Brooke’s jaw dropped as she looked over her shoulder towards her people. “Priestess, tell me he isn’t telling the truth.” Lanna pleaded weakly.
The priestess gritted her teeth, but couldn’t lie to her sisters. “I wish it were so. Five had to be separated to re-gather themselves. All of Zatal’s mates and Moril your sister-mate, Chala had to be separated and looked after the most. She even cut your man before he took her blade away. Your sisters had to console her and tell her to relax.”
With Cage’s nod driving the final nail in the coffin, Lanna sat back further with disbelief.
Megdline treaded carefully when she spoke to the dumbfounded warrior. “Lanna, I cannot see what Daku apparently can, but if he were wrong you would have attacked him to defend your mate. Instead you sit there in shock, realizing either he is right or those you love aren’t truly the one you are fitted for.” A dark look crossed the warrior. In a kinder, grandmotherly tone she explained “In Twilight all new potential children are seen by an elder dragon. I was frightened when I stood before her, but it wasn’t until I graduated my studies that I understood why it was done so. In that city, many mages live hundreds if not thousands of years and everyone has a spirit mate. Usually the pair or lover group grow together. Unbreakables though are destined specifically. I had a suspicion that Cage and Brooke were Meeka’s true mate for their drive to get her back went far beyond honor or loyalty to the Utala.
“Imagine this, because I can honestly say it would have happened to me, Daku calls us unbreakables, but think of a little girl about eight years old having a spirit mate who is seventy or even nine hundred years old yet looks in their prime… the child and her spirit mate are meant to be together and the moment they saw each other they would have sex right there and not think twice. Sometimes the pull of a mate throws all other thought aside. Age, sex or physical attributes don’t matter in that very moment. To them it would be right, but for a little girl to see her mate so soon would cause great damage in her emotional growth and harm her flower from immaturity… and they won’t stop having sex for long except to eat or sleep.
“Because of the dragon, I was always far from my mate without realizing it… until I was ready. And just to put things in perspective, my husband has a thousand years on me.” Such open honesty shocked everyone except Frill and Daku. “The moment I was allowed to move about alone, I saw him walking across the grounds. He was walking away, but stopped instantly as my eyes fell on him. He turned around and we were married within that hour and spent the next four months locked in our room without any interruptions. We’ve been together ever since and after all these years, the children and grandchildren we share, when I so much as look at him I get the urge to have him in me so we can be one again. But my spirit prefers adventures and moving around the lands with Frill at my side while his spirit is focused on keeping order in Twilight and furthering knowledge of the young.” Megdline moved closer and took Lanna’s hand between hers with earnest compassion. “When you lay eyes on your mate for the first time you will likely run up to him or her and demand a mating challenge and will purposely lose just to be with them if they cannot beat you. I can see in your eyes you enjoy the passion of sex and the structure that you are not alone, but you’re missing an important piece in your life, my friend. When it happens, you will understand what I mean and not feel so defensive.”
“Then why didn’t Chief and Sister Meeka mate when they first met?” She countered.
Megdline was already prepared for such a question. “I know you remember what happened when Meeka and Brooke used magic against their will. Before that, his spirit was clouded by the pain he’s endured which wouldn’t allow him to love.”
“But I more than liked him than anyone else at first glance that night. He was frightening, but I could not bring myself to leave his side…” Meeka admitted.
The sorceress looked ahead. “That was your spirit telling you he is yours, but couldn’t make the connection to his spirit because of the block the two of you later destroyed.” Brooke and Meeka eyed each other. “When it broke it caused confusion to his spirit, but you three have strong wills which is why he truly didn’t take you immediately. Spirit mates were going to be a lesson one day I would have explained, but it is an unknown phenomenon yet it has the greatest magic over the mates… To me, that magic can never be surpassed. Subtle yet unbreakable. Hence the name.” Megdline then altered the subject with a smile. “But I did learn something very interesting.”
“And that would be?” Brooke prodded.
“When you kissed Meeka I finally got the information that has been bothering me…”
“You can rid the curse?” Meeka asked with some hope.
“Sorry, but” Megdline shook her short, jet black hair. “that is far beyond anyone’s current skills and would likely kill me for trying. What I did learn is you too will be long lived.”
“Long lived?” Meeka asked, but was suddenly embraced tightly by Brooke who then kissed her cheek with a heartfelt smile. Cage sighed in relief as well.
“The Great Prophet gave you a gift beneath your curse. You likely would have been a first class sorceress just like Brooke before he intervened, which is rare. The first class are usually are born once every ten years, but I have little doubt the two of you would be in that level… Sorry, I went off topic for a moment… The prophet bestowed you with an endless life should you not die unnaturally. Something else too I cannot determine he did… As a warlock, Cage is inherently immortal and the two of you will be with him forever, if that is possible. You have the most dangerous magic accompanied with long life.”
Cage and Brooke chuckled at Meeka when the words settled in and enjoyed the reaction. Her clear blue eyes were wide like saucers and her full lips parted as her breath caught.
