Wizard Ch 15

Research, discussion, and growing John's merry band with another feisty lass. No sex to be found herein, alas, but there is action a-plenty to come!

You can find Chapter 14

here

, and the story (Enchanted) that started it all

here

The smell of food brought John out of his books. He sniffed and heard his stomach grumble. The books had filled in some of the gaps and allowed him to draw some conclusions. He'd never come across something like his in his former life as an enchanter, but he'd written down several notes on dragons. Most of it was theories. What little he knew for certain came from one chance meeting John the Elder had with King Alto and his court wizard, Kar.

John remembered none of it, of course, but his former self had written enough notes it had answered some of his questions. Chief among them being that dragon's were highly intelligent beings that were largely focused on gathering power and ruling uncontested. Beyond that, they cared little for the affairs of mortals save where it served to interfere in their own scheming.

He closed his tomes and placed them back in his chest before sending it back to the ethereal resting place where it waited for him to call on it. John called his spear to his hand and opened the door from the bedroom.

A woman with dirty blond hair tied into a braid looked up from where she was spooning stew into a some bowls. She met John's eyes and dropped her gaze down his body. She jerked it back up to his eyes but it was too late. She'd been caught and her cheeks were filling with blood before she turned her attention back to stew.

"Care for supper, milord?" she said in a choked voice.

"Please, call me John."

She giggle and nodded. "Yes, mi-- John. Some stew?"

"It smells wonderful," John said. "Please."

She smiled and hurried to put one of the bowls at the table next to Jennaca. John saw the huntress was fighting to keep her composure. He bit his own lip to keep from laughing at, or with, her.

The woman returned to the pot and gathered another wooden bowl. She filled it and mumbled something about feeding Broderick before scooping up both bowls and rushing out of the house.

John sat down next to Jennaca and watched her break into laughter. She handed him half a loaf of stale bread and finished scooping up the last of her stew with it and eating it.

John grinned before digging into his steaming stew. He found he was ravenous and was slurping it from the bowl like a beggar in no time. When he realized Jennaca had stopped eating and was watching him he slowed down and looked at her. Jennaca wasn't laughing this time.

"What?" John asked. "I'm hungry... sorry for my lack of manners."

She shook her head. "No, not that... that stew is hot! It was boiling a few minutes ago, Master."

John frowned. "Don't call me that unless the situation merits it," he reminded her. "You know, like... earlier."

Jennaca smirked and nodded. "Sorry... I was just shocked. You should be badly burned."

John shook his head. "It's nice and hot, but it didn't burn me."

"Is that because..."

John stiffened and licked his lips, tasting the fresh stew. He nodded. "It is. Temperature changes don't bother me much anymore and after earlier, I've got a good bit of power to protect against such things."

"That's handy," she said. "I'm jealous... can I do that too?"

"Eating steaming hot stew?"

She laughed. "No, silly, ignore hot and cold temperatures."

"I can still be burned, you know," he pointed out. "Maybe not as easily as before but... it can happen."

"I know, I just... it's getting colder out. I'm going to have to get a cloak soon," she pouted.

John stared at the scantily clad beauty and laughed. "You know what, if you still want to be around me in a year, let's make sure that's part of our next contract."

Jennaca pouted. "More like if you still want me around in year."

"There's nothing I want more."

She grinned and leaned over to kiss him.

John finished his bowl of stew and stood up from it. Jennaca stood with him. He glanced at her and smiled. "You're still my bodyguard?"

She nodded. "I plan to provide close, personal protection."

John chuckled. "Where were you yesterday when I could have used it?"

"Better late than never."

John nodded and moved to the door. Before he opened it he said, "Can we rename it? Instead of you being my bodyguard, let's say the role is, 'keep John from doing something stupid.'"

Jennaca gasped and then giggled. "Well, that might be part of what we discussed... but mostly it's just making sure nothing bad happens to you."

John grinned and gave her a quick kiss. "Come on, temptress, if we just ate supper then the day has gotten away from me."

"It was and it did. Did you find what you were searching for?"

He nodded. "Enough, I think. I have more questions, but I think I can guess at what they are."

"What?"

He hesitated and then shook his head. "I want to tell everyone. All of us, that is. Not the villagers though."

