Flames

Elian kept clenching and unclenching his right hand, moving aura into it, then back again.  He couldn’t quite believe he was even considering using magic again, but perhaps Kaia was right. Perhaps he could control it now. With practice. Starting small, making sure nothing unexpected happened that could break his focus and set off a disaster.

Would it really be worth the risk? Kaia thought so, but she didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand. Some weapons are just too dangerous.

“That village the farmers mentioned should be on the other side of that hill,” she said, efficiently breaking his thoughts. “Do you want to go in alone this time? If it’s anything like the last one, that’d be more efficient.”

“I suppose so. Hopefully they’ll have some news from the capital, or have heard something about the main military movements.” It was unlikely, but they could get lucky. He’d also like to buy more food, their traveling supplies were running low. “I’m sorry for the way they behaved back there. You’d think they’d never seen a non-human before.”

“I’m sure the false rumors aren’t helping either,” she sighed. “We should’ve bought that cape back in Tarrin. The one with the big hood.”

“You shouldn’t have to hide who you are just because some people are idiots.”

“I don’t like it either, but it could help.” A breeze with a definite chill stirred her hair, prompting her to smooth it down and braid it loosely over one shoulder. “It’s also getting colder, so we could both use warmer clothing soon.”

“Let’s see if we can buy one in the next village then. It should be large enough to have a market.”

“And a bakery that makes meat pies.” Her tail wagged as she took the lead, grinning back at him. “I’ll race you.”

At the top of the hill, the village of Ewenworth came into view. Clusters of houses, separated by dwindling, cobbled streets, surrounded an open square. Newly harvested fields and farms lay outside the core, spreading far in all directions until glades and forests took over. Even from here, they could see some unwelcome activity in the fields.

“Insects!” Kaia said. “Many.”

“And the army is here… I recognize the uniforms.”

The bugs must have attacked recently. There weren’t that many of them yet, and the fighting had barely started.

“Come on,” Elian said. “Let’s get closer, without getting seen.”

It didn’t take them long to get close enough to see the full scale of it.

The scene was horribly familiar. A nightmare.

A dozen… no, fifteen tunnel openings were spread in a half circle around the fields surrounding the small village. They couldn’t have been open very long since bugs were still streaming out of them, beetles already attacking the soldiers and grown-up mages waiting for them. Behind them came the crickets… smaller than the ones he and Kaia saw in the mines, but still terrifying. Away from the actual battlefield stood a group of children – the mages – waiting for the tunnels to clear so they could do their part. Adult soldiers armed with pikes and spears surrounded them. But why…?

Soldiers with swords attacked the bugs, aiming for long legs, trying not to get trampled by the beetles. Two fire mages in their late teens turned as many as they could into burned husks. Elian could hardly tear his eyes from them. He could have been one of them… if he hadn’t… if he hadn’t lost control that day, he’d still be out there - protecting people. The mark on his hand was already burning hot, aura rushing through him in response to what he was seeing. This is what he had trained for so hard. What he’d been chosen for. What he’d failed.

He sucked in a gasping breath, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

A soft hand grasped his shoulder, and he turned to look at Kaia. Her ears kept turning, trying to keep up with everything, and her eyes were calm but sad.

“You’re still protecting them,” she said quietly. “Just in a different way. And you’re protecting us too.”

“I know, but…”

“Do you want to rush in?”

“No, they should be fine. They know what they’re doing…” He took a deep breath, shoving his hand into his pocket. “And if they find out who I am…”

“It’s not worth the risk. If any bugs come close to us, we’ll kill them. And I can help from here.” She gave his shoulder a last squeeze, then prepared her bow and an arrow. “Maybe after the fight I can talk to them, see if it’s safe for you.”

“Let’s see.”

As far as Elian could tell, the fight was going well for the humans. It was following the pattern he was familiar with. The waves were coming as expected. Until…

For a moment, all bugs froze, then they moved as one. Dividing into groups, attacking more coordinatedly, while others cleared a path for the looters.

“They’re taking orders from somewhere,” Kaia whispered.

“Yes. Or, something… But how? Did you hear anything?”

She shook her head, ears turning towards the enemy, a look of concentration on her face. “Nothing. Not a whisper.”

“That means…” But it couldn’t be. Not here.

“It’s like in the mines.” Kaia lifted her face, sniffing the air for a long time. Then shook her head. “I can’t make out a single scent in all of this, and most of the bugs smell almost the same anyway.” She looked around, pointing to the copse of tightly growing trees behind the tunnels. “If something is controlling them, that’d be the best spot for them to see everything, without being seen themselves.”

“Let’s go find out,” Elian said grimly. “If one of those creatures is here, we know how to kill it. That’ll give the soldiers an easier fight.”

Staying low, they crept around the field, keeping a good distance from the fighting. Many dead bugs already littered the ground, but more kept coming. Elian swore as a group of crickets, a slightly different shade than the rest, took to the air. Wings revealed yellowing, glowing bodies. Exploding buggers! The small swarm homed in on the kids, and Elian finally realized what the pikes and spears were for.

Soon the air over and around the mage-children was filled with explosions, and charred pieces of bug were raining down on them. A small boy raised his hands, creating a gust of wind to keep the burning remains from falling on them. A wind mage. Probably paired with a lightning mage, if things hadn’t changed.

He and Kaia remained still, her arrow at the ready until they were sure the kids were safe. For now. Once they reached the cove, they paused, and Kaia handed Elian the dragon knife.

“I distract it with arrows. You go for the kill.”

“Deal.” His fingers closed around the handle.

