Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  He-ilooked-ifrantically-ileft-iand-iright,-itrying-ito-ifind-iany-isign-iof-ihis-icompatriot,-ibut-isaw-inothing-ibut-ithe-icorpse,-iRose's-isword,-iand-isplatters-iof-iblood,-isome-iof-iwhich-icontinued-iin-ia-itrail-iof-idrips-iand-idrabs-ifurther-ion-idown-ithe-istreet.-i

  The-isight-isent-ia-isudden-isurge-iof-ipanic-idown-iJames's-ispine.-iWhat-iif-iit-iwere-iRose's?-iHad-ishe-ibeen-ioverwhelmed-iand-itried-ito-irun-iaway-iwhen-ithey-iinjured-iher?-iWhat-iif-ithe-ilast-ione-ihad-icaught-iher,-iand-ikilled-iher-iwhile-ihe-iwas-itoo-ibusy-ibeing-iterrified?

  Oh-igod.

  The-ithought-iof-iher-ibeing-icornered-iand-imurdered-iby-ithose-ibeasts-imade-ihim-iphysically-iill,-iand-ihe-iran-idown-ithe-istreet,-ifollowing-ithe-itrail-iof-ifaint-isplatters-ihere-iand-ithere-iacross-ithe-icobblestones.

  The-istreet-imade-ione-ifinal-ibend,-iand-ihe-irounded-iit-ito-ifind-iRose-istanding-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-ismall-iform-iof-iMadeleine,-iand-ithe-ilast-ignoll-ibetween-ihim-iand-ithem,-islowly-iclosing-iin-ion-ithe-itwo-igirls.-iThe-ileft-isleeve-iof-iRose's-itunic-iwas-imissing,-iand-iher-iarm-iwas-ivisibly-igashed-iopen,-ithe-iblood-idripping-ionto-ithe-istreet-istones.-i

  ###-iChapter-i36-i--iLast-iOne

  The-ignoll-istanding-ibetween-iJames-iand-ithe-itwo-igirls-iturned-iat-ithe-isudden-iarrival-iof-ia-inew-itarget,-iand,-iseeing-iJames-iwas-iarmed,-iturned-iand-isnarled-iat-ihim,-ibrandishing-ithe-ioversized-icleaver-iit-iheld-iin-iits-ileft-ihand.

  "Rose,-iyou-itwo-iokay?"-iJames-icalled-iout-ito-ithe-igirls.

  "We're-ifine,"-iRose-icalled-iback.

  "Better-inow."-iMadeleine-iadded-idryly.-iRose-iturned-iand-igave-iher-isibling-ia-idirty-ilook

  Before-iJames-icould-ireply-ito-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem,-ithe-ignoll-icharged-iat-ihim,-ihurling-iinto-ia-iflurry-iof-iblows-iso-irapid-iand-isavage-ithat-iit-iwas-iall-ihe-icould-ido-ito-ikeep-ithem-ifrom-ilanding-ion-ihim.-iHe-itried-ito-ifocus-ito-iturn-ithe-itables,-ibut-ihe-ijust-icouldn't-iget-ihis-iphysical-ior-imental-ibalance-ilong-ienough-ito-ishift-iinto-ithat-iframe-iof-imind.

  A-iparticularly-isavage-iswing-ithreatened-ito-isplit-ihim-ifrom-ihead-ito-itoe,-iand-ihe-ithrew-ihis-iaxe-iblade-iup-ito-ideflect-iit.-iThe-icleaver's-iedge-iimpacted-iwith-ithe-iaxe-iblade-iwith-isuch-iintensity-ithat-iit-ithrew-iJames-istumbling-ibackwards-iit-iknocked-iaway-ihis-iguard,-ileaving-ihim-iwide-iopen-ifor-ia-ifollow-up.

  Powerless-ito-iget-ihis-idefenses-iback-iup-iin-itime,-iJames-iwatched-iwith-ia-isense-iof-iicy-ihorror-ias-ithe-ignoll-iwound-iup-ifor-ia-ikilling-iblow.-iJames-iclosed-ihis-ieyes.-iIf-ithis-iwas-igonna-ibe-iit,-ihe-ididn't-iwant-ito-isee-iit-icoming.

