A Song of Snow and Ashes by S.J. Drew

straight toward us."

  "What's going to happen to everyone?"

  "We pack up some supplies, and head for the Azura River, about five miles to the west of us."

  "What about the demians?" she asked.

  "They have magic to allow them to evacuate. We don't. Now, go to your cottage, pack up a survival kit and a few personal possessions, then join up with the group on the west side. You got that?"

  "But what if the wind pushes the fire faster?" she asked.

  "Let's hope it doesn't," he answered, then ran off.

  She stood there, remembering the visions from the Light One. Smoke was already blowing in from the north, and with the sun setting, she could see a dull orange glow. "I can stop this," she thought. "I have all this power. This is what it's for. I know I have no experience, but how am I going to get experience? I can already feel it from here. I should do something."

  "Champion, what are you still doing here?" came the voice of Hialmar.

  "What?" she blurted, surprised he was speaking to her.

  "We are in danger, my Lady, and we can't lose you. Now, you will go directly to your cottage and pack. Do you understand that?"

  "But I could help. I can control fire."

  "Don't even think of that. You know nothing about controlling the elements. You are not ready to do something like this. Do as I say. Go to your cottage and pack right now," he ordered, his voice harsh.

  She acquiesced to his command. Deeply ingrained teachings made it difficult for her to even consider defying the community leaders. "I'm supposed to listen to my elders. They're supposed to know what's best. But these people aren't my elders. They don't know what's best. I don't either for that matter," she thought, packing up some clothes and books. "They are the leaders here. I should respect that. But I think they're wrong. And I don't think they'll listen to me." The thought of disobeying was very foreign and uncomfortable to her. She had ceased her packing as she debated with herself. "But I've submitted myself to the laws of the community by staying here. So I've let them become my elders."

  "Eliora, hurry up!" called Jomei from outside the cottage.

  She heard him run off and turned back to her thoughts. "They've given me much, and I haven't given them anything in return. I could stop this fire and keep the city from burning." She abandoned the pack completely. "I can't just run away and let the city burn. I can stop the destruction, and I owe it to the community to try, even if I get in trouble from the Council later." She ran outside.

  There were sounds coming from the demian city above, but she didn't stop to look, and the humans were filtering quickly toward the river. The area was already filled with a light smoke haze. Coughing slightly, she ran toward the stables. Several young men were trying to lead the frightened animals away.

  "How can I grab a horse if they're holding them?" Her eye was drawn unexpectedly to a beautiful gold mare. The horse was surprisingly calm, and so was being left alone until the scared animals could be brought under control. She crept into the stable and approached the mare. It looked at her with intelligent eyes. She lead it into a pack of other horses and walked out of the stable. In the smoke haze and excitement, the men didn't notice a person in the group of horses. As soon as they were free of the wooden walls, she halted the mare with a light touch on her neck. The wind was picking up, blowing in more smoke. "No doubt you are more than you seem," she thought. "I hope you stay this calm as we approach the fire." She mentally summoned the Armor, mounted the mare, and galloped off to the north.

  Eliora headed straight to what she felt was the heart of the fire. She wondered briefly why the horse was being so brave and cooperative, but she turned her attention to the fire. Thick and choking smoke was being brought in by the wind. Somehow the horse managed to avoid tripping in the undergrowth or on exposed tree roots. She lost track of time as the orange haze closed in and she could hear the popping sound of burning branches. Forest animals raced past them. Abruptly she pulled the horse to a stop. "Stay," she thought, and walked forward. She wished for a sort of cloak or something to cover her mouth with to filter out the smoke. To her surprise, a covering much like a desert cloak suddenly appeared. She covered her head with the hood and pulled up the mask, then walked forward.

  She came to a small rise in the forest floor, and saw the inferno blazing nearly thirty feet high and stretching for over a quarter mile. "Light One have mercy," she thought. "What am I doing?" Bright and hot, the conflagration was moving quickly and consuming everything in its path. Then she became aware of the power within her, like a smoldering ember, quiet but unmistakably present. "No, I can do this," she thought, trying to quell the fear. She closed her eyes and reached out with her mind, sensing the fire; its height, length, and intensity. Not quite sure of what she was doing, or how she was doing it, she felt herself become part of the raging inferno. She reached out with magic, containing the blaze, pushing it backwards over ground that had already been burned and therefore depriving it of fuel. Time seemed to slow down as she focused on her task.

