Fire and the Falcon by Vacen Taylor

Author:Vacen Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Published: 2019-06-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

War and Witches

The children followed Impelo, walking along tunnels, passing men who were cleaning refells and filling steel balls with black powder. Eventually, they ended up in front of another door framed by timber that was surrounded by earth. Impelo opened the door.

The atmosphere in the room was not very friendly. Everyone was either scowling or shouting.

‘We have other uncertainties to think about,’ a round-faced man shouted. ‘Are you forgetting the governor’s power?’

‘But we have a way to gather more men to fight,’ Ignis retorted.

‘What way is that?’ a bearded man asked loudly. ‘We are firerulers, not magic men.’

A long-haired man drank last remnants of liquid from his cup and wiped his moustache with the back of his hand. ‘He’s right. We have no power that can match his magic. And I’m not willing to become a collared slave if I’m caught.’

‘Agreed,’ the round-faced man said. ‘While I know you are a brave leader and I have no fear in following you, Ignis,’ he turned his eyes down to look at the table, ‘I can see no way forward. The rebellion can’t win against his trickery.’

‘What if I said we have a new way to fight the injustice of the governor?’ Ignis remarked.

‘And what way would that be?’ the bearded man asked.

‘You will need to trust me,’ Ignis said, knowing he wasn’t ready to let out a secret to everyone in the room. ‘Do I have your trust?’

The other men at the table exchanged glances.

‘You have mine,’ the bearded man said.

‘And mine too,’ the long-haired man added.

The round-faced man nodded his agreement to Ignis.

‘Good.’ Ignis stood up. ‘Ready the men. I will run through the plan at dusk.’

Impelo opened the door for the three men as they all stood up and left.

Ignis turned his attention to the children. ‘I’m afraid, my young friends, you are all now members of the rebellion,’ he said. In the voice of a leader, he continued, ‘And I have a special task that I need each of you to do. Akra, yours may be the most difficult.’

‘The falcon guard has explained everything to me,’ Akra said. ‘I asked Tupuck to collect the silvershade from Fojan and bring it to me in the night.’

‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Mai asked.

‘It had to be done in secret.’

‘You have it?’ Ignis asked him.

Akra nodded.

‘Then all is in place.’ Ignis rose from his chair and walked toward the door where Impelo was waiting. ‘Come with me.’

‘Are you going to tell us the plan?’ Kalin asked.

‘Why do you need the silvershade?’ Mai said on her way toward the door.

‘Perhaps it would be far more useful to show you.’

Mai shared her thoughts with Akra. Will any of this plan put you in danger?

Akra answered quickly. Our whole journey together has been dangerous. I’m not afraid anymore, Mai.

On their walk along the tunnels, Tupuck joined them. To Akra he handed Mai’s old packsack that held the silvershade box, which Fojan had been protecting in the canyon cave.

‘I’ve now met Fojan. Interesting fellow.

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