“Well, I be here, so talk,” he said. Jedek looked at the face as he spoke and didn’t like the grin the leprechaun had with his giant nose.
“It’s your gold, and we are leaving it, but we don’t want you taking what is ours,” Ahnon said.
The leprechaun laughed. “You think I take your stuff,” he said.
“Oh, I know the laws of leprechauns. Someone saw your gold, so you can see what they may have,” Ahnon said, and the laugh stopped.
“How you be knowin’ the laws?” he asked as his face became angry.
“Met a few and had to kill one when he tried to take what was mine.”
“No human can kill a leprechaun,” he said, but uncertainty was on his face.
Ahnon chuckled. “There you’re wrong. I did bury him with his gold but kept what was mine.”
The leprechaun dropped his hand to his dagger. “I’m thinkin’ it be luck,” he said, narrowing his eyes.
“Your choice, but I’ll keep your gold if this comes to a fight,” Ahnon said, relaxing his stance.
“I’m thinking not, human,” he said with a grin.
Ahnon smiled. “Why? You think your wife can stop me?” Ahnon asked, and the grin fell off, replaced by shock. The leprechaun stepped back. “She’s to my left behind the lone tree twenty paces away.”
“Who you be?” the leprechaun asked, gripping his dagger.
Ahnon’s hands flashed. “Sag su du ina ur,” he shouted as a white glob hit the leprechaun in the chest. Spinning around, he flipped his left wrist as his arm swung over his head, pointing at the tree. The pyramid shot out from his hand, and another small figure stepped out from the tree to be hit in the chest. Flexing his wrist, Ahnon made the small figure fly through the air, catching it in his left hand.
Jedek saw Ahnon holding a female leprechaun just like the male that Ahnon put a bind on by the front of her burlap bag. Ahnon knocked the dagger from her hand and set her down. “My lady, I’m sorry to have to do that to you, but your husband was getting unruly, and it would come to bloodshed. I could never forgive myself for killing one as beautiful as you.”
The female leprechaun stumbled back at his words. She looked much like her husband, minus the beard, but she was more slender and had girl curves. But on the end of her nose was a huge wart. She reached a hand up, smoothing her red hair, which was going everywhere. “You really think so?” she asked, smiling.
Ahnon bowed. “Yes, my lady. I can understand why your husband doesn’t want others to see your beauty but not why he would risk your life,” Ahnon said, holding his bow. The kids looked at Ahnon then bowed at the female leprechaun.
“You may rise,” she said, giggling, twirling a finger in her hair. She looked at her husband and tapped him, releasing him from the bind. “You don’t risk me like that anymore,” she snapped then turned to Ahnon. “You take the gold and remember this day,” she said, giggling.
Ahnon knelt on one knee. “No, my lady, I can’t take this from you. It pales in your beauty, but it will make you happy. I know that is what your husband is trying to do.”
The husband stepped forward, growling, “You used magic on me!”
His wife pointed a finger at him and zapped him with purple light, freezing him in place, “Shamus, you hurt them, and I’ll repay you a thousand fold,” she warned with hard eyes. She dropped her hand, and Shamus hit the ground.
Ahnon reached in a pouch and pulled out four gold crowns. “This is all the gold I have on me, my lady. Take it for allowing us to look upon you. I hope it brings you a little happiness,” Ahnon said, putting the coins in her hand.
Her hands dropped to her side. “You be so kind to me,” she muttered.
“You deserve nothing but happiness, my lady, to allow the world to see your beauty,” Ahnon said as Shamus got off the ground with a look of shock on his face as he stared at Ahnon.
“You hit your head, boy?” Shamus asked Ahnon. His wife narrowed her eyes and punched him in the mouth, knocking him down.
“Gwen, what you do that for?” Shamus asked, rubbing his bleeding mouth.
“Quit being a pain, and take notes on how to talk to me,” she said, holding out the four coins. “Take these back, and I’m sorry my husband caused you displeasure,” she said.
“No, my lady, they are a gift from us to bring you some happiness, and if it wasn’t for your husband, we never would have seen your beauty,” he said, pushing her hand back.
“You are unlike any human we have ever seen or heard of,” she said, reaching out and rubbing his face. “I accept your gift, and know none of the exiled will bother you at your cottage or anywhere on Thanos. You have the word of Gwen. You may rise, human called Ahnon,” she said, seeing he wasn’t going to stand up.
