Flameseeker (Book 3) (12 page)

“What?” Kaijin blinked.
What are they doing
back here so soon?
And who is this ‘other man’?

“High Priestess Ranaiah is speaking to them now,”
the acolyte continued. “Please come as soon as you can.”

The acolyte left. Kaijin shut the door and leaned
against it, his mind racing.
Why are they back here? I thought they
wanted
to leave?
He called for Miele, and the bat came soaring down from the
shadows of the ceiling. She landed on his shoulder and screeched with contentment.

Kaijin watched her carefully and concentrated,
trying to sense any tension from her.
“Something just doesn’t feel right
about this. I don’t know if I’m ready to face my friends again so soon. So much
has happened around here. What do you think?”

Miele yawned. Kaijin felt no anxiety from her. Somewhat
reassured, Kaijin headed out the door and to the main hall, where he found a
large gathering. He immediately spotted Aidan, towering over everyone.

Ranaiah stood in the midst of the crowd, speaking
to an old man in a purple robe. Curious but hesitant, Kaijin slowed, but Miele
suddenly launched herself from his shoulder and flew toward the group,
screeching happily.

Kaijin blinked.
“Miele!”

She didn’t stop until she reached the purple-robed
man, then dove down to a black cat sitting beside him. Startled, the cat let
out a hiss, but quickly relaxed as Miele hovered before it, screeching her
greetings. The cat sniffed at her a moment, and then meowed in confirmation and
gently pawed at her.

Percival, who was perched on Omari’s shoulder,
scrambled down him and greeted Miele with happy squeaks and excited bouncing
and romping about.

The animals’ commotion had drawn the crowd’s attention,
and all eyes turned to Kaijin, who stopped in his tracks. Kaijin swallowed a
lump in his throat as he felt Ranaiah’s gaze bore into him. He shuffled slowly
toward the gathering. “H-hello, everyone.”

“Kaijin!” Nester ran up to him. “’Owya doin’,
mate?”

Kaijin smiled down at the brownie and joked,
“Still surviving—I think.”

Nester laughed.

Zarya approached Kaijin next. “Hello, Kaijin.”

Zarya’s perfect form and gentle smile warmed his
heart. He managed to shake himself out of that brief moment of bliss. “Zarya.
What a surprise to see you here.” He looked over to Omari, who remained with
the old man, and Aidan, who stood near them with his arms crossed and an annoyed
scowl.

What’s with Aidan?

“Kaijin,” Ranaiah spoke up, “this man claims he
knows you. He says he is an old friend.” She backed away from the
exhausted-looking, purple-robed man, who regarded Kaijin carefully.

Kaijin felt his gut tighten.
That can’t be who
I think it is ... is it?

“
Kaijin, don’t say anything, but know that it’s
me, your master—Jarial.
”

Kaijin blinked, unsure what he’d heard was real or
not—a voice in his mind not like the fiery one he often heard, but one that
sounded like someone he’d known from another life.

But when he looked at the old man more carefully,
he realized the voice was, indeed, coming from him. His eyes widened.
Master?!

XI

In the same small private meeting room that he and
Ranaiah had recently used, Kaijin sat perfectly still at the table, watching
Jarial pace before the lit hearth. They had left the rest of the group in the
main hall to speak in private. The room was strangely silent, save for Sable,
who purred contentedly while crouched atop the opposite end of the table with
her paws tucked under her chest.

Is it really him? He looks ...
ancient
!
Kaijin thought, still not quite completely willing to accept Jarial’s present
appearance.
But it’s only been a few months since we parted ways. How could
he have aged so suddenly like this?
Miele screeched, feeling nervous.
Kaijin glanced up at one of the wooden beams in the ceiling, where she perched.
And he called himself my master again. Does this mean he—

Jarial finally stopped pacing and turned to
Kaijin. “I know what you are thinking, and I’m trying to find the best way to
explain.”

Kaijin blinked. “Master, did something happen to
you? Were you attacked? Cursed?”

Jarial glanced curiously about the room a moment before
leaning close to Kaijin. “I sense enchantments on these walls. Any of them, by
chance a soundproof spell?” he whispered.

