“What is your decision?” Mattis demanded.
I glanced over Jakob’s head to observe Fynn and Clothis. The two stared straight ahead at the small army of Huryl soldiers and unsheathed their weapons. They stood together defiantly, a smile passing over Fynn’s face.
“You won’t have either of them,” Fynn announced loudly.
Mattis’ expression curled into a sneer and he held up his sword in salute to Fynn’s bravery. The soldiers took a hesitant step forward, each of them aware of the legend of the Woodwalker. I gasped in surprise at Fynn’s pronouncement. I had been willing to surrender myself to save my friends, and I hated to think what would happen to Fynn if the Wood was burned to the ground.
“Your bravery is admirable,” Mattis said, “but that will not save you. Burn the forest.”
The soldiers at the back moved swiftly towards the trees, their torches held high. I could see the tree spirits along the rim of the woods, recoiling in terror as the fire drew closer. I closed my eyes and focused on the fire spirits, knowing they would be drawn to the flames. I could sense them, quivering with anticipation at the enormity of the coming blaze. They would dance freely through the Wood, destroying everything in their path, freer than they had even been. I found myself longing to join them, almost to the point of taking a torch myself and being the first to set the fire.
“Leila!” Jakob’s voice snapped me free of the thought.
I had taken several steps forward, a grin on my face, reaching out with one hand as if to grab hold of the torch. Jakob was staring at me with a concerned expression, holding onto my other hand tightly. I shook my head and returned to my position next to him.
“What was that?” Jakob hissed, keeping one eye on the stalemate between Fynn and Mattis.
“The fire spirits,” I replied. “I tried to reach them, but they want to burn the Wood. They don’t care.”
Jakob frowned. “I don’t think you should call the spirits, not after what happened on the mountain.”
My face flushed. He was talking about my calm murder of Cireno, the man who had tried to kill him twice. I patted Jakob amicably on the hand to reassure him.
“I’ll be fine,” I promised. “I’ll find some water spirits to dose the flames, or ask the air spirits to blow the fire out.”
Jakob refused to be dissuaded that easily. He kept a lock on my wrist, refusing to let me go. I glanced at him irritably and saw the tears forming on his beat up face.
“Please, Leila,” he said softly. “Don’t ask the spirits.”
“I have to,” I replied, my heart aching at the sincerity of his words. “I have to save us. Fynn and Clothis can’t fight off that many soldiers, and if the Wood burns, Fynn will die.”
Jakob seemed surprised and looked over to where Fynn stood with his back to us, concentrating fully on the battle ahead. I hoped he had not heard our conversation, that he truly was as engrossed as he seemed. I gently pulled away from Jakob and closed my eyes again, seeking the water spirits.
They were hiding in the forest as well, worried that the flames of the reckless fire spirits would evaporate their hidden ponds and fountains. I called to them, asking them to help save their homes. A few responded, and I felt myself growing in strength as they came closer. The soldiers were nearly at the trees, the terror of the tree spirits and the exhilaration of the fire spirits growing with each step. I urged the water tribe to come faster, putting all of my energy into summoning them. I opened my eyes.
Clothis and Mattis were engaged in combat, their swords singing as the blades struck over and over. It was as if they were dancing a complicated dance, with steps only the two of them could know. With Clothis engaged, it left Fynn on his own to face the fifty or so soldiers, who were drawing fearfully closer. I felt an odd detachment as I saw Fynn hold out his hand to one of the men, palm aimed carefully at the man’s chest, and mutter a few words. A white sphere ripped itself free of the soldier, and the man collapsed to the ground as the sphere settled on Fynn’s palm. He tucked it into the leather pouch that hung from his waist and turned to the next threat.
Jakob was behind me, and I could feel him staring at me. I did not turn, but called the water spirits closer. I felt their joy as a tidal wave of water surged from the forest shadows and crashed noisily down on the dozens of soldiers that bore the torches. Instantly, the fires were extinguished and the threat to the forest eliminated, or so I thought.
The fire spirits were furious. I felt their raw anger explode, and the sensation sent my mind reeling. I nearly fell to the ground as I fought to resume control. The water tribe was already retreating back to their ponds, not wanting to be far from their homes. I could do nothing against the power of the fire spirits. Their rage washed over me in waves, and I began to feel the same way. I felt the freedom that had been taken from them, the opportunity for them to be as powerful as the other tribes instead of always being confined to torches and hearths.
No!, part of my mind shouted. This isn’t right! The Wood can’t burn!
I looked wildly around the small battlefield for a way to appease the fire spirits. The entire world seemed tinted in red, and I blinked to try to clear my vision. The spirits were not responding to me, would not leave my head. They sought permission from me, I knew, but would force me to say what they wanted to hear. I had to find an alternative.
“Leila!” Fynn’s voice came to me.
My eyes met his, and I saw the fear apparent in them. He was a member of the forest tribe, an honorary member, but one who always sided with the trees. He would do nothing to help the fire tribe. He would try to stop us from dancing, stop us from being free. He wanted us in a prison.
I saw Clothis, bleeding from numerous wounds, still facing Mattis. They were both breathing heavily, neither daring to take their eyes off the other. Most of the other soldiers had fled, or lay on the ground either dead or unconscious. I had to stop the fire spirits. I had to, but they were so strong. All we wanted was to be free.
“Leila,” Fynn was next to me now, and I realized I had fallen to the ground He tried to put his hand on my shoulder, but snatched it away as if he had been burned. I laughed, and rose to my feet. I could not deny the dance any longer. The fire tribe soared, jubilant in its praise as I spun in circles on the grass between Fynn and Jakob. The heat was intense, but I relished it. We were dancing. We were free.
“Enough!” Fynn snapped. “Release her!”
I jerked to a standstill, frowning. I could smell burning wood, hear the crackle of flames and the heat as I collapsed to the ground. The fire spirits continued to dance, and I laughed weakly, caught up in my desire to join them.
“We have to hurry,” Clothis said. “What happened to Leila?”
Strong arms picked me up, but I kept laughing along with the fire spirits. I lashed out against my captor, wanting to be free like the others, but I was held tightly and unable to escape.
“This way,” Jakob said. “There’s nothing for us here.”
My captor hesitated a moment longer before we started to move. As the heat faded, I found my thoughts drifting. The fire spirits were happy. I could hear the wail of the tree spirits and the shouts of the water spirits, but I was content. I tried one last time to free myself before falling into a deep unconsciousness.