Chapter 6

Pops and I landed with a thud as we came out of the time portal. I was still going over everything that I had seen after I had shoved the second body through. A hunter! I knew that they wanted me and my family gone though I couldn’t see them finding a real reason for a hunter.

“You wondering how they are going to justify sending a hunter?” I heard pops breaking my train of thought.

“Yeah pops that had occurred to me. We are going to have to leave Pops; I can’t endanger the rest of the tribe like this.” I told him a little afraid that the hunter would kill everyone just to get to me.

Shaking his head Pops started to chuckle a moment. “Really Pops I fail to see what is so damn funny!” I yelled at him.

“Toman you have far more control than your father did. Hell I’d say you have more than any mage your age. The fact that you are mastering everything you see as quickly as you are is proof of that. If Mordaf can show you a lot more I think you might be damn near unstoppable.” Pops told me.

I could only stare at Pops as if he were crazy. True the second time I opened the portal it had been extremely easy. How in the hell was that gaining control. “I’m not really seeing it Pops,” I said.

Sighing Pops said, “Toman you have what we call a third eye what you see you learn physical or meta-physical. You are also as Mordaf said a total user, this means that given enough time there is almost nothing that you can’t do. We need to get you training as soon as we can. I feel it is the only chance we have.”

I nodded as I looked at Pops again. I could see where I had increased his defenses. Sighing I reached out trying to increase them more. A few moments’ later Pops eyes flew wide as he started to feel his protection barriers raise another two levels.

“I’m sorry Pops I don’t want you to get hurt. Had I you this high that asshole wouldn’t have been able to hurt you. You’re a level higher than he was, it isn’t enough yet though, I can feel it is straining you some.” I told him.

“Hell son anything you can do will be a help. I might not be able to hurt them but now I can make them work at hurting me.” Pops said with a half smile.

“Damn it Pops! That isn’t funny! I’m trying to be serious here like you told me.” I almost yelled.

Pops nodded, “I’m sorry Toman I thought a little humor might help you to relax some. I apologize.”

I hung my head it was true I was uptight as hell; especially after learning that the council was sending their best hunter after me. Everyone knew of the hunters, and they rarely failed. Armed with a myriad of charms they were virtually undefeatable. A moment later I felt Pops hand slapping my face.

“You need to stop this defeatist attitude! You think you are going to lose going into a battle then it’s a damn sure bet you will!” Pops said his eyes flaring.

“Damn it Pops!” I said as I rubbed my cheek. “This is a hunter, a damn hunter their best! You know as well as I do that they can’t be beat by normal means.”

Pops was shaking his head looking at me as if I was the most stupid being in existence. “They can be beat and I thought you had noticed that you are anything BUT normal! You have a well spring of power within you that the universe hasn’t seen in a long time! Now then get over this pity that you are feeling; we have to increase you!”

I was about to answer when we both heard Tall Bear. [Reg? Is that you?] Both of us looked at each other as we heard the almost desperation in his thoughts.

[Yes Mordy. We just got back sorry we were gone so long. We had... ] Pops started.

[Thank the great power that you have returned!] Tall Bear interrupted Pops thoughts. [It’s Naci! I came back today to find her missing! I have searched but am feeling nothing. I need your help Toman! Even with what you increased in me I cannot feel her.]

I was shocked as I looked at Pops. She was missing? A high elite couldn’t feel her? Growling I thought this felt like a hunter. It had to be! Though it was far too soon for the council leader’s son to have tracked us. [I’ll be there as soon as I can!] I told Tall Bear.

As I started to run I felt Pops trying to keep up with me smiling I thought good he’s going to help. Arriving at Tall Bear’s teepee I went inside trying to feel anything I could. Shaking my head I was about to leave when I felt then saw the thought cube. Walking to it I felt it pulse then open.

“Good you found this, so there are two wild magic users here! Come for me you freakish son of a human! If you are who I think you are then I should be well rewarded! Well, afraid you piss ant? You should be I am only a low level hunter and I took her easily, her being trained. You should be easy so come to me you miserable piece of filth!” I could feel the anger rising in me as the cube shut off. Walking out I tried to hold it in, though I was failing.

Through clenched teeth I told Pops and tall Bear. “A bastard hunter has taken her. This is my fault I will go after her!”

“No Toman,” Tall Bear started ‘til I turned toward him blowing him a good forty feet away.

