Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (55 page)

“I remember the first time my mother took me to the base mountains of ClyVen,” LyCora chimed in. “The aurora up there is so beautiful. I always knew it was just radiation from the sun burning in the atmosphere, but when I finally saw it…it was like a blue flame. Unburdened by form…dancing in the sky. It looked so free.” She suddenly heard some muffled laughter as she turned and saw the others grinning. “And what is so funny?” she asked angrily.

“You, quite frankly,” replied Rex.

“Excuse me?”

“No, I mean it’s just that I never figured you for the poetic type.” LyCora turned away and crossed her arms.

“Don’t be upset, LyCora,” AnaSaya said, turning on her side and looking at her. “I think it sounded beautiful, and I would very much like to see the aurora one day. Until then, I am very happy to have you here to tell me all about it.”

LyCora gave the other girl a look before sighing and saying, “You’re welcome.”

Smiling, AnaSaya snuggled up closer to LyCora, who looked somewhat unsettled by the sudden act of affection.

Seeing this, DiNiya decided to try her luck and moved closer to Rex, who seemed to either not notice or mind. Gently, she leaned her head against his shoulder and asked, “Rex, what is it like on Earth? The sky, I mean?”

Rex took in her question, giving it some thought, before noticing that everyone’s attention was now on him, as if expecting him to say something miraculous. “It’s very different from this,” he replied, pointing up. “Not nearly as bright or colorful. Most places you can’t even see the stars.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound very nice.”

“I suppose it isn’t. Still, it’s all anyone really knows back there, so they can’t miss what they never had.”

“I couldn’t imagine living in a world without them,” said EeNox as he gazed up in wonder. “The light of thousands of celestial bodies. Amazing to think that they’re all dead.”

“They are?” Rex asked, looking over at him.

“Of course. Didn’t they teach you anything on Earth?”

“Apparently not.”

“The astronomers teach us that those stars up there are so far away that it takes eons for their light to reach us, and by the time it does, they are long since gone.”

“Wow,” said Rex, looking back up. “I had no idea.”

“It’s a comforting thought,” said AnaSaya.

“What is?” LyCora asked as she shifted slightly.

“The idea that long after you’re gone, the light of your flame still burns for all to see. Like a lasting impression.”

“That is comforting,” EeNox said with a smile.

“But maybe not everyone’s can,” DiNiya said. “Not everyone can burn as bright as those stars.”

“There is more than one way to shine,” Rex said, leaning over to her. DiNiya smiled before realizing she was and turned away, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Besides, maybe what we’re seeing is their last gasp. It took their whole life to be able to burn that bright, so maybe it’s the same for people.”

“You’re saying we still have more life to live before we can ever hope to burn so bright?” LyCora asked.

“Maybe not life,” offered ShinGaru. “But the experiences that fill it. A lifetime made of moments that burn like the single flame of a candle. Make enough of them, and they will burn bright enough for all to see.”

They all lay still, staring up in silent wonder until they felt as if they were falling into a sea of stars. Feeling something crawling on his finger, Rex raised his hand and watched as a tiny insect, illuminated by the blue glow in its abdomen, turned its head towards him; all the while its long antennae swiveled in every direction. He watched the seemingly small and unassuming creature with the backdrop of the starry sky above it and realized that he was truly no different—a tiny creature floating in a sea of light, comprised of the very fire that gave birth to the cosmos and pushed it continuously outward ever since.

The sounds of the festival grew distant, but none of them seemed to care, for in this moment they themselves felt so much a part of the twinkling lights above and connected with the fire that burned in all things great and small.

