Chapter Twelve: The Price of Freedom
Morning sunlight spilled over the hills beyond Starhaven.
Orion stood in the clearing near Cyrus's old training grounds, breathing heavily.
Smoke curled from his fingertips.
Several trees around him bore black scorch marks, and chunks of stone had been blasted loose from the ground.
Across from him, Damien straightened slowly.
His Soul Brand still glowed faintly beneath his shirt.
"You're getting better at that."
Orion wiped sweat from his brow.
"You're getting harder to hit."
"That's because I'm talented."
"That's because you keep throwing my attacks back at me."
Damien grinned.
"Sounds like talent."
Orion shook his head.
Over the past several days, they'd trained until neither of them could move.
Orion practiced controlling the Demon Phoenix's flames without allowing anger to control him.
Damien experimented with the strange force his Soul Brand gave him.
Neither fully understood what they carried.
Orion could feel something beneath his fire.
Memory.
Instinct.
Presence.
Damien's power was stranger in a different way.
Some days he could send a grown man flying with barely a shove.
Other times, the same technique felt weaker.
But there was one pattern neither of them had fully understood yet.
The stronger Orion became—
the more Damien seemed capable of becoming with him.
Damien flexed his hand.
"Still feels like it's holding something back."
Orion looked toward him.
"My shard too."
He glanced toward the waterfall.
"Like there's something deeper I haven't reached."
Damien sat on a fallen log.
"Well, unless the waterfall is planning to explain it to us, I think we've squeezed about everything useful out of this place."
Orion looked around.
Cyrus's cabin.
The training grounds.
The journals.
The quiet little town.
Starhaven had given him answers.
And considerably more questions.
But Damien was right.
Staying would eventually become hiding.
Orion picked up his coat.
"Where do you suggest?"
Damien smiled.
That immediately made Orion suspicious.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"That's the smile you make before suggesting something stupid."
"That's hurtful."
"Where?"
Damien stood.
"Town north of here."
Orion waited.
"Lorianne."
"Never heard of it."
"City practically runs on cards, dice, liquor, and bad decisions."
Damien's smile widened.
"Just like home."
Orion raised an eyebrow.
"Let me guess."
He put on his coat.
"Casino."
"Several."
Damien threw an arm around his shoulder.
"But only one that matters."
Lorianne — The City of Vice
Orion smelled Lorianne before he understood what kind of place it was.
Cigar smoke.
Alcohol.
Perfume.
Sweat.
Food frying somewhere in the distance.
Music spilled from open saloons while dice rattled against tables visible through windows.
Bright banners of red velvet and gaudy gold hung over the streets.
Every other building seemed to advertise gambling, liquor, entertainment, or some combination of all three.
Damien's eyes lit up.
"Now this—"
He spread his arms.
"—is civilization."
Orion ignored him.
Something down an alley had caught his attention.
A girl lay on the ground.
Thin.
Dirty.
Her clothes were little more than torn fabric.
A metal collar circled her neck.
A large man stood over her.
"Useless gutter trash."
He spat.
The girl flinched.
But she didn't lower her eyes.
There was hatred there.
Not shame.
Not surrender.
Hatred.
The man reached toward her hair.
His hand never arrived.
Someone caught his wrist.
The man's eyes widened.
Orion stood between them.
His grip tightened.
Heat spread through the bouncer's arm.
"You touch her again..."
Orion's eyes burned faintly red.
"...and I'll make sure you don't use this hand again."
The man snarled.
"Who the hell do you think you—"
He tried pulling free.
That was his second mistake.
Orion twisted.
CRACK.
The bouncer screamed.
His knees hit the ground.
Orion kicked him square in the chest.
The man crashed into the alley wall.
His head struck stone.
He collapsed.
Damien leaned around the corner.
"You always this quick to start fights when we enter a new town?"
Orion released the man's broken wrist.
"Only when somebody deserves it."
Damien grabbed the unconscious bouncer beneath the arms.
"Fair."
He began dragging him away.
