has also lost his closest friend. He could use some companionship himself."

  "I still don't feel like I belong here."

  "That may never change." The Sunlord shook his head. "I never should have left you to suffer the life you did. For that, I am deeply sorry."

  Kadin didn't know how to respond. He simply nodded.

  "Now, we should get back to our plan," said his father. "Though there isn't much more to say. We will do it tonight, once we have rested a bit."

  "Do you really think it'll work?"

  "Deril and Father Alvin have been trying to come up with a plan all this time. They haven't devised anything better, so this is the best we have. And we can't delay much longer. Soon Teravin will expect you to deliver information you don't have."

  "I know." Kadin felt as if an icy hand had gripped his heart. "I tried to so hard to come up with a plan by myself. I really should have been thinking of what information to give to Teravin."

  "If you give him true information, that will get Father Alvin killed. If you lie, Teravin will know. Freeing your sister is the only plan we have. Dangerous, yes, but we have no other choice." His expression became pensive. "I'm sorry again for everything you've suffered."

  Kadin looked away from him. "Being sorry doesn't change anything."

  "No, I suppose it doesn't."

  Kadin wanted to change the topic. "Are Alvin and Faina coming with us?"

  "They can't. The guards might allow the three of us to pass through, but they don't know Alvin and Faina like they know me. It has to be just the three of us."

  "Let's just hope that's enough."

  "It has to be."

  Kadin and his father finished fueling the sun for the day, and then Kadin's father suggested that they both get a little sleep to recover mentally, but Kadin couldn't sleep. Normally, he had no trouble sleeping on the soft bed, beneath thick fur covers, but today his mind was racing. He tossed and turned, finding no position comfortable.

  After about two hours, he gave up and began pacing again, thinking of all the things that might go wrong. If Teravin discovered what they were doing, he would kill Kadin's sister. If they couldn't free her and Kadin didn't deliver the right information, Teravin would kill Kadin's sister. If Alvin disappeared into the Realm of Shade, Teravin would kill Kadin's sister.

  There was only one path that ended with her alive.

  And that path had almost no chance of succeeding.

  A loud knock startled Kadin out of thought. He opened the door, expecting to see his father, but instead it was Teravin who stood in the doorway. Kadin's heart dropped into his stomach. He tried to keep the fear off his face, but probably didn't succeed.

  "Sit down," Teravin said sharply.

  Kadin took a seat in a cushioned chair. "What do you want?"

  "You have given me no information on Alvin. Do I have to remind you what's at stake?"

  Kadin's heart pounded. "I know what you'll do, but it isn't so easy getting information about him. He doesn't trust me enough to reveal those kinds of things to me."

  "Then you'll have to steal them."

  "I'm not good at that kind of thing."

  "Then you'll have to develop that talent quickly."

  "I'm trying," Kadin said, panic igniting in his chest. "You need to give me more time."

  "If I don't have anything solid from you in a week's time, your sister is dead. Have I made myself clear enough?"

  "Yes."

  "And don't even think of trying to free her," Teravin said. "I'll know." He gave Kadin a piercing look, then exited the room, leaving Kadin in a state of panic. Teravin had to know. He wouldn't have made that last comment if he didn't.

  But it was too late to back out. They had to take a chance on this mission. There was no way Kadin could do what Teravin had asked, not without getting Alvin killed, and as much as Kadin cared about his sister, he couldn't sacrifice the priest's life for hers. The priest was a good man, and Kadin had met so few of those.

  He remembered that he'd once had similar thoughts about the overseer Marell. What was Marell doing now? Had he found a new position somewhere? Did he care what had happened to Kadin, or had he put that part of his life behind him?

  Those are questions for another time, Kadin told himself. For now, he had to focus on freeing his sister—a prospect that seemed less likely than ever.

  Less than an hour later, Deril and the Sunlord came to Kadin's chambers. He told them what Teravin had said.

  "We could develop another plan," Deril said.

  "We've tried," said the Sunlord. "We have nothing else."

  "But he has to be expecting us," Kadin said.

  "I'm sure he is," Deril said. "We'll just have to find a way to make this happen despite that." He shook his head. "Look. I know it isn't much of a plan, but it's the best we have."

  Kadin had a hollow feeling in his gut. "I know."

  They made their way through the temple's corridors, reaching the stairwell leading down toward the dungeon and the other strange rooms down there. As they descended the stairs, some of the Sun Guards gave them strange looks, but no one stopped them. Apparently, the Sunlord did command their respect. Or perhaps they were waiting for the right moment to strike.

  At the bottom of the stairwell, they found two Sun Guards standing outside the place Kadin had entered the day he'd met Teravin.

  "Sunlord, what business do you have down here?" asked one of the guards.

  "My business is my own."

  "I'm afraid we can't let anyone pass," said the other guard. "Even you."

