CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lakin awoke with a start. Unsure as to what had awakened him, he slowly sat up. Looking around the room, he did not sense or see anything out of the ordinary, and then the feeling came again. It was such a powerful sensation it almost knocked him back in the bed. He turned to make sure Brin was still asleep. He saw her chest slowly rising so he knew she was in a deep sleep. Lakin quickly dressed and headed into his study.
Again, the powerful wave struck him and this time it nearly knocked him to the floor. It was then he understood what it was. The last wave had a consciousness attached to it, and it was one he recognized. Actually, it was two. The twins had come into their power. Lakin felt they were definitely going to be a match for their sister. He sat in his chair, and smiled to himself. This one family possessed enormous power, and his smile faded with the thought. One family should not have this much power. The idea was disturbing him greatly. Lakin was positive he had destroyed all strong magical lines, leaving him the most powerful. Obviously, he had been wrong, and the only thing he could think of was that Gillock must have had something to do with it. Gillock would be the only wizard powerful enough to hide something like this from him. Another wave struck, but this one was weak. “The twins may have come into their power,” he said to himself, “but they still do not know how to use it.”
“And this is a good thing?” came a voice from the doorway.
Lakin turned with a start. He had not heard Vernia and wondered how long she had been there. “What are you doing awake?” he asked.
Vernia moved into the study. “I felt the power as well. The twins are becoming stronger.”
“Yes and quite quickly.” Lakin saw the look in her eyes and realized she was here for a reason.
Vernia moved closer to Lakin. “I wish to discuss the goblin prisoner we received from Malena. Are we going to do anything with him or may I have him destroyed?”
Lakin was not expecting this. He had assumed she was going to ridicule him about his current relationship with Brin. “I was thinking of letting him find his friends. It may prove advantageous to have him back with the group.”
“Shall I perform a spell on him to make him our eyes and ears?”
Lakin smiled. Vernia was most definitely the smartest witch he knew. It somewhat saddened him to no longer have her as his bedmate, but times change. He was going to have to find another way to use her.
“Yes, and soon. I am sure the twins are near Keenley. Make sure their friend is found, but not in perfect condition.”
The last part of his statement made Vernia’s skin crawl. “As you wish,” she said, bowing. Then she turned and left the wizard to his thoughts.
Vernia felt Lakin’s eyes on her until she turned out of the room, and it gave her a chill. Although his new relationship had upset her at first, she was now glad of it. If Brin had not happened along, she may never have realized their entire relationship had been a lie. For many years, she fancied herself in love with the wizard, but now she knew the truth. A spell was all it had been, and it bothered her to know that she never once suspected it. All those times she disagreed with Lakin’s plans, only to never say anything. Mindless and gutless was how he liked her to be, but no longer. Now she found him disgusting and pathetic. It did amuse her when he would mutter the spell under his breath, trying to recapture what he had lost. Sometimes she would pretend it had partially taken her, but never completely. The fact she had placed a spell of her own around herself made her smile. It was something he would never think of, not from one of his Magima. They were all loyal and dim-witted. None would ever fight his control or question his rule. None except Vernia.
Vernia arrived at her destination with a smile on her face. The guard at the door assumed it meant she was about to torture the creature within.
“Lakin has ordered me to take the prisoner. He’s to be released.”
The guard did not even try to hide his disappointment. “Too bad. I was hoping to hear more of his screams.”
It took all of her willpower not to melt the despicable guard to the wall where he stood. “Don't worry, he's not to be released healthy,” she said.
The guard smiled, but it soon faded when she disappeared with the goblin. Upset, he slammed the door and headed for his quarters.
Vernia waited until she was positive the guard was not coming back before becoming visible again. The goblin sat quiet, and was quite curious as to what was happening.
“We do not have much time, goblin, so listen carefully. I’m to send you back to your friends, but there is a catch. I must put a tracking spell on you so the Order will know where you and your friends are. You must tell Gillock I have done this, but warn him to do nothing right now. Tell him he will know when the time is right to dispel it.”
Dilmek nodded, not wanting to say anything in case it was not what she wanted to hear.
“Good, now I’m going to transport you somewhere close to where we think they are. We know they are heading to Keenley so you may want to wait for them on the outskirts.”
