Born Of Fire

Born of Fire Chapter 17

Sorry it's short guys, but I needed to get this on paper. Remember to vote! More authors notes at the bottom.

“Stop!” Ember cried, jumping between the men and pushing them both back with a blast of air.

Phoenix dropped his arms, not willing to fight with Ember in the way. Doritan mirrored him, letting the orb in his hand dissipate.

In a yell, Ember chastised the two men. “You are father and son! Yet you are at one another’s throats every minute you are within earshot of one another! This childish behavior must stop!”

Phoenix looked at Ember, astonished. Ember, usually so soft spoken, had yelled. Doritan took advantage of Phoenix’s distraction and quickly conjured another orb, threw it around Embers slight frame, and stood sneering as it splashed against Phoenix’s chest.

“No!” Screamed Ember, dropping her arms and turning to Phoenix.

Lindani jumped forward, wrapping a tendril of water around Doritan’s throat as Spedro stepped around Ember and Phoenix, and picked Doritan up off the floor by the collar.

“I’m fine,” came the growl, and the steam around Phoenix cleared. A small hole was evident in Phoenix’s ice armor, but the thick layer had protected him from a mortal wound.

“But, how?” Asked Ember, running her hand down his chest.

Lindani whirled at the sound of his voice, searching his face for any sign of pain. “Are you ok?”

Phoenix laughed, a maniacal sounding chuckle, before letting the ice go, and stalking toward his father, held aloft by Spedro. Ember started forward, and whispered in his ear. “Be what he may, he is still the leader of this village. If you kill him, the duty falls to you.”

Understanding filled Phoenix, and he grasped Ember’s struggle. Love for him, and love for their father, with him pulling her in one direction, while Doritan pulled her in another. And she still stayed loyal to him before all others. “I will not kill him,” He whispered back. “Just scare him.”

She sighed in relief, and he turned back to his father. “You come into my home, insult my friends, endanger my sister, and try to kill me? And still have the gall to call yourself my father?”

Doritan, realizing the dire situation he was in, broke. “Phoenix, I am sorry. I must keep all parties happy, and the men you fought demanded I do something. Confronting you was the only option I saw.”

Phoenix glowered. “And throwing your orb, which would have killed me not for my new powers, was confronting me?”

“I got caught in the heat of the moment, and for that I apologize.”

Phoenix smirked, enjoying watching the man squirm. “Apologize to my friends, and you may leave.”

Doritan swallowed, then looked to Lindani. “I am sorry young lady.” Then turning and inclining his head to meet Spedro’s eyes he said, “And I am sorry I called you a golem.”

Spedro grunted, and placed the man on the floor roughly. Doritan gained his feet, ran a hand through his hair, turned and left.

Lindani stood for a moment, watching Doritan’s back as the man walked away, then turned back to the other three. “So. What’s for breakfast?”

With a laugh, the four turned and walked outside into the morning light, to find something to eat.

Four months later

Lindani twirled on her toe, ending to the left of the razor sharp tendril of water, then shot one of her own out at her opponent. The man ducked and sent a large orb for her legs, which were swept out from under her. She hit the floor with a thud, and the man was upon her. A rope of water flowed past her throat as the man knelt above her, ready to slice her jugular.

“Very good Phoenix,” Lindani said. “Improvisation is a good thing. You have finally come to the point where you can beat me.”

Phoenix let the water fall, and extended his hand to her, hauling her to her feet. The two turned to Ember and Spedro, who sat on a familiar stump. Spedro was whispering in her ear, and she was giggling every few moments. The two of them had become very close recently, and rumors circulated that they were courting. This was not true however, and Phoenix knew Spedro would not disrespect him in that way.

Lindani had been teaching him in the months since his confrontation with his father, and he had finally bested her a week ago, and had been continuing to do so. His control of water had developed quickly, and now Lindani bowed to his greater skill.

“Hey you two! Break it up!” Called Lindani.

Spedro pulled back quickly, and Ember flushed a deep scarlet. Phoenix wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel, then threw it to Ember. “Let us go back to the village. I need food.”

The two rose and the three followed Lindani through the forest back toward the village. They came around the last tree, and Lindani gasped. Phoenix stretched to see over her shoulder and flew into action. A large force of men thundered through the village, on foot and horseback, slashing at the villagers. Phoenix knew this had been coming, and coated himself with ice, save for his right hand. In his right hand a orb appeared, and he flung it at the nearest enemy.

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Thanks for reading guys, and I hope you voted. Born Of Fire is #110 on the What's Hot! Sorry it was so short, but I need to save the rest of it for the next chapter. I should be posting again in the next few days.