The Flame Weaver

by Elicker, Tania

  The forest thinned out a bit that afternoon, making travel much easier. With their view finally less obstructed, they were able to see the true vastness of the wilds. The trees stretched on endlessly in every direction. If not for the sun and stars that managed to peek through the high canopy, one could easily get turned around and be lost for weeks.

  By nothing short of luck, the pair stumbled across a gathering of wild turkeys on their route. Marking the fattest of the toms, Ilagon took down the plump bird with a single arrow. However, upon retrieving the bird, he cursed heavily when he found that his arrow had snapped, leaving only one in his quiver. Though he knew how to make crude arrows, he was no fletcher and could never make one to fly true.

  “Why not just kill the bird with your magic? Save yourself the trouble.”

  “No! Never, Kazen!” Ilagon snapped. “You never take from the land with your magic. If you mean to kill something in order to eat it, you do it with a bow or a blade, not with magic. That is the one rule you cannot break.”

  Kazen puzzled over the idea. “I don’t understand why. Whose rule is it?”

  “It is the highest rule of our order, and it can never be broken.” Ilagon grabbed the carcass of the bird, tossed it over his shoulder and began walking again. “To use your magic for self gain, even to fill your belly, is one of the greatest crimes you can commit as a wizard. Whether it is to gain wealth, or power, or even a plump bird for supper, using magic in such a manner can corrupt your soul.”

  Kazen eyed him skeptically.

  “Even the darkest of deeds can be sparked by an innocent act of ignorance,” Ilagon assured him. “Wizards like Gregore are not born with black hearts, they are forged by the paths they have chosen. The laws of our order are in place to stay us from such temptation.”

  Scratching his head, Kazen wrinkled his brow quizzically. “What about a fire?” he asked.

  “What about it?”

  “Well,” Kazen said, tapping his chin, “if I use magic to start a fire, and use that fire to gain warmth, is that against the rules?”

  “Of course not,” Ilagon scoffed. “That is entirely different.”

  “What if I were starving?”

  “What?”

  “If I were starving, and I had no other means to feed myself, could I use magic to kill a deer and eat it? I mean, it would not be as if I were actually gaining anything, only just preserving my life.”

  “I suppose,” Ilagon answered, an irritated glare in his eye. “If you were starving and had no other means.”

  “What if,” Kazen continued, a sly grin upon his lips, “what if I were starving, had no blade or bow, and there was a deer and bowl of carrots in front of me. Knowing that I don’t really care for carrots, could I still kill the deer and eat it?”

  “All right,” Ilagon growled, “I think I have heard enough out of you.”

  “What if the deer ate the carrots?”

  “Not funny.”

  Chuckling, Kazen hurried to keep up with Ilagon’s quick stride. “Does our order even exist anymore?”

  “We exist, do we not? The Order of Silver Dragons will live as long as there are wizards and men who believe in it.”

  “Were there really ever dragons?” asked Kazen.

  “There used to be many.” Ilagon smiled. “My grandfather often told me of a time when dragons filled the skies. In fact, there was a time, before you or I were born, when wizards and dragons stood side by side as friends and allies.”

  Kazen gawked in wonder. “What a sight that would be! But where have they all gone? Why has no one seen a dragon in so long?”

  “I do not know.” Ilagon stared into the sun. “Some say the age of dragons has come to an end, and that they simply vanished into nothing. Others believe they grew weary of the frivolous nature of men, and that they have hidden themselves away, waiting for a time when men and wizards are more worthy of their company.”

  Kazen sighed thoughtfully. “I hope none of that is true. I would very much like to meet a dragon one day.”

  “I hope that for you, too.” Ilagon nodded with a smile. “But be warned, like all creatures, dragons come in all qualities.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It is the silver dragons that have always shown their resilience against the powers of darkness. Black dragons, on the other hand, have never been considered trustworthy. It is said that they have cold hearts, and are easily swayed by temptation.”

  “What could a dragon be tempted by?”

  “The same things that tempt men and wizards.” Ilagon shrugged. “Power and greed.”

  “Well. I would still like to meet one, no matter his disposition.”

