Original: To Fire It Shall Return

Chapter 17

Lelahn was trapped in a nightmare. After seven years of trying to forget, she was back in The Black Wizard's dungeons. The walls pressed in on her and her eyes rebelled, refusing to adjust to the near-total darkness. Only the firm pressure of Alainna's hand on hers and the feeling of Kelden's arm curled protectively around her shoulders kept her from descending into pure, screaming hysteria. Her breath came in broken gasps that threatened to become sobs. Kelden tightened his hold on her, squeezing her shoulder.

"It's all right Lelahn, calm down. We'll protect you, you're safe," he said softly,

"I thought I was over this."

"I know, I know." he said. His words, the soothing sounds and soft whispers of her friends moved over her like a warm current and she wanted to get up; to get away and feel the wind in her hair and the sun on her face and to run, run-

She struggled with herself, an internal battle to bring forth the tears that she felt inside her, like burning steel behind her eyes. Her struggle was to no avail, however. Lelahn could not cry.

The door opened with a slight creak of the hinges. Lelahn looked up and separated from Kelden, drawing into a defiant ball. Koldar was clad in a long cloak, complete with a hood, which was drawn over his head. The demon's eyes glittered, the only thing visible against the light from the hallway - too-bright after their long wait in darkness. Alainna and Kelden rose to their feet. As they did so, they saw a gold band around his forehead, inset with a diamond. It also glittered in the light, strangely like ice.

"Good morning, my dear," said Koldar, his eyes only for Alainna. "Could I speak to you alone for a moment?" Before she could answer, Kelden stepped in front of her.

"No. Whatever you can say to her, bastard, you can say in my presence," he said. Koldar smiled.

"Fine, you can come with me instead. I was meaning to talk to you anyway." Without another word, Koldar turned, his black cloak billowing around his feet, and walked away without seeing whether he followed. Kelden glanced at Alainna, who nodded reassuringly, and then strode off after the Wizard, leaving Karim behind.

A guard, almost invisible with his black clothing in the shadow, closed the door behind him. The glint of claws on the tips of his fingers went unnoticed in the gloom of the underground dungeon.

Kelden followed Koldar up a staircase until they finally emerged into the open air. They were still deep in the bowels of the castle, but the comparatively fresh air made Kelden's skin tingle. Koldar stopped and looked back at him over his shoulder. Little of his face could be seen under the heavy hood. Suddenly he turned to face Kelden, pushing the hood back. Paralyzed by surprise, Kelden looked into his own eyes. Except for the scar bolting down the other's cheek, and the black clothes, he could have been looking into a mirror.

Koldar smiled cruelly. "You seem surprised. Could it be you didn't notice the similarity in our faces the first time we met? I can assure you, I did."

Kelden shook his head. "No, I noticed, but…" he trailed off, unable to complete the sentence.

"But that was another time, and you were distracted, I'm sure. Nevertheless, the similarity is there. Do you know why?" Kelden shook his head. "Because I am your twin brother, abandoned at birth." Kelden couldn't say anything for a moment, he felt like he'd been shot in the chest by a flaming arrow. Finally he managed to speak.

"Only badlanders have twin children, not normal people. That's not possible." Koldar raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? Thousands of years ago, before the badlanders even existed, so-called 'normal people' bore twins."

"How do you know that?"

Koldar raised a hand. "One question at a time, my brother. Come, we must talk." He held a hand out. Without thinking, Kelden took it and allowed himself to be pulled along the maze of corridors.

Illyanna walked confidently down the echoing stone corridors of the Adult-school. She had spent the last four years here and knew every inch of these corridors. She knew there was one girl here who was a Grey Sorceress and she followed her sense unerringly. All she was concerned with was that her former friends not see her. She was a different person; free, changed, and she didn't dare let them see her now.

The Adult-school was perhaps one of the most important institutions in Anata. At the age of fifteen, everyone came here to complete their education. Any language deviations were corrected and gaps in knowledge were filled. In this way, the language was kept pure and no knowledge was lost. It was a tradition that had been kept for centuries. Many of the teachers were former White Guild members who had lost their Familiars and therefore couldn't perform spells anymore. Young men and women who were good candidates for apprenticeship were taken from here at the end of their five-year term and trained to become wizards and sorceresses. It was also said that black wizards and sorceresses visited secretly to recruit for their Guild as well.

