Raven looks up at him and says, “Sweetie, listen to me, no matter what happens we are going to be together again.”
The wingless Vern is searching his husband’s face and even though he appears calm there is a hit of worry within his eyes. It makes Dusk ask, “Is that what you foresee?”
Raven closes his eyes and replies, “What I see even though we are briefly in another place we,” he opens his eyes and continues, “we will be together and I will get us home, because I know we will be facing the masked Dark Elf.”
The Vern’s eyes open slightly wider at the though of meeting not only someone who is potentially more powerful than his own husband. There is also possibility he is Raven’s real father. “Seriously you are foreseeing him?”
“This is why I know Zell is going down because making us disappear for a short time is going to spark his doom.”
“Yeah, you’re right, he is going to regret it. It is a shame though our parents never making contact,” says Dusk as they make their way inside the tower.
Raven holds him and expresses, “It is not our real parents fault when we were taken not long after we were born. Fin is a big place and when they did finally find us it could have already been too late we had already been accepted into our adopted families. And because we were happy with our families is why we never reached out to find our real family.”
“You’re right, darling. Question, why are you smelling like the sea?” Dusk asks giving the top of his husband’s head another sniff. The legend explains everything that has happened with Yè fēng which makes the Vern lean down to look him in the eye and remark, “I forget under that calm poisoner how powerful he really is. It is a good job aunty was with you.”
Raven starts to giggle as he recalls the beach being covered in ice and states, “Yeah, even I forget just how dangerous he is. I should warn you, I can see him performing some Ink Summoning.”
Dusk is not too happy about hearing this with that art of magic being notorious for being highly unstable and for the conjure it can be life threatening. “Wait, what? Seriously, you are seeing him with something?”
The hero takes a seat on the settee and responds with some apprehension, “I am not sure if he will go through with it. I keep seeing him with an army of creatures. I will admit it is not the first time I am seeing him like that.”
“Oh, yeah, when you first met him you got that image. Is it him projecting it? I mean we have been spending a lot of time together.”
Raven rests his head upon his husband’s chest and agrees, “I think it is. It does seem to occur when he is on edge.”
Dusk strokes his husband’s head and back and says, “That’s the thing we don’t know his history. He may have had no choice but to summon those creatures and if he does it will be for a very good reason. And I trust him to be able to control them.”
“I feel the same way, sweetie. And on that note, let’s get you back to bed. Well, both of us to bed and it is starting to get light.”
The Vern picks him up and carries him up to their room where they go on to have a cuddle before falling asleep.
✶✶✶
A short time later Dusk can hear noises coming from downstairs, he looks to his left to see a ball of covers are by his side which groans and mumbles something incoherent. He softly chuckles and whispers, “Leave it to me,” giving the ball of Dark Elf a kiss before he gets out of bed puts on his robe and heads out of the room.
Dusk is wiping the sleep dust from his eyes as he makes his way downstairs to see three sets of boots are upon the mat by the front door and the smell of fried Kin-kin begins to drift into his nostrils. It makes him quickly make his way through the sitting room to enter the kitchen to be hugged by his three boys.
Morqen, Jiéjīng’s husband takes hold of their dad’s shoulders and leads him over to the dining table. “We have done you breakfast. Fresh Kin-kin with purple rice on bed of vegetables.”
Dusk admires his full plate and takes a moment to enjoy all the wonderful armours. “Boys, you are spoiling me.”
“After the week you have been through, Dad, you need it,” implies Virmaris handing him a cup of tea.
Dusk has few sips of it and notices Jiéjīng is just sitting quietly which makes him twig this was all his idea as he knows his parents well be disappearing. “We won’t be gone long,” he informs his sons. “The reason we are not stopping him or trying to prevent it, is because if we do the masked Dark Elf will not come to aid us and Raven, bless him, is hitting we need him to help us take Zell down.”
Jiéjīng looks to his husband and brother and ask, “Is it really him from that mysterious landscape father found in the hidden basement?”
All Dusk has to do is nod and his boys are filled with excitement but there is a hit of concerned considering what the masked Dark Elf did during the War to bring it to an end. He clears his throat and declares, “Just remember to be polite and above all try to make him understand we will return. Got it?”
All three of his sons nod and smile.
Virmaris sees his brother and his husband are prompting him to ask the question neither of them want to ask. So, he takes a breath and asks it, “Dad, do you have any idea where Zell will take you?”
Dusk finishes his mouthful and replies, “We are not in Fin, that’s for sure. Look, Raven knows wherever it is we are going to end up together and by the time we get back I can tell you now your father’s eyes are going to be burning with vengeance.”
“Vengeance?” Raven questions walking over to them. “No, more determination to take down that dark mage once and for all. All you three need to do is not panic, because aunty Dandelion is on the case. We all know he is always one step ahead of his brother and this will be our last battle with Zell.”
All three of them give him a hug as they know their father is right for they feel it as well, this will be their last dealings with the master of illusions. The legend gives them in turn a kiss on the forehead, then he continues out the back.
