Metal Mage 12

by Eric Vall

  “It isn’t,” I muttered. “I have to somehow figure out my next step, but I have no idea where to begin.”

  “What do you mean?” Shoshanne asked.

  “When I destroyed the last portal in Falmount, Dragir taught me about recognizing the call of this new element,” I explained. “He said I could use my familiarity with it to try and find others, but that’s not a lot to go off of. So, I thought I could try to use my magery, but I don’t know if that’s even possible.”

  “Because he doesn’t engrave the rune on your element,” Aurora concluded.

  “Yeah, but what if I could locate it anyways?” I continued. “When I was in the market helping Pindor with his Terra magic, I managed to sense the presence of magery nearby through the soil. Then I actually recognized that it was Mina’s powers, specifically because I was already familiar with it.”

  “You never told me you managed to do that,” the half-elf said as her eyes sparkled. “That’s amazing!”

  “I only did it the one time,” I admitted, “but I want to keep practicing, because if I could perfect the ability to sense magery through my powers--”

  “Then you could try to sense rune magic in the same way,” Cayla realized. “Can the two forms of magic interact like that?”

  “I have no idea,” I sighed. “That’s the trouble.”

  “I think it sounds like a good place to start, and maybe we can help you with it,” Shoshanne offered. “If you send your metal magic through the train, Aurora and I could summon our powers, and you can practice strengthening your skill with locating our magery first.”

  “That would be great,” I agreed. “We could all practice at the same time, and then you and Aurora can work toward the same skill.”

  “I love this idea,” the half-elf giggled. “Mason can teach me for once.”

  I couldn’t help sending Aurora a wink. “If I’m the teacher, does that mean I get to pick school uniforms?”

  “If your school uniform is just us being naked, I don’t see how any of us will focus on the lessons,” Shoshanne chuckled.

  “Godsdamnit,” I muttered.

  My women were giggling when I felt the train begin to slow, and there was a knock at the door moments later. I hopped up and unlatched the lock, and Kurna was standing in the doorway of the dining car.

  “Seeing as you’re both Defenders still, I thought I’d bring these by,” the Ignis Mage said as he held up two fresh suits of armor. “We’ll be getting into Limont soon, so you should get suited up.”

  “Hell yeah,” I chuckled as I grabbed the dwarven armor. “Are we all set to get the troops stationed?”

  “Yes, sir,” Kurna replied. “The rosters for each post are finalized, and the Defenders all know where they’re going. We only need to stop in long enough to meet the vassals of the area, and you said you wanted to have Aurora consult the troops as we go. They’re getting pretty nervous, so it’d be a good idea not to waylay that.”

  “Sounds easy enough.” I shrugged.

  “While I’ve got you, though,” Kurna continued, “I heard Haragh’s getting his own car, and I wanted to--”

  “No, you cannot have your own car, too,” I cut in.

  “Why not? I work just as hard as Haragh.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t have a nine-foot girlfriend with you,” I countered.

  “Wow,” Kurna said flatly, and he crossed his arms over his broad chest. “You’re gonna make this personal? I don’t have any giant women to love me, so I don’t get a decent set up?”

  I cocked a brow, and Kurna immediately grinned.

  “Worth a try,” the brawny mage chuckled, and he saluted me before he headed back into the dining car.

  I was shaking my head as I returned to my women, and when they all saw me looking over the dwarven armor, I recognized the glint in their eyes.

  “Put it on,” Cayla moaned.

  “I’m getting there,” I chuckled. “Aurora, there’s a set for you, too.”

  “If I wear that, no one will see my nice velvet uniform,” the half-elf pouted. “Can’t I wait to wear armor until we’re going into battle or something?”

  “I’m ninety percent sure this armor’s gonna be even sexier than the red velvet,” I countered. “I mean, your Order, your rules, but couldn’t you … ”

  “Our Order,” Aurora corrected, and she bit her lip seductively. “I’ll wear it for you later if you want.”

  “Yes, please,” I mumbled, but when Deya let out an extremely erotic moan, we all looked over in confusion.

