Read Lesson of the Fire for Free Online Page B

They merely ate
quietly, even slurping up the last of the broth in their bowls.
    The hum of voices and the scrape of walking
feet on sandy paths alerted the four that Nightfire had arrived.
Much of the town would turn out to watch Finn depart. Sven did not
stir from his place in the circle, and neither did anyone else.
They would not be going this year. It was important they stay
together today.
    “Which one of us?” Lori demanded. “It has to
be one of us, so we might as well decide now.”
    None of them spoke for a minute, staring at
Lori. She didn’t blush.
    How could you feel
embarrassed about this? Sven
thought. It’s like asking who’ll go hunt
for food or who’ll boil the water so we can drink.
    “I can’t go,” Hauk said. “I’ve a duty to my
neighbors.”
    They all knew what he meant. Hauk had trained
with Thorhall, the blacksmith, for years. Thorhall was becoming too
old to do smithwork, and Hauk was doing most of the work now. He
was irreplaceable.
    “I don’t want to go, either,” Lori said. “I
want to raise a family.”
    Each one of them knew how important Lori’s
family was to her. She had been the oldest of nine children, making
her practically a mother already. She had made it her duty to see
that the children of the village did not wander into the swamp. The
parents in Rustiford depended on her and trusted her.
    But someone could replace
her, Sven thought, but he forced his mouth
to stay shut. Is there an argument for
everyone not going?
    He opened his mouth to speak.
    “I’ll go,” Erbark broke in suddenly. “Perhaps
he’ll even let me visit Rustiford sometime.”
    He smiled and leaned back casually. Lori did
not react so favorably.
    “He’s never let any of th’others visit,
Erbark!” she snapped. “For all we know, he’s sellin’ all his slaves
to the Dux of Flasten or findin’ a reason to keep them longer than
eight years.”
    “Not all wizards are slavers,” Erbark said,
testing his dagger’s edge with one finger. “If he tries to cheat
me, well … ” The blade flashed in the air and sank into a knothole
in the far wall.
    “He’s a wizard!” Lori cried. “He’ll just hurt
you if you fight him.”
    Erbark shrugged, and Hauk laughed so hard he
pitched into a coughing fit.
    It’s a fantasy, but what
else do we have left? Sven thought, but he
chuckled and pulled the hood over his head, his green eyes gleaming
red in the firelight.
    Lori stood up, pulled on her boots and
stormed to the front door.
    Erbark hurried to her side. “Where are you
goin’, Lori?”
    “To watch Nightfire take Finn away from us
with the rest of th’adults i’the town. When you’re done talkin’
like mapmakers, let me know.”
    Then the door opened, and Lori was gone.
Erbark paused, deciding, and then returned to his chair.
    Sven, Erbark and Hauk regarded each other in
silence, suddenly uncomfortable. For a long while, none of them
spoke. The sounds of Finn’s departure filtered into the cabin,
interrupted only by the occasional pop of the fire in the
hearth.
    Hauk stood up suddenly. “I’d better get some
sleep. Thorhall might want me to make some nails this
afternoon.”
    It was a weak excuse. Compassionate almost to
a fault, Thorhall would spend the day consoling Finn’s mother. It
was unlikely he would work at all. But Erbark and Sven empathized
with their friend. They all needed some time alone, now. Sven
opened the door for Hauk and wished him peace and comfort in
Marrish’s name. Hauk murmured a blessing in return and plodded
toward his house.
    Sven returned to his seat and watched the
flames of the hearth fire. His hooded head nodded once, and he woke
instantly. He looked around his cabin, re-familiarizing himself
with the room. Erbark’s grey eyes were still open, but the eyelids
were heavy, his expression blank. The fire had burned low, leaving
only hot coals and ashes. There was little firewood left.
    Not yet ready for sleep, Sven found that he
was glad of the chore of