Blood and Fire (Book 3)

by Marcus Alexander

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Wait,’ said Charlie. ‘You’re Torn Moon’s son?’

  ‘What’s she going on about?’ asked Hunger.

  ‘Er … she thinks Torn Moon is everyone’s mother.’

  ‘What? She thinks all the Winged Ones came from Torn Moon?’

  ‘Yes.’

  The two chuckled at that.

  ‘What?’ protested Charlie. ‘She said all the Winged Ones were her children.’

  Hunger and Hotstepper shared another laugh.

  ‘Little Charlie, “mother” and “children” are honorary titles. Let me assure you that Torn Moon did not give birth to all the Winged Ones. This young whippersnapper, Hotflubber –’

  ‘Hotstepper,’ corrected the younger Winged One.

  ‘– is the son of my great-granddaughter. And so he should know better than to call me “eldest” when “Grandpoppa” would be more appropriate.’

  ‘I’ll call you that when you stop calling me Hotflubber.’

  ‘It’s what your mother wanted.’ Ignoring Hotstepper’s look of outrage, he turned to Charlie. ‘So I guess you’ll be expecting a chance to Fight the Flame before you go?’

  ‘Wait. “Fight the Flame”?’ queried Charlie. ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Oh, so you’ve never heard of it?’ said Hunger. ‘In that case, let’s not bother. You won’t be missing out on anything.’

  ‘No, wait!’ protested Charlie who, having at first dreaded her journey to meet ‘the Hunger’, was surprised to find that she was very much enjoying herself. ‘What is Fight the Flame?’

  ‘It is a chance for a mortal to spar with a Winged One,’ explained Hotstepper.

  ‘Hey!’ said Hunger. ‘Who’s the wise one here? I’ll do the explanations, if you don’t mind. Young Charlie, Fight the Flame does indeed present the opportunity for a Keeper to spar with one of my kind.’

  ‘What does “spar” mean?’

  ‘It means to pretend fight.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘From the way you carry yourself I can see that you have had some training in K’Changa.’

  ‘A bit,’ agreed Charlie, who was in two minds as to whether ‘pretend fighting’ was cool or not.

  ‘So you’ll be wanting to Fight the Flame, then.’

  ‘Er … OK,’ said Charlie. ‘So how do we do this? How do you pretend fight?’

  ‘Oh, easy. You promise not to use your Will and we promise not to burn your legs off.’

  ‘Ah …’ Charlie couldn’t find a suitable response to that. Nor could she appreciate how someone her size was supposed to fight a Winged One as large as Hunger. Pretend fight or otherwise, he was as big as three double-decker buses squished together. Perhaps his age would slow him down?

  ‘Don’t look at me, little Charlie. I’m too old to be jumping around.’ Hunger pointed behind her. ‘You’ll be Fighting the Flame with junior.’

  Looking round, Charlie caught a blur of movement. She staggered backwards and only narrowly missed being squashed by Hotstepper’s fist.

  BAAAMM!

  The Winged One’s paw pounded into the ground, sending a wave of sand up into the air. Horrified by his speed and power, Charlie scampered backwards.

  ‘W-wait!’ she protested but was forced to cartwheel aside as Hotstepper, pulling his fist from the ground, rushed after her.

  ‘There’s no waiting in Fight the Flame!’ called Hunger. Behind Hotstepper’s blurring form Charlie could see that the wise dragon was settling down to watch the fight.

  ‘Grrrrr!’ growled Hotstepper. His teeth snapped shut inches from Charlie’s head.

  Feeling the blood drain from her face, Charlie hastened to get some distance between herself and the maddened Winged One. But that was not an easy task. As he charged forward he slammed paw after paw into the ground, doing his utmost to turn her into a pancake.

  ‘You call this pretend fighting?’ shrieked Charlie.

  ‘Still got both your eyebrows?’ called Hunger. He casually plopped one of the Fluttercarp into his cavernous mouth. ‘Feet still connected to the ends of your legs? Yes? Then stop complaining. You’ll know Hotflubber means business when he rips your spinal column out of your back!’

  The intentional misuse of his name seemed to further enrage Hotstepper. With growls and huffs he pursued Charlie up and down boulders, between palm trees and through the shallows. Fluttercarp swam away and terrified birds took to the skies. Alternating between talon-blows and tail-swipes, he relentlessly chased the young Keeper back and forth.