  Then the beautiful elf slowly stretched herself out across the bed, and she had a satiated grin on her face as she batted her pink lashes at me.

  “I feel so much better,” Deya murmured. “Mason, the baby is very happy.”

  I raised my brows. “That’s good.”

  “Did … did you see our dragon?” Shoshanne asked quietly. “Was he okay? Does he miss us?”

  “I did,” the elf replied as she got up, and she came over to sit beside the healer so she could hold her hand. “He’s just as glorious as ever, and he’s so considerate. The various breeds usually have their misunderstandings, but dragon Mason is a friend to all of them, just like real Mason would be. I believe the baby dragons will be safe at last.”

  My women teared up as they smiled at the elf’s words.

  “Did he recognize you?” Aurora asked.

  Then Deya teared up as well. “Yes. We flew through the skies together before I left, and I could sense how happy it made him. It was like real Mason was right there with me, but he was a dragon instead.”

  “That sounds so lovely,” Cayla sniffed.

  I didn’t move a muscle while I waited with bated breath to see if they were about to melt down again, but Aurora and Deya furrowed their brows instead as they tilted their ears toward the front of the train.

  “Do you hear that?” Aurora asked.

  Then Deya gasped and leapt from her seat, and the two elves ran to the other end of the car to lean their heads out the window.

  “Listen to them!” Deya giggled. “They’re so happy to see your beautiful train, Mason!”

  “Huh?” I asked, but then I recognized the sound of distant cheering as the train continued to slow down.

  By the time we pulled into the station, my women were all posted at the windows in awe, and they insisted I come over to get a look at the crowd.

  I didn’t need to, though.

  I could already hear “Defender Flynt” being screeched by young women like Mick Jagger had just arrived.

  “Do these people have no idea their kingdom is at war?” I muttered as I hoisted my armor on over my vest.

  “Of course, they know,” Shoshanne laughed. “They just don’t seem to care because Defender Flynt is in town.”

  “Gods, this is so arousing,” Cayla muttered. “Mason, they worship you. Do you have time for more sex before we go out there?”

  “No,” I snorted while Defenders began filing past the windows, and Kurna turned an amused grin toward Deya.

  The beautiful elf was nearly falling out the window now while she waved to the crowd, and she kept yelling “thank you” like them cheering my name was a compliment to her.

  “Deya, get in here,” Aurora sighed, and she dragged the elf back from the window.

  “But they love Mason so much,” Deya giggled. “I like these people.”

  “These people could be attacked by the Master’s army at any second,” I reminded the women while I finished suiting up. “Let’s just do what we were sent here to do, stay focused, and make sure these people have a chance of surviving.”

  Shoshanne nodded in agreement as she looped her arm in mine, and I escorted the caramel beauty and Aurora onto the platform while my other women followed.

  The noise in the village doubled when we emerged, though, and I tried not to wince as the volume wreaked havoc on my rune heightened hearing. It looked like everyone was in attendance, and farmers, merchants, and their f
amilies filled every street leading to the station. The nobles of the town had lined themselves up on the platform to welcome us, and I saw some people playing music while others threw flowers over the crowd. Then they began tossing flowers at my women, too, and Deya squealed before she ran to gather them up.

  Urn was waiting a few feet away with his arms crossed, and he shook his head at the screaming crowd when I joined him.

  “Should we stay for the parade?” the burly mage hollered above the noise. “Lord Henesy’s arranged one in your honor.”

  Shoshanne did her best not to laugh at the look on my face.

  “No, we’re not staying for a parade,” I growled. “We’re here to arm the town.”

  “And you’ve got ten minutes to do so!” Bagneera shouted to me as she stood with her elbow propped against the engine. “No more, no less.”

  “You heard the lady,” I said with a grin.

  “Yes, sir,” Urn chuckled. “The Defenders are already divided up. Twenty in total, five from each of the primary elements. They’ll be serving under the order of Defender Kin.”

  “General Kin,” I corrected.

