Fate’s Fiery Fist

Jonas Stewart

Benny stood before the flaming throne. He looked around the room into which he had been so swiftly summoned to. Flames of every color flickered upon every surface—the golden tiles making up the mosaic on the floor, the columns of brass emblazoned with the mighty embers, and even the planes of polished bronze of the ceiling. The room seemed to be designed to reflect, augment, and amplify the ever-present blaze that suffused the room. The multi-colored flames seemed alive, moving about and flickering brightly. Only the ground where Benny stood clear of the great conflagration. The warmth surrounded him but it did not scorch him, though he felt that he was truly at its mercy.

He turned his attention to the being which resided over this realm on this awesome throne. He looked up into a face of fire. The inferno he wore; the fire he commanded. Benny peered closer at the blazing visage, squinting in the face of this great force. The face was impossible to see as the fire burned brightest in its presence. The flames dimmed and Benny was able to see the two great eyes that belonged to this blazing being. He sought to see intent in those eyes as he had done so many times with others. In the eyes, he only saw himself, a small green-eyed halfling in large clothes and a fedora. Who was he to appear before such a powerful force? He had nothing to his name, save the clothes on his back and a few coppers left in his pocket. What could he give to show his respect for such a being?

The room shook. The being spoke as if reading Benny’s mind. “Your story.” Those two words contained more authority than Benny had heard in his life. Suddenly, the fires around him started to shift, and he found him watching the events of the past few days.

Benny stood on one of the many roads in the city of NeverWinter, the city where he had lived his whole life. He was helping unload the cart of a merchant in exchange for a few coppers. He carefully set down the last box and wiped sweat from his brown mop of hair. The merchant rose from the seat of his wagon where he was laying. Grumbling, he counted out three coppers into Benny’s hand.

“This is half of what we agreed on,” Benny exclaimed indignantly.

“And it took half the time it should have,” roared the merchant as he slapped Benny across the face.

“Are you punishing me for working hard?”

“No. I’m punishing you for cutting my break short. Now take it or leave it,” and with that, the merchant stomped off into his shop, stroking his elegantly groomed mustaches, and leaving the pittance in Benny’s hand.

Benny fumed. He could have put a little into his savings if he had been paid the original price. Now he would be forced to spend all of it on his next meal. He stormed back to his home.

Nash was waiting there for him when he did. The muscular young man claimed to own the small cluster of makeshift shacks where Benny was currently residing. He turned to Benny and grinned in his wolf-like manner.

“You haven’t paid yet, Benny.”

“Yes, I did Nash, and you know it.”

“You’re behind on payments Benny. My protection might expire if you don’t renew your debts soon.”

Benny seized a single copper out of his pocket and thrust it at Nash.

“There you go. Now let me through.”

“Payments have gone up since last time Benny. You still owe me another copper. Now pay up.”

“Two coppers to stay in an alley. That’s outrageous.”

A quick punch knocked Benny off his feet and slammed him against the brick wall that marked the boundary of the shack city. Benny stood up again.

“You’ll get these over my dead body.” He held up both the coins… and swallowed them.

Nash raged. “Why, you thiev’n son of a granged goat.”

Nash leaped towards Benny and proceeded to pummel him with his formidable fists. Benny felt lots of pain. He started to black out. A bark rang out. [2] In the split second that Benny had, he rolled away. He saw the massive form of Japp, his dog. Nash paled and growled at Benny.

“I’ll get you next time when your dog isn’t around to save you.”

Nash finished abruptly and started sprinting down the courtyard for Japp was soon upon him. Benny walked up to the massive mastiff and petted his snout as that was as far as he could reach. When he swung himself up onto Japp’s mighty back, a mighty grin covered his face.. He looked down into Japp’s trusting brown eyes.

“Look what I’ve got, Japp.” He displayed three coppers. “I snitched mine back from him when you showed up. Good dog. Let's go home. I have something I need to pick up.”

Benny rode back to his alley. He unlocked and opened an old rotten chest. He pulled out a set of very worn but nice clothes. He put them on and walked out of the alleyway.

“Guard, Japp.”

