Faith and Fury

by Tiger Hebert

  “Just light, Sutara,” replied Renlar.

  Flames sprang up in the palm of the strange woman’s extended hand. As the flame grew, Vacinne got a good look at her adversary for the first time. The woman was barely older than Vacinne, probably in her mid-twenties. Vacinne guessed the woman was a few inches shorter than her at about five-foot six. She had a light complexion with reddish-brown eyes and long red hair loosely tied back in a messy bun. She had a very athletic build and tight leathers that put it all on display.

  Pretty, admitted Vacinne. I hate her.

  “So Renny’s got ‘imself a fresh squeeze,” said Sutara while shooting Vacinne a disapproving glance.

  Renlar was quick to correct her. “Vacinne, here, hired me to help her kill a demon, but our arrangement has run its course.”

  Sutara raised an eyebrow and shot a curious look to Vacinne. “Get wha’ you wanted already, did you? Din’t want anymore?”

  Vacinne crossed her arms. “I’m sure you catch all sorts of things, but we’re here for demons.”

  Sutara laughed and turned back to Renlar who was now standing with them. “She always like this?”

  Renlar laughed. “So far.”

  “Like what?” snapped Vacinne.

  Sutara scowled, and said to Renny, “So up-tight! No fun, yeah? Always business, yeah?”

  “Yeah,” said Renlar with a grin.

  Vacinne protested, “We’ve got a demon to kill. It’s not really the time to play around and have fun.”

  Sutara turned to Vacinne. “Life’s never as long as folks think, especially when you’re huntin’ demons hun. Loosen your knickers and have a little fun before you’re dead.”

  Vacinne rolled her eyes and muttered, “Your knickers are loose enough for all of us.”

  The flame began to swell in Sutara’s palm.

  “Easy now girls,” warned Renlar, extending his arms outward.

  Sutara pursed her lips and flared her nostrils as she exhaled. “Yep, knickers are real tight. How’d you agree to work for ‘er?”

  Renlar replied, “I know, that’s why I quit.”

  Vacinne snapped. “You aren’t quitting on me, I’m not uptight, and my knickers are none of anyone’s damned business! And why the hell were you trying to kill me?”

  Sutara eyed her up and down. “Looked like a demon to me.”

  “I should have killed you...”

  “Like you could,” mocked Sutara.

  Renlar said, “In case you’ve forgotten, we’ve got demons on the loose. So, as much as I’d love to listen to you girls bicker, we’ve got business to attend. Oh, and Sutara, I just saved your ass. Again.”

  Sutara placed her free hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. “You always were a fan.”

  Vacinne said, “Seriously, I don’t want to hear about it.”

  Renlar crossed his arms. “Sutara, really, that’s enough. Now, why are you up here?”

  Sutara exchanged looks with both of them before answering. “I had intel on a bounty out here.”

  Renlar asked, “A demon?”

  “No,” she replied. “As I reached Dunmorrow, there was a lot of commotion in the village. Apparently, a Warden had passed through with a small company, and it caused quite a stir.”

  Vacinne interrupted, “How long ago was that?”

  “Two days, why?”

  “The entire village has been slaughtered,” answered Renlar.

  Sutara’s eyes narrowed. “A vorthor.”

  Vacinne cocked her head to the side. “If you left the village when people were still alive, how’d you know about the demon?”

  Sutara took a deep breath. “Ok, here goes. The Warden and I... were after the same thing. But he had a head start on me, so I tailed him and his crew from a distance. But somehow, he managed to lose me once he got here to the ruins. Seems like I searched nearly every nook and cranny up here before I realized he’d gone down here.”

  “How’d you know he came here?” asked Vacinne.

  “I saw the demon come this way, but it’s movements were different. It moved with, ya know, purpose. Figured it musta been huntin’ tha Warden,” replied Sutara.

  Vacinne asked, “But you’re not certain he’s here?”

  “Oh, he’s in here. I heard the voices just a bit before you attacked me. But voices travel down here, so I’m not sure how much distance they’ve got between us.”

  Vacinne sighed. “Or if the demons got to them first. Either way, the Warden and his men are in danger. We’ve got to get moving.”

