Fire Within: Book Two of Fire and Stone (Stories of Fire and Stone 2) by Stephanie Beavers Page A

Esset rose and put one hand on her shoulder and the other on the plate.
    “Here, let me take that.”
    Mrs. Esset relinquished the plate, and Esset sat his mother down on the bed before setting the plate on the bedside table.
    “I just…you just came back, and I thought we’d have more time before you left again,” she said.
    “I’ll be back again before you know it,” Esset said, sitting down next to her. He scooped a sweet roll off the plate and pressed it into her hands.
    “Please don’t go,” his mother said, but Esset shook his head.
    “I have to. Toman has been in Moloch’s hands for long enough.”
    Mrs. Esset squeezed her eyes shut, and Esset wondered if she were wishing everything were all right again. Esset had done enough of that himself.
    “It’ll be all right, Mom. I’ll make it all right,” he promised. “I’ll find out how to break the geas, then go get Toman. I’ll take care not to run into Moloch. I’ll sneak Toman out before he even knows I’m there. Once Toman is with the Nadra, we’ll lift the geas and you’ll see us both again.”
    Mrs. Esset simply stared at the food in her hands.
    “I have to do this, Mom.”
    “I know.” Mrs. Esset finally lifted her eyes to her son’s. On impulse, she dropped the roll and wrapped him in a hug.
    “Come back safe,” she whispered in his ear before releasing him. Esset nodded as his mother collected herself, wiping unshed tears from her eyes.
    “Just look at the mess I’m making,” she said, bending to pick the roll up off the floor. “I better clean up and get you ready to go. You’ll need food for your trip and clean clothes. If you’re leaving tomorrow, I’m getting as much food into you as I can in the meantime.”
    Esset smiled, letting her fuss. In his head, he prayed that he’d be able to bring Toman back like he’d just promised.
    Mrs. Esset bustled out of the room and Mr. Esset stepped in.
    “Hey Dad,” Esset greeted him. Mr. Esset came down and sat beside him.
    “Son…” Mr. Esset reached out and placed a hand on Esset’s shoulder. “You know I have the utmost confidence in you, but I still want you to promise me that you’ll be careful.”
    “Of course.”
    “And remember what I told you about power,” Mr. Esset said.
    “We’re strong, and it’s our responsibility to protect people. We’re strong enough to win without taking lives,” Esset said, but his smile was sad. Were they really strong enough? Their earlier loss to Moloch suggested they weren’t. Still, he believed in the sanctity of life with all his heart. He wouldn’t break his father’s faith in him.
    “Taking a life is always wrong, even when it’s necessary. But…sometimes it is necessary.” Mr. Esset pulled his son into a hug. “Protect yourself. Come home to us. And if you can, bring Toman home too.”
    “I will, Dad.” Esset hugged him back. “I will.”

The sun was setting as Esset circled over the northern town. It was of a reasonable enough size, but Esset still hadn’t been able to find a map that had actually named it and not just marked it “town.” Esset landed his fiery mount at the edge of the community so as not to create too much of a stir, and he walked to the inn on foot. The sign proudly displayed a black bird toasting a mug of ale, labeled “The Happy Crow.”
    Esset entered and took quick stock of the clientele: mostly locals, and judging by their garb, the town was reasonably prosperous. A trade town. Recalling the number of sheep he’d flown over on the way in and the signs on the shops outside, he’d guess their main source of income came from wool. Only a few of the customers looked to be travelers.
    A few people looked up as he entered and headed for the bar.
    “A bowl of stew and an ale, please,” Esset said to the barkeep, pushing coins towards him.
    “Staying the night, too?” the barkeep asked. Surprised, Esset nodded; he’d pegged the woman overseeing the room from the corner to be the