I murdered him. Ember gripped the sword at his waist. But I didn’t have a choice. It was me or him. Ember clung to this tiny piece of fact as if his very being depended on it, and shoved the event into the back of his mind. It didn’t help.
Upon returning to the Guild hall, Jakis gave Ember a bow and dismissed himself. Chris walked Ember to the nearest bathroom and let him wash up. No matter how hard Ember scrubbed, the blood never left his hands. To his surprise, however, he didn’t panic. He accepted there was no other option, and so he forced himself to move on. At least he was trying to.
Chris didn’t give him time to talk as he dragged Ember to a small table set away from the milling crowd, most oblivious to Ember’s bloodstained clothes. Seated there was a nondescript man in a tan shirt and brown pants, his face hidden behind a smooth white mask that covered it entirely.
Chris sat across from him, and Ember reluctantly followed, focusing on the strange man instead of his hammering heart.
“Chris,” the masked man said, his voice as monotone as possible, “this is the one you mentioned, yes?”
Chris nodded. “Yeah. This is Ember.”
Chris gestured toward the odd man. “This is a Pilgrim. They’re basically an organization of people who help those who want to travel around the continent. Of course, you can do it without their help, but their help is relatively free, and there’s no reason for us not to take it.”
“How do you know these people?” Ember asked.
Chris shrugged. “I’ve been here a while. I have connections. I know you just went through something traumatic, but we don’t have time to sort your feelings out. We need to move.”
The masked man turned his head to regard the traverser. “We have a group in every major city and the majority of the sub-cities. All we ask in return is that you help us on occasion if we need it.”
“And this is how we’re going to get out of the city?”
Chris shook his head. “No. But they’re supplying what we need to cross the Frontier. The city itself—we’ll have to figure that out on our own.”
The masked man nodded. “He’s right. We cannot directly aid you in this escape, as it could cause problems with the city itself. However, outside the east gate, we have a horse and cart with enough supplies to get you to the sub-city between Basintown and the next major settlement. It’s just off the beaten path, about a mile outside the city. If you can make it there, you should be fine by our estimations.”
“The east gate,” Ember muttered.
Chris sighed and leaned back. “Yeah, that’s going to be a problem. All the gates are currently being monitored by the religious people. Our best chance is to sneak out at night, but they expect us to try that. I did some preliminary reconnaissance on my own before you were ready to move around. While they’re not allowed to impede people coming in and out of the city, that doesn’t stop them from staking out the entrances. They’ve got around ten people at each one, keeping watch and making sure no one, specifically us, leaves without them knowing. They probably have the guards in their pocket too, so we can’t rely on them to cover us. We’re going to have to do this on our own, quietly and discreetly.”
Ember swallowed hard. “How? How are we going to pull this off?”
“That’s the question,” Chris said. “We’ll do some snooping tonight, just the two of us, so we can get an idea of what we’re up against. We don’t have to leave out of the east gate, but it’s our best option.”
Chris looked to the Pilgrim. “Any ideas?”
The masked man shook his head. “Unfortunately, I cannot assist you outside of the information I have given.” He stood. “I wish you the best of luck.” Then he walked away.
“Well, I guess it’s just us now,” Chris said. “Let’s get some rest. We’ll have to be up in the middle of the night to scout.”
Ember took his advice and went to bed. Fear gripped his mind as he walked into the room he was given. It was bland, with only a bed and a small desk as the lone objects, aside from the lit candles. The shadows played tricks on him, the image of that man seared into his mind. He clutched the sword as if it were a stuffed animal, closing his eyes tightly, hoping to find sleep.
He was awoken in the middle of the night by Chris. Ember started to scream, but Chris clamped a hand over his mouth.
“Quiet,” he hissed, “It’s just me. Let’s go.”
Ember stared around him erratically before settling his eyes on Chris’s outline. He relaxed slihgtly and nodded. They sneaked out of the hall. At this time of night, there weren’t many people out. Ember shivered as they left the hall. The night was chilly, and the streetlamps had a small amount of frost on them. On his back, he carried a small pack that held all his possessions, from his clothes to his now-dead phone. Chris had said to bring it, as they might find a way out tonight. He was similarly laden.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The town was relatively quiet. A few people here and there dotted the streets, but the two hunted men stuck to the shadows and avoided the main paths. It didn’t take them long to arrive at the east gate. Ember squinted through the dark.
The gate was massive, at least fifteen feet tall. A dozen guards loitered around, most seeming bored or slightly drunk. Just beyond, a warm glow emanated from one side of the road.
Chris pointed it out. “That’s the lookout group from the cratered sword. They likely have lookouts all along the main path,” he whispered.
“How are we going to get past the gate?”
Chris’s face was hidden in shadow, but Ember heard him click his tongue in annoyance. “We can’t. But I’ve heard rumors of hidden ladders built into the walls in case of emergency. We’re going to have to trace the entire wall.”
Ember looked at the massive structure. It surrounded the entire city, and there was a good ten feet separating the nearest building from it. “We’ll be completely exposed.”
His partner nodded. “That’s why we have to be careful and quick. Patrols go by every now and then. I want you to keep an eye out while I check.”
“Okay.”
Ember watched as Chris darted to the wall. No one noticed him as he started to feel along it. Ten minutes went by. Then twenty. Ember tried to avoid looking too deeply into the shadows. Every little sound made him jump, fearing a member would leap out of the darkness. Nothing was going on, but his heart hammered, and his palms remained permanently sweaty.
Chris returned to the shadows as a patrol went by. They were a quarter of the way through tracing the wall when Chris froze. After several moments, he returned with a grin.
“Found it. It’s not large. There’s maybe an inch of space for each handhold, and it goes all the way to the top. No way can we do it now, though. We’ll need to come back tomorrow. With luck, we can be gone before they even know it.”
