Shadow Fire

by Wheaton, Kimber Leigh

  "Couldn't succeed in your assault on her earlier in the woods, so you decided to attack her spirit, eh Cory?" Zane asks, his deep baritone ringing out in the silent tavern.

  Shocked gasps echo throughout the room as those gathered process Zane's dramatic accusation. Cory turns several shades of purple, each one darker than the last. His silence is all the confirmation those present need. Angry murmurs begin, gaining in volume before Cory snaps.

  "You're one to talk, mercenary," he spits out, his hands clenched in fists at his sides. "You're pillaging the whole town with the ridiculous fee you charge for your services to protect our Chosen." The room is silent once more while Cory continues his rant. "Oops, my bad… it was supposed to be a surprise." Of course the boy appears anything but contrite since he had every intention of revealing the information. "Bet you all didn't know the elders went against Father's wishes and hired this elite mercenary to 'protect' our pathetic excuse for a Chosen."

  "I fail to see your point, boy," Zane says. His voice is controlled and even, a stark contrast to Cory's bellowing tone.

  "He was paid eight gold coins for this little job," Cory reveals to the shocked masses. "And that's only part of his fee. He gets another ten gold if he returns with the Chosen and the Goddess Statue."

  "I'd ask if you're volunteering to accompany Ashlyn on her quest in my stead," Zane says with a mocking chuckle. "But not only would it cut into your time assaulting defenseless young women, it would reveal your fear of fighting anything that isn't completely helpless against you."

  "How dare you!" Cory screeches at the snickering mercenary. "Any woman would be lucky to be with me. They all want me even if they pretend otherwise."

  "Yeah keep telling yourself that, you creep!" Celeste yells, storming to my side.

  I'm glad to see my fiery sister back. The broken, teary version was just too much to bear.

  "I heard you pay the fight master to boost your scores and to fake losing against your amazing skills," she continues to taunt as the older boy turns purple in rage again.

  "I'll fight anyone here!" Cory spits out in his fury.

  "You're on, boy," Zane says in a flat, lethal tone.

  When I glance up at the handsome mercenary, his eyes are sparking in quiet fury, his full pink lips pulled back into a wicked sneer. He's the picture of an avenging angel, minus the wings of course, and I almost swoon in his loose grip. My gaze returns to watch Cory trembling in what appears to be fury, but after the exchange this afternoon in the forest, I recognize it for what it is… terror.

  With amazing skill, Zane managed to dance Cory right into the corner where he wanted him all along. The long silence stretches as the crowd waits to see how Cory will react, though I doubt anyone was expecting what happened. In the blink of an eye, Cory takes off running for the door, disappearing into the night beyond.

  "Ashlyn, just so you know this is half my normal fee," Zane says, his mesmerizing molten orbs meeting mine. "If it's truly a burden to the town, I'll escort you free of charge. I could never stand by and let you go alone." He leans down to whisper in my ear, his fingers playing with a long strand of my hair, "I'll protect you, I promise."

  Chapter Four

  Goddess Shrine

  "Are you nuts?" Celeste blurts out, staring at Zane as if he's grown a second head. "This town has plenty of money. It's about time the elders decided to—"

  She's cut off when the tavern door bursts open, revealing Mr. Clements, the Chief Elder. He's flanked by his son and daughter, who must've gone to fetch him when Cory lost control earlier. The crowd parts in a wave, moving so the elder can limp to my side. Zane pulls over the chair I occupied earlier, helping the elder into it.

  Mr. Clements coughs a few times making it clear he's still wracked with sickness and should be in bed. His dark gray hair is matted on one side while sticking straight up on the other. He's dressed in brown linen pants and a matching light brown linen shirt, though both are quite wrinkled. The glasses perched on his face are askew, making me wonder how he can see out of them. His overall appearance is that of a man dragged from his bed. Anya and Lyle stand behind their father watching him, the concern apparent in their troubled eyes.

  "A-Ashlyn," he stumbles over my name, coughing into his hand. "Lyle and Anya came to get me as soon as Zane revealed Cory's heinous act."

