Ray stood up and followed Faylin, all of the warriors were already up and ready to move which made Ray a little self conscious. It was hard learning to live like the Gaea did, the people of Holyan lived a more comfortable lifestyle than what Ray was doing now, Ray wondered once everything was over if it would be possible to make some of the items he missed, like a good bed. Keeping up with Faylin and the rest of the Gaea was easy despite the superiority some of them believed they had over him, Ray was faster and stronger than they were and was getting used to traveling in the forest. Ray wished he knew how the Gaea knew the forest as well as they did, it seemed like they were never lost. It took two days of continuous movement to reach the main Gaea settlement, hardly anyone was there except for the group that had attacked Holyan. They seemed surprised to see Faylin, Ray at first thought it was just because Faylin looked far different than they remembered but a part of him thought some were a little angry that she would assume command. Faylin's fantasy of attacking the Holyan took a blow, during the attack on Holyan the Outsiders refused to enter the forest and engage, instead they just made a perimeter around the great forest to keep the Gaea in. The Holyan also sent representatives inside, they didn’t want a fight but instead wanted a partnership. The situation with Largen had empowered some of the population to rebel and try to get their own kingdom, they did not feel the Queen cared about them. The Holyan rebels had quickly surmised the Gaea was behind their latest affliction, the diseases spread rapidly throughout the population and had people angry the Queen could do nothing to stop it. Some Duke named Tenkay had rallied a lot of powerful merchants, they were all tired of living under mage rule. The royals had argued mages were responsible for keeping the kingdom safe, the mages had failed to stop what was now known as the shrinking and no one had any idea on how to stop it. Tenkay had argued that everyone deserved the right to choose their own path, he championed for people to pick their leaders by majority vote instead of having leaders born into the role. The rebels promised to free every Gaea male in their lands in return for help fighting the diseases and the Holyan. The other rover team had sent someone to get in contact with the Great Mother, what the Outsider rebels were promising was too good to pass up. The other rover team was expecting the Great Mother when Faylin had shown up, now that most of the fighters were together it would make things easier for the Great Mother if she decided to talk to the Outsider rebels.
~
“Are our people ready?” the Great Mother asked.
“Everyone we have that has the Outsider magic are in place” Ray replied. “If the Outsiders are trying some kind of trick then they will find out we are tougher than they may think”.
“If they try anything grandmother, I will be here next to you” Ray replied. “With this mace Faylin took off one of the other Outsiders I think I can crush right through armor”.
“Then we are ready” the Great Mother replied. “The Outsiders should be here in a few moments, I am amazed their leaders agreed to travel this deep into the Great Forest”.
“I know that man” Ray said as he looked out and saw the first of the Outsiders enter the clearing. “He married my sister”.
“Prepare yourself then for information you may not like” the Great Mother replied. “Do not let your emotions distract you from our goals”.
“If something happened to my sister I will personally travel to the palace and lay Synfany’s chest wide open with any blade I can get my hands on” Ray replied.
“Do you know any of the others with him?” the Great Mother asked as she pointed out towards the group of Outsiders that were now clearly visible.
“I think I may have seen one of them once or twice in passing” Ray replied. “Not enough that I remember any of their names”.
“Well here we go” the Great Mother replied as the group came closer.
“David where is my sister” Ray said as soon as the Baronet came into speaking range.
“At home” Baronet Brownlee replied. “Lord Riverdale, I am surprised to find you here. We were told you died in the war”.
“I almost did” Ray replied. “Who is watching for Teresa’s safety?”
“My men are” said a tall older man with a trimmed gray beard. “You were raised in Holyan, I have heard about the Gaea brother Lady Brownlee talks about. I am Duke Tenkay, if everything goes according to plan I can soon drop my noble title”.
“How about my mother?” Ray asked looking at Baronet Brownlee.
“She is with her” Baronet Brownlee replied. “They will both be happy when I return with this information”.
“Baronet Brownlee, do you remember the first night we met, at Melody’s ball?” Ray asked. “Do you remember what happened to the mage who attacked me?”
“How can I forget” Baronet Brownlee replied with a laugh.
“Then know if this is some kind of trick I will kill as much of you as I can before I fall” Ray replied. “Our leader is my grandmother, she is my last living blood relative and I take her safety seriously”.
“There is no trick” Duke Tenkay replied. “We want help with the war and with the diseases, in return we will leave the Great Forest alone and help fight any Outsiders wishing to war with you”.
“What about our lost ones?” the Great Mother asked.
“We will of course give any Gaea in our lands the chance to return to the Great Forest” Duke Tenkay replied. “I will not force anyone to return however. If any of Gaea blood escapes the lands still held by the Queen I will give them the same opportunity. Those wishing to stay however will fall under our rule. I will admit many Gaea do not like their treatment but it will change under our new leadership, they will be afforded the same rights and have the same responsibilities as anyone in the Free Republic of Holyan”.
“Why would they want to stay when they can return home?” the Great Mother asked.
“A lot of the people with Gaea blood only know Holyan as their home” Duke Tenkay replied. “But as allies the Gaea will be allowed unescorted access all over the new nation, this is to ensure I am keeping my word. As a good faith measure I have already been rounding up all the Gaea who want to return and getting them ready to travel back here”.