  The remainder of the day passed slowly as they battled their way through the untamed woodland. Heavy brush and vast thickets of thorny creepers snagged and slowed them nearly every step of the way. Tired and frustrated, they carried dutifully on until the sun slipped behind the trees. As Ilagon built up a fire, Kazen set to the arduous task of plucking the turkey, and was a bit disappointed when its bulk turned out to be more feathery fluff than meat. But it was a hot meal, nonetheless, and he was quick to learn that when you are hungry, even tough meat sits well in your belly.

  Morning brought with it gray skies and heavy clouds. By the time they were on their way, a light drizzle of rain had settled over the dimmed forest. Kazen was delighted to see rain again. The dark sky and misty haze had become an unfamiliar sight. He hoped that Napis Fare had seen rain since they left, but supposed that the town had most likely dried up completely by now.

  By mid-afternoon the drizzle became a downpour. Soggy and cold, Kazen glared miserably at the same dark clouds he had delighted in just hours before. Through mud and sunken puddles, they trudged on, all the while being pounded by the unremitting shower. The monotonous tapping of falling rain filled their ears, drowning out most all other sounds.

  Ilagon stopped to look up at the foreboding sky. “This does not look like it is going to let up any time soon!” he shouted over the thunder of falling rain. “We need to find shelter before it gets dark! If we do not have the light of a fire by nightfall we could have trouble!”

  Kazen was suddenly very alarmed. He had not thought about the fact that rain would be more than an uncomfortable inconvenience come nightfall. Without dry wood for a fire, there would be no safety from the shadows. He nodded nervously to Ilagon and the pair set off in search of shelter.

  The search continued for hours, becoming more urgent as the day wore on. They found no caves or overhangs, and the trees offered little protection. Kazen dug under bushes and thickets in search of any dry stash of wood or leaves, but the relentless deluge found its way into every pocket of the forest.

  “There is no use.” Ilagon patted him on the back. “We are out of time.”

  Kazen looked up from beneath a jumbled pile of sodden branches as the clouds faded into the hollow of the coming night. The rain pelted his muddied face, his wide eyes betraying his fright.

  “We will have to make due with what we have.” Ilagon hurried Kazen under the refuge of a bushy pine.

  Ilagon took off his sopping cloak and draped it over the drooping branches, fashioning a flimsy shield from the rain. The limbs were high enough that they could kneel comfortably and see out in most every direction.

  “I am going to find a few heavy branches,” Ilagon stated. “I will see if I can make this a more stable shelter. You stay here.”

  Kazen nodded and watched his uncle dash out into the pouring rain. Trembling beneath his saturated clothes, he could just barely make out Ilagon’s form as the last traces of light began to melt beneath the encroaching darkness. A cold wind howled through the treetops, and a rumble of thunder rolled in the distance. Then, with a muffled crack, a single dagger of lightning streaked across the black sky, striking the very tree Ilagon stood beneath. Severed from its trunk, the highest and greatest bough of the tall tree swayed and creaked before finally toppling forward.

 
Kazen screamed to Ilagon, but his voice was lost to the pounding rain. The heavy limb plummeted down, shredding bark and snapping smaller branches on the way as it careened toward Ilagon, who remained oblivious to the danger. Stumbling through mud and rain, Kazen continued to shriek in vain as he tried desperately to reach his uncle.

  A searing pain suddenly clutched Kazen’s chest, and a flood of fire rushed through his veins. A sound, melodious and hypnotic, fell upon his ears and rose above the blatant rain. To his own surprise, Kazen realized the sound came from his lips. Words without meaning, yet perfect and true, they flowed like a river’s song. The fire within him, a once uncontrollable beast, was now tamed by the enchanted melody.

  Terrible pain, combined with a curious sensation of pleasure, flooded through Kazen’s body as he channeled his power. With a sudden and deliberate flash of his arms, he hurled a pillar of fire at the falling limb. Catching the branch just inches above Ilagon’s head, the mass of flames incinerated the wood by the sheer force of its impact. Exploding into a flurry of fiery ash, the remains of the branch sizzled and smoked in the rain as it snowed down upon Ilagon’s stunned face.

