The Blaze Ignites (25 page)

Suddenly the victory cries turned into
terrified cries. I heard the sound of galloping horses and then,
Thwip! Thwip, Thwip! Thwip!—the sounds of hundreds of arrows being
launched all around me.

I opened my eyes to try to see what was
happening. Though it was still black out, and my vision was blurry
from the hit on the head, I saw the shadows of Gibirs scattering
every which way. Racing after them were the shadows of men on
horseback. The skilled archers were shooting arrows, killing Gibirs
in large numbers.

Unable to hold myself up, I fell to the
ground when the Gibir behind me was shot dead. As I laid face down
on the ground, Reese came to my mind. He was probably dead. Then I
thought of Forfirith. He
wasn’t
dead!

Worried for him, I forced myself to my elbows
and knees and made my way towards my horse. The whole way I had to
fight off the darkness that threatened to claim me. My head felt
like it weighed ten times more than it should, and it was throbbing
with burning pain, but I went on. I wouldn’t allow myself to
collapse, no matter how badly I wanted to. I had to help my dear
friend.

It seemed to take forever, but I reached
Forfirith at last. He hadn't moved from his spot on the ground, but
he was alive. He even lifted his head to nuzzle my face as I
approached. “I'm glad to see you too,” I whispered, stroking his
neck. Forfirith whined at the sight of me bleeding from the mouth
and head. “I'm okay,” I lied. “It’s you I'm worried about.”

I began to examine the arrow wound in his
chest, though at various times I had to close my eyes when the
ground and sky began spinning. After a moment, when it passed, I
continued examining the wound. “It's not in any vital organ,” I
whispered. “I can mend this.”

I groggily got to my feet as blood still
dripped down my chin and forehead; I had to close my left eye to
keep the stinging blood from seeping into it. My knees wobbled and
my body teetered, forcing me to hold my arms out to my sides until
I was steady. I wiped the blood from my eye with my sleeve and
fought to keep my lids open as I continued walking forward, despite
the battle going on around me.

“Lady, stay down!” an unfamiliar male voice
called. His voice was loud, but sounded like it was underwater. My
hearing was failing; the Gods know my
sight
was failing!
Everything was a black hazy mush.

I slowly turned in the direction from which
the voice came, but I couldn't make out anything. “I can't!” I
called into the night. “I have to save Forfirith!”

The shadow of a man on horseback came into my
watery vision. I couldn't make out any details of his face as he
dismounted and quickly came towards me. As he approached, the
ground and sky began spinning again. My pain seemed to increase ten
folds and the dizziness made me nauseated. Before I could see
anything, I fell forward into the stranger’s arms. Everything went
black.

The foul smell of flesh burning and a
splitting headache brought me to an unpleasant awakening. As soon
as the light entered my eyes, I had to snap them shut to spare
myself from the searing pain. The sun was pretty high in the sky,
so it must have been at least eleven in the morning.

“Oh Lords of Casdanarus.” I groaned and
rolled onto my back. I gazed about as best I could, having to
squint and shield my eyes to somewhat protect them from the blazing
sun. I was still in the clearing, but in a well constructed bed of
many blankets. Peering around, I tried to recall the events of last
night. As they came back to my memory, I brought my fingertips up
to feel my lip. There was only a slight swelling and a small split
now, which surprised me given how hard I’d been hit. I reached to
feel my forehead, only to find a cloth wrapped around it.

When my eyes adjusted better to the light, I
saw many men scattered around the field. Some were atop horses,
others were walking on their feet, and all of them were clad in the
most beautiful bright metal suits of armor I’d ever seen. The metal
was shaded in more colors than I could name. I wondered in awe how
they managed to not only create such a vast array of colors, but
dye metal to display those colors. I’d never heard of dying metal.
As I looked on, I realized that I’d seen them somewhere before. I
couldn’t place where, but then again that hit on my head probably
knocked away half of my life’s memories.

My attention was drawn to where a bonfire had
been made. It wasn’t wood that fueled this fire, but the bodies of
Gibirs. I curled my lip; that explained the grotesque smell.
Burning flesh, especially Gibir flesh, was probably the worst smell
known to mankind.

