Flameseeker (Book 3)

by R. M. Prioleau

  Kaijin thought for a moment. “I want to quell his vengeance and channel his power into something more positive, like helping to protect the people I love from ill-doers, rebuilding fallen cities like Easthaven, helping the suffering, transforming all of Exodus into a world of peace.” Kaijin smiled dreamily. “Za’thaak is like fire in its natural state. He is capable of peace, just as he is chaos. But one side currently overtakes the other. In due time, he will be balanced.”

  “I see,” Jarial said. “You sound sure of yourself. I can only hope and trust that you are making the right decision about this. I am in no position to stop you—not anymore. Even for all the years you’ve been with me, I seem to never stop learning new things about you each and every day.”

  “I appreciate your respecting my wishes,” Kaijin said, his smile slowly returning.

  Jarial stood up and walked to the door. “You should probably talk to Tachus before it gets too late. He’s been wanting to speak to you since this afternoon. He asked me to fetch you when you awoke.”

  Tachus. Kaijin felt a lump form in his throat. There was still the matter of Ranaiah, but the more he thought about it, the less inclined he felt to bring it up. Surely, he would think me too dangerous of a man to marry his sister now. If those were truly Tachus’s thoughts, Kaijin wouldn’t blame him if he refused.

  * * *

  Tachus paced the library as he pondered the day’s events. He stopped in front of the window and looked out at the moonlit city.

  A Firebrand, he mused. He was knowledegable about the chosen few of Ignis, but he never thought in all his life that he would personally encounter one.

  “The fires have all been put out, but the people have been voicing their concerns about their mysterious causes,” his wife, Niveah, said from the library’s long reading table behind him.

  Tachus spun and faced her. “I have no doubt the rumors and speculation are starting now. I suppose it was only a matter of time. I will make this transition as swift and silent as possible.”

  She looked at him, her soft brown eyes full of concern. Her full lips parted, and she stood and approached him, her arms opening in an invitation to embrace. Tachus gathered her against him with a sigh and nuzzled his cheek against her dark hair.

  “What are they going to do with you, Tachus?” she asked in a low, quivering voice.

  The thought of many possibilities continued haunting his mind. “I do not know, my dear. However, Jarial and I talked at great length earlier this evening. He seems like a reasonable man. He assured me that he will do what he can to ease my punishment. Masrah will have to come, as well.”

  “I see.... And what of Omari? And Amil? What if the Batsuyou attack once Saris has taken your place?”

  Tachus frowned and gently puhed Niveah away from him. The thought of an attack made his blood boil. “Jarial assures me they won’t, but I will not rule out the possibility of a betrayal. My last order as shak’ha will be to keep all guards on alert for a possible Batsuyou attack in the coming days.” He sighed. “All I wanted was for Saris to succeed. To represent our family amongst the most highly esteemed circle of mages in the world. And now, it seems, those hopes have been shattered, our family’s honor tarnished, perhaps forever. Omari does not have nearly the skill or discipline, yet Amil somehow managed to rub shoulders with some of the Councilmembers and encourage them to choose his son over mine.”

  Niveah stroked the side of his face as she gazed at him deeper. “Perhaps Amil did, but was all this worth it?”

  “My attempts to oust Omari in order for the true Councilmember to ascend? Yes. I think it was. But I wish it did not have to come to this.”

  “So you regret these assassination attempts?”

  Tachus pursed his lips and looked at her in defeat. There was a reason Niveah had always been deep in his counsels, and his agent and confidant. She saw through him, always, and into his heart. Of course I do. A man needlessly lost his life.

  When he didn’t answer aloud, she placed her hands on either side of his face and slowly pulled it down to hers. Her lips met his in a soft kiss. “I want peace between our families. One man’s death has affected our city, our family ... and my husband.”

  He closed his eyes and knew what he had to do.

  “Ah ... hello?” called a voice from the library’s exit.

  Tachus looked up. Kaijin, his face flushed slightly, stood in the doorway, staring into the room at them. His bat familiar was perched on his shoulder. “I’m sorry to disturb you both. I can come back when—”

  “No,” Tachus said quickly, releasing Niveah. He gave her an apologetic glance, but she nodded in understanding and, with a smile at Kaijin, quietly left the room.

