Chapter 19

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

New Council Members

Pikon
Corth
Groton
Tydeth
Docal
Clondal - female
Lyndeth - female
Creton

It had been two days since all three of us had returned. Rigal and Naci were still out of it. The healing and pain had obviously been far more than both could take. I needed both of them when we started planning what we were to do next. I just hoped that Ukobach didn’t have enforcers after us. That would be bad, considering the shape we were all in.

Though Rigal was now with us, I still set out everything I could to warn us. I tried to flex my arm, feeling all the healing Naci had tried to do. She’d taken quite a bit of the pain, though the bone still wasn’t completely whole. Releasing a sigh, I knew the show we had put on had to be convincing. Otherwise, all of this would be for nothing.

I finished with what I could do and returned to the mage house. I sat there for the longest time, just looking at Naci. I had to admit I was starting to feel a hell of a lot more for her. I shook my head. Was I following in love with her? As I had told her, I had been hiding for so long that I wasn’t too sure of what any feeling was now.

I jumped when Naci stirred in her sleep; rushing to her, I looked her over, ensuring she was alright. Breathing a sigh of relief, I sat down to think things through. A noise in the other room of the mage’s house drew my eyes to the doorway. With a groan of pain, Rigal appeared to still not be feeling the best. I held up a hand and then pointed outside. Nodding, he followed me out.

Both of us sat before a single word was spoken. I had managed to make us something to drink.

“So you think that our performance convinced your father?” I finally asked after a few moments of silence.

Rigal seemed deep in thought before turning to me, “Almost any other, I’d say yes. That slimy bastard, I can’t be that sure of. Your taking out his arm pushed your point more in our favor. As for the rest, it’s really hard to say. You know he’s going to try to contact me soon.”

“Yes, I’ve thought of that. Are you going to be able to convince him? You are supposed to be without one of your arms.” I asked Rigal, hoping that we could pull this off.

“I’ve got no problem there. As much as I hate that son of a bitch, my anger can mask almost anything.” Rigal replied, his face twisting in a mask of anger. “With all he has done to my mother, I’ve got no problem helping you end him.”

I nodded; anger was sometimes one of the best motivators. The only problem is that no one can maintain it as long as they want. Though I knew that Rigal had been feeling it for a long time, could he hold it for a long time?

I was about to speak again when I heard a soft groan from the mage’s house. Springing up, I was beside Naci in moments. As her eyes fluttered open, I saw a huge smile on her lips.

“I hope you are a better husband. I put quite a bit of my energy into your healing. Though I am afraid, I am not strong enough to completely heal you.” She said quietly.

“You did exceptionally well. Considering I am far more powerful than you, I am surprised you got as much done as you did.” I told her, which caused an even wider smile to light her face. “Though you did expend more energy than I felt you should have. You almost completely exhausted yourself. Please, don’t push that far again.”

Naci nodded when her head suddenly snapped up as she stared into my eyes. Her mouth dropped open as she stared harder, and then she nodded. “I will be more careful, my husband, my love.” This last a barely audible whisper.

I swallowed hard when I heard these words. Why was my heart hammering away so hard in my chest? “Thank you, Naci. I worry about you when you push so hard.”

Again, Naci was staring at me, and then a sly smile replaced her first smile. “I will work harder not to worry you husband.”

I stared back at Naci, my eyes squinting, as I struggled with the whole conversation. Shaking my head, I thought about letting it go. The problem is, would I remember later? For some reason, I seriously doubted it.

I brought a bowl of what I considered mush for Naci to eat. Taking a sniff, I saw her nose wrinkle a bit, and then she took a spoonful. The grimace I saw covering her face let me know it was awful. Sighing, I nodded as I took the bowl from her.

“I’m sorry, Naci. Cooking isn’t one of my strongest talents. I just wanted to make something to get you stronger.” I shook my head as she took the bowl from me again, forcing another bite into her mouth. Wincing as I watched her swallow quickly to avoid the taste. A moment later, I saw her eyes fly open as she stretched her arms and legs.

“I will admit, husband, the taste could be much better. However, I have to admit that the effects are fantastic! I’m not sure I want to know exactly what you have in this, though I have to thank you. I feel much better already,” she said, lowering her head and whispering, “Thank you, my husband.”

