The Study of Fire (The Study Chronicles: Valek’s Adventures #3)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

“I ’ll be there,” Valek said, as the fire in his heart pulsed with heat. “When and where?”

“We plan to leave in two days for the plains. Moon Man’s body has been preserved by magic; we did not wish to bury him until our home had been cleansed. My people have messaged me that all is prepared for the ceremony.”

Valek mounted Onyx two days later. He steered his horse to join the growing line of mourners. The entire Sitian Council and their spouses sat on their horses. Ari, Janco, Leif, Marrok, and Cahil were in attendance. Yelena would have wanted to be with them. Perhaps that was why the burn in his chest had spread throughout his body and settled deep in his bones.

Moon Man’s body was wrapped in a linen sheet and secured to Kiki’s saddle. No one else rode her. She led the procession to the south gate of the Citadel, and then headed southeast.

The morning sun swept the cold air away and returned the colors to the landscape. A bright blue sky arced overhead with not a cloud in sight. Valek wondered if the perfect weather was compliments of the Stormdance Clan.

When they crossed into the Avibian Plains in the afternoon, Valek thought the Sandseed horses would use their gust-of-wind gait and leave the rest to catch up. However, they stayed together. And the protective magic did not attack.

That night, they made camp. It was a quiet group. Even Janco was subdued. Only a few people in attendance really knew Moon Man, but they were all there to honor his sacrifice for Sitia.

The somber mood lasted until Harun settled by the fire and said, “Let me tell you about a man named Moon.”

He regaled the rapt audience with Moon Man’s exploits. From a precocious child to a rebellious teenager, and to the strong warrior and skilled Story Weaver he’d become. Laughter filled the air.

* * *

They reached a small settlement late the next day. Eight tents with animal designs painted on the fabric ringed a fire pit. The air smelled like sage, and a few horses grazed nearby. They were greeted by the clan’s new elders. Fourteen Sandseeds had survived the Daviian massacre. The clan planned to repopulate by inviting other Sitians to join them. Bloodlines did not matter to them as much as living on the plains. When enough grains of sand were in a person’s teeth, they’d become a Sandseed.

Janco muttered to Valek, “I think I qualify as a Sandseed. I’ve swallowed about a pound of the stuff.”

Once again, stories about Moon Man were told around the campfire. They focused on his deeds and his accomplishments, on his contributions to the clan. Valek stared at the dancing flames and willed Yelena to come back.

You have so much to offer this world, love.

In the morning, everyone was led to a large area of just sand, which was unusual. They stood in a semi-circle facing Harun, who cradled Moon Man’s dead body. The sheet had been removed and there were no visible wounds. Moon Man appeared to be sleeping.

Magic swelled, and the sand in the center of the semi-circle undulated. Soon, the hiss of moving grains sounded and a hole appeared. It was about seven feet long by three feet wide and two feet deep.

Harun lowered Moon Man into the hole, then arranged his limbs so he looked comfortable. He stood and the sand hissed again, just covering Moon Man’s body. One of the Sandseeds approached each mourner with a bucket, encouraging them to dip their hand inside and withdraw a fistful of something that turned out to be seeds.

“Moon Man was born from these sands, and now he has returned to these sands,” Harun said. “He contributed to our way of life while alive, and he will continue to nourish our sand for our future generations. Thank you, Moon Man, you will be missed, but never forgotten. Stories of you will be told to all those who come after you.” He opened his hand and spread the seeds over the buried body.

He invited the mourners to approach the grave and sprinkle their seeds into the hole. Tears blurred Valek’s vision when it was his turn.

He knelt on one knee. “You were a true warrior, protecting us, helping us, and giving your life for us. I’m truly glad that I was able to call you my friend.”

When everyone finished, more sand flowed back into the hole, completely filling it. Within seconds, Valek could not tell that there had ever been a hole in that spot.

Next, Kiki and two other horses approached. They held buckets in their teeth. When they neared Moon Man’s grave, they set the buckets down and knocked them over with a hoof. Water ran out, soaking into the sand.

The significance of the action hit Valek hard. He glanced at the nearby plains, seeing the grasses, shrubs, and small trees with a new understanding.

