Fire Within: Book Two of Fire and Stone (Stories of Fire and Stone 2) (54 page)

Toman sat at the entrance to Salithsa, his face turned towards the sun. He’d seen his brother slip away and followed, but waited for him at the tunnel mouth. He felt a peace within himself that he’d never known before. With Moloch gone, his fears could be laid to rest. He knew there were still great scars on his soul, but they couldn’t be reopened into wounds again. They would fade, with time. It was possible they would even give him strength.

Toman saw a flurry of flames rise up into the sky but didn’t fear—whatever had happened, it would be okay. He trusted his brother, and for now at least, he trusted fate. But what was next? What would he do now? He’d never before given it serious consideration. He’d never really thought he’d outlive Moloch. Would he find a trade, settle down? Find a woman? It was about time he figured it out.

Toman shifted on his rocky seat. He didn’t really need to figure it out now, though. He and Esset probably weren’t done adventuring yet. There was still good they could do in the world, so he had time. Maybe he would eventually consider the Ashiier’s offer, as he knew Esset and Tseka would.

Toman waited until Esset came walking back to the tunnel.

“Being antisocial again, I see,” Toman greeted his brother with a jibe and a smile. “Reading a book, no doubt, while everyone else is partying.”

“You know me too well,” Esset replied. They both knew he would share everything later.

“If only I didn't,” Toman said with a mock-sigh. “Trying to keep you socially acceptable is a never-ending battle.”

“Says the one who belches after meals,” Esset replied disdainfully, taking the role of snob and lifting his nose in the air.

“It’s a compliment to the chef,” Toman replied.

“Barbarian,” Esset retorted, his snob-façade cracking with a grin. Toman stood as Esset moved past him to the tunnel.

Toman paused at the entrance to Salithsa and looked up at the sun. Its warmth caressed his skin and he smiled. His trials weren’t over yet; he was still young. He turned and stepped into the inviting darkness, towards his friends and his family. Their lives stretched ahead of them, and he intended to embrace them and everything they had to offer.

The brothers looked at each other simultaneously and grinned.

“Race you back,” Toman challenged Esset.

“You’re on,” Esset accepted, and they tore headlong down the tunnel.

Thank you so much for reading my second novel! If you loved this book, please leave a review wherever you purchased it. If you’d like to read more, you can track me a number of different ways:

My website (including my blog):
http://stephaniebeavers.com/

Twitter:
@St_Beavers

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Comments or questions? Shoot me an email at
[email protected]
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If you haven’t read them already, check out my free short story on my website.
And The Wolves Danced
features Esset, and it’s set before the events of Calling On Fire. If you missed Calling On Fire, you can find it through
here
!

Keep an eye out for my next adventure!

When I finished my first book, it didn’t really feel done, because the story wasn’t finished. There are no words to describe how good it feels to have truly finished both books! This was all I had planned for Toman and Esset, although I still have plenty of ideas, and they may return one day.

I want to thank my readers for joining me on this adventure. Hearing from people who have enjoyed my books has been such a blessing. I also want to thank my family for the incredible support they’ve shown me in this endeavor.

I also want to thank my editor, Brenda Errichiello, once again. Even after having edited one book, there was so much more to learn in editing my second! Thank you, Brenda, for all you’ve taught me.

Thank you to the awesome people at Wyrding Ways Press for making my words on the page look good (that’s proofreading and formatting, folks!)

Props to Damon Za again too, for a second amazing cover.

Finally, I want to thank my wonderful fiancée, with whom I can have a conversation about what kind of dragon abilities would win in an all-out battle. (He is a staunch supporter of fire, but I hold out for the advantages of ice.) There is nothing like a conversation about random magical things (especially dragons!) to inspire me.

Stephanie Beavers always knew she wasn’t from the
real
world. That was why she spent so much time daydreaming and living in various fantasy worlds created by others and herself. Stephanie knew she was actually supposed to have been born as a dragon or a cat—or at least someone who had magical abilities. Now grown, she appreciates the beauties of the real world too, but saves herself from sanity by spending as much time in magical, or at least fictional, worlds as possible.

Stephanie shares her mind with a myriad of characters, most of them not human, and most of them possessing magic or special abilities. When they get too loud inside her head, she writes them out or drowns them out by submersing herself in the fiction of others. For those who love magic and adventure, she offers you an outlet so you can escape reality too.

Fire Within: Book Two of Fire and Stone

Copyright © Stephanie Beavers 2015

All rights reserved

Formatted by:
Wyrding Ways Press

Cover Design by:
Damon Za

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.