Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 40

Episode 40: Brutus

Bryant couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. 

As the white heat consumed his air, he caught sight of a burnt figure beyond the flames. 

Brutus came for him.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 39

Episode 39: Another Choice

William heard Teresa’s scream and left his brother to the flames. 

He ran towards her, horrified to see that he might be too late. 

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 38

Episode 38: Trouble

Teresa’s right-hand sword was entangled by one soldier while another brought his battleaxe down. 

She threw up her left sword and it broke in half.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 37

Episode 37: Fire with Fire

Bryant’s rage exploded from his hands, from his pores, until the flames nearly touched the ring of white fire around him.

William’s flames burned brighter.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 36

Episode 36: An Unwanted Choice

William hit his brother again with flames. 

“I didn’t want this, brother. But since you seem intent on destruction, I will take it from you.”

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 35

Episode 35: Battle

Duck, parry, riposte, strike. 

It could have been a drill, except for the screams of her opponents and the slippery ash underfoot. Teresa fought forward.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 34

Episode 34: Brothers at War

“You!” Bryant threw a fireball at William.

William swatted it away with a swath of white fire.

Bryant screamed. “No! The Kingdom is Mine!”

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 33

Episode 33: Phoenix and Man

William surrounded his brother in white flames, then landed outside of them. 

Letting his phoenix shape drop, he covered himself in flames to his chest.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 32

Episode 32: Her Turn

With Bryant down, Teresa turned attended to his soldiers who were attempting to hack down fleeing survivors. 

With her swords in her hands, she attacked.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 31

Episode 31: Rage

Pure rage at the defiance of the phoenix boiled inside Brutus, but when the phoenix’s flames seared his chest, he screamed in unexpected pain.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 30

Episode 30: Defiance

Bryant’s fire burned William when it hit, not like his own. 

He danced in flight around Bryant, screeching in defiance, sending flames from his beak.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 29

Episode 29: A Race

Flames leapt at each other across the sky as Teresa raced toward home. 

She crossed the ruins of warfare and a skeleton of burnt thorns.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 28

Episode 28: Fury

When the white phoenix blazed across the sky above the castle, Bryant’s horse threw him into an ash heap. 

Furious, he let his fire burn uncontrollably.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 27

Episode 27: A Choice

Reaching his fiery core, William felt his anger and his sorrow stoking the flames, but instead he reached for his heart. 

His shape felt light.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 26

Episode 26: To Follow

Teresa went to follow William, but Pelent barred her way.

“It is good for him to fight his brother alone. The madness will be contained.”

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 25

Episode 25: To Finish

Extinguishing his flames because he had so few loyalists left, Bryant barked his orders and went to find his horse. 

He would finish this fight.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 24

Episode 24: Leaving in Darkness

After the painful conversation with Brutus, William decided he would not endanger the others.

As they continued to plan, he left in shadow of darkness.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 23

Episode 23: Help

“Brutus?”

Brutus cowered from William’s flames. “Your brother is mad, my King. He is … lost.”

Teresa offered him a hand. “Help us defeat him.”

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 22

Episode 22: Unwelcome News

His generals interrupted his pleasures with unwelcome news. “You let them escape unharmed?”

“Those earth-shakers created tunnels, my King.”

Bryant scorched the earth.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 21

Episode 21: Something Unexpected

William noticed Pelent stiffen in wariness at the edge of their camp.

 “Someone comes.”

William’s fists burned as he recognized the tattered figure.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 20

Episode 20: A Family Secret

Teresa confronted Rykken. “Why?”

 “You fostered out, fell in love, and mother had tested your power, but wasn’t sure you could keep the secret.”

Teresa scowled.

He laughed.

Ashes Burn, Season 7: Bright Fire, Episode 19

Episode 19: Bryant Celebrates Early

Celebrating early, Bryant spent some time the lucky few he had taken alive. 

Relishing their fear and pain, he let the fire wall smolder low.