Illyanna stopped outside of one of the rooms and faced the door. Without hesitating, she pushed the door open. A flurry of activity greeted her as a girl flew to meet her at the door. She caught a glimpse of a pencil falling to the floor, as if it had been held in the air with invisible bonds.

"Don't you knock? What do you want?" the girl barraged her with questions as Illyanna fought her way inside and closed the door.

"My name is Illyanna. Were you moving that pencil without touching it?"

"No. Of course not!" said the girl guiltily. She sat on the bed, looking trapped. Smooth brown hair framed a cutely round face. Now the cubid mouth was pulled down in an innocent frown. Illyanna's frown smoothed.

"What's your name?"

"Melina."

"Well, Melina, it's all right. I'm like you, born with an ability."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look," Illyanna raised her hands and Teleported to the other side of the room. When she turned to look at the girl she was staring at her in open-mouthed astonishment.

"I can't do anything like that! I can only pick up little things, but I'm getting better," she said. Then she seemed to withdraw into herself, as if surprised that she said that much.

"That's all right," Illyanna soothed. "All of us can do different things. I have been gathering the Grey Sorceresses together, so that we can pool our resources, and get to know others of our kind."

"Grey Sorceresses?"

"Yes, that's what we've been called. We are neither Black nor White, only ourselves." The girl stared at her with enraptured hope. "Come with me," Illyanna urged, holding out a hand. "Come and meet your sisters." Without a word, Melina took her hand and they disappeared in a flash of light.

Renah was brought suddenly out of a doze by Norath's startled cry. She pushed through the cramped space inside the ship towards the front.

"What is it, Mother?" Norath pointed out of the huge window in the front.

"Look, we've reached land!" she said. No one had known if there was land across the Great Ocean. The green grass passing below them looked like paradise. Renah felt uncontrollable excitement building inside of her. They crested a hill and suddenly Renah caught her breath. A huge, black structure glittered in the sun.

"Mother! Look at that!"

Norath hissed in surprise. "We'd better land, and find out who they are." Moments later, the three were crawling through the grass and heather towards the castle. It stood, silent and forbidding on the hilltop.

Koldar's bedroom was dim and oppressive. Iron candleabra cast a flickering light that barely held off the shadows. The Black Wizard closed the door behind Kelden and sat down on the bed, scrutinizing at the other man with interest. Kelden shifted his weight from foot to foot under the weight of his gaze, unsure of what to say. Finally the silence became too heavy for him to bear.

"Impressive," he said ironically, gesturing vaguely around the room. Koldar smiled.

"It was meant to be."

"I have a question," Kelden began.

"I'm sure you have many questions."

Kelden took a deep breath, stalling. "Why aren't I dead?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Koldar replied, "You aren't dead because you're my brother."

"Wizard," Kelden tried not to sound condescending, and failed miserably. "We are not brothers. You are at least two hundred years older than I am, or is that a lie?"

"It's not a lie, only a distortion of the truth," said Koldar. "I was born in Koranna, three hundred years ago, to a rich family, who abandoned me in the badlands to die in order to preserve their reputation. However," he raised a long, slender finger, "I am also five hundred years old." Kelden opened his mouth to protest, but Koldar plunged on before he had a chance to speak. "Shall I explain, brother? To do that I must start at the beginning." Kelden nodded.

"Two hundred years ago, I discovered the secret of time travel. I was not yet the Black Wizard, and at the same time, I was. Or, at least, a man who looked very much like me was. You see, I went back in time three hundred years at that time to begin planning what is only now coming to a head - the reason why you're here today. I stole the Horses to force you and Alainna to come here - so you and I could meet, you see. After I went back in time, I became the Black Wizard - five hundred years before this date - and warned Tunissa - my foster mother - to look for me at the time that I was abandoned."

Kelden shook his head to clear it. "I think I understand that," he said. "What were you planning?"

"That I will explain later. Suffice it to say, that I believed I was ready to implement the plan when I killed Marsia, but I was not quite prepared. Since then, I have had to change my strategy slightly. This time, I will succeed."

