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“What is it?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Stepping into me, he pulled away his flame robes and pointed at his own chest. It was hard to see past the flickering of his form but there, in the exact same position, scarred with time and silvered with age, was an identical mark.
“It’s the brand of a Spirit Master and Fire Reader, Runa. Like I said, it’s the highest honour and a lifetime commitment to master gifts that others can only dream of. It has also set your Destini in an entirely new direction. At least, I hope it has. I truly hope this is the path that will prevent so many awful things from happening.”
I flinched.
Solin traced his own brand, his voice heavy. “Fire trapped in a triangle. The flame represents our power and dedication to service. The three sides of the triangle represent our mind, body, and spirit. A promise to all those who look to us for guidance that we are in-tune with all three facets of existence.”
His shoulders suddenly slouched with shame, thick and cloying. “I’m so sorry, Runa. I’m sorry for what I must do and what this means for you—”
“Enough,” the fire hissed. “Awaken and finish the bindings. Do what needs to be done, Fire Reader.”
Solin reached for me. “Runa, before we go, I must tell you—”
“Wake,” the fire smouldered. “Wake and she will know. Not before.”
“Runa, listen to me.” Solin stepped into me, his fingers searching for mine just as the world bled into sickly rivers of fire. “What the flames haven’t told you is the price of becoming its chosen. You are now my kin. You will be given loyalty and respect for the rest of your days. You will be the next bridge of fire and flesh, but in order to have balance within our Quelis-guarded clan, you must—”
“Enough!” Fire gusted and the sky rained with burning droplets of light. The ground melted into giant puddles of ash. The coal-soil turned to magma. And the tree that’d been a charred husk cracked in two, releasing a plume of bees.
A stinging, swarming cloud cocooned us.
Solin ducked against the onslaught.
He cried out as venom pierced our fire-given forms.
The cloud of bees spun, faster and faster.
Wrapping his arms tightly around me, taking no chances that we’d be broken apart this time, he rested his chin on my head and didn’t let go.
The fire-world liquefied into a single giant flame, then snuffed out with the faintest ribbon of smoke.
The bees all stung as one.
Everything went dark.
Chapter Thirty-Two
. Darro .
ZETAS NUDGED MY HAND FOR the hundredth time as the sun slowly sank closer and closer toward the horizon. The late summer heat vanished with the sun, leaving the promise of impending autumn in the air.
Soon, the weather would turn, and the seasons would change, and the world would slowly go to sleep, ready for its deepest dreams while snow and frost killed what needed to be killed, purifying the land, lakes, and mountains to wake fresh and new.
Just like I needed Runa to wake.
My eyes returned to the lupic where Runa was.
The two Nhil guards stationed outside the entrance never stopped watching me, their left hands on spears and their right on their hips where short heavy sticks hung off knotted leather belts, ready to be swung at someone’s skull.
At my skull, if I dared step any closer.
My feet ached, and my back protested from standing for so many hours, but I refused to move. I’d done what Tral, the chief, had requested, and in return, he’d kept his side of the bargain.
It’d been a strained bargain, and neither of us trusted it to last, but he’d assured me Runa would awaken by the time the first star twinkled. He was so confident, he’d arranged a feast for their return and Nhil members milled around the camp, preparing food, roasting meat, and slowly coming alive with eager anticipation.
My stomach snarled with the scents of sustenance and my thirst had gone past painful to excruciating, but I would not leave this spot.
Not until Runa appeared.
All day, I’d stood outside the Fire Reader’s lupic, waiting.
And all day, Nhil men, women, and younglings skirted past Zetas and me as if we were a monster in their midst.
But now, night was falling.
My hand stroked Zetas’s soft shoulder. My mind wasn’t with the wolf. It was in the lupic...watching over Runa, defending her against powers I didn’t understand.
Was the fire hurting her like it hurt me?
How much longer would it make me wait?
Shadows writhed around my legs, ever present, ready to lash out. I didn’t rein them in. I didn’t hide my darkness from the wide-eyed stares around me.
Helplessness infected me as my patience waned.
Another surge of anger and frustration scalded, feeding my temper to the wolf. Zetas huffed, her fur bristling. Pressing her warm bulk against my hip, she offered comfort and restraint.