  "I'm sorry, elder," Celeste says, her voice rising right along with her rage. "Which heinous act would that be? The way he chased Mom and Dad from the party by saying Ash would be dead within a day or two… that she didn't deserve anything nice from the town 'cause she's pathetic?"

  "Celeste, stop," I murmur, placing my hand on her arm. She shrugs me off with an angry glare before she stalks closer to the fragile old man.

  "No, Ash," she says, her cobalt eyes glinting in a fury I've seen only a handful of times.

  Nothing will stop Celeste until she speaks her mind, but since she's defending me it's hard to be upset. None of the others present try to stop her either. When I hazard a glance at Zane, he's watching her with undisguised glee on his handsome face.

  "Oh, I know… maybe it was how Cory attacked her in the woods earlier and forced her to kiss him," she says, towering over the distressed old man, hands on her hips, her long blonde curls whipping around her body. "Poor Ash was exhausted from a day of hunting and couldn't defend herself, not without a weapon anyway… and we all know what woulda happened if she sliced him up with her dagger. Yeah, that's right, she'd end up in the stockade for defending herself, but he won't even get a slap on the wrist for attacking her. He'll just hide behind his father's skirt!" She pauses for a moment to glance at Zane. "Thank you, Zane, for saving my sister and for defending her honor tonight when that yellow-bellied rat attacked her again."

  Her rant complete, my younger sister appears exhausted and dejected. She collapses in a chair, resting her head in her hands on the table.

  "I cannot express just how deeply sorry I am that all this happened, Ashlyn," the elder says as he rubs at his forehead in apparent disbelief. "Please, everyone, the party is over. Return to your homes, rest up for the celebration tomorrow."

  Silence fills the once rowdy tavern as the patrons trudge to the large wooden door. They all seem so downhearted as they exit; many with shoulders slumped, accompanied by great sighs. Though, I suspect it's because they're disappointed the show is over and not because of any worry for my well-being.

  "There's no need for your family to stay," Elder Clements says, glancing at my brothers and sisters. "In fact, everyone should go except Ashlyn and Zane."

  "But father…" Anya begins before being cut off by the elder.

  "Out, Anya," he says. "I'll be fine. Please go."

  My eyes fly to my siblings as they all head to the door. Jess and Abel don't bother to glance back, unaware of my plan to sneak out tonight. Brinda and Celeste both stop to gaze at me before heading to the door. Their eyes are misty as they stare back at me, both looking so torn. I take a moment to memorize the features of the two girls I've been so close to for, well… forever it seems. We don't bother with goodbyes, what would be the point? They shuffle out the door after my brothers. Anya and Lyle are the last to depart, leaving a long uncomfortable silence in their wake. Zane pulls a chair out for me and motions for me to sit next to Elder Clements. He sits on my other side, placing a comforting hand on my lower back.

  "Ashlyn, I know many of the younger generation don't believe the Goddess Statue is anything other than a dusty old relic," the elder says, his vivid emerald eyes boring into me.

  "I don't really… well, uh—"

  The elder cuts me off before I can finish with my stumbling reply.

  "Zane, do you believe the Goddess Reiki lived on Meliar before being called back to the heavens?" the elder asks.

  "It's a well-documented historical fact that Reiki did indeed exist," Zane says, his fingers rubbing tiny circles on my back, easing the tension caused by the conversation. "The time she spent living here is considered the
'Golden Age' of our civilization. Her disappearance led to the darkest age in recorded history and ultimately the Azzard War."

  Elder Clements coughs several times before speaking. "When the Goddess was forced to return unto the heavens by her father Ranulf, it's said she imbued part of her power into a marble statue carved in her likeness to protect the continent of Meliar in her absence."

  Though the elder is reciting the lore we learned in school, I give him the courtesy of listening. It's hard to believe a marble statue could hold the power of a Goddess. He glances at me again, his wise eyes thoughtful. I feel as though he's seeing straight into my soul, if it's even possible.

  "Come, I wish to show you the Goddess Shrine," he says, pushing up from the chair with a small groan. "It isn't far."