I looked around the field for Reese with a
slim hope that he survived last night’s assault. I didn’t see him
right away, but there were 100 people wandering the clearing and
100 tents, so he could be anywhere if he was alive. I attempted to
get to my feet to find him, so we could get back on the road.
Ortheldo was still way ahead of me, and being passed out for as
many hours as I’d been had put me even farther behind him.

I thought I had my feet planted firmly as I
stood, but my legs wobbled and my body swayed awkwardly, as if the
ground were made of liquid. I held out my arms to steady myself. It
was useless. I yelped as I began to fall backwards, but a pair of
arms caught me from behind before I hit the ground.

“You don't seem to know when you are
incapable of walking,” a kind voice said. “Don’t know whether it’s
stubborn bravery or sheer stupidity, but I’ll keep from guessing
until I know you better.” The arms lowered me back onto my bed.

“Thank you,” I said as he moved to squat in
front of me. I almost choked on my breath when I saw him. I had to
stop myself from gasping and flinching so I didn’t look like a
fool. I took in the sight in front of me and barely believed what I
was looking at. All time seemed to stand still as I gazed upon the
amazing—and I would go as far to say
unnatural
—beauty that
displayed before me!

His face was even more flawless then a
Salynn’s, which I hadn’t thought possible! I almost thought he
was
a Salynn but he didn’t have any Sallybreath Flowers in
his long blonde hair. He had very sharp, well-defined cheekbones
chiseled into his creamy, fair skin. His pink lips were so
perfectly shaped that I felt envious for a moment. His big eyes
were a very clear, shining blue. They peered at me gently from
under thick blonde lashes and perfectly shaped eyebrows. The top of
his fine blonde hair was pulled into a braid at the back of his
head while the rest of it came down to gracefully fan out against
his broad shoulders. His hair shone brightly, as if the sun’s very
rays were bursting out of every strand, caressing his handsome
features, making him look absolutely angelic and unworldly.

I couldn’t bring myself to speak or look
away. This made him break into a smile that would blind the Light
Gods. His suit of armor was a deep blood red color that covered him
from shoulders to toes. He looked to be Ortheldo’s age, but with
more wisdom in his eyes than one at that age should possess. For
the first time, I noticed the crown of leaves and berries upon his
brow.

I could barely make myself speak the next
words. “I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.” I tried to control my
voice and recover from the shock of seeing such a beautiful
creature, but I failed miserably.

He surprised me by laughing. The melodic
sound was light and airy and just as beautiful as the rest of him.
“No, my Lady. This”—he tenderly touched the crown—“only allows me
to be recognized as a leader. I’m no majesty, so it’s okay that you
fell on me. I won’t behead you.” I smiled. “My name is Yarin. I’m
the leader of this group you see before you. We are known as The
Metallic Riders, or Gleo`gwyns.” He smiled. “Choose our name as you
like, Fair Lady.”

That’s
who they were! I remembered
having passed them by when Beldorn and I were traveling. These were
the men who had saved Ortheldo
twice
and now had just saved
me.

“I apologize,” I said and placed a hand on my
bandaged forehead. “I must have been a troublesome burden for you
and your men to save and mend.”

“Troublesome burden?” He said with a cheeky
smile. “If it hadn't been for your distant scream, that band of
Gibirs may have barreled down on top of us as we slept. You
probably saved a lot of my men’s lives last night. For that, any
trouble you may cause will not be considered a burden.” Both he and
I laughed softly. “Please, may I have your name? Many of my men
have been asking,” he said with a wink. I felt my cheeks turn
crimson. “They wish to know about the fair and valiant lady who
took on a band of Gibirs by her lonesome.” Yarin’s tone was half
joking, half genuine.

“I’m Azrel,” I said, “and I wasn’t alone. I
had a Salynn friend with me, a Salynn of Rocksheloc Mountain.” I
swallowed heavy. “Is he alright?”

“Well met, my lady Azrel,” he said
cheerfully. “Yes, Reese is fine. He went to gather your and his
arrows from the enemy corpses.”

I nodded and breathed out in relief. “Thank
you.”

