by Serena Yates
"I'm not sure that's even possible.” Kaythan looked sad. “I don't see how we can put all those shards back together again."
"I agree. Which leads to our second choice.” Elryk grinned, waiting for someone to guess what he was thinking.
"You mean—making a new Magic Shield?” Arith shook his head. “I'm afraid that's way beyond our current capabilities. We can do some research to try to find out how it was done, but I suspect that will take a few years. Whatever process was used, I suspect it won't be easy to replicate it."
"I agree, and we don't have that sort of time.” Nysat's eyes twinkled. “But I'm beginning to see what you're getting at."
"Yeah, so am I.” Kaythan smiled. “You're thinking we should find a way to use the golden magic to stop the energy from leaking, then use the full power of the gateway to track the thieves, right?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking. We'll probably have to go to the First Gateway, because the energy is strongest there, but that shouldn't be a problem.” Elryk felt optimistic for the first time in a while.
They got ready to leave, and Nysat transported them to the oldest known gateway at the foot of the mountains north of Tah'Algor. The guards let them through without hesitation, and they were soon in the ancient grotto. Not that it looked like a grotto anymore. Previous generations had covered the walls with marble, provided comfortable seats for visitors and generally made the source of all of Tah'Nut's magical power look like a tourist attraction.
Elryk stepped closer to the ‘hole in reality’ as many had called it. It was as high as five grown men in radius and almost perfectly round. Spread out across the back wall of the room, he could feel its power flowing into him. It was weaker than he remembered from a previous visit.
Kaythan stood next to him and he automatically reached for his mate. The second their hands touched, the need to connect their mate crystals became overwhelming. Since they were going to have to use the golden magic anyway to trace the leaks, Elryk connected his wrist with Kaythan's. The small golden sphere around their wrists formed immediately.
"Tah', that feels strange.” Kaythan's eyes were big as he stared into the vortex of colourful energies.
"It's almost as if—something—wants to communicate with us.” Elryk's brain tingled. There was some sort of intelligence in there, he was sure. “I can't understand what it's saying, though."
"One thing is definitely out of order.” Arith had stepped up and stood next to them, staring into the swirling colours with a deep frown on his face. “The last time I was here was before the Xoh'kas took over. That yellow tinge definitely wasn't there back then."
Elryk looked more closely. Damn, Arith was right. There was a slight yellowish hue to the entire vortex. Like a sheer veil that covered the entire surface. He would never have noticed it if Arith hadn't said something.
"You think it doesn't belong there, don't you?” Kaythan looked at Arith.
"It certainly wasn't there last time I checked.” Arith nodded.
"Do you think it could be what's stopping mate bonds from forming?” Elryk could feel it in his bones, but that might be wishful thinking.
"I think that is entirely possible.” Arith was still frowning.
"Let's try and find out.” Elryk lifted their linked hands. “If it's something that isn't supposed to be here, I'm sure the golden magic will be able to deal with it."
Focusing all his attention on the vortex, he helped Kaythan push the golden sphere outward until it touched the vortex. There was a blinding flash of light, and sparks flew all over the grotto. Something like a sigh sounded in his brain, and the yellowish hue was pushed out and dropped onto the white marble floor in a heap of dirty ashes.
The vortex brightened visibly. The walls, ceiling and floor seemed to sparkle with refreshed energy.
"That's more like it.” Arith smiled in relief.
"It looks like you were right. Someone put that thing there to stop part of what comes from the vortex from working.” Elryk frowned. “I wonder who it was and how they did it?"
"I don't think we'll ever find out.” Nysat shrugged.
"I think I know just the person who can help figure this out for us. He might be able to find a way to communicate with whatever seems to live inside the vortex while he's at it. If we do end up finding some sort of gadget the non-magical thieves may have used to siphon off gateway energy, I'm sure he can discover how that works. He might even be able to find a way of repairing the Muyd'Othar.” Not to mention that Elryk would have one of his best friends with him, at least for the duration of the project.
