Is It Magic? Chapter Five

 

CHAPTER 5

 

“Your timing sucks, Relath.” K’Jon’s voice was loud and rumbly, sending a little shiver through Relath. Making K’Jon mad had been a favorite pastime for Relath when he was younger, but this was the first time he truly felt the dragon’s fury. “But it always does. What do you want?”

Relath stepped forward, but before he could talk, K’Jon raised his hand.

“I’m warning you, little one, it had better be something big, because I will take great joy in turning your bare bottom over my knee if it isn’t!”

“Um… No. No you won’t.” Khat stepped into the clearing and made his presence known. “No one touches Relath’s bare ass but me.” He moved to stand in front of Relath, putting himself between K’Jon and Relath.

K’Jon chuckled as he looked Khat up and down. “Well. What do we have here? You find your mate, Relath?”

Relath pushed back to stand beside Khat. “Shut up, K’Jon, you idiot.”

Khat narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow as he turned to Relath for a moment. “Mate?”

“Of course.” K’Jon came forward and extended his hand to Khat. “Name is K’Jon Caro. You are?”

“Khat Warmark. Sheriff Khat Warmark.”

“Sheriff?” K’Jon’s dark eyes went quickly back to Relath. “Forgive me for being skeptical but, your mate is a sheriff?”

“What’s this mate business, Relath?”

“It’s fine, K’Jon. He’s a convert.” He waved Khat off. “Pay no attention to K’Jon. He’s always thinking just because he gets mated every hundred years or so, he thinks everyone has to get mated. Plus”—Relath winked at K’Jon, who was now frowning—“my news is big. I think the king might be a dragon shifter, just like you.”

K’Jon looked startled for a moment, then he turned back to Khat, gave his hand one hard pump and let go. “Good to meet you, Sheriff. Sorry for being – well – naked. I was… Let’s just say I was busy.” He chuckled again and looked at Relath. “So tell me, Relath. What could possibly make you think the king is a dragon shifter?”

“We just learned he sucks power from wizards. That’s why he made it illegal. He’s weeding out the true wizards. He has them brought to the castle and he takes their power and then has them killed.”

K’Jon narrowed his eyes and his gaze went back to Khat, who was holding out the shirt he had been wearing a moment ago. Evidently he wasn’t happy with K’Jon being completely naked. Relath sucked in his breath at the sight of Khat’s beautiful abs and stomach, and his member jumped. K’Jon smirked at Khat as he took the shirt. He dipped his head as if in gratitude, but they all three knew the reason for Khat to offer to cover K’Jon’s nakedness.

“Thank you, Sheriff. I was feeling a bit of a draft.” K’Jon donned the shirt and addressed them both. “The king is not a dragon, nor is he a wizard.” He held up a hand for silence as Relath jerked forward and opened his mouth to interrupt. “I can guarantee it. I have been in his company, although he was blissfully unaware. I would have detected such magic, but I did not. He is neither.”

“Then what, K’Jon? How is it that he can do what they say?” Khat came to stand beside Relath, and Relath put a hand on Khat’s chest, splaying his fingers in the fine dark hair.

“There is another breed of magic. An older, deeper, ancient form of magic. Something I believed was extinct. It’s called Mot-taka.”

“Mot-taka? I’ve never heard of it.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. It was believed to have disappeared during the Siege of Eight Depths over five hundred years ago. Their lore was never sung so their stories did not carry forward. Once those who used it were gone, their existence was forgotten about by all beings except the dragons, who live far longer than all other beings. Even I have not thought of it in ages.”

“So, what is it?”

“The closest guess is the magic can mirror the power of an opponent, or possibly a companion as well. Those that possess this magic and dare to use it would basically take on the other’s power. So if their opponent is a strong man, they will become equally as strong. If their opponent is a wizard, even a powerful one, they are able to display the same power.”

“And if they oppose a dragon?”

“Don’t know, little one. As far as I know, it’s never happened. But like I said, I’m only guessing.”

“Why do you think the king might be that instead?”

“I would know if he were anything else magical and one would have to be magical in order to do what he is supposed to do. One of the other traits of this Mot-taka magic is the user cannot be detected due to the very nature of the talent. But again, speculation.”

“But can a Mot-taka absorb or steal power away?”

“I’m not sure. But I would bet a powerful one could.”

“If that’s the case, what do we do?”

“We do nothing. I will handle this, Relath. Isn’t that why you called me?” He looked to the silent, half naked Khat. “Besides, don’t you have other interests right now?”

Suddenly there was a noise, a popping sound, and a large net dropped over the three standing in the clearing. It was large enough to completely cover them and even drape on the ground around them. The net sparkled a little when it hit them and the tingling returned to Relath’s limbs.

“No! It can’t be! Damn it, K’Jon, do something!”

“What…what is this, Relath? Why…”

Relath watched as K’Jon struggled to lift the heavy thick netting off himself, just as Relath did the same, but unlike the sack from before, Relath soon realized the net had one further spell cast on it. Evidently the net not only bound magic power, but physical power as well. Relath looked at Khat, who was making no more headway with lifting the net than he or K’Jon. Then came the voice he had been dreading.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here, now? Not only do I catch a filthy little rat but a huge one as well. Struggle all you want, dragon. You won’t escape.” The colonel walked up to Khat and put his face right up to Khat’s nose. “And looks like I caught myself a pet.” He leaned back and laughed. “Men, get Sheriff Khat out from under that thing before it takes all his strength. I have use of him, and for that he will need lots of energy.”

Relath sank to the ground, his legs no longer able to hold him, as two soldiers walked over and lifted a portion of the net to pull Khat out. Relath’s heart plummeted because he would not be able to save him. The colonel promised to use magic to make Khat comply with his wishes, to force Khat to do his will. He noticed that even K’Jon sat as well. Once again things were looking hopeless.

He could do nothing but watch the colonel approach Khat, do his stupid walk around to admire that beautiful, now half naked body. He could only seethe as the colonel put a hand on Khat’s chest, tweaking one, then the other nipple, something Relath had not even done yet. Oh, how Relath wanted to turn the colonel into a withering blink toad with no eyes, a copper curse spider with no legs, or a bearded sucker with no lips. They were all very ugly creatures with absolutely no redeeming qualities. Much like the sick man himself.

“So, Sheriff, change your mind yet? With the wizard under that net he no longer has any influence over you.”

Relath wished he had the strength to laugh when Khat spat in the colonel’s face.

“How dare you?” The colonel wiped the glob away and walked over to where Relath sat and kicked him hard. “How is it he still is smitten with you? Let go of him!”

Relath couldn’t manage a grunt of pain much less a smile at the colonel’s frustration.

“Colonel!” It was Khat’s voice. “Leave him alone! I mean it! If you do I’ll…”

“No, Khat! Don’t do it.” It took everything for Relath to speak those words. His heart was racing at an alarming rate, but he still attempted to rise to his feet. Except the colonel kicked him again and it laid Relath out flat.

“Stop it! Stop it! I’ll do what you want, just leave Relath alone!”

“Please, Khat…” Even to Relath’s ears his voice was pathetic as he sat back up and tried to raise his eyes to look into Khat’s beautiful face. “Don’t.”

Khat was suddenly there, pulling Relath to him, kissing his lips through the netting. “I love you, Relath. I know it doesn’t make sense but I do. I will do anything to save you. Anything!”

Relath was surprised by the intensity of his words and shocked his kisses gave him strength. “Khat!” Oh crap. Is this what he was feeling too? Love? Damn. “I can’t watch you do this! Please.”

Suddenly Khat was pulled away and, with a nearly primal scream, Khat fought his captors. It took four of the colonel’s soldiers to pin the man to the ground.

“Get him up.”

Relath could see the fury on the colonel’s face as he waited for his soldiers to stand Khat up.

“You…love him? Love? What the fuck, Khat? How the hell does he still have power over you?”

“He doesn’t have power over me! Not wizard magic anyway. Love is its own magic. That’s the only influence he has over me.”

“Well, even that will disappear if he’s dead!” The colonel turned back to the two still under the net. “The king will not mind at all if I kill you, Relath. Not when I hand over the dragon!” He raised his right hand and a snapping, flashing blue ball appeared, spinning so fast Relath could even hear the whir. “Time to die, wizard!”

Then the oddest thing happened. Out of the corner of his eye Relath saw, almost in slow motion, Khat pull away from his captors. Khat raised his own hand and a blue whirling ball appeared there as well. Relath turned his head and stared at the phenomena. He knew his mouth dropped open. He looked back to the colonel just in time to see him turn to Khat. Khat threw the ball at the colonel, who ducked but not in time. The ball glanced off his left shoulder, sending him to the ground. The colonel scrambled to his feet and the blue ball he held had transformed into a white ball.

“Khat! What the fucking hell? What are you doing? How… I…I don’t want to kill you. This will put you to sleep until you come to your senses!” He hurled the ball, but it was met halfway with an identical white ball. The explosion shook the ground. But the colonel seemed to have anticipated Khat’s move and had another white ball in his hand. But then so did Khat and he hurled his first. He also hurled it low and then dived to the ground. The white ball the colonel threw slammed into a tree behind Khat and split, hitting several soldiers in the clearing. Every one of them fell to the ground. The ball that Khat threw though went true and smashed into the colonel’s stomach, sending him back at least six feet and laid him out flat out on his back where he stayed.

Khat stood, breathing hard, as he held up an empty hand as if waiting for another ball to appear. When nothing happened he looked at Relath still sitting on the ground. A sound escaped him as he raced to the net and lifted it off both K’Jon and Relath. He helped Relath to his feet.

“Are you all right? Did he hurt you? Here, lean on me.”

“Khat, you…” Crap, he felt as weak as a newborn kitten. “You were using magic again. Care to tell me how?”

Khat shrugged as he looked around the clearing at the few soldiers who were helping their own as opposed to paying any attention to them. No one had gone to the aid of the colonel. Relath watched as the remaining soldiers cast weary glances both in the colonel’s direction and in the direction of the three coming to their feet.

“You okay, K’Jon? I don’t think I have ever experienced you being quiet. Nice for once.”