She stepped away from the goblin and began to chant. Knowing Lakin would want the goblin to be slightly injured, she had the spell burn him a bit once he arrived at his destination. When he had disappeared from her sight, Vernia headed back to her quarters. Lakin would most likely be calling on her later in the day so she needed to rest now.
Lakin waited until he was sure Vernia was no longer nearby to activate his mirror. He hadn’t spoken to Malena for quite some time and didn’t want her to become suspicious.
“What is it?” stated her annoyed voice.
“I’m just checking in with you, my queen,” he responded.
It amused Malena to hear him refer to her as queen. Not wanting to let him know she was aware of his new bedmate, she went along with it.
“I am sorry to snap at you, Lakin. I am afraid all of this has begun to take a toll on me. Is there something to report?”
“We sent the goblin back to his friends. I thought it wise to have another set of ears among the group.”
This news annoyed her, but she hid it. “That is very wise. If there is nothing else, I must take my leave. I need rest.”
Lakin bowed low. “No, there is nothing else. Get some rest; you will need all of your strength for the coming changes.”
Malena did not say another word, and the mirror clouded over. Lakin wondered if she suspected something, then brushed the thought from his mind. If she had, he was certain something would have been said. Smiling to himself, he headed back to his room. Luckily, Brin was still asleep. He did not wish to explain why he was up and about in the middle of the night and was glad to see she had not moved.
Several days passed before Lakin finally sent for Vernia. The long wait bothered her, but she knew it was his way of controlling her still. Instead of knocking at the door of his study, she just burst in. Brin, of course, was with him.
“Please excuse us, Brin. We have things to discuss.”
Brin stood and left without a word. Vernia noted she used to be the exact same way.
“You wished to speak with me?” she asked, letting him hear the annoyance in her voice.
“Yes. Has our little friend found his companions yet?”
“No, he was injured so he has not moved towards them. He is close to Keenley, though, so he may just wait them out.”
Lakin was obviously annoyed by the news. Vernia figured he had hoped the creature would have run off to find its friends. Conveniently, she failed to mention the goblin had set markers about, letting his friends know where he would be making camp. She only hoped he would not sense her deception.
“Is that all?” she snapped.
“Yes. But let me know the moment the goblin finds the group.”
Vernia just snorted a response then stormed out.
Lakin watched her go, and when the door shut, Brin materialized in her place.
“She is not so powerful. She did not even know I was he
re,” she stated smugly.
“Do not underestimate her. She was annoyed with me, and it distracted her. If she were on her guard, you would probably be a pile of ash.”
“One should always be on their guard, especially in the place you feel most confident,” was Brin’s response.
Lakin smiled. Brin was coming along quite nicely. “Yes, that is very true. Do not worry, my princess. The prophecy will soon be filled and then you and I can rework this land into what it should be.”
Brin was going to respond, but a sense of dread overtook her.
Lakin noticed the change in her stance. “What is it?” he asked.
“Eric and Koral. The other day I noticed I could not sense them, but now I can. I wonder what happened?”
Lakin was disturbed by this comment. He had no idea she was linked to her siblings, nor that she was aware something had happened to them.”
“They are coming into their powers. You may feel things off and on for the next few weeks. Are they still with the dwarves?”
“Yes. I do not think it will be for much longer though. They both appear agitated.”
The remark shocked Lakin. Not only could she sense them, but feel what they are feeling. “Have you always been able to sense your brother and sister?”
“Yes. It is funny though, I never sensed the magic within them.”
“Perhaps you did but did not want to believe it so you made it into something else.”
Brin thought on that. “Yes, perhaps you are right. Perhaps I did know all along and just wanted to pretend it was not true. After all, I tried to ignore it in myself.”
Lakin heard the sorrow in her voice. He may have turned her to his cause, but it was still going to be tough to get her to kill her brother and sister.
“What would you like to do today?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.
“I would like to practice some more. I still do not feel very strong.”
“If that's what you wish than that's what we will do.” Lakin got up from his seat and extended his arm for her to take. “Let's be off to the chambers.”
Brin smiled, happy to have someone in this world care about her.