"Where are you taking him?"
"There's a horse trough."
Orion stared.
Damien shrugged.
"He looks warm."
Orion knelt beside the girl.
She immediately raised both arms over her head.
"Please."
Orion stopped.
"I didn't mean to disobey."
His expression softened.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
She slowly lowered one arm.
"What's your name?"
Silence.
Her lip was split.
One eye swollen.
Bruises covered her arms.
She tried to stand.
Her legs shook.
That was when Orion noticed her feet.
Bare.
Calloused.
Cut.
Old scars overlapped newer ones.
She hadn't been walking barefoot for a day.
Or a week.
Possibly years.
Damien returned.
"I tossed him in the trough."
He looked toward her.
Then at her feet.
His expression changed.
"Town didn't even blink."
Orion removed his pack.
"Watch her."
Damien pointed to himself.
"Aye aye, boss man."
"Very funny."
Orion stood.
"Just keep an eye on her."
He disappeared into the street.
The girl immediately tensed.
Damien sat several feet away.
He didn't move closer.
"He's like this."
She looked toward him.
Damien nodded toward where Orion had disappeared.
"Sees somebody getting hurt and suddenly his brain stops working."
The girl said nothing.
"Good guy, though."
Damien considered it.
"Annoying."
Another pause.
"Stubborn."
He smiled slightly.
"But good."
Orion returned several minutes later carrying a pair of women's boots.
Damien stared.
"You went shopping?"
"Shut up."
Orion crouched.
"I guessed the size."
He set the boots in front of her.
"Anything has to be better than walking around like that."
The girl stared.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she reached toward them carefully.
"I..."
Her voice cracked.
"I haven't had shoes since I was little."
Orion's jaw tightened.
He looked toward her wounds.
Then toward his hand.
"There's something else I want to try."
Damien immediately frowned.
"Try?"
"I've been practicing."
"That word isn't comforting."
Orion ignored him.
He concentrated.
Not anger.
Not destruction.
Warmth.
The same fire that had closed his own wounds.
But gentler.
Smaller.
Tiny embers formed above his palm.
They stretched.
Separated.
Until several glowing feathers floated above his hand.
Unlike the crimson flames he normally produced—
these burned gold.
Almost white at their centers.
Damien stared.
"You've done that before?"
"No."
"Fantastic."
Orion looked toward the girl.
"This shouldn't hurt."
Damien raised a finger.
"Strong word. Shouldn't."
Orion glared at him.
"Helping."
"Right."
Orion released one feather.
It drifted toward the girl's split lip.
Touched her skin.
She gasped.
Golden light spread across the wound.
It closed.
Another feather touched her arm.
A bruise faded.
Another landed against one of the cuts along her foot.
Skin slowly knitted together.
The girl stared in disbelief.
Then—
something strange happened.
One feather lingered.
Instead of disappearing after healing the wound, it rested against the center of her chest.
Orion frowned.
The girl's eyes widened.
"What is it?"
"I don't know."
The feather dissolved.
Not into smoke.
Into her.
A faint golden glow moved beneath her skin.
Then vanished.
Damien stood.
"Orion."
"I saw it."
The girl pressed her hand against her chest.
"It doesn't hurt."
Orion could feel the Demon Phoenix stirring.
Not alarmed.
Not angry.
Interested.
For the briefest moment—
Orion thought he sensed something almost feminine within the warmth.
A presence separate from the ancient weight buried deeper inside.
Then it vanished.
Orion stared at the girl.
She stared back.
Neither understood what had just happened.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Warm."
"Bad warm?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Her fingers remained against her chest.
"Safe."
Orion didn't know what to make of that.
So he didn't.
He picked up the boots.
"Here."
He helped her into them.
She stared down at her feet.
Then looked toward him.
Her eyes glistened.
"Why?"
Orion paused.
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
He looked toward the collar around her neck.
"Because you deserve to walk your own path."
He stood.
"No chains."
"No cages."
Damien crossed his arms.