“Shut up, Relath. What the fuck was that damn net?” He shook as if that would rid him of its effects.

“Don’t know. Evidently created by our wonderful king to trap wizards and, it would seem, dragons. Not a good development.”

“Let’s get out of here.” With those words there was a blinding flash and the sound of thunder as K’Jon shifted to his gorgeous dragon form. “Climb on!”

“I love it when you do that,” Relath said, laughing at the soldiers who hadn’t already taken off into the woods scramble in fear when K’Jon shifted.

But then Relath raised an eyebrow. As long as he had known his friend, K’Jon never once invited Relath to ride on his back. Not once. As a matter of fact, he had never known anyone to have had that privilege. “How exactly do we get up there?”

The dragon grunted as he lowered his neck. “Climb, I said. Hurry up. And watch yourself. My scales are sharp.”

Khat turned wide eyes on Relath. “We’re going to ride on his back? Are you out of your mind? I’m not getting up there! You’re friggin’ nuts!”

“It’s like riding a horse, Khat. You simply use your knees.”

“Use your brain, Relath. Fifty feet up in the air is not like riding a horse!”

“Why do you fight me on everything?”

“Why can’t you give me good news once in a while?”

Relath chuckled. “Come on, big guy. Don’t be afraid. You can ride in front of me. I’ll hold you and make sure you don’t fall.”

A string of swear words came out of Khat’s mouth as he pushed Relath to the side. “I’m not afraid. I just like my feet on the ground!” He vaulted up on the dragon’s neck like a pro and settled in where the neck met the shoulder. He looked back down at Relath, gave a smirk and patted the area right in front of him. “Still room right here.” Then he held a hand out to help Relath up.

K’Jon swung his massive head around to put one of his eyes on Relath. “He kisses you with that mouth?”

Relath winked. “And other things.”

“Ha! Braggart.”

Relath laughed, grabbed Khat’s hand and jumped up, sitting in the spot Khat indicated for him. He snuggled in tight against Khat’s stomach and chest, feeling Khat’s bulge. “Mmmm.” He wiggled his hips.

“Hey!” shouted K’Jon. “None of that! You start something, Relath, I’ll drop you out of the sky.”

The dragon flapped his enormous gossamer wings and lifted straight off the ground.

*          *          *

“Wow, K’Jon. This is incredible.” Both Khat and Relath slipped off of K’Jon’s back when they landed. They were high on top of a tall thin flat top rock. Very clearly the only way to get to the top was to fly. They could see for miles.

With a flash and some loud pops, K’Jon was once again in human form. “Yeah, I like to come up here to think. No interruptions.”

“No, I would imagine not.” Relath continued to turn to take it all in. “You can see forever.”

“Hey!” Khat’s voice boomed. “You’re naked again! Where’s my shirt?”

“Oops. Damn. I should have taken that off before I shifted. Ruin a lot of clothes that way. Sorry.”

“Do you know how much that shirt cost me?”

“Khat, Khat, it’s fine. We can get another one.” Relath took hold of Khat’s arm, rubbed it and slowly moved to Khat’s chest. One by one he tweaked Khat’s nipples, leaning in to give them each a lick and short slurping suck. “Kind of like you without a shirt, though,” he whispered.

“Oh geez, Relath. It’s not wise to do that right now… Oh!”

“Knock it off, you two, or I’ll leave you up here.”

Khat gently pushed Relath back and kissed him once on the lips. Putting an arm around Relath they turned to K’Jon. “So, what now?”

“Tell me what happened. How did you find out about the king?”

“Oh, that? It’s actually a pretty interesting story. You know I was chasing after another smelly Angel Walker. Finally angered it enough for it to show itself. Did you know those damn things explode if they ingest water?”

K’Jon burst out laughing. “Leave it to you to discover that!”

“Yeah, they explode and burn like a bitch. Ruined my shirt, too.” He showed the dragon the holes where the saliva had been.

“Sounds like a big show.”

“Well, I guess, but the colonel was already there at that point. I was actually turned in for being kind of obvious with an old alchemist.”

“Turned in?”

“Oh. Not by Khat. Seems the new alchemist in town didn’t like me curing people he couldn’t. But I don’t think that was the only reason I got turned in.” He pushed on Khat. “Turns out…” He leaned in close to K’Jon. “Seems my mate has a very colorful past,” he mumbled under his breath, although he knew Khat heard him. “Leaving a trail of broken hearts. Hope I’m not just…another notch in his belt.” He sighed, feigning great pain, and bowed his head. “I wouldn’t know what to do.”

K’Jon chuckled. “It’s tough. Real though. I feel for you, Relath.”

“Hey now! Stop talking about me like I’m not even here! And I don’t have a colorful past! How about you, Relath? I’m not your first. Let’s talk about your past.”

Both K’Jon and Relath gazed at Khat, K’Jon nodding his head. “No question, he’s crabby but he’s very pretty, exactly your type, too. I’m thinking that’s lucky. You should have seen some of the mates the spirits lined me up with.” He whistled low. “Unpleasant. But your Khat? Nice.”

Relath grinned at both K’Jon’s words and the look on Khat’s face. “Yeah, I’ll keep him.” Suddenly Relath remembered something. “Wait a minute! As long as we’re talking about what happened back there, we need to talk about how it is you made those energy balls.”

“Um…I don’t really know. I was so scared that idiot was going to kill you, the ball was just there, and somehow I knew what to do with it. And then they just kept coming. Then all of a sudden…they just quit.”

K’Jon was nodding. “You lost the ability to make the balls when the colonel went down.”

“The colonel? What does he have to do with it?”

“He was the one you were mirroring. Relath, I believe we are in the presence of a Mot-taka.”

Relath narrowed his eyes at that statement. “Yeah. That would actually explain a few things, like you being able to make monsters out of the dirty pond water.”

Khat looked at both Relath and K’Jon. “You mean to tell me I have magic powers?”

“Well,” K’Jon said, “you can mirror magic powers.”

Khat smirked. “So if Relath decides to send me sailing again, I can do the same to him?”

K’Jon nodded, chuckling. “Probably.”

“Good.” He turned to Relath. “Very good.”

Relath turned toward Khat and looked up into his face. “You know, Khat, there’s other things to mirror than just magic power.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Mmmmmm.” Relath palmed his suddenly stiff cock. “Mirror this.”

Khat choked but more from watching Relath jut his hips forward, lick his lips and rub himself. “Damn it, Relath.”

“That’s it. I’m leaving you guys.” K’Jon turned and walked to the center of the rock, the air snapping around him.

Relath ran to him, laughing. “Stop! Don’t. I’ll behave, K’Jon, I promise.”

“That’s a promise you have no intention or ability to keep.”

“Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Come on. I’ve never had a mate before. It’s driving me crazy.”

K’Jon sighed. “Fine. Even though I don’t believe a word you say.” He tried to keep a stern look on his face, but Relath knew it would never last. Finally he smirked. “We should get going anyway. Come on. Get on. I’ll take us down.”

*          *          *

They arrived on the ground just outside a small village, but K’Jon did not shift back to his human form.

“Hey, K’Jon. Where are you going?”

“To the place I obviously need to be, close to the castle. I knew the king was up to something. With this new information, I now know what. I have no idea yet what his ultimate goal is but someone has to stop him.”

“How? What are you going to do?”

“Not sure right now. But I’ll come up with something.”

“We’ll come with you.”

“No, Relath. You will not come with me. You’ve done enough for a while. Just…just enjoy your man.”

Relath turned a beaming smile on Khat, who smiled right back, making a kissing motion in the air at him.

“The honeymoon stage is so fucking irritating.” K’Jon rolled his enormous eyes, then chuckled.

“Really, K’Jon? You don’t want us to come along? With Khat’s newfound abilities maybe we can be helpful.”

“Fuck, no! There is no way I am going to put up with the two of you always making eyes and cooing at each other.” The dragon shivered, his scales making a deep rustling sound, but then he winked a big purple eye. “Really, little one. Enjoy life for a bit. Too often a person doesn’t get to when real life shows up. And it will. So take a break. Now promise me.”

“Promise… To not… Oh. Okay. I promise. I guess. Thanks. And good luck.”

K’Jon answered that with a deafening roar and took off into the sky. Flying fast to the south, he soon disappeared from sight.

“Wow. He’s pretty impressive.”

“Yeah. He is.” Relath took a step and into Khat’s arms. “But it’s this man who impresses me the most.”

“That’s very good. I’m so glad you think that way. Let’s go find a room and I’ll show you what I think of you.”

Relath looked around Khat toward the small village, then back up at the big man. “Nah, we don’t need a room.” He took Khat’s hand and pulled him off the dusty road and into the woods. They walked for a little bit, dodging low limbs and climbing through thick bushes, even once crawling under a thorn shrub.

“Where the fuck are you taking me?”

“I’ve been to this village. K’Jon has his place to escape for thinking, and when I was here, I had mine. And here it is.”

They were suddenly in a small clearing about twenty feet across and twenty or so feet wide, covered with plush green grass littered with wildflowers. All around the perimeter stood old majestic trees whose thick trunks stood as sentinels guarding whoever resided in the tiny, beautiful natural meadow.

Relath allowed Khat to take in the wonder of the hidden space before he took his hand and led him to the center, where there was a thick carpet of green moss. A gentle creek sang next to it. Relath turned to Khat, reached up on tiptoe to kiss his lips, then he stepped away and slowly removed his clothes while Khat watched mesmerized.

Finally standing naked in front of the beautiful man, he sat on the moss. Leaning back on his hands, he bent his legs at the knee and spread them, then looked up at Khat again with what he hoped was a seductive and inviting look. It would be sad to ruin the moment with words.

Khat’s face said it all. Flushed and breathing heavily, his eyes were wide, his tongue darting in and out, wetting his luscious lips. He, too, shed his clothes as fast as he could, and when his cock came into view it was large and hard and Relath could not take his eyes off of it. With a whimper he watched it come toward him, bobbing with stiffness, droplets forming on the tip. Khat now stood with a foot on either side of Relath’s hips. Relath sat up and took the wonderful staff into his mouth and moaned. Khat jerked forward with a grunt, tangling his hands in Relath’s hair.

