A Magic King (47 page)

Her computerized hero loomed over her, his angular face taut with worry.

"Hi, hero," she quipped, though it took way too much effort for the simple words. "Welcome to my fantasy life."

He grinned. "I'm Daken, and I'm definitely real."

Her smile came slowly, but it appeared nonetheless, lifting her cheeks and widening her mouth for a kiss. "I know who you are."

He obliged her unspoken request, lowering his face to hers until his lips traced the outside of her mouth. Then he trailed across her cheek until he whispered into her ear.

"I love you," he said softly, and the words curled around her ear, blowing into her heart like a warm breeze on a spring day. "I've been so afraid I wouldn't be able to tell you. I love you, Jane. I always have."

Then he pulled back, and she grinned at the devotion she saw in his eyes. "So you finally figured it out."

His expression slipped, and his jaw went slack. "What do you mean, I finally figured it out."

"Heck, Daken, I knew you loved me ages ago. I was just waiting for you to admit it."

"By the Father, woman, you are the most exasperating—"

"Kiss your queen, man," she interrupted.

When he quit stuttering in shock, he did as she bid. And with a thoroughness designed to put her firmly in her place—panting beneath him.

Minutes later, he drew back, his own breathing none too steady. "Jane, you will be the death of me, do you know that?"

"Am I all better?" she asked, carefully pushing herself up until she reclined against a pillow. She was inordinately pleased when she didn't feel dizzy. Then she looked at Daken's serious expression and a note of impatience crept into her voice. "Well? Am I better or not?"

"Yes," he said, surprise coloring his voice. "Yes, I believe you are. Even the other illness—"

"The radiation poisoning?"

He nodded. "That also may be healed, although we must wait and see before we know for sure."

"That's wonderful," she grinned, opening up her arms and raising her face to him. "Then we can continue."

"No!" he sputtered in astonishment. "No, we can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not better. Jane, you've been lying there still as death for the last three days. Even my father couldn't tell if your mind was gone from the poison. The three of us have poured the Power into you like a river into a bottomless pit. And now you ask why we can't make love?"

"Don't worry," she said, smiling sweetly at him and feeling delightfully wicked. "I'll be gentle with you."

He nearly choked on his shock, but when she opened her arms to him, he settled into her embrace. He felt like a large teddy bear in her arms. A large, sexy, and rather grumpy teddy bear. She decided to soothe him with kisses.

"Jane," he said minutes later as he pushed away from her. "I'll be an old man within a month. You'll work me to a burnt wick."

"Oh, all right," she said, dropping back onto her pillow. "It just seemed like a good opportunity. After all, I'm in bed, and you just figured out you loved me."

He started chuckling. First slight tremors shook his torso. Then laughs bubbled out of him, making the bed creak ominously. By the time he'd progressed to full belly howls, he clung onto her to avoid falling off the mattress.

"Aye, I love you," he said, when he could at last draw breath. "And only the Father knows into what disasters that will lead me."

"Disasters? What disasters?"

"You mean besides killing Ginsen's great wizard, nearly dying in a Tarveen hell hole, and getting dispossessed of my crown?"

She started to say something smart, but his words penetrated her fogged brain. And with them came memories she didn't really want to recall. Her giddy mood crashed like a lead balloon. She frantically searched through her memory, steadily progressing through time until she came to a blank wall.

"What happened after I passed out? All I remember is Borit. And the Tarveen." She couldn't stop the shudder of revulsion and guilt that always accompanied her thoughts of the horrid insects.

Daken sat back, a smile spreading over his face, smoothing out the harsh angles until he looked younger than she'd ever seen him before. "Perhaps I should let Steve tell you. He's waiting just outside the door. And he's even sober now."

"Sober? Sober!" Jane nearly leaped out of bed. "You let a boy get drunk? Do you know what alcohol does to young brain cells?"

Daken pressed her down into the bed, clearly amused by her maternal outrage. "He's not a boy any longer. He's a great wizard, just as prophesied."

"But we knew he was a wizard—"

"No, Jane. A
great
wizard. He transported us here, away from the Tarveen."

"Us?"

"All of us. My people. Everyone. Not even Kyree could do that."

Jane's breath caught in her throat. When she spoke, her voice was low with awe. "Are you saying he's better than Kyree?"

"No. Or at least not yet." Daken couldn't stop grinning, despite his negative words. "For all his ability, he's still a young man. What happened three days ago happened under a great deal of stress and emotion. I doubt he could do it again. Or at least not for a long time. He needs training and study, but then, eventually, I think he'll be much greater than Kyree."

Jane shook her head in shock. "My boy's a wizard. My, how fast they grow."

Daken chuckled as he opened the door, jerking his head toward the bed as he spoke to Steve. "She's awake. And asking about you."

Quick as a wink, Steve appeared around the corner. He looked incredibly good, almost like a young man. He wore a new tunic cinched with the Oracle belt. And his hair was clean, if not combed. His face showed signs of new maturity, but it also reflected a power, or perhaps it was freedom from a haunted past. Whatever it was, Jane could no longer deny that Steve was quickly growing into a fine man.

"Daken tells me I'm going to have to find a new assistant."

Steve shrugged, his expression a sheepish grin. "Sorry," he said.

Jane felt her jaw drop to her chest. "You spoke!"

"Of course I did. I'm not stupid." His words were slow and his voice a bit rough, but his face showed a pride in himself she'd never seen before.

She was so excited, she pulled him forward and wrapped him in a huge bear hug, then refused to let him go. "And I thought it was a birth defect. Oh Steve, why didn't you talk before?"

