Fireweaver

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Rella could hardly believe her luck. She'd thought she might have to wait around—or worse, that she might have to convince Atarin to talk to Kara. But it appeared that fortune had offered her an easier path. She took a deep breath. She couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

  "I can take you there," she said.

  "Good. Lead on."

  "Is that all you have to say to me?"

  "What do you want me to say?"

  She started walking back toward the door. "I'd like a sign that there's some shred of decency in you. I wouldn't dare ask for an apology. You're too proud for that."

  He still held the dagger at his side, ready to use it. "You presume to know me, but you really don't know me at all."

  "You had me tortured."

  "I did what I had to do." But there was a flash of something in his eyes, perhaps a moment of regret. Surprising.

  "You're wrong about everything," she said.

  His expression was unreadable. "Really? How so?"

  "When you meet with Kara, she'll tell you the truth about our world."

  "Well, I can't wait to speak to her then."

  "Where's Karik?" she asked.

  "Why does it matter to you?"

  "He was kind to me," she said. "Unlike you."

  Again, she saw that flash in his eyes. When he noticed her gaze, he turned away. Perhaps she was getting her evidence that there was some decency within him. That didn't mean he was a good man, but perhaps he could still be redeemed.

  She reached the door and sent the weave Bradin had shown her. Nothing happened, and she tensed, wondering what she'd done wrong, but then the door opened, revealing the small chamber beyond. Bradin was still standing near the door. He narrowed his eyes upon seeing Atarin. Atarin scowled back, his hand still on his dagger.

  "You're making me nervous," Rella said, eying the dagger.

  "Perhaps that's my intention."

  "If I ask you nicely, will you put it away?" She glared at him. "Besides, I don't think the monks like it. You might be powerful, but there are a lot of them."

  "Very well, I will put it away." He sheathed the dagger. "Happy now?"

  Rella kept glaring at him. "Not particularly."

  They walked in silence awhile, the monks watching them suspiciously. Rella led the way back toward Kara's office, making her way by the light of the scattered Sunlamps. The stone headquarters of the monks wasn't warm and inviting, but it had enough decorative elements that it felt like it could be someone's home.

  Home. Rella had almost forgotten how it felt to be somewhere she could call home. Atarin's palace had displayed the appearance of such a place, but the dark secrets within had made it feel more like a prison—even before her imprisonment at Atarin's hands.

  She glanced at him, trying to understand why she didn't utterly despise him. This was the man who'd ordered her torture, the man who wanted nothing more than to see every Sunweaver dead, and yet she felt more comfortable around him than she did around Talin. Was it the mere fact that her torture had come directly at Talin's hands?

  If so, that was a foolish way to look at things. Then again, she saw the contradiction in what Talin had done and the man he truly was. In Atarin's case, however, he was the cold and calculating man who'd ordered her torture. In a way, that was almost comforting.

  She knew where she stood with him.

  "What if I told you that I regret what I had to do to you?" he asked.

  She stopped a few feet from Kara's door. "I wouldn't believe you."

  "It's the truth."

  "I still don't believe you."

  "I hoped we could be family," he said, "but now I see that will never be possible."

  "That is entirely your fault."

  "I know."

  "Why are we even discussing this?" she asked before taking a few steps and knocking on Kara's door. A few moments later, Kara called for them to enter. Rella eased the door open and stepped into the office, Atarin following closely behind her.

  Kara smiled. "Well, that was quick."

  "He was waiting for me," Rella said. She rounded on Atarin. "Speaking of which, how did you know you'd find me here? Why were you waiting near that door?"

  Atarin chuckled. "You should be a bit more careful about holding conversations in a library. They are naturally quiet places. Even low voices carry. Karik stayed in the library, and he heard you. It's a good thing I didn't want you dead."

  "You could have approached me without putting a dagger to my throat."

  "Perhaps, but I find a little threat helps me get my way more quickly."

  "Well, you've had your way," Rella said. "Now you should listen to Kara."

