The Forge: Fire and Ice

BY THE GRACE OF THE TWO SUNS Ed Newbould

‘When you feel that anger rising…’ Ma balled her hand into a tight fist. ‘You remember to clench your fist, like this.’

‘Like this?’ Tomas asked, squeezing his hand so tight the white of his knuckles showed.

She smiled. ‘Just like that.’

Tomas beamed, clenching his fist, breakfast forgotten. He knew if he let go, the ice would come. He could feel it building. But folk didn’t like the ice. So, he clenched his fist.

The door crashed open, a wave of hot air rolling into the room. Tomas’ step-pa stumbled in, throwing his coat toward a nearby chair and missing. ‘Mornin’,’ he grunted, succeeding where his coat had failed by collapsing into the chair. He wiped his brow with a chubby hand, sweat rolling into his small eyes. He might be grateful for some ice, Tomas thought, but knew better than to ask. Step-pa smiled at Tomas when Ma was around. But not when she turned her back.

‘Good night, was it?’ Ma asked.

‘Don’t start.’ Step-pa sighed, closing his eyes. The stench of alcohol wafted across the room.

She fixed him with a stare over the top of her glasses. ‘There’s a Fire Honoured in town, you know?’

Step-pa’s eyes shot open. ‘Why?’

‘Cam Galow said he saw an ice patch down at the pond. They must’ve called him in.’

Tomas watched, forgotten. Which he liked.

Step-pa was frowning, like he did when he was trying to figure something out – although Ma always had the answer already. He shook his head, cheeks wobbling. ‘Nuffin’ to do with us. We’ll keep it hush.’ He didn’t look at Tomas. He didn’t look at either of them.

Ma released the cup she had been gripping tight and turned back to her son. ‘Time to go, Tomas. I met with Miss Farrow last night. She’s going to keep an extra eye on those boys.’ Tomas nodded, just to keep Ma happy. But Tomas knew Miss Farrow didn’t have an extra eye. And if she did, she wouldn’t keep it on Tomas.

Jacob was waiting for him at the bottom of the porch steps, jumping up and down in anticipation, dust rising from the dirt lane in a red cloud about him.

‘You’ve heard?’ Tomas stared back blankly. ‘The pond! The Fire Honoured!’

‘Oh, yes, I’ve heard.’

Jacob’s disappointment only lasted a moment. ‘Ice only stays around for a bit because of the… you know…’ He gestured toward the two suns, still low overhead, already beating relentless heat down upon the village. ‘Pa says it’s an Ice Honoured. Says they have to release their ice every so often.’

Tomas nodded. Not that Jacob noticed. He bleated the whole way to school as they wound their way through the village, oblivious to the curious faces appearing at windows of the usually sleepy village. ‘Pa says they’re evil – cold hearts and cold minds. They freeze anyone that gets in their way. Pa says maybe they’re here to spy on us, sent by the Ice Honoured Elders.’

That caught Tomas’ attention. ‘Elders?’

‘Yes,’ Jacob exclaimed, ‘like the Fire Honoured Board. But they call them Elders. They rule in the North, where the world is frozen over, and the suns are at their weakest.’ Jacob paused, and Tomas realised they were nearing the end of their trip. ‘You don’t… know anything do you, Tomas? It’s just… Pa said to stay away from your Ma. And well…’

‘My Ma?’ Tomas asked, blinking. Why would anyone stay away from Ma? ‘My Ma’s not an Ice Honoured,’ he said, truthfully.

Jacob’s face relaxed. ‘Oh good! Well in that case… you know…’ Jacob gave a wave of farewell, before bouncing around the bend in the lane. Tomas counted to twenty, as he did every day, ignoring the staring faces before following on toward the school building.

Tomas didn’t like the school much. The windows were too wide and too deep, sending great beams of light into the tiny classroom. It created a sweltering inferno of blinding sunshine and talking children.

But the children didn’t talk to Tomas.

His skin was too pale, eyes too blue, hair too blonde. But most of all he hated the suns. And nobody hated the suns.

The whispers began as he walked past the gatherings, chattering under the apparently watchful eye of Miss Farrow. ‘… his Ma was seen near the pond last night…’ ‘… Pa says they’re dangerous folk…’ ‘He’s got evil in his blood.’ Tomas stopped. Ma hadn’t been near the pond. Ma had been with Miss Farrow. She said so.

The chattering stopped when the cloud of dust appeared above the buildings along the lane. Dust from many marching feet. Children shuffled uncomfortably. The workers of the tribe would be out on the plains by now, digging for water as they did every day. The town mayor and his team would be busy in the town hall, talking about matters too important to be out and about.

That left the town guards.

Tomas felt a coldness descend over him as the cloud moved closer. His shoulders tensed, Miss Farrow’s voice grew muffled. He even forgot about the terrible heat. The cold ran through his veins, storming toward his hands.

So he clenched his fist into a ball, just like Ma had told him.

A group of soldiers appeared around the corner, scarred skin, sharp swords and grizzled faces. Yelps of delight rang out from the group as they spotted their target.

A short man with a bulging belly stepped forward before the group of gaping children, drawing a folded sheet of paper from his chest pocket. ‘Miss Elizabeth Farrow?’

‘Yes?’

He eyed her with distaste. ‘By the grace of the two suns, I hereby announce you under arrest for suspected collusion with an Ice Honoured. As is custom, you will be taken to the cells, and the fires of the suns will determine your fate.’

