Fireweaver

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Kara's eyes were closed as she focused on her task. Rella wanted to urge her to go faster, but understood that some weaves required a lot of time and concentration. It was surprising that Kara could concentrate at all with the guards pounding at the barricade.

  Rella paced at one end of the dark storage room. Her heart had not stopped pounding, and she could feel the strain of everything they'd done that day. They needed a chance to rest.

  She doubted they'd get that chance.

  The pounding had become louder, the voices angrier. Rella sagged against the stone wall, taking deep breaths. Karik stood beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, Rella. Either we make it out of this or we don't. There's nothing you can do about it."

  She leaned closer to him. "Was that supposed to be comforting?"

  "I've never been good at that kind of thing."

  She looked into his eyes. Despite the sweat and dirt coating him, she had to admit he was handsome. When she'd first been in Atarin's palace, she'd felt a connection to Karik. That connection had always been there, even when Atarin had tortured her. Now that they were back on the same side, her feelings for him stirred again.

  Then she remembered Tarell from back home, though she supposed she belonged to a different world now. She couldn't return to Azira and Tarell even if she wanted to.

  They were part of the past, so perhaps Karik could be her present, and her future.

  But could she ever separate Karik from Atarin in her mind? She glanced at her uncle. He stood off to the side, casting worried glances toward the trapdoor. It was made of sturdy stone, so it would hopefully hold up, but the crates were already showing signs of damage. If they came apart completely, the guards could enter the cellar.

  "It's ready," Kara said. "Let's go."

  Rella glanced into the swirl of color, seeing a land draped in mist and shadows. A city of some sort was on the other side of the portal, its buildings fashioned of stone. At the far end of the city was a dark and foreboding fortress with four towers.

  "Hurry!" Kara said. "It might change locations."

  They didn't need to be told twice. Everyone funneled through the opening. As soon as Rella stepped through it, she emerged on a rocky hill overlooking the city. Rocks shifted beneath her, and mist swirled in the air, thick and damp.

  Kara was the last through the portal, and she closed it behind her. Her face was pale, and sweat drenched her hair, but she managed a sharp laugh. "They'll be in for a surprise when they finally get into the cellar."

  Kae glared at her. "I wish I could laugh about anything right now."

  "I'm sorry." Kara took a step back. "I should have been more sensitive."

  Rella wrapped an arm around Kae's shoulders. "Are you going to be all right?"

  "It doesn't matter. I'm going to make Vardin pay."

  "Trying for vengeance will only hurt you," Kara said. "I once knew somebody who lived only for vengeance. She was a good person, but she let that desire for vengeance consume her. It could have gotten her killed." She shook her head with sadness in her eyes. "That was a long time ago, and I can still remember her."

  Kae pulled free from Rella's embrace. "I think we all understand something of loss. I don't know if I'll succeed in killing Vardin, but I have to try."

  "I'm sure you can help," Kara said, "but you can't strike the killing blow. That can only be done with one of the Lost Weaves, and you must be a Firelord or Sunlord to use that weave."

  Rella shuddered. Did that mean the duty could fall to her? She was a Firelord after all, and if she acquired the power of the Source, she could use the Lost Weaves. She glanced at Kae and felt a sudden surge of determination. Vardin had taken Kae's sister from her, and if Kae couldn't strike the killing blow herself, then Rella would do it for her.

  They entered the city containing the fortress and the Source. The streets were more smoothed paths of rock than anything else. The buildings looked sturdy, however. After a few minutes, they found an inn located close to the fortress.

  Exhausted, they purchased a room. Rella fell asleep almost immediately. When she woke the next morning, her reserves had replenished themselves. Her muscles ached, though, and she still felt generally exhausted. One look at Talin, Kae, Atarin, Karik, and Kara revealed that they all felt the same way.

  It was an unlikely group Rella had joined. She never could have imagined herself working alongside Atarin. She still remembered how he'd ordered her torture. He'd done it in the name of what he thought he was right, but that didn't make it any better.