I felt myself blush, though I had no idea why. “I need you if we are to finish this,” I told Naci, seeing her look at me closer, that an even larger smile was spreading across her face.

“I need you also, husband. Never doubt that I am with you in everything.” Naci said, then stood leaning over to kiss them on the lips. “Everything.”

I couldn’t move as I felt rooted to the spot. I also noticed that Naci was walking unsteadily as she moved from me. Finally, I went back out only to be greeted by Rigal’s huge grin, then the shaking of his head as he stared at the both of us.

I was about to speak when Rigal’s face went tense. He waved at everything, then put a hand over his eyes. Nodding, I waved my good arm, feeling my power try to move everything. Damn it! I was still about half power as half the camp near Rigal vanished. Growling, I concentrated harder, finally getting the second half to vanish. Nodding to him, then I was gone.

[Rigal!] Came the screaming thoughts of Ukobach. [I need you back here NOW! How can I expect to maintain control if I only have one arm?!]

Growling Rigal’s thoughts screamed back, [Deal with it you putrid piece of shit! I still operate with one arm, but you can do the same. Now leave me the hell alone. I hurt that son of a bitch. I want to finish him before he can heal. That bitch wife of his is a healer though I doubt she can do much as strong as he is.]

[Strong?! That bastard seed isn’t strong. Where are you getting these illusions?] Came Ukobach’s thoughts.

[Come on! He took your damn arm as if it was nothing. He’s a hell of a lot stronger than you are. Face it, his power is growing, and you know it. I AM the only one who can take him. Now shut the hell up and let me do my job, you ass!] Rigal’s thoughts shot back.

I was trying to speed up my healing and listen in on what was going on with Rigal. I had already gotten all the pain to fade with the arm bone three-fourths healed now. I was pouring on the power when I felt a portal open near Rigal. What the hell was going on?

I opened the mage’s eyes more and saw a different type of portal open. That’s when I felt a lot of power start to come through. Swallowing hard, I could feel at least ten enforcers with Ukobach as he stepped out. Damn it, I wasn’t ready.

Appearing near our old camp, I tried to open another portal as soon as Ukobach stepped out. Luckily, I got the first nine sent back when the second portal faded. Growling, I threw up a shield as I appeared in the camp, freezing Rigal and the enforcer. Damn it, I could feel my power starting to fade some when Ukobach started to open up on me. Hitting my shield, I saw the shots flying in several directions, including toward where I had left Naci.

I tried to fire back but had to drop my shield to do anything. It was almost the moment that I got a shot through hitting Ukobach, and I heard Naci scream, then nothing. I reached out to her, feeling nothing.

“So it appears that I got one of you wild magic users. Good, better to kill you before you can breed more monsters like yourself.” Then, Ukobach made the mistake of laughing about the situation. I felt my anger flare, pushing my power up, double, and then triple. Ukobach’s eyes went large as I was getting through more and more places, now bleeding on his face and one arm. “My work is almost done. When you are ready to die, come for me. Like Merlin, you have lost the one that was perfect for you. Like him, you are just as pathetic!”

I growled as my power rose further, causing Ukobach to curse as he grabbed the enforcer. Then he tried to get Rigal as I started to fire faster. “Fine, keep the bitch! He’s past his usefulness anyway.” Ukobach said as he spat at his son. Turning, he was entering his portal as I struck him in the back, searing him. I smiled as I heard him scream and watched the portal slam shut.

I turned toward Rigal, a look of extreme anger on my face. Growling at him, I waved a hand, appearing in what was left of our mage camp. Falling to my knees, I only stare at the massive devastation. I reached out, trying to feel for Naci, shocked when nothing happened. I found several articles about her clothing that were burned almost beyond recognition.

I waved my hand as I tried to watch what had happened. I dropped my head when I saw Naci watching the blasts, her mouth dropping open as they started to hit the camp. Then, to my horror, I heard her scream when they hit where she stood.

A moment later, Rigal appeared, and the tears started to fall from my face. “I suggest,” I said, taking a deep breath. “You best not get near me. I will honor my promise to you; your mother will be free soon. I suggest you hide ‘til you are better.” I stood turning toward him, my eyes glowing with the excess power I kept in. “I will kill him. Have no fear.” With that, I waved my hand, vanishing, not noticing that all my wounds were completely healed.