  ‘This is Fight the Flame,’ called Hunger, ‘not kiss-chase! Fight back, little Charlie, or Hotflubber is going to feel like a sissy!’ Chuckling, he threw another fish into the air and caught it between his jaws with a satisfied smack of his lips.

  ‘Fight back?’ squawked Charlie as Hotstepper’s tail shattered the boulder she had just been standing on. ‘How am I supposed to fight a dragon without my Will?’

  ‘Winged One!’ corrected Hunger.

  ‘Fight back?’ repeated Charlie, more to herself than as a question for the two crazy Winged Ones. ‘Yeah, right.’ Dodging a particularly vicious swipe of razor-sharp talons that left a palm tree hanging at a tilt, Charlie held up her hands and called, ‘Time out! Time out!’

  But Hotstepper didn’t listen. Relentless and apparently merciless, he continued to pursue her.

  ‘Time out?’ said Hunger around another mouthful of fish. ‘There’s no such thing as a time out. Come on, young Keeper, show us your spirit!’

  Close to fear and growing very concerned for her safety, Charlie flipped into a series of handsprings and back tucks, doing her utmost to earn herself a little breathing room, only to find when she finally stopped that Hotstepper was already there. He sent her flying with a flick from one of his talons.

  ‘Oomph!’ Charlie staggered to her feet. She was shocked to look down and find a rip in her shirt. ‘All right,’ she muttered to herself, ‘this is going beyond a joke.’ She reached for her Will only to be slapped by a wave of water kicked up by Hotstepper’s tail. Her concentration broke. Trying again, she was flummoxed when a dismembered Fluttercarp’s tail smacked her in the face. She looked up, distraught, to see Hunger waving the rest of the fish at her from afar.

  ‘No Will, remember?’ he called.

  She tried to shout something but was knocked off her feet as Hotstepper charged past.

  ‘I bet the thought of fighting Bane has crossed your mind once or twice,’ hollered Hunger. ‘But you can bet a foe as powerful as Bane would be harder to defeat and even less inclined to allow you to use your Will.’ He paused to swallow the last of the Fluttercarp. ‘If I were you I would start being resourceful and find a different way to fight junior. Time to start thinking outside the box!’

  Charlie growled to herself. Leaping over Hotstepper’s paw, she rolled twice across the ground and scampered behind a boulder. Why did supposedly ‘wise’ people always find the need to sound so cheerful when it was obvious she was in a world of danger?

  The boulder she was crouched behind disappeared into a cloud of dust as Hotstepper pounded it with his fist. Spurred into sudden decision, Charlie jumped to her feet and chose to run towards Hotstepper instead of away.

  ‘I’ll show you what to do with your box!’ snapped Charlie. This time she ducked beneath Hotstepper’s teeth and kicked him as hard as she could in the leg. She whimpered in pain; it felt like she had kicked a concrete bollard. ‘Not a good move,’ she groaned and somersaulted to the side as Hotstepper tried to use the same leg to trample her into the sand.

  Jumping over his tail, she ran up it, along his spine and punched him in the back of his head.

  ‘YESSSS!’ roared Hunger and punched his own fist into the air. ‘Great! Keep going, young Charlie, keep going! And remember to enjoy the moment!’

  ‘Enjoy it?’ squeaked Charlie as Hotstepper dislodged her with a flick of his neck. It was obvious he had felt her blow as much as an elephant would feel the bite of a mosquit
o. ‘How am I supposed to enjoy this?’

  ‘Do you not feel alive?’ roared Hunger. ‘Do you not feel adrenalin rampaging through your veins? Does not everything seem clearer?’

  As Charlie did her best to survive she was shocked to find that Hunger’s words rang true. She did feel more alive. Her sight was razor sharp, her senses of smell and taste and sound were heightened. And even though her fingers trembled with adrenalin, she could not deny the effect it had upon her.

  ‘Remember the Verraverry berries,’ cried Hunger. ‘How many people can say they fought a Winged One? How many can say they Fought the Flame?’

  Shocked to find she was not only relaxing and moving with more fluidity but that a smile had appeared on her lips, Charlie had to acknowledge that perhaps the old Winged One was not as crazy as she had thought.

