When Taelord entered the storeroom, Fera was already lying down. He considered asking her again where she had been, but decided against it. She clearly didn\u2019t want to tell him, she was safe, and he had more important things to discuss anyway, preferably before Veth and Scar-shoulder showed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMother,\u201d he said tentatively, sitting beside her on his own bed. \u201cIt isn\u2019t safe here anymore. The rebellion will start for real in the next few days, and Utgar doesn\u2019t have the power to stop it. We need to flee, now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She turned onto her back and looked at him. \u201cWhere would we go?\u201d she said after a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnywhere,\u201d Taelord said. \u201cWe might be able to leave with G\u2019shar on the Windchaser<\/em>. Or if there isn\u2019t room, we\u2019ll make for somewhere else\u2026 the Red Flats maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd if we escape?\u201d she said. \u201cWhat then? Everyone around us will know who we are. We can\u2019t disguise our Volcarren skin or wings. Word will get out, and the Empire will come for us.\u201d She paused for half a heartbeat. \u201cAnd if the Empire doesn\u2019t,\u201d she said, \u201cthen Utgar will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord frowned. \u201cYou know?\u201d he guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course I know,\u201d she whispered. \u201cAll the Volcarrens know. Or guess, at least. They whispered about it on the Red Flats: you were with Utgar. You know where the Wellspring is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord had never told her. It hadn\u2019t been a secret, not really. He had just\u2026 never mentioned it. He probably had Ahnvad\u2019s upbringing to thank for that: never solicit information which could get him into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe I could leave,\u201d Taelord\u2019s mother said. \u201cMaybe I could stay hidden, and never be missed. But you? Neither the Empire nor Utgar would let you rest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd if Utgar came with us?\u201d Taelord said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was silent, watching him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t want a war,\u201d Taelord said, \u201cbut he can\u2019t stop it now. I could talk to Runa, and she could convince him to flee. They could join us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Empire would still hunt us,\u201d she said. \u201cDoubly so, if Utgar was with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen we\u2019d hide,\u201d Taelord said. \u201cHide somewhere they\u2019d never look. In the middle of a desert or the top of a mountain if we had to, but we would survive. And we\u2019d be free. We could live there, just us, and finally be free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She looked at him for a moment. Beyond the door, Taelord thought he could hear G\u2019shar and Syafa talking quietly. Their voices sounded worried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d Fera said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She shook her head. \u201cI lived that way once, when I was young. Struggling to survive, to find food in a harsh land, going hungry. I wouldn\u2019t wish that upon you. And I doubt Utgar would wish it upon his daughter. I won\u2019t live in a barren land again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be living in a warzone if you stay,\u201d Taelord said, frowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot if we join the Empire.\u201d She gripped his arm to keep him from turning away. \u201cListen to me \u2013 listen<\/em>, Taelord. The Empire has food. They have resources, men, land. If we help them, they\u2019ll help us. If we escape with Utgar, maybe <\/em>we make it, and maybe<\/em> we can find freedom, but we\u2019d be living a life of hardship. If we join the Empire, we could have everything we\u2019ve ever dreamed of. Plenty of food, the comfort of a bed at night, a roof over our heads\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMother,\u201d Taelord said, \u201chave you see what the Empire does to its subjects? These people are practically starving! They might have a roof, but in many ways they\u2019re worse off than we were in the Volcarren. At least we could live our own way there, apart from the Empire. But here\u2026 why would the Empire treat us any different?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause we have something they desire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord watched her in the semi-darkness, silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Wellspring,\u201d he guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Wellspring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He turned away, pulling his arm from her grasp, and laid down on his bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re searching for it, Taelord,\u201d Fera said, sitting up on one elbow and facing him. \u201cThey want to seal it, not use it. You know where it is. You could tell them, and in return they\u2019ll give us anything we want. Anything.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord turned his head and looked at her for a moment. He was ashamed to admit that he considered what she said. But then he shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t trust them. We<\/em> can\u2019t trust them, Mother. The Empire doesn\u2019t care about deals or promises. They\u2019ve shown that with Utgar already. Once they had the Wellspring, they could forget about us. Then we\u2019d be nowhere, worse off than we are now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And besides,<\/em> he thought, I wouldn\u2019t do that to Runa. I couldn\u2019t betray her like that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s our only option,\u201d Fera said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt isn\u2019t<\/em> an option,\u201d Taelord said firmly, turning back so he was looking at the ceiling. