Key Element

chapter one

It was a hot, late-summer day in the field half a mile outside the village, but I still wore the red scarf mother gave me. The wagons made a circular boundary of our camp and the once tall, flowing grass inside was now trampled and flat. I peeked out the curtain of the small stage built from the wagon. A group of villagers clapped and cheered as Delphi finished her magic act. Even after doing this for years I was still nervous, there was always a chance that one of them would notice, even though it has yet to happen.

As Delphi bowed and returned her tarot cards to her pocket.

She said, “Thank you, you’re all a great crowd! But the show is not over yet. In the next act, you will witness a dangerous talent that until now you have thought to be impossible! I give you; Riley Bec, the master of fire!”

That was my cue. I stepped out onto the small wooden stage. A few men chuckled at the thought that such a young boy would be given such a ridiculous title. But all their jokes ended when I began.

After giving a quick bow, I rubbed my hands together as if they were cold. As I blew into them, I created a small ball of fire, about the size of my hand and tossed it back and forth. A series of gasps and bewildered voices emanated from the crowd when they saw the fire did not burn my hands, but when I created two more and started juggling them the crowd roared with applause. Drums began to play as I continued the performance. If only they knew it wasn’t all an act or a trick, it was all real. I don’t know why I was like this, but I been able to control fire my whole life.

As I did the show, I noticed Eric expertly going through the crowd and stealing their money. That was the main plan of it anyway, I distract them and Eric robs them.

My brother was excellent at pit pocketing, but in the back of my mind I dreaded that someone would yell ‘Hey! What are you doing?!’ and then it’d all be over. But as always it never happened. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him remove the necklace of a woman near the back, to my relief she didn’t notice. Eric gave me the signal that meant he got what he needed and that it was time to end the show. But as I was about the give the finishing bow, something shined in my eye.

Out in the distance, a light was moving a rapid pace toward the camp. On further inspection I saw that it was a man, wearing a bright metal suit and riding a crisp, white horse. I thought I was dreaming, who was this strange man and why did he wear such bulky metal clothing? Eric looked where I was and took off, probably to find Masha.

The man abruptly stopped his horse just before it ran into the crowd. The look on his face showed that he was used to people respecting his authority. He wore a metal hat as well. Small tendrils of black hair slipped down his forehead. He had angry brown eyes and was clean shaven. I couldn’t help but notice the long sword at his hip.

I wasn’t sure what to do. Most of the crowd was starting to disperse. I stood paralyzed on the stage.

“Boy! Who’s your leader here?” His voice was firm and demanding.

Yet I still said nothing.

“Riley!” Mother climbed onto the stage and grabbed my arm in a somewhat protective manner. “What do you want?” she said to the metal man.

The man looked towards mother, “Are you the leader of these people?”

He was referring to the other wagon riders, who were stopping what they were doing and watching suspiciously.

“That would be me.” Masha walked next to mother and looked down on the man from the stage. Masha was my adopted father, everyone called him that, even Eric, his birth son. He was a tall, fit man for someone who was getting on in years. He had a clean trim beard and always walked with a slight limp. But even though he carried a cane, he still had a strong, leading presence. “Why do you interrupt my son’s show?” he asked.