“True.” Ellen nodded. “And Ethan, should I fall, I want you to know my wishes. My shoes will go to my firstborn daughter. She and I have identical hooves and just earned enough points to apply for her own set by Celestia last year. I wish for Enchantress Kanade to, as you say repurpose them, until she gets hers…”
“No.” He shook his head and held up his hands. “That you will have to work out with Kanade. Not my department. All enchantments are her area. I won’t fix them because Celestia has made sure I promise to only make the best, never reuse unless I completely melt down your horseshoes and start from scratch. The most I can promise is to cut off your hooves if I can’t move your body.”
“That is acceptable.” The Centaur seemed pleased.
“Well I’m being buried with Zaxis.” Magnus declared while fingering the club.
“You’re not going to die at all unless I’m the one stabbing you to death.” Nell said finally. “Oh, Ethan, ever made a bow before?”
“Not yet.” He admitted as they walked towards the castle. “Although I’ve seen Celestia make one just once. We don’t make arrows, but the bow she made was wicked with sharp points and blades along its length and the center parted, making it into an effective pair of curve swords. Why do you ask?”
Nell shrugged. “Because if I’m going to be the main archer of this team I’ll need something more than wood. You already demonstrated you can make it into instant ash.”
“Sorry.” He apologized. “That is one skill that is quite uncontrollable. I found it is a defensive ability when a projectile won’t burn up quick enough to do harm. It happened the first time when an Elf shot at me and it blew him and the Incubus away. It is an intense burst of power that destroys all inanimate weapons in front of me for over twenty feet and sends any attackers flying who are within fifty. Celestia told me that in that moment the area is flashed at over five hundred thousand degrees. Without water, any object is blown apart. I didn’t have time to warn you.”
“No serious damage done.” The Nymph flung her hair back. “What about if you’re attacked from behind? Will it do likewise?”
“Blind spot.” He responded and shook his head. “If I don’t see it coming and know I’m about to be seriously injured, well… I’d be in big trouble. My power is intense, not foolproof. That outward blast you felt is the only one that’s automatic… That I’ve found out about.”
“Are we going to cut through the castle?” Magnus’ deep voice entered into the conversation as they stepped onto the main southern street.
“Yeah. It’s the shortest route to reach my place. Why?” Ethan asked.
“Instead of walking all the way there how about we go to my home?” Magnus asked. “You can tell your mate to meet us for breakfast and there is more than enough space for the four of us to clean up.”
Nell seemed much more animated over this idea compared to going near her natural enemy, fire, especially a giant bird cloaked in eternal flames with a well earned reputation for being unwelcoming. “Yes! Good idea, Love. Vina is sleeping in her crib at the grove with my sister. I’ll go get her.” Before anyone could stop her, Nell ran swiftly ahead to the forest of orderly trees, guided by minimal moonlight and centuries of experience to know where everything is.
“Uh, where is she going?” Ethan asked.
Magnus answered “Her sister is watching over our daughter in the Nymph southeastern grove. Nell will return likely as we reach our room. I will lead from here.”
Magnus took over the party and when Ethan could see enough to not trip over his own feet the fire in his hand snuffed out. Two hours remained before breakfast and as winter would be coming in a month or so, the nights had begun to grow longer with dawn no longer rising at four each morning. Inside the castle they moved, saying little while going over the final trial the was done. Ethan’s bare back, he knew, was scratched up from the dodging to the ground. But he looked at his hands, going over the past sixteen week’s worth of agonizing and relentless hard work and pain.
How I’ve changed. Ethan thought in the privacy of his mind. I never would have believed it before all this, but I’m doing something with my life. I just took on a Centaur, Ogre and Nymph in under two minutes and won! Then he asked in a whisper “Why wasn’t I scared?”
Forgetting Centaur hearing, Ellen guessed well the meaning. “It is Blake.”
“Huh?”
