Chapter One
Lyonesse - The Other Side of the Null

Quon strolled purposefully beside Jeremy trying not to dwell on the cause of his current predicament. In the back of his mind he knew that he'd done this to himself but it was so much easier to blame someone, anyone, else. Therefore when the king and their families blamed the oracle he didn't correct them; she was after all long dead.

Years ago he and Jeremy were born into the two leading houses of the realm both descendents of Merlin the Great at the same time. The two families distraught sent for the oracle to figure it out who would inherit the kingdom and it was predicted:

Eyes of green fire will be king while eyes of sapphire blue will grow to become a mage of great power inheriting the powers of Merlin.

From where Quon stood the old gal just got it reversed. He could understand....after all Merlin's eyes had been a blazing sapphire blue full of knowledge and wisdom and in his youth he'd had reddish blonde hair. She'd chose the one with blue eyes and sun kissed red hair; it was 50/50. She'd went for the obvious one.

"This is crazy," mumbled Jeremy speaking first. "How could they have gotten this so screwed up? We were nine before you were sent to the mortal realm." Jeremy threw his hands in the air, "and at no time did it occur to them that maybe you were destined to the great and powerful wizard? Shit you were yards ahead of me then and no one thought that senile hag might be wrong."

Quon grunted in response, they were born at midnight on the night thought to have been the day of Merlin's birth; and the great statute of Merlin sapphire blue eyes had blazed announcing a great and powerful wizard had finally been born. Hundreds of years had passed since Maya the Great had lived and died and not one had been born since.

Jeremy's anger grew at Quon's silence. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"Find Elisa and the child," responded Quon. "After that we'll figure it out." Quon fist tightened at his side, "The child can't be raised in the mortal world. If they think us making an appearance was bad him being there would be even worse."

The oracle had really screwed the pooch. With her words, actions were taken so that Quon would understand the strife known to man; he was sent to the realm of mortals to learn the folly of their ways so that the good people of Lyonesse would never go down that path. Quon would be a worldly king that would consider his choices wisely. While Jeremy, on the other hand, was trained to be a wizard, a mentor and advisor. A position that seemed miniscule but in actually was the most powerful in the realm and empty for centuries.

Quon sighed as they got closer to the throne room with its wide walnut brown floors that went on forever with dark stone walls. "I need a drink," mumbled Quon his mind unable to forget the look on Elisa's face the last time he'd seen her.

"Why me," groaned Quon not able to shake her big brown eyes full of tears that had started streaming down her cheeks.

The fact that the oracle had fucked up their responsibilities wasn't the real issue in either his or Jeremy's mind. The real issue happened six weeks ago when Quon had returned; Jeremy was having his first child and Quon was supposed to be crowned. Two days after his arrival, a month before the baby's birth the statue's eyes had lit up announcing the birth of another mage.

Everyone had been excited. Two mages born in the same life time. But the excitement fizzled when it was realized that Jeremy's wife was still pregnant. But Marcas, the current king, wasn't deterred by this and quickly sent word out through the realm searching for the child. Two weeks and over four dozen newborns later they'd grudgingly called for the new oracle.

"Fuck," growled Quon raking his fingers through his hair in agitation. He knew in his soul Elisa hated the ground he walked on and now he was going to make it grow and fester by foisting himself on her.

Jeremy turned weary blue eyes toward Quon. "Yeah," sighed Jeremy. "I wish it would have been Felicity too." Jeremy shook his head, "I know you're part incubi but even I was shocked when you told me what happened."

Quon scowled; his mind going back to the day Elisa came home to find him and her best friend Felicity in her bed. Remorse burned his heart and the bitter taste of regret nearly choked him. "Elisa is -." Quon broke off as he searched for the right words. The love of my life. The woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. My biggest fuck up. "Look, I fucked up what we had. I really wanted to bring her back here to be my queen but I fucked up royally." Quon closed his eyes attempting not to choke on the pain in his chest. " I thought I could just come back here and forget about how much of a fool I was but I guess the fates weren't being that kind to me."

Jeremy slapped Quon on the back, "from the look in your eyes when you returned I don't think forgetting her was possible. Remember I received all the messages you'd written and at least 75% of them included her name at least once."

Quon didn't respond. He'd fucked up big time and didn't want to reminisce on it. Soon he'd have to stand in front of the King and try to explain why they'd attacked Earth unprovoked; upsetting the balance between them and the human realm. And to top matters off he and Jeremy would need to explain why they'd not allowed the lightning to kill the thousands of humans that now slept in the null.

"Since this was your bright idea to get Elisa's attention," mumbled Quon as the large double arched doors finally came into view; "I'll leave it to you to explain it to everyone in there."

