Chapter 13

Merlin’s family
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Merlin Gwendydd - sister
Morgenau - brother
Morial - brother
Morien - brother
Mordaf - brother - Naci’s father

Lying down for the night I was awake for a while as several ideas were floating through my mind. Obviously I was going to have to change tactics. With all I did I didn’t really think that any of the tricks I had pulled would really fool any of them much longer.

Reaching out I once again made sure that all the security I had set was ready to go. No sense finally getting to this point and get killed by getting sloppy. Especially now that I had Naci a hell of a lot stronger than she was when this started.

Thinking back to when I had made her defense strands stronger what was that reaction that she’d had? It had almost felt like pleasure. What in the hell was all that about? It wasn’t meant to bring pleasure only to make her stronger so she could survive. Hell, forget asking her, she was as closed lipped as Merlin was when you wanted to know something.

As I lay there and pondered longer I heard Naci turn over then I felt her eyes on me.

“Is all alright husband Toman?” I heard her ask. “You seem to be having trouble sleeping.”

“I am at the moment Naci; I am confused about a great many things. When the hunter showed up today after the others, he was almost completely healed. It would take a being of enormous power to do that. His father is about the only one I can think of that could do that. Although as you know, I injured him also.” Shaking my head I had a bad feeling about this. “I believe we should go tomorrow. If what I feel is true we aren’t safe here now.”

Naci nodded her head, “Where you go husband, so therefore I go.”

I was nodding not really paying attention to what she’d said though when I looked at her I swear I saw a look of something familiar on her face. Shrugging I let myself finally slip into the comfort of the darkness.

The next morning I felt Naci as she got out of her bed. Springing up I immediately started to go through all that I had talked to her about yesterday. Yes, I most definitely felt we should go, though not before I left a few surprises.

Naci was watching as I started to pull several bags out of my pockets. Waving my hand over all of them I smiled then walked to the edge of our camp carefully spreading what was inside at even paces. An hour later I felt I was ready then took several pieces of wood shaping and remaking them.

Finally satisfied, I sat to eat seeing that Naci had almost all of the camp repacked ready to go. Nodding to her I watched as she quickly finished as I did with my meal. I had to time this right if I was going to catch the ass this time. This hunter was as his father had said the best. I therefore needed to be at my best if I was going to defeat him, looking at Naci I decided for the both of our sakes.

I had just opened the portal as Naci was moving toward it when I felt the hunter’s energy nearing. Diving I knocked Naci to the ground covering her body as a bolt of electricity flew over us. Nodding, I shouldered Naci diving into the portal as another bolt struck where I had been laying with her.

Turning I was collapsing the portal even as I saw another bolt heading for the opening. Shit I thought this was going to be close as the outer edges started to fold in. I just hope I had been fast enough. A moment later the portal slammed close then I was turning the both of us back the way we’d just been.

Naci looked at me with a gaping mouth. “Why are we heading back Toman, won’t he be able to find us far easier?”

Smiling I shook my head, “this is one of many turns that we will be making Naci. If I am to completely baffle him I have to go in several directions and times to lose him.”

Naci was also nodding as she was starting to see the logic of what I was doing. Emerging almost an hour later, I let Naci begin to erect our camp while I opened a portal sending a mage’s eyes through. Then I opened another closing the first.

Finally a few moments later I saw it emerge in the last place we had been. Looking quickly I saw that the hunter hadn’t moved far from the spot. A wry smile came to my lips as I saw that he was now quite stuck to the spot he’d stepped in.

“Ah! I see that the little coward has sent his toy. As always, afraid to face me,” Rigal was screaming as I saw that he was finally starting to make head way with all that was holding him.

“Ha! You are one to talk of a straight forward fight. No I’d say that it is you that are a true coward, by hiding behind your toys and attacking females. I am sure that the others hunters what few are left are so proud of you. As I am sure that demon father of yours is as well. Yes, I know. I know his name and very soon I’ll have all I need to rid the magic world of him.” I said trying to entice the Rigal into doing something far more stupid.

