A reddish glow reflected off of Ash’s wide eyes as he stared up in amazement. The Phoenix floated above the city like a myth come to life, the flame from its beak slowly dissipating. Even as the flame vanished completely, the behemoth remained; radiant in fiery light, embers slowly falling from its form onto the white stoned city below.

To think that one of the Pillars is capable of something like this. Ash thought.

His heart continued to race as he clung to one of the many spires that made up the Tower District. The Tower Guard, who had been chasing him for, in the guard’s words, “trespassing” and “criminal mischief”, now hung on the ladder beside Ash, just as speechless and awestruck.

“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Ash asked, eyes still locked on the scene above him.

“I know Bonded are able to do amazing things…” The guard started, his voice quiet and shaky. “But this…” The guard trailed off, eyes wide.

After another moment of awe induced silence, one of the many embers that fell from the bird's all-encompassing wings gracefully floated down onto the only hand keeping the Tower Guard attached to the spire’s ladder. A sizzle accompanied by a cry of pain seemed to wake both Ash and the guard from their stupor. The guard ripped his hand from the ladder, attempting to shake the ember away, quickly realizing the mistake he made as he fell backward towards the hard white paving below.

The guard closed his eyes tight, almost as if he thought he could wish himself back onto the ladder. In a way, his wish did come true as a hand grabbed his collar, pulling him back up. The guards’ eyes opened, the thankfulness and surprise on his face quickly turning into anger and disgust. It was as if the sight of Ash’s shabby clothes and messy hair alone was enough to pull him back to reality. Ash knew this look well, which prompted him to gently release his grasp from the man’s shirt, backing away slowly as if a kitten he was petting abruptly turned into a lion.

“You’re welcome?” Ash said in a rising tone, his eyes looking left and right as he searched for an exit. The guard reached for Ash, narrowly missing his leg. Ash leaped from the base of the spire to a roof top below, rolling as he hit its surface. On a normal day Ash would turn around and taunt the guard with a devilishly clever one-liner before finishing his escape, however, his attention was drawn back to the sky where a creature of legend had appeared.

The new year meant his chance to become a Bonded had finally come. Of course, not at the level of one of the Pillars of course, Ash thought to himself.

Having the ability to form a bond was rare enough; with even most noble families only having one or two Bonded among them. Wishing to be like one of the Pillars was like wishing for the Creator himself to come down and rub your feet.

A foot rub does sound nice right now. Maybe he could convince Kendra…

Ash shook himself from his thoughts as he made his way off the roof and back onto the city streets.

The Tower district was never this crowded. Guards generally didn’t allow “the poor” to enter this part of the city, however the birth of a new year was always an exception. The presentation each year was a spectacle to say the least, yet this years’ easily put the others to shame.

The festivities had begun in full swing; music played, people drank, and even a few scuffles had already broken out.

“Is it just going to stay there?” He heard a man saying as Ash continued through the crowd.

“It’s just an illusion Clive,” a round gentlemen next to the man spat in between gulps of ale,“Bloody smoke and mirrors is all.”

Ash watched the balding man jump as one the embers landed on him, catching his pants aflame. The man cursed, swatting at the fire in a panic, spilling his drink on his companion in the process. Ash chuckled at the sight.

As much as he wanted to continue looking at the marvel in the sky, Veyra would have his hide if he wasn’t back at the bar in time. Nothing could stop the inevitable rush of people coming to drink and gamble the night away.

That crotchety old woman couldn’t give me a day off on the birth of the new year of all days? Ash thought to himself.

Leaving the Tower District didn’t sound too bad right now though, since large crowds tended to make him anxious anyway. He always preferred a quiet rooftop over a loud group of strangers any day. But with how many Tower Guard were out and about, monkeying around the spires was out of the question.

Well, out of the question unless you’re willing to almost send a Tower Guard plunging to his death. Ash thought, cringing at the idea of what would have happened if he didn’t grab that slippery handed fool in time.

Ash made his way out of the Tower District’s giant gates and into Old Town. The Tower District’s large stone buildings being replaced by those carved of wood and brick. Thankfully, the embers falling from the sky didn’t seem to make it this far into the city; however he could see the occasional one or two drifting in.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Ash rounded his way to the back of the bar, his pace quickening as he realized he was barely on time. With haste, he stripped off his ragged clothes in exchange for his “respectable” ones, as Veyra called them, and washed his face and hair with the barrel of water she kept out back. The black button up and dark gray pants were the nicest, and only other, clothes he owned. That stone wall of woman would have him cleaning dishes with his tongue for a week if he got even a spec of dirt on them. Especially since she was the one who bought them.

As Ash began drying off his hair and face with the ragged shirt he was wearing, the all too familiar sound of Veyra clearing her throat shot from the doorway in front of him. Veyra stood there, arms crossed, brows furrowed, looking at Ash like he was a dog who had gotten into yesterday’s stew. That small white haired small woman looked as though she could lecture a clock on the importance of timeliness.

