The Phoenix's Duty

A Tale of Ace Gallagher Short from Book #5
by Jill D'Entremont

Three metallic knocks reverberated through the great hall. The high stone walls stood over one hundred feet tall and were faceted with columns and thin, glass windows on either side. With the presence of little else in the room, the echoes of the sound took a considerable amount of time to die out. Once the last of the noise faded away, the figure on the throne raised his head.

“Enter.”

The tall wooden doors creaked open, grinding against their hinges. The doormen ceased movement once the opening was wide enough for the knight of Daethos to enter–once the knight’s brother was pushed inside first.

Vance cringed as Ed kept them both at a steady pace straight to the throne at the far end of the room. He scanned the high windows and blood red banners that hung from the columns and led up to a gathering of banners just over the throne. Two were of the coat of arms of the country of Daethos, and the one in the center was of the Ignarathos family line. All three bore the image of a lion rampant. 

All three, also, blocked the light of the windows from reaching the throne.

When Ed and Vance came to a stop, the shadowed figure roused himself. Vance removed the hood of his cloak, but even this did not make the figure easier to see.

“Sir Edwards,” the voice came again, “Who is this you bring before me?”

Vance swallowed nervously. There was something about the voice that did not sound fully human.

“I have brought to you Vance Edwards–now known as The Phoenix.” Ed placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder, still standing mostly behind him.

The Phoenix caught himself hesitating before he pressed his right hand across his chest and bowed at the waist. “It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Majesty.”

“The Phoenix?” The shadowed figure shifted on the throne. "The Guardian of Magic? The Man Who Never Dies?"

“Vance has recently replaced the man who has died, Your Majesty.”

“And you found him without dying yourself... how did you manage this feat?”

“He is my brother, Your Highness”

“Ah yes,” the figure mused. “Edwards…”

“And beyond that,” Ed continued, “he has been granted the power of the greatest of all sorcerers in The Tallelands.” The knight continued, glancing at Vance to ensure he did not argue.

“We are in the process of locking away all sorcerers,” the voice growled. “Why, then, do you bring one directly to me?”

“I believe he can assist you.”

“Can he, now…”

Vance found it much harder to swallow as the figure began to rise. The man grew taller than he should have been. He did not sound the way he should have sounded. He did not move the way he should have moved.  The Phoenix could only hold his breath as the figure stepped into the light.

King Rei Laude of Daethos was as much a beast as he was a man. Fangs protruded from his lips as long hair blended into a thick beard on his chin. His posture was hunched and his barrelled chest was wide. His arms were covered in hair and horns were growing backward from the temples of his head. The transformation was far more advanced than Vance could have imagined.

“Fix this.” King Rei commanded, taking a heavy step forward with a clawed foot.

Vance sucked in the smallest of gasps and tried not to back away. He found it in him to nod under the increasingly harsher hazel eyes that bore into him.

Ed gave his brother a light shove.

“Let me see what I can do,” the sorcerer finally spoke.

His fingers gently touched the golden band of the pendant that hung from his neck. He shut his eyes to focus fully on the power that began to flow through him. He channeled the energy from the pendant and it seeped across the room into the king’s bestial form.

“Your Majesty,” Vance’s eyes opened, “I can reverse the curse’s progress, but…”

“But?” Both Ed and Rei repeated.

His lips were skewed. “But I cannot cure it. It is a very powerful curse. In fact, I’m not sure how much of a hold I’ll need to keep on the spell to keep it–”

“Then, do it!” The king belted without hesitation.

“But I may not be able to use other magic, or even leave the castle, if I have to keep a hold on the curse,” he muttered, his brows ever-so-slightly furrowed.

Ed’s expression had also begun to change, softening with realization as Vance’s words sunk in.

“I demand it to be done as you said!!” The king thrust out his clawed hand and grasped Vance by the cloak at his neck. His teeth were bared, and his human reasoning was pushed far below the dracleon’s rage. “If you refuse, you shall be locked away like all the others!!”

The Phoenix trembled, clutching at his cloak as he struggled to breathe. His feet twitched as they hovered inches from the ground. He managed to nod, and only then did the claws retract and drop him back to his feet. 

Rei slunk back, sneering as The Phoenix took in a breath.

Vance stood as straight as possible. He then held his hands around the blue and gold pendant. Light glimmered within it as Vance channeled the energy into the king. It spread throughout his body like a blue light rippling through every limb. 

Rei winced and groaned, though it was difficult to tell through his fanged teeth.

But then, the fangs began to shorten. His form began to straighten. Claws retracted, horns grew blunt, and fur bristled and disappeared. In a matter of moments, the Daethen king released a breath and turned his eyes down to look at his pale, worn hands.

