Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  “That’s it for today kids!” Cage called out a few minutes after. “You all did wonderfully today and I expect such dedication when you come to my home in three days. Practice these moves with an adult always present and any challenges will not be allowed until the tribe settles. You know what will happen if I hear you’ve disobeyed me. Now go cool off with a swim.”

  Most of the children immediately charged for the water. “Daku, will you play again?!” Rena shouted when a small group converged on her, all asking for her to do it.

  Daku grinned before running around everyone while growing. He snapped his wings out, grabbed the whole group of cubs and glided to the water where he dumped them. They surfaced with a laugh and he dove beneath to play with them, acting just like they were.

  Cage approached the large group of deadly women and Meeka gasped as she saw blood on his hip. He followed her eyes and wiped the evidence away. “Don’t worry, Daku and I had a fight earlier.”

  “How bad?” She asked.

  Lanna answered directly. “Bad… Chief lost most of his face from a swipe of Daku, but Daku had a piece of his throat ripped out by Chief’s own hand. It was another fierce fight.”

  Meeka blinked and stepped closer. Up close she found four jagged lines of new pink skin from a nasty swipe to his handsome face. “But you look like nothing happened…”

  “I’m getting better at healing.” He replied simply before grinning. “I’ve been itching for a fight since I kicked off the sailors and didn’t put one worthwhile up. Daku’s the only one I can really cut loose on. Not only can he take it, he can kick my ass right back. We had a quick match before Brooke helped me wake the children.”

  “Well… who won?” Meeka asked.

  “Daku did.” She wasn’t expecting that answer since she had never seen her mate lose a fight before. “His claws cut right through my eyes, blinding me. Before I could recover he knocked me down and held my throat in his sharp beak.”

  “Sounds brutal.” She murmured.

  “More like exciting.” He chuckled happily.

  “I’m afraid they might kill each other one day.” Brooke grimly stated.

  “He won’t go that far. Daku knows he cannot die, but holds back just enough to keep from going that far. He’s as disciplined as I am, if not more.” His eyes turned when he noticed Megdline stepping out of a tent with Frill. “I’ll see you two later. I’m going to make a week’s worth of food for everyone.”

  He went to leave and grab his pack filled with seeds. Meeka stopped him, asking “How are the others who are scouting the island? Have you checked on them?”

  “Yep. Everyone is fine and healthy… Have fun!” he kissed Meeka on the forehead and Brooke on the cheek before rushing off into the woods after his mentor.

  “Care to swim, Meeka Love?”

  “I was about to suggest the same.” Meeka took off her knife as Brooke did likewise with her tomahawks. Then they held each other’s hand and ran to the water to frolic like the children.

  Throughout the day Cage sat with his legs crossed in the dirt. He and Megdline chose a place with a nearby running stream with fertile ground. He used his hands earlier to dig a channel for simple irrigation. With the ground before him well saturated he began using his mana to rapidly grow plants. He did the spell under constant supervision, feeling his teacher sense his work and methods with her own magic, but not aiding the rapid growth. After a few runs, harvesting about fifty pounds of corn and wheat Megdline gave subtle comments and opinions which really benefitted. He learned how to rapidly grow twelve edible plants of the same type every three minutes. He struggled greatly with three different varieties and she said that is usual for beginners and would get easier over time. She explained she can do twelve different plants simultaneously, but it had taken nearly two decades to reach such a level. For same plants she can grow eighty simultaneously.

  He didn’t believe it till she proved him dead wrong. In less than two minutes his teacher grew enough corn to feed twenty families. He was so stunned he couldn’t speak. She smugly grinned to further prove herself more capable.

  In late afternoon he had a large pile of corn, wheat, squash, potatoes and strawberries. The pile stood nearly as tall as himself. “This should do nicely.” Megdline stated. “Cage, we aren’t far from the village. Use a spell to levitate these supplies for me.”

  He didn’t question, simply did.