"That sounds a lot like a miracle worker.” Nysat looked sceptical.
"No, just a scientist.” Elryk grinned as three pairs of eyes stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. “His name is Parker Stokes. He's a great physicist, which means natural phenomena like this vortex are his speciality. He was expressing an interest in researching the gateway opening on Earth. I think I might be able to convince him to do his research here, instead. Oh, and he's a wonderful man as well. I think you'll like him."
"Should I be jealous?” Kaythan said it with a smile, but the slight tension in his hand told a different story.
"You know better than that.” Elryk stroked his lover's hand with his thumb. “We're mated, and there's no space in my heart for anyone besides you."
Kaythan's eyes lit up and his smile brightened.
"It sounds like we should get this Parker to Tah'Nut as soon as possible.” Arith nodded at Nysat, who was staring at the vortex with a faraway look in his eyes. “And not just because he might be able to help us with understanding the gateway energies and the vortex better."
"What?” Elryk looked at Nysat, but the man had now returned to normal. That was certainly interesting.
"Okay, before we do that, I believe we still have some work to do to make sure the magic thieves can't access the gateway energies anymore.” Kaythan, of course, brought them back to reality.
Elryk led them over to one of the comfortable seats. He had a feeling this could take awhile.
The golden sphere expanded as directed and soon touched the vortex. But there was no way to shut off its energies. They kept flowing around the sphere, finding their way out of the grotto. He could even sense them, if he focused hard enough.
"This won't work.” Elryk looked up into Arith's face. “We can't shut the energies off like we thought we could."
"Maybe it's better to use the vortex's energy to fuel the golden magic directly?” Nysat pointed at the pulsing sphere. “That way you can expand it beyond the grotto and find the thieves. Maybe they'll fall asleep like those Xoh'kas who weren't quite reprehensible enough to be changed into statues? Then we can have the Law Forces pick them up?"
"That's a good idea. “Kaythan nodded. “But we should try to mark them or their homes while we're at it, so we have time to send officers out to arrest them. They won't be able to be everywhere at the same time."
Leave it to his mate to get them organised. Elryk closed his eyes again and focused on the golden sphere. He concentrated on pushing out the sphere, feeling his way along as it moved across the city and beyond. A few houses here and there started glowing in a painfully bright gold. The occasional citizen stopped in his or her tracks, an unmistakable golden circlet around their heads and wrists. Some fell asleep in addition to being physically marked.
Elryk was shocked by how many people were affected. It seemed that free magic had been too difficult to resists even for otherwise law-abiding citizens.
* * * *
"I still can't believe I was the only suitable candidate!” Kaythan sat back on his sofa, stretched his legs, relieved that he'd taken boots and socks off as soon as they'd made it through the door. He dropped his aching head onto the high backrest with a sigh. It was good to finally be home.
The last few days, ever since they'd started to capture the magic thieves, had been hectic. The initial ‘marking’ of everyone involved in magic theft had
been very effective. The thieves were now being arrested legally and on a massive scale all over Tah'Nut. Even though the golden magic had accused them, they needed to be properly charged and tried in a court of law, or the new regime wouldn't be any better than the Xoh'kas. The devices they had used, as suspected, to siphon off the gateway energies were being confiscated and collected for Elryk's human friend Parker to examine once he arrived on Tah'Nut.
Many ordinary citizens were shocked about how many magic thieves there had been. Relief about something being done was the predominant reaction. There was even talk about a new Age of Justice.
With plans of re-establishing the house of Justice as the fourth ruling force in addition to the Magic Council, the Ruling Assembly and the Law Forces, that assessment wasn't too far off the truth. It would take awhile to recruit and train judges, lawyers and prosecutors, but with the official residence of the High Commander available as a school and training centre, they'd given the venture a head start. All they needed now was some people to fill those positions.
"Now you know how I felt about becoming High Wizard!” Elryk sat down next to him, smiling and cuddling into his side.
