Chapter IV - Heavens of Fire

The very thought of what she was doing seemed absurd. How this were to help her she had no idea, but she was doing it anyway. She stood outside, the smell of burnt wood stung her nose and her eyes swelled with tears. She stared at her house, now a pile of ash and charred wood, and the tears ran down her face. Knowing that her parents weren’t inside should have soothed her a bit, but she felt like part of her life was burned away with the house. Seventeen years worth. 1

Her heart swelled as her body seemed to tighten it. Harder and harder. The rain that began to pour down didn’t do the justice to wash away her pain either. She threw the black hood, from the robe Dyami gave her, over her head and began to walk towards the bazaar. Arriving there with a bit of a run at the end, she saw a crowd of people bumping into each other, escaping the rain. Merchant’s were packing their merchandise into the safety of their packs.2

Standing a little further away from the crowd, Faith scanned them with her eyes until she spotted them. The same exact soldiers who she met hours before in Filius Lake. She watched as they stopped people at random and spun them around to look at their faces. She knew that she was being searched for ever since Dyami told her what they did to her parents. Now was the time to see if everything went according to his plan.3

It started out as a quick pace and ended in a run. In time she was bumping into people, not caring to see who they were or what they said. It was total chaos inside the crowd. The people began to push harder and the rain fell down quicker. It took a few seconds before she lost sight of the soldiers. She began to push people out of her way, knocking a merchant with a bag full gems out of the way. A shower of rubies and emeralds spread upon the people. She finally caught sight of them.4

“Where are my parents?!” she screamed. She had reached the soldiers and they looked aghast. “I want to know where the hell my parents are now!” Her hands were balled into fists and the veins of her neck popped out in fury.5

The leader, Balzer, laughed right in her face and swung his arm at her. He hit her with his fist square on her face, knocking her out. He motioned for the others to pick her up and they walked. No one stopping to care that the daughter of the couple who they thought were burned alive, was being taken away unconsciously.6

* * * * * 7

It was the sound of horse hooves stomping on the gravel that first came to Faith’s ears. She struggled to open her eyes and when she did she was greeted by darkness. She raised her hands to rub her eyes and found that they were tied together by a rope. Releasing a deep sigh, she raised her hands together, rubbed her left eye and winced at the pain that shot through her face. She pressed it lightly with the tip of her fingers and felt that it was tender. Bruised, she thought as she put her hands down. She looked around, hoping that her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, but the darkness wouldn’t fade. If anything she was blind. She began to squirm her hands, trying to let the ropes come loose but all attempts failed. She gave up and hoped that Dyami kept his promise.8

It was over an hour since Faith woke up and still the horse’s trudged on until at last they came to a halt. She heard several boots hit the dirt and walk over to where she was. Instantly, she was greeted by the sun that was beginning to rise. Its rays of orange and yellow hit her face and she quickly blinked before letting her vision take its course. She felt a pair of hands grab her and throw her onto the floor, face first. Her bruised cheek stung as she felt her other cheek hit a sharp rock. The blood had began to trickle down.9

“Great,” she stuttered, “Just give me another bruise! Why not?” She felt a great pain come to her stomach as someone kicked her.10

“Shut up!” Balzer said, kicking her once more. 11

She began coughing out blood. Her head at this point was spinning. She could only make out several outlines of what she knew were men. Their voices zoning in and out of her head and she could barely clarify what was what. She heard them all laugh until a pair of hands grabbed her by her shoulders and picked her up. Then the laughter ceased.12

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” growled a voice.13

The man that grabbed her, put his arm around her shoulders and responded, “The kings orders were to capture the girl alive and well and not by any chance harmed or killed. And in this case she is harmed, almost dead if you keep that crap up. It best be that she get well for the sake of us all.” The man didn’t wait for a respond before carrying Faith again. She felt him stop and carefully put her on the floor.14

“I’m not going to harm you,” he whispered. “I’m just going to wash your face with some water, it’s pretty bloody.” Faith nodded and instantly she felt the cool rush of water hit her face. Her vision began to clear up, revealing a stream in front of her and she knew that she was in the plains. The dying, yellow grass had begun to dot various locations, showing signs of a murderer. A murderer who’s weapon was intense heat. She looked for the man that helped her and was surprised to find a young man, not a day older than twenty staring at her, right eyed and smiling.15

“T-thanks,” she stuttered as she threw a handful of water into her face, feeling the coolness of the water wash her for the second time.16

“Not a problem,” he said, “just don’t make me go too soft on you. The others…” He looked at the other men who were now sitting in a circle eating food.17

“Why does the king want me?” she demanded. She stared hungrily at the food the men ate. Or attempted to eat. All she saw was a ravishing animals tearing at the meat. She felt disgusted but still hungry.18