And with that brief command, he started off to the road where he had worked for the merchant. He arrived in a few minutes. He ducked into an alley. There, he pulled out a piece of broken mirror and looked into it. He recalled the face of the 10-year-old child of the late Mayor. Slowly, he watched as his features shifted and rearranged. He remembered the first time that he had used his gift. He had pondered its origin for many days and nights until he came upon the conclusion that it had been inherited by a parent. He did not know his parents and he never did. He had decided that one of them was a changeling, a race with the ability to change their appearance at will. They had no true form, and as such only could borrow one from another. Benny was not like this. He was born a halfling and always defaulted to his halfling form. He figured that one of his parents was a changeling and one was a halfling. This would explain the many inconsistencies that his power had compared to other changelings. He could not remain in another’s form for very long, he couldn’t grow his size beyond four and a half feet, and, for some strange reason, he could not grow facial hair. As such he could mostly just shapeshift into children and other halflings. As his transformation completed, Benny smiled; the merchant was in for a nasty surprise.

On his way out of the alleyway, he slipped on a slip of paper. As he cursed, he realized what it was. It was an old arrest warrant for the Mayor’s assassin. That had been a scare. Normally, changelings were distrusted and hated by a few, the reason that most of them—including Benny—choose to hide their identities as such, but that had brought the entire city down on them that time. Benny had had to flee several districts before he had escaped the Watch. He was innocent of course, but they didn’t know that and were more prone to engaging first and asking questions later. Benny had been even more careful about his shifting after then. He ripped up the paper and walked into the merchant’s store. He saw that it was a bakery. He also saw that it catered to the rich. The fine marble tiles and gilded counters gave him proof of that. All the better. Benny was going to enjoy this. He walked up to the counter. The merchant looked down and saw the richest, most influential child in the city. He quickly composed himself and started speaking. He sounded a whole different man when he was in the presence of a superior.

“Little Monsieur, what can assist you with. Please give me this opportunity to help such a wealthy patron… I mean such a handsome young man. If you desire anything, merely name it, and it will be provided for your excellency.” Benny grinned inwardly. This was fun.

“Give me your most expensive items,” Benny curtly replied.

“Why, most certainly your excellency. You need merely speak and the renowned Poifar will act.”

Benny sat at the largest table and watched as the merchant alternatingly gathered pastries and stroked his mustaches. Benny observed him gather a very expensive plate and start laying his delicacies upon it. Benny grinned again. This was going to be very fun indeed. There were a great many patrons in the shop at that hour, and all were waiting for Benny’s order to be filled out. Benny grinned even wider as the tray was set before him, the pastries arranged in the shape of a lion, the symbol of the Watch. Benny took one and bit in, savoring its rich and bitter flavor. He spit it out onto the merchant.

“What garbage is this?” Benny yelled. “I don’t know about you, but we feed stuff like this to the animals at my house. Are you trying to poison me? Are trying to disrespect me because my father isn’t with us anymore.”

Benny swept the dish off the table. It shattered when it hit the ground. He then stood up and ground his foot into the remains of the pasties and fine china. The face of the merchant grew red with anger. He quickly composed himself and stroked his mustaches even more furiously.

“I am sorry, most wonderful patron. I did not mean to disrespect you or your most illustrious father. I merely sought to serve you to the best of my ability. Allow me to make it up to you in some way.”

The crowd looked on with disgust with this grown man groveling on the ground before this child until they realized who the child was. They quickly vacated the shop, most leaving without paying for the pastries that they had purchased which were suddenly unfit for human consumption.

Benny now stood alone with the groveling man.

“Now that you think of it… my birthday party is in a week.”

“And you would like me to cater to such a great crowd of high-bred gentlemen. It would be an honor.”

“No. You have done enough already. I do not wish to poison my guests as well. However, you may be able to help me in a great way. It is a costume party. I need a mustache for my costume, but I have not been able to find one that suits me. Now I have. Your mustache is needed for a higher purpose. Donate it.”

Dismay fell upon the merchant’s face.

“Surely… not this, sir.” He lovingly stroked it.

“Yes, now hand it over. I need to be gone.”

Reluctantly, the merchant sliced off his fine mustache. He mournfully handed it over.

“Thank you, good man. Now get me a drink of water. I must wash that horrible taste out of my mouth.”