Kaijin nodded. “Yes, actually. Also several types
of protection spells. During my tour of the Pyre, I was informed that all of
the meeting rooms were enchanted in the same manner. Our conversation should be
safe from eavesdroppers.”

Jarial sighed deeply. “It is as I said earlier,
Kaijin. This is ... who I really am. I know you’ve never seen me this way, and
I’m rather ashamed that you have to see it now. I only ask that you keep this secret.”

He’s ashamed of his age?
Kaijin wrinkled
his brow, puzzled. “Why have you been hiding this, Master?”

“Because ... Because ...” The man grumbled a few
curses under his breath. “It is difficult to explain, but surely, you of all
people would understand what it’s like to have secrets that you don’t want the
whole world knowing.”

Kaijin ran his fingers through his hair. He did
have many secrets, some of which he was certain not even Jarial suspected.
Memories returned to him of his home city, Easthaven, in flames, and he shut
his eyes a moment. He heard the roar of the blazing inferno—the screams of his
mother, father, and brother.

Kaijin shook himself out of his reverie and refocused
on Jarial. “I promise not to say anything to anyone, Master. But I don’t care
about your age or appearance. I’m just very glad that you’re still alive, and
I’m honored that you came all this way to see me.” Kaijin swallowed, looking
down.
So I really didn’t lose everything, after all. If this is your doing,
Ignis, then thank you.

Jarial gave a half smile and took a seat beside
Kaijin. “I suppose I owe you an apology—a big one. I abandoned you when you
needed guidance. I was afraid, for me
and
for you. After what happened
in Easthaven, I feared that by taking you with me, I would be contending with a
presence that far exceeded even
my
abilities. I should have taken that
risk anyway, instead of cowering.”

Kaijin gaped at his master’s words. He was speechless.
I don’t think I’ve
ever
heard him admit to a fault before.

“But I am a strong believer in destiny,” Jarial
continued. “There was a reason we parted ways that day in Easthaven, and I
think I know it now. You’re not that same boy I trained. You have an aura about
you—a power that could probably exceed even the most adept mages. You don’t
need me to train you anymore, Kaijin. That day we parted ways was the beginning
of your own training as a master. I am very proud and honored to have had you
as a student.”

Kaijin beamed. “You will always be my master. I cannot
see you in any other way.”

Jarial chuckled and patted Kaijin’s shoulder. “Yes,
I did instill that into your mind at an early age, didn’t I?” He stared
straight ahead.

Curious, Kaijin followed Jarial’s gaze to one of
the walls, upon which hung a large gold-framed portrait of an armored man
bearing Ignis’s symbol upon his tabard and a mace in one hand. He posed regally
against a backdrop of a wall of fire.

“I trust these people here are treating you well?”
Jarial asked.

Kaijin’s thoughts flitted to Ranaiah, and his
smile broadened. “Oh yes, very much so. Have you met the high priestess,
Ranaiah? She is amazing. So beautiful, kind, wise, powerful ...” His heart
thumped. “There are not enough words to describe how great she is.”

“I see.” Jarial stroked his chin, looking amused.

Kaijin’s own cheeks immediately felt hot. “Uh ...
That is, she’s been helping me learn more about my powers.”

“Yes, I’m
sure
she has.”

Kaijin squirmed in his chair and looked elsewhere.
“Well, I ... I didn’t mean ...”

“Don’t go shy on me, Kaijin. I know you like a
book. I purposely kept you away from the distractions of social life and women
so you could concentrate on your studies. But since you are an adult now and no
longer under my tutelage, you
should
discover and enjoy these things.”

Kaijin’s cheeks were still hot, but a smile tugged
at the corner of his mouth. “I ... think I love her, Master. Very much. She
makes me feel so alive and happy every time I’m around her.”
I can’t believe
I’m telling him this! But he trusts me to keep his secret, so I will trust him
to keep mine.

“Ranaiah sounds like a lovely woman, and she would
be a very
lucky
woman to have someone like you,” Jarial said.

Kaijin beamed.

