ã€ŠChosenã€‹


 Chapter 1

    ¡°Wait! Wait for me!¡± Sal cried, a grin stretching from ear to ear as she bounded towards me. Paulson and I already clutched rods in our hands, ready to be on our way. He sighed, the sound rippling with fond exasperation as she tripped in a whirlwind of black hair and brown skirts. Squeaking, she caught herself an instant before she faceplanted into the dirt and skidded to a halt next to our little group.

    I shook my head. ¡°No. No way. Why do you want to go? You don¡¯t even- Where did you get a rod?¡± I caught myself before I could finish, seeing the slender wooden fishing rod caught in the ten-year-old¡¯s fist.

    The girl only grinned, kicking me in the shin. ¡°I am too coming. Darren said I could take his.¡± She held the fishing rod out proudly.

    I scowled at her, shoving her back. That kick hurt. ¡°What? Why would he give it to you? Isn¡¯t he-¡± I stopped, seeing her shake her head.

    ¡°Nope,¡± she said. ¡°That old priest asked him to stay today. Extra lessons.¡± She made a face, her opinion of the haughty man all too clear.

    Paulson shrugged. ¡°Whatever. Can we go already, Jas?¡± He glanced to me for an instant before wheeling towards the path, not so much as waiting for a reply.

    ¡°But-¡± I started. Extra lessons? Darren? That didn¡¯t make any sense to me. Darren was...Well, he was head and shoulders ahead of the rest of us in just about everything, as much as it hurt to admit. Why would the priest want him to spend more time in the village¡¯s tiny, ramshackle chapel? He hardly needed the extra studying.

    Those were the thoughts circling in my head, but there was nothing more to say. We¡¯d promised to walk to the river a week ago. A whole week. And now he couldn¡¯t make it? I stared back at Goldenvale, the lonely rows of cabins pressed together amidst the fields. Somewhere in there, our friend was spending his day in lessons instead of with us. That was wrong. But try as I might, I couldn¡¯t think of a way to get him out of it.

    ¡°Jas!¡± Paulson yelled, halfway down the path already. ¡°Come on!¡± Sal bounced ahead of him, giggling.

    ¡°Slow down! I¡¯m coming,¡± I yelled, pulling my eyes away from the village as I tore after them.

    <hr>

    ¡°Just a little longer,¡± I said, my voice wheedling.

    Sal pouted. ¡°What? It¡¯s getting dark. I¡¯m cold. And bored.¡± The girl spun in place before throwing herself onto the ground, just a little farther up the bank. She¡¯d given up fishing some time ago. I wasn¡¯t surprised.

    ¡°You wanted to come,¡± I muttered.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d want to fish until night,¡± she said, glaring at me. The three of us sat on the sharply angled riverbank, perched on rocks over the fast-running water. Drenwell was a quiet, warm country, splashed with forests and farmland. The mountains looming in the distance were a different matter entirely, though, and the rivers flowing down off their slopes were cold and clear. Perfect for fishing, even if it wound up being a bit of a hike to get out to anywhere worth our time.

    I glared right back. ¡°Well, we did. If you have a problem with that, walk home alone.¡± I pointed to the trail.

    She drew back. ¡°But...It¡¯s dark.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± I said, smirking at her.

    ¡°It is getting pretty dark out,¡± Paulson said. ¡°Maybe we should-¡±

    ¡°Come on¡­¡± I said, turning to him.

    He grinned, shrugging. ¡°Well, it is.¡±

    I huffed a little while longer, staring down at the line of fish strung out on the rock-studded embankment. We¡¯d had a good afternoon, it was true, and the sun hung low in the sky. Already, the trail through the woods was near-black with the heavy shadows draped over it. But I didn¡¯t want to go back just because she wanted to go back. The only things waiting for us back in Goldenvale would be chores and lectures about staying out too late.

    ¡°Jas,¡± Paulson said. I glanced up. He was gathering up the day¡¯s catch, pulling his own line in from the water. Sal bounced nearby, all smiles again. He shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s late. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    There was no sense in sulking over it, I told myself. It had been a good day. And so I stood to join Paulson, slowly winding my own line back onto the ramshackle spool.

    ¡°Hurry up!¡± Sal said. She just couldn¡¯t sit still, impatiently bouncing from rock to rock on the riverbank.

    I kept reeling in my line with careful deliberation. ¡°I am hurrying.¡±

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re being slow because you¡¯re grumpy.¡± Arms flying, she leapt to another boulder.

    ¡°Sal, be careful,¡± Paulson said, straightening as he watched her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look like my mother. Why do you sound like her?¡± she said, laughing as she landed in a clatter on the stone.

    ¡°Jas, grab Darren¡¯s rod, would you?¡± he said, turning away from the girl with an exasperated sigh.

    Glaring at Paulson, I trudged over to where the discarded rod lay on the shore. ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t know why I have to-¡±

    I spun at the sound of her panicked yelp, my muttered complaint dying on my lips. Sal teetered, off-balance and windmilling desperately as the rock beneath her shifted in the muddy soil of the riverbank. We didn''t even have time to yell. We could only watch as she staggered, tumbling, to land awkwardly on a boulder farther out.

    The crack of her ankle breaking carried perfectly across the still evening air. The sound of crashing water followed immediately after, as she fell head-first into the river.

    ¡°Sal!¡± Paulson yelled, his face gone pale as he stood frozen. The string of fish hung limp from his hands.

    I was closer. Tossing my rod aside, I hurled myself into the water. The icy chill of it knocked my breath from me in a single rush.

    Sal broke the surface ahead of me, spluttering desperately. She didn¡¯t waste her breath on crying. Her teeth were gritted, clenched against the pain, but her eyes were wide and terrified. In another instant, she slipped back under the surface.

    I gasped a lungful of air in as I surged towards her. The river here looked passable enough at a glance, but it was deeper than it seemed and carved out by a fast-running current at its heart. The frigid bite of it made dipping into the waters a whole different beast. It was a pleasure to swim there in the height of summer, to come up shivering in the hot air. But with a broken ankle, off-balance and unprepared with the night setting in?

    I kept my eyes fixed on the churning waters where she¡¯d slipped back under. Paulson was bellowing something from the shore, but he didn¡¯t follow me in.

    Where was she? My mind raced, a thousand thoughts all fighting for control, but through it all was the single, burning realization that I needed to find her, now. I thrashed onwards, my arms spread desperately.

    Something connected with my hand. I latched on for all I was worth, feeling a painful pop in my shoulder as it overextended. Sal¡¯s head broke the surface as she gasped for air again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got you. I¡¯ve got you. Hold on,¡± I said, the words falling out of me in a rush as I tried to convey a confidence I didn¡¯t feel. I had her by the wrist, somehow. The river was still pulling at me, surging with a power that was quickly sending a tingling, painful numbness through my legs, but I could stand. That was more than she could do on one leg.

    ¡°Jas! Here! Hurry!¡± A voice yelled from the shoreline. Paulson. He¡¯d finally broken free of his trance, it seemed. His hand was extended towards us, ready and waiting for me to grab.

    My hand ached, caught between the hot burn of my muscles¡¯ complaint and the cold of the river. There was no way I was going to let go, though. Slowly, all too slowly, I pulled her in closer to the riverbank.

    Close enough. My palm slapped down against Paulson¡¯s. He was towing us in a heartbeat later, inch by inch.

    A few minutes and a lifetime of fear later, we collapsed in a heap on the rocky shore. Sal whimpered softly, curling as she coughed up water. One hand stretched towards her ankle. I could see it swelling, even with the little bit of light we had left.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m going to- I¡¯ll go find someone,¡± Paulson said, his voice trembling as he stumbled backwards. I was too busy trying to catch my breath to tell him to stop. In a moment he was gone, the sound of his flight vanishing into the forest.

    He was right - we needed an adult. That was a good plan. But I was already shivering, my clothes soaked through and rapidly chilling. I was sure Sal was faring no better. We couldn¡¯t just wait here for however long it took our friend to track help down.

    ¡°Hey. C¡¯mere,¡± I said, forcing myself to take one deep breath after another as I inched closer to Sal. She shook her head. She was crying, ever so softly. The sound made me feel even worse than I already did. ¡°Here. We need to get back to the village. Just...can you grab on?¡± I swiveled, my back pointed towards her as I crouched down.

    She sniffled. ¡°C-can¡¯t.¡±

    I scowled. ¡°Can too. Come on, Sal. Just climb on, and we¡¯ll get you some help.¡± I glared back over my shoulder, making my face hard and cold enough that she finally stopped fighting. Her hands trembled as she wrapped them across my shoulders, arms pressed tight against my neck.

    ¡°It¡¯s dark,¡± she said, half-whining.

    I sighed. And then I focused all of my will into a tiny point, squeezing my eyes shut with the effort of it. I just had to find it, the well that I knew was waiting somewhere under my skin. For a second, with the night pressing in on me and my whole body shivering, it slipped away. But - there. At her indrawn gasp, my eyes slid back open.

    A tiny ball of pale green light floated in front of me, hovering in midair ahead of us. ¡°There,¡± I said, trying to keep the self-satisfaction out of my words. ¡°Now it¡¯s not so dark. Just hold on.¡± It was true - the ball of light shimmered, looking for all the world like a tiny orb of green fire, but it lit the trail back home well enough to walk by. Sal buried her face in my shoulder.

    That was going to have to be good enough. Gritting my teeth and feeling all too clearly the exertion of carrying her and casting a ball of mage-light, I stood up and started walking onward.

    As the river slid away into the night behind us, the rush of water fading out into the songs of crickets and owls, I began to regret that little ball of light. I¡¯d walked this trail dozens - hundreds - of times, but that was in the day. At night, with only that pale, wan light, every shadow loomed like a monster waiting to jump out from behind a tree. Despite all my best intentions, my nerves were beginning to fray. Even the moon was half-hidden behind a thick layer of clouds, vanishing entirely once we were well and truly into the forest.

    Sal, for her part, hadn¡¯t moved since I¡¯d stood up. Her face was still hidden against my back, her sniffles carrying through the night air. It wasn¡¯t easy to hold her without grabbing her broken ankle, but I wasn¡¯t about to complain, either.

    One step at a time, that was the trick. If I worried too much about what was around us, the wolves creeping out of the dark and the monsters waiting just behind the nearest tree, then it was all I could do to keep from running screaming and crying back to my mother¡¯s arms, leaving Sal behind in the night. I just had to not, to focus on keeping my feet on the trail and moving forward. I was just trembling from the cold and exertion, I told myself. I wasn¡¯t scared.

