Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (42 page)

“That’s one protocol, yes,” explained LyCora. “A situation of an extreme circumstance like this could be deferred to the guild of the Northern Capital.”

“So why not just do that?”

“Well, for starters, because alphas don’t like outsourcing their problems to others. It’s what you would call a black mark on their record. That, and there’s the issue of pride,” she added almost as an afterthought.

“So what do we do?” DiNiya asked. “We can’t just walk around on edge.”

“Yes, we can,” answered Rex definitively. “We’ll have to if we don’t want to be caught off guard a third time.”

“What do you have in mind?” EeNox asked.

“You’re better at the spy game than any of us here, so keep an ear open for anything that seems unusual.”

“You’re not going to join him in his little mystery caper?” LyCora asked, surprised.

“No. I wouldn’t be of much help, mainly because everything here is still kind of unusual to me. At least he can better pick out what your people would consider odd behavior.”

“What about the rest of us?” AnaSaya inquired curiously, taking several tentative steps closer. “What should we do in the meantime?”

“Enjoy the festivities,” DiNiya said, casting a smile in her direction. “This time of year is one of celebration. We might as well enjoy it for the time being. I mean, unless of course we find reason to be worried.” She looked around for support, and found it in her brother, who nodded in agreement.

“Well, then, it looks like we all know what to do,” declared Rex resolutely.

“Hold on a moment,” LyCora interjected, raising a hand in protest, much to Rex’s visible annoyance. “What exactly do you hope to accomplish by snooping around in other people’s affairs? I mean, do you really think any of us should be questioning an alpha’s judgment?”

“I never figured you for the type to be so trusting,” DiNiya commented.

LyCora flashed her a cross look before continuing. “All I’m saying is that we may be getting in over our heads, and that perhaps we should all step back and look at this logically.”

“Bullshit,” Rex said.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You’re full of it and you know it.”

“Who in the world do you think you are to talk—?”

“You speak as if you’re detached from everyone and everything that happens around you, like it doesn’t affect you, but the truth of it is that there’s one person’s opinion of you that you care about.” They all looked from LyCora to Rex, then back again.

“Wait,” DiNiya said with a sudden look of realization. “You’re worried about what your mother will think if she finds out you went along with all of this.”

LyCora turned away angrily, refusing to look at any of them. “My reasons for doing what I do and don’t do are mine, and mine alone.”

Rex snorted dismissively. “You’re not afraid of what she’ll say, you’re afraid of what you’ll find out.” She spun around with a look of surprise and anger. “That you two aren’t as thick as you thought, that she even keeps secrets from you.” Rex gave a satisfied grin. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

The two stared at each other in silence. LyCora was furious that she had not been able to fend Rex off, that he had been able to smash through all her defenses and sink his teeth into her most vulnerable spot, her desire to be respected and viewed as an equal by her mother.
How did he do it?
she wondered.
How did he look right through me and find the one thing that mattered? He, when nobody else had; nobody else could. Damn you, Rex
.

Rex watched the blue-eyed girl with a sense of victorious satisfaction, as she now seemed to falter right before his eyes like wounded prey struggling to get back on its feet to flee. He felt the blood in his veins begin to burn as he was spurred on by a great hunger, a desire to finish what he had started, when suddenly he was taken by surprise by LyCora quickly closing the gap between them and bringing her face mere centimeters from his.

“You may think you’re clever,” she said in a hushed tone. “And maybe you are. But I’m far less fearful about the secrets my mother keeps than I am about yours.”

“Really?” he said, leaning in closer with a burning red glare. “And what might those be?”

With that, she turned on her heel and strode silently back inside, leaving the four of them on the balcony wondering how things had escalated so quickly.

“I’m sorry, Rex,” DiNiya said, stepping close to him and placing a hand on his arm. “She was out of line.”

“Doesn’t mean she’s wrong,” he replied in a lower tone before turning back towards the balcony and the scenic view below.

The four of them remained there for a time trying to reconcile the mood with talk of the upcoming festival and all the events they were looking forward to.

