Inner Fire Chapter 2

                                                        2

His hands were raised, both at the precise angle.  His feet where spread at just the right distance from each other. He slowly arched his back as he bent his head back and began to chant the Ancient words, not spoken in a 1000 years slip from his tongue with ease. As the words built he began to feel the all too familiar feeling of his inner fire grow. He could sense it seeking out the ones he wished to rise from the underworld and do his bidding.  As the power grew, the familiar mist began to appear as if from nowhere. It was thick and clung heavily to the ground as it grew. It slowly began to roll down the surrounding hills, making it way down to the valley floor.

Minutes passed and the chanting continued. The men standing near him could see the sweat pouring off his body from the strain the spell was causing him. He knew he could not stop now. The spell had to be completed or it could backlash and kill him and everyone standing near. Focusing on the last few lines of the spell helped him ignore the pain. Finally it was done and he collapsed to his knees. His men moved to help him, but he raised a hand to them as he looked intently into the mist. After only a few moments, he found what he looked for, large shadows rising from the ground and slowly moving away from them.

"My Lord Savion, what are they?" Di'mear asked.

"They are called Mist Reapers, my friend."

Savion turned his head to see the wild panic reflecting in Di'mears eyes. He motioned for his friend to help him to his feet. As he rose he could feel the drain the spell had taken of his inner fire. Such magic was dangerous to the untrained and could kill a normal man almost instantly. It had taken Savion many years and many near death experiences to perfect this one. With one last look back at the mist, Savion allowed Di'mear to lead him back towards his tent.

They had made camp some 2 miles from the Edenal's forward lines. The last two day had been a stalemate. Savion had known the Larken forces would never out match old King Wrens First File. It had taken longer than he had expected to push them back far enough for him to deliver the death blow. Now it was just a waiting game. Neither the First File nor the Ground forces would stand a chance against Mist Reapers. Savion knew that King Wren and his Generals would never expect the Larkens to use magic against them. Chances were good that the bitch Tabitha and her mystics were not in play on the field. The Edenal forces would be defenseless against the underworld creatures he had sent to destroy them.

Di'mear helped him into his tent. It was large for a field tent and well lite. They made their way over to the table that had been set up for planning their attack. Once Savion was seated, Di'mear began to clear away the assorted maps and reports. Weariness crept over Savion and he knew it would be several hours before he regained his strength.

"Di'mear, pass word along to the Larken Generals that the plan is in play. They must wait til day break before they send their men in to clean up what the Mist Reapers left behind. Make sure they understand not to move forward til day break. Mist Reapers are deadly but not all together very smart. If they move in to soon I cannot guarantee their safety."

"At once my Lord" Di'mear replied.

"And bring me a boy on your return."

At that Di'mear flinched. He knew why Savion wanted a boy. He had been with him long enough to know that Savion would drain the life energy from the boy to replace his own. It was the one thing through the years Di'mear had never been able to get used to.

"Yes My Lord." With that, Di'mear turned to attend to his duties.

Savion leaned back and closed his eyes. Soon old King Wren would pay, he thought. He would crush the Edenal forces and have his revenge and Wren and the bitch Tabitha. Once he had watched the life slip from their eyes he would have what he needed to finish the work he had started all those years ago. The books of the mystics would be his and with them he would release his master from the dark damnation that was his prison since the beginning of time. Once that happened he and his master would rule this world and there would be nothing that Wren, Tabitha or the Goddess herself could do to stop it. As darkness fell, Savion's tent filled with the sound of insidious laughter.







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Thomas found himself standing in a dark courtyard. He could not recall ever being in such a place. All around him he saw destructions, as if a great battle had taken place.  Broken chairs and table littered the street. Doors and windows were smashed. Smoke was thick in the air from the burnt remains of people's homes. In the center of the courtyard, lying on its side was the broken remains of a statue of their beloved Goddess.

Thomas stood transfixed, his month gapping. He had seen battle damage many times before, what had him truly affixed with horror were the bodies.  The dead carpeted the streets as far as he could see. As he stood there trying to come to grips with the destruction he saw a slight movement from among the bodies caught his eye.

