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She noticed her mouth was still hanging wide open and quickly closed it. She hadn't expected that, not at all.
"Long live the king," Cam muttered and to their surprise, the guards standing at the door on the other side of the room repeated the phrase in their minds.
"I'm so sorry," Macey said gently, noticing the sad look on the blue man's face. "How did he die?"
He tried to travel on the Staran. We all told him it was too dangerous, but he wouldn't listen. He was torn apart.
Muahwa opened his giant mouth and made a strange sound. It touched something deep inside of Macey and almost made her cry. It was probably the saddest sound she'd ever heard, made by a being that didn't use their voices to talk.
"I am sorry," Macey repeated.
It can't be undone. But why are you here? I'm sure you didn't come so I could thank you?
"No..." She didn't really want to ask for help now that she knew that his father had died, but there was no other way. They needed the support. She sighed and quickly explained what had been feeding on the Staran and how the Mahoun was a relative of that evil creature.
So this devil is stronger than the being you already defeated?
Macey nodded. "Yes, we think so. He's managed to reach and affect so many people, and he's been scheming for a long time. He's also got my brothers and I don't know if they're still alive."
She pressed a hand over her mouth. She hadn't intended to say that. Macey didn't want to make it sound so personal. She wasn't just doing this for herself and for her family. She really did want to defeat the Mahoun so that the entire world would be safer again.
The na fir ghorma put a blue hand on her arm.
I understand. We will help.
"Really? I am... we are grateful," she stuttered, distracted by how sad the blue man's eyes were. As if he wasn't just sad for his own, but also for her loss, and that of everybody else. She no longer found him ugly like she had when she'd first met him. Yes, his giant mouth was creepy and his skin was... well, blue, but that didn't matter. The inside mattered.
We won't be able to leave the sea for long. We will need to stay close to the Staran which connects us to our home. If you fight far away from it, we won't be able to follow, but we can secure a path of retreat, should it be necessary.
"Hopefully not," Macey muttered, before lifting her voice. "I thank you, King Muahwa. We are in your debt."
Not at all. You calmed the storms. Our home would be in danger without you.
She smiled at him. "Let's just agree that we're doing a good job helping each other."
He nodded. I will prepare my warriors. Where shall I send them?
"We're gathering at the prophet Malan's house. Do you know where that is?"
The blue man nodded. The Staran will show us the way.
"Good. We better get back and see where the others are. How do we get out of here?"
Muahwa laughed in their minds. I'll lower the barrier. Next time, just knock and I'll let you in.
As if it was that easy. She shook her head in amusement and stepped into the Staran, holding Cam's hand. They'd completed their missions. How were the others faring?
Twenty-Two
Chaos awaited them. Malan's front garden, usually a quiet and almost boring place, was full of people. Macey waved to some of her father's kelpie mages who lifted their hands in greeting in return. The na fir ghorma stayed close to the mists they'd stepped out of, sceptically looking at the other assembled people.
A group of kabouter were sitting in the garden and Macey had to hide her grin. They looked suspiciously like garden gnomes. Jared was amongst them, talking to Jerimiah and another kab
outer that looked very similar. His brother, maybe?
When the incubus met Macey's glance, he got up and ran towards her, hugging her as soon as she was in reach.
"Good to see you," he muttered against the nape of her neck, his breath hot on her skin. His incubus powers were pushing against her nerves and she could feel the arousal tingle through her.