  Soon he and his teacher stepped from the forest and floating behind was a week’s worth of fresh vegetables. Every villager marveled at the bounty brought for them. Many said words of thanks, seeing their worry for winter vanish in light of what had taken half a day to grow. Even Daku stood impressed.

  “Listen up!” Cage said to the whole group. “Granny, Frill, Daku and I will be going to the waterfall. Daku will keep an eye out for smoke signals if you need me. I’ve had to alter my estimates since Granny helped me figure a few things out. I need no less than three days alone to accomplish building my house. In four days I’ll begin teaching fighting lessons again, this time with any adults. Use black smoke if there is great need of me. Otherwise, let me focus.”

  “What about us, Cage?” Meeka asked with uncertainty.

  He smiled kindly. “Brooke’s been wanting to keep you company for a long time. Besides, I want our new home to be a surprise. I also grew you some healing herbs back where we were growing all this food. Just follow our trail, it’ll be hard to miss. You’ll have everything your mother grew back at the house.”

  “Really?” She asked quickly. “When did you have time to find such herbs?”

  “I brought more seeds from Twilight potion makers who use many herbs in their work.” Megdline informed. “But Frill found aloe somewhere and we transplanted it. As a healer you should know well the herbs he grew for you.”

  “Then I’ll use them well. I thank you.” She said, glad he thought to allow her something she was good at doing. “Cage, you better make the best house in all of Vlara or Brooke and I won’t make living together easy.”

  “Where would the fun be in that!” The priestess joked. “I’m expecting something ghastly just so we can punish him for wanting to leave us for three whole days without speaking to us first.”

  “You know what, My Love, I believe you’re right. How should we punish him for not consulting us?”

  Brooke pursed her lips while looking at him and smiled as he instinctively stepped back. “How about we tie him to a tree and make love while he is helpless to come join us?”

  “Not good enough… How about we have him occupied with all the children while he knows we’ll be all alone and can’t do a thing about it because of his duty as chief. I think our children will make sure to make him bored to the point he tries to return and we’re already done.”

  “Brother, you better run.” Zatal commented, barely containing himself from bursting out with a laugh like everyone else.

  “Meeka Mother, we can all bury dad in the sand so he cannot move.”

  “Excellent idea, Rena!” Meeka excitedly replied.

  Someone found it impossible to hold it in and started a chain reaction of laughing. It grew louder as Brooke stalked around the pile of food in an exaggerated manner. “How about we bury him now so he reconsiders.”

  “Cage, get on quick!” Daku shouted with a chuckle. “Your mates are on the hunt. Flee if you wish to live!”

  More laughing erupted, some even fell over as the chief turned tail and ran for dear life before Jumping clear and landing on Daku’s back. The griffin took off before Brooke could catch them and she stuck her tongue out.

  “I will be sure that he makes your new home worth the wait.” Megdline promised Brooke and Meeka. “Come Frill.”

  Frill approached as Megdline conjured a golden oval board of pure magic and began to hover. Sand blew away from it as Frill landed before her feet. The tribe stepped back as she leaned the nose of the board up and flew into the sky after Daku.

  She quickly caught up a
nd slowed to match speed. Megdline then heard Cage yell over “After growing the house and make clothes, I want to do that!”

  “If that is your preference.” Frill yowled back.

  It didn’t take long for them to locate the waterfall in the afternoon light. Megdline landed with a soft step as the spell ended. Daku came to a similar stop. Cage swung himself down and looked over the sheer cliff, down to the paradise below.

  “You prefer oak right?” Megdline asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “For your home.” She clarified. “I remember you saying oak would be a good choice.”

  “Yep.” He said and watched as she pulled out a acorn from a pocket.

  “We will get started immediately. But first I must ask what amenities you will be incorporating, or wish to?”

  “That’s one of the things I questioned many times. On Earth it was common to have little things that can be missed when they aren’t there. I’ve lived on Raliea for a few months and have seen basic living conditions and want a piece of my home brought here.