“Thank you, my lady,” he said, getting up. Ahnon looked at Shamus. “You are lucky, my friend, to have such a lovely, caring wife.”
Shamus smiled, looking at Ahnon then at Gwen. “You be right there, Ahnon,” he said. “I be sorry for doubting you, and that outcropping you chopping on goes down deep,” Shamus said, grinning as he pointed at the gold, making it shimmer and disappear. “You be a friend,” he said, and they vanished.
Ahnon let out a breath and fell back into the grass with a crash. “Where did they go?” Jedek asked.
“I think they ran off?” Kenna said, seeing trees swaying in a line. Then they both ran to Ahnon, who was covered in sweat as Talon landed beside them, and Minos trotted up. “Ahnon, are you okay?” Kenna asked.
Panting heavily, “I feel like I gave birth to a mastodon, tusk and all,” he said, wiping his face.
“They are that dangerous?” Jedek asked.
“Hey, they don’t exist, remember?” Ahnon said.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong,” Jedek said, pulling Ahnon up.
When he was standing, Ahnon wobbled over to the stream and knelt, splashing water on his face. “Yes, Jedek, they are very dangerous. Leprechauns at one time were fairies but started to lust for gold and digging it out of the ground and collecting it from nature. They were exiled as fairies and are no longer fae but still have the magic, and they are good with it.”
“And you killed one?” Kenna asked, shocked.
“Yes, the little turd stole my sword because he thought I found his gold. I never saw his gold, but if they think you are a threat, they are relentless in the torment they give you,” Ahnon said, getting up.
“Why did you give her gold then?” Kenna asked.
“If a leprechaun accepts a gift, they can never steal from the giver,” Ahnon said then looked down. “If they call you by name, no other leprechaun can cross you.”
“How did she know your name?” Kenna asked.
Shrugging, he said, “Have no idea, but I’m sure they’ve been around the cottage,” Ahnon said.
“That’s why you tried to charm her?” Jedek asked.
Ahnon laughed. “It was worth a try. Like fairies, the females are twice as powerful as the males in magic. Until today, I’ve never seen a female leprechaun, but I talked to a leprechaun in Brant once that told me if you charm them, your life becomes much easier,” Ahnon said, reaching down then pulling on his pack.
“Aren’t we going to eat?” Kenna asked.
“I really want to leave this place now,” Ahnon said.
“You said they can’t hurt us,” Jedek said nervously.
“It’s not that, Jedek. I need to change pants,” Ahnon said, walking away. “I wet mine.”
The two started laughing as they gathered their stuff, and Talon hopped over, grabbing the bags of bat dung and flew off. They both sighed. “Thank you, Talon!” Kenna yelled as they ran to catch up to Ahnon.
Jedek fell in on one side and Kenna on the other. “Ahnon, how many swords do you think we can forge with this much adamant?” he asked.
“Eight or nine,” Ahnon said, grinning.
“Have you seen real fairies?” Kenna asked.
“Yes, when I trained with Esta,” he answered.
“Oh yes,” he said with dreamy smile.
“How big are they really?” she asked.
“As big as they want to be,” he said. “But they like staying about this big,” he said, holding his hands about six inches apart.
“I want to see one,” she said with a begging face.
“Kenna, I would be just as happy to never see another fairy or a relative of a fairy.”
“Oh, come on,” she said.
Ahnon shook his head. “Kenna, you can’t see fairies unless they want you to or a fairy queen grants you favor. They are extremely powerful with magic. I mean they take care of the forest and lands.”
“We just have to be nice,” Kenna said.
“Unless they come to the cottage, we will not visit them,” Ahnon told her. “I’m so grateful to whoever wrote that letter warning us about the tribe to the south.”
“I’m not,” Kenna muttered.
“Cheer up,” Ahnon told her. “You two keep up,” he said, breaking into a run. They kept up with him the whole way home though they were tired. They put the adamant in the forge shop then headed inside for supper.
When they finished, Ahnon stood up and came back with a tea pot. “You two have done well in preparing. It’s time to start,” he said, sitting down.
“We start real training tomorrow?” Jedek asked, smiling.
“No, right now,” Ahnon said. “And you have been doing real training.” He poured three cups of tea.
