Jonathan Thunder, page 25
part #5 of Lightning Mage Series
“Girl if someone was to tell me this morning that my grandson was going to show up and watch him get married in my front room I would have called them mad,” Brigham said. “I thought I would have more time to prepare, fuss over how much this is going to cost me since Your Da has passed on and any other thing old men gripe about.”
“I wasn’t letting that grandson of yours get away,” Crystal said.
“He will be a good man to you, girl,” Brigham said seriously. “If not I’ll beat the pit out of him with my own two hands. There was a reason I let some penniless Mage date my Sara. I could tell his Da was a man in love and would make a good husband for my girl. That fierceness I seen in Joshua, I see it in that boy as well. He loves you.”
“And I will make sure he knows he made the right decision for the rest of our lives,” Crystal said. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” Brigham said. “I am just old girl. My time is coming no matter how much magic or other things are pumped into me. I can finally be happy when it is my time to go. Jonathan did everything he said he was going to do and has a beautiful woman to spend the rest of his days with. If I die today I know my time here was worth it.”
“Don’t talk like that Grandfather,” Crystal said. “I just wish we could stay longer.”
“Those people from the Kingdom beat you here by a day and I know they are going to come back,” Brigham said. “They were expecting to find me dead. That boy already told me about his part in all this. Good thing I didn’t say too much to those men.”
“Jon thinks they will find us in a few hours and then bring us back to the capital,” Crystal said. “He plans on making a big show of it.”
“He wants that man dead and so do I,” Brigham said. “I just wish there was a way it could have been done without bringing you in on it.”
“I am his wife now,” Crystal said. “And this was as much of my revenge as it was Jon’s. I am sure Wilson has the very best Mages working on him to keep him alive. He is either going to make it or he is not.”
“Well I hope that bastard dies,” Brigham said. “It would serve him right to be laid low by a simple disease that even my old mundane body beat.”
“I know finding me is something that is driving everyone crazy,” Crystal said. “I told Jon that we should leave and make it even more difficult, he said we should just stay put.”
“The Kingdom’s men or not,” Brigham said. “No one is going to force that boy. Do you have the things you need?”
“I still want my Grand Wedding,” Crystal said. “Filled with my friends and family. It just seems so daunting getting everything together.”
“Jon said he wants it to happen in the capital,” Brigham said. “Said he even has the spot picked out.”
“Jon is just trying to start trouble,” Crystal said. “He wants it to happen in the Tower of Magic itself.”
“Master Sally,” Gertrude, Brigham’s head servant said as she walked into the room. “There are men from the Kingdom here.”
“I’ll deal with them,” Crystal said as she stood up.
“Well I have to get myself ready anyway,” Brigham said. “You all are in a hurry to get this wedding going.”
“As soon as you get there we are supposed to start,” Crystal said. “It is just so much work to be done.”
“You have to give me a few weeks. When do you get out of that Tower?”
“I have already finished everything,” Crystal said. “Maybe a few more weeks. This time is just spent finding jobs and saying goodbyes.”
Jonathan let Crystal walk first to greet whoever the Kingdom sent. Jonathan stood in the shadows as one of the people who came started talking to Crystal.
“You are to come with us immediately,” a man’s voice said. “That letter is from the Crown Prince and is letting you know that he has need of you immediately.”
“Need of me where?” Crystal asked. “My grandfather is ill.”
“That is for you and His Royal Highness to discuss,” the man said. “He requires your presence immediately.”
“I have to let my husband know,” Crystal said.
“Husband?” the man said confused.
“I married His Luminous just this morning,” Crystal said. “I can’t just leave without letting him know and I doubt you want to be the person to tell him you just grabbed his wife for some big secret.”
“Who are you and what are you doing in my home?” Jonathan said as he walked into the front room. “Lord Manchin.”
“As in Monica Manchin?” Crystal said surprised.
