When she had smelled the smoke, her blood had run cold. It had begun to waft onto the wind about half way to her home. Pyra turned as she walked, looking back at Aeson while she kept on. Carrying her pack and staring back at the thick black smoke that rose from the air worry crept into her heart. If it was something that they had to escape from, if Aeson themselves might evacuate at the sight of this smoke, she had already left too soon. On the other hand if Aeson was simply destroying things to ensure that looters or gods forbid the demons themselves then it was nothing for her to worry about. However the thought that this wasn’t something she could ignore kept nagging at her. She had no mount, and even if she did could she outrun this? It felt useless to even think about, but what was Pyra to even do? Assuming that this was in fact a disaster she had two options. Stay and accept her fate or reject it and run. Even she had to admit, running had kept her alive this long. But even she had to admit, Pyra never ran very far from this place.
No when she ran, she ran only a twenty miles away. So terrified Pyra was that she couldn’t bear the idea of going even just out of their reach. These people were the ones that she had known the whole of her life. Some of them she had gone to school with, though she was certain that Lillian would laugh at the idea of schooling in Aeson. A woman like her? In armor like that? Oh Pyra knew that she had to come from something greater than anything that frankly deserved to even dare look upon their town let alone Pyra. A woman like that, she was a gift from the very gods that had abandoned Pyra to the demons.
The smoke is getting worse, she thought, I can’t even see the stars in that part of the sky any more.
Pyra shifted the pack on her back. That was that then. It wasn’t safe for her to stay here anymore. Not that it was to begin with. None of those who had lived there ever thought about making it safe for her. The thought of it made her heart hurt. A little twinge of flame dancing within her breast that she’d long since learned to keep caged. No matter how much Pyra tried to justify her choices to herself, staying here was only going to lead to her death, even if the smoke was only a bonfire. Hells even if it was the fires themselves. But where, pray, would she go? Aeson was a small town but that didn’t mean somewhere else would be better. Aeson for all she knew was exactly what she was going to get from anywhere else, be it a village or the capital cities. That small chance, however, that it might actually be different, that it might actually be better started to weasel its way in. Aeson had done its best to kill her in ways that wouldn’t anger the gods, that wouldn’t coat their hands in sin, but Lillian… Lillian had only ever shown her kindness.
Oh yes Lillian had exploded into anger upon seeing the wrongs that the town was doing right in front of her, but she also saw what they couldn’t. The way that the woman’s heartflame was barely under control, the way that it writhed and squirmed under her skin. Lillian never had any control over it Pyra was certain, and the fact that she had the heartflame at all made her certain that this was the only reason that she extended any amount of kindness towards her at all. Kindred. Of her Kind. Touched by demons. Maybe she could leave with her, of anyone here it would be the best option. Lillian wouldn’t allow harm to come to her from the towns people but… But she couldn’t ignore that didn’t mean that Lillian’s blade didn’t cut both ways.
Kindness in front of everyone else doesn’t mean that it isn’t just another trick. Pyra sighed. A mask is a mask, and you’ve already seen hers slip.
Turning to look back it was then that her heart stopped. The smoke was now accompanied by the distant but notable orange light that could only mean one thing. The wildfire was here. It was already too late. She looked back at the path to her home. A path that largely only existed for herself and hunters. It wasn’t long before she heard the bells toll. She couldn’t stay there, but she couldn’t go home. Pyra’s eyes welled with tears as her breath caught in her throat. Everything she had given, everything she had sacrificed to carve out the one thing that she could have truly called her own was about to be taken by the ash. She couldn’t help it, standing on the path overlooking the town. Pyra fell to her knees as a sob escaped her throat, her pack falling to the ground next to her.
Its not fair, its too soon. She wouldn’t even get the chance to save her chickens, to pack her things, she couldn’t say goodbye or try to ward anything. The flames grew brighter and brighter as she gave in to the sobs that choked her. Even the beautiful portrait of night was losing the battle to the blaze. Soft blues and purples that were as deep and luscious as velvet all turning to ash as the vivid and violent red and orange invaded and took over the skies. Smoke billowing in the air as a flag that marked their new territory. Its over. And she couldn’t even say goodbye.
In the distance she saw something raise up into the sky. It wasn’t embers, or smoke, it was too far for her to see but it almost looked person shaped. Demons, she shuttered, They’re here. I won’t have to wait long then. There was no sense in running, not when they were already here. However her brow furrowed when she saw that they were fighting something in the air. It didn’t make any sense, they didn’t have magical sentries not in Aeson. It was then she saw it. The dazzling blue-gold fire that rained down upon the demons. Pyra didn’t need to be there to guess what happened to them, and if only for a moment her heart fluttered in its beat. It was too late to say goodbye but maybe she could have even the slightest of chances to survive, to find somewhere to thrive like that.
Climbing to her feet Pyra raced back down the path to town, abruptly she remembered her pack and ran back to grab it and resumed the run back towards the town. Surely they would of closed the gates, but with what little she did she? There was no guarantee that they had. And even if they had Pyra was loud, she could get their attention, maybe even Lillian’s. Lillian, she would let her in, for she couldn’t let that particular mask slip.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The run back to town felt like it took eons. It felt as if the land itself was trying to keep her from it, running in her own footprint as she ran down the path. Ash fell as snow by the time she reached Aeson, and the gates were still open. Funny, they were so afraid of her bringing the threat to them that they’d threatened to lock the gate to her before, but now when the demons were here they’d left the back entrance wide open. Part of her wished that this was her fault, so that she could see them all burn.