  He walks to the tavern door without glancing back, assuming we'll follow. When I don't move, Zane takes my elbow in his hand, helping me rise from the chair. We walk out into the cold night air, and I feel a small measure of relief. The tavern was stuffy, uninviting, and downright oppressive.

  The streets are empty as we make our way to the west exit of the town. It's a good thing the tavern is so close to the west gate or we might be out all night. The poor elder limps along, his cane tapping the uneven cobblestones, the clacks from the steel tip echoing in the silence.

  "Zane, how long have you been a mercenary?" Elder Clements asks without slowing his methodical gait.

  "Eight years," Zane replies, moving up to walk beside the elder.

  "Eight years?" A surprised gasp escapes past my lips. I turn to stare at him from the other side of Elder Clements. "How old were you when you started? I mean you don't look all that old to me…" I trail off, my cheeks flushing a brilliant red when I realize I just called him old. Thank goodness the dark cloak of night hides my flushed face from the handsome mercenary.

  "I'm twenty, Ashlyn," he replies, his voice tinged in amusement. "I was only twelve when I left home and became a mercenary."

  My eyes widen at his words and I gaze back up at him in curiosity. I wonder what caused him to leave home at such a young age?

  "That's a long story for another time," he says, answering my unspoken question.

  "In your eight years as a mercenary have you noticed any change in the monsters?" Elder Clements asks, drawing Zane's eyes away from mine.

  "More, stronger, bolder," Zane replies, staring off into the distance. "Every year it gets just a little bit worse. They're creeping much closer to the towns now than ever before."

  "Yes," the elder agrees. "Fifteen years ago we had to build the wall surrounding Verdane to keep them out. The monsters supposedly began to appear soon after Goddess Reiki departed. The power in the Goddess Statue protected the population from the monsters as long as it remained within her shrine. It kept the monster population under control, kept them away from towns. Zane, do you know what causes the monsters to appear?"

  "The accepted theory is an imbalance between light and dark magic," Zane replies, his voice somewhat wary. "Though, magic is not a subject to be discussed lightly."

  "Goddess Reiki was the embodiment of light magic," Elder Clements says with a loud sigh. "When she left, light magic was dramatically reduced, resulting in the creation of monsters. As long as the Goddess Statue remained in the shrine, enough light magic was released to control the monster population. Things have become much worse over the last twenty-five years since it was stolen."

  "Why did the Algorans steal the statue?" I ask, curiosity making me bold. Algora is a town about a two-days walk from here. According to town lore, they plotted and stole the statue in a pique of jealousy. "If the statue protected the continent, then by stealing it they only hurt themselves as well."

  "True, but I think it was an individual or small group responsible, not the town government," the elder says. "Ever since the statue was taken from the shrine, the land has suffered. The tale you hear in school is melodramatic to say the least, so I can understand why you would doubt its verity. But I've seen the effects with my own eyes… crops are harder to grow, strange oddities occur like Markim's two-headed foal… but worst are the monsters. Surely you've run into a few on your many hunting trips."

  I nod my agreement, though most people just accept the monsters as the new forest 'animals'. There's no difference in price between a boar with red eyes and fangs and a regular forest pig when I take it to market. But I'll admit the monsters are harder to kill and far less docile than normal animals. They're vicious beings, attacking without warning or provocation.

  "The itinerant monk who visited our town twenty years ago insisted the statue was sealed within the Breven Ruins," Elder Clements says as we approach the western gate out of town. "He said only a maiden pure of soul could retrieve it. I believe it to be true since the Shrine Maidens were the custodians of the statue. Mayor Franklin inferred it to mean a maiden must go alone or with priests as her only escort. Though in hindsight, I think it was merely to protect his son from potentially being selected to accompany the Chosen. It's complicated, I know. But the Breven Ruins are the only lead we have as to the whereabouts of the statue. For the sake of the continent, I hope the Goddess Statue is resting safely on the island of Karina. Were the statue lost forever, I believe our world would be doomed."

