Book of One 04: A Child of Fire

by Baker, Jordan

  "You did not like what I just said and you fear I will give you away to Cerric. Rest assured, I will not tell him of our meeting, for I have nothing to gain by it. Cerric will not honor any bargain. Once he has what he wants, he will only ask for more and then he will take what you will not give. If you will not kill me, then please kill him before he makes prisoners and slaves of everyone."

  "I do not know if I have the power to do such a thing," Brian said. "But there are many who wish to stop him."

  "Good," the creature said. "There is still hope in this world. You must leave now. One of those accursed soldiers is coming to feed me."

  "I will speak to others about you," Brian said. "Perhaps there is some way to help."

  "Send someone with a sharp knife or a sword, who is not afraid to give me the mercy of a quick death."

  "I will tell them what you have said," Brian replied as he retreated to the door. "That is all I can promise."

  "Do what you must."

  Brian exited the room and quickly made his way back to the safety of the passage. He wondered if he should return to White Falls and tell Jax and Fergus of the creature and the things he had already learned. It bothered him that he had left the creature behind, in the knowledge that Cerric would likely continue to torture him, but there was little he could do. His priority was to find out as much as he could and the thought that some of the soldiers who had fought alongside Kaleb might be in the city, was reason enough to stay and continue learning what he could. He just wished he could do something to help the creature, something other than killing him.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Zachary sat on a rock, watching the dying twilight as it fell to dusk. For most of the day, the two Ansari, the old man and the young woman, had been busy training the young girl named Tash and the lizard creature called Lexi, whom Zachary found to be a particularly curious individual. While Lexi appeared to be having some difficulty with the things the Ansari were trying to teach her, young Tash was taking to it very quickly and becoming quite adept at changing her shape. She had taken to shifting herself into a form that very much resembled the one Kasha had taken during the fight in the desert, though hers was more like a kitten compared to the fearsome cat that the Ansari woman had become and Zachary laughed as the girl prowled around the clearing in her cat form, attempting to roar but only capable of a mewling squeak.

  The mage watched as Ashan showed the lizard girl how he could change his body into different things, turning his old, wrinkled arm into one of stone then back again, and he was fascinated by the way the Ansari used the flows of energy, which was different from the way that mages handled their power. Instead of manipulating it as something separate from themselves, as different kinds of energy, their power seemed to be fused with their physical selves, much the way that Aaron's had become when he fought the Ansari leader. Zachary noticed that the power of the two gods, Stroma and Ehlena, was similar though they seemed to have the ability to use their power both within themselves and without.

  From what Stroma had explained, Aaron also had this ability, which set him apart from most mages, and it made Zachary wonder more about the boy, especially considering how interested the dark god, Kenra was in him, and how the others, even Carly, seemed to act strangely around him. Zachary realized that is own power was similar, but he had never given it much thought, since his own training in the arts of magic focused on the outward use of power, which was something at which he excelled. Watching the old man demonstrate how the Ansari manipulated the flows of energy within themselves made him wonder if he too might be able to do such a thing. He got up from where he sat and walked over to the group.

  "Zachary!" Tash said, excitedly, shifting back to her human form, but keeping her tail, which she had decided was her new favorite part. "Are you going to learn with us too?"

  "Mage Zachary," Ashan said. "Our work here is interesting to you?"

  "If you don't mind," Zachary said with a glance at Tash. "I am curious to learn more of your Ansari magic."

  "It is not magic," Ashan replied. "Magic is for mages. Ansari simply is."

  "I see that," Zachary said. "The way you describe it makes little sense at first, but I think I understand why you say such things. It is like magic in its most basic form, but instead of using it, you become one with it. Am I correct?"

  "That is as close a description as I have heard from a mage," Ashan said. "You are very perceptive."

  "I am a mage," Zachary said. "It has been my life's work to perceive things, and to understand them."

  "That is the calling of those who study magic, but it is not our way," Ashan said. "Our way is simply to know what we are and to be what we wish."

