Part 20
Cloaked in Fire
The boat moved on, and the sun crossed the sky. Days passed quickly and Sworder recovered just as quickly, as he had before. One day Namic returned from looking elsewhere to find Ranin lazily watching the girl who seemed to be searching the ship in earnest.
“What is that,” Namic said.
“Just watch,” Ranin said, happily.
The girl began methodically searching every part of the ship she came across.
“Careful,” a sailor said, as she ran down a hallway.
“Yes, sir.”
Ranin and Namic watched her look around the hold in the lower levels of the ship. She searched diligently until she tripped on a crate and fell. As she picked herself up she looked at the crate and began prying it open.
“Are you actually in there?” the girl asked.
“Indeed,” Sworder said.
“How?” the girl said examining the crate.
“I flipped the crate after entering it so the open side is down,” Sworder said.
“Well, I found you so it is your turn to be seeker,” the girl said.
“I can not be a seeker,” Sworder said.
“Why not?”
“Because I can easily find you,” Sworder said.
“What do you mean?” the girl asked.
“I can always find you no matter where you hide. I am your Kazan and you are my Master. Our bond connects us.”
“If it is that strong, how come I don’t get any feelings,” the girl asked.
“Why did you stop and check this crate?” Sworder asked.
“I don’t know. I just thought I might find you there,” the girl said, dropping her head.
“Come, let us go above deck,” Sworder said offering his hand to her.
“Sure,” the girl said, taking it.
“As with most Kazan’s, they share a strong bond,” Ranin said.
“It has grown stronger then I expected,” Namic said. “Despite their conflicts.”
Upon reaching the deck the two were met by Captain Selgaro. “I have something to say to you two,” he said. “It is true that the island port, Claytale, is not allied with Selia but I advise you to not make a spectacle of yourselves. Can I count on you two?”
“Yes sir,” the girl said with down cast eyes.
“Don’t look down,” the Captain said. “My words were not a reproach but a reminder. There is a place for action. Now we arrive the day after next.”
“Yes, sir,” She said while Sworder stood silently beside the girl.
“Another two days?” Ranin said.
“You have waited longer,” Namic said.
“True,” Ranin sighed.
The day’s and the next’s weather was fine and Ranin spent the majority of his time watching the crew’s activities.
As predicted by the Captain the island came into view after two days. Slowly the ship made its way to the island and docked.
“We’ll be here for the day and the next,” Captain Selgaro said. “So stay out of trouble.”
“Yes, sir,” the girl said.
“Do you think she will be able to contain herself?” Ranin asked.
“We shall see,” Namic said. “But someone has shown themselves.”
Ranin looked where Namic indicated and saw Tempest emerging onto the deck and making his way to the shore. The girl followed quickly after him.
“Um, Mr. Tempest?” she said, but he did not stop nor did he respond.
The girl continued to follow the man and call his name several more times as he walked, yet he never responded to her inquiries.
“Persistent,” Ranin said.
“She is seeking answers,” Namic said.
The two exited the city and Tempest kept his slow, steady pace. The girl had fallen silent and simply walked a little ways behind the man. Eventually, he stopped at the top of a large hill just out of sight of the city.
“What do you want?” he asked the girl without turning.
“I want to know how to be a good master,” the girl said.
“And you think I can teach you?” Tempest asked.
“Yes,” the girl said.
“If you want me to teach you then you must pass my test,” Tempest said. “You and your Kazan must work together to have you lay a hand on me.”
“What?” the girl said.
“You are weak; your will, fickle,” Tempest said. “If you want to be a master of a Kazan you must learn not to drag your Kazan down or let your Kazan drag you down.”
“So all I have to do is touch you?” the girl said.
“That is all.”
The girl started walking forward, towards Tempest. She covered the majority of the distance between them when Tempest waved his hand and a gale kicked up and swept the girl off her feet, throwing her back across the hillside. She would have tumbled to the bottom of the hill, but the Vassal of Fire caught her.
“What are you doing?” the Vassal yelled at Tempest.
“Did you expect less?” he asked, calmly. “Will your enemies hold back?”
