Jake's Justice, Book Three of Wizards (25 page)

There was no way I could avoid it any longer. My reserves were full and if I was going to take on the Elves, I should do it now before they sent any more fools against me.

“I have to go.”

“Are you sure?” Esmeralda looked as though she might cry. “You could wait a little longer.”

“What good would putting it off do?”

She came closer and we hugged. “It might keep you alive for a few minutes longer.”

“Ever the optimist. I don’t plan to die.”

“But if you do, you must go out looking your best. I don’t want to have to tell your child you died in scruffy jeans and a tee-shirt.”

Was I of a suspicious nature I would conclude she wanted me in the awful wizards costume just because Jenny had made me wear it yesterday. Oh, that’s right, I am a suspicious man.

“The feather on the hat tickles my nose.” It was a weak level of defiance and Esmeralda pounced on it.

“It is settled then. You will wear the proper clothes and I will cut the feather off the hat.”

I was halfway through changing before it occurred to me that I’d been cleverly conned. With Esmeralda acting so emotionally I couldn’t back out of it now, but when I got over to the
Bat
Cave
I would change back into something sensible.

“You look very smart.” Esmeralda placed the hat on my head and then tilted it slightly. “Perfect.” Then, before I could stop her she got out a handkerchief, licked it, and rubbed something off my face.

“Even more perfect.” She stood back to admire the effect. “I should call the royal portrait painter. Perhaps he could make a few sketches before you go?”

“I’m going now, Esmeralda. I can’t put it off any longer.”

Esmeralda bit her lip. She came and hugged me, her hand sliding down to my groin. “One last time, just so Jenny and I are even?”

It would take more than that, but I wasn’t going to tell her. I gently pushed her away from me. “I have to go. I’ll probably be back before tomorrow.”

“I shall hold you to that, Jake Morrissey. You come right back. Captain Cari’s funeral is in two days’ time and you cannot miss it. Or you could just wait until after the funeral?”

This was getting silly. I needed to go before she talked me out of it. With a wizard, thought and deed can be much the same thing. A moment later I arrived in the
Bat
Cave
.

[Going to your final battle properly dressed I see. Though something in maroon would cover up your blood more effectively.]

“Why is it that everyone thinks I’m going to get killed?”

Fluffy gave me his serious look. [I have talked with the Dragons about your plan. They see only a small chance of survival.]

“They think I shouldn’t go?” If the Dragons were against it, perhaps it was an insane idea and I should give it up.

[They honor your bravery. It is the right thing to do. More than that, it is the
Dragon
thing to do. However, they do not believe you have a high probability of succeeding.]

Fair enough, but that brought up another issue.

“Then you should stay here. There’s no sense in both of us dying.”

My dragon gave me a hard push with his nose, sending me reeling across the cave.

[That is
my
choice, not yours. The Dragons believe your chances are much improved with me by your side. The Elves and the Dragons have a relationship going back over half a million years and the Elves will know what the consequences of my death will be.]

“Okay, there’s no need to get stroppy. It was only a suggestion.” I got to my feet and brushed the seat of my pants. Black material shows every mark. It took me a bit longer to find the hat, which had fallen behind a chair. I never had problems like this with jeans and a tee shirt.

[There is also the prophecy to take into account.]

He was talking about the prophecy that connected me to the Dragons. Something to do with a big battle, with them fighting at my side. Fluffy refused to give me any details as he said it might change things.

“If I get killed, your prophecy goes right out of the window.”

Fluffy shook his great snake-like head. [Prophecies are not so simple, nor so easily dismissed. You may not be the one. It may be a child of yours.]

“Well, I’m ready to go. I was going to change into something more suitable, but since you and Esmeralda think this costume is appropriate, I’ll keep it on.”

[You should visit Jenny and your parents first, to say goodbye.]

Talk about a positive attitude. I was surprised he hadn’t had me measured for a coffin. But I suppose it wouldn’t be fair to say goodbye to Esmeralda and not to Jenny.

I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, I’ll go. Be back in five.”

While I would normally hop to outside Jenny’s parents’ front door, that was when I wasn’t wearing fancy dress. No way was I going to be seen by the neighbors in the wizard outfit. Instead, I hopped directly into her room.
 
The bed was neatly made and there was no sign of her handbag.

There were no sounds of occupancy and I felt like a thief. I found myself creeping down the stairs, ready to hop out at the slightest sound. When I reached the ground floor, I heard the sounds of voices in the lounge. Peering round the door I saw Jenny and her mother. I knocked on the lounge door, which was stupid since I was already halfway in.

“Jake,” Jenny was up on her feet and hugging me before I could say anything. She stepped back to look at me. “You’re going aren’t you? I thought Esmeralda would talk you out of it.”

“I have to deal with them, Jenny. Innocent people are getting killed.”

Mrs. Owens got to her feet. “I’m just going out for a walk. You two settle down and have a good chin-wag.” She left the room, stopping only to pat me on the shoulder.

“Mum understands,” Jenny said softly. “It’s difficult for my parents. They never expected their daughter to marry a hero and they don’t know how to cope.”

“I’m not a hero.”

