Jonathan Thunder, page 28
part #5 of Lightning Mage Series
“He said that would give it a try,” Xalen said in a shaky voice.
“He did,” Jonathan replied. “And we know more about it than we ever did. The Queen herself has been healed of it. Kevin gave his last and when he didn't have anymore, he gave more still. Let us not look back on any old rivalries. Let us not look back on any old arguments or old scores. Kevin has settled them with his life. He gave so I could be here, so you could be here. Look around you and the people that this man touched. The bloody Queen is here! Duke Golad climbed out of his death bed to be here. We will remember the good times we had with him. The one I will never forget is the sight of watching him charge into battle and facing down a dragon. You all have your good memories, hold them close like I will in our time of grief.”
Jonathan stepped off the stage and was surprised to hear clapping. It grew louder and he turned to see people standing. He knew that most of them hated the commoner Archmage. Jonathan didn't even have that speech prepared, he just went up there and spewed some drivel so people wouldn't know that he was Kevin’s killer. Jonathan could see Jeffrey clapping for him. If only the man knew. No one else came up to talk and Kevin was entombed. Jonathan gave Crystal a kiss on the top of her head. He didn't need her around for what was to come.
“I am going to be gone for a few weeks,” Jonathan said. “No matter what, I will be here to see you graduate.”
“I know that you can't hang around forever,” Crystal said.
“I am going to make sure my Grandfather is okay and then bring him out this way,” Jonathan said. “I might spend some time with him. Just remember that I will be back before you graduate if you do not hear from me.”
“You are scaring me,” Crystal said.
“Don't let it,” Jonathan replied as Crystal gave him a small kiss on the lips.
“Where are you going now?” Crystal asked.
“A small dinner with Her Majesty and some others,” Jonathan replied. “I am sparing you from it all.”
“Thank goodness,” Crystal said and breathed a sigh of relief.
Jonathan gave her a smile and then went to his carriage. Red and Poppy were already inside. Jonathan already gave Wilbur directions. Red looked at Jonathan and narrowed his eyes. Jonathan gave him an innocent look as Red cracked a smile.
“You didn't believe any of that drivel,” Red said.
“The man was a tosser as Archmage and a tosser as Mage Commander,” Jonathan said.
“So why did me and my wife have to come to this thing with you?” Red asked.
“I want you to meet someone who just got into town,” Jonathan said.
“Who?” Poppy asked.
“Josephus Story,” Jonathan said.
“That man who was on about trying to marry you into his family?” Red asked.
“We talked about other things,” Jonathan said. “I will not say more until we see him.”
Wilbur drove them to the address. Jonathan climbed out of the carriage followed by Red and Poppy. There were guards all around the fine estate, they had been waiting for Jonathan. Jonathan was led inside and then down to a basement. The walls of the basement were made of stone and there was a large table. Josephus Story was there along with five other men and a woman. The group looked over at Red and Poppy and then at Jonathan.
“Alright, I want to get one thing first before we begin,” Jonathan said as he met everyone’s eyes. “I will kill you all and think nothing of it. I will kill you and any men that you have guarding you. If you go after my wife and grandfather, I will wipe the name Story from the face of Kirby. I am not playing any games with anyone. The information that I have is priceless.”
“Just who do you…,” a man said as his words died in his throat as Jonathan looked at him.
“He isn't playing around Tamberlane,” Josephus said.
“I’m not, I just want everyone to know where I stand,” Jonathan said. “We can both get what we want. Or I can leave right now and this opportunity will be lost to you for all time. Your call, make it now. Play me and you might as well come for me because I am coming for you and yours.”
“You already know that we are in Jon,” Josephus said.
“I want to hear it from everyone,” Jonathan said. “That way there will be no hard feelings. I am sure that at least one of you want to run off like a big shot and tell someone that will eventually tell someone and that someone will tell someone else. It would be hard for me to find out who started spreading it but I am coming after everyone so I will get my man, or woman, in the end.”
“You keep your mouth shut Tamberlane,” the lone Story female said as she looked at the man who originally protested. “You have the largest mouth here because you are the richest. You shut your mouth and you keep it closed.”
“I’ll bite,” Tamberlane said. “Whatever you have, must be serious. I didn't know what to expect when my cousin brought it to us. I admit that I already told someone that I am supposed to be meeting with the Archmage but didn't give any details. My lips are sealed from this point on.”
“They better be because I can't be bought off,” Jonathan said. “Many people tried to in order to get me to step down as Archmage.”
“Your threat is received,” Tamberlane said. “I speak for everyone here. If the news gets spread, you will have my resources to find out who and if I do first, well, you can come to their funeral. Us Storys are family first, whatever makes the family stronger. What do you have?”
“I have a way to guarantee that any Story woman will have a Mage baby,” Jonathan said.
“Who is the stud?” the female Story asked.
“It is not a man, it is a spell,” Jonathan replied. “A very rare spell. Many people would kill the person responsible for casting the spell. She dies and I am on your asses.”
“When you say, any woman,” one of the Storys began.
“I mean any woman,” Jonathan said. “Every Story born from here on out could be a Mage if you wanted.”
