To Have and To Hold

Prompt 050: Quarterstaff

The jewels were glistering in the pale moonlight as the staff moved with each of his steps. He'd been forced to lean on it for most of the last week or so for obvious reasons, but he had expected the pain to give out sooner than later. He groaned, at least for now, softly, and went up a particular set of stairs. Since Balthazar left that faithful night, he'd been taking refuge in the silly entertainer's building, because no one would suspect he would go back there, right?

Maxim Horvath wasn't having a ball, like Balthazar; he wasn't arranging property papers, or wedding proposals, but Horvath did arrange for those roots to lift and try to kill the Prime Merlinian. Thankfully the other sorcerers had blamed it on Balthazar's nasty spell gone wrong and had not suspected him close by. He still had the upper hand, holding the prime Merlinian's ring and with Balthazar so busy he wouldn't know what would happen to them. He let out a laugh, entering the apartment, and placing the door back to its original place. He would need some help, not because he was weak, but because Balthazar always had something up his sleeve.

"You called?" Horvath turned, to see a woman sitting over the large desk Drake used to drape himself on, her boots shinning on the moonlight (almost like the jewels in his staff) and her legs covered in tight dark leather. "It's been long since such a summoning of Morganians had taken place, so you'll find yourself a little short handed of crew members." There was a cynic amusement in her tone, as Horvath walked slowly towards her.

"And you are?"

"Eriam, I got your letter and flew all the way from San Francisco. Is it true Blake found the Prime Merlinian?"

"They have already defeated Morgana," The girl's eyes opened wide, her mouth about to open and complain but Horvath didn't give her the chance. "But I survived."

To that the girl didn't seem surprised. "So? If Morgana is dead then there's no point on hanging out together."

"Fool, I have his ring, we can still defeat them and cast the Raising. Instead of Morgana I will be the one to lead!" He said, in a thunderous voice that made the woman shrink slightly back.

"Alright, alright; no need to get touchy about it." She said getting up. "But I warn you, I won't go down like that Drake fool, understood? Unlike them I had my training completed."

"Really?"

"Well almost anyway. My fool of a master died before he could finish."

"You killed your master?" Horvath let out a laugh. "How precious."

"And I can do the same to you, understood?"

"Doubtful, but alright, we have an agreement." And Horvath moved to sit on the desk. He was used to have such alliances, so he just took a deep breath and groaned. The girl looked around the badly decorated place, not saying a word and Horvath tried to get more comfortable in the leather chair. She noticed his discomfort and smiled.

"Already injured? Who did that? Blake?"

"During our last encounter, yes."

"Please, allow me. I have some healing arts, didn't manage to master them but it's better than nothing." She walked around the desk and crouched beside him. Her pale hands found the injury quickly, as if she had studied the way he walked and tsk'ed softly. "It was bad fall, huh?" Horvath just stared at him, scolding, as warmth suddenly filled his leg. The pain intensified for a second and then blessed relief. Horvath couldn't keep in the sigh that escaped him, he tried, but just couldn't. "So, do I fit into your team of keepers or what?"

"Only if you stop ogling my staff."

"I can't help it, that's Merlin's dragon ring. I've had a liking for it since I saw it as a drawing in my Encantus." She got up, and sat on the desk. "Better?"

"Yes." He didn't give his thanks, he yet didn't trust her. The staff became a quarterstaff pointing at her neck, making her stare down at him.

"Boy can you be thankful." She said cynically, not moving.

"Stop ogling my property." Horvath said dangerously low, the jewels around the staff glowing dangerously bright. The girl just turned her eyes away, as Horvath pulled away the staff, turning it back to its natural size. "We have to find out if there are any other Morganians coming. We'll send a second signal and if not move forward with our plan."

"Your plan." She corrected bitterly. "I'll check if someone is answering, or coming, I have a wicked way with signal lights."

Horvath watched her go, and smiled. He would get Blake soon, and if he had to kill Veronica so be it. It was a pity really, he had wanted to bring Morgana back from the Grimhold in hopes of having killed Balthazar long ago and convince Veronica, in one way or another, to accept him. But destiny had separated them, again, and Horvath discovered that he might or might not have really been in love with Veronica. But he loved the power she carried. Since she started training with them Veronica had shown her abilities far exceeded those of Balthazar and himself. But she wanted a normal life, and it was proven now that she was to marry stupid Balthazar and have a family with that silly blonde and the Prime. If she had her eyes open, as he was thinking on opening then, then she would know she was meant for greater things.

A while later, as he fished eyeing the Encantus the Drake boy had left behind, Eriam entered the room with a smirk. "I found this guy upstairs, he brings a gem!" She hurried to the desk and sat on it, legs crossing and dangling from the edge, and a man entered the office. He carried a thick chain on one arm, it lead to the other item he carried; a harmless black puppy.

"Maxim Horvath; I have received your message and am ready to serve you and your evil ways." The man said, with a vow to Horvath. The little dog whimpered a growl

"And who may I ask are you?"

"Grigori Creagel, sorcerer of the 383 degree. It is an honor to serve you." He said, giving another vow.

"Go on, show him." Said Eriam excited. Grigori placed the puppy on the ground, the little thing's belly so round it could hardly walk, and pulled the chain so it couldn't reach further than the carpet… The dog burst into a gigantic three headed monster, trying to snarl and claw its way towards the desk. Eriam applauded as Horvath let out a surprised laugh.

"I believe we have a second crew member, don't you think Eriam?"

As if joyful for its owner the quarterstaff glowed in the pale moonlight.