Fire

by Rosie Scott

  I have instructed my messenger to destroy this letter upon delivery. I am sure you understand, and I trust you will make the right decision.

  Sincerely,

  Your Mother

  My eyes stayed glued to the last two words, my heart having slowed its pace to attempt to meet the stilling of my thoughts.

  “My...my mother sent this?” I looked up slowly, finding the messenger to be nodding. “Who is she?”

  “I...cannot answer that,” he admitted, apologetically. “Only she is permitted to tell you. I assure you, I can say that she is very important, and you would be best listening to her requests.”

  “How can I find her if I do not know her name?” I asked, the tone of my voice laced with emotional desperation.

  “If you come to Whispermere, we do not allow many people within. Simply tell them who you are, and you will be taken to her.”

  Taken to her. It all sounded so...formal. So business-like. “How do I find Whispermere?” I asked the messenger next, my voice barely more than a murmur.

  “I have a map made just for you,” he replied, pulling out a small, folded piece of paper from a satchel at his side. “This details the best routes for the least resistance. Nevertheless, the path is hard and the weather in the mountains can be finicky. I suggest you bring an entourage of people you trust and enough supplies to last you a year. It took me two moons to get here, but the winter was harsh. If you leave soon, you may get there after only one moon or so.”

  I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my head around everything. “And you...can't tell me anything of my mother? Nothing? I've spent twenty-one years not even knowing if she was alive.”

  “The only thing I can tell you is that she has many people dedicated to her, Miss Sera.”

  I swallowed, frowning at him. “Dedicated? Why?”

  “She's very important. Very protected. Going into public would cause a stir. It is why we built Whispermere for her.” The messenger hesitated, and his cheeks reddened. “I have already said too much. I am sorry—”

  “Whispermere has existed for hundreds of years, has it not?” I protested, becoming confused. “It couldn't have been built for her!”

  The messenger shook his head furiously, looking down at the ground and slowly backing away. “I have said too much. I apologize, Miss Sera. Your mother will explain everything. Please, come to Whispermere.”

  I was silent for a few moments, watching the man desperately for answers. I was so frustrated. To know more than I ever had about my true parentage, and yet it still wasn't enough to answer any of the questions I'd never thought I would get a chance to ask. I was good at reading people, however, and I knew by the looks of the man that no more would be said.

  “Very well,” I finally murmured, my words barely more than the hiss of an exhale.

  “Oh, thank you. Thank you.” The man reached out a hand, as if asking for the letter. “Please, Miss Sera, I must destroy it.”

  “May I read it once more?” I requested. When he nodded, I did so, trying to memorize as much of it as I could to discuss later with Nyx and Silas. Finally, and regretfully, I handed over the letter, watching as the messenger took it, folded it, and pulled a small box from his satchel. When he opened the box, I saw a green, fine powder inside. He put the box on Bjorn's desk, before pulling out a small bottle of what appeared to be water, and pouring it into the box. As soon as the liquid hit the powder, it thickened and sizzled as if it had begun to boil. Then, without further words, he put the folded letter within, closed the box, and gave it a shake. I heard nothing but a dull fizzling for a few seconds, and then silence. He opened the box again, and there was nothing visible within, as if the box had never had contents.

  “What matter of magic is that?” I asked him, intrigued.

  “A mixture of alchemy and alteration magic, is all,” he explained shortly, as if in a rush. I knew of alteration magic, but had never learned it. It was a school of magic much like illusion or elemental, though it was much more focused in the altering of matter to suit certain needs. I knew alteration spells existed for telekinesis, or even to reshape objects or to detect other life from through walls and other physical objects. I wondered what kind of spell he'd used. Perhaps the remains of the letter had been transported elsewhere.

  “May I have the honor of knowing an estimated date for your departure from Sera, to relay back to Whispermere?” The messenger asked, as he prepared to depart.

  “I will leave within the fortnight,” I replied, because I knew that was possible. It gave me enough time to plan my trip and to say goodbye to Bjorn and Terran.

  He bowed toward me one last time. “Very well. I will report as such back to...your mother. Thank you for meeting with me, Kai Sera.”

  “Thank you,” I replied, watching him leave the room. I did not follow for the moment, my mind swirling with thoughts and possibilities. I'd had no idea just how much one simple message could affect me until now.

  Bjorn and the others came looking for me a few minutes after the messenger had left, concerned when they found me in such a pensive state. It took me awhile to finally begin relaying what little information I knew about the letter and the upcoming trip. There wasn't much we did know, but the one thing we certainly could count on was that Nyx's earlier comment was right.

  We had a destination in mind for our adventure.

  Three

  A plate of uneaten baked partridge sat before me, the bird surrounded by a variety of buttered vegetables. It looked and smelled delicious, but was turning cold. I wasn't hungry enough to eat it, just yet. I had too much on my mind.

  Nyx, Silas, and I were staying at the Howling Wolf Tavern once again. Now that I knew my father was looking for me, I would probably be staying here until we left. I watched absently as a few tipsy patrons danced with glee to the small band of musicians set up on the tavern's stage. The music was happy and catchy, but it was dull in my mind, having been relegated to the background.

