Flame: Fanfic sequel to Fire

Introduced

As Hanna pulled her along, it occurred to her that while she might be technically poaching,what were Hanna and her family doing in the King's Forest? Before she could ask that, Hanna mysteriously squealed and ran ahead. ' Alllllrighty then' Nya muttered. Then, ' Oh, for the love of the Middluns,' she groaned, for Hanna was coming with a group of guards, and two prominent figures standing in front with Hanna.

Nya stood, readying her knives and sliding her veil down in case she had to make a quick getaway. Of course, she could use her Grace, but that probably would be a dead giveaway. Who knew where Leck's power reached?

' And this is Nya, Papa!' she scrunched up her nose,' I mean, Lady Nyacilia.' She added importantly, proudly brandishing her hand toward Nya's face.

'Oh my.' said a distinctively feminine voice, not "Papa" for sure. 'Brigan,' she said to "Papa", 'check her eyes, please,' the voice said.

Nya looked up, sharply, thankful she had slipped her veil on. What she saw, what she saw was breathtaking. Literally, she forgot how to breathe for a second. She came to her senses then, and used what Po had taught her, making it so like her mind was blocked by a white, blank wall. The speaker was a very beautiful woman with a shapely figure and a fine face. Her piercing green eyes did nothing to discourage the fact, neither did her wild hair, which had the color that could only be described as fire. She was wrenched from her slightly dream-like state when a pair of rough hands seized her arms and forced them behind her back while another ripped her veil from her eyes.

From all around, there was a collective gasp. She knew what they saw. Big, round almond shaped eyes. One bluish-silver, the other, hazel flecked with gold.

'Oh my.' said the woman, once again. She turned to Brigan and said one word, 'Leck '.

"Wha-what?" Nya stuttered. "Uhmm. . " suddenly she wondered if the people in front of her had been affected by Leck's mind tricks. But their eyes were clear and showed none of the usual signs.

Fire stared at her and Nya felt compelled to say something. "I-I'm uh. . . I don't like him." She blurted out, then felt immediately foolish for saying something so abrupt and rude. To her relief, Fire smiled gently.

"I know. I don't like him either." Nya sighed, absentmindedly shifting her weight. Great skies, her feet hurt.

With those blazing sharp green eyes, which Nya felt like missed nothing , Fire noticed her uncomfort and said "Poor girl, you must be exhausted, crossing the Great Grays like that." The Great Grays? Oh, it must be what they call it. Fire turned to the man, Brigan, and said something too fast for Nya, who had only picked up a few words, enough for common courtesies. Nya panicked, she could hardly understand the Sunderan brogue or Estillan accent, how would she learn to speak a whole new language?

While she contemplated this Fire turned back to her. "Forgive me, you must not know the language."

"Not that much, Lady." Nya admitted ruefully, remembering her manners

Fire looked at her square in the eye and said, "I can talk to you in your language but it will be in your mind."

Nya understood, " Go ahead, my lady." After all, she had a mental Grace. Po had taught her how to not let other Gracelings overwhelm her.

Brigan said something then, to Fire too rapidly again for Nya to understand. Fire then turned to Nya, determination and worry in her beautiful eyes. We must go now, monsters are about. Nya balked at the clarity and the precision of the message that Fire sent. "Monsters?" she said, disbelieving.

Yes, indeed, Nya. Not to mention, they'll eat anything, especially bright uncovered hair. Fire added speculatively. Nya's hand when up to where her veil and shawl were until they got ripped off. Oh, for the love of Middluns. Not only was her platinum blond hair uncovered for all to gawk at, it was apparently a perfect monster meal.