The Chaos Wars

Chapter 32: Complicated

6 weeks ago

It had taken two weeks and all his rogue gifts but Eric had finally found the location of Jamie. He had woken up, almost at the point of madness from loss, until he had a visit from the Crone Goddess. Eric rubbed the back of his head at the thought of it. 

In true Crone Goddess style she had whacked him on the back of the head and told him to start looking.

“I didn’t bless you with those gifts so you could act like a baby, you are King of the Rogues so find her!” The Crone had snapped before disappearing. It was the tough love that he needed to hear.

“We are here” Fluff said drawing him away from his thoughts. They had been on a clipper boat for 5 solid days and were finally pulling into port. Raoul had managed to hide Jamie away at Hermite Port, a small fishing village on Thule’s coast. It was clear that Raoul teleported between here and the capital in order to keep Jamie as hidden as possible.

“She is here, I can feel a faint presence” Fluff confirmed, as they walked on to the dock side. Eric had his cloak hood up as we walked the small streets. Yes he had glam magic on, but he was taking absolutely no chances. He went to a place he knew would have the information he wanted - the local Tavern.  Eric stepped into the Mermiad’s Tavern and allowed his eyes to ajust to the light. His eyes and his nose as it stunk of rotten fish, urine and body odour

“Finally you are here! Took you long enough!” A scrap of a Tom mind-linked. He clearly had a hard life as there was patches in his fur and his ribs could be seen.

“Nightstalker, what are you doing here?” Fluff hissed in reply

“You two know each other?” Eric said surprised

“He is my brother” Nightstaker said casually as he swished his tail in annoyance.

“Older brother” Fluff pointed out.

“By 5 mins!” Nightstaker retorted.

Eric sighed, the last thing he needed was two cats arguing, especially when they were God’s children! Eric went over to the bar and left them two to finish their staring contest.

“What will you be having?” A bar man asked 

“A pint of your best bitter” Eric said 

“It is hair of dog, we have none of that soft stuff here” the barman said

“Sounds even better” Eric said as he sat at a bar stool. A pint of  dark treacle like beer was put in front of him and it was then he noticed the man’s tattoo. It was of a sun and it was on his palm. Eric looked up and studied the Barman. He was over 6 foot-tall, bold, dark skinned and looked to be in his 60s. He had scars all up his arms, obviously a fighter at some point.

“Can I help you?” The barman said gruffly.

“Forgive me sir, I was just intrigued by your tattoo. It is unusual to see a sun worshiper at a sea port” Eric said taking a sip of his beer. He tried not to cough as the thick alcoholic liquid burned his throat.

“I don’t see why! The sun effects everything is this realm including the sea!” The barman grumped as NightStalker  jumped up on the bar. Obviously the dominance issue had been sorted as Fluff did the same. Fluff blinked twice when he saw the barman and was about to say something when a voice boomed in his head.

“Do not say anything or I will personally return you to your Clowder!” The Barman’s voice boomed in Fluff’s head.

“My King...” Fluff mumbled through his mind-linked as he looked down.

Eric could sense that something was wrong and said “Fluff are you OK?”

“He is fine, just getting used to being on dry land! Now my turn for a question, what are you doing here?” The Barman said with a smile.

“I ..I looking for work. The war destroyed my home town and decided to try my luck somewhere new” Eric said smoothly. 

“Work hey? Don’t have any experience of Tavern work per chance? My last barman ran off with some captain’s wife and I am very short handed. Accommodation not much, but it warm and dry. Food will be provided as well” The Barman said.

Eric thought for a moment, it was a very tempting offer, the tower were Jamie was being kept was close by. Easy for him to scout the area out without looking suspicious. But it just seemed to good to be true.

“May you never see Crone’s Crooked smile or feel her embrace” The Barman murmured.  For a split second, Eric’s eyes opened wide in shock. The barman had just said the Rogue’s secret oath, that was only known by Rogue Kings and their close court. To speak it was a ultimate act of trust, for if a person who uttered it broke the Crone’s strict rules on hospitality or lied, their blood would instantly boil.

“How?” Eric said shocked.

“Does it matter? You know what it means, if I harm you or betray you my blood would boil. So do you want the job or not?” The Barman grumped.

“Yes, I will. My name is Bates” Eric said still trying to mentally recover from the shock.

“Very good, my name is Fig” Fig said

“Fig?” Eric repeated. It was a very strange name.

“Yes boy! Are you hard of hearing, now go and be collecting some tankards and plates before I change me mind!” Fig snapped and Eric nodded before hanging his cloak up and getting to work.

“What is it Fluff?” Fig mind-linked

“It...it is just ....the King Adonis has not step foot in the mortal realm for over 3,000 years!” Fluff mindlinked back.

“That may be so, but I am here now and you won’t let on” Adonis/Fig  said.

“But why, my King?” Fluff asked respectfully.

“Tell me, have you visited my Daughter in the Dream Realm?” Adonis/Fig   Fig asked as he poured a pint and collected the coin.

