The Blaze Ignites Read Free

shadows.
    I tucked myself again before I hit the ground
and did another backwards summersault snapping myself up on one
knee, ready to leap up if I was suddenly attacked. My sword and
Salynn blade were up, ready for anything, but nothing came. The
echoes of the Legan’dirs’ death screams faded away.
    Rabryn finished the tight circle he’d put
Forfirith in and came back towards me at full speed. My eyes
widened. What was he doing? I had to get back on! As Rabryn flew
past me, he bent to the side, reached down, and pulled me up by the
arm, throwing me behind him in the saddle.
    I stared at him. “How did you do that?”
    “No time to explain. In case you forgot,
we’re still riding for our lives.” I looked behind. Ortheldo and
the Tan Stranger were riding together in front, then Addredoc and
Meddyn, and then Thrawyn in the rear. “I don’t know about
Forfirith,” Rabryn said, “but the other horses are on their last
leg.” Indeed everyone, especially the horses, looked to be in bad
shape. The remaining Legan’dirs were still in pursuit and gaining
fast.
    “I’ve had enough of this,” I said, and turned
to face backwards in the saddle. I held my palms out. My comrades
glanced at each other, seeing my eyes turn white from my magic in
use and the white flames suddenly surround my hands, then pulled
their horses to opposite sides making a clear path down the middle.
I released my magic, the blasts of fire hitting the Legan’dirs
square in the chest. They exploded in a white flash and a
collective scream.
    Everyone slowed down their horses to a brisk
trot. Rabryn looked over his shoulder. “Ortheldo, where is the
nearest water source? These horses need to rest.”
    Ortheldo nodded his chin outward. “About two
miles ahead.”
    I sat forward in the saddle and my arms
slipped under Rabryn’s. He gently patted my hands, and I rested my
cheek against his back. I suddenly felt very tired, which was odd
because thanks to Rabryn’s healing I’d felt perfectly fine a moment
ago.
    I closed my eyes, deciding to catch a wink of
rest until we reached the water source. I suppose it had been a
long enough day, or two days rather, since leaving Narcatertus. I
hadn’t slept or rested. Apparently these six hadn’t either, if
they’d managed to keep up with me as well as they had.
    Why were the Salynns here? The question
echoed in my mind as I drifted off into sleep.
     
    I awoke a few minutes later as Rabryn halted
Forfirith. I sat up from Rabryn’s back. He patted my hands again
before he dismounted. I looked around and found myself in a wide
open grass clearing with trees encircling us about a half a mile
away. A small creek, from which the horses were already drinking
heavily, ran horizontally in front of us. I dismounted Forfirith to
let him go. To my left, standing tall and proud against the light
grey sky, was the tallest peak of the Mongerst range, Rocksheloc
Mountain. Beldorn was there right now, waiting for us, and we were
late. It had been two weeks and five days since we’d left The Pitt,
and we still had two days travel to go. Beldorn wasn’t going to be
happy.
    So much had happened though on this forsaken
journey. Goodness. All I wanted to do was give the necklace to
Beldorn and have him find the owner, but I knew he wouldn’t let me
do that. I looked over my shoulder towards the group as they sat on
the ground, all of them with different looks in their eyes.
Ortheldo was standing by the creek, bending over Urylia’s head to
wash the foam from her mouth, his eyes on me. I quickly looked away
from him as I recalled the feel of his lips against mine. Though it
had been quick, and my magic had really done it, it was
beautiful.
    I gazed at Rocksheloc again. From out of
nowhere, a thought hit me. I had been in control of myself when I
killed those Legan’dirs! My magic hadn’t taken me over! I had done
it! My legs started to shake as a feeling of security washed over
me. I had control of my magic! Why? Why,