Davie the Mage (Generations of Eredwynn Book 2), page 18
We walked in and Father and Isabel were surprised and happy to see us. We were asked about our trip, and Father said it looked like he and I had a lot to talk about.
I nodded, “Father, Aunt Isabel, I am no longer a Wizard like you, but a Mage, and I am the only one of my kind.”
Father looked confused, “Where did you learn this information?”
“That is why we are here. We want to show you where we learned this if you’ll be willing to join us.”
They agreed at once and I asked if they would have my mother join us, as well. Father nodded to a boy and he scampered off toward the keep proper to locate her. She showed up quickly, hugging Mira and then, as if an afterthought, hugged me too.
I jokingly asked, “Father when are you going to give my mother a baby girl so she can forget me altogether?”
Everyone laughed and we gathered up to go.
I said, “Before we leave, there is something I want you all to promise me. No matter what you see, you can’t take any aggressive actions. You might feel you should attack, but don’t, not even if you see orcs ten yards away. Do you think that you’d be able to agree to that?” They were hesitant, but when they saw that their participation in the trip depended on their agreement, they submitted.
I focused on the mesa of King Niruth. There were a few orcs there, examining the remains of our campsite. I smiled and thought to Mira that when we arrived, she should approach them to show her status to the family. I showed her an image of what I was talking about and she returned a mischievous smile. I ported us, and we popped in forty yards from the orcs scavenging firewood. Everyone had been warned against attacking and all eyes went to me to find out what I’d do about the dangerous enemy so close to us. I shielded us all, just to avoid accidents, and gave Mira a subtle nod. She started advancing a few yards toward the orcs, causing my mother to have fits.
Mother growled, “Davie, if anything happens to that young lady, I’ll have your hide!”
I chuckled, “Mother, do you really think I’d put Mira in danger? You must not know me as well as I thought you did.”
The orcs saw Mira and the rest of us, and began advancing on our position. They moved ten yards, raising the tension level of the humans with every step. They either saw the dragon’s mark or recognized her from the images that Niruth had given them. They stopped and bowed low. Mira gave them a nod and waved them away. They backed away, went to the edge of the mesa and slid down.
As Mira returned to the group, my father was shaking his head. “I’d never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.”
A very confidant Mira, with no fear of talking to the King of Eredwynn, said, “That is why we decided to bring you here, Your Majesty. We knew there would be some things that you would have to see for yourself. The orcs’ treatment of Davie and me is just one of the smaller things.”
We let the family settle their nerves for a while and then I prepared to signal Niruth. I’d learned in Gore that my signaling spell should be able to signal him almost anywhere in his country. I stepped away from the group and sent green sparks into the noon sky. The boom seemed even louder without the dampening of the waves. Everyone was shocked by the power of the simple spell.
Father said, “It seems that your Mage spells are a bit more powerful than the Wizard spells. Have you learned yet just exactly how much more powerful?”
“I don’t know if there would be a safe way to learn that, Father. I’d be afraid of doing anything destructive anywhere near people or creatures that could be harmed. I believe that you will all learn a new skill that Mira and I have learned while we’ve been over here. My senses are telling me that you’ll learn soon.”
Mira was smiling and looking around, so I knew that she felt Niruth getting close, too. He dropped out of the clouds above us and began a slow spiral down. My family saw him, and the tension level rose to the point that I saw shaking hands, as they fought reaching for their wands.
Mira and I heard, “My Mage friend and my Queen. You have returned soon, as you said you would. But who are the nervous Wizards that have come with you?”
I replied, “I have brought the King and Queen of Eredwynn, my mother and my brother. I thought that it would be a good idea for the rulers of bordering countries to know each other.”
We heard a chuckle in our minds, “I’ll land on the far edge of the mesa to give them a chance to get used to me. I believe that I can teach them to hear me and talk through their minds, as I taught you. My Queen, I sense that you hear me now, too. It’s wonderful to see you again. Do I get a kiss, or will the Mage get jealous?”
Mira laughed aloud, earning nervous glances from our group, “I don’t think he will mind. I’ll meet you first, to show the Wizards that there is nothing to fear.”
Niruth completed a circle and landed on the far side of the mesa, less than half a mile away. He looked enormous, even at that distance, and I knew that he looked monstrous to the rest of the group. I did my best to calm them and Mira started walking out to meet him. My mother was almost hysterical when she saw my wife, whom she loved almost as much as she loved me, walking to what she considered certain death. As they met, Aunt Isabel and Mother almost fainted when he lowered his head toward Mira. There was confusion, bewilderment and relief as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed the giant reptile on the cheek. They then walked toward us together, with him taking one step to her half dozen. He stopped ten yards away and settled his massive frame to the ground.
To the entire group he said, “Wizards, I believe you should be able to hear me now, since you’re all magical people. Simply think back through the part of your mind that you hear me through and I should be able to hear your thoughts, as well.”
My father stepped forward first. “Well met, Sir. It is incredible to meet you. I am David, King of Eredwynn. This is my Queen, Isabel and my consort Alba. These are my sons James and, I believe you know Davie. I’m positive you know my daughter-in-law, Mira.”