“Relath!”

He started to move slowly in and out of Relath’s mouth as Relath used his tongue, sucking hard when he could. He was feeling Khat becoming harder as he danced close to orgasm. Relath thrilled and sucked harder as Khat moved faster and deeper.

Suddenly, with a roar not unlike the dragon’s, Khat was coming. Relath tried to capture every surge, every pulse of liquid, which seemed to go on and on forever as Khat cried out his pleasure. Finally he pulled out of Relath’s mouth, jerking with yet another spasm. Relath reached out with his tongue to grab the last drop.

With a growl, Khat dropped to the ground and spread Relath’s legs wide, forcing Relath to fall back to his elbows. Immediately Relath felt his member being engulfed by incredible heat and wetness.

The sensation was nearly too much to bear. He bucked his hips up, but Khat decided he was the one in charge and held Relath steady. He suddenly came off and Relath cried out in disappointment as he looked up at Khat.

“Get up for a minute,” he rumbled.

Relath could hardly move, but he limped up to his feet. Khat lay down on his back, then he took Relath’s hand and pulled him to kneel on either side of Khat’s face as Khat once again took Relath’s hard cock in his mouth.

For support, Relath put his hands on the ground above Khat’s head as he let Khat pull him in and out of his hot mouth. Then one of Khat’s hands wandered to Relath’s ass and rubbed up and down until he found Relath’s opening and pushed.

Relath was at the edge anyway. It wouldn’t have been much longer with Khat’s mouth sucking and his tongue working a magic all its own. But when Khat breached his tight entrance with his thick, callused fingers, he came hard. He couldn’t even cry out, all energy, all thought, all existence was centered on his pulsing, nearly convulsing orgasm.

When he finally returned to earth he was lying on Khat’s chest. Somehow Khat must have moved him without him even realizing it. But he was content. Sated. Happy. He wasn’t sure how long they lay like that but suddenly Khat slapped Relath’s bare ass and made to get up.

“Come on, wizard. We better get moving if we have any hope of catching up with that dragon.”

“What? But…”

“Come on. We’re not going to let K’Jon have all the fun, are we?”

“But I promised.”

“A promise you had no intention or ability to keep.” And he chuckled. “Believe me, K’Jon is well aware.”

They dressed quickly and then Khat looked toward the sky. “Too bad we don’t have those magnificent wings though.”

“Wings? We don’t need wings.” Relath dipped his hands in the creek and waved them at Khat.

“Relath? Don’t you dare… Relath!” Up into the air Khat flew, tumbling over and over, while Relath laughed. But suddenly he was also flying, ass first, straight off the ground.

“Ahhhh! Khat! Khat, did you do that? Khat! You asshole! You scared the crap out of me.” Reaching Khat, he threw his arms around the big man. “Wow. That was a rush!”

“Shall we?”

“We shall!”

And with that they set out for who knew what.

To be continued...

 

 

 

Is It Magic? Chapter Four

 

CHAPTER 4

 

They stuck to the woods. Without any form of transportation, staying off the main roads was essential. Relath finally let them rest in a deep ravine where another river ran, only this one was much smaller and only inches deep.

“You can’t go back now. I hope you know that,” Relath said into the quiet that surrounded them. He didn’t want to think about the ramifications of the sheriff’s rash action to leave everything behind. He feared the big man was going to regret it and blame Relath.

“I know. I just wish we could have packed a few things. Like weapons. Could use some food, too, blankets. Didn’t plan this very well.”

Relath laughed. “Generally, I leave the planning up to the town sheriff. He’s usually the one calling the shots.”

Khat growled. “Well, you sure as hell didn’t let me call any.”

Relath smirked. “I don’t remember you actually trying. The shots I’m talking about were a little more lethal. Like winging past my ear and taking a chunk with it.”

“Oh. Yeah. I guess…” He smirked. “My aim was a little lower.”

Relath sucked in his breath. Crap. Are you kidding me? Just a tiny flirtation and I’m ready to jump the man? He closed his eyes and willed his cock to calm down. They did not have time right now but when they did… He whimpered. He suddenly felt a large hand on the back of his neck.

“I want to handcuff your wrists to a tree.” Khat pulled back and Relath didn’t resist.

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. Then I want to take your clothes off and suck you again until you come. You taste good.”

“Wow. I think I would like that.”

“I want to push my fingers into your opening, too. Slick them all up and push hard inside, and pump them in and out, in and out, get you all hard again.”

Relath could only choke as Khat’s hand wandered down to Relath’s now-raging hard cock and started to stroke him through his pants. “Khat. We don’t… Oh! We… Damn. That feels too good…but we don’t…” He pushed harder into Khat’s hand, willing him to work him faster.

“Then I want to push my big fat cock in there, push it all the way in. I want to fill you so full you scream.”

“Ah damn,” Relath whispered as he closed his eyes to imagine the scene. But he really needed to stop Khat because soon he would be so far gone it wouldn’t matter if the army came charging down into the ravine, he was going to need to come.

Khat chuckled as he pulled his hand away. Relath put all effort into opening his eyes in shock. “Damn. I was so close.” Relath tipped his head back as he bucked his hips into empty air.

“Yeah. Would like to see that, too, believe me. But payback is hell, and you deserved a little. Serves you right for putting your damn magic spells on me.”

Relath looked up at Khat with wide eyes. “You mean you did this”—Relath indicated the large bulge in his pants—“on purpose so I would be in pain?”

Khat leaned in and kissed Relath on his nose. “Yes. And you are not to touch yourself. I want you to suffer a bit.” He chuckled again.

Relath smirked. “Fine. So begins a battle you can’t possibly win.”

“Want to bet?” Khat fingered one of Relath’s nipples, rubbing it through his shirt, sending more shocks through Relath’s body. Relath leaned into the touch, totally surrendering to it, wanting whatever the big man would do to him. Once again Khat pulled away and Relath groaned.

Relath opened eyes he hadn’t even known he closed. “Okay, I admit. You have a strange power over me. Your touch… Oh.” Relath let a shiver race through him. “Your touch drives me crazy. Even when you just look at me. I have never wanted anyone more than I want you all the time. It isn’t fair to tease me.”

This time Khat leaned in and kissed Relath deeply. He pushed his tongue in, and Relath suck him in even farther. He pushed Relath to the ground and Relath felt Khat reach around and under him to cup his ass, his hip grinding into Relath’s still very hard member. It wouldn’t take much at this point, and Relath rubbed himself against the big man.

Suddenly there was noise. Khat was instantly on his feet, pulling Relath with him.

“Run!”

The soldiers were bearing down on them. Relath was a little confused on how they found them so quickly, or at all, but he had no time to think about it. They had to move. Amazingly, the shock of the soldier’s sudden appearance and the fear of being captured, deflated him. Relath had no problem scrambling up the ravine behind Khat. Khat might be fast on level ground, but his body size was working against him on the ascent, enough that Relath was right beside him. However, once they reached the top, arrows sinking into the ground all around them, Khat grabbed Relath’s hand and ran. They crashed through the forest with no hope of shaking the soldiers.

He had to come up with a plan. But the only thing he had left was the one bottle of his elixir and a brain that was fried from Khat doing all those wonderful things to him. And wobbly legs. Poor Khat. Relath was certain the man could probably outrun a friggin’ train if given the chance, but he was being slowed down by Relath. Alone, Relath would probably stop right now and start sending the soldiers flying. They would still capture him, but again, that just wasn’t a problem. Having Khat with him was. That choice wasn’t going to remain a choice either since the soldiers were catching up fast and Relath knew, surrounding them. What was he going to do?

“Halt, or I’ll shoot!”

Both Relath and Khat stopped, breathing heavily. Sounds of rushing men were all around them, and by the light of a bright moon, Relath could see a very large, very stern and decorated man standing in front of them, bow raised, arrow pointed. How the hell had that man gotten in front of them? It just wasn’t possible!

Damn it! The arrow was pointed right at Khat. Seems they were intent on taking Relath alive. That made no sense either. Khat slowly raised his arms in surrender, and with a sinking heart, Relath followed suit.

“Khat? Is that you?” The big man lowered his bow. “Oh, Khat. You will pay dearly for making me sweat this late at night by chasing your ass. Such a waste of my energy. But you of all people should know, in all of my illustrious career, I have never lost that which my king sent me out to capture. You led a merry chase, I will give you that. However, you being a lawman, I would have figured you would be more of a challenge. You disappoint me.”

By this time the rest of the soldiers had emerged from the forest on all sides of them, leaving absolutely no gap for escape. Obviously escape wasn’t possible anyway since every one of them were heavily armed with bow and arrow, all loaded and ready. Even Relath’s magic would not save him.

“So, Colonel,” Khat began. “I guess I’m impressed and a bit honored the king would send his best and”—Khat looked around at the crowd of men standing at the ready all around them—“so many. It’s almost as if you expected to come up against an army.” He turned his attention back to the colonel. “What could a small town sheriff offer that could possibly be a challenge?”

The colonel handed his bow to a man standing next to him and walked toward Khat. When he reached him Relath was not surprised to see the man was the same height and pretty much the same build as Khat. Older and with an arrogant air about him, he pushed Relath aside as he took a walk around Khat.

“You are one amazing man to look at, Sheriff. And I have always admired these.” The colonel reached out and cupped one of Khat’s ass cheeks, kneading a little. “I would especially like to see them naked and glistening, fresh out of a tub of water.” The colonel chuckled when Khat flinched.

Relath suddenly wanted desperately to know any chant that would turn this arrogant son of a bitch into an Elder Doom Creeper. An ugly one.

“Although,” the bastard continued, “I was told to bring you in as well, as accomplice to the wizard.” He turned to look at Relath, disgust written on his face, and smirked. “I could be, shall we say, persuaded to send him along all by himself while you and I…” He leaned in to whisper in Khat’s ear, although loud enough for Relath to hear clearly. “Have some very private moments together. In fact, I would let you dominate. I shiver with the thought of big old you holding me down and… Well, you could do whatever you wanted to do…Khat.” Relath wasn’t sure what the colonel did at that point but whatever it was made Khat jump forward, cover his ear with his hand and turn to face the colonel. The colonel chuckled, stepped toward Khat, right up in his face. “What do you say, big boy?”

