The Tragedy of Ravan the Great

Chapter Sixteen: The Power of Ravan the Great

During Ravan's most time-consuming trek to the Opaline Mountain Range, Quinn Forsythe was but weeks behind. The dedicated bounty hunter located Mount Perry in a fairly timely manner after telling the townsfolk that his primary targets were miracle workers. He spotted the path left behind by Ravan and Zair where there was significantly less snow. Then he located the miracle worker's lair to find it evident that someone who had once lived inside had vacated rather quickly. A myriad of possible situations and scenarios ran through Quinn's mind, but none of them clicked. Ravan's motivation and end game were still frustratingly lost on him.

When Quinn emerged from the cave, he took note of what was left of the path and figured this was what he wanted to follow. Since the travelers were most likely slowed by a wagon to carry the belongings of whoever lived in that cave, chances were that Quinn would catch up. A few days into his journey, Quinn began to wonder if his targets were headed back to Bonn and his confusion and frustration increased tenfold. Was he even following the right path? Eventually, during one of his stops, Quinn overheard a conversation about a traveler with a possible miracle worker companion. This confirmed he was one the right track, but it failed to quell his frustration on journeying in a large circle. He soon realized that it made some sense for them to be heading back to Bonn since the Bonnians were friendlier toward miracle workers, but so were the Noellites and Noelle was a much shorter journey. So why Bonn?

Quinn eventually came upon a large empty area of flat snow in the Timbrel Mountain Range, which he thought was curious, but he didn't bother to investigate. Instead, he journeyed farther until he came to the base of the mountain range where he spotted a group of four vagabonds camping out not too far away. Usually, Quinn would simply move along and mind his own business, but something told him it was likely these gentlemen had probably run into Ravan and his miracle worker cohort. So Quinn gathered his extroverted façade and approached the gentlemen.

~~~

By this time, Zair had been helping Ravan with his blue fire wielding for about a week and they had made little progress. For the third night, Zair and Ravan sat on either side of a small pyre while Zair burned incense to help Ravan focus.

"The flames are under your command," Zair spoke softly. "Make them bow to your will. Force them into submission. Do not tolerate any rebellion."

A blue flare appeared in the pyre.

"Very good," said Zair. "Now build upon it. Increase its size to that of a being. It is your clay to mold."

The flames reached above Ravan's and Zair's heads, and Ravan felt the need to rise to his feet to better manipulate the fire.

"Yes, now play with the flames," Zair continued. "Become accustomed to how they work. How they feel."

Ravan created images with the fire and walked the inferno about the cave.

"Beautiful!" Zair praised. "Now close the opening of the cave with it."

Ravan expanded the flames to completely block the mouth of the cave.

"Perfect! Now put it out."

The flames collapsed and then were no more. Only the torches mounted on the wall of Zair's new lair offered light.

"Now how do you feel?" Zair asked. "Do you still struggle for control with the blue flame, or does it come naturally?"

Ravan turned to face the elf. "It's mostly natural, I suppose. I'm not sure I feel ready for lightning, however."

"I don't imagine you will ever feel ready to begin. Nevertheless, we shall start on the morrow."