The merchant turned and entered his kitchen to supply this need. While he was turned around, Benny gathered up the remains of the half-eaten, deserted food on the tables around him. He stuffed them into his jacket. He looked longingly at the ones behind the counter but didn’t take them. That would be stealing. That wasn’t right. The food he was going to throw away already was fine. The fresh stuff wasn’t. At least this would feed him for a day or so. He snatched part of the ripped up warrant and a piece of charcoal out of his pocket. When the Merchant returned, all he found was an empty room, crumbs, and a slip of paper. It read… “Karma.”

Benny stood in the alleyway next to the shop. He was shaking from uncontrollable laughter. He knew the trick was risky and that he might not be able to take the form of that young noble again, but the trick was worth it. The merchant got what he deserved. Benny was merely the agent of such a great catastrophe.

He gazed out into the street beyond. The city whisked past him. He watched great men pass by. He watched poor men pass by. This was NeverWinter, the City of a Million Faces, and he, Benny, had them all. He held the piece of glass to his face and watched as his features melted back into their normal shape.

He lowered the glass. He saw a shocked expression gazing at him. He saw the gold and black uniform of the Watch. He saw those features shape into a visage of hatred. The robed uniform was pushed back and a hammer drawn. Just like the last time. Benny saw the irate Watch Officer pull back and swing. Benny ducked. The hammer rose up and came crashing down. Benny was always a nimble one, but now, before the onslaught of blows, he could not dodge a single one. Benny was slammed into the wall for the second time that day.

He rose quickly, feeling the massive bruises in his side. He ran up to the back of the alley. A barrier of brick and mortar stood between him and his freedom. A dagger spun through the air and impaled his fine clothing, a few centimeters from his neck. Benny desperately shrugged off his cloak and swung himself up on the dagger, over the wall, and onto the other side. He found himself in a schoolyard full of children of about his height. Shoken, Benny rapidly shifted his features to a child that he had seen many days ago. He mingled with the growing crowd of children, appearing to be one of them in his fine clothing.

The Watch Officer hurdled the wall. He looked around and witnessed the courtyard. The children clapped and peered up at the Watch Officer who gallantly protected their city. “Form ranks,” he barked and the children hastened to perform his curt command. Benny watched as he examined each child in turn. He arrived at Benny. He bent over and peered deep into Benny’s eyes. He saw nothing there, just the earnest gaze of a schoolchild trying to please a revered elder. He moved on.

After he had gone through all the ranks, he whipped around and grabbed the child next to him. The young girl screamed. Her teacher ran outside and demanded that her student be let go at once. The Watch Guard ignored her. “Do you want this child to die, Changeling? Do you want her blood on your hands? Choose now…or suffer the consequences.”

Benny turned and ran. The Watch Officer ran after him.

Benny spun out of the courtyard, feeling a mighty blow severing the air behind him.

He heard a low snarl behind him. “Stop in the name of the law. You are under arrest for suspicious circumstances. If you continue, you will be guilty of resisting arrest and given a two-year sentence. Stop in the name of the law”

“I didn’t do anything. You were the one who assaulted the child.”

“If you weren’t guilty, then why are you resisting arrest?”

“Because you have a hammer, and you are swinging it at me.”

“That's what they all say. I’m afraid that we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”

Benny ducked as another knife whistled past his head. He kept up his break-neck pace. He was tiring. He had short legs and could not keep this pace forever. He must get to shelter. The innumerable crowds of the Great Square would provide him just that opportunity.

Another serrated knife spun through the air, this time ripping off the shoulder of his jacket. Benny dashed through an alley to his left, avoiding the throngs of people that were beginning to congregate around the chase.

He saw the Great Square in front of him. Just a few more yards. Suddenly, black surrounded him.

Benny’s head swam, he heard a knife clatter to the ground behind him. He stumbled and rushed on.

In the Great Square, the Watch Officer turned around. He saw many people. He saw many children. He saw many well dressed children. He saw a well-dressed child without a sleeve. He grabbed this child with a wicked smile. He looked into the face of a child he didn’t recognize. The child’s father, an extremely fat man with the most impressive mustachioed face, rushed out and slapped the Watch Officer. “What are you doing with my son?” he demanded. “If you want trouble, I’ll give you trouble.” Furious, he slapped the Watch Officer repeatedly. The Watch Officer left, clutching his hammer and cradling a wounded head. The Father smiled as he bent down and unstrapped boxes from under his feet. He conspiratorially looked down at the child and slyly handed him a copper. The child stared in amazement as his father changed into a boy of his height. “Just keep your mouth shut, ok. That’s what the copper’s for.”