  "I suppose I have to believe in this Vardin now," Atarin said. "I never imagined a place like this could exist. I'd always thought this place was nothing but a prison."

  "That's the Church's lie," Kara said. "And by extension, Vardin's lie."

  "Because he's the true power in the Church," Atarin said, shaking his head.

  "He is," Kara said, "and he has to be stopped."

  They rested another day at the inn while they made plans for infiltrating the fortress. Every idea they conceived seemed more ridiculous than the last. Kara had been here before, and she knew the fortress to be impregnable. She scouted it from a distance a few times, looking for any signs of weakness in its defenses. She found none.

  It was a chance meeting in the corridor that changed their fortunes.

  Rella was on her way down to the common room to get some food when she saw someone who looked familiar. But it couldn't be. Why would Faina be here?

  Rella increased her pace so she could walk alongside the woman. When the woman saw her, her eyes widened. There was no doubt about it. It was Faina.

  "Rella?" she said. "What are you doing here?"

  Rella felt like laughing for the first time in a while. "I could ask you the same question."

  "I think it's a long story for both of us."

  Rella remembered that Faina had been a thief in her younger days. If anyone knew how to sneak into a fortress, she would. "This is going to sound like a strange question," Rella said. "But do you have any idea how we might get into that fortress?"

  "I don't, but Alvin does."

  "Alvin? Who's that?"

  "I'll take you to meet him," Faina said. "Follow me." She turned and led Rella the other way down the hall. They both entered a room about three doors down from where Rella and the others were staying. Inside, a young man sat in a chair, deep in thought.

  He looked up when they entered. "Faina, I thought you were getting food." He narrowed his eyes. "Who is this?"

  "I've told you about Rella, haven't I?"

  "Yes, I do recall the name. But what is she doing here?"

  "I'm not sure exactly. We just ran across each other in the hall. But I think she might be just what we need. She's a Firelord."

  Rella took a step closer. "You're trying to kill Vardin as well?"

  "Both him and Cardell," Alvin said.

  "Then I think we're all in luck," Rella said. "I'm a Firelord, and I'm not the only one. Talin, Atarin, and Karik are all here, and they're also Firelords."

  Alvin lifted his eyebrows. "You're with Atarin? That's interesting." He rose from his stone chair. "I think I'd like to speak to this group."

  Rella leaned close to Faina. "Can we trust him?"

  There was a moment of hesitation before Faina nodded.

  "Follow me," Rella said, and she led the way to her party's room. When she stepped inside, everyone was there. Most of them didn't react at first, but Kae and Talin nodded with recognition when they saw Faina.

  The most surprising reaction came from Kara. She jumped to her feet as though something had burned her and stared straight at Alvin.

  "Halarik?" she said.

  He nodded. "Kara."

  Faina shrank back a bit. "I might have failed to mention something about Alvin's identity. Just let him explain."

  Rella wasn't going to argue with that. She wanted an explanation.

  Kara took a step toward Halarik. "I was wondering what had happened to you. W
here have you been all these years?"

  "I've been living under various disguises. Most recently, I became a young priest by the name of Alvin. I've come to like the name and the persona that comes with it."

  Across the room, Atarin and Karik were both staring at him with wide eyes. Rella could imagine the thoughts running through their heads. For all their lives, this was the man they thought they'd been worshipping, the man they thought they were going to free.

  Atarin took a step forward. "How do we know you're Halarik?"

  "Weave Orange and Yellow," Halarik said.

  Everyone in the room must have done the weave at the same time. When Rella gazed upon Halarik's heat signature, she was amazed. It was so much brighter than any other heat signature she'd ever seen. This man was clearly a god.

  Atarin nodded. "I still think we need some kind of explanation."

  For the next few minutes, Halarik explained everything. How the war had transpired between the gods. The events from the original world that had led to the war. His role in weakening the sun. Aralea releasing him from prison. How he'd helped the effort to free Cardell in the hopes that it would lead to a chance to kill him.