“So much has happened in these few months, it
seems. You will need to fill me in on your adventures.”

“Certainly. Let’s talk more tonight.”

Jarial nodded once, and then turned and looked
toward the hearth. He closed his eyes a moment and pinched the bridge of his
nose, appearing deep in thought. “Kaijin, my coming here was not solely to
reunite with you. Something has happened in Ghaeldorund—something very big and
tragic—and I’m led to believe that there may be others here at the Pyre who are
also involved.”

Vargas’s questionable behavior piqued Kaijin’s
suspicions, but he wasn’t entirely certain if he was who Jarial meant, so he
spoke no names. “What happened, Master?”

Jarial took a deep breath and retold his tale.
When he finished, he sat back in his chair.

Kaijin sat, awestruck.
So
that’s
where
I’ve heard that name before. Na’val Faulk was Omari’s master!

“Have you any suspicions about who here might possibly
be a conspirator?”

Vargas and the note.
Kaijin opened his
mouth to reply but considered his words. He’d promised Ranaiah to remain silent
regarding her tie to the Beshara family. But Jarial was depending on him for
anything that would bring him closer to justice for the once-great Citadel master.

I wonder how Omari is dealing with this loss.
Kaijin bowed his head, knowing what it felt like to lose a loved one. He had
lost his entire family to a horde of the undead, but for a mage, the bond between
a master and his student was just as strong as a bond with family.

“Kaijin,” Jarial said, “this is important—not just
for me, but for Omari and everyone else at the Citadel. Na’val’s death must be
avenged. If you know something—
any
thing ...”

“There was a priest who went mad with power. He
was abducted by a creature that he had summoned, and taken away to the Plane of
Fire.”

Jarial’s eyes widened. “Go on.”

Kaijin paused, being careful to stay away from mentioning
the Beshara. “I was preparing to go to Ankhram on some business before you and
the others arrived. You mentioned the
Ben-nyu
. There are surely some
clues to be found there concerning that.”

Jarial scowled. “Ankhram is a very long way,
Kaijin. Did you really plan on going there
alone
?”

“Well ... yes. Why not? Perhaps I’m mad for
wanting to do so, but the business I have there is important.”

“I shall accompany you.” Jarial rose from his
chair. His actions roused Sable, who had been napping in her current sitting
position. “And this time, I will not abandon you.”

“Thank you, Master. But you don’t have to—”

“I’ve already made up my mind, Kaijin. I’m going.”

“But, Master, it’s a very long trip, and—”

“And what?” Jarial huffed and crossed his arms.
“You think I’m too old to travel? I’ll have you know that I’ve been traveling
long before you were even a thought. Besides, my usual disguise of youth gives
me all the physical abilities of a young buck to go with it.”

Kaijin sighed and let the matter rest. He stood
from his chair and quietly pushed it in. “I suppose I should talk to Omari and
the others.”

“Yes, you do that. I am going to rest these old bones,
so I can hopefully have new young bones again tomorrow. We will need to head to
Ostwyn first, to catch a boat that will take us across the sea to the city of
Sinan, in Ankhram. I’ve been to Ostwyn only once, but it’s a very busy port
city. I’m sure we will be able to board one of the passenger ships there.” He
got up from his chair. “Go see the rest of your friends, and we will talk more
later.”

Kaijin watched Jarial leave. The man looked feeble
as he shuffled slowly to the door, slightly hunched. Sable leapt off the table
and followed him. Kaijin worried about Jarial’s ability to travel, but there
would be no stopping the stubborn man.

After Jarial had closed the door behind him,
Kaijin turned to the hearth and sat on the edge of the table, idly fidgeting
with the fiery charm that he wore around his neck.
Master, you may be old,
but you’re still the greatest man I ever met.

XII

As Kaijin walked the halls of the south transept,
he heard the echoes of Aidan’s booming voice overriding Nester’s strident one.
He stopped in his tracks.
Are my ears deceiving me, or is Aidan actually
angry
?

His curiosity overtaking him, Kaijin hurried to
the main hall. Miele, who had been following him from above, followed. In the
main hall, Zarya, Omari, Ranaiah, and Canicus, one of the attendants, stood
around Aidan and Nester in a semicircle, watching the two argue.