She nodded. "All right, but I don't like having to wait."

John chuckled and opened the door. He stepped out and looked around to take in the village at dusk. Artesia was drilling with Roxanne while Helleen was sparring with some villagers. Zynga sat on the lip of the well and swung her legs, looking board.

He caught sight of a figure striding toward him and turned to see Sadie walking his way from the long hall that had been the first building in the village. John stiffened and glanced at Jennaca. "I thought Matthew left?"

"He did!" Jennaca said, equally surprised. "I mean, I think he did. I've been inside all day, remember? But Leigh did say Matthew and Weston left when she came in to fix the stew. I figured Sadie left too."

Sadie walked up to John before he could respond to Jennaca. He looked down at her and saw how tense and tired she was. "Sadie... I didn't think you'd still be here. Is everything okay?"

Sadie's shoulder dropped a fraction of an inch. She turned and looked around the village. She sighed and said, "Okay? It's far from okay... people died, Lord John. Others are hurt and I've been trying to help them but... this isn't like what I've dealt with before. I've tended to the wounds of the gladiators and I've helped people with sickness and injuries. This... this is brutal. Savage and hateful and..."

"I understand. About the only thing worse would be men fighting other men in war."

She shook her head. "No, even that might not be so bad. These beasts-- these demons-- they aren't just trying to kill. They're trying to main and cripple. They want to hurt us before the kill us. The way some of these people were wounded... it's evil, pure evil."

John stiffened. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He frowned. "Strength, intelligence, and savagery without conscience."

Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

"I'll tell you soon, I promise. Tell me though, why didn't you leave? You can't possibly help them more than you already have."

"Perhaps," she agreed. "But you're going on. Helleen and Roxanne said you won't stop here. You won't stop at all until you put an end to it."

John nodded. "That's right."

"I shouldn't have been able to heal you."

John did a double take. "Pardon?"

She gestured at him. "I can feel it in you. The darkness. I thought it was all you were at first, but even then there was something... it's a taint, but it's not growing. It doesn't control you, you control it."

John sighed. "You're not wrong, but you know that. It's a long story we don't have time for, but you're right. There is a darkness in me. To save my life and the lives of others I had to make a pact with an infernal being."

Sadie gasped.

"She's a good infernal, as far as they're concerned," John offered.

Sadie turned and glared at Zynga. "It's not Zynga, you're her master. She's only an imp anyhow."

"You knew?"

Sadie nodded. "I prayed for guidance and Eila granted my prayers with the sight I needed to see her clearly."

"Yes, she's my familiar -- although she was granted to me by my Mistress and, I suspect, she's just as much my familiar as she is here to keep an eye on me."

She studied Zynga a moment longer and then turned back to Jennaca. "You were right, thank you."

Jennaca looked to John and they shared a confused look.

Sadie saw their bewilderment and sighed before explaining, "I judged you not worthy. Saint Eile deemed that you were and granted me the power needed to heal you."

"I'm indebted to you and your Mistress for that," John said.

"You are not," Sadie said. "Your past and current deeds made you worthy. Eile is not a bank that deals in credit and interest."

John raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. "Well, I'll keep it in mind all the same."

Sadie stared at him a moment longer before saying, "I do not understand you, my lord. I may never but... well, I would like to try. Will you allow me to travel with you? Even if it's only to put an end to the demons that scourge these lands."

John's eyebrow rose in surprise. "I would be delighted to have you join us, priestess. We are an unconventional lot, to say the least, but while we may seem to spit in the face of cultural traditions, we do mean well."

Sadie smirked. "Yes, I've already noticed you've stood a few customs on end."

"The only thing I'd caution you to remember is that I do not deny anyone their right to pursue their own happiness... as long as it doesn't come at the expense of the innocent."

"A sign of true nobility," she said. "Not that granted by chance of birth or station."

"Oh, one other thing," John said. "These creatures, they aren't demons. I'm sure of it now."

"Then what are they?" she asked.

"Join us and I'll tell you."

"Didn't I just join you?"

John chuckled, "I mean walk with us. I want to gather all of..."

"All of your girls," Jennaca teased.