  “For my house I want no less than five large bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room and a fireplace. Since I’m growing a home I’d like to have running water and a few other things you probably don’t consider.”

  Megdline processed his request silently for a few moments. She eventually gave a nod. “So you want a water system that can have different temperatures… Good, so you at least know of pipe systems. You should know that Twilight tree homes also have flowing water. It is quite simple really. But I must ask, why five bedrooms?”

  “One for my mates and I. One for Sean and Rena. The other two will be if I have guests. Oh, and I’d like to make Daku a room for his own.” He replied.

  “Logical… As a warlock, you will certainly have visitors one day.” Her calm grey eyes turned. “What say you, Daku?”

  “I have no need for a room. I will nest wherever I please. Likely while Cage is occupied I’ll sleep with one of the cubs.” He admitted simply, not really caring either way so long as his partner is happy.

  “Cage, remove a palm quantity amount of the shards you showed me earlier. Before I teach you the proper home growing method you’ll need the crystals ready to regulate the amenities you wish to incorporate into your dwelling.” She watched as he knelt and pulled out the bag from the pack. “May I also have some for my home?” He poured a small pile in her hand and one in his own. “Manipulate the bonds of the shards to fuse them together like you do with wood fibers. Try and make four solid pieces. When we’re done you’ll grow the tree normally into a sapling before placing the gem’s inside the wood so it can be integrated to work the magics you want the home to use.”

  The two mages sat and forced the flecks and slivers to bind into four solid crystals. The power to fuse the surfaces were hundreds of times harder than weaving wood fibers, but in two hours each of them held four crystals, all about a half inch with asymmetrical features.

  They took a break to eat and converse on how he wanted his home’s interior to look. She asked for an illusion so Cage stood and created a realistic, almost tangible layout he imagined. She explained that in growing trees, they couldn’t be shaped quite like those cut and nailed together. She further had him alter the illusion, walking through the illusion and pointing to places he needed to alter. His mind quickly adjusted certain sections until she seemed satisfied. Soon she had him lower the illusion to that of the upper floor and he began to comprehend just why he needed the corrections. It made perfect sense because he was going to live in a living tree, not one cut down and used for lumber.

  Satisfied his layout and imagination would result into a beautiful home, Megdline began teaching him how exactly to grow a home fit for a mage.

  Chapter 7

  “Boat to the north!” Someone shouted in the early evening. The sun’s power over the sky continued to wane behind the mountain as the tribe rushed to the alerting voice.

  Brooke and Meeka shot to their feet and followed around, pass the tents. They found a young huntress pointing to sea with a spear.

  All eyes turned upon the open water to find a sailboat with dirty white sails coming down from the north. Meeka again saw the fortitude of her tribal brothers and sisters as not one expression showed concern, just fierce determination. Weapons weren’t far from being drawn as everyone glared at the three mast sailboat moving just outside the protective reef.

  “Love, do you recognize those colors?” Brooke asked calmly and many members turned to her.

  Meeka didn’t shy away this time as she too glared at the boat. “They hold neither Emroc or Vlaran colors. Emroc prefer green and Vlara usually display a bluish purple. Maybe they are a merchant vessel, a nonaffiliated, personal ship.”

  Brooke considered those words carefully before asking “But why would they be on the east side of our island? This side? Our people told me there were few villages near the beach and Kote’s nearest dock is far to the east and over to the north a bit by a place called Miot. Why would they be so close to here?”

  “Point taken.” She used one of Cage’s responses. “I honestly do not know. Normal trade routes are on the west side of the island, when ships are heading to Hideaway port. Maybe they are curious if word has spread of this place.”

  “What do you want to do, Priestess?” One of the elders asked since Brooke became leader in Cage’s absence.