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to Runa tomorrow, and see if she can convince Utgar to come with us. We\u2019re leaving as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fera didn\u2019t reply. He heard her lie back down, but she said nothing. Instead, she rolled over onto her side, facing away from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He sighed, and closed his eyes. He would have to convince her. Escaping the war was going to be harder than he had thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord was woken by a shout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUp! Everyone!\u201d It was G\u2019shar\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord was on his feet, sword in his hands, in an instant. He glanced to his side, where a dark shape told him his mother was there, sitting up in her bed. Two more shadows sprang upright in the darkness \u2013 Veth and Scar-shoulder. They must have returned some time after Taelord fell asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord reached the door first and pulled it open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFire,\u201d Rehs said without preamble, rushing past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere?\u201d Taelord followed him through the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Light flickered and danced in the night, but it was not, as Taelord had feared, coming from G\u2019shar\u2019s home, but rather from a squat house a short distance away. The flames were still plenty close to feel the blast of their heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet buckets!\u201d G\u2019shar shouted, his silhouette flickering and distorting before the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord doubted it would make much difference. The entire home was on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Syafa appeared in the doorway. \u201cHere,\u201d she said, handing a bucket with water to Taelord, and another to Rehs, who stood nearby. G\u2019shar beckoned them forward, already holding two full buckets, and they charged after him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The heat seared their skin. Taelord shielded his eyes with one hand, his skin feeling like it was about to peel away at the intense heat. He kept his gaze on the ground, only looking up when he began to see sparks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The burning home was right before them. Taelord threw his bucketful of water at the raging flames, and saw it practically turn to vapor in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMore!\u201d G\u2019shar shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s no use!\u201d Taelord called. He grabbed G\u2019shar by the arm. \u201cIt\u2019s gone!\u201d he said, shouting to make himself heard over the flames. \u201cFocus on the surrounding homes. Keep them wet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n G\u2019shar looked back at the burning home, and seemed to realize that Taelord was right. \u201cFocus on the neighboring houses!\u201d he called. \u201cKeep the fire from spreading!\u201d Around them, the dark shapes of others took up the cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord and Rehs dashed back, got more water from Syafa \u2013 Taelord guessed the house had a well \u2013 and rushed to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The night passed in a haze of burning light, heat, and smoke. Finally, after what felt like hours, the fire began to burn itself out, every nearby building having been doused with water to keep the flames from spreading. Soon, the fire flickered to such a low level that they could attack it directly, throwing water on the flames or beating it with blankets and empty sacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At long last, when the eastern edge of the sky was becoming streaked with red and gold, nothing was left of the fire but a blackened, smoking ruin. The house was gone completely, only a few stones from the fireplace left standing. The rest was ash and soot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord\u2019s arms burned from carrying water all night, and his skin prickled uncomfortably at every slight breath of wind. The muscles in his legs were tight, his feet hurt, and his eyes stung. When at last the fire was out, he didn\u2019t even bother washing himself. He staggered to his bed in the storeroom, and fell onto it, falling asleep instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seemed like only a short while later that Taelord was pulled \u2013 grudgingly \u2013 from sleep by voices. They weren\u2019t shouts, but there was anger in them. They came from the main room. Judging that it must be midmorning at least, he pulled himself from his bed, and stumbled to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon opening it, he saw the whole family sitting at the table. They all looked up, paused mid-conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTaelord!\u201d Syafa said, rising from her seat and leading him to a spot on the bench beside Rehs. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, we didn\u2019t mean to wake you.