  His jaw agape, Ilagon dropped the armful of branches he had gathered and rushed over to Kazen. Ushering him back under their meager shelter, he gawked at him in astonishment. “How did you . . .” he started, and then paused with a slight smile and a shake of his head. “Are you all right?”

  Stunned himself, Kazen looked over his hands and arms for blisters or burns. “I think so.”

  “Good.” Ilagon grinned. “You are likely not aware, but it normally takes months, if not years, to master wizard song. You should not have been able to do that.”

  “But I did.” Kazen chuckled nervously. Smiling deviously, he held out his hand and whispered a short string of words. A tiny red flame sparked to life, swirling and dancing on his open palm. Though his hand throbbed with pain, Kazen reveled in his triumph.

  The small fire was promptly snuffed, however, by Ilagon’s firm hand. “No more magic tonight,” he whispered, anxiously eyeing the darkness.

  Following Ilagon’s lead, Kazen too scanned the black night. If it was magic that creatures of shadow were drawn to, then this was no night to be showing off. Wiping the rain from his face, Kazen strained to see through the curtain of rain and darkness, but he could make out little more than dark silhouettes of swaying trees.

  Quieted by unease, the pair huddled side by side, shivering in their soggy clothes. Minutes rolled into hours, and the mind-numbing drone of pattering rain remained unrelenting. Crouching down in the cold mud, Kazen rested his weary head upon his knees and drifted in and out of an uneasy sleep. He was startled awake, however, by a ghostly howl.

  “Did you hear that?”

  “Yes,” Ilagon whispered back.

  “Do . . . Do you think it was the wind?”

  “Probably,” Ilagon answered, though even in the black of night Kazen could hear the doubt in his voice.

  Blinded by darkness and deafened by the pounding rain, Kazen felt he could go mad at any moment. The fear building within him was agonizing. He clenched his eyes shut and desperately tried to will the sun back into the sky. With shuddered breath and chattering teeth, he leaned into his uncle’s shoulder. “I could try to start a fire,” he whispered in desperation.

  “No. Even with magic, wet wood will not burn. It would only bring unwanted attention to us.”

  Kazen nodded unnoticed in the darkness. Searching for any distraction to ease his anxious heart, he picked up a small stone from the ground and began tossing it from one hand to the other. Juggling the stone higher and higher, he had actually began to feel a bit better when finally the stone grazed his knuckle and landed with a splash in front of him. Reaching forward and feeling through the mud with his fingers, he was puzzled to suddenly see a thick billow of steam rise on his breath. Then, from the darkness, a pair of seething red eyes emerged. With a flash of fangs and a sinister snarl, a huge shape lurched forward and bore down on Kazen, who fell back with a startled cry.

  Ilagon pulled his sword from his back just as the huge beast pounced into view. It was a black, dog-like creature whose hunched back was as high as a small horse. The body of the creature seemed to be both flesh and shadow, with parts of its matted fur contorting and twisting in some imperceptible wind brought with it from the realm of shadow. With paws like talons and gnarled teeth that jutted out on either side of its pointed snout, it was a creature bred to devour flesh. The foul stench of the beast was familiar to Kazen and made him retch just as it had days before.

  A low, guttural growl came from the creature’s belly as it crouched down like a skulking cat. With a cock of its head and a vicious snarl it suddenly leapt forward, charging Kazen in a fury of swiping claws and snapping teeth. Ilagon dashed in front of the beast, slashing and jabbing with calm precision. The creature howled in rage, and swatted at Ilagon with massive paws.

  Gathering every ounce of courage he could muster, Kazen hesitantly reached over his shoulder and touched the cold pommel of his sword with trembling fingers. His heart pounding, he watched with unblinking eyes as Ilagon continued to battle the treacherous hound. Sliding his sword from its sheath, Kazen held the blade close to his face, clutching it tightly with both hands. Panting heavily, he finally clenched his jaw and forced himself forward into the battle.