Sadie's eyes opened wide.

John sighed. "Yes, well, that's part of what you'll need to learn about us. About me."

"I see," Sadie said.

"Regretting your decision?"

She smiled at him. "Not yet. I prayed to be given guidance-- to be given more than just a band of drunken children to pledge my services to. If you are what Saint Eile has given me, then I will have faith in her wisdom and learn what I must so that I may serve to the best of my ability."

"Faith..." John mused. "I've never been a man of faith, but I don't doubt its strength or powers. I admire you for being able to armor yourself in it, for I never could."

"I have faith in you," Jennaca said to him.

John looked to her and smiled. He didn't need to see the honesty in her eyes to feel how absolutely steadfast she was in her belief in him. He nodded. "That's a good point, Jennaca, I place my faith in you as well."

"Helleen has faith in you too and so does Roxanne. Some, at least. She'll come around in time."

"You speak of faith in ability and trust, not faith in a greater being," Sadie said.

"To me there's not really so different," Jennaca said. "I know if I'm dealing with hardship John will be there to help me, however he can. I know if I'm trapped and in trouble, say one of these monsters has me cornered, I need only call out to John and he will do everything in his power to help me. Or if I need someone to confide in, someone to whisper my secrets and my confusion about my feelings for a certain brown haired gladiatrix too, John will eagerly let me bend his ear."

Sadie's eyes widened and she looked to John.

John shrugged. "I promised to be there for my girls, no matter what their problem."

"Huh," Sadie mumbled. "Enviable, I will give you that. But don't ever make the mistake of confusing Lord John with the divine."

John chuckled darkly. "Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that!"

"I don't know," Jennaca teased. "I swear he's made me feel like I was able to talk to the saints a few times now."

Sadie blushed and John coughed and cleared his throat. Jennaca giggled.

"So, about that conversation..." John mumbled and turned to head over between the well and where Artesia, Helleen, and Roxanne were training. He motioned for them to join and saw Zynga hope down and head toward them as well.

"My lord," Artesia greeted him. "I'm glad you are well... now don't ever leave a safe place again without letting me know."

Jennaca smiled and said, "Actually, we've already spoken to him about that and--"

"We?" Artesia interrupted.

"Yes, Helleen, Roxanne, and I. I knew you'd agree. We agreed that one of us will always be with him to serve as a protector."

"Helleen was with him last time," Artesia pointed out.

Helleen's eyes widened. John chuckled and realized they hadn't considered that particular situation.

"She as, but she wasn't one of us then," Jennaca said. "We'll train her and, knowing what she does now and having the connection to John she has, it will be different. Roxanne too, although she still needs to officially join us."

Roxanne hesitated and then nodded. "Yes, when the time is right. Until then, I've already been training."

"You've got a ways to go," Artesia said.

Roxanne bristled and then nodded her head. She was tall enough to tower over Artesia but she didn't look like it right now. The red marks on her arms and the side of her neck gave proof that Artesia had already been teaching her a few lessons firsthand.

"You should join us too, Artesia," Helleen said. "I'm sure that--"

"No," Artesia snapped. She refused to look at John as she said, "I've pledged my life to Lord John already."

Helleen closed her mouth and looked to John. He gave her a quick shake of his head before clearing his throat and saying, "Very well, that's aside for now. This is our company now, the seven of us. First off, how long until the villagers to defend themselves against another attack?"

Artesia scowled. "They're as good as they're going to be."

"Why the change of heart? I thought you wanted a couple of weeks?"

"I did, but after last night's attack they're not likely to forget. They were battle tested and did better than I expected."

"Because of your training, I'm sure," Jennaca said.

"Perhaps... or because you and Sasha were there whenever a line was about to collapse or one of the beasts seemed ready to gain the upper hand," Artesia said.

Jennaca blushed.

"Whatever the reason, they know to take it seriously and now they've got some defenses in place to funnel any attacks. They can't survive a prolonged assault, but Brodrick has been working hard to build weapons they can use and, if you task is to cut the head from this sand snake, I believe they can survive long enough without us."

John nodded. "That is our task. I propose we leave in the morning, before first light, even. It's a two day trek to Hawk Hollow and I'd like to make sure we make it there in time."