Khat pushed him back. “Not interested.”

Relath was well aware of the dangerous situation they were in. He understood that Khat did as well. He knew Khat had to have at least thought about the possibility if he went with the colonel he could have come out of this thing alive. But Relath thrilled he chose not to. His heart actually hurt with the happiness that shot through him at those two words. Too bad it may not last long.

“Still not interested? Once again you disappoint me.” The colonel ran a finger down Khat’s cheek and Khat pulled away. “You truly intrigue me, Sheriff. I vow I will have you. I can give you so much in my position. Power, title, money.” The colonel stepped back. “Your life. Are you sure you’re not interested now, Sheriff?”

Relath would never have been interested in this fool, but even he had to admit the colonel had an amazing body. There may have even been a time when that would have been enough for Relath as well. Although life had been far lonelier since he had said goodbye to his last meaningless affair, he had a far better opinion of himself. It also mattered to him he could offer this purer version of himself to Khat. Yes, Relath had a past. As much as he knew thoughts like this could not help them, he now wondered about Khat’s.

“Colonel, you have nothing”—Khat looked the man up and down—“and I mean nothing, I am interested in.” His warm gaze came to Relath, whose heart once again tripped. “I have one interest, only one man on my mind.” He looked back at the colonel, who now had an even deeper frown.

The colonel shot an evil glare at Relath, and despite himself Relath cringed under that scowl, then it went back to Khat. “You do understand your fate, don’t you?” It was said low and threatening. “You will be taken to the castle and executed unless you have something you can offer me to change my mind.”

“And I will say it again, you have nothing to offer me to change mine.”

“Your arrogance will be your death!” The statement was so full of fury Relath pulled a breath in. This was it. If he didn’t do something this instant Khat would die at the hands of this lunatic. He prayed the sweat that he felt on his hands was enough. Under his breath he began a fast chant. If he lived and if he ever saw Khat again, the man would lay him flat with the wicked left Relath had seen the man use in the past. But the important thing here was that Khat would live. He would be pissed as hell and probably vow to murder Relath twenty times over, but Khat would be alive to make the plans to do so.

“Mitso hor gor’th otso motchisto. Gost hoto, gost hoto, gost hoto. Plut fom!” By time Relath had finished, Khat was aware what he was doing, but it was too late. Before he was able to take a step toward Relath he was already floating six feet above the ground. Relath had him pass close to him, just to get a final chance to breathe him in. But then Relath flung his hand and Khat flew high into the air and shot to the east above the trees, enveloped by the darkness. Relath could hear the screams, not in fear, but in anger. It was a bad thing to do. He knew that. Khat did not need protecting, but Relath’s heart did. It was out there on the edge and if he knew Khat was safe he could face what he had to do to these soldiers.

But then the oddest thing happened. A thin sack came quickly over his head and down his arms. Before he could react, it tightened around him from his elbows to his wrists, as if they were using a thick scratchy rope to bind him inside the sack. Maybe they thought bound hands would stop him from using his magic, but since they weren’t supposed to believe he was magical at all, that made no sense. Someone small like Relath would not pose any kind of physical threat. However, as surprised as he was, it was still just a tad of fabric and it was not going to hold him any better than a jail cell would.

But being smothered inside a sack, and the eerie tingly feeling that started at the tips of his fingers and moved to the rest of his body, he didn’t like one bit. Moving his fingers with an often-used chant, he would have the ropes loosened and off in no time. But when nothing happened, his panic returned. He did it again, chanting a little louder this time, wiggling his fingers faster and with more effort. Still nothing. What the hell was going on?

Then a low and menacing voice was right next to his face. Relath could feel the man’s hot breath. “You little fucker! Thought you could escape me? You are now caught like the rat you are and you will be exterminated like one, too. But only after the king sucks you dry of your weak pathetic power. Why he wants you is beyond me, but I will not question it.” The colonel laughed, the stench of his breath through the barrier reminding Relath of an Angel Walker. “I understand the process of transferring magical power is quite painful. As much as I would love to see you squirm, I have another goal in mind. I will find Khat. He will belong to me now. And if you live long enough, I will make sure you are witness to that.”

Relath was sure if the sack had not been covering his face the colonel’s spit would. But that was not the thing that stunned him. “You…you mean…” Relath was having trouble putting his shock into words. “You mean the king…believes?”

“In magic? Of course. The only reason he made it illegal to practice it was to weed out the real wizards from the charlatans. He can’t suck power from a fake.”

“That’s…wait… It makes sense now. That’s how you were able to track us, get in front of us, how you found us so fast after we escaped. You’re using magic!”

“Oh, you’re quick. Yes, to all of that. Plus, this sack over your head has a binding spell weaved through it powerful enough to bind the magic of a wizard ten times your strength. You will not be able to escape. But I suspect you already know that. You will now be taken to the king, who will drain you and kill you. And don’t worry about Khat. I will hunt him down and capture him for my own enjoyment. I will make him forget something like you ever existed.” Again his face was close to Relath’s. “Even if I have to use magic. Which is obviously what you were doing, am I right?” He let out another hearty laugh. Relath felt him retreat from him and then he shouted to his army. “Take this thing to the castle. You only have to make sure it’s still alive when it gets there.”

Then Relath heard him calling out names of soldiers who would stay, presumably to help him hunt for Khat. Relath had originally sent Khat away to keep him safe. He had sent him with insurance, his final bottle of elixir. He was certain the man would scoff at it and probably discard it. But until he did, it would protect him. Relath could risk not having it since he had his magic to keep him safe. But now, Relath didn’t have that either. And Relath had no idea how far he had flung Khat. Probably nowhere near far enough if these guys were going after him.

And damn! The king did believe. That was the shock of the fucking day. Was it true he could suck wizard power? Of course it was obvious why. Relath had always known the man was greedy and arrogant. A pompous fool with an insatiable thirst for power. Relath hadn’t really worried at all about the real wizards if they were captured. He knew they could easily escape. And the fake ones deserved what they got for cheating the people. Well, maybe not death, if that was what was happening. But he never really cared much until now. How many wizards had fallen victim? How powerful was the king now?

Things were not looking good.

A large presence filled the space in front of Relath and he was suddenly being manhandled onto a horse and draped across the saddle like a soggy blanket. The soldier slapped his ass and left his big paw there a little longer than Relath was comfortable with, and he groaned inside. The lower half of his body was not covered with the damn sack and probably for a reason. But there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

He wasn’t sure how long he lay draped across the horse as it fidgeted and stomped its hooves, but suddenly a shout went up and he heard movement and then the horse he was on began to move as well.

Crap! This was looking bad for him.

Unexpectedly there was a shout and then more shouts, then total chaos. He heard the thundering of hooves, more shouts and even a few screams. He heard arrows flying and prayed he would not be a recipient of any of them just as his horse took off. Relath wasn’t sure if he wanted to allow the horse to take him with him or try to fall from the saddle. Not knowing what it was that happened to cause the bedlam and not knowing if the horse was being led or off on its own, there were too many variables to come up with a “best of” solution.

The sounds of the commotion faded as the horse continued its frenzied crash through the forest. Several times Relath felt whipped by branches far too close for comfort. Still debating whether or not to force himself off of the horse or not, the horse began to slow. Soon they were still and Relath slipping off the horse was no longer a decision as large hands lifted him to the ground.

He struggled, knew it was no good, he could not escape, but he would go down fighting.

“Hey, hey, hey. It’s me! Relath, it’s me, Khat. Calm down, you’re safe.”

“Khat?” The ropes were loosening and finally the sack was coming off. It was flung to the side and the tingling he had been feeling went with it. But tingling elsewhere began as he stared up into Khat’s flushed face. “What the hell? I flung you… I mean… I…”

“Yes, you thought you got rid of me using magic again without my consent. We are going to have to discuss that little habit of yours. But when I found that bottle of dirty water in my coat pocket I figured out it was your elixir and I knew you were messaging me for help. It took me a bit to figure out how to use the damn stuff but I finally did, got back to that clearing and let the Talasar Elixir do its stuff.”

Relath was still reeling from being so valiantly and expectantly rescued. “Which was what exactly?”

Khat looked at him as if he had grown another head. “Exactly what you said the bottle of water would do. Create images. Frightening images, remember? You said that back at the fire. I figured out sprinkling it on the ground created these… Well, monsters, from the sizzling drops. It’s the only way I can explain it. So I ran right through the line of soldiers, sprinkling it all around them.” Khat shivered. “Those were some pretty crazy looking creatures that rose up from the steam those drops turned in to.”

“Khat, I didn’t put that kind of spell… Monsters? You created monsters?”

“Yeah, or rather, the water did. Worse looking, if that’s possible, than the Angel Walker I unfortunately met.”

“Worse? Damn.” Relath darted his head around and marveled at the quiet. “Um…maybe we should keep moving. Those…monsters are only temporary. When the colonel—who is hot after your ass, by the way, which is something else we will be discussing—when he figures out it was all a ruse he’ll be a tad bit upset.”

“Temporary, huh? Well, that’s probably a good thing. Yeah, we should move. ‘Tad bit’ anything does not describe that man’s demeanor. He is all or nothing. Don’t think I want to find out what the punishment is for freeing his prisoner.”

“Know him that well, do you?” Relath had to allow himself to breathe through the bite of jealousy he was feeling. He was front and center when Khat out right rejected the colonel, but he had no idea what their history was. He wasn’t sure he wanted to. He was even regretting asking that rhetorical question Khat might feel compelled to answer. Thankfully the only response was a grunt.

Khat motioned for Relath to remount as he leaped up onto his own horse. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

Khat looked at him wearily. “What would be your next move? I mean, if you had left LockShire on your own, where would you have gone?”

Relath laughed. “Just the next village. That’s what I did. Always just the next village. I was following that damned Angel Walker for the most part and it only seemed to jump to the next feeding ground. But things are different now. That thing is gone and you’re with me and the king…” He steered his horse to the south. Khat followed behind.

