Original: To Fire It Shall Return

Chapter 8

Lelahn awoke with a start, bringing a hand to her forehead. She shivered as a rush of endorphins coursed through her veins. What was that? she wondered. She could hear Kelden and Alainna talking in low voices and sat up, ignoring the wave of dizziness that crashed over her and trying to see through the black spots that threatened to block out her vision. She immediately noticed that something was wrong: she was surrounded by trees. In fact, looking around, she saw no evidence of The Lady. Alainna's voice came from over her shoulder.

"You're awake. Good. Are you feeling all right?"

"I hope so." Kelden piped up, "You're an awfully heavy load!" Not knowing that this hadn't been the first time, her stomach twisted at the thought that he had carried her, touched her. Some of that must have shown because Alainna approached her, coming around to where she could see her face, and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"He had to carry you. It wasn't safe where we were - too exposed - and you were out for nearly twenty-two hours."

"Twenty-two hours?" was Lelahn's incredulous response.

"Yes." Alainna nodded slowly. "What happened? We heard you screaming but…" she trailed off, allowing Lelahn to speak.

"It was… incredible. I touched the Lady and I felt… I felt like I could see the past. It came so fast that I couldn't handle it all. That's why I was screaming I guess."

"What did you see?" Lelahn didn't register who it was who had asked the question. She was lost in her own thoughts and continued as if no one had spoken.

"I saw huge, tall buildings - like the Badlanders' buildings tipped on end - except they were made of stone and metal. And The Lady was there, only she was whole and standing up. Then, this cloud of flame appeared around her feet, and she started moving up into the air, splintering from the legs up. And then - " She broke off, wetness showing in her eyes. Kelden was surprised; this was the first real emotion she had shown since her rescue from the Black Wizard. She sat there for a moment, silent, fighting with herself. Then the emotion dropped out of her face. Listlessly, impassionately, she continued to speak.

"I could see the people in the city. They didn't even have the chance to run. The closest just vanished, others just burst into flames. Children, adults, all were consumed by flames, like living torches."

Her eyes were blank, as if she didn't care about the things she'd seen. But Kelden realized that that simply meant that she was all the more profoundly affected.

"We should stay here and give her a chance to recover." said Karim, his voice echoing lovingly in Kelden's mind. "I remember when I became your familiar. Discovering that one has a new magical power - and in this case one that has never been seen before - is very overwhelming."

"You're right. Besides, it's probably a good idea to rest now. We will be arriving at the Black Wizard's fortress soon and we may not get another rest for a long time." To Alainna he said, "Why don't we stay here for a while. We don't need to hurry." Lelahn scowled perfunctorily, but didn't argue the point.

"Good idea, Kelden," answered Alainna. They sat in silence as the morning sun began to turn the now-dense, leafy green of the forest a golden, ruddy shade, each lost in their own thoughts.

The next night, they lost no time in starting out again. They had hardly spoken at all the day before; the tensions between Lelahn and Kelden had not lessened, despite all efforts, and it had caused an almost perpetual blackout of communication between them. This evening was no exception. They walked in silence.

Alainna had lost all sense of direction by now, relying on Karim's animal senses to guide them. She knew that they must be getting close; she could already feel the presence of the Black Wizard, even at this distance. To think she had labeled the evil she had felt before as an old signature! It was as if he was just over the small rise ahead of them, yet that couldn't be. They were hardly out of Badlander territory, and she would certainly have recognized the terrain from her battle with him a hundred years ago. They crested the rise - almost a hill, actually - and started down the other side. There was no evidence of the Black Wizard. Alainna looked at Lelahn, to see if she was feeling it as well. This sudden development of power had surprised Alainna, and she wasn't sure what to make of it. To her surprise, she saw a dim white glow emanating from the girl, as if she really were a sorceress. Every sorceress and wizard, Black or White, had an aura of magic around them that only others of their kind could see. Its colour reflected one's magic and disposition--black for black wizards and sorceresses, and white for their opposites. The more powerful the magic, the more pronounced the aura. She had grown so used to Kelden's, which was white, but often had tinges of black that tended to disturb her, that she hardly noticed, but Lelahn's was unexpected and new, so it imprinted itself on her vision like a flashbulb.

Lelahn was looking about herself in a nervous, watchful way that suggested that she could feel the evil presence as well. Alainna turned toward her as they slipped down the steep face of the hill.

"Do you feel it too?" Lelahn looked at her, and blinked, as if seeing Alainna for the first time. She glanced at Kelden, who didn't notice her look and then her eyes flicked back to Alainna's.

