The Baron Chronicles

[Ruee Hamster Huey]

@raxforge (I changed a few things in the story btw) @ellette-giselle @keilah-h @whalekeeper @hybridlore @theducktator

Story 10!

Only two more stories and then The Baron Chronicles will come to a close. Thx for reading this far! 💜

 

Fire

The blaze in the fireplace crackled. Baron balanced a pencil on his hand, staring down at his rose drawing on the the piece of paper resting on his lap. Doctor Handel sat across from him, talking with him about various subjects.

They spoke of many topics, from the Bloodsilver to the nature of the wind and the relationship between the wind and earth. Finally, they alighted on the topic of Baron’s health.

“It’s been about a month, and you’ve recovered well. If anything, I’d say you are healthier than when you came here,” Dr. Handel noted, adjusting his round glasses. Baron was finally filling out his own clothes. He had even begun helping Andy with a lot of work at the stables, building back his strength. “I know you didn’t want to stay here at all in the beginning, do you still wish to leave?”

“No, I don’t wish to, but I think I must. If the Bloodsilver does come,” Baron shuddered, “I’d hate to think what they’d do.”

“Do you plan to stay in the city?”

Baron pondered for a moment. “I’m not sure, Doctor. I probably shouldn’t, but I honestly hesitate to leave.” Baron erased a portion of the rose, going back over with his pencil to fix some mistake he saw. “You know I have grown fond of your daughter, and I know she is fond of me, but I still worry that one day the Bloodsilver will find me here.”

Dr. Handel nodded. “I understand. You are strong enough to leave now, but I have one request before you go.”

Baron set down his pencil, looking up at Dr. Handel. “Name it.”

“Take Jenna out for a ride. Spend a little time with her. It will help her heart rest when you leave.”

Baron nodded. “I will, Doctor.”

“Thank you.” Dr. Handel rose from his seat, peering at Baron’s paper. “That is a very pretty rose.”

“Thank you, though I fear I’m not as good as I used to be at such doodles.”

“Jenna will like it whether it is the most perfect drawing or not.”

A pleasant smile crossed over Baron’s face. “Yes, she will.” Then he laughed a little, looking at the drawing. “Most of her love will be bias though, I’m sure!”

Dr. Handel shrugged. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, I don’t think so, as long as she likes it.”

“Exactly.” Dr. Handel patted Baron’s shoulder as he walked past him and out of the room.

 

 

Baron swung his leg over Lucky’s back, settling himself on the horse. Jenna sat side-saddle on a beautiful black horse standing next to Lucky.

“I didn’t know you knew how to ride bareback,” Jenna commented.

Baron laughed. “I have no idea how to ride with a saddle! It’s uncomfortable to me.” He nudged Lucky with his heels, and the horse began walking forward, Jenna’s horse following.

Jenna took in a deep breath. “Don’t you love it when the air smells like pure white?”

“It is pleasant, isn’t it? Everything is so beautiful today. Especially you.”

Jenna blushed a little, her gaze alighting on Baron, who was watching her. “You look nice yourself.”

“Even with this?” Baron asked, pulling down his scarf so that Jenna could see a bit of his scar peeking out.

“I don’t mind it, though I assume you do.”

Baron ran his finger over the scar thoughtfully. “I’m more annoyed to have such a defining feature than that it exists. Sure, my hair glowing silver is defining, but at least in sunlight I look like any other Albandran or Randin with light hair.”

“Hence the scarf to hide it so it’s harder for the Bloodsilver to find you.”

“Yes. Speaking of which, you know I will have to leave soon, right?” Baron asked, seriousness seeping into his tone.

A sad expression passed over Jenna’s face. “Yeah, I know. I still don’t want you to go.”

“I know, I don’t really want to either, to be honest with you, Jenna.” The two of them fell silent. Baron focused on Lucky’s shifting muscles underneath him, finding that old unity between man and horse. Finally he spoke again, “I’m sorry, but I can’t bear the idea of Faren coming here and hurting you. If I leave, hopefully he won’t.”

“I’m still not clear on who this Faren is.”

“He was once the person I called brother, a Fire Wielder, but then I betrayed him and Father to protect a little girl. Since then, he has been hunting me. I’m sorry, Jenna, I genuinely don’t want to leave, but I also don’t want you or your family, or Ken, or anyone else to get hurt.”

Jenna nodded. “I understand.”

“Thank you.”

They rode for another half hour talking about less heavy subjects before turning their horses around and heading back.

As they rode, Lucky suddenly stopped, his ears perking up. Jenna’s horse also stopped. “What’s wrong?” She asked as Baron stiffened.

“Smoke.”

Jenna lifted up her gaze, seeing curling smoke on the horizon. She gasped.

Baron dug his heels into Lucky’s sides, and the horse picked up to a canter, than a gallop, just as he had done that fateful evening when Faren killed Granny. Jenna spurred her horse as well.

Reaching the stables, Baron swung down from Lucky. “Andy! Andy!” Andy was there in a second.

“The fire is up at the mansion, I’ll keep Jenna here.”

