The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 14
Overview
Vance and his Guardians ambush Diem, Luther, and Taran, exposing Diem’s past ties and goading the men into a standoff. Taran is wounded by godstone, and Alixe reveals herself, cloaking Diem and extracting her across the border into Ignios. Luther escapes with Taran, whom Diem stabilizes. An Ignios border defense incinerates a pursuing mortal, halting the chase and raising the stakes of their flight.
Summary
Vance and armed Guardians surround Diem, Luther, and Taran, demanding they disarm and separate. Vance denounces Cordellia as weak, taunts Diem about her mother and past Guardian work, and turns the men against her by invoking a mortal she accidentally killed. Under threat, Diem capitulates to spare Luther and Taran.
Tension erupts when a Guardian named Soritt avenges his brother by stabbing Taran with a godstone spear, poisoning him. Vance orders Luther and Taran killed and Diem taken, but a crossbow shot at Luther is mysteriously deflected. Luther urges Diem to run; instead she slams Vance’s injured arm, triggering chaos.
Invisible hands yank Diem to safety—Alixe reveals herself and her illusion magic. On Luther’s command, Alixe drags Diem away despite Diem’s protests, sprinting through the woods until they cross into the dunes of Ignios, where Alixe’s magic falters. They hide on the desert side, arguing over leaving the men behind.
As they wait in agony, Diem and Alixe discuss godstone’s slow, often fatal toxin and the Descended practice of offering magic in prayer. At last, Luther appears, supporting a bleeding Taran. Alixe helps carry him, and Diem switches to healer mode, cleaning and compressing two small wounds with torn linen, directing Luther and Alixe to assist.
A mortal tests the border and is instantly incinerated by Ignios’s defense, proving the mortals will not follow. With pursuit ended, Diem maintains a brave facade, assuring Taran he will recover if the toxin doesn’t spread, while the group absorbs the cost of the ambush and the peril of their refuge.
Who Appears
- DiemProtagonist and healer-queen; surrenders to protect allies, escapes into Ignios, and stabilizes Taran’s godstone wounds.
- LutherDescended ally and lover; refuses to leave Diem, fights outnumbered, later escorts wounded Taran to safety.
- TaranCousin and loyal friend to Luther; bravely confronts Guardians, is stabbed with godstone, survives and is treated.
- AlixeIllusion wielder; covertly deflects a shot, cloaks and extracts Diem across the border, assists with Taran’s care.
- VanceOne-armed Guardian hardliner; ambushes the group, incites violence, orders executions, and loses Diem to Alixe’s rescue.
- SorittGuardian whose brother died; stabs Taran with a godstone spear in revenge.