Yeah, with luck. I seem to be low on that these days.
The two headed back to the Guild.
The next morning, Chris was gone the entire day, so Ember spent his time in his room, too scared to leave by himself and too confused to make a decision.
He lay in his bed, sword propped against a corner. The images of the dead people in the street and those in the cathedral played over and over in his mind. Why am I here? I’ve done nothing but kill people since landing here, and now I have to run to save my own life. Ember buried his head into his pillow. I thought Isakais were supposed to be fun? Or at least better than my old life.
He spent the day like that, staring at the ceiling. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw them. The woman's hollow eyes. The man's hatred as the sword pierced his chest. The children crushed under rubble. The frozen corpses in the dungeon.
His hands wouldn't stop shaking. I'm a murderer, he thought. Not an accidental one. A real one. I felt the blade go in. I watched him die.
He'd gotten up twice to vomit, though his stomach was empty. The second time, he'd stayed on the floor, too tired to move. His body felt foreign, like he was watching someone else live his life. Someone capable of killing. The worst part? That small, dark voice whispering that it was necessary. That he'd do it again. That this was who he was now. By the time Chris came to get him, Ember was hollow. Empty. Moving on autopilot.
If Chris noticed Ember’s change, he didn’t comment on it as they moved quietly through the city. Once they reached the wall, Chris broke down the plan.
“You’re going first. I spent the day memorizing the patrols. We have a twenty-two-minute window to climb the wall and get down it.” He pointed to a spot on the stone structure. “There is the ladder. You’re going to have to feel your way up, but it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Ember nodded along, barely hearing him.
When a patrol went by, Chris ushered him forward. Ember jogged over to the wall and felt around for a minute until his fingers brushed across a jutting stone. It was cool and sent goosebumps down his arms as he fumbled in the shadow of the tall wall. A minute or so later, he found the next stone.
I was never much of a climber; hopefully, I don’t fall and ruin everything. Not that it matters. I’m probably going to die anyway.
With that morbid thought, Ember hauled himself up with a grunt. The going was slow. He had to feel around for each ledge, and his entire body shook with effort and nerves by the time he was halfway up. Every now and then, his sword clinked against the wall, and he flinched at the noise.
By the time he reached the top, the patrol was walking by. He managed to swing his body over, sweating profusely. Up top, there was a small walk path and then a fifteen-foot drop. Ember squinted in the dark but didn’t see a way down—no handholds or obvious scalable ledges.
A few minutes later, Chris climbed up beside him. From up here, they could see the glow of the lookout’s camp, as well as a dozen people walking the roads with torches.
“What now?” Ember whispered.
Chris nodded toward the ledge. “I’ll jump down. You’ll follow, and I’ll catch you. No big deal.”
His stomach dropped. “No big deal? That’s almost a twenty-foot drop! You’ll break a leg at least. And even if you don’t, the noise will attract everyone,” Ember hissed.
Chris just shook his head. “Watch me.”
Ember stared, mortified, as the young man hopped off the wall. There were several seconds of silence followed by a quiet thump, then more silence.
He’s dead. Or at least knocked out.
Ember’s heart dropped as he nervously looked back the way he came, but just as he contemplated going back, he heard Chris from below.
“Jump. We don’t have all night.”
“You’re alive?” he half-whispered, half-yelled.
“Obviously. Now jump. I can catch you. I’m a lot stronger than I look.”
Stronger than you look? Ember thought. No one is that strong. That fall should have shattered his legs.
But he was too numb to question it. Too tired to care about the impossibilities piling up. Magic swords. Monsters, dungeons. And now Chris surviving a fall that should have crippled him. Just another thing that doesn't make sense in this nightmare.
Ember stared down the drop. He could just make out Chris’s outline. It was far. He stood and paced.
I’ve never had a problem with heights, but being asked to jump into the arms of a guy no bigger than me is not helping.
He bit his fingernail as he looked down again. Every part of his body screamed not to jump.
With an audible curse, he sat on the ledge and let his legs dangle. “Are you sure you can catch me?”
There was a sigh of exasperation, and he heard Chris mutter something before responding. “Yes. Now jump before I drag you down myself.”
Ember swallowed back his bile as he scooted to the very edge. His heart hammered as he pushed off.
Epic Fantasy of Intrigue and War
Epic Fantasy Political Intrigue Character-Driven War Aftermath Magic & Secrets Morally Grey
The war is over, but the empire is not at peace.
Prince Raymond Auraleth has survived the imperial court by being overlooked—listening when others speak, watching when others posture, and learning the quiet mathematics of power. He was never meant to rule. That makes him dangerous.
Far to the north, Alain Galaide returns from the Demonfront as a legend the empire would rather forget. Raised in war, sharpened by loss, and known as the Black Knight of the North, he now faces a harder battle: peace, politics, and a realm eager to use him—or erase him.
As courtly intrigue tightens, old alliances crack, and sacred secrets draw the attention of the Church, shadow and flame begin to converge. Steel may have ended the war, but words, vows, and ambition will decide what rises from the ashes.
The Shadow and The Flame is a character-driven epic fantasy focused on political maneuvering, post-war tension, and slow-burning power struggles—where victories are quiet, mistakes are fatal, and heroes are liabilities.
If you like thoughtful princes, dangerous heroes, and intrigue that simmers before it explodes, welcome to the game.
- Political Intrigue: Courtly schemes and hidden alliances.
- Epic Battles: War heroes and demonic threats.
- Magic System: Rare affinities and enchanted artifacts.
- Complex Characters: Princes, warriors, saints, and schemers.
- No Harem: Focused relationships and deep dynamics.