Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  Brooke came out from the bathroom after needing to relieve herself to ask “Meeka, something the matter?”

  “Turn the light on.” Brooke heard and felt around for the nub which she flicked up and bathed the room in an orb’s light. “He’s never fallen asleep during sex before.” Meeka tried not to laugh as she pulled herself from him. “Come look.” Her excitement evident.

  Interested at this unknown phenomenon, Brooke approached the enormous bed and smirked when she saw him fast asleep, his wide chest rising and falling evenly. “So he does have limits. How many times did he make us sing to the spirits?”

  “I know you had about fifteen, I had eleven and he had six.” Meeka responded.

  “Quite low when we are one. He must have been more tired than he led on. There is still a few more hours till dawn.”

  “Not surprising.” Came Daku’s voice as he silently stepped through the balcony door. “What he didn’t mention to all of you was in these three days he worked on this nest, he slept no more than four hours in all. He didn’t relent even slightly so I’m warning you to not make his tiredness into a joke. He’s pushing himself far harder than I wish, but as a protector, he must.”

  “Sorry.” They both replied, dually chastised.

  “We all need some sleep. I’ll keep watch over all of you.”

  “Why?” Brooke asked. “Is there danger?”

  “Just rest with your mates.” He said.

  “Answer me, Daku.” The priestess demanded in a calm way.

  “Likely the boat you spoke of is a precursor for trouble. Cage would have told you eventually, but since you asked… he is going to make himself heavily occupied quite soon for the near future. There is no need to worry for the moment. Just rest and have knowledge that those you love are all safe for the night.” He then climbed into the head of the bed little larger than a dog and looked out into the night, ending further discussion.

  “It’s bothered us too.” Meeka stated. “The boat I mean. We’re not completely foolish. We’ll help in any way we can, even if that means getting some rest… Brooke, come to bed.”

  She nodded and crawled in, but not before bringing her tomahawks with her to have close by. Then they each snuggled to either side of their man and looked at each other meaningfully. What started as a night of passionate fun came to an end with worry for what would be likely to come.

  True to his word, they didn’t get any sleep that night.

  “Meeka Mother, Brooke Mother! Wake up and come see this!” Came Sean’s voice from the open door to the balcony.

  Judging from the awe in his tone they didn’t feel the need to be threatening. They gently sat up and headed for the opening, seeing Daku remaining as a vigilant sentinel upon the bed. Cage remained fast asleep and they silently decided to let him get as much as he could. Brooke crossed the threshold of the room to the balcony with her beloved to find both of their children standing and looking over the grandeur of the island. The sun had barely risen, but the beauty of the morning brought some peace to the past few worrisome hours. The cool air and floral scents revitalized the senses. The island’s beauty was magical without actual magic.

  “Mother isn’t it beautiful. The plains never looked so amazing, even in the spring.” Rena said with a squeak of delight.

  “I agree, Daughter.” Brooke came close and leaned against the sturdy railing of wood. “Your dad has been good to us.”

  Rena could hardly take her eyes off the expanse. “Pretty!”

  “Not so loud.” Meeka said, mirroring Brooke and marveling the scenery. “Cage is very tired and needs to sleep.”

  “Is Dad alright?” Sean asked, detecting worry in his blonde mother’s tone.

  “With a few more hours rest, he will be. Let’s make sure to not rouse him and enjoy the view.” Brooke said.

  Soon they all sat on the balcony floor, legs hanging off the edge while they rested their arms on a second, lower railing. “We’re up high, but you do not seem afraid, Brooke Mother.” Sean noticed.

  Brooke managed to tear her soft brown eyes off the valley to say “I’m just as surprised, Son. I feel safe here so my fear is somewhat gone. I doubt I’ll ever be fully cured of my height fear, but right now… I’m enjoying this moment.”

  “Mothers, I can get used to seeing this every morning.” Rena sighed.

  “I’m looking forward to it as well.” Meeka replied as Brooke patted her daughter’s head.

