Page 32 of Within the Flames
He winked at Macey and heat flooded her belly. The incubus was insatiable, but she guessed that after he'd almost died, he was allowed to eat as much as he could, even if it was sexual energy siphoned off some of her friends.
They walked over to the others. The three kelpies were following them in the distance and Macey waited until they were close enough to hear her.
She took a deep breath and lifted her voice. "You have all come to fight at our side," she began, speaking as loud as she could. Something stirred within her and a tingle of magic ran over her skin. Air, she assumed. Maybe Air helped her increase her voice's strength.
"We would not have asked for this unless it was absolutely necessary. I believe you've all been told what we're up against. This isn't a mortal enemy, nor one any of you will have faced before. This isn't going to be easy. We don't know how best to defeat him."
"A little more upbeat," Jared whispered and squeezed her hand in reassurance.
Yes, she was getting to that.
"But we have defeated one of his kind before. We now know more about him and his kind than we did back then, so our chances are much higher. Last time, it was just as Wardens, but now, we have all of you fighting by our side. Together, we can defeat this evil before it spreads through all of our worlds. Just because it isn't affecting you yet doesn't mean it won't soon. The Kabouters are already feeling the effect, as are the kludde. The latter can't be here with us today because their magic is out of control and they might do more harm than good. They're suffering, and it's on us to do something about it. Now, will you fight with us, the Seven Wardens, to bring the Mahoun to justice?"
She shouted that last sentence, hoping it would bring others to join in. Alas, silence greeted her words. Were they not going to support them? Had she messed up? Was her speech not convincing enough?
Finally, one of the kelpies roared, "Yes! We will stand with you, your Majesty!"
Oh no. Couldn't they just keep calling her Princess or Highness? Majesty was a step in the wrong direction, a very wrong one that could lead to civil war.
"We're with you!" a very short Kabouter shouted, his voice surprisingly deep for his size. Then, everybody joined in, calling out statements of support, some even stamping on the marshy ground for emphasis.
Macey smiled, relief flooding her. They weren't going to leave. They were going to fight. Now, the big question was, where were they going to take the fight?
"Macey?" Amber asked quietly, having appeared behind the kelpie. "Malan told us some stuff while you were away. It might help us, or it might not. You know how he is."
Macey sighed. "What did he say? And why can't he just tell us now?"
She looked around for the bodiless prophet, but couldn't see him anywhere.
"He's left," the beithir whispered. "Don't tell anyone, we don't want them to think he abandoned us. He said he had to go and find someone who could help us. He didn't tell us who, but he did tell us something else."
"Yes?" Macey asked impatiently.
"Activate the markings and you will find a doorway that will lead to doom or salvation," Amber recited. "That's exactly what he said. Do you think he means the tattoos on your back?"
Macey frowned. She couldn't think of any other markings that they'd come across recently. The ones on her skin were still a mystery. She knew they represented the other Wardens, but she had no idea why she was carrying them. Maybe this was the answer. Question was, how was she supposed to activate them?
"Please tell me he gave you instructions to activate the markings?" she sighed, but Amber shook her head, suppressing a smile.
"Of course he didn't. I think he wasn't happy about telling us this much already. I guess it wasn't vague enough for him."
Macey laughed. "Yes, that sounds like Malan. I guess we have to trust him. So far, he's not led us in any wrong direction, although I can't say he's always led us in the right one, either."
"He's a weird man... being, that's for sure," Amber agreed. "Shall we ask the others if they have any idea about what to do with the markings? But maybe not here. I'll tell our allies we're making last minute preparations, you go inside with the others and figure something out."
Macey nodded and watched as the beithir confidently strode towards the Kabouters.
* * *
"Maybe we need to have sex?"Jared suggested with a wolfish grin. "All of us?"
Izban growled. "No way. If you even suggest this again, I'm out."
"I do love a good orgy," the incubus muttered, but didn't press the issue further. They all knew that Izban was already at the outskirts of their group, and nobody wanted him to retreat completely.
"Maybe we need to give you some of our magic?" Cam proposed instead. "Somehow point it at our respective markings and see what happens?"
"I wouldn't want to burn her," Flint warned. "And I'm not sure lightning would be good for her either. No offense, Amber."