Swiftly, Benny slipped out of the Great Square, thanking the fates for his luck and the merchant’s mustache.

Benny walked calmly into an alley, but his mind was a whirl of chaotic thoughts. That was too close. Benny knew that they would come for him now. He knew that he couldn’t hide forever. He had to flee the district; just like so many others. It was different this time. The officer was ruthless; Benny knew that he would stop at nothing to catch his quarry. Benny had been almost captured and taken away to the dark cells that no changeling ever came out from. He could not be taken there. Benny started sprinting back to his ‘home.’

Meanwhile, the Watch Officer stood in a black and gold building. A lion towered above everything in the room. This was the building of ultimate justice. The innocent depended upon it. The guilty trembled in its mighty presence. Kendrik was merely a vassal of its magnificence. He was ushered into a side room, a room where his superior waited for him. He sat in a gold-colored velvet chair and gazed across the black desk, gilded in the corners. An agreeable face waited on the other end.

“I hear that you’ve had some action today, Kendrik.”

“Yes, I have. That's my job—To protect the weak, uphold the innocent, and smite the unjust. That is our motto, is it not?”

“It is, and no one could accuse you of doing what you thought was wrong, Kendrik, but however…the methods you use, are…unsatisfactory.”

Kendrik had sensed that the man was about to say ‘illegal.’ He bristled at this obvious accusation.

“I had every right to arrest that changeling. He was engaging in suspicious activities. He ran when I told him to stop. He was breaking the law.”

“I have no objection to your actions, Kendrik. Your methods are the problem. I have twenty eyewitness reports that you held a child hostage. This is not an act becoming of a Watch Officer. You cannot endanger lives over a resisted arrest.”

“The changeling would have harmed the children. It was better for me to flush him out at the cost of a scare.”

“What of the second child? You cannot arrest people for no reason. Besides, your previous search had shown that the changeling in question could disguise himself beyond your recognition. I see the father gave you… a talking to.”

Kendrik rubbed his head where Benny had seen fit to give him a thrashing.

“May I have men to flush out this threat to the city. I understand that the Anti-Shifter squad is on furlough. Could I reform them?”

“No. Kendrik, you must understand. Resisting arrest and suspicious circumstances are not grounds for a search party. The Anti-Changeling act is now over, you can’t just do that anymore.”

“But he was a changeling. Possibly the one who murdered our beloved Mayor.”

“I understand that you have a past with that race of shifters, but I can’t spare any resources right now. The Archon Case is still open and we haven’t caught the serial killer from the Caremor series. You are dismissed for the week, Kendrik. You may come back on dawn of the 7th day of the 6th month.”

“May I pursue on my own?” asked Kendrik, carefully concealing his rage.

“No. You have no legal authority beyond your Watch Position and you will not have that until you come back.”

Kendrik started towards the door.

“And, Kendrik.”

“Yes.”

“Stay out of trouble. Think about your family. What would they do if you lost your job?”

Kendrik stormed out of the office in a wave of rage. He fumed as he walked out of the building. He had always hated the Captain. He stopped when Kendrik would start. He let rules and regulations get in the way of pure justice. Justice must happen no matter what. He heard the Captain’s last words echo through his mind, “What would your family do if you lost your job?” He was right. If Kendrik pursued and was discovered, he would most definitely be without a job. Was it worth it? Revenge for all of those years ago, was it worth it? That fateful night—both his parents were killed, with no one to mourn them but Kendrik. Rage burned in his heart against any and all Changelings. He would stop at nothing to make sure that they got what they deserved—Death for all of them. That would be true justice, an unwavering verdict, carried out to the ultimate end. It was life’s work, even more so than his family. He must proceed. He knew exactly where to go for that.

Kendrik entered the Tavern of the Bloodied Wolf. He walked up to the bartender, a man with yellow teeth, a sharp eye, and a vicious expression, and began to speak.

“I’m starting the hunt tonight. Tell my wife that I won’t be home till late.”

