Page 271 of Phoenix's Fire

"That's my brother," she breathed.

I looked between them, trying to find the resemblance. They were both blonde. Both had that golden hair and perfectly blue eyes, but that was it. This man looked as similar to her as Tobias did.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"His name is Elijah," she said. "His mother was Tiesha. He is my older brother." Then she shook her head. "Can you do it for me?"

I'd never seen that look on her face before. It was the one I'd expected so many times, but she'd never shown it. This was disgust, fear, and horror all rolled up together. This was the reality she didn't want to face, mixed with knowing what was coming wouldn't stop it.

But something had to change.

"Ayla," I said, making my decision, "take Holly and go back to the pond to the northwest. I'll deal with him."

"So I don't have to see?" she asked, her eyes still locked on Elijah's.

"Please?" Elijah begged, making me aware we were talking in Vestrian.

So I crouched down beside him and switched to English. "You are the Phoenix's brother, hm? Well, it seems today is your lucky day. I've just decided to be a diplomat, and yes, I do speak your words. I'm not a beast. I'm a person." Then I smiled. "And this is going to hurt."

Then I grabbed him and threw him over my shoulder. He screamed, but was too weak to thrash. Still, the man struggled - feebly - making me bounce him once to make sure he was secure. The whole time Ayla said nothing.

"Go, Ayla," I ordered. "I'll catch up with you in half an hour."

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"I'm proving I'm not the Devil." Then I turned my feet back to the Mole campsite. Tobias said they'd come back, so that was where I needed to be.

Eighty-Five

Ayla

Zasen was doing something stupid. It was because I'd admitted that was my brother, and now he was going the wrong way! I didn't know what to do about it, so I took off, jogging in the direction he'd said. The pond. I was pretty sure I knew where it was, but I wasn't as familiar with these woods as the ones around our house.

Holly kept pace, trotting obediently beside me. Maybe I should've sent her with Zasen? But that would be a bad idea. What if neither one of them came back? Or what if Holly died to save Zasen? Or Zasen to save Holly? No, none of this was okay, and he was an idiot. I should go back, but two of us wouldn't be enough either.

When I finally burst into the Dragon camp, they were tending each other's wounds. My head whipped from side to side, seeking someone who could help me.

"Jeera?" I begged.

"What?" she called back from where she was bandaging someone's arm.

"Zasen's an idiot."

"I keep saying that," she said around a laugh, but it faded when she realized I wasn't joking. "What is he doing?"

"Taking my brother back," I admitted. "I shouldn't have said anything, but he's carrying him back to the Moles!" My lungs were clenching with fear. "Alone."

"We need arrows!" Drozel bellowed, obviously having heard me. "Jeera, Omden..." He looked around then finally said, "Xav! Everyone else get your shit bandaged well enough and head back. The last thing we need is to be out here when they can actually see!"

Quickly, every one began passing over arrows. Most of these weren't the war arrows I liked, but right now, I didn't care. My quiver was still mostly full, but theothers were shoving in as many as they could fit. Before I knew what was going on, Jeera caught my arm and pulled me back the way I'd just come.

"Where?" she demanded.

"The camp," I explained. "I told him Tobias and Sylis said they'd come back, and then we found my brother. His leg is broken, and he's hurt pretty bad, but not fatally. Probably from one of their grenades. Zasen said he's going to be a diplomat and prove he's not the Devil."

"Faster!" Drozel snapped.

The group of us broke into a quick jog. As we moved, Drozel laid out a basic plan. It involved me and him on one side, Jeera and Xav on the other, and our dogs with their respective owners. We were going to let Zasen be as stupid as he wanted, but with a little backup to get him out. I just really hoped this worked!

---