  "On whose orders?" Deril asked.

  "This is the Church's property," said the first guard. "High Priest Teravin has told us that no one is allowed through here. I'm sorry, but you'll have to turn around."

  "I’m afraid we can't do that," said Kadin's father.

  This was Kadin's moment. They'd talked about this beforehand. He joined with Deril, weaving a shield that would silence the guards' cries. Sunlord Zaren then wove Yellow and Green, altering the ground beneath the guards. Most Sunweavers wouldn't have been powerful enough to alter the ground here in the temple, but the Sunlord did it with ease.

  The guards fell into holes in the ground. They'd had a chance to fight back, but Kadin could see the confusion in their eyes. On the one hand, they had to protect the Church's secrets from anyone. On the other, they were hesitant to harm two Sunlords and Deril.

  Kadin, Deril, and their father raced past the guards, into the darker corridor beyond. The gray stone walls flashed by as Kadin led
the way toward the corridor containing all the prison cells. They entered that corridor and made their way until they stopped at Tyrine's cell.

  She moved to the bars. "Kadin, what are you doing here?"

  "I'm here to get you out of here." He gestured toward Deril and the Sunlord. "This is my new brother, Deril, and my real father, Sunlord Zaren."

  "Teravin was just down here," Tyrine said. "He told me he was expecting you."

  Kadin glanced back anxiously. "That doesn't matter. We're getting you out of here."

  "How? Teravin told me this cell was reinforced."

  "We're all very powerful Sunweavers," Kadin said. "We can do this."

  His father nodded. "It's time."

  They faced the cell and wove Yellow and Green, combining their weaves into one powerful spell that would hopefully alter the stone at the edge of the cell. At first nothing happened, and panic flared within Kadin. He took deep breaths, though, focusing on his weave, remembering how long this had taken back on the plantation.

  Slowly, the rocks began to shift with a low rumble. Kadin, Deril, and their father kept the weave going. Tyrine stood at the back of the cell, looking on with wide eyes. She'd probably never seen such powerful Sunweaving in action.

  More and more rocks shifted. They were almost there. But Kadin could feel his energy dwindling. He pushed through it, though. Nothing would keep him from saving his sister.

  There was a sharp crock, and a large hole appeared beneath the bars.

  "Crawl through," Deril said. "It's big enough that you can fit."

  Tyrine hesitated a moment, her face pale, but then she ducked beneath the bars and crawled through the opening. When she emerged on the other side, Kadin and Deril helped her to her feet. Kadin could barely stand himself. That weave had taken a lot out of him.

  "We need to get out of here quickly," Deril said.

  "I'm afraid that isn't going to happen."

  Kadin turned toward the voice to see High Priest Teravin standing with more than a dozen Sun Guards.

  Chapter 27: The Realm of Shade

  Deril's heart pounded. He didn't know what to do. They couldn't elude this many Sun Guards. He glanced from side to side, hoping Kadin or his father would have an answer, but their eyes were wide as they glanced around in panic.

  "You've made a grave mistake," Teravin said. "I won't just kill the young woman. No, I think you all know too much."

  Deril glared at him. "You can't kill Sunlords! The world needs them."

  Teravin smiled. "Actually, it doesn't."

  "You're insane," Deril said.

  "No. I simply know the truth." He turned to his Sun Guards. "Kill them all."

  "Yes, sir."

  These Sun Guards held no allegiance toward the Council. They belonged entirely to Teravin. There would be no reasoning with them.

  "Run!" Deril shouted.

  Deril, Kadin, Tyrine, and Deril's father all took off at once, racing deeper into the dungeon. There was no telling if the dungeon had another exit, and as they got lost in its labyrinthine corridors, Deril feared they'd made the wrong decision.

  He wove Blue and Purple to send a message. Father Alvin.

  The response came a few moments later. What's wrong? Are you in trouble?

  Teravin was ready for us. He's chasing us through the dungeons now. You have to find some way to help us.

  I'll do what I can.

  I need something more specific than that, Deril sent.

  That entrance to the Realm of Shade we discussed—it's located in the place where the Church keeps all the monsters. It's far at the bottom of the chamber. Escaping into the Realm of Shade might just be your only chance. Faina and I will join you as soon as we can.

  Thank you, Deril sent, though he felt sick at the thought of entering the Realm of Shade.

  There should be another entrance to that chamber from the back of the dungeon.

  The conversation ended, and Deril returned his focus to fleeing. He'd kept pace with the others as they wound their way through the branching corridors. The Sun Guards and Teravin were close behind. Powerful fire and lightning weaves flew through the air, but Deril's father had been holding a shield around them, deflecting all the spells.

  Kadin pointed ahead. "I think I see an exit!"

