"Not a problem. I see you went full electric this time," Blake says, as he looks admiringly at Zack's new ride.
"Yeah, it was the only way to go. No way we could afford the taxes and permits for a new gas-powered car."
"Don't worry, you'll love it, especially the self-driving mode." Blake stops and looks at his friend. "So what's up? You seem different somehow."
"Honestly? I feel different. I feel so tired for some reason. It's like I'm carrying around all these emotions from different people."
Blake cocks his head.
"Yeah, it sounds weird, but I don't know how else to put it. And the reporters won't stop calling. They're even camping outside the house and hassling us every time we come home or leave. Dad told Mom he was going to dig up his gun and drive them off."
"Jim has a gun?"
"I doubt it, though he's said that giving up our right to bear arms was one of our biggest mistakes. That said, he's not one for breaking the law. He won't even jaywalk."
Blake laughs. "I need to get a battery in the shop working before I close. Want to help?"
"Sure, anything to keep me busy so I can keep my mind off the reporters and all the stuff I've gone through," Zack says. He follows Blake through to the workshop in back, and picks up a megger to get a readout on the drained battery.
Jim had told Blake that Zack wasn't taking the "hero" thing too well. Zack's always been a quiet, unassuming kid who keeps to himself and whose only real friend beside Blake is his sister. But Blake senses that whatever happened in that fire has awoken the real Zack. That's good in one way, but disappointing in another. Just before the fire, Blake was on the verge of finally revealing the truth to his friend. But telling him now would put too much unwanted pressure on the boy.
He reminisces about the day he became Zack's Guardian.
❖❖❖
Blair sprints through the desert, running from the Cerns. Occasionally, he looks back to gauge the distance between him and his pursuers. The Cerns are hairless predators with gray hides; with their powerful molars, they can crunch through bones with gusto, especially if their prey has made them run for their meal. Blair knows he can handle a small pack of three or four Cerns, but certainly not the dozen or more that have been chasing him for the past few days.
But Blair has trained for this type of scenario his entire life. His people, the Atiru, "the Guardians of Kings," chose him over many other formidable candidates to be the protector of Zec, the future king of the Euperian people of Azha. Now he just has to pass his final test.
His legs feel increasingly heavy as he continues sprinting. Every step forward in the sand requires a greater exertion of will. He looks up at the formations of clouds in the sky, hoping his senses are correct. Yes, a storm is approaching.
While glancing upward, though, he trips over a dead tree trunk concealed by the sand, and almost but not quite face-plants as skids to a stop on the sand. Wincing, dazed, he wonders whether this is where he's destined to die. It's been twelve days since he embarked without food or water on this perilous journey. He's battled for his life against many adversaries during those twelve days.
Lightning strikes nearby bring him back to his senses. The pack of Cerns is only a few dozen meters away. He leaps to his feet and takes a deep breath to steel himself as the Cerns close in and form a circle around their prey. Blair draws his sword, kneels, scoops up a handful of sand, and appeals for strength from the gods. He opens his hand, flinging it forward, and the sand flies away. The alpha Cern roars, signaling the beginning of the attack. Blair is ready. He knows that one Cern will start the attack, and the others will join in one at a time until the prey is overwhelmed. The first creature approaches slowly, then swiftly charges Blair.
Providentially, the gods answer Blair's call. A bolt of lightning strikes the ground between the Cern and Blair, hitting the dead log in the sand that Blair had tripped over. A burst of flame erupts, and the Cern immediately stops, rearing back in fear. Before it can recover, Blair swipes off the beast's head with one mighty swing of his preternaturally sharp sword. With his free hand, Blair summons the power to control fire — a gift his ancestors have passed down to his kind for centuries. He surrounds himself with a circle of flames and thanks the gods for their help. The Cerns abandon their formation and regroup around the ring of fire.
Blair smiles. He raises his hand and directs the flames at two of the Cerns, driving them back. When they turn their heads from the heat, Blair pulls the fire back toward himself and dashes through the retreating flames. He leaps into the air with his dagger and sword, one in each hand, and simultaneously stabs both Cerns in the head.
He pulls the blades from the dead bodies and stares at the pack leader. The startled creature watches Blair dive back into the flames. With meek snarls, the vile things signal their retreat.
As night settles in and the winds get stronger, Blair prepares for the approaching storm. He looks around and sees a green light in the distance. He sprints toward the light, which leads him to the opening of a cave. At the cave's entrance, Blair kneels and places his backpack in front of him. He takes out a long cloth, wraps it around his left arm, and soaks it with liquid from a plastic tube. He opens his right hand, gathers energy, and sets the cloth aflame. The burning cloth feels a little warm, but that's all; immunity to fire is part of his gift.
He walks into