  He-iheard-ithe-icleaver-ising-ithrough-ithe-iair.-iHe-iheard-ia-iwet-icrack,-iand-ifelt-isomething-iheavy-iknock-ihim-iflying-isideways.

  He-ihad-iexpected-ithe-icleaver-ito-ifeel-icold-iand-ihard,-iand-ithe-iblow-ito-icause-ihim-iimmense-iagony.-iBut-iwhat-ihe-ifelt-iwas-inone-iof-ithose-ithings.-iWas-ihe-iin-ishock?-iHe'd-iheard-ithat-iwhen-ipeople-iare-imortally-iwounded,-itheir-ibrain-ihides-ithe-isuffering-iand-imakes-iit-iall-igo-iaway.-iWas-ithat-ihappening-ito-ihim-inow?-iWas-ihe-igoing-ito-idie?

  He-isuddenly-ifelt-ihimself-islam-iinto-ithe-ihard-istone-iof-ithe-istreet,-ihis-iarm-iand-ishoulder-itaking-ithe-ibrunt-iof-ithe-iblow-ias-ithe-iside-iof-ihis-ihead-ismacked-ione-iof-ithe-istones,-icausing-ihis-ihead-ito-iexplode-iinto-ithe-iworst-iheadache-ihe-icould-iever-iremember-ihaving.-iNot-ionly-ithat,-ibut-ithe-ientire-ileft-iside-iof-ihis-ibody-iwas-iburning-ihot.

  James's-ieyes-ijerked-iopen.-iHe-ifound-ihimself-istaring-idirectly-iinto-iMadeleine's-iface,-iwhich-isat-ionly-ia-ifew-iinches-ifrom-ihis.

  Reacting-iwith-ia-imixture-iof-istartledness-iand-ipain,-ihe-ipushed-ithe-igirl-ioff-iof-ihim-isuddenly-iand-itried-ito-ipush-ihimself-ito-ihis-ifeet.

  "Ow!-iHey,-iwhat-iwas-ithat-ifor?"-iMadeleine-iprotested-iangrily,-irubbing-ithe-inewly-ideveloped-isore-ispot-ion-iher-irear-iend-ifrom-iits-iimpact-iwith-ithe-istreet-istones.

  James-iglanced-iin-ithe-idirection-ithe-iGnoll-ihad-ibeen-ionly-ia-imoment-ibefore-ito-ifind-iRose-istanding-iover-ithe-icrumpled-iheap-iof-ithe-iGnoll's-ibody.-iJames-icould-isee-ieven-iat-ia-icursory-iglance-ithat-ithe-icreature's-ihead-iwas-idefinitely-inot-idesigned-ito-ibe-isitting-iat-ithe-iangle-iit-iwas-icurrently-isitting.-iRose-ireached-idown-iand-igrabbed-ione-iof-ithe-ignoll's-iarms-iand-iproceeded-ito-iwipe-isome-iform-iof-idark-isticky-iliquid-ioff-iof-iher-ishin-iwith-iit.

  She-inoticed-iJames's-ipuzzled-iexpression.

  "Apparently-imanaged-ito-irupture-ione-iof-ithe-ivessels-iin-ihis-ithroat-iwhen-iI-ikicked-ihim,-iand-ihe-ispat-iblood-iall-iover-ime,"-iShe-isaid,-idropping-ithe-ignoll's-ilimb-iunceremoniously.

  "Well-idone-iproviding-ithe-igap-iin-iyour-idefense-ilike-ithat.-iIt-igave-ime-ithe-imoment-iI-ineeded-ito-icatch-ihim-ioff-iguard.-iOh,-iand-igood-ijob-ion-ithe-iknockdown,-iMaddie.-iThat-iwas-iperfectly-itimed."-iShe-isaid,-iturning-ifrom-iJames-ito-iMadeleine-ias-ishe-ispoke.

  "You're-iwelcome,-iby-ithe-iway."-iMadeleine-isaid,-ilooking-iat-iJames-iwith-iirritation.

  ###-iChapter-i37-i--iCause-ifor-iConcern

  James-ilooked-iat-iMadeleine-isheepishly.

  "Yeah,-iuh,-ithanks,-iMaddy."-iHe-isaid,-iscratching-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ihead.-iShe-isaid-inothing,-ibut-iglowered-iat-ihim,-istill-icontinuing-ito-irub-iher-ibackside-ias-ishe-iturned-iaway-iand-iwalked-iback-iover-itowards-ithe-idead-ibody-iof-ithe-ignoll.

