Toman of the Cherokee (EPILOGUE)
Introduction:
Finale to the story.
It was then that Naci told me about what she had done, herself. I had been very deeply unconscious, when her want for me overshadowed rational thought. She had taken her clothes off, impaling herself upon me.
Here I had thought all this time it had just been a strange dream. Naci shook her head no.
“I had wanted you so badly up to that point. My desire for you was growing larger each day. It got to the point that day that I knew I wouldn’t make it past the end of the day. You were so exhausted; I knew that this would probably be the only time I would have to be with you.” Naci said.
I looked at her with a sense of wonder as she lowered her head, tears starting to fall. “Why are you so upset Naci?”
With a sigh her head slowly looked up at me. “I was and am so afraid that you will hate me Toman. That I did what I did without your knowledge. That I took,” Here Naci’s head seemed to fall lower. “I took what wasn’t freely given. You are within your rights to leave me.” This last part whispered so low I almost thought she hadn’t said it.
I reached over gently cupping her chin, raising her head, ’til she was looking into my eyes.
“Naci, again I have to tell you, you are more than just a partner to me. Had it not been for you, I know that I would have failed at the beginning of all of this. Naci,” I stated pulling her closer to me. “I just realized it, I love you. There is no other explanation for everything.”
Naci’s eyes went wide as she stared hard and long into mine. They were suddenly wide as she started to kiss me fiercely all over my face. This of course awoke Palaki who let the both of us know in no uncertain terms that she was there. I stepped back as the both of us laughed.
“I have a few things I need to do Naci. A few promises that I made, I have to fulfill.” I told Naci as I gently kissed both her and Palaki
Even as Palaki cooed Naci nodded, “Finish Toman then return to me. For too long I have slept alone.” She stared at me with an intense look, “I do not intend to any longer than necessary.” Naci warned.
“I shouldn’t be that long.” I told her. Again she gave me an intense look then nodded. I flashed out with a sigh, I had better hurry the look of hunger in her eyes, was having an effect on me as well.
I traveled for possibly a minute and then appeared within a peaceful realm that I had created a while back. Walking a short distance, directly in front of me, I soon came upon the mage house where I had left Rigal and his mother. Reaching out I started to feel where they were. A sudden movement behind me, had me whirling as I felt Rigal moving toward me.
I raised my hand suddenly freezing a supremely surprised Rigal. “Unless you want to get seriously hurt, I suggest you stop.” I spoke out toward him.
“Toman?” I heard him struggle to say. Releasing him I felt him rush toward me, grabbing me in an almost crushing bear hug. “By the great power, I had thought that you had forgotten about us.”
I shook my head when he released me. “I wouldn’t do that, with all the help you gave me? I owe you quite a bit, between you and your mother; I might not have been able to pull part of it off. Now then,” I started as I saw his mother exit the mage house walking up to the two of us. “I think it’s time we got you two home.”
I looked at Mrs. Vanderhoon, when she stopped before me. “Is he really gone?” A slight trembling to her lips. “Can we really go home?” I was nodding as I waved my hand, the three of us vanishing only to appear a few moments later.
“I forgot that I hadn’t repaired your home.” I said, as we stared at what was left of the two story building that was their home. The entire front, of it was still a crumbled mess lying in front.
With a smile I nodded to the two of them, as I concentrated. At first nothing happened, then I felt my power start to climb. I felt both Rigal and his mother back up as first my arm, then the rest of me started to glow.
Nodding I felt the structure start to reform. Good I thought, as pieces started to slide into place. Within moments my power was three times higher as everything was moving, almost too fast to be seen.
Twenty minutes later, I dropped both my arms with a smile on my lips. “There, I think that should provide you with adequate protection now.”
Rigal’s mother was staring with her mouth open, tears falling from her eyes. Quickly she came to me throwing her arms around me in a crushing hug.
Rigal waited a little sheepishly nearby ’til she was done. After she released me, he took my hand in a strong handshake.
“You have a friend in me for life, if I can somehow help you, let me know.” Rigal told me.
I thought about it for a moment then I looked at Rigal, then deeper to his center. Damn, no wonder he couldn’t use the massive power he had. With a thin smile, I reached in chipping away at well over half of his power center.
It was perhaps two minutes that had passed, when Rigal’s eyes went wide, as did his mother’s. “What… what did you do? By the great power I feel more power within me than I ever have!”
“As I said Rigal, I owe the both of you quite a bit. I know that you aren’t a wild magic user, though you have depths of power that only a few can rival. This will help you to protect your mother far better than ever before. Know that this is the first treatment, you need to let your body adjust before I dare push you higher.” Here I bowed to the two of them, shocking them to silence. Then with a crooked smile, I whispered in Rigal’s ear, earning a very wide smile and a vigorous nod of his head.
With a sigh I smiled back then vanished, appearing before a great magical medical building. I was actually afraid of this next thing I HAD to do. Walking in I saw more than a dozen of the males and females bristle. Then most of them moved to block me from going further.
A tall, angry, red faced male limped toward me. In a rather heated voice he advised me, “You are not welcomed here. You almost utterly and completely decimated the entire corps. To the extent that, though no one was killed, there is no longer a corps. There is no protection for the magic realm now.”
There were several angry shouts from more than a dozen others behind him. “I am not here to-” I started.
