City of Fire

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Tidus"

"What do you mean we're surrounded?" Tidus thundered as he glared at his uncle. Fendrel returned the glare and Tidus knew he was treading on thin ice but he didn't care.

"Tidus is right, how did the Hollows get so close?" Adrian had bathed, letting a physician see his wounds and now was covered in bandages. Tidus was the same but his anger clouded the pain at the moment. Fendrel eyed him, disgust in his eyes when he looked upon the Wind Dweller.

"Someone burned our forest to the ground, allowing them the cover they needed." He snapped in return and Adrian glowered at him.

"Are you insinuating that we had something to do with that?" Adrian was out of his chair but Tidus saw the twinge of pain come across his face. It'd only been a few hours after the attack, the rest of the remaining Fire Dwellers pushing the Hollows back. None of them had had time to rest, to recover, but Tidus only hoped that Ilona was somewhere safe.

"You led them to us and nearly wiped out Captain Harold's force." Fendrel's eyes were glowing with flames.

"That was not our doing, we—"

"Why didn't you meet us at the bottom of the volcano?" Tidus interrupted and Fendrel looked at him, a look of slight surprise on his face.

"We received word that—"

"What word?" Adrian was tense, leaning forward and Tidus growled.

"Stop interrupting," he looked back at his uncle, "we didn't send any word." Fendrel's brows drew together as he shook his head.

"That's—"

The door opened to the round chamber and Tidus bristled when he saw who stood there. Three figures, bathed in gold robes with red flames stitched onto them, strode in. Fendrel straightened, moving slightly towards Tidus. He ignored him, the same rage clouding his vision. He felt the heat rising up within him and his fingers started to itch.

Then Adrian was beside him, placing a hand on his arm and Tidus calmed. Adrian was right; this wasn't the time, especially with word of an invasion coming.

"Ah, Tidus," the first figure said his voice a low, throaty rumble. Their heads were shaved, their skin a deep tan with light, golden eyes. Their tattoos were marked with gold, showing their status. Instead of stopping at the bottom of their jaws they trailed up the sides of their faces, ending at the corners of their eyes.

"Lord Raphael," he felt as if acid were in his mouth as he addressed the Fire Dweller, head of the Fire Council.

"We did not expect you so soon, and to bring the chaos you did." His words were barbed and Tidus felt his fingers curl into a fist.

"Where is she?" This came from the second figure, Lord Michael, and Tidus glared at him, not bothering to hide the distrust he felt for them.

"Resting, Zane is taking care of her." Adrian was the one to reply and Tidus was relieved for he might not have been able to control himself but at the mention of the Ice Dweller's name he stiffened.

"You let that monster inside our walls?!" Lord Michael shouted, anger engulfing his face causing his gold eyes to flash.

"That monster saved our lives," Adrian replied and Tidus couldn't decide if he wanted to agree with the Wind Dweller or not.