Burning Road

Boiling Point- Part II

Freezing water washed over Prince, hungry and eager to leach the warmth from his body. Instead of icy death, a furious heat filled Khouri's chest as his armor bulged. Brown fur surrounded him,  warming his skin even as he was encased in a frozen tomb. A gentle purring emanated from his furry surroundings and all Khouri could do was huddle in against the cold.

For a time, Khouri listened to two steady heartbeats. One came from the warm cushioning which saved his life, the other was his own. He thought of his training, started by his parents and continued by his aunt and uncle. His life was spent hunting everything from kobolds to naga priestesses trying to steal the reflection of the stars. He was a fighter by trade, born and bred for a hard life. Prince was less than impressed by his recent performance. When it counted most his training felt inadequate. He was unprepared physically, and under equipped.

Some hunter he'd proved to be.

The doubt wormed into his heart and would have taken root if not for the fuzzy warmth which seemed to sucked it out of him like some kind of psychic leech. In the void that followed Khouri saw his formative years through the Aura of Understanding, with the clarity of a critical eye. He wasn't a disgrace to his training. No, he wasn't a failure. Khouri Prince was the culmination of decades of expert tutelage, and this was the first real test of his skills.

He rummaged through his pockets, making a conscious effort to keep the negative thoughts at bay. It was tight within his fur cocoon, but he was careful and persistent. His fingers brushed against something smooth and cool to the touch. Initially he'd mistaken it for the vial of holy water, but the shape was all wrong. He closed his fingers around the item and worked his hand free of his pocket. It was a metal zippo lighter. On its side was a beautifully detailed image of a nude angel with her arms extended as if offering a divine embrace. He remembered the old vagrant woman who'd given it to him, and her serendipitous assistance with Rooster. It had all happened too fast; the attack, Cali's injury, ditching the van. His mind hadn't had time to process it all. He still didn't..

On impulse he flipped the lid and the lighter ignited in a magnificent column of white flame, melting away the ice of his prison in a rapid spill. Mimi circled the beast, Golan's axe buried deep in its side. Despite its wounds, it continued to growl and claw at the ground. Prince took a stiff step toward the troll and realized, with his new bulk, he was better off rolling.

"Chi Chi!"

The fur coat purred and with a ruffling of fur condensed into his normal ball of fur in the palm of Khouri's hand. The little creature was full of surprises.

Prince rushed to Golan's side and reignited the lighter. The troll's cry of surprise startled both Prince and the bear-like monster. Mimi slashed the creature's flank and managed to leap back just ahead of a savage raking of claws. The creature inhaled deeply and collapse, an arrow jutting from its bulbous head. Cyril charged through the snow and slit open the monster's belly as it attempted to get back to its feet.

"Get that away from me, you ugly bastard!" Golan spat. The troll leaned as far as his frozen leg would allow.

"Right." Prince closed the lid and the flame died. "Just trying to help," he explained.

"Not fire."

"Okay, no fire." Khouri knew the only way to permanently injure a troll was through fire or corrosives. He hadn't been concerned with the creeper's well being, and he needed to check himself. The monsters at his side might prove the difference between dying in hell or returning home to clear his name. "Sit tight, we'll get you out of there."

"Funny."

Mimi came over, and after examining the column of ice she struck it with the pommel of her blade. The ice clanged like metal and stood just as strong. Khouri joined her in assaulting the cage of frozen water, but all they managed to do was work up a sweat. Finally Golan angrily hacked at it with his axe, denting the cutting edge and sending numbing pain up his arms and the leg. Khouri wasn't sure they could set him free.