“No one will listen to you! With Merlin dead you have no one to fall back on. With the death of each member of the council you only draw a tighter noose around your neck. “Rigal said also trying to raise my ire. Though I knew it wasn’t going to work as I really held all the cards at this time.

“Dream on Rigal, soon your pitiful excuse for a demon father will be dead and I’ll be free. I expect your father has a special punishment for you when you fail!” Laughing at him I could see that I had finally hit home with the comments. “Enjoy the toys Rigal these are a lot better than the first batch I made, a lot better.” Laughing I heard Rigal scream as there was a ripping of flesh sound then the mage’s eye went dark.

Turning with a smile I saw that Naci had been watching and listening. The slight look of horror on her face only made my sigh. “I’m sorry Naci; I can’t have him trying to hurt you or the people of the village.

Nodding I saw the understanding come to her eyes, “I know all this Toman. It just takes a bit of time for me to accept all that we have to do; so much evil against your family, OUR family.”

“I just hope that one day there can be a family. With all this going on I don’t know if we will ever have one. Though I have to tell you Naci having you with me has helped me greatly.” I told Naci eliciting an even wider smile on her face.

Suddenly she came to me holding me close to her. I could feel her heart beating faster than I think I had ever felt it before. Shaking my head I had to wonder was she sick.

Stepping back Naci nodded at me then lowered her head. “When we BOTH are ready the time will present its self. I know that you like I know nothing much of making a family nor children. I am honored to experience both with you, though as you said ‘til we are well past all of this.”

With that she moved off rearranging the camp as she knew that I’d want things for the next few days. Strange I thought there seemed to be more spring to her step as she moved. Then I looked closer at the sway of her hips, suddenly I was feeling parts of my anatomy growing again as I tried to turn away. Shaking my head I was wondering what in the hell was going on.

A moment later I saw Naci bend over to pick up a few things looking back she saw me watching her, especially her rear end. Then the strangest thing she shook her behind a bit with a smile at me as she straightened up. Moving off I saw that the smile was still plastered to her face. ‘Ok,’ I thought, ‘just what in the hell was going on? I had been around her almost a year and a half now. This was the first time I had ever seen her react like this.’

Shaking my head I concentrated making a mage’s eyes appear. Looking through all I could, I had to start in on the council again. He had finally started to weaken Ukobach’s hold on the council. Though only slight it was a beginning. At least now there was no way that the bastard could get a unanimous agreement to destroy any other families.

Nodding Toman could see that all the sub-mages were dead or gone. Smiling he figured that much, as powerful as he was and getting more each day they weren’t even distractions. No he knew that Ukobach would have as many traps as he could for him. Sitting there he nodded yes, it was finally time to start changing tactics in order to bring things more to a head. Besides with any luck that bastard hunter son of his was lying broken and bleeding in all the traps that he’d left.

Going through all I could I soon saw that Ukobach was railing about the fact that there were hardly any hunter’s left to try and find me and Naci.

Smiling I nodded, if I had my way about it the strongest would be gone soon also. Calling Naci I finally settled on the next of the weakest council members.

“You have, I hope, a better plan to go after this one? I really don’t like seeing you bleeding and hurt like I have seen the last few times.” She told him sternly.

Holding up my hands in a sign of surrender I smiled, “I think so, we are about to change the way we go after them. I know they are expecting us to keep after them as we have. They obviously think I am still a child with no idea of strategy.” Laughing a moment I continued, “I think that this will catch them unaware for a bit, although we will still have to watch for any guards.”

Naci nodded as I went into the plan finally smiling when I finished. Waving my hand I made a portal as we traveled to the magic realm. I just hoped that two less to agree with him put a real damper on Ukobach’s plans. At least I was hoping so there was no real telling with this power hungry ass.