His smile could have set stone on fire. “I
would like to check your wounds now. Then I'm afraid I must parade
you around to meet my riders. They’ll never forgive me and probably
disown me as their leader if I don’t.” Both he and I laughed again.
“After that, I ask to have the pleasure of your company when we sit
to eat and you tell us your tale.” He began unraveling the bandage
around my head. “I’m curious to know why you were riding so late,
especially in that odd darkness last night.”

Yarin dropped the bandage to the ground and
placed his soft hands gently on my cheeks, drawing his face very
close to mine. He examined the cut just above my left eyebrow, then
the one on my lip. I felt no pain, just his warm breath on my face.
He gently ran his thumb over the cut on my lip, sending fires
licking down my spine.

I ignored the sensation and turned to a
thought that was nagging in the back of my mind. Something clicked
and I gasped. “My horse!” I cried, suddenly remembering he had been
hurt. “Is he all right? Where is he?”

Yarin rested his hands on my shoulders to
comfort me. “He is perfectly fine. His wound was easily
mended.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and looked down.
“Thank you for taking the time and effort to save a stranger’s
horse.”

He smiled. “Well, I saw how you can wield a
blade and I witnessed you shooting arrows in a night that would
blind the sharpest Salynn and not missing a single target. I also
saw you walk carelessly among a battle field, though injured and
unsteady, to aid your horse. Factoring all these elements together,
I figured I had
better
save him if I valued my life.” I
burst into hearty laughter. The sound of it caused him to burst
into laughter with me.

“Your cuts look well, my Lady. Come, I’ll aid
you to your feet.”

He took my arm and draped it behind his neck,
then gently placed his other arm around my waist. He counted to
three and we both stood up. I leaned on him a great deal as I tried
to find my footing. I was still weak and unsteady.

As I walked with him through the camp, I
noticed many of the men’s eyes and heads followed me. Many smiles
were shot in my direction and some even pointed and whispered among
others nearby. I blushed as we passed a group of seven who all
smiled and bade me a fond good morning. Then they all laughed
gently at making the “Lady Warrior” blush and cast her eyes
downward. I wasn’t used to such positive, friendly treatment from
men. It felt rather nice.

When I looked up again strength surged
through me! There was Forfirith walking tall and strong as a
Metallic Rider, clad in a metal suit of an odd yellowish color, led
him forward. Forfirith caught site of me and reared up on his hind
legs, neighing and kicking his front feet.

“Forfirith!” I cried. I left Yarin's side and
lightly jogged to my horse. He touched back down as I approached
and I affectionately wrapped my arms around his neck. “I'm so happy
you’re okay.” I stroked his neck and face as Yarin came up and pet
him as well.

There was something special about the leader
of the Gleo’gwyns, yet something strange. The energy about him was
strong and familiar, but what it was I couldn't recognize. It was
almost as if we’d met before, or
should
have met before if
that made any sense. It was…it felt like I knew him somehow.

Glancing at him occasionally, I wondered how
it was possible that someone so painfully handsome didn’t have a
woman dangling at his heels. Or more curious, why didn’t he have
every woman in Casdanarus
dangling at his heels? He must
have broken so many hearts when he left from wherever he’d come
from. Women, no doubt, must have flocked to his door. I believe I
could safely say that he was actually perfect. I didn’t know such
beauty existed.

“Come,” Yarin said after a moment. “You must
meet my riders. Then we will eat and be off together or on our
separate ways.”

I turned back to look at his face of
impossible radiance. “Can I ask where your travels bring you next?”
I was hoping to get a hint as to whether Ortheldo and everyone with
him was in danger at all, since the Gleo’gwyns did nothing but ride
Casdanarus to help travelers in need.

“Our travels bring us wherever we wish or
wherever we are needed.”

I gazed at him, narrowing my eyes. “How is it
you know when and where you’re needed?” I meant it as a simple
curious question, but my tone came out more suspicious than I
intended.

He smiled. “That’s a secret I cannot share
with you just yet.”

I smiled and followed him away. It took him
more than an hour to introduce me to all his men, and I was anxious
and impatient the entire time. Every moment I lost was more
distance Ortheldo put between us. I tried to be pleasant and
gracious because two of their comrades had been lost in the battle
with the Gibirs and because these men had also saved Ortheldo
twice.