The War of the Roil: The Knight and the Warlock

Chapter 6: The Land of Ash

Lara gripped at the silt, dragging herself through the mud and away from the waves, coughing up lungfuls of water. Meanwhile, Gammond dragged an unconscious Lucia onto the shore next to her.

The Atrellian naval blockade extended further than what they had thought. With no weapons on the ship, it was inevitable that the Atrellians would sink it.

"Titans!" Lara heaved, finally able to breathe. She raked a filthy hand through her soaked hair, pushing it from her eyes, "We're alive!"

"It's a damn miracle we made it to land." Gammond placed his two hands over Lucia's chest, giving it three solid pumps before Lucia sat up, sputtering out water through a coughing fit.

Gammond sat back in the silt, clearly exhausted. He'd had to drag the Auriok all the way to shore.

"Where are we?" Lara groaned.

"Probably a ways south of the Ash Rim." Gammond said, "Maladeth, likely."

"At least we're in Emreth." Lara heaved.

"Not outta the woods yet, Atrellian." Lucia staggered to her feet, "We're still in Empire territory. They haven't been able to cross the Ash Rim for years, but they've had time to make Maladeth into a proper province."

"So Imperial Law still applies." Lara sighed.

"Lucky for us, information about criminals comes only twice a year. They just got their shipment of harvest goods." Gammond said, "Won't be another update until spring."

"Hopefully we can find a part of the Rim not currently under siege." Lucia suggested.

Gammond shivered, "Gods, it's freezing."

"We'll get a fire going, you big baby." Lucia patted Gammond on the shoulder, "C'mon girl, help me gather some fuel."

Lara pushed herself to her feet and followed Lucia towards a light forest. A large part of the forest seemed to have recently suffered a fire. Ash coated the ground and a good portion of the trees were burned up and charred.

Lara stepped over to the living trees and snapped off some twigs.

"What are you doing?" Lucia exclaimed.

Lara whirled around, "Gathering wood."

"That wood is valuable. Leave it be. Get an armful of charcoal like a normal person." Lucia sighed.

Lara gathered charcoal in silence, daring not to speak to Lucia. They brought their fuel, along with leaves for tinder back to the shore. The Auriok stacked the pieces of charcoal together and backed away as Lara heated her hands, igniting the fire.

Once she canceled the Fler, the heat managed to touch her hands.

"You know, I've seen your Fler before." Gammond muttered, still holding himself as the sun set on the west horizon.

"You have?" Lara perked up.

"Nihilflers, my countrymen call them. We call their users Ignitors." Gammond said.

"They're used in the army all the time," Lucia mentioned. "Great for setting explosions off."

"Your country opposes the Well Glorekja so fervently, they wiped its existence from their society." Gammond said, "But that doesn't change the fact that there are people like us who can still use it."

"Atrell isn't 'my country.' They've shown me I'm not wanted. So I don't want them either." Lara growled.

Gammond nodded, "Fair."

"Anyways, do you know where we're going?" Lara asked.

"Lucia knows the South better than I do. It's her call." Gammond said, looking at the Auriok.