Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (48 page)

Rex looked over to the window and saw VayRonx staring in at him.

“What are you doing here?” Rex asked as he wiped his eyes and rose to his feet.

“I was going to ask you the very same thing.”

“Wallowing in self-pity. What does it look like?”

“It looks like you are still running from something, but you have yet to trust us with what that may be.”

Rex just bared his teeth in a grimace as pain shot through his head then vanished just as quickly. “Please, not now. I’m really not in the mood.”

“Nor, I trust, will you ever be,” VayRonx replied, pushing his head into the room. Wiping his eyes again, Rex just cocked his head and gave the alpha an exhausted look. “Do not mistake my silence on the matter this entire time for ignorance. I could sense something was not right with you the moment we met.”

“You really know how to cheer someone up. Anyone ever tell you that?”

“I apologize if I sound crass or insensitive, but the fact of the matter is that until you come to terms or subdue the storm brewing inside you, I fear you will never know peace, Rex.”

“I doubt very much that peace was ever an option for me, VayRonx. For as far back as I can remember, I have always been one breath away from a complete meltdown.” Rex allowed himself a small laugh as he recalled the countless moments where his strength had gotten the better of him and created more problems than it ever solved. Now he had awakened an awesome power within himself, but rather than being liberated, he felt caged by it, forced to hide behind the shadow of deception.

“I know what happened between you and LyCora,” VayRonx said at last.

Rex looked up in momentary shock before accepting the fact that one of his dark little secrets had come to light. “I see. It was only a matter of time before you found out. LyCora told you herself, didn’t she?” VayRonx nodded. “I figured she would after my little fireworks display back there.”

“She said she agreed to assist in your training in order to bring you under control.”

“And look how well that turned out.”

“I feel this was not just her error, but all of ours. We were so happy to hear that she and the others had taken such an interest in you that we did not stop to ask if binding you was the right thing to do.”

“Binding me?” Rex repeated, confused.

“By now I’m sure that you have realized that, unlike the rest of us, your flame rages with an intensity and ferocity that, if not guided, will burn out of control.”

“Yes, I know. That’s the problem; it’s not safe to use.
I’m
not safe.”

“Holding your head under water for too long is not safe, but that doesn’t stop people from swimming.”

“You’re comparing what I did back there to going for a brisk dip in a lake?” Rex replied, sounding almost mortified. “NiroTy almost died! You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, he could have, but he did not because you were there.”

“Exactly! Which is why he was even in danger in the first place!”

“Accidents will happen; that is simply a fact of life. No matter how careful we are, there will always come a time when the situation gets away from us whether we like it or not. In those moments we have a simple choice to make: sit idly by and watch the events of our miscalculations unfold, or try to reduce the severity of the damage. Maybe even prevent it altogether.” Rex said nothing, but instead looked down at the floor, lost in quiet contemplation. “Despite what you may think, tonight your flame did exactly as you made it do. It did not burn out of control as it did that day when you and LyCora had your…shall we say, ‘altercation’?”

“That’s putting it a little mildly, and besides—you’re wrong. My flame did go out of control, you saw it for yourself, and it would have caused more damage had you not been there to put it out.”

“Now you’re just being arrogant.”

“Come again?”

“You really think I, the alpha of KaNar, was the only one suited in subduing that glorified campfire you set tonight? Dear boy, you may possess a wealth of power, but you have yet to tap into its full potential. Anyone there about your age could have put out that fire. I just happened to be right there when it happened.”

“But you said that the—”

“The red flame is great and powerful, yes, yes, but that does not mean
you
are. Not yet, anyway. Certainly not without further training.”

Rex was dumbfounded. This was the first time anyone had spoken of the red flame as something not completely dark and cryptic. “So what you’re saying is that what happened tonight was different than what happened before? How?”

“Because the booth burning down was a result of it catching on fire from your flame, not because you became angry and blew it up. It was no different than someone dropping a lit torch on a forest floor covered in dry leaves. An accident on their part, yes, but also very different from purposely dropping the torch to start a fire.”

“But TolNy’s booth…”

“Burnt to the ground because of you, yes, but what do you think that matters to him when compared to the fact that his grandson’s life was saved—who, I might remind you, came out unscathed because of your quick response.”

“Well, of course, what was I supposed to do? Just let him burn?”

“And it is exactly that type of thinking that makes you who you are as opposed to the monster you think you are. Accidents happen, Rex. Some worse than others, but it’s because they’re not intentional that makes them accidents as opposed to heinous acts. As children of flame, we all live with the understanding that one day any of us could be on the receiving end of its burn. It is a truth that all children of EeNara are taught. Tonight was one such occurrence; however, that is not what the people of this tribe will remember when they think back to this night, but rather how a hero saved the life of another.”

“A hero, you say?” Rex said with a small breathless laugh. “Now how am I supposed to take you seriously when you say something as ridiculous as that?”

“Do not take my word for it,” VayRonx said, leaning in closer. “Come back with me and discover the truth for yourself.”

“I can’t go back there.”

“Of course you can; you simply do not wish to.”

“Fine, you’re right! I’m scared, all right? How am I supposed to show my face now? Even if they don’t try to run me out of town, any act of kindness will just be for show. But I’ll know what they’re all really saying about me…what they’ll really be thinking…”

“You really think you have us all so figured out,” VayRonx said, raising his head slightly. “Rex, if there is one thing I would have thought you would have learned by now it’s that there is more to life than what you know from your mere fifteen years being a part of it. Do you truly believe that it holds no more surprises for you?”

“I hate surprises.”

“Why?”

“Because they are never good.”

“So you hate us then?”

“What? No! I mean…what?”

“Tell me, what did you know of EeNara exactly one year ago?”

“Nothing. I didn’t know it even existed.”