Pulling part of her cloak up around her mouth she kept running, trying to find any semblance of authority around. Instead she found the dwarf. He locked eyes with her and stomped forward.
“Oi! Young lady!” He shouted. “Ain’t safe you gotta come with me.” His tone brooked no argument, and Pyra knew that if he was here then Lillian had to be nearby. The dwarf lead her towards the inn, internally she shuttered, dreading what would come of this when she passed the threshold.
“OUT!” Screamed a man as a glass shattered next to her head. “THIS IS YOUR FAULT!” He readied another one, and even as Pyra held her arms up the guard her face and was about to run back outside she could see that there were tears in his eyes. For once, he knew true terror, what it really meant to be afraid. What it meant to know that today might be your last.
Good.
Right as the man was about to throw the glass he had in hand the dwarf put up his. “Now you cut that out.” His voice became the abyss and Pyra changed a looked at him. The scars that littered his arm, whirled around his hand and twisted up his fingers, all of them started to emit the gentlest light. “Iffen there’s a problem with her, then me and mine will deal with it.” The dwarf took a few steps forward, and as Pyra lowered her arms she saw that some of the other townsfolk, no, survivors, were slowly stepping away from him. “Iffen there’s a problem with you.” Electricity crackled between his finger tips as he let the magic finish the threat for him. When no one dared to challenge him he let the magic fade and turned back to Pyra, who up to this point had been doing her best impression of a statue. “Darlin, come on and sit. We’re gonna be in for it.” The threatening voice from before was gone, and though his was still deep it wasn’t the treacherous depths of the unknown.
Pyra nodded obediently and sat close to where the man had indicated. She took a slow breath, trying to relax some. It was difficult, especially hearing the crackling of the blaze. Her gaze happened back upon the dwarf. He seemed to be taking a count, nodded, and ran back outside. The act confused her for a moment until she realized that he was trying to find survivors. This was the gathering point. Pyra breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he’s already had to break up a few fights before even finding her, or he was a part of the fighting earlier. Either way, she had some grace. She wrapped her cloak around herself, the growing heat not bothering her overmuch, and tried to relax. Whatever their plans were it had to be soon.
Eventually the sound of horses came upon the tavern where they’d all been gathered. They were not happy, and Pyra didn’t blame them one bit. Not wasting any time the dwarf ran through the door.
“Come on you lot, lets get going!” He beckoned them all as he stepped to the side. “No pushing, shoving, none of it! First sigh o’ fightin’ and I’m leaving your ass behind got it?” Everyone had already jumped to their feet but all heard what he had said. Pyra hesitated, but he looked pointedly at her and so she got up. Following his instruction she tried to follow him to the other survivors gathering point. They had to be moving, why else would he bring them back out into the ash, back under a burning sky? It didn’t help matters either that he was nearly a third of her height. Internally Pyra wished that it wasn’t him that was leading the pack but rather the elven man. At least he was slightly taller than most of the men in this town, easy to pick and follow. She dare not slink back to the back, no Pyra was well aware that now her best shot at survival was going to be with the dwarf. At least if she stayed close he would notice something is going on and they wouldn’t be able to throw her to the demons. A shiver traveled up her spine as she looked up, a cloth still wrapped over her nose and mouth to protect her lungs from the ash turning them to stone. It had been night, but now she could see without effort.
When they arrived to the new gathering point the dwarf hopped up onto a caravan wagon and started to bark orders. At first no one moved, which only made him louder. He pointed out specific people and started giving them orders. His voice cracked like a whip and even some of the hardiest men flinched every time he raised their voices to them. It was too much for Pyra, who stood there her head bowed simply trying to breath. She was distantly aware of her tears falling. Droplets falling from her face and making their mark on the dirt by her feet. It had all happened too soon and everything had happened so much.
The crowd grew smaller and smaller, the dwarf’s orders followed with swiftness. When all was underway he slowly approched her and spoke gently, “Come on now lil lady.” His tone soothing as he reached for her hand. “Got a spot for you that’ll be safe. Its time to go.” Instinctively she drew her hand back her eyes whipped up to meet his as she took ragged breaths. “I know,” He said holding both of his up. “I know but you can’t stay here. Its time to go.”
This time he simply held his hand out. Pyra stared at it. She, she couldn’t let the demons take her. She wouldn’t let them. She closed her eyes and just for a moment let her grief swallow her. It was all over. Everything she worked so hard to build was going to be gone in a flash. Pyra took his hand and he slowly lead her over to the lead wagon. Climbing up into it she froze. The first thing she saw was that black armor, scuffed and dented. A sword and shield next to it. All of it piled nice and neat. On a mat lay Lillian. Her heart lurched seeing the woman in such a state. Soot covered her, she could already see bruises. Not knowing what else to do she sat next to the woman, watching over her. In time she felt the wagon lurch and when she looked out the back she saw the whole line of them moving out. The evacuation was underway, and she for one had no idea what any of them were going to do. Pyra looked back at Lillian, she was breathing evenly at least. Such a small mercy.
The least she could do was take over her care. Pyra could do that much. She was like her, kindred in flame. She would understand more than anyone else, and Pyra likewise knew that if they had a hope of making it to another settlement, of linking up with another caravan trying to outrun the demons, all of them were going to need Lillian.