Chapter 3: Meeting Queen Shay.

THEY WALKED OUT of the village and toward the palace. The wind picked up and danced in the leaves of the taroof trees. They were heading to the building beyond the Field of Peace, and the three giant pyramids were in a neat little row. In the center of the three structures was a massive golden door.

Without a word, they headed straight for the queen’s summer palace and toward four sentries, two on either side of the entry. The security detail bowed to the Fire Elders as they approached and then swept him with a glance of disinterest.

The four men wore the clothing of regal fortress protectors, and Render had a pang of jealousy. The Albeon guards wore no shirts, and their muscles displayed their ability to have food whenever they wanted. Their long, colorful skirts rippled as they turned and opened the grand entrance. Beads were intertwined in their long black braided hair. The charms glimmered as they moved as if showing off. Embarrassment warmed his fire. His hair was a fuzzy mess. What a day to skip re-braiding his hair.

“This way,” Rolla said as guards placed their hands on the swords on their hips.

The Fire Elders strode into a giant stone hallway with Render trailing them. With every step, Render wished he could ask what this was about. He had the feeling he was going back to the joint. The idea that he would have to take more solitary confinement had his fire sparking on his fingertips.

Though he figured the Fire Elders could sense his unease, they didn’t comment.

A door at the end of the hall opened, and Render found himself inside the throne room. This was the last place he ever expected to be. His head tipped back as he walked. The room was the most majestic and opulent space he’d ever seen. Just as the Albeon reformatory was the most disgusting and the most impoverished space he’d ever been in—this was more lavish than he could comprehend.

The ceiling was twenty feet above them and swathed in gold-painted banners of colorful silk. The fabric was hooked onto large iron sculptures of the crests of the most important families who'd ever served the Panchen Fire. More banners hung from the stone walls, showing pictures of brave acts that helped the planet. Some images were intricate designs that showed the fire’s power and protection.

Silence descended as the three of them walked on a wide woven decorative rug that led to a pair of carved stone chairs at the back center of the space. The two enormous seats looked like they were made from diamonds, pearls, and the gray marble from the Panchen Fire Temple. Velvet cushions had delicate gold embroidery on the top.

On the zellzer chair to the right was the queen.

More dread spun in his belly as they advanced on the monarch. Was this where he died? No. He would do whatever he had to because he’d promised to look after Anoka.

“Welcome, Warrior Render Jay Zell.” The queen rose from her seat, and her colorful robes billowed outward.

As she spoke, the fire in the hearth to his right flashed brightly as if the blue flame demanded that he show respect.

Immediately, Render knelt and bowed his head. He chanced a glance at her, and she smiled. As the queen retook her seat, her tall silver crown didn’t move from the black braids wound in her hair.

“You may rise. We have many things to discuss.”

Render came to his feet. Things to discuss didn’t sound promising.

The Fire Elders smoothed their black robes as they headed toward the pair of thrones. The holy firekeepers took up spots around the seats.

Two guards came from the rear of the room. The two huge men wore long skirts and giant swords strapped to their backs, the handles peeking over their broad shoulders. They took up places behind the queen.

Another pang of jealousy hit him. What he wouldn’t give to be standing behind a great monarch ready to protect and give his life for the powerful ruler.

“Delma told me that you were once the most talented, gifted, and skilled male warrior who'd ever been trained in this area. Is that true?”

Render didn’t know what to say. Yes, he supposed he was once, but that felt like a lifetime ago.

“Are you still proficient?” the queen pressed as she folded her hands on her lap. She caught his eye and held his stare.

“I practice.” Render nodded. He still studied and trained daily, if that was what Shay meant.

“Show me.” Delma flipped over his head and landed behind him. The female warrior shot a blast of fire, and Render reacted.

Throwing up his fire shield, he protected the queen from getting hit.

“Present your blade,” Rolla called. He turned as Rolla’s sword came at his chest. Not good.

What in the blue blazes was this? He dodged getting run-through and rolled across what might be the fluffiest carpet that he’d ever felt.

“Why do you not pull your sword?” Payson swung her blade at him, and he ducked.

“I cannot pull my sword against Fire Elders. That is an act of dishonor.”

“I would if I were you,” the queen laughed. “Or you’re going to die. They’re not even trying yet.”

That might’ve been permission.

Another blast of fire came at him from Payson with laughter from the queen. He pulled both his swords from his back and blocked Delma when she swung at his shoulders. The clang of the two blades meeting reverberated around the room.

“At a young age, you trained with the Inferno Elites, and I was told that you were the youngest male guard to protect the Northern Fire Shrine near my winter palace. Is that correct?”

As the queen asked, Render blocked a strike from Payson. Simultaneously, he tossed up a fire shield.

