“Ma’am?” the wizard and Familiar asked in unison.
“If you tell Cage how old my beloved or I am” She paused for effect. “I’ll make sure neither of you can get an erection for the next century. Is that clear?” The two looked at each other and swallowed dryly before nodding, not realizing the sorceress was joking.
“Don’t scare the kids, Granny.” Cage bumped his hip against her side. “I’ll be sure he isn’t the one who tells me just in case. I still need them.” They laughed and the young man and chipmunk realized it wasn’t a real threat. “I’m curious, why was Grandpa glowing? Was it a spell gone awry or intentional so he stood out. He didn’t need to, sitting in the middle between Theresa’s eyes was plenty for effect.”
Megdline got that look he knew all too well, it was mild patience and humor which meant she wasn’t going to tell and he wasn’t disappointed. “Nope, not my place. You can ask him when he’s done with the other councilors. He doesn’t hide why so he’ll likely explain.”
He went to push for more information, but stopped as Daku, Ulon and Poli made it to a lush section of grass at the outer edge of the landing area. The rest hurried over. When Cage and the others got close enough Daku asked “Poli, will you be so kind as to erect a soundproof barrier and distort our image to those looking from the outside. There are several humans invisible to the eye.”
“Very well, Old One.” She lifted her long neck and three silvery gemstones between her sharp horns twinkled as she worked quite powerful magic. To Cage, the power was immense, but not like it was when Daku changes size.
Leon turned around, but it was Colby who asked “How do you know some are invisible? I hear nothing.”
Cage came over and said “Look for what you cannot see.”
“I do not understand.” The tiny Familiar said honestly.
The warlock pointed to different areas. “Look closely at the grass. See how the wind blows it all over like waves on water?” The pair nodded. “If you are fully aware of your surroundings you should have seen localized areas of grass not moving as someone is standing on two legs or over there a ways with four voids meaning it’s a large animal cloaked. Don’t rely on the sensation of magic to locate things. We still have our natural senses for a reason.”
“Well said, Cage Two-legs.” Ulon commented as black smoke puffed from his pink nostrils. His long neck lifted off the ground to speak.
“Oh, I see what you mean… What should we do about it?” Leon asked this time, turning to all those older than his seventeen years.
“Nothing.” Megdline said casually and moved over to sit on the soft grass near Poli while Frill stayed put. “It is not illegal to practice cloaking magic outdoors or from a hundred yards of the council gate. Any closer would put them in danger, but since we’ve moved so far from the gate we are fair to be watched. Besides, many are curious about the only warlock and the last griffin. Most are not old enough to remember them. Only two mages here in Twilight are old enough to remember the warlocks and a couple dozen have ever looked upon a living griffin. It is quite understandable to be curious and not want to be seen as in the way. If I were not chosen to be Cage’s teacher I would probably be out there too, trying to see them.”
“Granny, did you just say there are two humans old enough to have been around for ten thousand years?”
“Did I stutter?” Her grey eyes twinkled with mirth. “Yes, but they are quite reclusive and have enough influence to keep it that way. I only know of them because of my husband’s status and even Zikon has to schedule a meeting two years in advance with them.” She then looked up at the regal griffin. “Daku, so what is this training, and why is it so secret that Poli must create a private area for us? Is it dangerous?”
“It is.” His piercing blue eyes settled down on his partner. “Cage, during the Griffin and Warlock wars, your ancestors had a way of quickly having their kind get as powerful as possible and as fast as possible to be an equal adversary. To fight griffins after the nexus collapse, the warlocks took great risks that other mages found barbaric and dangerous, but the fearsome results are what prolonged our ancestors’ war.