"We should move before the guy in the trough wakes up."
Orion nodded.
He looked toward the girl.
"Stay out of trouble."
Then he and Damien left.
The girl watched them go.
Waited.
Then followed.
Later That Night
Their camp sat just beyond Lorianne.
Far enough that the city lights were faint.
Close enough to hear distant music when the wind shifted.
Damien crouched beside the fire, stirring a pot.
Orion looked toward a bush.
The bush moved.
Then stopped.
Damien followed his gaze.
He smiled.
"You think we should tell her?"
"Tell her what?"
"That she's terrible at spying."
The bush moved again.
Orion sighed.
"She's been following us for hours."
"Maybe she thinks she's good at it."
"She's hiding behind one bush."
Damien nodded seriously.
"Elite technique."
Orion looked toward the darkness.
"You can come out."
Nothing.
"There's food."
The bush immediately moved.
Damien covered his mouth.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm trying."
The girl slowly emerged.
She was still wearing the boots.
She approached cautiously.
Orion handed her a bowl.
"Sit."
She did.
For several minutes, she ate without speaking.
Quickly at first.
Then slower, perhaps after realizing nobody intended to take the food away.
Damien leaned back.
"So."
He nodded toward her.
"What do we do about our guest?"
Orion looked at her.
"Start with your name."
The girl hesitated.
Then—
"Saphira."
Orion nodded.
"I'm Orion."
She already knew.
He gestured toward Damien.
"That's Damien."
"Unfortunately," Damien added.
Orion ignored him.
"So, Saphira."
He set his bowl aside.
"Why'd you follow us?"
Her grip tightened.
"I need help."
She stared into the flames.
"And I don't have many options."
Damien's humor faded.
"Go on."
Saphira swallowed.
"My parents gambled."
Neither man interrupted.
"A lot."
She rubbed her hands together.
"They lost everything."
"House."
"Money."
"Everything."
Her voice grew quieter.
"Eventually they didn't have anything left to wager."
Orion already knew where the story was going.
His expression darkened.
Saphira continued.
"So they wagered me."
Damien stopped moving.
"They what?"
"I was collateral."
Her eyes remained fixed on the fire.
"They lost."
Silence.
"I've belonged to Morrison ever since."
Damien's jaw tightened.
"The Crimson Bloom guy?"
She nodded.
"Owns the biggest casino in Lorianne."
"Morrison charges me for everything."
"Food."
"A bed."
"Water."
"Clothes."
"Bathing."
She laughed bitterly.
"Even the collar."
Orion stared.
"They charge you for being imprisoned?"
She nodded.
"No matter how much I work, the debt gets bigger."
Orion's fists tightened.
"You're not paying a debt."
Saphira looked toward him.
"You're a prisoner."
Her eyes watered.
"I followed you because..."
She struggled to speak.
"I thought maybe..."
Orion answered before she could finish.
"We'll help you."
Saphira stared.
Damien looked at him.
"Just like that?"
Orion turned.
"Yes."
"Okay."
Damien pointed toward the city.
"How?"
Orion considered it.
Then—
"We win her freedom."
Damien's eyes narrowed.
"Fair and square."
A grin slowly spread across Damien's face.
"You want to out-gamble the biggest casino owner in Lorianne."
"Yes."
"In his own casino."
"Yes."
Damien stood.
He placed both hands on Orion's shoulders.
"Orion."
"What?"
"I have never respected you more."
Orion shoved him away.
Damien smiled toward Saphira.
"Lucky for you..."
He brushed imaginary dust from his coat.
"...you're looking at the best gambler this side of the Sand Sea."
Saphira looked skeptical.
Orion did too.
Damien pointed at both of them.
"That reaction is insulting."
He looked toward Saphira.
"If your freedom has a price..."
His grin sharpened.
"...I'll win it."
Saphira smiled.
Barely.
But it was there.
Orion stood.
"You should go back tonight."
Her smile disappeared.
"I don't want to."
"I know."
Orion looked toward the city.