“The child’n being v’ry disappoint’d, Kendrik Changeling-Slayer.”

“You know there is no other way.”

“Ey, there is the only w’y. The path o’ blo’d. Follow it to yer last breath.”

He handed Kendrik an amulet.

“This’ll guide ’e. The inner wolf’ll do the rest. The pack will follow”

Kendrik stepped out of the tavern. The chase was on. The hunt had renewed. The prey was waiting. Kendrik howled and dashed down the street.

Benny stood panting in the alley that he called home. He quickly gathered up his meager belongings, grabbed his small savings, and mounted Japp.

“It's time to move on, Japp. We’re on the run again.”

He fed them both a scrap of fine pastry. He knew that this was the way he must live, the way his kind were fated to live. He started Japp at a trot, and they started their next phase on the long journey.

Night fell while Benny and Japp were on the road. Benny looked up at the sky. The moon was full. The stars twinkled down at them. No matter where he went, the stars were the same; the same stories being played out again and again, dancing and unfolding across a stage of milky black. The star of misfortune shone bright, its red gleam growing steadily. Benny turned around. A breath of wind? An animal? Benny could not see far in such darkness. He turned and shouted a challenge. A shadow in an alley moved. Benny turned towards it.

“Do you not remember me?”

The words came as a snarl behind his back. Benny jumped back and spun about to face this unknown beast. What he saw was beyond nightmares.

A bipledaled form loomed over him, its form hidden and distorted by the black cloak it wore. It tossed this back in contempt, letting it slide to the ground. What Benny saw was almost too horrible for words. The thing was covered from head to toe with gray fur. Claws grew out of its hands. Teeth jutted out from every angle. Its face was mostly covered by a mask, crimson and gold. Benny could see its eyes. There was almost no humanity in them. Beastial instinct ruled this thing. Its eyes were colored yellow. The claws and teeth were stained red. A wolf’s head amulet glowed red at its neck. It threw back its head and howled. Other beasts circled around, each throwing off its cloak and howling in turn. The sound was horrific, almost as horrific as the beast themselves. The sound penetrated the mind, rended the soul, and tore the heart. Benny turned around seeing as more and more of these things surrounded him.

“Do you not remember me, Changeling? If not, then stand and know that I am the killer of your kind, slayer of Changelings. I feast on flesh. I deal out justice, I let none more be harmed by your actions. I am Kendrik Gothemfree, Officer of the Watch. I am Kendrik Wolfspath, follower of the Wolf God. I am Kendrik the husband, Kendrik the father. I am Kendrik the dealer of justice, and without my protection this city would fall. I am Kendrik, the sworn enemy of all Changelings. Hear my name and TREMBLE.”

Benny kicked Japp in the side, urging him onward. With a mighty leap, Japp cleared the circle of beasts. Japp’s claws scraped the cobblestones as he changed directions and tumbled through another alley. The beasts followed behind, tearing through the streets, muscles rippling, claws straining. Sparks lept from where their claws met the street, revealing the hellish nightmare that followed. Benny urged Japp onward as the wave of beasts tore towards them, crawling on top of one another in their haste to kill and feast. They grew closer, teeth nipping Japp’s paws. He turned again. For a moment, it seemed as if the pack would have difficulty making the steep turn. They just flooded ever closer.

Japp was tiring quickly. He knew that he would not have enough strength to escape the onslaught. With one final burst of strength, he threw Benny on the nearest roof.

Benny rose from the tumble and watched as his friend fought off more and more of the hideous beasts. Benny watched as his friend was slowly torn apart by gnashing teeth. He watched as the beasts feasted on the flesh of his only friend. Kendrik laughed,

“If this is what we do to a mere beast, what will we do to you? Run. Hide. We will be waiting for you at every turn. Your beast’s sacrifice will not protect you for long.”

Benny turned and ran through the rain.

Tears streamed down his face. His constant companion, his only friend, his protector, gone. What would he do? Why continue? What was there to live for? Japp had died for him. He must not let that go to waste. He would live as long as he could.

Benny set his jaw. He hadn’t gotten this far by being weak. He would be strong to the end, strong for his friend. Benny selected the spot for his final stand.

