Chapter 6

Pops and I landed with a thud as we exited the time portal. I was still going over everything that I had seen after I had shoved the second body through. A hunter! I knew they wanted me and my family gone, though I couldn’t see them finding a genuine reason for a hunter.

“You wondering how they are going to justify sending a hunter?” I heard Pops breaking my train of thought.

“Yeah, Pops, that had occurred to me. We must leave Pops; I can’t endanger the rest of the tribe like this.” I told him, a little afraid that the hunter would kill everyone just to get to me.

Shaking his head, Pops started to chuckle a moment. “Really, Pops, I fail to see what is so funny!” I yelled at him.

“Toman, you have far more control than your father did. Hell, I’d say you have more than any mage your age. The fact that you are mastering everything you see as quickly as you are is proof of that. If Mordaf can show you a lot more, I think you might be damn near unstoppable.” Pops told me.

I could only stare at Pops as if he were crazy. The second time I opened the portal, it was straightforward. How in the hell was that gaining control. “I’m not really seeing it, Pops,” I said.

Sighing, Pops said, “Toman, you have what we call a third eye. What you see, you learn, physical or metaphysical. You are also, as Mordaf said, a total user; this means that given enough time, there is almost nothing that you can’t do. We need to get you training as soon as we can. I feel it is the only chance we have.”

I nodded as I looked at Pops again. I could see where I had increased his defenses. Sighing, I reached out, trying to increase them more. A few moments later, Pops’ eyes flew wide as he started to feel his protection barriers rise to another two levels.

“I’m sorry, Pops. I don’t want you to get hurt. Had I you this high, that asshole wouldn’t have been able to hurt you. You’re a level higher than he was; it isn’t enough yet, though, I can feel it is straining you some.” I told him.

“Hell, son, anything you can do will be helpful. I might not be able to hurt them, but now I can make them work at hurting me.” Pops said with a half smile.

“Damn it, Pops! That isn’t funny! I’m trying to be serious here, like you told me.” I almost yelled.

Pops nodded, “I’m sorry, Toman. I thought a little humor might help you relax. I apologize.”

I hung my head. It was true I was uptight as hell, especially after learning that the council was sending their best hunter after me. Everyone knew of the hunters, and they rarely failed. Armed with a myriad of charms, they were virtually undefeatable. A moment later, I felt Pop’s hand slapping my face.

“You need to stop this defeatist attitude! You think you are going to lose going into a battle, then it’s a damn sure bet you will!” Pops said, his eyes flaring.

“Damn it, Pops!” I said as I rubbed my cheek. “This is a hunter, a damn hunter their best! You know as well as I do that they can’t be beaten normally.”

Pops shook his head and looked at me as if I were the stupidest being. “They can be beaten, and I thought you had noticed that you are anything BUT normal! You have a wellspring of power within you that the universe hasn’t seen in a long time! Now, gett over this pity you are feeling; we have to increase you!”

I was about to answer when we both heard Tall Bear. [Reg? Is that you?] We looked at each other as we listened to the almost desperation in his thoughts.

[Yes, Mordy. We just got back. I’m sorry we were gone so long. We had... ] Pops started.

[Thank the great power that you have returned!] Tall Bear interrupted Pops’ thoughts. [It’s Naci! I came back today to find her missing! I have searched but am feeling nothing. I need your help.

Toman! I cannot feel her even with what you increased in me.]

I was shocked as I looked at Pops. She was missing? A high elite couldn’t feel her? Growling, I thought this felt like a hunter. It had to be! It was too soon for the council leader’s son to have tracked us. [I’ll be there as soon as I can!] I told Tall Bear.

As I started to run, I felt Pops trying to keep up with me smiling. I thought good, he’s going to help. Arriving at Tall Bear’s teepee, I went inside, trying to feel anything I could. Shaking my head, I was about to leave when I felt and saw the thought cube. Walking to it, I felt it pulse and then open.

“Good, you found this, so there are two wild magic users here! Come for me, you freakish son of a human! I should be well rewarded if you are who I think you are! Well, afraid you piss ant? You should be. I am only a low-level hunter, and I took her easily, her being trained. You should be easy, so come to me, you miserable piece of filth!” I could feel the anger rising in me as the cube shut off. Walking out, I tried to hold it in, though I was failing.

Through clenched teeth, I told Pops and Tall Bear. “A bastard hunter has taken her. This is my fault, and I will go after her!”