“The king hasn’t given us any information, other than to capture you.” 19

“But for what?” she pleaded. “I’m not going to be his slave if that’s what he wants. I’d rather kill myself than work for him!” Faith had begun to scream and was quickly shot glances from the crowd of men eating. 20

“Keep that girl down Leos or we’ll make her keep quiet!” Shouted one.21

Leos gave an apology and looked at Faith. “Please keep it down, you really rather have me here only. And you’re not going there for a servant. He has enough of those already.”22

She looked at him but disregarded his plea. There was something in his expression at his last statement that made her stare. Something she couldn’t figure out. “You’re name is Leos? How old are you? How long have you been a soldier?”23

Glad that the subject had changed but not glad enough he responded reluctantly. “Yes, my name is Leos and I’m twenty. My father was killed when I was sixteen. We lived in the Aero Region and there was a raid by the king’s men. One of them killed my father and took me to the king, since he needed more soldiers. I’ve been here ever since.”24

“So you’re here against your will?” she asked.25

“More or less,” he responded. Faith threw him a confused look so he continued. “I don’t want to be here as his soldier, but I want to help The Partisans when they decided to strike.” 26

“Who are The Partisans?” asked Faith, dropping her voice to a whisper.27

“The Partisans,” Leos began, his voice also a whisper, “is a Resistance-”28

“A Resistance!?” Faith yelped. Leos hushed her and they both looked over at the soldiers. Two were already knocked out from drinking, the others were swaying and singing a crude song about murdering a poor lady. Faith began to grow uncomfortable.29

“The Partisans is a Resistance,” Leos continued, “made up of the king’s soldiers. They work inside their own territory in the most secretive way. There are many of them all of the Regions. But, they have to be careful how they operate. If the king finds out-”30

“You’re all dead,” Faith finished the sentence for him.31

“But you don’t have to worry about that. I have a plan that can help us both.”32

“A plan is what got me here in the first place,” Faith retorted. “Just tell me it doesn’t involve me getting caught.” 33

Leos simply laughed and joked, “How much more caught can you get?” 34

Faith looked at him and held back a smile. The first one in the longest. “What do I have to do?” she asked him. Now that she gave him a closer look, she noticed that beneath the beginnings of his beard, was the face of a child. Although he was a man with many stories, his eyes showed a boy who would cower to his mother at the slightest sound of thunder.35

Leos walked over to the carriage, leaving Faith alone who was being eyes by the remaining soldiers. A minute later he returned with a vial in his left hand.36

“What is that?” asked Faith.37

“Sleeping Potion,” he said calmly, but quickly added to Faith’s expression, “but let me explain.” When Faith nodded, he continued. “This potion will keep you asleep for a few hours. Enough time to let you into the prison cell with no questions asked. Since I have the key to your cell I can just take you out, saying that you’re a transfer to another area. After that we’ll run away and go our separate ways.” 38

“I trust you,” she said, “I really do, but do you trust me? Why do you want to help me? What is it to you?”39

“If the king wants you, then there must be a good reason and I’m going to take away his pleasure of having you. By the time he finds out you’re not there, you’ll be long gone and well hidden.” He was toying the vial before handing it towards Faith. “In other words I do trust you.”40

“So all I do is drink this potion?” she asked holding it up. “And then you’ll help me with the rest?”41

“Correct,” he replied.42

“Well then,” she raised it up, “to the Gods.” She put the contents in her mouth and instantly had a metallic taste. Leos helped her back into the carriage and tied her hands together again. He called the others who began kicking each other awake. They climbed their horses and she felt the carriage move. She looked out through the flap left open by Leos. In the distance she saw two horses that she was sure didn’t belong to the soldiers. As the potion kick in and she began to fall asleep, she heard the soldiers sing their crude song.43

“So we took her to the King44

And got paid in riches.45

We went to the bar,46

And had all of these bitches.47

But poor little lady, 48

Yes, she would be dead.49

But who cares? Not us.50

It’s off with thy head!”51

* * * * *52

Cryptist walked down the hall, his feet thudding against the burgundy carpet. He rushed past many doors, locked and opened but his eyes were set on the ones guarded by two soldiers in jade armor. He nodded his head as they opened the oak doors and let him through.53

“My Lord,” he said, his voice echoing as he walked along the ridiculously long, mahogany table. “I bring you great news.” 54

“What news is great enough to disturb me during my time of refection?” The king’s voice boomed with power. He put his fork that held a bit of cooked pork at the end down.55

“It is about the girl, my Lord. The one you ordered to be captured,” said Cryptist, his voice trembling.56

“They have captured her then?” asked the king alertly.57

“Even better, my Lord. She is on her way to the prison. By tomorrow afternoon you will be able to have her.” 58

“Go.” the King dismayed his servant, who bowed and hurried out of the room. As soon as the doors closed, the king put the pork in his mouth, relaxed back and smiled.59