    The distant lights of Goldenvale were a relief as we worked our way out of the forest and onto the smoother, well-packed road weaving between the village¡¯s fields.

    Sal sighed, her voice filled with fear, pain, and longing in even measure. ¡°I¡¯m going to be in so much trouble,¡± she said, her voice a thin, pale reflection of its normally bright tones.

    I shook my head. ¡°No way. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± Contrary to my words, I was pretty sure that we were in for a good lecture. But she was already sniffling, pushed nearly to the breaking point. Telling her she was going to get yelled at on top of that wasn¡¯t going to help anything. I tried to smile instead, but the sight of something bounding through the fields towards us put an end to that before it had so much as begun.

    Instantly, all of those fears surged back as I stopped fast enough to set Sal to crying anew. My mind was completely frozen, carrying my limbs along with it as I stared wide-eyed towards where something charged noisily through the dense rows of crops.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Sal whispered, wiping her eyes dry as she looked up.

    I shook my head, taking a step backwards. ¡°I...I don¡¯t know.¡± It was just too dark, the stalks too thick. There was no way for me to get a clear look at whatever it was that was approaching us.

    Another sob rose in her chest. ¡°Jas, I¡¯m scared. Let¡¯s go. Now.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t agree more. Half-stumbling, my feet began retracing their steps back towards the woods even as I peered through the night, still fixated on that distant rustling.

    My heart skipped a beat as the incessant waving of the stalks gave way to a dark figure leaping free onto the path. No. Two figures, lean and leggy as they loped along. Spirits, coming to steal us away, or monsters hungry for our blood. I was sure of it. My legs trembled, nearly giving way underneath me, but I managed to keep my footing. We had to run. Goldenvale was right there. We could-

    ¡°Jas!¡± a voice bellowed, from somewhere ahead of us. Adrenaline coursed through my veins all over again as I flinched at the sudden noise. Before my eyes, the two looming creatures gave way to the lanky forms of our friends. Paulson grinned, his face visibly red even through the pale glow my mage-light afforded. Darren ran out front, half a head taller than Paulson and covering the distance with ease. He smiled, seeing I¡¯d heard his call, but it was strained, worried.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    I stopped right where I was, feeling for the first time the pure exhaustion in my limbs, the way my legs trembled from the effort of carrying Sal this far. Within moments, Paulson and Darren were upon us, lifting the girl off my back.

    ¡°Sun and spirit,¡± I swore, shaking my head at the two of them. ¡°Give me a little warning next time before you scare the life straight out of me.¡± They flashed apologetic waves my way, but were too intent on our friend to pay me much mind.

    Sal whimpered at the movement as she slid from my back, but offered them a wan smile. ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± she complained, her face pale. Her leg was horribly swollen by then, clearly sensitive to the slightest touch.

    ¡°Sorry. Finally got away. Old idiot just would not stop talking,¡± Darren said, grinning back. ¡°Did you have fun fishing?¡±

    ¡°I forgot your rod,¡± Sal whispered, her face crumpling.

    I tumbled to a seat on the grass, trying to catch my breath. In a single instant, I¡¯d been relegated to the role of bystander. It hadn¡¯t been either of them that had fished her out or carried her all the way here.

    ¡°That¡¯s ok,¡± Darren said, his too-blue eyes bright as he patted her head reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯ll be there.¡± He was talking to Sal, but I could tell that all of his attentions were on her leg. Slowly, gingerly, he pulled the leg on her breeches up so that he could see it.

    I winced, despite myself. It was worse than it had looked before, horribly twisted and a deep shade of purple from all the blood rushing there. Sal twisted, trying to get a look at it, but Paulson grabbed her shoulders.

    ¡°There, see, it¡¯s nothing at all,¡± Darren said slowly, looking it up and down. I frowned. Nothing at all? She¡¯d be off the leg for weeks - if she were lucky. Months, if we wasted any more time getting her to a proper healer.

    Even as I stared down at her ankle, trying to hide the sweat pouring down the back of my neck, Darren reached out his hand and laid it on her swollen skin.

    ¡°Everbright, grant me your warmth and your light,¡± he murmured, his voice little more than a whisper. ¡°Stay my hand, guide it and bestow upon it your divine grace, that I might mend that which has broken.¡±

    Paulson and I both fell into stunned silence, unable to do more than watch. Before our eyes, the dim glow of my green mage-light was dwarfed, outshone by the golden light pouring from Darren¡¯s palm. It flickered here and there with blue fire, spreading across Sal¡¯s leg. I flinched, reaching for her. She would burn, she would-

    Darren cracked one eye, fixing me with a glare, and I froze.

    On and on he murmured, intoning one nonsensical-sounding prayer after another. I¡¯d learned the usual lessons from the Order¡¯s priests stationed in Goldenvale, but within moments I was hopelessly out of my depth. Paulson seemed to fare no better, staring at him wide-eyed and silent.

    But Darren at least seemed to have complete confidence in whatever he was doing. He didn¡¯t falter, didn¡¯t stumble over words or lose his breath. And little by little, the swelling was going down. Sal¡¯s tears slowed, finally stopping altogether as her leg straightened before her eyes.

    When at last it was whole, just as perfect and unblemished as when we¡¯d left that afternoon, the gold-and-blue lights faded away. It was easier, under the cover of darkness that remained. I didn¡¯t have to pretend I wasn¡¯t gaping, didn¡¯t have to hide the fact that my face was as white as a sheet.

    Cautiously, Sal rose, her hands clasped in Darren¡¯s as he eased her to her feet. Slowly, carefully, she tested her weight, leaning delicately onto her leg.

    When it held, without so much as a quiver, she beamed. Her grin spread from ear to ear. Laughing uproariously, she launched herself at Darren.

    ¡°How did you do that?¡± she crowed as he chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s crazy. What was that, Darren?¡±

    Paulson wasn¡¯t far behind her, although he was better at holding himself back. Darren flashed me a smile and a nod, his little acknowledgement of my efforts. Both of our friends were ecstatic, shocked and surprised at the unexpected talents of our friend, keeping him from saying much more on the matter.

    Well. Those talents might have been unexpected for them. I wasn¡¯t surprised in the least, and even though I grinned right alongside Paulson and Sal, I knew better than to throw myself on Darren like he was just another kid. Even then, I knew it. Paulson and Sal, and the rest of the kids running wild in our backwater village? We were little more than peasants, when it came down to it. I was just the son of a woodsman and an herbalist, and I knew that whatever I wound up being, it wouldn¡¯t stray far from that.

    Darren, though? Our friend, who could heal with a touch, effortlessly working magic that even Goldenvale¡¯s priest would shed sweat and tears to learn? The world was wide open before him.

    Even then, I knew it.

    Darren was different from the rest of us.

    <hr>

    Years have a way of passing before you¡¯re even aware that time is slipping away. We treated those fields and forests as though we owned them, learning every creek and every cave as we tore new trails across the wilderness. We thought we had an eternity in front of us, one endless summer to while away. An eternal, blissful reverie, filled with certain things we held constant, anchors against the world.

    No one ever left the village. Very few ever came. Now and again a trader would slip through, bearing with him relics of far-away lands filled with mountains and ocean shores, treasures too expensive to more than look at from afar. Even their comings and goings were a constant in their own way, bringing with them a rhythm to life in the village.

    Surrounded by that illusion of constancy, our childhood slipped away before we knew it, unchanging. I knew the truth of Goldenvale all too well, the reality of my little world that proved itself time and time again. It was useless to fight it, I knew, leaving me exhausted from all of the effort I¡¯d wasted. And yet I simply couldn¡¯t bring myself to stop. No matter how hard I tried, though, there was a singular truth that stared me straight back in the face.

    We each had our talents, but above all else, we were just painfully normal children. Darren, though? Darren was different from the rest of us. Special, in a way we weren¡¯t. He stood apart from us - gifted. Chosen.

    Everyone knew it, from the very first day that our little group of adolescents picked up stick ''swords'' under our elderly teacher¡¯s careful eyes. Darren had swung circles around the rest of us stripling boys and girls without even a thought. No matter how much we tried, no matter how hard we practiced, we were always the ones who wound up on our asses in the dirt. The town guards watched him. Always watching. They knew something was wrong, could see the strangeness in him. But we were just kids - we didn¡¯t know anything was different. Darren was just...Darren. He was strong. He was our friend.

    I was no different from the rest, of course. That much had never changed, no matter how many years passed. I admired him, clinging to the little gang of our fellows we ran around the countryside with. His right-hand boy, his best friend. But hidden where he couldn¡¯t see me, I practiced just a little bit harder than the rest. Some part of me was always chasing after him, desperately trying to catch up. It didn¡¯t make a difference. I still couldn''t beat him.

    The same story played out time and time again. Magic lessons from the local hedgewoman? I could make a flower bloom, coaxing its petals open with a shimmer of green fire. Darren could send a hillside into full blossom. Church school with the village priest? I could bless a cup of water, clearing the murk and leaving it clear and pure. Darren?

    Darren ascended. Beams of light, divine voices from above, the complete package. The priest fainted on the spot. Our friends tittered and gaped, falling over themselves in their awe. His mother cried.

    I watched as the Order scooped him up and carted him away to Drenwell City for ceremony after ceremony. That was all I could do - watch. That was all I could ever do. He came back, exhausted and beaming, but the divide between us had never been more clear.

    The great calamity was coming, the rumors said, and we all knew it was true. The whole village could tell something was wrong. The mountain looming on the horizon was rumbling, shaking the ground even from such a distance. The birds were fewer each spring, finding other places to call home for the summer. The animals fled our little village, year after year, until our hunters could barely find enough to feed everyone. The world itself seemed to be holding its breath. Waiting.

    Something was coming, and Darren was our key to stopping it. That was what they said - the Order, the clerics that seemed to visit our village in greater numbers every year. Who were we to argue with what the god¡¯s priests said? Every time it was brought up to him, he just smirked with that proud little grin. His chest would puff out, and his head would swell just a little bit bigger.

    Darren was my friend, but I''ll admit it. I was jealous. I was tired of being second best, tired of always living in his shadow as the friend of the god¡¯s chosen. So I practiced. When the adults weren''t looking, I''d practice swordplay. I''d sneak off in the woods to hunt, learning how to track, how to shoot a bow. I''d try to remember just the way he moved when he blocked a strike, or the pattern his hands traced in the air as he cast a spell. Slowly but surely, I was improving.

    But it wasn''t fast enough. It never was.

