Original: To Fire It Shall Return

Chapter 19

Renah led the way down the twisting corridors, following an instinct she did not understand. It was as if there was a thread in her mind, directing her to Alainna. The mind at the other end screamed urgency at her as she pelted through the obsidian maze. As she was about to exit the dark castle into a sunny courtyard, two guards stepped out to stop her. They were dressed in black armour, and Norath gasped at the sight of them.

"Dark Knights!" Ferris choked. They raised their swords and attacked Renah, ignoring the badlanders. Renah raised her arm to ward off a blow and felt a burning line of pain being drawn across it. She lashed out with her magic and froze her attackers in place. Icicles hung from them, but otherwise they could be black statues. Renah didn't hesitate to push past them into the courtyard, not daring to find out if she had killed the guards. Norath and Ferris each took one of the swords before following their daughter.

Renah burst into the bright sunlight just as Alainna collapsed in a shower of blood. Lelahn screamed and attacked one of the Dark Knights with nothing but her fists as Kelden lit another of them afire. Renah saw Koldar pull his sword - it's blade darkened with Alainna's blood, out of her unmoving body and advance toward the fray. Renah sent her magic towards him… and it hit a shimmering barrier surrounding him. A patch of grass a few feet away exploded into flame, but Koldar was untouched. He turned and cast his piercing gaze on Renah. His dark eyes reflected the flames and hypnotized her with their intensity. Then he sent his own magic toward her. She cringed, expected to feel the killing heat, but the flame bounced off her own barrier instead.

Before Koldar could recover from his surprise, Ferris picked up Alainna's limp body and they all escaped from the courtyard. Kelden, last into the corridor, lit a wall of flame in their wake and Koldar's faint, tortured cursing chased them out of the fortress.

A knock roused Chenam from a restful meditation, and her face was still serene and blank as she opened the door to her quarters. Isak pushed his way into the room, wringing his hands agitatedly.

"Chenam! Chenam! She's gone! I mean, they're gone!" he babbled almost incoherantly. She spoke, as always, in a low, measured tone.

"Isak, calm down. Who's gone?"

"Illyanna's gone, and all of the other Grey Sorceresses too. They just vanished. I don't think they're coming back."

"I doubt it, they didn't seem very happy here." Chenam felt the touch of her Familiar, who was on watch at the viewing pool. "We can't find them with the viewing pool, which probably means that they don't want to be found. I'm sorry Isak." Suddenly the wizard straightened, his face taking on an unconcerned cast.

"Sorry? For what? I just wanted to inform you." Before he could damn himself further, he stalked out of the room, his chest puffed up again with self-important pride. Chenam smiled and shook her head, then left as well, bound for the viewing pool. Perhaps she could find something out about what was happening to Alainna, even though there was absolutely nothing she could do to change anything.

The warm glow of a magic Healing in her chest aroused Alainna from a deep sleep. She felt a smile on her lips despite the pain that each breath brought. A woman was leaning over her, her eyes bright with uncertainty and concern, and Alainna caught her breath at the sight. Her aura extended out from her like a bright corona, seemingly several feet wide. The power she possessed trembled through Alainna in waves that sent shudders up and down her spine. Even now that the girl wasn't touching her, she could still feel the energy pounding through her. She struggled to sit up, but was held back by hands she couldn't see. Kelden's voice was soft behind her.

"It's all right Alainna. You're safe now."

"Who are you?" Alainna asked the woman, trying to ignore the tremble of exhaustion in her voice.

"My name is Renah. I believe you know my foster parents." Norath and Ferris drew into her line of vision.

"Oh yes, of course I do," said Alainna.

"They brought us to this cave. Hopefully Koldar won't be able to find us here before we can come up with some sort of plan. Lelahn and the familiars are out patrolling," said Kelden. Alainna suddenly became aware that she was lying with her head in Kelden's lap and a rock ceiling arched high above her.

"Where are we? And where did you come from, Renah?" Kelden helped her to sit up and Norath related the whole story, of Renah's discovery, and of their journey here. She omitted the nature of their mission, a detail which did not escape Alainna's notice, but which she decided not to question. The glow of Renah's Healing and Sharra's firm pressure on her mind kept her from worrying overly about the future.

"Now that you're all right, Alainna, we really should go," Norath stated uncomfortably. Alainna nodded and rose to her feet.

"Thank you all. Don't hesitate to come to me if you ever need help. Assuming we get out of here ourselves. Good luck." Renah smiled and nodded, then led the way out of the cave. Norath and Ferris hesitated, then passed their stolen swords to Alainna and Kelden.

"You will probably need these," said Ferris. Alainna and Kelden followed the badlanders out of the cave. The cave was only metres away from a huge chasm. A gentle grassy slope led away from the mouth of the cave, then suddenly fell away. Alainna glanced away from the crevasse to see Lelahn and Renah clasping hands. Tears shone in Renah's eyes, but Lelahn's were, as always, dry. They said their goodbyes and Renah pressed a small dagger into Lelahn's hand. Then they all watched at the three climbed into a shining metal capsule. The capsule lifted up into the air and climbed steadily away, disappearing quickly into the Eastern sky.

