I wrapped us, wagon, horse and all, in a levitation sphere and flew us over the trees to a road toward the west. I set us down, much to the relief of Moonbeam, twenty miles away.
Star was busy comforting the young lady we’d rescued and Alba was hopping mad. “Calla, that bitch! What kind of crap was that? Having this girl burned alive? We need to go back and see if I can find a residual trail on her recall, James. We need to drag her back to David and Della and strip her powers.”
“Aunt Alba, you were never here, don’t you remember?” I reminded. “My parents would have a fit and order me back home if they knew I’d called you for help. I just didn’t want to leave Star without protection when I didn’t know what was going to happen. However, I’ll do this: I’ll continue looking around this kingdom for her. If she was established with all that we saw back there, then she’s been here for a while. If I find her, I’ll let you know; and together we can capture her and show the people the truth about the ‘Goddess Calla’.”
“I’ll be here for you any time, Nephew. So, what are you going to do with your wife and her new friend while you’re hunting Calla? I could take them with me and put them up in the dorm for you. I wouldn’t tell your parents where they came from or who they are, if you preferred.”
Star overheard and stated, “You have my thanks, Aunt Alba, but I would prefer to stay with my husband. If we are to be in danger, I’d rather share it with him than sit in a castle surrounded by luxury and worry. The young lady here, Salma, has asked to stay with James and me. If he has no objection, I’d be happy to have her tag along.”
“She called me Aunt! You have picked a wonderful wife, James. I think you have done better than your father; he passed up a flirty girl over the wife he has. You take care of her or you’ll have to answer to me. If there isn’t anything else you need, I’ll be going.”
I hugged her, and Star very nervously hugged her, and she was gone. I peered at the girl sitting on the seat of the wagon beside Star. “So, why don’t you tell me what I just got myself into? My wife asked me to help, so you have her to thank. What was going on?”
Salma began, “Once a year, the name of a young virgin is drawn. That girl is taken to the temple and held until the moon is full, when she would be taken to the altar and chained with wood piled around her. When the Goddess Calla arrives, she sends down two columns of fire to ignite the wood, and the columns burn until the wood and the girl become ash. That was to have been my fate, until you saved me. I owe you my life and will be your humble servant until my death. What I don’t understand is why the Goddess thought you were named David.”
“First of all, you don’t owe me anything. I did no more than anyone with a heart would do. You don’t need to be a servant, but my wife and I have no friends here and would love to count you as one. David is my father, and it was he who taught the magic that Calla was using today. My father and I are both immensely more powerful than she is, so when she believed my dad was here, she ran. He’s been known to strip the powers from wizards who were abusing those powers. She isn’t a Goddess any more than I’m a god, and my wife knows that I’m just a man. Just like any man, she has complete power over me after dark.”
Both girls blushed and Salma inquired, “How can you be more powerful than a Goddess but not be a God?”
“Because Calla isn’t a goddess. She was just a village girl that my father and mother tested for magical abilities. When she passed the tests, she was trained and then, years later, went bad. It appears that she’s given up the whole ‘using magic for good’ idea and has gone the other way. I was born with magic because both my parents have it. I even use a different kind of magic than Calla, and it’s much, much more powerful. Not meaning to brag, but it is the truth.”
She nodded affirmatively, trying to accept the fact that the deity that she’d known for nearly half her life wasn’t a deity at all, but a misguided woman. She asked, “But if she isn’t a deity, then how can she make the pillars of fire like she does?”
“Are you willing to admit that I’m just a man?” I asked. She nodded and I pointed behind the wagon in order not to scare Moonbeam, and called down a flamestrike. I held the column and had it follow us for a moment, then extinguished it.
She gasped and bowed low. “You are a god! I beg you, forgive me for my informal banter.”
“I’m not a god!” I cried. “Remember, we determined that before the fireworks, and my wife confirmed it with quite the cute blush, if I remember. That spell is called ‘flamestrike’ and is a combat spell learned by all the wizards back home. It is exceptionally effective against trolls, since they don’t heal fire damage as quickly. I know a couple dozen people who can cast that spell, and not one of them would claim to be a god or goddess.”
Star complained, “That isn’t fair! You haven’t shown me any exciting stuff like that spell yet.”
“Call me a god and I’ll show you a lot more than just that spell!” I grinned and winked.
“James!” star cried. “You’re awful! You’re lucky I love you or I’d make you sleep in the wagon tonight. But I’d miss you too much if I did, so I’d be punishing myself, too.”
“Actually, my love, I was planning to sleep in the wagon tonight. I thought I’d let you girls have the tent. Salma might be uncomfortable with me in there with the two of you.”
Salma averted her eyes shyly but Star testified, “He’s a real gentleman and I could sleep in the middle. If you still felt uncomfortable, he could sleep in the wagon; but we’ve been married just a week and I don’t want to be apart, if we don’t have to be.”
Salma replied, “I don’t have a problem with it if you don’t. So you two really are married? You look to be my age. Was it a forced marriage or did you choose to be wed?”
“My father was going to sell me and James saved me. I married him because I love him and for no other reason. I’m fifteen but I’ve been told my face makes me look younger.”