  They raced to the end of the corridor and emerged where Deril had hoped. Ahead of them were dozens of cages containing all kinds of monsters. He couldn't even begin to describe most of these monsters, and there was no time to stop and examine them.

  "We need to go to the farthest, lowest part of this chamber," he said. "Father Alvin told me that was where we'd find a portal to the Realm of Shade."

  "Is that really where we want to go?" Kadin asked.

  "At this point," Deril said, "we have no choice." Sweat ran down his face, and his legs were growing tired, his breathing labored. He pushed through the exhaustion, though, knowing he couldn't afford to slow down. As they ran, he added strength to the shield protecting them.

  They descended a set of wide stone steps, reaching a portion of the chamber so dark that Kadin cast yellow. Still, the casting illuminated only ten or fifteen feet around them.

  They had left the cages behind. Kadin swung his light around, but they didn't see anywhere to go. The chamber stretched too far in every direction, so they chose a path at random, taking off to their right and praying they'd chosen correctly.

  The air was cold and damp. The chamber smelled of dust and disuse and animal waste. As they ran, Deril's skin prickled. He could almost sense something in the air—a wrongness. That was the only way he could describe it.

  Did that mean they were close to the portal?

  He glanced from side to side but saw nothing of use. Shouts and booted footsteps came from behind, the sounds closer and louder than ever. More weaves flew through the air, and Deril could feel the strength of their shield waning. It would hold another minute, maybe two.

  Kadin turned to his left and the light of his casting fell upon a gateway. A strange swirl of colors filled the gateway, and through that curtain of color, Deril could see a rocky world draped in thick mist. That had to be the Realm of Shade. The image shifted every few seconds, showing a different portion of that desolate landscape.

  "Let's go!" Deril shouted, and they all jumped through the portal.

  One moment, they were in the chamber beneath the temple. The next, they stood upon a vast expanse of jagged rock, mist swirling around them, cool and damp.

  "You think they'll follow us?" Kadin asked.

  "I don't think that gateway always leads to the same place," Deril said. "I don't know if you saw it, but the image kept changing. They may find some way of following us and finding us eventually, but I think we're safe for now." He glanced around, stomach churning. "Or as safe as we can be in a place that's said to be home to all kinds of monsters."

  "Well, I don’t see any monsters yet," said his father.

  Kadin peered across the desolate landscape. "I don't think that will last."

  Mist drifted in swirling clouds, dampening their skin. Deril tried to see into the distance, but the mist was too thick. He already felt as if it were closing in on him, suffocating him. Glancing around, he couldn't spot any sign of the portal they'd stepped through.

  "I feel like we just made a huge mistake," he said.

  His father nodded gravely. "It's possible, but we can't change our minds now."

  "If the portal leads to different places," Kadin said, "then how are Faina and Father Alvin going to find us?"

  Deril's stomach lurched. He hadn't thought of that.

  "How are we going to survive at all?" Tyrine asked. Deril had almost forgotten she was there. He couldn't imagine how out of place she felt among them, in this desolate landscape. There were no signs indicating which direction they should go, no hints at all of what they should do. Deril had never felt so lost in his life.

  "We'll figure out a way," said Deril's father.

  "We'll have to be ca
reful about our Sunweaving," Deril said. "Can you feel it? There's no sun here. That means that we only have the reserves we came here with."

  His father frowned. "I didn't think of that."

  "That also means the world has no Sunlords," Kadin said.

  "As long as we aren't here too long," said Deril's father, "the world should be all right."

  "Do you think Teravin was telling the truth?" Deril asked. "Do you think the world can survive without Sunlords? It seems insane, but I don't think Teravin was lying. I think he knows something we don't." He shook his head. "I feel like I don't understand anything about the world. I read about this place, but I thought it was just a myth."

  "There's no point worrying about any of that right now," said his father. "We need to find a way out of this place, or at least someone who can help us."

  "Do you think there's anyone in this place?" Deril asked.

  His father looked away. "I hope so."

  They started walking, choosing a direction at random. The landscape remained the same. The only thing that changed was the thickness of the mist. At times, it grew so thick that they had to hold hands to keep from separating. At other times, the mist thinned so much they had almost normal visibility. The world remained silent around them.

  But still Deril's skin prickled. He felt as if something were lurking in the mist, watching them, and with limited use of Sunweaving, he wasn't sure he could survive if anything attacked. The sword at his side felt small and insignificant. He and his father both carried swords, but Kadin and Tyrine were unarmed. They hadn't been prepared for this eventuality.

  It should have been a much simpler operation.

  Then again, they should have known that Teravin would expect them. Teravin was not a stupid man. He could prepare for any issue that might arise. Desperation had driven Deril and the others to attempt the rescue without a solid plan.

  Could they have devised something better if they'd been more patient?

  No use lamenting the past. Deril couldn't change it.