Return of the Fire Child

About the Book

He felt the heat encompassing his body, a warm glow, not unpleasant, more therapeutic in nature, and he lay in the warmth and it was soothing and he relaxed.

“You feel how good it is, Fire Child?”  He opened his eyes and looked up and the old man stood before him, suddenly and mysteriously, as he always did.

“Yes,” he replied.  “I feel so strong.”

The Old One nodded.  “The strength comes from within you; it is always there, has always been.  The fire reinforces it and brings it to the surface.”

“Why does this power come to me?”

The ancient one smiled.  “You are growing wise.  Everything given is presented for a purpose.  A gift has no worth if it is not only useful but also used.”

“And I am to use the fire.”

“To save the others, you must.”

“I cannot kill.  Don’t ask me to do that.”  There was sorrow in the voice.

“You cannot kill something that has no life within it.”  He reached into the air, snatching at invisibility, and his hand lowered with the palm and the fingers blazing.  “Fire is a purifier, my child.  It is up to you to cleanse this world.”

The boy raised his arm tentatively and, as the old one had done, he snatched at the nothingness and watched as his hand glowed like a torch.  The fire was cool to his touch but he knew its fatal power.  He looked over at the Old One and again uttered his plea.  “I cannot kill.  Please, don’t make me do it.”

The old man simply nodded.  “You will do what is necessary when the time is right.”

Given his mission to protect the world that he has adopted, the Fire Child returns to his own land to battle the evil that threatens all that he loves.  It is a land filled with strange creatures led by one so powerful that it has already destroyed all who have crossed its path.  Now only the Fire Child stands in its way and it waits for his return.

About the Author

John Hartman lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  After a financial career in the railroad industry, he returned to his first love, that of writing.  He has published two books of short stories: The Belfry and Other Short Stories and Angel Dark and Other Short Stories.  Between those two anthologies, he published the horror novel: Fruelic's Lair.

The book Return of the Fire Child was intended to be the first of an on-going fantasy series.  His newest book, Quest of the Fire Child is the second in the series and he is soon to begin the third installment, Fortress of the Fire Child. He is also hoping to produce a website so that readers can explore the Inner World and its mythological connections as well as learn more about the main characters of the books.  The website will also be used to introduce new characters and creatures that will be featured in future books.