  The two guards at the western gate eye our small group with avid curiosity before moving aside to allow us passage into the prairie beyond the town. The gaslights of the town fade behind us leaving me to wonder why we left without a torch or a lantern. My confusion is laid to rest when the Goddess Shrine comes into view, the torches lining the entrance blazing in welcome. I guess the elder had this visit planned all along.

  What could be inside that would persuade me to believe the Goddess Statue is magical?

  The large double wooden doors are barred and padlocked. After Elder Clements releases the intricate lock, he motions for Zane to remove the massive wooden slab sealing the doors. To my amazement, the mercenary has little problem lifting the large piece of wood, though I do notice his biceps bulging a bit from the weight. He tosses it aside where it lands on the grass with a loud thud. When the elder pushes on the doors, they don't budge under his full weight. I add mine to the door on the right and it opens with an ominous creaking. The air wafting out of the sealed shrine is acrid, making my eyes water as I push the door open.

  "This shrine hasn't been opened since the statue was stolen," the elder whispers. "It was never cleaned after the attack… nothing touched other than the bodies which were removed."

  Zane grabs a torch next to the door, motioning for me to take one too. Though I comply and grab the torch, I'm not sure I want to enter, the elder's words ringing in my ears.

  Bodies…

  Seven Shrine Maidens died on that fateful night twenty-five years ago tomorrow, the first day of spring. The eighth maiden was taken hostage and never heard from again. Could the horrible, pungent odor be the smell of death?

  We enter the shrine; Zane leading with the elder and me close behind. It's so dark, the utter silence within eerie. The air is dusty forcing me to put my hand over my nose to take a breath. Zane lights two large torches partway within, and the shrine flares to life. As I scan my surroundings, my mind is in shock and unable to keep up with the images attacking my brain. Eight rows of pews lining either side of the main aisle are charred black from an intense fire. But the char marks only travel down about six feet before disappearing, leaving the rest of each pew untouched. There's no sign water was used to put out the fire… it's almost as if it just extinguished on its own… but that's not possible is it?

  My feet continue to carry me forward down the main stone aisle until I stop before a charred mark burnt into the stone floor, in the shape of a small human body. Was this poor girl burned to a crisp? Moving around the charred remains, I continue to the altar where Zane's standing. When I reach his side, his soulful eyes meet mine, his expression pained.

  "You don't need to see this, Ashlyn," he murmurs, trying to push me
away from the altar.

  "Elder Clements brought me here for a reason." My reply comes out a croak from the stale, dusty air affecting my throat. "Let me look."

  Before moving aside, Zane takes my hand in his, then leads me the last few feet to peer around the large altar. My lungs constrict as the bitter odor of decay enters my nose. The wall appears as though a child went crazy with reddish-brown paint on the stark gray stone, splatters reaching as high as the domed ceiling.

  But the floor… the bloodstained stone floor captures my attention. They didn't bother to clean up after the remains of the Shrine Maidens were removed. Small pieces of flesh and bone are strewn among the blackened pools of dried blood.

  My hand flies to my mouth to hold in the scream trying to escape. I back away before turning and fleeing the shrine, gulping down the fresh night air once outside. Learning about the theft in school is nothing compared to seeing the damage, the pitiful remains in person. The statue was important enough to someone quite powerful, willing to go to such horrific lengths to obtain it.

  Could magic be involved? I know my parents would prefer I not believe in magic, but I've seen first-hand it does indeed exist. Magic might explain the odd burn patterns on the pews and walls. It might account for a person burning to death without affecting the surrounding area. If magic was used to steal the statue, does it mean the thief believed the relic to be magical as well? Too many questions with no clear answers makes my head begin to reel.

  "Are you all right, Ashlyn?" Zane asks. When I glance at his face, his features are set in grim lines, his eyes hard and angry.

  "I will be," I reply, averting my gaze from the simmering rage in his eyes. "It was just… unexpected. I-I didn't realize the level of destruction and certainly didn't expect to see proof of the Shrine Maidens' deaths. It was… sobering. This wasn't just a theft, it was a massacre."