.^^ Kρυοπάγημα - Frostbite ^^

— James —

I turned around, and the portal closed, leaving me and mum in the Undercroft, alone.

I set up her IV, carefully, then left my phone on her bed, taking mine and Athenos's bags, and going to the portal. I tried to reactivate it, but the coordinates were gone, as was the spell itself, just leaving a cobblestone archway on the wall of the laboratory.

I set Riley to guarding Mum, and then kissed her cheek. "I'm going to go get Athenos back, Okay? Riley will keep you company, just sit tight, I'll be back by morning!"

I dashed out of the house as she reached for my arm, and left the cellar door open. I found Gui at his stand, and breathlessly explained the situation.

He nodded slowly. "I will bring her food, in a few minutes. It is dinner rush, Boy!"

"Alright, just make sure someone stays with her? Maybe Garçon? He owes some favors to Athenos, right?" I asked.

He nodded. "Ahhh, Yes. That will work. I will send Garçon. Worry not."

I nodded and darted to the sanctuary doors, knocking urgently. When the door opened, and an ogre leaned out, I slipped past him. "Sorry, in a hurry!" I called back.

As I passed Garçon, I tapped his shoulder roughly. "Garçon! Gui has a job for you, an urgent favor for Athenos! Bye!!!" I sprinted away as he groaned, and placed down his cards, folding a pair of King's.

I headed into the market, and stopped at one store that sold crystals, and spell books. "Hi! I need to know how to make a portal to London? Like now? It's urgent."

"You'd be better suited getting a ride from the Boatman. Quicker." The old dwarf hummed.

"Okay, where's that?"

"Down to the edge of the Row, there's a river. Give the river a silver coin, the Ferryman comes and takes you where you need to go." He nodded.

"Much obliged!!!" I reached the edge of the row, and held my knees, huffing for breath, then threw a piece of silver into the river.

Almost immediately, a Viking ship appeared, pulling alongside the dock. Only one person was on the ship, a tall wolf-man with more fur than clothes.

"You going to stare or ride?" He snarled.

I leapt aboard. "I need to get to England, the Oxford Medical Association!"

He grumbled and nodded. "Hmm... T'will take a couple hours... maybe three, with bad winds. One Snow-Crystal."

"Worth it." I nodded, paying him the outrageous sum, and found a seat.

He shrugged and tucked it into his pocket, then the sail suddenly billowed open, and I was slammed back into my seat, as we accelerated. Once I got used to it, it became fun, like zero gravity.

I began crafting, as we went. My Excalibutter, and the dead sword that Rafaela gave me, as well as my amulets, and the Dragon Ring, I slowly, carefully, forged them all into one blade, using heat in midair to act as a mobile forge. I molded it after a sword I remember mum used to hang on the door, over the entrance.

She said the sword was haunted, and that anyone who came under it with ill intentions would immediately say them, irregardless of who they were, or how powerful they were.

It had the most beautiful rippled pattern, which I recreated from scratch. I used the last of the Dwarf Magic to enchant the entire thing. It had all the properties from the components, but it would also take into itself anything that would make it stronger.

Maybe it made me a Nerd, that the first time I created my own weapon, I made it a Elf Blade straight from a Tolkien novel, but I didn't care, because the Enchantment was a success.

I molded some leather into a sheath, stitching Runes of protection, illusions, and strength into it. When I drew the blade, it shivered, blazing with blue and white ghost flames that were cold to the touch, while the sheath turned into a shield.

"Well, definitely protection and illusion." I agreed, seeing that my shadow was gone entirely, and sheathed the blade, watching the shield wrap around it. When the blade shrank, it suddenly made itself look like a phone holster.

I leaned back to get some sleep, as the boat hit open seas.

—

I hit the ground face-first, and rolled onto my feet, looking up. The Viking ship floated above me, and then faded away. I dusted myself off, and snuck into the hospital, up the stairs.

When I saw someone I recognized, I hid in a closet quickly. 'Why is Aunty Durham here? I thought she lived in Belfast?'