The last night of the festival felt like the end of a long and beautiful dream, for when the sun rose the next morning, KaNar saw the departure of the tents filled with wonders from the world over, performers of all kinds, including The Vanguard, who before leaving assured them that they would indeed return again soon. Rex was sad to see them go but also looked forward to the day when he could experience their music again. Perhaps even accompany them onstage. Just before leaving, he noticed FiNaya speaking with DiNiya in hushed tones away from the group, conveying something secret that made DiNiya give a curious look that bordered on amusement and dread. He wondered if he should ask what it was the FiNaya had said, but decided it was best to respect DiNiya’s privacy. She had been the only one he felt comfortable around for so long now that he forgot that she had had a life of her own before him, and that she too had thoughts and feelings that she no doubt preferred to keep close to her heart.
That, or it’s just a girl thing.

Despite feeling exhausted from all the fun they’d had, BaRone put the six of them to work, having them break down the stands and tents that were KaNar’s. The task occupied the entire morning and most of the afternoon, finally concluding `just before dusk.

“Well done, everyone,” VayRonx said to the whole of KaNar who had been working tirelessly all day. “Tomorrow we will resume our regular affairs, but for the time being, take what remains of the day off and get some well-deserved rest.”

The crowd mumbled in agreement and began dispersing, mostly to their homes, but some to the tavern.

“My shoulders are so sore,” LyCora said as she rotated them.

“Mmmm,” DiNiya agreed. “The back of my neck feels like it has a knot in it the size of my fist. A soak in the hot springs sounds amazing right now.”

“You read my mind,” EeNox said he glanced up at two CyTorians flying overhead. “With any luck most of the town will be heading home to sleep so it won’t be crowded.”

“What are we waiting for?” asked Rex as he turned toward the caves.

Following his lead, they all proceeded down to the springs, which like EeNox had theorized, were mostly empty, save for the several occupants scattered throughout. They quickly undressed and climbed into the soothingly warm water.

Rex let out a low groan of pleasure as he leaned back in the water, trying to float on his back, but as always managing only to keep his face above water. “This feels nice. Why is it we don’t come down here more often?”

“For the same reason no one ever does the things they love to do more often,” EeNox answered. “Life gets in the way.”

His words rang with a degree of truth in Rex’s his ears. “Suppose so. Still, between the training and the work we do for your father, we really should take more time to relax.”

“What’s wrong?” LyCora asked. “All work and no play makes Rex a grumpy monster?”

Rex looked up to shoot back a mean-spirited retort, but he saw LyCora smiling and realized that she was actually for the first time indulging in some good-natured banter with him. Grinning, he replied, “Aren’t I?”

Everyone, including LyCora, laughed as Rex folded his arms behind his head, looking quite pleased with himself.

“Rex, I have a question for you,” AnaSaya said as she glided over to him. “Why do you look different than everyone else?”

“Are you serious?” Rex replied, looking more than slightly irritated by the question. “Has the novelty of my eyes not worn off yet?”

“No, I don’t mean them,” she replied apologetically. “Although they are very pretty.” Rex’s stern expression lessened. “I mean your face.”

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“Sorry, AnaSaya,” LyCora said. “But no, it always looks like that.”

“Ha, ha,” Rex replied sarcastically, while LyCora gave him a teasing grin.

“I meant it looks…” AnaSaya continued. “I don’t know, like it’s built differently.” She began tracing the line of his jaw with her fingers. “Your jaw is longer and broader, too.” She continued to run the tips of her claws over his face before putting her thumbs into the corners of his mouth and pulling his lips up and apart. Rex growled something incomprehensible as she began to inspect his teeth.

“Are you mad, girl?” LyCora called over. “Pull your fingers out of his mouth before he bites them off!”

“I’m just trying to get a better look at his teeth.”

Rex grabbed her wrists and pulled her fingers out of his mouth. “Then you could have just asked me to smile.”

“Oh. I’ll remember that next time. In any case, I noticed when we first met that unlike the rest of us,
all
your teeth are sharp.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So I was curious why that was?”

“I don’t know. Guess I’m just weird that way.”

“It’s not weird,” she said, looking at him quizzically. “It’s just different. But I like it. They make you look a lot more ferocious than other people,” she said with a smile.

Rex regarded her for a moment, not sure at first what to make of the comment, before deciding it was actually a rather nice compliment. “Ferocious, you say? Hmm.”

