Phoenix Fire

It was the smoke that had drawn them here. They day they had left Balifor they had seen it looming on the horizon. Luca had thought it was a storm, it was so dark and thick, but Lance knew that no storm had ever looked like that. They rode around the bay, not having time to find a ship and cross, but by the second day Lance feared they had made a mistake. The smoke cloud was starting to clear, meaning that whatever had happened was already over and there would be nothing they could do to either help or stop it once they got there. On the morning of the third day the smoke was gone all together but they kept riding in the direction it had been, the need to know what had happened strong in all of them. By nightfall that same day they reached Bloodhelm and found what they had been looking for and it made Lances blood boil.

The Phoenixes were here. Everywhere their red and gold banner flew, together with that of the Order. There had been a village here, had been. Everything had been levelled and the earth was blasted by magic. Any bodies that there may have been were already cleared away but the carnage was clear and it made Lance sick. As they slowly rode through they spotted someone they all recognized.

"Father!" called Luca as he pulled away from them and rode toward Lucius, dismounting when he was next to him, the others followed more slowly.

"Luca! It is good to see you but how did you find me here?"

"Lance saw the smoke when we left from Balifor three days ago and we all agreed to ride here and see what had happened"

"I am almost sorry that you did" Lucius looked up as Lance and the other two dismounted. "You look well Lance, Jarrin, Aldemere"

"As do you Lucius and thank you but what happened here?" asked Lance, though judging by the banners he could already guess.

"We had reports of the Order of Takhisis trying to re establish themselves here so I brought the Order here along with the Phoenix to drive them out. But"

"Something went wrong" Lance completed the elf's sentence for him. Lucius frowned but did not seem offended.

"They put up a fight of course, we had expected that but we had not expected for them to hide here in this village"

"Was there any attempt to evacuate?"

"There was no opportunity"

"You could not have lured them out?"

"We tried"

"Lance you are not trying to blame the Order for this I hope" this came from Luca and he was stone faced as he said it, silently warning Lance to chose his words carefully in this case.

"No brother I know exactly who is to blame here. Let me guess Akoran grew impatient and ordered his men into a full assault, that is what happened. Isn't it?" Lucius sighed,

"Yes Lance it is. He acted on his own as he often does and he has already been reprimanded for it"

"Not that it will make the slightest difference to him. He'll never change Lucius and you are a fool to think that he will"

"Lance!"

"Never mind Luca. You may be right Lance but in the end Takhisis`s supporters were still driven out as we had planed"

"At the cost of the lives of countless innocents"

"Not so. We did manage to save a portion of the population and will assist them in re building. We are short numbered for the time being though and could use some extra hands. Would you consider staying Lance?"

"I'm not so sure that would be a good idea and besides that would four extra men really make that much of a difference?"

"My brother and I will stay sir Lucius" said Jarrin and Aldemere nodded. Lance side glanced at his cousins and sighed.

"Well then I guess that I do not have a choice but keep Akoran and his son away from me Lucius"

"I'll do what I can. Follow me and I will show you where you may leave your horses and get some food" Lance nodded and led his horse behind Lucius and Luca, the two Minotaur following close behind.

After eating a light meal Lucius introduced them to one of his captains who assigned each of them to different sections of the village to begin the restoration. It would be slow work, possibly taking months, maybe as long as a year. Everything had to be built again from the ground up. Fields would have to be re plowed and wells dug again. By the end of the day they had barely scratched the surface of the work that was to come. Lance sought out Lucius in his tent that same night.

"This is madness! Do you plan to stay here for a year or more and rebuild this entire place? Its too much for the number of men that you have here"

"Yes Lance of that I am well aware"

"Well what then? You cant possibly think of leaving this place in the hands of the Phoenixes for all that time"

"No. I have sent word to Taladas of the problem facing us. They will send us more men and when they arrive we will depart and leave the remainder of the work to them"

"I am sure they have gotten used to cleaning up the mess the Pheonix`s leave behind them" the one hand Lucius had resting upon his desk clenched but the emotion it betrayed did not reach his face.

"Need I remind you Lance that they are our allies now"

"Your allies Lucius. Yours not mine" a silence passed between them and Lucius sighed heavily.

"Is that all you came to say Lance?"

