Wielder of the Flame (21 page)

He lay in bed, staring upwards,
unblinking.

If not for his shallow breathing he appeared to be dead.

It was Ranasa.

Puck sat on a wooden stool near the bed, his hands on the
barely ruffled blanket underneath his friend’s mostly inert body.

A tray of food sat next to the bed which had been made up
for Ranasa. The food was half eaten, and only because Puck had nibbled at it.

He felt heavily weighed down. A lot of things had happened
in such a short period of time. The attack in the alley had happened not more
than seven days ago. Puck and Ranasa had helped Marad drag the unconscious
Alborcan to their house, where they had left him bound and locked inside. Then
they had moved quickly to Ranasa’s home, where they had found his mother, dead.
Ranasa had collapsed at the sight and frozen. Puck had helped his father bring
Ranasa back to their house, only to find the Alborcan had escaped. Marad had
Puck watch over Ranasa while he spent several days scouring the entire town and
surrounding area for the man and any others in his company, but to no avail.
Marad was torn between staying with his son and his friend and protecting them
from any attacks, and going out to find his wife and daughter. Finally, early
in the morning Marad had decided he would trust Puck to protect himself and
Ranasa while he went out on a search for Lilis and Aliyana.

Then, just as Marad was making final preparations to depart,
Drake had shown up with both of them in his care.

The young man was exhausted and had almost collapsed on the
floor. That was one day ago. He had slept that entire rest of the day, the
night, and was still sleeping.

Lilis and Aliyana described Drake’s impressive heroics. The
young man had slain more than thirty armed men to save them, and went several
days without sleep, taking watch every night, and letting the two women have
the majority of the food they found and water, to bring them back home quickly
and safely.

Puck thought it was more than impressive, it was nigh
impossible for someone so young, without magical aid. He was sure the young man
was a sorcerer of some kind. Not that he thought of that in a negative way, far
from it, being able to wield magic himself. It intrigued him.

In the morning, the young man still asleep, his father had
called them all together for a family council.

Puck took in a deep breath and let it out again, recalling
the events of the night before.

“I thought this day would never
come,” Marad said, “I thought it finished, never to find me again. I, and your
mother, have kept quiet about it all these cycles to protect you, to let you
live your childhood free from fear. But you are no longer children, and we
cannot keep quiet after what has happened. Aliyana, Puck, there is something we
need to tell you. We wish Tristen were here to listen as well, but we will tell
him when next we visit the Monastery.”  

Marad glanced at his wife, she smiled through her tiredness
to give him support.

“I and your mother are not from here, from Biarlin, as we
have always led you to believe. Your mother is Terragurion.”

Aliyana gasped, Puck sat straight up in surprise.

Marad raised his hands to quiet them.

“Yes,” He said, “I grew up in Ironwald as a servant
blacksmith to the Krynn of the Keep there. My father had grown up in Ironwald,
and his father before him, and his father before him, in fact our ancient
ancestors helped forge the iron that built the city there. But they were not
there by choice, they were wrongfully enslaved to serve the Krynn for as long
as the Krynn desired. My mother died giving birth to me and I was a single
child with only my father to watch over me. Your mother arrived from Greendell,
then only a small town, at a young age, betrothed to wed the Krynn when she
grew older. She spent her days in the Keep courtyard tending to the aldoms, as
it was an interest she took in her youth.”

Lilis looked at Marad with a smile, “Yes,” she said, “And
would you know it that a very handsome young man worked in the smithshop that
opened into the very same courtyard that I spent so much time.”

Marad kissed his wife and winked.