“I cannot heal the people already afflicted” the Great Mother replied.
“Can you tell us how it is spread?” Duke Tenkay replied. “I have some guesses but I need to know for sure”.
EPILOUGUE
“This is about to be a humbling experience for Synfany” Duke Tenkay said proudly. “I want you front and center Ray, along with a couple of other Gaea, it doesn’t matter which ones you choose, just as long as they are there”.
“You want to provoke that old bird?” Ray asked.
“Of course” Duke Tenkay replied. “She has been used to getting her way and using that mind magic of hers, I want to stare into her disfigured face. I want that face to see me smile in triumph as the new leader of the Free Republic of Holyan. I plan on ruling until we can have elections, I have no doubt I will win since I will most likely run unopposed”.
“I want her to see me as well” Ray replied. “I think she will remember me, especially as I am dressed now”.
Ray looked down at his clothes, he had been dressed like the Gaea since he left Largen, the horrible sack thing he had been wearing gave way to animal skins and furs. His hair was down and was somewhat wild, he had been eating a special mixture to grow it out and now sported hair that went down to his lower back that any Gaea would be proud of. Ray thought he looked like a giant version of a Gaea, the outfit he was wearing though left little to the imagination, it was a little more than a loin cloth and some fur lined boots made from a combination of deer skin and rabbit fur. Ray’s tattoos had been on full display and if he was honest he liked the way it looked. The women of Holyan pretended to be scandalized by his attire but Ray had caught them staring far more than they used to when he lived in Holyan prior. The attention he had been receiving had made the few unattached Gaea women show
him far more favor than they used to, they probably still thought he was unattractive but wouldn’t dare let an Outsider woman claim him even if they were allies with some of them.
“Your dress and our health is enough to make them back away” Duke Tenkay replied. “The Great Mother has given us a bargaining chip that the Queen cannot ignore”.
“You mean the knowledge of how things are spread?” Ray replied.
“Of course” Duke Tenkay replied. “Everyone affected or not is being dosed with all vaccinations, our population will suffer starting out but in fifty years we will be back, we even have laws in place to increase our population”.
“Laws?” Ray asked.
“No taxes for anyone with five or more children” Duke Tenkay replied. “Anyone with low income will actually get paid based on the amount of children they have”.
“Wouldn’t that make a bunch of lazy people?” Ray asked. “Somebody will have to pay for all of that”.
“Taxes will be harsh the first couple of decades and there will be some grumbling” Duke Tenkay admitted. “The alternative though will be living under Synfany’s rule, then Melody’s and whatever kid Melody has. I won't be in charge 10 years from now, I won't even be a Duke once Synfany signs this thing. I am taking the title of Supreme Ruler, a position that will be voted on every 10 years by those eligible to fight in the war. That way a bunch of old men and women won't decide what is best for a country filled with people who actually have to fight in the wars. The money for babies thing though is going to last for fifty years regardless, you Gaea have shown me the reason thinking far in the future works. I expect a rough patch to start out with but I think we can eventually become more powerful than Holyan the kingdom just based on our system of merits”.
“I think I have heard something about that” Ray began. “My sister told me all of the nobles are taking other titles and in ten years can be voted out of their position. I am amazed you would give up that kind of power”.
“It is not that altruistic” Duke Tenkay replied. “I will still keep the majority of my land and the money I have obtained by being a noble. But enough of that, are you ready for the fight to happen?”
“What fight?” Ray asked.
“You don’t seriously think Synfany doesn’t have something planned for this meeting do you?” Duke Tenkay asked. “From what my spies tell me she is preparing some kind of attack with mages, you don’t find it weird the Great Mother isn’t here?”
“I just thought this was too far away” Ray admitted.
“Synfany plans on killing me and negotiating with my successor” Duke Tenkay laughed. “She is stuck either way and has to make a deal, she just doesn’t want me to be around to see it. Her visible guard will fall back while she is attended to by servants. The plan will be for just her to walk inside of here, after a bit her servants outside will pull out their hidden rosewood staves and start letting us have it”.
“What?!?” Ray said confused.
“Calm down Ray” Duke Tenkay replied. “You will present yourself as a big target, the mages will no doubt go after you. A big man covered in tattoos and dressed like a big Gaea, they won't be able to help themselves”.
“What about the Queen” Ray replied. “She has her own magic” Ray replied.
“Yes she does but I have you here” Duke Tenkay replied. “Once you see her start I want you to knock me unconscious. In my pocket I have a Gaea potion that is supposed to be able to wake anyone up from slumber by just sniffing it. I might be a little woozy afterwards but I don’t want her to put it in my mind that I need to attack you or anything. I am actually hoping she winds up attacking you, getting that mind bending power of hers out of her arsenal would be a boon to our cause”.
“The last time she tried she was successful” Ray replied. “She was able to hold me in place and even made me pass out”.