  Atarin took a seat across the desk from Kara. Rella remained standing near the back of the room. She refused to sit next to Atarin. As far as she was concerned, he was no family of hers. She could have left the room, but she didn't want to leave Kara alone with Atarin. Surely Kara could handle herself, but a little extra protection never hurt.

  Besides, Rella wanted to see Atarin's reaction to the truth.

  "You probably are not going to believe what I tell you," Kara said, "but I ask that you listen with an open mind." Once Atarin nodded his agreement, she continued. "The god you tried to free not so long ago—that god was not Halarik."

  "Go on," Atarin said. Rella couldn't read his expression.

  Kara took a few moments to gather her thoughts, and when she spoke, she met Atarin's gaze almost too steadily. "Once, Halarik was imprisoned because Aralea thought he'd weakened the sun, but in truth, it was a god named Cardell who weakened the sun. A god who was both Sunweaver and Fireweaver. Halarik and Aralea then worked together to imprison him instead, once Aralea discovered the truth."

  Atarin sat still in the chair, his expression thoughtful.

  "You came here in search of the Lost Weaves so that you could free Halarik," Kara said. "In the end, that's a pointless endeavor. Halarik is already free. By going to the Realm of Shade, you would only succeed in freeing an insane god. A truly insane god."

  Atarin leaned forward. "I only have your word for this. Why should I believe you?"

  "You want some proof," Kara said. "I understand."

  "You said this Cardell is both a Sunweaver and Fireweaver," Atarin replied. "How is that possible? That goes against everything we've always been taught."

  "I can prove that to you," Kara said. "Weave orange and yellow."

  Atarin stared at Kara, frowning. "All I've seen is that you're a Sunweaver."

  "Do it again."

  This time, Atarin's eyes widened. "Now you're a Fireweaver. How is that possible?"

  "Because there is a place known as the Source, deep within the Realm of Shade. There, you can make yourself into both a Sunweaver and Fireweaver. Even the Lightless can do this, assuming they somehow survive the journey."

  Atarin stroked his red beard. "All right, I've seen proof of this one thing, but that doesn't prove everything you're saying. I've never heard of any gods other than Halarik and Aralea."

  "How am I supposed to prove this to you?" Kara asked. "The only proof I can offer is to take you to the Realm of Shade so you can see for yourself. But that requires placing trust in you, and I'm not sure I can do that. I know what kind of man you are, Atarin."

  Atarin sat forward. "Perhaps I'm not the man you think I am. At times, I even wonder if I'm still the same man I was before everything went wrong."

  He briefly caught Rella's gaze. She wanted to turn away, but instead she held his gaze, trying to determine what kind of man he truly was. He was a hard man, no doubt—a man dedicated to achieving his goals. But could he be a good man apart from that?

  After a long silence, he said, "Take me to the Realm of Shade."

  Chapter 34: Monsters in the Mist

  The first few days of travel had passed without any threat from the Church, but Deril didn't think that would last. He kept scanning his surroundings, though it was impossible to see anything through the thick mist.


  From time to time, they passed small settlements, but they didn't stay long. The roads were mostly deserted. Only the occasional wagon crossed the uneven terrain.

  "How much farther is it to the Source?" Kadin asked.

  Catara glared at him. "If you complain one more time, I'm going to make Deril double the amount he's paying me."

  "We had a deal," Deril said.

  "I didn't know the young one would be so annoying."

  Kadin opened his mouth as if to protest, but then he shut it and glanced away. Tyrine was walking beside him. She'd been silent most of the time, and Deril couldn't blame her. Occasionally, she and Kadin would talk quietly, but even that didn't happen often. Deril had the feeling Tyrine felt overwhelmed to be a part of this group.

  She was Kadin's sister, yes, but she was Lightless. According to Catara and Marell, Tyrine could change that when they reached the Source. Deril still didn't know how it was possible to become a Sunweaver, Fireweaver, or both.

