Chapter 12 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

Amber followed Kenan through the square and stared in close mouthed fascination as he exchanged short greetings and clasped hands with people as they walked by. It was obvious that everyone knew and respected him.

“So I’m guessing you weren’t exaggerating when you said this was your village?”

“Nope.” Kenan had paused outside of a large house. He leaned forward, giving her a charming smile as he rested his hand on the wooden door behind her.

Amber looked up at the house. It was very large, though not as large as the houses that she knew back home. Still, after days of traveling with no roof over her head, it seemed like a mansion. She counted three stories from the ground level, with several windows on each story.

Kenan was staring at her seductively and the look of interest on his face made his desire for her obvious. Just when her heart rate started to accelerate he rocked back on his heels and reached for an ornate gold key that was hanging around his neck.   The key had been concealed by his clothes and Amber turned her head quickly when she realized that she was staring at his chest muscles. He unlocked the door and gestured for Amber and the boy to go inside.

They entered a large room that resembled a trophy room. It was filled with strange artifacts that looked like they were from another time or another place, although she saw some statuettes that reminded her of home. Amber began to examine some of these items, but Kenan cleared his throat as if trying to get her attention. She began following him down a narrow hallway. She looked back and saw the boy trying to open another door that was locked.

“Come on!” she half whispered, half yelled, and he reluctantly followed.

As if he could read their thoughts, Kenan said, “If you need to get anywhere in here, just come ask me. Every room is locked, but I carry the master key with me at all times.”

They followed him up a winding staircase which led them to another narrow hallway. Kenan stopped at a door on the left and unlocked it with his master key. He looked at the boy with a warm smile and said, “I think you’ll find this room to your liking.”

The boy stepped into the room. It was small and rather plain looking, but very tidy, with clean blankets on the bed. There was a small bookshelf filled with several leather-bound volumes.

“You must be famished,” continued Kenan. “I will make sure that someone brings you a tray of food right away.”

Amber thought that out of the corner of her eye she saw the corner of the boy’s mouth turn up into a slight smile just before Kenan gently pulled the door closed behind him.

“And now, my dear, let me show you to your room.”

He led her up another flight of stairs to yet another hallway that looked identical to the previous two. Amber was expecting another small room with a mini library. She was shocked when he opened the door and she saw a room that was at least twice the size of the boy’s room. It had a very large bookshelf that spanned the length of the room, covered with hundreds of volumes.

She spied a king size bed with what were obviously silk sheets. Next to the bed was an oaken chest of drawers. There was also a beautiful vanity topped with the biggest mirror she had ever seen. On the right side of the room was an open door which led into an immaculate bathroom. Kenan finally spoke up when she had kept her silence for a long time.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes…um…it’s perfect,” she said, still in shock over the extravagance.

“Excellent. Well, I’m sure you will want to clean up from your journey. I shall have my servant draw a warm bath for you. Afterwards, I would be honored if you would join me for dinner.”

No sooner than he’d stepped out of the room a servant materialized, carrying a heavy pail of water. He made several trips in and out of the room until eventually the tub was filled. After he left, Amber placed her dirty clothes on the floor outside of the bathroom and stepped into the warm water. She had not bathed since just before she had left the fairy kingdom, and the journey had left her feeling filthy.

She relished the experience as if it were both the first time she had ever had a warm bath and the last time it might ever happen. After what felt like hours, she finally remembered that Kenan was expecting her for dinner. Imagining him waiting at a table all alone, she immediately stepped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around herself and another around her hair, and came out of the bathroom.

She was shocked when she saw that her clothes were gone. Had someone come in here and taken them while she was in the bath? For a moment she felt violated. Then she looked at the bed and saw a beautiful silk nightgown and robe set spread out on it. Apparently, the same servant who prepared her bath had also brought her clean clothes.

She thought it odd that a man like Kenan would have items like these. But suspicions fled her mind and she no longer cared the moment she felt the fresh clean garments on her clean skin. She felt like she was in heaven. Just after she finished getting dressed, she heard a gentle tap on the door. “Come in,” she said, and in walked Kenan.

“I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing. I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to give you all the time you needed. Are you ready to join me for dinner?”

Amber didn’t know how it was possible, perhaps she’d been so filthy that even her eyes had a layer of grime on them, but he looked even more magnificent than when she had first seen him. As she stared open-mouthed at him, she finally remembered that he was waiting for a response.

“Yes! Yes, definitely.”

“Excellent. Follow me.”

He led her down the hallway to another flight of stairs. As they walked, her curiosity got the best of her and she asked him a question that she had been wondering about.

“So, where did you get this nightgown?”

“Do you like it?” Kenan replied. “It was my mother’s. She was about your size.”

She nodded her head at the perfectly logical explanation. They had arrived at a huge dining room. Next to a roaring fireplace was a very long table filled with several exquisite foods and a large chalice of red wine. Kenan ran in front of her and pulled out a chair for her, beckoning her to sit down. He sat down next to her, and as servants began dishing up food for them he finally asked a question of his own.

“So, what is a lovely young lady, such as yourself, doing walking through these dangerous lands without protection?”

“I was on my way to visit…someone.” She paused, not wanting to give him more detail than necessary.

“And where do you come from?” Kenan asked.

“I come from a village called Beckingston.”

“I see,” he said with a smile before taking a drink of wine.

“You know,” she continued, “when I arrived in your village, I couldn’t help but notice the warded walls. I never expected to see something like that way out in the woods.”

“Yes, the elementals are always a looming threat, which is why those walls are so important. But as long as you see fit to reside here, I personally guarantee that no harm shall come to you.”

He continued to gently prod her with questions throughout dinner, some of which she gave a complete answer to, while others she could only answer in part. However, as the evening progressed she began to feel a secure in a way she had never felt before. Perhaps it was the wine, but the more relaxed she got the looser her tongue became.

