Queen of Fire (A Light-Bringer Prequel)

Eleven

Emberly couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Witch-hunters.

She'd heard stories about them from Lucinean magic-users fleeing Lucis, and in passing from people who had family in the neighboring kingdom while at the bazaar. Stories of how the captain had sadistically "executed" a family of magic-users in Niityt. Stories of how magic-users were taking non-lethal doses of iron to suppress their magic so they aren't discovered.

"I believe I sent a messenger five days ago with word that I would be arriving today," said the captain. "Your Greatness," he added.

The Emperor seemed to consider his words. "Very well," said the Emperor. "Would you like to join us?" He gestured to the empty chairs to his left.

"Yes we would, Your Greatness," said Captain Gomez.

Captain Gomez motioned for the other witch-hunters to follow him and they made their way to the chairs across the table from the Krigereans. Captain Gomez sat across from the Everlight, and snapped his fingers.

Emberly strode over to the captain.

"What can I get you, Captain Gomez?" she asked. Out of the corner of her eye, the Everlight squinted his eyes and pursed his thin lips.

"Can you get us a pitcher of water?" he said, looking up at her with distant, cold steel gray eyes. Upon seeing her eyes, the captain stood up and drew his sword, the tip touching the scarf covering her neck and face.

Emberly raised her hands. "Please," she said, her voice wavering. "I'm just a servant. I didn't do anything wrong."

"Your name, now," the captain ordered.

"If you want to be able to go home to your wife, Captain, I suggest you let the servant go," said the Everlight, his sword pressed against the witch-hunter's throat.

Emberly hadn't even seen him get up. Captain Gomez grimaced.

Emberly tugged out a lock of hair. "I'm not who you think I am," she said.

The captain sighed, and lowered his sword. After a moment, the Everlight did the same and returned to his seat.

Emberly ran past the captain to go down to the kitchens for the pitcher of water. She tucked the lock of hair back under the scarf, grabbed a silver pitcher, and started filling it with cool water from the tap.

It's okay, she thought. Everything will be okay, Emberly.

Emberly turned off the tap, and carried the pitcher up the stairs to the grand hall. She walked up the table to Captain Gomez, and started pouring water into his goblet.

"So why are you here, Commander?" asked Captain Gomez. "Aren't you supposed to be defending Krigere's border from the Apparatori?"

The Everlight chuckled humorlessly. "Very funny, Captain. I'm here to look for someone."

"Same here," the captain interjected.

"Really? I'm looking for the Light-Bringer—the magic-user who can wield both Baldur's Light and Sol's Fire."

Emberly stopped.

An Heir of Light and Fire?

"So you're here for a witch?"

"Magic-user," the Everlight hissed.

"Whatever," the captain sighed.

"So why are you here?"

Captain Gomez smirked, his fingers on the stem of his goblet.

Emberly moved on to the next witch-hunter, filling his goblet.

"I'm here not just to do my job, but to find Marilyn Pyro."