Fire and

Misha woke Sally up at sunrise, much to her annoyance.

"Misha, I'm still sore."

"We're breaking Steph out of jail."

Sally looked at him. He was already fully dressed, with a strong hide jacket, a scarf covering most of his face, and a pair of sturdy boots that came up to just below his knees. And, of course, nothing between his waist and knees, as was custom.

"We might need to implement a similar dress code at home."

Misha rolled his eyes. Fishing some pearls from a pouch, he pressed them into her palm.

"Focus. I need to get some stuff, give these to the innkeep, and say Vunga Silvi, son-tha."

"Got it, Vunga Silvi son-tha."

Misha prepared to leave, but at the last moment turned around.

"And Sally, please, don't talk to anyone."

"I know, I know."

"(Sigh)"

Misha strapped his belt on, and lamented the lack of pants. He jumps a bit when Sally smacks his ass.

"I really do like this outfit, we should keep it."

"Let's not."

"You're no fun."

"Just don't get killed."

Misha stepped into the early morning air, letting the floral scent of of a sunrise breeze fill his lungs. He let his face relax, adopting the demeanor of a carefree cat boy on a morning stroll. He focused on keeping his pace to a leisurely amble. He wanted to leapt into his Thal form and sprint to his destination, but he needed to remain under the radar. After an hour of flippantly meandering around, he quietly slipped into an alley way. He came to stand in front of a plain wooden door, painted to nearly blend in the with the surrounding mud bricks. He knocked twice, waited a moment, then knocked thrice. A click, the sound of a lock opening, and the muted sound of wood sliding over stone.

In the door frame stood another cat boy. He was taller than Misha, probably at least 6'2". He had mousy black hair and a great deal of muscle for a cat boy. When he spoke, it sounded like he had accidentally swallowed a piece of charcoal.

"What do you want?"

"My name is Misha Sathis. I need to speak to the Infernal One."

The hulking Thal grinned slightly.

"Right this way, your highness. He's been expecting you."

His words dripped with malice and venom, but Misha ignored his tone. The man gestured behind himself, showing Misha a long dark hallway.

***

Sally nodded at a pair of women entering the room next to her, as she left hers. She was desperately hoping they hadn't asked her a question.

She clutched the pearls with taut, white knuckles, doing her best to seem nonchalant. But without Misha, she was trapped in a city she didn't understand, that could execute her for being there. So she came off less chill and more manic.

She approached the man at the desk, handing him the pearls.

"Vunga, s-silva, so-tha."(Here is, m-money, "mispronunciation of good day.")

"Vaaaa... Susi?" (Uh, what?)

Sally began to panic.

She desperately thought back to the few sentences Misha had taught her. She couldn't just not answer him.

"Lunis omi voma?" (We need group?)

The innkeep stared at her blankly. Deciding to quit while she was behind, she turned and walked briskly away, ignoring his questions.

***

The so called Infernal One sat cross legged on the floor of a dark room, the only light coming from the fire that danced in his palm. His voice, unlike his friends, was smooth, deep, and had a slightly hypnotic quality.

"Hello Sathis. I've been waiting to meet you for some time."

"Given the fire, I take it you're the Infernal One."

"That I am."

"How'd you know I'd seek you out."

"When one lives in the dark underbelly of society, information is not hard to come by."

"How do you know English?"

"The same reason you do."

"I was taught it because I was royalty."

The man simply gave Misha a small smile.

"You're a royal?"

"Who I am is not why you are here."

Misha sat in front of the man.

"So you know what I need."

The Infernal One extended his palm towards Misha.

"You wish to wield ****."

"I need fire. Heat specifically."

"In a city of wood, is there any difference between **** and fire? And errant spark, a falling leaf, just a little bit of carelessness, and this great city is no more."

"Maybe, but without it, the person I love dies."

"Indeed. You are fortunate I hold no allegiance to this city. One of those pretty little dwarven knives of yours, if you please."

Misha drew one if them from his belt. He felt the power the knife drew from him as it brought time to a stand still. As slowly as it was moving, the fire that hovered in the Infernal One's palm seemed almost like glass. Misha set the knife between them, feeling time speed up as his fingers left the handle.

"You will only have a few moments of heat, though given the nature of these weapons, that should be plenty."

The man wrapped his hand around the blade, until it glowed white. Reaching forward, he slid the heated weapon into it's sheath.

"It will not burn you, but be wary of it. It only takes a spark."

"Thank you. This means more to me than I could ever possibly say."

"My gift has a cost. I have given you ****, to wield as you see fit. All I ask in return is that no matter what, you will ensure that Vanala does not take the throne."

"You have my word."

This is the last chapter before the "Final Act" and so the schedule I add these chapters will be changing. For the rest of this branch, I'll be uploading once per week, every Saturday.

-Tom