“NO! I said, “I AM GOING AFTER HER! Do not interfere; do not get in my way!” Growling I held out my hand suddenly feeling Naci, Nodding to Pops I suddenly flashed out.

Pops went to Tall Bear helping him up. “Damn it Reg he’s walking into a trap!”

“I think he knows Mordy, and I don’t think he cares. No I think you are seeing him finally accepting that he also loves her. God I wouldn’t want to be that hunter. I doubt seriously that the one holding her has much of a chance even with all the charms.” Pops replied.

“Has he that much control?” Tall Bear asked.

“When it comes to her? Yeah that and a whole lot more!” Pops said.

I appeared miles from the tribe’s camp a huge clearing with Naci sitting in the middle. “Ah so you came after all! This little whore must mean a lot to you. It’s ok I’ll extinguish her as soon as I am done with you. Come on I know you want to kill me let’s see if you can!”

Not moving I felt no less than forty charms around the clearing. Let’s see power siphoning, power dampening, I think I felt power enhancers on him. Smiling I took a step feeling the siphoning start up. Reaching out I sent a huge wave of power toward all of them smiling when they all started to pop out of existence. Several chopping motions took care of the dampening effects as those split in half useless.

Taking another step I smiled even bigger. The hunter’s eyes were huge as he moved to a now unconscious Naci. “Stop! Another step and your little whore is dead!”

Growling I felt my anger start again how dare this piece of trash touch her! Reaching out with my mind I saw each charm he had left. Then I felt each one start to crack. The hunter’s mouth dropped open as I saw him mouth ‘how?’

“You are a stupid piece of trash! Stupid in that you should research more before you take on an opponent that is far stronger than your charms! Touch her again and know that the death you experience may never end!” I growled between clenched teeth.

“Ha! As Long as I hold your whore I have power over you! Now on your knees while I take your life!” With a wicked laugh the hunter waited.

I could feel my anger growing by the moment. Finally I raised my hand motioning toward the hunter. At first nothing happened then the hunter’s arm snapped as it was thrust backward. Then the other arm snapped twice as it also was bent backward. Slicing with my hand both legs were suddenly laying beside the hunter who was screaming at the top of his voice.

Walking up to all the parts I whispered barely able to contain my anger. “You were dead as soon as I entered this clearing you were just too stupid to realize it!” Reaching in I stripped all of what little power the hunter had. “I leave you this,” I told him as I placed a vision of him being burned alive over and over. “Goodbye you ass!” Walking away I heard him start to whimper, cry then scream as in his mind his flesh was destroyed over and over.

I passed a hand over Naci trying to see what he’d done to her. Thankfully she had only been knocked out. Picking her up I took a last look at the hunter feeling his memory growing smaller and smaller. Nodding I thought of the village and flashed out.

Appearing on the out skirts I started to walk in carrying Naci in my arms. There was a great commotion then Pops and Tall Bear were beside me helping me as I made a direct line for their teepee. Neither man said a word as I still wore an extremely pissed off look on my face. Finally I walked in placing Naci on her skins, only then could I relax.

Even as I felt the tension leaving me I also felt my strength falter. I refused the help of either man as I sank to my knees beside Naci. I had almost lost her once I wasn’t about to leave her ‘til I knew she was ok.

Pops and Tall Bear shook their heads as they sent for several women. Bathing Naci’s face then trying to tend to me I sat there like a stone awaiting the first sign from Naci. It was almost two hours later that Naci’s eyes flickered open. Looking around in shock her eyes settled on me.

“Toman! You should not be here!” She whispered a little afraid.

“I wasn’t about to leave ‘til I was sure you were alright.” Leaning close I whispered, “That piece of garbage will never hurt you again! I made sure of it!” Standing on unsteady legs I bowed to all the women and Naci the turned to leave.

I heard a gasp behind me then I heard Naci, [thank you Toman. He took me by surprise I thought I was dead. Again you have saved my life!]

[You are to be my wife. Would you expect less of me? You will be the other half of me. I will always protect you one way or another!] I thought back to her as I left the teepee.

[Still husband to be I will always thank you. ‘Til we are together, ] Naci responded emphatically!

Nodding I moved off through the village as many of the warriors came up to congratulate me. Though most only said it then moved off seeing the look of anger that was still on my face and in my eyes. I had to find Tall Bear, I had to get stronger. I couldn’t let this happen again! Marching as well as I could I soon found Tall Bear and Pops.