Ellen looked down at him as only a warrior could, demanding, critical and direct. “You wonder how you could face three experienced warriors without being afraid do you not?” He nodded. “Tis Blake and a trait of the Nagai clan. I have been observing you from afar ever since Collu and Mia wanted me to be under your leadership several days after you hunted Incubi. I was also there the first day you graced us will a remarkable first impression, getting off Storm-shadow.” Ellen grinned as she heard his groan. “You wonder how you could go from a lazy, inexperienced human to one who could face three masters unarmed. Mostly it is due to Blake. Each day he was with you not only gave you combat experience and how to meditate, but also a minor gift. Nagai do not advertize it, but if one faces them in combat long enough they fear dying and getting hurt less. It is their innate magic. Yes, Blake taught you as he did us,” She pointed to herself and Magnus who merely smiled with vibrantly white teeth. “but you have faster reactions and won’t freeze when threatened like timid prey. I was a very shy female before he trained me. All the pain he inflicted not only increased pain tolerance, but how to set it aside so you can achieve victory. Combat gave confidence, but training under a Naga made it so you fear dying less and can move properly so as to survive. I know my words are highly confusing, but you didn’t flee from my swordsmanship or Magnus’ club or Nell’s arrow. You are not what you were. No longer are you human. You are now a warrior in full and can honor the pledge you took that first evening of your arrival.”
Magnus then turned into the Ogre hall saying “Ethan, just know that Blake trained you in more than combat and meditation. He gave you invaluable life lessons on how to survive in our dangerous line of work. Chaos will never relent and tonight you proved that neither shall you.”
About halfway through the hall they began climbing steps and heard “We’re back!” Following quickly was Nell with her naked daughter Vina sitting on her mother’s round hip. Ethan was glad he saved the adorable baby Nymph who cooed when she saw her Ogre father and the noise brought a smile to all of their faces.
They moved up to the top level and turned before continuing to the roof. Magnus opened a thick wooden door that stood over fifteen feet in height and allowed everyone inside. Nell immediately noticed a difference to their bedroom when not out in the grove, passed Vina to her father and moved before Dress and lifted a wrapped cloth from the ground. Everyone curiously looked at it as she said “Dress, what is this?” she asked the closet beside the large moss bed.
Ethan though quickly saw that the apartment was full of living plants, like a greenhouse. The bed was made from woven reeds and filled with soft grey moss. A crib was crafted from a stump and nothing other than a TV was unnatural. He wondered how all the plants survived till he looked up and saw the ceiling was actually a skylight that was between two of the many canopy trees growing over them. It was interesting compared to many other rooms he’d seen.
Dress, like in every bedroom throughout the many Houses around the world, was there. The golden face smiled and the blue eyes were full of vitality and mischief. “Hey, Girlfriend! Oh and guests. Some of my favorite people are here, Nell. Hey, Vinaaa!” The toddler gurgled when small brown eyes looked at the sound of her name. Nell cleared her throat and held the wrapped object to return to her inquiry. “A gift from Blake.” Dress said. “Said to tell you this was one of his spares and hopes you like it.”
Nell slowly unwrapped the linen cloth and her eyes flew open wide as she pulled out an unstrung recurve bow. Immediately she announced “Dragon Horn!”
“I don’ get it.” Ethan said to Magnus quietly
as Ellen moved to the bathroom door to bathe. Since all bathrooms were huge to begin with, Ethan didn’t need to ask if the Centaur would fit. Nothing was undersize at the castle.
Magnus sat his daughter down to move as she will to say “Next to a bow made by Celestia, Dragon Horn is the most sought after. For Blake to give a Dragon Horn bow as a gift is unheard of. Not only are dragons one of the hardest demons to kill, but it takes diamond to cut off a horn or immense magic. See how the horn has all those ring bumps along its length?” Ethan nodded as Nell held the object reverently. “It would take no less than a year to soften the horn in a special softening solution, to then split it down the center one inch a week, attach the bases and bend it to a desired shape, let it dry over the heat of an active volcano for two more years and then it will be ready for use. Dragons are fire resistant and their horn, once treated properly, will not break or lose tension ever again. Knowing our old master, Blake likely killed the dragon and harvested its horns and scales. It now makes sense why he gave his wife Dragon Scale armor a few centuries back.”