  “Whispermere is an old city,” Nyx was saying, eating her own meal and downing it with ale. She was the only one drinking tonight. Silas didn't drink, and I had too much to think about. “It was built in the Golden Era. I keep trying to figure out why the messenger would have said it was built for your mother.”

  She hadn't needed to say that. I was already wondering the same. The Golden era ended over four hundred years ago. According to history and legend, it was an age of discovery, an age when gods walked amongst mortals. It was an age when dragons and wyverns ruled over the lesser races, exterminating entire towns and enslaving the survivors.

  History and legend often melted together into one mish-mash of conflicting statements, so I didn't know how much of that to believe. Many I knew prayed to one god or another, but I was loyal to none. I didn't really believe they existed. They hadn't shown themselves for hundreds of years, if legend was to be believed, so I felt they deserved no attention even if they did exist. I knew that the vast amount of dragons and wyverns had been exterminated, but stories varied as to how or why. Some still existed, and this I knew for sure. But I knew them to be an arrogant and greedy race that would rather hibernate in deep caves amongst ill gotten loot than to mess with the lives of mortals.

  “How do you know so much of Whispermere?” Silas asked Nyx, before taking a bite of his own dish. He had ordered some type of marinated mushroom. It was so large that when it had been served, I could barely tell there was a plate beneath. The sharp scent of vinegar wafted from his dish from a dark sauce that was drizzled over it and the bed of lively greens beneath. I had to admit, his meal looked more appetizing than mine.

  “There was a man who visited Sera a few years ago and claimed he was from there. After I bedded him, we got to talking. He was actually a pretty interesting guy, but it was of Whispermere that he was most secretive.”

  I nearly rolled my eyes. Most of Nyx's knowledge of the world came from the men she had been with, as she had lived exclusively in Sera for the last five years.
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  “He seemed to tell you enough of it,” I commented, poking around at the buttered vegetables on my plate.

  “Well, I can be very convincing,” she chuckled, before taking another swig of ale. “After all, what little he did tell me wasn't all that helpful and left me with more questions than answers.”

  “He didn't happen to say anything about a powerful woman there? Or why the city was built?”

  “No. He did hint at having a reason he went to live there, but he claimed after a few years he became unhappy and wanted to leave. Whatever had pulled him there had also convinced him to leave.”

  That wasn't the most welcoming news. I stuck my fork through a carrot, before just moving it through the excess butter on my plate.

  “What if the letter writer wasn't really your mother?” Silas asked, suddenly.

  I frowned, watching the carrot gather oil on my plate. “What would be the purpose of writing to me, then?”

  Silas shrugged. “Isolating you. Perhaps to make an attempt on your life or to take you hostage to try to use your powers for themselves.”

  “Then I guess their fishing tactics have worked, because I'm taking the bait.” I finally brought the carrot to my mouth to eat it. It felt dry and tasteless in my mouth. “But we'll be careful. I'll have you two with me, and we'll overcome them.”

  Nyx held up a finger, as if to interject. “Can I suggest something?”

  “Sure.”

  “I think we should hire at least one or two more people. Mercenaries. Don't get me wrong, all three of us are fully capable people, but it's been years since either Silas or I have gone on a trip, and your spoiled little ass has never left the city.”

  “I agree,” Silas added.

  “Where do you suggest we go to hire someone?” I asked, before a hesitation. “And what would I pay them?”

  Silas shrugged from beside me. “As for the latter question, pay them a little upfront and promise them a cut of all money made from anything we run across. Offer them another sum when we return to Sera, or at least nearby to it.”

  “Why would they work for us for a cut if they could work by themselves for the full amount?” I asked.

  “Most jobs require more than one mercenary,” Nyx replied. “We rarely work for the full amount. You'd also be promising them security for two moons, assuming they're good at what they do. Job security is always a plus.” After a short pause, she added, “As for where you can hire these mercenaries, I'd suggest keeping your eye out for people who look useful and seeing if they're for hire, and I can take you to the Lounge tomorrow. I have someone in mind for us, if he's available.”

  “What's the Lounge?”

  “It's where mercenaries gather to wait on work while they're in town,” Nyx replied, with a shrug. “That's where I've always picked up jobs.”

  “Okay. We'll go there tomorrow,” I decided.

  “This letter...” Silas began, hesitantly, as if something had been on his mind but he was anxious to bring it up with me. “Did it mention any reason as to why your mother would have dropped you off so far away from her if she knew your powers would endanger you?”

  I shook my head slowly. “She really only spoke of my powers and coming to see her. The reason she was writing is because she said she heard I was causing a stir. I don't even know how she could know that. I have never seen true battle.”

  “Maybe she is royalty,” Nyx suggested. “Bjorn said other kingdoms have requested you.”

  “Then why drop her off at the university?” Silas countered. “Why not just raise her as royalty from the get go?”

  Nyx shrugged. “It was just a suggestion. I don't know any more than you do.”