"I see."

Koldar's eyes narrowed. "You will see, don't worry. When you and Alainna arrived in Akarris, a hundred years ago, I recognized you. Once I'd recovered somewhat, I did some research into your background. When I found out who you were, I knew I had to meet you.

"In time travelling, I made some discoveries about our past. It is that that I must tell you before I tell you about my plans," he cleared his throat. "Five thousand years ago, our planet was reaching a height of technology and sophistication; however, it was divided against itself. Little countries squabbled for minor resources and there was no unified government or religion. As a result, every country spent most of its resources on defense against other countries. There were even minor groups that didn't have a specific base. These terrorists had little actual power, but they were tenacious and often depraved.

"At this time, Earth had the technology to wipe out its entire civilization, and destroy all life on the planet, with a certain weapon. One of these terrorist groups managed to get ahold of three of these weapons and they unleashed them on one of the major countries. That country is now known as the Badlands. In fact, the Lady, which you saw, was almost on top of one of the weapons when it was unleashed. The force of the blast threw it miles away."

Kelden remembered Lelahn's recounting of where she'd been when she'd touched the Lady and shivered. That must have been the effect of the weapon going off, he thought. "Our ancestors did that to themselves?"

"In a manner of speaking. The terrorists made it look as if another country was responsible for the attack. Many millions were killed at first, and still more when the country retaliated, destroying entire cities with its lesser - but still deadly - weapons. In the end, much of Earth was barely habitable. Also, in the Badlands, not only children suffered. Those who were too close to the site of the attack came down with a burning sickness. Some could be treated, but many who didn't die in the original onslaught, died in hospitals later."

Kelden gasped. "Norath said something about a burning sickness-"

Koldar raised a hand, silencing him with a gesture, before continuing his narrative. "The governments of Anata and Mecco threw their resources into saving what they could of the Badlands. Contaminated land was sunk into the ocean and fresh land was put in its place, but not all of the Badlands could be saved. There was even an effort to transport The Lady to Mecco - or at least what was left of her - but the burning sickness took every one of the workers. Badland legend says it came from The Lady herself, but your health demonstrates that she doesn't carry it anymore. Maybe that explains the superstition in the Badlands surrounding her, I don't know. By the time they reached the place where she sits now, all of the workers had died, and no one else was willing to replace them. Finally there was no money left, and Anata and Mecco abandoned the project.

"Then there was the question of what to do about the survivors. Many of them left the planet, in search of new places to live. These people, of course, are the legendary 'Vanished Ones' and have not been heard from since. Those who refused to leave or couldn't afford to, congregated in Mecco and Anata and tried to rebuild. Over time, the memory of what happened disappeared, along with the knowledge of the technology we once had. Instead, we learned magic and formed the Guilds."

"You mean, there was no magic then?"

"Of course there was magic! The ancients just didn't know about it." Koldar replied. "But that's not the point! You see, I went to the future once, to a time about two hundred years from now. It is difficult to stay in the future, and it takes a lot of energy. It took me a year to recover and I haven't dared to return since. I did see one thing, though - ships, landing. The Vanished Ones are going to return, and that is what all of this is about!"

"How do you know it's them in the ships?" Kelden asked perversely. Incredibly, Koldar paused, considering.

"I suppose I don't, but if it isn't, the world still has to be ready for their arrival, whoever they are."

"So that's what this is all about," said Kelden. "You want to prepare the world for this."

"That's right."

"How are you going to do it?"

Koldar smiled. "Not yet. First I have to convince you that I'm right."

Kelden folded his arms impatiently across his chest. "Then convince me."

Illyanna surveyed her brethren, gathered around her. All twelve of the women sat looking at her. Many of them seemed lost, confused, and they looked to her for leadership.

"Over the last few days, you have all gotten to know each other, to love each other, and now we must decide what to do. Anata will never accept us - we are different, and even the white Guild has plans to control and exploit us."

Lalest was curled contentedly in a corner, watching the proceedings with feline interest. Now she looked up and hissed with anger. "We should leave them, then. They do not deserve our presence in Anata!" she proclaimed. Many of the others nodded, including Illyanna.

