Born Of Fire

Born Of Fire Chapter 22

 Hey guys! Sorry it took me so long to update, but I have been seriously swamped. But I have come through and posted another chapter! Wooh! Remember to vote!

Doritan strode past Phoenix and the others, barely glancing their way. Through the door that separated the place they were supposed to have placed the prisoners, then right back out, anger painting his features. “Where are the men you captured?”

With a smirk and a shrug, Phoenix said, “I am sorry father. They overpowered us and escaped.”

Standing stock still, Doritan swept his eyes over the four people in front of him, clenching his fists. After a moment, he exploded. “You let them go? How dare you!”

Ember shrunk back, but Lindani and Spedro stepped forward sharply, backing Phoenix up. Phoenix stepped toward Doritan, smirk still in place. “There was nothing we could do.”

Doritan simmered for a few moments before pushing past Phoenix and the others, shooting a glare toward Ember.

Phoenix turned to Spedro and clapped him on the shoulder. “That was fun.”

Spedro simply chuckled, and turned from the butcher shop, with the others in tow.

Night fell over Yaag; torches were extinguished, lamps were blown out, and the people settled in to sleep. Phoenix stood on the roof of his home, watching the village fall into darkness, save the fire in the center of the village. His mind wandered in the darkness, to the events of past months. The first battle with Demetrius’ forces, when he broke his vow. The moment he let his flame flow, the coldness that had slowly spread over his body in ten years was gone in a flash of heat. His emotions; anger, jealousy, hatred, love, sadness, happiness, all returned. Then his thoughts turned to his training with Lindani, and how after months of trying, he had bested her. Lindani herself, was another matter altogether. It had become increasingly hard for him to avert his eyes when she strode out of her room wearing nothing but a sheer nightgown, swinging her hips as she padded barefoot through the house.

With a quick shake of his head Phoenix banished the thought of Lindani’s naked body. A breeze kissed his cheek, startling him. Dropping into a crouch on the sloped roof, Phoenix spun on his haunches, searching for an attacker. Ember rose over the lip of the roof, riding a gust of wind she had conjured. Phoenix relaxed, uncoiling his muscles as Ember set down on the stone roof silently.

“Hello brother,” she said.

Phoenix chuckled. “Warn me next time Ember, I almost burnt you to a crisp.”

Ember opened her mouth to speak, but they both felt the roof shake beneath their feet. Spedro stood atop a quickly rising mound of rock, Lindani at his side. They stepped onto the roof together, and Lindani rushed to Phoenix, wrapping him in an embrace. Into his ear she whispered, “Do not think I am not still angry with you. But thank you for fighting with me today.”

Confused, Phoenix unwrapped her arms from around his neck. “This is my home, I should be the one thanking you for fighting.”

Lindani smiled, making him weak in the knees. “You are quite welcome.”

Ember sat on the peak of the roof, hugging her knees. The other three followed suit, examining the clusters of stars. A long while passed with no conversation, the four simply enjoying one another’s company. During this lull, Phoenix settled into a more comfortable position, laying down on his back. Lindani promptly moved closer and lay next to him, resting her head on his arm as they gazed to the heavens.

Finally, Ember broke the silence, anger lacing her words. “They will never stop will they?”

Phoenix raised his head, perplexed. Ember continued, “Demetrius’ forces I mean. They want to kill us, enslave us, and add us to their army. And if we refuse, we die anyway.”

Spedro rose and sat beside her, pulling her into an embrace. “When they return, we will be here to route them again. Phoenix defended this village once by himself, and we four have protected this village together. We will be successful again.”

Ember rested her head on his shoulder as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Fifty people died during the first attack, and thirty today. With a few more attacks, there will be no one and nothing to defend.”

Phoenix spoke up, trying to console his sister. “Then what would you have us do?”

Ember looked up, her eyes pleading. “The prophecy obviously spoke of you and your powers. Four are required to save the extinguished flame? It must be a metaphor meaning that you need to acquire the other three elements, other than your natural fire of course, before the prophecy will be fulfilled and you will be able to save us. The extinguished flame must be the fire that burns in the square.”

It was Lindani who spoke this time. “I have wondered about that. I never see anyone add kindling to the fire, yet it burns. How is this?”

Phoenix sat up and drew in a breath. “Near the beginning of time, after humans had populated the world, the gods fashioned a bird of fire and sent it to choose a human to impart its gifts to. The Phoenix flew over the world they had created, trying to determine which human to bless. It flew over where the village stands and noticed one human, trying to start a fire to cook animal he had killed. The fowl flew upward into the heavens, then dived down quickly, right where the hunter was trying to start his fire. When it hit the earth, the kill was burnt beyond recognition, and the fire burned stronger than any fire created before it. The hunter was thrown backward from the blast, and knocked unconscious. When he awoke, his body was on fire. He was the first Yaagalo, and built the village around the site of the gift giving. That is why the fire burns, but does not burn a Yaagalo. I, or any other fire user can walk through the fire unharmed, but if any of you were to try, you would be killed. Years ago, in the case of the fire dying, my father’s father laid a pile of kindling within the blaze, which is what I relit when Soran was killed.”

Phoenix sighed and concluded. “That fire is the life force of this village. It is what keeps us strong. Ember is under the impression that the prophecy means that I must learn all four elements to keep us protected, or else Demetrius’ army will overrun us and extinguish the fire.”

“We are getting off subject,” interrupted Ember. “What are we going to do?”