AnaSaya seemed beside herself with excitement as DiNiya and EeNox regaled her with stories of music, games, and even theatrical performances. Rex stood quietly, leaning against the railing and soaking in the excitement. At times he would close his eyes and listen only to the words being spoken. Words that spoke of endless fun, frolicking in the cool autumn night with the air filled with music and laughter. It was a beautiful image and one he could easily envision, almost as if he was recollecting a memory. But alas, he knew that could not be, for no sooner had he allowed himself to be swept away by tales of merriment than did LyCora’s venomous words come thundering back.
Is it true?
he wondered.
Am I really the keeper of dark secrets that could endanger all the people I have come to care for? But what could they be?
He had no doubt that it had something to do with what happened to him prior to his arrival in EeNara, but how could she know? He opened his eyes and saw that EeNox was still going on about the festival, waving his arms wildly in the air for dramatic effect while the two girls listened intently with enthusiastic smiles.

Rex found himself looking at DiNiya and wondering what in her past could have scared her so terribly and with such a lasting effect. He knew it was why LyCora was so on guard and distrusting of him. He was being condemned for the actions of another, something he had a great deal of experience with already. Guilty by association, he had once heard someone say about a similar incident from his past.
But who was it?
he wondered. He had managed to put back together most of his fragmented memories but could sense that there was still an important piece missing, one that would tie everything together and give him clarity at last. Or at least so he hoped. With a sigh, he decided to put the struggle on hold and just enjoy the moment. He was in good company and felt it a waste to ignore them. Tomorrow would come just as it always did, and he could start worrying anew then. For now, it was a beautiful night and there was no place else he would rather be.

Time moved on, as did life in KaNar. Before long, another whole cycle had gone by, much to Rex’s surprise; he was continuously amazed by how fast time seemed to fly. It felt like only yesterday he had awakened, frightened and alone, an alien in a lost world. Time and time again he would ponder these thoughts while strolling through the streets of KaNar, nodding his head in hello to those he passed as he absorbed the reality that this place was real, and that he was really here. He had also begun to notice that his life before was becoming more and more of a distant memory, like a dream fading as he awoke. It was this realization that scared him, for EeNara had given him a glimpse of himself that he had always sensed but never truly saw, and what he saw troubled him at times, for lurking deep within was the breath of something monstrous in nature. Something that he felt could rise up and overtake him at a moment’s notice, but instead it just stood by, biding its time. For what, though, he had no idea.

This morning brought with it a breeze that was far more frigid than any other he had come to know in this world. He took it as the autumn season now in full swing, and remembered what he had been taught. Focusing his flame, he brought it up to a low burn. It was invisible to the naked eye without relying on a SaVarian’s natural heat-sensitive vision, but noticeable to him just the same. He immediately felt the chill fade away as his body was warmed from within. It was this ability that allowed the people walking in the streets to still be wearing light clothing and sleeveless shirts.

Indeed, he had learned a great many new skills since his arrival, all thanks to the constant tutelage of EeNox, DiNiya, and now even AnaSaya. The shy healer had come out of her shell more and more, going as far as to participate in his training. Unlike EeNox, however, she focused on teaching him to commune with his flame, to listen to it almost like it had a voice, which according to her it did.

“A flame speaks to the person it burns within through feeling and instinct,” she had told him one afternoon while training in the fields under a sky filled with massive sepia-colored cumulonimbus clouds. “It’s like a language, one that we are born knowing. We just need to learn how to listen.”

The memory of that day brought a smile to his face as he rounded a corner and was immediately greeted by TarFor, who was riding atop TemBol, sitting just above his two massive horns.

“Why, good morning, Rex,” TarFor said, smiling broadly.

“Good morning to the both of you,” Rex replied, smiling back. “Good to see you up and about, TarFor—well, more or less.”

The big man laughed. “Yes, well, ‘up’ I may be, but it’s the ‘about’ part that still gives me a bit of trouble. Fortunately, my good friend here was kind enough to offer me his grand crested head as a means of transportation until I can get around better on my own two feet.”

