Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  And-iyet,-ihere-ihe-iwas,-isitting-iamongst-iall-iof-ithe-itrappings-iof-ihis-isuccess,-ithe-iDark-iLord-iof-iDemethros,-iharbinger-iof-ithe-iapocalypse,-ifeeling-icompletely-ibored-iout-iof-ihis-imind.

  Off-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ihis-imassive-ibone-ithrone,-ilit-iby-ithe-ifaint-iflickering-iof-itorchlight,-istood-ithe-ivarious-iheads-iof-inoble-ihouses-iwho'd-isworn-ihim-ifealty-ifrom-ihis-irecent-iconquests.-iThe-iGrovelsons,-ithe-iSnivelots,-ithe-iCowertons...-itheir-iarmies-icounted-ifor-ionly-ia-iminute-ifraction-iof-ihis-istrength,-ibut-ihe-ifelt-ia-istrange-isense-iof-iperverse-ipride-ito-ihave-ithem-iconstantly-iwaiting-iat-ihis-ibeck-iand-icall,-iwaiting-iwith-ibated-ibreath-ifor-ihim-ito-itell-ithem-ito-ijump-ioff-ia-icliff-ibecause-iit-ipleased-ihim.

  All-iof-ithat-isaid,-iwhen-iGod-ihad-ioffered-ihim-ithe-ichance-ito-ibecome-ithe-idastardly-ivillain-ihe'd-ialways-idreamed-iof-ibecoming,-iand-ibecome-ithe-igod-iof-ithis-inew-iworld-iof-ihis-istorybook-iimagination,-ihe'd-ileapt-iat-ithe-ichance.-iWho-iwouldn't?-iBut-inow,-ihaving-idone-ieverything-ihe-icould-ithink-iof-ito-ido,-iand-iwith-iabsolutely-ino-ichallenge-ito-ianything-ihe-iever-idid,-ieven-imoving-ioff-ihis-ithrone-ilong-ienough-ito-itake-ia-ishit-ifelt-ilike-ia-itremendous-ichore.

  God-ihad-ipromised-ihim-ithere-iwould-ibe-ia-igreat-ihero-ispawned-iinto-ithis-iworld.-iHis-iopposite.-iHis-iequal.-iHis-ione-ireal-ichallenge-ito-ibecoming-ithe-igod-iof-ithis-inew-iworld.-iAll-ihe-ihad-ito-ido-iwas-ifind-iand-idefeat-ithis-igreat-ihero,-iand-igodhood-iwould-ibe-ihis.-iBut-iin-iall-iof-ihis-isearching,-iwith-iall-iof-ihis-iresources-imassed-ito-ithe-itask-iof-ifinding-ithis-ilegendary-ihero,-ihe'd-iturned-iup-inothing.-iEvery-ireport-ihe'd-ifollowed-iup-ion-iabout-ia-igreat-ihero-iled-ito-isome-iother-irandom-iNPC-iwith-ia-ibig-ishiny-isword-iand-ia-ibig-ishiny-ismile-iand-ia-ibig-ishiny-ican-do-iattitude,-iand-iafter-ia-ifew-iseconds,-ia-ibig-ishiny-icorpse-ileft-ismoking-iin-ia-ibig-ishiny-icrater.-iIt-iwas-iall-iso-ivery-itedious.

  The-iDark-iLord-iof-iDemethros-isnapped-ihis-ifingers,-iand-ias-iif-ion-icue,-ithree-ithings-istepped-iforward--iAn-iexecutioner-iwith-ia-icomically-ilarge-iaxe,-ian-ientertainer-iin-ia-ifool's-icap,-iand-ia-iscantily-iclad-iSuccubus-iholding-iher-iown-ileash.-iHe-ilooked-ifrom-ione-ito-ithe-inext-iwith-ia-isigh,-ihis-icheek-iresting-ion-ithe-iknuckles-iof-ihis-ileft-ihand.-iAfter-ia-imoment's-ideliberation,-ihe-ipointed-ito-ithe-iexecutioner,-iwho-istepped-iforward-iand-iknelt.-iBefore-ithe-iother-itwo-icould-istep-iout-iof-isight-iagain,-ihe-ipointed-ito-ithe-ientertainer,-iwho-iyelped-iand-iattempted-ito-irun.-iWith-ia-ilazy-iflick-iof-ihis-iwrist,-ithe-iDark-iLord-ilocked-ithe-iman-iin-iplace,-iand-icompelled-ihim-ito-ikneel,-ileaning-iwith-ihis-iface-idown-itowards-ithe-ipaved-itile-iof-ithe-ifloor.

