The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 20
Overview
Diem ignites with living fire but learns she can touch and even absorb Ignios flames. The King confronts them, orders her capture, and targets Luther. Diem sends Alixe and Taran toward Umbros, battles the guards, and nearly escapes, but the King blocks them. The chapter ends as a dagger hurtles for Luther’s heart.
Summary
Diem awakens engulfed in ecstatic, all-consuming fire and fears she will burn Luther, but he reaches her in the sea and proves her flames do not harm him. As they reach shore, Ignios guards signal the King. Hearing wingbeats, Diem orders Alixe to take Taran toward Umbros and obey her command to survive.
The King lands with a gryvern and guards, cites an edict for Diem’s capture, and tests her with flame. Diem’s magic is weak under lingering flameroot, yet her shield saves Luther. When the King orders the guards to seize Diem and kill Luther, her defenses begin to fail.
Gambling, Diem drops her shield and discovers Ignios fire invigorates her; attacks dissolve harmlessly into her skin. She warns the King and refuses to yield. Steel is drawn, and Diem and Luther fight back-to-back against swift, coordinated guards, taking wounds but holding on. Diem then casts a blinding barrier and they sprint for the border.
The King and gryvern cut them off with a wall of fire. Luther urges Diem to run, but she refuses. The King realizes her absorption does not protect Luther and focuses attacks on him. Diem’s magic gutters out, the fiery coating vanishes, and the King’s rolling flames force Luther toward the blades.
As a storm breaks, Diem bargains for Luther’s life. The King dismisses her plea, raising his hand to finish Luther. Diem dives through the fire, but a thrown dagger of Fortosian steel is already streaking for Luther’s heart as the scene ends.
Who Appears
- DiemProtagonist; ignites with living fire, learns to absorb Ignios flames, leads the fight, and tries to save Luther.
- LutherDevoted protector; refuses to leave Diem, fights alongside her, vulnerable to fire, becomes the King’s target.
- King of IgniosAntagonist; arrives on gryvern, enforces capture edict, tests Diem, exploits Luther’s vulnerability, blocks their escape.
- Ignios gryvernThe King’s mount; chained, menacing, seems aware of Diem; helps the King cut off their escape.
- AlixeAlly; obeys Diem’s order to flee toward Umbros with Taran to survive the impending royal attack.
- TaranAlly; injured and weakened from earlier godstone cut, retreats with Alixe toward Umbros on Diem’s command.
- Ignios GuardsElite fighters; launch relentless flame and blade assaults, coordinated but cautious under the King’s orders.