Chapter 14

[b]Merlin’s family[/b]

Merlin
Gwendydd - sister
Morgenau - brother
Morial - brother
Morien - brother
Mordaf - brother - Naci’s father

I was still reviewing our last action when Naci walked to me with a plate of food. “Here, husband, you need to keep up your strength if we are to succeed.” Then, with a wry smile, she continued. “Besides, if we are to start a family one day, you must be in your best shape.”

I was startled a moment as I stared at her. What in the hell was she on about? I looked closer into her eyes again, noticing that strange look deep in them that I had seen before with a soft, almost shy laugh when she moved off as she threw another strange smile over her shoulder.

Shaking my head, I was no closer to figuring her out than when I met her almost a year ago. Concentrating, I started in on another mage’s eye, hoping to gain more insight. Within moments, I nodded as I was outside the council chambers. It wasn’t that clear, but I finally zeroed in on it.

I was finally moving into a much higher level of power. As I remember, Merlin was one of the few who could view the council hall like this. Shuddering, I remembered what Rigal had said about Merlin being dead. Shaking my head, I hoped it wasn’t true, or both Naci and I were as good as dead.

Looking in, I saw they had quickly added two new mages to keep the council active. Smiling, I thought, far be it from me to allow this to stand for long. I had to take another to eat away at Ukobach’s complete control. Anything I could do to weaken his position, I needed to do.

Then, I also thought of Rigal. Knowing that little ass, he had gotten free and was already on the look for Naci and me. I was going to have to deal with him permanently. Though he was more annoyed now, I still had Naci to consider.

Sitting there in deep concentration, I didn’t even notice that Naci had placed a blanket around me to ward off the cold that was starting. I knew the council members would be on their guard now. I needed a new way to get to them that no one had thought of. Several hundred ideas later, I think I might have hit upon an idea.

Finally getting up, I almost fell as my legs and feet were more numb than I thought they were. Holy shit! How long had I been sitting there? Then I noticed it was almost entirely dark, and Naci sat beside me quietly with a more than worried look.

Seeing that I was finally back to the here and now, she helped me stand. “Toman husband, I know you have a great deal on your mind. However, if you continue like this, I am afraid I will be burying you before we are truly anything like a family. Please, husband, you scare me when you go away like this.”

I looked at her face, seeing the worry and concern. Then I noticed that look in her eyes again, a pained look and something else so profound that I had no idea what it was. I hated asking her as I was afraid she would lose respect for me and no longer wish to help. The simple fact was she had been far more help than I ever thought she would have been. I wasn’t about to give up on that.

“I’m sorry, Naci, for the moment, I am trying to come up with something. We have weakened Ukobach’s control, though that’s all. We have to hit him and struck him. The thing is, we both need to increase our power. I have you higher, though I have neglected to increase my own for some time. I think we both need to work on this.” I told Naci.

Naci nodded as I told her this. “I also believe this is a course of action we must take.”

Sighing, I stood as I started to go through the exercises that Merlin had taught me to steadily increase my power’s strength. I had been at it for almost two hours when I finally felt my power start to grow. I looked at Naci as her mouth was open. “You have finally moved higher, husband. How much longer can you continue? I seem to remember Uncle saying that too much and you stand to strain your power.”

I nodded as I felt for what she was talking about. “As of yet, I feel no strain, though I am keeping an eye on it. Merlin told me that if I strained too much, it would be painful and that I might be unable to use my powers for a few days. I don’t want us that unprotected.”

Naci nodded with a small smile, “Again, that would be wise, husband.”

I was turning away from Naci when I noticed that strange look on her face again. I could easily recognize the pride she had in me, though I was utterly baffled by this other one. I could just ask her, and then again, would she tell me? Hell, was I prepared for what she might say? Sighing, I had to find out some way, as this distracted me.

Finally, four hours later, I felt my power had finally moved up another level. Stopping, I could feel the drain Merlin had mentioned. Though it wasn’t painful as of yet, I could tell I would be in a whole new world of pain if I continued.