Chapter 11 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

The gates were closed and night had fallen. The tree elementals were gaining on them rapidly and Amber was certain they weren’t going to make it in time. Amber pulled a desperate burst of air into her lungs and screamed “Help!” as she began pounding on the wooden timbers of the wall. The wall was massive; towering taller than most trees and even in the fading light she could see where sections of wood had been pieced together and that every gap had been filled in with mud.

Several hand carved wards were hung along the walls like shields, with no more than an inch or two of space between them. To be so close to the safety and succor of the warded village and still die would just be too cruel. When it became apparent that no one was going to open the gates Amber gave up hope and slumped down on the ground with her back leaned up against the gate.

The tree elementals were approaching in a huge herd. They would tear them apart; there was no doubt about it. Amber had closed her eyes and when she felt something drop on her head she braced herself, knowing it was the end.

“Grab the rope!” voices yelled.

Amber opened her eyes and realized it was the end of a large rope that had hit her in the head. She grabbed on tight and the boy ran towards her just in time to hold on to her leg as they were already pulling her up. The tree elementals began to howl as they realized that their prey was escaping.

Amber’s heart stuck in her throat as she feared they wouldn’t get them over the wall in time. The boy’s fingers dug into her leg and he was making little whimpering sounds. They were just about to the top when the first tree elemental reached the wall.

It didn’t even slow down, but just kept going until it rammed into the wall. A large burst of light lit the night as the magic in the shield flared and the elemental crumpled in pain and then backed away making low grumbling sounds. He must have been communicating with the rest of the herd because they continued making the sounds for a few seconds before two of the tree elementals split off from the rest of the herd and charged the gate to either side of where the first elemental had connected.

More light flared and again the elementals crumbled but the massive herd continued to take turns testing the wall. By this point Amber and the boy had reach the top of the wall and they were both standing at the top of a large wooden parapet staring in rapt fascination as the elementals continued charging until they disappeared around to the other side of the wall.

“They must like you a lot to keep trying like that.”

Amber turned towards the voice and forgot to breathe for a second because she was staring at the sexiest man she’d ever seen. His long raven black hair was tied in the back with a ribbon and his dark brows were raised in question above the clearest blue eyes. He wore a dark brown leather vest with a burgundy shirt underneath. Topping it all off was an amazing leather coat that stopped just a few inches short of the ground.

The back of the coat held a thick serviceable hood which he had resting on his back at the moment. His leather boots came up past his knees drawing her attention to his muscular thighs. The boy poked her in the side and Amber’s cheeks turned red as she wondered how long she’d been staring in wide mouthed wonder at their new host.

“I kind of set one of them on fire,” Amber admitted sheepishly.

“That would do it.”

“Where is everybody? You didn’t pull us both up by yourself did you?”

“Aren’t you going to thank me?”

“Yes, of course! Thank you for saving us.”

“I had help, they just moved to the other side to make sure that the wards hold.”

“I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“They normally stay away from the wards; they have a long memory and they don’t like pain.”

“What is this place?”

“Follow me, I’d rather show it off than talk about it.”

If she’d see the village just a week ago she’d have been repulsed at how primitive it was compared to the town she’d grown up in. The streets were nothing but muddy tracks where too many feet had walked through. Amber tried to remind herself that the walls were all that mattered as she hiked up the trailing hem of her already dirty skirt. It wasn’t as if the forest had been any cleaner and she didn’t know why it was bothering her now.

There were dozens of people milling around the village square pretending to go about their business as they gossiped and stared at the newcomer. It only took Amber one glance to realize that men outnumbered women ten to one. The women she did see looked tired and overworked as they stirred giant cauldrons full of laundry and tended to animals in a large pen next to the square.

“I’m Kenan and this is my village,” he said as he held a hand out towards the square.

“I’m Amber, and it’s impressive,” she said focusing on the gates in her mind so it wasn’t really a lie. “Is there an inn or somewhere my friend and I could stay?”

The boy had stayed close to Amber this whole time. Any closer and he’d have had to hold on to her physically. Kenan held a hand to his chin as he thought for a moment and Amber wondered if she’d said or done something wrong.

“There isn’t an inn,” Kenan said “so you’ll just have to stay in my house.”

 

Chapter 10 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

As Amber fell, time seemed to stand still. All she could think about was the hole in her heart. She felt like Alexander had taken her very soul with him when he’d left. Her life didn’t flash before her eyes, because there was no life. She couldn’t remember anything before him. He was her only reason for being, and without him she just didn’t want to live.

She was wracked with guilt. She knew it was all her fault that he’d left her. “After all,” she thought “who could love a ginormous freak like me?” She decided he had even more reason to despise her since she had single-handedly managed to destroy their entire kingdom which had taken centuries to build. She couldn’t remember how high in this tree she was, but she was hoping that it was high enough that the fall would instantly kill her and put her out of her misery.

Suddenly, time resumed and her thoughts were interrupted as she landed roughly in a bramble bush. Sadly, the fall was enough to hurt a lot but not to kill her. She was too upset to notice the several scratches that now covered her body. As she continued to sob, she looked up to see that the giant who had done this to her was walking toward her. Now that her eyes had adjusted to being this size, she realized that he was actually a young boy, possibly seven years old.

He threw some clothes at her and turned around, as if trying to give her some privacy. It was then that she noticed that she’d burst out of her beautiful wedding dress when she had her freak growth spurt. There was nothing left of her tattered wedding dress but a few threads which meant she was totally naked. If she hadn’t been so overwhelmed by sorrow she would have been a little embarrassed, but she was at least grateful to be hidden behind a bramble bush.