“And what of KaNar?”

“Same, obviously.”

“And DiNiya?”

“You know the answer.”

“So then I am correct in assuming that your discovery of all these things qualifies as a surprise.”

Seeing where VayRonx was leading him with this particular line of questions, Rex just sighed and replied, “Yes, I suppose they were.”

“And yet you say you feel no hatred or ill will towards any of those things. So obviously after analyzing all the facts, we can conclude that the reclusive, distant, uninspired, unimpressed Rex can in fact be…pleasantly surprised.” He cocked his head to the side as if awaiting a rebuttal he knew would not come.

“Do you really think I should go back?” Rex asked at last.

“You already know what I think, but the question is what do
you
think you should do?”

“I’m no hero,” Rex said lightly, tugging at a lock of his fur. “For the first time in a long time I’m scared of what others will think of me.”

“I’ll let you in on a secret that all those who find themselves in a position of leadership learn very early on.” Rex looked at him intently. “Courage is not what one does in the absence of fear but what they do in spite of it. So you’ve already established that you are afraid. The only question left now is what are you going to do next?”

DiNiya stood before the massive tarp that concealed the newest exhibit being put on display all over EeNara by the Science Guild. KyGahl himself was hosting this particular unveiling in KaNar, largely in part because it was he who had made the discovery just west of the tribe’s lands. Little was known about what the discovery was, only that it had something to do with the war—a curious notion to her for she had always known such matters to be of interest to people like ShinGaru, who were members of the archeological community. Still, it had to be something of great significance if it was being unveiled all over the world during the biggest celebration of the year. That and KyGahl was one of EeNara’s top minds, and among one of the most charming and sophisticated men she had ever met. In fact, it had been while admiring him on one of his visits two years ago that she realized she was coming into her womanhood. Not that it mattered, for she was far too young to even be considered by someone like him as a potential mate or even a sexual partner.

Sexual partner
?
Mate
?
When did I start thinking of such things
? She allowed herself a small yet blissful smile at the thought of herself blossoming into a woman before it was suddenly replaced by the image of Rex, or rather the feeling of him. Somehow, it was almost as if she could sense him, though she did not know how or why—only that he was in pain, scared and angry.
Rex, I’m so sorry. Here I am having silly girlish fantasies while you’re off somewhere suffering.
She shook her head and turned away from the large tarp.

She immediately saw KyGahl on the far side of the tavern speaking with a small group of onlookers. Even from a distance his personality was electric, drawing all in and captivating them with his bold posturing and poetic use of the spoken word.

For as long as she could remember, he had been kind to her. In fact, he had been one of the first to come see her after the incident that rendered her incapable of igniting her flame. She had locked herself in her room, unwilling to see anyone, not even her brother and father, when there came a knock at the door. When she finally opened it, there was KyGahl, holding a moon orchid in his hand as he offered it down to her.

They spent the next several hours talking; or rather, he did most of the talking, then held her when she would inevitably break down into tears. It was the only memory from that time that brought a warm feeling to her heart, and one she cherished always. Still, he was not for her to have, and she knew that. While she might gaze upon him as a man, there was no doubt in her mind that he only saw a child.
That’s all right. I suppose there is still time for that later in life. I’m only fifteen and still in between mating seasons. It’s not a huge deal if I’ve yet to pair off with someone
.

Ultimately, she knew that she had grown to feel so beholden to KyGahl because of how he had provided her with a friendly shoulder to cry on when she felt uncomfortable about doing so with anyone else. He had arrived at just the right time, and had said all the right things, and even though nothing he said took away the pain she was feeling, it helped her realize that in time it would ease and that she was never truly alone in this world so long as she remembered there were those who loved her.

Now she knew it was her turn to pass on that same sentiment to Rex, who like her, had been through something that scarred him deeply despite the fact that he had no memory of what it was. Still, she knew that one day he would most likely remember, and that day would be one of great pain for him. It was for that reason she wanted to remain by his side, and hopefully give to him what KyGahl had given to her. She only hoped she was up for the task, for she also feared who Rex might turn into once his memories returned and his mind once again became whole.
VayRonx…I hope you managed to get through to him
.

“Something to drink?” said EeNox as he nudged her arm gently with a clay mug of KonChoo.

DiNiya looked over and smiled, taking the cup and sipping lightly. “Oooh,” she said, smacking her lips together. “It’s still hot.”

“Freshly brewed,” he replied, holding up his and smiling while scanning the scene around them. “Pretty impressive turnout.”

DiNiya nodded. “That it is.”

“KyGahl seems pleased.”

“That he does,” she added without much emotion.

EeNox sighed. “You’re thinking about Rex, aren’t you?”

“I’m thinking of a lot of things,” she replied before turning to face him. “EeNox, when did everything change so much?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, when did we stop just being children? When did we start…growing up?”

“You make it sound like it’s something unpleasant.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that, well, I always thought I would know it when it happened. That I would be prepared for it somehow.”

“I don’t really think it works that way,” EeNox said after taking another sip of his KonChoo. “I get the sense that it’s more of a gradual process. Isn’t that how change happens, after all?”

“You’re right. It’s obvious in retrospect, but never in the moment.”

“That’s what makes it random chance,” EeNox said, sounding more hopeful. “It gives everything in nature, all of us, a chance to do anything, become anything. Endless possibilities.”

DiNiya smiled. “Become anything.” She remained silent for a moment, holding her cup in both hands while staring into the dark pool of liquid that rippled with every thunderous footfall of the tavern’s massive occupants. At last, looking back over to her brother, she said, “Life really isn’t so bad. I am so very fortunate to be the daughter of a loving father and sister to the world’s best brother.” She wrapped her arms around EeNox and hugged him tightly before pulling away and adding, “What else would I need to become?”