"Yeah, but at least you knew about it for a while before it happened and were able to mentally prepare yourself.” He put an arm around his mate's shoulders, his body and soul soothed by Elryk's presence. “I wasn't even aware I'd be the highest-ranking Commander left by the time we'd let the golden magic check the top echelons of the Law Forces. I had no idea there were so many who were corrupt and had fallen to the lure of the Xoh'kas tempting them with privileges."
"Do you regret accepting the position?” Elryk looked up at him, a small frown on his high forehead.
"Not really. “ He sighed. “It's just going to change our lives a lot more than I'd anticipated. I mean, I'd just barely gotten used to being mated to the High Wizard. Moving into your ‘official residence’ is change enough for me. I still like it a lot more than our other choices, by the way. Then this new appointment hits me, and suddenly, we're both high-ranking officials. I know that the job needs to get done and I'm probably the right person to do it for now, but being under public scrutiny like this isn't really my thing."
"We'll make it our thing.” Elryk stretched to kiss his lips. “We're in this together anyway because we're mated. It's just a little more official now with you being High Commander. And I really can't see anyone better suited than you to get the Law Forces back in shape and make sure they properly supervise the upcoming elections for the Ruling Assembly."
"Thank Tah’ we're in this together! I wouldn't want it any other way.” He bent his head so he could reach Elryk's lips for more kisses.
Little nibbles along his mate's lips drove them both a little crazy for more. But he wasn't ready to give in to his body's demands. Kaythan pulled back.
"There's one thing I want to talk to you about before we kick off our first weekend together in our new home.” He'd been wrestling with the idea for a while and wanted to know what Elryk thought before he brought it up in the big all-government meeting on Firstday.
"Okay.” Elryk smiled “But just the one thing. I really do want this weekend to be special. That means no talk about work, in case you were wondering."
"I wasn't, and I agree with you.” He grinned and squeezed Elryk's shoulders for reassurance. “I've been thinking a lot about the people we'd want in the House of Justice. Add to that the many empty positions in the Ruling Assembly and the Law Forces, and there are quite a few jobs that need filling."
"I'm with you so far. It's going to be a huge challenge.” Elryk nodded.
"I was wondering whether we should suggest something a little less traditional.” He cleared his throat. “So far, there were strict rules about who could be a member of which governmental team. Wizards were only allowed in the Magic Council, which didn't accept any non-magical people. Wizards weren't welcome in any of the other groups, and each of the other groups had strict rules about who could be a member."
"I can see what you mean!” Elryk looked excited.
"Looking at what's happened over the last two hundred years, it's become clear to me that this total exclusivity leads to tunnel vision and a lack of understanding of each other's issues. Not to mention isolationism and a lack of cooperation.” Kaythan paused. “I think it's time we break the old mould and try more of a team approach."
"Some might even call that idea revolutionary.” Elryk grinned from ear to ear.
"From the look on your face that's a good thing?” He sure hoped so. He'd gotten quite fond of this idea ever since it had first occurred to him.
"Absolutely!” Elryk nodded. “As long as we have strict separation of function between the teams that make up our government, there shouldn't be any restrictions on who sits where. Well, except for a majority of the Magic Council needing to be wizards, for obvious reasons. I guess the same would go for the House of Justice and the Law Forces, where most of the top people need to be trained officials."
"I'm so relieved you agree.” He smiled. “I wasn't going to suggest it on Firstday without having talked to you about it, but it seems to be the obvious next step to me. With the two of us already linking the Magic Council and the Law Forces more closely than ever before, I think the other teams need similar cross-linkages as well. It'll make the whole a lot stronger, I believe."
"I think it will also be good for the magic balance to make sure the linkages represent the different types of magic.” Elryk leaned his head against Kaythan's shoulders. “But I'm sure we can work out the details when we get back to work. Now, I'm ready for some special celebrations."
"So am I.” He wasn't going to try and resist Elryk when his mate suggested what he was sure to be some exciting explorations of their newly formed bond. He got hard just thinking about what they could get up to in the next two days.