\u201d She gave G\u2019shar a reproachful look, and went to the fire, where \u2013 as always \u2013 something was cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord slumped forward, crossing his arms and leaning them on the table. He could barely keep his eyelids open. \u201cThe fire,\u201d he said, his words slurred with sleep. \u201cWhose house was it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElet\u2019s,\u201d G\u2019shar said. \u201cA tanner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd a loyalist,\u201d Rehs added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n G\u2019shar shot him a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d Rehs said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t even deny it. I\u2019m surprised it took the rebels this long to get to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Syafa placed a bowl of some sort of cooked grain before Taelord, and handed him a wooden spoon. He began to eat without question, his mind waking up as the food slid down his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo that\u2019s why his house was burned?\u201d he asked. \u201cBecause he supported the Empire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProbably,\u201d G\u2019shar said, sighing. He glanced at Syafa, who returned his look with worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Taelord said, looking between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe homes of other loyalists, here in the Maze, were burned as well,\u201d G\u2019shar said. \u201cMore of them,\u201d he added. \u201cElet\u2019s was merely the closest to us. At least five were completely destroyed. Three died in the fires \u2013 two women and a little boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord felt his skin prickle with cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd\u2026\u201d G\u2019shar said, \u201cI\u2019ve seen people watching the house. People I know have joined the rebels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou mean\u2026 You mean this house?\u201d Taelord said. \u201cYou think we\u2019ll be next?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n G\u2019shar grimaced. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have spoken of peace at Einar\u2019s meeting,\u201d he said, shaking his head. \u201cIt was a stupid thing to do. I\u2019m already considered a sympathizer, simply because I haven\u2019t openly expressed my support of the rebellion. And now, with the homes of loyalists being burned\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Syafa crossed to him, looking worried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord glanced at Rehs, and saw him glowering at his breakfast. His arms, like Taelord\u2019s, were singed and blackened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d Taelord said, turning back to G\u2019shar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe leave,\u201d he said. \u201cAs soon as we can. I\u2019m going to the Docks again, and Rehs, I want you with me. We\u2019ll fix the Windchaser<\/em> if we have to work all night. We leave tomorrow morning. We\u2019ll make for one of the remote southern villages in Braunglayde. Crevcor, perhaps. It\u2019s very isolated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tomorrow morning. They were running out of time. Taelord would need to speak to Runa right after he was finished eating. \u201cI\u2019ll come with you if I can,\u201d he said. \u201cOn the Windchaser.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be glad to have you,\u201d Syafa said. \u201cWhat about the others though? Veth\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re gone,\u201d Rehs said from the other end of the table. \u201cBoth of them. They helped put out the fire, and then never came back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou saw them?\u201d G\u2019shar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs nodded grimly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n G\u2019shar sighed. \u201cThey\u2019ve joined the rebels then,\u201d he said. \u201cFound a bed somewhere more sympathetic to their cause, and less likely to burst into flame.\u201d He stood. \u201cRehs,\u201d he said, heading for the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to clean up,\u201d Rehs said, raising his arms, which were smudged with soot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFine,\u201d G\u2019shar said. \u201cMeet me at the Docks as soon as you\u2019re done.\u201d He hugged Syafa, and then left through the door, Rehs following him with a bucket of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord finished his breakfast as Rehs closed the door. \u201cWhere\u2019s Aiiva?\u201d he asked, realizing she wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSleeping,\u201d Syafa said. \u201cShe stayed up practically the whole night, worrying that we\u2019d be next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord guessed his mother was still sleeping as well. He stood as Syafa took his bowl, and pulled open the door to the storeroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All four beds were empty. Fera was gone. He had been so drowsy that he hadn\u2019t noticed her absence when he rose. He felt a sudden fear. Where was she?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Taelord entered the storeroom, Fera was already lying down. He considered asking her again where she had been, but decided against it. She clearly didn\u2019t want to tell him, she was safe, and he had more important things to discuss anyway, preferably before Veth and Scar-shoulder showed up. \u201cMother,\u201d he said tentatively, sitting beside … Continue reading Chapter Twenty-One<\/span>
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