The sky was bright, littered with stars, though the trees bushy heads obscured most of them. Victor’s snores carried on the soft wind, loud and blaring like an old mans. We’d decided to save my coins and since there was no sign of rain we’d camped inside the forest that grew along the roadside heading east. I was wrapped in my new traveler’s cloak which kept in the warmth rather nicely and I was warm and dry.
Victor had started a fire a few hours ago and a small burst of flame awoke every now and then for a short time. As it flared up once more it caused Valsephony to glare back and I caught sight of the small white envelope tucked into the scabbard. I’d been waiting all night for Victor to fall asleep so I could read the letter in private. Though I had allowed him to travel with me I still didn’t trust the wizard completely.
I quickly sat up, causing Victor to stir. I lit a squat candle that I’d purchased and snatched at the letter quickly before glancing over at Victor who’d decided not to bother waking up after all and had fallen back into a deep sleep.
I used my nail to slit the envelope then tugged out a single sheet of paper. Dal’s tiny, neat handwriting adorned it and I smiled, wondering how she was getting along without me. I shifted the candle so it could light the paper without burning it then sneezed at the small dust particles that drifted off the dry paper.
Zavier.
I hope all is well for you. We all knew you would decide to leave someday and when I saw the cart returning without you this morning I knew that day had come. Zora told me you were coming, but there had been no room for you in the wagon. I knew you too well though and I wasn’t the least bit surprised when you still didn’t return tonight.
I’ll miss you Zavier, I really will. We understand each other the way no one else does. I hope you’ll return one day to say goodbye, but please don’t rush it just for me. I want you to be able to enjoy your long deserved freedom.
Father was barely concerned by your absence at dinner. It was dragon stew . . . I didn’t eat any, I couldn’t handle it. It was her, Zavier, wasn’t it? The dragon you cared for years ago?
Father wouldn’t shut up about how brave Earl had been when slaying the dragon. For some odd reason I knew within my heart that it was otherwise. She was an old dragon, judging by the toughness of the meat as I was forced to prepare for dinner. She had no chance against Earl’s quick blade and . . . I know this will come as a great surprise but he has magic. Earl has magic!
He showed us a few petty spells tonight and I could barely keep from crying. Something is not natural about the way that boy is. Only seven, and yet he’s slain a dragon, wields a sword and has magic. . .
Father brought old news from the town of Kazender. There is a hunt going on for two witches that disappeared six years ago. They’re only fifteen years old! They are supposedly powerful and dangerous. Be careful Zavier.
Anyhow, best of luck during your travels. You had best go as far as possible seeing that Father will be in a rage when forced to do all the chores. It was so sweet the way Charlott acted when she finally was reunited with Sorrel. It’s bad of Father to separate them, but he does not care in the least. Maggie, one of the mini dragons, finally hatched her four chicks this afternoon. They’re so cute! I let Farah have them since she so loves the little fuzzy dragons. It gives her something at least to love and cherish. I wonder when their scales will come in?
I’m rambling on aren’t I? Again I wish you the best of luck. I’ll take this letter and a few other things over to Mrs. Baker tonight. She’s a good lady, Zavier, hopefully she will be able to catch you before you leave the Moorlands.
Much Concern and Love,
Dal
I smiled at Dal’s concern over the little chicks and imagined her trying to fill the letter full of interesting things while her hand shook and she dreamed of coming along with me. I tucked the letter back into the scabbard then lay down. Sleep took a long time coming and I became envious of how easy it was for Victor to sleep as his snores continued ever on.
A small light danced in the fire causing me to glance up. It was a different shade of light than the orange and reds the fire reformed to. I watched intently as the small glow of light parted from the breath of flame, the last remnants of the fire. It swirled on the soft breeze, its light pulsing like a heartbeat. I couldn’t help but sit up to get a better look at the thing.
I realized it was a Fairy, a Fire Fairy if I wasn’t mistaken. It lay on the current of wind; its small eyes were closed as it joyfully moved on the current before my eyes. Flame-like hair burned around the creatures head in eddies of red fire. The creature’s small ears grew upward to a sharp point and it had on a red toga of flame for clothing. Its rich tan colored skin reminded me of Earl and I noticed a sharp point at the base of the creature’s heels. It had no shoes on.