"But if Morrison realizes you're missing before we're ready, he might move you."
Damien nodded.
"Or worse."
Saphira looked frightened.
Orion crouched slightly so they were level.
"Tomorrow."
He spoke firmly.
"We come get you."
She studied his face.
Then nodded.
"Tomorrow."
The Crimson Bloom Casino
The Crimson Bloom lived up to its name.
Red velvet covered nearly everything.
Gold trim reflected chandelier light.
Card tables stretched across the massive floor.
Coins changed hands constantly.
People won fortunes.
Lost them.
Won them back.
Lost more.
The entire building seemed designed to make people forget money was real.
Damien looked around.
His eyes widened.
"I've found heaven."
Orion grabbed his shoulder.
"We have a job."
"Heaven can wait."
Their plan was simple.
Damien would gamble.
Win.
Keep winning until somebody important noticed.
Preferably Morrison.
Orion would stay nearby in case the entire thing inevitably became violent.
Given their recent history—
Orion was almost certain it would.
Saphira had returned through a side entrance earlier.
She'd looked terrified.
But she'd gone inside.
For freedom.
Damien started small.
Cards.
Dice.
Another card table.
Then another.
He didn't merely win.
He embarrassed people.
Crowds gathered.
Whispers spread.
Stacks of chips grew.
Orion watched from near the bar.
Eventually—
someone approached Damien.
A sharply dressed employee.
"Sir."
Damien looked up from his cards.
"You've been invited to the High Rollers' Lounge."
Damien glanced toward Orion.
He winked.
Orion sighed.
Then Damien disappeared behind velvet curtains.
High Rollers
Morrison sat alone.
Greasy hair.
Expensive suit.
Too many rings.
A permanent expression that suggested the world had personally offended him.
He shuffled cards expertly.
"They say you're good."
Damien sat across from him.
"They say right."
Morrison smiled.
"Confidence."
"Experience."
They played.
Fast.
Ruthless.
Morrison was good.
Damien was better.
The chips moved steadily toward Damien.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Then—
the final hand.
Damien placed his cards down.
Morrison stared.
Damien leaned back.
"And here I thought I'd get a challenge."
Morrison's smile disappeared.
Damien looked him over.
"I genuinely can't tell what's worse."
"Your poker face..."
He pointed toward Morrison's expression.
"...or the normal one."
Morrison's eye twitched.
"You cheated."
Damien sighed.
"You people are all the same."
"What?"
"Fragile ego."
Damien gathered his winnings.
"You got outplayed."
Morrison slammed one hand onto the table.
"You aren't going anywhere."
Damien stopped.
"The house always wins."
Guards appeared behind him.
Damien smiled slowly.
"Okay."
He returned the chips.
"Then how about another wager?"
Morrison stared.
Damien pushed the entire pile forward.
"Everything I won."
Morrison's eyebrow lifted.
"Against what?"
"My friend."
Morrison looked confused.
"One hand."
Damien smiled.
"All or nothing."
"If he wins..."
Damien leaned forward.
"...we get whatever we ask for."
Morrison laughed.
"And if I win?"
"Everything."
Morrison considered it.
Then smiled.
"Bring him."
Orion was escorted inside several minutes later.
He looked toward Damien.
"What did you do?"
Damien pointed toward the chair.
"Trust me."
"That's becoming increasingly difficult."
Orion sat.
Morrison shuffled.
"One hand."
Orion remembered nights beside a fire.
Cyrus drinking.
Cards scattered between them.
Orion losing.
Repeatedly.
Cyrus laughing.
Stop staring at the cards, kid.
People tell you more than paper ever will.
Orion looked toward Morrison.
His fingers.
His breathing.
His eyes.
The slight movement whenever he looked at his own hand.
Orion smiled.
Morrison's expression changed.
Cards hit the table.
One hand.
One winner.
Orion.
Morrison stared.
Then slowly began clapping.
"Impressive."
Orion didn't like the tone.
"Really."
A side door opened.
