Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 18

Episode 18: Contingencies

William asked Rykken what to expect at Harthorn.

 “The mage-warriors will try to distract and evacuate.”

William glanced towards Teresa, but she was glaring at Rykken.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 17

Episode 17: Vow

She carried the stone in her pocket and vowed not to let William out of her sight in the coming battle, whether he was man or phoenix.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 16

Episode 16: Wall of Fire

Their special warriors had retreated, even the earth-shakers. 

Bryant set the thorns on fire and they became a wall of fire, scorching the wall of stones.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 15

Episode 15: Remember

William handed Teresa a cool stone from the river. “Remember me.”

As her fingers brushed his, he turned away from her and towards his purpose.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 14

Episode 14: A Moment

Just a day out from the capital, Teresa followed William when he waded into the river.

She just stood with him, listening to rushing water.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 13

Episode 13: The Taste of Victory

Gannetia didn’t have anyone like Bryant. 

Their combined magics weren’t powerful enough to douse his flames. 

He tasted victory in the ashes of his victims.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 12

Episode 12: Sorrow

At the second village, William picked up a half-burnt doll, 

     fell to his knees,

keened in sorrow.

Pelent knelt nearby and laid down her spear.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 11

Episode 11: Apart

Teresa saw his tears, but she remained apart.

Rykken reproached her: “He deserves your compassion.”

She shook her head and stood by Pelent’s side.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 10

Episode 10: A Challenge

Finally, a worthy challenge! 

The Gannetians had powers unlike anything Bryant had ever seen. 

Where had they been hiding and why? 

Teresa hadn’t said anything.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 9

Episode 9: Coals

William wanted to flee, like he had the night his parents died. 

He clenched his fists, thought of cool streams of water, and wept over the coals.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 8

Episode 8: Ashes

Five days from the capital, they came to the outposts of Gannetia. 

Bile rose in Teresa’s throat as she inhaled the stench of ashes.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 7

Episode 7: First Resistance

Outside the capital city of Harthorn, Bryant met his first resistance: 

a wall of thorns beyond the brick exterior and warriors dressed in earth tones.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 6

Episode 6: Could he?

Every time William caught her watching, she frowned.

 Could he ever hold her again? 

The thought sent cool shivers of hope into his fiery core.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 5

Episode 5: Would he?

She watched him during the day and night, but felt sick.

Would he betray them for the fire or the phoenix? 

Would he betray her?

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 4

Episode 4: Burn the Way

Bryant scanned the horizon, sent scouts, but no one had seen the traitor Brutus. 

He continued to burn his way into Gannetia, scarring the land.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 3

Episode 3: Stronger

William slept in coolness, but woke with sweat on his brow. 

Rykken’s training wore him down, but made his power stronger at the same time.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 2

Episode 2: More Ally

With Callisto’s band not far behind them, Pelent’s never-wavering spear, and Rykken’s training, Teresa hoped William would be more ally than threat in the coming battle.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 1

Episode 1: Death

Bryant had meant to give Brutus the honorable death he deserved, by sword and not by fire, but Brutus turned traitor and haunted his nightmares.