Jenny touched my face and then reached up on her toes to kiss me. “Oh, but you are, Jake. That’s why you’re going to get yourself killed taking on the Elves, to stop more innocents dying.”

“I’m about to go… with Fluffy. Because he’s with me you’ll know if…”

“If something happens to you or him? I suppose. If they kill you quickly, all I’ll know is that Retnor is gone.”

“I’m not going to get myself killed.” It wasn’t like I was the Welsh Football Team. Sometimes I won.

“Make sure that you don’t. And why did Esmeralda cut the feather off your hat? I liked the feather.”

Women may well be psychic. How else could she know it was Esmeralda?

“I told her I wouldn’t wear the stupid thing if she didn’t.”

“Wait here.” Jenny ran upstairs as I stood where I was feeling stupid. A few minutes later she returned with a large peacock feather in her hand.

“Got it off one of Mum’s hats.”
 
She took my hat from my head and carefully threaded the end of the feather into the hatband, using a pin to fasten it in place. “There you are. It looks better now”

It certainly didn’t, but I knew what she was up to. Women used to send knights into battle with a handkerchief as a token of their love. I would have to live with a feather. On the bright side, the Elves might kill themselves laughing when I appeared before them and save me the trouble of fighting them.

“I’ve got to go, Jenny.”

“I know,” she replied smiling sadly. “Take care, Jake. Come home soon.”

 
“Mam, Dad?” The living room was empty.

“Out here, lad. We were just going out.” Dad appeared at the door wearing his coat. “Strewth, why are you dressed like that?”

Mam pushed past him and came to give me a hug. “You’re about to fight those nasty Elves. You come back, you hear?”

Dad came and gave me an awkward hug. He checked his watch. “We’ve got a bus to catch. Come with us to the door. That Inspector phoned for you again. Something about a box.”

I followed my parents to their front door. As they opened it someone came walking up the path towards them.

“Hello Jake. I’ve come looking for you. There are things you have to sign.”

Mam and Dad gave Betty Hardy a most peculiar look before turning that same look on me.

“Mam, Dad, this is Betty Hardy. Her father owns the farm I found the treasure on.”

Mam tutted. “I thought I recognized you. Saw you on the news when it all happened. We have to go. Jake, can you take care of her on your own?”

There was a warning in Mam’s tone. Not that I had any plans that way, but I noted it anyway.

Dad nodded at Betty and my parents carried on down the path.

“Is there a fancy dress party?” Betty asked.

Realizing that the neighbors might well be getting an eyeful of me in full Zorro costume I stepped back inside and waved Betty to follow. As I shut the door she carried on into the living room, with me having to trail behind.

“Are you going to ask to take my coat?” Betty took it off before I could answer and handed it to me. I went back to the hall and hung it up. Before I could get back she called out to me.

“A cup of tea would be nice. That was a long journey, and I had to change trains.”

I stumbled into the kitchen wondering why I felt obliged to dance to her tune. When I came back with two cups of tea she had taken off her pullover revealing a tight tee shirt to go with her tighter white jeans. She was sitting in a way I found extremely sensual, probably enhanced by the way her clothes seemed to be painted over her body, revealing as much as they concealed.

“Come and sit beside me, she said tapping the cushion of the sofa. You’ll have to sit there to read these papers.”

“Have the newsmen gone from the farm?” I sat reluctantly, and though I’m sure she was much lighter than me, the couch slid me towards her.

She laughed. Her laugh was like water running over rocks in a stream. As if she was a force of nature.

“I wore them out, my love. Just as I’ll wear you out soon enough.”

I tried to stand, but she put a hand on my shoulder and I fell back on the sofa. In some strange way I didn’t plan, my right hand ended up touching her groin. A tingle of pleasure danced up through my fingers. Searching for some form of magic, I could detect nothing around her, though something was affecting me.

She must have seen my reaction in my eyes. “A magic older than anything you know, Jake. We are meant for each other and the longer you resist, the more it will pull you to me.”

“I can’t.” It was hard to even get that much of a protest out.

She smiled and it was like the sun warmed my face. “You’ll be my lover, regardless of what you think you want. Merging our bodies has already improved your special sight. The more you succumb, the more you’ll see. It’s written in the stars, Jake. I’ve been waiting for you since I was a little girl.”

She put her hand on me, confirming what she already knew, my body wanted her, whatever my notions of what was right.

I must have blanked out for a few minutes, because she was standing naked in front of me. She put out her hands and pulled me to my feet.

“You need to take me now for the fight ahead. Your sight isn’t good enough to save you. That’s why I came. There are no papers to sign; it is our union I want. Don’t try and resist me.”

I couldn’t have resisted if I’d wanted. The urge to take her had robbed every other thought from my head. As I began to pull off my clothes she stopped me.

“Leave it on. Never had it from Zorro before and I like it a bit kinky. Take me as you are.”

As the trousers came from Salice there were buttons, and I fumbled as I struggled to undo them. She turned away from me, bent over and braced her hands on the sofa cushions presenting me with a glorious rear view of her body. Her bottom wriggled impatiently as she waited for me.

“Take me, Jake. Take me now.”

26.
      
Revenge