  “Five warriors, get a horse and keep an eye on them.” She ordered, knowing what was needed for the safety of her people. “Make sure they see you and show they are not welcome here. They are too far out at sea to fire a warning arrow. Return as soon as they leave.” Five warriors hurriedly rushed off to gather a small bag and filled it with food before running and mounting a horse to be able to match the boat’s speed.

  “What of the chieftain? Should he be informed?” Another asked.

  “Not unless they prove to be hostile or try anything suspicious. He said not to interrupt him unless it is an emergency. At the moment, it isn’t.”

  Meeka noticed all the children had disappeared for the trees while every adult stood ready as the boat came around one pillar silently and then the second in its way south. Nothing could be discerned from the distance between them and the boat, not even if anyone was aboard.

  As it continued, the armed mounted warriors took off and matched the boat’s pace, making it obvious they would follow and could keep up.

  “There’s nothing we can do about it right now. I need to get back to creating a poultice for Zanza’s mate Rin. He needs it before infection sets in.” Meek said.

  On the way back to the tent she and Brooke found the muscular hunter asleep from a tonic she gave him to rest. Meeka knelt by the gash to hear her woman gently ask “How is his side?”

  “The stitching is holding nicely. He shouldn’t have swam so far out if he wasn’t a strong swimmer. At least his wounds serve to tell everyone of the reef’s dangers. I know they are beautiful and are great for hunting fish, but the currents are strong. I cleaned the wound as best I can. At least Cage grew me the necessary herbs to treat a variety of problems.” Meeka then moved over to begin crushing the ingredients in a metal bowl with a good stone that served its purpose well.

  Zanza and her sister-mates also came to sit with him and watch Meeka work and apply the soon finished poultice to his ribcage and bound it securely with a cloth around his chest. Then they allowed him to sleep.

  “Sir, it is clear they mean to follow us.” The captain of the ship stated.

  “I can see the unenlightened savages too.” The former Arch Magister sneered as he lowered the spyglass. “They can do nothing except follow us. We are almost finished with the task, in a few hours we will let them relax in ignorance. I expect you to uphold our agreement.” He put his foot long spyglass to his eye as he watched the five on horseback match the boat’s speed. He saw their pitiful weapons, their unabashed nakedness and overall confident demeanor. He could only see it with his e
yes for no matter how hard he tried, he could not break through the spell hiding everything from magical sight and it infuriated him since he is one of the most powerful living sorcerers in all of the empire and still could not succeed. He knew beyond a doubt the man who ruined his whole life was somewhere hidden within. Bloodlust filled him and his dark mind thought of wondrous tortures he wanted to do before making the man into a ghost to be tortured for all of eternity, never knowing even a moment’s peace. The necromancer had an ideal place to put the soul gem on a mantle in his office.

  His corrupted sense of justice also relished what he’d do to all these savages when he reclaimed his position as the Arch Magister of Eeroan again.

  The captain held his tongue at the frightening looks coming off the pale bearded mage and the lion at his side. He’d been hired late in the night by this mage and two others for the sole purpose of sailing around the old forbidden island now being spoken of as Cage Island, home of a powerful mage. He looked over to see two other dark robed mages secretly doing something with a mound clay covering a whole table. He wondered what it was all about till it began to appear like a small, detailed version of the island. The two sat unblinking, like whatever they saw transposed itself into the clay. Worst of all were their huge, disconcerting eyes that were unnaturally large.

  The former magister seethed in a fury he’d never before experienced, wanting vengeance on the one named Ceembura. He so wanted to charge right in and kill everyone and everything that would dare stand in his way. But his anger didn’t make him stupid or reckless. He had felt the immense power emanating from those black pillars and judging from the power of the barrier obscuring his sight he knew his power alone wasn’t a match. He needed more to take this bastard down.

  Such thoughts ran wild as he watched the savages and how they watched the boat. The former magister had been brought out of his weeklong trance last night by a loyal teacher of his dark arts school and showed how the seeker thread finally pointed in a different direction. His trance search hadn’t been successful because something powerful and intervening blocked the method.