The sun hung low when Amber left the library to find her father. By the time she reached the Council, people with bronze pins were gathering outside. To be able to pass through the crowd she closed her eyes and created a big bright ball of yellow light in front of her. The intensity of it caused those nearest to shield their eyes and back away, making it possible for Amber to move forward. The guards at the door let her pass without a second thought. Their full attention was directed at the Seekers.

Her father wasn't in his office as she had expected, but in a meeting with the other council members. The council of five had in a matter of days become the council of three.

Father, Egem will take down the border, Amber signed in a hurry as soon as she entered the room. When the sun goes down the Seekers will cause distractions all over the city, but go for the River Park and then the Gate. You need to warn the guards so they can be stopped.

Where did you hear this? her dad asked puzzled.

It doesn't matter, there's already a crowd outside. The rush of it all pushed Amber towards panic. There is no time to explain. You must tell the guards to go to the River Park!

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Dressed all in black and with a bronze pin, Thelia blended with the shadows together with a dozen Seekers, Egem included. Somewhere deep inside she still believed in the freedom the bronze hawk and salmon stood for. But she couldn't let Egem get away with hurting people the way he had, and would, if he reached the tree.

They had moved into position on the east side of the bridge leading to the park. The clouds were dark with the blood yet to be spilled as they awaited Egem's signal in silence. Far off a fire shone up the waterfall and soon after there was a fire eating the stalls standing at the market. A guard ran past them and over the bridge. Thelia swore silently. Amber had been too late.

Only Virid and Verunt will protect the tree, she thought. If this group crosses the bridge, they won't stand a chance. An idea took root in her mind. IF they crossed the bridge. She fought to hide a wicked smile and swallowed down a lump in her throat.

As soon as Egem gave his signal Thelia ran to the bridge. Before anyone had had time to reach her, she had crouched down in the middle where the bridge was thinnest. She filled her lungs with the night air and watched her crystal glow orange in the dark. Egem and the rest was right behind her. Under her hands she felt the stones respond to her magic. She took hold of them and ripped them right up with her as she rose.

"What the blazing shit is happening?!" Shouts of surprise and terror came from around her as the bridge began to wobble.

Thelia pulled the stones higher and higher until some were over her pounding head. Splashes indicated when the river swallowed stones and people alike. A white mist swept over her vision. In a last effort she thought of her friends and threw the stones away from her, leaving nothing under her feet but air. She fell in the water together with the last parts of the crumbling bridge and most of the Seekers who had been on it.

<<>>

Verunt circled the edge of the River Park, keeping an eye out for Egem and his followers. Virid and Mitra had made their way to the park as well, but kept close to the big alder, with its thick branches reaching for the colorful sky.

The sun was lost from the sky, but darkness had yet to completely fall, when shouts and screams came drifting across the river from the Council. Soon after a faint rumble came from downriver. It was followed by splashes and cries. The darkness made the distance too far to see what happened, so he began to walk towards the sound.

Egem's here! The thought from Virid pushed away his own. He's on the other side of the park from you, coming from the infirmary with one, wait two others. Shit, one of those others is really big. Be careful, Verunt.

On my way, Verunt responded, already running. Can you distract them?

Sure thing!

As Verunt got closer to the tree, Virid kneeled in the grass, both hands pressed against the ground, head down and eyes shut. He had grown the grass around Egem and his followers until it was high above their heads. They struggled with the sharp grass until Egem set it all ablaze. The fire quickly spread, lighting up the night and filling the air with smoke. When Virid cried out in pain Verunt ran to sheild his friend from their foes. Verunt wouldn't let anyone hurt Virid or the tree.

Mitra moved in front of Virid as well, her fangs bared and her green fur standing out like spikes. When Egem walked out from the fire she let out a deep, thunder-like growl. Egem walked towards them with his head high and his clothes unburned.

The three others however didn't seem to share his control over fire. One had her pants on fire and danced with legs and arms flying. The second, a big man, had a flame crawling up his arm and screamed at the top of his lungs while he tried to brush it off. All of them was covered in thin, red cuts where their dark clothes hadn't shielded them.

"You are on the wrong side of this, young man." Egem had stopped a few meters away with his hands behind his back, his voice calm. "You have lived on the other side of the barrier, surely you don't want to be stuck here for the rest of your life? Living under the rule of greedy prison guards, who has to approve everything you do?"

"There's nothing for me out there. This city has everything I could wish for, and more." Verunt answered calmly, thinking of Amber and his friends. "I will not let you hurt this tree." He drew his dagger.

Egem walked towards him, rubbing his palms against each other as he got closer. Verunt met him halfway and waited for him to throw the first punch.

Egem struck forward like a snake, ducked under the slash of Verunt's dagger and reached for his shoulder. Verunt jerked away leaving only a hair's breadth between Egem's hand and his flammable clothes. He spun around to aim a stab at Egem's back, but by the time the dagger shot forwards Egem had turned sideways. Verunt's dagger only cut through his clothes and scratched his skin.

Ignoring the shallow cut, Egem took a firm grip of Verunt's arm while it was still outstretched. A frying sound accompanied Verunt's scream as he dropped the dagger. Verunt took a large step forwards, setting Egem out of balance. When the grip on Verunt's arm eased, he pulled it loose, slammed a backhand fist at Egem's face and dove for the dagger.

The grass was cold and soft beneath him, but when it touched his burned arm it stung like knives. He took a quick glance at it. He shouldn't have. The skin had burst and changed color to a deep red with streaks of black. The sight and smell made his stomach turn.

Distracted by his arm, Verunt didn't notice Egem reaching for his head. But the sudden heat gave him away. Verunt rolled around and rose with his dagger ready. His heart raced and his arm stung and throbbed as he waited for Egem to make his move. He moved forward. Verunt slashed at his throat, but once again Egem's reflexes outshone his own as he blocked his attack with one arm and pressed a scorching hand on Verunt's chest.

Verunt fell flat on his back. No matter how he tried, he couldn't suck in air in his screaming lungs. His body was tied up in pain and paralyzed by fear as he stared at the azure blue sky pricked with stars. The red crystal was laying where Egem had burned him, slowly drawing the heat from the wound on its own accord, leaving a shallow chill.

Growls and barks turned into a curse and whimpers. Soon after the sky turned oddly bright, erasing the stars. He turned his head to the side. Egem was pressing his hands against the big tree's trunk, causing flames to eat their way up the branches.

Blazing shit.

Despite the pain from his arm and chest, Verunt slowly sat up. In the grass, close to the burning tree, Virid was holding Mitra in his arms, tears streaming down his pain-twisted face. 

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A/N: Leave a vote if you liked what you just read or if it brought you any emotional distress. ;) Any feedback is welcome since this was my first fight scene. The next chapter will be the last.