    <hr>

    That spring, the spring of our 19th year, a platoon of soldiers rode into town. Everyone just stood around and stared, mouths hanging open. I was no different, standing gaping and dumbfounded outside the ramshackle little home where I lived - alone, ever since a fever had taken my parents a few years past. No one had ever seen a procession like that come to our little village, which was in truth little more than a few haggard cabins carved from the hillsides and forest. The soldiers stood and waited while a man wearing brilliantly polished armor over pristine white-and-gold robes carefully dismounted.

    Darren didn¡¯t look happy. Not at all, in fact. He was rapidly going white as a sheet, and even as I watched, his eyes flicked to mine. I froze. There was fear there, hidden under the easy, casual nonchalance he always wore. Even though he¡¯d always been different, and enjoyed that, he¡¯d always seemed reluctant, somehow. Not in front of everyone else, of course - he¡¯d never admit it if you asked him - but I knew Darren too well not to see it. I¡¯d thought it was just nerves. It would have been understandable.

    But there was fear in his eyes, looking back at me.

    The garishly-dressed man went to Darren. I don''t know how he knew my friend even existed, or how he knew which one he was. But he put a hand on his shoulder, like an old friend, and they went into the temple together.

    The door slid shut behind them, leaving me standing clueless with the rest.

    I heard what details we got through the grapevine. Rumor spreads fast in a town that small, just as fast as tiny legs can carry the message, and before an hour had passed it seemed everyone knew. Darren was leaving, they said. Gone, for who knew how long. He¡¯d be away in the morning, off to the grand, bustling capital. His time had come at last, they said. The archbishop had come for him, and he was to go to the mountain. He would defeat the evil inside it, and we would be safe. So they all said.

    The rumors all sounded so confident, so sure of things. It sounded like another load of nonsense to me. One man and a few soldiers? Against a mountain? That just didn''t make sense. Fighting what?

    For the first time, the jealousy waned. He could have that glory. I wanted no part of a suicide mission like that.

    I went to bed, sad at the thought of losing my friend the next morning, but secretly...happy. Happy to be sleeping in my own bed, without that pressure on me.

    The door creaked, too loud in the quiet house. My eyes shot open, pulling me out of my half-slumber instantly. Someone was here. In my home, where no one should be but me. Everyone in the whole damn town was supposed to be asleep. So why was someone here?

    Slowly, carefully, I reached over the side of my bed, to where my knife lay, carelessly tossed there the night before. I could hear footsteps coming down the hallway all the while, the floorboard gently complaining. My searching fingers found the handle at last. I seized it, clutching it to my chest protectively, and threw the covers back.

    Darren crouched at the foot of my bed, a finger pressed desperately to his lips. I stopped mid-toss, staring at him.

    "What are you doing?" I hissed. "You''re supposed to be asleep. Gods, if anyone notices you¡¯re gone¡­If the village thinks I''m keeping the damned Chosen awake the night before his big adventure, they''d-"

    "Probably excommunicate you. And throw you from the village," he whispered back, a grin teasing around the corners of his lips. Despite myself, I chuckled too. His grin twisted. "Scary stuff. I just...I just wanted to talk, y''know?" He sighed, and just for a moment, I saw through it.

    Beneath the facade of the Chosen, beneath the veneer of the pomp and ceremony of it all, I could once again see the fear in my friend''s eyes. The sight of it brought with it the first hints of honest shame, for being happy at how this had all played out. He was a bit of an ass sometimes, sure. More often than not. But he was still my friend.

    "It''s not so bad," I heard myself saying. "It won''t be so awful."

    "They want me to fight a mountain, Jas." His voice was quiet, but I could hear the strain in it. "A godsdamned mountain. Or whatever''s in it, anyway. How am I supposed to do that? What does that even mean?"

    I opened my mouth to respond, and stopped. I''d asked myself the same questions only a few hours ago. "Damned if I know. But if anyone can do it, you can," I said finally.

    His eyes flicked away, like he didn''t want to meet my gaze.

    I frowned. "You can. You''re strong, Darren. Stronger than any of us."

    "I never wanted to be." His voice was quiet and low, his eyes downcast.

    I grabbed his shoulder, catching myself a moment before I got too loud. "Rellan¡¯s shiny ass, Darren, I would have wanted to take a few less spills in the dirt while you were learning how to fight, but we don''t all get what we want, right? You got power. There are worse things to wind up with. Being strong isn¡¯t such a bad thing."

    "You''re strong too, you know.¡± For the first time, his voice was contemplative.

    My frown deepened as I pulled away. "Well, some of us had to work to keep up, you know. I''m glad you noticed." A note of bitterness crept into my voice despite my best efforts.

    He grinned wryly. "Oh, I always noticed. You thought you were so sneaky. Always slipping away to practice on your own. You thought no one saw, didn''t you?"

    I rubbed my nose awkwardly. I could already feel my ears going red. I was not comfortable in the spotlight. It wasn''t meant for me. I was happy being the second fiddle in this play. "I just..I did what I had to, you know?"

    "...I think I do." His hand landed on my shoulder, comfortably resting there. But something was wrong. His voice wasn''t comfortable. There was a tension running deep within it. My eyes flipped up, to his face.

    And then I saw the flickers of magic, rising deep within the blue of his eyes. Gold-touched blue flames danced out, to spin in the air between us. I tried to pull away, but it was like I was wrapped in iron. His hand held me fast.

    "I''m just...I''m just doing what I have to do too, you know?" Darren said, his voice rising plaintively. His eyes stared back at me, wide and with that horrible fear somewhere deep down in their core. I glared at him, horrified, stricken to silence by whatever he was doing. He smiled sadly. "I don''t want to die. I can''t die. Not here, not now. I''m the Chosen One, after all."

    The magic rose in a crescendo around us, wrapping the two of us in an gold-and-azure cocoon. I could still hear his voice, even as the world went to white around me. Something was happening. Even as he spoke, even as I sat frozen, I could feel myself...changing. As though something were pulling at my skin, my bones.

    "All these fools think they can force the hand of fate. But It''s not time. I can''t die on this mission. I can¡¯t go. But they won''t take no for an answer."

    I was beginning to see where this was going, and I did not like it.

    "You, though. You''re good, you know. You''re better than anyone else here. At magic, and swordplay, and hunting. You watched me for so long, didn''t you? You wanted to be the hero. For so many years, you must have kept it in. I''m sorry." His tone was wistful. He almost sounded as though he had regrets about everything happening. That didn¡¯t change what he was doing.

    The magic fell from the air, leaving it acrid and stale. I stared, still held fast, at my own face looking back at me.

    "I''m so sorry."

    It was my voice, but it was coming from his mouth, crouching there by my bedside. He wore my eyes, the green eyes that were the spitting image of my mother''s, and his frame was stocky and ungraceful, just like my father''s had been.

    I didn''t even have to move or look in a mirror to know what he''d done. To know that my own eyes were now blue, and my frame long like a dancer¡¯s. I glared at him, the only thing I could do while he held me.

    He smiled sadly. "You were always my best friend, you know. It''s for the world. I can''t die here." His hand fell away from my shoulder, but I was still stuck in place like a statue. He raised an eyebrow at me.

    "What are you doing? You''re in my bed, Darren. And it''s late. You should get going. You have a big day tomorrow."

    I could feel my feet rising under me, pushing me out of bed. The world looked different, and I realized that this was what it felt like to be taller. Darren had a good four inches on me. He climbed into my bed, still smiling at me.

    "You asshole," I managed, finding that I could speak again.

    He sighed. "Please don''t be like that. I do appreciate your sacrifice - it''s for the good of everyone. Now go be a hero, just like you''ve always wanted." His teeth, my teeth, were pearly white as he grinned, all of his earlier sadness hidden behind the self-satisfied smile of one who had won the game. "Chosen."

    I could hear his comfortable groan as he settled into my bed. And then my feet were moving, carrying me out the door towards ¡®my¡¯ house- towards Darren''s house. I struggled against it, and found that I could control myself, so long as I was cooperating with the intent of whatever binding he had set on me.

    I cursed it silently, but it didn''t seem to make a difference.

    The guards at my door smiled at me as I approached. "Have a good walk, Master Darren?"

    I opened my mouth. I tried to tell him that he was wrong, that I wasn''t Darren at all. I tried to say that my name was Jas. I tried to ask for help. The binding snapped up all of the words, leaving me only able to nod curtly.

    The Chosen One walked wordlessly past his guards. The door slammed shut behind him.

 Chapter 2

    It was not going to be a good night, was it?

    The door slammed shut behind the Chosen, throwing the hallway within into darkness. I struggled against it still, against him. Over and over I threw myself at the invisible bonds that held me back, but it was as useless as trying to talk to the guard had been. No matter how hard I fought, the binding overruled it effortlessly. My body, his body, strolled casually through the house towards where I knew Darren¡¯s room was.

    His house wasn¡¯t particularly big ¨C our village didn¡¯t have big houses ¨C but he was Chosen by the god, and it showed. For years his family had been showered with the best that our village and country had to offer, gifts delivered by Rellan¡¯s followers and clerics. Warm rugs covered the cold stone under my feet. Paintings sent from monasteries and temples hung from the walls. I¡¯d always thought the full effect was garish, even if I¡¯d kept it to myself. Darren hadn¡¯t asked for any of it, it just¡­showed up. Now, trapped in a body not my own and more aware than ever of his arrogance, of his selfishness, well. The frustration at the gaudy display laid out before me seethed just beneath my skin.

    Passing a particularly ugly work, depicting some vaguely angelic figure rising above a fielded hamlet that looked kind of like our village if you squinted, I raised my hand to take the frame. To my surprise, my arm responded. Adrenaline raced through my body as I reveled in the sensation of being able to move again, quickly followed by a surge of newly empowered rage. Did it wear off? Did Darren mess it up?

    But as I seized the painting, intending to tear the tacky artwork from the wall, my hand stopped. My heart sank as the bonds snapped back into place. Instead of ripping the frame down roughly, like I really wanted to, my fingertips brushed almost tenderly down the fanciful carvings. Destroying ¡®my¡¯ family¡¯s artwork was apparently not allowed. I tried to swear, my anger bubbling over again, and was allowed a brief, muttered curse before the binding put an end to what would otherwise have been a long and colorful phrase.

    ¡°Darren? Are you awake?¡± At the low sound of my swearing, someone seemed to stir ahead. I glanced up, my body cooperating, and noticed for the first time that the little room at the end of the hallway was dimly lit. A shadow moved there as I watched, reaching out to take a candle and bring both of us into the light.

