Chapter 15

We had our supper and both Sara and Sonya used the elevator to go up to the house. Electricians had been busy for a long time. Everything that was running at the time of the blast was burnt out. We had used much more crystals than we had used to get Malochuck. I didn't want any possibility of slipping up and erred on the side of more power. Some appliances it was much easier to just buy new.

Mrs Cardinalli got the kitchen the way she wanted but others picked what they thought right for their own quarters. When the tradesmen had left I called a meeting and had to wait for a few minutes so everyone could arrive. Mrs Cardinalli's fruit pies had to be sampled she said for magic food was not as good, she said.

"Mrs Cardinalli, it is your pies that are being made in the complex. I couldn't think of any better to pick from. The children are putting on weight from your cooking and I have to build devices that make them work harder to burn off the calories."

"I miss them. There are so many and... I miss them."

I put my hand on her shoulder and said, "So do I. There is just so much to do to keep them safe that there is little time to do what a family should."

When everybody had arrived I made my greetings and thanked them for their help through the last crisis again. "I have promised you all a Christmas present and I hope you can take advantage of it. I own two fairly large ships now and they are presently being made ready to sail. I want to bring all of my family and that includes all that is in this room. There is no work to do but you may want to be with the children. The rest are going to learn about running the ship which I hope will be interesting."

They were all happy and Sara asked questions for me so I could explain more. "When and where are we going?"

"There is lots of fuel and I don't really know yet. The food will be good but perhaps not up to Mrs Cardinalli's standards. I am going to make it rich tasting and because it is magical you will not have to buy new clothes when you get back. You will not need any warm clothing. You get to go down to the complex where we live and then walk less than nine hundred metres to a special door I made. Walk through and you will be in Houston. you will not see the ranch though because something is happening there. You will go through another portal directly to the ship."

"We will be sailing in the Gulf of Mexico and you can literally walk a few kilometres back to Toronto if you need to. There is no customs to go through but you may want to buy souvenirs if and when we stop."

One person asked, "What if we need passports to get ashore in a different country? You said you don't know where we are going but it may be Mexico or one of the Caribbean islands."

I said, "I am afraid we couldn't use passports because I don't want any of you traced back to me. I can get you ashore if it is necessary but we have to sneak. Our own medical will make sure you don't' carry anything to any others and they will not be able to effect you."

"This cruise is for those people that are already familiar with the use of magic. Another cruise on a slightly smaller ship will have the families that do not know that fact yet. Magic will be used a lot and we will continue with those classes if you wish to take part. I can give you a day or so to think on this offer. Nobody has to go but I would like you to come. The horses, dogs and mail can be still looked after from the ship. Somebody only has to walk back to do these chores."

A sampling of their minds let me know that they were thinking favourably of the cruise. We went back to our area after answering a lot more simple questions.

The family here was even more excited and frightened. Most had no idea of the size of the ships and some had never even seen a boat. Some of the worlds they came from were arid. Pictures had to be shown and then the complex that would be hid on the ship someplace. If I couldn't make a portal to a moving object then we would have to be shuttled to the ship in buses from the ranch.

They would go though because I asked it and they knew they could return to the new complex on the ship and it would be the same as here or any other magical realm.

With our ease at generating a lot of power I got the ingredients to make crystals but now tried for very large sizes. I wanted to make love but the power should not be wasted unless necessary.

Cong got everybody back where they belonged and I started where I had left off last time. This happened to be Ann and she was very aggressive in her lovemaking. While I was making love to her body she was doing the same to me. We both were so focussed on each other that I had not noticed the grid going up. From then on I focussed more on the powder on the floor. Sonya was in charge of this and there certainly was a lot.

I was pleased to see that Sonya and Sara were doing much more than just handing atoms or molecules to me, though they did that too. The others were constructing crystals too but at a much slower rate. Even some of the older children were participating in our communal project.

I found to my surprise that an orgasm was actually detrimental to the construction, though the ladies liked to have this common background of erotic feelings that kept them at it. It reminded me of them all working and just listening to some popular music. The women could probably do all this themselves while drawings power from the complex. This could easily be replaced by wild sex and a lot of love at a later date. A mage would never allow this. He would not be in power and would have to oversee the construction to keep his slaves from getting uppity.

The construction was nearly done and we pushed on another hour to finish the crystal. It was uncharged but it was certainly beautiful and large. It would weight over a hundred kilos and I was not sure if any crystal was even a tenth of this size. Once charged it would have an awesome amount of power available.

The next morning I was very tired from all the work we had done. I fed the children fruit and cooked cereal which they seemed to like as much as I did. I soon had some of my ladies come by for some food as if theirs was not as good enough. Before I was able to go I got some of the riper infants and I changed the babies as their mothers smiled and watched. It was their way of knowing that I was going to look after them even while the going was rough.

When I left the gym, I turned around to see more crystal material being deposited on the floor. Sonya and Sara just held my arms and hurried me on as if this was none of my business.

The girls and I parted company once more but after I removed the time spell from Alison. I went back to my studies of others minds.