Two guards entered.
Dragging someone between them.
Orion stood immediately.
"Saphira."
Her face was bloodied.
Tears ran down her cheeks.
They dropped her onto the floor.
"I'm sorry..."
She shook.
"I'm so sorry..."
Morrison stood.
"You thought you could enter my casino..."
He straightened his cuffs.
"...humiliate me..."
He looked toward Saphira.
"...steal my property..."
Then Orion.
"...and leave as heroes?"
Orion's chair fell backward.
"She isn't property."
Morrison smiled.
"She ran."
One guard grabbed Saphira's hair.
"We convinced her to tell us why."
Orion's fire stirred.
Morrison spread his arms.
"Like I said."
His smile widened.
"The house always wins."
Flame exploded across the room.
The House Burns
The wall of fire forced Morrison's guards backward.
Damien stood.
His Brand ignited.
"You know..."
He cracked his neck.
"...I was willing to do this the civilized way."
Orion's eyes burned crimson.
Damien smiled.
"Let's burn this place down."
A guard charged.
Damien caught his punch.
Force gathered.
He redirected it through his palm.
BOOM.
The man flew across the room and crashed through a table.
Orion swept one arm.
Flames erupted.
Another guard went through the door.
Cards caught fire.
Curtains ignited.
People screamed.
Morrison stumbled backward.
"STOP THEM!"
Orion punched a guard.
Damien threw another across the room.
"STOP THEM!"
Morrison found a hidden latch.
A section of wall opened.
He slipped through.
"Take care of them!"
He pointed toward someone outside.
"And find her father!"
The door slammed shut.
Damien glanced toward Orion.
"Did he say father?"
Orion's expression became colder.
"Apparently."
They finished the remaining guards quickly.
Orion rushed toward Saphira.
She was barely conscious.
He summoned a healing feather.
Nothing.
His fire flickered.
Too much fighting.
Too much power.
He tried again.
A small golden feather appeared.
It touched Saphira's cheek.
Some of the bleeding stopped.
But Orion's hand shook.
"Can't do enough here."
Damien nodded.
"Then we move."
Orion lifted her.
One arm under her knees.
The other behind her back.
Saphira weakly grabbed his coat.
"Hold on."
They ran.
The balcony overlooking the casino floor was blocked.
More guards approached from behind.
Damien looked down.
Then at Orion.
"You're thinking something stupid."
"Probably."
"Good."
Orion jumped.
"ORION!"
Flames erupted beneath them.
They dropped toward the casino floor.
Orion landed hard.
Tables shattered beneath the impact.
Saphira remained protected against his chest.
Damien came down seconds later—
considerably less gracefully.
He hit a card table.
"Ow."
Orion looked over.
"You good?"
"I'm reconsidering our friendship."
Then—
slow clapping.
Morrison stood at the opposite end of the casino.
Several armed guards surrounded him.
And beside him—
a disheveled man in his forties.
Saphira froze.
"Dad..."
The man looked toward her.
Then Morrison.
"I do this..."
His voice trembled.
"...my debts are cleared?"
Morrison nodded.
"Convince her to stay."
He smiled.
"They came for the girl."
"If she chooses to remain..."
He looked toward Orion.
"...they have no reason to interfere."
The man stepped forward.
He forced a smile.
"Saphira."
She tightened her grip on Orion.
"Come home."
Her entire body shook.
"We can be a family again."
He held out his hand.
"Help me fix what we broke."
Saphira stared.
Then slowly shook her head.
"You were never family."
Her voice cracked.
"You let them take me."
Her father flinched.
"You never came back."
The forced smile disappeared.
His expression twisted.
"Ungrateful little brat."
Orion's eyes narrowed.
"You think you're worth anything?"
Saphira recoiled.
"You barely paid half of what I owe!"
He pointed toward her.
"Now stop this nonsense and help your family!"
Saphira buried her face against Orion's chest.
She started crying.
Orion became very still.
He carefully handed her toward Damien.
"Take her."
