Chapter 42: Shadow
Raging flames swirled waves at Valens’s command, eager like little children, tugging at the tip of his fingers as if pleading with him to be set free. The bonfire crackling by the carriage didn’t seem too dangerous now, not when there was a bigger storm to worry about, casting long, dancing shadows that forced the woman’s little trick to a halt.
“May I?” Valens repeated with his voice steady, not particularly taken by the reactions of the warriors who were staring aghast at the roaring flames.
It took Captain Edric a heavy moment to gather himself—a heavy moment and a blink—after which he lowered his gaze, eyes squinting with uncertainty. “Is that Inferno?”
“That explains the level,” Garran was quick to point out, seemingly not too indifferent now. “A nasty trick, that one.”
“Shadow’s piece!” Mas roared with spit, knuckles of his hands white round the chains. “This man lied to us! He’s a Mage. Get him!”
Valens waited to see if there would be any effort against him, keeping Inferno leashed to his hands, but seemed Mas was a rather troubled fellow who not only suffered from a twisted point of view, but also by the dismissal of his team members. He might as well have been roaring at a mountain with all his worth, and perhaps that would’ve gotten a few stones rolling down in response.
“It is,” Valens answered, reaching out and pulling at the invisible mana threads. The Inferno responded to his command, a touch unwillingly, and dissolved into a rain of burning dots. “What do you think, Captain?”
“Ah.” Garran shifted. “That’s not a wise thing to do.”
“What?” Valens arched an eyebrow at him. “You mean the question?”
“Eh, you’ll see.” Garran shook his head.
Valens turned curiously to the captain. He looked rather bothered, face creased into a grimace.
Then he cracked his neck and took in a long, deep breath. “Never been much of a fan of that phrase,” he said. “Scarcely you’d have a specific thought waiting in your mind to become an answer to that question. What do I think? I think of many things, Healer. I think of killing you right here and putting an end to… whatever this is. I also think of getting a new set of chains from the carriage, strapping you around, and having a little talk about those strange skills of yours. But for some reason, a part of me believes that you would not be taken silently.”