A radio call came into the ranch from Hondilas. He said, after the pleasantries, "I found some of their equipment. There are at least three trainees here but they have not made contact. I have not made it easy for them and this is the way it has to be. I think they have gone back to the ship hoping for more instructions. They probably know by now that you have taken Vessio and the two women into custody. They may make an attempt to gain access to perform a rescue. They may also think that I have been compromised."

I said, "There are always people going to the docks. An invisible man could find a lift if he needed to."

"I will go if you order me but it is more in line with my previous orders if I stay here and claim that I am trying to complete my mission by going after you. Would you come out sometime and I can attack you? You can slip away or you can fight me off. They know I am a new mage and this means I am fairly powerful. It would put some authenticity into the act."

"It sure would. What have you in mind?"

"You simply go on a walking tour of the ranch with some managers and security. Behind the stables is a good place where I cast a sleeping spell on all of you. I come from the stables with the intention of transporting you away. You see me coming and shoot some Wizard Fire at me and of course you have to miss. You run to a parked vehicle and I hit it with Wizard Fire. It will be destroyed properly with a lot of noise and flames. You shoot back and I decide that this is not a winnable solution and leave."

I said, "I have to find out how to shoot Wizard Fire first and second the trainees may come out of hiding and assist you."

"I hadn't thought of that possibility."

"We can do this if Sonya and Sara are in my party but temporarily separated. If a trainee shows up and is captured, they will not think it is your fault."

Sonya and Sara were taking a break when I came into their room. Alison was naked and secured to a sturdy wood frame. The room had acquired some new dungeon paraphernalia since I was here earlier in the morning. We now had a brazier and some hot pokers getting ready. There was the smell in the air of burning flesh but the woman had no marks on her.

Sonya smiled at me through sweat drenched features and pointed at the brazier and shook her head. She knew I didn't like this but a good act needed good props.

"I have some good news about Calldas. Let me tidy up here and we can talk about it."

Alison moved at the mention of the name but she was too groggy and to understand much. It was only a bit of psychological warfare anyway. The girls moved beside me and I cast the spell over the woman stretched out on the table.

"What is it, Master?" Came from Sara with a cute smile.

"Nothing about Caldas. Hondilas has been unable to detect some of the trainees. Some he believes, are still here. He wants to set up the stage where he tries to take me but you and I fight him off. I am not seen as that strong and only won because of our numbers. The trainees will come to him for a second attempt and he will take them then."

Sonya asked, "Where do you think the others are?"

"Probably at one or both of the ships but that is a guess. Let's do a bit of studying on how to make the coming act believable."

We had some knowledge of rudimentary spells. We had to learn others but we all required charged crystals for the needed power. The casting of energy was very tiring and a shield was the same way. Usually a shield was in place all the time and only needed to be strengthened if there was time to do so. Mine had always been weak and sometimes nonexistent but I was working on the problem.

I did cast a very powerful spell on Sonya and Sara so they would have some additional coverage. It started to degrade right away and I would renew it before we left the ranch house.

My wishes to have a detail go with me when I made a walking tour were made known and a half dozen armed men were soon at the house. I checked their minds and saw that all of them had been altered as had the other three a few days ago. I gave my own orders and gave a spell for them to forget most of it. They had to know what was happening or they could be killed.

It was noon now and getting warm even if it was almost Christmas. As we walked I made notes for things that needed to be changed or done. This too made the walk plausible.

Sonya and Sara asked at the right time, "I want to check the mare. She is going to foal soon."

"I'll go check the dogs then."

My group made slow progress to allow the girls to get into position. When I rounded the back of the building I saw that there were a lot more vehicles parked here now. Hondilas must have been busy getting the stage set. This time I cast my mind out but saw no magic other than my ladies but had to continue with this. I strengthened my shield and drew power from the crystals in my pockets or hanging from my neck. The four remaining members of security spread out as their orders dictated. I was in the lead and five metres from the closest man.

The blast came out of the blue. I had no idea that it was coming and I was watching very carefully. A car right beside me had exploded and the car body was what partially shielded the detail. I had been blown three metres to the side and into another vehicle.

My shield had been taxed almost to the limit but I lowered it to get a reading of who was around. Three sources were coming my way and two more from the stables. The last group I hoped would be the girls.

I now used Wizard Fire to throw at the trainees. Cars and trucks exploded just like the one that had just happened. I shifted my position as I had been taught by the Plugga. I avoided hitting one man directly but waited until he was near some protection before destroying it.

I was the only one using energy and wondered where the girls were. When I called out with my mind I found them gone from my senses. Worry clouded my mind now and I got more aggressive in my fire. Many trucks were burning but I could take the heat with my shield but with the loss of knowing where the magic and thus my opponents were.

Getting around a shed I saw a man looking out the other side and I quickly used a time spell and moved on. My hearing and other senses were acute because of my training and I was able to use another time spell on a man approaching me from behind. Invisibility was usually used in my training but I wanted them to be drawn to me.

Another person was behind a car and I ran and jumped high. I was surprised that I was not hit when I was in the air. I came down on a man with my feet and this sent us both sprawling. My time spell was quicker and the man froze in position.

"Sonya, Sara. Talk to me!"