They moved slowly, crouched down, weapons at the ready. Kaia spotted it first, stopping and pointing over the bushes they hid behind. I was one of the bug people, a little smaller, thinner than the ones they’d seen in the mines. Its huge dark eyes were focused on the battlefield, with its antennae turning on its angular head. Giving orders?

Tightening the grip on the knife, he inched closer so he wouldn’t have to cover so much ground when Kaia made her move.

Crack. She’d deliberately stepped on a twig, and as the creature turned, an arrow flew straight toward a dark eye. It was easily dodged, but followed almost instantly by another. And another.

It worked. With the creature's full attention on Kaia, Elian sprinted toward it, burying the knife hilt deep into itss chest. It hissed, a long arm catching him and dragging him with it as it fell. The sheer momentum he’d had made them tumble down a slight slope until they came to a stop next to a rock. The creature lay face down, under him, fingers dug into the ground, but it was weak now. Elian pushed down hard on its back, hearing the sickening sound of the knife going deeper inside. The long fingers froze, and the eyes paled. It was dead.

Elian wiped sweat and dirt from his brow, brushed leaves off his clothes, then bent to turn the body over and take the knife. Barely anything of the handle was sticking out, and covered as it was in dark, gooey blood, he couldn’t get a grip. Bloody bugger! He tried again when he heard a muffled cry.

“Elian! Help!”

Kaia! 

After his fingers slipped off the handle again, he abandoned the knife and ran up the slope. There was a second creature, too close to her for her to use the bow, but she was dodging its attacks while trying to stab it with one of her long arrows. But despite her skills, it was steadily driving her backwards.

“Kaia!” He shouted, running toward her, drawing his sword. If he could drive it through an eye, it should do the trick.

She turned her head his way, briefly, but that moment was enough for the creature to knock her down with a long sweep of its arm. She scrambled to her feet, but it was already upon her. Long fingers closed around her neck, lifting her as if she was nothing more than a child’s doll.

“Let her go!” The sword hit the creature square in the side, strong enough to send a shockwave up Elian’s arms. It bounced off, but the creature turned to look at him, exposing its eyes. The sword went up again, ready to strike, but the bugger grabbed it. Tugged it hard enough to send it flying. Before it even hit the ground, Elian was lifted into the air, held close to Kaia. 

How could this thing be so strong? 

Next to him, as in slow motion, a claw pierced the skin of her neck. Releasing a trickle of blood. He could see her pulse beating rapidly. His own was pounding in his ears. So loud he almost couldn’t hear her. It was getting harder to breathe.

Burnitburnitburnit. The magic inside was screaming at him, raging.

No! She’ll die. shelldieshelldieSHEWILLDIE

Her eyes found his, and she echoed the voice inside him.

“Kill it! Use magic! Burn it!”

“No, I’ll kill you too. I’m…” 

Her eyes met his for a long moment, where everything stood still.

“...best fire-wielder.”

Was that a smile? Then her lips parted in a growl, and she made a last desperate attempt to throw her body to the side, to break the creature’s balance. The only result was an angry hiss, and fingers digging harder into her throat. She wheezed, eyes glazing over, face turning pink.

They were both scratching frantically at the hands holding them, but nails and claws had no effect - and the bugger knew it. It was getting harder to breathe, and to his horror he saw Kaia’s arms fall limp to her sides, fingers twitching weakly. They were running out of time. 

The truth hit him like a physical blow.

They’d die here.

They’d die if he didn’t do something.

Kaia would die.

There was only one option left. He let go. The magic soared free, flames sprang from his hand. The glove vanished in an instant. He grabbed the thin arm; fire spread from his grip, running through his veins, covering the creature.

It screamed. Screamed. Screamed. He screamed too.

The hand holding his throat crumbled into ash. He was free. Kaia! The still-burning creature was lying on top of her, both hidden by bright flames and dark smoke. But one thing was clear. Neither of them was moving.

No! He shoved the creature away and knelt next to her. She wasn’t moving, and her face was so pale… Nononono! Her braid had come undone, and a trickle of blood was smeared across her neck. Her ears were still, her chest wasn’t moving.

He might not have burned her to death, but he had…

Her chest heaved, and her ears twitched. He’d never been so shocked or so happy to hear a bout of coughing in his life.

“You’re alive.” He pulled her up, wrapping his arms around her so she was leaning against him. Her ears tickled the side of his face as she kept coughing.

“Of course I am.” She was rubbing at her throat and making a face. “Wow, I hate those things!”

“I thought… I thought…” His arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer.

“Are you… crying…?” she asked softly, though a raised eyebrow told him she found it hard to believe. “Did you really think that I was…”

“I thought I killed you along with that thing. Like last time.” He held up his hand, the mark was brighter and uglier than he remembered it. 

“I trusted you, and I was right.” She took his hand and brought it back down, keeping it in hers. “You saved me. Killed the enemy.” Her tail started beating the grass next to them. “Even you can see that.”

“I guess…” In fact, he wasn’t sure what he thought or felt. All sorts of emotions were soaring through him, but above all of them was relief. She was alive. He hadn’t killed her. He had... saved her. His fire had saved her. 

“Now,” she said, sitting up and looking over at the dead creature. “Let’s get our weapons and then see how the humans are doing.”

“Soon. I just need a moment to…”

She smiled and leaned back against him, but he barely had time to hold her before she sprang to her feet, ears flat.

“Someone’s coming.”

Elian turned too, expecting more creatures, or an army of buggers. Instead, just at the edge of the trees stood a teenage girl, hand covering her mouth as she stared at them. At the dead bug person.

He raised a hand, wanting to tell her to keep silent. To leave them. But she’d already spun around on her heels, waving an arm in the air, bellowing at the top of her lungs.

“LIEUTENANT!”