At first he thought that maybe it was a figment of his imagination. Suddenly Thomas saw a hand lift up out of a group of bodies near the fallen statue. Thomas went to move towards the hand and found that he was unable to move his legs. Stranger still was the fact that his mind did not seem to care if he could move or not and the thought was instantly dismissed. He looked back towards the hand and saw a man lift his head to look around. For a second Thomas thought he recognized the man, but in the dimming light of evening he was not sure.

After several minutes of stillness the figure moved suddenly as with a purpose. The man reached to his leg and that was when Thomas noticed that he had an arrow sticking from his thigh. The man reached for the shaft of the arrow and snapped it off just above the skin.  A blood curtailing scream filled the court yard from the man, and instantly ice filled Thomas' veins. This was not possible. Thomas felt the hairs on his entire body stand on end. This could not be. He knew that scream. It was Damious.

         Thomas bolted up right from the bed. Frantically he looked around the room for Damious; he was hurt and needed his help. Heart pounding in his ears, it took him several seconds to realize it had been a dream. No, he corrected himself, not a dream. He had connected with Damious in his sleep. Thomas leaped from the bed; he had to tell the King what he had seen. Suddenly his legs gave way and he ended up face down on the floor. Wariness flood over him, every muscle in his body ached with pain. Before he could gather his thoughts, hands were grabbing him and pulling him up.

         "Damn it boy what is the matter with you." Garret said in a harsh tone.

         "Don't you think you've pushed yourself hard enough for one day?"

         Thomas looked up at his father. He must have been sleeping in the chair by the fire place to have appeared so quickly.

         "Tabitha says it will be several days before you will be up and around again." Garret sat his son back on the bed.

         "Father I need to speak with the king right away."

         "What's so important that it can't ..." Garret started.

         "Please father, it has to do with Damious and cannot wait." Thomas interrupted sounding a little harsher then he had meant to.

          Garret turned and looked at his son for several second, intently. He had always known that someday his son would grow into a man. For him to interrupt him and in such a stern tone was a testament to the fact that the day was finally here. Pride and touch of sadness filled the big man's soul. His son was now a man come into his own, but he sure would miss the little boy he had loved all these years.

         Garret placed a hand on Thomas' shoulder

         "Ok boy calm down, you relax here and I will go and see if he is free." With that garret turned and left the room. Thomas did not know it then, but that would be the last time he ever hear his father call him boy.

         He lay back on the bed and went over his dream. He wanted to try and remember ever detail of where he had been, in hopes of finding Damious. Closing his eyes the images flashed through his mind and he made note of all he could. As the minutes passed the weariness began to overtake him.

         "Thomas?" His father voiced startled him.

         His eyes snapped open to find Garret and King Wren standing at the foot of his bed.  It must have been later then he thought. Wren stood there in his night clothing and had the look of sleep still in his eyes.

         "My king, forgive me for having you awakened at such an hour." Thomas said feeling the blood rush to his face.

         "Nonsense, your father says you have information about Damious, which is important."

         "Yes sir, I believe I may know where he may be." Thomas blurted.

         The look on Wrens face could only be described as hopeful surprise.

         Thomas began his story about his dream. Describing to them all the sight and details he could remember. The more he relayed to them about what he had seen the More King Wren looked lost in thought. His father on the other hand had a look of deep embarrassment and when Thomas finished his story, Garret shot him a look of warning.

         "Sir, I want to apologize for my son's behavior. Had I known beforehand that this was about some silly dream he had I would never have awaken you at this late hour." Garret said looking down at his feet.

         Wren considered this for a moment then turned to Thomas.

         "You're sure of the details my boy?" The King asked.

         "Absolutely, Sir."

         "Then there is no time to waste. I Believe I know the place you described; it is a small village just west of here called Bren. By all accounts it was overrun by Larkens 4 days ago." Wren said as he paced the floor.

         "Getting Gravis and Kevil in there to find Damious is going to be impossible while the Larkens have us forced back this far."