  James-iturned-ito-ithe-iolder-isister,-iwho-iwas-ibrushing-idirt-iand-idebris-ioff-ithe-ifront-iof-iher-icream-colored-itunic,-iwhich-iwas-inow-ispattered-iwith-iblood-iand-istained-ibrown-iand-iyellow-iin-ipatches-ithat-ihad-iJames-iwondering-ito-ihimself-iif-ithey-iwere-icaused-iby-iwhat-ihe-iassumed.

  Rose-ishifted-iher-ihead-ifrom-iside-ito-iside,-icausing-iher-ineck-ito-icrack-iloudly,-iand-istretched-iher-ishoulders-iback,-ibefore-idropping-iher-iarms-iand-isighing-iin-irelief.-iWhile-ishe-idid-ithis,-iMadeleine-iwalked-iover-ithe-ithe-ignoll's-icorpse,-iand-irifled-ithrough-iits-iarmor-iand-ithe-ipouches-ion-iits-ibelt.-iAfter-ia-imoment's-idigging,-ishe-ipulled-iout-ia-ismall-ipouch-imade-iof-irough-ileather-ifrom-ione-iof-ithe-ignoll's-ibelt-ipockets,-iand-iwalked-iover-ito-iJames.

  "Here",-ishe-isaid,-ioffering-iit-iup-ito-ihim.-iJames-igingerly-itook-ithe-ipouch-ifrom-iher-ihand,-iand-iundid-ithe-idrawstring-ito-ipeer-iinside.-iA-icouple-idozen-icoins-iof-ivarious-isize-iand-icolor-igleamed-iup-iat-ihim.-iHe-ilooked-iback-idown-iat-ithe-iember-isprite.

  "Hey,-ithanks",-ihe-isaid,-ilook-ithe-ibag-ito-iher-iand-iback.

  "Always-icheck-ifor-iloot."-iMadeleine-isaid-isimply.-iShe-ilooked-iup-iat-ihim-ifor-ia-imoment-ilonger,-ibefore-iturning-iand-iwalking-iback-iover-ito-iRose,-iwho-ihad-ifinished-istretching-iand-iturned-iback-ito-iJames.

  "Well,-ithat's-iall-iof-ithem",-ishe-isaid.

  "Almost-iall-iof-ithem.-iWe've-istill-igot-iEleanor's-ibig-ibaddie-ito-ideal-iwith."-iJames-isaid.

  "She's-ieasily-ithe-istrongest-iof-ithe-ithree-iof-ius,"-iRose-isaid,-ishrugging-inon-chalantly-ias-ishe-iled-ithe-iway-iback-ithe-iway-ithey-icame.-i"She-iprobably-ialready-ihas-ihim-idealt-iwith-iby-inow."

  As-iif-ion-icue,-ia-ifaint-iexplosion-idetonated-iin-ithe-idistance,-icausing-ithe-ibuildings-inext-ito-ithem-ito-icast-istark-ishadows-ias-ithe-idirection-iof-ithe-itown-isquare-ibrightened-isignificantly.

  "Maybe-inot."-iMadeleine-isaid-idryly,-iturning-iand-ilooking-iin-ithe-idirection-iof-ithe-isquare.

  Another-iexplosion-iimmediately-ifollowed-ithe-ifirst,-iits-iflash-ifollowed-ionly-iseconds-ilater-iby-ia-ideafening-iroar-ithat-icaused-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ito-islap-itheir-ihands-iover-itheir-iears-iin-ipain.-iThe-iground-iwith-isuch-iintensity-ithat-iit-inearly-ithrew-iJames-ioff-ihis-ifeet,-iand-iglass-iand-idebris-ishowered-idown-ion-ithem-ifrom-ithe-ibuildings-iand-iwindows-iabove.-iAfter-ithe-isecond-iburst,-ithe-ilight-iand-inoise-ifaded,-ileaving-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-iin-irelative-isilence.

  "What-ithe-iHELL-iwas-iTHAT?"-iJames-isaid,-ilowering-ihis-ihands-ifrom-ihis-iears.