Before the blonde healer could respond Daku’s tone spoke warningly. “Cage, look to the south.”
Cage spun around in an instant and stood while conjuring a black fireball in his left hand in preparation for a fight. Other’s took heed of the warning by drawing weapons and getting a firmer grip on the griffin’s fur. Far in the distance of the morning light was a disturbance in the atmosphere that spread vastly ahead. When he understood the warning he canceled the silent spell of black, combat fire and said over a shoulder “We’re not under attack, but there is a nasty looking storm far away.”
Knives returned to their sheathes while he saw Meeka return a tomahawk back to Brooke and watched ease return to the group.
Daku rumbled while looking down along the beach far to the right. “Use your sight mirror to see how large it is. I get the feeling we might need to take shelter soon before it hits.”
Cage focused on finding an aerial view of the storm and felt the tingle of magic grow between his shoulders as an oval image appeared several feet ahead of Daku and made it large enough for everyone to see. Inky blackness warped like rippling water till it seemed to solidify as color transformed the blank image to quickly show an aerial view of the violent storm, but it was enormous and moving quickly. Lightning struck frequently in the darker areas. It swirled around like a hurricane, but without a defining eye those raised in Florida are accustomed to. Megdline approached to say “Ah, the storm signifying the start of Fall. Daku’s right, we’ll need to land. There is too much danger flying through something like that. Daku, look for a place to land, preferably a cave with a north facing opening. That storm is coming from the south and should last no more than a day before it will be safe to fly.”
In response, the griffin glided to the west, using his acute eyesight to find a place far away from anyone and up high where it would be near impossible to climb. While he searched Cage asked “Granny, call me crazy, but how can you say Fall is here with a storm. Can you read the storm or see something I cannot?”
“No, Crazy.” She chuckled, liking the unfamiliar sayings he often used. “On most dragon occupied worlds, they use ancient spells on the planet to maintain cycles of Spring, Summer, Fall
and Winter to balance and maintain life. Every six months two giant storms get created in the southern pole and speed north. They are automatically created and set free on the winds to make sure we, who are closer to the more snowy south hurry and prepare for winter. In spring we get another storm to wash away most of the remaining snow to start growing crops. Most of the time storms come and go randomly, but these two storms give clear warning when it’s over and when to prepare for winter.”
“It is true.” Brooke said. “Our people would begin the last planting and hunting of buffalo to survive the winter. The violence of these storms are great, but you learn quick when the next months will determine if the winter kills you.”
“Found one!” Daku exclaimed. “Cage, make us invisible so none see us take shelter.” The warlock ended the sight mirror spell and focused on making them all visibly disappear. He stood confidently while maintaining the modified barrier spell he first used against a wyvern that bends light and feeling Daku’s ninety foot wide wing’s pump them towards shore and for a small range of mountains.
While they flew for shelter everyone sat quietly to ponder heavy thoughts that had been spoken. Reflecting on inner newfound conceptions kept all from speaking. While his dad worked magic, Sean crawled from his friend Zatal to sit beside his new mothers who each smiled lovingly at him. He took one of their empty hands and sat there, saying nothing yet expressing happiness to see his dark haired mother truly happy again with his reunited blonde mother who was just as regally beautiful. The decent was a slow glide to limit the greater fear some had of flying, mainly Brooke Mother and Moril.
The lazy descent wasn’t difficult to adjust to and the others found the pop of their ears annoying and hurt till Cage explained a trick by holding your nose and blowing. Megdline found it easier for it was commonly practiced in Twilight for flying, but Sean found it the hardest. Eventually the others equalized.
The mountain Daku angled towards was thick with healthy pine trees and gave great clover. It took a few minutes to find what shelter the griffin located from so far and high away. A suitable open space lay open nearby a wide mouthed cave. The front stood ten feet high and forty deep with a width of over ninety. Daku flew as slow as possible and glided within ten feet before extending his legs to brace for the remarkably gentle landing and trot to a stop. Brooke sighed loudest of everyone and Daku chuckled while lowering his muscular frame completely to the ground. Cage canceled the magic and walked between the wing and neck to drop four feet effortlessly to turn around and help Meeka and the other’s down. Zatal and Lanna dropped on the opposite side.
As Sean jumped into his dad’s arms, Cage said “Want to help me collect firewood before the rain soaks us?”
“Alright!” Sean gladly accepted and followed into the woods.
Meeka and Brooke watched their love and newfound son rush into the thick of trees with Lanna taking a different direction, likely wanting to be alone for awhile. Cage’s six foot six, lean form remained robed in the former Arch Magister’s clothing, but even then the two women could see he was deceptive in appearance, like a sheathed sword with a razor’s edge. His handsomeness surpassed most men, like his height, but from the sure way he walked said he remained prepared for a fight. Then he and Sean disappeared.
“Alright, we need to make a stew for the rain will make the air cold soon. Who will help me prepare it?” Megdline asked as Moril pulled their packs from Daku’s back.
“I will.” Meeka volunteered.
