Davie the Mage (Generations of Eredwynn Book 2) (25 page)

              James laughed, “If you really think you could, little brother, I’ll take all the help I can get.”

              “Put up a shield to keep my wife and yourself dry, but don’t put it over me. It might block what I’m doing. If I get damp, it’s a small price to pay for healthy hearing. Before you tell on me, I do love Jana and Ivy.”

              James grinned and nodded.

              I relaxed and focused on the sea, and I began to glow. I pictured fresh water being evaporated from the surface and pulled upwards. I formed clouds and saw Halflings gathering around as they realized that I was the cause of the impending rain. I let it fall, and the clouds covered a twenty mile area. I controlled the rate so it didn’t flood the dried-out soil, but soaked in nicely. I pulled enough moisture to keep the rain falling for an hour, then shielded and dried myself.

              “Brother, that was absolutely astounding. Your Mage abilities have some uses that our psi magic doesn’t. I thank you for that, and I’m sure that the Halflings would too if they hadn’t run for cover. Now do we have to stay out here or can we go inside?”

              “I’m done out here. The rain will run its course and stop. If this needs to be repeated, you know where to find me. I’d better go see Star and Ivy, at least. Then we need to get home. There are some young ladies there who are missing us, and I’m looking forward to some wrestling with my wife on our big bed.”

              Blushing, Mira said, “Davie! I thought I told you that you shouldn’t say things like that in front of people!”

              James and I grinned and I said, “But you told me you always wanted me to tell the truth, my love.”

              She looked at her feet as we walked up to James’ bedroom door. He knocked to announce visitors, and after the sound of some scrambling, Star called for us to come in. We entered and Star greeted us. James’ girls came out of their rooms, tying on their wrap- around robes. James grinned. “The Master’s away so you’ll frolic around naked? Well, after our company leaves, you can go back to your naked romp, but I’m staying to join in!”

              Star said, “James! That proves you’ve spent too much time around your Aunt Alba’s son. The orneriness is starting to rub off on you. So, how was your trip, and where did he take you?”

              James recounted our visit to No Man’s Land to a room full of amazed, slack-jawed young ladies. He told them about our trip and about the rain for the Halflings’ crops. They stared at Mira and me as though we were strangers, but recovered and hugged us by the end of the story. We stayed and visited with James’ family for a while and it was time to go home. With hugs and kisses, we said our goodbyes. I focused to a spot just outside our bedroom door and ported us to Perlsea Castle.

              We knocked softly on the door and Jana answered. Her squeal brought the other three girls running and we didn’t know if we’d ever make it through the door. They commented on how beautiful Mira was and said that camping must have made her glow. Jana said it was either the camping or the activities that went on in the tent that did it. They commented on my clothes and shoes, saying that they hoped I knew a way to get out stains, because whites were almost impossible to keep clean. I said that I was going to get out of my clothes and all the girls smiled expectantly, until I added that I’d missed my wrap-around robe.

              I changed into my nice, comfortable robe and sat on the couch. Mira thought it looked like a good idea and did the same, sitting on the couch across from me. A honeymoon is supposed to be a relaxing time for a new man and wife to get to know each other. We’d gotten to know each other, but the relaxation wasn’t the ‘lay on the beach’ type that I’d hoped for. Amee snuggled against Mira while Royce and Zayna curled up on either side of me. Jana saw her usual spot open and jumped over Royce, her dress billowing out like a parachute. I caught her, out of self-defense, and set her in my lap. She leaned back against my chest and looked up at me with a ‘welcome home’ gleam in her eyes.

              Mira recounted our trip, and Jana jumped and wiggled nervously during the tense parts with the dragon and orcs. The true method to her madness became clear as I realized that her wiggling had pulled my robe open below the tie at my waist and awakened my teenage male libido. She wiggled herself down on me, while keeping rapt attention on the stories that Mira was telling. Since I’m a male, I was finding it hard to keep my attention on anything other than what was going on under the dress that was spread across my lap. Thought requires blood to the brain and my blood was heated and otherwise occupied.

              Amee leaned over and whispered in Mira’s ear and she listened for a moment. Mira then thought to me,
“Amee has something that she’d like to talk to me about that she wants you to know later. I can tell that Jana wants to stay exactly where she is for a while longer, so I’ll take the other girls. We won’t be gone forever, so I suggest you make our consort happy while we’re gone.”
And she giggled in my mind, with images that let me know that Jana wasn’t fooling her. Mira stood up, taking Amee by the hand. She asked Royse and Zayna to come with her and they went to Amee’s room.

              Jana said, “Whew, I didn’t know how I’d finish what I’d started here, but it has just been so long, I had to try. I’ve missed you, Davie!”

              I grinned. “I can tell! Now, we need to take care of our problem before the others get back, or we’ll be miserable the rest of the evening.”

              She sighed happily, carefully turned around to face me, and settled me deeper inside her. She rocked her hips back and forth as I gently moved up and down. It didn’t take long for either of us. I held her to me to help keep myself silent, and she buried her face in my chest. The simultaneous release caused spasms that shook the couch. I held her for a few minutes, until she took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’ll go get cleaned up and be back before they even know that we were being naughty.”

              I smiled. “Why do you think Mira took the other girls and didn’t ask for you to go with them? She knew what was going on and allowed us privacy.”

              Jana looked surprised. “She is even more of a wonderful girl than I thought. You did really well in your choice of brides. I have to thank her when I get the chance; because I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to go without your touch. I really missed you badly. I know I’ve said that, but it’s true!”