"Yes I think that is everything"

"You may go then" Lance bowed his head and departed from the tent.

All the moons were gone from the sky this night leaving it eriely dark. He wandered the ravaged village alone, attempting to clear his head before finding Luca and his cousins. As he passed the burnt out ruin of a store house he heard a small voice, a child's. He stepped over the blackened wall nearest to him.

"Is someone there?" he asked of the dark. The sound stopped. "Dont be afraid. I wont hurt you I promise" the source of the sound stepped out of the deeper shadows and came toward him. It was a little girl, six years old perhaps, her clothes were dirty and she clutched a corn husk doll to her chest. She had red hair and green eyes, for a moment she reminded Lance of someone. He shook off the memory and crouched down to be eye level with her.

"Hello, what is your name?" she didn't answer just hugged her doll tighter and avoided his eyes. He would try something else. "Will you tell me what your dolls name is then?"

"Betty"

"Thats a pretty name but I bet it isn't as pretty as yours is"

"Mines Lilian"

"There you see I knew you had a pretty name. Now where are your parents?"

"Dont know"

"Well would you like to come with me then? I know some nice people that will give you some food, a place to sleep and find your parents for you. Ok?" she hesitated for a moment then nodded. Lance smiled, picked her up and walked back to the Orders camp. Once sure she would be alright Lance made his way back toward the tent the had been given.

"Where did you find that girl?" that voice made Lance stop dead and turn around. Vallan had grown of course since they had last seen each other, it had been a few years, how many Lance wasn't sure because he had not been keeping track of them, he had honestly hoped they would never meet again. He was taller now and looked more like his father, fair haired and hawk eyed. Lance frowned.

"Whats it to you?"

"Nothing I just wondered. My fathers men and I combed the entire village looking for anyone that might have been left behind. Didn't think anyone could have survived that"

"She didn't. She probably wandered back into the village after it was over looking for her parents. She probably hid from you and that is why you missed her"

"Imagine hiding from those who came to save you. How ungrateful" in the next breath Vallan found him self on the ground with Lance standing over him. Dazed Vallan lifted a hand to his right cheek only to pull it back with a hiss of pain. "What in the Abyss was that for?"

"Because that girl wouldn't have needed saving if it weren't for you and your damn father!"

"What are you talking about? We came here with the Order and our men to take out the followers of Takhisis"

"I know that and you succeeded it seems but at what cost? Did you have to take this entire place apart to do it? Lucius told me that you acted on your own, like you always do! Whey couldn't you follow orders?"

"He did. My orders" Lance looked up to see Akoran. The fire had gone out of his hair and his eyes but there was no mistaking him. Lance straightened.

"And you are supposed to be under the Order. All you ever do is rush in and cause destruction and misery. You are no army! You're a pack of criminals!" Lance advanced upon Akoran but before he could make a move Vallan sprang upon him from behind, attempting to place him in a hold. Lance growled and tossed the younger man with all his might. Vallan fell hard, breaking two equipment racks as he did so. Akoran watched his son rise and watched also as Lance turned to face him.

"At least my father isn't afraid to fight! Unlike yours!"

"How dare you! My father is ten times the man yours is and one hundred times the man you are!" in his rage Lance had gained his Minotaur form and rushed at Vallan, tackling him to the ground. Vallan caught Lances falling fist and managed to free him self by quickly rolling and shaking Lance off using the advantage of surprise but he was not free for long. Lance was soon upon him again and the two grappled like wrestlers in a ring. Alerted to the fight by his men Lucius arrived with four of his guards who he ordered to separate the two men.

"What is going on here? Have you both lost your minds?"

"I haven't but he has. He's a beast that ought to be chained!" shouted Vallan. Lance growled and strained against the Paladins that held him.

"You ought to look in a mirrored glass before you throw those sort of remarks!"

"Would one of you just tell me what happened?"

"He called my father and our men criminals"

"Because its the truth!" Lance roared and threw off the Paladins as if they were paper dolls, none of them attempted to re take him. "Its their fault this happened. Akorans fault for giving separate orders to his men when he already had yours Lucius. I just found a little girl huddled in what she must have thought was the only safe place. She doesn't know where her parents are, more than likely they are dead. I had just left her when Vallan showed up and made the mistake of opening his mouth"

"What cause had she to hide from us we are not the enemy"

"She`s a child for Gods sake! Surrounded now by the same armed men she probably watched destroy her home!"