“This training will force you to reveal your hidden mark sooner and show you’ve completed the chain and become a true warlock able to summon me. It will be rough, but I cannot afford you to gradually get stronger by next Fall or Winter. I do not know how long it will take, but months will be compressed into weeks. With the Tiaxm even suspected as still living somewhere, I cannot leave you unable to defend yourself. Nearly dying twice yesterday proved how foolish I was to let you get gradually stronger on your own. When your mark manifests, the Tiaxm scouts will find you near impossible to beat and warriors an equal.” His eagle-like head cocked slightly like a normal bird in jerking motions. “To get to that peak you need to force your body to struggle constantly to almost the point of death. Do like you did when Megdline first taught you to store your energy, but drop your wards and have them suck you dry till Poli feels you to where I told her. You will then lock your magic to keep you in that state. While I bathed with Ulon and Poli earlier I told them the specifics of warlock training. Get started.”
The deep command Daku used made Cage do just that, and not question. He focused on his hands and disabled his wards with words so subtle even his newfound hearing could pick them up. His own heartbeat was like a muscle car compared to an electric vehicle as he spoke. He noticed Daku glance when Poli sensed his wards were disabled and she nodded. Cage then increased the siphon rate his diamonds constantly took and further sped the process by intentionally sending his mana into the gems integrated into his hands. By the time he was dizzy to the point of delirious and could just manage to stand Poli rumbled “Enough, Cage Two-legs.”
He stopped and everything seemed to spin like the time he first got truly drunk to the point he barely knew names, even his own. In the compromised state he knew that he wouldn’t get better till he plugged the drain from his body to the diamonds.
“How can anyone survive so much, Lady Megdline?” Leon asked in a whisper as he sensed just how much his employer just stored.
“Very few can.” She replied, sensing herself the same thing. “Even most of the first class sorcerers would have died from what he’s doing. Elder dragons though would just find a similar experience an irritation.”
Their conversation ended as Daku got an affirmative from his protection detail that Cage had done what was needed. “Frill, Colby, now I need you to attack with the intention of killing Cage.”
“What?!” the feline said in alarm.
“To get Cage to grow stronger, he needs to force his body to believe it is going to die. Danger and battle is what makes a warlock become stronger than he was before. Haven’t you wondered how he has become stronger in magic than most opponents in a few months rather than years? He kept fighting superior opponents and met the challenge. Your kind of mage needs to gradually strengthen from an early age. Warlocks need to immerse themselves in battle. Now do as I say and try to kill my partner. Ulon and Poly will heal his wounds as fast as you’ll make him hurt, but do not take his head.” The dragons grunted and watched Cage stagger.
A grin began to rise as Cage understood the situation now. Everyone saw it, but they noticed more of how he was moving very oddly. “Stealth Mode.” He slurred and his robe snapped into a form fitting suit perfect for a fight. “Here, Kitty Kitty Kitty!” The warlock taunted.
Frill became irritated and said “That was a mistake, Cage. Colby, lets fight.”
“But…” Colby didn’t finish his words before the feline yowled, flicked his tail and charged the warlock without holding anything in reserve.
What they saw next was unexpected, even to the ancients.
As Frill leapt like an arrow loosed, Cage intentionally stumbled aside, his arms blurred and backhanded the feline under his jaw. It felt like hitting a half ton of concrete, but the suddenness of the unorthodox strike sent Frill into a tumble. Cat reflexes allowed Frill to la
nd on his paws and stare at Cage. Never had he seen such a move connect from a compromising stance and have so much strength behind it. “What was that?”
“Drunken Fist.” Cage slurred and stumbled. “The most annoying martial art in my skill set. I can’t break this out on my own. I must be completely drunk or whoa…” Cage fell flat on his face and laughed. “in a similar state.” He rolled and stumbled into a standing position. “I never fully mastered these techniques. You’re fighting my body, not me.”
“Frill, it’s pure muscle memory. Be careful, he cannot hold back anymore.” Megdline warned when she truly understood. “Cage isn’t thinking anymore. His body has been conditioned from years of repetition. We’ve seen how he practices certain moves over and over and over again. His body is moving on its own. We’ve seen similar instances, but Cage’s moves are truly deadly.” She turned her head. “Colby, get in there and help Frill. Work together. After seeing that and knowing my student, Frill alone won’t be enough of a challenge.”
The chipmunk looked between her, Leon and Cage with fright, but eventually said “Yes, Lady Megdline.” and dropped down to disappear in the grass.