    The tiny, guttering flame revealed a woman, all fine bones and sharp edges. A mane of thick, sandy brown hair hung to her shoulders, pulled back to show off her high, arched cheekbones. Once, her hair had been clear and soft. Now, streaks of grey shot through it, sending silver rivers down from the roots to mingle with the brown.

    Penna. Darren¡¯s mother. I¡¯d spent many an afternoon here with our little group, the village kids who¡¯d clung to his fame and newfound wealth. Penna had been a constant figure through it all. She wasn¡¯t a bad sort. She¡¯d dealt with her son¡¯s ascendance with bemused, surprised grace, completely taken aback by the gift their god had dropped into the lap of a humble peasant woman. His father was a soldier, but had vanished from their family picture long ago ¨C a casualty of a border skirmish years prior. She¡¯d done the job both parents should have been doing, alone. She kept the two of them together and safe, until the Order had formally recognized him as Chosen and all of her struggles were eased.

    My heart sank as she walked out. I should have expected to find her here. It was her house, after all, and her son was leaving in the morning - probably to his death. I should have known that the night was not yet over. But this was not an encounter I wanted to have. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be my responsibility, damn it.

    The sight of her brought a new emotion to join the fear and anger running rampant in my mind - hope. Despite appearances to the contrary, I was not Darren. I was not her son. The guards placed outside didn¡¯t know Darren, his mannerisms, the way he moved. The archbishop didn¡¯t know him. The binding might be able to fool them by putting his face on mine, and putting my feet in the right place at the right time. But it couldn¡¯t make me him. She¡¯d be able to see it. She was a mother. There¡¯s no way she wouldn¡¯t recognize her son, or that her son had been replaced with an imposter.

    But as she came at me down the hallway, unshed tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips, my body once again took the initiative all on its own. It took the candle from her, gently setting the guttering lamp down on a trinket-laden end table. And then the Chosen embraced his mother, wrapping her in a bear-hug. I felt her arms wrap around my back, holding me tight. She pressed her face into my shoulder and pulled me closer. I could feel the hot dampness spreading there.

    When she pulled back, releasing me, she dried her eyes hastily on her sleeve. The smile she gave me was broad and honest, and her eyes were bright and happy despite the redness.

    ¡°Oh, Darren. My baby,¡± she whispered, holding a hand to my face. ¡°I knew this day would come. Ever since¡­¡± She sniffed. ¡°Ever since the priests told me you were the One.¡± Tears began sliding down her cheeks again. She ignored them, still staring into my eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. You don¡¯t have to go. Stay here. You can stay.¡±

    Her eyes searched mine desperately. I pounded on the walls inside, my yells lost to silent stillness.  I¡¯m not him. You can see that. Surely you can see that.

    The Chosen lifted a hand to his cheek, cupping her hand under his as he smiled back at her. ¡°Oh, you know that I would if I could, mother. But I¡¯m needed. You knew that I would be, eventually.¡±

    I faltered, falling still in my mind at last as I watched the scene unfold in front of me. It moved on like clockwork, completely unconcerned by my lack of participation.

    Penna sniffled again, nodding. She didn¡¯t move her hand away. ¡°I know. I know. But, can¡¯t a mother hope?¡± Her smile wavered and she blinked, redoubling her efforts.

    He nodded slowly. ¡°You know I¡¯d never leave you here alone,¡± he said. I watched the two of them wordlessly, a ghostly observer between them. ¡°Not if there was another option. And it won¡¯t be forever. I¡¯ll come back, I promise.¡± He withdrew my hand, stroking her hair. It was a practiced motion, and I recoiled from the familiarity of it. This binding. It wasn¡¯t just some nonsensical magical command. It was good. Very good. Somehow, Darren had managed to tie in his own habits, his own identity. His mental image of what the Chosen was.

    I should have known Darren wouldn¡¯t do anything halfway. He was nothing if not exceptional. But seeing the proof of it dangled right in front of my eyes sent a fresh wave of anger through my mind. And despite my best efforts, despair was beginning to settle in little by little.

    ¡°But you¡¯re not alone until then, mother. Remember, all right?¡± the Chosen said quietly, smiling. Penna wiped her eyes again and nodded wordlessly, but he continued without hesitating. ¡°You¡¯re never alone. The Order will make sure that you¡¯re taken care of. So will the villagers. And I¡¯ve spoken to Jas.¡±

    I stared. Of course. Of course he¡¯d play it like this. This way let him keep everything, and sacrifice nothing.

    ¡°He¡¯ll make sure that you¡¯re safe, and he said he¡¯d help you out whenever you needed it. He wouldn¡¯t let a friend down, he said.¡±

    I swore, the words vanishing into the binding.

    Penna nodded, her breathing smoothing into a more regular pattern as she mastered her tears.

    When I broke this binding, I was going to kill him. I was going to kill him dead.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweeting,¡± she murmured, closing her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got your big day tomorrow, and you¡¯re up taking care of your silly mother. Don¡¯t mind this old woman. I managed just fine for years. I¡¯ll manage just fine on my own.¡± Her voice cracked, but she didn¡¯t let her smile falter. Penna opened her eyes again, jerking her chin towards a closed door in the hallway. Darren¡¯s room. I noted it blandly, still disassociated from the conversation. I wasn¡¯t needed here. I wasn¡¯t wanted here. I was just an unwelcome, invisible intruder on what was supposed to be a mother¡¯s final goodbye to her son.

    But even as I watched, she settled back on her heels, drawing in great breaths of air. Her shoulders relaxed, the trembling fading. ¡°Get yourself to bed. It¡¯s late. You need your rest.¡± Penna¡¯s demeanor was worlds apart from moments before, a sharp edge to her words and motions. Her eyes were still red. Her voice was still rough. But she was pulling herself together.

    The Chosen tweaked her cheek as he released her, drawing a laugh. ¡°Right. See you in the morning, then,¡± he said, grinning at her reaction.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t miss it. Sleep well, Darren.¡± His name was like a prayer on her lips. With one last long look, she scooped her candle up and vanished into a room beside his.

    I was alone again. As though a weight had been lifted, I could feel control returning. I breathed in deeply, welcoming the feeling of being almost myself again. Once. And then again. The rage still burned under the surface, simmering just out of sight. It would be there for a long time, I knew. Right up until the moment I broke this binding and punched Darren in his pathetic, whining teeth.

    Yes, I was still angry. But that wasn¡¯t going to help me right then. I needed to move past it until I could actually act on it. I knew that, even if I didn¡¯t want to accept it. Gritting my teeth, alone in the quiet hallway, I slipped into his room.

    It was just as I remembered it, of course. I¡¯d been here so many times. For each of the trinkets tucked away on a shelf, tossed carelessly onto a table, I remembered the story that went with it. There, leaning on the wall, was the fishing rod he¡¯d prized so dearly. It had taken so long for the two of us to make them - he¡¯d insisted on doing it by hand, rather than saving up to buy them off the merchants. We¡¯d caught enough fish with them over the summers to feed the village for a year, it seemed.

    On the floor, pushed back into a corner, lay one of the textbooks from our temple¡¯s little classroom. I knew if I flipped it open, I¡¯d find all manner of profane drawings in the front cover. Enough to make the priest go white with offended shock. I chuckled at the memory of him gleefully scrawling it in, grinning horribly all the while. Darren was never studious. He¡¯d never had to be. So while we all worked, he¡¯d dawdled.

    And there, sitting on his little wooden desk, was the knife I had given him last year for his birthday. I took it in hand, feeling the weight of it. It was a nice piece, nicer than our village usually saw. Good steel, attached to a beautifully carved horn grip. I¡¯d saved for months to be able to afford it. He¡¯d been so happy.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.I¡¯d thought he was happy, anyway.

    Now, standing in his skin and in his room, I wondered. How much of all of those years had been simple habit and convenience for him? Had we really meant so little to him, all along? I had been relaxing, slipping back into happy memories and forgetting where I was and what I had become, but just like that it all came rushing back. The anger burned just as bright as ever. I swore under my breath, slamming the knife blade down into the wooden desktop.

    I hadn¡¯t been expecting it to connect. Not after the binding had stopped me from destroying his art out in the hallway. And so I could only stare, wordless, as the knife shivered in place, stabbed into the wood.

    What was different? My mind raced. Was it the fact that this was his desk? Was it the fact that his mother had been watching, and I was alone now? Could the binding even tell something like that?

    I really didn¡¯t know anything at all about the mess I was in, did I?

    The thought was sobering. Tomorrow, I was going to have to ride to war. If the events of the last hour had been any indication, I had absolutely no chance of winning the fight against this spell. Darren was gifted, he was Chosen, and he¡¯d applied himself totally and completely to damning me to his fate. I was in trouble. And yet here I was, pawing through his possessions, hugging his mother goodbye, and attacking his furniture. I was wasting the little bit of time I had to learn exactly how doomed I was.

    No more. No more wasted time. Damn Darren. Damn him, and damn his fate he¡¯d shucked off like an unwanted coat. If he wanted me to go to the damned mountain, then apparently I was going. If he wanted me to be a hero, then apparently I was going to be the hero in this little story he¡¯d written. But to hell with the notion that I was going to roll over and die on command for him.

    No, I¡¯d win. I¡¯d be the hero. I¡¯d fulfill whatever his gods-cursed binding wanted from me, and I¡¯d come back. And then I¡¯d kill him. See how he liked it.

    I rose. My body was still listening to me. That was good. I walked in a circle, testing the reaction from my limbs cautiously. The binding lay dormant, silently waiting. I gritted my teeth. I could almost see it, still wrapped around my throat and waiting for me to try anything. But for the time being, it lay quiet.

    I was thirsty. I needed water. And air. I made for the door. To my surprise, the binding still held its peace. The night air was a cold slap to the face as I slipped out the back door. If the guards in the front heard me, they didn¡¯t say anything. Why should they? If the Chosen couldn¡¯t sleep, it was his own business.

    The well wasn¡¯t far. And the lanterns were bright, on the houses where they still burned, anyhow. They cast a flickering light on my path as I crossed the village square. The splashing of the bucket was too loud in the still, dead air as I pulled up water. And then I drank. And I thought.

    The binding let me come here. It didn¡¯t balk at me leaving the house. It was content to give me free rein.

    As long as I stayed within the narrative that was laid on me?

    The village boundary was only feet away. Just a few steps, and I¡¯d be in the middle of deep fields. A brisk walk further, and I¡¯d be in the forests. Gone, with none the wiser. They¡¯d never track me down, not with me having a head start. I could follow the little river just east of here. I could be free.