As she fingered the garment in her hand something shifted in her mind. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she knew that there was something familiar about it. There was something plaguing her about this strange boy too, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. It was as if she knew him yet didn’t at the same time.

*****

They had been walking an unknown path for a while, and she had been venting her sorrow to the boy, who was the only audience. He hadn’t said a word, which was just fine because she wasn’t really expecting answers from him, just an audience.

“Why did he have to leave?”

“How could he do this to me?”

“Did he ever really love me?”

The boy said nothing. Once she thought that she saw him rolling his eyes but when she turned to face him he faced forward with no expression. And then, after they’d been traveling for hours, her emotions began to slowly shift from sorrow to anger.

“Who does he think he is, calling me a monster?”

“So what if I’m a giant? It’s not like he’s perfect either! I wasn’t exactly in love with those stupid wings on his back!”

“I was willing to overlook that and make the relationship work! If only he were here, I would give him a piece of my mind! Maybe I would squash him like the bug he is!”

Suddenly her rage was uncontrollable, and she began to feel heat in her hands. When she held up her hands, fire shot out. Amber screamed, but then she realized that her hands still didn’t hurt. Perplexed, she looked up at the boy, who for the first time actually seemed genuinely afraid. She was afraid too. First she’d found out that she was a giant, and now she can shoot fire out of her hands! Who was she, really?

The boy began to slowly back away from her, not paying attention to the tree behind him. Without warning, the branches of the tree grabbed onto his shoulder. He tried to pull away, but the branches just gripped him tighter, wrapping themselves around his body. Amber just stood there paralyzed. None of this made any sense. Her thoughts swirled through her mind as she tried to decide what to do next.

“A walking tree? I haven’t seen one of those since…”

And then it all started coming back to her. The tree elemental that she had encountered before. A rock elemental had broken it in half. Where had she seen this? She was on the way to see someone. Someone important. Someone who she knew had answers about this fire that was still coming out of her hands.

“C…Ca…Cal…Callie!”

Finally the boy, who was in the throes of desperation as he struggled against the tree beast that held him tight, blurted out the first word that Amber could remember him saying.

“Help!”

Amber snapped out of her trance. She knew what she needed to do. She looked at the tree elemental and she imagined that it was Alexander as she pointed her hands at it.

“Leave him alone!”

A large burst of fire shot from her hands and the bough of the tree elemental burst into flames. The boy’s hair was a bit singed as the burning tree dropped him on the ground and began frantically running around in circles. Suddenly, the whole forest seemed to come alive as tree elementals began coming out of the woodwork.

Amber grabbed the boy and started running. His legs were dragging the ground as he struggled to keep up with her. She was trying to go somewhere, anywhere, to get away from the tree elementals that were hot on her heels. They didn’t even have to run because of their enormous strides. The ground rumbled with each step as they obliterated everything in their path. They would soon be on top of them, and then what would happen? Certainly they wouldn’t take kindly to her toasting one of their own, and she didn’t know if she had enough power to take them all on. Over the hill, she saw a village with strange markings on the walls. She knew if they could just get there they would be safe. If they could just get past the warded walls…

Chapter 9 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

The fairy king was old with long white eyebrows and a beard to match. What was left of his hair was also white and he wore a long pointy golden crown to top it off. He was dressed in long flowing blue robes covered richly with embroidery. The queen didn’t appear to be quite as old, but then all of her hair was wrapped up under a lacey veil so it was hard to discern its exact color.

Both the king and queen leaned forward in anticipation and Alexander seemed to be pausing on purpose for dramatic effect. Amber wondered what she’d do if they didn’t approve of her. She knew she’d just die if she couldn’t be with Alexander. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it another second he spoke.

“I’d like you to meet Amber. We’d like to get married immediately.”

“So soon?” the queen replied. “I mean I’m thrilled, darling, absolutely thrilled, but there’s just so much to do!” The queen jumped down from her throne, her wings fluttering gracefully, until she stopped just in front of Amber. “May I?” she asked and then wrapped her arms around Amber in a giant hug without waiting for an answer.

“I’m sure you two have a million things to do,” Alexander said as he gave his mom and Amber a gentle nudge towards the door.

Amber looked back longingly at Alexander as the queen began discussing different fabric and flower options but he’d already turned his back on her. She decided to make the most of it and before long she was caught up in the raptures of planning her wedding.

“Son, are you sure?” the king asked after the women had left the room. “What could you possibly have done to make her fall for you so quickly?”
Alexander pulled the small glass vile from out of his pocket and showed his father. His father chuckled and leaned back in his seat with a knowing smile.

“And you said you’d never use it!”

“That was before I believed anyone could resist my charms.”

“You have a wonderful marriage ahead of you.”

“Thank you, father. Isn’t she beautiful?”

“She’s magnificent. Do you remember the warning I gave you?”

“Of course, but that’s not going to be a problem.”

“Just remember never to be away from her for longer than a day or the results will be disastrous.”

***

It had been the hardest and the most wonderful two days of her life. The ceremony was being held in the courtyard and it had been totally transformed. Amber smoothed down the white silk of her wedding dress and looked down the long aisle to the altar. A shimmery veil dropped down in front of her eyes and on top of her hair where it continued down her back to where it met up with the long train of her dress.

Flower petals had been strewn along the aisle by adorable little fairies in pink tulle dresses and the matching wooden pews were festooned with ribbons and even more flowers. The music started and Amber took the King’s outstretched arm and began walking with her eyes fixed eagerly on Alexander. In a few moments he’d be hers forever.

They’d reached the altar and the king lifted the veil from her face and placed a quick kiss on her cheek before placing her hand in Alexander’s and taking a seat next to the queen. The priest began to speak but the words of the ceremony were lost on Amber. All of her attention was focused on Alexander’s hand on top of her own, on his lips so close to hers that they were begging to be kissed.