I peeked through the crack, and gasped at the sight of her dragging the Fae who'd attacked us by an ankle. She looked very much worse for wear, but she was alive.

'Did she survive Athenos's attack? Dammit!!! I'll have to take them both... he's probably in one of the rooms, or even the room we were in...'

I leapt out of the hiding spot, swinging my sword as hard as I could. Durham dodged with speed I knew wasn't human, but the white flames grazed her shoulder, freezing it solid.

She growled at me in Elvish. "Now is that any way to treat your Aunt!?!?"

"Where is Athenos? Tell me and I won't... Uhm... stab you!" I snapped.

She laughed softly. "You're an absolute darling, James. I always did like that about you, despite your bloodline... though I suppose it did create a magnificent fighter... who made that sword, may I ask? I detect a very odd amalgamation of magic in it."

"I made it! Just now, on the way here in the Ferryman's Ship! I made it so I could fight you, and anyone else who is part of this!" I snapped again, pointing the sword at one of the others, who had moved.

Durham smiled. "Impressive... but irrelevant. I am not a part of the plot to kill your mother. Stop her from seeing your father, yes, that was me, but I would never try to have her killed. This one confessed the names of her compatriots, and so I will be finding them and punishing them, but you will have no part in this. You are too young, and too volatile, too weak, obviously, to Hunt anyone."

"Tell that to the assassin I tracked, all the way through a Dark Dimension! I found her, and I slew her, after forcing her to confess!" I growled.

She raised an eyebrow. "Something tells me your father had a good deal to do with that."

"No! I'm the one who spent six months in that stupid Dark Dimension, hunting my food and jumping through those stupid hoops and tests and challenges and- I'M the one who did it! ME!" I had lowered my weapon during my rant, and now I pointed it back at the Fae inching towards me. "Another step and I freeze you with the Ice of Helheim!" I snapped, the sword igniting.

She froze, then slowly walked backwards a few steps, hands up calmingly.

Durham sighed, smashing the ice on her shoulder and healing her frostbite with the wave of a hand. "I shall make a compromise, because this is stretching over-long for my tastes. If, by next June 1st, you have proven yourself an Adept Mage, I will send you on a hunting trip. It will take me several seasons to find all of the traitors. They are numerous, unfortunately." She grumbled.

"Well... what about Athenos? Where is he?" I asked.

"Your father left me in peace, several hours ago. I dissolved the Geas on your mother at his request, allowing her to speak to you and teach you everything she knows... I am willing to admit when I am wrong. Clearly, your father's was not the inferior bloodline that I believed it to be." She shook her head.

"Oh... so we're not enemies? You're sure?" I asked, and sheathed my weapons, confused still.

She laughed, and patted my hair in a grandmotherly fashion, which confused me still more. "You're a treat, darling, a delightful treat indeed!" She giggled, and then dragged the woman away with her. As they passed, I tapped the woman with the hilt if my sword, taking her soul stealthily, then checked the rooms carefully, just to be sure.

As I searched, a portal opened in the room, and I pointed my sword at it, flaming and ready, my shield covering from my collarbone to my waist.

Athenos and Rafaela strode through, and blinked at me while I returned the look. "What are you two doing here? I was making sure Aunty Durham didn't kill you and lie about it!" I snapped, sheathing my weapon.

Athenos raised both eyebrows at the weapon, and hummed. "Did you just rip apart my shard of Excalibur... and mix it with the Dead Shard that Rafaela gave you?"

"Among other magical objects... yes. And I used my Dragon Ring, as well, and the Dwarf Magic to make it take anything stronger than it into itself." I shrugged.

He laughed softly. "You made an evolving sword?"

"That's right." I nodded.

Rafaela grinned. "Well, I'm sold. Kid, you wanna be mine? I promise to cook vegetarian, maybe once a week."

I grinned back. "Sorry, no can do. I have a huge family, however, so you're Welcome to join My Clan, if you want?"

She laughed and hugged me for a moment. "Sounds good, kid. Now let's get you home. I'm sure your mom is worried as hell."

"I left her with Garçon, and Riley as well. And I made sure she got food." I defended myself.