    I wasn¡¯t surprised, as I tried to step towards the first crop-rows, when the binding leapt to life. It held me fast and hard, keeping me from so much as twitching towards freedom. I pushed against it, cautiously at first but then with all my strength. It didn¡¯t budge. It did, however, tighten whatever grip it had on me, searing like a brand the harder I pushed. With a yelp I gave up and stopped trying. The pain vanished in an instant, leaving only the faint acrid smell of stale magic in the air.

    I spent the next hour walking around the village outskirts, testing my limits. What I found was disheartening. The binding was smart. Smarter than I had expected. It wasn¡¯t fooled by tricks, it wasn¡¯t fooled by promises. It saw through all my games, my just one more steps and my telling myself that I¡¯d definitely come back if I could just walk down to the river. It was having none of it. And it wouldn¡¯t let me so much as squeak at anyone¡¯s house. Quiet and out of sight was the order of the night.

    That was it, then. I was stuck.

    The weariness swept over me in a wave. I was tired. Emotionally, yes, but physically as well. I couldn¡¯t keep this up.

    It almost killed me to walk back to his house. I knew that if I went to sleep, I¡¯d wake up in the morning and have to ride. I would be well and truly in the middle of it. But I knew that burning myself out by fighting a hopeless battle against the binding would just mean I would be burned out when I had to ride in the morning.

    So I did it. I went back ¡®home¡¯, to his room in his house. I curled up in his bed, smelling like him, with strange noises and sights all around me. I lay awake, and wondered if he was doing the same. Was he even feeling guilty?

    I told myself he was probably sleeping like a baby. Being angry at him made me feel a little better.

    I tried to ignore the soft sounds of muffled crying drifting through the walls from the room next to me. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t push the sound away, and anger burned hot on its heels. You may survive this, Darren. You can steal my future and escape your fate. But she¡¯s still going to lose her son. She¡¯ll never know her tears are a lie.

    I put one of his fancy, gaudy pillows over my head, trying to block out the sound.

    You have a lot to answer for.

    <hr>

    It was a surprise when I opened my eyes and saw the morning light filtering in. Somehow I¡¯d managed to fall asleep, despite the thoughts racing through my head. I could hear the noise outside rising. The village was waking up, coming out of their slumber to assemble for a show the likes of which they¡¯d never seen before.

    The binding was rising, too. I could feel it wrapping itself around me, pushing me to move. It was time. I slid out of bed, refusing to let it take control for me. I could dress myself. I didn¡¯t need it to dictate everything about my life.

    If a hero was what it wanted, I¡¯d give it a hero. A living one. A victorious one.

    Penna was crying again as I emerged from my room, although she tried not to let me see. She just gave me a hug, and nodded towards the door. Reluctantly, with the binding nipping at my heels, I pushed my way out into the sunlight.

    Once my eyes had stopped complaining about the sudden sunlight, I paused, really taking in the sight I saw. It seems the whole village had turned out. And most of the people living outside the village. And some of the people living in the villages nearby. The square was packed to bursting, and all of them were staring at me.

    At the center of it all were the guards standing watch. They perked up at the sight of me emerging. Behind them, the archbishop roused himself from whatever half-slumber he¡¯d fallen into. His armor was fresh-polished again, his robes crisp and so bright they hurt my eyes. It looked ridiculous on him. A cadre of priests waited beside him in freshly pressed raiments. Had to look their best for the Chosen, I told myself sourly. Some were already mounted, sitting uncomfortably on their horses. One held two sets of reins. He smiled at me from across the field, and I knew that one of them was mine. The bottom fell out of my stomach. I¡¯m not ready. Gods, I thought I was ready but I¡¯m not.

    I turned away from the little group waiting for me, unwilling to confront the reality of leaving just yet. My friends were bursting forth from the crowd, racing to say last goodbyes to their dear Chosen friend.

    I could feel the binding perking up, pushing me again, ready to step in, so I plastered a smile onto my face. Had to stay ahead of it. Darren was always smiling. Always so damned confident. If that¡¯s what it wanted from me, then I could be a smug, pompous ass too.

    They stopped in a tight cluster around me, a shield between me and the rest of the world. I looked between them, still smiling that horrible smile, seeing only him.

    My own face, grinning back at me, only with him behind the reins. He looked so normal, completely comfortable in someone else¡¯s skin. He stood there wordlessly, a few steps behind the others.

    The two of them threw their arms around me, whispering goodbyes in my ear. Paulson came first, clasping wrists with me. We¡¯d been together since we could walk, and he was one of those true constants in my life. The thought of going on without him was just wrong. My goodbyes to him were genuine, even if his were a bit on the frigid side. Paulson had never fully approved of Darren. I¡¯d respected that honesty in him, but never really appreciated it. More than ever, I realized how accurate his judgments had been - if only I¡¯d have listened.

    In the next instant, as I pulled myself free from Paulson, I found myself enveloped by a warm hug. I caught a flash of black hair as she jumped, and then she clung to me before I could steady myself. Sal. Nothing at all had changed in her since that evening at the river. She was still every bit as earnest as she once was, still full of energy. Full of life.

    I¡¯d been trying to, ah, deepen our friendship for the better part of the last year. Her brightness enthralled me, intrigued me in a way I¡¯d never pieced together when we were children. I realized that those dreams were over, dead and gone. One more thing he¡¯d taken from me. Before I realized it, her breathless goodbyes to a dear friend were over and gone, and she skipped back to where he waited.

    At the sight of him laying a comforting hand on her shoulder, my blood froze. He knew. I had told Darren all about my interests, of course. He was my friend. The binding inched closer, keeping me still and slathering a pleasant, heroic smile on my face while the rest of me wanted to leap across the distance and throttle the imposter where he stood. As he looked at me, his smile widened ever so slightly. As though he knew exactly what was going on in my head. He probably did.

    The sound of footsteps clicking across the cobblestone of the village square rang loudly in my ears above the wall of white noise and rage that was building. He was coming. Walking towards me like a cat with a fat mouse in its teeth, all poorly hidden glee and spite. How did they not see it? The thought had barely risen in my mind before I could feel the chains wrapping around my throat, hushing the words in my mind before I could so much as draw breath. The binding had me fast. Not taking any chances, then.

    Jas reached out, taking the Chosen¡¯s hand. They clasped arms, pulling each other into a tight hug.

    ¡°I really am sorry,¡± he whispered in my ear. I could hear it in his voice, though. He was smiling. He was happy to see that his plan had worked, that he had gotten out of this one scot-free. ¡°I do appreciate what you¡¯re doing for me. I won¡¯t forget it - or you. I promise.¡±

    ¡°Burn in hell,¡± I hissed, through the fake smile that was stuck on my face. The binding left me that much. Apparently as long as I looked the part and no one else heard me, I was allowed to speak my mind a little. ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡±

    ¡°Good. Optimism is important,¡± he said, chuckling back at me. And then we stepped apart. He winked at me, like we¡¯d shared a secret. The onlookers sighed, distraught at seeing such fast friends separated. I grinned, my face a death mask.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I said, staring at our motley little group My eyes were locked on ''Jas'', though. He wasn¡¯t even pretending to look away. All eyes were on me, anyway, so he didn¡¯t have to. The smirk on his face told me the whole story. ¡°I¡¯ll be coming back. It¡¯s not over.¡± The binding latched onto my words, keeping them bright and cheerful. I kept my eyes on him, staring straight through him. I saw his smile falter, as the intensity of my message finally sunk home.

    And that was it. There was no grand ceremony, no festival, no speeches or well-wishing. Not for a little backwater village like this. No, they¡¯d save all of that for the places that mattered, the grand capital city that loomed ahead. We just climbed onto our mounts. The Chosen knew how to ride, it seemed. The binding pulled me up onto the horse effortlessly, sitting me comfortably above the crowd.

    This might be the last time I saw this village. The thought stuck with me, as I glanced between faces that I¡¯d spent my entire life looking at and the homes I¡¯d grown up in. The unfairness of it all welled up in me, but I squashed it down resolutely. Of course this wasn¡¯t fair. None of it was fair. But crying about it wasn¡¯t going to do me any good. Not that the Chosen would let me cry even if I wanted to, of course.

    The archbishop mounted with a heave and a harrumph, clearly unused to any actual exertion. He grinned at me from his horse, sidling up to me.

    ¡°Well, are you about ready, son? Time to go face your destiny.¡± The priests alongside him nodded solemnly. The guards shuffled about, hot in their armor. The villagers all strained for a closer look.

    I ignored them. I ignored all of them. I just set my jaw, and stared right at the archbishop, and nodded. He kicked his horse, and we were off. One by one, we filed off down the little road leaving my hometown.

    I could feel his eyes on my back, the whole while. I knew if I turned, he¡¯d be staring at me with my face, with my green eyes, with his arms around my friends. Around Sal.

    I wouldn¡¯t give him the satisfaction of having his binding ride me out of town. This would be on my own terms. I¡¯d win, and I¡¯d come back for my revenge. I promised it, to the friends who I left behind, who didn¡¯t even know they were being deceived. To the priests, who were being fooled by the man they thought was their savior. And to myself. Because to hell with it. I wanted my revenge. I deserved that much.

    I stared straight ahead. The archbishop chattered alongside me as the priests said their prayers. I ignored them all, and watched the road vanish under my horse¡¯s hooves as my village faded into distant silence behind me.

 Authors Note

    So!

    This marks the end of book 1 of The Flameweaver Saga - Chosen!

    In case that isn''t something you''ve heard of or looked into before now, just a bit of quick information. The Flameweaver Saga was my first novel series, which began publishing in mid-May. It''s four novels long, and all four are now complete and available on Amazon</a> - Chosen, Charred, Nightsworn, and Ascendant. The final book, Ascendant, will go live on Amazon in early December, but is available on my main page until then:Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Inorai/

    Be aware it gets much, much longer from here! Book 1 was 74k total - book 2 is 130k, book 3 is 160k, and book 4 is 175k <3 so there''s plenty to go around!

    I hope you''ve enjoyed! Making the first novel free was a goal that I had for once all four were complete, and that''s thankfully something I was able to make happen "> If you liked this first book, then I hope you consider taking a look at those other books! They''re priced low because of course I''m indie, but I do run free-book specials on them as often as I am allowed to by Amazon. Follow my reddit page and I will make announcements when those come around!

    Thanks so much for reading - if you enjoyed, I''d love it if you''d leave a rating or review!

 Preview - Book 2 Chapter 1

    We walked.

    It seemed strange, after so long spent full-out. After everything that had happened? After my run-in with Darren, and the mountain, and meeting Shiina? Simply being able to walk, to just watch the day go past, was a new experience, and one that I had to appreciate.