When the fairies began screaming it took Amber a few minutes to realize what was going on. A giant had climbed the tree and he was reaching his arm into the courtyard. Anyone who didn’t get out of his way fast enough was knocked down. Alexander picked Amber up and started to fly but Amber’s lack of wings was slowing him down too much.

Alexander dropped Amber and she fell with a thud when the giant tried to grab him, and he stabbed him in the finger with his sword. It didn’t do much damage to the giant, only eliciting a tiny pin prick of blood, but it did cause the giant to pull back momentarily. Amber screamed as the giant’s arm lunged toward her and then she was drowning in a deluge of warm liquid. She gasped, sputtering as it filled her mouth and nose.

Her skin began to twitch and she felt as if her bones were turning to jelly. The royal family hovered at a safe distance, wings shimmering as they started in open mouthed horror as Amber’s limbs began to stretch. Her growth was so rapid that the seams stretched and tore on her brand new wedding dress, and all too quickly her head punched through the overhanging branches of the tree.

The palace floor began to creak and groan, unable to support her weight as the centuries old foundation began to crumble beneath her. She wrapped her arms around the trunk of the tree just in time as the courtyard disappeared before her eyes. There were rumbling sounds coming from the palace itself now and tears came to Amber’s eyes as she saw the fairy folk flying out of the palace from all directions. They were clutching small children and hastily gathered belongings to their chests.

“Alexander!” she wailed reaching out to wrap her hands around him when she saw him start to fly off with the rest.

“Let me go, monster!” he screamed as he stabbed wildly at her with his sword.

“Please tell me you still love me,” she begged desperately. “I’m sure we can fix this.”

“How could I love someone as hideous as you?” he spat.

Amber felt as if her heart were breaking in two and she let her hand go lax, releasing the fairy prince. He immediately joined his subjects flying quickly away. Amber felt as if she were going numb as her hands lost their purchase on the tree, clawing clumsily at the bark. As her hands lost their hold she began to plummet down to the ground.

Chapter 8 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

Amber couldn’t help herself when the prince entered the carriage; she stood up and threw herself into his arms for a hug and almost knocked him back onto the ground in the process.

                “Did you miss me?” he asked with a sly grin.

                “Oh yes!  I find that I just can’t bare it when you’re away from me.”

“I know darling.  Don’t worry, we’ll be married soon and then you can have me all to yourself.”

Amber stared out the window and hung on Alexander’s every word as he pointed out various landmarks as they rolled by.  It was a beautiful kingdom with everything in miniature.  Little houses had been built into the bases of trees and even dug into the dirt of the hillside.

All of the homes were perfectly maintained, and whenever they drove by fairies rushed out to wave.  Amber gave a start of surprise when she looked up and saw fairies flying high up in the trees, and she held her breath when the ants began to climb a pathway that had been carved into the side of the tree.  She clung tight to Alexander’s hand as they climbed higher and higher up.

She turned her face into Alexander’s shoulder, unable to look anymore.  She was beginning to process the fact that their destination was at the very top of the giant tree.  There were pink flower blossoms everywhere and they filled the air with an intoxicating perfume.  The castle was located at the center of the tree and it rose several stories in the air.

It was made of stone and Amber could only imagine how long it must have taken to carry up all of the materials.  Ambers eyes widened as she realized several of the stones were made of precious gems and they sparkled so brightly that the whole castle appeared to be covered in stars.

“Most of us just fly up because it’s faster,” Alexander whispered softly in her ear.

“It must be wonderful to have wings,” Amber said reaching out a hand to caress one of his.  They were white rimmed in gold with little iridescent bits scattered throughout.  She was filled with longing and more than a little self-loathing.

“I don’t know how you can even love me.  I feel so ugly without wings.”

“You’re not ugly, you’re beautiful.  And I’ll kill anyone who says otherwise.”

They had arrived at the palace gates and as they crossed the bridge the gates swung open, beckoning them inside.  Apparently the fairy folk didn’t feel that the cherry blossoms were enough because there were even more flowers planted in pots and trimmed neatly in vases.  And all of the bright colors melded together into something that could only be described as picturesque.

Even boring and functional items like carts and wagons had been painted and embellished with bright gaudy colors.  Nothing she’d ever seen before had even remotely compared with the magnificence of the fairy kingdom.

The carriage continued all the way up to the front door of the castle and Amber stood nervously squeezing onto Alexander’s hand when a fairy in bright livery opened the door to the carriage and held out his hand to assist her.  Amber tugged self-consciously at her makeshift clothing and then stood up straight trying to appear confident and make a good impression with her future subjects.

“Are you ready to meet my parents?”

“Like this?”  Amber pointed again to what she was wearing and wondered what was keeping her fairy godmother so busy that she couldn’t help out with something so important.

“They’re going to love you no matter what,” Alexander said reassuringly and put a hand on her back to gently propel her forward.

Amber took a deep breath and followed him inside.  Her eyes grew wide as she saw the inside of the castle.  In comparison to the opulence of the interior of the palace the exterior was downright plain.  Brightly embroidered tapestries and lush silks covered the walls and the marble floors were spread with finely crafted rugs.  Ornately carved tables were spread about every few feet and covered with lovely vases of fresh cut flowers.

Alexander began to lead her down a wide hallway where every inch of wall space was covered with large oil paintings depicting generations of leaders of the royal family.  Amber’s eyes strained as she searched for a photo of Alexander and she wasn’t disappointed when he paused at the end of the hallway showing a display of the current members of the royal family.  In the painting Alexander was wearing formal clothing and he looked majestic as he posed with one hand braced on the hilt of his sword.

Amber couldn’t believe her good fortune, to spend a life in such decadent surroundings married to the most powerful, not to mention attractive, fairy in the kingdom.  She couldn’t think of anything else that would make her happier.  When she tried to remember what her life had been before she met Alexander her memory was hazy, almost as if there were a wall obscuring her access to the past.

