Witching Games: The Fire Witch Chronicles 1, R.A. Lindo [top 100 books of all time checklist .txt] 📗

I don’t eat it: the silent crew of soldiers studying me as I prepare to sample the food.

“A different form of rehabilitation,” Orgev replies, sipping from a large clay cup.

“Sad Souls?” I ask, knowing what’s waiting for Odin there: a transformation from legend to Melackin. Melackin are ex-members of the S.P.M.A., reduced to shadows of their former self via a combination of remedies administered by the Ulux: the ageing giants who inhabit Sad Souls.

My mum received this very treatment, living as a Melackin now in the twisted building beyond Society Sphere. It’s the price you pay for minor betrayals, like the ‘accidental’ release of the Silverback Odin and Neve were supposed to be taming, hoping the creature would carry out their desired vengeance. According to Orgev, they blame Conrad and me for the death of their relatives in war, raising questions of loyalty.

If Odin and Neve’s relatives caught our fire, they put themselves on that path. The principles of the S.P.M.A. are centred around peace, after all, retaliation only authorised in the face of a threat. It’s a simple principle I live by: peace unless danger needs to be dealt with — the current danger being Odin and Neve Blin.

“Neve has already left Drandok,” Orgev adds, “using the Invisilis charm to avoid detection. We have ways of tracking her; sleeping soldiers are already on the move.”

“Where’s she likely to go?” Noah asks, accepting a bowl of glittering soup.

“To more remote places beyond The Society Sphere, staying hidden as long as possible. The Royisin Heights is the likely location. Neve won’t surrender easily, preferring death in battle to a life imprisoned in The Velynx?”

“And what about Odin?” I ask. “Is he likely to surrender easily?”

“Time will tell,” Orgev replies, studying the glittering walls. “Drandok isn’t a prison, after all, meaning recuperating soldiers can come and go as they please.”

“Even after Odin tried to set the Silverback on us?” Lucy challenges, sipping from the cup she’s handed: Jysyn Juice, hopefully.

“He knows the fate that awaits him, Lucy. It’s for Odin to accept it or resist.”

“And if he resists?” Conrad prompts.

“Then a journey to Quibbs Causeway will be his fate, where the Mantzils await — more devastating than the Silverbacks and ready to unhinge his mind.”

“Is Neve on a Silverback or on foot?” I ask.

“On foot,” comes the reply from the eldest of the bearded soldiers, sitting opposite me in the circle of gathered soldiers. “Her recent habit of taking her creature out of Drandok was her first mistake.

The Shallows attract mild-mannered witches and wizards — the reason Odin and Neve risked arriving on their Silverbacks. Other places are not so welcoming. She’ll survive on her wits now until we catch up with her.”

“We can always help,” Conrad suggests, the tension in his body easing as knowledge of Odin and Neve’s fate comes to light.

Unfortunately for them, they’ve picked the wrong fight: a fight we’re going to bring to their door. The night is young and Neve couldn’t have got far on foot. My instincts tell me Odin will soon follow, taking his chances in the vast spaces beyond The Society Sphere.

We’ve saved his life once which doesn’t mean we will again. Not that we’re out to kill either of them, but Society rules are clear: betrayal puts you on the path of rehabilitation or imprisonment — so the stage is set for another meeting with the two Domitus who brought a fight to their door.

19

Night Visions

The stars come out as we leave Drandok ... a picture of serenity which contrasts with the roaring thunder we heard on our arrival. The roars were from the chained Riadek who, it seemed, were being tamed by curses. We know this isn’t the case now — the cursed smoke more to test how damaged the recuperating soldiers are: soldiers known as the Domitus.

Two of the Domitus have been exposed as harbouring dangerous levels of resentment: Odin and Neve Blin who won’t be able to hide from their fate for too long. Neve is on the run, possibly making her way to The Royisin Heights, while Odin is holed up in the mountains of Drandok, or at least that’s the theory.

As Orgev explained, Drandok is a place where shell-shocked soldiers choose to come to. They can choose to stay or to leave — exits only forced when intentions are questionable. My money’s on Odin going the same way as Neve, making a quick escape in fear of a Society army descending on Drandok to drag him to Quibbs Causeway.

That’s not going to happen, though, because the ‘accident’ of losing control of the Silverback isn’t enough for a stay in The Velynx: the faculty for bad things and bad people. Instead, we’ve got to be patient, saying our goodbyes to Orgev and his bearded crew as we rise into the sky on our Williynx: a decision to be made on where the night leads us next.

As we rise higher towards the stars, our figures in silhouette, Conrad stays close to me — the grey overcoat and white T-shirt marked by our little drama in the taming range. I prefer it when he’s less preoccupied with Society business, the look of mischief returning to his eyes.

“So, The Royisin Heights or back to The Singing Quarter?” Conrad asks, his smile suggesting he’s leaning more towards romance than reconnaissance.

We can track down Odin and Neve another day — a group of sleeping soldiers already on their tracks, as Orgev explained, so I’m also leaning towards a return to The Singing Quarter, looking forward to more fun in Rebel’s Rest — Noah’s singing only part of the entertainment. We all know what Noah’s going to choose, already clearing his throat to see if he can hit the notes that evade him.

“Back to The Singing Quarter, obviously,” Noah replies, brushing the fringe away from his eyes. “I need to get my solo in before closing time.”

Closing time is whenever the Tallis family who run Rebel’s Rest have