“You were weaker then, even if she can she won't have her victory for long” Duke Tenkay replied. “There are archers almost everywhere to deal with the mages and of course we have mages of our own. With you unconscious her power will still drain from her and she will have no way to stop it. From what I have seen, drawing of magic puts your victim in a stasis as well. Even if I die from this encounter, the fact that she will no longer have her magic will be worth it”.
“This is insane, we should stop this now” Ray said as a guard poked his head through the tent they were in.
“Her majesty approaches” the guard said then ducked back out.
“Well it is too late for us to do anything, go stand over there with Harley” Duke Tenkay replied. “And be ready for anything”.
Ray stood next to Harley, Harley was the Duke’s seneschal and was off to the side in case the duke needed any questions answered. Ray took a deep breath as the queen walked inside, she had on a hooded cloak covering her face and sat down at the seat in front of the duke, her back to the entrance. Ray doubted she noticed anyone other than the duke thanks to the enormous hood. The duke stared at her for a few moments before he began to speak.
“What trickery is this?” Duke Tenkay asked with feign confusion. “I am supposed to be meeting with the Queen of Holyan”.
“You know it is me” the Queen said as she removed her hood. “You just want to marvel at the work your damn animals did to me. And for what? You will never be king, the worthless land you will have is nothing. You had more as a Duke and you are throwing it away for nothing”.
“Now Synfany, we have no reason to be angry at each other” Duke Tenkay replied with a smile. “As a show of comradery, I’ll even let you have the cure once our business is concluded”.
“The only reason I am signing this thing is for the other cure” Synfany snapped.
“That is already part of our agreement” Duke Tenkay replied. “Here are the documents, please sign them”.
“I will sign them alright” Synfany said raising her voice. “But you won't be around to reap any rewards”.
The next moments happened quickly, Ray heard some commotion and snapped into action. Synfany never saw him coming as he put his hand on her shoulder. Ray turned around quickly while keeping his hand on her shoulder and could feel his mind getting cloudy. Ray could barely make out a figure coming at him and saw lightning coming from it which hit him in the chest. Ray could feel the magic pouring into him which cleared his mind a little from Synfany’s attack, other mages poured inside and added their magic to the attack. The influx of power cleared Ray’s mind entirely, Ray smiled as he could make out one of the attackers. Melody stood there with her staff outstretched and lightning pouring from the tip of it. Ray could see her face change from green and disfigured to its normal visage. Ray had found out from the Gaea he had given magic to that once the magic was gone, so was the disease. The archers the Duke had on standby were not needed, when Ray was done, seven mages, including the Queen lay crumpled on the ground. Ray looked around at the carnage and felt energized, he had never held the kind of magic he now had and was unsure of how to act.
“That was quick thinking” Duke Tenkay said looking at Ray. “She was doing her thing under the table when she brushed her leg up against me. I saw you grab her and she didn’t even break concentration as she reached up to touch your hand. When she did that her spell over me was severed, I saw her eyes go wide as she realized what was happening. Before she passed out her last view was me smiling and laughing at her. This was everything I thought it would be and more, I am not even going to punish her attackers”.
“Your Grace, I think that mage is Princess Melody” Harley said pointing to an unconscious woman dressed in servants’ garb. “In fact, I think these are the Queen’s elite mages, they are normally spread out all over the kingdom instead of in one place”.
“They wanted me badly” Duke Tenkay said laughing. “This gets more delicious as the time passes. Harley move these others outside, as for the princess, bring another chair and have some men prop her and the queen up. Ray I want you sitting next to m
e as they come to, I want to look in their faces as they realize defeat. And don’t worry about decorum when they regain consciousness either”.
“You mean I can call them a couple of twats and be done with it?” Ray said as a figure burst inside making him jump.
“I should kill them right now” Faylin said holding a spear above her head. “Are you safe Rae’aln’or? I just heard about the planned ambush and came running”.
“Why would you care?” Ray asked.
“Don’t act stupid” Faylin replied. “This is the Queen that let the bad things happen, you are Gaea and I will not let her have a chance to finish the job”.
“If you kill her though then the deal will be off with the Outsiders” Ray replied. “We need all of them alive. How many did you bring with you? I thought I was the only one around”.
“It is just me” Faylin replied. “I do not want you to fall to the wiles of an Outsider woman. I have decided that you can have the honor of being my chosen”.
“What if I don’t want to be your chosen?” Ray said crossing his arms.
“Don’t be ridiculous” Faylin replied. “Eventually I will become the Great Mother once your grandmother has passed on. In the Outsider world it would be like marrying a queen, with a few nice words you could end up as the First Father. Only an idiot would turn down that, you may be a lot of things but stupid is not one of them”.
“That has to be the worst pickup line I ever heard” Ray replied. “I have heard drunks use more suaveness trying to pick up a tavern wench”.
“I don’t know or care what any of those things are” Faylin replied.
“We can talk about it later” Ray replied for now help me get the mage at your feet up”.
~
“Is this really necessary?” Ray asked looking down at himself after having changed out of his Gaea clothes.
“They gave that suit of armor to your mother after you were presumed dead” Duke Tenkay replied. “I didn’t think it would get here in time, now that it is here, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Quick, throw on that helm, I think they are coming to”.
The Mage Slayer Page 14