  The door of the tavern opened then, distracting me. A man hiding much of himself beneath a hood stood in the doorway, the darkness of night behind him. He was mostly covered, but I recognized him, his clothes and stature a dead giveaway. I wasn't sure why Terran was here. Perhaps he was going to say goodbye to me, since I hadn't been in the university over the past day or so to do so myself. Or he could have wanted to try to convince me to stay.

  I looked away with a sigh, knowing he'd seen me and would come over. And sure enough, within moments, a shadow fell over the table as he came to stand beside my chair.

  “Sister, why are you hiding?” His rough voice betrayed his concern and confusion.

  Without looking over at him, I replied, “Terran, you know very well why I am in hiding. Father—”

  “He wants what's best for you,” he pleaded. “He has been concerned for you since you walked out. He fears you leaving.”

  “He fears me leaving because he wants to keep me cooped up and abiding by his will forever,” I retorted, finally looking up to him. My brother was a handsome sight, his face made of the hard lines and sharp angles that adorned many of the earth mages. His deep brown hair teased its presence from the bottom of his hood, and his sharp green eyes portrayed his inner demons with the current situation. I was sad I'd had something to do with that, but I wasn't budging on my stance.

  “He is the headmaster, Kai,” Terran protested. “I am also obligated to him. You are not alone in this.”

  “Yes, but you have been taken seriously. I have not.”

  “Your lack of fieldwork is proof he takes you seriously. He knows you could die after only a handful of tasks.”

  I blinked at him, understanding his concern, but becoming angry at the fact this was brought up again and again. I was sick of hearing it. “So let me die, Terran. Why prolong the inevitable? Let me die in battle, because it is what I have trained years for. At least I will die with some satisfaction.”

  Terran nodded slowly, coming to terms with my opinion, though not liking it. “Let me talk to him, Kai. I can tell him how serious you are about this.”

  “He knows, brother, and having people talk to him has never worked. He is not budging. Besides, I have plans to leave. I have received a message from my mother, and I am going to meet her.”

  Terran watched me intensely. “Your mother is alive?”

  “Yes. And she wants to help me understand why I have the powers I do.”

  “It does not matter why you have the powers you do, Kai, your place is here. Father has raised you here with me. We are your family.” I could sense he was a little hurt by the prospect I was leaving Sera to find my birth mother.

  “My place is wherever I want it to be,” I corrected him. “Going to see the woman who gave me life does not erase the many years I've spent with you. You will always be my brother, even though we don't share blood.”

  Terran hesitated. I think he was realizing he could not win this argument. I hoped my reassurances had given him a little bit of peace. “I wish I could change your mind,” he finally said.

  “You cannot,” I replied.

  “I see,” he said, resigned. “Can I at least get a hug from my sister before she leaves?”

  I stood from my chair. I didn't say anything; I simply hugged him, because I longed for it. I loved my brother. He had been the one tie to my father who had ever been sympathetic toward me. Despite our differences, we had always been able to pull through them and share the common thread of being siblings.

  Terran's warmth was comforting. He smelled of ale and sage, as he often did. He squeezed me tight. He knew that if I were to see battle on my journey, it was possible this was the last time he would see me.

  “I remember,” he murmured into the hair beside my ear, “when I was seven and you were dropped off at our doorstep. Father said he would raise you, and I was so happy. Before mother died, she always said she wanted as many kids as possible, even though we all knew a second pregnancy could kill her before it actually did. I always wanted a little sister. I am so happy it was you.”

  My eyes burned with unshed tears, and I patted him on the back. “Thank you, Terran. I appreciate you saying that. I've always felt like a disappointment.”

  “I am the disappointment,” he replied, pulling back and holding
me at arm's length. “I could never live up to what you have to offer.”

  A slice of pain cut my stomach in half at his admitting that. I never knew he felt that way.

  Terran left the tavern after promises that he would say nothing to father about my departure until after I was gone. I knew I could trust him in that respect. His loyalties had always been split between my father and I, but when it came to something as simple as withholding information until I was safely out of my father's reach, I knew he would follow through on his promise.

  We stayed the night at the tavern once again, with plans to head to the Lounge first thing in the morning to hire a mercenary. Nyx had mentioned she had someone in mind, and I hoped he would be available. I wasn't really willing to wait around for very long to hire a particular person. I wanted to leave as soon as possible and make most of the trip to Whispermere while the weather was nice and warm.

  The next morning, Silas and I followed Nyx through the busy city streets, past street vendors and magicians, using illusion magic to awe small children and extort money from their parents. After a good twenty minutes of walking a zigzagged path through the cobblestone streets, we followed her to the door of an unmarked building. Had I not known its purpose, I would have simply walked past it. It baffled me why they didn't have a sign, and I was sure they probably lost potential customers with their apparent secrecy.

  Nyx led the way inside the building. Curious eyes glanced up at us as we walked in, though Nyx's presence seemed to sate their interest, as they most likely thought we were all mercenaries. The building was run-down, with a floor of dirt and a stench of body odor. People of all shapes and sizes sat at various tables, some drinking mysterious liquids from bagged bottles, others chatting with their peers. I glanced over to a corner, watching a grungy, shady looking man exchange a bottle of what I assumed was rempka, an addicting and life-altering liquid drug, for a couple of gold coins from a very eager customer.