Catalyst(13)

Tonight's watch gave me the first opportunity to practice in days. I had chosen to take my watch in a spot that was partially screened from where Kenneth and his family were sleeping. Between the underbrush and the partially clouded moon, they shouldn't notice me as long I didn't try anything too big.

I moved behind a nearby bush and held my hands out, letting go of the pent-up heat inside of me. It coursed through my body, and I concentrated on directing it to my hands. In my earlier practices, my hands had glowed and felt warm, as if I were holding them in front of a fire. Sometimes I had spurted a few flames. But tonight was completely different.

The fire spewed out of my hands, setting the bush on fire. I tried to stop it. I couldn’t. The fire wouldn't obey me. I was afraid to close my hands, in case that made it spread out in all directions.

The fire seemed to have a life of its own. I watched in horror, fighting it while it hopped from bush to scrub to grass, until everything burned. The deadly and relentless light illuminated and devoured everything.

Finally, the fire stopped coming out of me. I concentrated on the flames, trying to put them out, but I knew that even extinguishing a small flame with my mind made me collapse with a splitting headache. This was impossible.

And then I remembered I wasn’t alone.

I rushed over toward Kenneth and his family, jumping over the small fires, dashing around the big ones, yelling to wake them up. The rising smoke made me cough and gag, but I put my arm over my mouth and kept going.

My shouts had awakened the family. Kenneth was trying to gather all the supplies and animals as quickly as he could, but some of the animals had scattered, and there were far too many things for him to carry. The two children were clinging to their mother, staring at the flames and crying.

Kenneth glared at me with cold eyes. He looked like he had plenty of questions, but all he said was, “Take care of my family. I can trust you to do that, right?” He disappeared through the flames without waiting for my answer.

My eyes stung. Whether from the smoke or his words, I couldn't tell. This was all my fault.

I grabbed my backpack, bedroll, and one of the children. Little Clara hung around my neck, squeezing so tight it was hard to breathe. Mara ran alongside me with her child and an armful of blankets.

When we were safely away, I put everything down and took off my singed cloak. “Stay here.”

I ran back into the flames, lifting my tunic to my face to block out the smoke. I did everything in my power to help Kenneth save what we could. Before the flames engulfed the campsite, we managed to save the cart, one mule, one cow, my horse, and a few caged chickens. More than half the food and water was gone.

The flames burned themselves out relatively quickly—too quickly to be natural. I stood with Kenneth and surveyed what was left of our campsite. His clothes were scorched and tattered. He coughed to get the smoke out of his lungs before turning to me, his eyes as ferocious as the flames.

“What happened, Hellsfire?” he yelled. “You were supposed to keep watch!”

I put my hands up. “I don't know!”

“How can you not know? Where'd the fire come from? What’d you do?”

After what I had done to him, I realized I owed him part of the truth. “I…started a fire and it got out of hand.” When my eyes met Mara's and saw her terrified children clutching her, I looked down in shame.

“You started a fire? You were supposed to be on watch! And how could it have gotten out of control like this?” Kenneth threw his hands up in frustration. “You could have gotten us all killed! Our supplies and half of our animals are gone. What are we supposed to do now?”

“I know. I'm sorry. Here.” I reached into my purse and withdrew some money. A lot more than was necessary to replace what he had lost. He eyed the coins in my hand, but didn't make a move to take them.

“Thank you, Hellsfire,” Mara said, coming up and taking the coins. “But I think it's best if you left now.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it. The fire was my fault. I looked at the little children, whose eyes were full of fear. I had almost killed them.

“You're right.” I picked up my belongings and slung them on my horse. “Thank you for letting me travel with you. And thank you for letting me be a part of your family, even if it was for a short time. I'm sorry.”

“We hope you find what you're looking for,” she said.

I sighed, taking one last look at the family I had almost destroyed. “Me too.” I left them, leading the horse.

After that, I tried to avoid people whenever I could. Not because I feared bandits, but because I feared for regular people like Kenneth and Mara. I was far more dangerous to them than any sword, arrow, or axe.