The Turn of Fate

Author's note: This follows Trial by Fyra.

Naythan threw himself to the side landing hard on the snow with a grunt.

"Oh for god's sake. Not again." he grumbled, before he hastily got to his feet and dashed aside to avoid yet another blast from the sorceress. He ducked beside a tree trunk and peered around it to see Lor'kan still standing behind the sorceress, arms crossed, watching the proceedings with interest.

Naythan narrowly ducked behind the tree to avoid another wave of flames woosh past the tree. It wasn't nearly so hot as it had been when they had first clashed, but Naythan still felt no desire to brave the flames directly.

Fine then. He thought grimly, Lor'kan wanted a fight, and the Dryad was willing to play. Then so was he. He closed his eyes briefly and reached inside himself.

Memories arose at the attempt. A flash of a younger Naythan, a man's voice crying out "Shut him down Naythan!" and screams. He shoved them back and grasped his power. He lunged from behind his tree feeling the fire rush past his back far closer than he would have liked, he counted to two and skidded to a stop before redirecting himself just in time to see the place had been about to stand in engulfed in flames.

Now he was heading right for the Dryad. Her eyes widened at his move, and the flames began to gather in her hands once again. Still Lor'kan did nothing, but it didn't matter. Naythan, through an effort of will, cast his power out in the direction of the Dryad. He saw it as an ethereal noose cast from his own body, though he knew nobody else could see it.

The noose wrapped and tightened around the girl and the fire went out. Naythan grinned, now time to finish this.

But it wasn't. The Dryad hurled herself towards him, closing the distance fast, ducking to the side and throwing out her leg, catching him mid-sprint and sending the young sergeant sprawling to the ground with a yell of surprise.

Crashing face first into the snowy ground. Knowing what would come next he rolled without looking before his vision had even fully recovered and the wash of heat and light that flashed beside him proved his instincts right.

That was it though. As his vision finally cleared he saw the Dryad, hands blazing once again. Naythan started to reach one hand up over his head to crawl away, lifting his sword arm up protectively, though he knew it was not enough.

His hand grasped something. not stopping to identify it, Naythan snatched his hand forward and the stone he had gripped hurtled towards the Dryad, hitting her just between the upper lip and the nose, the suddenness of the attack, and the shock of the pain sent her reeling back, flames extinguished instantly.

"Ha!" Naythan grinned in surprise at his success

Seeing his chance Naythan got to his feet once again and charged, kicking her squarely in the stomach as he reached her, sending her flying to the ground, her head snapping back to hit something with a hard thud. He stood over her, sword levelled at her as she lay there unconscious, he was wet, cold, tired but triumphant.

"Very good boy. I thought you might have something extra about you. It appears we share a gift."

Lor'kan said from behind him. "I hold to my promise sergeant. Finish her and it will be as though nothing had happened. Nobody will question my word I can assure you. Things will go back to how they were."

Naythan looked down at the unconscious form of the Dryad. her red eyes closed, and hair covering the pointed ears, she looked almost human. A single thrust forward and everything would be back to normal.

Another flash. A young boy with yellow eyes. Bruised and beaten, looking at Naythan pleadingly.

Naythan's triumph evaporated in that instant, and as he looked down at the Dryad, it was quickly replaced with a boiling anger, that rose out of him like a volcano.

"What are you waiting for boy?" Lor'kan asked, noting his lack of movement.

Naythan turned around, he felt the burning heat of his anger more keenly than any fire. He fixed Lor'kan with a determined glare and raised his blade defensively.

"Never again!"

To be continued in Heart of Steel