  She opened her eyes. The fire was gone, the smoke was dissipating, and the full moon was starting to rise. Acres of blackened trees stretched before her. "Oh, god, I feel so dizzy," she thought, sinking to the ground. "I need to get back. They'll get worried."

  The gold mare walked up to her, and nuzzled her gently.

  "Hello again," she thought. "What are you?"

  It neighed a little, but somehow Eliora understood it perfectly.

  "A magical animal companion. That's a useful gift. I shall call you Orlice. Does that suit you?" she thought.

  It nodded.

  "Good. I ran across the name in the Book of Sol. It seems appropriate." She paused. "I think that only took half an hour," she realized with surprise. "But gods, I am so tired. I think I'll rest here for a few minutes. What do you think?"

  The horse laid down next to her, and she leaned against her flank.

  "We'll get going as soon as the moon rises fully. That should give me enough light to see." She looked down at the faintly glowing Armor. "On the other hand, I don't think I'll ever be without light again."

  She awoke with a start sometime later. Someone was calling her name. Yawning, she tapped the horse.

  It neighed and stood up.

  "We really should get going," she thought, and mounted the animal. She glanced up at the sky. The moon had long since fully risen. "Oh dear. I think I fell asleep for a couple of hours," she thought. "I'm over here!" she called, and pulled down the hood and mask. Immediately she heard the sound of hoof beats, and decided to wait patiently.

  She heard a loud, piercing whistle, and Davin rode into sight. "Are you alright?" he asked immediately, and pulled along beside her. She heard another piercing whistle in the distance. He motioned for her to start riding and follow him.

  "A little tired, but I'm fine. You just alerted the others?"

  "Yes. You stopped the wildfire, didn't you?

  She nodded.

  "Good. I thought that's what you ran off to do." He glanced at the gold mare. "I've never seen that horse before."

  "I'm not surprised. This is another gift from the Light One."

  "Interesting. Why didn't you tell us you could ride a horse? Bareback no less?"

  "You didn't ask," she shrugged.

  He laughed. "Well, that'll teach us."

  She smiled. "You're not mad at me?"

  "I'm not, no. I was worried when you first ran off, and Aidan's still really upset, but I figured you were coming out here to prove yourself to us. Given the extent of the damage I've seen looking for you, you've convinced me, for what that's worth to you."

  "It's encouraging. Why's Aidan so upset?"

  A dark look flashed across his face. "He feels he ought to protect you."

  "Oh, I see. Well, I guess that's understandable. Is he mad at me?"

  "I don't think so.
Just very worried. He was afraid you were going to get hurt. I knew better though."

  "Really?" she asked, surprised. "You really thought I could go fight this fire, on my own, with no training?"

  He looked a bit sheepish. "Honestly?"

  "Honestly."

  "I was worried too, but I figured you at least thought you could handle it. That was enough for me."

  "Really?"

  "Sure. You're the Champion. You know your powers and abilities a lot better than we do, both divine and mundane," he said with a smile, gesturing at the horse.

  "Thank you for your confidence. I appreciate that a lot."

  "I'll warn you though, Hialmar is not so impressed. At least he wasn't when he sent out the search parties. When he hears about the damage, hopefully he'll change his mind." He looked her over again. "You look good in that Armor."

  She blushed. "Thank you. Should I keep it on, or change into ordinary clothes?"

  "No, keep it on. It may help your case when you talk to the Council tonight. It's not as though they can punish you, exactly, but you may get a severe scolding."

  "It won't be the first time," she replied.

  "Really? You don't strike me as the type to get into trouble."

  "You just don't know me very well," she said with smile.

  He returned the smile and was about to say something when Aidan galloped up to them.

  "What in darkness did you think you were doing?" he snapped immediately. "And are you alright?"

  She half-laughed. "I'm fine. Perfectly fine. Just a little tired and smudged."

  "Oh,