Jedek looked at the cups. “You’re finally going to let me have some of your tea?” he asked, amazed.
“Yes,” Ahnon said, passing him the cup and setting one in front of Kenna.
“What kind of tea is it that you haven’t let him have any?” Kenna asked, looking at the cup.
“It’s kec tea,” he said.
Horror struck Kenna’s face. “Oh no, I can’t drink this. I’ll be come a kec head and go crazy!” she yelled, pushing back from the cup. Jedek set his cup down and leaned back from the table.
“Kenna, stop it. You have seen me drink it along with Karme.”
Kenna looked at him. “That’s the tea she drank?” she asked.
“Yes. How do you think we can stay awake like we do?” he asked.
“But you have to have it?” she said, looking at the cup.
Ahnon shook his head. “No, you don’t. The mind controls the body, Kenna. Now, if you drink large amounts, it can make you want more, but you have to remind yourself that you are in control.”
“You won’t let me become a kecko?” she asked.
“Kenna, have I ever lied to you?” Ahnon asked.
“No,” she said, picking up her cup.
“Only a half a cup in the morning and a half a cup at night. We will sleep the night of the sixth day. Never more. It’s a medicine but can be abused, so don’t,” he said, sipping his tea.
Jedek picked his up and took a sip. He looked down at the tea, smacking his lips. “This is good. Did you put sugar in it?” he asked, taking another sip.
“No, that’s how kec taste,” Ahnon said, draining his cup.
Kenna took a sip and loved it, quickly draining her cup. A smile crept to her face. “Wow,” she said, “I can feel my hair growing.”
Ahnon laughed, stood, and grabbed two books, handing one to each. “Days are for training the body, and nights are for training the mind,” he said, walking over to the chalkboard. He drew two lines of symbols. “The language of magic is actually two separate languages. Both are from long-lost tribes of the first elves,” he said, pointing at the symbols. “Now, when you read the words, do just that. Don’t focus your thought on the action of the word. That’s why nobody speaks them. They connect your energy to this world. You can reduce the amount of energy with components,” he said and started writing words.
“Don’t say them, Kenna,” Ahnon said, still writing. When he finished, he turned around. “You had your mind focused but don’t even know the meaning of the word yet. That’s dangerous because you can just unleash your energy with the right pronunciation and focused mind,” he said. “Now, repeat after me.”
Clearing their minds the two repeated after Ahnon as the real training started. Sore bodies would be the least of their concerns from now on.
About the Author
Thomas A Watson was born in Bossier City, Louisiana, in 1970, and grew up in Doyline, Louisiana and Grenada, Mississippi. He was the assistant manager of W.C. Plastics in Grenada Mississippi for several years before joining the U.S Army, he was stationed at Bad Hersfeld, Germany. After serving four years in the Army, he returned to W.C. Plastics where he was the acting manager for four years.
He attended Holmes Community College in the evenings while working at W.C Plastics, taking core classes. He moved back to Bossier City area to be closer to his and his wife's family and attended Northwestern State University in Shreveport, Louisiana, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After working 10 plus years as an emergency room nurse in and around Shreveport, he and his wife and two children, moved to Missoula, Montana.
Watson, meet his wife Tina in Grenada, Mississippi, they will celebrate 25 years of marriage in May of 2015. They have three children, Nicholas and Khristian Watson and Phillip Kyle. Watson, penned his first book in January of 2012, after moving to Missoula, Montana. His parents, Larry Watson and Kay Boykin, instilled the love of reading at a very early age. He has read and enjoyed most genres. His first published book Blue Plague: The Fall was released on Amazon and CreateSpace in August 2012.
Watson, signed a publishing contract with Winlock Press a division of Permuted Press in December of 2014. His Blue Plague series and Dark Titan series will be re-released in 2015 with Winlock Press.
Watson's Published Books to Date:
Blue Plague: The Fall
Blue Plague: Survival
Blue Plague: Sacrifice
Blue Plague: Rage
Blue Plague: Decisions
Dark Titan: Journey-Sanctioned Catastrophe
Upcoming Releases and Re-releases:
Blue Plague: The Fall, Survival, Sacrifice, Rage and Decisions-2015
Dark Titan: Journey-Wilderness Travel-2015
Blue Plague: War-2015
Blood Vengeance-2015
Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1) Page 38