  "Not-iEllie.-iUnless-ishe's-ilearned-isomething-inew."-iMadeleine-isaid,-iher-iface-itaking-ion-ian-iintensity-iJames-ihadn't-iseen-ifrom-iher-iprevious
ly.-i"Her-ifire's-iblue."

  James-ifelt-ihis-ipulse-ipound-iin-ihis-ichest,-iand-isuddenly-ifound-ihimself-ihaving-ihorrible-ivisions-iof-iEleanor-ibeing-iblown-ito-ipieces.-iWithout-ianother-iword,-ihe-iturned-iand-iran-iback-ithe-iway-ihe'd-ijust-icome.

  "Wha--ihey!-iWait-iup!",-iRose-icalled-iafter-ihim,-ibut-ihe-iwas-ialready-irounding-ithe-icorner-ito-ithe-ilarger-ithoroughfare,-ileaping-iover-ia-ibloody-icorpse-ias-ihe-iwent.-iHe-istumbled-ifor-imultiple-isteps-iand-inearly-ilost-ihis-ifooting-ias-ianother-iloud-iexplosion-irocked-ithe-iground-ibeneath-ihim-iand-iset-ihis-iears-iringing.-iThen-ianother-iloud-ismashing-isound-ilike-ia-irock-ibeing-ithrown-ithrough-iglass.-iThen-imore-isilence.

  "Cmon-iEllie!-iPlease-ibe-iokay!"-iJames-ithought-ias-ihe-ileapt-iover-ianother-ifurred-ignoll-icorpse,-iand-iran-ito-ithe-iright-iof-ithe-icharred-irut-iin-ithe-icobblestones-ihis-ifire-ispell-ihad-ileft-ionly-ia-ifew-iminutes-ibefore.

  ###-iChapter-i38-i--iThe-iShaman's-iScheme

  Rawgh'faz-ilay-ion-ithe-istones-iof-ithe-isquare,-ihis-imind-icalculating-iabout-ihis-inext-imove.-iThe-iblue-skinned-igirl-iwas-inot-igoing-ito-ileave-iher-iinvisibility-iif-ishe-icould-ihelp-iit,-iand-ias-iof-ithis-icurrent-imoment-ihad-ithe-iupper-ihand-ion-ihim-ias-ihe-ilay-ihere.-iBut-ithere-iwas-isomething-iworking-iin-ihis-ifavor.-iBy-ithe-iway-ishe-iused-icomponents,-ishe-iwas-iclearly-ia-iwizard,-iwhich-imeant-ithat-isooner-ior-ilater-ishe-iwould-irun-iout-iof-isupplies-ito-icast-iany-imore-iof-iher-ilittle-itricks.-iAnd-iby-ithat-ipoint,-ishe'd-ibe-idefenseless.-iAll-ihe-ihad-ito-ido-iwas-iwait-iher-iout,-ibait-iher-ispells,-iand-istrike-iwhen-ishe-iwas-ino-ilonger-iable-ito-icast.

  Now,-ifrom-ithis-iposition,-ihe-icouldn't-ivery-iwell-imove-iwithout-idrawing-iher-iattention-iand-ilikely-ibeing-istruck-iby-ithat-idamned-istick-iof-ihers.-iBut-ihe-ididn't-ineed-ito-imove,-iand-iif-ihe-iwas-icareful,-ihe-icould-ido-iwhat-ihe-iwas-ithinking-iwithout-iletting-ion.

  As-ihe-ilay-ithere,-imentally-iintoning-ithe-iritual-ichant-iin-ihis-ihead,-ihe-ilaughed-ialoud,-icackling-ihyena-like-ifor-iseveral-imoments-ibefore-ihe-ispoke-iin-ia-igruff,-ibarking-iCommon.

  "You-ifight-iwell,-igirl.-iI-ilike-ia-igood-ichallenge."-iHe-isaid.-i"Leaving-ithe-ifootsteps-iwas-ia-inice-itouch."

  His-iwords-ihung-iin-ithe-iair-ifor-iseveral-iseconds-iwithout-iany-ireply,-ijust-ilong-ienough-ito-imake-ihim-iwonder-iif-ishe-ihad-iactually-ileft,-ibefore-iher-ivoice-isounded-iout-isomewhere-ibehind-iand-iabove-ihim.

