This Fire

The city gate exploded into cinders and splinters, clearing the way for Jabez and the wagon to head down the dirt road.

“After them!” shouted the sheriff from behind, pointing his blade right at Jabez. “We can’t let a single one of them escape!!”

““Yes sir!!”” shouted the guards from atop their guroks.

Even with the city far behind Jabez, the guards weren’t letting up. They were led by the sheriff of Felstat, a heavily armored man named Wallack who had shoulder-length brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a chiseled jaw covered in a well-trimmed beard. As he gave his orders, the guards shouted, hooves kicked up dirt, and dozens of slaves in the wagon cage cried out in confusion and despair. Jabez couldn’t give up just yet. There was a bridge over a river he could cross and destroy. If only he could make it...

“Aim for his gurok!” shouted Sheriff Wallack. “We end this here and now!”

“On it,” said a guard with a crossbow.

The bolt flew through the night like a bird of prey, striking the gurok in the head. The horned equine screeched, stumbling to the ground and dragging Jabez and the wagon with it. As they flipped onto their side, Jabez held onto the wooden frame for dear life. The wagon skid across the dirt as it went downhill, tumbling about until it finally came to a halt. Weak and wounded, Jabez crawled from the wreckage, looking at the wagon cage in horror. Some of the slaves had fallen limp, mangled by the crash.

“No... No!!!” cried Jabez.

“Surround him! We have him now!” shouted Sheriff Wallack. “Aim for his legs! Take him down!!”

As guards on guroks came down the hill, Jabez tossed his cloak at them, obscuring his form for just a moment as he dashed to the side, avoiding their crossbows. He ran at the guards with his sword, cutting down their riding beasts. The guards tumbled to the ground, struggling to stand while Jabez cut them down one by one. But still more came, circling around him. Some fired their crossbows. Jabez tried to strike the incoming shots but missed one, taking a bolt to his right shoulder. Other riders came at him with blades. He parried some but he couldn’t parry them all. Little by little they wore him down, spilling his blood across the road.

In a daze, Jabez saw the past.

“Bet you feel real smart right now.”

“One man cannot undo what has been done by thousands.”

“What’s there to be done about it?”

For every opening, there was a strike. For every strike, there was a wound. Yet Jabez fought on, the fire in his heart refusing to go out. Even with everything bearing down on him, he couldn’t give up. Not now, not ever.

“It’s that all you got?! Come at me!! I’ll kill you all!!!”

Jabez’s screams echoed through the field as he charged the guards ahead of him. In the light of their eyes, he saw fear.

Across the chest. Through the neck. Stab the gut. Strike the shoulder. Aim for the pits. Every chance they give is a chance I’ll take.

“What is happening?!” shouted Sheriff Wallack. “How strong could one man be? Kill him now!!”

Another strike. Another fallen body. Jabez felt like he was swimming against the current. Blood splashed in his face. All he could see was red. So many shadows, so many to kill.

Is this what you wanted, Gamugin? Are you entertained?!

Jabez slapped a scroll onto his damp sword, shouting its command phrase.

“Wall of Fire!”

As he swung his blade, fire burst from the scroll, shooting across the battlefield and burning everything in its path. Guards, guroks, bodies of the fallen. It was all the same. Sheriff Wallack leaped from his riding beast just in time, tumbling to the ground. The man rose, finally drawing his weapon.

“Demon! Monster! I’ll send you back to Hell!” shouted Wallack. With a mace in one hand and kite shield in the other, he charged Jabez, and the two became locked in combat. “What gives you the right to take?! To steal? To kill?!”

Jabez struck Wallack’s shield, pushing him back. “I’m only returning what this kingdom stole from others. What gives you the right to turn people into cattle?!” Steel clashed with steel, and even as Wallack dug his heels in, he was pushed further and further back by Jabez’s assault. “Women! Children! Is there no depth you Ramthians won’t sink to?!”

“Enough!!” Wallack shouted, swinging his mace. A potent enchantment in the steel smashed through Jabez’s sword, sending the blade flying across the field. “I am the right hand of the duke, the Keeper of Peace! For all the blood you’ve spilt, I’ll end you here and now!” With another blow, Wallack send Jabez skidding across the dirt. A sharp pain in Jabez’s ribs left him speechless, and once he stopped tumbling, he found himself face-down in the mud. Wallack walked up, pointing his mace at Jabez’s head. In the distance, another group of guards were riding down the road towards them. “Any last words?”

“Yeah...” Jabez slipped open his magic bag and touched the tip of Wallack’s mace. “Pocket.”

“What?!” Before Wallack could react, his mace disappeared. Jabez then yanked him to the ground, only for Wallack to kick him in the face. Drawing a hidden knife, Jabez jammed the blade into the sheriff’s thigh, making him roar in pain. Jabez knew he couldn’t fend off the remaining guards, but he’d at least take their sheriff with him. But before the worst came to pass, arrows flew through the air. Guards and riding beasts both fell to the onslaught.