“You think Aidan would not know? Not realize?” the
giant bellowed.

“Nay, Aidan, you got it all wrong!” Nester exclaimed,
waving his arms about.

Aidan’s fists began to shake at his sides. “You took
advantage of those children, making them believe your lies so that they can
coerce Aidan into coming on this trip!”

Nester gulped and backed away from Aidan, only
stopping when he bumped into Omari’s leg. “Nay! Nay! I ain’t took advantage of
no one! The kids were all, uh ... excited! Aye, that’s right. So excited that
they misunderstood me!” He looked up at Omari. “Ain’t that right, mate?”

Omari glowered at the brownie and stepped away
from him. “I am staying out of this.” Percival, who was sitting on his
shoulder, squeaked in agreement.

Aidan stormed over to Nester and grabbed him by
the back of his jerkin, lifting him up to eye level. “Aidan would never say no
to the children, but you mistake Aidan’s kindness for weakness.”

“D-don’t ’urt me, Aidan! Please!” Nester whined.
“No violence, aye?”

Aidan’s left eye twitched. He bared his fangs.

Zarya gasped. “Aidan, no! Please put him down.” After
motioning to the others to stay put, she approached the giant.

Nester struggled in Aidan’s grasp. “’Elp! I think
’e’s really gonna kill me!”

Zarya cast a stern glance at Nester before
attempting to calm Aidan. “Aidan, what Nester did was wrong, but hurting him
will not solve anything. Violence is never the answer. Isn’t that what you
always say?”

“Aye, that’s right!” Nester added. “An’ I swear on
my pa’s grave I won’t ever lie to th’ li’l brats again!”

“So you
did
lie to them!” the giant raised
his fist.

Nester paled. His scrawny body trembled in fear.
“Aye! Aye! I confess! But I won’t do it again! I promise! Please believe me, mate!
It was all in good fun!”

“Aidan ...” Zarya began.

Aidan deflated and lowered Nester back to his
feet. “Aidan heard all he needed to hear. He will hold Nester to his word that
he will not lie to the children ever again.”

Nester’s legs buckled, and the brownie collapsed
on his rear, still trembling, catching his breath.

Zarya sighed and shook her head, then returned to
Ranaiah and the others.

“What, exactly, was
that
all about?”
Ranaiah asked, narrowing her eyes at the other priestess.

“Honestly, I am rather confused about it, myself.
But I am glad it’s over,” Zarya replied.

“Trust me, you do not want to know,” Omari said.

“Actually, I would,” Kaijin said, walking toward
the group.

With widened eyes, everyone paused and acknowledged
him.

Miele playfully dive-bombed Percival. The weasel
scrambled down Omari’s body, and the two animals chased each other around the
main hall.

Nester sprang to his feet and ran to Kaijin. “Am I
glad to see you, mate!”

“The feeling’s mutual,” Kaijin said, ignoring the
brownie’s outstretched hand. He lifted his gaze to Aidan’s scowling face and
asked Nester, “What sort of trouble are you starting now?”

Omari huffed. “Does it matter? We have more important
business to take care of. Surely Master Glace has already informed you.”

“He has.” Kaijin nodded. “I now know what I need
to do.” He cast a quick glance at Ranaiah. “I need to stop a renegade priest.”

Omari blinked. “A what? Is there truly such a
thing?”

“Like mages who abuse their power, clerics who
have renounced their deities are also considered outcasts—renegades,” Zarya
stated. “It is not uncommon for fallen clerics to seek revenge, or even ally
themselves with an enemy deity.”

“If you are referring to Vargas,” Ranaiah said,
“then I do not believe he has fallen from the Firelord’s favor. But I agree
that he needs to be found and stopped.” She moved away from the group and
ascended the shallow staircase leading up to the massive altar of a burning brazier.
Standing before the altar was Brett, who led four other high-ranking priests in
prayer.

“Wait, so you
know
this ‘renegade’ warder,
Kaijin?” Nester asked.