There was still no reply and I relied on my training to carry me through. I had to work fast and just wished there was a time spell for me so I would be the one to go much faster. I had to see what had happened to the girls. Security was bound to get here soon and they would get hurt. I also wondered about Hondilas and the loyalty spell I put on him.

A bolt of Wizard Fire came at me but it was the figure in the time spell that saved me from harm. He was safe and his shield was impenetrable. I jumped to one side and unleashed a bolt in return and heard a scream that suddenly stopped. There was one more magical source but I looked at it as a trap like I was taught and tried to see where somebody would position themselves to hit me when I advanced.

The obvious choice was the feed barn. It was still made of wood and had small gaps between the boards that was enough for someone to see me and still cast a spell. This time I went invisible and hurried to the barn. A door on the far side was open and I hurried in. It was dark till my eyes adjusted.

It was my ears that detected the breathing first. One person was on the main floor and there may be others. He was invisible too and I quietly enunciated the time spell. Moving away quickly was a good idea because a pitchfork came hurling where I was and carried by invisible hands or in this case, PK.

In a minute the breathing was heard again. With my own PK I moved a harness across the barn as I climbed the wood post supporting the level above. I was not so foolish as to use the ladder. Bails of hay were not quite at the edge here and I stood. A depressed section of feed told me where my adversary was and again I recited my time spell. A bail of hay came at me but missed as the spell was completed.

I moved again lest I be a target and listened for more breathing. Fire trucks were approaching and it was difficult to nail any particular noise down. I got close to the wall and saw the burning cars and trucks and one magical source. This time I used a lot of power from the crystals for the distance was much greater. The magic now stopped.

In a second I heard running feet in the barn and cast another spell towards the open doorway. The noise stopped and I moved again. There was no more visible magic. My worry for the girls drove me to the stable. The distance was only thirty metres but I felt exposed as I ran. Once inside I found people looking out to find what had happened but not foolish to venture out. I had to push some aside to get in then became visible. They moved back now as if I was going to attack them.

On the main corridor I saw two men were standing and looking at the floor while two more were kneeling. I hurried to them and found why Hondilas had not helped. He was not dead but very hurt.

"Move away now!" When the men moved I used another time spell and left him.

Moments later it was the smell of blood that brought me into a stall. The two girls were crumbled and blood was soaking the straw. Beside them were two of the security detail. They looked to be just unconscious. Again I used the time spell and hoped that they would be ok. Strangely I was much more dispassionate than I should be. Sonya and Sara were the two most important people in my life and yet I worked to go after enemies first. I was not that detached that I was not going to hurt those that hurt my family.

It was a single gunshot that drew me back to the ranch house. The trainees would want to rescue their leader I knew in hindsight. It took only seconds to get there and I was invisible now. Two people were in front of the house laying in the dirt. The front door was closed. I could not detect any magic but some had to be here now. I came in the side door to the kitchen. The staff were hiding in the corner and I passed them to get to the main room.

The opening of the connecting door brought Wizard Fire at me. My shield was at maximum and I cast out my time spell to where I thought the fire had come from. I didn't stop though and hurried to the entrance to the complex.

It was a picture frame that fell that alerted me to another attack and again my time spell lashed out. The entrance was open even though I had put spells against intrusions. I stopped to listen but heard no more breathing though there was now smoke. In seconds the sprinkler system was engaged in the other room. I put my shield at maximum again and entered the complex.

I heard mental voices in the direction Alison was kept. The Plugga had been alerted to the spells at the entrance and were looking for intruders. I absorbed some energy from the complex and moved forward. The room Alison was kept got a large blast of the time spell and I hoped that everything within was secure.

Another bolt of energy was heard but it was not directed at me. Vessio and Elaine were under a time spell in the Plugga compound. This was the direction the sound had come from. I became visible and directed the remaining three Plugga to look for intruders attacking their quarters.

I ran very fast but the Plugga got there first. One was wrestling with an invisible shape and I knew who would win this match. A Plugga blocked the entrance to their quarters but was not one of those that I had just sent. It looked dead.

There were no sounds in the vicinity and now I went into the Plugga domain with a satisfied sounding Plugga as escort. His own opponent was alive but in considerable pain now. The Plugga went right and I went the other direction. This was a large circle and our opponents were at the other side of the circle.

I passed two Plugga and one more looked like it may need reanimation. It took a lot to kill a Plugga and even more to kill one for the first time. There were human bodies around now too. The Plugga took their duties seriously and enemies that got this far were treated very severely.

A doorway was littered with more Plugga and I heard mental voices within. The Plugga that had entered with me now looked to have taken some damage but was ready for more. I cautioned him to stop and it was only the threat of me attacking him that caused him to remain away form the doorway. I called out the time spell and the mental voices stopped because they now knew that I was here.

They came charging out over the two Plugga to face me. The living Plugga behind them hit them with his one good arm. I cast the spell inside the room anyway and then relaxed.

I gave a mental request for a mirror and used it to look around the corner into the room but saw nobody living except for Vessio and Elaine. The Plugga were pulled apart and I again put time spells on each of them until I found out what to do for them. The lone Plugga stayed still long enough that I was able to put a healing spell on him then we went looking for those to help or pursue.