White Fire

White Fire

by Marian Scadden

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Marian Scadden

Cover art copyright 2013 Mahmoud Ibrahim of Sheha Designs

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter 1: Coward

Chapter 2: Man of Fire

Chapter 3: The Prepared Cave

Chapter 4: Talem’s Past

Chapter 5: White Fire

Chapter 6: On the Ocean

Chapter 7: Fire as a Weapon

Chapter 8: Iretta

Chapter 9: Painful Answers

Chapter 10: Preparations to Hide

Chapter 11: Liquid-Burn

Chapter 12: Anaries

Chapter 13: Poisoned

Chapter 14: Captured

Chapter 15: Delsina on Her Own

Chapter 16: Escaping the Brig

Chapter 17: The Ship Burns

Chapter 18: Garrick

Chapter 19: Facing Sethrum

Previews of Two Coming Novels

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Dedication

Dedicated to my family. Why? Because they’ve had to hear every idea, every play, every picture book, every novel I’ve written or almost written for years. My oldest daughter’s job is to give me the thumbs up or down on cover ideas; she’s a great help on something I might get sloppy with. On top of everything else, they’ve fed and watered me and respected my time when I’ve been closed.

This story is especially dedicated to my husband Chris who’s heard parts or all of this novel several times, and encouraged me to just publish it.

CHAPTER 1 Coward

It took a lot of effort on Delsina’s part to hide her cowardice. Being a girl only made it that much more difficult — so she hit him again.

Talem stumbled back, perhaps a whole step. Surrender, Dels, or else.

Stop calling me ‘Dels’. I’m not afraid of you. Actually, she worried her oldest brother might tell someone where she’d been, or that he would punish her himself. She scrunched up her face to keep from crying. That was for babies. She hoped her expression said something like, I hate you so much that with the right weapon in my hands, you would die. Luckily, for Delsina there was a good-sized stick near her foot; she picked it up and swung.

Talem slipped quickly behind the tree next to him and the stick broke on the trunk. He shot out from his cover and with one quick movement, Talem pinned Delsina’s arms to her side and picked her up.

Delsina wished she was tall and strong. Maybe then no one would bother her, least of all her brothers. Unfortunately for her, she was small and Talem was strong. All Delsina could do at that moment was to make it difficult for him to carry her. She wiggled, kicked, and tried to bite him. It didn’t make her brother drop her or stop.

Instead, she tried out a new word she'd heard at the marketplace. At that, Talem did stop. He put her feet on the ground and held onto one of her arms. Delsina bunched all her muscles to twist away. Talem slapped her.

No tears sprang to her eyes. She almost said that word again. From long practice she replaced hurt with anger so no one could tell she was a coward. Would Talem tell their parents or the council? Would she be locked in the stocks or banished?

Stop with the face, Dels, Talem said, breaking into her thoughts. She hadn’t realized she was making a face — it was a habit now. We’re about to pass through the village and you can either walk by my side or I will carry you kicking and screaming. Of course, someone on the council would see you and you know how they like to punish misbehavior.

Delsina knew. Not personally. That’s why being a coward took effort — how far to go, when to take a dare and when to fake nonchalance, who you could hit without getting beat up yourself and who to avoid — subtly so you didn’t look like a coward.

The council won’t do anything to me, Delsina hissed at Talem. She put on a pleasant smile. I will walk rather than ride, mule. She could see in his eyes that Talem wanted to slap her again so she glared at him. He shook his head and walked past her.

He had control; Delsina had to give him that. What did he know of being small, picked on, or afraid? Talem had served in the king’s army; he was brave. The scar on his arm attested to that.

Delsina quickly caught up, refusing to walk behind him when they reached the village.

As they passed down the main street — Delsina doing her best to keep slightly ahead of Talem — she saw the boys and girls staring at her, perhaps surprised to see her walking so calmly; or surprised to see her at all. Not everyone who went into Dark Woods came out, even when they traveled the road. The longer route was preferred to the Dark Woods shortcut. She squelched her own terrified thoughts and lifted her chin. Delsina had conquered a dare.

No one had to know she went to the first bend in the road and sat down in the middle of it, trembling, waiting for enough time to pass so she could return and laugh in the faces of her tormentors. Too bad Talem had found her; he was sure to tell their parents. Why wasn't he married taking care of his own family instead of always hovering near her?