‘What do you–?’ Miss Farrow began, as rough hands crowded forward, dragging her away from the school children.

The children looked at one another, their routine thrown, voices rising in panic. Tomas watched the cruellooking soldiers, as Miss Farrow’s screams echoed down the lane, the group and their cloud disappearing from sight.

His heartbeat began to thrum in his ears.

Suspected collusion.

I met with Miss Farrow last night.

His legs carried him forward before he commanded them to. Soon, he was sprinting, away from the stuffy school, ignoring the children, back up the dusty lane, past the curious faces of people now standing on their porches. All the way back to where he’d started.

The door to their house was ajar. ‘Ma?’ His voice came between heavy breaths, floorboards creaking as he walked into the kitchen. Step-pa’s coat lay forgotten where he’d thrown it. Ma’s mug was shattered across the room. ‘Are you here, Ma?’ The kitchen, usually a hum of activity, replied with a deathly quiet.

His step-pa’s voice broke the silence. ‘What’re you doing here?’

Tomas remained cool despite the shock, turning slowly. Step-pa filled the doorway to the living room, empty alcohol bottle in his hand. And he certainly wasn’t smiling at Tomas now.

‘I’m looking for Ma.’ Tomas took an involuntary pace back, as his step-pa moved toward him.

‘It should be you they’ve taken,’ he slurred. ‘They made me say it was ’er, but it should be you!’ He reached over to the side, grabbing for one of Ma’s kitchen knives.

Tomas raised his arm instinctively, feeling the ice coursing toward his finger-tips. Remember to clench your fist, like this, Ma’s voice echoed in his head, when you feel the anger rising. He hesitated.

He pictured her face.

And he turned, sprinting for the door. A crash and yelp followed him as his step-pa gave chase. Tomas didn’t look back. Along the dusty lane, red dirt rising in the air around him. Past the wooden homes, a right turn, a left turn.

The windows and porches were empty now. The people drifted along the lanes instead, their curiosity turned to excitement. Tomas dodged past legs as the throng thickened, until he reached the main square.

And there she was.

Raised on a platform so everyone could see. A large pole was erected in the centre, and Ma’s arms were tied up above her head, her ankles tied tight down below. A ring of guards circled the platform as though she might burst free. She held her head up, face ashen, eyes desperate, as she stared around the crowd. Tomas knew she would be looking for him.

A figure stood in front of her, eyes roving up and down – just like how step-pa looks at a bottle of alcohol. Tattoos clawed up the figure’s arms, they reached up his neck, but stopped short of his pale white face. The Fire Honoured, Tomas realised. The Fire Honoured turned to the crowd as Tomas reached the front row. Red lips flickered into a smile, but the smile did not reach the suspicious red eyes whose gaze roved the square. Razor sharp teeth shimmered in the sunlight, and Tomas gripped his fist tighter than ever, as the thing began to speak.

‘This woman will be trialled as an Ice Honoured by the grace of the two suns,’ the voice rasped, the crowd falling silent as he spoke. He bowed his head in worship, from one sun to the other. ‘Let us purge the evil from her body.’

Tomas did not understand. Ma hasn’t done anything.

The Fire Honoured raised a piece of glass into the air, angling two beams of light. The straw at Ma’s feet began to smoulder. Then an orange flame sprung to life.

‘The suns have deemed her evil!’

The crowd at Tomas’ back roared in response. The flames leapt toward Ma’s dress.

Clench your fist like this. Ma’s eyes found Tomas’. She shook her head at him vigorously, before her back arched, her head flung back, and a scream of agony pierced the air.

The flames leapt higher, smoke obscuring Tomas’ view of her face.

‘May your icy soul burn in sacrifice to the suns!’ The Fire Honoured was circling her now, his teeth glistening, the crowd roaring.

Tears rolled down Tomas’ cheeks, hands pounding as the ice filled his veins. When you feel the anger rising… He watched her body begin to writhe, as she sought to escape the fire. It should be you.

It should be you.

Tomas dived between the guards, who were too busy watching the spectacle to notice. He clambered up on to the platform, landing in front of the Fire Honoured.

The red eyes fixed on Tomas.

Tomas stared back at the white teeth through tear-filled eyes, hands raised slightly in defence. The twisted smile grew as Tomas’ lip wobbled. Ma’s scream sounded once more.

Then Tomas unclenched his fist.

The ice rolled from him in a stream, hissing through the hot air. Tomas saw the narrow eyes widen in panic as the Fire Honoured desperately raised a hand to reply with a blast of flames. The stream hit him regardless. Tomas could feel it, sensing the ice forcing the fire backward through the red-hot veins. He followed it, pushing it on until he found the heart, driving the ice home, stopping the raging inferno with a tight squeeze.

The Fire Honoured collapsed with a loud thud.

Tomas turned toward the blaze. He could sense the guards clambering toward him. A punch in the back, and Tomas lurched forward, his face hitting the wooden boards. A second thump, and Tomas let out a gasp. He rolled on to his side with a push, desperate to see his Ma. All he saw was the raging flames grown tall, and the guard on his periphery pulling back his knife for a third strike.

Sorry Ma, Tomas thought, clenching his fist tight once more. Just as she’d told him to. I’m so sorry Ma.

the end