“What are you looking at!?” A tiny voice snapped abruptly. The small creature opened its blood red eyes and stared at me. It had been watching me the whole time.
“You,” I spoke calmly, staring at the small being in wonderment.
“Capital! I’m pretty good looking ain’t I?!” The small personage demanded ruthlessly, sitting upon its bench of air and swaying in front of my face as if attempting to hypnotize me.
The creature frowned at my lack of an answer. “Well ain’t I?”
I nodded my head.
“Of course . . . I was just wondering why you haven’t flown away yet,” I murmured on fascination.
The small creature smiled wickedly.
“Because you and me is an awful lot alike now.” He let out a soft chuckle, his sharp pointed teeth gleaming white in the darkness.
“What do you mean?” I asked, slightly puzzled.
“Hold out your hand.” He looked up into my face when I didn’t respond. “I said hold out your hand!” The little creature spat a blob of fire and stormed around on his current of air in a display of fury. He was obviously not used to not having his own way.
“I’ll hold out my hand if you tell me your name,” I spoke softly, not wanting to further upset the raging fairy.
“My name’s for me to know and you to find out.” He looked at me through slitted eyes and finally gave in. “I’m Furnace. And let me guess, you’re Zavier.”
I nodded.
“How did you know?” I asked, holding my hand out for Furnace to land on which he did speedily.
“You humans have your name written all over you, Zavier.” He stomped around on my hand for a moment before kneeling down and tapping the palm of my hand using his small fist.
“You see, Zavier. I’m a Fire Fairy. I burn whatever I touch, including humans.” I stared down at him. My hand felt slightly warm at his presence put there was no pain.
“You, Zavier, are what us Fairies would call a Fire Human. You have flame running through your blood as we speak. That is why I can’t burn you.” Questions filled my head and I opened my mouth to vent, but Furnace shook his head.
“You’ll find out one day why you have what ya have. It’s not the right time, nor place, for me to be tellin’ you. Besides, I want you to follow me; I have somethin’ to show you.” He rose off my palm and jumped into the air, fiery wings sprouting from his shoulder blades.
He was a fast flyer but easy to spot in the black of the autumn night. He glowed brightly, lighting up a small foot path through the forest. I was slightly reluctant to leave Victor but my curiosity overcame me quickly and so I followed Furnace deeper into the dark forest.
We’d only been walking for a few minutes when I began to see other lights darting around the forest. I was reminded of the morning just a few days ago when Zora had been fascinated by the Fairies in the woods.
Furnace slowed as he neared a boulder and let out a cough. His cheeks burned a bright red and his red-eyed gaze flickered over to glare at me uncomfortably.
“This might not be too pretty.” He motioned for me to sit down in the damp grass. I obeyed as Furnace disappeared into a hole in the large rock. The second he disappeared a small head peeked out of a different hole in the same rock.
It was a smaller Fairy, probably a child. Her long flame red hair fell about her head in a tangled mess. She pulled herself out of the hole and flew over to me on small flaming wings.
“I’m Ember, Zavier,” she spoke softly as she sat down in my outstretched fingers.
“Well how do you do?” I asked, wondering where the small Fairy had come from.
“I was fine, ‘til father came home.” Ember saw my look of surprise and laughed. “Yeah, Furnace is my father. My mother’s name is Thornfire. They get in awful fights when father’s been away too long-”
Just then I heard a scream of rage echo out of the boulder, followed by a small burst of light.
“How dare you come marching back in here, Furnace! After swearing you’d leave me in peace!”
“Ah shut up you twit, I’m just here for Ember. You seen her anywhere?” Another round of indiscernible screaming followed Furnace’s query.
“You Freak of Mother Nature, get out of my house. You can’t have Ember. You’ve already filled her mind full of rubbish!”
“Now listen here, Thorn, you overgrown moron. The tides have turned and I need Ember to help me Dream a human I brought over here.” Another even louder shriek sounded.
“You did what!? Furnace you nitwit! You can’t bring humans to this forest and you know that!” I heard Furnace mumble something then a loud bang issued.
“You know what, you sore-on-the-eyes woman? You are the most infuriating being on this entire planet!” Another bang and both Thornfire and Furnace shot up through the small hole.
Thornfire, upon sighting her daughter in my hands, let out a scream of rage. She was about to launch herself into my face but luckily Furnace grabbed her by the wrist.