  "It is a lot less defined," Zachary said with a nod. "In fact, the lack of definition is the definition."

  Ashan smiled.

  "One might think you know Ansari, speaking such words."

  "One cannot know Ansari, for there is no such thing," Zachary said.

  "I don't understand. You speak in riddles. It makes no sense," Lexi said, the frustration obvious in her voice, and Zachary turned to look at her.

  "I think that is the point," he said. "It is not about understanding, it is simply a matter of deciding to be something different, while knowing yourself."

  "It is one thing to understand Ansari, but another to know Ansari," Kasha said. "You are correct, Zachary, that to know Ansari is to be Ansari, but Lexi is not Ansari, which makes it somewhat more difficult."

  "If knowing is being, then what is the problem?" Zachary asked and he looked at the flows of energy within the lizard girl.

  "Her power is different," Ashan said. "But it is a power that we know."

  "What power is that?" Zachary asked. "I can see the flows of a mage and I can see that her power flows not just within her but through her body as well. Perhaps if you let me compare her power to your own, I could help figure out the problem."

  "You ask something that few Ansari would ever grant," Ashan said. "We do not show ourselves except to a chosen few, only the most trusted."

  "So you're saying you don't trust me," Zachary quipped, jokingly but he could see that neither Ashan nor Kasha were amused. "I merely jest. I did not know that you were so protective of such things, but I can respect your desire for privacy."

  "It is not a desire," Kasha said. "To show your true self to another would allow them to see where you are strong and where you are weak. We may be powerful in our way, but each of us is different."

  "As some mages are more adept at certain things than others," Zachary said then he looked at Lexi again. "About the girl, you say she has a power you know. What power is that?"

  Kasha and Ashan glanced at one another and Zachary could tell that neither of them wanted to answer his question.

  "You Ansari are all about truth and being," he said. "Tell the truth. What is she?"

  "She is dragonkind," Kasha said.

  "Dragonkind?" Tash said, looking at Lexi. "Dragons are powerful."

  "She is and she is not," Ashan added. "That is the problem. She is half human and half dragon, but the dragon within her is incomplete. I believe she was borne of one of these Darga creatures that we have heard of."

  "Lexi," Zachary said. "Do you know who your parents are?"

  "I do not wish to speak of them," Lexi said.

  "Then you do know," Zachary said. "These people are trying to help you. They are willing to teach you things that they do not often share, things that only the truly fortunate get to learn."

  "I don't want to learn how to be Ansari," Lexi said. "I only came here to be with my friend."

  Tash smiled at Lexi, happy that she thought of her as a friend, but she quietly, listening respectfully as the others continued talking.

  "I see," Ashan said with a frown. "I would like to help you anyway."

  "Why?" Lexi asked. "Why do you want to help me? Everyone wants to help me. Aaron helped me when he didn't have to. He could have let me die in the fighting circle an
d then there would not have been all that trouble with the Ansari. Why would he help me? I have done nothing to deserve his help, or your help."

  "You say Tash is your friend," Kasha said. "You like her."

  "Yes," Lexi said.

  "Why?"

  "She makes me hate less," Lexi replied.

  "You speak truth, but your words are wrong," Ashan said.

  "What do you mean my words are wrong?" Lexi asked.

  "You do not hate less," Kasha said. "You do not hate anyone here, except maybe yourself. Those things I can see plainly, for it is a power of Ansari to know truth when it is seen or heard, and that is also a power I believe that you have as well. You say Tash is your friend. Is that because you can see that she does not hate you?"

  "Yes," Lexi said, her voice quiet and trembling.

  "And you do not hate her," Kasha said.

  "No," Lexi replied. "I don't hate her."

  "It is not simply that you do not hate, you like her," Kasha said. "The reason Zachary wishes to know of your parents, is to understand why you speak the way you do."

  "Why does it matter?" Lexi buried her face underneath the cowl of her robe.