She shook her head to clear away the confusion and stopped trying to think and just lived in the moment.  Alexander had paused outside of a large set of double doors and he gave her a reassuring smile as their presence was formally announced and then she took his arm as he led her into the royal throne room.

Giant stained glass windows spread rainbows onto the white marble floors.  There was a narrow scarlet rug leading all the way up to a raised platform.  Set on the platform were four regal thrones, only two of which were occupied.  Amber wanted to dig in her heels and run but she followed dutifully, placing one foot in front of the next, pausing before the King and Queen and lowering her head as she dropped into a curtsy.

“Mother.  Father.  I have an announcement to make.” Alexander smiled and wrapped an arm around Amber’s shoulder.

 

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Chapter 7 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

“Yours is an exceptionally rare and magnificent beauty. I would gladly gaze into the rich pools of your bewitching green eyes for an eternity. The full buds of your lips put to shame the reddest of roses. Your skin is perfection carved from alabaster. You were destined to be a princess.”

 “Wow… uh well I guess as far as pickup lines go that’s supposed to be good, but no thanks.” Amber began to walk away but the man stepped back in front of her, forcing her to stop.

“I am Prince Alexander, next in line for the throne to the Fairy Kingdom of Wayes.”

“Hmmmm… brag much? Amber here. And can you go away now?”

“Go away?” The prince dropped to his knees and held a hand dramatically to his heart. “I’ve loved you from the first moment I saw you. Marry me.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“I assure you my intentions are steadfast and true,” Alexander replied solemnly.

Amber burst out laughing and was surprised to see the sudden anger in his eyes. The Fairy Prince stood back up and reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a tiny glass vial. It was filled with a fine green powder. Prince Alexander removed the cap and sprinkled a small bit into the palm of his hand. He walked a couple of steps closer and Amber took an involuntary step back.

“What’s that?” Amber asked nervously.

“Just a present my father gave me when I came of age. Until this moment I never thought I’d have to use it.”

Without warning he blew the powder straight into her eyes and then clamped a hand fiercely to each side of her head, forcing her to look at him and only him. Once he’d made sure that their eyes had met he leaned in closer, touching his lips to hers. At first Amber fought, trying to tear free from his iron- like grip.

She bit his lip until she tasted blood but he was just too strong and merely pressed his lips tighter to her own. As the potion began to take effect, Amber felt the fight go out of her and her limbs relaxed and went limp. A fire began to burn deep within her and she began to kiss him back vigorously. She threw her arms around him, moaning deeply with passionate abandon.

Amber stared at the Prince with love filled eyes, utterly lost to the power of the mind-altering love potion. She rained little kisses all over his face and then returned back to placing hungry kisses on his lips. Alexander smiled and pulled her in closer, wrapping his arms around her as he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“Marry me?” As he spoke, his lips caressed her hair and the feel of his warm breath on her ear was like a caress.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Amber bounced giddily and spun around in a circle before wrapping his arms back around her happily. It was as if all of her worries and troubles had been erased from her mind. Never had she been happier or felt more complete than this moment in his arms. It was as if her entire life had been building up to this one glorious moment. Time lost all meaning and she was surprised when she felt a gentle tugging on her arm.

“Follow me, my love.”

“Anywhere,” she answered dreamily and held his hand as he led her over to his waiting carriage.

The carriage was beautiful, painted white and covered with jewels that sparkled in the light. It was pulled not by horses but by powerful black ants. There were six ants in all and all of them were harnessed together to the carriage. Prince Alexander shooed away his valet and helped Amber into the carriage himself.

Amber sighed when she saw that the beauty of the carriage’s interior exceeded even that of the exterior. The walls were lined with violet satin gathered and sewn so that it cascaded down the walls in ripples. The seat was padded by soft velvety cushions upholstered in mauve and fringed with little bits of amethyst.

She pulled at the edges of her handkerchief gown, feeling out of place in the midst of such opulence. She looked up in expectation, waiting for the Prince to join her. Even though he was standing just outside the carriage she felt as if he were miles away. She leaned forward as if drawn towards the Prince by an invisible rope and held out her arms invitingly.

“A moment, my love,” said Alexander as he closed the door to the carriage and nodded towards his men.

“Your highness.” One of the soldiers in his royal guard stepped forward and bowed deeply to the Prince. “What would you have us do with the man child?”

Alexander looked over at the form of the grotesquely oversized human boy and pressed his fingers against his forehead deep in thought.

“If we were to kill it we could bring a plague on our country. The body is much too close to the kingdom,” the Prince mused.

“But what if there are more like him?” the guard asked hesitantly.

“Look at the urchin’s clothing. He’s filthy and starving, so he must be alone.”

“So what would you have me do, Highness?”

“Leave him. As long as we’re gone before the drugs wear off he’ll never find us.”

The boy stifled a gasp, unable to believe what he’d seen. He quickly closed his eyes, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that the effects of the fairies’ drugged arrows had already worn off. He was just too big for them to have had any lasting effect.

He didn’t know what to do. Even with his size advantage he was unarmed and grossly outnumbered. He had no other option but to wait and see how events would unfold.

 

Chapter 6 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

The boy had run for as long as he could. He was simply too exhausted to run any more so he collapsed onto the forest floor. He was tempted to lean back against a tree but he knew better than that; even in the full light of day he had no desire to disturb a tree elemental from its slumber.

He pulled a small white mouse from his pocket and the mouse twitched and squeaked and tried to leap from his hands to the ground. “Shhhh…” he whispered and then spoke for the first time, “I can fix this.” The mouse stopped struggling and the boy sat her on the ground and took off his coat.