Irys pulled a folded piece of silk from her robes. She opened it, revealing Moon Man’s grief flag. Embroidered in silver on the indigo-colored silk were things that had a significant meaning to Moon Man. Indigo was his favorite color, and in the center of the flag was a full moon with streaks of moonlight emanating from it. Around the moon was a scimitar, a horse, a flower, and the silhouettes of three people standing together. The border of the flag was a braid, representing his Story Weaver abilities.

There wasn’t a flagpole to raise the flag. Instead, Irys held it above her head and a sudden breeze pulled it from her hands. Gale smiled as it fluttered higher and higher, symbolizing the release of Moon Man’s soul to the sky.

A meal and more stories followed the ceremony. Laughter, tears, and a few cheers sounded. Valek hadn’t really considered an afterlife before Moon Man had explained the different worlds to him. And with Yelena being a Soulfinder, he was comforted by the knowledge that Moon Man was at peace in the sky.

* * *

They returned to the Citadel and picked up where they left off. Ari, Janco, Cahil, and Marrok headed out with ten teams to round up the Daviians who had escaped or were in hiding. Each team had seven people and one magician. Ari and Janco had been unhappy to be assigned to Cahil’s unit. But once Valek explained that they could ensure the Wannabe King behaved, they perked up. Especially when Valek gave them permission to kill the man if he showed any signs of colluding with the enemy. Valek wished them good hunting.

Ambassador Signe arrived the next day. Valek dreaded having to update her. So much had happened, was still happening, that he didn’t have the strength to go over it all again.

He joined Signe in the office the council provided for her. Sitting on the chair in front of the desk, Valek met Signe’s gaze. Her features were an amazing transformation from the Commander. There was a family resemblance and the same gold-colored eyes, but that was all. Signe’s long hair, softer features, and curves just didn’t match. Not that Signe’s appearance mattered to Valek, but he remembered Yelena had said the Commander could see the magic inside Opal’s glass animals. And maybe, just maybe the Commander used a one-trick power for this transformation. Which Valek did find interesting.

“Are you well?” Signe asked.

Surprised, Valek blinked. He’d expected to be ordered to report. “No. It’s been a grueling few weeks.”

“You haven’t been sleeping.” It wasn’t a question.

“Not well.”

Signe stood and poured Valek a drink. “Here, something from home.”

He sipped the Ixian fire whiskey and sighed.

“Gabor’s report was very thorough. But he only had vague details on how Yelena stopped the Daviian Warpers.”

“Right now, all we have are guesses.”

“She hasn’t returned?”

“Not yet.” He took a bigger swallow. The heat sizzling down his throat was no match for the bonfire in his heart.

“She’s stubborn, intelligent, and determined, she’ll find a way. In the meantime, the only thing I need to know from you is if the Sitian Council can be trusted.”

Valek appreciated the pep talk. “At this point in time, they can be trusted.”

“And in the future?”

“That’s harder to determine. The councilors are elected; new people might be voted in. The master magicians are down to three. Zitora Cowan is now Second Magician, but she’s very young and impressionable. She looked up to Roze, swallowed all her lies. Zitora could become bitter and disillusioned, or she could learn from the experience and become stronger. Time will tell. And another magician, who we know nothing about, might pass the master-level test and join their ranks.”

Signe dismissed him soon after. Valek crossed to the Keep. He spotted the dining hall and wondered when he had last eaten. When he couldn’t remember, he altered his path.

Halfway there, Leif ran up to him. “Yelena! I contacted Yelena!”

Joy energized him in an instant. “What did she say? What’s going on? Is she coming back?”

Leif held up his hands. “I only want to say this once, so let’s go find Irys and Bain.”

Within half an hour, they’d assembled in Bain’s office. Valek sat on the edge of his chair.

“It was my turn to try to contact my sister. And like the billion and one times before, no response. I was about to disconnect when she said hello.” Leif pressed his hand to his chest. “I nearly fell out of my seat. I asked her to come back, but she said she can’t. I asked her why, but she wanted an update on what’s going on here first.” He huffed. “Typical. I told her everything and then she finally said she couldn’t return because someone has to keep the Fire Warper from regaining power.”