“His daughter,” Jonathan said. “We don’t like each other and I want you to know that any insults in my home is likely to find you killed. What do you want?”
“Kevin Wilson has fallen ill and needs this girl’s help,” Lord Manchin said. “You married her?”
“I did,” Jonathan said.
“And Monica will have her prize,” Lord Manchin said with a smile.
“If the Mage Commander is ill we must go right away Jon,” Crystal said. “How are we getting there? Do you have a carriage for us to travel in?”
“All of that can be arranged,” Lord Manchin said. “You really got married?”
“We did but Wilson seems like he must need help desperately for them to send you,” Jonathan said.
The trip to Dyson was faster than Jonathan would have liked it to be. Teams of horses were staged and Crystal and Jonathan rarely had time to themselves. Marlen Manchin seemed pleased with himself. Jonathan knew that he was happy that Russell had lost out on Crystal. He wanted Monica to marry Russell and saw Crystal as her biggest obstacle, now that she was married, Russell would have to choose and soon. Lord Manchin had even bragged that he was going to tell Monica to start the courting process with different suitors to push Russell along. When the pair finally reached Bissell Palace, Crystal walked in alone in a mock hurry. Jonathan got out and followed a few moments behind her.
“Jonathan, maybe you should make yourself scarce,” Prince Jordan said as soon as Jonathan walked into the palace. The Prince was flanked by the two soon to be Princesses, Danica and Ashley.
“You know I don't run from anyone, Your Highness,” Jonathan replied.
“Kevin Wilson died an hour ago,” Jordan said. “Anyone else you run into will be beset by grief.”
“Well then that is the second best news that I have heard all day,” Jonathan said.
“Second best?” Jordan asked, confused.
“She said yes,” Jonathan smiled. “She said yes and wanted it done right away.”
“What does that mean?” Ashley said as Jordan’s eyes got big.
Jonathan watched the Prince practically run away and couldn't keep the smile off his face. It definitely wasn't the way that Jonathan would have wanted it but it was close enough. Kevin Wilson, the horrible tosser that he was, had died. Jonathan wasn't sure what kind of Archmage the man was, all he knew was that the man sent his parents to die and thought it was funny. Everything he did after that as Mage Commander didn't matter. He was a coward that never apologized and was scared to face him. Jonathan walked towards his office. He was going to tell Red and Poppy to make themselves scarce. Whatever trouble could be had was trouble he didn't want them getting into. Jonathan was happy when he found their seats empty and went into his office. Jonathan couldn't help but be in a good mood as he started looking through messages he had received. Jonathan shook his head as he looked through most of them. Lord Crater had written him, so had Lord Goodhaire. The both of them had daughters who were just as snobby as any noble Mage girl and thought he would be beside himself to court them. Jonathan thought that maybe his new wife would want to read them and have herself a good laugh. Jonathan had just stacked them together when Crystal burst into his office.
“I heard,” Jonathan said as he stood. Jonathan rushed over and hugged his wife, her tears started making him cry as well. Jonathan wasn't sure how long he held his wife, he only knew he was beyond angry when it ended. Xalen, Russell and Prince Jeffrey barged into his office.
“I told you to go back to the Tower!” Russell yelled.
“You get the bass out of your voice when you speak to my wife,” Jonathan said as he moved Crystal to the side and got right up on Russell.
“You tricked her into marrying you and she wasn't here where she belonged!” Russell bellowed.
“She was right where she belonged, with me and my grandfather!” Jonathan yelled. “You lost Russell, get over it.”
“You and this, this,” Prince Jeffrey began.
“Go ahead and finish that sentence,” Jonathan said as he moved from Russell and walked up on a shocked Prince Jeffrey. “Go ahead and call my wife a whore, big man. I will have the shortest reign of any Archmage, you will not be around to tell the story.”
“You just threatened me?” Jeffrey said and took a step back.