  "Talking-iisn't-isurrendering,-imutt.-iI'm-iwaiting-ifor-iyou-ito-itell-ime-iyou're-ileaving."-iEleanor-isaid.

  Rawgh'faz-imade-ihimself-ichuckle-iout-iloud-iagain-ias-ihe-imentally-iworked-ithe-isecond-istage-iof-ithe-ichant-iin-ihis-imind.-iHe-icould-ialready-ifeel-ithe-ifirst-ithreads-iof-iconnection-ito-ithe-ispirit-ihe-iwas-icalling-ifor,-ibut-ihe-iwould-ineed-imore-itime.-iPerhaps-ia-iminute-ior-itwo.-iHe-ihad-ito-ikeep-iher-italking,-ior,-iat-ithe-ivery-ileast,-ibusy.

  "And-iwhy-iwould-iI-ido-ithat?-iI-ilike-iit-ihere."-iThe-ignoll-isaid,-ihis-iteeth-ibaring-iinto-ia-idoggish-igrin-ias-ihe-iturned-ihis-ihead-ito-ithe-iside,-igranting-ihim-ia-ilimited-iview-iof-ithe-ispace-ibehind-ihim.-i"It's-iso-imuch-imore-ientertaining-ithan-isitting-iin-iour-icaves-iwaiting-ifor-isome-ihero-ito-icome-ikill-ius."

  The-igirl-iscoffed,-iand-isaid,-i"Because-iif-iyou-idon't-itell-ime-iyou're-ileaving,-iI'm-igoing-ito-iturn-iyour-ihide-iinto-ia-ithrow-irug.-iNow,-iare-iyou-ileaving,-ior-ido-iI-ineed-ito-ifold-iyou-iinside-iout-ifirst?"

  The-iway-ishe-isaid-ithis-ilast-isentence-istruck-iRawgh'faz's-iears-ias-iever-iso-islightly-ioff.-iShe-iwas-iposturing-ifor-ipoise-iand-iconfidence,-ibut-ithe-isubtleties-iof-iher-itone-iwere-igiving-iher-iaway.-iShe-iwas-iimpatient.-iAnd,-imore-ithan-ithat,-ishe-iwasn't-ias-iconfident-ias-ishe-iwas-itrying-ito-ipresent.-iThere-iwas-ian-iedge-iof-inervousness-iin-iher-ivoice-ithat-ishe-iwas-itrying-ivery-ihard-ito-imask.-iWhich-itold-ihim-ieverything-ihe-ineeded-ito-iknow.-iShe-iwas-iprobably-irunning-ilow-ion-itricks.-iAnd-irecognized-ia-igenuine-ithreat-iwhen-ishe-isaw-ione.-iHe-ihad-ito-igive-iher-icredit-ifor-ibeing-iat-ileast-ithat-ismart.

  The-ithreads-iof-iconnection-iwith-ithe-ispirit-ihe-iwas-ibeckoning-iwere-igrowing-ithicker-iby-ithe-isecond-ias-ihe-imentally-iintoned-ithe-iname.-iA-ifew-imore-imoments,-iand-ihe'd-iact.-iHe-icast-ihis-ivision-ias-ifar-iback-ibehind-ihim-ias-ihe-icould-ifrom-ihis-ilimited-ivantage-ipoint,-iand-isighed-iaudibly,-ieffecting-ia-ilook-iof-idefeat-iand-ifrustration.

  "We'll-ileave.-iYou-ihave-imy-iword."-iHe-isaid.

  "I-iwant-ito-ihear-ithat-iyou'll-inever-icome-iback.-iSay-iit."-iThe-igirl-isaid.-iThis-iwas-iaccompanied-iby-ianother-isharp-icrack-iof-iher-istaff-iagainst-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ihead,-icausing-ithe-ignoll-ito-icurse-ialoud,-iboth-iout-iof-ipain,-iand-iout-iof-inearly-ilosing-ithe-iconnection-ithread-ihe-iwas-iabout-ito-icomplete.