There was a hidden pocket sewn into the back of the lining and the boy lifted up a flap and pulled out a slim bundle of fabric. He pulled on a small ribbon and unrolled the parcel with a flourish. The mouse leaned in closer as the boy began to pull out little packets of dried herbs.

He broke off a few small pieces and then crumbled them between his fingers, turning them into a fine powder. He clenched his fist around the powder and used one hand to return everything neatly to the pouch and then concealed it once again in the hidden pocket of his coat.

Careful not to open his hand he pulled his coat back on and knelt back down next to the small white mouse. He held open the palm of his empty hand and she climbed back up into it willingly; but then it’s not as if Amber had any other options, being as she was currently trapped in the body of a tiny mouse and her life was quite literally in the hands of a seven year old boy.

The boy started walking again and his ears perked up when he was able to detect the faint gurgling of a nearby stream. The boy hadn’t made any more efforts at speech so the mouse gave a little squeak of fright when he spoke. She almost jumped out of his hand and into the water but he caught her just in time.

“You need to drink all of this,” he said as he sat her down and scooped up some water with his hand. He kept his hand formed in a cup shape as he began to carefully sift the powder onto the water, stirring it with his index finger. The mouse inched forward whiskers bristling and sniffed the liquid before scurrying back.

“Do you want to be human again or not?” the boy asked, frustrated.

Slowly the mouse inched back towards the boy’s outstretched hand and took a small drink of the liquid. “More,” the boy commanded and the mouse took another begrudging sip.

The mouse began to convulse and twitch, bending back so far that for a moment the boy feared its little spine would snap. Steam began to come out of its ears and then the boy screamed as the tiny mouse burst into flame.

“No!” the boy shouted, reaching his hands towards the flames, but the heat was intolerable. Tears sprang to his eyes as he was overwhelmed with guilt. “I’m so sorry… I thought… it should have…”

And then the fire was just gone. It didn’t burn out slowly, it was just extinguished. The boy’s eyes opened wide as he witnessed the ears shift, the fur and tail disappear and the nose shrink back to reveal a set of full lips. Gone was the mouse and back was the girl, and her beautiful green eyes were filled with rage.

“You set me on fire!”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know how that happened.”

“Why are you so big?”

“I don’t…”

“AND WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES?!” Amber screamed pulling her hair around to cover herself and putting out her hands protectively.

The boy turned his head away blushing crimson all the way up to the roots of his hair and he began to dig around in his pockets until he found a small handkerchief. It was covered in tiny white lace and given his appearance, surprisingly clean. He peered between two fingers as if to shield his eyes and she jerked it angrily out of his hands.

“Turn around!” she yelled at him.

Even at full volume her voice was still so quiet he wouldn’t have heard her if he hadn’t already been listening. Amber was filled with equal measures of embarrassment and indignation and her hands were shaking as she twisted and wrapped the fabric around her body.

The boy was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn’t know they were being attacked until he felt the sting of a dozen tiny arrows bite into his skin almost simultaneously. The tips of the arrows were laced with some sort of poison and he fought fruitlessly to keep his eyes open.

The last thing he saw before his eyes closed was an army of tiny soldiers racing towards him, all aiming bows directly at him.

“You should be dressed in the finest of silks,” a voice spoke from behind Amber and she jumped almost losing hold of her makeshift gown.

“Get away from me,” she threatened as her frightened eyes took in the overwhelming numbers of armed soldiers.

“Such harsh words from someone so beautiful.”

“What did you do to the boy?” Amber asked looking over at his unconscious form.

“We didn’t kill him,” the man smiled and Amber wanted to punch him in the face even if he was the best looking man she’d ever seen. “Yet.”

“What do you want from me?”

“From the moment I saw you emerge from the flames I’ve only wanted one thing.”

Chapter 5 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

Amber smiled when she saw the plume of smoke rising in the distance, for with it came the possibility of food and shelter. As they got closer she was able to make out the distinctive shape of the chimney and a large cottage that seemed out of place in the middle of the forest. Thoughts of warm food and dry clothes overtook all of her thoughts and gave new energy to her tired limbs.

“I hope they have enough food to share,” Amber said to the boy.

He’d still yet to speak and Amber wasn’t about to force him so she just kept up a one sided conversation until they reached a small stone walkway.

“Can you imagine a nice warm bath? What I wouldn’t give for a nice new pair of shoes.”

There was a faint shimmering in the air as Amber stepped onto the pathway. She shivered and rubbed her arms trying to get rid of the sudden goose bumps. It was as if the air were filled with a million tiny dust motes. She blinked her eyes and they were gone and she was sure she’d just imagined it.

“My imagination needs to learn to focus on nice and pleasant things,” she thought to herself as she tugged on the boy’s arm to make sure he was following. He dug his heals in and tried to pull his hand out of her grasp.

“Don’t be such a goose,” Amber said before forcefully pulling him up beside her. “Don’t you want to spend the night with a roof over our heads?” The boy shuddered in fear and didn’t answer.

The boy was holding her arm so tightly that his fingers were biting into the tender flesh of her arms. Amber winced and tried to ignore it. She focused instead on her surroundings. The yard was beautiful, filled with a seemingly endless array of plants which were being cultivated neatly from one side of the yard to the other. She reached out to touch one and the boy pulled back on her hand and shook his head no.

“This kid is ridiculous,” Amber thought to herself but she decided to humor him because, after all, he’d been through something horrible. The door was roughhewn wood and when she knocked, it creaked open. “It must not have been pulled shut all the way,” she whispered more to herself than the boy.

“Hello?” she called out before pushing the door open the rest of the way. “May we come in?”

No one answered her and whoever lived in the cottage appeared to be out at the moment. Not in her wildest dreams could she have imagined such a gracious welcome. It was if someone had been eagerly awaiting her arrival. The fire was roaring, filling the cozy cottage with heat and giving off a pleasant crackling sound.