“That’s awfully kind of you, TemBol.”

“Not at all,” TemBol replied dismissively. “It’s what any member of KaNar would do for their tribesmen. Besides, I know if I was in his position he would gladly do the same for me.” TarFor went wide-eyed while TemBol gave Rex a wink. “So where are you off to this morning? More training with EeNox?”

“And AnaSaya,” Rex explained.

“Ahh, so my niece is helping you as well,” TarFor said with enthusiasm.

Rex nodded. “She’s teaching me a lot of things I never knew I could do. Granted, I never really knew anything about this part of me, so I guess that’s really not saying much.”

“Quite the contrary! The power of the lavender flame is one that still holds many mysteries, and to have one as powerful as my niece is a very rare thing indeed.”

“That, and they are more adept at reading one’s flame and understanding its nature,” TemBol added.

“Indeed,” TarFor agreed, crossing his arms and nodding resolutely. “Consider yourself fortunate to find yourself under the tutelage of such a rare and glorious power. I have no doubt she can show you a great many things about your flame you never knew.”

“Of that, I have no doubt,” Rex replied. “Well, I’d better be on my way. EeNox gets bitchy when I’m late.”

“Well, then, we won’t keep you,” TemBol said with a slight bow of his head. “      Have fun, but do be careful. No sense in pushing yourself too hard. Remember, all things in due time.”

“I will, and thank you,” he replied before waving goodbye and parting ways with them.

He continued through the gates and out into the fields that had become a regular meeting spot for him, EeNox, DiNiya, and AnaSaya. This morning, though, two unexpected yet familiar faces joined them. Standing with them was ShinGaru, the boy genius, and even more unexpectedly, the ice queen herself, LyCora.

“Good morning, Rex,” DiNiya called over to him while waving.

“Good morning,” he replied as he quickly closed the distance between them.

“What took you so long getting ready this morning?” EeNox demanded, clearly not pleased that his pupil was the last to arrive again.

“Sorry, but I wanted to grab a second plate of breakfast, since I knew we would be out most of the morning again.”

“You were on your second when we left you.”

“Huh, really? Guess it must have been fifth then.”

EeNox sighed, irritated, while DiNiya giggled to herself.

“Good to see you again, Rex,” ShinGaru said, raising his forearm to him.

“Likewise,” Rex replied, mirroring the gesture. “So what brings you out here this morning?”

“Well, when I heard that these three were teaching you how to use your flame, I thought it’s not every day that you get to see a real-life red flame in action.”

“So in other words, you came to gawk at the freak show.”

“N-no,” the golden-eyed boy stammered in protest. “I assure you I meant nothing of the sort.”

Rex just laughed. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. Anyways, check this out.” He reared back, arching his head all the way back and up, and with a heavy exhalation, breathed a four-meter torrent of red fire straight up into the air. ShinGaru’s eyes went wide with surprise, while EeNox nodded with approval. Another five seconds and the vertical flaming stream abated. Rex turned to ShinGaru and grinned evilly. “Not bad, huh?”

“Most impressive,” ShinGaru responded, sounding more than a little bewildered. “Please don’t mind my asking, but what made you want to learn how to expel flame from your mouth?”

“Honestly, it just sort of happened,” Rex explained casually. “EeNox here was teaching me how to focus and direct it, when out of my mouth it suddenly came.”

“Nearly set my whole head on fire when it did,” EeNox added, recalling the close call everything above his neck had that day.

Rex’s gaze shifted slightly to the left of ShinGaru to where LyCora was standing with her arms crossed beneath her cloak, averting her gaze. When she noticed he was staring at her, she blew a strand of fur out of her face and explained dryly, “I’m not here to help or watch your silly little stage act, if that’s what you’re wondering. My mother made me come—plain and simple.”

“And you’re not the type to disobey Mother, now, are you?” EeNox chided.

“Though some of us would have no problem if you decided to,” DiNiya added in a less-than-kind tone.

“Well, then, since you’re here, maybe I’ll aim my little stage act lower next time,” Rex said, fixing LyCora with a predatory stare.