An Offer

Artifacts of the Arcane by Jake Kerr, Book. Three, The Cup of jam Sheet, chapter nine, an offer. There was very little cover as we made our way north, but things appeared calm. The only thing, as far as I could see were twinkling lights in the distance and the swaying shadows of the trees and crops. The sky was bright with stars, and the moon hung low, giving everything a dull glow. I couldn't hear the buzz of any planes, or the rattling of cars, or even the nighing of horses, so we trudged along, save for the moment, with a goal of better concealing our travels toward Germany. Of course, I wasn't concerned with the staff in the coat. I was invincible. In fact, I didn't really need Naomi or Iggy anymore. As I was Stiggy easily gliding along with his steady steps while he cradled Naomi in his arms, I wondered if it would be better for me to just take a sharp turn and head toward Germany alone. Naomi could return to her studies, will Iggy could continue with whatever he was doing for the magical creatures or Kine or whoever he reported to. Iggy looked over his shoulder, checking on my progress, and it was the unblinking eyes that made my decision for me. He clearly had made his intentions known that I should consolidate the three artifacts not to freeze Haak, but rather to use the enslaved dragon's magic. I could guess the purpose too, to help his kind in other magical creatures. After all, that's why I was honored with the name a Naat. But Iggy's intent, while understandable, when against everything I stood for. My life's mission was to free not just magical creatures, but also the dragon that my own family had exploited for centuries. Iggy was hoping to use one slave to free others. I simply couldn't agree to that. Are you okay, Tommy? We still have a mile or two to travel before we find cover in those woods. Iggy pointed to a tuft of shadowy green trees in the distance. I must have been lagging behind, so I increased my pace to match the powerful of free I'm fine, I'd be a lot more tired if I had to carry Naomi. She is not a burden and appears comfortable, But we will need to wake her for some food and drink. When we settle for the night, I nodded, but Iggy had already turned back to face our destination. We marched along at a brisk pace, and before too long we hit the edge of the forest. Calling it a forest was perhaps an exaggeration. It was more of a thin strand of trees that extended into the distance. Still, it provided cover from plains or magical creatures spying overhead, and it was far from the road that would have made it easy to track our progress and location. So we were alone, We were hidden, and we were safe. Iggy and I made the most of our meager supplies. Naomi lay on a raincoat with her head on a pile of clothes. Well, I may do with using my shoes as a pillow. Iggy shook his head earlier when I asked about letting a fire, and I didn't bother pushing the point. Closing my eyes, I was imagining how I would freeze a heck when Naomi's voice broke the silence. Glad to see I'm not dead, I rolled over. To see Naomi sitting with her legs crossed, eating dried apples and drinking water from a cup Iggy sat next to her, Shuffling through the supplies. He pulled out a small loaf of bread and handed it to Naomi. She ignored me even after I sat up. Naomi continued to ignore me as she chatted to herself for Iggy. Maybe now that we're hidden, we won't have to worry about Tommy being so carefree about our lives. Hey, that's not fair. I finally caught her attention. She turned to me, her face unreadable as she took a bite out of the bread egg he had handed her. I just had more faith in your magic than you did. Yeah, let's go with that. She shook her head. Just when I thought she was going to continue ignoring me, she punched her thigh with her fist, sending breadcrumbs flying. I don't know what's happened to you, Tommy, but I have to admit it's scaring me. Her eyes were intense, and she stared directly at me while she continued. I could have died back on the road and you didn't seem to care. Maybe you don't need to care because you're this all powerful and unbeatable arch mage now, but it would be nice if you took a moment to consider us mortals. Every once in a while, that's rich. I was angry that she couldn't see that I was helping her. You're the most powerful magician on earth. You don't need me. You took pains to tell me you don't need me, and yet here you are bitter and angry because I make you take care of yourself. For once, Naomi stared at me, but it was different than her normal angry stare. It was of sadness and betrayal. You left me alone before. I guess I should be used to it by now. Before he could tell her that she was just being foolish, a loud crack filled the previously silent night. Iggy stood up