Cage tuned to search for the tiny rodent, but Frill lunged at the exposed warlock’s back to get an elbow between the eyes. Frill cried out enough to distract Cage enough that Colby shot from the thick grass and head butted the side of Cage’s knee with the force of a battering ram. Cage cried slightly from the broken joint, but stopped when there was a second crack from Ulon fixing the joint through healing magic that repaired the injury as fast as it happened.
Frill recovered just as quickly thanks to the dragons casting speed. He tried tackling, but realized soon why Daku had the two of them fighting when he missed the target and Colby swiped his sharp little paws through Cage’s side, tearing the tight spider silk fabric along with a few pieces of flesh. Frill was the distraction while Colby’s smaller and more nimble body could get in close to do damage. But should Cage’s focus turn to Colby, Frill would get in his chance.
The battle raged with Cage relying on his body to keep moving and not stop, even as he fell. His hand was larger than the chipmunk and used it to slap the bowling ball heavy Familiar who had tremendous speed and used his small body to hide beneath the grass for the next opening and shake off the heavy handed slaps. Frill required more skill since not only was he more powerful, but had a larger body which meant his magically enhanced weight and speed required more methods. Another pass gave Colby the opening to knock Cage down and Frill took advantage to land heavily on the left arm, crushing bones beneath steel hard armguards which became skin. The elbow joint shattered with the wrist. Cage managed to roll away with the limp arm before getting hit again, but as he stood again the pain ended and the limb fixed. He stumbled forward, grabbed Frill’s long tail and Colby in the other hand to try and throw them, but only Colby went.
The feline smirked as Cage couldn’t lift him even slightly off the ground. It unbalanced him enough that Frill stepped on his foot, breaking more bones, but stopped as a thick finger speared its way through an ear, reaching the brain.
Since Familiars couldn’t technically die, Frill merely became unresponsive.
Moments later Frill regained consciousness and found his opponent staggering away and gasping for breath. He didn’t even realize Colby was climbing his back, using the fabric for grip. One look from Frill had Colby resume Familiar magic, upsetting the warlock’s balance enough for him to strike for a chest crushing landing. Cage moved just in time to land on his back and spin his heel to simultaneously crush Colby beneath and break a few of Frill’s ribs as he was between weights midair.
The fight continued for fifteen more minutes the same way. Never had Cage taken so many hits in a fight and if not for the dragons healing every injury it would have been over long ago. His fighting skills were all that kept him on equal terms with the feisty Familiars. He knew he’d been neglecting this fighting style, but never had he thought it would be needed.
“That is enough for today.” They heard Daku, but it took almost a minute for Cage to realize the words and his grin to dissipate. Eventually his gasps and no more threats allowed him to collapse.
“He sleeps.” Colby squeaked after crawling up his chest.
“Daku, that truly was barbaric!” Megdline announced as she moved over quickly to her former student. “And you say warlocks did this all the time?”
“Back during the war, yes.” He rumbled. “Before griffins and warlocks bound together, it was their way. But” He raised a pointed claw for emphasis. “today I made it easy on Cage. He only had a few hours rest after flying us most of the way from Vin’re yesterday. He was already exhausted before all this. Tomorrow his real training begins. He will learn to live in his current condition by fighting Frill and Colby again and once he learns to fight properly you will send magic he has to avoid by using magic to counter yours while fighting off Frill and Colby again.”
Ulon turned his long neck and opened his mouth to show off curved, polished pearl-like teeth to say “For a week will Cage Two-legs stay here to train. The old one has honored us to aid him in the old ways of warlock training, Megdline Two-legs.”
“A week? Where will he stay?” Megdline asked.
“Sometimes with us, My Love.” Zikon said as he appeared beside Theresa, the great lavender dragon. “Before you, Leon and Cage arrived Daku sent word to the council of this… as he bathed in the dragons’ hot sping.” His azure eyes looked down on the ground to smile. “I see his training has begun. Daku, you didn’t tell me you were teaching the old ways.”
“The results were always the best.”
“It’s how I read it to be. Should we take him to my home or wait till he wakes?”