“It would seem that the metal on the aldom’s saddles, or the
metal on the gates around their pen was always needing fixing, and I was always
the one doing the work,” Marad continued with a smile that faded as the story
continued to unfold, “We were in love, but I knew she was to be espoused to the
Krynn and that I could never be with her. As the cycles passed every day her
wedding drew nearer, and everyday her and I grew closer and closer. We wished
never to be apart. So we began to make plans, slowly at first, without any real
conviction to go through with it, but after a time we began to discuss things
genuinely, and we began to make serious arrangements, all without either of our
families, or friends, knowing.  Finally the time came when it was only a
fortnight away that we would be separated forever if she were to stay in
Ironwald. Everything went as we planned, and we fled the city.”

Lilis sat down and hugged her husband, a look of sadness on
her face.

“We had done it, we had escaped and we could live out the
rest of our lives in freedom.”

There was silence.

“What happened?” Puck finally mustered.

Marad continued, “Krynn Chelan, Dasero of Ironwald, was
furious with our disappearance. He murdered my father, and your mother’s
family.”

“We were young,” Lilis offered, choking down her tears and
emotions to appear strong for her children, “We had been only thinking of
ourselves. If we had known our actions would have such consequences, we would
have returned,”

“We would never have done it in the first place had we
known,” Marad added, “And I would have continued to love you forever and
always,”

Lilis nodded, wiping away a tear.

Marad turned back to his son and daughter.

“With our families killed, we had no reason to return.
Chelan sent Bloodcloaks to hunt us down. For many cycles they hounded us,
forcing us to flee our homes on many occasions. We wanted to settle down, have
children, have a life, but could not under the circumstances. Finally after we
had traveled so far south into Biarlin we decided to find a place to live.
Terragurion influence was weak and Chelan’s men were forced to operate much more
quietly. That is when we had your brother Tristen. Then a cycle passed and we
heard the news that Chelan had died. The search ended then, and we settled down
here, in Essoril and had the rest of our family.”      

  “And then this,” Puck said, making a general sweeping
gesture with his hand to suggest with a simple motion he could indicate all of
what had happened in the last fortnight.

“Yes,” Marad nodded, “And then this. My youngest son and his
friend are attacked here in our hometown, and my daughter and beloved wife are
kidnapped on the road from the Shyden Monastery.”

“Well if Chelan is dead, then who is after us?” Puck asked,
“After
you
,” he corrected.

His mother seemed hurt by the correction and he felt a pang
of regret for having spoken it.

“I do not know,” Marad replied, “But I intend to find out.
It is late, and we have said many things that requires much of you, on top of
all that has already happened, we all need some rest.”

No one argued.

Puck felt exhausted, but he did not sleep.

He sat by Ranasa’s bedside and thought.

Puck turned at the bedroom door
opening, coming out of his thoughts.

 It was his sister, Aliyana.

He was so glad to see her back safe, and his mother too.

“He is still the same?”

“He has only moved once to relieve himself, since the—” he
didn’t finish, he didn’t want to. The image of Ranasa’s mother’s dead body on
the floor, blood everywhere, flashed across his mind’s eye.

Aliyana nodded, she had been told already what had happened.

“Did he—?” Aliyana gestured to the food, wanting to know if
Ranasa had eaten something.

Puck shook his head.

Aliyana nodded again.

 “Drake has awoken, Father wants you out there to speak with
him,” she said, “I will watch Ranasa.”

Puck nodded.

He stood up and gave his sister a hug, she returned it. He
picked up the tray of uneaten food and took one more look at his friend on the
bed before he left. He could not imagine what was going through Ranasa’s mind
at the moment.
If I had found my mother like that—
he shuddered and
discontinued that line of thought.

He walked down the short hall and opened a door into the
main room of their house.

His mother was in the cooking room nearby, cleaning, and
watching. His father was sitting opposite the young man named Drake.

“I cannot begin to thank you enough,” Marad was saying to
Drake as Puck entered the room.

Puck came into the cooking room and gave the tray to his
mother. She took it with a motherly smile of thanks.

“I too must extend my gratitude,” Puck said to Drake.

He approached Drake and stretched forth his hand.

Drake stood and took Puck’s forearm in a firm and quick
grip, before letting go.

