Part 22 (2/2)
George walked across the room and lowered into Brayson's chair. He began to think as he wiped the sweat from his brow. d.a.m.n it ... that bit the big one and didn't go how I imagined it would. I've got to be smarter than that. Somehow, I need to get on her good side before she has me strung up. d.a.m.n it, George! Why did you have to be such a moron? I mean, how stupid can you get?
George's Home Later that Night George snuggled Athena while he lay sleeping. His dream was of his family, and in this vision, Athena had already had the baby, and Abbie was sitting on the porch of their home. Abbie was, perhaps, seven or eight seasons old, and she was holding her brother in her arms. Abbie's smile was gleaming, and her joy brought a peaceful look to George's sleeping face.
But as the Mischievous One had a tendency to do, Lasidious ruined a good dream by requesting that he be allowed inside. George opened his mind, and the G.o.d's image appeared next to Abbie on the porch. Lasidious removed the baby from Abbie's arms and began softly stroking the infant's face with one of his fingers.
The Mischievous One looked up and found George's dreaming eyes. ”You know this isn't real, George. But we can make this dream a reality. It has been too long since our last conversation, old friend. It has been 140 Peaks since the last moment we visited in this manner.”
From within his home on Ancients Sovereign, Lasidious watched the image of George as it flickered within the green flames of his fireplace. George rolled away from Athena into a more comfortable position while Lasidious reached into the fire and carried the vision of his pet creation to the table and placed it at its head. The G.o.d lowered into his chair, put his feet up and then spoke as he pa.s.sed his hand above the flames. ”Did you miss me?”
As the dream continued, George responded, ”Where in the h.e.l.l have you been, Lasidious?” The vision of Abbie and the baby faded leaving only Lasidious' face behind. ”I thought you forgot about me.”
”I'm sure you didn't feel too put out. You've been doing just fine without me. I see you've bonded with Payne. You're welcome, by the way.”
”Then I was right. It was you who sent him. I figured as much. I could only a.s.sume you were the one he called Friend.”
”I am. Payne is strong, though he doesn't realize it. He has the potential to be the most powerful goswig a being could have. Even I don't know his full potential. He could become a dominant force while in your service. His mind is young, but you can mold him into whatever you need him to be. Be good to him, and he'll be loyal. Treat him with kindness, and he'll never turn on you.”
The Mischievous One cleared his throat. ”You need to remember ... if your goswig perishes, a portion of your power will pa.s.s with him.”
”Yeah, yeah, yeah. I already know that. Brayson filled me in.”
”As always, George, you don't disappoint. Now that you're bonded with Payne, you can draw from his power. You can do things you couldn't do before. Take the moments necessary to experiment. Learn how to channel his energy. Become one with Payne, and use his to amplify your own as it flows through you to evoke greater power.”
George laughed.
”What's so funny?”
”Oh, nothing. You just sound like an old television show I used to watch. I feel like you should be calling me, Gra.s.shopper.”
Lasidious had no idea what George was talking about, so the G.o.d changed the subject. ”I have something else I need to tell you. It's about the piece of the Crystal Moon that has been hidden on Luvelles.”
”Yes, I know. Mieonus wants me to go after it. She threatened to have me ended if I don't. She said she would have someone terminate me and my family.”
Lasidious took a moment to ponder Mieonus' threat. ”This is going to be much trickier than I had antic.i.p.ated. We have plans to make, George, and we need to ensure that we do everything perfectly.”
Mary's Home The Next Morning George walked through the door of his mother-in-law's house without knocking. ”Mother, is Brayson here?” he shouted. ”He's not at his office or at his home.”
There was no response. George bounded up the stairs. ”Mom, are you in there?” he shouted as he knocked on Mary's bedroom door.
The barrier opened just enough for Brayson to slide through the gap. The Head Master was wearing nothing but his undergarments. ”What do you need, George? We're busy.”
The mage grinned as he tried to peer over Brayson's shoulder. ”What were you two kids doing in there?”