He let out a half-laugh. “Yes... yes!” He laughed more, patting his now baggy robes from head to toe as he inspected his normal, human body. “Incredible!” He turned to Vance with a subtle hint of appreciation beneath his proud smile. “What has been said is, indeed, true: you are the greatest of all sorcerers, Phoenix.”

Vance pressed his lips together and bowed his head. At his chest, a blue glint continued to flicker within his pendant’s sapphire gem. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Sir Edwards, have a chair brought beside the throne for The Phoenix. I request that he remain in my presence whenever possible. Also, have a room prepared for him to lodge here.” The king turned and started back up the steps to his throne.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the knight nodded. He took a breath and then straightened his posture. “If I may, Your Majesty–since you are restored…”

“Yes?” King Rei turned at the edge of the light and shadow.

“Can we… release the other sorcerers?”

The question fell into silence as the king stood still.

“Your Majesty...?”

“Kneel here, Sir Edwards.”

Ed’s body tensed as the knight pointed to the stairs he had just climbed. “Yes, sir–Your Majesty." Cautiously, he made his way to the king’s feet and bent down on one knee.

The metallic slide of a sword from its sheath echoed across the cold, stone room. Ed looked up, wincing from the glint of light that shimmered across the blade of the Sword of Ignarathos. The sword was then dropped until the flat of the blade tapped onto his right shoulder.

“Because of your loyalty and dedication to the throne of Daethos, I dub thee, Steven Edwards, as Duke of Northaven.”

The sword was removed and returned to its sheath. The King then waved him off. “Now you may make the order to release the others if you wish.”

The Duke remained on his knees, his hazel eyes wide and his lips parted. “Thank you... Your Majesty.” He finally spoke.

“I am headed to my quarters, but I expect Phoenix’ accommodations to be met upon my return. You may go."

He watched King Rei pass his throne and slip behind a red tapestry to the door to his chambers. The door creaked open and clanked shut, leaving the brothers in silence.

At last, Ed rose from his feet and turned back to Vance.

“Duke Edwards?” Vance cocked his head now that king’s absence had lightened the room.

“That was not my intention with all this,” Ed was unable to stifle a grin. “But I’ll take it.”

“I’m sure you were just trying to find a way to free Mioko and the others,” Vance’s expression, on the other hand, had faded, “but I wasn’t expecting to be pulled in like this.”

“What do you mean? You’re getting a seat in the throne room of the king!”

“Unlike you, I could care less about that.” Vance offered dully, starting after Ed as he walked toward the doors at the other end of the room. “What I do care about is being trapped here.”

“You’re not trapped,” Ed half-laughed, still treating Vance’s words as if they were a joke.

“Ed, I wasn’t making that up: I’m not sure I can maintain this kind of hold if I go back home. And if I don’t hold back the curse… well, I’m not sure I’d like to find out."

“So, what’s the big deal about staying here?”

“Do you not remember anything The Phoenix is supposed to do?” Vance’s brows lowered. “I have to be out in the world to comfort people who are dying. How can I do that if I’m stuck here?”

“I thought you were the Guardian of Magic,” he offered snidely.

“I would be if I wasn’t using all of it to hold back a curse that we both know is not being caused by a sorcerer!” Vance shot back.

“Do you want an apology or something?” The newly-crowned duke glanced back at The Phoenix. “Am I supposed to control what the king does and what he thinks?” He grit his teeth and thrust out a hand. “Why can’t The Phoenix sacrifice a little bit of his centuries-long life to free a bunch of innocent people?? Isn’t that something you’re supposed to do??”

Vance had stopped walking at Ed’s outburst. He stood with a dull scowl, watching his brother stand, huff, and roll his eyes when he remained silent.

Vance’s brows knitted. “I just find it ironic.”

“How?”

The sorcerer's hands idly fingered the glowing pendant around his neck. "What was it you had said when I became the Phoenix? That I would be unhappy–shackled to a long, lonely life; chained to a magic that wasn’t intended to be mine? Separated from others in isolation, unable to fulfill my own dreams…”

Ed remained still, saying nothing.

“Because, in my short tenure as Phoenix, I have experienced more life than I ever have before. I’ve had my duty, and it’s not always easy, but I’ve been able to do the things I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve helped so many people, visited so many places... I’ve even been able to compose music! And now,” he scowled, “who is it that is shackling me?”

Ed’s brows lowered.

“Who is it who has chained me to my magic?”

“I don’t need this from you.” Ed tore from Vance and started to the doors.

“Then, who do you need to hear it from?” The Phoenix called after him. “Ace Gallagher??”

The duke spun on his heels, cringing with fists clenched and arms raised. But he could only hiss a breath through his teeth and lunge at the door behind him.

He pulled it open with a loud grunt and slipped through before the doormen could react. The door slammed back in Vance’s face.

The Phoenix shut his eyes and turned back into the room. He had better get used to the view.