FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A Love Like Fire

Chapter 18

"What happened?" Etienne begged. "What's the matter?"

After he came inside Azrian, she scrambled off him and waded fast into the river, where she slapped herself frantically with water. It was as if he had the plague. She couldn't get clean enough. He stood on the edge of the water, watching her in dismay, before he finally just waded in - clothes and all - and grabbed her.

"Don't --!"

"What's the matter!"

He held her by the arms and peered into her face. She kept twisting breathlessly, but he didn't let go. Her eyes flashed, and he screamed when he felt the burning sensation singe through his paws. He let her go and backed away, flabbergasted: his paws were blistering! Her arms were bleeding where he had grabbed her. She was on _fire._The little flames licked over her red fur, dancing in the sunlight. She splashed more water on herself.

"Azrian --!"

"Stay back!" She was shaking all over. Eventually, the flames died, and she stood in the shallows, gently fizzling as she held herself.

He wanted to hold her but couldn't move. "What happened? Tell me!"

"You came inside," she answered in a tiny, broken voice, "and it burned like fire."

Etienne frowned. "I hurt you?"

She looked at him unhappily and didn't answer.

Etienne shook his head. "But I came inside last night . . . several times."

Azrian stared at the water between them. "It means one of two things . . ."

"I'm listening."

"Either Ayni has cursed us . . . or my father is displeased."

Etienne stared at her in confusion. "Alright," he said, rolling his eyes to the sky. "Explain this to me. And use . . . small words."

Azrian sighed miserably. "My father . . . is the god Ti'uu."

Etienne blinked. "Alrighty. I assume Ti'uu is a fox. . . . which doesn't account for your wings."

"A bird."

"Ah."

"And . . ." Azrian's eyes lowered to the water again. "Ayni is his sister. She hates him and hates me. I wouldn't put it past her to . . ." She looked at him sadly. "Keep us apart."

Etienne scowled. "You are the female of my dreams. No one is keeping you away from me!" He marched at her.

"Don't!"

He grabbed her anyway and hugged her to his chest. She began to burn again, and he screamed when the fire licked from her fur to his shirt. He broke away and tried to beat the flames out. She splashed him with water until the fire was quenched. They stood in the shallows, sopping wet and staring at each other.

"Who is this Ayni whore?" Etienne demanded. He hated seeing her so torn and in pain: her red fur was singed black and some internal pain had her clutching her side, face twisted with agony. "Point me to her. So I can break her neck."

Azrian's eyes widened. "Don't say that! She might hear you!"

"Oh, to hell with her! Let her hear!" He blinked as something occurred to him, and his blue eyes snapped angrily. "Is she the one who had you raped!"

"No."

He took a step closer. "You can tell me, Azrian."

"No . . . no, she didn't," Azrian insisted, though she seemed uncertain.

Etienne looked her intently in the eyes. "Whatever happens, I am beside you. Do you understand? I won't let this tear us apart."

Azrian shook her head. "It has already parted us."

"You are content to give up so easily? No! If this Ayni is cursing us, then your father should be able to free us. Surely he has a shrine somewhere in this forest?"

"Etienne . . . he can't know that we're together."

"Why!"

"He'll probably only help us if we swear to go to Wychowl. And if we don't go . . . he'll probably put the curse back."

"Take me to his shrine."

"Etienne . . ."

"Az . . ." He took her paws, ignoring the pain when the sudden fire tickled his fingers. He trembled as the fire licked up his sleeves, but he focused on her eyes . . . and the pain didn't even matter. "Please, take me. I can't give up. . . . you're the love of my life."

Azrian's lips parted in surprise to hear those words, but she looked at him, and her eyes relented.

***

Etienne was relieved when Azrian agreed to take him to Ti'uu's shrine. He called his horse, but the stubborn beast - as if it sensed the curse on Azrian - kicked, snorted, refused to allow the vixen to mount. Etienne cursed the horse. Azrian was still in a great deal of pain. She didn't seem able to stop shaking and could barely stand, let alone walk.

Etienne was on the verge of carrying Azrian and to hell with the flames when a giant bird stepped out of the trees. He thought that it was Ti'uu and dropped to his knees, begging the god to release his love. When Azrian laughed at him, he got sheepishly to his feet: the moa bird was nothing but a pet mount. Azrian slid on its back and they set out for the shrine.

If they wanted to get out of the forest, Etienne knew they were going to have to find a way to lift the curse. And fast. There was no doubt in his mind that Donica had sent mastiffs after him, and it was only a matter of time before they were sent this direction by Charles. He glanced apprehensively at Azrian as they went, but she seemed to be recovering. The longer he went without touching her, the better they both seemed. The blisters on his paws healed away, and her singed fur unfurled from black to its red softness, as did her long red mane. For the first hour, she rode hunched on the moa and clutching her side, but once they reached the shrine of Ti'uu, she was sitting upright and seemed to have recuperated.

Ti'uu's shrine was a large stone dais surrounded by stone pillars etched with curling symbols. Etienne recognized the symbols and the stone altar in the center of the dais - it was the same altar upon which Azrian had regenerated only the day before. It had been so dark at the time, it was barely recognizable in the light.

Now in the light of day, Etienne could see the little statues that stood between the pillars: statues of birds, upright, fierce, and with great wings hanging from their arms. There were nine statues total, with the largest statue being that of a male. It towered behind the altar, head eclipsing the sun, and appeared to be looking down its beak at the area directly before the altar, as if it had been carved to stare at those who came with offerings. Its great wings were folded calmly across its chest, and its eyes were golden jewels, clear as sunlight. Etienne could only suppose the jewels had not been stolen by dog archeologists because they were at such an incredible height, and there were many superstitious enough to leave the eyes of a fox god be.