* * * * *60

Faith woke up in a damp cell, her head was throbbing with pain. She felt a cushion underneath her body and looked to see a bed of moss, running from beneath her to a damp corner of the walls. She looked around her. The room was a bare stone walls type of room with a single barred window. Curiosity got the best of her so she decided to look outside. Lucky for her, the window was at perfect height. She peered out and was in shock.61

At a short distance was a house mad of stone. At another short distance was another stone house. Another and another. On each house was a single barred window, identical to the one Faith was staring out of. It was then that she realized, with horror, that she was not looking at a small village. It was not a village on top of luxurious, verdant hills as she had thought, but prison cells. The knee high walls of stone no longer looked as if they kept bad omens out, but rather in. It was the most beautiful place in hell.62

She put her back against the wall and slide down, bringing her knees against her chest. The moonlight shined through the window to form shadows in front of her. She jumped, startled several times as strange noises sounded from outside. Her mind started playing tricks on her as she saw shadows beginning to dance in front of her.63

There was nothing to do but wait for Leos. And waited she did, and it was not peaceful at all. Through-out the whole night she heard growls. Usually far away, but as the night progressed they got closer and closer. Until there was a roar and multiple screams. 64

Faith did not know if she should be startled at the roar or the fact that people were around to give out the screams. She brought herself up to the window once more and peered out. She did not see anything unusual, but what she heard was horrid. The sound of metal clashing against metal came to her ears. Along with various screams both human and not. Her heart began to race as her fear grew.65

A silhouetted figure moved across her window and she jumped back. Heart still pounding, she crawled to a corner and crouched there hidden in the shadows. After a few bangs on the door, it finally opened. A man stood in between. 66

“Faith hurry! We’re under attack!” Leos urged.67

She gladly followed him out into the open hills and waited for her eyes to adjust to the light. When they did she quickly wished they had not. A battle being driven around her by man and creature of which she did not recognize. She screamed as a dead body fell in front of her, his eyes wide opened and a deep wound in his chest. Blood poured out like a river into the ground below.68

“Come Faith!” yelled Leos amongst all the confusion and chaos. “The others are waiting for us!”69

Faith had no idea who the others were but was glad others were helping her. Her mind went back to when she saw the two horses following her but a roar quickly brought her back to reality. She stepped over the short walls and several bodies as she followed Leos. She noticed that the creatures had oily blue skin that made her stomach churn.70

She ran for several minutes, or so it felt, as she had been running for mere seconds at sprinting speed. Several times Leos blocked an incoming strike from both parties. Until finally she saw who the “others” were. It just was not the sight she wanted to see. Angel and Dyami stood back to back, fighting a soldier and creature respectively. Faith screamed for Angel who turned her way and nearly missed a swing from the creature’s double sided axe.71

Leos grabbed Faith’s hand an ran over to the other two. He pushed her to the side and began fighting Angel’s enemy. Just as he brought his sword down upon its neck, Dyami hit his foe square in his chest with his golden staff. Faith stared at Dyami with amazement. A man of his age should not have been fighting at all and that staff of his should of made a man flinch not kill him instantly.72

“Let us go,” he said. “This will be explained once we get out of this.” 73

They began running once more when the creatures started giving chase. They picked up their pace more which made Faith come to the conclusion that all she’s been doing during this was running. She did not seem to notice the sea of bodies all around her.74

She was running downhill now, trying to control her pace but it was too late. She tripped and began rolling down, the voices of her party shouting for her, mixing in with the sound of the battle and her face hitting the ground. As soon as she stopped at the bottom of the hill she cursed under her breath. She struggled to get up and wondered if she would ever get out of this alive. Her legs were bloody and her left shoulder burned in pain.75

Looking up she saw many men and creatures on the hill, dead with thorned vines wrapped around them. That would explain the bloody legs and numerous scrapes all over her body. What was not explained was how the vines got there.76

The others were running down the hill, jumping over the bodies and vines and calling for her name. Angel was in the front, a frantic look on his face, missing the vines and cutting his legs. He reached Faith and grabbed her, checking to see if everything was okay.77

“We really need to get out of here,” said Leos. “They’re right behind us.” As he finished his last words, a bunch of the creatures jumped from the top of the hill to the bottom. 78

The group began running, Faith lagging in the back. She was starting to not feel her legs and immediately she fell. Her legs were numb. She screamed and the others stopped at a distance from her. She turned around and right behind her were the vile, ugly creatures. One of them ran up to her and brought up his double sided battle axe down. She threw her hands up as well as a ball of fire. She stared in amazement as the orb hit the creature with full force and began spreading amongst the others. They began shrieking in pain, their cries were intimidating and scared her. Her vision was starting to go black and the last thing she saw were the creatures dropping dead, burned alive.