"How did you get to England before us, is actually my question." Athenos asked.

"I just paid the Ferryman." I grinned.

He groaned. "That Price-Gouging sellout? Don't ever do that again, okay? He charges way too much!!!"

"But he's very reliable, and fast. And it was only one Snow-Crystal." I shrugged.

"One-?!?" He groaned childishly. "$1000 bucks to get you over here? That's-"

"Less than the cheapest plane ticket that ever existed across the Atlantic, much faster, goes to specific locations?" I said dryly.

He grumbled a few more disparaging comments, and reactivated the portal, writing in coordinates. He paused, and looked at Rafaela. "Are you going home, or coming to see mine?"

She grinned. "I'm happy to see yours. The kids are fed, and it's nighttime in New Orleans. I'll be back in time for breakfast, yes?"

He blushed a bit. "Maybe."

"Sounds good." She shrugged.

The portal glowed, and we all stepped through, to see Riley wrestling playfully with Garçon, and mother sitting mostly up, eating a gyro. She saw the portal, and me, mid-bite, and swallowed forcefully, setting it aside and struggling out of bed.

I helped her stand, and she whacked my skull sharply. "Don't you never run off like that again, hear now?!?! What irresponsible bullshite was that supposed to be?!? Because I know Athenos, the OCD Surgeon, didn't teach you to run off, unprepared!!! And to fight who? Your Aunts?!? I ought to lock you in a tower and t'row away the key, ya thoughtless, selfish little-!!!!!!!" she collapsed, hugging me tightly, and buried her face into my shoulder. "Not ever again, Aye?" She swatted my head again softly.

"Aye, mum." I nodded, and hugged her back, helping her back into her hospital bed.

"Wait, you stole the entire bed?" Rafaela snickered softly to Athenos.

He shushed her, but mum had seen him now that her tunnel vision was gone, and she glared. "AND YOU!!! DRAGGING MA' SON OFF TO GODS KNOWS WHERES, AN' FIGHTIN' DRAGONS AN' DWARVES AN' GRUMPKINS A'PLENTY!?!? WHEN DID YE GET SO RECKLESS?!? 'AVE FIFTEEN YEARS WITH NO WOMAN TEH HELP YE TIE YER SHOES DRIVEN YE BLEEDIN' DAFT?!? OI'VE HALF A MIND TEH KICK YOUR ARSE TEH THE MOON AN' BACK AN' FEED YE TO A FUCKIN' DRAGON ME BLOODY SELF!!!"

He narrowed his eyes slowly, and I stepped out of the way, with Rafaela and Garçon. Riley just sat between them, confused.

"ME?!?!? ME, RECKLESS AND DAFT?!? SAY THAT TO THE MIRROR, LUV, FOR YE SOLD YOUR HUSBAND SO YE COULD HAE YOUR SON! AYE I AGREE WITH YER FUCKIN' CHOICE, BUT YE COULD NOT HAVE ASKED ME FOR HELP?!? AH'M NO SPRING CHICKEN, BUT AH DO BELIEVE I COULD HAVE MADE FOR YER BITCH OF A GRANDMOTHER ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, ÜNTERQUEEN OR NO!!! AH MADE HER TAKE OFF YER STUPID FUCKIN' GEAS JES' NOW, AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET?!? AN' LETS DO TALK ABOUT IRRESPONSIBLE PARENTING, AYE?!? HOW ABOUT KING POINT TO ME: AH HAE NEVER TOLD MAH SON THAT HIS MOTHER DIDNAE LOVE HIM!!!" He roared back in a surprisingly good mockery of her accent, or perhaps a Scottish burr, which was confusing, but his last comment hit home, instantly silencing her.

He huffed for breath, fuming still, and slowly calmed down, while everyone held their breath. "I understand... your choice. Child over man, choice is clear- no, there is no fuckin' choice, there. But that last... no. I don't think I forgive that just yet. That can't have been part of your Oath. That Geas didn't force you to tell my son, the only family I've wanted to have all my life, that I didn't love him." He shook his head and walked up the stairs.