  “Have a seat, Kaijin,” Tachus said, gesturing to an empty chair at the reading table. “I trust you are feeling better now?”

  Kaijin nodded curtly and sat. “I am, sir. Thank you.”

  Tachus sat down across from him and folded his hands atop the table. “Your master, Jarial, and I spoke at length. I must say, he is a very honorable man who has gained my trust. I will go with him quietly to Ghaeldorund, and Masrah will accompany me. Jarial had also told me much about you. It is all very fascinating. In all my years as a cleric of the Firelord, I never thought I would meet a Firebrand in person. And I have not seen anything quite like what I saw you do earlier today. Please enlighten me on just how you managed to contain that afriti.”

  Kaijin scratched the back of his head. “It is something I cannot explain in words, honored Shak’ha. I just ... felt a divine power come over me, and I suddenly had insight.”

  “A divine power ...” Tachus narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying Ignis possessed you?”

  “Oh, no.” Kaijin quickly shook his head. “I’m just saying that whatever it was that came over me wasn’t any kind of magic that I’d ever known.”

  Tachus nodded, stroking his chin. Kaijin had clearly said all that he could. Perhaps there were just some things that were better left to the gods.

  “Sir,” Kaijin said, breaking Tachus from his thoughts. “There are some things that I had wanted to speak to you about, if you have time.”

  “Of course, Kaijin. It is late, but you have my ear.”

  “In the matter of Vargas, what do you intend to do with him?” Kaijin asked.

  Tachus arched an eyebrow. “What do you want me to do with him?”

  “I would like for you to surrender him to me so that he may be returned to the Pyre.”

  “He has caused me much trouble with his betrayal, which ... wasn’t exactly his own doing ...” he trailed off, and Kaijin nodded.

  “He had us all fooled, including the priestess.” Kaijin paused and looked at him more intently. “Ranaiah.”

  Tachus sat back in his chair at the mention of his sister. The more he dwelled on her, the more he began to realize that perhaps she was right about her reasons for leaving. She never really wanted anything to do with this ongoing feud anyway. But she never understood. He swallowed. Or perhaps I was the one who didn’t understand.

  “Honored Shak’ha?” Kaijin asked Tachus.

  Tachus, snapped from his thoughts, looked back at him. “Ah, yes. Of course. Ranaiah has been ... upset about things.”

  “She has,” Kaijin said. “And before I left, I made her a promise that I would try and make things right.” He looked down at his hand, at a ring on his right digit. “She wants peace between the families, but she believes that you are so bent on acquiring more power and influence, that you are blinded to reason. Which brings me to the other thing I had wanted to talk to you about.” He idly fiddled with the ring, and Tachus nearly gasped when he realized it was Ranaiah’s.

  What is he doing with— Tachus’s felt his heart drop down into his gut. Why would she give her most precious ring to him? Did she know that he was a Firebrand, also?

  “I care very deeply about Ranaiah,” Kaijin continued. “I love her more than anything in the world. She means everything to me, and I want t
o spend the rest of my life with her.” He licked his lips. “Honored Shak’ha, I wish to marry Ranaiah.”

  Tachus widened his eyes, and he felt as though a great weight pressed down on his chest. My sister? Marriage? “You what?”

  Kaijin winced. “Would you do the great honor of giving me your blessings to take her hand in marriage, sir?”

  The young man’s tone was genuine, but Tachus wasn’t sure how to answer as he waded through the mess of thoughts in his brain. “I will soon be in Ghaeldorund where I will be tried for murder. I doubt my ‘blessings’ would hold much weight.”

  “I just thought it would be the respectable thing to do to ask you first.”

  “Have you even talked to her about this yet?”

  Kaijin looked away. “No, not yet, but—”

  “Then this discussion may not even matter.”

  “I do plan to talk to her as soon as I return to the Pyre.”

  Tachus huffed. “And if she says ‘no’?”