Morqen makes his way into the garden to wait for his father-in-law to come out of the bathroom and calls, “Father, a word.”
Raven trots over to the Forest Elf and asks, “Something troubling you, Son?”
“I do not mean to question you, are you sure this is the last fight?”
“Yes, because it has been brewing for sometime and me suddenly vanishing without a trace is going to topple it over. And this is when the masked Orb Master will surface. I stress the stories about him could be elaborated, but we cannot afford to take any chances for he could be way more powerful than me. And he will no doubt bring his companions with him.”
Morqen’s eyes fill with wonder at the thought of the Vern and Snow Elf from the landscape appearing in Central Fin, all three of them took it upon themself to bring the awful War over magic to an end. He remembers in the landscape there is a dragon and strange creatures. “Hold on, the Snow Elf is an Ink Summoner, could it be him Jiéjīng is seeing and not Yè fēng with little creatures?”
Raven is not sure if his son is directing the question at himself or him and decides to tell him, “I am also having that vision. It only seems to happen when Yè fēng is worried or stressed. Also that is a possibility it could be his way of warning us the elder Snow Elf could be arriving with his army of creatures. Whatever happens, I know you will take it all in your stride. If you have to use your vines, do it.”
The Forest Elf’s eyes blink with shock that his father would even suggest such a thing and it is reflected within his voice, “Father, I could kill someone.”
“Son, you are in control,” says the hero in a soft slow voice. “No one will blame you, my boy, when all you are doing is protecting yourself, hmm?”
“Yes, you’re right, Father. Thank you for listening to me.”
Raven gives him a hug for he understands he just needed reassurance from not just a father, but also the Eternal King of the Dark Elves for this is how Morqen got to know him when he was in the East City, long before he was married to Jiéjīng. “Just trust your instincts, Son.”
Morqen nods and he helps his father back inside the kitchen, where the legend goes on to give his husband a kiss on the cheek before he continues out of the room.
Dusk decides to spend most of the day with his family, they go to various places and in the evening he leaves a note for Raven to inform him they are all at the hot springs inn in Windomfalls. The legend though has awakened with a sense that something is not quite right. As he eats his breakfast he allows his senses to touch the lay lines in an attempt to pinpoint the feeling he is experiencing. Suddenly he is seeing his family all seated around a grand table that is filled with all kinds of food. One dish though is emitting a strange light green smoke, that is forming into a teardrop and out of it falls a black liquid. Raven’s eyes snap open and he quickly eats some more of his breakfast before porting to the town.
The owner is just taking the dishes for Dusk’s party through when the legend comes bursting through the front door and takes one of the bowls from the tray. The once bright illumination stone dulls and the next minute the hero is storming off outside and a few seconds later there is a puff of white smoke and the sound of poetry breaking.
“Raven, just what are you up to?” The owner enquires walking over only to be stopped by the legend’s hand coming into contact with his abdomen.
“Careful, poison,” expresses the legend turning around to face him.
“What? How did that get in there?”
“You tell me, Ilixidor, you are in charge of your own kitchen. It looks like to me a bad reaction to the Fu-fu (type of carrot). What was it mixed with?”
The owner glances down at the broken dish and chard remains of the soup and frowns. “I have no idea.” This makes them trot around to enter the kitchen to confront the cook who is just as puzzled as them.
The cook studies the pan he had cooked the soup in and gives the remains a sniff, “Valley Lily… that is toxic. How did that get in there?”
A young lady Forest Elf becomes aware the sweet sent of the deadly flowers are upon her fingers and there are signs of the red sap around her nails. Her face fills with horror at the thought that she was behind trying to kill the Hero of Fin’s family fills her with dread making her scream in panic, “I’m going to die!”
Raven rushes over to her, to quickly place her hand into the sink and starts to wash it with soap. “It was not your fault, my dear. Check yourself, look for a white crystal with odd writing on it,” he damns whilst fumbling in his bag for a packet which he tears open with his teeth and sprinkles the contents over the lady’s hand.
Ilixidor sets the tray down on the table and claps his hands. “That pan needs to be thrown out and a full infestation needs to be carried out,” he orders in a firm voice. “Enrieth, girl, think how did you get hold of such a deadly plant?”
“Honestly, uncle, I have no idea,” answers the young lady her voice full of worry.
The legend slightly rises his left hand and scolds the owner, “Having a go at your niece is only going to course her more distress. She just needs to be left alone to think.”
Ilixidor performs a slight bow for he is not about to go against the legend and leaves them to it.
A little time later the lady finds a chain around her neck which disappears into the top of her dress and she starts to become aware of something hard between her breasts. She uses the cain to pull it out to find it is a white crystal with odd writing all over it. Then Enrieth’s eyes focus on Raven’s stunning purple eyes that are staring at the stone. His hand reaches for put stops when he notices the crystal is not far from her chest.
“Take it off, and I will get Dusk to destroy it,” commands the hero crossing his hands in front of his chest for a moment before throwing them down by his sides.
The staff and the owner watch in amazement as six small portals open around Raven and out of them come six large white birds, one of which remains with him whilst the other five continue out the open back door.
