by K T Munson
He didn’t even think of the Fire Nation with any sort of hatred anymore. They weren’t all that different, and if anyone had taught him that, it was Thea. The woman had weaseled her way close to him somehow. She was sneaky like that.
When they reached the top of the volcano, he lowered the telescope and crossed his arms. He could just barely make out Thea’s wave. He waved back, though he doubted she could see him very well either. Thea helped Dorsh up over the lip of the crater, and they all started down into the volcano. He frowned and waited.
Soon, his finger started tapping on his arm as he stared straight ahead. Then all of his fingers drummed against his arm. He felt like pacing but kept his eyes firmly fixed on the gapping maw of the volcano. He soon felt his jaw working and his teeth clenching. Hours passed, and just when he thought he was going to explode with impatience, he saw a spark shoot through the air at the northern end of the volcano.
It was about time!
Kirill’s arms instantly went out to his sides and he smiled, because this was the fun part. He lifted his arms, and the entire iceberg shuddered as his power flowed through it. He was well rested now, and the imminent conclusion of their trip left him exhilarated. He would be able to float back home if this worked. He wouldn’t admit that to Thea, though. ‘Floating’ sounded too girly, and she would tease him if he said it aloud.
The iceberg began to rise. Water fell from it as he slowly and carefully lifted it into the air, and eased it forward. Up and up he went with his arms held wide, and his focus complete.
The air became thin as he floated miles into the sky, and he had to take in deeper, fuller breaths to get the correct amount of air in his lungs. As he moved closer, he could feel the heat of the volcano start to assault his ice shield, too. It was intense, and he hurried the iceberg along.
They planned to use the island like a giant wine cork, stopping the build-up of heat in its tracks. Hopefully it would be enough to end all the damage that was happening to their world.
Another flare shot through the air a few hundred feet in front of him, and he started to lower himself down. Soon, the open crater swallowed the iceberg. Kirill couldn’t help scanning the area in awe as the rock walls rose up around him. As massive as the iceberg was, and as big a burden as it had been on him over the past five weeks, this stone beast consumed it whole.
When the opening above him narrowed slightly, officially making Kirill’s palms sweat, he looked beneath him. At first, he only saw endless smoke, and his heart stopped. He wouldn’t be able to see where he was going. No sooner had the worry crossed his mind than the entire smoke cloud swirled a little and was pressed against the far edges of the volcano. Kirill could now see the ground, which was just a little more than a mile from the bottom of the iceberg. Numerous, narrow canals of churning lava were beneath him, and the orange light was so bright, he had to close his eyes and turn away for a moment while they adjusted. When the stinging subsided, he peered down and could see the three dots of Dorsh, Fitzu, and Thea on the rocks below. From the expression of deep concentration on Fitzu’s face, it was clear that he was the one parting the smoke.
Kirill focused on Thea as she directed him to a particularly violent pool of lava to the north. It sprayed up around the rocks like the Ashtra Sea upon the coast of the Frost Nation. Focusing his aim there, he began to float the ice island in that direction while still slowly easing it down. The bottom of the iceberg eventually started to hiss loudly as it touched down into the lava. Just as Kirill was about to allow himself a triumphant smile, the entire iceberg rocked.
Kirill nearly toppled over the front edge, but forced himself to fall backwards on his butt so he didn’t go over. He kept his concentration despite the interruption, but then the iceberg dipped again, and rammed into the side of the mountain. Ice and snow rained down below him, and he heard Thea cursing. If she was cursing, then she was all right, so he wasn’t too concerned about them below; he became concerned with what had stopped him.
He crawled over to the side and looked down at Thea. She had her hands out to her sides, standing near the outer edge of the pool where he was supposed to place the iceberg. “What’s the holdup, frost flake?”
“I don’t know,” he yelled back. “I think—.”
He was cut off as the iceberg was thrown backward toward the western wall. With a deafening crack, Kirill heard—and, through his magic, felt—the ice island that he had been holding together for the past month, suddenly break apart. One huge section disappeared from his awareness, while the section he was on crashed into the wall.