  "Are you truly Halarik?" Atarin asked. "I believe you, but it's hard to believe at the same time. Am I truly standing before the man I've worshipped my entire life?"

  Halarik took a step closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You thought you were worshipping me. Once, I might have been the man you've worshipped, but not anymore. Now I understand that Sunweavers and Fireweavers are equal. We are just different sides of the same coin. Back during the war, I did hate Sunweavers because Aralea had adopted them as her people, but I no longer hate them, and I no longer hate her."

  "Why didn't you ever show yourself?" Atarin asked, blinking away tears.

  "The time was never right." Halarik shook his head slowly. "But, more accurately, I was afraid. I'm only alive because Vardin and Cardell do not know where I am, or who I am. When we invade their fortress, I'm going to announce myself whether I want to or not. Vardin doesn't easily forget betrayals. I will become his main target."

  His expression became distant.

  "He's going to kill you," Faina said. "Isn't he?"

  "I can't see the future, but it is highly likely. But if that's what it takes to accomplish our mission, then I will gladly die. I have lived a long life, and I have made many mistakes. If I can atone for those mistakes in some way, that's better than nothing."

  "But he can't kill you," Faina said. "A god can't kill another god. You told me that yourself."

  "He has Firelords at his disposal. One of them will do it."

  "Then we still have a chance," Faina said. "You're a god. They're only Firelords."

  Halarik smiled. "I wish I still had such confidence in myself. I am powerful, yes, but I'm not that powerful." He put a hand on her shoulder. "I hope you're right."

  Rella couldn't shake the feeling that they were all walking to their deaths.

  Chapter 42: The Beast with Nine Heads

  Kadin wasn't in a cell, but he was a prisoner. There was no doubt about that.

  He was with the others in a large sitting room with comfortable furniture. The place had warm carpets and tapestries—a sharp contrast with the fortress's foreboding exterior. But a comfortable and beautiful prison was still a prison.

  They'd been waiting for almost a day now. Guards had delivered food to them, and they were not in chains, but the doors to the sitting room were locked, and strong shields had been placed around the room, preventing them from using any magic.

  The door opened, and the god Vardin stepped through. Four Sun Guards joined him, their faces expressionless. One of the Sun Guards closed the door, though no one was going to try to escape. That would be foolish.

  "Kadin, I need you to come with me," Vardin said.

  This was the moment Kadin had dreaded. Vardin was going to force him to free Cardell from his prison, and there was nothing Kadin could do about it. He glanced back at the others, but none of them had any encouraging words for him.

  Vardin led Kadin out the door and then through the corridors of the fortress. Other people were milling about, but Kadin would get no help from them. Everyone gave Vardin a wide berth. The stone-faced Sun Guards probably didn't help. Something had to be wrong with them. Were they being controlled in some way? Was it something similar to the plague of the Turned?

  The fortress was a confusing maze, and though Kadin tried to keep track of where he was going, he quickly became lost. Soon Vardin led him down stairs and into corridors that went far beneath the surface. The Sunlamps became more scattered.

  No one spoke, and Kadin couldn't stand the silence. He glanced around, looking for a way to escape, trying to distract himself from his anxious thoughts. But he didn't know this place well enough, and there was no way he could break free from his captors.

  More stairs. More branching corridors. The warm furnishings had been replaced by cold gray stone. Soon they stepped into a much more open chamber. It was circular and cavernous, the ceiling so high Kadin couldn't see it. In the center of the chamber was a giant crystalline structure, and inside this structure was a tall, bearded man.

  "My brother," Vardin said. "You will free him."

  Kadin felt cold on the inside. "And what if I refuse?"

  "I don't need any of your friends. I will kill them until you obey."

  "They'd understand," Kadin said. "They wouldn't want to live if it means your insane brother gets free." He was surprised at the confidence in his voice. In truth, he was more terrified than he'd ever been, but he couldn't let that show.

