The Sentient Fire (The Seven Signs)

by D. W. Hawkins

  Shawna stared at the spot where the bird disappeared in disbelief. She was wide eyed and breathing hard, clutching her blankets to her chest in a sort of childlike defense. Finally her head snapped in Dormael’s direction, and she seemed to register that he and D’Jenn had caused the fire to fly around the room. Her expression was almost accusatory, and Dormael could not help but to giggle silently.

  “You…you did that? But how? What are you?” Shawna asked, still clutching her blanket to her chest.

  “We’re wizards, dear girl. Wizards of the Conclave,” D’Jenn said, as if she should’ve figured it out from the start.

  “Wizards of the Conclave…Evmir’s Hammer, I never thought I’d come face to face with…well…you,” she breathed, gazing wide eyed at the cousins.

  “Well now you have,” Dormael said, trying to smooth the awkward moment, “And now, I think we have a few questions for you.” Shawna gulped visibly, but Alton interjected.

  “Ah, Dormael…you two are still dripping on my floor,” he said pleasantly, “speaking of wizards.”

  “Oh, yes,” Dormael replied genially, “Quite right.” Suddenly steam rose from his clothes, and the water was turned to vapor, which lifted mistily from his garments. D’Jenn echoed his cousin’s spell, and soon the two wizards were dry and comfortable.

  “Thanks,” Alton said, and Dormael bowed his head at Alton.

  “Now then, Shawna,” began D’Jenn, “There is something that you don’t know yet, the reason that Dormael here found you in the first place. Every time we’re in your presence, our magic goes…sort of crazy. It’s not an easy thing to explain, so I won’t bore you with long explanations at the moment, but there is something about you or something you have that causes this to happen. It’s what interested Dormael in you, and what led him to you. Now, I suspect that it is this ‘artifact’ that the Red Swords are pursuing you so doggedly for. So, if you don’t mind…?” D’Jenn held his hand out, indicating the armoire meaningfully, but Shawna’s brows drew down on her head, and she swung her legs off the bed and stood before D’Jenn. She was wearing only a sheer blue nightgown that was quite revealing, but she didn’t seem to notice in the slightest.

  “So,” she accused, “I see what is going on here. You want it, just like the Galanians. You want to get it before they do, want to take it from me. Well, I won’t let you do that. It’s all I have left of my family, and I’m not letting it go!”

  “Idiot girl!” D’Jenn hissed hotly, “Didn’t we just explain to you that we are not thieves! Yet again you insult us. We have risked our own safety to help you, and Dormael here was even injured in the process, in case you missed that he’s favoring his left shoulder and his right hand is in tatters. Now, we just want a look, we want to figure out what it is, not to take it from you.”

  Suddenly, D’Jenn threw his hand out at the armoire, and the doors burst open. Shawna’s saddlebags flew onto the bed, and Alton jumped back a little. Shawna’s face grew red, but she did not back down.

  “I could have found out for myself anytime over the past week,” said Dormael, his face a little red and his expression one of someone who’s been gravely offended, “You know what else? If I wanted to take your mother’s armlet right now, you could do nothing to stop me. So, seeing as how we are not touching your belongings even now, why don’t you sit down and show it to us.”

  “Shawna,” Alton spoke into the silence that followed, “I will speak for Dormael and D’Jenn. They have shown us nothing but kindness since they’ve been here, and do you think I would have let Dormael stay if I thought he meant any harm?”

  Shawna stared defiantly at D’Jenn for a moment, and then turned her accusing eyes on Dormael, who returned her gaze unperturbed. Slowly, grudgingly, she gave ground, and finally seeing that there was no more reason to argue, Shawna sat back down on the bed with an abashed expression.

  “I…I apologize for my reaction,” Shawna said quietly, “Things aren’t going so well for me lately and…well, I’m just finding it hard to trust anyone.”

  “Trust comes with time, dear girl,” Dormael said, “We understand your situation, but you must remember that we are here to help you. If we had wanted your mother’s jewelry we would have taken it and been halfway back to Soirus-Gamerit by now. We stay because we genuinely want to help you. Now, if you please…?” He swept his hand at the saddlebags that were laid out haphazardly on her bed, and Shawna scooted around to paw through them. D’Jenn appeared to see something, though, and spoke up quickly.