"Let's take this upstairs?” Elryk got up, took his hand and led the way to their new bedroom.
Elryk's eyes twinkled as he motioned for Kaythan to sit on the edge of the bed. He obediently took a seat and leant back on his elbows as he watched his gorgeous mate kneel down between his legs. Elryk opened his pants and pulled out his half hard cock, lovingly giving it a quick lick before he focused on pulling the pants all the way down and off.
"Shirt. Off.” Elryk pointed at him while he started tearing his own clothes off.
"Are we in a hurry?” Kaythan grinned but quickly complied when his mate growled at him.
The other man got so wonderfully dominant when he wanted something in the bedroom. He was about to tease Elryk a little more, just for the fun of seeing the caveman in his mate emerge, but the sight of the naked chest completely distracted him. Tah', but this man's body did it for him. Watching him undress was a new delight and he went from half hard to hard as a rock in seconds as Elryk pulled down his pants and revealed his equally hard erection.
"You see what you do to me?” Elryk stepped closer, his hard cock pointing away from his body and temptingly close to Kaythan's mouth.
"It's mutual.” He bent forward to try to capture Elryk's cock with his lips, but apparently his mate had other plans.
Elryk was back between his knees, his hot lips caressing his shaft and his hands softly kneading his balls before he knew what hit him.
"Ungh!” Beyond words already, his hips bucked up as Elryk sucked him all the way down, until the other man's nose was buried in his pubes.
When Elryk started to hum, alternating the sounds with swallowing around his glans, Kaythan lost it. He gripped his mate's head and pulled him off his throbbing cock with a supertah'nutian effort.
"If you keep doing that I'm going to come. Soon.” He caressed his mate's flushed cheeks with his thumbs. “Is that what you want?"
Elryk shook his head, his chest heaving for breath. Putting his hands on Kaythan's shoulders, he pushed him down onto his back, motioning towards the middle of the bed.
"Move.” Elryk grinned, fisting his cock.
&
nbsp; How was he supposed to do anything but stare?
Knowing that neither of them would get to come until he did as his mate asked, he started moving towards the middle of the bed. Elryk got on his hands and knees, straddling his body, and followed him. His mate made sure that their cocks kept touching as they both moved in unison.
He groaned.
Elryk grinned some more, then rose onto his knees, so his ass was straight above Kaythan's straining cock. His mate reached behind him to take the tip of Kaythan's cock into his hand, placing it at his opening. The tight pucker was hot against his cock head and begged him to move towards it.
It took everything he had not to push upwards into the tight heat he knew awaited him. He wasn't going to hurt his mate, no matter how blue his balls were getting. He fisted his hands and watched as Elryk got that faraway look in his eyes he always had when he was about to do a spell.
Seconds later, cool slickness touching the tip of his aching cock told him that Elryk was ready. With his eyes half closed and his mouth open, his mate started to sink down onto his cock. The agonising slowness made them both moan in anticipation of what was to come.
When Elryk was fully seated, he opened his eyes, and put his hands on Kaythan's chest with his palms rubbing Kaythan's already erect nipples.
"Fuck!” Kaythan's hips bucked upwards, the drive to thrust overwhelming.
"Please!” Elryk's smile was strained, but his eyes were twinkling. “Fuck me hard, dearling."
"Oh, Tah'!” It was the first time his wizard had used an endearment and the feeling of closeness and intimacy shot straight into his balls.
Kaythan gripped Elryk's hips and thrust up as hard as he could. Elryk's eyes rolled back in his head as he groaned with lust. Kaythan made sure the angle was just right, pulled out slowly then pushed back in with all he had, hitting his mate's special spot
"Yes! That's it.” Elryk panted.
Kaythan held on for the ride and thrust up into the tight, pulsing channel of his mate, who was already beginning to come. Spurts of hot semen decorated Kaythan's stomach, the scent driving him on, as he thrust inside one last time and started emptying his balls into Elryk's welcoming body.