  Kaijin hesitated, clearly torn. “Then I will not bring up the subject ever again.” He sighed softly and fiddled with the ring again. “Please understand, honored Shak’ha, that my reason for wanting to marry her is strictly love. However, Uncle Amil believes that our union would also bring peace between the two families.”

  Tachus blinked several times and then sneered. “Uncle? Amil is your uncle?”

  Kaijin nodded once, virtually unfazed by Tachus’s surprise.

  Tachus swore under his breath. As if I didn’t already have Omari to deal with! However ... The thought of a Firebrand in the family would perhaps make things even better between the families. Yes, of course. I’ve been such a fool to not see it before. He smiled to Kaijin. “Regrettably, Amil has a point. In that case, you have my blessings to marry her.”

  Kaijin blinked, perhaps startled that Tachus had accepted so easily. “Th—Thank you, sir! Oh thank you so much!” He sprang up from his chair.

  “And I will see that Vargas is surrendered to you before you and your friends leave tomorrow.” Tachus stood as well. “For now, however, I think his time is better spent where he currently is: locked away in the dungeons under close watch by my guards.”

  Kaijin nodded. “That is fine. Thank you again for this talk. It was an honor.”

  “Likewise, Kaijin.” Tachus inclined his head and watched the young man take his leave.

  XXXIII

  The next morning, Kaijin and his friends had breakfast, restocked their provisions, then gathered in the main hall with Tachus, Vargas, Niveah, and several guards.

  Tachus hugged his teary wife and kissed her on the cheek. “I sent a messenger out to fetch Saris. He should return in a few months.”

  Niveah nodded solemnly, then dropped her gaze to the floor.

  Tachus tilted her chin up to urge her to look at him. “Now you must be stronger than ever, my love. You will be acting in my stead until our son returns.”

  “But this change is so sudden. And what am I to tell our people when they begin to inquire and speculate about your whereabouts?” Niveah asked.

  Tachus pursed his lips a moment. “Tell them that I have gone on a religious journey.”

  She sighed. “No more lies, Tachus.”

  “It is no lie. I do plan to go on a religious journey if—when I am free. I sense that Almighty Ignis is angry with me, and I must rectify that. When Saris returns, he will ascend as Zebi’s new leader.”

  Doubt still lingered on her face.

  “I will serve out my term—quietly—and return when the time is right,” Tachus assured, and then kissed her on the lips.

  Kaijin looked sidelong at Jarial, who remained rigid as he watched the exchange. It seemed the man felt no remorse for Tachus, who might not ever see his wife again.

  If Master Jarial cannot help him, then he will most likely be committed to death. Ranaiah would be devastated.... Kaijin bit his bottom lip.

  Jarial cleared his throat gently. “Honored Shak’ha, we should be off soon before the afternoon heat renders it too dangerous to travel.”

  Frowning, Tachus turned back to Jarial, and gave a reluctant nod. He kissed Niveah on both of her cheeks, then her lips, and finally released her. He joined Kaijin and the others. “All right. Let us go.”

  Jarial looked around. “Aren’t we missing someone?”

  Tachus’s eyes fixed toward one of the far walls, where shadows cloaked the area. “Masrah,” he called.

  The shadows converged and formed a figure. Masrah appeared and silently approached the group.

  “I had gone out earlier to check on Haas, Jahi, and our mounts,” Omari explained to the group. “They are all fine. They made camp outside the city last night while they waited for us. They will be expecting us soon, so let us get going.”

  “Very well, then,” Tachus said with a nod, somewhat relieved that he would not have to call upon his own precious camels for the trip. “Lead the way.”

  * * *

  Kaijin and his group returned to Haas and Jahi, who had set up a small camp under the shade of a group of palm trees not far outside the city. The animals sat in a small huddle in the shade and rested. The two guides, relieved to see everyone again, quickly broke camp and prepared to leave. Kaijin mounted his camel and Haas helped Vargas up on it as well to sit behind him. Unlike the rest of the group, Aidan opted for walking again, and it was decided by the rest of the group that Tachus and Masrah do the same.

  “This is preposterous!” Tachus protested. “You expect us to walk such a long way?”

