Born Of Fire

Born Of Fire Chapter 43

It seems a lot of people are under the impression that Born Of Fire is finished. To this I say, not even close! Born Of Fire will be either two, or three, full length novels before it is complete. 

That said, remember to vote! And thanks to all my fans and readers who voted for the last few chapters, you guys make my day!

A long, sharp, spike of stone had erupted from the ground, impaling the man upon it. Phoenix turned, and nodded to Spedro, then turned his attention to the others. Five Zhudalay already lay dead on the ground, and Phoenix began to hope that they could win.

Dodging a boulder that flew past his face, Phoenix ran into the fray. In the center he came to a stop, and three Piaslay turned to meet him. Coating his body with HellFire, Phoenix began to fight the three men, who took to attacking him one at a time in fear of injuring their comrades. The first sent a razor sharp tendril his way, and Phoenix leaned to the left to avoid it. Another tendril came from the second Piaslo, and Phoenix dropped to his knees and bent backward, watching the thin line of water pass over his bent body.

Rising quickly he tried to lay hold of the nearest man, but another rope of water wound toward him from the third Piaslo, causing Phoenix to jump forward quickly, vaulting over the man he had been reaching for. The third man pulled the rope back while the second mirrored him. They both sent their tendril back at him once more, and Phoenix grabbed the man he had vaulted over, pulling him in front of the deadly streams of water. Jumping backward, Phoenix heard the choked sound the man made as the ribbons of water sliced through his body. The body fell, in three separate pieces, each thumping to the ground.

The other two howled in grief, and Phoenix readied himself to attack. Springing forward, he met an orb one of the men sent his way with a fireball that seared through the water, and continued in its path, splashing against the man’s chest. He fell as well, clutching at his charred skin. The final Piaslo stepped forward raised his hands, an evil glint in his eye. Phoenix raised his hands, ready to send this man to a fiery death.

Calling forth his fire, Phoenix was about to send the wave at the man, but found himself unable to move. He tried to move his arms, to no avail. Straining with his legs, Phoenix was definitely worried now. The Piaslo stalked forward, holding his hands perfectly still. “I am the one who killed the thorn in Demetrius’ side. I will be greatly rewarded for this.”

Phoenix felt his heart pumping faster, not because of adrenaline, but because of something the Piaslo was doing. A pain flared in his chest, and Phoenix would have collapsed if he had not been rendered immobile.

“Do you feel that Phoenix? I developed this technique myself. I am controlling the flow of blood within your body, and can kill you whenever I please.” The man leaned a bit closer, letting Phoenix see the starlight reflect in his eyes. “Any last words?”

The man suddenly grimaced, and his hold over Phoenix faltered, then failed. A dark red stain appeared on his shirt, and he collapsed. Lindani appeared next to Phoenix, pulling the last of the blood from the man’s body. “I would say my last words, but they would fall on deaf ears,” Phoenix said, before whirling to help in the rest of the fight.

Phoenix’s eyes widened in surprise, as only two Zuhdalay remained on the attackers. One who had caused a large slab of stone to rise in the middle of the field, hiding himself and the other, who was throwing orbs of fire around the wall.

Ember started forward, using her wind to deflect the orbs, and Phoenix jumped around her, letting the balls of fire come. He caught the first, and dropped it to the ground, then snatched the second from the air, heating it further. With a great groan of exertion, Phoenix threw the orb as hard as he could, watching it splash against the wall of stone. A crack appeared, and the wall shattered. The two elementals beyond it were thrown to the ground, and Phoenix stalked forward.

The Bachtalo lay on the ground, blood trickling from a laceration on his temple. The Yaagalo lay a few feet beyond him, breathing his last breaths. A large piece of stone was jutting out of his chest, and Phoenix could tell he was in his last moments. The dying man lifted a hand, snarling at the specter of death before him, then tried to conjure a final orb. Phoenix lazily pulled water from Lindani’s water skin, and sent it at the man’s hand, freezing it once it made contact.

“May the Gods have mercy on you in the afterlife,” Phoenix said, before raising him foot and stomping on the stone sticking out of the man’s chest. His eyes went wide, and he drew in a final raspy breath, cursing Phoenix with its expulsion.

Phoenix turned to the Bachtalo, who’s eyes were beginning to flutter open. He coated the man’s hands and feet with ice, pinning him to the ground before approaching him. The Bachtalo fixed his eyes on Phoenix, a deep hatred burning within. “I will give no information, so you may as well kill me.”

Phoenix knelt beside the man, lighting his hand in the process. “I do not need information from you my friend. Just your power.”

Phoenix gripped the man’s hand, and let his heat flow into him, burning the man’s organs. The Bachtalo let loose a single, blood curdling scream as he died, and Phoenix felt the familiar surge of power within him. He rose to his feet, bringing a fragment of the exploded wall with him. He felt something within the rock, something he could not explain. It was as though he knew the stone, and felt a certain bond with it. Tossing the rock into the air before his eyes, he waited until it dropped to his chest, then punched it lightly, as he had see Spedro do before. The rock flew forward at an amazing pace, impacting the trunk of a tree. The wood splintered, and the rock bore through it, smashing the trunk. The tree toppled, crashing to the ground harmlessly.

Phoenix laughed, a deep, throaty laugh, then once again, white streaks exploded behind his eyes, and he collapsed to the bed of leaves. The last the he saw was Lindani leaning over him, then he felt Spedro’s strong arms lifting him from the ground. Blackness overtook him, and he dropped into a deep slumber