  “Wait,” he asserted, “what is that mark on your wrist?” Shawna stopped going through her saddlebags and turned over her wrists to show Dormael and D’Jenn two small black tattoos that had been etched there. They were swords, pointing down at her hands beside a twining grape vine.

  “That’s the Mark of the Isles,” whispered D’Jenn, “you’re a Blademaster? Island-trained?”

  “Yes,” Shawna admitted proudly, “I always had an affinity for the sword. My father sent away for a Kerallian Blademaster to teach me the art. My mark is one and one half years old.”

  “And did he buy you those fine weapons as well?” asked Dormael, pointing at the two magical short swords.

  “Yes,” she replied, “he sent away for them to Lesmira, to the Mage Tower. I don’t know how much he spent on them, but when I saw them…well, they are my heart and soul. I will use them to get my revenge on the Galanians, I swear it.” Dormael and D’Jenn looked at Alton when she uttered the dark comment, but Alton said nothing.

  “Indeed,” Dormael said, “They probably cost quite a bit. Now; the armlet, if you please?”

  “Right,” Shawna sighed, turning once again to her saddlebags. She pulled aside a couple of folded garments, and reaching inside a rolled up cloak, pulled out a small silver box.

  The fire in the hearth pulsed.

  She placed her hand on the catch, and flipped a tiny latch up from the lid.

  Again, the fire in the hearth pulsed.

  Dormael could feel something odd, like a buzzing in the back of his mind. It felt like the very floorboards underneath them were vibrating, though he knew no such thing was happening. The air seemed thick, and the sounds of the opening box seemed to echo off of unknown forces in the room, bouncing off every wall before finally settling in his ears. The light from the warm fire bathed him, encased him, and became brighter until it seemed it should blind him, but he knew the fire had not grown. His heart thumped hard against his ribs, vibrating every bone in his body, beating in time with something that seemed far away, yet so close.

  The fire in the hearth pulsed yet again.

  Suddenly, his Kai opened and the magic awakened with a vengeance, singing to him louder than it ever had, rushing around the room in exuberant violence, filling him with a torrent that was both frightening and exhilarating. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and suddenly he felt warm, then hot like a burning fire, hot like a volcano, hot like the noonday sun. He was swimming in a river of molten flame.

  “Coz? Coz, you’re…smoking,” D’Jenn’s voice said from somewhere.

  Everyone was staring at him; D’Jenn with concern, Shawna and Alton with fear. D’Jenn had placed his hand on Dormael’s shoulder in that old expression that he always used. Dormael felt cold suddenly, and realized that he had almost lost control of his power. But it hadn’t been him…something had reached out and touched his awareness. Something had pulled the magic out of him. He looked down at his feet, and with a sickening feeling realized that he had indeed been smoking…the errant fuzz on his clothing had burnt off, and there were heat waves warping the air around him.

  Reining in his magic with an iron hand, he forced it back under control and put it to sleep once again. He shook his head to clear the haze that still threatened to take him under again, and took control of himself. He had almost killed everyone in the room just now, maybe everyone in the house. He felt more than a little abashed and embarrassed.

  And afraid – very afraid.

&nbs
p; “It…it happened again, D’Jenn,” Dormael admitted quietly to his cousin, “It just jumped out of me. When she touched the box, I…I don’t know. It’s never been that strong.”

  “I know, coz,” D’Jenn said concernedly, “I felt it. That crawling, prickly feeling we usually get when someone is touching magic…well, it felt more like electric shock. I could feel your power resonating. I thought for a second…well; let’s just not worry about it for now.” D’Jenn left the details unspoken for Shawna and Alton’s sake. D’Jenn knew very well what had just happened, and what could have happened. Dormael felt shame twist in his stomach.

  “Well, continue dear girl, let’s see it,” D’Jenn ushered Shawna on. Shawna continued to open the box, but kept a wary eye on Dormael as she did. Dormael forced his mind clear and stood ready to force his magic to sleep if it happened again. Why hadn’t D’Jenn been caught up in it as well?