Bain interrupted. “Did you tell her about the texts? That we burned all the books on blood magic to prevent anyone else from learning those rituals. It about killed me, but it had to be done.”

“I did. But she said there are others like Roze and Gede who know how to perform the ritual, and, after we execute them, their souls will be sent to the fire world and will be able to communicate to anyone in our world who is determined to seek them out. Like Gede did with the Fire Warper. She’s afraid it will happen again. So, I responded by saying she was the Soulfinder, and asked her why she couldn’t send those souls somewhere out of reach.”

“And what was her answer?” Valek asked.

“That those souls don’t deserve to be in the sky.” Leif threw up his hands in frustration. “Then she ended the communication.”

They remained quiet for a while.

Bain broke the silence. “Bright side, we can talk to her. Perhaps we can help her figure out a way to return.”

Valek had mixed feelings. He wanted to be selfish and tell her to not worry about someone else contacting the Fire Warper, that they’d deal with that person like they had with Roze and Gede. On the other hand, Roze and Gede had killed so many before they could be stopped.

Over the next few weeks, Yelena talked to Irys, Bain, and Leif through the glass animals. Irys figured out that the magic encased inside the statues would eventually run out. It was a sobering discovery.

The trials of the Daviian Warpers began. For once, the Sitian Council was in complete agreement. All six were sentenced to death, including Roze. They would be hanged on the same sands where they had killed Moon Man and so many magicians. The sound of hammers striking nails as the gallows were built competed with the roar of the bonfire.

After the bodies of the traitors were burned into ash, the fire would finally be extinguished. Valek tried to argue, but even Yelena had agreed that it was time. It helped that she thought she could use any fire to cross over, but she still intended to ensure Roze, Gede, and the other warpers didn’t try to reach out from the fire world.

They committed the crimes, Yelena saved the world, and she was being punished for her heroic deeds. Valek hated the world sometimes.

He lay on the bed that still smelled of Yelena and stared at the ceiling. Valek didn’t know if he could survive in a world without her. Would extinguishing the bonfire douse the burning in his heart? Would he return to the cold, emotionless assassin he was before she entered his life. Or would that pain be with him forever, consuming his soul until there was nothing left but a hollow husk of a man?

Someone banged on his door. Valek jumped to his feet and opened it. Leif stood on the other side, bouncing on his toes.

“She found a way! She thinks it might work, but it might not. No sense getting our hopes up.” He grinned. Obviously not taking his own advice.

“Slow down. What might or might not work?”

“Sorry. Yelena’s return from the fire world. Let’s go wake Irys and Bain.”

Valek trotted after Leif, trying and failing to keep his expectations in check. They woke Bain and he mentally called Irys, who joined them in Bain’s office in record time.

“Wow, did you fly here?” Leif asked the Third Magician.

“On wings of magic,” Irys said. “Now, talk.”

“Yelena figured out a way to return to our world, but she isn’t sure it will work,” Leif said.

“We’ll try it regardless,” Bain said.

“Yelena believes that when Roze and the others die, she’ll be able to capture their souls and imprison them in Opal’s glass statues.”

“How?” Bain asked.

“This is where she’s not so sure it’ll work. Since Opal can trap magic in her glass animals, Yelena theorizes she will be able to also trap the souls. And if they’re trapped in there, they won’t be able to communicate with anyone.”

“But Opal isn’t a Soulfinder. Can Yelena transfer the soul to Opal?” Irys asked.

“That’s the this-might-not-work part.”

“What do we need to do?” Valek asked.

“We need to bring in a kiln, and all the equipment needed for glass blowing. And we need Opal.”

“I’ll contact the local glassblower’s guild,” Irys said. “I’ll ask them to provide the equipment.”

Valek stood. “And I’ll fetch Opal.”

“Uh, that might not be a good idea,” Leif said. “You’ll probably scare her.”

“I’m not letting any harm come to the one person who might be able to save Yelena.”

“I understand that, but what if her parents refuse to let her come with you? Are you going to kidnap her?”