Damien accepted her.
"Orion."
"You are never..."
Flames rolled from Orion's shoulders.
"...going to make her cry again."
The man took one step backward.
Orion disappeared.
Fire exploded beneath his boots.
His fist ignited.
He hit Saphira's father directly across the face.
CRACK.
Pain tore through Orion's hand.
His own bones fractured from the impact.
The man left the ground.
He slammed into the floor several feet away.
Unconscious.
Orion stood over him.
His hand hung at his side.
Broken.
Burning.
Healing slowly.
"What kind of father..."
His voice shook with rage.
"...sells his own daughter?"
Nobody answered.
Morrison backed away.
"F-Fine!"
Orion turned.
Morrison raised both hands.
"Take her!"
Orion's fire intensified.
"Take her and go!"
They didn't wait.
Freedom
They left Lorianne beneath the cover of darkness.
Orion carried Saphira on his back once she was strong enough to hold on.
Damien carried most of their supplies.
They didn't stop until the city lights had disappeared.
Only then did they make camp.
The fire crackled softly.
Saphira sat wrapped in a blanket.
Orion knelt in front of her.
His broken hand had mostly healed.
Now—
he focused on her.
Golden feathers drifted around them.
One touched her cheek.
Another her shoulder.
Another settled against her ribs.
Bruises faded.
Cuts closed.
Saphira watched them in silence.
"They're beautiful."
Orion looked toward the feathers.
"Usually my fire gets called a lot of things."
He smiled slightly.
"Beautiful isn't one of them."
Another feather touched her chest.
The same place as before.
It didn't disappear immediately.
Instead—
golden light spread faintly beneath her skin.
Saphira inhaled sharply.
Orion stopped.
"Does that hurt?"
"No."
She stared downward.
Again—
warmth.
The same strange warmth she'd felt in the alley.
The feather dissolved into her.
For the briefest instant—
Saphira's eyes flashed gold.
Not red.
Gold.
Orion didn't notice.
Damien did.
He frowned.
Then the light vanished.
Damien opened his mouth.
Thought better of it.
Not yet.
Orion finished healing her.
Then sat beside the fire.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Finally Damien tossed a twig into the flames.
"So."
He looked toward Saphira.
"What now?"
Saphira pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
"I want to come with you."
Orion looked over.
"You're free."
"I know."
"You can go anywhere."
"I know."
"Start over."
Saphira looked directly at him.
"I am."
Orion stopped.
"With you."
She swallowed.
"I want to help."
"I can learn."
"Fight."
"Cook."
"Treat wounds."
"Whatever you need."
Orion smiled faintly.
"You don't owe us anything."
"I know."
"Then you don't have to make yourself useful just so we'll let you stay."
Saphira looked down.
The words clearly hit harder than he intended.
Her voice became smaller.
"Please."
She tightened her hands around the blanket.
"Just don't abandon me."
Orion stared.
He remembered Augustine.
Standing alone.
Everything gone.
He understood.
"Okay."
Saphira slowly looked up.
"You can come."
Damien raised an eyebrow.
"Wow."
Orion looked toward him.
"What?"
"Really kept us in suspense."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Damien sat forward.
"Come on."
He gestured dramatically.
"You break a man's wrist for touching her."
"That's not—"
"Buy her shoes."
"She needed shoes."
"Make magical healing feathers."
"I didn't know I could do that."
"Storm a casino."
"That was the plan."
"Jump off a balcony carrying her like some storybook prince."
"There were guards behind us."
"Punch her father so hard you break your own hand."
Orion rubbed the back of his neck.
"He pissed me off."
Damien stared.
Orion stared back.
Saphira tried not to smile.
Damien shook his head.
"Hopeless."
"What's hopeless?"
"Nothing."
Damien waved dismissively.
"Do the thing."
Orion frowned.
"What thing?"
"The ring."
Orion blinked.
"Oh."
He reached toward the pouch at his belt.
Saphira watched.
Orion passed over the plain rings.
