The Wizard's War Read Free Page B

me.
    “I know why you can’t stand abandonment.” She opened
her mouth, sighed, and stopped. “A story for another day.” She flipped down the
covers for me to climb in, which I did, then settled down and pulled the covers
over us. It was one of those rare “mom” moments that I loved.
    I felt him approach a few minutes later, right before
I was poked harshly in the chest. “If you get to sleep in the big bed, so do
I.”
    I opened one eye to glare at Hail. “Your fat butt
can’t fit in this bed. Go hog mine, you big Neanderthal.”
    “I’ll show you fat butt you little french-fry.” He
tried to sit on me.
    “Mom!” I screamed for help.
    “Dylan! Control your children!” she yelled without
opening her eyes. I flicked a warning spark at Hail’s encroaching butt, causing
him to shout.
    “Dad! He tried to burn me!”
    “He tried to sit on me!” I screamed.
    “Alright, I see only one way to settle this.” Dad
dived into the middle of the bed, pushing us apart, and wiggling himself into a
comfy spot. Mom was determined enough not to end up on the floor that I was
safely wedged between them, but Hail landed with a bang and grunt on the floor.
Taking it in stride, he flopped himself back onto the bed, taking up the
remaining inches as well as lying half on top of Dad. After a few minutes, Dad
sighed. “It’s too hot. I need air.”
    “Oh, hell. There’re too many boys in this house. We
need more estrogen,” Mom said.
    Dad gasped and started trying to push Hail off him.
“Get out, boys! Get out! It’s Mommy and Daddy time now!”
    “Ewe. No schtupping on family day. We don’t want a
little sister.”
    “You should at least offer me breakfast before trying
to knock me up,” Mom said, to which Hail and I both gagged.
    “Ron, get in the kitchen.”
    “Hell, no,” I said. “I will never cook again if it
means I never get a little sister. Girls are gross,” I said. When Hail didn’t
immediately back me up, I slapped him.
    He grunted. “Um… yeah. Sisters are gross,” he
halfheartedly agreed.
    “All girls are gross.”
    “Excuse me?” Mom asked.
    “Not… all girls. I mean Eddy’s girlfriend isn’t
gross.” I leaned over my dad to gape at Hail. He looked at me. “I mean… she’s
nice and quiet and pretty.”
    “Hail and Meri sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
First comes love, then comes my granddad killing my brother who was so asking
for it.”
    Dad and Mom laughed as Hail’s face reddened. Shinobu
couldn’t be left out for long; she pounced onto the bed, carefully keeping her claws
retracted, and curled up on Dad’s chest. Shinobu had nearly attacked Dad right
before we moved to Earth, so Dad thought we were going to have to get rid of
her. Fortunately, when we returned to Duran to find her waiting for us, we
discovered the problem was that naowen were aggressive when they were pregnant.
    Her tail slowly flickering back and forth across
Hail’s nose until he sneezed, for which she gave him a dirty look before moving
her tail.
     
    *          *          *
     
    One year later…
     
    My family was pretty amazing. Our vacations were to
other worlds, everyone was supportive of each other, and the magic was
powerful. Sure, Mom and Dad worked a lot, but they brought us back neat things
and took us with them when they could. It helped that Dad felt responsible for
teaching us to be good Noquodi. We only ever had to deal with public school
when we lived on Earth for a few years; Dad and Edward were great teachers.
    Over the last ten years, everyday life was an
adventure. We have been all over the universe, fought monsters, solved puzzles,
and surfed at beaches. Our family was a little big, but it was diverse and
great. The inner circle, of course, was Hail, my parents, Mordon, and me.
    Still, sometimes it was nice just to hang around home
for a few days without a crisis from the Guardian Council, demon war, Raktusha,
Lore, or Earth. Seriously, if Duran was having polar