Chapter 15

Myria was there in a moment. She had felt the pain from Tom when he’d entered, but when she checked, there was no damage to his body or mind. She felt the pain, and she knew that it had been caused by Malamon. Tom looked at her. God! What a welcome sight. She reached for him and almost touched him but quickly pulled back. At that moment, she smiled the largest and most beautiful one yet. The tingling was far more intense and quickly up to his neck, then at his ears, his eyes. Everything was starting to make sense. Then it crawled up his forehead. It was as if his eyes had been blind for years, and now he could suddenly see. Everything was clear. He could almost see what Malamon was doing, hiding, how he did almost everything. With a nod and a smile to her, Tom finally knew what he had to do.

Myria’s eyes flew wide when she realized that Tom was healed and finally had the knowledge he needed, the knowledge given to her by the other the day before he died. Withdrawing, Tom awoke in his bed more rested and ready to start the day than ever before. Preparing his house for his guests, he could actually feel them coming. That last battle had pushed him to the brink and had definitely pushed his power up. They all arrived within moments of each other. Sitting them down, they awaited Queen Iterne. With a swoosh, she arrived and was seated.

“I have devised a plan,” stated Tom. “I will need the help of all magical and non-magical beings.”

They sat there for many hours discussing his plan, revising it, then again, then a third time. Tom could see that the magical world was afraid. He could see that they weren’t really strong enough to help him. Sighing, he revised the plan a fourth time. Seeing the satisfied look on their faces, he knew he had a winner this time.

After they had all eaten, each surprised that Tom had each of their favorite dishes, they finally got down to discussing just how the plan was going to be implemented. Many hours later, they all were departing. Tom was surprised that his front room was crowded with a mixture of the four races, each talking like old friends to the others. They all had started to depart, and only the Fairy Queen and her guard were left. They were about to leave when one at the back fired flame bolts at the queen. Grabbing her, Tom flung them both to the floor, the bolts missing her, grazing his arm, and killing five of her guard. Angered, Tom froze the traitor. The fairy started shouting at Tom and the queen. Tom was so enraged he almost crushed the life from him.

The queen had him chained and sent to her punishment pens. Tom was running on pure adrenaline, calling the council, though they were there faster than he thought they would be. The queen stood over him, not allowing anyone near him until he stood. Looking down at his arm, Tom smiled at her and thought, damn, this was going to ruin my whole damn day. Taking a step as the pain started in after the adrenaline wore off, Tom thought he heard her scream. As the world started to go dark, he swore he felt something wet and sticky covering his arm, then nothing as he slid to the floor beside the queen.