FIREFANGED

Chapter 24 (House Storm)

After assigning rooms to Keil and Sevin and sitting through another examination by Doctor Loeb, the morning passed with relative ease.

In town, we visited two different tailors and a leatherworks shop, sorting new clothes and leathers for Yser and Andy as well as something a bit finer for me to wear during tomorrow night's dinner event. Exile rated a brand-new scabbard that ran across my back, putting the weapon's handle just above my right shoulder for easy access. Fei-Krull, my fang-dagger, still fit snugly across my lower back.

The blade was stockier than the wicked black blades of the dark elves, but just as sharp.

Raven suggested that I have an insignia made for my new House. She borrowed my half-moon pin to use as an example and disappeared into a metalworks shop with Lynda. Keil went inside while Andy, Yser, Sevin, and I waited out front, enjoying the fresh morning air and getting to know the newest member of Company Storm.

Where Keil was talkative and brash, Sevin spoke with his eyes and the direction they chose. He was a bit taller than me, with a strong resemblance to his older brother, but considerably more focused and shy.

I could feel his discomfort—his lack of experience with the fairer sex matching mine. He had a hard time looking at Yseria until she playfully asked him to show her his weapon. He complied, carefully handing her his heavy axe and accepting her elven black blade in return. Both were impressed.

The rainstorm had passed overnight, and we watched a steady flow of visitors emerge in Berykholt. Several recruits were out walking with families or girlfriends, and the inn across the way was running a hectic business.

At least one person of significance was leaving town. A dozen blue-clad horse troopers trotted down the busy street, heading away from the castle. Their perfectly groomed horses, shining breastplates, and heavy swords separated them from the usual sentinel horsemen. In their midst rode the finely dressed Lord Small, Judge of Maidenhall, with a modest retinue.

The King's cousin signaled a halt as the group was about to pass us and turned his horse our way. Contrary to his name, he wasn't limited in physical stature or presence. He was about my height, and his black hair and dark brown eyes added to his solemn demeanor.

He spoke to us from his horse, "Vigil Storm, I would like to congratulate you on your official ascension."

I fought the urge to bow. "Thank you, your Lordship. Heading home so soon?"

He held an air of certainty and concern. "Duty calls. I believe we are in a similar line of work. Maidenhall is mine to protect."

"I have not had the honor of seeing its walls."

Small leaned forward. "Vigil Storm, if you don't mind, would you please show me your dagger?"

I pulled out Fei-Krull and handed it up without hesitation. "What do you think? Ever seen the like?"

And here, he surprised me; he sniffed it.

His eyes narrowed, and I felt a small tremor of fear and sadness run through the man. He returned it to me, stone-faced.

"It would be an honor if you would find your way south to Maidenhall in the coming months. I can be found at Sturgess Courthouse, and I believe we could be of great service to each other."

With that, he turned and resumed his long ride home.

###

The afternoon found me escorting Vigil Thorn into the sentinel-recruit barracks for a meeting with Sergeant Caleb Masterson. The summer class promotion was upon us, and he had nowhere to hide.

"Sergeant, I'd like to introduce you to Vigil Akila Thorn. We're both interested in hearing your recommendations for recruiting from the summer class."

"Well, we do have a few alpha-level ducks about to be hatched," he replied. "As far as I know, a couple of them are already spoken for by a certain young Vigil, but this is a strong class with plenty of good eggs to choose from."

He sent out Sergeant Tomkins with a list of a dozen recruits to round up. As expected, I officially landed Gunner Trew and Brandon Hicks before Akila signed up another ten, including the stout Jayl Griffen.

Vigil Thorn was actively defending the heavily wooded eastern region of Colivar from a recurring rash of the demonic and was in dire need of worthy replacements. She relied on Vigil Snow in the north and Vigil Stone in the west to organize and train more sentinel recruits. Stone was known to produce exceptional riders and cavalry troopers better suited to the flatter terrain in the west, center, and south of Colivar.

As promised, Sergeant Gregor Volk returned with us as the newest—if temporary—member of House Storm. He took charge of my four young sentinels, and each would have a private room in our keep. For the time being, all five sentinels would be working as part of my security detail, though their training would still be focused on the Order's techniques and tactics for fighting demons.

I planned to include my dark elf bodyguards and Raven in the sentinel training, further augmenting that with my own experience and practice-demon expertise. Their skill and the hardness of their black blades would complement the shields and axes of the sentinels well.

###

The following evening—for the first time in my life—I enjoyed the beauty of the moment and the camaraderie of my peers.

I was seated in the place of honor, between Duke Ragir and Vigil Snow, with Raven and Lynda directly across the table. As the formal dinner ended, Vigil Snow officially announced my ascension as Vigil Ara Storm and presented me with a token of office. The gold coin had the symbol of the Order of the Vigil on one side and a lightning bolt crossing a half-moon on the other. It would allow me—if ever challenged—to show my Vigil bona fides without having to remove my shirt.

On our way back from the recruits' barracks, Vigil Thorn had told me that the Vigil marks were much more than just scars and that I had been a Vigil in everything but name from the moment the branding took place.

Vigil Snow had had his reasons for hiding the fact from all but a trusted few, and his explanation, 'It was necessary,' still echoed in my mind. That simple statement taught me more about being a Vigil than anything else I'd learned over the past couple of months.

Raven and Lynda wished me a happy eighteenth birthday and gave me a small wooden box. It contained a few dozen silver badges, lightning over a black half-moon, to identify members of my new House. I pinned a badge onto each of their dresses in honor of the place they held in my life.

As the evening wound down, my thoughts ran back to my friend Cat in Lockrun. We would always celebrate our birthdays together. She would be turning twelve this week, and I hadn't had a chance to get her a real birthday gift.

Suddenly, my vision went dark, and I had an immense feeling of dread and terror. The feeling shocked me so much that I had to sit down and concentrate on keeping my dinner in place. I gasped as the scars on my chest and shoulder flared to life in a searing pain.

Raven put her hand on my shoulder. "Ara, are you alright?"

I shook my head, unable to speak, unable to see anything but the face of Cat, her eyes closed. Reaching out, I grabbed Rae's hand and began to count in my head. Finally, the vision cleared, and I regained a hold on myself.

Looking to Vigil Snow, I coughed, "It's Lockrun. Something's terribly wrong."