The two grappled with one another, Thornfire intent on getting away and Furnace intent on keeping a hold of the angered Fire Fairy.
“Now listen here you, you unearthful being! You let me go or I’ll hurt you!” Thornfire demanded slapping Furnace on the face.
“Thornfire, will you please stop.” I asked quietly. The clearing became dead silent as the Fairy turned to glare at me. I instantly wondered if I done something wrong.
Furnace dropped her hand and Thornfire brushed her dress off testily.
“Who are you anyhow, Zavier?”
“He’s a Fire Human, Mom.” Ember leaned over my finger tips and waved at her mother.
“I know that, Ember. I guess what I meant was what is he doing here?” I looked over at Furnace for an answer.
“I wanted Ember to show him what those two misfits left for him.” Furnace answered smugly. Thornfire seemed slightly confused for a moment before her eyes widened with understanding.
“You mean he’s Him?” she asked in amazement.
Furnace nodded and passed Thornfire a small bottle. She just stared at it.
“Well for goodness sakes, woman, tell him what to do!”
Thornfire glared at her husband then turned back to me.
“Ember, get down from there at once. You can barely fly as it is.” Ember looked bummed, but obeyed her mother and slid down through my cupped fingers.
Thornfire watched me closely before speaking. “A few nights back two strange creatures came to us, disguised I’d guess. Anyhow, they left us as keepers of a dream they instructed that was for your eyes alone.” I stared at her, wondering if they’d gotten the wrong guy.
“Now, Zavier, I want you to lie down in the grass, get nice and comfy.” I did as I was told, my mind reeling, and laid back down in the damp grass. Shivering, I wrapped my cloak around my body and flinched as Thornfire landed on my forehead.
“Don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit.”
I heard Ember let out a snort of disgust somewhere over by the boulder but I couldn’t see her anywhere. “Liar.”
I saw Thornfire raise the small bottle over her head and drop it. The small glass object shattered into a billion shards as it hit my forehead and everything went black as I heard the scream.
Two girls stood there, exact opposites of each other. One was short and had tan skin. She was slightly pudgy but not to a noticeable extent. The other girl was so pale. Her skin and hair were almost the same white color and she stood towering above the smaller girl beside her. Her blue-eyed gaze bored into me and I couldn’t help but stare.
Mist swirled around the two and I shivered before slowly approaching them. They made no motion to try to leave, they just stood there like statues, unmoving and unblinking.
“Hello.” I heard myself say the words, but I hadn’t spoken. As I neared them an invisible barrier prevented me from continuing onward. “Hello.” This time I spoke the words and someone stirred beside me, cloaked by the mist. It was Victor. He was in a full Wizard garb standing tall and powerful.
He moved forward and even though I tried to follow, the barrier remained and I could not pass. He took the smaller girl by the hand and they disappeared into the swirling mist.
Then I was running, running towards a white figure now far off. She turned and I recognized the pale girl from before, her blue eyes shining. Her lips moved and I heard her call my name.
“Zavier.” I moved towards her but the mists swirled around her and she disappeared. I ran into the wet fog and as suddenly as it had come it vanished. A man wearing a black cloak stood before me, a huge black dragon resting behind him, red tongue flicking angrily. In the man’s arms he held the limp body of a girl, laying there as if in a deep sleep. I took another step forward and the man threw back his head and laughed the most sinister laugh I’d ever heard.
“Zavier! Zavier-wake up!” Someone was shaking my body.
I opened my eyes and found myself lying in the clearing by the fire, Victor kneeling beside me. The sun had started to rise. I stared at Dal’s letter lying crumpled up next to me. Had I even left the clearing last night? Or had the fairies-like the pale girl and her sister-been nothing more than a dream.
I rebelled today. I pulled away from Her and ran. It felt good yet my heart wearied of the freedom quickly and I returned to Her later that day. I succeeded in what I had wanted though. I had found Him. He had been asleep and dreaming of Them but I am sure it was Him. She punished me when I returned. Four or five years ago She never would have lain a whip to me and it scares me. More proof of how much we are becoming what we are. Her face as ugly as ever, seared by a dry hate for everything around us when she used to find pleasure there. . . Please hurry. The days are numbered and grow ever shorter. . .