“Inside.” She said, her voice like a razor, before throwing a clean towel at Ash as she turned back into the bar.

Ash finished drying off using the surprisingly nice smelling towel, quietly muttering complaints under his breath before begrudgingly heading inside.

The Calico’s Tooth was by far the largest and finest drinking establishment this side of the Lupine Coast. No matter one’s status or worth, the Tooth was a watering ground for all wanting to wet their lips and lose some coin. Its aging wooden exterior was a stark contrast from the inside’s sleek modern look. The only thing Veyra knew how to do better than lecturing a man deaf was running a well-oiled taphouse.

Ash entered a bustling kitchen. The sounds of nervous cooks preparing for the onslaught of customers that would soon test their mettle rang in the air. He hurriedly dodged between tunnel visioned chefs as he made his way to the front room, keeping an eye out for Veyra as he moved.

Ash exited the kitchen, seeing a familiar well-dressed mustached man polishing a glass behind the bar.

“Any sign of the boss lady, Al?” Ash asked as he approached a small glass of amber liquid already waiting for him atop the bar, before quickly kicking it back; inhaling sharply as the burning liquid assaulted his senses.

“What in God's name was in that?” Ash said, shaking his head as if doing so would rid his mouth of the acrid taste.

“Reason enough for me to bury the two of you.” Veyra’s voice appearing over Ash’s shoulder.

Ash jumped, throwing the small glass in the air, and barely managing to catch it.

“God woman!” Ash exclaimed, “You move like death herself.”

“And who says I’m not?” she retorted, grabbing the glass from Ash, loudly placing it on the counter.

Alabaster, the slick looking bar keep, bowed his head in apology, giving Ash a roguish grin as Veyra turned away.

Ash watched Veyra move through the bar like a shark swimming through a school of fish. The wait staff and dice dealers acted as if she was one of the Pillars themselves. She made her way onto a large round platform, used by each night’s entertainment, that sat in the center of the room. She stood on the stage, hands on her hips, surveying the bar and the many staff that lined up in front of her.

The Calico’s Tooth was far more lavish than anything else in Old Town. It even made most places in the Tower District look dull in comparison. Ash knew that was something Veyra prided herself on. Booths made of soft red cushions and tables carved of hard wood lined the walls. Here, patrons could eat and drink the night away. However, the real money came from the variety of tables that surrounded that center stage where both the rich and poor could win, but mostly lose, their coin. Veyra had built this place from the ground up, and, like an obedient child, she made sure it was spick and span before guests came for supper.

Anyone else would have had to make a deal with the devil to own a place like this, but the devil probably gave it to Veyra for free just to be rid of the woman. Ash chuckled to himself as he snuck into line with the other staff.

“Tonight, our patrons’ pockets will be weighed down by more coin than a nobleman’s wife could spend in a year,” Veyra said in a quiet voice as she paced on the stage. “It is our job to relieve them of the weight…” She continued. “And we will do so in such a way that keeps them coming back with smiles on their faces.”

“Veyra’s pacing came to a halt as she locked eyes with a pretty freckle-faced girl among the staff, her hair tied back in a tight ponytail. “Kendra.” Veyra said, her tone louder. The redheaded girl jumping at the mere mention of her name. “There’s something that’s come up that needs my attention. Due to this, you will handle the floor for the first hour. But I’m sure this won’t be an issue, will it girl?” Veyra asked, eyebrow raised.

Ash watched Kendra's already naturally pale freckled face somehow grow paler. He had known the girl for most of his life and that was a look he had never seen across her face.

“No issue at all, mam!” Kendra yelled, voice cracking, sounding as if she was trying to convince herself.

“I’m tasking you with this because I know you are capable of it. I won’t hear anything else of the matter.” Veyra said, voice still firm, but somehow reassuring.

Ash watched air re-enter Kendra's lungs, the words seeming to rescue her from a panic attack.

“Other than that, you all know your tasks. If the place is on fire when I return, I will use you lot to smother the flames,” Veyra finished, walking down the steps of the center platform. “Dismissed!”

Ash watched the staff quickly return to their duties without a word spoken to one another. He started to do the same, heading in the direction of his dice table, before hearing Veyra’s voice.

“With me, boy,” Veyra commanded.

Ash knew the words were directed at him solely based on the way “boy” left her mouth.”

Veyra was already halfway up the stairs to her office by the time Ash turned around.

“Like death herself…” Ash whispered under his breath.

She reached the door of the office and turned to him, her face for a second looking as though she heard what he said.

There’s no way she could hear that. Could she? Ash shuddered at the thought before making his way to the office.

His fellow dice-dealers and wait staff watched him climb the stairs as if they led to the Abyss itself.