The Far Wilds

Part 14

The next day, Flame had a plan.

"We need to make a secret base," she told Candy, cornering her after breakfast. "Somewhere to run to if Caden does more than just kill some animals and smash some fruit."

Candy glanced towards the others. "Why are you just telling me this?"

"To show you I trust you," said Flame.

"And you don't trust them?"

"Not exactly. It isn't that I trust them less, I just trust you more. You're smart, and capable, and don't run away or give up easily. I might tell them later, just... just not now."

Candy still looked perplexed, but she nodded and said, "Where are you thinking?"

"You choose," said Flame. She smiled. "You're really good at building."

"Thanks," said Candy, smiling back. "I'll get right on that."

And so it was. The base was quietly excavated and constructed, with wooden walls, a pool filled with fish, and a waterfall. The entire thing was in the fishing hole, the entrance well hidden behind a couple of barrels. Flame complimented Candy on the project lavishly, who had basically been working on the project nonstop for three days.

They didn't have long to enjoy it, unfortunately, for Flame was awoken the next day by the sound of explosions. Everyone rushed downstairs to see a suit with nobody in it standing in the wreckage of their second and third floors, along with someone Flame didn't recognize.

"Caden!" Lucas spat, drawing his sword. Smevy, Candy, and War followed suit, Flame too stunned to move. Finally she pulled herself together and said, her voice painfully fragile, "Why? Why can't you just leave us alone?"

"This was too much fun," said Caden, a smile in his voice. "Plus, I met someone who told me some very shocking things." He turned to Lucas, his voice mocking. "Thievery? Really? Have you no shame?"

"I thought I recognized your friend," said Lucas. "It's not thievery if you're taking back what's rightfully yours."

"That's what this is about?!" Flame said, anger overriding her shock. "You were bitter over losing?!"

"This is so much more than that," said the other man. His eyes darkened, and Flame was surprised to see a deep sadness there, like twin pools of misery waiting to pull her in. "You messed with the wrong overlord."

"Quiet!" Caden spat, buffeting his colleague upside the head. "We aren't supposed to talk about that, remember?!"

"Talk about what?" Smevy asked.

"What does it matter?" Candy said. She waved a hand at the widespread destruction. "Look at what they've done!"

"Agreed," said Lucas. He pointed his sword at them. "They have to pay! I'm done with hiding- let's end this, once and for all!"

"Fine with me," said Caden. He smiled mockingly at Flame. "Or should we try and talk this out, grand leader?"

She opened her mouth soundlessly, but there was nothing to say. For everything she had done, this was how it was going to end- with blood. She whimpered and took a step back. She couldn't do this! She wasn't a killer. How did it come to this? She'd thought she was going to help people, but now her creations- her words of peace and hiding -would lead to at least two deaths. What was even the point in fighting? There would always be more Cadens, more strangers with mysterious reasons to see them dead.

Suddenly a surge of power swept through her, and she found her hand flinching to her axe. What's happening to me?! She thought, terrified. She didn't even register Lucas launching himself at the stranger. All she could do was try to fight back the urge to kill, to maim, to spill blood-

But no, that wasn't it. A single word started to pulse through her mind, stronger than when she had seen Candy. Protect. Protect. Protect.

No. She thought. Stop! I can't-

An agonized cry snapped her into reality. She looked up to see a sword buried deep in Lucas's side, wielded by the invisible man himself.

She couldn't stand idly by as her friend died. With a deep breath, she allowed the feeling to wash over her, turning her vision red as she screamed, "Get away from him, you monster!"

She threw herself at Caden as he just barely managed to pull his weapon out of Lucas to counter her axe. He pushed back, trying to overbalance her, but the righteous power within gave her the strength to fight harder, quickly turning the tide. He stumbled back and she swung hard, meeting his blade with a loud CLANG!

Behind her she heard the others rush forward, the other man crying out, "for Bard!"

Flame didn't have time to question the mysterious battle cry, for her initial surprise factor was wearing off, and Caden was not going down easily. His lighter weapon didn't have the raw power of her axe, but he was able to execute a flurry of moves that she just barely managed to counter. He pushed harder, giving her no room for leeway as they danced with their steel, Flame's rage only growing with every strike. She started to push back, striking hard enough that his sword dented with every blow. He retreated, his moves getting more desperate, giving her even more chances. She sliced him once- twice- three times! Then she stopped, breathing heavily. He was dead, her axe buried deep in his neck. She turned, expecting to see that the other man had already gone down, only to see that he was still managing to hold his own, fighting like a lion. She almost felt sorry for him, then she saw Lucas lying on the ground, bleeding heavily, and her pity evaporated. She raced behind him, striking him in the back before he could react.

He fell heavily, breathing hard as blood seeped into a circle around him. "No," he whispered. "It can't end like this. Not-'' He coughed, blood seeping from his lips. His fading eyes searched desperately for a friendly face, focusing on War. "Please... protect my sister... she didn't do anything to deserve this." War watched emotionlessly, his eyes narrowed. The stranger held his gaze, even as the light in his eyes dimmed.

Finally, as his breathing left him, War bent down and said, so quietly that Flame wondered if the stranger could even hear him, "I promise."

Then all was still.

Dead still.