“It’s nice to meet you, David. I’m Niruth, King of this orc-infested land. I have met Davie and the beautiful Mira. It is good to meet the rest of you, as well. Davie, I want to thank you for keeping your word and bringing them to meet me. It is so nice to meet honorable humans. No offence, but they are a rare breed. I hope to call all of you friends, and that you won’t be strangers.”
Everyone in the group we’d brought nodded. Then the shy, common girl, who married a prince and inadvertently became a dragon’s symbolic queen, faced the family. “Each of you has now been marked by Niruth. You have a mark you’ll be able to see if you focus through your psionic magic. It will be noticeable by dragons, orcs, centaurs and who knows what other creatures in this land. They will know you are a friend of the King and grant you safe passage.”
Niruth chuckled and spoke in his snakelike voice, “It sounds as though my pretty lady has been fraternizing with centaurs. Not only did they free your mind for telepathy, but allowed you to see magic as well. They are very wise creatures and humans could learn much from them, if they could get over their distrust of each other.”
While everyone talked, Mira went over and sat near Niruth. She leaned back against his massive foreleg and relaxed. I actually had a twinge of jealousy, but the dragon sensed it and gave me a friendly wink to put my fears to rest.
After a couple hours we said our goodbyes, and Niruth easily received promises to return from everyone. I ported the group back to Wizard’s Castle where Mira and I were hugged by everyone, even James.
Father said, “Thank you two for that! I know of no way to repay you. I’m sure we will remember today for the rest of our lives.” Everyone was nodding and there was no sign of disagreement.
Mother hugged Mira. “Now I suppose you won’t want to hang out with your boring old mother-in-law. When you can hang out with a real dragon, hanging out with someone who only has a dragon’s temper can’t compare.”
Mira laughed, “Mother, even though he is an impressive creature and a wonderful friend, he never once offered to take me shopping. I’m sure he can afford too, but since he didn’t offer it proves he’s a male. I’d never trade in my new mother or her son, not even for a dragon. Another thing, let‘s not use that ‘in-law’ term. I‘ll just be your daughter if you‘ll allow.”
Mother sighed with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Davie, you can keep her, but I get to borrow her anytime I can and she’s not otherwise engaged. All these years and I’ve finally gotten a daughter. No thanks to that King guy over there.”
My father laughed, “Alba, you’re not even forty yet. Maybe there’s still time.”
“I’m almost forty and that’s old enough for grandbabies! Speaking of which, we need to let these kids get home. They’ve been so busy with dragons and centaurs that I’m sure they didn’t spend enough time on that important project!”
Mira and I blushed and I said, “James, let’s get out of here before she switches to Instructor Alba mode and starts giving details and examples. Are you ready?”
He nodded, and with a round of hugs and kisses, I ported us to the cave area west of Kethos Castle.
As we were walking toward the castle through the Halfling community, James was sighing and shaking his head.
“What’s the matter, big brother?” I asked.
“There hasn’t been nearly enough rain and the Halfling crops are failing. These small farms are their only source of income and if they fail, they will have a hard winter, I’m afraid.”
I remembered one of my lessons from the bombardment that I’d taken at the minds of the centaurs. I stopped walking and winked at Mira. “James, I might know a bit of magic that would help with that problem. I’ve never tried it, but would be willing to give it a shot. Besides, if I could help out Ivy’s and Jana’s people and passed on the chance, they might talk me to death.”
James laughed, “If you really think you could, little brother, I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“Put up a shield to keep my wife and yourself dry, but don’t put it over me. It might block what I’m doing. If I get damp, it’s a small price to pay for healthy hearing. Before you tell on me, I do love Jana and Ivy.”
James grinned and nodded.
I relaxed and focused on the sea, and I began to glow. I pictured fresh water being evaporated from the surface and pulled upwards. I formed clouds and saw Halflings gathering around as they realized that I was the cause of the impending rain. I let it fall, and the clouds covered a twenty mile area. I controlled the rate so it didn’t flood the dried-out soil, but soaked in nicely. I pulled enough moisture to keep the rain falling for an hour, then shielded and dried myself.
“Brother, that was absolutely astounding. Your Mage abilities have some uses that our psi magic doesn’t. I thank you for that, and I’m sure that the Halflings would too if they hadn’t run for cover. Now do we have to stay out here or can we go inside?”
“I’m done out here. The rain will run its course and stop. If this needs to be repeated, you know where to find me. I’d better go see Star and Ivy, at least. Then we need to get home. There are some young ladies there who are missing us, and I’m looking forward to some wrestling with my wife on our big bed.”
Blushing, Mira said, “Davie! I thought I told you that you shouldn’t say things like that in front of people!”
James and I grinned and I said, “But you told me you always wanted me to tell the truth, my love.”
She looked at her feet as we walked up to James’ bedroom door. He knocked to announce visitors, and after the sound of some scrambling, Star called for us to come in. We entered and Star greeted us. James’ girls came out of their rooms, tying on their wrap- around robes. James grinned. “The Master’s away so you’ll frolic around naked? Well, after our company leaves, you can go back to your naked romp, but I’m staying to join in!”