  Slowly, as if handling something very precious, Shawna pulled a silver armlet from the velvet lined box. It wasn’t really very amazing, just a sinuously curving ring large enough to fit around the top of a woman’s arm with a large, smooth ruby set into it. Something about that ruby, though…there was light deep in its depths. Something was swirling in there, alive. Dormael could feel his magic trying to come alive again, but he forced it to relent. Power was emanating from this unassuming piece of jewelry like Dormael had never felt before. Gazing deeply into the ruby that was set into the silver, Dormael had the distinct impression that it was staring right back at him.

  “Do you…feel that, cousin?” whispered D’Jenn, and Dormael nodded to him absently.

  Reaching out his hand, Dormael took the small armlet from Shawna carefully. There was a ringing in his head, and his magic awakened once again, but not to the raging torrent that had happened earlier. There was a connection of sorts, almost as if a bell pealed in Dormael’s head, and his magic began to pulse with the ruby. It was almost as if his magic was…speaking to it. The feeling that he might lose control was suddenly gone, as was his magic’s reaction to the thing that it had been having over the past week. In its place was an odd sort of harmony between the magic and the ruby. Dormael handed the armlet to D’Jenn.

  Immediately when his hand touched the armlet, D’Jenn’s face took on an expression of wonder and interest, and Dormael knew that he was experiencing the same thing. Dormael could still feel it, a sort of musical connection with the armlet. Reluctantly, D’Jenn handed the piece of jewelry back to Shawna.

  “Eindor’s Eye and Evmir’s Hammer,” D’Jenn cursed breathlessly, “You don’t know what you have there, girl. Tell me, have you ever tried to wear it? Have you felt anything strange from it?”

  “Once, when I was a little girl I tried to wear it, but it was too big for my arm then. My mother let me play with it, though. It did feel strange…like it was alive, maybe. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that’s how I felt. I never played with it or even touched it after that. It unnerved me,” Shawna replied.

  “It doesn’t sound ridiculous at all, Shawna,” Dormael assured her, “I think that maybe it is sort of alive, at least in the way that magic is alive.”

  “Indeed,” mused D’Jenn, “It isn’t like any other magical thing we’ve encountered before, like your swords, for example. You swords use magic, are a part of magic, but they are Infused with the same magic that we use…the same magic that imbues everything in the world. This thing…it’s almost as if it’s a different source, a different power; like it has its own magic, a power that resonates with our own, but not of it.”

  “I wonder where in the Six Hells that thing could have come from,” said Dormael.

  “I don’t know, but there is only one thing we can do now,” D’Jenn stated, “Shawna, you say you must run, flee the Red Swords. We agree wholeheartedly. In fact, we want to help you, to come with you. I want to ask you something. If we help you escape, help you keep this from the Galanians as long as it takes, will you come to Ishamael with us to see the Mekai?”

  “The what?” Shawna asked, appearing confused.

  “The Mekai. He is our leader…the leader of the Wizards of the Conclave. He may know something about this, something that will help us, and he may know what to do with it. This thing is obviously too dangerous to let it fall into Dargorin’s hands,” Dormael explained.

  “For that matter, I wonder where in the Six Hells he learned about it,” D’Jenn said.

  “Indeed,” agreed Dormael, “so, will you come with us Shawna?” Shawna bit her lip and appeared to be thinking about it, mulling the idea over. She gazed at her saddlebags, her swords, and finally down at her mother’s silver armlet. Slowly, her head began to nod.

  “Yes,” she assented, “I will go with you. If this…Mekai…knows anything about the armlet, it’s him I should bring it to.”

  “Indeed,” D’Jenn agreed, “Then we should make ready to leave at once.”

  “Ah, Alton? There is one more thing we discovered at the castle. Well, not exactly a thing,” Dormael explained, “You see, there was a small girl there, in the Colonel’s rooms. She was beat up pretty badly, and well…Eindor only knows what’s happened to the poor girl. I mean, we found her in the Colonel’s bed. Anyway, I brought her back with us. I was wondering if you could ask around and see if you can locate her family. I just couldn’t leave her there.” Alton looked a little surprised at this, but nodded his head after a second.