  There was so much about the world he'd never truly understood.

  A cloud of mist thinned ahead of them, and Deril froze, panic twisting his guts. Ahead of them, the road descended into a small valley, and in that valley, a small army had assembled. They all wore the golden surcoats of Sun Guards, but these were not Sun Guards like Tiran. No, these men and women were tools of the Church, of Vardin, who wanted them dead.

  "We'll have to leave the road," Catara said.

  Kadin looked pale. "But there are monsters out there."

  "There are monsters down in that valley too," Marell said.

  Kadin bit his lower lip. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

  They started off to the left, leaving the road behind. Deril had not seen any monsters the entire time they'd been on the road, but he still felt his rising panic when they left the wards behind. They journeyed farther and farther from the road, keeping a thick wall of mist between them and the army. It didn't matter if the army was looking for them.

  They couldn't take any chances.

  At the moment, they didn’t need their compass. They made their way by skirting the edges of the valley in which the soldiers were camped. The mist was too thick to see the army, but Deril still felt as if eyes were watching them.

  A growl came from their left. Deril froze.

  "What in the Core was that?" Kadin said softly, his voice trembling.

  "Quiet," Catara whispered.

  They stood frozen as something prowled in the mist. It growled a few times. Rocks shifted with its steps. Deril peered into the thick mist, but it had grown denser than he'd thought possible. He could barely see the rest of the party.

  The growls stopped, but that was hardly comforting. The party pressed through the mist as it grew thicker and thicker around them, the moisture clinging to their skin. Though the air was much warmer than back home, the chilly mist still bothered Deril.

  The air had grown deathly silent. Rocks no longer shifted. It had been at least five minutes since Deril had heard a growl. None of that made him feel any less threatened.

  They could no longer see the valley to their right. The army could be waiting for them in the mist, and they'd never know it. Clouds of mist drifted through the air, growing so thick they had to hold hands to keep from losing one another.

  "This is some of the worst mist I've ever seen," Catara said softly. "We should make camp here. We can't travel safely like this."

  No one argued, so they settled down in a small circle, huddling close together. They had no wood to start a fire, so Marell and Catara cast Red, using their Fireweaving. Deril wanted to help, but he had to conserve his Sunweaving until they reached the Source.

  He wasn't sure he wanted to become both Sunweaver and Fireweaver, but if he wanted to survive this place, it was necessary. However, there was no telling what would happen when he returned home. Would he be executed for becoming a Fireweaver, or would he be able to hide it well enough that he could evade detection?

  Already, he felt as if Tarileth were a distant memory. It was hard to imagine that any other place existed when that mist shrouded him from every side, dense and suffocating.

  The party did not talk. Monsters could still be lurking in the mist. Deril had never felt so terrified in his life. He peered into the mist every few seconds, but it never thinned. If something was out there, they'd never see it. Even their hearing might not save them, for the mist seemed to dull all sounds. It clung to everything, and Deril felt miserable.

  They rested in shifts, though it seemed pointless to stand watch. Deril shared the last watch with Marell. He'd tried to get some sleep beforehand, but he had trouble sleeping in a world that had no night. He got in a little sleep here and there, but not enough.

  Deril stood close to Marell. "I never thanked you for all you did for Kadin."

  "I did what I thought was right."

  "At great personal risk," Deril said.

  "If I had the choice, I'd do it again."

  Rocks shifted in the distance, and they both fell silent. Deril peered into the mist but didn't see anything. He felt like screaming at the mist, though he knew that was a terrible idea.

  The sounds became louder. Closer. Deril's legs trembled. He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to remain calm, worrying about the others. Should he wake them?

  Not yet. The monster wasn't that close.

  But the shifting rocks were approaching. The sound was strangely muffled in the mist.

  "We need to wake the others," Marell whispered.

  Deril was glad someone else had made the decision for him. He made the few steps to their makeshift campsite and gently roused the others from sleep. As he woke each person, he held a finger to his lips and jerked his head to indicate the direction of the monster. Everyone understood immediately and remained silent, their expressions tense and expectant.