“Well, yeah. It’s Vargas,” Kaijin replied. “You remember
him, right?”

“Aye, I do. ’E was one of th’ blokes that shooed
me off when I came ’ere th’ first time. I should’ve
known
’e’d be
trouble.”

Zarya clutched her hands. “By the goddess! Renegade
clerics are extremely dangerous, for they wield the powers of their deities
without constraint.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured that,” Kaijin said.
“After you all left, Vargas changed for the worse....” He went on to tell them
about the cleric’s strange behavior: the tortuous tests.

“Soddin ’ells!” Nester exclaimed, once Kaijin had
finished.

Zarya blinked. “An afriti!”

“Not again!” Omari grumbled.

Aidan folded his arms across his broad chest,
eyeing the four of them coolly. “Aidan thinks it is foolish to get involved in
cleric matters. In fact ...” He winced and groaned, and struggled to reach
behind him to scratch his back.

Kaijin watched the giant struggle for a moment,
then turned to the others with an inquiring arch of an eyebrow.

Nester dismissively waved his hand. “Ah, ’e’s been
doin’ that a lot lately.”

Zarya began to approach Aidan but stopped when a
child acolyte entered the room. Kaijin recognized the child as the mapmaking girl
from earlier.

“Hi. Want me to help you, mister?” she asked Aidan
with a wide innocent smile.

Aidan paused his scratching and looked down at the
girl. “Oh, you don’t have to do that, little girl. But thank you.”

“It’s okay. I was just on my way to bed when I saw
you had an itchy back. I can help scratch it for you. My mentor says that we
should be like a bright flame, guiding and helping others in need.”

Aidan cracked a small smile. “That almost sounds
like what Aidan’s master once told him, when Aidan was little boy.”

The girl giggled. “Itchy backs aren’t fun. Let me
help you, please? My name is Odessa, and I’m sev—!”

“Odessa!” Nester interrupted her prattle. “So glad
you decided to ’elp ’im! ’Is name’s Aidan, if you ’aven’t already guessed. ’E
can get a li’l cranky sometimes, when ’is back’s not scratched enough.”

“Nester!” Zarya barked.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure Mister Aidan is
not cranky anymore,” Odessa said with a firm nod.

Aidan glowered at Nester, then reluctantly got
down on his knees for the girl to reach his back.

Odessa moved behind Aidan and happily scratched
his back with both hands. She was only able to reach up to the middle of his
back, but that seemed to be more than enough for Aidan. Subtle contented growls
rumbled from his throat, and he closed his eyes.

Odessa laughed. “You sound funny, Aidan!”

Zarya turned aside and covered her mouth to hide
her smile.

“Confound it. I wish we would just get on with it
already,” Omari muttered.

Aidan opened his eyes and stared off in a daze.
“It feels good, Odessa. You are good back scratcher.”

“Oh! You got bumps on your back!”

“Yes, Aidan knows,” Aidan replied.

“Do they hurt?”

“No, they just make Aidan’s back itch a lot.”

Kaijin slipped away from his friends and
approached the shallow staircase. Ranaiah and four other clerics stood at the
top before the burning brazier, deep in meditation.

Kaijin stroked his chin.
I wonder if I can
locate Vargas by using the brazier in the same manner I had used it before to
speak to the Firelord?
After some hesitation, he began climbing the stairs.

Ranaiah glanced over her shoulder, meeting his
gaze, and he froze in place, entranced. Only after she turned away did he
continue his ascent.

He finally stood beside her, his hands clasped in
front of him and his head lowered in deference to the praying clergy. The
murmurs of the other clerics on either side of him were comforting. Ranaiah
slowly placed her hand over his.

His head still bowed, Kaijin eyed her delicate
hand and the ornate gold ring that decorated one slender finger. Etched on the
ring were intricate flame patterns. He whispered loud enough for her ears only,
“I want to attempt to scry Vargas in the Plane of Fire.”

“We have already tried numerous times,” Ranaiah
whispered back. “But the flames reveal nothing to us.”

“Let
me
try. Maybe the flames will reveal
something to a Firebrand.”

She gave his hand a small squeeze. “Be careful,
Kaijin.”