Etienne shook his head as he stared up at the statue: that thing had been "watching" him the night before, only it had been too dark for him to even know it was there. He smiled when he realized: Azrian had Ti'uu's eyes.

"We must go beneath," Azrian said.

Etienne heard her moving behind him and glanced her way. She walked to one of the pillars and touched the swirling symbol on it. The symbol sank like a button, and Etienne started when he heard the stone sliding open on the dais. He backed into the altar and watched in surprise as the stone pulled back in a circle, leaving him isolated in the center of the dais and revealing a stair. Azrian smiled and descended the stair. Etienne followed.

It was pitch black beneath, but Azrian lit the way, using her magic to light the sconces as they went. Colored murals appeared on the walls, touched by their long shadows: foxes dancing, foxes worshipping, foxes lifting their paws to the sun and singing to the blue bird that flew over it.

"Is Ti'uu some sort of . . . sun god?" Etienne wondered.

"They say he created the sun and the stars, when the world was still dark and its earth new. But they also say he created the water."

"Ah. But there were other statues. Who were they?"

"I told you about Ayni, goddess of fire and rage. She is Ti'uu's sister."

"Fire and rage?" Etienne shook his head darkly. "So she really did curse us_._"

"Yes. She is often called upon to give blessings to warriors when they are to face battle. Her tribe is as feared as she. And there is white Kutre, goddess of compassion . . . golden Zuu'ma, goddess of love . . ." Her voice trailed off sadly, and Etienne looked at her with concern. She avoided his eye. "I don't know them all," she muttered. "I have heard of Maret, the black goddess of death. She flies across the moon when death and destruction are soon to come, but to actually see her is very rare."

Etienne smiled. "Good," he joked.

Azrian glanced at him and smiled as she looked away again. "You're taking all this well."

Etienne shrugged. "The church says I'm the descendent of a god, just as your religion says you are the daughter of Ti'uu: we aren't so different, you and I."

Azrian blinked, and he knew she had never thought of it that way before.

The corridor twisted and turned endlessly, its walls ever bright with colored depictions of Ti'uu and his worshippers. Etienne began to notice bones on the floor and realized they had been put there deliberately. Skeletons sat on chairs at various corners, holding small bowls of pearls and shells. And the deeper underground they traveled, the more skeletons seemed to appear. Etienne frowned, suddenly remembering the pearl and shell necklace he'd taken from his mother's file in the archives. It was still in his coat. He slipped his paw in his pocket and touched it.

"What's the deal with pearls and shells?" the prince asked, and his ears flattened when his voice echoed in the stillness.

"Everlasting love," Azrian said. "Which is incredibly rare. If you are lucky, you can open a shell and find a pearl. But only if you are lucky."

Etienne smiled. He had to wonder who had given his mother the necklace then. "And . . ." he laughed dryly as they passed yet another skeleton offering a bowl. "The bones?"

"Bones last forever as well. They tell a story. Foxes do not cremate because stories should be told. History should be known. . . . so we don't repeat our past mistakes."

"Hmm. That's commendable. In a . . . creepy sort of way."

Azrian laughed.

"But why are pearls and shells in the god of the sun's shrine? Why not in the goddess of love's?"

"You can ask him yourself."

They finally came to an altar at the end of the corridor. As they approached, blue orbs of light suddenly winked into existence, hovering to reveal a towering mural of Ti'uu. The great spirit stood over the altar, wings spread, golden eyes alight, as behind him, the sun blazed in the sky. On the altar stood a small basin of clear water, a knife, and a stone.

Etienne was shocked when Azrian silently cut her paw with the knife. She then clutched the stone, letting her blood ooze over it before dropping it carefully in the basin. They watched as her blood swirled, darkening the water. Silence.

". . . what's supposed to happen?" Etienne whispered.

Azrian frowned irritably. "Shh." Her eyes were focused on the mural. Etienne followed her gaze and went rigid: the mural was looking at them. It had turned its head and was looking down its beak, patient and silent.

"Father," Azrian muttered and bowed her head.

Etienne awkwardly did the same. When he looked up again, the mural was smiling.

"My child," came a voice, echoing through the corridor. The god in the mural, however, never opened his beak. Etienne looked at the basin and realized the god was speaking to them through the water: it rippled on every word.

"You bring your lover here," went on the voice, and Etienne could hear the slight admonition. "Why do you linger here when Wychowl beckons?"

"Ayni has cursed us with fire, Father," Azrian returned sheepishly.

"I know." The voice was stern and cold that time, and Etienne got the feeling the god had _always_known - he just never intended to do anything about it.

Etienne scowled. "Why is Wychowl so bloody important?"

"Because you are important," the god replied, his voice rising, soft and soothing, in the blue light. "You were content to disobey me, child," he said to Azrian. "So I was content to let you live and learn. Ayni burned you the moment you fell in love with Etienne. She doesn't wish for my plans to succeed. I will only release you now if you obey me."

Azrian glanced unhappily at Etienne. "Told you."

Etienne shook his head and lifted his face to the mural. "But what does she have to do?"

"Rule at your side."

Etienne smiled at Azrian. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Azrian scowled. "Don't be an idiot. Your kingdom would never accept a fox queen!"

"They accepted Nadheertia," Etienne said with a shrug. "They would view you as the Second Coming."

Azrian's scowl deepened.

"Azrian knows what she must do to restore her kin," the spirit said to Etienne. "Help her in this endeavor, and I shall grant you what your kind has sought since before the rule of your ancestor King Antony."

Etienne looked at the mural and waited.

". . . I will make you a god."