    The reality of the situation became apparent immediately. Somewhere along the line my body had healed. That was good. Unfortunately, the same miracle did not apply to my clothes. Purely human again, I found the tatters remaining of my shirt tucked into my weathered, torn pants. And that was the sum of my resources - a pair of pants, and a few scraps of fabric. Lost in the woods.

    At first there was a certain amount of novelty to it. I might be mostly naked, without food or a weapon, lost in a forest. But it was a forest I¡¯d never seen before, and I could take some amount of enjoyment from the experience. That¡¯s what I told myself, anyway. No, it didn¡¯t help. With Shiina chattering away ahead of me about anything she saw, it was easy to find myself settling into a comfortable routine. For a while, it was simply enough to pull my heavy limbs through one more step, to focus on making it around the next riverbed. Through it all the mountain gushed smoke and ash, coloring the evening sky dark and red.

    We were out of the worst of it, safely tucked away here. But Drenwell wouldn¡¯t be safe, I knew. I tried not to think about it, focusing on the walking.

    The first night came and went with no sign of life from anywhere around us. The first pangs of hunger were beginning to set in all too readily. I tried to catch fish from the river - all I got was wet. I was too slow, too loud. My limbs ached and creaked as I climbed out of the water. If there were rabbits or small game in whatever this country was called, they were keeping their distance from us. I glared at Shiina whenever my stomach rumbled. With the pit of my belly growling, I remembered all too clearly the way animals had been fleeing from the lands around her mountain range for the year or two prior to her awakening. I decided then and there I was going to blame her for the lack of game.

    I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the ground. Shiina had vanished somewhere - off to bother another of her followers, no doubt. I was too tired to care.

    The second day brought with it even more hunger and newfound determination along with them. I was the Charred, whatever that was worth. I was not going to starve in some rotten, sad forest. I gleefully devoured the first bushful of bright red berries I found, reveling in the sweet taste and the full feeling it brought. It was enough to rouse myself from the stupor that was settling over me, however briefly.

    The second night was spent vacating my stomach of all of the berries I had eaten. Shiina was gone again as soon as soon as I found a place to curl up on the riverbanks. I wished I could join her.

    The third morning I managed to bring down a waterfowl with a well-timed fireball. I also managed to put it out before it had blackened too badly, which was enough to put a smile on my face. That day I ate like a king. Shiina lounged across the fire from me, clearly bored. I glared at her regardless.

    ¡°What is it, oh Charred of mine?¡± she finally said, sighing as she pushed herself upright.

    ¡°How far do we still have to go?¡± I said bluntly. I was done being polite. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t seem to mind the abrupt question. She merely pursed her lips as she thought.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, little cinder. Perhaps another few days, or as much as a week? Possibly two. If we continue making passable time,¡± she said.

    I narrowed my eyes. The thought was enough to make my stomach scream again, even freshly filled with bird.

    ¡°You can¡¯t....figure out anything a little more precise than that? Or find some way to help out a little?¡± I asked. ¡°If I starve out here, then I¡¯ll be just as dead as if Darren killed me in Goldenvale, you know.¡±

    Her fingers tapped on her leg as she shrugged. ¡°I cannot sense a village in our immediate vicinity, Takio. And you¡¯ve got all of the options you should need available to you. Of course, I¡¯m still largely weakened from our flight, but with your continued aid that will pass. My-¡±

    ¡°Hold on,¡± I interrupted. ¡°My ¡®continued aid¡¯? What¡¯s that mean?¡±

    Her ears flushed. ¡°Well...Isn¡¯t it obvious? Your goddess is a pale shadow of her former glory, and you¡¯re merely strolling along a riverside trail. Naturally, it is your duty to pass on whatever strength you may, and-¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been leeching off me?¡± My voice was high-pitched with indignation. The red was spreading across her cheeks now. ¡°I¡¯ve got no food, no weapons, not so much as a cloak to keep the chill out, and you¡¯ve been scooping energy off the top?¡± My arms folded resolutely across my chest. ¡°So this is why I¡¯ve been so out-of-sorts. Isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Well, I suppose that to a certain extent, it might¡­¡± she trailed off, but I wasn¡¯t listening anyway. I peered across the little fire at her. Something was off. Something wasn¡¯t right.

    The little details were too small to mean anything on their own. But once I began seeing them, the picture it painted was all too clear. Her pants, once bare and plain, were carefully stitched around the hems with new embroidery. The rough fur around the edges of her boots was now soft and plush. Bone pins held her hair back.

    I glared at her. And tapped my own ragged pant leg meaningfully. ¡°So, what. You¡¯ve been soaking up my strength to get an outfit upgrade?¡±

    She grinned, crossing her own arms to match. ¡°Nothing of the sort, child. Or...not entirely. This appearance is merely a reflection of my divine self, you see. I may be plain and humble now, but as I regain my former splendor, this form will be rejuvenated as well.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ve gotten all that power from me.¡± My tone was thoroughly unimpressed.

    She scoffed, waving a hand in front of her nose derisively. ¡°Of course not. Thousands witnessed the mountain burning, you know. They saw it and their faith was rekindled!¡± She pumped her fist energetically. And then faltered as her eyes flicked to my unimpressed gaze. ¡°That is, well, despite our loss in Goldenvale, my name is being spoken again more than it has been in years. My strength is beginning to return, and will continue to do so as long as we continue making progress.¡±

    I sighed. ¡°Lovely. Truly. Glad to hear it. If you¡¯re feeling all refreshed and energetic, then, would you be terribly bothered by helping? Some food would be a good start. Or a bow I can hunt with. Or some proper directions.¡±

    She pouted. ¡°Really, child, you¡¯re surrounded by life, and you can¡¯t so much as feed yourself? It seems you¡¯ve managed perfectly fine so far,¡± she said with a wave to my lunch.

    I glared at her. ¡°I would do better if someone wasn¡¯t scaring everything away from me. Or making me slow and loud.¡±

    Her hesitation told me that she knew I wasn¡¯t wrong, even if she was too proud to admit it. Finally, she shook her head, reaching behind her. ¡°Oh, very well. I suppose that the Flameweaver granting her scion a token of her favor is only to be expected, yes?¡±

    From a pouch on the back of her belt Shiina produced a tiny, fabric-wrapped bundle, which she promptly slapped down into my waiting hand. I stared at her. She gestured at it impatiently.

    ¡°Well, hurry up. We haven¡¯t the time for you to waste being dumbfounded.¡±

    Tentatively I began unwrapping it. It fell open to reveal a strange, curved knife, the blade a little longer than my hand. It was just plain black metal, but it gleamed. It was, unmistakably, the knife little Raoka had attacked me with. The fabric had already disintegrated to ash in my hands, scattering on the wind. I leveled a glare at her.

    ¡°A knife.¡±

    She beamed.

    I frowned. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s something. Ah. Thanks.¡±

    Her head cocked to the side. ¡°Such lackluster gratitude. Have I not sufficiently answered your prayers?¡±

    ¡°Could I get a shirt?¡± I asked plainly. It was a tiny, pathetic statement, but dammit, I was cold.

    She sighed. ¡°Do I look like a merchant?¡± she demanded, radiating affront. ¡°A beloved keepsake of your predecessor is an expected gift from one as radiant as myself. I am not merely a dispenser of undergarments.¡±

    I glared. She folded her arms resolutely. I broke first. It was something, I supposed. A knife and a pair of pants was better than just the pants.

    ¡°Fine. Thank you for the knife, Shiina.¡±

    ¡°You are welcome, Takio,¡± she responded immediately, earning a second, more pointed glare from me. She smiled still, fully aware of what she was doing. It seems she had taken her threat to me seriously, and intended on forcing her new name for me into my subconscious whether I wanted it or not.

    ¡°So you really have no clue where we are?¡± I asked plaintively. ¡°Not even a suggestion?

    ¡°No. We are too far removed from my mountain. I am not the map you are looking for.¡±

    ¡°Not even with all that newfangled strength you¡¯re getting from your followers?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Not even-¡±

    ¡°Do not ask me again, little cinder.¡±

    I chuckled as I stood and kicked dirt over my little fire. She was who she was, goddess and all. I was coming to accept that. But that didn¡¯t mean I was going to let her get a free pass. If she wanted respect and adulation from her Charred, she chose poorly. From the smirk she was doing a bad job of hiding, she was listening in - even though she¡¯d said she wouldn¡¯t. I let it slide this time.

    With no alternative, I pushed onward along the river. It was a landmark for me to follow, if nothing else. Idly, I tried spinning the knife by the loop in its hilt. After the third time a dropped spin nearly landed it in the river and earned me a glare, I tucked it into my waistband and let it be and focused on walking.

    It was a pleasant enough path. There weren¡¯t birds, thanks to my companion, but the river was clear and fast. Even better, the trail was steadily widening the farther I walked, which seemed like a good sign. Maybe, just maybe, we were getting back to something resembling civilization. For the first time in a few days I had a full stomach and a weapon. I might not have a shirt on my back, but, well. Small steps. Despite myself, I was smiling. It was easy to get lost in my own mind, when things were finally beginning to look up.

    Lost enough that at first I didn¡¯t notice Shiina¡¯s meaningful glances, or her hissed warnings. I didn¡¯t notice anything at all, in fact, right up until the sound of laughter reached my ears.

    I stopped in my tracks, looking over. Just a short distance away, four men were sitting around the remnants of a fire tucked into the shade of the treeline. Rough canvas tents were arranged haphazardly a little farther back. They saw me about the same time I saw them. Their jaws dropped open almost in unison.

    I was frozen, watching them watch me. Merchants? I wondered. Hunters, out in the wilds? Perhaps fishermen. Or locals, from a nearby village?

    They leapt to their feet, grabbing at rusty weapons. I heard them cursing as they advanced on me.

    ¡°Dammit, Tobe. I told you to keep an eye on the trail,¡± one said a low hiss. He winced as the sun blinded him. The others were all squinting equally.

    I raised my hands slowly, leaning back onto my heels. ¡°All good, folks. I¡¯m not here for a fight. Not going to need those weapons.¡± I put on my best disarming grin. ¡°I¡¯m just looking for a town. Or a village. Anything like that around here?¡±

    ¡°Wavebinder¡¯s ass, would you shut up?¡± the first speaker said, still trying to see me through bleary eyes. ¡°Hands where I can see them. No games, now.¡±

    Bandits, then. Yes, that seemed much more in line with my luck.

    He had a spear out in front of him. I could guess from the rust stains coating its surface and the awkward, unsure way he gripped it he¡¯d never properly trained a day in his life. And yet, he was clothed, fed, and rested - while I had a knife and a pair of pants.

