CHAPTER THIRTY ONE-NEW SKILLS

“Welcome to the North Woods, Ben. I’m Lord Nicholas,” said the long black-haired man in a green robe as he stood outside the ancient gates beyond the narrow dirt path.

Ben looked around at the city by the sea surrounded by the cover of lush forest and tall cliffs. “Thank you, sir. Is my wife here by any chance? I’ve been looking for that little woman everywhere.”

“They’re waiting for you inside,” said Lord Nicholas as he nodded beyond the gates. He stepped aside to allow Ben entry. As he turned slowly around, Ben took in the buildings made of stone and wood with intricate carvings in the old language on them. “Is this real, sir?”

Lord Nicholas walked beside him with his hands clasped behind his back. “You’re dreaming, but not for long. She’ll be waiting for you, safely wrapped in these cliffs and shores. You don’t need to worry anymore. We’ll take good care of her until you get here. You know, your wife is quite special. We’re very honored that she chose us.”

Ben glanced around in search of her and said, “Yes, I know she is.”

As he crossed the Great Hall, the red and orange autumn leaves fell around him while the earthy smell of dirt and sea water sank into nose. Ben hear the familiar laughter coming from the library that overlooked him. He looked to Nicholas and put out his hand. “Thank you for looking after her.” Nicholas smiled politely and shook his hand. “You don’t need to thank me. The time will come when it is I who will be thanking the two of you.”

Ben bit his lip and furrowed his brows as he wondered what he meant. Lord Nicholas held out his hand to the staircase, “You’ll find her upstairs, I believe.”

When Ben climbed the stone staircase, he smelled the scent of apple pie when he reached the top. He followed his nose through the library filled with ancient books and statues until he came to a rounded wooden door. He pushed it open to find Anna, Imara and Eliza sitting at a table near a window with the setting sun illuminating them. Imara looked up at Ben and smiled then said, “We’ve been waiting for you, sweetheart. Welcome home.”

Ben smiled as his eyes fluttered open until he realized he was alone in bed. He sat up and looked around then heard Imara and Haldir in the yard outside. Ben rubbed his head then sighed. “Dammit. We were almost there, Imara.”

After he left the bathroom, Ben grabbed a shirt from the dresser and pulled it over his head while he walked outside. Thorin was holding up his hands while Imara punched at them and Haldir coached her on her moves.

Noticing Ben, Imara stopped and said, “Breakfast is in the kitchen, sweetheart.” He snickered to himself as he saw Imara swat at her brother while he walked across the yard and into the main house.

He grabbed a couple pieces of bacon and some coffee then returned. “What the hell are you doing exactly, baby?”

She stopped and blew her hair out of her face then said, “Oh, Haldir’s teaching me to fight.”

He took a sip off coffee then cleared his mouth. “Yes, I see that. I bet you’ve been wanting to take a whack at old Thorin for a long time for being so mean to you all those years, haven’t you?”

Thorin looked over to Ben and said, “Yeah, well, you’re next, you beast.”

Ben smiled as he sat and watched Imara. He knew it was a good idea, but he honestly couldn’t imagine her ever hurting a flea much less a powerful warlock. But if he was going to kill her anyway, Ben liked the idea of her landing a blow or two before he did.

Haldir set up a knotty stump in the yard and then brought out the case that Daniel sent. “Gather round children. If these little beauties are the key to finally killing that prick, then we need to spend some time learning to handle them.”

Ben put his arms around Imara and inhaled her hot, salty aroma. He leaned in her ear and whispered, “I like you all sweaty like this. I say we ditch all this and go wash you up good in that big old shower again.”

Imara smacked his arm and said, “Shh…later, sweetheart.”

“You’re damn right later,” Ben said then he playfully bit her neck.

As Imara attempted to throw the knife, Thorin jumped out of the way when it came sailing towards his feet. She blew her hair off her face again in frustration then put her hands on her hips. “This is hopeless, Haldir.”

Haldir chuckled out from under his bushy reddish blonde beard. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re doing just fine.” As he stood behind her, Haldir took her hand then placed the knife in it as he softly said instructions in her ear. A twinge of jealousy started in Ben’s center as he clenched his jaw and cracked his neck. Even for a man Haldir’s age, no one could deny his rugged good looks. He’d been quite famous in Savannah for his playboy nature and even Imara acted like a silly little girl in his presence.

When Haldir finally gave the command, Imara closed her eyes then released the knife. As it found the center of the target, Imara clapped her hands together and jumped up and down then threw her arms around Haldir. “I did it!” She turned to Ben who was looking less than thrilled to see her in another man’s arms. As she let go of Haldir she walked to Ben and grabbed his hands in hers. “Did you see that, Ben? I did it.”

Ben huffed out through his nose and grinned. “ I saw it, baby.” He wrapped his arm round her neck and pulled her into his side. “You did good. I like the new tough girl.” He grabbed her bicep in his hand. “Let me see those muscles.”

“Alright, Ben. You’re up,” said Haldir as he motioned with his hand. When Ben took the knife in his hand, the ancient writing carved into the side glowed gold in his hand as the raspy voice spoke inside his head in the old language. “What the hell’s that?”

Haldir crossed his arms and pulled on his beard as he shook his head. “Is it speaking to you?”

Ben glanced to the ground as he struggled to listen to the distant voice. “Yeah. Little good it does, I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about.”

Haldir huffed as he mulled it over. “I’d wager that little voice in your head has an important message.”

Ben looked in his hand at the knife and chuckled. “Yeah that figures, doesn’t it? He’s probably popping off  the secret to life and the directions to Atlantis and I don’t speak a damn word of the language.”

Thorin chuckled out behind Ben as he took aim again. Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath then opened them and threw the blade. It sunk deep into the stump, then the hard piece of  tree fell in two before him.

Haldir’s head snapped back in surprise then he looked back to Ben. “I think I know what he was saying. Ben, Daniel is the most powerful being I’ve ever met, but you’re older and, if I were a betting man, that means your blood is purer.”

Ben put his hand in his pocket and laughed. “I’m just an old farm boy that knows some fancy tricks and likes to be dog sometimes. I’m definitely no goddamn warlock king.”

Haldir rubbed the back of his neck as he sized Ben up. “You’ve never had any proper training Ben. Neither did he when he got to the Realm, he wasn’t always the man you’ve heard tale of.”

As he shook off the silliness of the idea, Ben grinned and said, “Mmm-hmm,” as he walked past Haldir and claimed his knife. Walking back to Haldir, Ben said, “Anyhow, I don’t even need to know how to throw a knife, because I’m going to kill that old piece of shit with my bare hands.”

Haldir sighed and said, “Apparently, you didn’t hear the words coming out of Imara’s pretty little face.”

Ben crossed his arms and turned to face Haldir. “I heard her just fine.”

Haldir came closer and said, “Well, then, you understand that it has to be the knife Ben. To end this, to keep Selvin from coming back and starting this whole nightmare over again, you have to use the knife.”

Ben nodded his head with a scowl on his face. “I got it. But that don’t mean I’m not going to beat that son of a bitch until he’s nothing but a bloody pile.”

Haldir grinned and slapped Ben’s shoulder. “Now we’re talking. So, have you ever set a fire with your mind before?”

Ben knitted his brows together as he twisted his lips to the side. “Are you serious?”

Haldir nodded. “It’s in your blood, Ben. Daniel is the Master of the Flames, I have to believe you have it inside you too.” Then he sniffed as he thought it over. “Yeah, I bet you are. Lady of the Light and Keeper of the Flame.” As he thought back over his visions, he nodded. “It was meant to be that way. I guess we have some new skills to work on, don’t we?”