Tocho

Veri

"-see me again until you return with Dorin."

"Yes, Spire."

Veri watched from shadows in the corner of the room as Ara closed the door behind her. "Can we trust her, Spire?"

"Someone like that doesn't know how to say no to a superior." The Spire slowly walked back to his throne. "I'm more worried about her flame, Ranell."

"I see. So my information proved true."

"As always, old friend." The Spire sat down with a groan, and flipped his coin which landed with the fanged side facing up. "The fates say that she must be dealt with."

"What about Ara?"

"I have ordered her to join the effort to capture that spy." Veri felt a tinge of surprise as the Spire spoke. "She will be a fine replacement. One I won't have to worry about growing too strong to handle." 

"So you think there's more to Dorin than his friends let on?"

"None of them seemed to truly be his friends after his desertion, so I don't think they would lie to protect him." The Spire eyes drifted off to a large stained glass window with a depiction of the previous Spire.

"Spire?"

"Light's sake, I hate it when people call me that."

"What's going on, Tocho?" Veri hadn't called him by that name in years.

"Ranell rebelling and a deserter all at once is no coincidence. I need you to figure it out while I stamp out the rebellion." 

Veri kneeled towards Tocho. "Of course."

"The other Spires must have a hand in this. Find a way into the Liranel and figure out if they are preparing for war."

A knot formed in Veri's stomach. Sneaking into any city was not an easy task, especially if they were trying to keep their efforts a secret. 

"I will set you free after this task, Veri." Tocho gestured for Veri to rise. "I should have let you go long ago, I can only hope that you will choose to stay of your own free will when this is over."

Veri took a second to rise as his brain processed what Tocho had said. He had been in service to the city of Tur for most of his life, ever since his own failed forging. The position of Spire had changed hands only once, and he had been at the whims of Tocho for nearly twenty years.

"Thank you, Tocho." Veri stood up and matched Tocho's stare. "Tur is my home, and no matter where I am sent I will always return." 

. . .

Dorin

Wrapping the tip of his stake with rabbit fur and brush from the forest, Dorin crept into the burning village. He told Eki to stay behind just in case he ran into trouble. 

"Stop lying to me." A booming male voice came from the depths of the blaze, followed by a scream.

'Just light the torch and run. Light the torch and run.' Dorin knew that if he was spotted he was done for.

"I know the deserter was here." The man's voice was familiar to Dorin, but he couldn't quite place it. 

Dorin thrust his stake into the flames, but it wouldn't catch alight. 'COME ON.'

"Tell me and I will take my fire with me." Dorin knew who it was. The burly spark from the colosseum, Jerl. "I have an injured son waiting for me, so I have no patience for liars."

Dorin dropped to the ground. 'How am I supposed to escape if there are people searching for me everywhere I go?'

"Why would I let my village burn for some kid?" Dorin heard a wheezing voice.

"Maybe someone else is forcing you to keep quiet." Jerl said. Dorin watched as the flames around the village erupted, growing twice as tall. 

"Stop- stop. I really have no idea. The only people who come here are from Tur."

"Who was the last person to come here from Tur then."

"Veri. That man comes here every month to trade."

Dorin felt like this could be a chance. Blame being put on someone else would be a good way to give him time. As he pondered, his stake came aflame. It had been soaking up the heat from the embers of the flames ever since he dropped to the floor. 

"Tsk. That man couldn't betray the Spire even if he wanted to. I guess I'll just have to burn this village to the ground in case he's hiding somewhere."

"Great spark, I swear to you that he has been our only male traveler in the last year."

"Male traveler? Does Tur only hold men?"

"My mistake, my mistake." The voice coughed for a few moments. "There was a cloaked woman who came here two days ago. We thought she was just a passerby, but obviously she is the one you want."

Dorin ran back into the forest with his torch once he was sure no one would notice. He hadn't gotten a good look, so he had no idea what Jerl was doing to that poor man. 

"Eki . . . Eki?" Dorin looked for his companion, but Eki was nowhere to be found.