The angry man just started to laugh, “You might as well kill us to the last member. As strong as you are, there is really no one that can heal any of us. So either leave or start the killing, we know that you have no concern for us.”
I had been feeling bad when I walked in here, now I was just pissed as I stared the male in the face, getting red faced myself. Growling, I stretched out my arm staring the male in the eyes. Feeling my power climb, I pushed out feeling all that was wrong with the male suddenly heal. Growling I turned to the others in the room hitting all of them with the overabundant energy, that I could still feel climbing.
All of their eyes went wide, when they felt all the pain fade, their bodies normal again. That’s when I fell to the ground. Damn it! I had pushed too far too soon. I could feel the energy growing higher as I stumbled out the door.
I tried to think of Naci and home, though nothing happened. I felt those that were healed coming out the door looking at me, struggling to go, hell even think. I was astonished that I couldn’t clear my thoughts.
I felt a flash beside me as someone appeared. The small, soft hand, I felt touch my shoulder; let me know Naci was here thank the great power. That’s when I heard first Merlin then my father warning everyone to go back inside.
Naci’s soft voice whispered to me. “It’s alright Toman, I am here. Close the door like you have always done.”
“I’m not sure if I can Naci. This was done with such anger it seemed to move on its own. For you I will try my Naci.” I told her as I began a struggle to even get the door to move. Damn but this was difficult.
Finally after what seemed to be days, I managed to get the door to the brink. I was so tired I was sure I’d not make it. That’s when I felt Naci also helping me to push on the door. It was then I noticed that her power was much higher than I remember it being, before I thought I had lost her.
“I am here Toman; I told you I wouldn’t leave you. I was more than serious when I said that. Now rest, you still have quite a bit to do when you awake.” Naci told me as the door finally closed. With a smile I barely nodded then felt the welcoming darkness enfold me.
I awoke two days later, feeling like I had been thrown down and stomped on, more than a few times. I started to get up, but felt a soft hand try to push me back down, Naci?
I felt what had to be at least fifteen of the enforcer corps, Naci, pops, mother, father Merlin and Morganna. What the hell was going on?
Groaning, I tried to open my eyes them slammed them shut as the light was like daggers in my head.
{Give it a few moments Toman.} I heard Pops say. After what you did I’m surprised that you are awake now. Healing one or two is hard, though to do fourteen? Well as I said I am surprised you are up now.}
I groaned again slightly louder, as I again tried to sit up. This time, I felt at least four sets of hands push me back down restraining me. Taking a deep breath I relaxed then chanced opening my eyes.
I was surprised when Mother, Father and pops were there with Naci. “Water.” I strained to get out. After that I fell back out of it another day.
This time I awoke alone, quickly sliding out of bed. Naci appeared a moment later. “Are you feeling better?” She asked. I just nodded. “Uncle says that you can heal a few at a time, though no more than ten.” I nodded at this as we walked out to another building.
The same male from before walked to me kneeling. “I wish to apologize for how we treated you. I just hope that you can forgive us.”
I nodded as I told him, “Not that much to forgive. After what was done to all of you, I can’t really blame you. Though this time I hope I can finish healing all of you..”
“Thank you, with just the fifteen of us we are really spread thin. Though it is good to know that the magic realm has a little semblance of order.” The male stated to me. Hell I did the ten with no trouble at all. The surprise and elation on their faces made all of it worth it. Bad thing though, it took me all week to finish.
I was summoned before the council again, this time the real council. It seemed that they had elected a new leader. I appeared in the chambers as I was requested. I was about to speak when I felt a familiar feeling. What in the hell? I looked around for my father seeing no one.
“Toman Wileby,” A deep voiced male stated as I walked into the chambers. I stood at the dais that the owner of the voice indicated. “It has come to the attention of this council that you are a wild magic user.”
I was about to speak when I felt a slight probing. Staring at the male that was the leader I growled pushing back surprising the male. I then pushed harder pinning him to the wall. I felt his power explode higher though no where as high as mine.
“I suggest you not try that again” I growled, staring harder at the very young male.
“I apologize, I had to make sure the stories I heard about you were true.” Waving his hand a huge tome appeared. “This law was enacted not long ago. It says and I quote: Magic law 5000, it is hereby the decision of the council that, the unskilled and wanton use of wild magic is outlawed. The said use of wild magic will be punishable by death, the execution to take place immediately under the watchful eyes of a sub-council male member of the Timmings’ family.:”
Toman was suddenly in a more defensive position. “So I am to be executed? Fine, I guarantee an almost new council will have to be enacted afterward. I also hope that you can take the rest of my family.”
The male leader shook his head no, as he approached Toman shaking his hand. “It said the unskilled and wanton use of wild magic is outlawed. You have far more control than I do at the moment. No, I just wanted to make sure you are on our side. Also, we wish to thank you for healing and restoring the Corps. By the way I am Tom Timmings, just call me if you need help.”
Toman left shaking his head. This day was getting stranger and stranger. Walking to Morganna and the rest of his family he nodded then started to chant.
Watching as Morganna’s face started to show great relief.
“There, the last is gone; I apologize for taking so long. Also, you might find that you have far better control than you ever had.” Toman told Morganna whose face showed great shock, then pleasant surprise, when Merlin walked to her kissing her with a passion hot enough to melt metal.
With everything finally done Toman wished all of them well then vanished with Naci. Many hoped that if he was ever needed again he’d be back.