“Now you’ve gone and done it, AnaSaya,” ShinGaru mused.

“As if his ego was not big enough,” LyCora added while shaking her head.

“Hey, DiNiya,” Rex said, turning to her and baring his serrated maw. “What do you think? Do they do anything for you?”

“Do anything for me? I don’t understand?”

“He means do they make him more attractive than other boys,” AnaSaya explained happily.

DiNiya looked mortified. “I…I really can’t say…I mean, that is to say…they are…nice.” The toothy smile on Rex’s face faded and was replaced by a look of abysmal defeat. “No, wait! I didn’t mean to say that there was something wrong with them! I just meant…well, yes…of course they add something…desirable in appearance. Wait! I mean…”

“Wait, should I even be hearing any of this?” EeNox said as he looked at his sister and Rex uncomfortably, while the other three snickered behind him.

“Quit while you’re ahead, Rex,” LyCora said.

“Indeed,” ShinGaru agreed. “Be happy with what you can get, my friend.”

Rex looked back at DiNiya, who was doing everything to avert her gaze, before falling back in the water with a plop and allowing his body to just hang limply in the water. “You know, it’s funny.”

“What is?” LyCora asked.

“On Earth, my appearance made me a freak, had people staring for a closer look then turning away when they got it. Here, though…well, it’s nice to walk around and not feel ugly.” He felt a hand touch his arm, and he looked over to see DiNiya smiling down at him. Rex smiled back and returned his gaze to the high ceiling of the cave covered in phosphorescent moss.

“Um…Rex,” came AnaSaya’s now softer voice. “Do you still not remember what happened to you? I mean, that is to say, how you came to arrive in EeNara?”

DiNiya flashed a sudden look of surprise and anger. Seeing this, Rex sat up and smiled at her. “It’s all right. No, it still hasn’t come back to me, and at this point I don’t know if it ever will. But I’m all right with that, I think.”

“Rex,” DiNiya gasped in surprise.

He waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. It used to bother me, and I suppose it still does a little, but I realized something during the festival.”

“And that is?” LyCora asked.

“That whatever I left behind was not nearly as important as what I found. EeNara, KaNar,” he said, as he looked back at DiNiya. “I remember enough to know I wasn’t truly happy back there. That my life was spent wanting something else, something I could never have there.”

“But if you don’t know what that is, then how can you know you’ve found it here?” DiNiya asked.

“Because I found
you
,” he said, looking deep into her eyes before turning to the others. “All of you. I never had a friend, not a real one, until I came to this world. So what could I possibly have left behind that was so important?”

“You’re not going to ask us to hug you now, are you?” LyCora asked.

“Try it and you’ll see just how ferocious this sexy smile is.”

LyCora laughed, and the others joined in.

Rex allowed the joyful sounds of their laughter to fill him the way it did the cavern. It was a feeling of almost completion, for it was more than just friends he knew he had found, but a family.

Later that evening, after they had sufficiently soaked their aching muscles in the hot springs, they dried themselves off and returned home for a fresh change of clothes before making their way to the tavern for a drink.

Upon reaching the entrance, EeNox was called off to the side by the same young boy who had spoken with him during the festival.

“It’s that kid again,” Rex said.

LyCora nodded. “KenSito. His little ear to the ground.”

“Wonder what’s so important that he can’t say it in front of the rest of us?”

“Why don’t we ask?” ShinGaru said as EeNox walked back over.

“So?” Rex asked.

“Got some interesting news,” EeNox replied.

“How interesting?”

“So interesting that I dare not speak it here. Come on.”

They followed him upstairs to the same balcony where DiNiya had shared a private conversation with FiNaya two nights earlier.

“Enough suspense, EeNox,” DiNiya said. “What’s going on?”

Turning on his heels, EeNox spun around with a grin on his face. “I know where they’re keeping him.”

“‘Him’ who?” LyCora asked.

“Who do you think?”

“Wait, you mean the CeraVora? I thought they sent him down to the capital.”

