Chapter 9

Naci and I emerged from the Teepee that Pops and I had shared. Making our way out of the village towards the bubble, we entered, seeing Pops, Merlin, Mordaf (aka Tall Bear), and my mother.

“Before I go, Pops, I thought I might do something to help these people,” I told all of them. Concentrating, I stretched out, feeling the bubble, and then I felt it as it expanded toward the village. Within moments, I felt it spread over the entire village, then beyond to the other side.

Pops shook his head as he felt the bubble was as strong as before. “Well done, Toman! This should help to hide all four of us.”

Merlin also nodded, “Remember, Toman, the third eye you possess is a great help. Though, as I told you, it also takes a great amount of energy the stronger spells you learn.”

I nodded to him as my mother came up to hug Naci and me. “Just don’t forget about us here, Toman. One day soon, I want your father back, as I am sure you do.” Turning to Naci, she quietly said. “Watch him well, Naci; there are many enemies out there after him, and now you.”

Smiling slyly, then blushing, Naci nodded. “I just hope we have the time to start a family. Neither of us knows how yet, so this will also be an adventure of discovery.”

Drennan smiled larger at this, “You mean neither of you...” Here, her smile grew. “You are correct, Naci. It will be an adventure of discovery!”

I wasn’t sure what both of the females were talking about, and I blushed, also. What in the hell was going on?

I nodded to them, then waved a hand as a portal opened. Stepping through, both of us vanished. Appearing a good decade further back, I looked around and nodded. “This is as good a place as any to start and camp for now.”

Naci looked around and did not recognize the place they were. “Where are we? I do not recognize this place...” She said.

“That’s the thing. It’s not just where but also when. We are still in the human dimension, still on the same continent. Though I moved us to the other side of it about ten years earlier, I wanted a little time to start working on you, Naci. I did, after all, make a promise.”

Her sweet smile broke out, “Yes, you did, Toman. It’s wonderful that you remembered.”

“You’re now my partner. How the hell could I forget?” I said, then passed his hand over to an area before us. Smiling, a small equipped camp appeared.

Naci looked, then smirked at me as she waved a hand, making a few things I had forgotten appear. “There, that’s a lot better, I think.”

I looked at the new items that had been added, and I had a look of shock and appreciation on my face. “I do believe you’re right. Thanks, Naci.” Concentrating, I felt the bubble form and then start to grow at least two hundred yards beyond the edge of their camp. Nodding to myself, I went into our mage tent.

Naci watched me as I went, wondering what I would do. Upon entering, she saw me staring at a spot on a table in the middle of the room. “Toman?” Naci started quickly quieting when I held up a hand. A moment later, a small sphere appeared on the table. Breathing a sigh of relief, I nodded to her. “You made a mage’s eye! I just started to learn that!”

“I thought it might be prudent to have one with all we have to do.” Waving my hand gently over it, I smiled. “There, it’s now keyed to the both of us only.” Turning to the sphere, I asked. “Show me the weakest of those that knew of and approved the plan to eliminate my family!”

For a moment, nothing happened, and then the sphere started to react. Growing milky for a moment, then, a small mousey-like man appeared. “Who is that? I don’t recall anyone like him on the council.” Naci asked.

“Like the one I erased, he is a sub-council member. I’m afraid that they are only about sub-mage level forty to mage level two. They are a kind of shield to the actual council members. If I remember right, there are also thirty-six of them. Three for each council member.” I told Naci.

Naci nodded as she watched. Wait! There were forty-eight of them out there? “Toman, I admit we both are strong, though even together, we aren’t THAT strong!”

Nodding, I agreed, then continued. “I, in no way, intend to go against all of them simultaneously. No, I, we are going to whittle them away.”

“Toman, if we could get maybe two or three at a time, it might speed things along.” Naci suddenly said. “After all, I am here to help you. I have no qualms about ending those that wish to harm you or OUR family!” Naci said with a fierce determination that made Toman smile and then nod.

“This may take a while to do Naci. As long as the council’s leadership is in the hands of a power monger, I won’t stop. I also hope to gain a few allies from the other families that have been victimized.” I told Naci with a sudden, serious face.

Placing her hands on her hips, Naci stared straight into my eyes. “I told you, Toman, where you go, so do I! Are you thinking of sending me back to father?” Here, her hands started to glow brighter. “I don’t suggest that you try! I’m not as strong as you, but I can still hurt you! Do you doubt it?”