I commented, “It’s that adorable round face of an angel with beautiful, curly blonde hair.”
“He certainly talks like he loves you. He seems an honorable man, if a bit frightening, due to the power at his command. He made us fly, horse and all!”
“And Star, you complained I hadn’t shown you any cool spells!”
“With everything that was going on, I didn’t even remember that! You did do that, didn’t you?”
I nodded and laughed, situated myself behind the reins and followed the road. When night approached, Star had Salma stand beside the road where she could watch my nature magic move the trees and bushes. We pulled the wagon into the clearing. Star and Salma fixed something to eat while I set up the tent, staked the horse and fed her, and started moving bedding inside. Star located a spare nightgown in her bags for Salma and directed her go to the tent to change, and then Star pulled me aside.
“Are you interested in me asking her to be a consort?”
I was shocked. “No! I don’t want a consort now and maybe not ever! I have everything I want right now, standing here in front of me.”
“Actually, I was thinking how nice it was to have another girl around to help out with things. I know that there isn’t much to do while we’re on the trail, but someday we won’t be out here. I understand that a consort serves the lady as much as the lord.”
“I see. Actually, you weren’t asking if I wanted a consort as much as you were asking if you could have one.”
She laughed, “I guess you’re right. I’m a lady now, by marriage, and am also a lowly road traveler. I thought that with a consort, I would feel nobler. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, my lovely Star, it makes perfect sense; if you would like a consort, I’ll approve her. As long as you both know it might be long while before consummation.”
“Thank you, James. I’ll go explain it all to her, as to her duties to me and you, even if you don’t choose to act on them yet. If she accepts, I’ll let you know. I’m on my way to change into the gown I’d rath
er not be wearing, but will for her sake and yours.”
The sun set and I put a low light orb and a dome shield over our campsite, went to the tent where the girls had both fallen asleep while talking, climbed in beside my wife and fell asleep.
Chapter Eight
A sharp whinny from Moonbeam woke me with a start. I crawled out of the tent with my hand on my dagger. I was pretending again that I wasn’t a wizard and knew that the pretend game was over when I saw the men coming down the road. They were armed with spears and short swords and didn’t look at all pleased. I stood in the road and called to them. “Is there something I can help you with, or were you just passing through?”
Their spokesman, who had a white painted face and blackened eyes, stepped forward. “You will bring the girl and come back to the city. There we will summon the Goddess once again, and she can have you both for her sacrifice this year.”
“The girl has asked for my protection and I’ve granted it. You might remember to tell Calla next time you see her that she should face me or David might come looking for her.”
“You call the Goddess by her name as a familiar? She’ll have you blowing in the wind by sunset for that!”
“I call her Calla because that’s her name. She isn’t a Goddess, just a sadistic woman who wants you to think she’s a goddess.”
The man shouted and threw his spear at me. It was a nice throw I had to admit; it would have hit me if I hadn’t stopped it, floating in the air two feet in front of me. I turned it around floated it back to him and laid it at his feet. “Nice throw! I guess if I weren’t who I am, that might have actually done some damage!”
The man cried, “Are you a god? How did you do that? And we saw your flying wagon, also. If you are a god you should tell us so we could honor you!”
“I’m no god any more than Calla is a goddess. I’m a wizard and can do magic that most others can’t. That might make me special, but not a god who should be worshipped!” I walked toward the men so we wouldn’t have to yell, and to put distance between me and the girls, in case I had to fight.
“So you aren’t a god but can fly? And you say it’s because you’re a wizard? Our goddess can fly but claims she’s a goddess. How do you explain that?”
“It’s simple. She is an evil liar.”
Five spears took to the air at that comment, but I had anticipated that. They went careening off my shield in five different directions. The painted man cried, “And our weapons don’t hurt you, so you must be a god!”
I chuckled and shook my head. “What is it going to take for me to convince you people that I’m just a man and Calla is just a woman? When my father met Calla many years ago, she was just a scared villager. She used her magic and the people who saw it thought she was their deity. I guess she’s been playing goddess ever since.”
“All right, I’ll believe you’re a man. But the Goddess brings the pillars of fire that only the Goddess can command.”
“You mean like this?” I cast and held flamestrike pillars on both sides of me, causing them to travel around me in a circle before extinguishing them. Then I had to shout, “Get up, people! We have already established that I am a man! Why would you bow to and worship a man? Now I‘ve shown you something that Calla can do. You,” I indicated the spokesman, “come here and let me show you something.”
The man approached within ten feet and stopped. “This is as close as I come. What do you want me to see?”
Very slowly, to avoid startling the jumpy man, I drew my dagger. I drew the razor-sharp edge across the palm of my left hand and said, “You bowed to me as you would a god, but does a god bleed?” I held my hand over my head so the entire group could see the blood run down my arm.
The spokesman stated, “A god doesn’t bleed, but a man doesn’t control fire.”
“Obviously a man, and a woman for that matter, can control fire. You’ve seen it yourself.”
He stood and stared at me for the longest time, and then turned toward his fellow townsfolk and declared, “We’ve been deceived! Calla isn’t a goddess, but a master trickster!” He turned to me, “The girl can return if she would like. I’ll promise her my protection.”