  Renlar’s arms remained crossed and his face was stern. “Sutara, what exactly is it that you and this Warden are after?”

  Sutara grinned and said, “Oh Renny, you know us bounty hunters can’t be kissin’ and tellin’ now, can we? Our employers can’t be havin’ tha.”

  Renlar’s tone soured. “Sutara, what’s the score?”

  “My lips are sealed tighter ‘an ‘er chuff, but if anyone can pry it loose, it’d be you darlin’,” was Sutara’s sultry reply and wink.

  “You’re disgusting,” admonished Vacinne.

  Renlar sighed. “I need a drink.”

  7

  Into the Dark

  Vacinne eyed Renlar. He was just standing there with his arms crossed. He was staring back at the two women for a moment, then shook his head as if conceding that this was all a really bad idea. Then he broke the silence.

  “Listen, for whatever reason, fate has brought us all together. I think for the moment we can all agree that it is best that we stick together. I don’t like the idea any more than either of you, but in the interest of safety and completing the mission, I think that’s what we have to do. But before either of you say anything else, we need to lay down some ground rules, because I’m not listening to this petty squabbling all the way to Drenamere.”

  Vacinne rebuffed him. “Uh, excuse me, what makes you think that you are calling the shots here? I’m the one who hired you.”

  “Because I just saved you from killing each other, and besides, I quit, remember?” barked Renlar.

  “Oh, so I’m not paying you?” asked Vacinne.

  “That’s not how this works!”

  “It sounds exactly how it works,” countered Vacinne.

  “Damn it, you’re impossible! We’ll sort that out later. Right now, you need to shut up long enough for me to establish some rules,” he snapped in anger. “First off, no more fighting! You’re both acting like children. Grow up, for a patron’s sake. I could care less about anyone’s knickers or desires or anything else. The only reason I’m trapped with you two miserable souls is because right now there are human lives in danger and a demon is on the loose—a vorthor demon at that, who just so happens to be capable of spawning an entire army of hatchlings that will grow up into adulthood in a matter of days if we don’t kill it first. The tunnel ahead is probably already teeming with eggs, and from what we can tell, one’s already hatched.”

  With that Renlar kicked at the corpse of the crawler hatchling. “So, let’s keep our mouths shut and all of our hatred and anger focused entirely on the demons that stand between us and Warden Masoc. Do we have an agreement?”

  No, thought Vacinne on principle alone.

  With reluctance, both women agreed, though they did wait to see which would concede first. Vacinne caved last.

  Ha! I win.

  Renlar asked, “Sutara, that was a lot of fire. How are you recovering?”

  Sutara gave a suggestive smile. “I didn’t even touch my reserves. Baby, I could go all night.”

  Ignoring her last remark, he said, “Good. If your spirit isn’t spent, then I need you to take point and light the way for us.”

  Sutara nodded.

  Renlar said, “As you’ve already realized, Sutara is a Riftborn like us. She has the ability to conjure and control fire. At first glance, fire is a straight-forward destructive force. Despite her youth, Sutara’s talents transcend beyond just brute force. She is an artist with a certain elegan
ce and finesse to her skills.”

  Renlar pulled out two thin, all black, all metal daggers from the thick leather strap that crossed over his chest. “My skills are of a different nature. I am able to form a sort of bond or connection with certain rare metals. Namely drenamine and Ashthorill.”

  Vacinne watched in awe as the black daggers levitated from the palm of his hand. The two daggers pointed opposite directions, then began to spin in a circle.

  Renlar continued, “My bond grants me the ability to manipulate the objects, but it is limited in both the effective range and the sheer amount of force that I can exert upon an object. Meaning, I’m not going to be able to manipulate an object a league away, and I’m not going to be able to lift an object that I can’t physically lift. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but you get the gist.”

  Renlar smiled. “Thankfully, that’s not all I can do.”

  Renlar moved his hand, and a small rush of wind began to swirl around them. Then with a snap of his fingers, there was a violent burst of air. The spinning daggers were ripped from the air and slammed into the wall to their right with splintering force. Shards of shattered blocks exploded from the tunnel wall, but were buffeted with the air bursts, and harmlessly fell away. When the dust cleared and the wind died down, the two black daggers were almost completely buried in the wall.

