Of Flame, Sand, and Gold

; a strange, breath-held stillness that settled a

Like the world was warning him:

e dress kicking up ash and dirt with every hurried step. The wedding bell h

r maybe... just i

ling, her eyes locked ahead, her hand still grippin

a footstep behind them. Jus

ed cold. "Ru

blinked.

n.

st alley. Kaelen followed her, just long enough to catch

ake

od

me

ught. This is a message... as the bells

ad end. Cracked stone walls boxed them i

Kaelen scanned the alley. No exits. No balconies to cl

nswer. Not

belt - a steel rod reinforced at each end, worn smooth by ye

mouth. Their faces were hidden, but

scare him. They were

tana. "Get behind me. Stay d

ng her dress like it migh

t in the mood for speeches," he called out, voice st

of steel sliding free fro

elen's ribs. He ducked low, twisting, the baton meeting

uck the attacker's knee with a sharp jab. The man staggered

om the side. Kaelen tried to block, but the blade

clenched teeth.

dy soaking through his trousers. Behind him, Saltana wa

et the attack with a brutal strike of his baton, shoving the

good. He was. But these weren't street thugs

- one hand on his side, the other gripping the ba

n:

flew sideways like a ragdoll, slamming

n bli

d in storm-colored armor, a massive hammer resti

her presence slicing through the te

"Of course it's you," he muttered. Amar

d; BORED. "Still getti

eep things

ging the first one with him into the alley's shadows. Amar

against the wall, breathing hard. Sa

ra said. "But

e not here by accident, are you?" Amara smil

d. He wiped the blood from his leg and tried to ignore how dizzy h

a said softly. "You were

m, confused and visibly sh

pain in his leg cut it short. "

ed her arm. "Come on, old flam

his pride too ex

railing uncertainty behind them, the wind stirred acro

k

ng had