On the ground, the waves of beasts grew by the second. They circled around the building on which Benny was now standing. Benny started to climb even higher. He would stand there and look death in the eye. There was nothing else to do. There was nothing he could do. Benny reached the top. He stood, slipping on the slick surface. Lightning struck the building next to Benny, its sudden glow revealing the hordes climbing to their prey. Benny set his jaw and pulled a knife from his boot, the very one that was hurled at him by Kendrik that fateful day before. He lowered the brim of his hat. He prepared himself for his last stand.

A massive beast leaped onto the roof landing on all fours. It stood, the lightning revealing its cold, blood hungry eyes. Rain poured down on the faces of a vicious beast and a desperate halfing.

“I see that you have courage. It will do you no good. Have you not wondered about that day, the day when this all began? Have you not wondered why I am set to destroy your kind? My parents were killed by a Changeling. There was no public outcry, just a small boy mourning the death of the only people who had ever loved him. I grew, as did my hatred and desire for vengeance. Then I found the Order of the Wolf. They shared my hatred, and I quickly rose through the ranks. I was selected for a task that would change the whole city of NeverWinter forever. I killed the Mayor, sparking the public outcry which swelled our ranks and let us move about, completing the good work, keeping this city safe. It was better that a few men die than more being slowly killed. So, this is where it all began. The place where your troubles began. And this is the place where you will meet your end.”

Kendrik dove at Benny. Benny sidestepped the attack and met it with a blow of his own. Kendrik merely laughed, the cold glow of lightning illuminating his cruel snarl, his wet fur, his bloody teeth, his blood hungry eyes. Benny stood on that rooftop prepared to fight to his last breath. Japp would not have died in vain. Benny circled his opponent. Lightning struck. Benny caught a glimpse of the hoard below him. The echo of thunder rang out, resounding as a true trumpeter sounding the cry of doom, for indeed, doom was certain.

The howls rose, giving voice to a rage unheard of by any mortal. The hunt was nearing its close and Benny prayed that its end was not the same as his.

Lightning raced down from the inky, majestic sky. Benny thought that would be his last vision, the lightning racing down towards him, silhouetted against that polar backdrop dotted with the finest stars. Benny prepared himself for the strike. The bolt split above him. Benny gazed up at the dome of blueish energy which now spanned the air above him. The bolts finally struck the earth all around him. Fire rose up around him. Igniting the city, they rose, a colossal conflagration of heat, an immense inferno of flames, a symbol of power. There was also beauty in the flames. Benny snapped back from his cogitation. Kendrik looked down at his hoards in shock as they were rapidly dispersed by the flames.

“I do not need the cowards to complete our mission. They can flee the flames. I will win this last battle.”

Kendrik dove towards Benny, knocking the knife out of his hand.

“That feeble weapon won’t help you now. Face me and know that there is no hope.”

Throughout the very depths of his being, Benny felt despair. He could not conquer this foe.

The fire raged around them, throwing itself at the wall of the roof of the Mayor’s home where the participants of the battle stood.

Suddenly, Benny heard a great voice speak out of the flames.

“Hear me well, little one. I am one of and with the flame. I can offer you protection if you so wish it, but you must make the leap, the leap of faith. It is not an easy thing to do. Do you see the destruction that I cause? You can not lightly leap into the arms of such a great power. I have destroyed civilizations. I am the righteous flame, the good and beautiful fire. I will not harm you, but it is you who must decide whether I can be trusted. I can give you a better life and save the one you have now. You need only take that step of faith. Leap.”

Kendrik lunged again. Benny spun out of the way. Kendrik dove. His teeth sank into Benny’s back. Pain ripped through Benny’s mind. He stumbled back under Kendrik’s hateful gaze and gnashing teeth. Benny had no choice. He fell backwards through the fire.

Benny watched as the fires around him melted away. He looked up at the stoic being.

“There you have it. That's my story. I’m a nobody, born from a line of nobodies. We don’t have anything, not even names or faces to live with. Why did you save me?”

The flames melted back on the being of fire. He finally spoke, each word resounding like thunder.

“I am the good and righteous fire. I must help those who are in need, or I would cease to be. It is who I am.”

“Why me? There are many in the city I live in who need help more than I do. Why did you choose me?

“I choose one who would accept my help, one who would trust when all hope had given out. You are that person.”