His fingers stopped.
One of the others felt different.
A core ring.
Not the leader's.
Not Damien's second-in-command ring.
This one had its own design.
A narrow band of darkened metal wound around warmer gold.
The Eternal Flame emblem was smaller, almost delicate compared with the others, but fire-like markings curled around the band.
Orion didn't remember Jace explaining who had once worn it.
Only that it had belonged to someone important.
Someone at the heart of the old crew.
Its exact place in the new Eternal Flame had yet to be decided.
Maybe that was fitting.
Saphira was still deciding who she wanted to become.
Orion held it out.
"This means you're one of us."
Saphira stared at the ring.
"Really?"
Orion nodded.
"No debt."
"No price."
"No contract."
He smiled.
"You can leave whenever you want."
Those words mattered.
Saphira extended her hand.
Orion took it.
Then—
without giving the gesture a second thought—
slid the ring onto her ring finger.
Silence.
Saphira froze.
Her face immediately turned red.
Damien stared.
Then slowly covered his mouth.
Orion looked between them.
"What?"
Damien's shoulders started shaking.
"What?"
Saphira stared at the ring.
Orion frowned.
"Does it not fit?"
That broke Damien.
He burst out laughing.
Orion glared.
"What is wrong with you?"
Damien could barely breathe.
"Nothing."
He wiped his eyes.
"Absolutely nothing."
Orion looked toward Saphira.
"You okay?"
She nodded very quickly.
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"Yep."
She looked down again.
Her fingers brushed the ring.
A real smile appeared.
Small.
Warm.
Free.
Orion leaned back.
"Then welcome to the Eternal Flame."
Saphira whispered—
"Thank you."
Neither Orion nor Damien noticed the tiny spark of golden light that moved once beneath the ring.
Then disappeared.
The Road
By sunrise, they were moving again.
Three horses would have been easier.
They had two.
Saphira stood beside Orion's.
Damien already sat comfortably on his own.
Orion looked toward her.
"You can ride with me."
Damien immediately looked away.
His shoulders shook again.
Orion noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Being weird."
Damien grinned.
Saphira climbed onto the horse behind Orion.
Her arms hesitated.
Then wrapped carefully around his waist.
Orion stiffened slightly.
Damien saw that too.
His smile widened.
"Not."
Orion pointed at him.
"One."
"Word."
Damien raised both hands.
"I didn't say anything."
They rode.
Behind them—
Lorianne was already responding.
Crimson Bloom
Morrison sat inside a Five Points office.
His face remained pale.
His clothes smelled faintly of smoke.
An officer wrote while Morrison spoke.
"Three of them."
The officer looked up.
"Names?"
"Orion."
The pen stopped.
Morrison didn't notice.
"Calls himself Eternal Flame."
The officer resumed writing.
"Second?"
"Damien."
"Known alias?"
Morrison scowled.
"Some gambler."
The officer considered it.
Then wrote.
"Third?"
Morrison's expression twisted.
"Saphira."
"Affiliation?"
"Property."
The officer stopped writing.
Morrison slammed his hand onto the desk.
"She belongs to me!"
The officer stared at him.
"That's not what I asked."
Morrison glared.
The officer looked down again.
"Affiliation."
Morrison clenched his jaw.
"...Eternal Flame."
Within the hour—
new posters entered circulation.
First through Lorianne.
Then surrounding towns.
Then merchant routes.
Fresh ink.
Fresh faces.
Fresh names.
WANTED
ORION
Alias: The Eternal Flame
DAMIEN
Alias: The Gambler
SAPHIRA
Status: Fugitive / Runaway Bondservant
Affiliation:
Eternal Flame
Reward: 50,000 Gold Each
DEAD OR ALIVE
Three riders disappeared over the horizon.
Behind them—
the world was beginning to watch.
Damien had chosen his King.
Saphira had chosen freedom.
And Orion—
without realizing it—
had begun building something people were willing to follow.
The Eternal Flame was growing.
And they were only getting started.