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Chapter 9:

Rebirth of Fire

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A single-story home with dull, gray bricks was far from what some may consider a castle. King Orlando preferred to live like one of the hundreds of citizens that call Gedroso home. If not for its round shape, the king’s castle would go unnoticed. Leafy green bushes spotted with bright red roses lined the lengthy path to the king’s home.

The same rose bush coiled around the sphere-shaped house like a wall of thorns. The same roses were potted inside the two-room abode, filling the air with a fresh aroma.

A portrait of a dark-haired woman wearing a long white dress hung in the dining room. Her smile reflected a woman full of happiness and hope. In the painting, her hair relaxed on her shoulders. Dino couldn’t remember a time when she had worn her hair that way. He gazed up at the portrait as he did every time he visited the home he grew up in. The approaching sound of footsteps tore his attention away from the portrait.

“Well, son, are you ready?” the king asked, adjusting the high collar on his suit jacket. His short gray hair was combed neatly from head to chin. He wore no crown, no jewels, no long cape that trailed for yards. Strangers to the land would easily mistake him for another citizen of Gedroso.

“I don’t like this, father,” Dino insisted. “I never liked it from the start.”

The king fastened the cuffs of his sleeves. “We’ve been over this, Dino. And we will rediscuss this later. I don’t want to keep our guests waiting.”

“Why did you have to invite Ahrmania here?” Dino stomped his boot on the floor. “You know they didn’t even want to give up their Rebirth to enter the town. Why are you so willing to show them ours?”

The king stood next to his son and placed his hands on his shoulders. “Are you going to escort your king or should I put you back on patrol duty? Hmm?”

Dino lowered his gaze. “I’m coming. Someone has to protect you since you won’t protect yourself.”

“I know, I know, you want for me to control the Rebirth we found,” the king said, wrapping his arm around Dino’s shoulder. He walked his son to a closed door. “Do you also want to see your king throw his back out as well? I’m an old man, son. I’ve no interest in conflict with anyone.”

“Then let me use the Rebirth,” Dino whispered, eagerly. We could keep our territory safe from both Ahrmania and Midaharia.”

The king smiled. “Would you mind?”

“You’re impossible,” Dino sighed, grabbing his spear. The door creaked as he pushed it open, announcing their presence. A tiled walking path stretched before his feet. It was surrounded by a sea of vibrant green grass. Dozens of small birds visited stone water fountains placed in each corner of the garden. Although the view was obscured by rose bushes taller than most men, the bustling sounds of the city could be heard clearly. The formal garden was the only new addition the house has had since it was built.

Two leafy apple trees shadowed a small round table in the center of the garden. The ambassador and Sisten were seated at opposite ends of the table. Dino walked ahead of the king, stopping only when he arrived at the table. He stood as straight as his spear and formally announced the king’s arrival. As their Ahrmanian guests respectfully rose from their seats, the king waved a hand of disapproval.

“There’s no need for that,” king Orlando said. “Dino, all of you, be seated.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Dino replied.

“Well gentlemen,” king Orlando began. “What do you think of our fair city?”

“It’s very surprising,” ambassador Cox replied. “In a good way. I was dreading the thought of spending the night in some hot, sandy encampment in the middle of nowhere.”

“I was here not more than a decade ago,” Sisten said, tilting and rotating a small glass of water back and forth on the table. “It’s come along way since then.”

“It’s very much like your garden here,” Cox added. “A rose in the desert.”

“Thank you,” king Orlando said. “Right now, Gedroso is the only rose for hundreds of miles in the Empty Desert. One of my goals is to build dozens of more towns across the sands just like it. As a matter of fact, that’s why I wasn’t able to greet you last night. We were breaking ground on a new river a few miles from here.”

“By way of your Rebirth?” Sisten inquired, catching his glass before water spilled.

“Yes, yes, the Rebirth. None of this would have been possible without it. It was quite fortunate that we discovered it. Very timely.”

Ambassador Cox raised a glass of water. “This and the river running south of town is all due to the Rebirth?”

“It is. You’ll taste no better water anywhere.”

Ambassador Cox drank from his glass. “You know what? I think you’re right. This is very delicious. I never really thought a Rebirth could be used in such a way.”

“Exactly,” king Orlando. There was more excitement in his voice than on his son’s face. “That’s why I invited you here. I want to show Ahrmania all the great things these runes can do for us, for the world. The possibilities are endless. We don’t have to use them for war and chaos. I wish both rulers of Ahrmania and Midaharia would come to understand that. We should use them to better humanity.”

“Very good indeed,” ambassador Cox said, finishing his glass of water. “I’m going to have to take some of this back to Ahrmania with us Sisten.”

Sisten stopped the glass on the table. “I guess you don’t believe in self-defense?”

“Look around you. Gedroso is a peaceful nation. There’s no reason for anyone to attack us. You do agree with that, don’t you?”

“I can think of one reason,” Sisten muttered.

“It must be daunting having to use your Rebirth so much,” ambassador Cox said.

“I only use it once a day; enough to keep the river filled and to meet the city’s needs. We learned early on not to overuse it. The more it’s used, the longer it takes to recharge.”

“They are annoying that way, aren’t they, Sisten?” ambassador Cox said, standing up from the table. “I would love to have had a chance to tour the entire city, but we best be heading back. Back through those blasted sands...”

“What a pity. I was hoping you would stay for the banquet tonight,” the king said, rising from his seat.

“I will be dining on some of the fruit baskets you so graciously left for us,” ambassador Cox shook the king’s right hand and smiled. “I know it’s not the same, but it will have to do.”

“All right, but let me accompany you back to the inn.”

“That won’t be needed,” Sisten insisted. He grabbed the king’s right hand and pulled him closer. Flames leaped from Sisten’s hand to the king’s. His clothes were fully engulfed before he could blink. Sisten kept his hand, feeding the hungry flames.

“Father!” Dino exclaimed, covering his face from the heat.

The heat’s intensity subsided as quickly as it had grown. Sisten stood untouched by the flames of his creation. He used his boot to search through the mound of ashes that once was the body of king Orlando. “No!” Dino said, watching Sisten take something out of his father’s ashes. “How could you!?” Fighting back tears, he gripped his spear and charged at Sisten.

Sisten sidestepped his attacker. He took hold of the spear and kicked Dino onto his back. “Your father was a fool,” he said, holding Dino on the ground with his boot on his chest. “And so are you.” Sisten heated the spear until it was red. Steam rose from the weapon as Sisten forced it through Dino’s armor, piercing his chest.

“Do you have it?” ambassador Cox asked Sisten as he left the garden. “That water Rebirth?”

“Do you expect me to leave it here?” Sisten replied.

“Just making sure I won’t have to come back to this dreadful place again.”

“No one’s going to know Gedroso was ever here in a few days.”

Their voices faded with the light around him. Pinned to the ground by his own spear, Dino laid paralyzed by the scorching pain in his chest. He stretched his arm toward his father’s ashes, taking flight in a gust of wind.

“...amara....” he whispered, the last bit of air escaping his lungs.