There were two clean and dry robes hanging from pegs and Amber told the boy to turn away as she stripped off her wet clothes and laid them to dry by the fire. She slipped on the robe sighing as the fire-warmed silk caressed her cold chapped skin. When she saw what awaited them in the next room she dropped her bag down next to the hearth and rushed through the arched doorway.

The room was filled almost wall to wall with a giant table that barely left room for the chairs. Every inch of the table was covered in food and Amber began to salivate as she thought of how long it had been since she’d last eaten. There was so much to choose from that she couldn’t contain her excitement anymore and did a little happy dance before spinning around in a full circle.

She began to reach for a plate when the little boy grabbed her arm again. He shook his head frantically no and Amber shook his hand off irritably and returned to eyeing the piles of freshly baked breads, puddings, and cured meats. This trumped all of the feast day banquets the city had ever prepared.

“There’s more than enough. Grab a plate.”

He continued to shake his head no but she wasn’t paying attention anymore. She filled two heaping plates and sat down to eat. When she’d finished the first plate and he still hadn’t joined her she moved on to the second plate. With still no sign of her host she left her dishes on the table and walked back to the room with the fire.

The boy was huddled on the ground with his knees pulled into his chest right next to the exterior door. She shook her head, not willing to let anything get her down. As she curled up on the rug in front of the fire she wondered what sort of wonderful person must live here, and if they’d let her stay.

She fell asleep feeling comfortable and safe with the corners of her lips still upturned in a smile. Hours later she was ripped from her sweet dreams by a fiercely cruel pain raking across her skull. She felt as if the bones in her head were grinding together and being crushed. She whipped her arms out to fight off an invisible assailant but no one was there.

Amber screamed when she saw her arms shrinking before her very eyes but her scream came out as an awful squeaking instead. She tried to speak but her vocal chords weren’t functioning properly. She was growing smaller by the second and within a matter of seconds her body was covered in white fur, whiskers had popped out of her face, and she was now sporting a long pink tale.

It was all too much for Amber and she passed out in a tiny heap. The boy stood up from where he’d been squatting by the door and walked over to the hearth where Amber had left her bag. He tried to stuff her clothes into the satchel as best as he could but the bag was already very full. He strung the bag over his shoulder and then walked back towards the door.

He knelt down on the ground staring intensely at the small white mouse that had once been Amber. The mouse was enveloped in a giant fold of silk from the now oversized robe. Amber wasn’t moving; there was no way of telling if she’d survive the transformation.

The boy heard a scratching sound coming from the back of the house, the sound of cat’s claws on hard wood floor. He shoved the mouse in his pants pocket and threw open the door running hard. Streaks of light were just beginning to transform night into day.

He could hear the sound of enraged meowing coming from back at the cottage and he tried to run even faster but the weight of Amber’s bag was slowing him down and he was so tired, and hungry, and weak.

Chapter 3 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

“I suggest you run,” Amber said raising her arms even higher. She was trying to force a false bravado into her voice, and was faking confidence that she didn’t even begin to have. She had to stop herself from taking a big relief infused breath when it looked like he was going to take her seriously.

In fact, the guard didn’t even hesitate as he began backing away. He was afraid to turn his back to her and that made his movements graceless as he stumbled and tripped his way back towards the safety of the city’s walls. Amber’s arms had begun to shake and the fire had long since winked out before he was out of sight.

Amber’s panicked thoughts were racing through every potential horror that faced her. Would he come back with half the city’s guards? Would the town set the dogs on her? Would they hurt her father? She didn’t even know how far it was to the nearest village and her satchel was already weighing heavily on her.

She couldn’t decide what to do and she fought against the urge to just sit down and think things out. All of her carefully made preparations had failed her and this was no time for deep analytical thinking. This was a time for action and the only action that she knew for sure was wrong would be to stay still.

She’d waited too long to leave and she’d no doubt pay for that mistake with her life. But she was unwilling to admit defeat and she stiffened her spin and her resolve as she began to persistently put one foot in front of the other. If they were going to catch her she’d make it as much of a challenge as possible.

Life in the city had not prepared her for the rough terrain of the unyielding forest floor. Her shoes were thin and far more decorative than purposeful. With every step she took she felt as if each and every rock and twig in the forest were trying to stab her in the tender arch of her feet.

For a awhile she let her thoughts give in to pity and regrets. For awhile she wished that she’d never left the city, even daydreaming that she’d have been able to pass her test or that she could have ever been happy with a man like the guard who’d tried to force himself on her. Now that she was out of the city she couldn’t believe how she’d never even questioned the fact that she would have no say in choosing who to marry.

Her thoughts drifted from unwanted marriage to her sister Callie. Part of her wished that she’d runaway and gone with Callie all those years ago. She couldn’t bear to make this journey alone. She knew that other people were just stronger than her. Like the peddlers who traveled between all of the small cities and villages. Every day they faced the countless dangers of the elementals and many of them didn’t survive the trips.

Many of the young boys had wanted to go with the peddlers and see more of the world, but she’d never wanted to leave the city. She’d planned to marry and live in a life of bliss as she had one child after the next and took care of her husband and her home.

She was afraid of her strange magical powers. She’d been raised to believe that magic was evil and dangerous. That was why the testing ceremony had been established, to keep people safe. She had heard stories told by the traveling entertainers about how entire cities had been destroyed by just one person out of control wielding fire or earth magic. The thought of ever exercising that much power terrified her.

She’d been walking for hours when she heard the first crack of thunder and she gasped when the bright light tore across the sky. Although most elementals could come out during the day it was rare. They preferred night and Amber was alarmed when she realized that being struck by lightning was the least of her worries. The clouds were obscuring the sun and turning day into night far ahead of schedule.