  "My-itribe-iwill-inever-ireturn-ito-ithis-iplace.-iYou-ihave-imy-iword-ias-ichieftain."-iRawgh'faz-isaid,-idoing-ihis-ibest-ito-imake-ihis-itone-ias-igenuine-iand-ifearful-ias-ipossible-ias-ihe-ifelt-ithe-iconnection-itether-icomplete,-iand-ithe-ispirit's-ivitality-irush-iinto-ihis-ibody-iin-ia-iroaring-iwave.-iIt-itook-ieverything-iin-ihim-ito-inot-ihowl-iout-iin-ipain-iand-iecstasy-iat-ithe-iexperience.

  "Good-idog.-iNow-ileave,-ibefore-iI-idecide-ito-iturn-iyou-iinto-ia-icloak."-iThe-igirl-isaid,-iher-iinvisibility-idissolving-ito-ireveal-iher-istanding-iabout-ififteen-ipaces-ibehind-ihim,-iher-istaff-iheld-idefensively-iin-iboth-ihands.-i

  ###-iChapter-i39-i--iThe-iShaman's-iScheme-i(part-i2)

  Rawgh'faz-ishifted-ihis-iweight-iand-ipulled-ihis-ihands-idown-ito-ihis-isides,-islowly-iplacing-ithem-iagainst-ithe-iwarm-istones-ias-ihe-ipressed-ihimself-iup-iand-islid-iinto-ia-isitting-iposition.-iThe-ispirit's-iessence-iclamored-iinside-ihim,-irushing-ito-iburst-ifree-ifrom-ihis-ibody-iin-ia-itorrent,-ibut-ihe-iheld-ifirm.-iIt-iwouldn't-ibe-ilong.-iHe-iturned-iand-ilooked-iat-ithe-igirl,-iwho-iwas-ilooking-iat-ihim-ithreateningly

  She-ipointed-ito-ihis-istaff-ilaying-ion-ithe-iground-inext-ito-ihim.

  "The-istaff.-iHand-iit-iover,-idog."-iShe-isaid,-ishifting-iher-iweight-iinto-ian-ieven-imore-iprotective-iposition.

  Rawgh'faz-idid-ieverything-ihe-icould-ito-ihide-ithe-ismile-ithreatening-ito-iform-iaround-ihis-ihyena-ilips.-iSurely-iit-icouldn't-ibe-ithis-ieasy.-iHow-ion-iearth-icould-ia-igirl-ithis-iclever-ialso-ibe-ithis-icompletely-ifoolish?

  Rawgh'faz-ireached-ihis-ihand-iout-iand-igrasped-ithe-ignarled-iwood-ishaft-iof-ithe-istaff,-iwrapping-ihis-ifingers-iaround-ithe-ishaft-iand-ifeeling-iits-iresonance-iamplify-ithe-ialready-isurging-ipower-iinside-ihis-ibones.-iLifting-iit-iup,-ihe-iturned-iand,-iwith-ia-iflick-iof-ihis-iarm,-itossed-ithe-istaff-itowards-ithe-igirl.

  Just-ias-ihe-ihad-ihoped,-iher-ieyes-ifollowed-ithe-iwood,-iand-ia-ihand-istrayed-ifrom-iher-istaff,-ireaching-iout-ito-icatch-iit-ias-iit-iflew-itowards-iher-iface.-iAs-isoon-ias-ihe-isaw-iher-iguard-idrop-iever-iso-islightly,-ihe-iburst-iinto-iaction,-ileaping-ifrom-ihis-iseated-iposition-iand-icharging-itowards-iher,-iopening-ithe-ichannels-iin-ihis-ibody-ito-iallow-ithe-isummoned-ielemental's-ienergy-ito-isurge-iinto-ihis-ihands-iand-iburst-ioutwards-iin-ia-itorrent-iof-ired-orange-iflame-ithat-irocketed-idirectly-ifor-iher.

  Eleanor's-ieyes-igrew-iwide-iin-ishock-iand-iterror,-iand-ishe-ijerked-iher-istaff-iout-iin-ifront-iof-iher-ishouted-ia-iflurry-iof-iInfernal-ias-ithe-ifireball-islammed-iinto-iher.-iThe-iresulting-iexplosion,-ibarely-ideflected-iby-ia-imagical-ibarrier,-iknocked-iher-iflying-ibackwards.-iAfter-isailing-ia-ifew-idozen-ifeet,-ishe-ihit-ithe-icobblestone,-itumbling-iand-iskipping-ianother-idozen-ifeet-ibefore-icoming-ito-irest-ion-iher-iback.-iHer-istaff,-ior-iwhat-iremained-iof-iit,-iclattered-iacross-ithe-iground,-ithe-ifirst-ithird-iof-iit-ia-ismoking,-icharred-imatchstick.