“What are you doing?” Red said sharply.
“Making you rich,” Jonathan said as the Story family started talking to each other. “I have already talked with your wife. She just didn't know which way I was going.”
“Jon,” Josephus said. “How much would you want for something like this?”
“Big money and an estate,” Jonathan replied. “One hundred gold coins a month and servants to work the estate which you all will pay for. We can come up with a way to stop loose tongues from talking. While you may be trustworthy, the couples you help might not be.”
“We can drug them and then have your man do his thing,” Tamberlane said. “We will come up with something.”
“If this works, this cannot be leaked out to anyone,” the female Story said. “We want exclusivity.”
“You can have it if everything we want is met,” Jonathan said. “I don't give a pit if the Storys are the biggest Mage family around.”
“We cannot let anyone know about this, even after the first babies are born,” Tamberlane said as he pulled out paper and quill and then looked around the table. The others pulled out paper and their quills. “This Mage works for us now, a grand estate will be built with no expenses spared. For now, this Mage can stay in one of my homes, the one in the Gills unless someone has something better.”
“How about mine in Sachels?” the female asked.
“Vote and do it now,” Tamberlane said as he looked around the table. “Ethel it looks like you will be their host. Make sure that this Mage wants for nothing. His pay will come out of our family treasury. I want the best servants and the best guards surrounding this man. Your Luminous.”
“Yes?” Jonathan asked.
“Is your man trustworthy?” Tamberlane asked. “A lot of Story secrets will be spilled. You I trust, them I don't.”
“They will not betray you,” Jonathan said.
“I want to meet whoever this man is,” Tamberlane said. “I have their coin right now.”
“She is already here,” Poppy said as she stepped forward.
“Are you two off your nut?” Red asked. “Those Tossers in the Palace would kill us all over something like this.”
“No they will not, because they will not know,” Tamberlane said and then squinted. “Aren't you the girl who can give magic?”
“You know me?” Poppy asked surprised. “Grace Story.”
“My daughter is a true Story woman,” Josephus said. “Wait a moment, that is the spell, isn't it?”
“Fake Mages or not, women who are holding magic inside of them have Mage babies,” Jonathan said. “I know of two couples so far who have not only had Mages, they had twins.”
“Chloe,” Poppy whispered.
“Three couples so far and I think that list will grow,” Jonathan said. “You are our best chance but there are others out there who would love something like this. The mountain would keep all of this hush hush if they were given the opportunity. Downey would definitely shut their mouth and say nothing to no one and treat my people like Royalty.”
“They are where they need to be,” Tamberlane said.
“What about you, Jon?” Red asked.
“I’ll be okay,” Jonathan said. “You both deserved to be filthy rich. Maybe I will come to you both for a job.”
“This is happening,” Poppy said.
“It is,” Tamberlane said and then grabbed a large coin filled bag and slid it over to Josephus. “Yours cousin. You will go down as the greatest of Storys for something like this. Unfortunately, now everyone in this room has work to do. I want the logistics of everything worked through. Nothing leaves this room. It will be worked through, committed to memory and then burned. In thirty or so years, we may have enough Mages to make this Kingdom tremble if we wanted to.”
“Then we will leave you to it,” Jonathan said.
“Not so fast,” Tamberlane said. “Those are my employees now. They have work they need to do. In your carriage you will find a sizable coin purse. It was going to be yours regardless of how this meeting turned out. You could have had a lot more if you married into the family but I have seen that woman of yours. No hard feelings.”
“See you both later,” Jonathan said as he turned to Red and Poppy.
Jonathan left the estate and made his way back to the Bissell Palace. He got himself together and then went looking for Her Majesty. She was about to sit down to dinner. With her was Marlen Manchin, Tobias Kreacher, Prince Jeffrey, Prince Xalen and Prince Jordan. Jonathan smiled as he took a seat. Food was brought out and Queen Mildred looked right at him.
“Jonathan,” Mildred began.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jonathan answered.
“There is information greater than a rumor that the Fever has been beaten in Maytown, near the border with Downey,” Mildred said. “I was going to send Kevin there but now the job is yours. You are the Archmage, it should have been yours from the beginning.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jonathan said.
“What is wrong?” Mildred asked.
“Healing is just not my strong point and Prince Xalen told me that he was taking charge.”
“Because my son saw a problem and wanted it fixed,” Mildred said. “All it cost him was his hero. Tobias and Marlen, do you both know why you are here?”
“No, Your Majesty,” Tobias said as he glanced at Jeffrey.
“I need a new Mage Commander, one of you are going to fill the position,” Mildred said. “The other one of you will become my new Champion.”
“I am your Champion, Your Majesty,” Jonathan said.
“You are the Archmage,” Mildred said. “You are great at killing things but you cannot throw yourself into every battle anymore. You job is to lead, while you are in battle, then who is leading the Mages? When you last fought Downey, who was watching the Donalian Border? What were the Barbarian hordes doing during that time? What about the Raelinians? A man died Jonathan. I know you didn't like Kevin Wilson, but he died doing your job. He was the Mage Commander, not the Archmage. You are the Archmage and it is time that you start acting like it. Marlen is a man that the Mages would get behind, either as Champion or as Mage Commander.”