  She began to land more and more blows upon Hotstepper and even though he managed to knock her from her feet and land some blows of his own (that came scarily close to breaking her) she began to feel a blossoming of determination rise from the depths of her soul. It was time to really think outside of the box.

  She slid beneath Hotstepper’s talon, then pulled herself up his wing, dodged a swat of his paw and used his neck to springboard towards a palm tree. Grabbing a coconut in passing, she rolled, snatched a handful of sand and flung it in Hotstepper’s eyes. Then she launched the coconut into the air, followed it through with a flash kick and watched with satisfaction as it flew not towards Hotstepper’s head but towards Hunger’s.

  The old dragon snagged it out of the air with a look of delight. ‘Bravo, young Charlie, bravo! Now that’s what I would call a Verraverry moment!’

  43

  Indigo Sky

  ‘The time for you to return draws near,’ said Hunger. ‘But before you depart, one last word of –’

  ‘Wisdom?’ suggested Charlie.

  ‘Insight,’ finished Hunger with a dry drawl.

  ‘Is this going to be something serious or are you going to try and crack a final joke at my expense?’

  ‘No, little Charlie, I’m quite certain you can crack enough jokes at your expense without my aid. What I wanted to give you was some advice.’

  ‘Oh. Sorry.’

  ‘May I?’

  ‘May you what?’

  ‘Give you that advice?’

  ‘Uh, yes. Please do.’

  ‘You are a Keeper. You share the same genetic history as the Winged Ones –’

  ‘Er …’

  ‘Young Charlie, is it really necessary for you to interrupt me with ers and ahs?’

  ‘I’m sorry but it’s the whole genetic thing,’ explained Charlie. ‘I don’t understand how Humans and Winged Ones can share DNA. Isn’t that a bit weird?’

  ‘Yes, it would be weird if all Humans shared our genetic traits. But they don’t. Only Keepers do.’ Hunger held up a paw to forestall any further interruptions from Charlie. ‘When the Great Cataclysm occurred and our ancestral land was split it became very apparent that we would need guardians to watch it in our absence. We created the Keepers by introducing our flesh and blood to Humans. At first the Will was weak in the families that we chose but after several generations of merging the first wave of true Keepers arose. And unlike the Tremen and Stomen, who can only manifest their skills in the realm of Bellania, the Keepers were able to move freely and with power between the two realms. This is how Keepers came to be. Now does that satisfy your craving for knowledge or do you still feel the need to open your mouth and interrupt me some more?’

  ‘Um … sorry,’ began Charlie with a bashful squirm of her shoulders. ‘Just one more thing – I still don’t understand how Winged Ones passed their DNA to us. I know I always get told off for saying this … but was it magic?’

  Hunger’s mouth creased into a soft smile. ‘Perhaps it was a magic of sorts, young Charlie, perhaps it was.’

  ‘Will I ever see some magic?’ asked Charlie, her eyes wide with wonder.

  ‘Ah … from what I can gather of the ill that has happened to Bellania in our absence, the need might come to renew the line of Keepers. If the need does arise then yes, Charlie, you will have your chance to witness something that you might consider “magic”. Now enough distractions. The time for your return is close and –’ there came a deep rumble from his stomach – ‘it is more than apparent that I must eat, so allow me to speak without further interruptions.’

  Charlie nodded to show she was prepared to keep her mouth shut.

  ‘You are a Keeper. You share the same genetic history as the Winged Ones and so we share the same traits of heart, mind and spirit. Knowing this, the one thing you must never forget is that no matter what emotions you feel – be it love, loss, rage or pain – be aware that these are only temporary. Yes, I have urged you to use these, to embrace and enjoy them as best you can, but bear in mind they will only carry you so far. You will need something other than pure feeling to get you to your final destination.’

  Even though he had asked her to remain quiet Charlie couldn’t help but whisper, ‘What?’

  ‘Determination.’ As he said the word the muscles in his jaws tensed and something seemed to flash in his eyes. ‘Determination is what separates us from the weak and the incompetent. It is what drives us and pushes us. No matter if our muscles, if love tears at our heart or if our mind is awash with rage, determination will carry us through. So fill yourself with determination, wrap it round you like armour against the folly of failure and suck it into your body to use as fuel for your soul, and always, always remember, young Keeper, that so long as you have the Will you will find the Way.’ Eyes dimming, Hunger shook himself like a beast shedding water from its back. ‘Right. That’s my share of wisdom for the day. Time for you to go, Charlie.’