I looked back toward the tent where Star and Salma had their heads stuck through the flap. Salma shook her head and I turned back to the spokesman. “The girl would like to stay with my wife and me. I hope if you see Calla again that you’ll let her know that James, David’s son, is looking for her. Be careful with her, because she is crazy and could be a very dangerous person.”
“Thank you for showing us our folly, James. Be safe on the road and beware of other cities under Calla’s control.”
I walked back to the camp and then watched them reverse their course and start for home.
Star ordered, “James, you need to fix your hand.”
I looked and I was still dripping blood. Chuckling, I started the healing magic, and Star grabbed my hand so she and Salma could watch the cut heal. Wiping away the excess blood, she smiled at me, then said, “You protected our new consort without knowing she had accepted. I knew you were a good man. I also know that you control spells and powers that terrify me!”
I took her in my arms, looked toward Salma and pulled her to me, too. You two are both my family now and should never fear anything I can do. My magic will be used to help and protect us, never to harm anyone. Not even Moonbeam.
They both giggled and a bit of the blush from my proximity faded from Salma. As we were packing up, I asked Salma if she had been taught everything being a consort involved. She nodded and blushed, and I reminded her that I was a newlywed. I would respect her wishes if she ever chose to consummate our relationship, but it would be entirely up to her. She thanked me for not rushing her and promised that if or when she developed feelings for me, she would discuss it with Star. She said she would feel more comfortable doing that than approaching me herself.
We started back down the road and I asked Salma what the next town in our journey would be. She replied that we’d come to the town of Siaca if we continued west. She warned that she had heard the town was another follower of Calla and could cause us trouble as unbelievers. I laughed and threatened that I’d just call Alba again if they messed with us. She is very protective of her nephew. The girls didn’t think my humor was funny when they considered that it would only be me or Alba and me against an entire town. I promised that I’d be careful and watch out for myself as well as them, and that consoled them.
Star and Salma chatted while I drove and daydreamed. I could tell by their friendly banter that they were becoming close friends. A spouse and the consorts of a family rarely become close friends and it was good to see the relationship develop between them. My mother cared deeply for our family’s consorts and the relationship was often commented on. It made for a wonderful environment growing up.
For five uneventful days we traveled west, and our supplies were beginning to run a bit low. I’d hoped to restock at the last town but our plans had been changed for us. I was beginning to think that our tour of Sabia would be coming to an end if we didn’t locate a friendly town soon. I’d been thinking a lot about the pixies in No Man’s Land and Star’s claim that I was teasing her about them. Perhaps I could get Aunt Alba to get me close to where they lived and I could introduce my wife. But that was in the future and the future is ever changing.
Salma had just said that the city of Siaca should be over the rise in front of us when there was the ‘crack’ of a multi-person recall. I instantly had a dome shield covering us and jumped from the wagon. I saw Calla floating ten feet above the road with dozens of her white face-painted followers behind her. I looked up at Star and asked her to quickly write Alba and ask for Gwen and Della; it looked like we needed assistance. She started digging in my pack for my writing tools.
I walked forward and greeted, “Good afternoon, Calla. I didn’t expect to find any other wizards here in this place.”
She laughed. “I used to be a wizard, b
ut I’m a goddess now. I have followers all over that do my bidding with no questions asked. I have more followers than David has consorts. But since I see you aren’t David, as I’d thought, who are you?”
“We’ve actually met before, many years ago. I’m James, David’s oldest son. Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, I must request that you stop using your powers the way you have been. You need to admit to these people that you’re just a woman and quit killing young girls for whatever manner of sick pleasure.”
She grinned evilly. “But my virgin sacrifices are quite popular with the followers. It is the type of thing they expect from a deity and so I give them what they want. I just serve the people, as your father did.”
Star reported quietly, “James, by the wagon, behind you.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the roll of parchment on the ground. I focused quickly, found Alba on the target range and had the letter appear in the air before her and drop to the ground. I released my focus when I saw her pick it up. I spoke to Calla, “So you have them select a girl just before the sacrifice? How do you get the parents to submit to the fact that you’re killing their child?”
She tittered insanely. “We often keep a couple of them locked up in my temple in Siaca for extra offerings, but the parents are usually eliminated. I levitate them a few thousand feet into the air and let them fall on the top of my temple. It makes everyone more cooperative.”
I focused on Calla and sensed her recall could be negated, but I’d need the other psi users I’d called for to be able to totally strip her. With her recall gone, I could hold her here without much trouble. Sending out an energy wave, I killed her ability to escape.
Calla taunted, “What are you trying to do, little man? Do you actually want to challenge a goddess to a magical duel? It wouldn’t be wise, and be assured we will use the girls with you for our next sacrifice. I wouldn’t tell the people the blonde isn’t a virgin.”
I was a bit impressed, but I guess she had developed the ability to pick out a virgin as part of her goddess routine. I said, “I would prefer not to fight. If you know my father as well as you claim, you’d know that he also avoids violence whenever he can. I’d much rather you come clean with these misguided people and let them live their lives without the dumb concept of deity controlling them.”
James, The Crown Prince Page 5