I whirled to face Naci, feeling the huge spike in her power. Shit! She was serious! Remembering the punches I had received, I had to diffuse this quickly. “No, why do you think I want to return you to your father?”

“Hmph! I have seen that look before Toman! I am not a weak-willed female that you can fool with a few kind and pretty words! I warn you! I will hurt you if I have to prove to you that I am strong enough.” Naci growled out at me.

Sighing, I raised my hands in defeat. It was damn unlikely I was going to get her to go home or play it safe. Bowing my head, I said, defeated, “On my oath as a mage, I will not send you back. Unless it is the only way to save you.” I said under my breath.”

“What was that?” Naci growled at me.

“Nothing, Naci,” I said, my head bowed. “I admit defeat to you.”

“Other than this, you are in control,” Naci said, leaning down to kiss me. It felt as if a vast current was flowing through me. I broke the kiss, staring at Naci, seeing that she and I were panting. “I am yours, Toman. Do not forget that. When you are ready, I will also be. Remember, I love you.” I could only stand there watching her receding figure as she walked out.

Sitting down, I started to plan how to get this puny mage. An almost heavenly aroma floated through the air towards me a few hours later. A moment later, my stomach rumbled, and a soft giggling sounded behind me.

“Soon, husband, it will be ready,” Naci said, standing in the tent’s opening. My mouth must have dropped open as she suddenly looked all over her body. “Husband? Is there something on me?”

I only shook my head, staring at her almost painted-on clothes. Wow! Her every curve, her chest, and everything else were accented! Good god! I had only thought she was beautiful before, now! She was nothing but gorgeous!

“I ... I...” was all I could manage to get out.

“Husband? What’s wrong? It’s only me, your wife, Naci.” She said, indicating her whole self.

“No,” I said, finally finding my voice. “You have transformed much as I have seen other forms of life. Before, you were beautiful, and now you make me speechless with your beauty!”

Naci could only stare at me with her mouth open as she blushed a deep red. “Me, Toman? Please don’t jest with me. I am still the same who fell in love with you. An un-pretty female mage. I was honored that you accepted the union with me. Honored and proud, had you not, I would now be a worthless one.” Leaning in again, she kissed me deeply with far more passion than she had before now. “You don’t have to pretend I am pretty. I know I’m not.”

Naci was about to walk away with her head bowed when I grabbed her arm. “I’m not really sure what I must do to convince you that you are. I swear that soon you will!” Pulling her to me roughly, I crushed my lips to her as I started to probe at her mouth. With a sigh and then a groan, she went almost limp in my arms.

When we both finally came up for air, she blinked, unable to move. Touching her lips, a small tear came from one eye. Then, a smile lit up her face as she turned to attend to what she was cooking.

I planned to watch everything the sub-council member did for the next few days. Finally, almost a week later, I got Naci, who had been practicing a few things I had shown her. I had also worked on her defenses and levels. Though only two higher, she was much higher than most I had met and seen.

“We are going to have to do this quick. After we take him, I’m sure the hunters will detect us.” I warned Naci.

“Yes, husband, I have been doing all the exercises that you gave me. I can feel the two-level increase.” She told me.

Looking in, I saw that she might be ready, and I increased her defense again. Another two levels now, I felt better with us going into this. Her defense was the one thing she WAS weak in, but now she was coming along well. Looking at her power, I flicked at another spot I hadn’t before. A few moments later, her mouth opened.

“I take it you like what I did?” I asked her.

“God, yes, Toman! Maybe now I can help you heal faster!” She said happily.

I nodded, then said, “Remember the law of power, Naci. One can only be healed by one as powerful, if not more. Your healing is over half what my power is. You have the wild power, though your energy to use all of it is still low.” I smiled at her, “Well, in the last seven days, I have felt that jump from forty to sixty percent. You are definitely becoming a force to deal with.”

Bowing her head, she said, “I am sorry, husband. I have had complete control all my life. Perhaps too much? At least now I can protect myself a hell of a lot better.”

“Oh yes, I definitely agree with that,” I told her as she grabbed me with a huge smile, drawing me to her for a deep kiss. At this time, I felt a tingling feeling in my southern regions again. As Naci pressed herself to me, her eyes went wide, and then a smile came to her lips.