  Hacking haphazardly at the animal’s side, he somehow managed to catch a bit of flesh just above the beast’s hindquarters, leaving a deep gash behind. The hound yipped and recoiled from the sharp blade. With no time to revel in his first drawing of blood, Kazen stumbled backward as the enraged beast turned and fixed its frenzied, glowing eyes on this new threat.

  Barely dodging a swat of the hound’s massive paw, Kazen was too slow to avoid the beast’s thrashing head. Feeling as though he had been struck by a great boulder, he was tossed through the air, smacking painfully into the side of a large tree. Gasping for breath, he fumbled with his sword as the beast bounded after him. It raised its clawed mitt to strike again, but Kazen swung first, slicing a new gash into the creature’s front paw. Howling in a fury, the beast pounced on Kazen, pinning him beneath its own massive bulk.

  Squirming beneath the demon’s heavy paws, Kazen turned his head as the monster bared its jagged teeth. Then, with an angry growl of his own, Ilagon was on the creature and plunged his sword into the animal’s ribs. Falling on its side, the hound kicked and yowled as Ilagon forced the blade deep into its black heart. With a final terrible wail the creature stopped flailing. Its glowing eyes faded to black, and its black blood was washed away in the river of torrential rain.

  Kazen stood up beside Ilagon, shaken but uninjured. “Is it dead?”

  “As dead as a creature of shadow is going to get.”

  “I should have done better. I didn’t think I would be so afraid.”

  “You did well for your first battle. I am proud of you. After all, we are both still alive. It could have been much worse.”

  As if in answer to his words, six more pairs of red eyes suddenly lit up around them. Ilagon and Kazen stood back to back as the abominable shadow beasts began to circle.

  “Stay close to me, Kazen,” Ilagon said, wringing the hilt of his sword between tightly clenched fingers.

  Squinting through the pelting rain, Kazen tried to steady his shaking hands. Fire! They’re afraid of fire, you fool! his inner voice screamed over the pounding of his heart. He hesitantly raised his left hand over his head and stammered out an awkward chant. A yellow flame flashed to life in his open palm, hissing and flailing beneath the falling rain. The shadowhounds cowered from the sudden light, retreating back into the shadows. Renewed by confidence, Kazen took a step forward and heaved the flames into the darkness, where, much to his dismay, the fire scattered across the forest floor at the feet of the hounds and promptly fizzled upon the wet mud. Nipping and growling, the beasts slowly closed in once more, their fiery eyes blazing.

  “You will have to do
better than that,” Ilagon urged him, pressing his back against Kazen’s.

  “All right . . . all right.” Kazen grumbled nervously. He began a new incantation but fumbled the words so awfully it was to no avail. Again he began, and again he tripped over his tongue in his growing panic.

  The largest of the terrible hounds tossed its head back and let out a chilling howl that resounded through the dark forest. Incited by the yips and snarls of its pack, the beast coiled back on its haunches and lurched forward in a vicious assault. Kazen held his breath as he raised his sword to meet the shadow hound. But the creature halted abruptly mid-pounce, tumbling to the ground with a shrill yelp. Floundering and splashing about, it managed to rise to its feet for but a moment, swaying from side to side as it gasped for air, then ultimately collapsing in a stinking heap, the shiny hilt of a dagger protruding from its thick neck. The other beasts pranced and snarled in confusion.

  A large flaming glass jug sailed over Ilagon’s head and shattered as it hit the ground. It exploded with a brilliant flash, the incendiary fluid spilling over the forest floor, turning the waterlogged soil and muddy puddles into blazing lakes of fire. The hounds whimpered and cringed before the radiant glow of the flames.

  Another dagger zinged past Kazen’s ear and into the gullet of one of the flustered creatures. Two dark figures, hooded and cloaked as shadows themselves, sprang from the darkness and dashed past Kazen and Ilagon, into the bewildered pack of demons. The tallest of the strangers wielded two slim daggers, which he used to slash and slice with blinding speed. His smaller companion was amazingly agile and fought with a white quarterstaff. Two more creatures fell to the skills of the mysterious strangers, and another by Ilagon as it fled blindly into his reach. The last of the beasts escaped into the shadows, where it was unlikely to ever be found again.