I dropped into my chair like I weighed a hell of a lot more than I did. A moment later, Naci placed a plate of food next to me.

“I can feel your power is higher, husband; I hope I can still help you. I feel that you won’t need me anymore at one point.” Naci said as she lowered her head, the glint of tears in her eyes.

Shocked a moment, I gently pulled her chin up, looking her squarely in the eyes. “I told you that you have been of great help to me. Don’t forget the last council member’s house. You saw the danger that I didn’t; I could have gotten us killed. No, Naci, you are faring far better than I am. I sometimes wonder why I am doing this, as careless as I am.”

This time, I had dropped my head, almost ashamed to look at Naci. It was true I could have gotten the both of us killed.

“No, husband, you did what you had to. You have far more on your shoulders than almost anyone I have seen. Together, we can prevail in this. Husband, I trust you more than anyone. I will do all I can to help. You just have to allow me to help you.”

My head snapped up to stare at Naci, not sure if she was mocking me or telling the truth. From the sincere look she had on her face, I could see she had said all this in earnest. Then I saw that look again. I could swear it was almost the exact look I had seen in my mother’s eyes. By all that is holy! Was that a look of love? For me?

I shook my head and stared briefly before Naci turned away. “I need to strengthen you more, Naci. You are becoming formidable with your power, though I am afraid that your defenses are still too low. You know who we are up against. I must get you to a higher level before we meet him.”

Naci’s eyes were wide for a moment. Then she nodded as she sat before me, concentrating. “I am ready, husband.” She replied.

Nodding, I reached out to her and then delved in. Going straight to her power center, I saw that all I had done was still as strong. Good, I thought if she could keep them where they were or higher, she had more than a good chance to survive. Reaching out to her defenses, I gently touched all of them, feeling Naci sigh. Drawing in from around me, I started adding to the strands, watching as they thickened very slowly. Now that they were as thick as they were, increasing them was taking far longer.

I was afraid to do more than an hour, so I stopped scanning her. Ah! Good! She was past the three-fourths point now. “Alright, I will power up, the same as before. I want you to block then whatever you feel is right.” I told her as she was nodding.

Going to half my power, I let a blast toward her. Stopping it cold, I smiled; a month ago, she’d had nothing near this for defenses. Slowly, I increased, feeling her do the same. Finally, I was at three-fourths as I started to move even higher. Naci was still holding her own, though I could see she was just beginning to struggle. She surprised me by bouncing part of it back at me.

Smiling hugely, I nodded as I held the blast with one hand and what she’d sent back with the other. She had learned this on her own. I couldn’t be happier. Closing my hand, I saw that the blast was gone.

Applauding, I stated, “Very good, Naci!” Walking up to her, I hugged her tightly to me, then backed up suddenly as if I had been burned. Naci had a look of pure joy on her face, along with a highly infectious smile.

“Thank you, husband,” she said as she suddenly launched herself at me, hugging me back. This, of course, caught me off guard as I hit the ground with her on top of me. Then she started to kiss my face.

Pulling back from her, I stared questioningly at her. “Thank me? For what?” I asked, still confused.

Naci slowly got off me, “That was the first time you have ever touched me like that, husband. I was beginning to think that you didn’t like me.” She smiled shyly and then continued. “Now I know different. This was the first time you praised me and my powers, so again, thank you.”

I sat back and thought about it. Then I nodded my head. She was right. “I’m sorry, Naci, I hadn’t realized I had been so hard on you. I will try harder, ok?”

Naci got a massive smile on her face as she vigorously nodded her head yes. “I will also try harder, husband Toman.”

“I know you will, Naci, though I haven’t encouraged you that I should. I feel that I have failed you at almost every turn. I am surprised that you still wish to stay with me.” I told her as I lowered my head. I was feeling pretty bad about all of it. That is ‘til I heard Naci gasp.

“Toman Wilbey!” She shouted at me. “If this is an attempt to get me to leave your side, then you are gravely mistaken!”