I’m glad he came, Delsina thought in the next instant. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could have endured being in Dark Woods alone.

How did you know where I was? Delsina glanced up at him, keeping her face indifferent.

I didn’t, he said, not looking at her. Mother didn’t know where you were and Father sent me to find you.

And you knew I’d be in Dark Woods? Delsina asked again, since he had not truly answered her question. Talem’s mouth twitched. Was that a smile forming?

When I reached the village and saw all your friends staring down the Dark Woods road, I assumed they were staring after you, since you tend to value dares more than your safety.

They aren't friends. Delsina picked up a pebble, turned and threw it hard towards a handful of children following them at a distance. The children ignored the wildly-thrown projectile, as they drifted out of sight.

Concentrate when you throw.

Delsina froze. What?

Your accuracy will improve.

Was her brother helping her or did he want her to get in trouble when she hit someone?

Coming? Talem turned to wait for her. Or do your little legs need a rest?

That was it. Delsina might be petite, but she was eleven, almost a young woman. She snatched up a rock and threw it at Talem’s face. Talem ducked and ran through the woods towards home.

Brute, yelled Delsina, and dashed after him.

She picked up more stones as she ran, throwing as fast as she could. Talem twisted around trees and bushes, avoiding everything she threw at him.

Concentrate, he yelled again.

Delsina didn’t, throwing rock after rock harming nothing except leaves and small plants. She was tired and angry, angrier because even when she wanted to, Delsina affected nothing. She was small, weak, and ineffective and bound to be whipped when she returned home. The girl stopped running and dropped to all fours, trying to breathe normally.

Talem’s voice reached her. Concentrate, Delsina...Delsina? Sticks snapped as he worked his way back, trying to locate her. Are you all right? Where are you?

Delsina breathed deeply. She noticed a stone next to her right hand. She could see the chips in it, the outline of its shape, how it stuck out of the ground. Delsina inched her fingers over the stone, and felt particles of dirt fall away as she picked it up. Was this what it felt like to concentrate?

She liked the feeling of control.

Delsina. Talem was coming closer. If we don’t arrive home together, you’ll be the one in trouble, not me.

Standing, Delsina massaged the stone with her fingertips. Twenty feet away to her left, she saw Talem weaving through the trees, his back to her. As if he could feel her looking at him, Talem turned. Delsina hurled the rock, catching and holding Talem’s eyes as she did.

Talem didn’t have time to duck. If he had, the projectile might have hit his eye. Instead, it struck his chest. Talem stumbled back, tripping over the underbrush and landing hard with a grunt on the other side of a bush.

Delsina’s shout of triumph changed to one of concern. She sprinted towards Talem, jumping over logs and bushes. Finally, she tripped and fell on top of him.

Talem grunted again.

Are you all right? she asked as she rolled off her brother.

She dusted him off and picked leaves and twigs out of his hair as he sat up.

Can you stand? Can you walk? I can go get Father. I’ll drag you all the way home if I have to.

Talem shook his head, rising to his feet with help from Delsina. He let out a puff of air.

You concentrated.

I did, said Delsina, refusing to look at her brother who was breathing a bit heavily. I’m sorry.

Don’t be. You did great. Did you feel — Talem stopped. Look at that plant.

Perplexed, Delsina looked, Yes?

Hand it here. I wonder what it is.

Delsina handed it to Talem and together they walked home. She noticed the plant was gone when they arrived and Talem was breathing normally.

~~ ~~

CHAPTER 2 Man of Fire

Delsina wasn’t in too much trouble. She got a tongue-lashing from her mother, whipped with the belt twice by her father, and she would have to do her brothers’ chores. It could have been worse. Talem never mentioned Dark Woods; he said he'd found her in the village with friends.

The extra chores wouldn't be much of a punishment, Delsina felt; they always fell to her when it was spring so Father and the boys could spend most of the day preparing the ground, and planting.

She began with the chores in the garden, terrorizing all weeds with obscenities — quietly muttered — and death. It felt good to pick on something smaller than she. When Delsina went to collect eggs, she saw a freshly killed chicken. It meant there was a fox or other predator nearby. She wanted to run to her father, screaming. She didn’t because that would look childish. Instead, she snatched up the chicken and brought the eggs and carcass into the kitchen. She let the carcass drop heavily on the table and was rewarded with her mother's gasp. Delsina grabbed the pig bucket and headed back outside.

