Bound by Fire

by Ronald Craft

  Chapter 12

  The inn had been a welcome respite from the cold that had drained the warmth from Kane's bones during their journey. When they arrived, he noted that the people were wary of them; more so than usual.

  The inn was in disrepair, many of the chairs and tables broken, and the residents huddled over their ales, watching his every movement. Even the innkeeper kept a club nearby.

  Karena had been here too.

  Kane took a long draught from his ale and glared at Chaerok. “So, what do you propose we do now?”

  Chaerok shrugged and crossed his arms. “It's not something we can't work around. There's probably so—”

  He slammed his mug on the table with a loud thud and sent ale sloshing over the sides. “Something we can't work around? It's an avalanche, you fool. The entire mountain pass is blocked off by enough snow to bury this town six times.”

  They had arrived in Pineview just in time to see half the snow on the mountain crash down into the pass. A few of the houses on the outskirts had been swept up in the snow as well. The people of Pineview had started digging the houses out in the hopes of finding survivors, but in this cold he doubted they'd find any.

  Captain Haring sat adjacent to Kane, wrapping new bandages around his foot. “Kane, you think we could go around it? I know it's out of the way, but we could probably make decent time if we kept a quick pace.”

  Kane cleared off the table and pulled a map out of his pocket. He spread it out and marked several spots with his fingers. “If we go around here it'll be avalanche's or rock fall that'll get us. Here,” he pointed at another spot, “there's some foul mist that leaks out of the mountain. You breath it in and you die. So, I'd recommend against us going that route either.”

  He closed his eyes and sighed. This journey was becoming more grim by the moment.

  “We can't stay here, Kane. Somehow, we have to get past these mountains.” Chaerok rocked in his chair, his eyes scanning the room.

  “You think I don't know that? We're out of options. Unless you can magic us across the mountains, then I'm not sure what else we can do.”

  How long had it been since Chaerok fed? Kane wasn't sure how often he needed to replenish himself. Chaerok was eying the inn keeper like a half-starved man might eye a loaf of bread.

  What a terrifying creature you are, Chaerok.

  Haring limped over and placed his hand on Kane's shoulder. “Calm down, friend. Getting worked up won't do us any good.” He took the map and held it up in front of him. “Hmm...” Haring turned the map sideways and pulled it closer to his face. “Aha,” he said at last.

  Kane and Chaerok shared a look of confusion.

  “Aha? What do you think you've found?” Kane emptied the last of his tobacco into his pipe. He'd found himself smoking a lot more these days.

  Haring placed the map on the table and tapped a mountain with his finger. “The Oreios are the ones we need to go see. They live in a crack in the mountain right about here.” He tapped the mountain on the map again for emphasis.

  Chaerok looked to Kane and then back to Haring. “What's an Oreios?”

  Kane lit his pipe and blew a ring of smoke towards Chaerok. “People of the mountain. They're not a people we outsiders normally have much to do with. I've heard stories of them. They're a people that trade and barter for materials from towns and cities on all sides of the mountains. It's said that because of the harsh conditions they live in, they have come up with some rather creative inventions for traveling the mountains. What about you, Haring?”

  Haring grinned. “I went up there once with my father when I was younger. We do a bit of trade with them, and they require a representative from the town to meet with them in person once a year for negotiations.” He pulled up a chair and plopped himself down into it.

  The barmaid brought another cup of ale for Kane and he accepted it gratefully. The ale here had a distinct taste of blueberry. He was growing quite fond of the unique taste. “So, how are a bunch of hermits living in a cave going to help us get over the mountains?”

  “Well,” Captain Haring leaned back in his chair and stretched his shoulders, “all the stories about them being creative are spot on. The last time I was there, they had this device that allowed them to fly over the mountains by air.”

  Chaerok nearly fell out of his chair and Kane choked on his pipe.

  “Fly?” Kane managed to get out over the coughing. Some of the other patrons looked at them suspiciously from over top their mugs.

  Haring shrugged. “I can't really explain it. You'll just have to see for yourselves.” He grabbed a chicken leg from his plate and sauntered off. “I'm gonna go get a nap in while I still can.”

  Chaerok's eyes were fixated on Kane. “I hope we can trust him, Kane.”

  Kane tapped the ashes out of his pipe and laid it down on the table. “It seems we haven't much of a choice at this point. Our only other options aren't particularly desirable.”

  Chaerok nodded. “We definitely can't stay here. I'm just worried about my...” he leaned closer to Kane, “condition.” Sweat coated his brow and he seemed to grow paler by the minute.

  Kane rested his head in his hands. “Already? You're sure there's nothing we can do about it?”

  Chaerok squeezed his eyes shut. “I don't know. I just don't know.” He lowered his voice and met Kane's gaze. “There's no way I'll make it through this trip if I don't feed.”

  “Come with me.” Kane grabbed Chaerok by the arm and pulled him out the back door of the inn. He threw Chaerok against the wall and leaned over him. “You need to find a way to stop this. I won't be part of murdering innocent people.”

  Chaerok gazed downwards. “I—I don't know how, Kane. Believe me, if I knew, I'd do something about it. But, I don't. We've had this discussion before, and it got us nowhere.” He slid past Kane's arm and started walking back towards the inn. “You'd better get some sleep. I'm going out after midnight.”