  More rocks shifted, coming from multiple directions, but there were no growls. Deril swiveled his head, trying to track all the sounds. It was a futile effort.

  The mist thinned just enough that one of the monsters came into view. It had the body of a large bird, its wings long and skeletal. It also had a cruel, curved beak. Its eyes were a deep yellow and as large as small plates.

  But the most interesting thing was the man upon the monster's back. He rode the monster as if there were nothing special about it, and he was dressed in the golden surcoat of a Sun Guard. As he led the monster toward them, he drew his sword.

  "I've found them!" he shouted. "This way."

  Soon a dozen of these winged creatures stepped into view, Sun Guards riding atop their backs. Deril and his party couldn't fight against this many.

  One of the birdlike creatures advanced toward them, led by a man wearing the adornments of a Sun Guard commander. The man remained atop his bird, frowning down at the party. At last, he said, "You are all under arrest."

  "On what charges?" Deril demanded.

  "We have orders from Vardin," said the commander. "He would like to speak to you."

  Chapter 35: The Path to the Source

  Faina, Alvin, and Teravin stood in a deserted chamber on one of the temple's lower levels. The corridors of the temple were still somewhat chaotic, but it appeared the Sun Guard was starting to get everything under control.

  "Why did you let the people know that the Sunlord is gone?" Faina asked Teravin.

  Teravin smiled. "And who says I did such a thing?"

  "It's the only answer that makes sense."

  "Well, you'll just have to keep wondering," Teravin said.

  "I don't trust you," Faina said, "and you're not doing anything to make me trust you. You say we are allies now, but what proof do we have that you're telling the truth?"

  Teravin shrugged. "None, I suppose."

  "We just have to take your word?" Faina asked.

  "I haven't killed you. Shouldn't that be enough?"

  "You can also read the future," Faina said. "Perhaps you see a reason to keep us alive for now. But what happens
once you decide you no longer need us?"

  "Halarik is a god. I doubt I could kill him."

  Faina heard the words he didn't say. He did not mention her. Was that a deliberate omission, or had he simply been careless with his words? Regardless, she would keep an eye on him. If it came to a direct fight, she couldn't defeat him, but if she watched him closely enough, then perhaps it wouldn't come to that.

  She felt as if she had returned to the criminal underworld. Back then, she'd felt as if she needed about a dozen eyes to watch all the threats to her and her crime lord. Strangely, she wondered how he was doing. He had refused to help her and Kadin, but she'd expected that. People in his position had to look out for themselves before looking out for others.

  "I still don't trust you," Faina said.

  Teravin nodded. "I understand. But that doesn't matter right now. For the moment, we must go to the Realm of Shade. That's our only chance to stop Vardin and Cardell, our only chance to save Aralea and stop the Plague of the Turned. You do want that, don't you?"

  "Of course," Faina said. There was so much more she wanted to say to him, but there was no point. He would find a way to paint himself as the good guy. But she knew better. She could see the darkness in his eyes, the cold and calculating intellect that lingered behind his words.

  "Good," Teravin said. "Then I shall create a portal to take us to Vardin's stronghold in the Realm of Shade. It is known as Mist's End. That is where we will find Aralea. Freeing her will be our first step in this journey we're about to undertake. Creating this portal will take some time, though. Perhaps an entire day. It is not an easy weave. I suggest you rest up first. I believe I may have put you through a very strenuous day."

  "You mean you tried to kill us," Faina said.

  "That's in the past," Teravin said.

  Faina glared at him but said nothing. He could not say anything else to make her trust him, and she never would trust him. There was something else at play here. No matter what Teravin said, he would kill them once he no longer needed them.

  She and Alvin left the chamber and made their way back toward Alvin's chambers. They didn't speak as they walked. Others were out in the corridors, both Sun Guards and temple residents. She and Alvin couldn't risk being overheard.