When Fire Remembers

Chapter16 - The Unlikely Fellowship

The stone corridors of the mountain whispered with Aksanaa’s hurried steps. Cold air clung to her skin, but her thoughts were elsewhere—still echoing with Daghan’s words and the weight of the deal she had just made.

She passed the last torchlit arch and entered the forge chamber. The scent of soot and molten metal met her like an old friend. Runi stood near the glowing heart of the forge, arms crossed. Saelwyn paced restlessly by the wall, but the moment Aksanaa stepped in, he froze.

“You’re back,” Saelwyn said, stepping forward immediately. Before she could answer, he closed the distance and pulled her into a tense embrace. Then he held her at arm’s length, inspecting her with urgency.

“What happened?”

Runi turned too, her brows furrowed. “You were only supposed to check the treasury rooms—not vanish for hours.”

Aksanaa pulled back her hood, her face pale, lips pressed together. She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she moved toward the heart of the forge, where the warmth failed to chase away the cold inside her.

“I went to Daghan’s chamber. By accident,” she said at last. “I thought there might be something useful left—notes, gold, anything in the old rooms.”

Saelwyn folded his arms. “You didn’t…”

“He was there.”

The silence cracked like a whip.

“What?” Runi said, blinking. “You ran into him?”

“He came back early,” Aksanaa said. “I didn’t expect anyone in the room—I barely had time to look around. He found me inside.”

Saelwyn cursed under his breath and studied her face again, more frantically this time.

“He didn’t hurt me,” she added quickly. “But… he didn’t let me leave. Not until we talked.”

Runi stepped closer. “What kind of talk?”

Aksanaa met her gaze, steady now. “He wants to reach Garaddum. The gate. He asked me to guide him.”

“You said no,” Saelwyn growled.

“I said yes.”

Saelwyn stared at her like he’d been struck.

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” she continued. “He knew about you. Both of you. He threatened to hunt you down—kill you. And he meant it.”

“You should’ve run,” Saelwyn snapped. “We can take care of ourselves—”

“I made a deal,” Aksanaa cut in. “If I take him to the gate, he’ll release prisoners connected to the rebellion. He’ll give us gold—enough to feed everyone starving in the mines.”

Runi exhaled slowly, the flicker of shock still in her eyes. “He’s a dragon, Aksanaa. You can never trust a dragon.”

“Yes. But he could have killed me. He didn’t. He didn’t even follow me. I came back alone.”

Saelwyn turned away again, fists clenched. “This is reckless. Dangerous. You should’ve never gone alone.”

“I was alone when they dragged me to that gate once,” Aksanaa said, her voice low but firm. “This time, I made the terms. And I’ll keep them.”

Runi looked at her for a long moment. Then she nodded.

“Then we’re coming with you,” she said. “You’re not walking into Garaddum alone. Not again.”

“No!” Aksanaa objected. “You cannot risk your lives. I made this bargain to keep you safe. I will go alone.”

“What are you two even discussing? You’re not going alone—because you’re not going!” Saelwyn exploded. “I’m not letting you walk into anything with that monster. Not unless you step over my dead body first!”

“I don’t need your approval, Saelwyn! I’m not a child!”

Saelwyn stepped closer, his breath brushing her face.

“When I found you two years ago—half-dead—you weren’t so independent, Aksanaa. I did everything to help you live. And I’m not giving up now.”

A flicker of pain crossed Aksanaa’s face. It was brief, but enough to make Saelwyn falter. He took a step back, turned his back on her, and stared into the forge—silent and withdrawn.

When Aksanaa spoke again, her voice trembled with emotion.

“You’ve done so much for me. I can never repay your kindness. But you don’t own me, Saelwyn. I’m my own person, and I have the right to choose what to do with my life—even if that choice leads to death.”

Saelwyn turned sharply, ready to protest. Aksanaa’s death was the one thing he could never accept. But before he could speak, Runi stepped between them.

“Enough, both of you,” she snapped. “No one’s dying, and no one gets to decide anyone else’s fate.”

She turned to Saelwyn. “I understand how you feel—and no, we won’t let her risk her life alone. But I understand Aksanaa too. If we were in her shoes, we’d probably do the same.”

She looked between them, her voice softening. “This isn’t a bad bargain. We take him there, and we return. Saelwyn, you know that forest better than anyone—you planted half the traps yourself. And Aksanaa’s been to the gate. She can guide us. Together, we can protect each other.”

“I can’t let you come with me. It’s too dangerous.”

“No more dangerous than leaving you with that psychopath alone.”

A heavy silence filled the forge. Saelwyn still refused to turn, his gaze fixed on the flames. Aksanaa’s face burned red with restrained emotion.

“Then it’s decided,” Runi said. “We all go. Tomorrow.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Now, go to your rooms. Rest.”

Both turned sharply and left the chamber in opposite directions.

Runi shook her head with a weary sigh and muttered to herself.

“Children. So hard to raise.”

—-

The next morning, they were all ready by dawn. No one looked at each other. A silent battle still brewed beneath the surface as they waited near the southern edge of Nyvanor Forest, just as agreed.

Runi was armed from head to toe with various weapons. Saelwyn stood with his bow slung across his back, fingers twitching. Aksanaa carried her old companion—the axe—and the new one: the jade dagger.

Not long after, two figures approached from the southern gate of the city toward the forest. One tall and lean, moving with feline grace. The other, even taller and as wide as a walking mountain. It was unmistakably them.

With every step closer, the tension radiating from Saelwyn grew thicker, like fog. His fingers curled around his bow, as if ready to strike at any moment.

Runi gently placed a hand on his arm to calm him.

Aksanaa was too nervous to notice. Her eyes were locked on Daghan. And when they came close enough to see faces, it was clear: Daghan’s gaze was locked on her as well. Like two predators measuring one another—waiting for the other to blink first.

When they finally arrived, Daghan spoke without breaking eye contact.

“So… you brought your friends. That wasn’t part of our agreement,” he said, calm and dry. He didn’t spare the others a glance.

“You never said I couldn’t,” Aksanaa replied. “Besides, you brought your puppy, didn’t you?”

It was hard to call a half-giant a puppy, but Grön just smiled sheepishly.

“She’s not going anywhere without us,” Saelwyn interjected sharply.

Daghan smirked. “So, these are your parents, then?”

He turned his head slightly, eyes landing on Saelwyn’s bow.

“If you plan to kill me now, Elf, I won’t be able to keep my promises, will I?”

“No one’s killing anyone,” Runi cut in. “And even if we’re not her parents, we are her family. And we’re not letting her go alone.”

“Fine,” Daghan said with a shrug.

“I don’t mind having an elf who knows the forest better than anyone, and a dwarf I can use as bait—just in case.”

Runi hissed at him.

Grön stepped forward, placing himself between Daghan and Runi. He met her gaze with silent, looming menace. It was strange—seeing a half-giant and a dwarf facing off, neither backing down.

“Hey!” Aksanaa snapped. “Watch your tongue, lizard! Or this deal ends here.”

“Okay, okay. No need to get emotional,” Daghan said, hands raised in mock peace.

For a moment, all five exchanged wary glances, tension thick enough to cut.

Then Aksanaa spoke again.

“That’s enough. Let’s start this cursed journey and get it over with.”

“Lead the way!” Daghan said cheerfully to Saelwyn.

Saelwyn didn’t answer. He simply turned and began walking.

With Saelwyn at the front and Grön guarding the rear, the strangest group ever assembled disappeared into the forest.

A dragon. An elf. A human. A dwarf. And a giant.

None of them knew what waited ahead—only that the path would test their loyalties, reveal their fears, and bind them in ways none could foresee.