“The king?” Khat asked. “What’s he got to do with this? We’ve escaped those soldiers. They won’t have any idea where to look for us. They might continue to search, and certainly that asshole colonel will pout and stomp his big feet, but how can they find us? I would, however, suggest we don’t stop at the next village.”

“That’s just it, Khat. They will find us. They’re using magic. Turns out the king not only believes, and knows wizards exist, but he is bringing captured wizards to the castle to suck their power and then he kills them. That’s what the colonel said after I flung you… After you left. That sack you pulled off of me rendered me helpless. It had a spell on it to bind powers.”

“What? Seriously? How can that be? You mean… The colonel is… He can… How can that happen? How can he use magic if he’s not a wizard? How can someone who is not a wizard suck anything? I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I right now. But…you did. You used magic that didn’t exist.”

“I used magic? Me? I used a bottle of your elixir. Magic elixir. Not my magic. Yours!”

“The spell I weaved into that bottle was one of protection. I figured you would discover it, figure out what it was and throw it away. I had no idea you would come back and use it like a weapon. You’re the one who created the monsters.”

Khat simply stared at Relath as if he were doing something incredibly difficult. His mouth was hanging open and occasionally moving, but no words came out. Finally he looked away. “Damn it, Relath. Why is it every fucking time you have something to tell me, it about stops my heart? How do I, a mere mortal, a human, create anything?”

Relath did have to think about that. There really was no answer. Something was obviously wrong. Or right, depending. “Any wizards in your family history?”

Okay, not the brightest question to ask at a time like this, but Relath’s grasp on social decorum was not the tightest. It was actually meant for a joke if anything. However, the look Khat gave him should have burned him to a crisp right on the spot.

“Sorry,” Relath began, “I just thought it would answer a few of these questions. If there were wizards in your past there might also be in the king’s and in the colonel’s. Yeah, pretty far reaching. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Instantly Khat’s expression changed. “I know. But in answer to that, I just don’t know. I only figured out a few hours ago wizards exist at all. How would I know if any of my crazy uncles were practicing magic?” They rode in silence for a few minutes. Then Khat asked, “So what do we do? If they can find us no matter where we go, what do we do?”

Relath gazed at him. He was so beautiful. His flowing black hair, those amazing blue eyes. The strength he portrayed just sitting on a horse sent shivers up Relath’s back. But he knew it was so much more than what the man looked like. It was exactly that which became an issue in that little village they were now leaving behind forever. The sheriff was kind and possessive and smart. Calm and observant and caring. Relath felt all of that and so much more every time he touched the tall law man. He was sickened with the thought he had finally found his mate and they may never have a chance to explore that kind of a relationship because they were both hunted men.

“I don’t know. Going against them would be suicide. However, we might end up doing that in the end anyway if we don’t come up with another plan. But I have to believe there’s something other than simply giving up. I…I’ve been so confident about escape… Reliant on my magic… With that damn sack they have now… I never had someone else who really matters to me messed up with me. I just don’t know how to handle that.”

Khat answered by edging his horse closer to Relath and taking his hand. He squeezed Relath’s hand and brought it to his lips to kiss it. “I chose this path, Relath. You did not choose it for me. I, too, have had to think about what it would feel like to lose you. I never had the luxury of thinking you could protect yourself. I only ever had to imagine losing you to your leaving me or to the king taking you away. Plus I saw how you enjoyed helping people. I know sometimes it’s only the mind that gets a person sick and in the same sense, the mind will make a body well. I thought that was all that was involved. I didn’t question what you were doing, just how you were doing it. You were too flamboyant about it all. You were being careless, self-destructive. I wanted to protect you.”

Relath laughed. “We are a pair.”

“Yeah.” Khat squeezed his hand again then let go. “We are.”

They rode in silence for a time then Relath said, “K’Jon.”

“What?”

“The name of my friend. The dragon shifter I mentioned. His name is K’Jon.”

“Weird name.”

“It’s a dragon name, I guess. I thought it was a strange name, too, especially the way it’s spelled. But he’s a good man.”

“Oh. You… He and you…”

“No. Never. He’s not my type. He’s amazing and all, but I never ever had any thoughts about him in that direction.” Relath smirked and looked over at Khat. “Why? You jealous?”

Khat harrumphed.

Relath laughed. “No, he and I are just good friends. But he has the ability to take power from a wizard.”

“A dragon can… So you think…”

“I don’t know. Just a suggestion. Strange to think the king might be a dragon shifter. My father drummed it into my head that dragon shifters were evil and out to take all the power and kill every wizard there was. That certainly explains our king. But it doesn’t describe K’Jon. He is like me, a traveler breaking spells. Only he is much more talented obviously, incredibly powerful.” Relath tipped his head as he thought. “Never asked him where he received his powers. Maybe there is some truth to that rumor. All I know is he is centuries old and a very good man.”

“So what are you saying exactly?”

Relath looked at Khat, making up his mind. “We need to contact him. He needs to know this information about the king. We need help in figuring this out. Besides, he’s probably the only one who can do anything about it.”

“Where is he?”

“I have no idea. But he gave me a spell. He said if I ever needed him, cast the spell. I don’t know what’s supposed to happen. He never said. I never asked.”

“So, you know him that well, huh? He comes any time you call?”

Relath shot a look at Khat and when he saw the smirk he laughed. “Yeah. He thinks I’m pretty useless. Hope he’s impressed with our information.”

“Me, too. Let’s find a hidden place to do it from. Not so the colonel won’t find us, because I guess he still will, but so no one else will.”

“Okay. I need water first.”

“Water?”

“It’s what my magic works through. I chant through water.”

“Is that what you did with that Angel Walker?”

“Not at first. I was chanting a call-forth spell. Without the water it had no real effect. It was a stupid spell to use anyway since the Angel Walker was already there. However, chanting something like that still made it mad, which was what I actually wanted anyway. I needed to get it to attack me to get it out of the chamber room. But when I tossed one of my elixir bottles at him the thing consumed it, sucked it right into itself. And you saw the result of that.”

After stopping by a small stream and filling a container they found on one of the horses, they moved on. Finding a thick grove of small birch, they rode directly into it. In the center was a fallen great oak. The long dead and rotted branches that had once been the magnificent top of the tree had eventually, through time, formed a natural small open meadow.

Relath slid off his horse. “This should be good. K’Jon is a huge dragon. But this should still work.” Khat said nothing as he dismounted and followed Relath to the clearing. Relath handed his reins to Khat and stepped farther into the open area. He surveyed his surroundings and looked back at Khat and the horses. “You might want to step back. When K’Jon shows up he… Well, shows up.”

Khat pulled the horses with him as he took up a stance just outside the open circle and Relath pulled out the container of water. Opening it and pouring a small amount on his hands, he splayed fingers above it, and began his chant.

“Hor’nof comf tridnorde hor’nof comf sadreg hor’nof comf radgmand.”

A tingling, shimmering wave moved through the small meadow.

“Relath? Was that supposed to happen?”

“Don’t know. Never did this before.”

“Shit, Relath. Why do I ever expect good news from you?”

They waited and when nothing more happened Relath poured out the water again, only this time, a little sprinkling all the way around the clearing.

“Hor’nof comf tridnorde hor’nof comf sadreg hor’nof comf radgmand!”

The shimmering was brighter that time, then there were several pops and bangs, a large flash and in the clearing stood a beautiful dragon. Relath never tired of seeing his friend’s dragon form. His broad long body was covered in purple iridescent scales that were more like armor than anything else. His front claws were lethal and sounded like steel blades coming together in battle. His elongated dragon’s head had a huge mouth, which opened now with a deafening roar. Although no fire emerged Relath saw Khat cringe, nearly falling to his knees. But the most amazing feature of this remarkable dragon were his enormous wings. With a gossamer look to them, they gently flowed, glistening in the wind like water and looking far too delicate to be able to lift the large dragon. Taking up even more space than the dragon himself, the wings slowly folded into his body and a fragrant breeze wafted through the clearing. The dragon’s blunt, thick legs held large feet with claws, again, as sharp as knives. A moment or two passed and another flash and pop and suddenly the only thing standing in the clearing was a large man. Slightly larger than Khat, K’Jon was tall and muscular as well with dark hair and eyes. His body was well toned, with rippling abs, thick arms and thighs, and a stance that showed it all off splendidly. With fists on his hips he looked like a god.

A stark naked god.

 

 

Is It Magic - Chapter Three

 

 

“What was that, wizard? What did you throw at me?”

Suddenly the mass that made up the Walker began to shake, the black ooze splattering all over the place, hissing and steaming as it landed. “Oh, crap. I need to get out of here,” Relath whispered.

The door crashed open and Khat roared in. “Relath? You fucker!”

“Shit.” Relath made a dash toward the shaking Walker, darting under one tentacle and leaping over another. How he missed the one that flailed toward him as he jumped he had no idea, but he was thankfully, in the next moment, pushing back on Khat, forcing him backward out the door. “Run! We have to get out of here!”

“Wizard!”

With a quick look at the blob in the middle of his slowly disintegrating office, Khat’s gaze went right back to Relath. “Damn it, Relath! Don’t you ever do that to me again, you hear me? You understand? I will kill you myself!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re pissed. We’ll discuss it later. For now, run.”

“We will not discuss it! You will not put a fucking spell on me.” Bang! The walls shook and Khat swung around to look back toward the Walker. “What the hell?”

Relath grabbed Khat’s arm and pulled hard. “That’s what I’m talking about, idiot. Run! That Walker is going to explode!”

“Explode… No! My office!”

“Khat!” Relath raised his hands to put another flying spell on him, realizing it wouldn’t work anyway because his hands were now dry. But Khat slammed into him.

“Not again, Relath. Not fucking again! You promise me.” The voice would have been seductive if it hadn’t been for the growing smell billowing out of the door they just came through.

“Khat!” Relath shook his head. “Fine. I promise. Now let’s get the hell out of here!”

Khat took one look back, grabbed Relath’s hand and ran. Fast. Relath lost his balance twice and suddenly he was being lifted up by the big man and swung over his shoulder.

“Khat, put me down!”

“You’re too slow.”