  Vacinne stood there slack-jawed for a moment before saying, “Nicky Knives... But wait, why Nicky? Is that your real name or something?”

  Renlar laughed. “Nah, an old friend gave me that name. Good ole Bretharius Gudromunde. When I asked him why Nicky, he just said it sounded better, that it rolled off the tongue.”

  Vacinne said, “So a guy named Bretharius Gudromunde wanted to make sure your nickname rolled off the tongue. Makes sense.”

  Renlar chuckled.

  Sutara butted in. “What about you? I didn’t turn you to ashes, so what’s your superpower? You flame retarded or somethin’?”

  “Retardant?” replied Vacinne. “No, I’m able to create shielding spells.”

  “That all?” smacked Sutara.

  “No, I am able to phase shift,” said Vacinne, and the demonstration began. “You see me in front of you, but I’m right behind you.”

  Vacinne tapped Sutara on the shoulder and met the red head with a proud smirk. Sutara nearly jumped out of her skin.

  “How the—?” started Sutara as she looked back and forth between the Vacinne and her illusion.

  “Fascinating!” said Renlar with amusement. “This could get interesting.”

  Vacinne admitted, “This is an ability that I’ve discovered only just recently, but it’s got its uses.”

  “I see you have an Ashty there,” said Sutara pointing to Vacinne’s sword. “How many Wardens you gotta sleep with to nab one a them?”

  Dumbfounded, Vacinne said, “Really? Must you sound like a courtesan at all times?”

  Sutara’s face reddened, but she had no response.

  Vacinne continued, “You do realize women don’t have to be on their backs to make a living, right? Then again, probably not, what with all your trips between the brothel and the physician.”

  Renlar stepped between them.

  “Vacinne, that’s enough,” he warned.

  She started it!

  Renlar looked her dead in the eye. “I’m serious. Keep bickering like this, and I’m leaving you to save your Warden by yourself.”

  It’s her fault. Get her out of here!

  Vacinne nodded.

  Renlar said, “Okay, so back to your abilities. Can you shield others?”

  Vacinne nodded once more.

  “Good to know. And when you phase shift, how far can you travel?”

  Vacinne replied, “At least a good thirty feet.”

  Renlar smiled. “Good. Okay, so Sutara will take the lead. About twenty-five feet. This way not only can she light the way forward, but if she sees anything in the distance, she can get the drop on it. We don’t want to stand in the way of that. Vacinne you’ll stay with me, but she’s not a front-line fighter, so if at any point Sutara is in danger, I want you to shield yourself and Sutara, and teleport ahead of her. I can safely work around both of you, if needed.”

  Vacinne and Sutara exchanged glances and both nodded that they understood the plan.

  “Very well then, we better get moving,” said Renlar as he used his magic to rip his two black daggers from the tunnel wall and had them join the ten others that now floated in the air in front of him, poised to strike.

  Vacinne pulled out her sword and picked up her shield. Sutara drew no dagger or sword. She simply whispered to the flames in her palm. The fire began to spin, and quickly it took shape. The flames turned into a globe of molten fire as it spun. The lava colored orb leapt from the palm of her hand and splashed down onto the tunnel’s cold tiles. It hissed as the heat met the cold, and steam rose into the air. The puddle of magma quickly grew as Sutara whispered hushed commands. The growing mass began to take form once again as parts of cooling magma grew dark and hard. A blackened sphere took shape, but the transformation continued. Within seconds it was clear to Vacinne that a blackened skull stared back at them with haunting eyes of pure malevolent fire.

  Light save us, she begged as the awe and fear collided in her.

  Sutara’s burning fire golem rose upward to a height of nearly seven feet tall. The same black jagged stone of hardened magma that made the skull, also encased parts of the golem’s torso in dark armor, while the rest of its figure swirled with angry fire. The minion towered in the tunnel, awaiting its master’s commands.

  It’s almost like it’s... breathing, thought Vacinne as she watched its body heave with rhythmic movements.

