Tom finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Queen Iterne, then Frilly and finally the council. When he tried to sit up the throbbing in his head and side were too much and he fell back, a groan escaping his lips. The queen rushed to his side a look of almost desperation on her face. Tom had to smile or at least try to smile the pain was washing over him and he was still feeling hot, the queen motioned for an older fairy who moved forward and started to heal his semi healed burns.

Tom wondered who this woman was and tried to ask her but again his throat and voice didn’t want to work.
<Young man, I am Talinda, I am one of the few who can heal magic burns,> the older fairy thought to him, <ah! I see you wish to learn that would be good there are too few mages that heal most wounds.>
<Yes Talinda, I wish to learn, I can not heal well at all. I have tried before but what I did wasn’t very effective. I have been told that it has to do with the type of energy,> Tom replied to her.
<I will make a deal with you, if you can try and teach me that healing of the mind I will try and teach you the magic healing,> Talinda said with a sly smile.

Tom thought about it for a few minutes, <ok, I’ll try as hard as I can but I’ve been told that no one can do it. To me it is simple just as to you healing all types of wounds is simple.>
Tom smiled at her again when her mouth opened in shock, <It is not easy young man, it took many years for me to learn all these healing methods,> looking seriously upset she suddenly started laughing.
“I’ll have to remember your sense of humor,” Tom croaked out finally finding his voice, a harsh sounding noise akin to nails on a chalkboard.
Again smiling Talinda put a finger to his lips and tapped her head, pointing to his throat and shaking her head no.
<You need time for me to finish healing you, no more speaking till you are more recovered young man> Talina admonished him.

The queen stood nearby the whole time Talinda was healing Tom, a look of relief on her face when Talinda finished and nodded to the queen. Sitting up slowly Tom tried to stop the queen’s attempts to help him, to no avail.
“Queen Iterne, we need to discuss what you have learned from the traitors, though most of the information was false there may be enough truth in them to help out,” Tom said.
“Why do you think it is mostly false?” The queen inquired.
“I don’t think you were the target, I believe I was but knowing Malamon if you had been hit or killed then that would have been a bonus,” Tom replied. “I believe some revision of the plans may be in order.

An hour later the three other leaders had arrived, Tom sat them down with Queen Iterne and informed them of the revisions. Though they were all concerned over his safety Tom brushed that aside, as Malamon had stepped his attacks up again after word of the attacks had spread. Soon they were all going, Tom suggesting that the other 3 have everyone close to them mind scanned for their safety. Tom and Talinda started in on their lessons, once Tom learned how to change his energy the rest of the lesson was unnecessary. Looking at Talinda limping, Tom thought for a moment, she had told him that she couldn’t be healed it was a very old wound. Concentrating only on her leg Talinda was shocked when not only the pain passed but the leg straightened and she was able to walk without her cane for the first time in 2000 years.

Talinda was having an extremely hard time with what Tom showed her, not wanting to give up she redoubled her efforts, after a few hours she had the basic principle down. Her only problem was that she wasn’t strong enough to go even half as deep as Tom did, but she could now detect the problem and do a temporary patch. Bowing low to Tom, he was surprised as he had heard that the fairies only bowed to the queen, Talinda smiled and left. Tom was still tired but he needed to start locating Malamon again, killing his own people was something not even Tom could forgive him for.

Tom sat and concentrated listening to what was said by all the races, listening for certain words. An hour later he heard the word Malamon and listened closely, sure enough he heard a scream. Flashing out he was there in a second his shields as high as he could get them. Appearing behind Malamon Tom shot everything he had in it. Malamon screamed when his right arm suddenly went limp, trying to hold him there Tom was ripping his way through Malamon’s defences when the very young brownie Malamon had been attacking moaned.
Laughing Malamon spoke, “so bastard what’s it going to be huh? Take me or save the child, I know you’re strong now, almost as strong as me, so tic toc what’s it going to be? Better hurry,” Malamon taunted, the young brownie moaning louder now. Cursing Tom ripped through his last defences crushing more of Malamon’s magic, while Malamon grabbed his head with his still working arm, Tom gathered the child and departed.

Appearing in his house Tom started screaming for Futha, the brownie was there in moments. Tom had already started healing the young male brownie, Futha gasp and darted to Tom’s side, “Clon!” Futha screamed, “Please save him mage, he’s my youngest son.”
“I’m trying Futha, but he is so weak and injured,” moments later Talinda appeared along with an older looking pixie, for an hour they work on the still body of the young boy. Finally he opened his eyes seeing his mother small tears fell from his eyes.
“I did it mama I stood up to him,” Clon said
“Yes my son, I thought there were 2 of you,” Futha said.
“No mama just me, I wanted to help,” a small cough issued from the boy.