Before he could come to his senses about what could possibly be happening, the ice landed in a small lava pool. Steam exploded around him and burned his arms right through his ice shield. He yelled in pain and snatched them out of harm’s way, stumbling to try to get to safety; but inside a volcano, there was no real safety for him. Kirill felt every degree of heat assaulting his cold shield that he desperately tried to keep around himself. Trying to focus through the heat, and the pain, and keeping his shield intact, Kirill made his way to a safer edge of the ice.
Before he could, the small section he walked on abruptly dropped. Snow, ice, and Kirill fell to the rocks below. His shoulder hit hard, jarring his entire body, breaking his concentration, and the heat instantly washed over him. He yelled in agony as his skin fractured along his neck, chest, and shoulders before he could snap a shield around himself again. The ice around his skin hissed, and all his injuries burned.
“Kirill!” Thea was yelling, with an edge of panic.
“Here,” he moaned, pushing himself up. He needed to get out of there.
“What happened?” she asked, running up to him.
He didn’t want her near his shield since he had to increase the cold to the point it would likely burn her even from five feet away. She bit her lip as he waved her off to keep her at a safe distance.
“I don’t know,” he panted, moving toward the now melting iceberg. “But I need to get out of here.”
Fitzu came to stand beside Thea, looking concerned. Dorsh waited a few yards away near another lava pool.
Thea examined the remains. “Can you lift it again?”
“Yes,” he said, hoisting himself up onto the ice to start climbing it. “But it moved and broke on its own, and I have no idea how.” He began climbing. “I’m going to go to the top again and see if I can salvage the part that was somehow tossed out of here.” He looked at Thea over his shoulder and saw her fearful gaze. “It’s going to be okay,” he said.
Thea nodded, appearing slightly relieved that this mission could still be successful, though much of the iceberg was gone.
Kirill continued to climb. Whatever had stopped him would be close by, though he couldn’t imagine what it might have been. He needed to get back to the top. Maybe he could use the ocean water to refreeze the iceberg together. It would cost them another day, but it was better than costing them the planet.
He had just pulled himself up over the edge of the iceberg when he heard a yell from below him. It wasn’t Fitzu or Thea. Quickly looking over the edge, Kirill saw Dorsh standing with a strange woman he’d never seen before. Her hand was on his shoulder.
Kirill’s brows dropped. “What the…” What was a strange woman doing at the bottom of this volcano?
The woman was dressed in a long black silky gown that hugged her curves in a nearly inappropriate manner. The dress was strange, but well made, so she wasn’t a homeless Fire Nation native. Her hair was a long mop of silvery blonde with broad black streaks that cascaded down her back; but it was her eyes that were most distinctive. As she looked up at Kirill with a cruel smile, he realized she had one orange eye and one blue eye that seemed to glow with magic.
Kirill looked over at Thea as she lifted her arms, taking up two long fiery whips from the nearby lava canals. Kirill had seen her do it before. What he didn’t expect was for the mystery woman to raise a small lava wall in front of herself, absorbing the whips with
which Thea attacked her.
Suddenly, it dawned on Kirill. This woman had to have moved the iceberg, and now she was manipulating lava. His eyes went wide. It couldn’t be. That was impossible!
“My, my, my, look at what we have here,” she said with a smile as sweet as poison.
“Let him go,” Thea demanded.
She took one step toward the woman, and ice immediately began to spread across Dorsh’s body. He barely had time to scream before he was turned completely to stone. The ice was so strong that frost even developed across his remains. Thea and Fitzu took a few steps back. None of them had expected that. Kirill nearly stopped breathing at what he saw.
The woman was both fire and ice.
“It isn’t nice to trespass,” she smiled wickedly as her hand began to burn orange and Dorsh’s body shattered into a million pieces at her feet. “There’s a penalty to pay.”