  "If you saw someone hurt Tash, what would you do?"

  Lexi's head snapped up quickly, her expression switching from sullen to something more intense, almost predatory.

  "I would kill them," she hissed.

  "What if they did not mean to hurt her?" Kasha asked. "What if someone did something and Tash became hurt but the person did not intend to hurt her?"

  "I don't know," Lexi said, remembering the ways she had hurt people without meaning to.

  "That is something you might think about," Kasha said. "Now, if you saw Tash and she was hurt, but there was no one to blame, what would you want to do?"

  "I would want to help her," Lexi said.

  "And that is why we want to help you," Kasha told her. "You have been hurt, and we can see that."

  "But you don't know me," Lexi said. "Why would you help me?"

  "Why would we not?" Ashan asked. "Does there need to be a reason? If you did not know Tash, would you still help her if someone was trying to hurt her?"

  "I suppose," Lexi said.

  "Then allow us to help you," Ashan said. "Your words are true, but there is much about the world that you do not understand. If you help us understand you, then you will be able to better understand us."

  "You wish to know of my parents," Lexi said, glancing at Zachary.

  "Yes," the mage said. "Where you are from and who raised you. It would help."

  "My father was a Darga. He was called Razak," Lexi told them. "I did not know him, but I killed him and my brother beat me for it then he cut off his head and took it away."

  Zachary was shocked to hear what Lexi told them and he looked at the two Ansari, and he could see the flickers of anger in their eyes. Tash was horrified and the mage wondered if it might be better for her not to hear of such things, but he realized that there was no point in her not knowing about the horrible things that happened in the world.

  "You did not know him," Zachary said. "Why did you kill him?"

  "He attacked me, thinking I was my brother," she said.

  "Who is your brother?" Zachary asked.

  "His name is Draxis," Lexi said. "And I hate him."

  "And your mother, what about her?"

  "She is called Calexis, and I hate her too."

  "Calexis?" Zachary knew the name. "You speak of Queen Calexis of Xalla?"

  "Yes," Lexi said. "She is my mother and she hates me so I hate her."

  "She raised you to hate her?" Kasha asked.

  "No. I was worthless to her," Lexi said. "The mages taught me things, but I learned most things myself from watching and listening and hearing the lies. There was one mage who was not cruel to me, but he lied about many things also."

  "And what about us, Lexi?" Kasha asked. "Do we lie?"

  "No," she said. "You do not lie, but you hide things."

  "Everyone hides things," Zachary said.

  "Who have you killed?" Lexi asked.

  "Not everyone hides things that are wrong," Ashan said, glancing at Zachary. "Most people hide things to protect themselves from those who might see their weaknesses and use them."

  "Aaron doesn't hide things," Lexi said. "Even when he makes it so people can't see his power, he doesn't hide things."

  "He doesn't," Zachary said with a smile.

  "Aaron used a different name when he fought in the circles," Kasha said.

  "Yes, but he never acted like someone he wasn't," Lexi said. "His words are always true."

  "And that is why he is respected by Ansari," Ashan said.

  "Then why did the big Ansari want to kill him?"

  "Because of the shadow," Ashan said. "The shadow is an old power, one of lies, and it wants to control Aaron and take his power."

  "I want to kill the shadow," Lexi said.

  "Only Aaron can do that," Zachary said, though he was beginning to wonder if all of the things Stroma had told him were entirely true.

  "Can't we help him?" Lexi asked.

  "The best way to help Aaron is to become strong, so we can help keep him safe from the one who controls the shadow," Kasha said, and she winced as though she was in pain.

  "If the source of the shadow were to be destroyed, would the shadow leave him?" Zachary asked, looking at the two Ansari, and he noticed that Kasha seemed to be a little unsteady on her feet.

  "It is possible," Ashan said. "We fought the shadow long ago."

  "The dark god, Kenra," Zachary said. "If it is possible, then why was he not destroyed?"

  "The elder gods would not allow it," Ashan said.