Rafaela kissed my head sweetly, and left in pursuit of him, while Garçon found other places to be, his job done.

I sat next to her bed as she stared at the sandwich, suddenly not hungry. I snagged it casually, and scarfed it down. When she raised an eyebrow, I grinned. "Did a lot of magic. Hungry. Did you know there's a ferryman who's half wolf, and can take someone from the sanctuary here to London in less than three hours? He charges a mad pot, but it's still cheaper than a plane ticket." I nodded.

She smiled. "Ahh, the Ferryman... Yes, I did know that. How are you holding up? And what's this?" She asked, poking my jacket.

"Oh, I made it myself!" I showed her the furs inside, and the protection talismans. "I got trapped in the Dark Dimension for a six months or so, and spent the time studying Athenos's magic books and stuff, while hunting my own food. The furs kept me warm, and they're magical, like Namean lion pelts, so I made armor out of them, but then when I got back, I figured that would look weird, so I put them all inside a bomber jacket." I explained.

Her eyes got bigger with every detail I gave, and then she narrowed them. "And where was Athenos?"

"Well... I sort of pushed him through the portal, because he was being awkward,-this was when we met Rafaela, by the way, great lady,- and I pushed him through, to spare him some embarrassment, but didn't factor in that he had opened the portal, so without him, it closed on me. Totally my fault." I grinned guiltily.

She smiled. "But you're fine? No hurts or anything?"

"Nothing that hasn't healed, no. But let me tell you about the Dragon!!!" I grinned.

She laughed softly and leaned back in the reclined bad, pulling me to lay next to her on the side that didn't have an IV. "Alright, let's hear it." She nodded.

I grinned and used fire to make the scene, where she could see. "Well, Athenos got a call, that some dwarf turned himself into a dragon, and he accepted the job! Then we get there, and the father tells me,- oh, and I speak dwarf, apparently I have the gift of tongues,- and he tells me, 'I need you to fix him!' And I was the only one who understood, so I responded, 'okay, I'll fix him, or do my best'. And he paid me a full six ounces of Dwarves gold!"

She made an appreciative sound, watching the fire. "Go on?"

"When we get there, the dragon is kinda in pain, cause the armband that turned him into a dragon didn't grow with him!" I showed it.

She hissed softly. "Fuck, Aye that's a proper scratch, there."

—

"And my crystals were so strong that the dragon's tail didn't do anything to them, not even a scratch, but they broke the tail clean off!" I grinned.

"No foolin?" She gasped theatrically.

"Oi, no fair, you can't act like this ain't as interesting as it clearly is. It was my first day as a Mage and I beat up a Dwarf-Dragon! Athenos explained the Totem thing to me, I know they're way above us!" I frowned.

She smiled and laid her cheek on my hair. "Oh don't be pissy. I get it, you fought a dragon and you felt like a hero in my stories! But did you ever turn him human?"

"Oh, you interrupted right before I got to that!!! So, the tail gets broken, so I pick up Excalibutter-"

"Excuse me, You mean Excalibur?" She asked slowly.

"No, see, Athenos had a Shard of Excalibur, worked into a knife, about the size of a butter knife, see, and so he named it Excalibutter." I grinned.

She laughed. "That's adorable!"

"Yeah, So, I take the knife, and I run under him while Athenos is throwing fireballs, and I cut the band with the knife! Then I jump up on his arm while he's screamin', and cut the other side! It fell off, and I grabbed the pieces, running over to Athenos. He made a weird potion out of it with Elder Ashe and Black Sea Salt and Litnus or something,-"

"Litmus Moss, powerful stuff." She nodded.

"-And some other stuff, And then he drinks it, but he can't get the magic through the dragon's hide! So I suggest that he put his hand in the dragon's mouth,-"

"To get past his scales!!! Well done, Boy!" She finished my sentence, giggling.

"Right! The dwarf held open his jaws with brute strength, and Athenos shoves his hand down the dragon's gullet, casts the spell again, and soon enough there's a Dwarf! By the way, Dwarves are Misnomered, they're huge!" I commented.

She laughed and leaned back, listening happily while I told her about my exciting adventures.