Fire: Chapter Thirty-Two
“Rhett,” Darha called among the hustle and bustle in Hurra.
Rhett handed off a handful of medicine to Hickson, whose son was suffering from an infected wound to his abdomen. “Majesty,” Rhett replied as he quickly approached.
She handed him a pile of blankets. “Please deliver these to Forta’s family. They are located on the second floor, seven houses west of here.”
Rhett bowed. “Yes, your majesty.”
“Jamsun,” Darha said as she reached into the cart of bread the Frost Nation had provided. “Mark three blankets to Forta’s family.”
“Marked,” Jamsun replied.
“Your majesty!” Myka called from down the street. “I have another four vials of medicine out with Breh and Gret to deliver!”
“Jamsun?’ Darha called, looking around for him.
“Marked, your majesty.”
“Majesty,” Torla called, getting Darha’s attention, “Hetta’s infant is low on formula.”
“Infant and child supplies are being doled out on the cross street from here,” Darha called and pointed in the general direction.
“Understood.”
“Darha,” Coor called.
Darha grabbed three loaves of bread and handed them to Kulsa’s teenage son for their family of six. “Three loaves to Kulsa’s family,” she informed Jamsun. She reached into the cart again for another loaf. “What is it, Coor?” She glanced up and saw him crouched down wrapping the wound of another teenage boy, Lim, before giving some bandages to him for his father, who was also injured.
He finally approached Darha. “They need help melting the snow Queen Aradel provided for drinking water. A few stubborn diehards ignored the schedule and have exhausted their magic. We’re still desperate for water.”
Darha nodded and handed a loaf of bread down to Juway before wiping her hands on a towel. “Jamsun, one loaf for Juway. Kemu,” she called over her shoulder. The young corporal looked up from handing another struggling family another two loaves of bread. “Will you keep track of the rations?”
She nodded. “Of course, your majesty.”
Darha nodded in thanks then both she and Coor started for the shore of the River Gora.
“I hate to put you to work,” Coor said a little playfully.
“Please,” Darha responded, trying not to let her exhaustion seep into her tone. “It’s my responsibility.”
They walked a few moments in silence before Coor asked, “What is the latest word from Queen Aradel?”
Darha sighed. “Cas last reported that she is heading far south to acquire something that will allow her to repair the magic of their wall. The heat is becoming severe for her people, so they are evacuating farther to the south.”
It was quiet again before Coor asked, confused, “When did you meet with Cas? And where was I?”
Darha felt her cheeks flush crimson. “As soon as we arrived back in Hurra from Queen Vesna’s service. You were busy with the wounded and the rations.” Darha carefully glanced up at her brother and noticed the incredulous look on his face.
As soon as she glanced up at him, Coor’s expression expanded into a mischievous smile. “Are you blushing?”
“What?” Darha cried as if offended. “Of course not! Why would I?”
Coor grinned. “I have no idea. Why would you?”
“I wouldn’t! Would you—”
“Look at me,” Coor said lightheartedly and walked backwards, studying Darha’s face. Darha regarded him with a glare, hoping he would take her red cheeks for anger, or perhaps annoyance; she would take either one over the actual reason. But Coor threw his head back and laughed as he started walking forward again. She couldn’t hide anything from her brother.
“Shut up,” she said, shoving her shoulder into Coor’s side, barely knocking him off balance.
They approached the shore a few minutes later where the mountain of snow rested in a hundred-foot heap along the River Gora. Already some of the snow was melting into the river and raising the levels slightly, but it would be days before all of it was gone. A dozen Fire Nation citizens were shoveling the snow into the hundreds of metal barrels waiting nearby. Only about twenty were full of water. Another hundred had some snow in them waiting to be melted. The other hundred or so were empty.
As they approached the soldiers that had exhausted their magic, they immediately stood and bowed, before looking at her with shame. “We apologize, your majesty,” Naliah said mournfully.
