The Royal Flame

Pit of fire

Flames fill the circle pit, showing the dark silhouettes of small crouched figures that fill the space around the fire pit. All are bowed over their metal bowls. Hasty sounds of scraping spoons and heavy but cheerful sounding murmur fill my ears. As expected, Baltazar on his small throne made out of scrape wood and various metals. Covered with pelts, but I do hope some of that ice-cold metal can be still felt through it.

“Klyn!” A small muffled call of my name removes my eyes from the throne towards Frost. With quick but soft movements of my toes I move besides him. Squatting down I have to press my side against his to squeeze myself in the little space that is left over. A small little fire in front of me lightens up all the faces that have their food smeared over their beards. A flame that will be barely aflame for much longer.

“Eat quick before it gets cold” At Frost’s feet a small metal bowl emerges from under his pelts into view. Shoving it in front of my feet.

With my arms still wrapped around my legs I look at the small bowl that is filled with porridge and a small piece of bread on the side half dipping in the porridge. Breaking the still dry piece of bread off from its soaked parts, I slide it into one of my inner pockets.

“Saving for later? It is a waste of such a perfect piece of bread. Do you know how hard it was to get that? You should eat it when its fresh and still soft.” He sounds just like someone’s mother.

“I will unfreeze it over a fire later.”

“That won’t make it soft again.” Ignoring his nagging I use the somewhat still hard bit of crust to spoon the porridge up to my mouth. Lifting the small bowl to my face as the soaked bread gives in immediately and breaks into the porridge. Becoming fully part of it.

“I will just get you a spoon next time if you are wasting the bread anyway.”

“Couldn’t you get me both?” Bringing the bowl back up to my face I let the thick porridge slide slowly over the edge into my mouth.

“And get caught? No thanks.”

Putting the bowl again in front of me at my feet I place my hand on his back.

“Thanks brother.” His face relaxed as he accepted the gratitude and my mocking face.

“So how was your area today?” I froze looking back at my plate.

Except for finding a human formed like seaweed?

“Just the usual.”

Placing his hand on my back this time.

“No worries brother, one day something will appear. You will catch it and Baltazar will give you another better area. So that Lark can go all the way to watch over the sea all day.”

With the mentioning of Lark everyone’s eyes shoot up from their bowls.

Leaning more towards him.

“You know better… He would get the Hillstone area immediately from the start.” My voice lowered as I continued. Avoiding to be heard by anyone else but Frost.

“It’s not like…” Major howling suppress his last words. Raising our heads a chaos of howls continue to fill the air. Frost releases a soft howl, which is overpowered by Hann right next to him. A deep howl that reaches my bones, almost making me howl as my neck arches backwards in preparation.

Baltazor rises up from his throne, spreading his hands outwards. Bringing everyone to a halt, before I can release the growl that was creating itself down my throat.

“Thank you, my brothers. Let us soon feast with the return of our brothers from Hillstone, but for now do not forget to thank our women for their preparation of this gracious meal.” Besides Baltazar, Noelani stood up. Finally, in my eye sight as the guy besides me changed his position a bit sideways. She smiled kindly over us all, as everyone again gave a big howl out of appreciation.

Again, with the slight movement of his hands the howling stopped immediately.

“We had another fruitful day. Especially today. As some of us contributed enormously today.” His eyes move over us, all one by one. The expectation of his sight on me makes me shrink further behind my brother. But as I shuffle with my feet to the side to hide completely behind him, I bump into someone else behind of me. Stuck between two men and Frost without any cover from Baltazar, except for my own knees and pelts.

“But let me remind us all. We are strong, we are powerful. And we will stay that way as all that is mine is yours.” Baltazar’s brown fiery eyes finally made it to towards my direction. Resting right on me. His eyes piercing through me.

“And all that is yours is mine.”

Sweat starts dripping down from my back. Unable to further hide. Unable to remove my eyes from him as that would be seen as a form of disrespect.

The guy in front of me shifts further. Not looking back at me, he must assume Baltazar is looking at him. To confirm this, he moves to the left. His shoulders relax immediately as Baltazar’s eye do not move when he does. Only laying me barer to his gaze.

“Enjoy the night, but not too much. Our duties continue with sunrise.” Finally, he turns around. Breaking his contact with me and off his stage.

“What did you do this time?” Frost nudges me in the side.

Did Noelani tell him? She wouldn’t unless he asked. What if she said she met me on the way and he asked for details. She is bound to tell if he asks for it.

“Nothing.”

Frost leans against me.

“That wouldn’t have happened if it was nothing.” With a look to my right I stare right into these young yellowish puppy eyes. My brain is overworking right now. Should I tell Frost that if anything happens to me? No, this human woman does not mean anything to me. Why would I want to hide or protect her? Or put this young pup in my own trouble. Did Noelani perhaps spot her? How could she not. After all we are born to spot a hidden rabbit by just it taking breaths of air.

“Klyn” a low growl of my name make me sigh deeply.

“Rado” who else could it be but him. I hoped it would just all pass like that, but of course I am being summoned. With the acknowledgement of Rado standing behind me. Summoning me to come before Baltazar, I stand up. My bones creak as my knees were frozen in their position.

“You know the drill” Unfortunately I know it all too well. But I would still love to remove that grin of his face with my fist.