“What about those coming out of the Tower right now, Your Majesty?” Jonathan asked.
“None of them will defy the Archmage,” Mildred snapped. “You are going to be the one appointing them.”
“Stop crying Thunder,” Jeffrey said. “This Kingdom needs heroes that everyone can look up to. You have had your time in the sun.”
Jonathan didn't say anything but just looked down and ate his food. Mildred wasn't finished with him yet. “Jonathan, about these bandits. I have heard that you took down a branch of them near Baron Devine’s lands. There are still more around. That is an example of what I am talking about. These are the types of jobs that you send the Champion out for along with a contingent of Mages. That is not a job for the Archmage to go running to. Leading is more than being the best fighter.”
“I am the best leader,” Jonathan said.
“What issues do you have with Marlen or Tobias?” Queen Mildred asked. “I know one of your people attacked him. He put it behind him. Xalen, do you have any issue with me splitting power up amongst them? Jonathan is just spread too thin.”
“No Mother,” Xalen said. “I think he wields too much power already.”
“I have thrown myself into everything,” Jonathan said. “No one in this room can say that they have done the same things that I have. I brought our enemies to their knees. Kevin Wilson is gone but this is no reason to pick on me.”
“Kevin Wilson is gone, Jonathan,” Mildred said. “Which means that you have to do your actual job as Archmage. Not pretending to be the Mage Commander, a job you said you didn't want. I need an Archmage more than I need a Champion. If that is a problem then perhaps you should step down and let someone else lead.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jonathan said.
“Jeffrey, I want you to oversee the Archmage from now on,” Mildred said. “Maybe I have been too soft on him.”
“This isn't any fair,” Jonathan said.
“You know what?” Queen Mildred said as she stood up. “I don't have time for this. Jeffrey, Jonathan is taking a leave of absence since his having to step down from Champion is hurting him so much. Jeffrey you are now the new Archmage, Jonathan has decided that he wants to stay the Champion.”
“Your Majesty, I did not say that,” Jonathan said quickly.
“You did in not so many words,” Queen Mildred said. “Get out of here, you have already ruined my dinner.”
CHAPTER 22
Alright, they are almost here. Everyone knows their part. Take out the guards first and then get to the carriage. That is where the gold is.
-Richard Gray talking to the rest of his Bandits
“What do you think this is going to prove?” Tobias Kreacher asked as he looked out at the bandits.
“This is how you deal with commoner trash,” Jeffrey said as an icicle shot out of his hand and into the chest of a man with a sword.
“Where is Marlen?” Tobias asked.
“I don't know, probably trying to save his own skin.”
Jeffrey and Kreacher were both surrounded. Their horses had been killed and the guards with them had also been sent to the afterlife. They traveled in three carriages, two had been set on fire and the third one they just emerged from. The enemy flooded around them and were intent on getting to them. Tobias tried to take to the air and screamed loudly before he could get higher than a two story building. The bandits had bows and Tobias had been shot in his shoulder, leg and stomach. Tobias landed hard as Jeffrey poured on his fire magic. Roasting men started screaming as Jeffrey spread the flames around. Tobias got to his knees and did the same thing in the other direction, if the two Mages were going to die, they weren't going without a fight.
Jeffrey was trying to figure a way out of everything when he took a blow on the shoulder. He knew that feeling, he had been hit with a Magebolt. These bandits did have a Mage with them, probably some commoner that didn't know his place. Jeffrey reached back and poured healing magic into Tobias with one hand and held his shield out with the other. The magic provided temporary relief and let Tobias climb to his feet. Another Magebolt was tossed at Jeffrey that his shield absorbed. Tobias noticed it too and sneered.
“They have a Mage,” Tobias said.
“A weak one,” Jeffrey replied. “He or she is probably their leader. Once we take him out, maybe these sheep will run.”
“They just caught us with a good ambush,” Tobias said. “They will pay for it. Let's go pay that Mage a visit.”
“We need to kill whoever it is quickly,” Jeffrey said. “I am going to take him, I need you to watch my back.”
“No,” Tobias said. “We will pay him a visit later. With the both of us, we should be able to get out of here. I’ll cover your rear and you cover mine.”
“And let that commoner think he ran us off?” Jeffrey asked. “When I am King, this is exactly the type of stupidity I am going to crush.”
“It pains me as much as it pains you,” Tobias said. “But I am wounded and will be in horrible pain soon. We make our escape so I can heal up and then we send a proper force to crush these idiots. Nothing but Mages.”
Jeffrey nodded as he and Tobias lifted out the ground simultaneously. Both Mages had the ability to cast two spells so both also had a shield out in front of them. They took off, arrows whizzed by or impacted their shields as the men on the ground were screaming. The Mage they had took to the air, it was a man who wore old brown clothes in an effort to blend in with his men. Jeffrey looked down at him and then at the men trying to kill him. They seemed like a never ending wave but that was incorrect. Tobias groaned and looked down and then back at Jeffrey.