“Yes.” Render lit Rolla’s sword on fire. She laughed as the female warrior dropped her red-hot handle.

“You were so effective your teachers fast-tracked you to the north.” Dilma’s blade came toward his knees when she thought he was distracted.

“Yes.” He huffed. “I served at the Northern Fire Shrine.”

“You must have been superior to train with the Inferno Elites.” Rolla swung at his head again.

“My sister was a member of the Inferno Elites. I trained with her since I could walk.” Render caught the elder’s sword in a fire loop and then used the blade to strike at Payson. He missed her by an inch.

He must remember not to kill the Fire Elders.

“Then, while serving at the Northern Fire Shrine, you had a sexual dalliance with a young male,” Rolla spoke as she charged him. The words were distracting, but he guessed that was her aim. He stayed focused. Render rolled to the side. He came to a standing position before the queen.

“I never said he was young or old.”

“I was told that you refused to tell anyone who you were on your knees pleasuring.” The queen appeared thoughtful.

This time, Render didn’t say a word.

“Very cunning, Render. You think we’re trying to trap you into saying something to expose your long-ago lover.” Dilma threw her sword at him like a spear. If he moved to the side, the blade would strike Queen Shay.

Cursing, he spun his sword in a loop. The move caught Dilma’s sword, and both weapons shot toward where there were chairs fashioned out of blue marble.

“I would never say that, my queen.” Render backed up to gain distance from the three advancing warriors.

“Very diplomatic,” Payson said as her blade came at his head.

Render backed toward the wall as all three elders surrounded him. The elaborate sculptures coming out of the walls suck out far enough that he had to duck under them. He turned in time to block a strike from Delma.

“After your sexual incident, you were sent to the reformatory for rehabilitation for your unnatural urges involving males.” The queen rose and strolled to one of the marble statues. “Is that true?” She ran a hand over the pillar holding the artwork

“Yes.” Render gritted his teeth as he blocked a hit from Delma and drove back Payson. Rolla came from behind, and he tossed up a fire shield.

Jumping over furniture, Render placed chairs between himself and his opponents.

“I was told that you refused to give the name of the warrior you were sexually satisfying even though offering up the information would shorten your sentence,” the queen added conversationally.

Is that what this was? They were going to fight him until he gave up the name. He would never do that. They would have to kill him. Render would never ruin Toren’s life.

“I will not tell anyone his name.”

“That is loyal,” Dilma said, shooting flames from her fingers that caused his fire shield to drop. Blue blazes, that was intense fire.

“The warden did not see it that way,” Render muttered.

“Diplomatic, loyal, and his wielding of fire is adequate,” Payson said, starting the floor on fire under him. He almost felt bad for the ruined rug.

“I feel that his fire skill is more than adequate, and it appears that Render can keep a secret.” Rolla lit his sword on fire, and Render hissed as his hand rose in flames.

At the last second, Render tossed himself toward the fireplace so he wouldn’t find Dilma’s sword in his ass. He vaulted up and caught a banner. He swung to the other side of the room and landed as Payson tossed a fireball at him.

“You finished your sentence at the reformatory not too long ago and were offered a new beginning.” Payson shot another fireball toward his chest.

“Yes, Fire Elder.” He caught the flames and tamed them to smoke.

“Your life has not improved much since you left.” The queen’s words had him turning to look at her.

“Yes.” What was her point?

“I was informed that no one is willing to take classes from you as a teacher because they are concerned you will make sexual advances.” Dilma chuckled. “Everyone believes you still like males.”

The words had him stopping for a moment. She was right. They were all correct. His life had improved in no way since getting out of the joint. In fact, it was worse. Now, he couldn’t even see Toren. It had killed him inside to see the monk and not be able to touch him. Back then, he thought that was as bad as it could get, but he was wrong. Not seeing the monk at all was torture.

“I assume the lack of classes to teach is why you volunteer in the orphanage.” Rolla shot a fireball. The flame hit him square in the chest. The air was knocked out of him.

Stumbling backward, his mind searched for a way to explain why he was at the orphanage. He could not speak the truth of Anoka. He’d given a fire oath.

His distraction was the end of the fight. Payson knocked his sword out of his right hand. Dilma had her sword to his throat. Rolla had a blade pressed to his back.

Everyone halted for a second. All eyes shot to the queen.

“Mercy, my queen.” Render wanted mercy from the conversation as well as the fight. Lord-of-Light, he was tired. His eyes dropped to the floor so his queen would not see his defeat. He prayed she did not ask him more about the orphanage. Perhaps this would be a quick death.

“Render Jay Zell, I would like to offer you a job.” the queen announced.

“A job?” His eyes rose as the sword was removed from where the blade pressed to his jugular.

“A guarding job,” the queen clarified. “Perhaps I can offer you a new beginning.”