A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)

Chapter 33 - Fox

Harbour taxes generated an income of 49,144 pieces of gold. The tugboats generated an income of 15,741 pieces of gold. 

The icicles wrapped around his feet took Fox where the numbness of his brain didn't wanna go: down the three hundred and thirty-one steps of Mage Tower, and into the murky hallways of Moonstone Castle. Every step brought him further away from Katla and the boulder of truth that had crushed his heart.

It had been Katla's idea to burn down Laneby, not King Ariel's.

He couldn't think of why his master would consider such cruelty while he was otherwise so kind and patient. His thoughts went round and round, always ending up at the same conclusion: it had been Katla's mysterious winter illness talking back there. That was the only explanation that made sense.

Fox stumbled past the men guarding the main gate, too afraid to look up from the ground to meet their eyes. He wasn't gonna cry or tell them what had happened. If these soldiers got their hands on him, they would interrogate him and take him to Hawk's chamber. He never wanted to end up there. Facing the ripping tundra wind outside was more inviting than living with her for the rest of his life.

Or her life.

He balled up his fists. Katla had been fine until she had forced her lips on him. No matter whose idea Laneby had been, she was the real monster. One day, when he was strong enough, he would make the thought-stealing spider rue the day she ever intervened in Katla's life. That he swore to all the Gods.

Thick flakes were showering down from the dark grey sky, wrapping his already frozen body in a fur of snow and ice. It was less than a mile from the castle to the Antler, but each leap forward felt like one endless mile.

Closing his eyes, he tried to recall the almost sweaty touch of the crackling fireplace. He transported the memory of the heat to his hand, yet all colour had left his fingers, reducing them to useless stumps in which no spark ignited. In fact, the only warmth in him escaped through his mouth in the form of white crystallised vapour.

It reminded him of one of Nick's scary stories about exploding volcanoes in Scoria slaying everything on their way of conquering more land. What if Fire Magicians were human volcanoes that could erupt with devastating consequences for bystanders? Was that why Katla had wanted him to run?

A bit further, in the light of the lantern by the Loving Lark shop, climbed two silhouettes into a carriage. A taller cloaked person, and a smaller person with a furry hood. Badger and Fawn.

"Stop!" Fox shouted with all that was left of his strength, but the loud blaring wind overwhelmed his voice.

He continued running. If he could reach the carriage before they left, he would beg Badger and Fawn to stay after all. His feet sank so deep he was unable to keep his balance and landed flat on his belly into the now snowed-over puddle in front of Corbin's workshop, the icy cold water soaking his already drenched clothes.

Tears stood so close to his eyes as the carriage disappeared into the eerie fog that had enshrouded the city.

"What in the names of the Holy Fourteen are you doing out there?" It was Corbin. The blacksmith had stuck his head out of the window. "It's no weather to catch rats, young Fire Master. Do you wanna come in?"

"N-N-No, I have... Katla... I need... Doe." Fox's clattering teeth ate half of his words.

And with that, he stood up and darted off to the Antler, where Katla had told him to go. The cold bit at him, freezing him to the point that every piece of his skin was so numb yet so sore. It burnt, but he was a Fire Magician. He could stand burns.