Page 74 of Inferno
“Those demons are going to kill us all!” someone else shouted.
“All right, all right, that’s enough,” Renfold yelled, managing to quiet the crowd just a little. “The fire front is long and spreading rapidly. We’re going to need every man and woman helping. We need water buckets, shovels, axes… any tools or containers that will help. I need everyone heading for the edge of town, ready to stand our ground against this fire.”
A burst of wind ripped through the square, and now the smell of smoke was unmistakable. Renfold was still muttering away with his little cluster of warriors, and now two of the fire wardens who had joined them.
But Yorin was ignoring the lot of them. Instead, he was watching Nerik. The infernal had moved to the front of his cage, staring up at the plumes of smoke that were beginning to rise over the city. It would have taken half an hour for a runner to get here, including the time taken to round up the fire cart, and it would take just as long to get everyone organised and back out to the edge of town. By that time, the fire would have done its work, and there would be nothing they could do to stop it.
What are you thinking?Yorin asked Nerik. If there was anyone here who would understand fire, it was him.
For a long moment, Nerik didn’t answer. Then he said,I might be able to put it out.
It made sense. Yorin didn’t know much about Nerik’s abilities, but he’d seen him both create fire, and extinguish it. But how big a fire could he control?
Don’t be ridiculous,Gosta retorted immediately.It’s a forest fire, not a campfire.
Nerik shot Gosta a cold look. Even in his infernal form, Yorin could read the disdain in his eyes.Don’t underestimate me,Nerik said, equally as cold, then he turned his attention back to the smoke.But we’d still have to convince Renfold to free me.
One infernal can’t stop a forest fire,Gosta insisted. She was looking angry now, something of a surprise since she hadn’t snapped back at Yorin even when he’d told her to fuck off. But she was angry that Nerik thought he could stop a forest fire?Four or five infernals together might just stand a chance, but you by yourself? That’s ludicrous.
There was a pause, Kit and Mintesh and both fire-dogs listening intently. Rimdolen stomped a hoof. Stanley and Forlegard both looked uncomfortable at the argument.
I might not be able to put it out completely,Nerik said eventually.But I’d give it a solid go.
The absolute silence over the mental connection was telling. There was something big here that Yorin was missing. Gosta’s steadfast belief that Nerik couldn’t do it was not something that Yorin took lightly. She was no spring chicken, and being a native Chalandrian, she should know plenty about infernals. But Nerik wasn’t backing down, so…
Exactly how old are you?The question was asked by Gosta, the look on her face one of combined shock and reverence.
Nerik deigned to glance her way.A little over two hundred.
A flood of curses and exclamations came over the mental link.Wait, hang on, what? Two hundred years?Yorin asked, fighting to be heard through the din.
You look like you’re barely more than a teenager!Gosta blurted out, ignoring Yorin’s question.
Nerik brushed a hand over the obsidian gem hanging around his neck.The witch had to give me a human form. She could hardly make me look like a two hundred year old human.
Yes, but she could have made you… I don’t know, fifty, or something?
When I could have another two hundred years to live? That would make my life complicated, and this is entirely beside the point. If we want to save this city, we need to get Renfold to let me out of this cage.
Maybe letting this city be destroyed would be better,Beetie suggested.It would make defending the gate far more difficult. Let a lot more of our people through.
You would repay carnage with more death?Nerik asked.
You say that like it’s an unreasonable strategy.
It is!
Um, question from the newbie,Yorin interrupted, before the conversation could get any further.How dangerous is it for you to be leaping into a forest fire?
Nerik turned his black, expressionless face towards Yorin.If I lose control of the heat, I could incinerate myself.
And what are the chances of that happening?Yorin didn’t look away, didn’t blink. He needed to know the truth.
About a fifty-fifty chance. Even for an infernal as old as I am, this is a hard ask.
So it seemed likely that fate was going to take Nerik from him today, one way or another. He was grateful for Nerik’s honesty, but the stab of pain that shot through his chest was sharp and swift.
You have to try, Yorin said. The people surrounding him were friends, customers, people he’d known his entire life. And for all that they were far from perfect, and many of them too hard and ignorant to give the Chalandrians a chance, Nerik was right; destroying their homes and risking all their lives was a fiendish strategy. Yorin had no intention of ending the day as a murderer.