    All things considered, it was probably a fair match. It still wasn¡¯t a fight I wanted to have.

    I put my hands up, still standing comfortably on the riverbank.

    ¡°Hey,¡± the second one finally said. His eyes narrowed, fixated on me. He had a skinning dagger hanging from his belt, with one hand resting on the hilt. He seemed altogether more comfortable with all this than his companions. That worried me. ¡°Guy¡¯s broke. Ain¡¯t even got clothes.¡±

    ¡°Shit, Perrin. I ain¡¯t in this for a beggar¡¯s prize.¡± The third was laughing even as he spoke, settling his hatchet back onto his shoulder. I gave the thing a cursory inspection. Fresh from chopping wood for the fire, if I were any guess.

    ¡°He¡¯s got crazy eyes,¡± the man with the dagger said. His voice was calm, but brooding. ¡°Spirit-touched, like. Or maybe he¡¯s got some demon blood in ¡®im, somethin¡¯ like that. He¡¯s trouble.¡±

    I furrowed my brows. That was rude. Uncalled for. It¡¯d been a difficult few days, sure. And...well, I was spirit-touched, of a sort. But they didn¡¯t have to say it.

    ¡°Uh,¡± I managed. Their eyes snapped back to me. ¡°Are you, ah. Trying to rob me?¡± I tried to keep the laugh out of my voice. ¡°Little problem with that, fellows. Think you¡¯ve spotted it. We good?¡±

    Slowly, I inched back towards the path. Maybe if I just left they¡¯d think no more of it.

    ¡°That¡¯s a fool¡¯s move, you know,¡± Shiina said from alongside me as I worked my foot back towards the trail. ¡°They have weapons, clothes, food, camping supplies, you name it. Gaze upon the bounty I have delivered to my beloved Ascended!¡±

    You didn¡¯t even know they were here, I thought back sharply. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you take credit for this. She deflated almost immediately. And I¡¯m not going to just kill random strangers for a shirt.

    She made a face at me. I was too busy creeping backwards.

    From the way the three were completely ignoring her, I presumed she was only visible to my eyes. How fortunate for me. That probably meant she wouldn¡¯t be stepping in on my behalf, either.

    ¡°Wait,¡± the man with the dagger said. I froze, stopping my snail-paced escape.

    ¡°Let the poor bastard go, Tobe,¡± the one with the axe said. ¡°He ain¡¯t got nothin¡¯ worth takin¡¯. I ain¡¯t interested.¡±

    Tobe turned to glare at his companion. He didn¡¯t say anything, but his eyes broadcast exactly how little he appreciated the input.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The two were occupied with each other. Slowly, so slowly, I lowered my hands, as though I was tired. I¡¯d just rest them on my hips, like I was taking stock of the situation. They probably wouldn¡¯t-

    ¡°Nuh-uh,¡± the one with the spear said, laughing under his breath. The tip of the spear reached across the gap to settle somewhere in the vicinity of my collarbone. ¡°None of that, now. Keep ¡®em high.¡±

    I sighed, doing as he said.

    ¡°You can take them, you know,¡± Shiina chirped happily. She was right in front of the one with the axe, leaning in for a better look. ¡°Even with just the knife. Even unarmed. You have my magic, and a bit of common sense. These ugly charmers have nothing of the sort.¡±

    Enough. Quiet, I mentally hissed back at her. You¡¯re distracting me.

    The one with the axe shifted uncomfortably, giving the spear-holder a sour look. He glared right back.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Saol,¡± the spear-wielder said. He didn¡¯t sound happy, but he wasn¡¯t overly bothered either. ¡°We let him go, he¡¯ll go runnin¡¯ straight to the wave-watchers. Then we¡¯ll have a squad breathing down our necks. Cuts into the business, yeah?¡±

    ¡°Hold on, now,¡± I said, trying to regain control of the conversation. ¡°I¡¯m lost. You point me to town, I¡¯m not even going to remember the way back here, chances are. And what kind of gratitude would it be to tattle on my saviors?¡± I kept the stupid grin plastered onto my face - but I also kept an eye on that spear tip.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in killin¡¯ if we don¡¯t get nothin¡¯ for it,¡± Axe-man muttered.

    I pointed to him eagerly.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying, Saol- Can I call you Saol?¡± I blustered furiously. ¡°I¡¯m-¡± I tried to give my name, I really did, but my breath caught in my throat. Shiina giggled. Finally, I gave in. ¡°I¡¯m Takio. Been walking a long way, with a long way to go still. I¡¯m-I¡¯m on a pilgrimage,¡± I said in a rush, seeing the way Tobe¡¯s eyes flicked coldly back to me. His fingers still rested comfortably on his knife.

    ¡°A pilgrimage,¡± the spear-wielder said. His tone was decidedly unconvinced, but the tip of his spear dipped towards the ground.

    ¡°Yes!¡± I seized upon my chance without hesitation. ¡°Off to Efren¡¯s temple. Very important! Have to see it. Only I- ran out of money halfway. And then I got lost in a storm. Lost everything I had left,¡± I said, trying to look as despondent as I could.

    I heard Shiina howling with laughter, somewhere behind me. I didn¡¯t have time to waste glaring at her.

    ¡°Come on, Perrin.¡± Saol had his hand on the spear-wielder¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This ain¡¯t earnin¡¯ us dinner. There¡¯ll be better targets closer to Mistharbor. Leave the man be.¡±

    I kept my silence, watching anxiously. Finally, Perrin laughed. It was a thin sound, and more than a little forced, but I took it for what it was - a sign that he probably wasn¡¯t going to attack me.

    He sneered at me one last time. And then the three of them waved me off roughly.

    No directions. No clothes. No food. This had not been a productive interruption to my morning. I masked a sigh, and turned back to the trail.

    Shiina was in front of me when I turned. Her arms were crossed.

    ¡°You are soft,¡± she accused me. Her eyes were still orange, but I could see blue dancing around the edges. ¡°You have been crying for help all morning like a poor helpless child. And then it lands in your lap, and you won¡¯t take it?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not looking for a fight, so I¡¯m not going to kill them,¡± I muttered.

    She made a face up at me, her jaw jutting stubbornly out. ¡°That isn¡¯t the point! You can take them. Bring the fight to them!¡± she cried.

    I glared at her. ¡°I know I can take them. They¡¯re asses. They¡¯re a bunch of thugs with weapons they don¡¯t know the first thing about using. If I wanted to fight, they¡¯d be dead. That isn¡¯t the problem. But-¡± I opened my mouth to argue the point, and then stopped.

    Like it or not, she wasn¡¯t wrong. These three might have let me go, but only because it didn¡¯t benefit them. If I walked away and left them? They¡¯d just turn around and go after the next traveler who passed by. And whoever came next would likely not have a goddess riding in their head, keeping them safe.

    Could I justify sparing these three, if it meant more people would be hurt down the road?

    ¡°Ah- Little cinder? You¡¯ve got a friend,¡± I heard Shiina say sheepishly. And then I sighed, realizing that I¡¯d been speaking out loud the entire time.

    I turned, pulling the knife from my waistband in a single motion. It fit into my hand like it was made for it - which in a way, it had been. Perrin was stalking up the path towards me, his face a mixture of angry and satisfied. Whatever excuse he¡¯d been looking for to get into a fight with me, he had just found it. His rusty spear was up. He didn¡¯t bother saying anything as he saw me turn. He just thrust the blade.

    I ducked just in time. I could feel the rush of air on my back as the spear swished past me. If I had been wearing a shirt, it probably would have been torn.

    ¡°Woah!¡± I yelled, spinning around to face him more fully. Saol was lingering half a step behind with his axe, clearly unsure still but willing to fight if Perrin was. What a savior he turned out to be, I thought sourly. Tobe was still standing right where he had been, still holding his knife. And he was still watching me. The fact he hadn¡¯t moved brought me no comfort at all.

    Perrin was still attacking, still trying to get at me with that rusted spear. But his strikes were wide, his movements clumsy. This body I was wearing was still too soft for my liking, but it was a simple matter to duck inside the blows. My hand grasped his wrist, holding him steady. He was a big man, bulkier than I was. But he was overextended.

    It was the work of a moment to slide my knife up and over. He screamed as his sleeve stained red. I dipped down into my well, watching as the blade of the knife seared white-hot. I gritted my teeth as he shrieked in pain. It was just the tendons. He¡¯d live, if he bound it properly. I¡¯d been as kind as I could be. I jumped back as he dropped the spear to the ground.

    ¡°Stop,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re done.¡± He glared up at me, panting for breath through the pain. ¡°Just stay down. I didn¡¯t want to fight you.¡± He scrabbled for the haft of his spear. I stomped it back down to the ground. A few of his fingers might have broken in the process. Couldn¡¯t say.

    The sound of footsteps coming from behind was all the warning I got. Tobe was already within striking range, silent and cold-eyed. That knife was off of his belt and in his hand. I swore as I saw him coming in swinging. Raoka¡¯s knife seemed useful enough, but a blocking blade it was not. I got my other arm up in time to take the blow on my forearm instead of my neck. It stung, but I would manage. I swore loudly as the hot wetness dripped down my arm. And then I pushed my arm past his dagger, grabbing tightly to his wrist.

    Smoke billowed out as my palm superheated. I could feel the mana draining from my well, but it seemed like mere drops off the top - the depths were untouched. Just when had my well deepened so much? It felt completely different from how it had been just days before.

    Tobe was still swearing, his arm burned bright red. He clung to his knife still, desperately trying to angle it back towards me. One inch after another, the tip of my blade dug into his arm. The knife fell from his limp fingers.

    Something was off. Something was very, very wrong. There was no way I should be this comfortable with a weapon I¡¯d just picked up. Sure, I¡¯d practiced with knives. It was easy to find a knife, in the same way it was difficult to find a sword. Knives were cheap. Darren had been learning how to fight with a knife since we were old enough to run free in the village. I¡¯d followed soon after, a step behind as always. But those were long knives, straight-bladed and plain. Fighting with a curved blade was completely different - and yet my body was moving almost on its own.

    I saw her then. Shiina, standing near the edge of the river. Her hair billowed out behind her as she watched me, unmoving.

    ¡°This your doing?¡± I grunted out under my breath as I ducked a wild swing from Tobe. He might have lost use of his arm, but that hadn¡¯t stopped him from trying to get at me. The man was a few idols short of a temple, I was realizing. Completely single-minded.

    This would have been your birthright. If you were a proper Charred, I heard her say in my head.