  Suddenly,-ijust-ias-ihe-iwas-iabout-ito-igive-ithe-iorder-ito-ihave-ithe-iman-ibeheaded,-ia-ismall-ifloating-ibearded-iman-ipoofed-iinto-ithe-iair-inext-ito-ithe-iDark-iLord's-ithrone,-iand-iwaved-iat-ihim.

  "Dennis!-iI-ihave-igood-inews!-iI-ifinally-ifound-iyou-ia-ihero-ito-iface.-iHe-ijust-imade-iinto-ithe-iworld-ia-ifew-ihours-iago.-iHe's-ilooking-ifor-ia-ichallenge.-iCan-iI-iborrow-ia-ifew-igoblins?"-iFrumpkin-iasked,-ihopping-iup-iand-itaking-ia-iseat-ion-ithe-iarm-iof-ithe-iskull-ithrone.

  ###-iChapter-i23-i--iA-iPlan-iForms

  One-iof-ithe-ifirst-ithings-ithat-iJames-inoticed-ias-ihe-itrained-ievery-iday-iwith-iRose-iand-ipracticed-ihis-imagical-iabilities-iwith-iEleanor-iwas-ijust-ihow-imuch-iweight-ihe-iwas-ilosing.-iSomething-iabout-ithe-iquality-iof-ithe-ifood-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-iwere-ipreparing,-icombined-iwith-ithe-ihuge-iamount-iof-ienergy-iexpended-iin-ihis-idays,-iwas-imaking-ihim-ished-iweight-ilike-ihe-iwas-idying-iof-icancer.-iAnd-ihe-ifelt-ihis-imuscles-iswelling-iand-ihardening-ifrom-iconstant-iuse-ithat,-ieven-iin-ispite-iof-ithe-ilimited-itime-ihe'd-ibeen-iat-iit,-ihe-icould-isee-ihis-itoes-istanding-iup-istraight,-iand-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-iin-ihis-ilife,-ihe-ihad-iclear-idefinition-iin-ihis-iarms,-ichest,-iand-ilegs.-iThere-iwas-istill-isome-ithickness-iin-ithe-imiddle,-ibut-iif-iI-ihe-ikept-ithis-iup,-ihe'd-ihave-iwashboard-iabs-iin-ino-itime,-ihe-iimagined.

  He-ialso-ihad-ia-icreeping-isuspicion-ithat-iEleanor-iliterally-isucking-ithe-ilife-iout-iof-ihim-ievery-icouple-iof-idays-iwasn't-ihelping-ihim-istay-ithick-iand-ichubby-ieither,-ibut-ieven-iif-iit-iwas-iliterally-ikilling-ihim,-ihe-iwasn't-iabout-ito-istop-ienjoying-ihimself-iover-isomething-ias-itrivial-ias-ihis-iimpending-idemise.

  He-ialso,-ion-ia-iwhim,-idecided-iit-iwas-itime-ito-ibe-irid-iof-ihis-iback-length,-iratty-ihair,-iand-ihis-ifacial-ihair.-iSomething-iabout-ithem-ijust-ididn't-ifeel-iright-ianymore,-inow-ithat-ihe'd-ibegun-itransforming-ihimself.-iSimon,-iwith-ithe-ihelp-iof-iEleanor's-iheat-deadening-ispell,-igave-ihim-ia-iclose-ishave-iwith-ione-iof-ithe-ikitchen-iknives,-iand-iEleanor-iand-iMadeleine-imade-ia-ismall-iproject-iout-iof-icutting-iand-istyling-ihis-ihair.

  Once-ihe-ifinally-isaw-ihis-ireflection-iin-ithe-imirror-iRose-iheld-iout-ito-ihim,-ihe-ididn't-irecognize-ihimself.-iHe-ilooked...-icool.-iLike-ian-iactual-ihero.-iHe-ihad-ito-iphysically-ipull-iat-ihis-iface-iand-ihair-ia-ifew-itimes-ijust-ito-imake-isure-ihe-iwasn't-ilosing-ihis-imind.-iIt-iwas-ireal.-iAnd-iit-igave-ihim-ithe-ijolt-ihe-ineeded-ito-iget-iback-ito-iwork.

