Sorcerer from Another World

I helped Tulisa to her feet. She clung to me closely. I can’t say I am proud to be enjoying her warm and soft body in her time of grief, but neither can I say I regretted it. 

“I’m a mess.” She complained. “Nothing goes right around me.”

“These are difficult times.

“My partner died during the attack. I am childless, he… he was unable to give me child, or so a passing Druid told us.”

I stared blankly at her trying to think of the right thing to say to her sudden moment of oversharing. What is it with terrible husbands wanting children around here? 

She kept on speaking, “But he blamed me anyway and that stupid harlot Jesimi spread rumours I was cursed. She said that the druid had cured him, but left me to suffer for my crimes against the wedding bond. They let her marry him and he raised her children as his own. But he died during the attack.”

I blinked dumbly.

“But maybe I am cursed to bring harm to the men I love.”

Huh. Was she perhaps stupid? Or maybe naive. I guess even dense as rocks, I know enough about romance from movies to know better than to do this. 

She cried more, “Do you hate me?”

Still, something about a needy, beautiful impregnable woman who was desperate for me 

I shook my head. “No, I could never.” 

“You love me!”

I nodded. 

I wasn’t sure I ‘loved’ her, but as an all powerful sorcerer receiving the confession I was sure I had the power in this new intense relationship. I certainly liked her, and I’m sure she felt the same. 

She just didn’t know better from a lack of education. As the relationship developed, I’m sure with gentle hints she will learn that love develops over time and it is more steady and true than an infatuation or crush. 

Right? I wasn’t sure at the time. It is difficult to see what is the right act to do when you are powerful, horny and desperately, deeply out of your depth. 

We both wanted each another. If Iris and Morgana were cool with it then what is the problem? I liked that line of reasoning. 

I passed Tulisa off to Byrettte so they could comfort each other.

I wasn’t quite over how people kept dying. First getting here, then I fought through some tree losing many fine warriors, Umbra just human sacrificed someone and I only I knew, and now a group of people had been slaughtered in my name. I was beyond stress and the constant sex to distract myself was barely keeping me sane. 

I stood next to Morgana and we both looked again at the ruins of our house. So, many fresh and good memories had been made there. Many of them to do with sex, but not all. I had begun to adjust to the place and now it was a burnout husk of a home. 

“The maid?” she asked.

“Yep. You?”

“Already had Byrette though the girl more has eyes for Iris.”

“I noticed.”

“She hasn’t.”

“Should we tell her?”

“Leave it a little longer. I want to see how much the ambitious brat drools over Sweetness’ tits first.”

I laughed at that. I laughed till my stomach ached. Morgana did the same.  

She held my hand, “Are you okay, taken your followers with us, my Champion?”

“I never asked for them, but if they help you then of course.”

She squeezed my hand, “Thank you. Once I’ve gathered our warrior’s from Bryette’s clan we can make ready to leave.”

“We should tell Galen first.”

“I agree. Go to his dawn meeting and say. It is right that you say it. It is your command.”

I nodded, “I will.”

I turned around to look for Iris but could not see her.

“Iris!” I called out.

Morgana turned curious and checked herself. Her face immediately tensed with concern. 

“Iris!” we called.

Bryette answered, “The druid came and she left with him.” 

“What?” I shouted. 

She flinched and her eyes darted to Morgana with a plea for mercy. 

Morgana placed a soothing caress on my arm. 

“Thank you, Bry.” She smiled. “I’m glad you are safe. I know it is a lot to ask, but can you go tell your Uncle to gather his men and join us.”

“I can.”

“Good. Take Tulisa with you.” She turned to the Faithful. “Gainor send two to escort my servant through the streets.”

He bowed low and followed her command. 

“I will kill him if he has hurt her.” I promised.

“I should think not. His plan is to use her, but to what ends I can’t see. Perhaps there is discord among the Seelie. If there's enough of them left to fight amongst themselves.” Morgana guessed. 

I let my awareness drift out across the hillfort to sense the metal I made that Iris should be wearing and her mana. 

“Got her.” 

“So do I.”

I raised my eyebrow.

Magical binding from a ritual.

“I remember now.”

“She shrugged, “I would only use it to track her in a situation like this.”

“Of course.”

“Right.”

She raised a hand pointed ahead, “Let’s go.”

It was a short walk to the Druid’s tent. It was tan coloured and in the shape of a prism like a viking tent. It smelt bitter and foul dried herbs. I was surprised that there were no herbs planted or a garden. Perhaps because he was preparing to leave? Iris had said Druids were feared in towns, but I had assumed by Bomdall’s status in the dawn council that he must be an exception. Maybe he was not as welcome as I had thought. War was also not the time for growing things.

I believed it was odd nonetheless. 

Nothing to do with the man had ever gone well. So far, he had seemed all bark and no bite. I feared his words more than any magic or druidry he may be able to conjure. He was not a match for Iris in terms of sheer power before I had met her. Now she had the overwhelming advantage that even his experience most likely couldn’t overcome. No, it was his words I feared. 

He sounded wise and well-meaning. He had Galen’s ear and a single criticism had crushed Iris. I couldn’t place it but something about him irked me. Now, he took Iris away. What for?

It was these thoughts that ran through my mind as we barged into his tent. 

“Reckless! You have a duty to to the Old Ways. You risk your precious life for some cursed Pendragon and a foreign mage suspected of working for the Unseelie…” Bomdall said. 

Iris sat crossed leg with her head bowed. Soot stained her armour and skin. She bore the expression of a cowed pupil getting scorned by their teacher. 

Bomdall stood over her. Her nostrils flared and eyes narrowed in contempt. 

