Of Flame, Sand, and Gold

scent of old dust

ll on the table - the one with the twin trees, one dead

ed. "One decayed by power. One still bu

captivated, her voice quiet: "An

been unreadable. "He is fla

the c

like dry bark, and smiled. But

ou should see. Something left behind..

k wall - then out through

ammed shut

AC

slid in

stood i

lta

oor, yanking. It didn't

sed. "He s

e, boo

ing a

her ear to the

le, narrow window. Too small

d off one glove, and placed h

s were

Amara had taught him in

ame re

his hand, the iron heating i

ped back. "K

O

open in spark

g outside

, blades raised, ar

g," one shouted, "you are to surrende

front of Saltana

ign

rd like a storm of

ound. A second spear jabbed for his ribs - Kaelen caught it, spun it

r good arm and ducked low as Kaelen kicked a

y kept

g. One caught Kaelen across the sho

d struck one square in the throat

ntain

men stepped i

- not city guards, but mercenaries

hummed with du

altana back. "S

la

wung

n blo

low - straight i

AC

pled, clutching her ri

n saw

fire sweeping out in a wave

y didn'

adv

now, staggering slightly. Sal

the guards were

said a voic

ed from above

ar

te's temple with a brutal crunch.

strike, wrapped a chain around his knee, and pulled

crea

she

Saltana up. "Ca

"Wasn't planning

k wall into the open stre

ning," Amara grunted

one, Saltana,

d out into the s

were flying th

he Dust

and night and

d across Ka

idn't lo

as rising

r swallowed by roots and whispers, thr

ver gleam still catching m

iral flames down both arms - Ilen V

and eyes like sun-bleached ash - Rokhen

ked fig

aid. "Kaelen's flame has awak

girl?" Ro

masked figure replied.

n it has already begun. Th

sealed scroll onto the tab

spoke of

closer. "The

ed one said, "before Sahen find

lready has?"

le

asked woma

will burn - fr