The compression wave hit them right before the deafening sound of the explosion. It rolled them over several times and once he stopped, Relath tried to sit up, tried to rise to his feet and look for Khat. But he was disorientated, things were spinning and he fell back onto his stomach. Crap. He must have hit his head.

“Khat!” he croaked out. He knew the name left his mouth, but he couldn’t hear it. His ears were too full of white noise. He said it again, fear striking his heart. Where was Khat? He tried to turn, to see if the sheriff had somehow rolled passed him, but his body would not listen. He managed to turn over to his back and now was looking up at fast moving smoke. Damn. The Walker really blew. Started the fucking town on fire. One good thing, the fire was killing the smell.

He lay, unable to move, watching the smoke billow by as darkness fell. He hurt absolutely everywhere.

Then a most glorious sight filled his field of vision. Khat! He was okay. Thank the gods. Khat reached down and pulled Relath up and over his shoulder, effortlessly lifting him, and they were moving again. Things were still spinning for Relath and the jarring up and down while Khat ran was not helping. As hard as he tried, he could not stay conscious.

*          *          *

“Relath?”

That was his name. He heard it, but it was coming from far off and sounded muffled, as if it was coming from under water. No. That wasn’t quite it. It sounded like he was under water. But his eyes would not open so he couldn’t tell. Then he drifted away again.

“Relath!”

Damn it! Trying to fucking sleep here! Leave me alone. Leave…wait. He wasn’t trying to sleep. He was trying…trying to what? Kick someone’s ass. Something’s ass. An Angel Walker! Relath snapped his eyes open. “Khat!”

“Right here, I’m right here. Quiet.”

Relath could feel the gravel under his back, the roar in his ears still filling him, but it wasn’t as intense. His head throbbed. Khat was looming over him. “Where…where are we?”

“Remember where you were that first night?” Khat pointed over to a trash bin even as he was opening Relath’s shirt. “I found you right there.”

“Why are we whispering…and why are you undressing me?”

“Checking for wounds. There’s blood. I think it’s blood. Maybe not. Anyway, the royal army thundered into town shortly after we got out of the building. I dragged you in here out of sight just so I could watch and see what they were going to do. They joined in the effort to stop the fire. It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how they react to that Angel Walker, huh? But it’s probably still wise to stay here for the moment.”

“Um…Khat?”

Khat stiffened next to Relath. “What? Don’t tell me bad news, Relath.”

“Well, you see…that Angel Walker… Well, it…it won’t be there. They won’t see it.”

Khat sighed and, after ending his search for a nonexistent wound, he looked up at Relath. “Are you kidding? It’s all over the fucking place. I think that’s what’s on your shirt. Burnt saliva. That smelly-ass creature has got to be covering the entire inside of my office. How the hell is that going to be explained?” He watched Relath for a moment. “Ahhh fuck. Really? Why? I honestly don’t want to know, but why won’t they see it?”

“The Angel Walkers are simply energy…kind of. It’s hard to explain. They have mass and weigh a ton, too. However, they’re mainly organized energy. That’s why they have to feed all the time. They are a mindless consumer, greedy and needy. As soon as the Walker…died, its energy…dissipated, into the air. There won’t be anything left of it. There’ll be a little stench probably, but the soldiers won’t question that. Look.” Relath held up his shirt and the black smear was disappearing, leaving a gaping hole in the cloth. “Um…thanks for getting this off me, though.” He scratched his chest where the skin was slightly red from the ooze. “Damn stuff itches.”

Khat stood. “So we’re back to square one. We’re in trouble.”

“Yeah… Well, I am. You can walk free of this if you simply turn me in to them. I’ll make sure to tell them you tracked me down and captured me. You could even carry me out there. Hell, I can’t walk right now anyway. Fuck, what a headache.”

“Are you an idiot? I’m not going to do that!”

“Wait, wait, I’m fine going with them. I was going to go with them anyway because… Look, you don’t have to worry. I can escape them. I’m a wizard. Remember?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Khat, you can get away with this. Your lover…friend won’t be able to explain you bringing me to them either so he’ll have to shut up, too. Believe me, this is the way to do this. Now come on.” Relath sat up with a groan. “I’m not kidding about you carrying me either. Come on, big boy. Help me up.” He reached up to Khat.

Khat slapped his hand away. “Do you ever stop? First you cast your damn spells on me without my permission, treating me like some errant child, and now you’re telling me to betray you for my own sake? What kind of man do you think I am? Quit being an asshole.”

“I’m not being an asshole. I’m trying to save your life. You have one of those here and if you don’t do this, it’s over. Understand that.”

Khat squatted down to be back at Relath’s level. “I do. I do understand. And maybe this…life you think I have isn’t worth much. Ever consider that? You…you turned everything upside down for me.”

“Khat, wizards and dragons and probably a whole lot more I don’t even know about, exist. That’s not my fault.”

Khat sighed. “I know that. I mean…never mind. Listen to me. Maybe I…I don’t know… Maybe I want something different.”

“Different? How different?” Could he hope?

Khat looked into Relath’s eyes. “Very.”

“Okay.” Relath said slowly. “You mean like an exciting, glamorous life on the run? Because that may be your only remaining choice.” Relath’s heart started to thrum. Adrenaline like he had never felt before filled his body.

Khat smirked. “Maybe.”

Holy fucking shit! “Maybe a glamorous life on the run with a certain handsome skilled wizard who likes to break chillshade spells and blows up Angel Walkers?”

Khat narrowed his eyes. “Well…may have to think about some aspects of this.”

“Oh. Right.” Relath’s heart did a little hiccup that almost hurt. When would he learn where he was supposed to fucking stop? “So, hurry up and think about it.”

“Okay. I thought about it. Yeah. That’s what I want.”

Relath’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yeah. If it’s with you, then okay.”

“I was kidding about the glamour part.”

Khat chuckled. “I know.”

“Might have been kidding a little about the skilled part, too.”

Khat outright laughed. “Yeah, I get it. Still okay with it.”

“Really? Okay?”

Khat leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips, then on the top of his head. “If I don’t leave with you, I won’t ever see you again, right?”

Relath couldn’t trust himself to answer.

“I don’t want that, to never see you again. You brought… I don’t know, something here.” Khat put his hand on his chest. “If you leave, you take that with you.”

“But…not a half hour ago you were basically telling me to get the fuck out. What changed?”

“I…” Khat stood back up and turned away. “I thought… When I saw you lying there so still… I thought I could live without you if you were safe.” He turned back to Relath and reached down to help him to his feet. With an arm around his waist and a big hand under his chin, he kissed him. Hard. Relath felt wetness on his cheeks. Tears? Probably. The only question was whether they were Khat’s tears or his own. But it didn’t matter. Not in the least. Khat pulled back out of the kiss and whispered. “But thinking you were gone, I suddenly saw my life truly without you and it scared the hell out of me. I realized I not only wanted, I needed you in my life. I need your irritating, self-absorbed, sexy ass wiggling for only me.” He grabbed one of Relath’s firm globes and squeezed.

“That supposed to be a compliment?”

“Mmmmm.”

Relath pulled the big man down and kissed him again. “Yeah. Could get used to that. But…”

Khat closed his eyes. “What now, Relath? If you have more bad news…”

“Hang on. It’s just that we need to do something about that group of king’s men who are hell-bent on seeing at least one of us trussed up and headed for the gallows.”

“Oh. Yeah, forgot about those guys.” He kissed the end of Relath’s nose. “So why don’t you wave those hands of yours and they suddenly think they found our bodies in the rubble?”

Relath laughed. “Listen to you! You are now an expert on all things magic?”

Khat turned yet another shade of adorable red. “No! I just thought…”

“Well, as awesome as that would be to be able to do, I can’t. However…”

“What?”

Relath pulled out of Khat’s arms, flattened himself against the alley wall and looked out at the soldiers, glowing in the light of the fire, still running, carrying buckets of water along with a few of the townsfolk, trying in vain to save the crumbling building. He heard Khat groan standing next to him.

“It took months to build that office. Now it’s gone. Just like that.”

“Fire is definitely cleansing, but it wasn’t just the fire that did that.”

Khat grunted. “So what are we going to do? We can’t exactly trot out there and start helping.”

“No. We obviously can’t do that, but… Not sure I can do it from here. Might need to get a little closer.”

“No! Relath, the only direction we will go is away from them, not toward them. What are you thinking?”

He took out his last bottle of elixir. “I can weave a pattern of beings into the water, something scary. Maybe that would be all it takes. They just might run like hell.”

“Maybe? Might? No, we need better odds than that.” He hazarded a look out.

“Well, you can contribute here, too, you know. I fucking hit my head and I’m the only one coming up with ideas on how to save your ass.” He looked behind Khat, cupped him firmly, and smiled. “Absolutely worth saving, too, I might add.” He smiled up at Khat and winked. “Ahhhh. You blush so pretty.”

Khat pushed a giggling Relath back. “Knock it off.”

“What. The. Hell?”

Both Khat and Relath startled and turned to see tall, skinny, very white Almar standing in the alley with them.

“Almar!” Khat stepped closer and in front of Relath.

Red fury rose up on Almar’s face. “You bastard! You already replaced me with…with this?” He waved a hand at Relath. “You know he’s a wizard, don’t you? Or, at least, he pretends to be! Those soldiers out there have come for him. And if you don’t want to find yourself shackled and heading for a hanging as well, you better step away from him right now!”

“Leave him alone, Almar. It’s over between us.”

“No! I won’t accept that! Come to my side right now, Khat. If you do I will forget this little indiscretion of yours. But understand this. That wizard will hang!”

“No. He won’t. And you and I are through. Just walk away, Almar. Leave us be.”

“Captain! Captain Harcourt!” Almar began to yell.

“Fuck, Almar! You asshole!” Khat pulled Relath from behind him and pushed him down the alley away from the chaos of the fire and the soldiers who were most likely now on the way to see what Almar was shouting about. “Move, Relath. We need to get out of here.”

“Khat!” Almar called to their retreating backs. “I’ll give you one more chance! When the soldiers capture you both, I will give you one more chance!”

“Blow yourself, Almar!”

“Khat!”