“So did I, but KenSito overheard one of the astronomers asking him when the telescope would be fixed.”

“So what does that have to do with anything?” Rex asked.

“The telescope is housed in The Spire.”

“What’s that?”

“A really tall pointy rock formation on the far western edge of town. It’s used as an observatory, but apparently it’s been closed off for repair several cycles now. Don’t you see—it makes perfect sense!”

“Oh, really?” LyCora asked.

“Why would they take him there?” AnaSaya asked.

“Probably to keep him separated from everyone else. You can’t have him going crazy in a populated area again.”

“If you ask me, he was lucky that he ran into us when he did the first time,” said DiNiya. “Or we would be having a very different conversation about him had he bumped into someone like VayRonx.”

“I was thinking that, too,” said Rex. “Isolating him was probably the only way of keeping him from picking a fight with someone who could bite him in half.”

DiNiya nodded in agreement. “At least VayRonx and the others have his best interests at heart.”

“Something tells me there’s more to this than just that.”

“So you’ve been thinking the same thing?” EeNox asked.

“Aren’t any of you a little curious as to why he was so dead set on coming after us?”

“He was mad with hunger,” DiNiya explained. “We just happened to cross paths with him at the wrong time.”

“I don’t think so,” he replied, crossing his arms. “He’s obviously not from around here, which means he had to travel from somewhere else. Why would he keep himself from eating along the way? Why starve yourself? Why not just go catch something in the river where it would be a hell of a lot easier and less dangerous?”

“You’re saying it wasn’t a coincidence that he ran into us?” asked LyCora suspiciously.

“I’ve been in plenty of fights, but I could always tell when I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or when someone was just swinging at me on someone else’s behalf.”

“But if that’s true, who would have sent him?” DiNiya asked. “And why?”

“Probably whoever made those sentinel clones that almost killed us.”

“That still leaves the question of why,” EeNox said.

AnaSaya was feeling both lost and a little scared. She was unclear as to who they were referring to but recognized the talk of sentinel clones because she had heard the name from her mother when she was told of the reason they were coming to KaNar. Having never been in any precarious situations before, she found herself feeling anxious but curious at the same time.

“I have an idea,” Rex spoke up. “Why don’t we go pay him a visit?”

“Who?” DiNiya asked. “You don’t mean the CeraVora?”

“Who else?”

“Are you crazy? We can’t go do that!”

“Why not?” asked EeNox. “Don’t you want to find out who’s behind all of this?”

“Well, yes, but I think it would be better to leave this to father and the others.”

“And we will. I’m just saying we should sit in on some of the questioning of who he is and what happened to him to make him want to come after us. Discreetly, of course.”

“In other words, you want to sneak in there and spy on them.”

“You make it sound like I’m up to no good,” he said, grinning.

DiNiya rubbed her forehead and frowned. “I don’t know.”

“Come on,” her brother insisted. “We’d be there and back without anyone knowing, and that way we can help Father, VayRonx, and the others put the pieces of this mystery together. I mean, it is for the greater good, after all.”

“The greater good?” asked LyCora, giving him a questionable look. “Somehow I doubt that’s what’s motivating you.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he replied sarcastically.

“Regardless,” Rex cut in. “I don’t feel like sitting tight waiting for someone to bring me answers or for someone else to have a go at me. I’m with EeNox. Let’s go get our own answers.”
Wish I felt as fearless as I sound. Hell, I hope that actually sounded fearless
.

“Now that’s more like it,” EeNox exclaimed, slapping Rex on the back and receiving a disgruntled look in return. “Come on, this could be our only chance to get to the bottom of this!”

“Again, what do you have against letting the adults handle this?” DiNiya asked angrily. “Do you really think they aren’t trying?”

“Because there’s something they’re not telling us!”

DiNiya looked surprised. “What…what do you mean?”

“Oh, please, don’t pretend you haven’t noticed. Those quick little sideways glances they give to one another the few times we asked them about something related to the attacks?”