She looked at me and then down, “He is a gift to me from beyond our world. I don’t know why the smiths were spreading lies about him.”

“I for one intend to find out.”

I looked at her, “There is no need.” I said firmly. “We leave as soon as possible.”

Bomdall scowled and for the first time I saw a hint of fear in his eyes, “She will not go with you.” 

I ignored him, “Come on. I’m yours, Iris. It is far too dangerous for us to stay. We’re going now.”

“I forbid it.” Bomdall said.

“You have no right.” Morgana sneered.

“Her duty to Druidry is far greater than any personal relationships.” He turned to Iris. “I fear you have been tricked, my dear.”

“What?” Iris groaned meekly. Her face screwed up and she shook her head in dulled confusion.  

 “He is powerful enough to do it. I’m afraid. A magic trick of some kind to deceive you away from your true calling.”

“That… it can’t be true.”

“Of course it isn’t.” Morgana said with a raised, angry voice.

“All so he could get closer and use you for his own ends.”

“He helped after they killed her. Those damn Unseelie.”

“Killed who?” he asked. 

“That’s enough.” Morgana tried to step between them but he glared at her. 

I felt a sudden spike of fear and panic flood through Morgana’s body. She didn’t flinch, but she did step away from Bomdall and Iris. 

“My mentor Helen.” Iris said with a half croak. 

He turned to Iris with a saddened smile, “A tragedy yes. She was wise and compassionate. Her killers were most likely Romans in disguise or their pets. So many Druids have died by Roman hands; we are among the last few left alive south of the river Fordth. A few perhaps hide among the Wains in the hills to the west but our refugee is Alba or as our enemies call it Caledonia. It is too dangerous. You must leave with me.” 

He was a fingertip’s length from her now. He loomed over her. A dark shadow that seemed to swallow her. She couldn’t look him in the eye and he never stopped staring at her. I only noticed it then that he wasn’t just intimating her. He was leering at her.  

I lowered my staff to his temple, “You’re not the first I’ve killed tonight serpent tongue. I’ll sleep just fine adding your corpse to the graves.”   

He gave me a cold side eyed glance. I saw half of his smirk. He stood up and I pulled my staff back. He backed off a few steps. All the time he faced me. He crouched and picked up a cup from the ground. He stood up again and drank from it slowly. We held our gazes. I held back the storm and he restrained the savagery of the wilds. 

I easily erased his emotional manipulative tricks as soon as he forced them on me. 

He blinked first. 

A bearing full of confidence he said, “I have more to discuss with my fellow Druid. You both may leave now.”

I smiled back, “Your threats mean little to me and your tricks have no effect.”

He scowled.

“I hold you in no value and I am your superior in magic.”

 “Back off magician.” 

“My Paragon, perhaps we should go?” Morgana said and for the first time I had seen her shaken. Brought to doubt and uncertainty by little more than a trickster. 

“It’s okay.” Iris said. She put on a brave smile. 

I blinked and looked at her. Talk about cultural differences. Part of it was the trick but they also seemed to hold his position as the elder Druid in deep reverence. Like a devout Christian trying to disobey a well respected priest or whatever. 

I flashed a rueful smile, “Of course it is okay. I am your champion, Iris. I swore to protect you.”

I let my magical senses reach out and feet his heart. I squeezed just enough to make him feel his arteries clog. The chest pain and dizziness sent him tumbling backwards. 

I let go and he breathed again. 

He gasped, sweat stained gaped at me. “What did you do?”

I put on my best Morgana stare, “I showed you what would happen if Iris stays here.”    

“You dare...” He spat.

I closed his mouth shut.

If Umbra can kill for power then I can do so to protect Iris. I felt the burst of a new far darker desire, a lust coloured crimson. I’m already halfway across this river of blood. I may as well keep walking to the other side. 

“There is no limit to what I am willing to do. I don’t know what lies you have festering in your thoughts, but I owe a debt of eternal gratitude. In my esteem alone, you are not worth the sweat off her brow. I see your schemes and be glad that you are not mine to judge.”

Please. Please. Please. Give me a reason. I need an excuse. Be a Thalm, Bomdal. I’m so close to awakening something new. 

Morgana’s hand just happened to hold mine. I snapped back to the moment and out of my murky mind. I released the spell and he could speak again.

He held something in his hand, “I have a Master. He can protect us from the Sorcerer.”

Iris stood up and walked over to Morgana and I. I pulled her into a side arm hug. 

“No, we are leaving now. Goodnight.” Iris said with a shaky voice and then pulled us out of the tent and into the night air.  

The night air was crisp and brisk. I let out a deep sigh. Too tense. I knew I was not half so lucky as to be rid of that foul man. Had I went too far?

“Thank you.” Iris said and we hugged. “I never seem to stop owing you.”

I chuckled, “Merely doing my job.”

“You did more than that. I was shaking like hare caught in a trap. I don’t know what came over me” Morgana said her gaze downcast in shame. 

I smiled awkwardly. Anything I said would only seem fake and boastful on my part.

“What matters is that everyone is alright. I’m glad that I could do my part.”

 Morgana held my head, nodded and said, “You’re right.”

“I’m sorry this is all my fault.” Iris said. 

“No, it isn’t.” Morgana refuted instantly. 

“It is.” she insisted. 

“Come on. We should find make our way out of here. The soon we are gone the quicker we can forget all this foulness.”

“As you say, my most precious gift.”

“I’ve kept us here too long. I see that now. At dawn’s light we head north to Alba and safer lands.”

We smiled and walked away from Bomdall’s tent. 

I had hope that this would be the end of the long night. I was, of course, wrong.