Fireweaver

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "Welcome to Avindel," Alvin said. "Home of the Source."

  Faina peered across the valley, to the dark and foreboding fortress. It was fashioned of stone so dark it was almost black. Four towers jutted up at each corner of the fortress, and a giant wall surrounded the entire structure. There was a gate in the center of that wall, and even from a distance, Faina could make out dozens of Sun Guards defending it.

  "How are we going to enter that place?" Faina asked.

  "I have no idea. But that's a worry for later. Right now, I think we should both get some rest. After all, we don't need to gain any powers from the Source. We are both Fireweavers, and quite talented ones at that. We can survive in this place without Sunweaving."

  "I didn't think of it like that," she said.

  "It's Kadin, Deril, and the Sunlord that we need to watch for."

  "Where do you think they might be?"

  "I have no idea."

  Chapter 36: A Meeting with a Dark God

  Kadin's heart pounded as he and the others were led down into the valley by the Sun Guard soldiers. The soldiers had taken their weapons, and though they weren't forceful, they stood close enough to show that there'd be no escape. They had also woven shields around Kadin and the others, disabling any Sunweaving or Fireweaving.

  The soldiers led them down a winding path mostly free of rocks. In the valley below, hundreds and hundreds of soldiers had gathered, all wearing the uniforms of the Sun Guard. Kadin had trouble imagining these men and women as part of the same organization he'd known back home. Surely Captain Hanir hadn't known about all this.

  A makeshift campsite had been set up throughout the valley. Tents were positioned every few feet, and campfires burned all around. Soldiers conversed in low voices. A few looked up as the party passed, but most were absorbed in their own lives.

  Kadin and the others followed their captors to the center of the campsite, where the largest tend stood. A middle-aged man wearing black robes sat outside the tent. He was the only person Kadin had seen who wasn't dressed in the golden uniform of a Sun Guard.

  The man was unremarkable in appearance. He had sandy blond hair and was of average height and build. It was difficult to tell how old he was. He could have been anywhere from twenty to forty, and there was something almost ageless about his appearance. His face was clean-shaven, and his expression was curious as he watched them with narrowed eyes.

  "You found them?" he asked the men holding the party captive.

  "Yes, my lord," said one of the men.

  "Good. You can leave them here with me. I'd prefer to speak to them alone."

  The soldier opened his mouth as if to question that command. He hesitated a few moments before saying, "Of course, my lord. Should we remain nearby?"

  "Stay outside the tent."

  "Yes, my lord."

  The man turned to Kadin and the others. "By now, you've probably figured out who I am."

  Deril nodded. "Vardin, I presume?"

  "Yes. Come inside the tent."

  Kadin exchanged a glance with Deril, hoping his brother could offer him some form of encouragement, but Deril's face was pale, his expression tense. Together, they all followed Vardin into the tent. Kadin's legs felt as if they'd buckle.

  The inside of the tent was not lavishly decorated. There were no chairs, only a few bedrolls. Kadin had expected a god to have better accommodations.

  "You may sit anywhere," Vardin said, his tone pleasant. This was not the man—or god—that Kadin had expected. Wasn't Vardin supposed to be evil? He might have been the one who weakened the sun after all. Surely he couldn't mean well for Kadin and the others.

  "What do you want from us?" Deril asked without sitting down.

  "I was hoping we could discuss a few things. Please sit down."

  Kadin, Tyrine, Marell, Catara, and the Sunlord all sat down, but Deril remained standing.

  Vardin shrugged. "If you want to stand, I won't stop you."

  Kadin silently urged Deril to sit. Vardin was pleasant for now, but Kadin had the feeling that could change in a heartbeat. As if hearing Kadin's thoughts, Deril finally sat. Vardin himself took a seat on one of the bedrolls. For a few moments, he watched them in silence.

  "Are you going to say something?" Deril asked.