  "So,-iwhere-iexactly-ido-iheroes-igo-ito-ifind-iadventure-iin-ithis-iworld?"-iJames-iasked-iover-idinner-ione-ievening-iabout-ia-imonth-iinto-ihis-istay-iwith-iSimon-iand-ithe-igirls.-iHe-iwas-ienjoying-ihis-itime-iwith-ithe-ifour-iof-ithem-iimmensely,-iEleanor-iand-iRose-iespecially,-ibut-ihe-iwas-ifinding-ithat-ihe-ihad-ireached-ia-iceiling-iin-ihis-iskills,-iand-ithe-ifact-ithat-iFrumpkin-ihadn't-ioffered-ihim-iany-imore-iawards-isince-iarriving,-idespite-ihis-iaccomplishments,-itold-ihim-ihe-iwasn't-imaking-iany-igenuine-iprogress-itowards-ihis-ifinal-igoal.-iWhich-imeant-ieither-ihe-iwaited-ifor-iadventure-ito-icome-ito-ihim,-ior-ihe-iwent-iout-ilooking-ifor-iit.-iAnd-ihe-ihad-ia-isneaking-isuspicion,-ibased-ion-iall-iof-ihis-itime-iimmersing-ihimself-iin-ifantasy-iworlds-ibefore-ihis-isudden-iand-iuntimely-ideath,-ithat-isitting-iand-iwaiting-ifor-iit-ito-icome-ito-ihim-iwould-inot-ibe-ihis-ibest-ioption.

  "Most-ieverywhere-iin-ithe-iworld-ineeds-iadventurers-ithese-idays,-iat-ileast-iin-ithe-itowns-iand-icities.-iI-ithink-iyour-ibest-ibet-iwould-iprobably-ibe-ito-ihead-ito-ione-iof-ithose-iand-isee-iif-ithe-iguilds-ineed-iany-ihelp."-iRose-isaid.

  "W'en-iI-iwas-ithere'n-i'Awkport-inot-itwo-idays-i'go,-ithem's-i'avin'-itroubles-iwit'-i'em-ikobolds-iagain."-iSimon-isaid,-ichiming-iin-ibetween-imouthfuls-iof-ichicken.

  "Hawkport's-iwhere-iI-iwould-isay-ito-ihead-ifirst,-ithen."-iRose-isaid.

  "How-ifar-iis-iit-ifrom-ihere?"-iJames-iasked.

  "About-ia-iweek's-itravel,-iI'd-isay."-iRose-isaid.-i"If-iyou're-iwalking,-iat-ileast.-iAlthough,-iin-iyour-icase,-iprobably-ia-icouple-ihours-iby-iflight."

  "Yeah,-ithat'd-ibe-igreat.-iExcept-iI-ican't-ifly-inearly-ithat-ilong-ibefore-iI'm-itoo-idrained-ito-istand.-iAnd-iI-ineed-ia-ifull-inight's-irest-ito-irecharge,-iit-iseems-ilike."-iJames-isaid.

  "In-ithat-icase,-iI'd-ijust-itake-ithings-ithe-iscenic-iway."-iRose-isaid.

  "Plus,-iif-iyou-ido-ithings-ithe-iscenic-iway,-iwe-iwill-iactually-ibe-iable-ito-ijoin-iyou-ion-ithe-ijourney!"-iEleanor-ichimed-iin-iwith-ia-ismile.

  "I'm-icoming-itoo."-iMadeleine-isaid-iquietly,-iand-iwhile-iher-ispeaking-ididn't-icatch-ihim-ioff-guard-ianymore,-ithe-ifact-ithat-ishe'd-iwant-ito-itravel-iwith-ihim-idid,-ias-imuch-ias-ishe-iseemed-ito-ilove-ithings-iaround-ithe-ifarm.-iHe-ialso-istill-istruggled-iwith-itreating-iher-iand-ithinking-iof-iher-ilike-ia-ichild-ibecause-iof-ihow-ishe-ilooked,-ieven-ithough-ihe-iknew-ithat-iwas-istupid.

