Shield of Fire
Masks

A path surrendered in flames. Smoke blocks her vision. Inarticulate voices scream in the background. This is hell. Prince Tadal stands opposite, a few feet away from her. The ground shakes violently and the ground between them collapses, revealing a river of lava underneath. Tadal extends his arm to her. Agony paints his face. He opens his mouth to speak but the sound of rocks collapsing and lava flowing - evaporating everything in its path - blocks his voice to reach her ears. She turns around, making move to escape but the ground behind her is already covered with the flooded lava. She’s trapped in a circle of fire that marches towards her with every drawing breath she takes. Panic and fear vanquish every nerve in her system, transforming her into a living statue as the shock immobilises her completely. She cannot open her mouth to scream for help. Her body does not respond and there’s no voice left within. She stays petrified, watching the dragnet of fire getting closer. She closes her eyes and waits for the liquid flames to blaze her skin. Her end.

Crini’s eyes pop wide open in shock as something icy hits her in the face. Her mouth opens wide, gasping for air looking around her, shocked and bewildered. She meets questioning eyes, gathered all around her, looking puzzled. Blinking a couple of times, her sight narrows on a cup resting on Loftak’s hand. Crini brought her hands to her face, wiping the liquid. A few drops land on her lips. Water. Relief makes her shoulders lower as she lets out a holding breath.

It was just a dream.

“Shouldn’t we test her? Maybe she’s ill.” Koniaak whispers from the back of the crowd.

“What happened?” Crini speaks, her voice rough and her mouth dry like the desert they’ve been wandering through these past days.

“You were screaming,” Ezpa appeared from behind Lura’s shoulder. “So loud…” he adds dropping his face low. He looked troubled.

“Do you feel unwell?” Ada urged to her side with worry forming a frown on her forehead.

“We don’t have time for nursing, Ada.” Triana’s stern tone felt colder than the water soaking Crini’s face and clothes. “It’s already morning outside, and we are already a few hours behind schedule. We’re supposed to reach Encree in two days’ time and none wants to pass that deadline. Am I right?” her eyes scan everyone’s face.

Suddenly the group falls silent. Everyone’s faces change at once. An invisible shadow darkens them.

“I can carry her.” Lura’s voice resonates making Crini snap her head towards him. Lura and Helion always seemed so distant. Especially Lura. Sometimes Crini thought that he’s participating not by free will. He has a permanent frown on his face and speaks in short-cut sentences like even talking is made because it needs to be done sometimes, not because he wants it.

“Just make sure she doesn’t delay us.” Prince Tadal emerges from the side, entering Crini’s view field. His face looks like a frozen flesh mask, vacant from any expression of sympathy. “Otherwise we’ll have to leave her back,” he announces like a ruthless robot.

Crini’s stunned by his words. And exasperated. How dare he, talk to her with such apathy. Of course, Crini was not expecting him to care, but his mother was the reason why she was deep in this shit and at least he must acknowledge her the same as the others. Not referring to her like she’s nothing more than a bag of kruka.

Prince Tadal turns around before Crini opens her mouth to speak and walks away. “Get ready everyone. In five minutes we must leave this place.” he shoots looking above his shoulder.

One after the other nods in affirmation. They should move on. Moiki and Zoiki stand up, adjusting their leather vests and opening the metal cube once more to make sure nothing changed and confirm the path they should follow. Poinary with Jato and Loftak grab the makeshift gourds of water - they made using the skin of some oversized lizards lurking around the rocks. Koniaak gets the dry fruits and herbs they found near the hot springs - excellent for energy snacks or as a meal in case nothing else is found. Ada, Ezpa and the rest of the royals are observing once more the weapons they made using the resources the mountain’s interior provides. Then each one takes from one. Lura is the only one left without anything to carry. While everyone is getting ready to start further within the mountain, he walks to stand next to Crini.

“Really, you don’t have to do this.” Crini turns to Lura, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “I can walk, I feel fine.”

Lura stands still, his eyes a deep green of the forest. “I know. But I won’t give the pleasure to that arrogant ass that calls himself a prince to boss me or laugh at me if I fail.”

Crini lets a soft laugh at his words. “Well, that makes two of us,” she whispers but Lura does not respond. By the look on his face, Crini realises that he didn’t understand her words. “I mean…” she leans a bit closer. “The feeling is mutual.”

Immediately Lura stiffened and Crini thought if she offended him somehow. But then he gives her a sharp nod looking sideways at her before his eyes land back straight on the one acting in charge. His ‘favourite’ Prince Tadal.

***

A/N: For those questioning, kruka are tiny insects, like ants, polluting the crops of Aniveans. Usually, they are killed by farm owners with a special herbal mix which they set on fire making a thick smoke that kills them or sold to slaves for food.

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