Metal Mage 6

by Eric Vall

  “Damn,” I mused. “That’s incredible.”

  “I like it quite a lot. Everyone underestimates it, until it’s too late. A needle is nothing, really, just a puncture. But a serrated one? That’ll take your innards with it when it goes.” Dragir had a smug grin when I looked over at him. “I recommend aiming for the eye. It is not so entertaining, perhaps, as blowing their faces off, but it is a good use of this particular design.”

  I had to laugh. “I’ll do that.”

  “Good,” he said with a nod. “Now, to explain how this works, I will first say I am not answering any of your questions. Aside from that, you might notice a small rune at the base and--”

  “As long as I keep my hand on the hilt, I won’t bleed out, but I’ll still be injured.”

  Dragir frowned. “How do you know this?”

  I sent him a sheepish grin. “Deya told me?”

  The elf looked at the ceiling and sighed. Then he turned his back on me, and the conversation ceased until the others arrived.

  When Deya trotted into Dragir’s home with the three women, their eyes immediately went wide as they noticed the pile of weapons laid out on the table.

  Dragir eyed their own weapons as they stacked them on the chairs, and he came to join us at the table as well.

  Then Deya hopped up into my arms for a kiss, and her brother was having none of it.

  Whatever was said between the two, I was grateful it was in Elvish. There was a lot of gesturing toward the windows, and Deya sighed more than a few times. All the same, the beautiful elf let go of me to drop back to the ground, and Dragir shook his head when it was all over.

  “I know you all have your own weapons,” he started as he turned back to the table, “but my father insists you each carry a few of ours in case they are needed. You are aware of how this rune works I believe?”

  Deya blushed and shifted so she was out of his line of sight, and the three women nodded.

  “I don’t get how the coin is different, though,” Aurora mused as she eyed the hilt of her own Halcyan dagger. “Which one heals you again?”

  Dragir immediately started up in Elvish once more, but his sister jumped forward.

  “It’s not so much,” Deya insisted, “I only told them about the blades, I swear. And the necklaces … and the coin. But nothing else.”

  Dragir glanced at me, and I figured it was best if I looked anywhere else since I really couldn’t lie to him very well.

  He swiftly changed the subject.

  “You and father are leaving for the coast in thirty minutes,” Dragir informed her. “See that he is ready, he’s stalling on purpose.”

  “You know it’s hard for him to return there,” Deya said quietly. “Be patient with him.”

  “There is no time for patience, he will not be safe here,” Dragir countered. “Help him, you must both be ready soon.”

  “Of course,” Deya replied, but she looped her hand in mine. “I only need to speak with Mason for a moment first.”

  Dragir nodded. “Keep an eye out for the guards,” he warned before he turned back to the women to explain the difference between the coin and the Halcyan blades.

  I glanced back before Deya pulled me out the door and saw Dragir hold out his hand for Aurora’s dagger.

  The half-elf handed it over, and he studied it for less than two seconds before he tossed it into the empty fireplace.

  “It’s fake,” Dragir told her. “Use this one instead.”

  “Your brother’s a good guy,” I chuckled as Deya pulled me toward the blackened woods behind Dragir’s house.

  “He is,” she agreed. She didn’t say anything else until we’d walked for a while into the trees, and by the time she stopped, I realized she was taking me out of earshot.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked while Deya scanned the trees around us.

  “Will you do something for me?” she asked hastily.

  I grinned. “Right here?”

  “Not sex,” she said with a smirk. “I need you to look out for Dragir.”

  I furrowed my brows. “He’s probably about sixty years older than me, and he has his own army,” I pointed out. “He doesn’t need me looking out for him, Deya.”

  “The girls told me they fought the elves of House Syru once before, and they told me what they were like,” she said, and her arms were already trembling again. “Dragir has never fought elves possessed in this way. They sound hideous, and he does not have your weapons.”

  I rubbed her arms and pulled her closer. “You have to trust your brother, he’ll be fine.”

