Queen of Fire (A Light-Bringer Prequel)

Eighteen

Fire burst from her body and roared towards the Verzengend Desert in the distance.

"Holy Gods," said Igor.

"I haven't seen a fire like that since King Adramelech and King Aatish," said Olek.

The volley of arrows hit the fire and ash rained like snow. A second and third volley of arrows followed, turning to ash the second they hit the raging flames.

—

"Get down!" Miles barked. "Get behind a dune!"

Miles ran down and hid behind the dune, the rest of his men following. A hot wind kicked up, and, moments later, red and gold flames followed.

He'd only seen a fire like that once before; had only seen that fire in Marilyn.

"I can't fight this battle for you; only you can."

You will be broken.

Miles shut his eyes and huddled against the dune, but it didn't help. Fire burned brighter in the dark.

I will not be broken, he told himself.

You will be broken.

You will not break me.

I will break you.

"I loved her," he whispered in realization. "I loved Marilyn. She was my best friend."

He felt the dark magic come down on him, but Miles pushed back.

"Captain Gomez, are you alright?" asked a soldier, sounding like he was underwater.

Oh, how his head felt ready to explode.

"She was your best friend," Elain had yelled at him one night.

Think about your wife and son, Miles, Ashlynn said in his head. I can easily kill them.

"Get out of my head," he muttered.

Okay, then. I'll sign the execution order.

Miles hesitated, and that was all Ashlynn needed.

Not my family. Anyone but Elain and Matias, he pleaded.

Ashlynn's magic broke through, but this time, Miles didn't fight it.

—

Emberly cracked open an eye.

"That magic is no blessing," said Igor.

She cried out as she reined in her magic, the fire no longer threatening to crush her. Emberly fell to her knees, exhausted from the sudden release of it.

Too much, she thought, her chest heaving. Too much, too soon.

"Emberly! Emberly, are you alright?" Akaljot shouted, running to her side.

"I'm okay," she gasped. "I'm fine."

Emberly looked up and saw dunes of glass in the place of sand dunes. Then the Witch-Hunters came bounding over the glass dunes.

"Get back," said Akaljot once the Hunters were less than a mile away.

"No," she said, slowly getting to her feet. "I started this, I want to be here to finish it."

Emberly stood beside Akaljot, feeling like a child compared to him, as Miles pulled up a few meters away. He jumped off, drew his sword, and stormed towards him.

"Hand her over," he snarled, pointing his sword at her.

"No," they said simultaneously.

Miles turned to face her. Emberly fought the urge to cry when she saw the burns on his face—his hands would be worse without a doubt.

"I'm not going with you, Miles," she said, holding her chin high. "The only thing I've done is wield magic."

"It may be illegal in Lucis to wield magic, and the emperor may have let you search his palace," began Akaljot.

"He just wants to keep the peace," she said to Akaljot. "Eirineftes owes a few debts to the Pyros, and he knows that any Pyro is capable of."

"This isn't Eirineftes—at least where we're standing," Akaljot said as if Emberly hadn't spoken. "We're standing in Krigere, and if you set one foot on our land, we will take it as an act of war."

Miles smirked. "You forget, Commander Bjorndottir, about what House Pyro is capable of, or have you not learned from the Independence War?"

"I know where Marilyn is," said Emberly, Miles' eyes widening. "When we find her, all of Zemlja will see who the true Queen of Fire is."

"Leave, Captain Gomez," said Akaljot. "I won't ask nicely again."

Miles steeled his jaw. "Fine," he said.

Miles turned, walked back and mounted his horse. He carefully sheathed his sword and said, "We'll be back with an extraction order for both the princess and—" he looked at Emberly "—the Lady of Fire."

"Can't wait for it," she said sarcastically.

Miles turned away and rode off into the desert. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Until we meet again, Miles, she thought.

Akaljot put an arm around her. "Let's go," he said, leading her away from the border, and turning her back on the desert made of glass.

—

"Let's stop here for the night," said Akaljot.

Emberly halted Starlight, and jumped to the ground. Emberly tied the reins to a branch on a maple before she walked off to find firewood. She came back forty-five minutes later, arms full of firewood and found Frida laying on her stomach, her servants' jackets off to the side, Olek leaning over her as he used a needle and thread to suture the wound in her shoulder.

Emberly set the wood down in the middle of the clearing, stepped back, and snapped her fingers.

"Anyone hungry?" Akaljot asked, holding up a few rabbits.

Volodomyr and Igor emerged into the clearing, holding handfuls of saskatoons, strawberries, and blackberries while Akaljot roasted the rabbits over the fire.

The rabbits were divided up evenly for the six of them to eat with the berries on the side. By the time night fell, they were long since finished their meager dinner.

"I lied," she said.

Everyone snapped their heads in her direction.

"About what?" asked Frida.

"Everything," said Emberly, her voice hollow. "Essentially."

"Is Emberly even your name?" asked Olek.

She shook her head.

"Who are you?" asked Igor.

Emberly sighed. "My name is Marilyn Pyro," she began. "And by law, I am the rightful Queen of Lucis."