  “I wouldn’t think very highly of you if you had left her there, Dormael. Of course I’ll look for her family. What’s her name?”

  “Bethany. Nan’s got her downstairs right now, washing her up and getting some food into her. She’s pretty skittish, considering what’s probably happened to her, but I just want to make sure she’s taken care of. If you can’t find her family, well…well then I’m going to take her with us,” Dormael announced. D’Jenn looked at him a little skeptically, but said nothing. “My mother can care for her, and I feel responsible for the little one. I couldn’t bear to think what would happen if she couldn’t be cared for.”

  Alton looked to D’Jenn, who just shrugged with one shoulder, and Alton nodded to Dormael.

  “I’ll ask around, find out if any young girls have gone missing in the last few days. In the meantime, we’ll have to get her a nice room and make sure she’s fed,” Alton said.

  “Oh, and some proper clothes,” Dormael blurted, “She only had a little nightgown when we found her, and all she has now is that and some tunic that belonged to the Colonel. She can’t run around in that, so if maybe you could find her a few outfits, and some good traveling clothes…well, I’d be in your debt.”

  “Consider it done; in fact, I’m sure Nan already has a plan in place for that,” Alton assured him, “Nan loves children. It’s been awhile since there were children running around this house. Hells, not since I was a child.”

  “Poor girl,” sighed Shawna, “That was a good thing you two did, bringing her here.” Dormael and D’Jenn nodded their thanks to Shawna, feeling a little embarrassed, but a little proud of themselves, too.

  “Well, now it’s my turn,” stated Alton, clapping his hands together, “I’ve found a ship’s captain to take you across the sea. His name is Roldo, and his ship is the Squidchaser. Now; I have to warn you that he’s not very trustworthy, and you may want to watch your belongings while on the ship, but he’s all I can do for now. I told him to make ready for a departure tomorrow night, and he’s agreed to take you all to Duadan. He’s moored at dock number sixteen, and he’ll have a sailor meet you on Whiskey Row, in front of the Happy Lad.”

  “The Happy Lad?” asked Shawna reluctantly.

  “It’s…well, it’s a brothel, cousin.”

  “I see,” she replied, raising her eyebrows.

  “He chose the place.”

  “I’m sure he did.”

  “Anyway,” Alton said, clearing his throat awkwardly, “I gave him your description Dormael, but I didn’t say anything about you, Shawna. I just told hi
m that I had a friend that needed to get to the Sevenlands in a hurry, so don’t elaborate if you don’t have to. I’ve already paid for the passage, so don’t worry about that either. I’ve also bought you horses,” he nodded at Dormael and D’Jenn, “just in case you need to run somewhere in a hurry. I know that the Galanians will have a hard time following you over there, but you never know what tricks Dargorin may have up his sleeve.”

  “Indeed,” agreed D’Jenn, clapping his hands together and looking over at his cousin, “Well, now that we all know what’s going on, I say we call it a night.”

  “Yes,” Dormael said, “I’m sure Shawna would like a bit of rest, and it is getting a bit late, isn’t it?”

  “Besides, there are a couple of pretties downstairs with a bottle of your wine, Alton, just waiting to hear the tale of our daring fight to escape the castle. So, if you two will excuse us?” D’Jenn said politely. Dormael and D’Jenn bowed their heads at Alton and Shawna and turned to leave.

  “Surely you’re not going down to the servant’s quarters again, Dormael. Are you playing around with Lyssa again?” Alton asked good-naturedly.

  “Not much playing anymore, Alton, more serious frivolity, now. In any case, she’s gone to the trouble of inviting Reytha over tonight to soothe D’Jenn’s battle wounds, so it would be a little rude not to at least drop in, wouldn’t it?”

  “You’re going to corrupt all of my servants, Dormael. And you, D’Jenn, I thought you could control him,” Alton said in mock admonishment.

  “You forget, Alton,” D’Jenn replied, “We are the same blood. We share many traits, and I enjoy a good romp with a pretty girl as much as the next man. Besides, they are going to a little trouble, after all.”