his head, darting from left to right. We have been discovered, he said the words, immediately before detonation exploded against his chest, hurling him back into the shadows. I looked at Miomi, her eyes wide in surprise and fear, and at that moment two things happened. I realized she had not recovered enough to cast a strong shield, and a debtonation slammed into the weak shield she had conjured. It threw her backward, and she slammed to the ground, next to a small formation of rocks on the forest floor. I ran toward her, hoping to see if she was okay. The voice inside me that was screaming to me to defeat my enemies was overwhelmed by my concern for Naomi. She was motionless on the ground. I reached her just as a loud, clear voice penetrated the quiet of the night. Quiet. Why was it quiet? I was under attack, iich, mage, you are certainly considering stopping time and destroying my small but rather effective force. But before you do, I would like to make you an offer. The voice spoken English with a very slight German accent. Naomi was breathing but unconscious. So I stood and turned to face a man in a dark suit standing at the edge of where we had set up camp. I set the staff of light to an uncomfortable brightness. Who are you? As I looked around, I could see a handful of German magicians within the trees around us. It wasn't a large force, but it was a deadly one. Covering his eyes with his arm, the man replied. That doesn't matter archimage. I am but one of many. What does matter is what I have to. Say, and that is I was out of patience with Nazis. The man was right, they had to hurt Naomi, and at that point I was ready to just stop time and destroy them all. As a message to Hitler and his magical forces. We are well aware we cannot stop you. You will make your way to Berlin, you will defeat all in your path, and you will find yourself in some final battle that you may or may not win. The man shrugged. That doesn't sound like much of a bargaining position. What's your offer? At that point, I was more curious than anything when facing someone all powerful? What can you bargain with? We may not be able to hurt you, Tommy. The man paused, emphasizing my own name, something he hadn't done before. But you have a grandfather, a great grandfather, other family, friends in England, and. He nodded toward Naomi. Friends closer than that. All of him can and will die if you continue with your foolish mission. I glanced down at Naomi. She was broken, but not dead, She was weak but not defeated. She was still the mighty Black Witch, the powerful force of magic that hadn't been seen in centuries. More than any of that, though I knew she was the only person that I loved as my best friend, my adventuring partner, the one that made me better, the voice inside me, the one I now knew to be a desperate Zahak, screamed for me to leave my family and friends behind to destroy these foolish men. As I marched to Berlin to free him. As much as I wanted to free him, I also knew that his rage and the offer from the German were one and the same, false demands made with the assumption that no one would conceivably do what I was about to do. Your hand reaches, but it doesn't reach the Bomberle or Manhattan, the German smiled, his oily smile. That is a foolish assumption. Regardless we know of your fondness for the Witch, she will not survive another bombing, or even an attack from a small force like this. The German waves his arm towards the force and the trees, awaiting his orders. There are moments in your life when surrounded by the completely unexpected, and challenged with the unthinkable, that a clarity that had eluded you, a clarity you didn't even realize had been muddled suddenly reveals itself. This was a moment like that, everything became clear to me. I don't know how. Perhaps it was the fear of my family being hurt. Perhaps it was Zahak's desperation. Perhaps it was the stress. Perhaps it was Namely's words still echoing in my mind. But in that moment, I suddenly understood how the Germans were tracking us, in what was happening to me. I lowered the brightness of the light from the staff, and the German uncovered his eyes. I was foolish, but I understand everything now, how you track us, how you plan to defeat me. In fact, I understand my own weakness better. He mentioned my foolish assumption. Your foolish assumption was that I am planning on using the artifacts for their power. I shook my head. But nothing is further from the truth, and with a smooth motion, I removed the code of invincibility and placed it on Naomi. Before the magicians or the German could harm me, I stopped time, sitting down on one of the rocks. I enjoyed the frozen look of astonishment on the German's face while I waited for Naomi to Wake Up a podcast. Alchemy production