Of course, he would. Valek huffed. “Then join me. Rusalka is a Sandseed horse. I plan to ask Kiki if I can ride her so I can cut through the plains.”

“That’s a good idea. When do you want to leave?”

“Now.”

Leif grumbled but left to pack his bag. Valek stopped by Ambassador Signe’s guest quarters. Two guards stood outside the door. One raised an eyebrow when Valek approached.

“This better be important,” he said.

He handed the man an envelope. “Please give this letter to the Ambassador when she wakes.”

He looked relieved. “Yes, sir.”

Valek went to the stables next. Kiki looked over her stall door when he entered. Her ears drooped and she gave him a morose nudge, like she had done every day he’d visited for the last couple weeks. Feeding her a peppermint, he explained about Yelena’s plan and how they had to get to Opal as fast as possible.

“You’re the fastest, Kiki. Will you come with us?”

She practically knocked him over in her hurry to leave her stall. He laughed for the first time since Yelena had gone to the fire world. He was almost done saddling Kiki when Leif entered. When he finished, Valek helped him get Rusalka ready.

Finally, they mounted, and Kiki took off with Rusalka right behind her. Normally, she’d walk through the Keep and the Citadel’s streets. This time, she jumped both barriers and broke into a gallop as soon as they cleared the east gate. Valek just held on.

A half-moon shone in the night sky. It was almost the end of the warming season, so he had left his heavy cloak back at the Keep. He tried not to think of all the time that had passed without Yelena, but the answer popped into his head: sixty-four days.

When Kiki reached the Avibian Plains, she switched to her gust-of-wind gait with a slight hitch in her step. The sands beneath her hooves blurred into a river of wind. They flew. Valek had only experienced it a couple times. Each time was as thrilling as the first.

Eventually, Kiki slowed, and the world snapped into focus. The sun was low in the sky and both horses’ sides heaved. Valek had no idea how far they’d traveled, or even if it was the same day or the next.

Valek walked with them as they cooled down. “Don’t kill yourselves,” he said to Kiki. “Yelena would be very upset if you died on this mission.”

Then he wondered if horses had souls. He guessed that since souls seemed to have magical power, that the Sandseed horses with their magical gust-of-wind gaits would indeed have souls. He’d have to ask Yelena. And for the first time in a very long time, he had hope that he would have another conversation with her. Once the horses were taken care of, they made camp.

Kiki woke them when it was time to go. Another thrilling ride was followed by another stop. When they halted for the third time, Valek saw buildings and farms in the near distance. From the position of the sun, he guessed it was mid-morning.

Leif pointed to a collection of buildings. “That’s Opal’s family’s glass factory.” Then he glanced at Valek. “Let me do the talking.”

“Have you met them before?”

“When we were in Booruby hunting Cahil and Ferde, Opal invited us to have dinner with her and her family. She has quite a bit of guilt for pricking Yelena with Curare.”

“It wasn’t her fault. She was a victim.”

“That’s what Yelena told her. But emotions and logic don’t always align.”

True. They left the horses to graze in the plains.

Leif led him to the house. “We’ll talk to Opal’s mom first. The others are probably in the factory, and they won’t be able to hear us.”

“Why not?”

“Those kilns are loud. To melt sand, limestone, and soda ash into glass, they need to be heated to twenty-five-hundred degrees. I know that temperature is unfathomable. Let’s just say, it’s bloody hot.”

“Bloody? You’ve been hanging out with me too much.”

Leif grunted.

“How do they get it that hot?” Valek asked.

“They burn white coal. It burns hotter than black coal and is much cleaner.” Leif knocked on the front door.

After a minute, an older woman answered the door. “Leif! What a surprise. Come in, come in.” She ushered them inside and offered them a cool drink. “Mara’s working, but I can fetch her.”

Valek wondered if Mara was Opal’s sister.

“We’re not here for Mara. Your daughter, Opal, is needed at the Magician’s Keep.”

“Opal? Why?” She glanced at Valek.

“I’d rather explain it to the entire family, if that’s possible,” Leif said.

