Awaken

by Tanya Schofield

  I am grateful for your shelter, she said. What news from the human place, my friend?

  He let his song trail off, and consulted with the others. There is Fire, he told her with sorrow resonating in his deep not-voice. Several of us are gone.

  Fire? Melody sent her sympathy to the spirit of the tree, and set off at a run, cutting towards Foley on still-sore legs.

  The elder smiled to himself as he bid her good speed. The young were always so eager, he thought, watching her progress through the others’ knowing. One day, she would be wise, like the trees. Yes, one day.

  Melody eyed the horizon. The sun’s rising had made little impact on the sky, which remained dark with heavy clouds that refused to release their rain. She did not like at all the smell of smoke drifting to her on the wind, or the faint sounds of screams she wished she were imagining.

  As she drew closer, the raucous cheering of the crowd nearly drowned out the terrified screams of the dying. She rounded the corner of a building and stopped short, her heart cold.

  Garen, with a torch in his hand, was standing beside another man, the man who had announced the fights. They were both smiling, keeping their distance from the blaze where Melody could just make out a shock of silver hair framing a screaming, melting face. A split second later, flames consumed it.

  “Aellielle!” Rhodoban’s shout was desperate, full of nameless agony. Melody turned and saw him ripping free of his bonds, kicking flaming logs away as he scrambled to escape the recently lit fire. It wasn’t his own life he was trying to save, she saw, his eyes were focused on the towering flames that had consumed his wife. Beside him, the boy Pashu shrugged out of the ropes Rhodoban had torn free.

  Pashu stopped and raised his hands in the air, Melody could see his mouth forming the words of some magic— but an arrow from above embedded itself in his throat, and the boy fell dead amongst the growing flames, his spell uncast.

  With a word, bright fire burst from Rhodoban’s hands, pushing back the two soldiers who had thought to grab him. The mage ducked into a building, and appeared around the corner behind it, using the walls of the building and the smoke from the fires as cover while he spread his hands and began to chant. The smoke blurred her view, but she saw the arrow streaking towards him, and saw him fall.

  Time stopped.

  Melody surveyed the scene before her, and remembered the scene behind her. She looked up to the left and saw the archers training their bows in her direction. She looked out and saw Garen standing by the fire that was still consuming Aellielle, his expression unreadable. She looked to the sky, seeing the thick, angry clouds that threatened overhead.

  With a deep breath, Melody tasted the rain that refused to fall, and closed her eyes. The magic came. She stepped out into the street and raised her arms, her staff held high.

  Enough was enough.

  Thank You and How to Contact Me

  First, thank YOU.

  Thank you for reading, and thank you for not throwing the book across the room when you realized there was a cliff-hanger ending. (#sorrynotsorry) I promise, the next one is mere months away. Also thank you in advance for any kind words, reviews, or recommendations. I’m blushing already.

  Endless gratitude, as well, goes to:

  Mike, Maus, and J – who would’ve thought?

  My daughters, parents, siblings, and friends— who encouraged (and often demanded) my writing.

  My beta readers, for being so caught up in the story they kept forgetting to look for typos.

  Deranged Doctor Design, for listening and creating a cover I love, and finally …

  My deepest, most heartfelt thank you is to Andrew at Cobble Publishing, for believing in Melody— and me. Slainte Mhath!

  …

  I’m surprisingly human, I'd love to connect with you. You can find me on the interwebs by name at tanyaschofield.com - and I’m on all the social medias, primarily Facebook (facebook.com/iamtanyaschofield, as a person, not a page.) So long as you’re not a bot / looking for bobs, I’ll friend you in a heartbeat. I’ve got a newsletter that goes out once a month, too, you never know what might show up there (spoiler: neither do I. Subscribe at: http://eepurl.com/dhrjtz and we’ll both find out!)

  Thanks again, friends. I appreciate your eyes on my words. Here’s to many more meetings."

  -Tanya