              She got up and went to her room. She returned shortly and cuddled beside me, and we talked about how boring things had been while we’d been gone. They did have fun with Baissel and she liked to shop, too. But not as much as my mother and Lia did, and they hadn’t come to visit. I told her that I was sure my mother would be coming around more, now that we were back.

              Mira thought to me from the other room,
“Have you two naughty people finished playing? I’ve dragged out our conversation about as long as I can.”

             
“Yes, my love, we have. Thank you for that. It was very considerate of you. I know that Jana wants to thank you personally for allowing for our afternoon exercise, too.”

              Mira and the girls rejoined us and Mira remained standing. Amee came over and sat by me and I put an arm around her. Mira said, “Davie, it’s about your mother. We really need to contact her soon because she’s been worrying unnecessarily. She sent us back here to start working on a grandbaby for her, but she already has one on the way. Amee will be due in about six months.”

              I could have been slapped by a dragon’s tail and not have been more stunned! This wasn’t the news that I’d been expecting. I’d honestly been bracing myself for bad news, like Amee had decided to move to Wizard’s until she passed her Expert level. This was fantastic news but… I was going to be a father. All the new father doubts and fears crashed through my mind. Then Mira was hugging me and she whispered that I was glowing pretty brightly and frightening the girls a bit. I dimmed the mage light and turned to Amee.

              “Amee, my love, you’ve been through so much with me already and I’m thrilled that you’re going to have my child. I promise that I’ll be the best father I can and take care of you both, forever.”

              There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, including mine. Amee said, “Davie, there was no doubt. I know you love me and the rest of us. And I know you’ll love this baby, too.”

              Mira asked, “What is the fastest way to ask your mother to come for a visit?”

              “I could send her a message by magic. Just write down what you want and I’ll drop it at her feet.” I replied.

              Mira found a quill, parchment and ink. She wrote:

            
 
Mother, Davie and I would like you to come to our room when you get a chance.

              Thank you,

              Mira

              She set the letter down and I looked for Mother. She was in her room eating dinner and I ported the note to her tabletop.

              I turned to the girls. “She was eating, so I don’t know how long…” We heard a ‘pop’ at the door. It was quickly followed by a knock as the door was opened. My mother walked in and looked at Mira. As Mira and Amee walked toward her, she glanced at all of us and saw our red eyes. We could see her brace for bad news. Mira said, “Mom, It’s about Amee and something that I believe you’ve been concerned with for a while. We hate to just drop this on you like this but… Amee is carrying your grandchild.”

              Mother froze for a moment and just stared, and then her hands started shaking as she willed her feet forward. She stumbled to Amee and went to her knees. She wrapped her arms around her and put her head to her belly, giggling and crying at the same time.

              I laughed, “Mother? I’m not as good at reading people as James is, so could you verify something for me? I think that you’re acting a bit overwhelmed and very happy.”

              Mother grinned and nodded. Finally trusting her voice she said, “Congratulations, you two, but this doesn’t give you and Mira any excuse. We have to make sure that Grandmother Alba has grandsons and daughters to spoil. There are many cute boy clothes that I can dream up, and so many frilly things, too. The more, the merrier, they say. So get to it. You’ve been home all afternoon and haven’t even made it into bed yet. Come on, girls; make him do his duty for a change. It's role reversal time!”

              We all busted up laughing and the girls all gathered in for a group hug. Mother’s hand went right back to Amee’s belly as if it were magnetic, and we all laughed again. I finally coaxed mother away from Amee long enough to get a hug myself. She thanked us all for letting her know as soon as we’d found out and told me that I’d better let her know when she went into labor. I promised to do that and she went back to her room and her now cold dinner. I doubted that she minded.

Chapter Eighteen

            
 
S
ummer passed in a blur with the fishery running full tilt and wagons coming and going on the roads to the north and east of the castle. We had fifteen ships working full time and our unemployment rate was less than zero. Mira and I were loved by the people, due to the prosperity that the province was having. Our Amee was definitely showing her future motherhood and I was beginning to wonder about Mira. Her moods had been a bit odd lately, and I suspected that motherhood may be in her near future, too. The people of the province had even accepted that their Lord was a Mage and didn’t even let the constant glow that I gave off bother them that much.

              I was sitting in the courtroom and had just sent a couple men back to the finance offices for loans, when I heard a voice in my head.
“My Mage friend and my beautiful Queen Mira! I can sense you in the castle and would ask a favor. Could you meet me at the south side of your city?”

              I answered,
“Of course, Niruth! What a pleasant surprise! Mira, meet me at the balcony and we’ll port over from there.”

              Mira answered,
“I’m here and waiting. I thought you’d want to leave from here.”

              I called to the herald and told him that I had business to attend to outside. He nodded, having gotten used to my jumping up and leaving like that. I ran back to the keep and up the stairs. I found Mira waiting, grinning with anticipation. She loved Niruth and was always happy to see him. I scanned the area south of town, found a large open space and
ported
the two of us there to wait for Niruth’s arrival. He circled out of the clouds high above Seamore and began a slow decent in our direction. We heard the alarm bell ringing like mad. I hoped that no one would be hurt in the rush for cover, but I’d completely forgotten to warn the guard that we’d have a friendly dragon coming for a visit.

              Mira and I heard a chuckle in our heads,
“It looks as though the guards from your castle are coming your way to defend the town. Their silly swords and arrows wouldn’t even dent my hide. I’m sure that I can get you some more respect when I land.”
We heard the chuckle again and Niruth glided in south of us. He arranged it so that we’d be between him and the guard, and he waited for them to arrive. Mira and I looked at each other with confused smiles, wondering what our friend was up to.