After an hour—it seems that working with glass wasn’t something that could be put down at a moment’s notice—the family arrived. An older man sat next to Opal’s mother, and three siblings filed in after him. The beautiful teen girl gave Leif a big smile. Her younger sister, who must be Opal, had long brown hair and sad eyes. A young man, around ten years old and with a mop of brown hair, gave Leif a high-five. They all sat down in the comfortable living room, staring at Leif and Valek with concerned expressions.

“Ah, Jaymes and Vyncenza,” Leif said to Opal’s parents, “Please meet Valek.”

Here we go.

Jaymes was on his feet in an instant. “Why did you bring him into our house?” he demanded.

Leif held up his hands. “He’s helping me. Yelena needs Opal’s help, and we’re here to escort her to the Keep.”

“Me?” Opal asked. “Why? I’m…”

“The only person in all of Sitia that can help,” Leif said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Leif explained about Yelena’s determination that Opal’s glass animals contained magic. Then he told them of her plight. “She believes that she can transfer a soul to you, and you’ll be able to trap it in a glass prison.”

Watching their expressions, Valek knew Leif had just overloaded Opal’s family with too much information.

“Opal doesn’t have magic,” Vyncenza said. “She’s been tested.”

“She doesn’t have any of the traditional skills.” Leif agreed. “However, she could have a one-trick power. Regardless, her abilities are needed at the Keep right away.”

Leif answered a bunch more questions. Opal shrank back into the cushions of the couch as her family discussed the situation, circling around and around with the same concerns.

Valek finally lost his patience. He stood and the room went silent. “Opal, Yelena needs your help to return to this world. She’s my love and I promise that I will protect you with my life if need be. Will you help her?”

“Yes,” she said softly.

Her parents immediately expressed more concerns. They demanded to come along, which would considerably slow down their return trip.

“Yes, I’ll help,” Opal said louder.

“You can’t go alone,” Jaymes said.

Valek should have just kidnapped Opal.

“Mara can come with me. She’s eighteen.” Opal turned to Leif. “You have two horses, right?”

Leif glanced at Valek.

“This isn’t going to be a holiday trip,” he said. “We’re covering a great deal of ground each day. If she can sit on a horse for that long, then Mara can come along.”

Both girls looked at their father.

Jaymes sighed. “Leif, I’m holding you personally responsible for the safety of my daughters. Understand?”

In that instance, he sounded just like the Commander. Valek hid his grin.

“Yes, sir,” Leif said. His expression turning queasy.

“And you.” Jaymes turned to Valek. “I expect you to keep your promise.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vyncenza insisted they eat a hearty lunch before setting out. It was a good idea, and the horses needed to rest, yet every part of Valek yearned to get going. After the delicious meal, the girls each packed a small bag of essentials, and Leif updated Opal’s parents on the Daviian situation. Valek strode out to the plains to check on the horses. He groomed both and fed them some grain.

Finally, everyone was ready. They mounted. Opal behind Valek on Kiki; Mara holding onto a blushing Leif on Rusalka. A couple of things clicked, and Valek realized Leif was sweet on Mara. Ah, young love.

The horses broke into their gust-of-wind gaits. Despite the extra weight, it took them almost the same amount of time to return to the Keep. They arrived in the early evening. Kiki headed straight for the glen. Irys, who had been overseeing the installation of the glass making equipment, hurried over.

“That’s amazing,” she said.

Leif said, “Well, it took a bit to convince Opal’s parents?—”

“Not that. You were only gone six days.”

It took five days for a normal horse traveling on the road to get to Booruby from the Citadel. To go there and back…. Valek patted Kiki’s neck. “Extra peppermints, apples, extra everything for the magic horses.”

Opal and Mara slid from the saddles. They inspected the equipment. All Opal’s hesitation, worry, and uncertainty during the last two days disappeared when she picked up a blowpipe. It was fun to watch the fifteen year old give orders to the older glassmakers.

“Yelena said she wanted to test her theory,” Irys told Valek and Leif.

“How?” Valek asked.

“Before we execute the others, she wants to send the Fire Warper into the first glass prison. If it works, then she knows she can do the others.”