  “And if he’s not?” Deya countered. “Would you help him? Please?”

  I nodded. “Of course I would, I’m not going to let your brother die out there if I can do something about it. But I can’t promise you he’ll be safe, that’s part of the job. We’ll both do all that we can, this is all I can promise.”

  Deya’s lip began to quiver. “I don’t want either of you to do this.”

  I grinned and wrapped my arms around her. “You’re a lot like your father, you know that?” I chuckled. “You need to relax. Did Cayla and the others tell you we won against those elves from House Syru?”

  She nodded against my chest.

  “And you already know Aurora’s gonna burn half of them alive,” I added for good measure.

  Deya chuckled, and when she pulled away, I wiped the last few tears from her cheeks.

  “I’ll do anything I can,” I told her simply. “I won’t make a promise to you that I can’t keep, though. Dragir and I both have a lot of experience killing things, and no intention of dying. Can you trust that?”

  She sighed and nodded, and I lifted her from the ground. Deya wrapped her arms around my neck to kiss me, and I could feel the heat of her flesh building as her lips moved more passionately. I stumbled a few steps to pin her gently against a tree, and the beautiful elf curled her legs around me as she began to tremble again.

  Then Deya whipped her head to the side and disappeared.

  I dropped my arms back to my side as I sensed that she had gone, and I turned to see two dogs and a guard of House Quyn patrolling the woods close by. He caught sight of me and froze, and I nodded.

  “Getting some air,” I explained.

  The guard looked suspicious, but he continued past me on his patrol.

  I headed back toward Dragir’s house and was nearly to the road when Deya flickered into sight beside me and looped her hand in mine.

  She sent me a little smile. “Sorry about that.”

  I grinned back, and we came to a stop outside Dragir’s door. “Get your father ready, you two really shouldn’t be around when things start up,” I told her and brushed a strand of pink hair from her face. “You shock too easy.”

  Deya rolled her eyes, but she sent me a sweet smile. “I’ll get used to it.”

  “We’ll see about that,” I teased. “This will be a good practice run.”

  Deya was about to kiss me, when someone cleared their throat inside, and she quickly slid past to head back down the road toward the main house.

  I caught her elbow at the last second and gently shifted the silk on her shoulder.

  “Keep this here,” I muttered once the bite mark was hidden again, and Deya giggled before she disappeared into the night air.

  When I ducked back into the hut, Dragir sent me a stern glance, and I eyed the three guards who had arrived while I was gone with Deya. I didn’t know if he’d done it on purpose, but Dragir was planted directly between the guards and Aurora, and I was grateful for it because they seemed incapable of keeping their disgusted looks to themselves.

  I came over and slid my arm around Aurora’s waist. “Where are we at?” I asked Dragir.

  There was a map of House Quyn’s lands laid out on the table, and my women were finishing strapping their new weapons on.

  “We are considering the terrain,” Dragir replied. “I think it would do to use the main house if we can since it has the old battlem
ent along the top. It’s a little crumbled now, but it provides a good view across the river.”

  “Is it sturdy enough to stand on?” I asked.

  Dragir nodded.

  “Cayla,” I said as I looked to the princess, “how about you and Shoshanne stake out on the battlement? Use your rifles and your bows. I’ll send any arrows back to you if I possibly can, but use your shuriken to help the guards out as well, and suffocate as many as possible.”

  Shoshanne and Cayla nodded diligently, and Aurora pulled her own rifle from her back.

  “Here,” she said and handed it over to Cayla. “Take mine as well.”

  “Are you sure?” Cayla asked.

  “Of course,” the half-elf nodded. “I do best with my flames and a sword. You’re the crackshot.”

  The princess grinned and looped the extra rifle across her back.

  “Aurora and I will work our way through the jungles with your troops,” I told Dragir. “Look out for the ground. It’ll be changing a bit. Aurora’s aim is unparalleled, though, so you should be fine.”