“Enough said. Blake told me he’s only managed to kill three dragons before and told me how deadly they are. Anything that can give Blake pause must be tough.”
“That is an understatement.” Magnus led Ethan to a large patch of soft grass and sat. “Dragons are weakened by copper and can weaken their scales to bite into hard flesh, but you have to get very close to pierce their heart. Arrows bounce off harmlessly or wont penetrate deep enough into their flesh to cause any serious damage. Their horns need diamond or magic, as I said, to cut off and the only way to kill them is to pierce their hearts and send a blast of Spirit Energy to finish the job. Their heart is well protected by the thickest layer of scales in their chest and if you don’t have copper long enough to stab through the scales you’ll either get roasted or squashed flat. Copper is the dragon’s lone weakness. No other metal or material will even scratch their scales.”
Nell went to her shelf and pulled out her archery kit, pulled out her best string and wrapped one loop around a tip, slung it between her legs and grunted as she pulled the top back and barely managed to hook the other loop around. She sighed and stepped out to grip leather center and found the handle just over what she was comfortable with and drew the string. She smiled and looked to her husband chatting with Ethan to hop over as Vina played with a fallen stick. “This is wonderful!” She showed off her new bow. “It needs minor alteration, but will do well. I’m going to go out and practice. See you at breakfast.” She kissed Magnus on his horn and flitted out the front door.
“I know Nymphs are aloof, but that’s twice now that she didn’t give you a chance to put in a word.”
Magnus pat Ethan on the back. “That is my Nell.” The Ogre Laughed. “Not to worry, she gets like this when new things happen quickly. And I cannot blame her, though I’ll never be as skilled as a Nymph or Centaur, I would not hesitate to try out a Dragon’s Horn bow no matter the time. Even a spear from the same material would be practiced with.”
Ellen came out a moment later with a towel around her torso and she dried her long hair. She didn’t even need to ask Nell’s whereabouts, hearing it all and Dress supplied the pretty mare with a new shirt.
Ethan also rinsed off all the dirt and let the shower wash out his minor back wounds and slid back into his jeans. Dress gave him a long sleeve silvery shirt which he was grateful for. Despite his new physique, Ethan still felt self conscious in front of other without one.
He settled down in the grass to ask “So what do you guys prefer to hunt or do you not care? Storm is known to take out Kelpies at every opportunity.”
Magnus watched his daughter lay asleep contently in the grass as he said “Elves mostly. After that one snatched Vina” his blue hand turned into a fist which took on a powdery hue as skin stretched against bone. “it only reinforced my anger towards them. They are tricky bastards, but if you can get close enough they are easy to crush.”
“I prefer Arachne and Lamia myself.” Ellen said.
“Lamia? Never heard of that kind of demon.” He said.
“Half woman, half snake. Like Medusa from Geek mythology, but their hair isn’t made of snakes and they cannot turn mortals to stone. They paralyze through venom. They are quiet and fast and have paralyzing venom like Arachne, but more deadly if left untreated. Without aid, in three days, once bitten will pass on.” Ellen explained.
As the castle chimed it was time for breakfast Ethan found Kanade and Nell already chatting away like old friends at their table. Both Magnus and Ethan were equally surprised that their women were already conversing. Nell spotted them first and waved, but the first to speak was Kanade as she stood. “Ethan, This Nymph says you will be a squad leader and that Blake made you fight all of them?”
“Not my seedling though.” Nell quipped as she took Vina in her arms an tickled the child to elicit a giggle.
To answer he turned around and lifted the hair on the back of his neck up. “Yeah and it wasn’t easy. When I won he gave me this tattoo.”
The Enchantress’s cool fingers lightly touched the new ink like the kiss of a butterfly. “I see. It is red, but not swollen or infected. Are you hurt elsewhere?”