“It’s the Hidden Grove!!” shouted a guard.

“Save the sheriff!” shouted another.

His vision blurry and splattered with blood, Jabez struggled to reach for the scurrying sheriff to hold him down, but he managed to escape, even with a wounded leg. A guard pulled the sheriff onto his gurok and circled around.

“Retreat! Retreat!!” he shouted.

“Get back here you cowards!!” screamed Jabez. “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!!” But as Jabez tried to stand, his legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground. “No... I can still... Fight...”

“Who is this?” a voice spoke from behind.

“What do we do with him?” spoke another.

Jabez turned on his side, looking at the two figures. They were tall women with graceful builds, dark leather armor, and green clothes that looked patterned to blend in with leaves. Each one was heavily armed - though they held longbows at the moment - and each one had long, pointed ears.

“Elves?” Jabez muttered.

“He speaks our tongue?” said one elf.

“Who are you, stranger?” asked the other.

“I’m... Jabez. I’m trying... To save them...” Jabez gestured to the fallen slave wagon.

“Let’s take him back with us,” said one of the elves.

“What? But Tuuli...”

“He can explain to the others. If we find fault, we end him. But for now,” the elf crouched down, touching Jabez, “let’s get you back on your feet. We don’t have much time.”

A soothing energy flowed through the elf’s gloved fingertips, surging through Jabez’s body like a strong potion. He could feel his wounds closing and the crossbow bolts in his body being pushed out. He’d still need time to rest, but rest would come later. After being helped up by the elf and wiping the blood from his eyes, his vision came into focus. The elf before him had shoulder-length orange hair, vibrant green eyes, and a face full of freckles. The other one had green eyes and freckles as well, but long flowing blonde hair instead.

“Thank you,” said Jabez. “Let’s free the slaves.”

“Of course.” As the three took off running, the orange-haired elf said, “I am known as Tuuli. This is my comrade, Seela.”

“Good to meet you both. You picked the perfect time to show up.”

Jabez and the elves reached the fallen wagon, finally opening it up and helping the slaves out of it. Tuuli worked to heal any wounded, though there was nothing to be done about the dead. When Jabez saw the violet-eyed girl from before was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m so sorry about all of this,” Jabez said, looking at the slaves. “But we have to keep going.”

“I’ll lead the way,” said Tuuli. “Seela, take up the rear. We’re heading back to the grove.”

And thus they left the wagon behind. Sometime later, Jabez found himself walking through a dark forest. Neither Tuuli nor Seela lit a lantern. They seemed to know the forest by heart. All Jabez could do was try to follow their movements.

From behind, Jabez could feel a small hand gripping his tunic. It was the violet-eyed girl.

“We’re going to be okay,” whispered Jabez. “Just hold on.”

“Okay,” she whispered back.

In time, Tuuli stopped, lifting a branch.

“Through here,” said Tuuli. “There will be light, so shield your eyes if you don’t want to go blind.”

Jabez did just that, shutting his eyes and stepping through the opening. When he did, he felt a faint magic pass over him, almost like he stepped inside a bubble. When he finally opened his eyes, the sight of a village greeted him. Trees carved into small homes, bridges of rope and wooden planks, tents, weapon racks, people moving to and fro. It was a small military base tucked away where no one could find it.

“And here we are,” said Tuuli, joining the crowd. “Welcome, one and all. We are the Hidden Grove. And this... Is our grove.”

The pain and rage Jabez felt that night had disappeared. Everything about this place filled him with a sense of calm, of wonder – like the kind he felt as a boy whenever he explored the woods on his own. But that wonder was cut short when a group approached Jabez and the others. In the lead was a much older elf, a man with long flowing grey hair and a matching beard, as well as pupilless green eyes.

“Tuuli, who are these outsiders?” the old man spoke, coming to a stop.

“Seela and I found them during a scouting mission. This man was trying to save a whole wagon of slaves.”

“A human... Helping slaves?” The old elf turned to Jabez, his gaze like a readied weapon. “I am the one known as Reijo, leader of the Hidden Grove. We are the enemy of the Kingdom of Ramtha. Who are you, stranger?”

“My name is Jabez. I hate Ramtha too. If you’re their enemy, then consider me an ally.”

“An ally? We’ll see about that.” Reijo turned to Seela and said, “Help the slaves. They need their collars removed, food in their bellies. And Tuuli, watch this stranger closely. We will discuss things soon enough.”

“Here, take this then,” said Jabez, tossing Seela the key ring he took from Ramvic. “That should make things easier.”

“Thank you,” said Seela, catching the keys. Her eyes lit up with recognition upon looking at them. “Wait... Where did you get these?”

“From Ramvic the Keen after I took his life.”

At this, Seela blushed, though Jabez wasn’t sure why. “Whoa... Impressive.”

“Come on already,” Tuuli pulled Jabez by the hand. “You’re still hurt. I’ll get you looked at in the medicine tent.”