  Dragir nodded. “That leaves the north and south woods,” he said as he gestured to the map and spoke to his guards. “These three X’s are your troops of ten. Take the north. Find Helek and Rhys to take the south. I’ll bring my own troop to fill in the break, and the dogs will be given full reign.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Rhys is fighting with us?” I clarified. “From House Fehryn?”

  “Yes,” Dragir said as he folded the map. “He can only offer twenty of his elves, but they’re armed with your weapons, which should give us a decent advantage and better numbers.”

  I nodded. “I didn’t realize your Houses were allies.”

  Dragir’s guards left with their orders, and I pulled a glaive and another blade from the table to secure them to my back and waist.

  “Rhys has a good army,” Dragir said as he drained his goblet one last time, “and he isn’t a back stabber. That is about as allied as we get in the south.”

  I snorted. “Good enough for me.”

  Shoshanne and Cayla were divvying up arrows while Aurora studied the Halcyan blade she’d chosen, and I grinned.

  “Serrated this time?” I asked the Ignis Mage. “Good call.”

  Aurora nodded and admired the glint of the blade in the torchlight. “It’s perfect,” she mused. “Look at the curve of the tip.”

  “My grandfather made that one,” Dragir told her. “House Natyr had it for ages, but I got it back.”

  He reached out for the sword, and Aurora was just passing it over when a guard suddenly burst into the room. Despite the guard’s haste, he still managed to pause and glare between Dragir and Aurora.

  The blade dropped to the table, and Dragir took a few steps back from the half-elf.

  “What is it?” he demanded of the elf in the doorway.

  The guard narrowed his eyes. “House Syru are headed south,” he said coldly. “They were spotted only a league from here.” Then the guard left without waiting for a word from his leader.

  I could see the muscles in Dragir’s jaw lock, and he muttered to himself in Elvish as he swiftly secured his own weapons.

  Aurora took the blade from the table, but she looked a little hurt over the sudden change in Deya’s brother.

  “What about Deya and Qiran?” I asked him. “Is there still time?”

  The elf thought carefully. “They can make it away, the coast is a little less than a league from here, but I cannot take them now. I must stay with my troops.”

  “I’ll take them,” I said, but Cayla stepped forward.

  “No, I will take them,” she insisted. “Your powers are needed here, and I’m well armed. I’ll see to it that they make it to the coast safely and return as quickly as possible. I can sneak onto the battlement from the village path without anyone seeing me.”

  I pulled the princess into my arms. “Are you sure? I don’t like the idea of you going through the jungle alone.”

  Cayla grinned and shifted the straps of the two rifles that crossed her back. “Don’t you think I can handle myself?” she asked.

  I cocked a brow. “I know you can.”

  “Good,” she purred and brushed her lips against mine before she turned to Dragir.

  He nodded his consent and made for the doors. “They’ll be in the main house. You must leave immediately.”

  Before we all left the room, though, Dragir suddenly stopped and addressed Aurora.

  “Forgive me,” he said. “Mason Flynt can explain my conduct when he sees fit.” Then he quickly headed into the night.

  I looped my hand in Aurora’s as we all headed back through the warrior’s village, and the elves were in constant motion all around us. Dogs yipped and snapped at one another as the energy in the air began to rise, and warriors began to gather in tens.

  Through the crowd, I thought I caught a glimpse of Rhys’ green braids, but we were jogging too quickly for me to be sure. I saw several elves with magazine bows strapped to their backs as we went, though, and I was more than glad I’d armed House Fehryn weeks ago. If they were the only House in the south who would defend another, then it was well worth it.

  We quickly wove along the blackened path to come out at the edge of House Quyn, and the blaze of torchlight briefly blinded me. The armies had begun to assemble in the clearing at the front of the main house, and Ruela prowled amongst them with her hackles stock straight and her teeth barred. Dragir pulled the doors open for us, and we filed into the dim house and headed for the glowing sitting room.