“I will.” Kaijin frowned, recalling the last time
he’d consulted the flames. They had tormented his mind, nearly making him go
insane.

“I will awaken you, should I feel your life
essence departing your body.”

Kaijin nodded, reassured by Ranaiah’s promise.

Ranaiah waited for the other priests to conclude
their prayers then directed them to stand clear while Kaijin prepared to
commune with the leaping flames of the great brazier. As he stepped closer to
the edge of the brass vessel, his charm heated against his skin until it singed
his chest. He let out a yelp, more from surprise that he was unable to tolerate
the heat than from the pain. It wasn’t the first time such a phenomenon had
happened to him, but after all he’d been through, he thought he had matured
beyond being harmed by heat or fire.

Kaijin grabbed the charm from beneath his robes
and yanked it out. The charm radiated a bright white light that nearly blinded
him. Heat seared his hand and Kaijin tried desperately to pry it off, but the
gold stuck to his palm.

The pain brought stinging tears to Kaijin’s eyes.
Gritting his teeth, he tried to shut out the pain and concentrate. The scrying
spell, which allowed one the ability to locate a target, was simple enough, but
even the few components it usually required were not needed now—not when the
fiery presence was so near. He feared the presence would augment the spell in
ways he didn’t desire—like trapping his soul in places he didn’t want to
remain.

“You are a foolish mortal, Kaijin Sora,”
the hissing, crackling voice said in his mind.
“Why do you seek questions to
which you already know the answers?”

Kaijin replied mentally,
“I know he’s in the
Plane of Fire, but I don’t know how to get him out.”

The voice laughed darkly.
“No, Kaijin Sora. He
is
not
here.”

“What!”

An image of the Realm of Fire revealed itself
within the flames to Kaijin. He remembered that place all too well. The
red-hued desolate land burned continuously. In the distance, two afriti armed
with flaming scimitars patrolled the land.

Kaijin’s heart raced. He wasn’t sure if the
monsters were aware of him, and he wanted to sever the spell before he could
find out.

But the presence within Kaijin maintained the
spell against his will.

“Enough ... I’ve seen enough,”
Kaijin said.

The fiery voice gave another vicious laugh in his
mind.
“No, Kaijin Sora. You obviously have not
seen
enough. You
obviously have not
felt
enough.”

The patrolling afriti turned and looked in
Kaijin’s direction.

Even from afar, Kaijin could feel the monsters’
spellbinding turquoise gazes penetrate his soul. He widened his eyes and let
out a sharp gasp.

“A Firebrand knows neither fear nor pain,”
the voice continued.
“Nor do they have limits.”

“N-no,”
Kaijin said shakily.
“Please
keep them away!”

But the creatures continued advancing, and Kaijin
feared that the brazier he was currently gazing into was not the altar of
Ignis, but another gateway altogether.

Along with the two patrolling afriti, a red scaly
creature slithered from behind them, flicking its slender forked tongue. While
it was not as sizable as the two afriti, it was equally menacing. The face and lower
half of its body resembled a snake, while its torso seemed more like a muscular
human’s. Its angular features reminded Kaijin of a mixture of a snake and a
troll. As on the afriti, fire burned continuously along its reddish-orange
skin. Its clawed hands carried a large flaming polearm.

Kaijin swallowed hard, recognizing the creature
from books he’d found in the Ignan vault.
Agama
, they were called—Ignis’s
ruthless snakemen warriors, one of the many fiery creatures that inhabited the
Firelord’s realm.

He clutched the charm around his neck.
“Why are
you tormenting me? I thought
I
belonged to you?”
He gritted his
teeth, and his fist shook.
“I thought
I
was in your favor! What have
I done to anger you?”

“You still do not realize the power you hold.”

Kaijin shook his head.
“What power?”

“The very one that controls your fears, your passions.
But you will learn. You
must
learn.”

“You’re going to make those creatures kill me,
aren’t you?
Me
!
Your
chosen!
Vargas
was who forsook you!”

The agama pointed its spear through the wall of
flames and at Kaijin’s chest. Kaijin remained still.