    ¡°Oh.¡± I blocked another blow with my wounded arm, wincing at the jolt of pain. I could see Saol, maneuvering around Tobe to try and find the best way to get in on the fight. Perrin was sneaking off into the bushes behind him, his eyes wild and his arm bloody. I snorted. Courageous leader, that one. ¡°So, what. You¡¯re getting me back up to speed?¡± If Tobe heard my voice, if he wondered why I was talking to myself mid-fight, he didn¡¯t say anything.

    Something along those lines, yes. My Charred should always be able to fight with dignity.

    Tobe was panting more heavily. He staggered as he pulled another knife from the back of his belt.

    I hesitated. ¡°Nice thought, Shiina.¡± And then I held my free hand out, motioning for him to stop. I stared him right in the eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t. Bad idea.¡±

    Saol came in from the side with a roar, any secrecy forgotten. My legs were already moving, sliding into his stride. My arm came up to brace against his momentum. The man tumbled into the dirt seconds later as I tripped him. His hatchet flew free, landing halfway back to the river. Shiina stepped aside gracefully, allowing it to sail past her. Tobe was moving, though, attacking again.

    I really didn¡¯t want to kill him. I had been insulting him, even if he was a bandit. I¡¯d instigated the fight. I¡¯d rather keep my hands clean.

    But at the same time, it would be the height of hubris to assume that I could simply sail through life, keeping my own hands pristine and blood-free while I fixed all the wrongs of the world. That was a prideful notion. That wasn¡¯t the way the world worked.

    Shiina was watching me. Expectantly. She¡¯d trusted me enough to make a man she barely knew her Charred. She¡¯d given me enough power to reach my goals. And she expected me to do better.

    I¡¯d already killed to get here. I had tried to convince myself that I had done it out of self defense. I blamed the blood on my hands on the binding, on Darren. But Raoka¡¯s eyes still stared back at me, daring me to argue. She didn¡¯t care what it was that had done it. It didn¡¯t matter. She was still dead, along with everyone who had vanished in the fires back at Goldenvale. They knew the truth, even if I was having trouble coming to terms with it.

    I was in this for revenge. Shiina was in this for revenge. That wasn¡¯t some noble goal, and I shouldn¡¯t expect to be allowed to hold to childish concepts of heroism while I pushed for it.

    I was in this to win. Whatever came of it, whoever died, whoever I had to kill to reach my goal, I would accept that. And I would charge it forward, when the time came to call Rellan to task. That¡¯s what I told myself.

    And then I put my knife through the fleshy underside of Tobe¡¯s jaw.

    He sagged to the ground, limp and lifeless as the tip of my dagger plunged into his brain. Slowly, ever so slowly, I pulled my knife free. Saol had frozen, still half-risen from his place on the ground. I stared at him a long, unsure moment. I could see the crossroads in front of me.

    What would Shiina do? The question raced through my head, circling. And then I rose. The mask slid on all too easily as I looked at her smiling face. Such a proud mother.

    I pulled my knife free, stepping over the dead body casually. I wiped the blade clean on Tobe¡¯s pants - although ¡®clean¡¯ is a relative term, considering the sorry state of the fabric - and then I squatted beside him. I smiled down at Saol. He was bone-white by then, shaking like a leaf.

    ¡°Up for more?¡± I asked gently, hoping for all the world he¡¯d stay down. I could see his hand, half-hidden behind him as he tried to find something. A rock, a knife. Anything to protect himself. He froze as I nodded towards the motion, his eyes going wide.

    ¡°That¡¯s- I- Uh, well¡­..No,¡± he said, swallowing roughly. I smiled wider, patting the curve of my knife down onto my knee.

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Your friend took off already.¡± I said, motioning towards the bushes where Perrin had vanished. I didn¡¯t think it was possible, but Saol paled even more. His head snapped back over his shoulder, staring intently into the foliage as though he could make his companion appear again. He swore - something intense, and foul.

    ¡°Seems you¡¯ve got yourself a bit of a situation,¡± I said with a chuckle, hoping my own nervousness wasn¡¯t showing. ¡°See, I was going to leave. I was leaving. Actively going elsewhere. Then your best buddy there decided he wanted to make this a fight, and dragged you in with him.¡± I tapped the point of the blade against my temple. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s very fair, do you? For him to just skate off and leave you to clean up his mess?¡±

    Saol shook his head wordlessly. His lips were trembling. ¡°That¡¯s- Not fair. Not fair at all.¡±

    I smiled broadly. ¡°Good man, Saol. Right. Now, I¡¯m not an unkind type. I know, I know, you did attack me with an axe. But you didn¡¯t really want to, did you?¡±

    If his head shook any faster, he was going to make himself ill. I patted his shoulder, with my blood-covered right hand. The wounds were already searing closed. I wondered if I¡¯d have scars, either from the constant burning or the myriad cuts I was winding up with of late. He flinched back from the motion.

    ¡°Right. See, I understand, Saol. And I¡¯m prepared to make you a deal, since I know you didn¡¯t really want to hurt me.¡±

    His eyes widened ever so slightly. He wasn¡¯t shaking so violently anymore.

    ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m a little lost,¡± I said, offering him a reassuring smile. ¡°And I appear to have lost all of my traveling possessions. You¡¯ve, well, how should I say this? You¡¯ve got quite a lot here, don¡¯t you? You wouldn¡¯t mind giving a friend some directions and a bit of aid for his trip, would you?¡±

    His eyebrows pulled together as he looked at me. There was confusion written into every line of his expression, as though he couldn¡¯t fathom how he was getting off so easily. I patted him on the shoulder once more.

    ¡°Great. Perfect. And of course, I¡¯ll be sure to give you a proper head start, before I speak with these ¡®wave-watchers¡¯. To go find your friend, of course. I imagine they¡¯ll be most interested to speak with him. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    He gulped, moving to scramble to his feet. My hand came down, perfectly calm. He froze as the tip of my knife settled down onto his knee. Not cutting, just...sitting. I was looking now, between him and the fallen Tobe. Tobe was more my size, but I didn¡¯t want to look like a murderer walking around a foreign country. It would be nearly impossible to wash out all of that blood.

    ¡°Just one more thing,¡± I said.

    As it turned out, the trail we were on was soon to become a proper road. The next town down, Mistharbor, was still a week or more out, but I felt better at the sight of the beaten dirt path. No more trails. Back into civilization we went.

    All according to the supremely helpful Saol, of course, and we went in style. His tunic fit better than I had hoped, and he had a pleasantly warm leather overcoat hidden away inside his tent - which now sat rolled up on my back, over the thick, hooded cloak he had so kindly offered. He had even thrown in a bag of coins, which jingled softly from an inside pocket.

    All in all, I considered this a good day.

    Shiina was out in front of me, whistling happily at some tune stuck in her mind. The sun was slowly setting overhead, leaving me squinted as I tried to clean the bloodstains from Raoka¡¯s knife. It wasn¡¯t going well.

    ¡°Godsdamned sun and spirit,¡± I muttered to myself, finally giving up and walking over to the ever-present river. It seemed that half the roads in this damned country followed the winding streams. I wasn¡¯t thrilled about the idea of getting my new boots wet (another thoughtful present from Saol), but I needed to get the blade clean or it would stain.

    With that in mind I tolerated the wet squish of the grass under my feet as I stepped onto the riverbank. The water was shallow here, calmer. An inlet, I reasoned, as I scrubbed away at it.

    I was tired. Thoughts of the day hung heavy in my mind. Killing one man, maiming another, and threatening a third? I didn¡¯t regret it, necessarily - I¡¯d only done what I had to - but I did regret the fact that it was necessary in the first place.

    Despite the exhaustion, my thoughts whirled still. Crazy eyes, Tobe had said. He had said I had demon blood. He called me spirit-touched. What an asshole, I thought to myself, chuckling softly. That man really had been crazy. What a thing to say to someone. I leaned out over the still, calm water, brushing the hair out of my face as I peered down. Darren had been called many things, but never-

    I froze. My heart accelerated. Darren¡¯s face stared back at me, his golden hair bright in my reflection. Even the cloud of blood drifting off my knife couldn¡¯t darken the glow he¡¯d always had about him.

    But around the rims of those blue eyes was a thin band of bright orange. Thin, yes, but very much there.

    ¡°Shiina!¡± I yelped, my voice thin. I leaned closer, nose nearly touching the water¡¯s surface.

    ¡°Hmm? What now, child?¡± I heard her say behind me, striding back down the road. I ignored her, examining my reflection more intently.

    My eyes were two-tone. I gaped at it. And¡­.yes. Darren¡¯s hair was still gold. I tugged at the ends until I could see them, confirming that they were their normal platinum blond. And yet, I had clearly seen the color fading in my reflection, shifting to a dim, muted grey at the roots as though someone had rubbed ash in my hair.

    ¡°W-What the hell is going on?¡± I said. ¡°Why the hell are my eyes and hair all wrong?¡±

    She tilted her head, examining me. ¡°You just now noticed?¡± she asked, her voice disbelieving. I stared at her. She chuckled. ¡°You saw Raoka, yes?¡±

    I paused. I¡­had seen Raoka. A little girl, with fiercely glowing orange eyes and ash-grey hair.

    Oh.

    I narrowed my eyes at Shiina. She laughed harder.

    ¡°Is this permanent?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± she said from behind an upraised hand. I scowled harder. ¡°It¡¯s not your body anyway, dearest Takio. You should be grateful for such an improvement to that man¡¯s horrible, hideous face.¡±

    I allowed the logical continuation of that to pass - that in time, this would happen to my own body, once I returned to it.

    ¡°So, what? This is just another wonderful, blessed part of being the Charred?¡± I spat.

    She wiped a tear away, calming herself. ¡°Merely an embodiment of your body changing to accept my power. You¡¯ve felt the changes already, of course.¡±

    I¡­had noticed my well deepening beyond what it had any reason to be. And she¡¯d gifted me with the knife skills so easily. I frowned at her still, but in truth, I couldn¡¯t be that angry. I didn¡¯t mind looking different from Darren. It¡¯d be nice to rub in his face, when I saw him next.

    Finally, I shrugged, taking a deep breath. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll deal with it. For now. But no more secrets,¡± I said, waggling a finger at her.

    She only shrugged, laughing again. ¡°Yes, yes. I am an open book. Are you done yet, child?¡±

    I shook my head, ignoring her blatant lie. And then I tucked the knife back into my belt (courtesy of Saol).

    Somewhere ahead of us, Efren was waiting. The sooner there, the sooner finished.

    We walked.