  Urn nodded as he waved an arm to bring Defender Kin down the platform, and I tried to stay focused despite the hundreds of people screaming my name. Smartly wrapped parcels kept being flung my way, too, but I let them bounce off my legs as I kept my eyes on Kin.

  The stone-faced woman’s dwarven armor made her look even more intimidating, and the new 1911 holstered on her hip added a touch of “oh, shit” to her hardened demeanor. Her blue eyes surveyed the crowd warily as her short sandy hair rustled in the breeze, and she offered me a crisp salute as she came to a stop beside me and Aurora.

  “Defender Fly--”

  “Mason, these people have presents,” Deya suddenly announced as she grabbed my arm. “Can we take the presents, too?”

  “Deya, I’m on a tight schedule,” I muttered as Kin furrowed her brow.

  Cayla stepped up, though.

  “We’ll work on crowd control,” the princess assured me. “You focus on your work.”

  “Thank you,” I chuckled, and Shoshanne left a kiss on my cheek before she headed toward the edge of the platform with Deya and Cayla.

  The three women were immediately met with more screams and roses, and I smirked as Deya took a bow and blew them all a kiss.

  “How many magazines did we bring along?” Aurora asked.

  “Twenty crates, seventy-five magazines per crate,” I replied, and Aurora turned to Kin.

  “Let’s get your troop set up with two crates to start with,” the half-elf decided, “but we’ll need you to send notice to Falmount a week in advance if you’re low so we can arrange another shipment in time. We also need to make sure there’s enough room in the stables here to accommodate--”

  “Defender Flynt!” a simpering voice interrupted, and I turned to find who I assumed must be Lord Henesy judging from his ritzy attire and willingness to butt in. “Allow me to personally welcome you to Limont. It is a great honor to have you here with us, and in celebration of your arrival, I have prepared a parade as well as--”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” I cut in. “Allow me to introduce Defender Solana and General Kin. Defender Solana will be coordinating with the troops assigned to this area, and General Kin will be personally leading your defenses in Limont. She’s a Flumen Mage with fifteen years of experience serving the Order of the Elementa. General Kin, this is Lord Henesy. He’s arranged a parade to honor yourself and the Defenders who will be protecting his people.”

  Kin made no acknowledgement to the statement, and everything about her weathered expression showed how little she gave a shit about parades while she looked down on Lord Henesy. She was also about a foot taller than the old man and probably could have benched him.

  Lord Henesy craned his neck and sent Kin an uneasy attempt at a smile.

  “Charmed,” the lord muttered. “Defender Flynt, if it is of no inconvenience, I’ve prepared a grand feast at my estate, and my beautiful daughters would be so delighted if you would join us.”

  My women looked less than flattered at the insinuation in his tone as they strolled over, and he gestured grandly to a line of seven extremely young ladies on the platform. They all wore starched collars and pastel day dresses as they blushed like virgins, and while they shyly curtsied to me, I realized the oldest had to have been younger than Pindor.

  I offered an uncomfortable nod to the girls as I caught on that this lord was trying to snag me for one of his way too young daughters, but then Aurora and Deya posted themselves closer to my sides.

  Deya’s violet eyes flashed in a way that contrasted severely with the bushel of flowers she held in one arm, and she lovingly stroked her belly bump while Aurora stared the lord down until he looked as uncomfortable as I’d been.

  “I’m afraid we don’t have the time, Lord Henesy,” I said as a chuckle slipped out. “My Defenders and I are on a tight schedule and have several posts waiting for our troops. General Kin would be happy to meet with you to go over the protocol your people should follow in the event of an attack, though.”

  Then I gestured for Aurora to lead the way, and we headed toward the cargo end of the train while Kin fell into step beside me.

  “I suppose it’s time I meet with the Defenders,” Aurora decided, and I didn’t miss how nervous she looked at the idea.

  “You’ve got this,” I assured her. “You’ve been rallying me for months. Rallying the troops is no different.”

  Aurora nodded as she took a more deliberate stride ahead of us, and Kin smirked at me.