"Yes, what is it? Why are you two glowing like that?" Her voice held a note of panic, she was clearly unsettled by her newfound power.

"Don't worry, it means you're a sorceress too. We all have it, and now, so do you. It's called an aura. It reflects your inner self and magic. Yours is white, like mine and Kelden's."

"But I've never been apprenticed. How could I be a sorceress? I don't know the first thing about magic!"

"Apparently in your case it doesn't matter. You are unique, but no less a sorceress than I."

"So there are no others like me?" She didn't seem surprised, only curious. "Could it have anything to do with that spell that He," there was no need for Alainna to clarify who she was talking about, "cast on me?"

"What spell?" A worried frown crossed the White Sorceress' face, if he had been experimenting on mortals…

"Before, he-" she broke off, not quite ready, since that first time, to refer to her pain by name. Alainna nodded encouragingly and she continued. "He would cast this spell that made me weak. Like he was draining all of my strength and using it himself. I thought it had something to do with the fact that you killed him a hundred years ago - like he was trying to heal himself. But now I'm not so sure."

Alainna shook her head, "No, that's not unusual. We white sorceresses need our familiars to provide the energy to cast our spells. But black magic doesn't make use of that. Black sorceresses and wizards need to use their own energy, so they need to replenish it. Their magic takes less energy, but it is still tiring. Usually they seduce mortals, then use their spell, but so subtly that the mortal never notices. In your case, it was more serious, he needed more energy. It also seems to be the nature of black magic that sex is integral to the process. That's probably why they can't have children." Lelahn looked apprehensively at Kelden, who was walking a little ahead of them.

"Doesn't he do that too? He uses black magic."

"Lelahn," Alainna's tone was severe, "he is no threat to you. His magic may be unusual, just like yours." She emphasized the phrase, eliciting a glare from Lelahn, "but he uses a familiar, so he gets all the energy he needs from Karim." Lelahn continued to gaze distrustfully at Kelden. Alainna's tone grew softer. "He is my oldest friend. Do you think I would put you in danger if I could help it? I tell you, you can trust him. You should be more charitable to him; he so wants to help you."

Lelahn glared at Alainna. "You know why I can't trust him. Not now. Maybe one day I'll be able to look at Kelden without seeing Him, but I doubt it."

At that moment, a woman dressed in black stepped out from behind a tree, smiling broadly. She wore a tight black dress that ended above the knee and clung tightly to every curve in her body, and black leather boots that hugged her calves, almost up to the knee. Around her shoulders was draped a black cloak that swished around her ankles as she approached them. A gold amulet, inset with a sapphire swung from her neck. Actually, it wasn't an amulet, Alainna noted with surprise, but a naked gem, a sentiment that struck Alainna as being extremely arrogant. And foolhardy. If it were to break - Alainna shivered in horror.

Her hair was as black as her clothing, and very long, falling straight down her back, almost to the waist. This woman was obviously the source of the evil presence that they had been sensing. This was something that Alainna hadn't considered - that black Order members may have settled in the forest itself now that it existed - and that they could encounter them. This area was deserted when Alainna had last been here. The party stopped when they saw the woman, and drew together slightly as she came closer. When she was only a few feet away, she stopped - as if she didn't want to intimidate them - and spoke.

"Welcome to Mecco, White Sorceress. And I extend a welcome to your friends as well." She spoke politely, but couldn't conceal an arrogant tinge to her voice. She nodded respectfully to Lelahn and Kelden and continued. "My name is Karanis and I invite you to be my guests. I have a house in the valley that is large enough to accommodate you all, and I'm sure you would appreciate a soft bed and warm bath after your time in the wilderness."

Alainna narrowed her eyes distrustfully. "I'm sure that would be nice, but we have business elsewhere, thank you." Karanis took a few steps forward, her voice developing an edge.

"I cannot believe you would refuse my hospitality. The strife between the Black and White Guilds has gone on too long. Must we always fight? Shouldn't you, as the White Sorceress, encourage peace between our two peoples? Besides," she chuckled. "surely you see that, if I knew you were coming, the Black Wizard does as well. You are far too late to stop him. Allow me to extend you one final kindness before my master is forced to disappoint you once again."

"What do you mean, 'again'?" asked Alainna, not moving.

She laughed outright at this, her fire-born insolence showing clearly through the mask of congeniality. "Well, he's not dead is he? Come." She turned and began to walk away, clearly meaning that they should follow. They did so, but Alainna kept a watchful eye out for anything suspicious. At the first sign of danger, they would abandon this woman, and make their way as quickly as possible to the Black Wizard's fortress. Hopefully Karanis was not telling the truth and there was still some way of salvaging something out of this.

