It took a moment for my brain to catch up to my eyes. Lannah was curled up in my chair, asleep. I had been staring right past her, not thinking she would be there. She should have been in the bed.

I pulled her dress out of my bag and draped it near the fire to dry out. She had a hard day, perhaps several hard days. What I couldn’t figure out was why she sat down in the chair, knowing I was coming up.

Everything that she did made no sense at all. First, she didn’t want me to touch her or see her without her dress on, but then she curled up in my chair and fell asleep.

I turned and looked back at the lean-to, and then it all made sense. There, in the middle of my sleeping fur, was Blink. But, unlike most of the times when she slept, she was not curled up in a ball. Instead, she was sprawled out, taking all the room she could. On top of that, she had pulled the fur in such a way that the space that wasn’t being taken by her was just the fir branches I used for the base.

Blink was either the best wingman a guy could ask for or a jealous pet that wanted to stake her claim to who slept where. At this point, it could be either. What I had to deal with was not freaking Lannah out but getting her to bed.

I walked over to the lean-to and started to straighten out the fur. It was big and would be able to hold both of us. But, as I started to move it, Blink started to hiss and pull back on the fur. She was just as impossible to deal with as any pet that claimed a bed.

“Blink! Cut it out and move.” I hissed at the Ropola.

She rolled over and swatted a bit at me as I kept working on getting things worked out.

“You are going to have to move. Lannah has been through a lot and sleeping by the fire is not going to help anything for her. So make room.” I sternly whispered at Blink.

She moved down to the foot of the bed. So then I had to make a hard decision. I could either wake Lannah up, give her the wet dress and help her dress, or move her to the fur and hope she didn’t wake up.

If I woke her up, there would be trouble, I am sure of it. The girl was already angry that I kept her from falling and happened to use the best thing to push her up, her butt. If I woke her up, I was certain seeing her long enough to wake her would make her mad.

If I moved her and she woke up, I was sure there would be double the trouble. She would be offended and angry that I saw her almost naked and dared to touch her. Yet, if I could get her into the bed and covered with the fur without her waking up, there wouldn’t be any problems.

She would be asleep, and I could say she was there when I got over here and just sat down. I could bed down next to the fire with a few of the pelts that I still had. It wouldn’t be great, but I was tired enough that it would do.

So, I went over to the chair and knelt down to pick her up. Even after everything she had been through, she was one of the best-looking women I had ever seen. Her pale skin reflected the moonlight and showed off her toned legs.

I scooped my arm under her bent knees and my other behind her back. As I did, she rolled into me a bit and looped an arm around my neck. I knew she was asleep, but it made my heart race. She pulled herself into me like she was snuggling and pressed her still damp chemise onto my chest.

I slowly walked her over to my bed and laid her down on the fur. Then I reached across her and pulled the fur over her body. It was hard not to look, and I failed on that willpower check.

I quickly went to my storage room and grabbed the last of my pelts, and piled them next to the fire. Next, I stripped off my armor and changed into my pants and tunic. Then I laid down.

I was asleep before I knew it.

I had been tracking the goblins for a few days. This raiding party was from the southwest. They had come into our lands and stuck at one of our caves. But, unlike mine, they hadn’t killed everyone. No, this time, they took prisoners from us. Twenty-three women and children had been stolen.

I had been summoned after the men of the cave found that it was goblins. They wanted their people back, but they didn’t want to leave the rest of the cave to do. So a runner had been sent. Two days had been wasted that the cave could have tracked down the goblins. Two days that the women and children didn’t have to be in captivity.

Yet, they sent for the Battle Priest. Then, the Ash of Chaos herself was summoned, and with me, I brought my new brothers. We had all lost someone to the goblins. Some more than others, but each of us desired to end them.

Only I was bound by Chaos not to lose myself again to rage and seek to snuff my own coal with the fire of my enemies’ bodies. No, my brothers could have the sweet release of anger. They could go where I could not; they could do the things which I was forbidden.

While I might be the Ash of Chaos, those who came with me were my embers. We weren’t the coals in the fire of the tribes. We were cut off and cast aside. Yet, where we went we caused a great fire.

Each one of my brothers might be quick to burn and not cause much damage, but together we started our fires and would burn our enemies covering them in her Ash.

Now, we had found the missing women and the children so young. The goblins had traveled, dragging them by ropes around their necks and hands for five days. Then, finally, they brought them from those who loved them to a village-like none I had ever seen.

The goblins lived in squalor. While we kept to our caves because of our traditions, these beasts lived in mud and stick huts. Even our tents for when we traveled to the gathering were better.

We knew better than to squat in the middle of our cave, but these would squat where they were and then keep on. Even dogs know to cover where they relieve themselves. There were a few dozen goblins and a score of gremlins per goblin.

They fought with each other, not caring for one another, pulling food from each other’s hands. What I didn’t see however, were the big green-gray ones that wore armor. This was good; we would be able to fight this battle and perhaps even get our people out.

“Ash, I have found our people or rather those who are left.” Kubaba, one of my best scouts, said to me.