  Sutara issued the command. “I will call you Cinder. Cinder, lead the way to Drenamere. And destroy any demons you see.”

  Cinder hissed at her command, but he turned away and began the slow descent into the dark.

  Chills ran down Vacinne’s spine, and she shuddered.

  Renlar reached over and grabbed her wrist. “You okay?”

  Vacinne was startled at his touch. “Don’t—”

  Then she realized that there was no malice or mockery in his eyes.

  Wait, where’s the arrogant smart-ass?

  “Are you okay?” he repeated.

  Vacinne stammered, “Uh, oh yeah, I’m good. I’ve just never seen a fire golem before.”

  “Yeah, Sutara’s pretty amazing. She can do just about anything you can imagine with fire. Believe it or not, we’re lucky to have a Riftborn of her caliber with us,” noted Renlar.

  “Don’t you mean Hellborn?” asked Vacinne.

  Renlar shot her a disapproving look. “Sure, and there’s just as much of a chance that she’s Lightborn.”

  Vacinne said, “She wouldn’t be a rift hunter if she was Lightborn. She’d be a Warden.”

  Renlar shook his head and sighed. “Vacinne, you’ve lived your entire life inside a very small, and very well curated bubble. The world of the Wardens is one that is small, insular, and not well aligned with the much greater world outside of it. You should leave labels like Hellborn and Lightborn where you found them. They make you come off as ignorant and condescending. Riftborn will do.”

  Her whole life, Vacinne had heard these terms used around her, both in the towns and cities of the region and in the halls of the Kothari Temple. She’d never thought much about whether or not the terms might be found to be offensive. In her eyes, they were simply a matter of fact.

  A Riftborn is either Lightborn or Hellborn. It’s really just that simple, she thought.

  Clearly Renlar had a different opinion, and she guessed others did too. So Vacinne bit her tongue and shifted her focus to the task at hand. It was time to kill some demons and find Warden Masoc.

  Sutara and Cinder led the way deeper into the gently sloping tunnel, with Vacinne and Renlar traveling a short distance behind. Cinder’s fiery figure cast a warm glow and long shadows across the carved
stone of the tunnel walls and floor. Vacinne marveled at the tunnel. It was a true feat of engineering at the time of its creation. Its stonework was plain and relatively nondescript, but the tunnel stretched a great distance. It was nearly ten leagues right through the stony heart of the Mount Demborlain.

  Prior to its lengthy construction, the travel between Esboralis and Drenamere was anything but direct or quick. There was no way a caravan could safely travel over the range’s jagged spires, and going around took weeks. Once the tunnel was finished, the journey could be done in a day. The tunnel instantly became a trade highway between the two cities. During the brief period of prosperity in Esboralis, the tunnel was heavily trafficked with commerce. Goods traveled freely between the two cities. To this day, and the many years between, this grand corridor lay dark and abandoned. With the fall of Esboralis, the King of Drenamere ordered the passage closed, sealing it with a large gate that locked from the outside. As such, few people had even so much as taken a breath of the musty, dank air of this place in decades. They never had reason to.

  Vacinne turned that one over and over in her mind.

  “Vacinne, why do you think Warden Masoc came down here?” asked Renlar.

  “I was just wondering the same thing, Renny. The only thing that makes any sense is if he was actually hunting a demon, and it led him in here.”

  Renlar said, “But didn’t Sutara say that the vorthor actually followed him?”

  Vacinne sighed. “You’re right, she did. Perhaps he knew he was being followed?”

  Renlar took a sip from his flask. “Perhaps. But I wonder why he would choose the tunnel. It seems there would be plenty of defensible options throughout the ruins that would be a better choice over trapping yourself in here.”

  “Maybe the plan wasn’t to make a stand in the tunnel,” suggested Vacinne.

  “What do you mean?” asked Renlar.

  “This is a tunnel, right? Maybe his plan was to come out the other side.”

  “The other end is closed off with a gate that remains locked, so unless he has friends meeting him at the other end, then he’s likely trapped,” said Renlar. “What are his Riftborn abilities, by the way?”