“We will.” Brooke corrected and took her hand with a smile. “Zatal, Moril, may we borrow your knives?”
The two warriors unsheathed their blades and handed them over as Megdline used a little magic to levitate the packs inside the overhang. Zatal said “I will check the area for any game. Animals will bed down with what is coming.”
“Do not bother.” Daku stood taller than them all. “I saw no worthy prey except by the foot of the mountain. You would not make it back before the storm arrives. Best go inside and rest, we are safe for now. Save your strength.” Then all watched, especially Meeka, for before her very eyes in the morning light the enormous griffin shrunk in size to be slightly larger than Frill and trotted into the shade of the cave and climbed the wall to lay comfortably on a natural shelf and chuckled when he noted Meeka’s awe.
Brooke noticed her woman’s expression and it reminded it of her own the first time she saw the reduction not too long ago and wondered if she had looked similar. She led the way into the shelter, pulling Meeka along and knelt by the packs to begin pulling out supplies. Meeka joined, but moved much slower as she kept looking up to the much smaller creature.
“Ask what is on your mind, Meeka.” Daku finally spoke in a quieter voice, but it held the same quality despite the difference.
Bluntly, she asked while setting down a raw potato “I thought my eyes were playing tricks last night, but you can grow sizes… just how small and big can you become?”
“As small as a hummingbird, but my greatest size is slightly larger than this very mountain. And before you ask, no, I rarely grow to such a size for I devastate far too much and even the beat of my wings would topple acres of forest. Since there isn’t a need to be so large, I don’t do it.” Then he smirked mischievously. “And if anyone makes me mad, yet wouldn’t put up much of a fight, I drink a lot, grow large and piss down on them. Dragons, ornery adolescents usually, often made me mad down in the southern glaciers especially hated when I did that because it freezes and clings to their scales. They hated me for those tricks.”
“You urinated on a dragon?” Meeka asked in disbelief as others stared openly.
“Had to amuse myself somehow.” He replied stoically.
Megdline, Frill and Brooke laughed in a burst at the response of nonchalance.
By the time Cage and Sean returned with loaded armfuls of dry sticks and limbs they found Brooke and Meeka cutting up vegetables into a pot of water. The air around them seemed more at ease and it made Cage smile. He noticed a second full pot, but that one was loaded with meat and cut vegetables, separating his meal from others. The dad and son deposited the wood and together they cleared a space further back where neither wind nor rain would reach and built a pile and Cage used a now simple conjuring of fire at the tip of his finger to light the stack. The wood took the flame quick and grew. The women had the men move away as they carried over the bowls, but he noticed what they really wanted was to get warmed by the fire from the frigid flight in a higher atmosphere. Zatal chuckled and it made Sean and Cage smile.
“While the food is cooking, let’s work on your knife-handling skills.” Cage suddenly thought and rubbed his son’s windblown mane of short brown hair.
“I’ll do my best.” Sean admitted and drew his knife from the sheath on his forearm after rolling his sleeve back slightly.
They moved outside the cave and then Cage remembered he wore a mage’s robe and could feel how it restricted just how far his legs could move and quickly undid the sash and shrugged out of it. His nakedness didn’t go unnoticed by his mates so he winked in their direction and they looked to each other with a pointed glance. Sean preferred to wear clothes, but to not feel he wasn’t willing, he unbuttoned his shirt and laid it down. The scrawny ten year old had put on some weight, Cage noticed in his son from not going hungry since accepting the offer of family. The knife gripped in his right hand as he had been taught and he widened his stance appropriately. “Lower your left shoulder, it is a dead giveaway that you’ll step to the right when you charge to cut for my left knee.”
Sean blinked and corrected his shoulder, no longer asking how his dad knew just where he was aiming to strike first.
Cage balled his fist and crouched in an easily defensible stance, his black eyes taking in everything and discarding nothing. A slight twist of Sean’s ankle ground his shoe in the sand slightly, enough to tell where he’d move. Immediately Cage countered and jumped to maintain the distance until Sean changed hands and jumped back to try a s
kill he’d been practicing and used his right to pick up a stone and throw it to then charge. Cage taught him such skill well to act as a diversion and flicked his arm to deflect the projectile off his steel hard elbow and lean back as Sean went to cut from groin to chest, but air is all he sliced. “Very good.” Cage admitted casually while gently slapping Sean’s strikes aside as he alternated knife hands while punching. “Keep your opponent guessing. Most people have a dominant hand, myself included…” He sidestepped a well placed lunge. “The trick is to be as deadly no matter which limb you use. If your arm is cut and your other isn’t as efficient, your inviting disaster. Don’t expect any help when your life is on the line for it is life or death for everyone.” Sean jumped back to gulp down air from the hard exercise while taking his stance again. “I won’t always be there for everyone nor will they be there for me at every given moment. Take care of your body and it will do the same for you. This time, try to knock me, a stronger and bigger opponent down. Feint with a knife strike to my face, but aim a kick to the inside of my left knee.”
Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 3