They took off out of the other side of the alley just as Relath heard shouts go up from the legion of soldiers as they entered the alley and evidently spotted them. Soon they were in hot pursuit. Relath could run, but he was amazed at Khat’s speed, especially with the man’s height and weight.

“Come on!” he shouted at Relath, who was slowly losing ground.

“It’s no good, Khat. There’s too many of them! They’re going to be able to cut us off.” Relath had no worries for himself. His concern was for Khat. He was now an accomplice with no hope of redeeming himself. A fugitive, just like Relath. But unlike Relath, he was vulnerable. “Right here, Khat. Let’s get in here.” They were running by a deep, dark alcove, and even though it would be a death trap if they were caught in it, the possibility they could get inside the building it was attached to was too high to pass up. Relath ran into the dark hallway and slammed right into the door at the end. Khat stopped just in time before smashing into Relath.

“Ouch!” Relath rubbed his shoulder for a moment where he had hit the hardest, then began to feel around for some sort of lever to pull the door open. “Found it!” But when he turned the handle and pulled, nothing happened. “Damn it! It’s locked. Or stuck.”

“Here, let me try.” Khat elbowed Relath out of the way. “Relath, you idiot. The door isn’t locked. You need to push, not pull.” The door swung in and they both clamored over the threshold.

“You always pull doors open. This door is backward.” Relath pouted.

“I guess that depends on which side you’re on. Point is, we’re in. Now what?”

“Not really sure. Where are we?”

“Mmmm.” Khat looked around in the near total darkness. “I think this is the back of the feed store.”

“Where is that in proximity to the river?”

“The river? It’s just down a bank…um…that way.” He pointed to the left.

“Great. Lead the way.”

They made their way through the dark store and out the front door. From there Khat led them into a wooded area and down a steep bank. They could hear the soldiers shouting in the distance and coming closer. Finally they stood on the bank of a noisy, fast moving river.

“Wonderful. This will work. I think. It’s our best shot anyway.” Relath bent down to dip both hands in the water. “Shit. That’s cold.”

“What’s our best shot?”

“Crossing the river.”

“Are you insane? The bridge is on the other side of town. We can’t get across here.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? Because it’s a river. It’s wide and deep, and you see how fast it is. And unless you’re an excellent swimmer…even then. We can’t cross here.”

“Well, I wasn’t thinking about swimming.”

“What? Wait a minute. No. Absolutely not. You promised, Relath. You fucking promised.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m asking. Otherwise I wouldn’t.”

“Why do we have to cross the river? What good is that going to do?”

“It’ll buy us time. Like you said, the bridge is on the other side of town. The soldiers will have to use that to chase us.”

“Damn it, I wish that jerk hadn’t… Fuck, that asshole Almar!”

“Well, I wouldn’t. He’s your lover.”

“For the last time, Relath, he’s not my lover!”

“Okay, okay. I get it. Now let me get us across this before we are both caught. Because if they come charging over that bank, I won’t give you any more choices.”

“Choices? What choices are you giving me right now?”

Relath thought for a moment, then tipped his head to the side. “Good point. None.” He raised his wet hands and waved them, whispering a chant. Khat rose quickly in the air and darted out over the water.

“Relath! Damn it, Relath! You need to warn me.”

“No time, and keep it down. They still have arrows even if they can’t chase us. So shut the hell up.” Relath pulled his arms in and chanted the same spell, and soon he joined Khat over the water. Then they both sailed together to the other side, Khat muttering obscenities the entire way.

When Relath set them down on the other side, an arrow whooshed past Khat’s nose and slammed into a tree beside him. “Run, Relath!”

They both threw themselves into the thick undergrowth, running as fast as the brambles and clingy vines would allow, paying no attention to the noise they made. Arrows followed them but not far. It would be at least ten minutes before the soldiers were thundering across the bridge to this side. It didn’t give them a lot of time, but Relath hoped it would give them enough.

 

 

Is It Magic? Chapter Two

 

Chapter Two

“Damn,” Relath whispered. “That was intense.” He could feel Khat’s chest hair tickle his face as the big man continued to breathe heavily. Relath felt wonderfully sated. He hadn’t felt like this in… Well, ever.

“Yeah,” Khat whispered harshly, the hand casually rubbing Relath’s back stopped. He felt the lawman stiffening up.

Relath couldn’t help but detect a note of anger. “Are…are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Khat sat up pushing Relath off. “At least I can think now.”

Relath felt dismissed and suddenly abandoned. It wasn’t like he hadn’t felt like that before, and commitment was something too dangerous to even think about, but it didn’t make the sting of rejection any less painful. “Wow. Didn’t peg you for a fuck and flee kind of guy.” His heart, he realized way too late, was going to suffer with this one. When had he allowed for that to happen?

Khat snorted. “Fuck and flee. Hilarious.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not necessarily into…cuddling. But…that…that was nice.”

Khat looked back at Relath. “Cuddling? Really? I didn’t peg you as a clingy, emotional kind of guy either.”

“Sorry. I just thought… I thought you…” Relath sat up and swung his legs to the side of the cot, putting his back toward Khat. “Thought you were having a good time, is all.”

Relath heard a heavy sigh. “I did. I…did like it. I mean…damn it, Relath. I’ve liked you ever since… I don’t normally do one-nighters. Don’t like that.”

“Excuse me? I’m not the one running out the door, here.”

“And I am?”

“You’re the one who pushed me off of you, getting all offended at the cuddling. Not me.” Relath turned to face Khat. “What’s up with you?”

Khat’s face turned an adorable shade of red in the failing light of the sun streaming in from the high windows, but he said nothing.

“Wait. Wait a minute. I get it. You thought I was… Wow. Really? You thought I was trying to seduce you so you wouldn’t throw me in jail?”

Khat smirked. “You mean you weren’t?”

“Well, considering how well it would have worked, because here I am, in jail, thankfully, no.”

“You weren’t waving that delectable ass in front of me day and night to make sure I couldn’t think straight?”

“Oh, that? Well, yeah. Wait. Delectable?” Relath smiled and blushed a little himself. “Yeah, I will admit I was trying to seduce you. But not so you wouldn’t lock me up. Tie me up, maybe, but…”

Khat narrowed his eyes at Relath and turned even a deeper shade of red. “Then why?”

“Why was I trying to seduce you? Because just thinking about you makes me sweat. I love your voice, your body…” Relath ran a hand down Khat’s bare chest. “Even your skin. You’re beautiful.”

Khat blushed again and leaned over to kiss Relath gently on the lips. “Just my body? I feel so cheap.”

Relath chuckled. “Okay, Mr. I’m Not Into The Emotional Shit, I also think you’re kind and caring and strong. You command with your voice and have rough hands that feel good on me.”

“Why didn’t you leave? I thought you would leave once I told you I would arrest you and bring the castle down on you.”

“Usually I do leave when that happens. I’m always on the run. But…this place is different. You’re different. For the first time in a long time I wanted to stay.”

“Damn.”

Relath looked up into Khat’s eyes. “Is that a good damn or a bad damn?”

Khat pulled away. “Bad.”

“Why? You have a family I don’t know about? Some beautiful woman you keep barefoot and pregnant?”

Khat laughed. “No. Nothing like that. It’s just that…”

Relath grunted. “A lover?”

Khat scowled. “No! Nothing like that either.”

Relath nodded. “I see.”

“No. You don’t. There was…a man. He and I kept company. He didn’t like that we weren’t going to – you know – make it permanent. Things happened. Words were said. We didn’t part exactly friends. He thinks I… Well, he saw you the other day when you…”

Relath looked up. “When I what?”

“Do you remember seeing a guy with long black hair? Kind of a perpetual frown on his face?”

“Oh! White as a fucking ghost?”

Khat laughed. Relath realized he loved that laugh. “Yeah, that’s Almar. He’s… Well, he was…”

“Your lover? That tall, thin ghost was your lover?”

      “No! I told you. It wasn’t like that. But yeah, we had similar interests.”

“Fuck the similar interests. At least you eat! That guy didn’t look strong enough to lift a fork. He blackmail you or something because…damn.”

“No. I know. He’s…odd. But he is the alchemist in town and… “

“You wanted better rates?”

Khat shot Relath an angry look and Relath laughed.

“Honestly, I don’t see anything even appealing in that guy. Even though I only saw him for a few minutes I remember him! Scarier than hell!” Then Relath frowned. “When was that? Wait…oh yeah. It was when I cured old man Van Derke, right? Wasn’t he an alchemist, too, back a few hundred years back?” Relath giggled. “Yeah, I have to admit, I made too big a show with that one. Did it for your benefit, you know. Showing off I guess.”

“Well, Almar wasn’t amused.”

“He lodge a complaint or something? Want you to run me out of town?”

“Worse. Van Derke is his father. Almar couldn’t cure him either. The man was dying. Then you come along. Well, Amar really believes you’re a wizard now. He’s an idiot. But he sent runners. To the castle.”

“What? Runners? As in to tattle on me? When?”

“That same day, is what he said. Fucker told me earlier today. But I have a feeling those runners are going to be tattling on more than just you. I think he wants my head, too.”

“Shit. That wasn’t just the other day either. It was more like four. So chances are the runners have already arrived and there just might be a troop on its way back as we speak.”

“Pretty much what I was thinking.”

“So then why? What the hell was this all about? You had your way with me and now you lock me up and hand me over? Is that it?”

“No! Fuck, Relath! For someone as good as you are at scamming folks, you sure can be stupid! I…I didn’t even mean to do this…but things got heated and… Face it, Relath, you’re not safe here. You never have been and now you’re out of time and you need to run. I’ve been not so subtly hinting at that for over a week, now.”

“Look, as accustomed as I am to running, you honestly do not need to worry about me. I am a wizard. They do exist, so I can protect myself. The problem now is making sure you’re protected.” Especially with the smell he detected a moment ago. Relath rose from the cot and walked to his coat, now laying on the floor, and picked up a small bottle of his elixir. He sprinkled a few drops on his hand, then turned back to Khat and, slowly waving that hand, spread his fingers.