  “So when did you finally get out of the bath?” Brooke asked her birth child.

  Sheepishly Rena looked down. “Actually, Mother, I… fell asleep. It felt so good.” Fear gripped Brooke, but before she could chastise the dangers of falling asleep in water Rena continued “But when I woke up with Sean knocking on my door to take me out here to see this, the water was gone. I think dad’s magic made the water go down that hole because that stopper was off and I know I didn’t do it.”

  “I wouldn’t put is past him.” Meeka said. “He had to know the hot water would be tempting enough to fall asleep and took measures to make sure that should someone fall asleep, they wouldn’t drown.”

  “Don’t do it again.” Brooke ordered.

  “Yes, Mother.” Rena replied.

  Off to the east showed tiny wisps of smoke darker than usual, meaning that fires were being doused with water. “Mothers, look.” Sean pointed.

  “The tribe is coming.” Brooke said. “They will be here around noon now that they know how to reach the lake. We will let Cage sleep a few more hours. He needs it.”

  “Come, children,” Meeka said while standing. “let us go downstairs and make some breakfast and let your dad get his sleep.”

  Before going down, Meeka shut the balcony door and the two open windows of their bedroom, plunging it in darkness for Cage’s sake. Daku though went outside to hunt for a meal. Downstairs, Meeka whipped up a repast for her woman and children to find the kitchen quite like the one she had grown up with, only more spacious and with the freezer that was remarkable. It wasn’t difficult to get used to the new space and use the room to its fullest.

  Afterwards she went outside to harvest some herbs for Rin’s new poultice he’d need when he arrived. She even had Rena grab some pine needles for Cage’s favorite hot cup of tea.

  As she was finishing the mixture there came a shadow in the open doorway and looked up to find Megdline strolling in. “How was your night everyone?” The sorceress asked the room.

  “Great!” Rena piped and others said something similar.

  “Wonderful. Where’s Cage this morning?”

  “Sleeping.” Brooke said as she approached the older woman.

  “Good, he hasn’t had any real rest in days.” She then sat down at the large table. “So what is today’s agenda?”

  Meeka sat the finished paste down and said “Since you and Cage will likely be busy after he does whatever he has planned with the tribe, I planned on teaching Brooke and the kids their letters.”

  The conversations continued from there as the hours passed.

  Cage awoke to a mild shock as his deep slumber wards were set to wake him if approached to find Brooke there, armed with her tomahawks tied to either thigh. “My love, it is time to wake. The tribe has made it to the lake down below us.”

  He jerked awake at that. “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Since your last orgasm. It is almost midday. Meeka has made you a hot meal and Megdline has already taken the children down to the lake. You needed the rest.” She smiled adoringly before smirking. “You will need to recover if you want to truly last all night with us.”

  “Sorry, but I tried.” He chuckled and crawled out of bed. “I’ll be down soon. Gotta hit the head.” Cage then went for the bathroom and shut the door to find much needed relief. He also took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before making his way downstairs mumbling “Need to experiment and make toothpaste.”

  Hot tea and food awaited him on the table along with the two breathtaking women a
nd his glorious Familiar. There was some small talk as he ate, mostly enjoying how fondly they spoke of the morning view from the balcony while delighting in the deliciously prepared meal until full and sated. As he drank the last of the tea Brooke said in all seriousness “Don’t overwork yourself. We’re your mates so rely on us to help. Tell us what we can do to ease your burden.”

  “What burden would that be?” He inquired.

  “Whatever you are planning concerning the worrisome boat that passed by three days prior. Daku has already informed Megdline of it and has agreed it presents too great a coincidence since it was not one day later that whatever spell from Twilight that protected us is gone that some foreign boat sailed so close the very next day. She is ready to teach you whatever you wish, whenever you wish it.” The priestess explained quickly in just three breaths.

  “That makes things easier then… I still plan on teaching morning practice and growing crops, but I what I’ll need most is to be disturbed as little as possible. I’ve already thought up a few solutions, but I need to refine them.” He explained.