  "I was hoping you wouldn't be stubborn," Vardin said. He turned to one of the Sun Guards. "Please instruct your comrades to bring the other prisoners."

  The man nodded, still with no expression on his face. He must have performed a Blue/Purple weave because he did not say anything.

  Kadin's legs trembled as he waited in silence. Vardin stood to his side, his expression calm and patient, as though he knew he would succeed with no problem. Deep down, Kadin knew that there was no way he could win, but he had to tell himself it was still possible.

  Six Sun Guards marched into the chamber, marching the others in front of them. Deril's face was a grim mask. Marell and Catara looked as if they didn't know what to think of this situation. Tyrine looked small and insignificant beside her captors. Her eyes were wide, and her face was pale. Kadin wished he could say something comforting, but he could form no words.

  "I will start by torturing them," Vardin said. "You will free my brother."

  "Don't do it," Deril said. "Let him torture us. Let him kill us. We're not worth it."

  Kadin fought against tears. Deril had to know it wasn't that easy. How could Kadin watch the torture of people he cared about and do nothing to stop it? He glanced at the blue crystal that encased Cardell. It would be so easy to give in to Vardin's commands. Kadin alone had the power to free the god. All he had to do was give in.

  No. He couldn't do that. His friends were only a few people. If he freed Cardell, the entire world would suffer. No one was worth that much.

  On a logical level, Kadin understood this, but when he looked at Tyrine, he couldn't bear the thought of losing her. Against all odds, she had survived this long.

  And then there was Deril. Kadin had always held him at a distance, but he'd tried his best to be a good brother. Without him, Kadin would have felt even more isolated in his new world. Could he allow Deril to suffer?

  And Marell. He'd been so kind to Kadin on the plantation. Without him, Kadin would still be a slave, unaware that he was a Sunlord. Faina would still be suffering Andric's cruelty.

  Kadin couldn't let any of these people die.

  But he couldn't do what Vardin wanted either.

  "Are you going to do it?" Vardin asked, his tone patient, as if he had all day.

  Kadin tried to say something, but his voice couldn't form words. Tears trickled down his c
heeks. Why did he have to be in this situation? He couldn't handle it, and he wished he could close his eyes and disappear, wished this was all a dream.

  But it wasn't. It was all too real.

  "I can see that you won't hear reason," Vardin said. "Which one shall I start with?" He surveyed the assembled prisoners, his gaze landing on Tyrine. "Her."

  Kadin's insides twisted into a knot. He couldn't let Vardin torture Tyrine.

  But what choice did he have?

  * * * * *

  "The secret entrance to the fortress will take us through the sewer system and then into the fortress's water supply," Halarik said.

  Rella didn't like the sound of wading through sewers, but they had no other choice. She had strapped a sword and a couple of daggers to her clothing, though she didn't feel comfortable with any of the weapons. Already, she felt as if she'd forgotten everything Talin had taught her.

  She glanced at him. His expression was grim. He'd been in on the planning, though, as if he held no awe in the presence of a god. Rella couldn't even bring herself to speak to Halarik. Whenever she looked at him, she was afraid he would smite her.

  It was a silly fear. He seemed a good man. But she couldn't change the way she'd always thought of Halarik. He was the god who'd weakened the sun, the god spoken of in whispers by children in Tarileth. He was also the god of Fireweaving. Her powers had come from him.

  Of course, she wasn't sure about that either. She hadn't asked him about how things truly worked, and his explanation had been long, but it surely hadn't covered everything.

  "We're ready," Talin said, disturbing her from her thoughts. He looked at Rella, his expression softening. "Do you feel you can do this?"

  "This isn't the first dangerous situation I've faced. I can handle it."

  He smiled faintly. "I know you can."

  Strangely, she appreciated the vote of confidence. Her feelings toward him were changing. No longer did she see the man who'd tortured her. Instead, she saw the man who'd jumped into frigid water to save her from a sea monster.

  She wanted to voice these thoughts, but she couldn't form the words.