“That’s no excuse,” the Vassal said, putting down the girl. He drew his claymore and charged Tempest, but before his sword landed a gust of wind deflected it.
“Sworder,” the girl called.
The Vassal jumped back at her word and Tempest shook his head. “Hold nothing back,” he said. “Do not hold your Kazan back.”
The girl nodded, “Let’s go, Sworder.”
The Vassal leapt at Tempest swinging his sword but each strike was deflected like the first. The girl ran behind but as she approached, Tempest thrust his arm back and the girl was blown away again.
“She can’t get near,” Ranin said.
“How will they deal with this?” Namic asked.
The girl stood up as the Vassal continued his assault. Flames began rising from the Vassal’s hands but they were quickly blown out, by the swirling winds.
Exhausted, the Vassal stopped his attack, and with that the wind died away. Slowly, the Vassal advanced, and the wind renewed in response. With each halting step towards Tempest, the biting winds only increased in response. Raising his sword, the Vassal of Fire moved to attack, but the ferocious wind battered against the assailant. As the blade battled against the wind, the hill was rattled from the violence of the buffeting storm. Soon the Vassal found the strength of the wind too great a force, as his sword no longer could be moved forward.
The girl sprinted towards Tempest as he concentrated on the Vassal, but she barely made it past halfway, when with a flip of Tempest’s wrist a wind stream hit the girl’s side. The force of the blow sent the girl twirling through the air. She then smashed into the ground unable to break her fall, holding an injured shoulder as she rose.
“This is bad,” Ranin said.
The Vassal of Fire roared with rage as took another step forward and his blade began to steadily draw closer to Tempest. The flames of the Vassal ignited despite the increased wind; cloaking the Vassal in fire.
“Interesting,” Tempest said, holding out his hand as a whirlwind rushed out from it striking the Vassal’s blade, stopping it in its tracks. The Vassal pulled back his sword and attempted an uppercut. The blade came even closer to Tempest but the wind blocked it still. The Vassal began to slide back, leaving skid marks in the dirt. Then all at once the wind died. The Vassal stood in the wind torn field, as the girl picked herself up still holding her shoulder. “Your power spiked just then,” Tempest said.
“He has noticed quite the phenomenon,” Namic said.
“Is that not true for many Kazan’s?” Ranin asked.
“That is true,” Namic said. “However it seems an especially strong affect for him.”
“Perhaps I should change my approach,” Tempest said, turning to the girl he held out his hand and the wind tunneled around his arm and towards the girl. Unable to dodge it the wind struck her leg tearing it from the ground. The girl gave a cry as she fell.
“What’s wrong with you!” the Vassal said leaping at Tempest.
“Not strong enough yet,” Tempest said and with a whip of his hand blew the Vassal away. Turning back to the girl, he waved his arm and a wind current blew across the ground before lifting underneath the girl, sending her airborne. The girl landed on her back, knocking the breath out of her and there she lay, barely able to push herself onto her elbows.
“Stop this,” the Vassal roared charging again.
Tempest gave him a glance and a wind tunnel struck the Vassal of Fire in the head, sending him twirling. “Make me,” Tempest said, holding his hand towards the girl again.
“This is dangerous ground,” Namic said.
“He is playing with fire in more then one way,” Ranin said.
The wind blasted towards the girl, who was defenseless against it, but the Vassal, was there. He stood against the wind holding his sword in front of him. The gale racked the two of them but the Vassal held true.
“It is imminent now,” Namic said.
“I hope this man knows what he is doing,” Ranin said.
The wind died. The Vassal of Fire stood still, exhausted, infuriated, flaming. Slowly the flames began rising and spreading, across his whole body.
“I will protect her,” the Vassal said quietly, as the flames grew higher; scorching the ground around his feet. “You shall not harm her,” he roared as he was enveloped in an inferno. A bright light shined at the core of the inferno and swiftly spread across the flames until the column of fire was no longer visible. Then in a moment, all light died.
“The next stage,” Ranin said.
“But, will he be able to control the power,” Namic said.
Ranin glanced worriedly at Namic. “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” he said uncertainly.
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