  “I’ve already decided to begin teaching the children to read.” Meeka said. “I’ll also tend to the wounded, unless the injury is beyond my skills.”

  “And I’ll be sure the tribe understands the need for being undisturbed.” Brooke finished.

  “Let us be off.” Daku said, seeing his partner finished.

  Ready to begin, Cage and the others stepped outside and Daku kindly flew the trio safely to the ground where nearly everyone from the tribe stood present.

  Refreshed for the day, he looked upon his tribe to say “Good, you all made it.” As he talked he noticed Meeka gesture towards the bandaged Rin and took him off to the side to redress his wounded ribs. “As Granny probably explained, I’m going to be busy for the near future, but I still plan to do sessions five days a week. Three for children and two for adults. Since you know I hate wasting time, whoever wishes to fight and learn my ways, follow me to the circle. Everyone else, move back to watch. Kids, stand back.”

  Nearly a hundred and fifty adults followed him to the area he flattened several days prior as it stood as also a good sparring area with level footing. He even noticed Brooke among them and Meeka hurried to finish with Rin before also joining the group. “Good, you’ve all had the privilege seeing me fight Brooke and she is undoubtedly the Utala’s best fighter.” He saw many nod in confirmation. “But you are all missing a fundamental piece of yourselves because you fight with honor. You challenge or fight face to face. Your enemy wont and will kill you if you show pity, as you all know other tribes aren’t as honorable. What I need to show you is what you could do when faced with superior numbers. Before I train you, you must understand by force what I have to offer. To do that, you will all fight me at the same time.” This statement dumbfounded the tribe.

  “You want us all to attack?” Brooke asked slowly.

  “With the expressed purpose of killing me.” He clarified in all seriousness. “If I find none of you are willing to kill me I will expel you from the tribe. Reapers do not shirk from taking lives, not even that of their own chief. This will be a one time opportunity for me to show what I’m truly capable of and just who you allowed to be chieftain. I’ve already canceled my wards to make it so that my magic doesn’t give me an advantage. I fight as a man, not mage. It will make this fair. If someone lands a fatal blow to me, you become chieftain. Do not fear killing me for I’ll heal myself before that happens. Slit my throat, shoot me with an arrow, disembowel me… Do whatever it takes to bring me down. This is a direct order as your current chieftain. Back down now if you aren’t prepared to do this. When it starts and I win, any who hold back will be exiled.” He paused for a breath. “Decide.”

  Surprisingly Meeka drew her knife from her bare thigh and took a stance he instilled in her. Her defiance hardened every other member of the tribe. Every adult reluctantly drew a weapon, but none stepped beyond with the stoic elders and curious children. The last to draw was Brooke as she sighed and gripped the handles to stand proud and ready.

  When the last of a dozen arrows were notched he couldn’t resist the grin from spreading. A rush of adrenaline washed away any lingering doubts as he took up a stance they had never seen, one he relied in when set against great numbers. His limbs and body relaxed, arms swinging at his side. He stood tall and proud with his wide chest displayed to the crowd. “Begin!” he shouted while walking slowly towards them.

  As one, every skilled archer loosed their arrows, aiming directly for vital points he realized. In a blur of motion he spun on his left leg not a moment too late as the arrows pierced the air he vacated in the span of a heartbeat. To the others it looked like the archers missed as he continued walking without a care in the world. He looked to be taking a leisurely stroll through the woods. A second volley proved just as effective, but at this range he knew he couldn’t catch any arrows out of the air. It would be a one in a hundred chance, one he couldn’t afford in the situation.

  Seeing the arrows not even slowing his approach, Meeka yelled and did a perfectly executed lunge that would take down nearly any adversary by cutting the arteries in the neck, but Cage was no ordinary opponent. Few of even the most skilled warriors saw him move out of the strike like lightning before delivering a debilitating chop to the back of her neck that knocked her unconscious before even crashing into the ground. Her knife clattered across the hard surface.

