Cyber Mortality

Chapter 45:

The cool morning air drifting through the window of Jez and I's tent stirs me awake. It nips at my toes, which peek out through the open side of my sleeping bag. I shudder and quickly dress into my normal clothes plus my fur cloak. I squeeze the cloak tightly around myself before stepping out into the clearing. The sun has barely kissed the horizon and the last stars twinkle on the verge of disappearing.

"You're up early," I turn to find Rocky stoking a fire a few feet away.

"So are you," I reply and step closer to the warmth of the fire. "What's for breakfast?"

"The villagers sent us some hard boiled eggs and bread. There is also venison jerky and some berries." Rocky holds out an egg and I take it.

With my nails, I pry open the shell and peel away each shard to expose the white giggly egg inside. Once the shell is gone, I take a bite and gaze at the other half of the egg.

"I've also got some instant coffee," Rocky grins and holds out a mug to me.

I gulp down the other half of the egg and take the coffee. The steam wafts like smoke in the cool morning air.

"You wouldn't happen to have-" before I can finish my sentence Rocky holds out a small white marble to me.

"Yes," he chuckles and drops the marble into my hand.

"Funky," I gaze at the marble for a moment before dropping it into my coffee. It swirls and foams like a bath bomb for a moment before disintegrating into the coffee. I take a sip and grin. "It tastes like French vanilla."

"The miracle of creamer marbles," he snorts before taking a drink of his black coffee.

"So last night," I begin and rest my mug on my knee. "After the woman was devoured by the insects, the bugs retreated back into the dungeon."

"Yeah," Rocky nods and turns his full attention on me.

"When they were going back in I saw something rather strange. They pressed really tightly together when they passed between the blue torches," Rocky mulls over my words for a moment. His eyes dart toward the waving blue flames which stand sentinel over the archway. 

"Do you think they're afraid of the blue fire?" he rubs his stubbly chin in thought.

"They could be," I nod and take another sip of coffee. "And that could be our way into the dungeon."

"But how would we carry the blue fire?" Rocky inquires and turns his gaze toward the entrance of the dungeon. "Those torches are nearly the size of a human being and I doubt wood would last very long with how hot that fire is."

"What about the fire mages? There's gotta be more than just Jez here, right? I know Jez said she can't create blue flames, but she is basically immune to fire. Could they somehow carry the flames?" I offer up and purse my lips.

"It's worth a shot," Rocky nods in thought. "Jez." He calls out.

The sound of a body stirring and then a sleeping bag unzipping sounds. Jez peeks her head out of the tent. Her fiery red hair stands out in all directions and she blinks her green eyes at us.

"Hmm?" she inquires followed by a yawn.

"Do you think you could try carrying the blue flames that are on the torches?" Rocky asks.

Jez raises an eyebrow and turns to look at the torches.

"I could try," she shrugs and equips her usual garb. A wine colored crop top, leather skirt with slits up the sides, and ankle boots. She quickly tames her hair with a golden clip to keep it out of her face.

We follow Jez up the stairs to the dungeon entrance. She hesitantly reaches out a hand to brush the blue flame. After a moment of not being injured, Jez thrusts her hand into the fire and pulls off a piece into her hand. It hovers in her palm no large than a thumb. After a moment it flickers out and disappears.

"Hmm," Jez reaches into the fire to pull off another piece. This time she gazes at the flame intently. Her hair stirs softly and raises at the tips. With a foof the flame explodes in her hand, skyrocketing into a giant pillar of blue flame before turning a brilliant purple then orange.

"I think that I put too much magic into that one," Jez grins and snatches up another bit of fire. Her eyes sparkle with glee like a child playing with a new toy.

"Do you think you can get it to maintain if we take it into the dungeon?" Rocky inquires with the blue flame flickering in his eyes.

"Yes," Jez nods and shakes the flame out until it disappears. "But I'll need my pendant." She turns to me.

I unclasp the pendant she let me borrow yesterday and hand it to her. 

Once it is restored to her neck, Jez grins and takes another chunk of fire. "Just like level one mage training."

"What are you doing?" a sharp voice sounds from behind us.

We turn to find Vyra scowling with her hands on her hips.

"May discovered that the insects are afraid of these blue flames," Rocky gestures to the flame nestled in Jez's palm. "How many fire mages are here?"

"I don't know," Vyra replies and looks at the fire hesitantly. "What proof do you have that that will work?"

"None," Rocky replies. "Just May's observation."

"You're willing to bet your life on it?" Vyra inquires and turns her red-orange eyes on me.

"Yes," I say and stand up taller beside Rocky. 

"Then I guess you can go in first," Vyra chuckles darkly before turning her attention back to the camp. "Once everyone wakes up we will make a final plan for entering the dungeon."