“You sent assassins after me,” Jonathan said. “I haven't forgotten. It is the mark of a true coward. If you want me killed then meet me in the arena.”
“You are in here gloating,” Xalen said with barely concealed rage.
“Of course I am,” Jonathan replied. “I got the prettiest Mage in Kirby who has the brains to match.”
“I am talking about the Mage Commander, don't act like you don't know,” Xalen said.
“The man was a tosser who sent my parents off to die,” Jonathan said. “You all were there to fight the Raelinians. Three Mages were not enough to do anything. He went down there and wanted an army of Mages to back him up. All of you cried about how it was so unfair that I had many Mages with me who quit when I left. He cried just like the rest of you that you didn't get enough support. He sent my parents into that and two of you, if not all three of you, thought it was the best thing ever when my parents were killed. Wilson was a tosser who saw his weakling brother wiped from the face of the Kingdom. He was too much of a coward to step into the arena with me because he knew he would die. I am going to give all of you the sympathy I got when my mother and Father were killed. It served Wilson right, he shouldn't have never reached above his station. I am willing to back up my words in the arena. If you want to have a go Russell, now is the time to make it happen. You will die hanging onto the memory of a dead coward.”
“Jon that is enough!” Crystal barked. “You didn't like the Mage Commander, nor did I. But you have three men in front of you that have lost a friend, a teacher, a mentor. It doesn't matter how they treated you when our parents died. You are supposed to be the Queen’s Champion. Is this something she would approve of? It is definitely nothing I would approve of and I have reason to dislike everyone who just entered your office.”
“I am sorry Russell,” Jonathan said. “I know he was a hero to you and I shouldn't speak ill of the dead. It was classless. The same goes for you both, Your Highnesses. While my feelings for Kevin Wilson were well known, he did do a lot of good in the Kingdom. He did go fight the Raelinians, the Donalians and took his shot at the Downians as well. His wounds made it obvious to anyone watching that he was in the thick of it. I wasn't big on his actions as Archmage, but as Mage Commander, he will be a tough act to follow. He was in every battle and doing his best. He should be buried a hero and I will not say another ill word towards him.”
“Sure you wouldn't,” Xalen said. “You ran off and married her while Russell was trying his best to save our Hero.”
“Think what you want,” Jonathan said as he gave Crystal a kiss on the top of her head. Jonathan ushered a reluctant Crystal to leave his office. These men would most likely say something nasty to her and he wasn't taking it no matter who it came from. Crystal left and Jonathan returned to his office. The three were still there and looked angry, they needed an outlet.
“Find a war,” Jonathan said as he took a seat. “Either find a war or find some impossible journey. It has to be something you really want to do.”
“What are you talking about?” Russell said and narrowed his eyes.
“When my parents died, it was the most important day of my life at the time,” Jonathan said. “It focused me to live up to my potential. If I had told anyone of you that I would become the youngest Archmage in history you would have thought I was a nutter. I took all the anger I had and directed it at the cause of my pain. That was the Archmage, my plan was ensuring no one felt the way I did.”
“So after all of that you disrespect him in death,” Russell snapped.
“No, I am telling a story,” Jonathan said. “I wanted to end the practice of sending commoners to die while everyone else sat back and complained they were cowardly. I ended that for the most part. Everyone in this room thought that way until you were thrown into battle with the Raelinians. That practice was my real enemy. That was my focus. Yours should be the Speckled Fever. Eradicating it wherever it sleeps. Despite what you all believe, I do not believe this Kingdom is a better place without Kevin Wilson in it. I believe he became a better man and realized that his actions had second and third order effects that he was not ready for.”
“I am letting you know this Thunder,” Xalen said. “Your pretty words don't mean anything to me. I am requesting my Mother make you Mage Commander immediately.”
