Chapter 2

Keira had become very tired of riding. No matter how pretty the mare was, the horse’s girth was unimaginable.

        “Can we rest for awhile?” She nearly had to yell to catch Roan’s attention, as he was a dozen horse-lengths ahead of her.

          Roan laughed, throwing his head back. “We aren’t nearly to the capital yet, little one. You’re a healer aren’t you? Soothe your aching thighs.”

         While Keira was used to controlling her temper after a year in servitude, the cold wind combined with her chaffing knees released the demon in her. She kicked her mare into a gallop, leapt past Roan’s horse, and wielded around to face the chuckling lord.

          “I will not be mocked.”

          Though Keira saw the hint of a smirk on his lips, Roan nodded pleasantly enough. He quickly dismounted, plopping himself under a nearby tree.

           The situation had resolved easily, but in retrospect Keira wished she had kept her mouth shut"a different Lord would have left her then and there, a day’s ride from any town and utterly alone.

            As she sat down next to the lanky man, Keira couldn’t help but think that he looked rather boyish, busily crunching at a green apple. She snuffed the thought out. She wouldn’t dare treat him as an equal, even if Roan had been kind so far.

            Offering her a leather of jerky, Roan asked “Tell me about your Pyre.”

            Keira shrugged, “It was always strongest when I was angry, so my tutors tried to convince me to be a Dueler.”

            “But you weren’t interested in fighting?” His eyes bored into hers with a sudden intensity.

            “No. So I ignored their advice and practiced Healing.”

            Roan considered this for a moment. “And then the Pyre was stolen.”

            “It disappeared,” she corrected him.

            He let out a wry smile. “So everyone says. Stand up, Miss.”

            She stood, somewhat warily.

            As he stood beneath the shade of the tree, a darker shadow crossed over his gruff features. The chilled air was suddenly smoky, the ashes circling around his head. From the man’s fingertips seeped a band of light that circled round her thighs. All pain eased from them, as if her muscles were slowly being stretched by a practiced hand.

            She started, breaking out of the tree's shade with a yelp. The smoke of Roan’s magic vanished once more.

            Keira stared at him.

            “Calm, Keira.” He eased towards her, hands outraised like he was courting a spooked mare.

            “But…the Pyre…is gone.” She knew it was"even the King’s own Healers and Master Duelers had been stripped of their magic last year.

            He looked at her closely. “Not gone"stolen. There are ways to capture pieces of the Pyre the thief missed.”

            “Show me.” She nearly shouted the words.

            Roan nodded, smiling softly. “But it won’t be as it used to. There isn’t enough magic to go around, barely enough for one good casting. We must keep it a secret.”

            Keira didn’t care who knew. She only wanted to feel the Pyre coursing through her veins again, making them light as smoke and powerful as a wildfire.

 

Reviews

[xx_strawberry_xx]

Interesting way to end it. I agree that the chapter is quite short, but very well written, nonetheless. I'm not too sure whether I trust Lord Roan though. :P

[Daydreamer54]

Nice, but I hate how its so short. (I know this review wasn't very instructive)