Star said, “James! That proves you’ve spent too much time around your Aunt Alba’s son. The orneriness is starting to rub off on you. So, how was your trip, and where did he take you?”
James recounted our visit to No Man’s Land to a room full of amazed, slack-jawed young ladies. He told them about our trip and about the rain for the Halflings’ crops. They stared at Mira and me as though we were strangers, but recovered and hugged us by the end of the story. We stayed and visited with James’ family for a while and it was time to go home. With hugs and kisses, we said our goodbyes. I focused to a spot just outside our bedroom door and ported us to Perlsea Castle.
We knocked softly on the door and Jana answered. Her squeal brought the other three girls running and we didn’t know if we’d ever make it through the door. They commented on how beautiful Mira was and said that camping must have made her glow. Jana said it was either the camping or the activities that went on in the tent that did it. They commented on my clothes and shoes, saying that they hoped I knew a way to get out stains, because whites were almost impossible to keep clean. I said that I was going to get out of my clothes and all the girls smiled expectantly, until I added that I’d missed my wrap-around robe.
I changed into my nice, comfortable robe and sat on the couch. Mira thought it looked like a good idea and did the same, sitting on the couch across from me. A honeymoon is supposed to be a relaxing time for a new man and wife to get to know each other. We’d gotten to know each other, but the relaxation wasn’t the ‘lay on the beach’ type that I’d hoped for. Amee snuggled against Mira while Royce and Zayna curled up on either side of me. Jana saw her usual spot open and jumped over Royce, her dress billowing out like a parachute. I caught her, out of self-defense, and set her in my lap. She leaned back against my chest and looked up at me with a ‘welcome home’ gleam in her eyes.
Mira recounted our trip, and Jana jumped and wiggled nervously during the tense parts with the dragon and orcs. The true method to her madness became clear as I realized that her wiggling had pulled my robe open below the tie at my waist and awakened my teenage male libido. She wiggled herself down on me, while keeping rapt attention on the stories that Mira was telling. Since I’m a male, I was finding it hard to keep my attention on anything other than what was going on under the dress that was spread across my lap. Thought requires blood to the brain and my blood was heated and otherwise occupied.
Amee leaned over and whispered in Mira’s ear and she listened for a moment. Mira then thought to me, “Amee has something that she’d like to talk to me about that she wants you to know later. I can tell that Jana wants to stay exactly where she is for a while longer, so I’ll take the other girls. We won’t be gone forever, so I suggest you make our consort happy while we’re gone.” And she giggled in my mind, with images that let me know that Jana wasn’t fooling her. Mira stood up, taking Amee by the hand. She asked Royse and Zayna to come with her and they went to Amee’s room.
Jana said, “Whew, I didn’t know how I’d finish what I’d started here, but it has just been so long, I had to try. I’ve missed you, Davie!”
I grinned. “I can tell! Now, we need to take care of our problem before the others get back, or we’ll be miserable the rest of the evening.”
She sighed happily, carefully turned around to face me, and settled me deeper inside her. She rocked her hips back and forth as I gently moved up and down. It didn’t take long for either of us. I held her to me to help keep myself silent, and she buried her face in my chest. The simultaneous release caused spasms that shook the couch. I held her for a few minutes, until she took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’ll go get cleaned up and be back before they even know that we were being naughty.”
I smiled. “Why do you think Mira took the other girls and didn’t ask for you to go with them? She knew what was going on and allowed us privacy.”
Jana looked surprised. “She is even more of a wonderful girl than I thought. You did really well in your choice of brides. I have to thank her when I get the chance; because I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to go without your touch. I really missed you badly. I know I’ve said that, but it’s true!”
She got up and went to her room. She returned shortly and cuddled beside me, and we talked about how boring things had been while we’d been gone. They did have fun with Baissel and she liked to shop, too. But not as much as my mother and Lia did, and they hadn’t come to visit. I told her that I was sure my mother would be coming around more, now that we were back.
Mira thought to me from the other room, “Have you two naughty people finished playing? I’ve dragged out our conversation about as long as I can.”
“Yes, my love, we have. Thank you for that. It was very considerate of you. I know that Jana wants to thank you personally for allowing for our afternoon exercise, too.”
Mira and the girls rejoined us and Mira remained standing. Amee came over and sat by me and I put an arm around her. Mira said, “Davie, it’s about your mother. We really need to contact her soon because she’s been worrying unnecessarily. She sent us back here to start working on a grandbaby for her, but she already has one on the way. Amee will be due in about six months.”
I could have been slapped by a dragon’s tail and not have been more stunned! This wasn’t the news that I’d been expecting. I’d honestly been bracing myself for bad news, like Amee had decided to move to Wizard’s until she passed her Expert level. This was fantastic news but… I was going to be a father. All the new father doubts and fears crashed through my mind. Then Mira was hugging me and she whispered that I was glowing pretty brightly and frightening the girls a bit. I dimmed the mage light and turned to Amee.
“Amee, my love, you’ve been through so much with me already and I’m thrilled that you’re going to have my child. I promise that I’ll be the best father I can and take care of you both, forever.”