“What do you mean, those who are left?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“The horde, they have…,” Kubaba started to say when he sucked in his breath. He paused for a moment. “Chaos take me. Ash, they have our children on spits and the women tied to watch. The children are still alive.”

My right hand clenched into a fist, and I forced it to relax. “Where are they, my Ember?”

“Around the hill.”

“Are there any of the the ones that wear armor?”

“There are five, my priest.”

“The children are lost if they are already over the fires, the women will morn but we will burn the horde today.” I said in a harsh whisper.

I turned to my left, “Pura, gather those who carry the oil it is time to fan the flames of our goddess.”

“Yes, my priest’ Pura said as he quickly ran toward the back of our party.

“Kubaba, while we know the children are lost there is no reason for them to suffer more. Gather those who are our best with bows. We need to end the suffering soon.”

“I will lead them myself my priest.” Kubaba said as he too went back.

“Itaja, it is time there are five of them for you today!” I yelled behind me.

Itaja came forward from my embers. He more than most had lost. He had been hunting when the goblins hit his cave. His wife and newborn had been filled with spears when he found them. His mother and father were ripped to shreds. Much like me, his coal was not the same. But unlike me, Chaos didn’t have him walk the long path. His enemies were gone when he arrived.

Itaja is allowed release. His name will be one remembered by the flame. He will return to the fire where I can not. Today he will burn with the fire of Chaos as he settles his score with those who took his world. Where my coal went cold and dark like a stone, his will burn unconstrained.

“My priest, you say I have five? Are they the ones with armor?”

“Yes, prepare yourself for the attack they are cooking our children.”

Rage burned in the eyes of Itaja. It was in my heart as well, but it was cold and long. With him, I could see the smoke forming.

“Is today my day to return to the fire of my fathers?” Itaja asked me.

“Yes, today the flames of Chaos are open for you. You may return to your fathers today and be joined with your son. Guide us well into the fires that we go.” I blessed him.

Itaja pulled from his back his shield and donned his helmet. Then he pulled his axe from his belt and raised it above his head with a silent shout. Then, with a roar, he moved a few paces away from us and started to dance.

It would take time, but the dance of Chaos would build in him. This was not like the dance of death that we would use to hunt. This was his death, for he would fight today until there were none who stood before him, or he would be cut down.

Chaos herself would give him power. He would not feel pain, and his cuts would seal shut as if the wound was burned, but it would take his energy, his fiery rage. It would take and consume everything he had, and in the end, if he still lived then, he would.

We moved around the hill as a large group. My orders had been given, and we would fight. My Embers were ready to start ablaze, and I, as her Ash, was prepared to cover the ground. I led the charge as we rounded the hill.

I knew what I was going to see, but it was worse than I thought it would be. To see our children like meat and to hear the cries of those still alive. The coldness in my heart grew even colder. Where some of my brothers stumbled to throw up and advanced.

Kumbaba was good at his task as he and five others gave mercy to the children. Then they turned their bows on those who were turning the spits ending their wretched lives.

Battle had been met, and Chaos had come to those who worshiped the dark ones.

I had split my forces into three groups tonight. The leading group that I was with. We would reclaim our women and the bodies of our children. Those who were upwind of us with the oil would set the whole woods on fire. Lastly, those who were in from the backside.

Itaja knew his task well. He charged headfirst into a gathered mob of goblins. His goal was those who sat on thrones on the other side of the fires. The lords of the goblins, the green-gray monsters. As he charged the orcs, as my non-dream mind called them, all stood and ran toward Itaja.

Itaja hit the horde like lightning into a dry forest. He was ablaze with his axe falling with each step he took. None of the goblins was his match, and the gremlins he just kicked out of the way. He was death to those in front of him.

As he pushed forward, my men changed their path to where the women were tied. We cut them free, and for each of the 8 women there, two of my men left. One to carry her and one to guard.

We pivoted back toward the fire down to just twenty Ember. There were 10 children who were cooked. Ten of ours were viewed as food. My Embers reached in and grabbed the bodies and ripped them off the spits, and turned and ran.

As we pulled back, Itaja activated his battle cry skill. All enemies within 100 feet were called to him. None of them could look away until they were either attacked or were able to attack him. His actual dance had just started.

The horde that was too far away started to give chase after us. However, they too were turned when our brothers entered the battle from behind them. Throwing stone hammers at the goblins’ backs, they broke the pursuit.

My direct forces disengaged and started our long run back. I would have to wait until the other caught up to know how the rest of the battle went. If it worked out right then, we would only lose a few. They would lose everyone else.

The following day I stopped my run. The rest of my Embers were to arrive here. We would bury the children, and I would ensure that their spirits moved on. No need for them to rise again.

By the time I was ready, the rest had shown up. We had lost three in the fight, including Itaja, who had killed all the orcs. Our fires had circled the camp, and the oil we threw as we came and left had all caught. I could see the smoke still from where I stood.

If not for the death of the children, it would have been a good day. As it was, I was about to feel their deaths myself as I ensured they would be safe.