The villagers stood around the heartwood of Inferno Oak. They still looked skeptical because they couldn't believe that a tree that never burned, even when struck by lightning, could burn for more than a week.
Ronan placed the cut heartwood in front of Roxana. "Would you like me to start a fire?"
Roxana held back Ronan's hand, which wanted to light a fire in the torch. "The heartwood can burn with any fire, but I want to use a stronger fire to test its durability."
Her ocean eyes glanced at Damian. "Lit your fire."
"As you wish, Your Grace."
Damian flicked his fingers, igniting a small, shimmering flame on his hand. It danced and flickered like a living thing, casting a warm glow across his face. His ability to summon that flame left the villagers speechless, for they had never experienced fire magic as hot as that, even hotter than the sacred fire possessed by the Oberon family.