  The Utala stood stunned for a moment, trying to understand what just happened, but still he walked. Seeing Meeka drop like a stone made Brooke’s anger explode, even against the man she loved more than her own life. She began charging, whipping her hatchets in a blur. In her anger, she exposed too many openings and Cage’s long reach exploited one and he struck with the heel of his left hand, striking directly between her breasts, knocking all the air from her lungs. The force made her see stars before blackness.

  The tribe, at seeing their chief so easily render his own two mates unable to fight, realized right then he meant every word. Those in front began rushing, six at the same time. Cage didn’t let his eyes focus on any one thing or it would likely be his end. The rush of battle fueled him on as he laughed and began really moving, weaving through the gaps of their inexperience and rigid methods. Six crumpled in just as many seconds. More rushed ahead, meaning to wrestle him to the ground. Cage jumped for all he was worth and twisted in such a way as the lead man in front of him came just right for Cage to grab his shoulders and execute a flip which threw him into the fray while the runners tripped over those knocked out.

  A sharp slice of pain told someone had managed to cut his hip, but the wound was shallow and the wielder of the weapon in question found herself too proud to have done that and wound up thrown hard on her back. A large man managed to score a muscle deep wound on Cage’s right shoulder, hit bone and lost the grip on his weapon. The knife remained in the shoulder blade as Cage fought, barely slowing his stride. Used to pain and how to control it, Cage pressed on, not even showing it registered how much it hurt. No more than five could surround him at any time, but even against such odds, his lean build allowed for lightning quick attacks that left any who fought either unconscious, had a dislocated bone or in so much pain they were unable to continue. His height and reach allowed for him to deliver blows no other man in the Utala had. If he focused on muscle building, he could probably have more power, but when it came to fights such as these, speed is the better option because you’re not weighed down nearly as much.

  At last, in less than three heart stopping minutes, only one woman stood standing, Zanza the even tempered warrior. She stood with a lance ready as the rest of the tribe who were awake backed away from the blood soaked chief. He had accumulated eleven cuts. Most to his chest and back, the knife still sticking with him. Zanza, seeing him gasping for air after so difficult a fight yelled her charge. She expected him to move and was ready with a knife to throw in whichever direction he would dodge, but his right leg
flipped straight up against his chest and axe-kicked the tip of the lance and drove it down with such skill the head cracked against the ground, throwing her off balance. She was holding too hard to the shaft and vaulted because of it. It was too dangerous a flip which would result into a neck breaking landing, but just before it happened, Cage’s arm snaked out and wrapped around her midsection to catch her. He felt how she moved and knew she tried one last move to succeed by stabbing him, but his right heel came up and broke her nose and ended the attack. She cried out in pain.

  Battle over, Cage collapsed to his backside, panting heavily. He surveyed the damage, more than half had regained consciousness that he knew he’d knocked out. The winded tended to the ones gripped in pain. Meeka had regained consciousness and Brooke still clutched her breast from the pain, likely he cracked her sternum. They still rushed to him. Immediately he gasped “Knife!... Pull it out.” because he couldn’t reach it. Brooke quickly obliged, moving as the blade spewed blood in removal. Some wounds, left untreated could be deadly, but not one mortal or grave wound appeared. He then focused beyond the pain to knit the flesh, muscle and bone back together. Blue light beneath the skin appeared and itched like crazy as they sealed and repaired the tissues.

  “That was FUN!” he said and none could deny he meant it.

  He went around the injured, popping joints back in place and healing wounds he couldn’t hold back much on for certain, more lethal opponents. Megdline also aided healing. After the last person awoke he went to the cold water and washed off all the blood.

  After a respite to ease tension Cage went and told how he could fight so many was because no matter the number, no more than five or six could attack at one time. The key to success was to always keep moving, staying still led to one’s death. They listened to every word, after what he accomplished, he lit a fire in every one of them, one that promised they could fight just as he did, unarmed. None wanted to test his skills with a weapon for he would be infinitely more deadly, and since none died or was seriously wounded, they knew he still held back. They all wanted his power in battle.