“No” Fluff admitted

“Well I have and my Daughter is suffering immeasurable pain. I thought I had destroyed all the Grimlocks, but obviously not. Now tell me Fluff, what Father would stand back and let his daughter go through that?” Adonis/Fig  said.

“But, you can’t directly interfere!” Fluff protested

“Her mortal adoptive father was a solider and a war hero, he prayed to me and therefore I can help his family. Technically. Besides,  I am not directly interfering, I am helping my Daughter’s true fated mate” Adonis/Fig stated.

“You really could give The Crone a run for her money” Fluff grumbled.

“Who do you think she learned it from?” Adonis/Fig said with a smile.

============================================

The next day

“Please come back to bed Kitten, you know when you bite your lip like that it drives me insane!” Raoul moaned as he watched Jamie trying to create a sphere of water from a bowl. Jamie had been everything he dreamed of and he sometimes forgot she was wearing the Grimlock.  Not that it mattered to Raoul, their nights were spent matting and their days were spent in each other’s company. That was unless he had to go to the capital.

“Hush Raoul, I need to get my powers back! How else am I going to help you win against your enemies?” Jamie said. The words felt wrong coming out of her mouth, but she was learning not to question it. 

Raoul got out of bed and put his arms round her, pulling her in. “Oh Kitten, you help me in more ways then you know. As long as you are safe, that is all that matters” he murmured as he kissed her neck. She squirmed and giggled and he playfully growled before gently biting her ear lobe.

“You keep saying that but I don’t see how! Let me come to the capital with you today! I could help you, I know I could!” Jamie said pouting.

“No kitten, you must stay here and be safe. It won’t be for much longer and then we can get that house you always dreamed off, you know the one by the lake. Then we will fill it with children and live to a ripe, old age” Raoul said softly.

“I know, it just seems so far away and I hate not being with you!” Jamie murmured as her eyes filled with tears. It literally hurt her heart not being close to Raoul as the Grimlock made sure she was aware of his absence.

“Hey don’t cry Love!” Raoul said worried and Jamie clutched her chest. She had upset her mate and so the golden rope round her heart tightened causing her to scream in agony.

“Jamie!” Raoul said picking her up and putting her in the bed.

“Ahh I am sorry...Raoul...I did not ..mean to upset you!” Jamie said gasping in pain.

“You did not upset me Jamie, I am sorry, please forgive me!” Raoul said and the rope started to loosen. Jamie’s breath became less laboured.

“It was my fault, I should be more careful about my Mate’s feelings and not be so burdensome” Jamie said with a smile.

Raoul sighed and kissed her forehead. “I know, why don’t I get a maid to take you down to the beach today. By the time you had a swim and done some sun bathing, I will be back and you won’t even know I have gone!” Raoul said. He was clearly feeling guilty about what had just happened.

“Really?” Jamie said excitedly. She had been desperate to get out of this tower and estate. The sea has been calling to her for days.

“Yes kitten, you have shown me that you truly love me and won’t leave me” Raoul said. He actually meant he was confident the Grimlock was more powerful then he thought. Not only had it bound her to him, but the memories of her past mates were fading. Besides, if Jamie was taken by her past mates her heart would be squeezed to death by the Grimlock. 

“ Of course my Love, I will never leave you!” Jamie exclaimed.

“I know my Love, I know!” Raoul said with a smile.

Later that day, Jamie and a maid were walking down to the beach.

“Please miss, slow down you will fall!” The maid said in a worried voice. If anything happened to the Miss, the maid knew she would die in a slow and painful way. It was at this moment, Jamie tripped on a cobble stone.

“Ahh!” Jamie said as she went flying. She expected to hit the ground, but instead she felt the arms of a man catch her.

“Ohhhh” Jamie said embarrassed 

“Are you alright Miss?” A male voice said. Jamie’s heart suddenly began beating faster as a familiar smell reached her nose.

“Yes, yes thank you Mr?Jamie said gasping. She was trying to calm herself down, the man’s touch was sending sparks up and down her body.

“Bates, my name is Bates” Eric said secretly pleased to see her flustered. Every cell in his body was screaming to touch and kiss Jamie. The need almost overwhelmed him until he noticed her eyes were lime green instead of her normal purple and silver. This was not his beautiful mate, not yet. 

“Well Thank you Bates. My name is Jamie Blackwell” Jamie said

“Tha is a pretty bracelet” Eric said casually. He was hoping beyond hope that his hunch was incorrect.

“Oh thank you, my mate got it. The design is called a ..a Grimlock” Jamie said cheerfully.

“Miss! Thank the Gods you are alright. We must be getting on now, the Master won’t like us hanging around” The Maid said as she started to pull her away.

“Yes you are right, well thank you again Bates!” Jamie said as she walked away.

Fluff shimmered in by Eric. “Well that was successful, she certainly recognised you on some level” Fluff said positively. 

“Yes but she has a Grimlock on” Eric said sadly as he watched her walk away. Things had just got a lot more complicated.