The Blacksmith by Barbara Howe

Author:Barbara Howe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: IFWG Publishing International
Published: 2019-05-14T02:10:55+00:00

Cinders and Ashes

Granny Mildred blinked at me. “Ask the Fire Warlock for help? Why?”

“He can strong-arm the duke into doing the right thing by Doug and Jessie. It won’t help me but it’ll keep anybody else from getting hurt. Things will get worse—a lot worse—if they march on the duke. That’s what I told Walter when we went to the tavern the other night. Didn’t you hear the story I told him?”

“I heard it from his wife, and she didn’t say anything about going to the Fire Warlock for help.”

“What did you hear?”

“That you shouted down the Fire Warlock, and lived. I didn’t believe it.”

“Think I’m dead, do you?”

“Nae, sonny. You’d be cinders and ashes.”

“Fine. But I did talk to him.”

“I didn’t believe that either. You’d better tell me the whole story. And tell it to me straight, you young scamp.”

Telling the story took a long time. Even with her hand on my arm I had to stop twice—the first time, about Master Randall, and the second, about Glenn burning like a torch—and wait a while before I could go on. Knowing I’d lie awake all night reliving the riot didn’t help.

When I got to the part about the river of fire, Mildred went white. “Well, laddie, you don’t look like cinders. Go on.”

By the time I’d recounted yelling at the Fire Warlock, and what he said after, Mildred had her head in her hands, moaning, “Cinders. Ashes.” Hazel eyes were round and huge.

“I am not cinders and ashes, or a ghost either. This is what I was telling Walter. The Fire Warlock is on our side. He promised to help if he can. If we don’t ask for help the end will be bad, real bad. If folks are riled enough to attack the duke, somebody has to ask for the Warlock’s help, before he turns Abertee into cinders and ashes.” I glared at Mildred. “I can’t, not anymore, and if Walter won’t, well, then you’re going to have to.”

“Me? Are you out of your mind? I’ve got enough sense to be scared of the Fire Warlock, unlike some fools.”

Hazel patted her hand, and the wild look went out of Mildred’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Duncan, but neither Mildred nor I can ask for his help.”

“Sure you can. You’re guild members.”

“Yes, but the magic guilds have special rights. We answer to the Officeholders, not the duke, so our asking the Fire Warlock for help would be outside interference, and isn’t allowed. Otherwise, our Guild Council would have started advising us to ask for help centuries ago. Instead, a healer will get in trouble for telling a mundane what to do, since that’s outside interference, too.”

“Frostbite!” I beat on the bed frame with my fists while I chewed on that. “Fine. After I leave here tonight—”

“Forget it, sonny, you’re not going anywhere yet. You’re still shaky on your pins.”

“Aye, but I can’t stay. You’ll get in trouble if they find me here, and I don’t want—”

Hazel’s touch on my arm was as soothing as a good night’s sleep.

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