Talinda looked at Tom her eyes wide, <Tom you can not keep the child alive like this there was too much damage, I am afraid he is even beyond your power,> Talinda said
“<No! I will hold him you heal the body,> Tom was desperate.
<We can not Tom, the body won’t heal anymore it has expired, we will tell his mother and when she asks, let him go.> Talinda said saddness heavy in her thoughts.
Talinda told Futha, who in turn stared wide eyed at Tom, “I am sorry Clon, you were so brave my son,” the tears now falling freely from her eyes, “I love you my brave, brave son.
“Momma, will I see Daddy now?” Clon asked his eyes somewhat dull.
“Yes I believe you will, I am sure he will be glad to see you,” the tears were so heavy now Futha turned away from her son, “he… he will be so proud of you.”
“Mama please don’t cry, I was glad to help mage Tom, it doesn’t hurt anymore honest,” Tom could feel the boys soul trying to leave the body it was taking all he had to hold him there and he was starting to lose that battle.

Kissing her son’s face Futha looked at Tom and nodded, letting go, the boy smiled at him, “remember Mage Tom, stay as you are, don’t kill, you are nothing like him, I believe in you.” with that the boy sighed and was gone, Tom stood still, the anger swelling in him, going after adults was one thing but to harm children, everyone was backing from Tom as his power began to flare higher and higher. Turning away from everyone the wall in front of him was blown away as if a piece of paper was blown away by the breeze. Reaching out he found Malamon easily, still holding his broken arm having it healed. Reaching in Tom squeezed the pain centers as hard as he could promting Malamon to scream louder than ever before. Tom was so mad he didn’t realise that there were about 30 others there, continuing forward he began to saw away at Malamon’s powers.

“I will not let you hurt anyone else!” With that he ripped 2 more loose then another before Malamon’s mind closed, after breaking both of Malamon’s legs, he started to feel the others firing at him. Up til now they weren’t even close but now they were getting closer through his shields. Damnit! the bastard ass always hiding behind others, with that Tom released the last of his anger in a sonic wave that knocked everyone but Malamon out. “I’ll be back soon, this will end, I’ve removed enough of you powers to at least slow you down,” Tom sneered.
“You’ll never stop me you son of a bitch!” Malamon shouted nothing but pure hatred in his eyes blood pouring from his mouth and ears, he vanished.

Tom took the powers of each of the men there, telling the council where he was Tom was gone before they arrived. Arriving back in his house Tom started to take all his things out. Futha showed up moments later,
“Mage Tom?” she asked
“Looking back Tom sighed, “I am sorry I wasn’t faster, I should have saved him, that little boy should be alive, playing with others his age, not looking for psyco killers.”
“Mage Tom,” she started again, “Do not feel so bad, you gave to me a wonderful gift. When his father, brother and sister were killed, I didn’t have the opportunity to tell them good bye. I didn’t even have a body, they were destroyed totaly, you kept him alive till I got here, once again something that hasn’t been done in an extremely long time. Just the chance to tell him good bye is a rare thing these days.”

Tom had thought that she would’ve been mad, pissed off, anything but this, now it was his turn to be amazed. Thanking him cause she got a chance to say good bye?
“Tom,” she started, “the last 5000 years has become a time where death has become an every day thing, as the humans say, you get used to it, we may not like it but we’re used to it. As for Clon you heard what he said, he was proud of the fact that he got to help you, please don’t detract from that, ok? he was glad to be there for you.” Tom sat his head hug low. Tears falling freely Futha still a little amazed that any human or mage would care about any race besides their own, in all her years this was a welcome surprise to her.

Sitting Tom could only stare at her when she asked him where he had gone, finally relenting, he told her how he’d stripped 3 more powers from Malamon and had broken his legs in several places. He’d remembered Clon’s words, for he’d been close to ending Malamon and with the fury Tom was feeling he had no doubt Malamon would have been completely destroyed.
“Mage Tom please don’t leave, your plan is good everyone just needs to exercise greater caution. Please don’t let Clon’s sacrifice be in vain, he believed in you so strong, that he disobeyed my orders and went off alone. Clon had never done that before, that’s how I knew that his belief was so great.

Tom had to admit based on what she had said Clon had believed stongly in him, Tom didn’t know whether to feel annoyed or embarrassed it had been so long since anyone had given him any type of praise. Tom looked around the room, his wall has been repaired, Futha saw his gaze and told him that the mages and fairies had repaired it just after he left. Walking up to Tom she hugged him and held him close, drying her eyes she pulled Tom down to her and kissed hid cheek thanking him again, she was gone. Standing still he rubbed his cheek in a slight daze, damn he still needed a book on this place just when he thought he knew what was what, someone like Futha turned around and shot everything he thought he knew out of the water.