  Rawgh'faz-ilowered-ihis-ihands,-ithe-ielemental's-iflames-istill-ilapping-iat-ihis-ipalms,-iand-igrinned-iwickedly-ias-ihe-ilooked-iover-iat-ithe-igirl's-icrumpled,-ismoking-iform.-iThat'd-igone-ieven-ibetter-ithan-ihe-iexpected.-iHe-iwalked-iover-ito-iwhere-ihis-istaff-ilay-ion-ithe-istones,-iand-ipicked-iit-iup,-ifeeling-iits-ipower-isynchronize-iwith-ithat-iinside-ihim-ias-ihe-iwalked-itowards-ithe-igirl's-ibody.

  He-iwas-iabout-ihalfway-ito-iher-iwhen-is
he-istirred,-icoughing-iand-igroaning-ias-ishe-isat-iup.-iA-iline-iof-iblood-itricked-idown-ithe-iside-iof-iher-iface,-iand-iher-irobes-iwere-ivisibly-iburned.-iShe-ilooked-iin-ihis-idirection,-ia-imixture-iof-ipanin-iand-irage-icrossing-iher-iface-ias-ijumped-ito-iher-ifeet.-iShe-ilooked-iaround-ifrantically-ifor-iher-istaff,-iand-iher-iface-iwent-icold-iwith-iterror-ias-ishe-isaw-ithe-ismoking-iwood-iin-ifront-iof-iher.-iShe-ilooked-iback-iat-iRawgh'faz,-iwho-iwas-icackling-ievilly-ias-ihe-icontinued-ito-iclose-ithe-igap.

  "You're-italented,-igirl.-iAnd-iclever.-iBut-ialso-ivery,-ivery-istupid."-iHe-isaid,-idrawing-iup-ia-ishort-idistance-ifrom-iher.-i"I'm-igoing-ito-ienjoy-ibreaking-iyou-iin-iafter-ithis."

  Eleanor's-ihand-ishot-ito-ithe-icomponent-ipouch-ion-iher-irobe-ibelt,-iand-ifelt-ia-ijolt-iof-ihorror-iwhen-ishe-ifelt-iit-imissing.-iShe-ilooked-idown,-iand-iwhere-ithe-ipouch-ishould-ibe-isat-ia-iscorched,-iblackened-ibit-iof-ifabric.-iHer-ieyes-ishot-iback-ito-ithe-ignoll.-iHer-ihands-iwere-ishaking,-iand-itears-ibegan-ito-iwell-iup-iin-ithe-icorners-iof-iher-ieyes.

  "Looks-ilike-iyou're-iall-iout-iof-itricks."-iRawgh'faz-isaid,-iraising-ihis-istaff-iand-iopening-ithe-ichannels-iof-ihis-ibody-ito-iallow-ithe-ielemental's-ienergy-ito-iflood-iinto-iit.-iRoots-iat-ithe-itip-iof-ithe-istaff-iglowed-ia-ibright-ired-orange,-iand-iwith-ia-ifinal-iword-iof-icommand,-iRawgh'faz-iunleashed-ievery-ibit-iof-ipower-ithe-ispirit-ihad-iprovided-ihim-iat-ithe-icowering,-iterrified-igirl.

  ###-iChapter-i40-i--iGone

  When-iJames-ientered-ithe-ivillage-isquare-iagain,-iit-iwas-iconsiderably-ichanged-ifrom-ithe-iappearance-ihe-iremembered.-iThe-iground-iwas-ia-itorn-iup-iwasteland-iof-iraw-iearth-iand-ishattered-irock,-iand-ismoke-ifrom-ithe-iburning-ibuildings-iand-ithe-itwo-ilarge-icraters-ion-ithat-inow-ioccupied-ithe-ifar-iend-iof-ithe-isquare-ihung-ithick-ienough-ito-imake-iJames-icough-iand-iput-ihis-isleeve-iover-ihis-imouth-iuntil-ihe-icould-imutter-ia-isimple-ispell-ithat-igenerated-ifresh-iair-iaround-ihim-ias-ihe-iwalked.