✶✶✶
Raven’s family are sitting in a back room enjoying their appetisers when a white bird lands upon Dusk’s knee. “Oh, my goodness, it is one of Raven’s ravens,” he announces with a chuckle. “Where are you?”
“I am in the kitchen,” comes the legend’s voice emanating through a crystal around the bird’s neck. “We have a situation here.”
“I am on my way. Up, up,” calls Dusk trying to get the bird to hop on to his forearm. The raven does as he commands and the family quickly make their way to the kitchen to find a crystal inside a bubble a lady in tears and Raven examining her left hand.
“Jiéjīng, my boy, check Enrieth’s hand for me, I think I have neutralised the Valley Lily,” expresses the legend.
Uthrorn walks over to the bubble, his eyes squint to block out more of the dull light so he is able to see the crystal within. “Ah, Dad, I am going to leave that to you.”
Dusk joins him and emits a soft, “Shit,” and gently moves his son to one side. “Yep leave it to me, unless, Virmaris, do you want to destroy it?”
Virmaris is confused why his dad is about to destroy a crystal and quickly asks, “Why aren’t you getting Jiéjīng to do it?”
“Because, my fiery brother, that can only be destroyed by your fire,” explains the Crystal Master giving the sobbing girl he is helping a soft smile.
Raven is stroking the bird seated open his shoulder and explains, “Virmaris, it is a skill you are going to need to know.”
“In that case, all right, let’s do it, Dad.”
Dusk pats him on the back and gets the bubble to float outside.
“Morqen, you should plug your ears, that goes for the rest of you Forest Elves, for the scream that crystal gives off is deafening,” explains Raven sending a piece of cloth over to his son-in-law.
Jiéjīng’s husband takes hold of the floating cloth and gives his father a nod to thank him.
The legend’s birds are outside checking around for anything that is out of place. Dusk waits for them to return their master who returns them to their domain before he pops the bubble and the crystal drops to the ground. “Unleash your fire, Son!”
Virmaris puts out his left hand and slowly a fireball as red as the evening suns begins to appear hovering above his palm. Just like his father he takes hold of it and uses the energy to channel the fire out his right hand at the crystal and makes sure to listen to his dad’s instructions. Just like before the crystal begins to scream until it pops into a shower of dust.
Dusk claps his hands and cheers, “Well done, Son.”
Virmaris shivers and rubs his throbbing ears. “Why did it have to do that?”
“It’s the combination of the controlling spell and Unconventional Magic,” explains Uthrorn slightly shaking his head. “It is one of the many reasons why it is band. Is that not so, Father?” However, there is no response from the legend and the next thing they all hear is Morqen calling, “Dad, something is wrong with Father.”
Dusk quickly returns to his husband and says, “Not to worry he will be back with us in a minute, just a vision.” He sees his lover’s eyes are starting to blink and his breathing returns to normal. “Hey, you have been away with the fairies.”
Raven place his forehead to Dusk’s chest and tells him, “That vision told me nothing other than I am going to find myself at home, butt naked in the kitchen.”
Dusk is confused and wonders what he is implying. “What? Why are you naked? Are we?”
Raven taps him and stresses, “No, no. We are not together and I don’t mean you are in bed. In the vision I awaken to find myself on the floor of the kitchen and when I stand up is when I realise I am naked and there is no sign of a robe anywhere.”
It soon becomes apparent to his children they have also had the same odd vision awaking to find themselves in an odd place and not wearing anything. They begin to look to one another wondering if they should tell their parents.
“Father.”
“Yes, Jiéjīng, my dear boy?”
“We have also had a similar vision. Dad, what about you?”
Dusk searches his mind and answers a moment later, “I did not pay it mush attention as it was an odd dream, in which I saw myself surround by Valley Elves and yep, I am butt naked. Now though, I think I will take it as a bit of a waring of things to come.”
Raven has a stretch and moans, “It is too early for this kind of talk. I need more tea before I contemplate any of that. However, I think you’re right, sweetie, it is a warning.”
Dusk gives him a kiss and suggests, “Let’s carry on. Jiéjīng, how’s Enrieth’s hand?”
“Fine, Father, your remedy worked a treat.”
The legend smiles at the lady. “Pleased to hear it. I will say it again, my dear, it is not your fault when that crystal you found was controlling your actions, understand?”
The lady breaths a sigh of relief and replies, “I swear I have no idea how that got around my neck.”
“Don’t trouble yourself over it, all right?”
“Yes, Raven.”
The hero gives her a pat on the back and makes his way out of the kitchen with his family following him.
Dusk shows him through to the room they are staying in, which has a nice hot spring bath and whispers, “Hopefully we might get some time alone to enjoy it.”
“Hmm, hold on to that thought,” whispers Raven.
Once they have all eaten, they all take a wash in the wash area before having a nice soak in the deep pool. The room slowly begins to fill with steam making it hard to see if anyone enters. After a while all of them begin to feel drowsy and there is a bright flash.
To be continued...
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