Azel and an older mage stepped forward and asked Tom what had happened. After explaining that he’d found Malamon again he’d been so enraged that he’d ripped three more powers from him rebroken his arm and had broken both his legs in several places. The 2 mages mouths hung open while Tom retold everything that had happened.
“Tom in just a few weeks you have returned the balance to almost even, Malamon has lost over half his cronies, including 10 of his strongest,” Azel stated, “from the injuries you described Malamon will be healing for quite some time.”
The older mage spoke up, “that is if he can heal, your energy is very strong and in order to heal a wound from magic the healer has to be as strong if not stronger than the wielder, I don’t believe there are many stronger than you.”
A surprised look on his face, Tom had been wondering about that, maybe that was why it had been so easy healing everyone that had been hurt by Malamon.

Thinking a moment Tom had to wonder if he was now stronger than Malamon, even with the anger, Tom didn’t see how he’d been able to get past his defences as easily as he had. Looking back at the 2 mages Tom once again saw colors coming out of them strange but he hadn’t seen them before, as he scanned the room he saw colors from every living thing in the room. Looking at the older mage he saw that he had what looked like an injury to his right hand and wrist.
“When did you hurt your hand and wrist,” Tom asked to this the older mage’s eyes shot open.
“It was a long time ago 3000 years ago I caught part of a spell gone wrong and it twisted my hand. I’ve been unable to perform many spells because of it, as I explained before about healing, there was no one really strong enough to heal it,” the older mage said.

“May I try? Talinda of the Faries was teaching my a few days ago,” Tom said.
The older mage’s eyes flew wide, Talinda had taught a mage? ok, NOW the older man was impressed, Talinda had NEVER taught anyone other than other faries. Holding out his hand and wrist, Tom looked closer, he could see where it had been twisted to the point of breaking the little healing that had been done. Changing his energy Tom concentrated on the old injuries, the mages eyes flew open and his mouth hanging open he felt the energy flow into his hand. Within 10 minutes the pain had started to fade, twenty minutes later he could see his hand straightening. After thirty minutes Tom stopped and looked closer, almost all of the old injury was gone, the hand had been restored to 90% of what it had been.
“I restored most of your hand and wrist but you’ll need another healing in a week after this has set more,” Tom told the shocked older mage, Azel could only smile now maybe the older man would shut up and stop his bitching about the pain.

Tom hadn’t seen Talinda appear behind him nor did he see the huge smile and look of pride on her face. Stepping forward after the mages left Talinda bowed again to Tom prompting him to bow to her. A gasp arose from her and another older fairy that was with her.
“Mage Tom, I would like you to meet my sister, I have been trying for 200 years to help her. My healing magic is strong but no where nearly as strong as yours, from what I just saw, I think you can help her.” Tom looked at the much older woman seeing the colors dance, odd but they were almost reversed from what he usually saw from others.
“I can try, what is wrong with her?” Tom asked still looking at her.
“She was a healer as I am but her magic no longer works, when I look at her I see everything going almost backwards,” Talinda stated.

Tom looked closer at the fairy he saw her magic going more in than out. Reaching in he started looking deeper but had found nothing, after 20 minutes he was very deep drawing closer to the center of her, nearing where her magic flowed from. Looking around at first he didn’t notice much, strange but her magic was draining in not flowing out, almost like a drain… that was it! Getting as close to her magic as he could, Tom looked harder finally finding the tear next to her magic draining her before she could even use it. Tom worked very gently and slowly, the tear was half closed when he noticed the flow had slowed and then stopped. He felt a sigh from the woman and proceeded to heal the rest, he’d repaired 75% of it when the flow finally, though very slowly began to go out instead of draining. Finally finished, he withdrew finding that he’d been at it for hours, he sat exhausted. Talinda’s sister had tears in her eyes as did Talinda.

The 2 faries stared in disbelief at Tom, not only had he found what was wrong but he healed it also. “I am glad the decision to teach you healing was the right one, my sister was a stronger healer than I will ever be. You have helped the fairies more than you know,” the sisters embraced again and then hugged Tom a surprised look on his face, the older kissing his cheek.
After they left Tom strengthened the protection around the house and fell asleep feeling thoroughly exhausted.

Tom hoped he’d dream, he wanted so to see Myria badly, drifting through the soft mist he was disappointed when she didn’t show. Sighing he sat and held him self thinking of her, she was the one thing in his life he could look forward too. He was about to go when he felt Myria approaching sitting back down he waited, coming to him a look of concern on her face she could feel the pain he was feeling. After explaining all that had happened Myria’s face held compassion and not pity or scorn. She again smiled and Tom felt so much better telling her she could return soon she hung her head and shook her head, Tom was a little taken aback what did she mean no? Damnit! nothing would stop him from freeing her! Myria looked up and tears began to fall she hoped when the time came Tom could keep that promise, things weren’t always what they seemed. Tom looked at Myria seeing the tears asked what was wrong, the words please remember what you just said, things are not as they always appear to be, appeared between them. With that she was gone leaving a puzzled and confused Tom trying his best to figure out what she meant.

TO BE CONTINUED