At the bottom of the hill was a large house, made of wood - seemingly the same as any mortal home, except for the remote location. The trees had been cut back from the house and a small stable nearby housed a single ebony Horse. Clearly the forest had been cleared to provide a landing place for her Horse. It galled Alainna that this woman should have her own Horse; even she didn't have a flying Horse of her own. This woman must be very highly-placed in the Black Guild - and close to the Black Wizard. Alainna vowed to keep that in mind when dealing with her.

Inside, the house had several rooms, including three bedrooms. Karanis executed the tour with a self-satisfied flourish that left the others breathless. They left their packs in one of the rooms and Karanis indicated that she would leave them to get settled in. Before she did so, however, she took Lelahn aside.

"Do you want a separate room, child? I can certainly provide you with one if you wish." Lelahn glared at her with contempt; this was a black sorceress, on the same scale as Koldar as far as she was concerned.

"Why would I need a separate room?" she snapped.

"I know what Koldar has done, and you don't seem to be comfortable with those two," she answered, jerking her head to indicate Alainna and Kelden. "I know that one looks like Koldar, and I can't imagine that you would be comfortable with him, seeing what the Black Wizard did to you." Lelahn started.

"How do you know about that?" she demanded.

"I know," answered Karanis, tapping her temple with one long fingernail. "Besides, I'm sure those ones want to be alone, considering how they're looking at each other." Lelahn couldn't argue with the sentiment, despite the fact that Kelden and Alainna weren't making any indications at all of their feeling for each other, let alone flirting. She nodded reluctantly.

"All right, a few hours alone will probably do me good," she said, as if she'd thought of it herself. She picked up her pack and moved into the adjoining room, directed by Karanis. Alainna looked at her curiously, but didn't say anything. The room was bright, and furnished in shades of grey. It seemed to be a common theme; one of the bedrooms was in black, and the one Alainna and Kelden were in was pure white. It seemed that Karanis' tastes were widespread.

"If you need anything, just call. I'm in the third bedroom."

"I will." Yeah, right.

"For now, I'm going to attend to the White Sorceress. I'm sure she wouldn't like to be kept waiting." Karanis swept regally out of the room, her cloak swishing around her ankles. Lelahn lay down on the bed and allowed herself to be enveloped by its softness. She hadn't slept in a comfortable bed since she was in Lorenton, not counting the two nights at Alainna's stronghold. Despite her attempts to fight it, she found herself drifting toward sleep.

Kelden waited in the bedroom for Alainna. Karanis had offered a warm bath to her so politely that, despite reservations, Alainna could not help but accept. Kelden lay on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, enjoying the quiet. The room was furnished pleasingly in white, though Kelden wondered why a black sorceress would have a white bedroom.

Perhaps its for the purer mortals that she brings home to leech from, suggested Karim who was sprawled on a small pillow on a table in the corner, seemingly asleep.

I think you are too tired, Karim. What mortal would balk at black sheets when faced with The Touch?

You're right, I am too tired. You think you can handle this on your own?

No problem. What's to handle? After an incoherent, but sarcastic-sounding, response from the lizard, Karim fell asleep. Kelden went back to staring at the ceiling, luxuriating in the first chance for real solitude in many years. In Koranna he could never let his guard down and be himself for a moment - even when he was alone - in case someone saw him. It had often felt as if he was always being watched by the townspeople. He only had a few minutes of blessed silence before he heard the soft step of someone in his doorway. He looked up sharply.

"Alainna-" he stopped in mid-sentence. It was Karanis, in a smooth, silk gown. Jet-black, it barely covered her marvelous figure - let alone concealed it. She smiled.

"I'm sorry to disturb you Kelden. I'd already changed for bed, and then I realized I'd been neglecting you." Misunderstanding her meaning, he sputtered.

"Don't worry, I don't need anything," he assured her, his face reddening. She shook her head and moved into the room, the silk sliding over her body, producing a soft whispering sound that maddened him.

"I was just wondering if you needed a change of clothes, or anything to wear to bed. I think I have some men's clothing in the closet," she said, nodding in the direction of her own bedroom.

"That would be great, thank you," he said, relaxing.

"Come then." He followed her down a hallway into a room, identical to his, but furnished completely in black. She opened a door and took out a brown bundle that looked like bedclothes. It was mortal's clothing, but better than Kelden's torn, patched tunic and pants. He took the bundle, sat on the edge of the bed, and started to take off his tunic, but stopped when he saw that Karanis was still looking at him. "Uh, aren't you going to leave?" she frowned.