  "Well,-ialright-ithen.-iI-iguess-iI-ihave-ia-iparty,-ithen!"-iJames-isaid,-igrinning.-i"Let's-istart-iprepping-ifor-ithe-itrip!"-i

  ###-iChapter-i24-i--iPrepping-ifor-ithe-iJourney

  They-ispent-ithe-inext-iseveral-idays-ipreparing-ifor-ithe-ijourney.-iA-ilarge-ipart-iof-ithe-iwork-iwas-ijust-imaking-isure-iSimon-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-ialright-iwithout-ithe-iextra-isets-iof-ihands,-ibut-ihe-iwas-iadamant-ithat-ihe-ididn't-ineed-ithem.

  "Don'-iworry-i'bout-ime,-igirls!-iI'm-ienjoy-ith'-ispot-io'-ipers'nal-ipeace-ifor-ia-ichange"-iHe-isaid,-ilaughing.-i"Ne'er-iseem-ito-iget-imuch-io'-ithose-i'ese-idays,-iI'm-i'
fraid."

  The-igirls,-irather-ithan-itaking-ioffense,-iseemed-ito-ibe-iglad-ithat-ihe-iwas-iglad.-iEleanor-iand-iRose-iboth-iconfided-ito-iJames-ilater-ithat-ievening-ithat-ithey-iworried-iabout-iever-ileaving-ihim-ialone,-ias-iold-ias-ihe-iwas,-ibut-iwere-igrateful-iat-ithe-ichance-ito-iget-iout-ifor-ia-ichange,-iespecially-isince-iit'd-ibe-iwith-ihim.-iUp-iuntil-ihe'd-iarrived,-ithey'd-inever-ireally-ibeen-igiven-imuch-ichance-ito-isee-ithe-iworld,-imuch-iless-imeet-ianyone-ioutside-iof-itheir-ifamily.

  They-ipacked-iprovisions-iin-ia-iset-iof-isturdy-ibackpacks-ithat-iEleanor-iand-iJames-imanaged-ito-iconjure-iand-icraft-iout-ivarious-imaterials.-iFood-iincluded-ia-imixture-iof-idried-imeat,-idried-ifruit,-iand-irendered-ifat-icalled-ipemmican-ithat-iMadeleine-iand-iRose-imade-itogether-iin-ilarge-ipots-iand-ishaped-iinto-ilog-like-irolls-isimilar-ito-ibeef-ijerky-icandy-ibars,-icheese,-iseveral-ilarge-iloaves-iof-icrusty-ibread,-iand-ia-icouple-ibottles-iof-iwine-ithat-iSimon-iinsisted-ithey-itake-ifrom-ithe-iroot-icellar-ifor-ithe-itrip.-iThere-iwere-ialso-iother-isupplies,-isuch-ias-ia-ilarge-ioilskin-itent-ifor-ishelter,-icooking-iutensils,-ia-imap,-ibedrolls,-iand-iother-iessentials.

  James-ialso-ipacked-iseveral-isets-iof-ihis-inew-itunic-iand-ibreeches-ithat-ihe'd-imade-iwith-ithe-ihelp-iof-ithe-igirls.-iHe-ihadn't-iplanned-ion-igetting-irid-iof-ihis-iold-iworld-iclothes,-ibut-ieven-iin-ispite-iof-imagical-icleaning-iand-irestoration,-ithey'd-icompletely-ifallen-iapart-iinto-ia-ithreadbare-imess-iover-ithe-ilast-imonth-ior-iso-iof-iconstant-iwearing-iand-ibattering.-iIt-ihad-ifinally-igotten-iso-ibad-ithat-iRose-iinsisted-ihe-ifind-inew-iclothes-ifor-ibasic-idecency's-isake,-iforced-ihim-ito-istrip-ibehind-ithe-ibarn,-iand-iburned-ithem-ias-ihe-istood-ithere-iass-inaked,-itrying-ihis-ibest-ito-ikeep-ithe-iimportant-iparts-icovered-iwith-ihis-ihands.

  Though,-ito-ibe-ihonest,-ihe-iwasn't-isorry-ifor-ithe-ichange.-iIt-imade-ihis-i"hero"-istatus-ifeel-ijust-ia-ilittle-ibit-imore-iofficial.-iAnd-ihonestly,-ithe-inew-iclothes-iwere-ijust-ia-iwhole-iheck-iof-ia-ilot-imore-icomfortable,-ifor-isome-ibizarre-ireason.