"I wonder where they got that thing," Kelden mused. Suddenly, Alainna heard Sharra's alarmed shout.

"Horses! They've found us!" Alainna looked into the sky and saw five ebony Horses, racing towards them. Within seconds they were upon the three and angled down to land. Kelden managed to turn two of the horses into living fireballs that crashed harmlessly into the nearby chasm. Two of the others attacked them from horseback, with swords that glittered like tears in the sun. But Alainna ignored them in favour of the third, who held back. She didn't allow herself to think of her friends battling the Soldiers as she approached Koldar. He dismounted calmly and the Horse flew away immediately. He stood unmoving, regarding her with eyes of burnished steel. He held up his sword with a smile; it was still dark with her blood, and she felt her icy expression falter at the sight of it.

"Come to taste this again, Sorceress?" he asked mockingly. His black cloak streamed out behind him in the wind and his pale face gleamed.

"Actually, I was wondering if you were planning on tasting this one, Wizard," she responded, holding up her sword. To her disappointment, his smile widened. Then she realized that he wasn't looking at her, but over her shoulder and she heard the sounds of battle cease suddenly. Sharra's voice echoed in her mind.

Don't worry, love. We won. No one's hurt. Alainna didn't dare turn away from Koldar to see for herself, but continued to advance toward the Wizard.

"We don't need to do this," she called out. "Return the children, and our Horses, and you can have this great land for yourself. You need not bother Anata again." She was almost upon him, and instead of answering, his sword met hers in a clash of singing crystal. The air was filled with the ringing sound of swords connecting and Alainna could feel his weakness after a century of inactivity. It gave her strength as he gradually lost ground. They fought in silence, staring grimly into each others' eyes, as they drew inexorably closer to the edge of the cliff. Only a footstep away from the killing slope, Alainna ducked a swing and stepped back, out of range of his sword. At her move, Koldar froze, glanced back at the doom behind him, and sneered at her.

"Don't have the stomach to kill me a second time, Alainna?"

"I don't need a cliff to kill you, Wizard. Remember, it was magic that gave you that scar." Automatically, Koldar's hand shot up to caress the twisted flesh on his cheek.

"I remember, Sorceress." Koldar stood at the edge of the cliff, his blonde hair swept back from his temples like wings. He shone in the sun as power crackled electrically all around him. Even in a moment of weakness, he resembled an avenging angel at the very lip of the pit of hell. Alainna forced her heart to harden against him, despite his damnable resemblance to her dear friend and lover.

"I have the stomach, but there is no need to kill you. Leave, Wizard, and return what is not yours, and we can live in peace." His eyes pierced through her like an eagle's talons.

"You're right, Alainna, there is no need for this fight. My offer still stands. Join me, and all will be forgiven. The children are lost to you, they will never be able to overcome my conditioning, but the Horses are already on their way to Anata. Please," he said. For a moment, his eyes softened, and true emotion shone through. They pleaded with her, without words, "believe that what I have told you is true."

Alainna gazed at him, her heart pulling at her, despite the warnings in her head. "How can I believe you? You, who stand to pervert everything I stand for. Our needs can never be compatible."

"This is bigger than that."

Alainna shook her head. "No, our differences are fundamental. What you are trying to get me to believe is ludicrious. There are no Vanished Ones. They are only a legend."

"They exist, I promise you, Alainna."

"I cannot believe your promises, Wizard."

"Join me!" Koldar shouted, his face darkening.

"No!" At her determined shout, Koldar's face cleared, suddenly seeming more dangerous than any threat could be.

"Then fear for your life!" At his words, a ball of flame leapt from his fingers, only barely extinguished by a rush of cold air from her fingers. She didn't bother to try to freeze the Wizard, but instead, erected a dome of ice around him. That exploded in flame and Koldar stepped out of it, reminding her suddenly, inconguously, of that time, seven years ago, when Kelden had made a similar move.

"Stop this! You can't hurt me!" Alainna shouted. Koldar's eyes glittered with repressed anger.

"I may not be able to hurt you, but I can hurt your friends," he said. At that moment, an anguished scream rent the air and Alainna turned. Lelahn and Kelden were standing a little apart, uncertain of how to help her. Kelden was standing a little ahead. He was clutching at his shoulder where a small fire was burning. In horror, Alainna realized that the fire had once been Karim. If Kelden survived sane, he would never be a whole man again. Even as the thought passed through her mind, Kelden rushed past her, slamming into Koldar. The force of his tackle sent both men off the cliff, where they both fell in utter silence.

Lelahn, Sharra, and Alainna gazed over the cliff for a long time. The wind ruffled their hair, drawing a shiver from Alainna. Lelahn drew her arm around the other woman's shoulder and found herself enveloped in a tight, tearful embrace.

"What am I going to do without him, Lelahn?" Alainna whispered.

"I don't know." Suddenly, unbidden, a tear fell from Lelahn's eye, tracking down her cheek and dripping onto Alainna's. Her friend stiffened slightly in surprise at the added wetness and Lelahn felt an incongruous smile against her cheek.

They sat down at the edge of the cliff, and cried, and waited for the first hint of rescue from the far West.

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