  We found Deya speaking urgently with her father, but the elf only shook his head.

  Dragir brushed past us and spoke in Elvish, and his tone was harsh and commanding toward his father.

  Qiran shook his head again. “I wish to remain as I am. I will not return to that place.”

  Deya pleaded, and Dragir ordered him once more, but just before he reached to wrench the old elf right out of his seat, I stepped forward and dug through my pocket.

  “Qiran,” I said and came to his side. “I have something I need you to do.”

  The elf eyed me suspiciously, and I pulled a pile of folded parchment from my pocket.

  “I can’t let anything happen to these,” I explained, and I placed them in his lap. “If House Syru or Kylen get them, we’ll all be ruined. Take them with you to the sea, and guard them well. Can you do this?”

  Qiran furrowed his brow and slowly unfolded a slip of parchment.

  Then he clutched at his chest as his face went slack with shock.

  “Where … where did you get these?” he gasped and stared at the ancient elven scrolls.

  “The head of House Syru had them.”

  Qiran flushed with fury. “That viper,” he hissed.

  I nodded. “They cannot end up in our enemy’s hands again,” I insisted, and I carefully took the old elf by the arm. To my surprise, he stood without arguing and gathered the pile of parchment close to his chest. “Take them with you to the sea, and don’t let anything happen to them.”

  Qiran nodded at the order. “They cannot be found,” he agreed. “I will make sure of this. Deya, are you ready to leave?”

  The beautiful elf was staring at me, but she blinked and looked away. “Yes, father.”

  Dragir swiftly headed for the hall with Cayla close behind, and as the father hastily followed them, Deya pulled me to her.

  She bit hungrily at my lip and delved her tongue into my mouth, and my blood immediately began to burn with the beautiful elf clawing to hold me against her.

  I gasped for air when she finally released me.

  “I love you,” Deya whispered, and her violet eyes shone in the candlelight as she said it. The pink blush on her cheeks deepened, and she sent me a glittering smile.

  “Holy shit,” I muttered. Deya looked more like the goddess than I’d ever noticed before, and the curl of her lips had a slightly mischievous twist to it that made me instinctively tighten my hold on her slender
waist.

  Aurora snorted. “He means I love you, too,” she offered, and I snapped out of my daze.

  “Sorry,” I chuckled as I looked into the beautiful elf’s eyes. “I love you, too.”

  Deya lightly bit her lip as her smile spread even wider, but before I could blink, she suddenly vanished, and my arms dropped around nothing.

  Then Qiran leaned around the door with his brow creased with worry. “Where is Deya?” he asked and looked around the sitting room.

  “Right here,” Deya called from the hall at his back.

  The leader smiled his relief and turned to leave, and I raised my brows.

  “You’re cute when you’re speechless,” Aurora informed me as she slipped her arm around mine and eyed the empty doorway.

  I finally let out my breath. “I’m gonna get myself killed over that girl.”

  Shoshanne giggled. “Don’t worry, we’ll watch your back.”

  I turned to find the healer already had her bow in hand, and when I looked down, Aurora’s flames curled softly around her fingertips.

  “Ready to kill some elves?” she asked with a devilish grin.

  Chapter 20

  The troops were just starting to disperse when we left the main house. The night air had cooled considerably, and the fog seemed to have become denser in the short time since we’d arrived. Far off beyond the willowish trees, I could hear the waterfall and the river coursing wildly, and the crescent moon provided only the faintest light from the canopy above.

  Most of the torches had been extinguished except for a few that illuminated the troops around Dragir, and I furrowed my brow as another torch was doused.

  “Wouldn’t light be considered useful?” I mumbled to Aurora.

  The half-elf shrugged. “I can see fine, but my eyes are at least five times sharper than yours,” she pointed out. “The torches would probably be cumbersome and useless in battle for the elves.”

  I considered this while I eyed the blackened jungle.

  “Yeah … I can’t see for shit,” I chuckled. “This should be interesting.”