  Vardin smiled. "You do realize you are my prisoners, don't you? You might want to be a bit more civil and patient. Your lives are in my hands." After a few moments, he said, "But I think we can do this all without any bloodshed. There's a very simple solution. I can weave a portal that will return you to your world, and you will stay there."

  "And if we refuse?" Deril asked.

  "Then I will have no choice but to kill you."

  "Why are you even giving us this choice?" Deril asked.

  "Because you don't know what you've become involved in. These are matters far beyond your experience and capabilities. Allow us to solve our problems on our own."

  Kadin cleared his throat. "We should do what he says and go home."

  But then he thought of Teravin. If they returned home, Teravin might kill Tyrine. As long as they remained here in the Realm of Shade, she would be safer.

  Or as safe as anyone could be in a land teeming with monsters.

  "Is that your decision?" Vardin asked.

  "I'd like a few answers first," Deril said.

  Vardin tilted his head to the side curiously. "Interesting. You're not in a place to bargain, but you're asking me to give you something. Very bold, I must say."

  "You're the one who wanted to talk," Deril said.

  "Very well. What would you like to know? I can't promise you any answers, but I might tell you something if I feel in the mood."

  "Did you weaken the sun?" Deril asked.

  Vardin stroked his chin. "It was three of us: Halarik, Cardell, and me."

  "Why did you do it?" Deril asked. "Why have you put the people through so much suffering? You don't seem like a completely evil man."

  "We had a rivalry with Aralea and Sunweavers. This rivalry led to a war. By weakening the sun, we were able to win this war."

  Deril scratched his head. "But that makes no sense. Sunweavers are in control."

  "That's what you've been led to believe. In reality, I am the one in control. Well, I suppose you could say Sunweavers are in control then, since I am part Sunweaver. I'm sure you're aware by now that some people can be both Sunweaver and Fireweaver."

  Deril nodded. The rest of the party remained silent. Kadin glanced over at Tyrine. She sat beside him, her face pale. Their gazes met, and Kadin tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he was too anxious to comfort her. He wrapped an arm around her. She didn't meet his gaze.

  It was hard to imagine how overwhelmed she must feel. He knew how he'd felt when he'd first entered the much larger world. In fact, he still felt that way much of the time. She didn't have the advantage of being a Sunlord. She was a nobody in a world where everyone was powerful. All she had was Kadin, and he would protect her. It was his duty.

  "But you've let Fireweavers face terrible persecution," Deril said. "Why?"

  "Because, in the end, Halarik turned against us. He helped Aralea imprison my brother Cardell. His people deserve to suffer because of that." Vardin's expression twitched strangely, and Kadin had seen that kind of expression before. The god was concealing something.

  "No one deserves to suffer for the actions of another," Deril said.

  "The world doesn't care about your moral high ground," Vardin said. "People suffer. That is the nature of things. The powerful shape the world, and sometimes the powerless have to suffer. That will never change."

  "You're disgusting," Deril said.

  Vardin shook his head. "You should not have said that."

  He launched to his feet and unsheathed his sword. Deril recoiled, but it wasn't Deril that Vardin targeted. Instead, he plunged his sword through the Sunlord's chest, right into his heart. The Sunlord's face twitched in surprise and pain, and then Vardin retracted t
he sword. The Sunlord clutched at the hole in his chest, blood pouring over his hands.

  He toppled forward and hit the ground, where he lay still.

  Deril hit the floor at his father's side, turned him over, and tried to stop the flow of blood, but it was already slowing on its own.

  The Sunlord was dead.

  Chapter 37: The Dark God's Plan

  Deril let out a guttural scream as he cradled his dead father in his arms. He let his father hit the floor, then turned toward Vardin, anger coursing through him. It may have been the most foolish decision of his life, but he charged the god.

  Deril had no weapons. His Sunweaving was shielded. But pure anger drove him to action. He slammed into Vardin, taking the god to the ground. Vardin's eyes went wide, as though he hadn't expected Deril to do something so reckless.