“Let him rest.” Theresa rumbled quietly as any dragon could, which meant it was still loud, and laid down as softly as possible so as to not shake the ground. “We’ve been in conference for a full rotation and I need to see sky again.”
Daku reached his enormous arm forward slowly to give everyone a chance to step back and gouged the ground to carefully pick up his partner and lay him on his other arm like a mother did with a tiny baby. He carefully flicked the grass and dirt away till Cage was comfortable. “Thank you, Zikon for allowing us to stay the week. I haven’t had a chance to tell Cage yet.”
The most powerful sorcerer of Twilight dipped his head. “If not for the circumstances I will prefer the two of you stay longer. I’ve missed talking with you and a thousand years is a long time to not visit, even for those long lived. What else might you need for your stay?”
“Access to the dragon caves to train Cage safely. Rex Gralla already said so earlier if you recall. You know of what I speak?”
“Of course. It would be too dangerous should he ascend in a populated area. I’ve already spoken to Rex Gralla to address the issue and she and the elders are going to create a new chamber tomorrow after the colonies coordinate to search for any more of the broken race and the culprit or culprits responsible for summoning them. How long do you believe it will take him to fully realize his potential?”
“My hope is by Spring.”
Leon raised his hand and many eyes turned to him. He shook till Theresa lifted her head and asked “Do you concern, Leon Two-legs?”
“I’m confused.” He admitted among these powerful beings. “You said Sir Cage will be leaving in a week, but Spring is close to two months from now.”
“Ah.” The purple dragon said, a little flame passed her teeth. “Priorities your leader has. Long discussions Zikon, I, Megdline Two-legs, Frill Four-legs, the council and White King Daku had secretly. Should there be danger, Cage Two-legs will be worried for his mates, hatchlings and colony. We cannot keep him here against his will without reason and Daku made plans that should there be danger and his Two-legs not be ready, training must be done in safety. Seven star rotations will he be allowed to make sure his colony is safe and not be in need before he returns. He can Jump to make sure
all is well till time comes when he becomes to truly realize his strength.”
“Thank you, Lady Theresa.” She grunted and laid her head down.
“Love, can you tell me what we are going to do of the situation.” Megdline said while weaving he fingers with her husband’s and got a content smile from the connection.
Zikon looked down into her eyes to say “You know I hate bringing council matter outside, but for now we must wait for the dragons to report their findings before any action can be taken. And we’ve agreed to send relief to Vin’re and to explain to King Tate only of what must be known. The rest of the meeting will remain behind those doors.” He said and meant to the chamber sitting in the center of the lake where the only access to it is by a wooden bridge. Megdline looked and saw the other members of the First Council either walking away or flying now that the meeting was over. She sighed and looked up when he tipped her chin up with the end of his white oak staff and the large, smooth, egg shaped amethyst gem. “What bothers you so?”
“Yesterday was frightening.” She admitted, feeling a bit vulnerable. “Those things destroyed my barrier when I placed it between its teeth and Cage. It actually hurt to have it broken, my magic I mean…”
“Feedback.” He said and nodded to himself before turning to look at Theresa. All watched as they stared at each other silently, but knew a mental conversation was taking place. Eventually he said “Hadn’t thought of that, Old Friend.” Her scaly eyes clicked as she smiled. “Theresa said that your migraine was an effect caused by your barrier being broken by physical means rather than magical. I will have a potion sent for you to overcome the feedback’s effects. Are you still getting a headache every time you do magic?” She nodded. “Should have told me sooner, but do not worry, there isn’t any physical trauma. Nor will your power be altered. The headaches will pass in a few days with the potion.” Zikon pulled his hand away and down a pocket to retrieve a sheet of paper and a pen. He wiggled it at her. “This little contraption of Cage’s is amazing. All of the councilors have made one. We’ve already noticed hours being saved over using a quill. Less mess too.” He wrote quickly, using magic to hold the paper flat and in the air before enveloping it in a violet light and Jumping it to a new destination and putting the pen back.
Ascension of the Warlock (Book 4 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 3