  After-iseveral-idays,-ithey-iwere-ifinally-iprepared-ito-igo,-iand-idecided-ito-iset-iout-iearly-ithe-inext-imorning.-iNot-iknowing-ifor-ihow-ilong-ithey-iwould-ibe-igone,-ithey-idecided-ito-ihold-ia-ismall-iparty-itogether-iwith-iSimon,-idrinking-iand-ieating-iand-ilaughing-iwell-iinto-ithe-inight,-iuntil-ithey-iall-ifinally-idrifted-ioff-ito-isleep-iwith-ibellies-ifull-iof-imeat-iand-iwine,-iand-iheads-ifull-iof-ianticipation-ifor-itheir-icoming-ijourney.

  Awaking-isome-itime-iafter-idawn,-ithey-istepped-iout-iof-ithe-ihotbox-iof-ithe-ihouse-iand-iinto-ithe-icomparably-ichilly-iair-iof-ithe-iearly-imorning.-iA-ithin-ilayer-iof-ifog-iblanketed-ithe-iground,-iand-ithe-isky-iwas-ilargely-iraked-iover-iby-iclouds-ithat-idulled-ithe-iglow-iof-ithe-isun.-iBut,-ias-ihe-ishouldered-ihis-iheavy-ipack-iand-iplopped-ihis-iaxe-ihaft-ion-ihis-ishoulder,-inothing-iin-ithe-iworld-icould-idull-iJames's-iexcitement.-iHe-ifelt-ifor-icertain-ihis-iheart-iwould-ibeat-icompletely-iout-iof-ihis-ichest.-iHe-iturned-ito-ithe-igirls,-iwho-iwere-iall-idressed-iand-igeared-ifor-ithe-itrip.

  "Are-iwe-iready?"-iHe-iasked.

  "I-ithink-iso.-iI-iwent-iback-ithrough-iall-iof-ithe-ipacks-ithis-imorning-ibefore-iwe-iput-ithem-ion."-iMadeleine-isaid-isimply.-i"Yours-iis-ithe-iheaviest."

  "Of-icourse-iit-iis."-iHe-isaid-iwith-ia-imock-isigh,-iand-ireadjusted-ihis-ipack.

  "Alright-ithen!-iLet's-igo!"

  ###-iChapter-i25-i--iOn-ithe-iRoad

  The-iland-isouth-iof-ithe-ifarmstead-iwas-ia-iseries-iof-ilow,-irolling-ihills-icovered-iwith-itall-igreen-igrass-iand-ivarious-ikinds-iof-ismall-iundergrowth,-iwith-ithe-ioccasional-itree-iand-irock-ioutcropping-ihere-iand-ithere-ibreaking-iup-ithe-ismooth-iplanes-iof-ithe-iearth.-iThe-ifour-iof-ithem-ifollowed-ia-ibeaten-iearthen-ipath-ithat-iwove-iup-iand-idown-iand-iaround-ithe-ihills,-itaking-ioccasional-ibreaks-iin-ithe-ishade-iof-ione-iof-ithe-itrees-ior-istones.-iThe-isun-ihad-irisen-ito-imidday-iby-ithis-ipoint,-iand-ithe-iday-ihad-ibecome-ihad-ienough-ithat-iJames-iand-ithe-igirls-iwere-isweating-iever-iso-islightly,-ieven-iin-ispite-iof-itheir-ileisurely-ipace-iand-ilight-iclothing.-iAt-ione-ipoint-ilater-iin-ithe-iday,-ithey-icame-ito-itheir-ifirst-iriver-icrossing.

  The-iriver-istretched-iabout-i150-ifeet-iin-iwidth,-ibut-ididn't-iappear-ito-ibe-iflowing-iwith-imuch-iforce,-iand-ifrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-iit-ifrom-ithe-iwater's-iedge,-iwasn't-ivery-ideep,-ieither.-iAs-iif-ito-iconfirm-iJames's-isuspicions,-iRose-iled-ithe-iway-iinto-ithe-iwater,-ilifting-iMadeleine-iup-ito-isit-ion-iher-ishoulders-ias-ishe-icrossed.-iShe-imotioned-ifor-iJames-iand-iEleanor-ito-ifollow.-iEleanor-icame-iimmediately-iafter,-ichoosing-ito-ihike-iup-iher-idress-iup-iaround-iher-ishoulders-ito-iavoid-iit-igetting-iwet,-icausing-iJames's-iface-ito-iturn-ibeet-ired-iwhen-ihe-isaw-ishe-ihad-inothing-ion-iunderneath-iit.-iShe-iglanced-iback-iover-iher-ishoulder-iwith-ia-iknowing-ismirk-ias-ishe-istepped-iinto-ithe-iwater,-iand-ihe-iquickly-iaverted-ihis-ieyes-ias-ihe-ifollowed-iher-iinto-ithe-istream.-iWhile-inot-ilooking,-ihe-icould-istill-ihear-ithe-ihiss-iof-isteaming-iwater-iwith-iher-ievery-imovement,-iand-ithe-iresulting-ifog-iin-iher-iwake-imade-iwhatever-ipart-iof-ihim-ithat-iwasn't-iin-ithe-iwater-idamp-ianyways.