  "That is interesting," Zachary said. "Why not?"

  "It is not their way," Ashan told him.

  "It is not their way?" Zachary was surprised. From what he had learned it sounded as though Kenra had no problem trying to destroy the other gods. "He seeks their destruction. Why not return the favor?"

  "The younger gods tried, but Stroma and Ayra chose to banish him instead."

  "It sounds like they only succeeded in banishing themselves," Zachary said.

  "That was part of their agreement with Kenra," Ashan said. "They would leave this world together and put an end to the war between them. Kenra did not honor that agreement."

  "And now? Do you think the elder gods, Stroma and Ayra still wish to banish him or are they willing to do what must be done?"

  "I do not know the minds of the gods," Ashan said. "They Ayra I knew long ago is gone and the girl who she has become is someone else. Stroma is less than he was in many ways, but he is no less arrogant."

  "You are very old," Zachary said. "And very wise."

  Ashan raised an eyebrow.

  "You are very young to one such as myself," he said. "But you perceive many things, more than should be possible."

  "Who is to say what is and what isn't possible?" Zachary said with a grin. "Such thinking does not sound like that of the Ansari."

  "Indeed," Ashan said. He was about to say something else when Kasha dropped to her knees then fell on her side. Zachary, Tash and Lexi ran forward and gathered around as the old man knelt down and lifted her head. "Kasha?"

  "I should not have used my power," she said, her eyes shut tight in pain.

  "What's wrong?" Tash asked.

  "Help me get her back to the shelter," Ashan said. "She must rest."

  "Let me do that," Zachary said, gathering his power. He enlarged the magical ward to mask his power, covering half the forest and the mountain caverns where Stavros had built his home then with a snap of his fingers, he transported them all inside.

  They reappeared inside the room that Stavros had created in his home for Kasha to sleep in and Zachary adjusted his power to make sure the Ansari woman would already be in her bed. A few moments later, the others appeared, having heard the mage use his power.

  "Don't worry, Stavros," Zachary said. "I warded the en
tire mountain before I did anything."

  Stavros was amazed that Zachary could protect such a large area, but he had learned not to underestimate the mage.

  "What is wrong? What has happened?" he asked as they gathered around Kasha, who lay in her bed, her breathing short and fast and her forehead looking feverish.

  "She is unwell," Ashan said, from the edge of the bed then he looked at Zachary. "It was good of you to bring her here, but please do not use your magic near her again. She must not be exposed to power of any kind."

  "I meant no harm," Zachary said.

  "And you have done no harm," Ashan told him. "It should not affect her, but she will become more sensitive to such things."

  "What is wrong with her?" Lexi asked.

  "Will she be all right?" Tash asked.

  Ehlena sat down on the edge of the bed and she touched Kasha's forehead.

  "She is feverish," she said. "Perhaps I can use my power heal her."

  "She does not need healing, and your power will only do her harm," Ashan said. "She merely needs rest. Perhaps it is time for us to return to the desert."

  Zachary looked at the unconscious Ansari woman and, with his power he could see that the old man was subtly feeding energy to her, using it to cover her, to hide something from the others, something that Zachary had already discovered. The mage scratched the scruff on his chin and watched as the old Ansari finished what he was doing.

  "Ashan," Zachary said. "When you are near enough, you can see the flows of power within any of us here, even if we try to hide them, yes?"

  "That I can," he replied.

  "Tell me, who is more powerful, me or this god over here?" Zachary jabbed his thumb toward Stroma, who stood in the doorway to the room.

  "Now is hardly the time to pick a fight over such things," Ehlena said, frowing at him.

  "I didn't ask you, my dear little goddess," Zachary said. "What say you, old man?"

  "I would rather not indulge such questions, Zachary," Ashan said. "If you are looking for flattery or a contest, I suggest you seek it elsewhere."

  "Indulge me," Zachary said. "I do not ask out of some idle need to satisfy my own feelings."