"Why?" she seemed genuinely perplexed.

"I-" he stopped as she chuckled slightly.

"It's not as if I've never seen a man naked."

"Not this man," replied Kelden. She shrugged.

"Makes no difference. I can turn around if you like." This was said with a slight edge of contempt that wounded his male pride.

"Don't worry about it," he said tersely, and pulled his tunic over his head. His amulet danced and glittered and was reflected in Karanis' eyes as she looked down at him. Overcome by a moment of modesty, Kelden fumbled on the drawstring of his pants. Immediately she was on one knee beside him.

"I'll help you with that." He tried to protest, but then her delicate hands brushed against his stomach as she worked on the knot, and suddenly he didn't want to anymore. She pulled off the clothing, caressing his legs as she did so and then stood up, as if to leave. Kelden stood up with her, and kissed her. She was not taken by surprise, until she felt his magic responding, and she melted against him.

"You have The Touch," she whispered, through violent passionate kisses. He guided her down onto the bed, his arms holding her tightly, even as they fumbled with the catches on her gown.

"Of course I do."

"But, not the White Touch - my kind."

"I know." After that, speech was impossible.

Norath, Ferris, and Renah arrived back at Garothan just as the sun dipped below the horizon. They wasted no time before going to see the Chief. They left the girl outside the curtain, then entered the tiny cubicle. The Chief was still sucking on a tube, as she had been when they had left a few days earlier.

"I am praying for the safe return of the other children," she said when it was mentioned. Privately, Norath reflected that she seemed to be 'praying' more and more lately. They described the failure of the teleporter to the Chief, who's usual ebullience vanished. "I see. You are lucky you ended up so close to Garothan. This is very serious." She leaned closer to the pair, smelling of smoke and unwashed skin. "I must tell you a secret: the leaders of all the Cities and I have been planning a solution to this, and other problems for years. I cannot tell you yet what it is. For now, we can make do without the teleporters. Do not tell anyone of what I have said. I do not wish to disappoint if this proves for naught," admonished the Chief. Norath and Ferris nodded.

"Of course not. There is one more thing," added Norath.

"Yes?"

"We found a young girl in the wilderness. She was abandoned by her parents because she is different, but I don't think she is a Badlander. I think she's a sorceress. May we take care of her until she is older? She survived one night, but I see no reason to kill her by turning her out for another."

"A sorceress!" The Chief leaned back, shocked. "Of course you can keep her, she must be taken care of. And maybe she will be a good asset in the future. I didn't know they came so young," she mused, then brightened again, her face breaking into a wide smile. "Now, tell me of the rest of your travels. Where is the rest of your party?"

A young girl walked through the streets of her home town. A bundle of flowers was held reverently in her hands. She regarded them as she walked, hardly looking up as she gazed at the multicoloured bits of life that she had always taken for granted. It was amazing how things took on new meaning when they were given to you by someone you loved. She weaved easily through the streets, not going home, only looking for a place where she could sit alone, and look at her flowers, and think about… him.

She left the streets and bustling people behind and entered a small wood that bordered the city. She stopped in a favourite place. It was a clearing in the forest, where a little stream tumbled happily nearby, swerving just enough to catch the corner of the clearing, as if nature had conspired to make that few square metres of land, and nowhere else, perfect. A smooth rock sat by the stream, perfect for sitting on and watching the steam, or just dreaming. Sometimes, she lay in the grass and looked up into the sky, wrinkling her dresses and incurring the tired scoldings of her mother when she got home. Today she sat on her rock and thought about Louren. She closed her eyes and imagined him, his blond hair and laughing blue eyes, and that beautiful smile. She tipped her face up slightly, so that the sun would shine through her closed eye-lids. She imagined that the sun was making Louren shine like silver, so that his face was imprinted on her retina like a bright light.

Without warning, a shadow passed over the sun. In surprise, she opened her eyes. A man was standing over her. He was wearing black, and was even black himself, with dark skin and wide eyes that looked as if they were about to pop from their sockets - so blinding their whiteness was, compared to the darkness of his face and clothing. She got to her feet, trying to hide her fear, and feeling as if she failed miserably.

"Who are you?" she demanded, wincing as her voice emerged - not as an authoritative bark, but as a frightened whimper. The man smiled, his teeth as blinding as his eyes.

"I am Lokkar. You are coming with me." She didn't bother to dispute him, but turned and ran, back toward Lorenton. He didn't follow her, but leapt on a black Horse that had been standing docily in the clearing and took to the air. Lelahn was too busy running to see.