The young man sat again.

“I came upon the soldiers by mere happenstance. I watched
them in hiding and learned of their intentions and their captives. I could not
stay my hand from action on the matter for long. I waited for the most
opportune moment to strike. And then your wife made an attempt to escape, and I
had to help. Your daughter led them on quite the chase. I rescued her first,”
He gestured to Lilis, “being in the greater danger, and after I had determined
she was safe enough, I went after Aliyana.”

“You are quite capable for being so young,” Marad suggested.

Drake nodded but did not elaborate.

“I do not wish my curiosity to spoil my gratitude for what you
have done, but I am very interested to know more about how you were able to
accomplish it all, more than anyone normal your age could possibly do, to be
sure,” Marad probed further.

Drake was silent, looking around the room.

“I—” he began, then fell silent again, “It is difficult to
explain, mostly because I do not fully understand it myself.”

There was silence again.

“You do not have to speak if it discomforts you so,” Marad
waved his hand.

“No,” Drake said, “It is alright. I—I cannot die.”

“Hmm?” Puck looked on quizzically, “what do you mean?”

“I have not aged a day for twenty cycles. Nothing troubles
my health, not spoiled meat, nor poisoned drink. I can see even in the darkest
of night, I can run faster and farther than any I have met and I need little
sleep to do so.”

Drake finished with a sort of dismissive shrug.

They all sat motionless, impressed and a little confused.

“Are you a sorcerer?”

Drake did not answer immediately, shrugging again.

“I do not expect anyone to understand,” Drake finally said.
He stood up suddenly, somewhat embarrassed, “I am sorry, It seems that I have
said too much, I shall take my leave now,” He began to gather his things
together hastily.

 Marad stood and lifted his hand towards a metal bowl on a
small table nearby. There was a flash of light, the bowl quickly melted down to
liquid and the blacksmith brought the now liquid through the air to his hand.
Drake stopped what he was doing and watched, fascinated. The blacksmith
manipulated the metal with his ability to form a drinking mug. It was quick and
crude, but he finished and tossed the newly shaped object, to Drake.

The young man deftly caught the cup with his right hand. It
had already cooled. 

“You are not the only one who is set apart from others by their
innate sense of magic,” Marad spoke, “Though yours seems to be of an extremely
powerful kind.”

Drake looked at the cup, impressed.

“But my gifts come with a curse.”

Puck wanted to ask,
what
, but kept silent.

“I have these periods of darkness where I sleep in one
place, and awake in completely different places, having no recollection of the
happenings in-between.”

“It seems a small disadvantage to so many gifts.”

Drake shrugged. He was finished talking. He didn’t want to
say anymore.

“Well,” Marad said finally, “You are welcome to stay with us
as long as you like,” the blacksmith continued, “especially after what you have
done for us, it is the least we can do to repay you.”

“No,” Drake replied immediately.

Marad and Lilis seemed offended, Puck only slightly so.

“I mean,” Drake said, realizing he had spoken quickly and
sharply. He had said ‘no’ quickly because he did not want to endanger anyone
else. Those who got near him, got hurt, “I cannot stay because I am on a
mission,” he explained, “I have been having this dream, a vision, of this boy—”

Puck sat up straight in his chair, giving his full attention
to Drake.

“—I do not know how to explain it precisely,” Drake
continued, “but a power pulls at me, urging me to seek him out. I am drawn—”

“drawn to him,” Puck finished the other’s sentence, standing
up himself, “He has green and brown eyes and messy dark brown hair?”

Drake nodded, surprised.

“How did you know?”

Puck looked to his father, he had told his father about his
dream, most recently about the appearance of the boy in the workshop. At first
he had thought it was his brother, Tristen, but then he realized it was the boy
from his dream.

“How can it be?” Puck and his father exchanged glances.

“How did you know?” Drake asked again.

“I too have been having this same dream,” Puck answered.