  Omari adjusted himself on his mount, then looked over his shoulder. “Indeed, no murderous scum deserve the luxuries of riding my father’s camels.”

  Aidan, who was standing behind Tachus and Masrah bumped them both forward with his weight. “Walking is good exercise. Now, no more complaining, or does Aidan have to carry you both over his shoulder?”

  Tachus and Masrah stared horrified at the giant.

  “No, that ... that is quite all right,” Tachus said.

  Kaijin felt a pulsating heat on his chest and winced. He pulled out his necklace and stared at the fiery-shaped charm, which gave of a slight, orange glow. Was Za’thaak attempting to communicate with him? Curious, Kaijin concentrated and tried to mentally reach out to the afriti.

  “What are you trying to tell me, Za’thaak?” Kaijin asked.

  Za’thaak’s menacing voice echoed in his mind. “The dais ...”

  “What dais? Where?”

  Za’thaak showed him something that looked like an oasis. The image panned, and just outside the oasis, drawn in golden sand, was a large circle, similar to the one he and his group had investigated the morning before. Kaijin blinked, and the image disappeared. Where is that?

  “West,” Za’thaak said, answering Kaijin’s thought even though he hadn’t put it into thought-speech.

  Unperturbed by Za’thaak’s unexpected response, Kaijin looked to the west. He noticed a line of palm trees dotting the distance, well-beyond Zebi’s outskirts. “Is there another portal over there? Are you able to activate it?”

  “I can.”

  Kaijin looked to the rest of his group, who had finished getting situated and were ready to go. They’ll think I’m crazy for wanting to go there—for trusting a rogue afriti. Kajin figured Za’thaak heard his thinking to himself, but Kaijin decided to speak to the afriti mentally regardless. “You better not be leading us into a trap, Za’thaak.”

  Za’thaak didn’t respond.

  The group formed a line, with Jahi at the front. “Let us be off,” he said.

  “Wait!” Kaijin called, and everyone turned to him.

  “What is it now, Kaijin?” Omari asked, annoyed. “The longer we delay, the longer it will take us to get back!”

  Ignoring Omari, Kaijin looked at Zarya. “Zarya, do you remember the portal you discovered on our way here?”

  The priestess nodded. “Of course.”

  “Well, there is apparently another one near by, and I think
I know how it can be activated—Za’thaak.”

  Zarya blinked. “The afriti? But how can you be so certain ...”

  Kaijin heard Vargas whisper behind him to himself. “I think ... I remember ...”

  Kaijin peered over his shoulder at the old man. “That is how you managed to get here so quickly, wasn’t it?”

  Vargas nodded slowly.

  “It makes sense now,” Jarial muttered. “But I still don’t think we should trust Za’thaak.”

  “Aye!” Nester spoke up. “For once, I agree with you! That afriti was scarier than my Aunt Nina! ’E’s liable to turn us all into flamin’ toads or somethin’!”

  “No, he won’t. He obeys me—of this, I am certain,” Kaijin said. And I think he is telling the truth.”

  “Why don’t we see for ourselves?” Zarya suggested. “I don’t see the harm in investigating. Is the place far from here, Kaijin?”

  Kaijin shook his head. “Not too far.” He pointed. “Just over there.”

  “Another oasis, it looks like,” Haas said from behind him.

  Omari grumbled. “Confound it. We are wasting time.”

  “Perhaps not,” Jarial said. “If Za’thaak is being truthful, we will be back at the Harran in no time at all.”

  Omari reluctantly complied, and he gave his orders to Jahi.

  The sun had just reached its apex by the time the group approached the oasis and dismounted. Kaijin spotted circles drawn in the sand like the ones they had first found. “This must be it,” he said.

  Tachus stepped beside Kaijin and looked toward the circles. “What is it? And how did it get here?”

  “It’s a portal,” Zarya replied. “It requires powerful divine energy to be activated.”

  Tachus tapped his chin. “I have not seen a portal like this before.”

  Kaijin noticed Vargas fidgeting nervously. “More memories coming back to you, Vargas?” Kaijin asked.

  Vargas nodded. “Za’thaak created this. I recall him explaining how he required a dais in order to travel freely in the mortal realm.”