Shield of Fire (A Bringer and the Bane Novel) by Boone Brux

and guard the humans.”
    “I can barely believe it.” She wrapped her arms around her bent legs and rocked forward like a child listening to a scary tale. “What happened? Did the Bane become too strong?”
    “Not at first. For seven hundred years, the Bringers lived without incident from the Bane. Vile is a most devious and patient demon.”
    Rhys looked at the floor. He tapped his index fingers together in a steady cadence to center his thoughts and keep his anger from coating his words. To relate the story meant closing off the pain.
    “With no sign of the Bane for several centuries, the Bringers relaxed their watch,” he continued in a steady voice. “They integrated themselves into human society. Some even fell in love and married humans.”
    “They must have produced hundreds of children—hundreds of mixed Bringers.”
    “From what I’ve learned there are several thousand of us scattered around the world. My parents were already married and remained together. Most who volunteered to stay in Inness were unattached Bringers in their primes.”
    “That’s quite a sacrifice. At least they found some happiness in this foreign land.”
    “Perhaps. I’ve always assumed the Bringers performed their duties.” He stood and gazed down at her. “But given the choice, they would have returned home.”
    “Were all the Bringers who stayed behind murdered?”
    He gripped the back of the chair. She needed to know their history, but remembering the day his parents died opened a tender wound. “Yes. Vile and his minions systematically assassinated each full-blooded Bringer. They were ruthless and calculating.”
    A dozen emotions played across her face. She licked her lips as if preparing to say something. Normally the action would have aroused him, but he knew the movement was nothing more than a prelude to another prying query. Indecision wavered on her face. “Were you there?”
    He wished she hadn’t asked. He straightened, hands clasped behind his back. “Yes. I was there.”
    Those four words tore his wound wide open. He walked to window, seeing nothing but his memories of that grievous day. Despite the warm sun, a chill raced through his body. He hated remembering. “I was six years old.”
    The rustle of bedding issued behind him, followed by soft footsteps. Wrapped tightly in her blanket, Ravyn moved to stand a few arm lengths away. He glanced at her and back out the window. Her concern blazed like a roaring hearth on a winter day.
    “What happened?” Her need to console him spread across the distance like giant wings, but she kept her distance.
    Images pushed their way to the forefront of his mind, and suddenly he was six again. “The demons attacked my parents.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “My father told me to stay hidden, but I didn’t.”
    Screams and the clanking of swords reverberated through his memory.
    “I wanted to help.” The vision of that day gripped him. “My parents fought bravely. They moved like dancers, protecting each other’s backs while slashing and blasting demon after demon.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so horrific.”
    Ravyn took a small step closer. He looked into her pale eyes and some of his anguish eased. She gave him a slight nod, encouraging him to continue. For the first time he wasn’t reliving these memories alone. He couldn’t look away.
    “I wanted to help. My father saw me charge into the horde of demons and yelled. I don’t know what he screamed. I was too panicked. Before I’d run ten steps, one of the Bane caught me and slung me over his shoulder. There were too many. My parents were overpowered.”
    Guilt. Shame. Vulnerability. His three jailers never let the memory of their deaths fade. “When I saw my parents’ limp bodies, I kicked and scratched at the creature. Surprisingly, it released me. I dropped and crawled through the blockade of legs to get to my father. I could barely