She burst from the forest, tears of fright blinding her, and began to run across the field separating her from home. Lokkar chose that moment to swoop down out of the sky. The Horse landed and smoothly went into a run alongside her. Lokkar simply leaned down, grabbing her around the waist with one long arm and pulling her off her feet. The Horse took off again, bare metres from the buildings and Lelahn found herself clutching madly at Lokkar's arm for support as the ground fell away beneath her. She was going to fall--

--and Lelahn woke up, barely suppressing the scream, as always. Every time she had that dream, she wished that she had fallen, or had had the foreknowledge to just let go. She might have survived the fall, and then she'd be all right. But even if she hadn't, she would at least have been spared the next five years of hell, as everything she knew was taken away from her - even things she hadn't known she'd had. Louren, her parents, everyone she cared about had long given her up for dead. And she dared not go back, even though she knew what happiness she would bring - for a while. Then they would have to know what He had done to her, and all the happiness she had brought would be undone. Furthermore, the pity she would have to endure - no, she had chosen the right path. She would stay with Alainna for as long as she would have her, maybe even train to be a sorceress, though Alainna had assured her that she already was one. If that was true, then could she participate in The Guild and do all the other things that sorceresses did? Surely Alainna would let her; why else would she have told her all of those secrets? Though, she wasn't sure she really wanted that - too many traditions, too much politics.

Nevertheless, comforted by the prospects of a new life for herself, she relaxed again and closed her eyes, hoping that the dream had finished tormenting her and would not haunt her again that night.

Alainna stepped out of the warm bath and stretched, the last of the stiffness melting away. Water dripped off her body and onto the floor, but was efficiently soaked into a towel under her feet. She closed her eyes momentarily and the water froze into ice pellets that dropped to the floor, not making a sound as they landed on the towel. They quickly melted and were soaked into the towel, leaving Alainna dry and refreshed. She donned the silk nightgown that Karanis had selected for her, it was a light blue, almost white, so she supposed that it didn't stray too far from tradition.

She walked into her bedroom, expecting Kelden to be there, but the room was empty, except for Karim, who was fast asleep. She looked into Lelahn's room, but she was sleeping as well, and Alainna hadn't really expected to find him there. She regarded the closed door to Karanis' room with trepidation, but did not knock. If Kelden was in there, not only did she not want to know about it, but he didn't deserve to be rescued anyway.

She lay down on her own bed and blew out the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. She stared up at the ceiling for a long while, hoping that her suspicions weren't true and not knowing why she cared. You have no reason to be jealous. There is nothing between you. He has the right to do whatever he wants. she scolded herself. Suddenly she heard Sharra's voice, faint, because of the distance, but audible. They had not been speaking because of the effort required to communicate over such distances, but either could feel the other's presence at all times, even if they couldn't hear each other's thoughts.

Love, I'm at the Guildhall now, and the Horses are ready to go. I had some trouble getting past Isak, but you know how he is.

I know, Alainna smiled in the dark, welcoming the distraction from her dangerous thoughts. So you'll be here tomorrow?

Yes, are you ready?

No, we've been delayed by several things. I'll tell you when you get here. I expect we'll reach the Black Wizard tomorrow. I'll talk to you again when we're ready for you to come in. Stay no closer than an hour's flight away.

All right. I'll talk to you then. Good luck.

The mental voice faded, though Sharra was still there, a warm glow in the back of Alainna's mind, giving her strength. Tomorrow, nothing would stop them from leaving, not even the temptation of Karanis. And if she warned Koldar, well, if they believed her, he already knew anyway. Alainna couldn't see how it would make matters much worse. She closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep, but the empty space beside her on the bed seemed to expand to the size of the entire room in the darkness. She didn't sleep for a long time, and when she slept, she dreamed--

--A younger Alainna, not yet dreaming that she could ever be the White Sorceress, stood at the crest of a hill. Where once, in time nearly forgotten, this area had been covered in a lush jungle, only cracked and dry desert lay between her and her objective. The castle gleamed with a harsh, evil light in the sun, highlighting the angry, determined expression on Alainna's face. The scent of evil permeated everything like a pestilence.

Alainna turned to her companion, Kelden, who held his sword in one hand as he gazed fiercely at the Black Wizard's fortress. Despite the bright sunlight, his face was shadowed, until he suddenly turned to look at her and smiled. At that moment, Alainna realized that her friend had been replaced by Koldar and he reached greedily for her, desire and hatred in his dark eyes.

She stumbled back, screaming the name that echoed endlessly in her mind; "Kelden!"--

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