“No need,” Jonathan said. “I am already in charge of our forces. I’ll just do both jobs and get rid of Mage Commander altogether. I know you all hate me in this position, I told you exactly what I was going to do as soon as I was granted the title. I haven't done a bad job at all, admit it and move on. I am the biggest hero that Kirby has ever known. Only thing I can give you for advice is to not shun my children the way you shunned my wife and I. You are the leaders of this Kingdom and should act like it.”
“Whenever my mother passes, I don't care how good of a so-called job you have done,” Xalen said. “I am putting the rightful Archmage in his place. So what you can fight, you should be Mage Commander.”
“And I would turn down that pitiful title quickly,” Jonathan said. “I know many of you would think it was funny to send nothing but weak commoners to their deaths while the rest of you sit back here like frightened children and then blame me for the entire thing. I would just be Johnny Thunder and spend the rest of my days relaxing with my wife. Thank you by the way Russell.”
“Thank me?” Russell said angrily.
“I have heard of mucking things up before but you reinvented the term. No way I should have married Crystal. You are bigger, have better looks, more money, more power and you are going to be a Duke. All you had to do was halfway listen to her. You could have done a quarter of the work I put in and still would have won easily. Instead you insulted her by bringing Kevin Wilson around her who you knew she was not fond of. You wanted double dates with His Highness who has called her a whore to her face multiple times. You thought a woman would just forget that? Forget all of that because of you? The best part about it is when you brought up how many partners she has had in front of His Highness and the Mage Commander. That should have an exciting secret for you to find out for yourself. I am sure your sister would have told you that you were going about everything the wrong way if you would have only asked her. I’m glad you didn't though, it really pushed her towards me and all I had to do was be Johnny Thunder.”
“She was a fool for choosing you,” Xalen said.
“And you believe she should have been good with a man who said nothing upon learning she was repeatedly called a whore by family members?” Jonathan asked. “Russell is a big, tall, imposing, powerful man. What if he walked up to Danica and started repeatedly insulting her and calling a whore because he heard something false about her background. Would you pretend everything is okay?”
“Russell wouldn't dare!” Xalen said. “And how was I supposed to know she wasn't a whore?”
“Because she told you,” Jonathan said. “And you never apologized. You helped Russell push her towards me. Perhaps I should be thanking the both of you.”
“Everything is really lining up for you Thunder,” Russell said. “You married Crystal and my hero passed away all around the same time.”
“I do admit that I am on a bit of a good luck streak. I was sent off to meet a bunch of young women who were as snobby as they could be. Some thought I was beneath them while others already had my career plan laid out. Two even told me that they would not dream of being courted by me unless I was the Mage Commander or one of his Battlemages. You all would have been smart to at least give these people a heads up. Something along the lines of me not being the ordinary commoner. You all didn't even do that for Crystal. Can you imagine, there were wrinkly old men and troll looking younger ones who honestly thought they would be doing Crystal a favor by sleeping with her? If she was a noble, people would break their legs trying to run to her.”
“She is not a noble though,” Xalen said.
“And you have just proved my point. You nobles think you are better than us commoners.”
“We are better,” Xalen said.
“And my point is proven,” Jonathan said with a smile. “Please go ahead and tell me how you are all better than my bride. I say she is the best healer in Kirby, now name a noble who is better.”
“Stop spending your energy talking to this idiot,” Jeffrey said. “You will be King one day, your mother will not be around and this commoner will not have any protection. Let’s see how big his mouth gets then.”
Jonathan watched them walk away and thought about Jeffrey. The man had aspirations to become the King or at least the Regent. Jonathan would have to tell Queen Mildred exactly what was said. Jonathan closed the door to his office and walked over to his seat. He kicked up his feet on his table and heard a voice talking to him.
“Jonathan,” came a soft and low voice. Jonathan looked around his office and thought that he was imagining it.
“Jonathan,” the voice softly cooed again.
“Who is there?” Jonathan asked.
“Come closer to the wall,” the voice said. Jonathan obeyed.
“Can you hear me better?”
“Your Majesty?” Jonathan said softly.
