Free Heir of the Elements by Cesar Gonzalez Page A

to him. “What are you doing here, Sheridan? I thought you were going to find Grandmaster Zoen.”
    “I did.” He scratched his head. “Well, he and Kraimaster found me to be precise.” He scanned his surroundings with a confused look. “Speaking of that. Where is Hyromi? I thought she would be with you. And where is Kraimaster? Zoen sent him ahead to assess the situation in Ladria.”
    Falcon cleared his throat. “He’s…” A pit formed in his throat. Days ago he wouldn’t have thought Kraimster’s death would affect him in any way. But now that it had actually passed, he found himself in disbelief.
    “He’s dead,” whispered Faith. “Murdered by Draknorr. And Hyromi, well.” Her eyes met those of Sheridan’s. “We heard she was badly injured in a fight with the poison wielder, Dokua. We’re hoping she’s with her father.”
    “That’s disheartening news,” said a low voice. The air beside Sheridan twisted, and out of it emerged an ancient man with a large hump rising from his back. His dark robe flapped slowly as he scratched his wrinkle-marred face.
    “Hello, Grandmaster Zoen,” said Falcon, surprised that the ancient wielder had appeared out of a space rift. The grandmaster was powerful, yes, but he was a mind wielder, not a space wielder. That was until he noticed Sheridan’s glowing emblem. Of course, Sheridan wielded him here.
    The grandmaster looked at around sadly. “Where is his body?”
    “Back at my master’s home,” said Falcon. “We learned that Emperor Romus is also there.”
    “And Hyromi, too, I’m sure of it,” added Sheridan eagerly. He looked over at Zoen. “Master, you must head over to Ladria and avenge Professor Kraimaster’s death. You’re the only one capable.”
    Zoen’s cane materialized in front of him. He moved forward at a snail’s pace toward K’ran’s cabin.
    “You’re going the opposite way,” said Sheridan, pointing back toward Ladria. “Draknorr is that way.”
    “I think you’ll find that the Suteckh general will no longer be a threat to the people of Va’siel,” declared Zoen matter-of-factly. He didn’t bother to stop, or even turn as he spoke.
    Sheridan gazed over at Falcon, Aya, and Faith with an awed expression plastered across his face. “The three of you are amazing. You defeated one of the most powerful wielders of this era.”
    “Faith and I didn’t do anything,” said Falcon.
    Now Sheridan craned his neck toward Aya. His jaw was so wide open that Falcon thought it might crash to the floor at a moment’s notice.
    “Don’t say anything,” said Aya. “I mean it.” She still had the same bored expression on her face as she trudged behind the grandmaster.
    Falcon looked on sadly at both girls. One was being hunted down by a mass murderer who had lived over ten thousand years and had defeated armies single-handedly. The other had just found out her entire life was based on a lie, and to top it all off, her family was dead center in the Suteckh invasion.
    Playing with his fingers nervously, he tried to find the right words to say to them, but no matter how deeply he searched, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was nothing he could say to help them.
    Once again he was that child who stood defenseless as Volcseck murdered his mother before his eyes. Once again he was that boy who waited all night for his brother to return, the same brother who disappeared and abandoned him to fend for himself. Despite all the power he had gained throughout the years, he remained as powerless as ever.
    He rubbed his stomach, taking in the warm feeling of anger stirring within. If he was to help them, he needed to rely on that unholy power, even if it meant his own demise.
    ~~~
    The air smelled of medicine as they knocked on the door. Falcon felt weird doing so. With the death of K’ran, the old cabin belonged to him for all intents and purposes. Nonetheless, it felt wrong to simply barge in.
    He staggered back as the door suddenly swung