Chapter 20

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

I could barely believe what I was hearing. Did she want my help? Shaking my head, I was still staring at her in disbelief.

With a huge sigh, I reached out, feeling all the spells and curses on her. Then my eyes shot open when I felt more than thirty. Hell, I was counting upwards of forty now. Growling, I started ripping out the spells as fast as I could grasp them.

I felt Morgana start to relax as soon as I hit twenty. Damn, it seemed someone had been pretty pissed at her to do this many. Then there were the curses, and they were going to be tricky. Even as powerful as I was, rules still had to be followed. Even though I had no Naci anymore, I wasn’t quite ready to lie down and die yet.

I had just gotten the thirtieth spell when I heard the first tree roar. Then, the hideous, deformed thing was lunging out toward Morgana. A quirky smile lit up her face as I raised my hand. Then I saw that she was also.

“Try not to destroy her. She still has control over the island and the Dark Range. She had almost transferred it all to me when you appeared,” Morgana said, her eyes far clearer than they had been. Hell, even the smile she wore appeared to be far more genuine than ever.

I nodded as I started to power up, and then I went higher and higher. I saw Morgana flinch a bit when I continued to climb even higher. I felt all my frustration, all my grief, all my pain pushing my power higher than I thought I had ever felt it.

The first tree hesitated, reaching toward the both of us for only a moment, giving me all the advantage I needed. I was about to release a titanic blast when I felt Morgana place a hand gently on my arm. Much of my anger evaporated as I nodded, releasing my blast and changing the spell at the last moment.

[You can’t hope to defeat me. If I am destroyed, this whole place vanishes, you both along with it.] I heard the thoughts of the first tree say.

“Destroyed? Oh no, though,” here the tree screamed as my freezing blast hit it. “You’d be greatly surprised at what you can survive.”

[You will never leave the Dark Range, Morgan le Fay. With all that we have placed on you, you will be dead long before you leave. You... ] the tree’s thoughts were yelling at the both of us.

“Hey, stupid!” I yelled back, causing the tree to gasp. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have removed thirty of the spells. Plus,” here, I waved my hand and then nodded. “The worst two of the curses are gone. Nothing left can kill her. So do us both a favor and bugger off!”

Again, the tree gasped, and then I heard it chant. Unfortunately for it, I had been prepared as I waved both hands, causing my wards to seal her mouth shut. I then chanted almost the same curse. The screams that the tree started to issue had me cringing a bit.

[NO! There is no way that you ... NO! You are the foretold total user! I... ] the tree started.

“I’m tired of listening to you! Shut up! Ahh! So much better. Goodbye, and enjoy. I am sure you have been here before, though not without someone to steal humanity from. I think you’ll make a very good tree.” I told the tree as both Morgana and I turned to leave.

The trip out only took a day, which was very easy compared to the week coming in. Along the way, I told Morgana my plan to kill the demon, restore my father, and let the power consume me. I also told her of Merlin’s death. I could have done without the haunted look in her eyes as we trudged along the forest.

The worst, though, was when I told her of Naci, and how I had finally realized that I loved her. It had hit me when I had first left Rigal. I felt as if someone had dropped a building on me. When I finished, both of us felt tears falling from our eyes.

When we were finally out of the forest, I bid her farewell. I had removed the six curses, three of the last spells, the last I couldn’t touch for a few weeks. I had arrested it, promising her I’d remove it as soon as I finished Ukobach.

Then, with a sad look, I vanished to train my power higher. Morgana stood there for a few moments. She started waving her hand when a portal opened in front of her. Then her mouth dropped open as Gwendydd stepped out, and a smile appeared.

“Hello, Morgana. I see that Merlin’s student has released you. Good,” Gwendydd told Morgana.

Morgana could only stare at Gwendydd, smiling. Merlin’s sister nodded. “I thought that you were in a different magical dimension,” Morgana stated, finally breaking out of the shock.

“Many things have changed, my dear, many things. So, it appears he is still as hard to find as before. Might I suggest that we depart as soon as possible? If I felt him, then I am sure the enforcers also have.” Gwendydd informed Morgana. Gently pulling Morgana into the portal both women winked out.

A few moments later, Ukobach appeared with well over a hundred enforcers. Ukobach watched as the leader of the enforcers drew out what appeared to be a diving rod. Going slowly around the area, he stopped and then nodded to Ukobach. “He was here, Council leader, though there is no indication of where he went.”

Ukobach’s face twisted into a rage as he pointed the finger at the leader. “I suggest that you put every resource you have on this. That bastard wild magic user could kill many before we get him.” Leaning close, Ukobach whispered loud enough for more than just the leader to hear. “You know he has no love for the enforcers. He just might start on the enforcer corps.”

Ukobach nodded when he saw the leader, and several around them bristled. Those around immediately started to whisper to those further back. Ukobach saw that what he’d said was having the desired effect. Almost all of them had an angry look on their faces. Good, they would fight to the last for themselves if not for him.

‘Now,’ he thought, ‘I just need to deal with the new councilors that had replaced those that were destroyed. Though,’ he thought as he rubbed his chin, ‘they seemed to be more for themselves than anything.’ Nodding his head, he thought, ‘Yes, I could use that to my advantage.’

Watching for a few moments more, Ukobach finally shook his head. Looking at the dark forest, which was not far away, he felt the many dark forces within it. Ah, he thought, so the Dark Range existed. It felt so welcoming. He’d already be deep within it if the enforcers weren’t with him. It felt quite a bit like home. The sheer amount of dark energy had the stump where his arm tingled. ‘Here,’ he thought, ‘I might have to revisit this place soon.’

Waving his remaining arm, he vanished, appearing again within the council chambers. Looking around, he saw that almost all the new councilors were still there. So they had nothing to do? He seriously doubted that, though with the added power here, they never had to leave unless they had to be there.

Looking around, he saw Creton and Clondal staring at each other with heated looks. They were two of the three strongest of the new Councilors. Strange, he thought, where was Lyndeth? The hatred he’d seen between her and Creton had almost been palatable. Did she have something on Creton that had him backed away? He needed to find out.

Looking over the other five, he could see they trusted none of the others. Ah, a good council trusting no one and helping no one. Perfect, it would be easy to trap them into his web of lies and deceit. Rubbing his hands together, Ukobach started to plan to have all of the new ones working for him soon.

I had gone back to where I had left Rigal. Not expecting him to be there, I was shocked when I appeared beside the mage’s house. “Toman, am I glad to see you after you left...” Rigal started.

“Yeah, I know you didn’t expect me to return. Nor do I think you expect me to fulfill my promise.” I stated as I held up a mage’s eye.

Rigal looked into the image, his mouth dropping open. “Is this real? You freed her? How is she still free? He always keeps tabs on her to ensure she hasn’t gotten away.”

I nodded as I pointed at the eye, “Mrs. Vanderhoon. I have someone here who wishes to speak to you.”

I saw her head snap up as she heard my voice. “I never was able to thank you for freeing me, and I am not sure I ever will be able to.”

I was nodding, with a sad look, “Go ahead. I know she is as anxious as you are.”

“Mother? Is that you? I have tried the last few years to increase my magic to free you. I’m sorry I failed so many times.” This last part was spoken in a low whisper.

“No, my son, not your failures. Just a lack of power. You found the one who did free me. Is there any way that we can be together?” His mother asked, turning toward my image.

I nodded, thinking momentarily, “It is more than possible.” Then I turned toward Rigal, “You, I am afraid, are going to have to die.”

I heard his mother gasp, and then she covered her mouth. “You can’t be serious! You set me free, and now you’re going to kill Rigal?! You might as well kill me also.’