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His temper flared, and he looked at the fire all around us, speaking to the element with barely restrained anger. “You let her go? After weeks of whispering premonitions in my ears? After making me vow that I’d keep the two of them as far away from each other as possible—”
“Why would you agree to that?” I squirmed in his tight hold. “You didn’t even know Darro existed until Kivva and Aktor hurt him. You’ve never met him.”
“I knew he existed the night before you were found. I dreamed of you both, Runa. I’ve seen things that fill me with sickening fear.”
I scowled. “Whatever you’ve seen is wrong. Darro is not a bad person. The fire is mistaken about him. Its feeding you lies and—”
“We only feed the truth,” the fire hissed. “Truth as we see it.”
“Exactly!” I glowered at the flickering flames. “Your truth isn’t my truth—”
“Runa.” Solin shook me gently. “Speaking back to the fire when it honours you with its gifts is a great sin.” His voice softened. “I know it can be a harsh advisor. Its flames can hurt, and its fury can sometimes be too bright. But that is the nature of its element. It is neither soft nor kind.”
My eyes locked with his fire-touched ones. “If it’s just an element with a sharp tongue, Solin, perhaps I don’t wish to listen anymore. I don’t want gifts given by something that twists the truth for its own—”
“We twist nothing.” The sky kindled with new heat.
“You hurt Darro when he asked you for help,” I snapped. “You burned him into unconsciousness.”
“He stepped into the fire?” Solin tripped backward, his mouth opening in shock. A thread of smoke escaped his parted lips. “W-Why would he do that? How could he do that? Unless you...”
I winced and hung my head. “I know I shouldn’t have done it. And I know I put both of us at risk, but it was the only way he could recall his name. Darro protected me when I woke alone and confused from the trance. He gave me shelter and food and—”
“He’s in the camp,” the fire cackled. “Amongst the Nhil where he should not be. He has started remembering, Spirit Master, and with every memory, he grows stronger.”
Solin raked both hands through his fire-sparkling hair, pacing away with furious steps.
“A day will come. One day soon, when Runa will know nothing but pain. She will live it, breathe it, die with it. That is her Destini.” A burning caress over my cheek as the fire’s tone switched into grief. “There is only one way to stop it, Solin. The way we showed you. The only way to stop him from doing to her what can never be undone.”
Solin stiffened.
“Time is running out. Make her your acolyte. Protect her with the blood bind we showed you. Only you can prevent what will come to pass. Already, it might be too late.”
A gust of fire worked through my hair.
Words rushed up my throat. “Darro is good, Solin. He’s not death like the flames say, even if he does walk with shadows.”
His flickering eyes softened. “You trust him over the fire.”
“Yes.”
“Even if it’s you he will hurt, not them.”
“He would never,” I rushed. “He would never hurt me.”
He sighed heavily. “You speak so passionately, Runa, about things you don’t understand.”
“She is your family, Fire Reader,” the fire hissed. “We have adopted her in your name. She wears our mark.”
“Mark?” I frowned. “What mark?”
“Our apologies.” The fire gave a deep, blazing chuckle. “This one.”
I screamed as sudden agony scalded above my heart. My fiery skin smoked and sizzled as I fell to my knees. Three slices and a swirl, drilling into my flesh, sending crimson blood plopping onto the burning ground.
“You could’ve done it without the pain,” Solin muttered, dropping to one knee and clasping my elbow.
“Pain is the price of this adoption,” the fire muttered mercilessly. “It is done. Nothing can rid our claim.”
Gasping through the searing discomfort, I looked up into Solin’s strained stare. Instead of looking pleased that the fire had taken initiative and claimed me, he looked apologetic and reeked with guilt.
Apprehension tickled my heart.
“Solin...” I winced as pain continued to flare through me. “W-What aren’t you telling me?”
He smiled ever so gently, smoothing away cinder-hair sticking to my cheeks. “You’ve been branded by Quelis, Runa. Congratulations.” His eyes glittered with suspicious sadness. “It’s the highest honour and greatest responsibility. It seems both our decisions have been made for us.”
Resting his forehead on mine, a shower of sparks cascaded to the smoky ground as he whispered, “Please, forgive me.”
Forgive him—?
With a quick yank, he grabbed my elbows and hoisted me to my feet.
I trembled as another wash of agony throbbed over my chest. Glancing down at my new wound, I stiffened at what the fire had done. Right over my heart, a tiny, charred symbol had been permanently branded into my fire-flesh.