Coward, she thought. However she cringed at calling her mother what she, herself, hated to be called.

By the time she slopped the hogs, it was getting dark. Delsina’s heart beat faster. More than anything she was terrified of the dark. No one knew. Not really. Korin and Kyler thought they had cured their little sister of being afraid of the dark by locking her in a closet when their parents were away. She was in there an hour, screaming to be let out. Finally, she had heard Talem’s voice on the other side of the door, Don’t be scared, Dels. Stop screaming.

Thinking Talem had meant he wouldn't let her out unless she stopped screaming, Delsina did stop. She also resolved never to show fear again. She felt it, however.

So the pigs were slopped in a rush, the buckets promptly returned to the kitchen. Delsina snatched up the water bucket and walked towards the stream until she was sure no one could see her. She ran the rest of the way.

Delsina knew the path to the stream and back, even in the dark. The moon gave off some light; still, she didn’t want to be out in the woods longer than needed. Get the water. Get home, she thought. She made it to the stream without falling once, where she gave herself specific instructions: Bend down. Scoop up the water. Turn and...

Leave was what she was supposed to do, but a shadow loomed on the path. Delsina stopped and stared, trying to keep her face composed. She didn’t speak, knowing her voice would shake.

The shadow spoke first. Fetching water for your family.

It wasn’t a question so Delsina chose to remain silent. She waited for her brave voice to show up in her mouth.

Aren’t you going to say anything? The shadow stepped away from the trees into the moonlight.

The man towered over Delsina, as most people did. He looked taller than Talem and Father. The man chuckled.

Delsina had heard that kind of laugh before. It meant you’re a coward; the other children used it when they were about to dare her to do something. She tended to fall for it every time.

The man chuckled again as if sensing her fear. Delsina couldn’t have that. She found her voice. Good evening, sir. There, three words that didn’t tremble as she spoke them.

Will you lead me to your home?

Delsina could see his smile in the moonlight; she wasn’t impressed.

Why? She hoped the question didn’t sound fearful.

It’s much too dark to continue to the village, don’t you think?

Certainly, sir.

Of course, if it was too dark to get to the village, it would be too dark for him to follow her once she veered off the path. She decided to act brave.

This way. Delsina hated walking in front of him, and she didn’t want to glance back as if he unnerved her. Instead she stopped and put the bucket of water down every few feet.

Sorry, sir. The bucket of water is a bit heavy.

Rest as often as you like.

Delsina was losing her control and her patience. Even Korin would have finally carried the bucket. She was hoping the man would assist her. It would give her a better chance to run off through the forest if he were burdened with the bucket of water.

Perhaps I could run ahead and fetch my father and a lantern.

Don’t hurry on my account. I’ll see your father soon enough and Talem’s been expecting me, I'm sure.

Talem’s my older brother, not my — Delsina clipped off her words, knowing she had said too much.

The man laughed a deep, victorious laugh.

Delsina shivered. She already planned the way she’d get rid of this man. Familiar with the path, Delsina knew where a tree root stuck out ahead and she would use it.

She sped up in small degrees. When she reached the root, Delsina tripped over it. With a loud Oh! Ouch! she flung the bucket behind her towards the man, completing her fake fall by rolling into the woods. She used momentum to get back on her feet. Within three steps, Delsina reached a little-used trail and ran the rest of the way home.

Reaching the back door, she took a deep breath, and casually walked in. Her family was seated around the table.

Wash up, her father said. Where’s the water?

I left it on the path to tell you there’s a stranger coming along. She pointed behind her through the open door.

Her father glanced at her mother. From the village?

If he were from the village, he wouldn’t be a stranger, now would he? Delsina risked getting slapped for speaking so rudely. She always hid her fear in snide words.

Talem left his place to close the back door. He latched it.

He came from across the stream? Her father had moved to the edge of the bench.

Delsina started to walk away from the door. Talem stopped her.

Yes. She glanced at her father and back at Talem. Was he warning her to be respectful?

What did he look like?

I don’t know; it was dark. He’s taller than you...sir. Delsina hoped she was making amends for whatever she was in trouble for. Maybe Talem had told her parents she’d been in Dark Woods.

Delsina’s father glanced at his wife, who returned a look of fear. Delsina held her hands behind her back so no one would see them shake. Her mother blew out the lantern.

The darkness was heavy against Delsina’s eyelids. She strained to see,