She tried to run faster but she kept slipping and somewhere along the way she lost one of her shoes. Out of breath she paused, leaning back against a tree taking in short gasping breaths until she felt something moving. Her breath stilled in her mouth and her heart stopped beating for a moment.

The tree was alive. Amber whimpered as she realized that this was no ordinary tree but one of the many corporeal forms taken by earth elementals. She dashed away from the tree elemental realizing how impossible it would be to find cover in the forest when any of the trees could be an elemental in disguise.

She had to get out of the forest before one of the Tree Elementals slaughtered her. She hadn’t gone far before the lightning struck again and this time it was more than just a flash of light. One of the trees in front of her burst into flame and Amber screamed as the tree seemed to sever from its roots and began crashing around in the forest. The sound was deafening and the sight of fire in the midst of so much wood was terrifying.

She stared in disbelief as the tree morphed and shifted until it looked almost like a giant man with its hair and hands ending in bunches of leaves. The Tree Elemental’s eyes were empty dark sockets and its mouth was made from a knot in the wood. Its mouth was open wide open and making a terrible keening sound. Amber was a ball of nerves as she tried to keep moving and get out of its’ path without drawing attention to herself.

In spite of the rain the fire was already beginning to spread to other trees in the forest when the ground beneath Amber began to rumble. Her eyes grew big as she witnessed a colossal rock giant emerging from the ground. It was as if giant boulders and rocks had been slammed together into a monstrous beast.

It’s arms were massive and ended in beefy fingers that appeared to have been chiseled out of slate and shaped into a fist. It’s head was covered in a fine layer of moss that served almost as hair. The Rock Elemental’s eyes were two angrily glittering rubies. She tried to bend her body out of sight behind a tree but she had no way of knowing if she’d succeeded. Amber’s heart plummeted because she knew she’d never survive against such a creature and he was coming straight towards her.

Chapter 2 – Incendiary – Fire Elemental Series

Just as she’d feared the strong fingers belonged to one of the guards. The guard spun her around and pressed a blade to her throat. She didn’t know his name but she’d seen him before as he made his patrols.

He was a few years older than her and she’d always thought he was attractive in a cocky way. If you ignored his personality he was just about all a girl could want. He was tall and his giant muscles were, well gorgeous. Normally he was everything she would have gone for but now he was blocking her only chance of escape.

“You’re out awful early.”

“Yes, I was just so excited I couldn’t sleep.”

“Today’s your testing day isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“It is pretty exciting. I remember my testing day. I tested soldier which is exactly what I wanted. But then you girls aren’t being tested for apprenticeships, are you?”

Amber hoped he’d mistake her flushed cheeks for nervous jitters and she ducked her head down hoping she looked demure. While the boys tested into apprenticeships the girls were placed into a sort of courtship period with potential mates.

Until the fire magic had begun manifesting, getting married was all she could think about. She’d spent an excessive amount of time dreaming about who her future husband would be, but who would want her now? Even if she somehow managed to pass the test there was no way she could hide her powers forever.

“Can’t wait to find out who your husband will be?”

Amber shook her head shyly from side to side and was relieved to see that the guard had tucked his knife back into his waist pocket. The first rays of the early morning light were beginning to appear and Amber knew it was now or never.

“Have you been granted a wife yet?” She asked coyly as she trailed her fingers down his arm.

She could feel his body shift as he stood up straighter like a peacock fluffing his feathers before giving her his full attention.

“This is the first year I’ve qualified, so no.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “You never know. We might be seeing A LOT more of each other.”

She waited until he’d started to lean in for a kiss before grabbing his knife out of its sheath. She brought her heel down on his foot as hard as she could and kicked him again in the shin before taking off at full speed towards the gate. She could only pray that it wasn’t locked.

The door was unlocked but the latch was old and half rusted so she lost precious seconds as she wrestled to get it open. She tore through the opening but she could hear the unmistakable sound of his footsteps gaining on her and his labored breathing was broken only by his grunted curses.

She’d reached the edge of the forest but he was too close for her to hide. She had to do something to slow him down and the only idea she had was insane but she did it anyway. She stopped running and spun around to face him holding up both of her hands with the palms facing out.

“Stop!” Amber shouted.

“That wasn’t very nice,” he spat as he continued menacingly towards her.

Amber tried to call the fire into her hands but it wouldn’t come. With every second that ticked by he drew closer and Amber inched backwards slowly straining and trying to force the fire into her hands. She’d never tried to call it on purpose before. She’d only ever tried to shut it off.

The back of her shoe snagged on a rock and she fell back hard with a thud. He stood over her and leered before squatting down on the ground next to her. She tried to stand but her legs were all tangled up in her heavy skirts.

“If you just wanted to be alone you should have said so.”

Amber gulped when she realized that alone was just what they were. They were far enough from the city gate that no one would hear her scream and the trees would provide more than enough cover to keep her safe from the eyes of the men patrolling the gate.

An instinctual terror began to fill her limbs as a new fear replaced that of escaping the city. She was old enough to know what this man intended and she wanted no part of it. There were worse things than death and according to city law he would become her husband by default.

It was a woman’s duty to protect her virtue and if she failed she got to spend the rest of her life cooking and cleaning for her attacker. It didn’t happen often but then most girls followed the rules and didn’t leave the city gates. Fear began to morph into rage and she started lashing out with her fists.

“I’d rather die,” she bit out angrily. And then she could feel the searing heat filling her palms, warming her yet somehow not burning the flesh of her hands. His eyes grew big as he noticed the fire.

“That’s not possible,” he stammered. “Magic is forbidden.”

She leaned towards him trying to appear confidant, but with every passing second she feared the flames would go out. She’d never been able to maintain the fire for this long before.