“Thank you.” Baron handed the reins to his friend. A great wind rose around him, and he was gone.

Jenna gripped her horses reins tighter, readying to force him after Baron, but Andy caught the bridle. “You’re staying here.”

“But–“

“No offense, Miss Jenna, but there’s nothing you can do to help him. You will only be a hindrance.”

“But my family!”

“Baron will make sure they’re safe. You stay with me, out of his way.”

Jenna reluctantly came down from her horse, sitting on a bale of hay and wringing her riding gloves with worry.

 

 

Baron dropped his wind, shakily releasing a breath as he saw the flames licking at the mansion. Not again, please not again. His eyes alighted upon the man responsible for the blaze, standing on the ground in front of the once great front doors to Jenna’s home.

His body felt that familiar tug as the wind came at his command, twisting and curling about him in invisible threads. It threatened him, as it always did, to spiral out of control and tear his body apart. He hardened his will, commanding it to obey him with a harsh, unspoken command.

Before him stood his friend, his brother turned enemy, consumed by his orange flames. But even through the fire, Baron caught the cold gaze of his eyes and the flash of an evil smile.

Oh how had it come to this? After all those years that Faren and he had spent together, grown up together, how had it come to them fighting as Baron’s new world burned? Baron could still remember the day they had met as children, how Baron’s green eyes, devoid of any purpose in life, met those blue, those blue that were then so bright and cheery. The bright eyes of a child who still had hope in the world. He still remembered when Father had told them about their powers, and when they had discovered how to control them together. He remembered the first time each of them killed, how proud Father had been of them, how Faren’s eyes had sparkled to be so praised by the man who had rescued him. Back then, he was merely a child inside, thinking that somehow obeying Father was right, no matter what. He had his child-like innocence then, trusting in those who he saw as his protectors and elders. But somewhere along the line, Faren changed, and with that change came that cold look, that icy gaze that not even Baron could sometimes stand to gaze back into. Somewhere, somehow, that faith that he was doing was right because Father said so ended, but instead of turning from his ways, Faren had leaned further into them. He chose his path. The path of the feared assassin, the feared Fire Wielder who loved to burn all that was in his way. Why Faren, the one who always had the cheery gleam in his eye, decided the path of the cold-blooded killer was unknown even to Baron. All Baron truly knew now was that that gleam was gone, and that child was gone. Now, standing before him amid his familiar flames was a murderer colder than even Baron.

“This ends today, Baron.”

Baron clenched his jaw. He couldn’t get inside the mansion past Faren. He could only hope and trust that Ken had ushered Mr and Mrs Handel and the servants safely outside of the house. “You better not have hurt anyone!”

Faren shrugged. “One thing about fire, you can never completely control it.” His devilish smile deepened, “For all I know, a stray flicker could have caught fire to a lady’s dress. It certainly sounded like it.”

No! No, please no. God, Immanuel, whoever You are, please, if You ever grant one prayer I give, please let them all be safe. Baron prayed, shaking at the thought of another loss because he stayed too long in one place.

“Don’t like that idea, do you?” Faren scoffed. “It used to be you were fine with screams. You’ve grown soft, and what did Father say about soft people? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”

Baron pulled at the wind, issuing his unspoken commands, gathering it into an attack that he soon released. A powerful gust shot towards Faren. But the Fire Wielder had warning of the coming attack, for his flames flickered before the full force of the concentrated wind hit him. He stepped out of it’s path, casting his own attack of fire at Baron. Baron created a wall of wind, detouring the flames.

“You will leave here, or I will kill you!” Baron shouted as he sent another gust towards Faren, stronger this time. As he sent another one to account for Faren dodging, the wind’s threatening began to become reality as pain seared through his body. He bit his tongue. He was severely out of practice controlling his wind.

“You’re too weak!” Faren responded, dodging the first shot of wind, and using the second to help fan and fuel his flames. “I’ve learned, I’ve grown, while you, you have only wasted away. Where is the trained assassin? Where is the feared Wind Charmer? I don’t see him anywhere, all I see is some pretender, some weakling!” Faren taunted.

Baron raised another wall of wind to divert the flames away from him as the fire spread. Faren used this as a distraction, getting close to Baron. Baron caught the sight of his blond hair out of the corner of his eye before Faren could end him. At his call, the wind separated him and the Fire Wielder, but not before Faren managed to burn his shoulder. Baron hissed and snuffed out the flames as quickly as he could.

Faren cast out his fire again, and the wind came soaring, once again holding it away from Baron. Suddenly, Baron doubled over, coughing up blood as Faren laughed.

“Reaching your limit? You’ll perish soon.”

“Please Faren, you don’t have to do this,” Baron wheezed, trying to straighten. “You don’t have to work for Father anymore, you can be free, like me.”

“Free?!” Faren shook his head. “Since when are you free? You aren’t free, and you never will be! Not until death’s blade touches your neck will you be free Baron! You will always be hunted, either by me or by other shadows of your past. Give up this battle, let me truly free you!”