"What about the dem-- the monsters you promised to tell us about?" Sadie asked.

"Yes, about them... they aren't demons. I don't exactly know what they are, but I can tell you what they're related to," he said. "Thick, leathery hide and meat beneath that spoils at an advanced rate. I've read it is delicious if carved immediately upon death and preserved until it's cooked, but that requires either magical assistance or a special recipe of rare ingredients."

"John," Jennaca said. "We're not here to eat them, we want to know how best to kill them."

"My experiments confirm they are resistant to the elements, although once their natural armor is breached they are quite susceptible to fire. Ironic, considering."

"Why is it ironic?" Roxanne asked.

"Because, the creatures they closest resemble breathe fire," John said. "I believe these creatures are related closely to dragons. The claws with the opposable thumb on the front limbs, the head and teeth, their tails, and lastly the horns along their spine and head. All of these are traits of dragons, save these creatures do not have wings. Their breath is rank enough I suspect a match struck to it might provide the fire necessary."

The six women stared at one another and at John. Zynga alone chuckled and shook her head. "That explains everything."

They turned to look at the halfling. "What do you mean?" John asked.

"Oh, it's nothing. I meant figuratively, you know? Things aren't bad enough, why not toss a dragon into the mix?"

"But these aren't dragons," Sadie said. "No wings, no fire breath, and they're not nearly the size of a house that dragon's are said to be."

"There's one other thing," John said, drawing them back to him. "In Rock Haven anything of value had been taken. Coins, jewelry, even fancy goblets, plates, and silverware. In Hawk Hollow the villagers are spared so long as they produce... and what they produce comes from the vein of gold they recently unearthed.

"These creatures may only be slightly smarter than a pack of wolves, but they serve something greater," John said. "Something smarter. Something that must be related to them and something that covets wealth. What better place for a dragon to set up a lair than one overlooking a newly founded gold mine?"

Zynga looked at John and gave him a curt nod of approval. The others stared at him in shock, concern and worry.

"You want us to become dragon slayers?" Roxanne asked. "No one's fought a dragon in years! At least not lived to tell of it."

Jennaca lifted her chin. "I grew up with two younger girls that looked up to me as a playmate for a time. One of them was named Aleena."

"Aleena? You're not old enough to know Dame Aleena," Roxanne said.

"No, I'm not," Jennaca agreed. "The Aleena I know is a Princess of Altonia. Her namesake was Dame Aleena, a friend of my mothers. She died driving Kelenox from the land my mother called her home. She saved Altonia, that day, and possibly all of the north from the Order of the Dragon."

"Kelenox is said to have been as big as a mountain himself," Roxanne said.

"That's the dragon from the stories dad used to tell us, isn't it?" Helleen asked.

"One and the same," Roxanne agreed.

"So they can be beaten," Sadie said.

"They can," Jennaca agreed.

"Odds are good doing it will kill you in the process though," Zynga pointed out.

John glared at his familiar. She shrugged and held up her hands. "Now you're upset I'm being honest?"

He ignored her.

"We go to Hawk Hollow in the morning. I have no illusions about freeing Hawk Hollow right now, but I want to find out from there the source of these creatures and put an end to it," he address them all. "That is my plan. It's going to be hard, but we've survive all of this so far, I have faith in all of you. I believe we can do this, but I will understand if any of you wish to stay behind or turn back."

John looked around, meeting the eyes of each of the remarkable women that had come into his life. Their expressions ranged from Jennaca's warm and confident smile to Artesia's grim, if resigned, nod. Only Zynga seemed aloof, but John could tell it was an act. She was worried too, even if only because she didn't want to fail Beytrixxa.

"I recommend an early night to get some rest," John said.

"I agree," Artesia said. "We've been holding short hours for a few days now, and the future looks to be much the same."

"Well there you have it," John said with a chuckle. "Let's go then, off to bed with the lot of you."

"John," Jennaca said as he started to turn.

He spun back to her. "Yes?"

"You're going to need more power for what's coming."

John hesitated and then nodded. "Yes, probably. I have some tricks up my sleeve though..."

She opened her mouth but John held up a finger to stop her. "You're in no condition for more of that."