“No, Toman,” Tall Bear started ‘til I turned toward him, blowing him a good forty feet away.

“NO! I said, “I AM GOING AFTER HER! Do not interfere; do not get in my way!” Growling, I held out my hand, suddenly feeling Naci; nodding to Pops, I suddenly flashed out.

Pops went to Tall Bear, helping him up. “Damn it, Reg, he’s walking into a trap!”

“I think he knows Mordy, and I don’t think he cares. No, you see him finally accepting that he also loves her. God, I wouldn’t want to be that hunter. I doubt seriously that the one holding her has much of a chance even with all the charms.” Pops replied.

“Has he that much control?” Tall Bear asked.

“When it comes to her? Yeah, that and a whole lot more!” Pops said.

I appeared miles from the tribe’s camp, a massive clearing with Naci sitting in the middle. “Ah, so you came after all! This little whore must mean a lot to you. It’s okay. I’ll extinguish her as soon as I am done with you. Come on, I know you want to kill me. Let’s see if you can!”

Not moving, I felt no less than forty charms around the clearing. Let’s see power siphoning and power dampening. I think I felt power enhancers on him. Smiling, I took a step, feeling the siphoning startup. Reaching out, I sent a huge wave of power toward them, smiling when they all started to pop out of existence. Several chopping motions took care of the dampening effects, as those split in half were useless.

Taking another step, I smiled even bigger. The hunter’s eyes were huge as he moved to a now unconscious Naci. “Stop! Another step, and your little whore is dead!”

Growling, I felt my anger start again. How dare this piece of trash touch her! Reaching out with my mind, I saw each charm he had left. Then I felt each one start to crack. The hunter’s mouth dropped open as I saw him mouth ‘how?’

“You are a stupid piece of trash! Stupid in that you should research more before taking on an opponent far stronger than your charms! Touch her again and know that the death you experience may never end!” I growled between clenched teeth.

“Ha! As long as I hold your whore I have power over you! Now, on your knees while I take your life!” With a wicked laugh, the hunter waited.

I could feel my anger growing at the moment. Finally, I raised my hand, motioning toward the hunter. At first, nothing happened, then the hunter’s arm snapped as it was thrust backward. Then the other arm snapped twice as it also was bent backward. Slicing with my hand, both legs were suddenly laying beside the hunter, screaming at the top of his voice.

Walking up to all the parts, I whispered, barely able to contain my anger. “You were dead as soon as I entered this clearing. You were just too stupid to realize it!” Reaching in, I stripped all of what little power the hunter had. “I leave you this,” I told him as I placed a vision of him being burned alive over and over. “Goodbye, you ass!” Walking away, I heard him start to whimper, cry, and then scream as, in his mind, his flesh was destroyed over and over.

I passed a hand over to Naci, trying to see what he’d done to her. Thankfully, she had only been knocked out. Picking her up, I took a last look at the hunter, feeling his memory growing smaller and smaller. Nodding, I thought of the village and flashed out.

Appearing on the outskirts, I started to walk in carrying Naci in my arms. There was a great commotion, and then Pops and Tall Bear were beside me, helping me as I made a direct line for their teepee. Neither man said a word as I still wore an extremely pissed-off look. Finally, I walked in, placing Naci on her skin; only then could I relax.

Even as I felt the tension leaving me, my strength faltered. I refused the help of either man as I sank to my knees beside Naci. I had almost lost her once. I wasn’t about to leave her ‘til I knew she was okay.

Pops and Tall Bear shook their heads as they sent for several women. Bathing Naci’s face and then trying to tend to me, I sat there like a stone, awaiting the first sign from Naci. It was almost two hours later that Naci’s eyes flickered open. Looking around in shock, her eyes settled on me.

“Toman! You should not be here!” She whispered, a little afraid.

“I wasn’t about to leave ‘til I was sure you were alright.” Leaning close, I whispered, “That piece of garbage will never hurt you again! I made sure of it!” Standing on unsteady legs, I bowed to all the women, and Naci then turned to leave.

I heard a gasp behind me, then Naci, [thank you, Toman. He took me by surprise. I thought I was dead. Again, you have saved my life!]

[You are to be my wife. Would you expect less of me? You will be the other half of me. I will always protect you one way or another!] I thought back to her as I left the teepee.

[Still, husband-to-be, I will always thank you. ‘Til we are together, ] Naci responded emphatically!