  ‘You’re not coming?’

  ‘Pfft, no!’ snorted Hunger. ‘I’m too old to be gallivanting around Bellania and playing at war. No, I will leave such tasks to those with more ambition and less hunger in their belly. But do not worry: though I may not be with you in body at least be heartened to know that I’m with you in spirit.’

  ‘That’s not quite the same,’ grumbled Charlie.

  Hunger laughed. ‘No, you’re right. It isn’t, is it? It’s a poor excuse that old folks like to use on the young. Well, the truth of the matter is, I have seen more than enough war and I like to think I have earned my right to relax and enjoy my dotage in peace. So while I act like an old bum and dream of plates piled high with roast venison and dripping with waterfalls of gravy, be reassured that my boy Hotstepper here will be accompanying you back to Bellania.’ He stretched out a talon to gently stroke Charlie’s chin. ‘Goodbye, young Charlie. I very much look forward to our next meeting.’

  Hotstepper picked her up and plonked her between his wings. Grinning, he looked at the old Winged One. ‘So it’s “Hotstepper” now, is it?’

  ‘A slip of the tongue,’ protested Hunger. ‘I meant Hotflubber.’

  ‘Sure you did, Grandpoppa.’ Chuckling in delight, he leaped off the edge of the island and spread his wings wide.

  ‘Goodbye,’ called Charlie and waved.

  Hunger returned the gesture, then went in search of something other than Fluttercarp to eat.

  ‘So what now?’ asked Charlie as the two of them flew through the indigo skies, soaring above and beneath a long line of islands.

  ‘We return to Torn Moon’s isle, check that enough of my kind have gathered, then fly through the Serpent’s Tail Gateway and show Bane the folly of his ways.’

  ‘As simple as that?’ said Charlie.

  ‘Simplicity is always best,’ confirmed Hotstepper. ‘It leaves less opportunity for things to go wrong.’

  Both of them turned to watch the inhabitants of the island on their left as they floated by, a crowd of purple- and pink-tinged crabs that waved their claws at them.

  ‘Did he tell you about all his failures and mistakes?’ asked Hotstepper.

  ‘Yes,’ said Charlie, ‘he did.’ She
paused before asking, ‘Was he really imprisoned by the Daemon Kindred for a hundred and three years?’

  ‘He was,’ said Hotstepper.

  ‘And did he really lose eleven battles?’

  ‘He did. Does this make you think less of him?’

  ‘What? No! How could it?’ Charlie was horrified to even consider the idea that Hunger could be seen in a poor light. ‘I think I’ve messed up enough in the past few weeks. Give me a couple more years and I might start catching up with him.’

  Hotstepper chuckled at that. ‘It is good you think this way because there is more to him than meets the eye. As much as he likes to boast about his mistakes, his successes outweigh them all. He discovered the hidden realm of the Tram’Win, brought peace to the three warring tribes of the Gliara and, even though he lost eleven battles, he won two extended campaigns and prevented seven bitter feuds between Tremen and Stomen from growing into all-out war. He has built great buildings and bridges, created famous pieces of art and taught kings and queens the importance of diplomacy …’

  ‘Wow,’ breathed Charlie who, having seen enough pain and war to last her ten lifetimes, could not help but be impressed by Hunger’s achievements.

  ‘… And most recently he created the pendant to be used as a failsafe should Bane grow too powerful in our absence. It was Rumbling Hunger who gave the pendant to your parents.’

  Charlie lurched forward in panic. ‘I forgot to mention the pendant! It disappeared when –’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ chuckled Hotstepper.

  ‘Don’t I need it?’

  ‘What for? You’ve opened the Gateway and that was its only purpose.’

  ‘I can’t believe I didn’t think to mention it before now –’

  ‘Charlie of the Keepers, you have fulfilled all your duties as a Keeper. So why not relax and let us take care of our part of the bargain? We will restore balance to Bellania. We will see Bane torn from his Devouring Throne.’

  ‘And my parents?’

  ‘We will see them safe too.’

  And with those simple words Charlie finally relaxed. ‘So I’ve done it,’ she whispered to herself. ‘I’ve finally done it. I’m going to see my parents again.’