Sokka sighed. “We lost track of time. The demands for water—”
“It’s all right,” Darha interrupted before either could go on. “There’s plenty of work to be done that doesn’t require magic. Will you both go see Jamsun in town? He is dealing with the rations of our supplies. There is plenty for you to do.”
They both bowed again. “Yes, your majesty.”
As soon as they both took off, Coor went over to help the people shoveling the snow into barrels while Darha lit her hands up with her fire magic. She was about to start melting the barrels of snow when she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Turning, she grinned broadly, probably too broadly, when she saw Cas approaching. She was glad her brother couldn’t see her face right now.
She extinguished her magic and started walking over to him. Coor continued shoveling snow, but Darha noted his teasing smile as she passed, though he deliberately avoided her eyes, pretending to be concentrating on his task.
“Queen Darha,” Cas said as he approached.
Darha felt her cheeks flush crimson once more at the sight of Cas’s smile. It was a sweet and gentle smile, but also somehow playful, which always made her grin whenever she saw it.
“I told you,” Darha said gently, as they stopped in front of each other. “I’m not your Queen. Darha is fine.”
He was so tall that the top of Darha’s head only came up under his chin, forcing him to tilt his head down to look at her. That caused his golden blonde bangs to nearly fall into his pretty, pale green eyes. Darha swallowed heavily, trying to keep her emotions in check while she spoke to the handsome southerner.
Cas’s smile broadened. “I would not dream of denying you your rightful title.”
Darha’s grin spread across her face before she could stop it, and she bowed her head bashfully. It was quiet a moment before Darha looked back up at him. She noticed for the first time that Cas only had four Frost Nation soldiers with him when he usually had at least a dozen.
Her brows drew together in concern. “Is everything all right?”
Cas nodded. “As all right as things can be.”
Darha nodded in understanding. Cas’s eyes rested on her, and she saw a new light in them that went beyond their usual playful charm. Something deeper there made Darha’s heart beat faster.
“I wanted to ask you if you needed anything else from the Frost Nation.”
Darha found herself swallowing heavily. “I don’t think so. Your Queen has been more than generous. We have everything we need right now.”
Cas’s smile brightened. “Good.” He took a step, bringing h
im so close to her she could feel the cold of his ice shield waft over her skin. “I came to also inform you that many of the Frost Nation soldiers are evacuating south. Most have already left.” He looked at her with such softness Darha could hardly breathe. “I asked to be reassigned to the guard tower closest to Hurra on The Wall. If you should need anything, I am at your disposal.”
Darha tried to catch her breath without being ridiculous about it. She swallowed heavily to try to hide it. “Thank you, Cas,” she whispered roughly, and then awkwardly cleared her throat. “Thank you, Cas,” she said more strongly. “I’m”—she met his eyes— “I’m glad to know you will be close by.”
Cas smiled. “As am I.”
Darha grinned in return. Cas bowed slightly at the waist, and with a final smile, he and the other Frost Nation soldiers started south toward The Wall. She watched him go for a moment, and as he departed, her heart seemed to reach out for him.
“Cas!” she called before she could stop herself.
Cas paused and turned to her again as she approached. She was Queen, the most powerful fire wielder in the Fire Nation. She could do things with heat no one else could, so she concentrated on the heat just around her lips. It took a moment, but when she eventually felt it push away from her skin, she lifted herself onto her tippy toes to quickly kiss Cas’s cheek without burning him. His ice-cold skin briefly turned her lips to stone, which stung, but it was worth it for that brief exchange. He had bent forward slightly so she could reach, and when she stood flat on her feet again, he was surprisingly close to her.
“Thank you,” she said, glancing up at him awkwardly.
She caught him smiling broadly, with slight amazement in his eyes, before she turned and hurried back to her task. Nearing her brother, who still pretended to be concentrating, Darha saw his lips were pressed together firmly with the corners up.
“Oh, shut up,” Darha muttered as she passed him. This elicited the exact opposite response, as Coor roared with laughter.