          Thomas knew it wouldn't work. If the King sent those men in there they would be discovered and cut down before they reached Bren. And what if Damious was no longer there? They could not just wonder they country side aimlessly in hopes of finding him. Thomas felt the pit of his gut twist. There was only one hope for his brother and it was him.

         Wrens thoughts must have mirrored his own, cause he had stopped pacing and was looking intently at Thomas.

         "I'll be ready at first light My Lord." was all Thomas could say.

         Wren nodded, "I will have supplies and a fresh horse readied.

         At that moment they both notice Garret, standing there dumbfounded, looking back and forth between the two. Thomas could tell by the look in his father's eyes that the man was about to burst. He must be think they both insane. Thomas looked to King Wren, an unspoken request passed between them.

         "Garret my friend, let's leave Thomas to rest. There are things that I must tell you about our sons." The King said as he wrapped an arm around Garrets shoulders. His father just stood there with a dumb look on his face and nodded.

         As the two men left the room, Thomas settled back down into the bed.  The weight of the choices he had just made were heavy in his mind. For several minutes he feared that sleep would be impossible. But the weariness of the day's event came over him and before he realized it he slipped off into a deep sleep.

         Morning came too soon for Thomas. Tabitha had been standing at the foot of his bed when he had opened his eyes. She handed him a steaming cup. The contents tasted bitter, she insisted he drink it all. It was more of the same tea she had made him the night before.

         After the tea and getting dressed, Thomas made his way down to the kitchen. He was famished and glad to see that Ms. Able, the royal cook had already prepared him a breakfast of eggs, spiced meats, and cheese. As he finished had made for the back door, Ms. Able handed him a small packet. She said it was more spiced meats and biscuits for the road. Thomas reached up and hugged the big women's neck and promised he be careful.

         Thomas made his way through the twist and turns of the services halls til he emerged from a side door directly across from the stables. He could see that King Wren, his father, and Tabitha were all gathered around two black stallions. The first stallion was fitted with a saddle the other with a mountain of supplies. Not surprisingly, Garret was crawling all over both beast checking strap and making sure everything was secure. Thomas approached just as Tabitha and King Wren looked to be wrapping up a heated debate.

         "Ah there you are my boy. As promised horses and supplies. Now let me be clear. At the first sign of serious trouble you drop supplies and make for the hills. Lightening here is the fastest stallion from my personal stock. He can out run any other horse in the kingdom." Wren said patting the horse affectionately.

         Tabitha walked up and motioned for him to come closer. As he did she reached up a hand and placed it on his face. He felt the sudden burst of energy flood through him as she bled off her Inner fire to him. After several seconds, before removing her hand she moved in and kissed him. Shocked by this Thomas quickly stepped back and stared into her eyes. "Be careful Thomas, and hurry home." With that she quickly turned and headed back into the castle. Thomas numb from what had just happened turned in time to see his father and King Wren snicker under their breath.

         "What was that all about? He asked. Both men just shrugged and chuckled a little louder. Thomas had the feeling that there was something going on that he wasn't be let in on. Why would Tabitha kiss him? Was it some mystic custom he wasn't aware of?  He was barely in his 23rd year and she had to be at least 130. Mystics didn't age like mundanes, and they rarely showed affection to others. Still she was beautiful. She looked to only be his age and she had kept herself fit. Her body was...........

Thomas mentally shook himself. Looking back on his father and King Wren he knew he had a job to do. Damious needed him and he was not going to let his brother down. Taking the reins from his father, Thomas climbed up onto Lightening.





"I think maybe I'll head north for a bit then cut back west. If I am lucky I can get around there front line and reach Bren by night fall." Garret reached up and took his sons hand. Thomas could see the 100s of thing he wanted to say behind his father's eye.





"Fair well my son." King Wren moved closer." Be careful Thomas, if you cannot find Damious by weekend, return home and we will find another way." The king said.





With that Thomas turned the stallion and headed for the front gates. He didn't know if he would be able to find Damious. He didn't know if he would survive. The one thing he did know was that he was going to give it his all, because if he had to Damious would do the same for him.





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