  “General?” the woman asked.

  “Yeah, sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I chuckled. “Things have been a little crazy lately.”

  “You don’t hear me complaining, do you?” Kin snorted. “I should have been made a general ten years ago, but Abrus was a condescending shitbag.”

  I chuckled as we shared a look of agreement, and we stepped around a giant bushel of flowers flung in our path.

  Deya giggled and scooped them up to add to her collection, though, and I could hear Shoshanne doing her best to thank every person who handed them gifts along the way.

  “While you’re here,” I continued, “I want you to try to locate the portals any of your attackers are using. The fireball magazines I’m leaving you with can obliterate just about anything, so if you can track any of the Master’s minions who try to flee, use your bullets to destroy the entire area where they vanish.”

  Kin nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “If attacks do occur, keep me updated in Falmount,” I added. “I need to keep tabs on the number of soldiers the Master’s sending out, as well as the severity and frequency of the attacks. Any questions?”

  “No, sir,” Kin replied as we neared the Defenders who were gathering their horses, “but I do have a favor to ask of you if it isn’t an inconvenience.”

  “What is it?” I asked.

  The Flumen Mage grinned. “If you’re planning on promoting Barnik, could you wait until I get to see the look on his face when he hears I’m a general before him?”

  “I can probably work that out,” I chuckled, “but depending on how well he does with the work I’ve assigned him to right now, he may be knighted before you get back to Serin.”

  Kin’s mouth pinched into a grave line, and she cursed under her breath before she turned away to help unload the ammunition.

  I was chuckling to myself as I headed for Aurora, and she was already gathering the twenty Defenders when I posted myself against the edge of the door. I couldn’t help admiring the cast of the half-elf’s emerald eyes as she shifted into her role as a head of the Order, and the Defenders gave her their undivided attention while she addressed them as well as any leader. She was so assured I would have believed it if someone told me she’d been a head mage for the past year, but she didn’t speak as if she was above any of our troops. She spoke to them like they were her equals, and as she listed he
r expectations, she made sure to reference her own experiences as a new Defender to help build up their confidence, too.

  When Aurora was finished, the troops saluted her before they were dismissed, and once no one was looking at her, an adorable little smile twitched at the corners of her mouth as she came my way.

  “Damn,” I said the second she was beside me. “Where’s my horse? I’m fucking ready.”

  “Oh, hush,” the half-elf giggled.

  “No way. Feel my pulse,” I insisted as I grabbed her hand. “I’m jacked for this. Let’s defend Illaria and kick some ass.”

  “Stop!” Aurora laughed as she shoved me away. “You’re not allowed to listen to my speeches anymore.”

  Then I locked the half-elf under my arm as we headed back up the platform.

  “But you’re so sexy when you’re rallying the troops,” I murmured against her braids.

  Aurora blushed as she sent me a glittering smile, but then she stubbornly rolled her eyes.

  “I thought we were being professional about this,” she muttered.

  “I’m so professional right now,” I scoffed. “Look at me not grabbing your ass.”

  “Your hand is inching toward my boob,” Aurora pointed out.

  I grinned. “But is it there yet?”

  “Mason,” Kurna called as he came to meet us. “Bagneera says you’ve got three minutes.”

  “Thanks,” I chuckled. “Get everyone loaded up. The Defenders and General Kin are all set here.”

  “Your women appear to be busy, though,” the brawny mage informed me.

  Aurora and I looked over our shoulders to see Shoshanne trapped in conversation with two fragile and sweet old ladies she was too polite to walk away from, and while Deya giggled and left kisses on the cheeks of every child she passed, Cayla stood with her nose slightly tipped up and took every gift presented to her.

  I whistled sharply so the sound would rise above the still screaming crowd, and while Deya came trotting over with armfuls of flowers, Cayla stoically cut between Shoshanne and the old ladies to free her.

  Once my women were gathered up, we offered our goodbyes to Lord Henesy, and I was just turning for the train when two of his nearest daughters giggled my name to get my attention.