Khat laughed out loud. “Me? You’re going to protect me? I’m sorry, Relath, but as amazing as your elixir seems to be, I’m more inclined to believe you stole that liquid of yours off some unsuspecting alchemist. You cure a few small ailments with it, then make up the chillshade shit and rake in the dough.”

“You don’t believe in magic. I understand that. Then let me ask you a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“What would be the reason you’re floating six inches above the cot?”

Relath watched the color drain from Khat’s face even before he looked down at himself. In the moment of realization, Khat pitched his body back and screamed. “Fuck! Put me down! Put me down!”

Relath waved his hand again and Khat settled gently back on the bed. But Khat did not understand Relath was only trying to prove a point. He once again threw himself backward and tumbled off the cot. He scrambled to his feet and backed away from Relath, holding his arm out as if he needed to fend off the smaller man.

“Did you do that? How the fuck did you do that?”

“Calm down. Yes. I did that. I’m a wizard. That’s how I did that. Now do you believe me or do I have to turn you into a toad or something?”

“Toad?” Khat screamed.

“I’m kidding! Calm down, I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t do that.”

Khat breathed heavily for a minute, still holding his arm out. Dropping it finally to his side he asked, “You could do that? I mean, you can turn people into toads?”

“Why? Have someone in mind?”

Khat laughed but it sounded very stressed. “No. Just trying to figure out how crazy you really are.”

“You mean you still don’t believe me?”

“No! Wizards and magic and fucking dragon shifters don’t exist! They’re myths! Fucking folklore told only to frighten small children. In case you haven’t noticed, I am no child!”

Relath looked up and down Khat’s still-naked body, settling his stare on Khat’s beautiful flaccid member. “Oh yeah, I noticed. No problem there.” Khat’s large-even-when-deflated cock actually jumped and start to rise. Relath shot his eyes up to Khat’s face just in time to see it turn very red.

“Think you’re funny?” Khat ground out.

“I’m not laughing. But I really am a wizard. And…um…”

“What?”

“I’m… Well…good friends with a dragon.”

Khat simply stood there looking at Relath. Then, giving a huff, he twisted around, looking on the floor. Finding his pants, he scooped them up and stomped out of the cell and toward a door, behind which Relath remembered was a chamber pot. Khat walked through, turned to throw an angry stare back at Relath and slammed the door.

Relath drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Huh,” he said into the now-empty room. “That went well.” He grabbed up his clothes, too, and started to dress. Knowing an army was most definitely on its way to collect him, he didn’t have a lot of time to come up with a plan. Leaving was no longer an option, even if it had been on the table before. Not only did he have an Angel Walker to contend with, he had a raging need to protect the sheriff.

He laughed. Khat was not a man who would accept hiding behind someone easily. He was used to being the one standing between the people and any kind of danger that threatened them. Relath had witnessed that countless times in the past few weeks he had been here. But with the king’s men on the way, the large beautiful man was going to need saving. Khat could be the one in charge in the bedroom, Relath had no problem with that. In fact, he shivered from the thought of being sexually dominated. But on the battlefield Relath was the dominant one. It was going to be extremely interesting to see how that went.

That was when the smell, which had been on the edge of his consciousness for some time now, became overwhelming.

Putrid, sweaty, acrid.

An Angel Walker had just materialized.

But where?

“Um…Khat? Could you come out here, please?”

Silence.

A tingling feeling crawled up Relath’s neck. “Khat? Please answer me.”

“Yeah…I’m here.” He could barely hear Khat’s voice, almost as if he were trying to whisper but knew a whisper would not be heard.

“Fuck.” Relath ran to the closed door. It was in there with him. “Khat, you okay? You getting up close and personal with an Angel Walker?”

“That what it is? Smelly thing.”

“Try not to breathe it…if you can.”

“Well, since I need to breathe and there isn’t a hell of a lot of room in here…”

“I’m going to open the door, okay?”

“Can’t fit much more in this room, Relath.”

“I’m actually thinking about inviting the Angel Walker to join me out here. Figured you’d be okay with that.”

“Oh yeah. Have at it. Oh, and Relath? Tell me again you’re a wizard, okay? I think I’ll believe you this time.”

“I’m a wizard.”

“Good. Thank the gods.”

“I’m not a good wizard.”

“You tell me that now?”

Relath laughed. “Opening the door!”

The stench that slammed into him the second he opened the door was overpowering. Relath saw Khat plastered up against the left wall, a large dark creature stood pulsing in what was the rest of the room. Khat was right, there wasn’t a lot of space left for anything else. The Angel Walker stood on two stumpy legs, tentacles of various sizes and thicknesses flailed from all around its round body, knocking into the walls and leaving dark slimy steaming skid marks. Khat ducked successfully every time one of those smelly appendages came close, which was a good thing. Its bumpy, rutted, pockmarked skin boiled and oozed a black liquid that sizzled as it hit the stone wall and floor. It would dissolve flesh on contact.

“Who are you speaking to?” The vibrating voice came from the black blob, but from just exactly where on its body was a mystery.

“No one, Angel Walker. What are you doing here?”

“I came for the weak wizard who has been messing with my energy supply. Is that you?”

Relath looked back to Khat, whose startled and confused eyes stared back at Relath. Relath winked. “You would be correct, beast. I am your target.”

“I thought so. Prepare to die, wizard.”

Khat mouthed the words, “How does it not know I’m here?”

How indeed? That was going to be difficult to explain. Khat was not going to be happy.

“So…do magic…or incantations or whatever the hell you guys do,” Khat said. “I’m about ready to throw up from the smell.” He ducked again.

“Understandable,” Relath said, as if to the Walker. “Just make sure you don’t get hit by its saliva. Stuff will kill you.”

“Saliva? That shit is saliva?”

“Pretty much. It’s meant to digest its victims.”

“Who are you talking to, wizard?” If an Angel Walker’s strange voice could sound angry, that was it.

Khat continued his whispers. “I thought the damn things were supposed to only suck energy.”

“Mostly, but sometimes it eats, too. It uses those tentacles to envelope its prey and the”—Relath had to swallow hard to keep control of his stomach—“saliva begins the break down process of digestion. It’s gotta hurt like hell.”

“You are making me mad, boy. That is a dangerous thing to do. I had planned on killing you quickly, but now I think I will stuff you in my mouth while you’re still alive. We will see if that is just as painful.” It began to move toward Relath.

“Surprisingly,” Relath continued after he shivered, “it has teeth but they’re not…healthy. You don’t want to see them, believe me. Nasty.” Another shiver shook his body.

“Yeah, being the rest of it is so attractive.”

“Ha.” Relath spread his feet to solidify his stance and raised his hands. “I wish you could stand back. This could get messy.”

“Just get on with it! Get me the fuck out of here!”

“Pushy bastard, aren’t you?” He closed his eyes as he moved his hands back and forth in an arc formation. “Flastern pickostom tally! Flastern pickostom tally! Flastern pickostom tally!”

Laughter filled the space and the Angel Walker’s fluttery voice boomed out, “I am surprised that you would know a calling forth spell, wizard, but you have no power over me. You don’t even know my name. Besides, I am already here! You are angering me with your pathetic attempts at wizardry. I came forth on my own to put you out of your misery!” A tentacle flew at Relath as the Angel Walker threw its entire mass at the young man. Anticipating the move, Relath took several quick steps backward, drawing the creature forward by the momentum of its own weight. The monster fell out of the small chamber pot room and rolled on the floor. Steam billowed up from where its liquids hit any flat surface and it screamed its irritation at missing the wizard.

“Never meant to call you, asshole. Just needed you angry to get you moving.” Relath cringed, having had to watch the Angel Walker squeeze through the doorway, too fat to fit, leaving its ooze covering the entire opening. Already the wood that made up the doorframe was disintegrating. But there was enough room now for Khat to escape.

“What are you going to do now, wizard? You have nowhere to run. You stupidly let yourself be trapped in this room. The door out is behind me.”

“Yeah, did that on purpose though.” Taking out a bottle of his elixir, he opened it and sprinkled a small amount of the dirty water on his hands. He waved at Khat as he darted through the dripping doorway. Suddenly Khat was floating in the air again, heading fast for the door leading outside. Relath continued to wave his hands and the door unlocked itself, opened, and Khat sailed right on through.

“Relath! Damn it! Put me down! Let me at that thing! You can’t do it alone.”

His voice faded as the door closed with him on the other side.

The Angel Walker held still for a moment. Relath knew why. It had finally detected Khat from the movement. “Didn’t know he was there, did you?” A low growling noise started to rumble through the floor and air. “You had no clue. Didn’t even hear him, did you?” The sound got louder and the air in the room began to heat. “What? Thought I didn’t have it in me? Yeah, not the best wizard, I’ll give you that, but even I can weave a Destablilized Halodium spell. Put it on him the moment I smelled you and I could smell you a fucking mile away. Not about to let you get any more of these innocents in this town, either. I now will stand as their protector, got that, Angel Walker? I may not know your name and I may not know your purpose in being here, but I sure as hell am not going to let you suck any more energy or weave any more of your chillshades. It’s over, fucker. Get out or I will cut you into a hundred smelly little pieces and feed you to a dragon.” Relath moved his still damp hand and when the weak wave hit the Angel Walker, it stumbled back, but only a foot or two.

The laugh that came from the quivering mass was not as strong as it was before. Relath knew it was shaken by the subterfuge and probably any mention of a dragon, but it wouldn’t be for long and the sunlight was failing fast. He had to come up with a plan to either get out of the room or to somehow defeat the beast.

He only had one shot. He didn’t have time for any kind of spell, not that he had anything that would defeat an Angel Walker, but when water mixed with the black ooze, the sizzle became a raging fire that would even scorch the Angel Walker. Pain was probably something the monster enjoyed, but it was still Relath’s only option. He just hoped it would work. His control over the Halodium spell was slipping and he would soon have Khat back in the room. He couldn’t risk it. This had to end now. Relath took the bottle of Talasar Elixir and hurled it at the Walker.

Then the most curious thing happened. He had intended for the bottle to bounce off the blob of a body and fall to the stone floor, break, and spray its totally harmless contents over the Angel Walker. But the blob-like skin sucked the bottle straight into itself. That even surprised Relath.

It also couldn’t be good.