"Lance! Enough. Did anything else happen or is that all?" asked Lucius.

"He dared to insult my father"

"After he attempted to attack mine!"

"Silence the both of you!" cried Lucius now at the end of his patients and in no mood to hear more. "I would swear that if you were not standing here before me I would think I was listening to two young boys. Now this is over you understand me? I don't want to hear one more word out of either of you and no more fighting. Do I make my self clear?" neither Lance or Vallan answered but their silence it seemed was more than good enough for the elf. "Good. Marick, Iian take Lance back to his tent and no argument out of you" he looked pointedly at Lance as he said this last. Lance bowed his head and shot a final glare at Vallan before following the two Paladins back into the maze of tents.

"Thank you sir Lucius. I swear he`s a mad man! I thought the was going to kill me" in one fluid motion Lucius turned and back handed Vallan, leaving the young man stunned. Lucius`s eyes were cold and his lips were drawn into a grim line, few had ever seen this expression upon him but those that had knew well to be ware of it.

"Kalas is my best friend. I will kill you my self if you ever insult him again" not waiting for a reply Lucius turned back and walked toward Akoran, who had not moved in all this time. "I feel it would be best if you and your men were to leave. The men I sent for should not take long in arriving here. We will soon have all the help we will need. If we need more I will try and see if the Knights are feeling charitable"

"Where should we go to?" asked Akoran and Lucius was silent for a while, lost in thought.

"Go to the Plains of Dust for the time being. I will send word when I have more orders, this time follow them" Lucius gripped Akorans arm, hard so that he would not mistake the seriousness of what he was saying, "In spite of what I told Lance I am becoming tired of having to explain your actions to everyone who questions me of them and if I agree with them. The answer is that I don't but you are my ally and I support you. Keep this up however and that will change and you wont like what happens next. Do we have an understanding?" Akoran stared hard at Lucius for a few moments before nodding. Lucius smiled and let go of Akorans arm. The Paladins that had come with him followed him back into the camp and then to his own tent where they left him. Lucius fell onto his bunk with a sigh. "Those boys are just as much a handful as ever" he sighed again and closed his eyes. He was soon asleep.

The next morning Lance was up before the sun, the others were still asleep. In the mess tent the cook was awake, making ready the breakfast to feed all of Lucius`s men, but not busy enough yet to not give Lance a bowl of oatmeal and some toast. He had not seen any of the Phoenixes on the way, they must have pulled up and left but it did not matter. He was leaving today, he couldn't stand being here one more day. He thanked the cook once he had finished, gathered this things and headed for the stables where his horse was waiting. As he was in the middle of saddling up someone else came in.

"You were planning on leaving without a word? That is not like you" it was Luca, pack over his shoulder with a smile on his face.

"You do not have to come brother but I cant stay here"

"Of course I'm coming. We're on this journey together remember? I have time enough to play soldier with my father some other time"

"Where are the other two?"

"They'll be along" sure enough in a few moments Jarrin and Aldemere entered, their packs full of provisions and a few more bags for the horses.

"Well if we're going lets go" said Jarrin as he moved to saddle his horse, slinging the full backs along its rump and securing them to the saddle. Lance smiled also and finished tacking his own horse before pulling himself up into the saddle and riding out of the stables with the others close to him. Lucius was waiting for them on the outskirts of the camp.

"No good bye for me son?"

"I did leave you a note father"

"Yes I know, I found it and thought I would come see you all off properly"

"I am sorry for all the trouble Sir Lucius" said Lance. Lucius shook his head.

"Think nothing more of it Lance. I know full well that Vallan is a trouble maker, much the same as his father. Where will you go?"

"We don't know yet but once we are clear of here we might think of something"

"I see. Well let me leave you with this advice then. The darkness is building again. It is not as strong as it was but they are planning something so watch yourselves and be prepared"

"With all due respect Lucius I've no plans of getting tied up in a war. If the darkness comes...it may not find me" a silence passed between them but it did not last long. Lucius smiled and bowed his head to them.

"Take care" Lance nodded and led the way south, not because he had thought of anywhere he wanted to go but because it was the only sensible direction he could think of.