No one said, “And if it doesn’t,” but Valek could tell that they all thought it.

“When?”

“When Opal and Yelena are ready.”

It didn’t take long for Opal to prepare, but she approached them before she started. “Just so you know, it will take twelve hours before we’ll know if this worked.”

“Why that long?” Valek asked in a reasonable tone even though his heart thumped its impatience.

“The glass needs to cool slowly, or it’ll crack. If it cracks, then the soul trapped inside will get free.”

A good reason, and it brought up another concern. “What happens if years from now, it’s dropped or crushed? Does glass get old and brittle?”

“Glass is an amazing material,” Opal said. “As long as it’s thick enough, it can withstand being dropped. And it doesn’t get brittle with time. I’ll make animals that don’t have long legs, that are more blob-like so there’s less risk of one of the limbs being snapped off.”

“We’ll ensure they’re protected and in a secured location,” Irys said. “No one will be able to touch them.”

Noble aspirations, but in Valek’s experience, nothing was impossible to steal.

Opal returned to the kiln. She picked up a metal blowpipe, then opened the small door. Inside, a searing bright orange glow pulsed. Opal dipped the end of the pipe into the cauldron of molten glass and rolled it with her fingertips.

“She’s gathering a slug of glass,” Leif said to Valek.

Withdrawing the pipe, she sat on a bench and worked on the molten glass, shaping it with a long pair of metal tweezers.

“Jacks,” Leif explained.

“How do you know?”

He blushed. “I’ve been doing some research. So, I…have something to talk to Mara about.”

Adorable.

After Opal created an ugly stout pig, she stood and glanced at Irys. The Third Magician stared at the glass hawk she held in her hand. When Irys nodded, Opal bent and blew into the opposite end of the blowpipe. She jerked as if injured but continued. She used the jacks to squeeze the glass at the end of the pipe until it was narrow. Then, she took it over to a metal tray that had some sort of lumpy substance on the bottom. She tapped the pipe with the bottom of the jacks and the pig fell into the tray. Carrying the tray to another smaller kiln, Opal opened a drawer and inserted the tray before pushing it inside.

“That’s the annealing oven. It’ll slowly bring the temperature of the pig down to ambient, which takes about twelve hours.”

Twelve hours of hell.

“We might as well take care of the horses in the meantime. Maybe get some sleep,” Leif said.

“I’m not letting that annealing oven out of my sight.”

Leif gestured. “There are plenty of guards.”

“I’m not trusting anyone. This is too important.”

“All right, I’ll take care of Kiki and get Opal and Mara settled in one of the Keep’s guest suites.” Leif brought Valek his pack before he led the horses to the stable.

Valek set up a makeshift camp in the sand and settled in to wait. A few hours had passed when Leif returned with a hot meal and an extra blanket.

“Thanks,” Valek said.

“Do you want me to take a shift so you can get some sleep?” Leif asked.

“No.”

“Ari and Janco are back, how about I ask them?”

“Leif, do you really think I’ll be able to get any sleep tonight?”

“No, I suppose not.”

Time ceased. Valek swore the moon hadn’t moved at all. His thoughts whirled as his heart continued to burn. If this didn’t work, Yelena would remain trapped. And he would… No, not going there. This had to work. Had to. Otherwise, it was unthinkable.

* * *

Valek’s vigil ended a few hours after dawn. Before the time was up, people joined him on the sands. Opal, Mara, Leif, Irys, Bain, and the entire Sitian Council attended. Ari, Janco, and even Fisk and his guild members waited. Cahil showed up with his minions. An older couple held hands. The woman bore a striking resemblance to Yelena—they must be her parents. Ambassador Signe and her adviser hung toward the back of the crowd.

Everyone who cared about Yelena had come. And it was quite a crowd. Valek marveled. Less than two years ago, Yelena had nobody. She’d been all alone and on death row. And now… A lump formed in his throat, but it wasn’t caused by grief. No, it was caused by gratitude. Yelena had found her family.

Opal squared her shoulders and approached the annealing oven. Pulling on a pair of cotton gloves, she opened the drawer and picked up the pig. Every single person in attendance held their breath.