Page 75 of Inferno
Fine. It was time someone did something sensible about all this. “Renfold!” Yorin demanded the man’s attention, marching swiftly over to the cluster of people attempting to form a strategy to fight the fire. “Nerik can put the fire out. Or at least have a good strong go at it.”
“Not now, lad,” Renfold snapped at him, barely looking up from his map. “That decision has been made. Nerik is a demon who-”
“Nerik can control fire. He’s a fire demon. If you want to stop this town from turning into a raging inferno, then he is your best and only chance.”
Renfold paused, taking a few long, slow breaths, even as he continued to stare at the map in front of him. Then finally, he looked up at Yorin. “And I suppose that this master plan of yours involves me letting the demon out of that cage?”
“Yes, it does,” Yorin agreed.
“So you admit that you knew what he was before today? Or how else do you suddenly know that he’s a fire demon?” Renfold added, when Yorin didn’t answer.
Fuck. He really hadn’t thought this through, had he? He couldn’t tell Renfold about the unicorn’s telepathic abilities. But there was no other way for him to have been having a conversation with Nerik. So now, he only had two choices; say that he’d made the idea up as a way to try and manipulate Renfold into freeing Nerik, or condemn himself, admitting to treason by saying that he’d known about Nerik before now.
The decision came surprisingly easily. With Nerik’s life on the line, and now the entire town, Yorin felt no desire to lie in order to save his own hide. “I found out about three days ago,” he admitted. “That’s the honest truth, whether you want to believe me or not. And I didn’t say anything because I’ve known Nerik for years, and for all of that time, he’s been nothing but kind, honest and diligent at his job. So yes, I want you to let him out of the cage. And if he succeeds at saving this town, I want a full pardon for him. No more cages, no execution. He’s free to live his life as he has been for the past three years.”
Renfold scoffed… then, when he saw the expression on Yorin’s face, he sobered. “You’re serious?”
“As a grave.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then you can watch this city burn.”
Renfold stared at him for a long moment, then let his gaze drift over to land on Nerik. Nerik was watching them closely, saying nothing, not even via the mental link. Finally, Bril interrupted his quiet contemplation, after the silence dragged on. “Sir? We’re losing time here.”
Renfold sighed, his mouth twisted into an angry scowl. “You drive a hard bargain,” he said to Yorin. “I’ll agree on two conditions; one, I’ll need a sensible demonstration of his abilities before I let him go rushing out of town.” He said that part looking straight at Nerik, who nodded solemnly. “And two…” He looked back at Yorin, steel in his gaze. “I’m not letting him out without some collateral.”
“Meaning what, exactly?”
“Henrick?” Renfold prompted, and the man stepped forward. He grabbed Yorin roughly by the shoulder, spun him around, and then Yorin felt the cold sting of steel against his throat. “If Nerik tries to escape, or if he does not have these magical abilities you speak of, then your life is forfeit. Do we have a deal?”
“Deal,” Yorin said, without even blinking. If Renfold was trying to call his bluff, he was going to be sorely disappointed.
Indeed, Renfold seemed surprised that he would agree so readily. He sidled over to Yorin, muttering softly, “Are you sure about this, lad? Whatever he’s told you could only be lies meant to save his own skin.” For all his foul opinion of Nerik, the man seemed to be genuinely concerned about Yorin.
But he was still far too willing to condemn a man, even in the face of three years’ worth of evidence to the contrary. “I’m sure,” Yorin told him.
Renfold cleared his throat. “Right then,” he said, louder this time. He turned to face Nerik. “I want to see some firm evidence that you can control fire. How are we going to do that?”
“I’ll need some wood and kindling,” Nerik said. “Just set it on the ground in front of the cage and open the door.”
“You try anything funny and your friend Yorin loses his head,” Renfold reminded Nerik. The blade against Yorin’s throat pressed a fraction harder, and he held no illusions that Henrick wouldn’t slit his throat, given the opportunity. The man had never liked Yorin – though to suggest he’d stoop to downright murder was probably a little low, even for him.
About time a human stepped up and took on some of the risk.It wasn’t clear whether Gosta had meant for the sentiment to be carried across Rimdolen’s mental link, but a clamour of objections met the statement, not least of all from Stanley and Rimdolen. Stanley, after all, was a human, and he’d taken plenty of risks to help unicorns escape into the mountains. Nerik, too, had some sharp words to say, and a promise that Gosta was going to face consequences for her impertinence. Yorin tried to sort through the buzz of chatter, his only goal being to reach Nerik and send him a few words of faith, of encouragement, and he thought he’d nearly succeeded when suddenly, Rimdolen’s voice came thundering through the link.I heard that!He stomped both hind hooves and turned his suddenly murderous glare on Gosta. Yorin had completely missed what she’d said, but he felt the very air around him cool as Rimdolen snorted out a breath, neck arched proudly, tail held high.
My name is Rimdo-Lenandra-Hadakuta-Serenio-Plan,he told Gosta, who had the decency to look just a little ashamed of herself.You would do well to remember it. I am the first son of the revered Hadakuta family. My people fought the War of Water and brokered peace with the merians two hundred years ago. My mother built the Crimson Road all through the Rikita Badlands to facilitate passage from Ranaka to the great city of Incentino, cutting the journey from twelve days to just three. And I personally crossed the desert above Iddishmeil carrying two hadathmeton my backand dragging a sled of nine fenrig children and a high mage to the dreaded gate. That mage drained himself to dust by casting and maintaining an invisibility spell to get that entire company of people through the gate and away into the forest. And now I smuggle unicorns with Stanley and Nerik in an effort to bring enough of my people through the gate to maintain our species. So stick your self-righteousness up your ass and realise that you’re not the only Chalandrian in Minia who’s fighting to make a difference.
Yorin missed whatever Gosta’s reply might have been – if there even was one – as he was too busy feeling very, very small. He’d thought he was hard done by because his father died and he was left with a debt on his perfectly serviceable shop. And he’d had the temerity to feel brave because his life was being threatened, when he knew damn well that Nerik was both honourable enough and talented enough to prove what Yorin had said about him.
But here were a whole swath of people fighting wars and crossing deserts and sacrificing their very lives to help each other survive.
“All right then, we’ve got some wood and some straw. Will that do?” Renfold asked Nerik, oblivious to the heated argument going on silently behind the scenes.
“That’s fine,” Nerik said, ignoring the remnants of conversation, apologies and mild chastisements from the rest of the group.
“Sir? We’re running out of time,” Bril reminded Renfold, from the small cluster of men still attempting to plan fire containment. The four fire carts had already been sent off to the north, and while a handful of people had followed, armed with buckets and shovels, a good many had stayed to see about the drama with the demon.
Renfold produced the key to the cage and unlocked it, but before he opened the door, he paused, staring up into Nerik’s glowing red eyes. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually hope you can do what you say. There’s a damn lot of people depending on this.” He stepped back, opening the door wide, then he backed away further.