  But the god's surprise didn't last long. Deril was about to start pummeling Vardin with his fists when searing pain hit him in the chest, hotter and sharper than anything he'd ever felt. Soon that pain spread so that it coursed through his entire body. He screamed again, this time in pain, and fell to the side, sweat pouring down his face.

  His breathing came in sharp gasps as he lay on the rocky ground, sure he was going to die. Soon the pain relented, but a dull ache remained.

  "That's just a small taste of what I can do," Vardin said. "Don't test me."

  Deril fought through a sudden rush of tears. "You killed my father!"

  "It had to be done. You needed to learn respect."

  "My father did nothing to you!" Deril shouted, getting to his feet despite the dull pain that still gripped him. His legs wavered a bit, but he faced Vardin resolutely. Forgetting that he was shielded, Deril reached for his Sunweaving. He found nothing.

  "But you just killed a Sunlord," Kadin said. "The world needs him."

  "Why?" Vardin said. "Doesn't it still have you?"

  Kadin looked down, tears in his eyes. "I'm a pathetic excuse for a Sunlord."

  By now, everyone was on their feet. Deril was surprised that none of the Sun Guards had entered the tent. Perhaps Vardin had shielded the tent so that no sound would escape.

  Vardin's expression was calm. "What if I told you the world didn't need any Sunlords at all?"

  Deril glared at him. "I'd say you were a liar."

  By now, Deril didn't care what happened to him. Anger raged within him, a tempest like nothing he'd felt before. He would kill this Vardin if it was the last thing he ever did. No matter what happened, no matter what sacrifices Deril had to make, he'd find a way.

  "It's the truth," Vardin said. "The world doesn't need Sunlords. It needs someone to free my brother. Halarik and I helped him weaken the sun, but he was the main force behind it, and that means that only he can restore it."

  Deril was trembling with rage. "I don't care what you have to say."

  "Oh, you should care. I could kill someone else as well. How about your brother here?" He turned his gaze toward Kadin. "You will listen to me, or I will kill everyone you've ever cared about one by one, right in front of you."

  "But not me," Kadin said. "You need every Sunlord in the world to break the prison."

  Vardin nodded. "Well reasoned. I do have to keep you alive, unfortunately."

  Blood pounded in Deril's ears. He wanted to strangle Vardin.

  But, no, he couldn't do that. He had to play along. For now.

  He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his emotions as much as he could. The anger didn't fade, but he exerted control over it. If he wanted to survive and have a chance to get his revenge, he had to be more careful about what he said and did.

  "Good," Vardin said. "You seem to have calmed down. Now let me explain what I want from you. You see, I was lying to you earlier. I don't want you to leave the Realm of Shade, but I was told by my most trusted advisor that that is what needed to be said. He's a man who can see into the future and see all the various possibilities. He is guiding me along the right path."

  "Who is this advisor?" Deril asked. He gritted his teeth, trying to quell his anger.

  "Somebody I believe you know. He goes by the name Teravin, though that is not what he was always called. He came from another world, and the magic of that world allows him to read the future. A very useful ability, I must say."

  "He also told you to kill my father," Deril said. "Didn't he?"

  Vardin hesitated for a few long moments. "It's possible."

  Then I'll add him to my list, Deril thought. Out loud, he said, "What do you want from us?"

  "Very simple. You are going to be part of the plan to free my brother."

  "And if we refuse?" Deril asked, holding back the flood of tears threatening to overwhelm him. He could mourn his father later, once they were safe.

  But would they ever be safe?

  "Let's just say I'll make you pay the price. I'll leave it up to your imagination."

  Deril glanced at the others. Kadin was so pale he looked almost white. Tyrine clung to him, trembling so fiercely Deril could see it. Marell and Catara stood farther back, watching with wary gazes, their expressions unreadable.

  Then Deril turned back to Vardin. He could see the darkness in the man's eyes, and he knew that no specific threats were necessary. If Deril made it necessary, Vardin would devise a method of retribution that would bring Deril the most pain.

  There was no choice. They had to agree to free Cardell.