  The-iwater-iwas-ifreezing-icold,-iseemingly-iunaffected-iby-ithe-iwarmth-iof-ithe-isunshine-iat-iall.-iWhen-ihe-iremarked-ion-ihow-iunbelievably-icold-iit-iwas,-iMadeleine-ireplied-iboredly-iwith-i"It's-iicemelt-ifrom-ithe-imountains-iup-inorth",-ias-iif-ithat-ishould-ihave-ibeen-iobvious-ito-ihim-ifrom-ithe-istart.

  After-icrossing-ithe-iriver,-ithe-ifour-iof-ithem-itook-ia-ifew-imoments-ito-idry-ioff.-iThe-ithree-igirls,-iwith-itheir-inatively-ihigh-ibody-itemperatures-idried-iin-ia-ifew-imoments-inaturally.-iJames,-ifor-ihis-ipart,-itried-iout-ia-iwater-icontrol-ispell,-iand-ifound-ithat-iwith-ia-ilittle-ieffort-iand-iconcentration,-ihe-icould-idraw-ithe-imoisture-iout-iof-ihis-iclothes-iand-ihair-iinto-ia-ifloating-iball-iof-iwater,-iwhich-ihe-ithen-isprayed-iin-ithe-idirection-iof-ithe-ithree-igirls.-iThis-iled-ito-iEleanor-icasting-ia-icounterspell-ithat-idissipated-ithe-ispray,-ionly-ito-ihave-iit-ireverse-idirection-iand-icatch-iJames-isquare-iin-ithe-iface-ibefore-ihe-icould-ireact.-iFor-ithe-ifirst-itime-isince-ihe'd-imet-iher,-iMadeleine-ilaughed,-ia-ipleasant,-ibell-like-igiggle-ithat-imade-ihim-ifeel-iall-iwarm-iand-ifuzzy-ion-ithe-iinside,-idespite-ihis-iwet-iand-ifreezing-iexterior.

  Towards-inightfall,-ishortly-iafter-isunset,-ithey-icrested-ia-ifinal-ihill-iand-isaw-ia-ilarge,-iflat-ivalley-ispread-iout-ibelow-ithem,-idotted-iwith-iclumps-iof-itrees.-iIn-ithe-icenter,-iseveral-idozen-ilights-ishone-ibrightly-iin-ithe-idimming-ievening,-idenoting-ia-ismall-ivillage-inestled-iin-ibetween-itwo-ismaller-iclumps-iof-itrees-iand-iflanked-ion-ione-iside-iby-ia-ismaller-iriver.

  "That's-iArrowmeade.-iThere-iare-ia-icouple-iinns-ihere-iwe-ican-istay-iin-ifor-ithe-inight,-iif-iyou'd-iprefer-inot-ito-icamp-ioff-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-iroad."-iRose-isaid,-ipointing-iin-ithe-idirection-iof-ithe-ismall-ivillage.

  "Sounds-igood-iwith-ime."-iJames-isaid.

  "I-iwant-ireal-ifood."-iMadeleine-isaid-isimply,-iand-iEleanor-iagreed.

  As-ithey-ibegan-itheir-iway-idown-ithe-ihill,-ihowever,-ithey-iheard-ia-iloud-iscream-icarried-ifaintly-iacross-ithe-iwind-ifrom-ithe-ivillage.-iAnd-ithen-ianother.

  And-ithey-iwatched-iin-ihorror-ias-ione-iof-ithe-ibuildings-iin-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-ivillage-iburst-iinto-iflames.