Oh, if Faren had only come a few months before! Then Baron would have given up. Then Baron would have let Faren release him from the chains of life. But he couldn’t now. He had found friends, people who cared for him, and a woman whom he loved. He wouldn’t let Faren win, he wished to live on. “Is there nothing that would dissuade you?”

“Nothing!”

“Please, Faren, don’t make me.” Baron shuddered. He didn’t want to kill again, but what other option was there if Faren didn’t relent?

Faren laughed. “One of us won’t be leaving here alive, and I don’t intend to die today! I’ve grown, Baron, I could set this entire city on fire, I can destroy you!”

Please, God, don’t make me kill again. Even if it’s someone as evil as Faren, please don’t make me do it, he pleaded, but he knew there was no way out of this. He’d have to do it.

He’d have to kill again.

Baron reached into his boot, drawing out a knife. He gathered a whirlwind about him, ignoring the pain, ready to use it to spring forward and end everything with a single swipe of his blade. Just like he had done so many times before as the Silver Streak.

As he sprang forward, Faren struck. Baron tried to raise a second wind to blow away the flames, but the wind spiraled from his control. A twisted smile crossed Faren’s face as he heard Baron’s pained yell.

After hesitating a second, Faren used his powers to extinguish the flames around and on Baron. Baron lay on the ground, coughing up more blood. His vision went in and out of focus as Faren approached, picking up Baron’s knife which he had dropped. “I told you that I didn’t intend to die today. After you betrayed Father and I, it will be a pleasure to kill you like I should’ve done when you tried to escape with that little girl. Speaking of her, where have you hidden her? If you tell me, I will spare the lives of any survivors of my blaze.”

Baron’s heart pounded wildly in his chest. He tried to move, to rise, to gain a bit of strength to stop Faren, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t ignore the pain racking through his body. He clenched his eyes shut as a tear slipped free as he realized the choice that Faren had given him; either sacrifice Rya, or Jenna and her family. “Please, no,” Baron whimpered. Why God? Why do I have to choose?

“Can’t decide who to sacrifice? Fine, I’ll just kill everyone and-” Faren was cut off, and a sudden crack rang through the air.

Baron opened his eyes, and stared with surprised shock as Ken stood behind Faren, his bare arms wrapped around the Fire Wielder’s neck. As Faren’s body went limp in the bodyguard’s arms, all the flames that Faren had unleashed were suddenly snuffed out, leaving behind only charred material and twisting black smoke.

“I told you, Baron, that if you tried to harm Jenna or her family that I’d snap your neck. The same applies to Faren,” Ken chillingly growled.

Baron stared at Ken in shock. Faren was dead, Ken covered in burns from coming through the flames, and Jenna was safe, hopefully her family and servants too.

Tears clouded Baron’s vision, and he wept as the reality of Faren’s death set in. His friend, his brother, and his enemy was now dead. “I wish it didn’t end like this,” Baron sobbed.

Faren had died an evil man, but still Baron couldn’t forget the child with bright eyes. Many days, many weeks, many months, Baron had lived in fear of Faren, but now, now he was free from that fear. And he wished it was not so. He wished that Faren had never come, he wished that Faren had remained by Father. He wished that Faren had found something other than death. But now it was too late. Faren was gone. And so was all hope of a happily ever after for him.

Ken sat beside Baron on the ground, trying to give the man some comfort as he wept, even though he didn’t understand how Baron could have grief.

The last inklings of the smoke from Faren’s fire dispersed into the blue sky, as if it was Faren’s soul leaving the mortal world.

“You alright?” Ken asked as Baron gained control of his emotions.

“I’m afraid I used too much of my Wind Charming,” He spit out more blood onto the ground.

For a second, Ken almost looked scared. He glanced around frantically as he realized someone was missing. “Where’s Jenna?! She was with you!”

“Relax. She’s with Andy, safe. What about her family, and the servants, did everyone make it out okay?”

Ken nodded. “Mary’s dress caught on fire, but she’s mostly okay. A few others have minor burns, but no one is seriously hurt. Dr. Handel and Mrs. Handel are unscathed.”

Baron let out a faint smile. “Good.”

The rubble of horse’s hooves came near, along with shouts from people Baron didn’t recognize. “The authorities and firefighters are finally here,” Ken commented.

“Make sure they give Faren a proper burial, okay?” Baron mumbled, before the world about him switched to black.

 

 

What do you think?

Every time you smile, a flower blooms somewhere in the world.
#AnduthForever (hopefully💕)

[Ellette Giselle]

@rae

Nice!!! I like it! Very good scene! You had me pretty tensed up! XD

Yes, this really was a good scene.

I bet he’s gonna die in the end.

 

One small problem I had….. the father is encouraging Baron and Jenna’s relationship, but Baron is not a Believer, and God commands that we no be unequally yoked. I would think that if her father was wise and also a believer, he would make it clear to Baron that he needs to decide where he stands before they talk about Jenna.

Just a thought.

 

But yeah, this was AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to see what happens!! I would love to see this published someday!

 

 

Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God

[The Most Esteemed Feathered One]

@rae

That was so good!!! I’m so worried about Baron now. 😢 He can’t die; I like him too much!

I, for one, really like Roman numerals.

[Author]

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