He drew out of her arms, his face closing down. She let her fingers slide down to the coverlet, suddenly sorry she'd asked. Any fool would have known this was sensitive territory, but here she was, blundering in like always.

She opened her mouth to apologize, but he stopped her, his hand on top of hers. "There wasn't anyone I wanted to talk to. Until now."

He offered her a shy smile, and she returned the gesture. She knew there was more to the story, but clearly Steve didn't want to talk about it. She would respect his decision. Besides, she intended to pry the whole story out of Daken later. It was painfully obvious from the overpowering male camaraderie that the two had done some bonding while she wasn't looking. If anyone knew what had happened, Daken would.

They talked some more, but soon, Daken ushered Steve out of the room, telling him he'd meet the boy in the practice field tomorrow morning.

"Practice field?" she said, sitting upright. "Why?"

"He wants to learn some sword play."

"But he's a wizard. What does he need that for?" She shuddered at the thought of such a small boy hacked at with even the thick wooden swords they used in practice.

"He wants to be part of my new militia."

"Your what?"

"Well, with my parents and brother home again—Oh, you'll be meeting them any minute now. Grandmother too, but I'll try to get rid of her as soon as possible—"

"What?" She nearly jumped out of bed in horror. She hadn't taken a shower in days. Her hair must be a rat's nest. Trust a man to just drop information like that as if it wasn't a major thing to meet her new in-laws for the first time.

But Daken held her down, blocking her escape by trapping her between his arms. "You look fine. Adorable." He kissed her hard on the lips for emphasis. "Now do you want to hear about my new army or not?"

"Not," she snapped. "At least not until after I've showered." But curiosity got the better of her. "Oh, okay. Tell me."

"Well, with the return of my family, I am relegated back to the position of second son—"

Understanding dawned. "That's what you meant by losing your crown. Oh Daken, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. My heart has always been in weapon play."

Jane sighed, knowing it was true. Though how a pacifist like her had ended up with a warrior for a future husband was beyond her.

"Anyway," he continued. "I'm sure the incident with Borit will more than convince the Elven Lord of the need for some sort of military protection."

Jane interrupted, her political persona of the Oracle stepping forward. "You have my support for an army to wipe out the Tarveen, of course. But waging war on Borit, obnoxious though he may be—"

"Borit's dead. As well as most of his army."

Jane stopped mid-thought. "Dead? How?"

"The Tarveen. When we disappeared, the Tarveen had only one choice. They were stopped in front by the water. To the left was the fire, and they were already moving forward. Their only choice was to the right where Borit and the bulk of his men were."

"But his horses and weapons—"

"Weren't enough against the whole Tarveen hoard. He counted on us to blunt the initial Tarveen assault. With us gone, he took the brunt of their frenzy. And, to his credit, he and his men killed most of the Tarveen before they were overcome."

"Neatly solving Ginsen's two biggest threats," Jane finished for him. "And I'll bet you think he's going to be very grateful. Grateful enough to grant you a wish. Like an army."

Daken grinned. "I certainly hope he'll be grateful, but more than that, Ginsen's a smart man. I think he'll realize that as our communities expand, we'll encounter more and more problems. There are other threats beyond the Tarveen and greedy kings. It only makes sense to have a military force."

"Under your command?" she asked, slowly accepting the logic of his position.

"Can you think of anyone better?"

"We can live in Bosuny? I can still work as the Oracle? Steve can get his training and have access to all of Kyree's old books and we can give him the Tarveen's Holy Book too.

"Where else would a national militia be based?"

She nodded, already making plans. "We could have a little house near campus. Within walking distance because I've never kept regular hours in my entire life. And we'd have to have an attic for Steve with a separate entrance. That way he'd have his independence, but I can still keep an eye on him. I'd want a big backyard for the kids—" She stopped as she felt his low rumbling laugh build. "What? What's so funny?"

"I was just wondering if you planned to get married before we build our palace, or whether you were waiting for me to propose."

She gave him an irritated frown. "Well, of course we'll get married. And you're right. You haven't proposed. Get down on one knee this instant." She was teasing him, but still he obediently dropped to the floor, then waited patiently as she gave him her hand.

"Ready?" he asked with way too much humor lacing his voice.

"Last time you used your sword," she reminded him.

He obediently withdrew his grandfather's sword and placed it on the bed before them. Jane straightened, trying to look serene, but knowing she only managed an excited smile.

"Will you—" he began.

"Do you still have that tunic I bought you in Bosuny?"

Daken clearly struggled to keep from laughing, but when he answered, his voice was level and grave. "Of course, I do. I knew I'd use it eventually."

"Well, of all the arrogant—"

"I didn't say with you necessarily. There are lots of other women who would give their right arm to marry me."

"Harumph," she snorted. "You better ask me quick before I change my mind."

The laugh lines around his eyes deepened, but his expression remained close to serious. "Jane—"

"Wait!" She quickly brushed her hair out of her eyes, smoothing it as best she could. "I want to see your face."

Daken shut his mouth, remaining where he was, letting the silence stretch on and on and on.

Jane waited. And waited. "Daken?" she prompted after a good two and a half minutes.

"Oh?" he pretended innocence. "Are you ready now?"

"Daken!" she protested.

"Ah, I see you are." He winked at her, then bowed his head, but then he quickly glanced back up. "You're sure you're ready?"

"Daken!"

"Will you, Jane Deerfield, the great Oracle, do me the greatest honor of becoming my—"

"Yes!" She threw her arms around him, drawing him back onto the bed with her.