  ###-iChapter-i26-i--iBonfire

  It-itook-ithe-ifour-iof-ithem-iseveral-iminutes-ito-imake-iit-ito-ithe-ioutskirts-iof-itown.-iBy-ithe-itime-ithey-iarrived,-iseveral-imore-iof-ithe-ibuildings-iwere-iablaze,-iand-ia-ibell-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-itown-irang-iloudly-iin-isome-iform-iof-iwarning.-iAs-ithey-iapproached,-iseveral-imen-iand-iwomen-iran-ipast-ithem-iat-ifull-ispeed,-ione-iof-iwhom-istopped-itheir-irun-ijust-ilong-ienough-ito-itell-ithe-ifour-iof-ithem-ito-ido-ithe-isame.

  "What's-ihappening-ihere?"James-iasked-ithe-iterrified-iman.

  But-ithe-iman,-iseeing-ithey-ididn't-iimmediately-ifollow-ihis-iadvice,-ihe-ikept-ion-irunning,-idashing-ias-ifast-ias-ihis-ishort-ilegs-iwould-icarry-ihim-iinto-ithe-ievening-ipast-ithe-ioutskirts-iof-itown-iwithout-iever-iresponding.

  "Well,-ithat's-inot-ia-igood-isign."-iJames-isaid,-iturning-ito
-ithe-iother-ithree.-iRose-ialready-ihad-iher-isword-idrawn,-iand-iEleanor-iperformed-ia-ifew-ihand-igestures-ibefore-ia-ifaint-iblue-ilight-iflashed,-iand-ia-ifaint-iglow-iof-iMage-iArmor-igathered-iaround-iher.

  "No,-iit's-inot."-iRose-isaid,-iwalking-islowly-itowards-ithe-ivillage.-i"Keep-iyour-ieyes-iopen."

  "Goblin-iattack,-iyou-ithink?-iOr-isomething-ielse?"-iEleanor-iasked,-iturning-itowards-iRose.

  Before-iRose-icould-ireply,-ian-iexplosion-itore-ithrough-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-ivillage-ia-icouple-ihundred-ifeet-iahead-iof-ithem,-isending-ia-ifireball-inearly-ia-ihundred-ifeet-iinto-ithe-iair-iand-ishooting-iseveral-idark-ishapes-iflying-iinto-ithe-isky-ithat-iJames-ihoped-ibeyond-ihope-iweren't-ihuman-ibodies.

  "Something-ielse."-iMadeleine-isaid-idryly.

  "Yeah.-iWe-ineed-ito-ihurry!-iLet's-igo!"-iRose-isaid,-ibreaking-iinto-ia-isprint-itowards-ithe-ivillage-icenter.-iEleanor-iand-iMadeleine-iran-iafter-iher,-ileaving-iJames-istanding-idumbfounded.

  "Come-ion,-iJames!-iHurry-iup!"-iEleanor-icalled-iback-ito-ihim-ias-ishe-iran.

  "And-igo-iin-ithere?-iAre-iyou-icrazy?-iWe-idon't-ieven-iknow-iwhat's-iin-ithere!"-iJames-icalled-iback.

  "You're-ithe-ihero-iof-ilegend!-iYou-ican-iliterally-ibend-ithe-iworld-ito-iyour-iwill!-iWhat-iare-iyou-iso-iafraid-iof?"-iEleanor-isaid,-istopping-iand-iturning-itowards-ihim-iwith-iher-ihands-ion-iher-ihips,-iher-itail-iflicking-iback-iand-iforth.

  "Dying!"-iJames-icalled-iback.

  Eleanor-istomped-iback-ithe-icouple-idozen-ifeet-iback-iover-ito-ihim,-iand-igrabbed-ihis-ihand,-iscorching-ithe-ibajeezus-iout-iof-iit,-ibut-idespite-ihis-ihowling-iprotests-iof-ipain,-irefused-ito-ilet-igo-ias-ishe-iphysically-idrug-ihim-iby-ithe-ihand-ibehind-iher.-iIt-iwas-inow-ihe-irealized-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ijust-ihow-iridiculously-istrong-ithe-iTiefling-iactually-iwas.-iHe-inow-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-igot-ithe-idistinct-iimpression-ithat-ihe-icouldn't-ihave-irefused-iher-iearlier-iadvances-iif-ihe-ihad-itried.-iShe-ifinally-ilet-igo-iof-ihis-ihand-iwhen-ithey-iwere-iback-itogether-iwith-ithe-iothers,-iand-ihe-ilooked-idown-ito-isee-ithe-ientire-ipalm-iof-ihis-iright-ihand-iblistered-iup-ilike-ia-islice-iof-ihalf-cooked-ibacon.-i