"I was thinking the same thing. Alainna is, even now, crossing the Great Ocean. She may even have arrived there by now. If I can use the Guildhall's vision pool to find her, I will be able to take the rest of you across the Ocean, where we can found a new Guild. Is that what we want?"

Yana nodded. "I think that's what we should do."

"Yes," Lalest hissed. Other noises of agreement were issued around the room.

"It's agreed then-" Illyanna was cut off by a knock at the door. A moment later, the door opened and Isak stepped in, nodding politely at the sorceresses. His eyes, however, were only for Illyanna.

"Illyanna," he said quietly. "Can I speak to you for a moment?"

"Certainly," she answered. She closed the door behind them as they stepped into the hall. Isak ran his fingers tenderly through her hair.

"What is going on, darling?" He asked. Illyanna smiled, pretending to enjoy the caress.

"Nothing, love. I told you I wanted to meet the others of my kind, and that's what I'm doing."

"But, you have hardly spoken to me since you returned."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Illyanna said. "I promise, when this is over, I'll have all the time in the world for you." She kissed him softly. "Now, let me be with my sisters for now." Isak held her back for a moment.

"I see you're still wearing the ring," he said softly. Illyanna's smile never faltered.

"Of course, my dear." She left Isak without another word and took her place with her sisters. He was sweet, but she had better things now, and more important things to do.

Koldar led Kelden through the twisting maze of corridors. There were no stairs, but Kelden felt that the floor was sloping subtly downwards, so that they were going underground.

"Black Wizard," Kelden began,

"Please," Koldar responded, "call me Koldar."

Kelden raised and dropped his hands with exasperation. "Koldar then. I've been having dreams," Kelden said, his voice trembling at the memory, despite his efforts. "Is that because of what you say?"

"Dreams?" Koldar frowned. "Of what?"

"Fire, death, and blood." Koldar's face went a little pale and he shivered slightly as if with cold.

"I've been having dreams as well, my brother," he said. "It seems our connection runs more deeply than I thought."

Kelden shook his head, denying the possibility. "I'm still not convinced that we are brothers. My parents would never have abandoned a son of theirs."

"Even if he was a freak, a soulless half-person? I was the second-born, and our unnatural birth had to be hidden, to protect our family's reputation." Koldar's voice was quiet, with an undertone of anger. "She was your mother, but to me, she was nothing, but an icy womb, from which I was torn, only to be flung carelessly into the woods like a piece of carrion. We are lucky that Tunissa found me, or I would not be standing here now." Kelden privately doubted that he would characterize that as lucky, though he didn't quite dare tell Koldar that, yet. Despite himself, however, he was beginning to believe the Wizard. He pushed it away.

"You won't tell me about the plan, but will you at least tell me what happened to the children you kidnapped seven years ago?"

"How do you know I kidnapped them?" Koldar said ironically.

"Because the same Dark Knights who kidnapped those children, are here, working for you."

"Actually, they are called the Soldiers of the Black Guild. Why do you call them 'Dark Knights'?"

"That's what the badlanders called them."

"I see," Koldar fell silent for a moment, never slowing his pace. "Well, you are about to see what I did with them." At that moment, the close tunnel opened up into a narrow balcony. The balcony looked out over a huge, cavernous room in which were dozens of children. They seemed to be training, sparring with each other and with Soldiers.

"What's this?" Kelden said in shock.

"This is where we train the Soldiers. They are deadly, and completely loyal to me. Not to the Guild." Koldar smiled. "To me."

"You're training an army? But this is more children than you took seven years ago, if the fully trained Soldiers are also from then."

"They are." Koldar confirmed, "But since then, we've been slowly taking more, secretly, so that the Guild wouldn't notice."

"What is all this for?" Kelden looked into the Wizard's eyes. "Please, why won't you tell me?" Koldar told him. He outlined his plan to his brother in more detail than he had even told Karanis. When he had finished, Kelden was reeling. He turned away, leaning on the railing for support. Then Koldar spoke again.

"Don't you see, brother, that this is the only way?" urged Koldar from over his shoulder. As Kelden looked out over the scene, a flicker of understanding grew in his dark eyes…

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