Frost Burn

Fire: Chapter 4

Thea ran her long dark brown braid through her fist, pulling it over her shoulder as she gazed up at the graying sky with concern. Seeing the cloud movement and smelling the air, she realized this storm was moving quickly. It would be about thirteen minutes before the rain fell, and the last of the lower region evacuees were still an hour away from Vlid, where the safe houses were being prepared. They were going to need to use the leather tarps to stay safe in the rain.

“Lady Thea,” someone called, getting her attention. A person branched out from the line of evacuees on the road, two more following, and came toward where she stood on the water’s edge. Thea recognized the robes that all the regional leaders wore. A decorative collar of woven elaborate gold designs encircled the front of the chest and neck before going over the shoulders and down the back of each red robe. Below the designs, the fronts of the robes were plain.

“Lord Guyus,” Thea said, nodding. “Lady Orn. Lady Waik.” They were the three regional leaders of the southern provinces that were being evacuated at the moment. “I hope you had your people prepare tarps.”

Lord Guyus nodded. “These days, we rarely overlook any precaution.”

“Can’t blame you for that.”

“All of the magic wielders are bringing up the rear as well, so you know.”

Thea looked at him, impressed. “Smart. Well done.”

Now she could worry less about the evacuees, since the fire wielders could keep themselves warm in cold rain. Having the non-magic users leave first, they were likely to beat the rain to the safe houses in Vlid, and the tarps wouldn’t be necessary. Those things could be heavy and clumsy in any situation, especially a windy one, never mind during an emergency evacuation in a storm.

Guyus, who was in his mid-twenties, was the youngest regional leader in the Fire Nation. He was tall but youthful looking, almost childlike, with short blonde hair that was longer in the front than the back. He had a defined jaw structure that made him handsome, but he was no silly fool. He led his region with kindness and strength, and his people liked him. Orn was a lady in her mid-forties with long, thin blonde hair and no lack of lovely silver streaks that fanned against her shoulders. Since her mid-twenties, she had been elected each year as regional leader. Waik was in her late thirties with straight, short, steel black hair mixed with lots of white. She was the sternest of the regional leaders, less enjoyed by the people and more just respected. She wasn’t unkind—just not overly kind.

“Lady Thea,” Guyus said, drawing her attention again. His voice dropped from the light one of a politician to a deeply worried one that was matched by the expression in his light brown eyes. “Do you know what’s happening?”

Thea sighed and shook her head. She nodded towards the Derser Rects. “Hopefully they’re going to figure it out.”

It was a couple of minutes before the Dersers had packed up their equipment and started towards Thea. “We have everything we need,” the temple leader, Dorsh, declared.

Thea nodded. “Thank you, Rector,” she said, addressing him by his formal title, though she didn’t have to since she far outranked him when not in Temple. “Please get yourself and your team home safely, so you can figure out why the world is collapsing around us.” Dorsh nodded once, and the Derser Rects headed for the evacuation line and climbed into a waiting carriage.

To her left, Thea saw the western scouts returning from the bridge. Her heart started racing. “Excuse me,” she said to the regional leaders, staying as professional as she could as she hurried to meet the scouts without running. She didn’t want to worry the remaining evacuees. The regional leaders unexpectedly followed her to meet them as well. Thea didn’t have the time or the mindset to tell them to stay put, so she let them come. People were desperate for answers, so it was understandable.