Brayson frowned as he pulled the door closed. ”That's none of your business, Mystic Learner.”
George's grin widened. ”That's okay, you don't need to tell me. I can fill in the details.” He leaned in close, tapped his temple with his right, index finger and then whispered, ”I can create pictures of you two in my head. I can imagine all the wrinkles as they slap against one another.”
The seriousness of Brayson's frown magnified. ”You seem to have forgotten with whom you speak.”
George shook his head. ”C'mon, man, where's the fun in being so serious during every moment?” He reached out and poked Brayson in the gut. ”A master who doesn't play, is a master who's bored all day ... or Peak anyway. Anyway, we need to talk. It's super important.”
”What could be so important that you'd need to interrupt us?”
”Trust me. I wouldn't B.S. you. It can't wait. We need to have a conversation right now. I'll be out front on the porch steps.”
Brayson sighed. ”You do realize your moment of intrusion is less than desirable?”
”I feel you, Master. But I swear, I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't urgent.”
Brayson turned and started to push the door open. ”Just give me a moment ... or three, then I'll find you.”
George winked and then patted Brayson on the b.u.t.t. ”Go get her, stud. I'll see you outside.” The mage turned and bounded down the stairs.
Brayson shook his head and then whispered to himself as he shut the door behind him, ”I'm sorry for the intrusion, Master. Oh, no, no, no, don't worry about it, George, I like my moments of pa.s.sion being stolen. Anything for my Mystic Learner, anything at all.” The Head Master paused. ”I wonder what 'B.S.' means?”
It was not long before Brayson appeared and took a seat beside George. ”What could possibly be so important?”
”Master, Mieonus has given me an a.s.signment.”
”What? You said nothing of it after your meeting with her.”
George nodded. ”I know. She appeared to me again last night. She requested that I undertake a task.”
”What kind of task?”
”Let me give you the rundown. First, I'm going to need to leave soon, but we've got a problem. The task requires that I stand before the Source.”
Brayson's eyes widened. ”The Source? You're not ready to look into the Eye.”
George shrugged. ”h.e.l.l, I'm freaking out about it, too.” The mage stood and walked down the remaining steps. He reached down and grabbed a blade of gra.s.s. ”Look ... I know this is unusual. But for whatever reason, I have been led to Luvelles by the G.o.ddess. She has a plan for me.”
Brayson pushed his right hand through his hair and then scratched the top of his head. ”I've never had a Mystic Learner who spoke to the G.o.ddess as his own personal friend. I don't know what to say.”
George picked up a pebble and then drop-kicked it across the clearing. ”I was told Amar was the vessel for our meeting. Mieonus said she sent him to speak with you.”
”Really?” Brayson replied. ”I have often wondered why Amar would take an interest in the development of another's magic. To do so is against his character. Having this knowledge explains his interest in you. But why would the G.o.ddess use Amar as her vessel? He serves Lasidious.”
George had to think fast. ”Mieonus convinced Amar to abandon his service to Lasidious. Beyond that, you'll need to speak with Amar to understand his reasons.” George reclaimed his seat next to Brayson. ”Regardless of Amar's choices, I still need to speak with the Source. The G.o.ddess told me there is a war coming, and it will consume Western Luvelles.”
”How is this possible? Everything on Luvelles is peaceful. The only strife that exists is between the slaves and the Slave Master in Doridelven.”
George shrugged. ”Apparently, the rest of Luvelles isn't as peaceful as you think it is. Some serious garesh is about to go down.”
Brayson had to take a few moments to ponder George's comments. ”Will my brother, Marcus, have anything to do with this war? Is he planning something?”
George shrugged. ”Beats the h.e.l.l out of me. All I know is that Mieonus said there is a deeper reason why this war will begin ... a reason unseen by the eyes of mortals. When I asked her what the h.e.l.l she meant, she told me the answer will be revealed when the proper moment arrives. I don't know about you, but I felt that was a B.S. answer.”
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