  "We'll do it," Deril said.

  "Good. Then you should get going. You still have a few days left before you reach the Source. That is also, quite conveniently, the location of my brother's prison."

  Deril hated what he'd just promised. He would find a way around it, though. There was no way he could live with himself if he freed the god who'd weakened the sun. At the moment, he had no plans, but there was time. Not much time, but it was better than nothing.

  "You may go," Vardin said.

  Deril glared at him one last time before turning to leave. Vardin followed them out of the tent, then told the guards to let them go. The guards led them out of the valley, and they returned to the road, where they were safely within the glowing blue wards.

  Deril expected the guards to return, but six of them stayed with the group to make sure they were really going to the Source. How could Deril and the others come up with any kind of plan with the guards present? Like most Sun Guards, they could surely do Blue/Purple weaves, and that meant they could relay everything they heard to Vardin. It would be too difficult for Deril and the others to communicate with Blue/Purple weaves of their own, and the guards were shielding them, so it wouldn't work at all.

  The next few days passed in a haze of boredom. No one spoke much, not with the Sun Guards around. Deril felt no need to talk to them. He'd always thought of Sun Guards as good men and women, but it was clear he hadn't known the truth.

  Most of them were good, but men and women like these guards—they were puppets of Vardin and Teravin, bound to their evil masters because they were evil men themselves.

  At least that was what Deril told himself. It would make it easier to kill them should the need arise. As it was, there was no opportunity. The guards kept them shielded the entire way. Deril prayed they'd run across a monster, which would distract the guards.

  But no such opportunities presented themselves. Before Deril knew it, they reached the city of Avindel, the home of the Source, which sat somewhere beneath a massive fortress at the northern end of the city. That fortress looked more imposing even than Atarin's palace.

  They made their way through the streets, not stopping to talk to anyone. Sunlamps glowed everywhere, their golden light filling the air with warmth. A few people were out and about, but they gave the group a wide berth.

  At last, they reached the fortress at the other side of the city. The Sun Guards flanking the open gate granted them entry, knowing their mission ahead of time because Vardin had informed them. Following the guards through the entrance, Deril felt as if he weren't in control of any
thing, and he hated that feeling. There had to be something he could do. Anything.

  Nothing came to him.

  Chapter 38: Into the Tunnels

  Rella was sick of waiting. Kara and some of the other monks were busy preparing the portal that would take them to the Realm of Shade. That left Rella with Talin and Kae. Atarin and Karik were sitting at the other side of the room, on cushioned couches.

  She didn't want to talk to them, or at least she didn't want to talk to Atarin. Whenever she looked at Karik, she felt something tugging at her heart. She cared about him more deeply than she'd expected. Despite everything, he was still a good man.

  In the end, they'd all been played by forces beyond their understanding.

  While they were waiting, one of the monks burst into the room, his eyes wild. Sweat poured down his face. Rella hopped to her feet. "What's happening?"

  "We have to run!" the monk shouted, glancing back and forth hurriedly.

  Atarin rose and took a couple of steps toward the man. "What are you trying to say?"

  "I don't know how it happened, but an army is marching on the library. The Church is leading them toward the library. Toward us!"

  "How can you know that?" Rella asked. Atarin was standing just a few feet away, but she ignored his presence, or at least she tried to. There were more important things to worry about at the moment. She had to consider Atarin a temporary ally, though the thought disgusted her.

  "But they won't know how to get in," Talin said.

  The monk sank against the nearby wall. "I'm afraid they will. They captured Brother Bradin. They'll make him talk. I know they will."

  "You need to get this information to Kara," Talin said.

  The young monk wiped sweat from his face. "Of course. You're right. Where is she?"

  "Follow me," Talin said. Rella, Kae, Atarin, and Karik trailed after Talin as he ran through the corridors. The flustered monk was alongside them. Rella wished she could say something to comfort him, but he'd lost the battle with his panic. Until he calmed down, there would be no reasoning with him.