“A few minor scrapes that will heal in no time.” He smiled as he spun. “Kanade, I would like to introduce Ellen and Magnus, also former pupils of Blake’s and my newest companions.” The winged beauty shook both of their hands and greeted them with warm smiles. “So how long have you two been waiting?”
“A few minutes.” Kanade promised as they all sat at the table. “Nell just came up and said we’re goin’ to be good friends out of nowhere.”
The Nymph merely grinned.
“My wife is quite forward, even among her kind.” Magnus said and grunted as Nell elbowed him in the ribs and smiled innocently as if she didn’t do a thing.
“More people! Goody!” Floa sounded as she flew down and changed to her larger size. Blossom wasn’t far behind her mother and giggled like a toddler. For a two and a half month old, Pixies grew quick and Blossom look more like a green skinned four year old with dark black hair like her mother, but her butterfly wings had a lot more gold and white markings. The young Pixie skipped across the table and leapt saying “Auntie Kanna!”
As the usual routine of the past week, Kanade smiled and held out her arms to catch the child. “Mornin’ Sweetheart.” Kanade kissed the Pixie’s brow and said “You changed all on your own!”
“Surprised me this morning too!” Floa grinned. “We were with Odin last night and she grew without my help to land butt first on his face. Naked mind you. It was an accident, but funny.” The proud mother giggled. “Blossom, come back over here before Cook shows up and tells you a lady doesn’t run across the table again.”
Blossom hurried back over on stubby legs and embraced her mother.
“Seems a lot has happened in three months.” Kanade suddenly stiffened at the sound of this new voice. She knew it well and forced herself to relax. She and the others looked as Kira stood close, holding a plate, utensils and a large, empty glass. “Hello, Lads, may I join you.”
“Kira?” Ethan said as he couldn’t believe it was her. Instead of wearing some of the most provocative clothes on the planet she was dressed in a flattering dress, classy heels and wore less makeup. She was actually more beautiful without intending to force it. Her long brown hair was braided, accentuating her slender neck, but the green dress didn’t have a plunging neckline. Ethan also noticed her fragile ego at standing before them. “We haven’t seen you around here in months, not since…” He didn’t finish, but the table was deathly silent. “Where have you been?”
Kira looked to the eyes of everyone present, but to Kanade most of all to say “Busy. May I join you?”
Kanade surprised them all by saying “Only if you tell us where you’ve been. Were you avoidin’ us?”
“I wish I could say no, but yes.” The Witch admitted, moving around to sit across from a Nymph c
uriously looking at her. “Partially, I mean. Ever since you” Kira’s light green eyes turned on Ethan. “removed Ken from the spell book and finally sent his soul where it belongs, Torment, all the women of my clan have been working hard. There are sixteen living Witches of my family who all carried Ken when it was their time and all of us have been adding new spells so our line can continue to be the only ones to use it, but instead of it belonging to only one, my aunts and ancestors can go to my great great great grandmother who was chosen as guardian and access the immense information Ken had coveted. It has taken three months to finish and is why I felt like trying to come back.” She went quiet.
“Is your family mad at me for my spontaneous actions?” Ethan had to ask as he had been worried he crossed a line he had no reason to even be near.
Kira looked up in surprise at the question and the change he had undergone in the past months. The Witch shook her head quickly. “By no means are any in my family upset. In fact we are most grateful for what you did.”
“Really?” Ethan didn’t sound so sure.
“Without a doubt. Ken was already dead so it’s not like you killed him. Remember how Storm-shadow told you Ken sided with Chaos and my ancestors trapped his soul to all women of my line?” He nodded vaguely. “Well it was meant to teach a lesson, but it backfired and he became a curse that was thought irremovable… till you. Ken’s words were poison and he only became more bitter as time went on. Thanks to your intervention now, all my family can consult the texts once again.”
Forgemaster (Book 1 in the Spirit Guide Saga) Page 42