  Kane balled his fists and clenched his teeth. If he ever saw Karena again he'd kill her. He didn't care if he lost his life again in the process. He was already a prisoner in his own body.

  Chaerok stopped at the door and faced him. “Don't worry, Kane. I'll make it quick.”

  —

  Chaerok locked the door behind him. He laid down in his bed and stared up at the ceiling. The sounds of merry making and glasses clinking together could be heard from below.

  He looked over towards the window. The thing that propelled him ever forward hadn't moved since the avalanche. Somewhere in that mountain of snow was what he sought. And yet, he was unable to reach it. He covered his eyes with his hand.

  Ever since that time in the forest, Chaerok found he had more control over the strange power he possessed. He had tried it carefully on his horse and discovered he could even draw energy from an animal.

  The horse hadn't lived long, though. In his excitement he drew too much of the horse's life and its heart stopped. Haring had been distraught at the death of such a well bred animal. He was sure Kane knew what had happened, but neither of them wanted to risk revealing their secret to Haring. Chaerok could feel Kane's eyes on him the rest of the journey.

  Several hours passed, and Chaerok wandered the room lost in thought. He had decided on who his victims would be. He just hoped it'd be enough. Truthfully, he didn't want this to continue on any longer than it had to.

  He unlocked his door and walked out.

  Kane leaned against the wall with his eyes closed. He opened his eyes and pushed himself from the wall.

  “Are you ready for this?” Chaerok couldn't help but notice how tense Kane was. He appeared to be trying to hide it, but even a blind man would be able to see the tension in his body.

  Kane's jaw quivered and he focused one eye on Chaerok. “What do you think? Let's get this over with.” He walked down the stairs and out the door.

  Chaerok followed behind him. The bar was al
l but empty now, aside from a few stragglers cradling their last cups of ale for the night.

  He walked outside and blinked a couple of times at the harshness of the cold air.

  I hate the cold. Always makes my eyes tear up.

  “You're like a virgin in bed with a woman for the first time, Chaerok.” There was no amusement in Kane's voice.

  Chaerok scratched his head. “Well, it's not easy, Kane. I'm not going out for a carefree walk under the night sky. I'm about to take an innocent life.” He started shuffling towards his chosen destination.

  Kane walked behind him. Chaerok didn't blame Kane for not trusting him.

  He didn't trust himself.

  Chaerok opened the door to the corral and walked inside. “Here we go.”

  Kane gasped. “Chaerok, what are you doing? You can't kill them. That's just too mu—”

  Chaerok cut him off. “Too much? Would you rather me kill humans instead? Do you want me to repeat what happened last time?”

  There were several horses in the corral taking shelter from the cold. They had stocked the corral with extra hay to try and keep some of the cold out, but it was hardly warmer inside than without. The stable boy would be out here during the day, but with the harsh winters he retreated inside once dusk came.

  The horse that Kane rode on the way to Pineview raised its head and snorted. Its name was Methrydon. Chaerok walked over to the oat bin and grabbed a handful. He held out his hand to the horse and it lapped up some of them with its tongue.

  Kane's cheeks glimmered in the moonlight. “I can't watch this anymore. Please get this over with quickly.” He pushed the corral's door open and shut it with a loud thwack behind him.

  Chaerok looked at Methrydon and rubbed his hand down its nose. “I don't want to do this either, Kane.” He drew on his power and black flames burst from his hand into the horse. Methrydon's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and it let out a shrill noise that broke Chaerok's heart. Its body shriveled and turned the color of ashes before collapsing with a thud on the ground.

  Chaerok closed his eyes and tried to stop his hand from shaking. One wasn't enough. He looked at the remaining horses. They pushed themselves against the walls and tried to get away from him, but the wood wouldn't give. One horse bared its teeth and snapped at him, while another bucked into the air.

  The dark flames ignited in his hand again, and he set about finishing his task.

  Several minutes later, he exited the corral with a heavy heart. All that remained inside were several shriveled corpses and a bucket of grain.

  Kane had his back pressed against the wall of the inn and cradled his fist. There were several bloody fist marks on the wall next to him. He glared at Chaerok without saying a word.

  “It's done.” Chaerok wanted to apologize. He wanted to try and make Kane feel better. But, he knew that nothing he could say would put him at ease.

  Kane had lost too much. All Chaerok could do was walk back to his room and wait for the sun to rise.

  “We should leave before people start waking up.” Kane's voice was barely above a whisper.

  Chaerok stopped and nodded without looking back. “You're right.”

  “One more thing,” Kane walked up to him and said in a low voice, “I'll let you explain this to Haring.”

  “Explain what to me?”

  They both whirled around. Captain Haring limped down the path towards them. His eyes were narrowed and his hand rested firmly on his sword.

  Kane moved in front of Chaerok. “Haring, what are you doing out here?”

  He stopped just out of sword's range from them. “I could ask you the same, gentlemen. I hope you didn't think you could sneak out in the middle of the night past me, of all people. I may be injured, but I'm not daft.”

  Chaerok rested his hand on Kane's shoulder and moved the man to the side. “Haring, there's something I should tell you.”

  Haring rested his weight on his good leg. “Great, because I was about to make you tell me if you didn't.”

  “We should go in for another mug of ale.” Chaerok motioned towards the inn.

  Captain Haring didn't budge. “I'm quite fine right here. Now, what is it you're not telling me?”

  Kane shook his head. “You're going to want to sit down for this.”