“I have one favor that I want to ask of you.”

“What is that, little one?”

“I wish to know what happens next.”

“Then I will show you.”

The flames swirled again and another scene played out before them. The flames showed the Watch Office. In it, two men were arguing. One wore the uniform of a High Watch Officer, the other wore common clothes and a wolf’s head amulet. The former spoke.

“I warned you Kendrik. I told you this would happen. I gave you every piece of advice, every bit of guidance, and still…still you have failed. What will your family do now, Kendrik? What will they do when they discover that their father is a murderer?”

“I never did anything that was wrong. I dealt justice, and I protected the people of this city. I rid it of a curse, a scourge. I brought a menace to justice.”

“We have laws for that, Kendrik,” the Officer’s voice rose to a bellow. The flames seemed to rise with his anger. “You of all people should know that. There are ways for criminals to be brought to justice. That is why we exist. The Watch is here to bring people to justice. We protect. We don’t form groups of vigilante murderers. We don’t deal in black magic to kill even more ruthlessly. We don’t murder.”

“I never murdered anyone. I killed to protect.”

“You killed for vengeance, Kendrik. You slayed for revenge. That’s forty years, Kendrik. You are going to have to serve them all.”

The flames stirred again, this time showing a group of changelings coming out of jail for the first time in years. A man stood smiling as he ushered them out, announcing in a loud voice that they had been freed on account of extreme bias on their prosecutor. They laughed as they looked at the sun, the great ball of fire in the sky.

The flames flickered as the scene shifted yet once again. It showed a family. They were broken. Their father had been taken from them. A husband was taken from them, not by the Watch, not by the court, but by the monster that he was. The warmth of a sole comforting flame lit the room. The flames into which Benny was peering dissipated. The being looked down at him with a smile.

“These things I have shown you. Now it is you who must decide what to do with them.”

Benny’s head spun. What would he do now? Where would he go? What would he do about his loss?

“What is it that you want to do most?”

Benny grinned.

“I want to eat a mountain of chocolate cake.”

The being roared in laughter. The fires around him seemed to shake with him.

“I have no doubts about that, little one.” He suddenly grew serious. “What is your motivation? What would you do with your life?”

Benny grew quiet, his mind pouring over a thousand possibilities.

“I want to help others. I wish to keep people from going through the ordeal that I did.”

“That is a wise choice. It shows your age beyond years. I will help you. You shall learn the Way of the Fire. You shall be a comforting candle in the dark. You shall be a raging inferno to the ones who would hurt others. But before I grant you this boon, answer me but one question. What makes you different from Kendik? He also thought he did right. He also could be gentle. He also could be a vicious tornado to his enemies. Why would you be any different?”

Benny sat down. He started to protest but then he realized the validity of the question. What would make him different? What would keep him from going down the same path that Kendrik did? He saw that he could easily go down that path, reaping vengeance on the ones who had and would hurt him.

“You would stop me, sir.”

The being laughed once again.

“You are discerning, little one. You speak the truth. If you went down that path, you would find that all of your fiery arcane might would be stripped from you in an instant. However, that is not a good enough reason by itself. Why wouldn’t you follow the Way of Vengeance, the Way of the Wolf.

Benny searched his mind, soul, and heart. He knew that he must give an answer. He knew he must give a good answer. Benny racked his mind trying to find a clever reply, ransacked his soul for an honest one, and shook his heart for a convincing one. He discovered the truth.

“You can’t know that. You must trust, just like I trusted you to get here. I don’t wish to cause undue harm. You realize this for sure. I do desire vengeance. I am only a man. I will work to quell this loathsome impulse. I will try with all of my heart, all my soul, and with all of my mind. You will help me, because I can’t do it alone. I know you will.”

Booming peals of laughter filled the flaming room.

“You have audacity, little one. You have courage, you have hope, and now you have my trust. I will help you to the utmost degree. Sometimes you will not realize it, sometimes you will, but I will be there every step of the way, helping you.”

The fires spun and swirled, entwining into a beautiful dance. They flew through the room and entered into Benny. The power was intoxicating. The fire filled him, the flames fed him, the inferno ignited his passion anew.

“Now go forth, my noble servant. Go forth, and aid the suffering, help the hurting, and give grace to all men. Go.”