Jeremy shrugged as he saw his very pregnant wife standing outside the doors ringing her small hands. "No problem," smirked Jeremy as they approached.

Quon pressed his lips together as he took in Jeremy's water sprite wife, Amber. No man would ever deny that she was beautiful. Amber had a lush hourglass figure with large breast, narrow waist and full round hips; even pregnant she was a sight to behold what with the silver streak in her waist length black hair, milk white skin and lovely grey eyes.

As they approached her and the doors Quon couldn't help but feel as if something about her wasn't right. He'd only met her a handful of times but he didn't like or trust her; he had this nagging feeling whenever he was in her vicinity but with everything going on he dismissed it.

"Jeremy," exclaimed Amber in what Quon realized was her patient over dramatic away . "What is this I hear that we've attacked the human realm?"

Quon lips twisted as he stared at her. He didn't know why but he wanted to lash out at the woman but bit back his retort. "It has nothing to do with you," stated Quon as calmly as possible.

Amber eyes rounded in shock before she turned liquid silver eyes from Jeremy to him. "It has to do with everyone in Lyonesse. This realm has prospered in part because it was unknown to humans and their pettiness. Now you have made us known to them."

Impatience flashed across Quon's face as he stared her up and down. "I didn't know the humans were able to cross the null and enter Lyonesse. It's not as if their science will ever make the breakthrough since they only deal in logic."

"But what of those that believe in magic and search for -."

Quon rolled his eyes growing tired of the conversation. "I don't need to explain myself or my decisions to you," with those words Quon stepped around Jeremy and his wife. "If Jeremy wants to he can but I have people of true import to speak to."

As Quon pushed the doors open he could hear Amber's shrill voice as she whined to Jeremy. "Being named mage has went to your cousin's head. Two weeks ago he wouldn't have dared speak to me like that."

Quon didn't pause as he entered the oversized throne room full to overflowing with the magical beings: gnomes, sprites, fairies, merpeople, vampires, werepeople and everything in between. The room could hold at least a thousand people comfortably but now it was so packed he could barely see the gleaming sandstone floors or the gilded tapestries that fell from the ceiling to the floor.

"Quon what have you done?"

Quon didn't know how he managed to press past the crowd that packed the space or hear pass their loud whispering but there he stood in front of the throne able to hear the quiet voice of Marcus.

"I didn't act alone," shrugged Quon turning to see Jeremy was trying to battle his way through the crowd. "I had permission from the next king."

Marcus purple and blue wings flapped wildly behind him, his short barrel body trembled making Quon have to hold back a laugh. In the human realm the King would have been compared to a wee leprechaun with girly wings.

The current king was from the Wyllt family branch just like Jeremy; he was one thirds gnome and two thirds fae and his gnome ancestry shined the brightest. He'd been named king by the late oracle when he'd been born and was considered a good and fair ruler.

"Quon I thought higher of you than to do something like this," frowned Marcus from his golden throne. "The people here needs to believe that you are -."

"I don't believe my actions rash," announced Quon boldly, "the child born in the human realm places all us in danger." The room fell silent all ears listening. "Aside from Roderick and myself none here have lived in the human realm since the dark ages. Our kind left because they were barbarians with no regard to any form of life and they are still like this. Think about it. A child with unknown abilities raised by a human woman, if she survived its birth, in a world full of hate and motives are unknown."

Marcus wings calmed as he visibly considered Quon's words. "you are right. We need to do what is best for our kind and leaving that innocent child on the other side of the null is sentencing it and us to damnation."

Jeremy had finally made it to Quon's side giving a winning smile before addressing their king and the audience of the court. "People of Lyonesse," called Jeremy slowly turning to make sure he included everyone. "Rest assured that we will do what is right for you never willfully placing anyone in danger. Both Quon and I have been taught our entire lives to be mindful of all your needs."

"But what of the humans that have been killed," called someone from the audience.

Quon nodded in understanding. "They all sleep unharmed in the null."

"They should be released to return to their families," came an indignant cry from a woman in the crowd. "They are surely missed!"

"I am sure they are," nodded Jeremy. "And with that being said I want to assure you that not one of them will come to any harm. They will all be given the choice to go back to the human realm or stay here in Lyonesse."

"You would have those savages stay here," screamed a man angrily. "Aren't they all depraved murders?"

"No," frowned Quon shaking his head. "They are not. Humans do have their faults but not all of them are bad."

"We should kill them!"

Quon sent a glare in the direction that the offensive words came from. "Wouldn't that make us no better than humans," asked Quon calmly. "The population of Lyonesse is small and we have more than enough room for a settlement of humans."

"And plus," inserted Jeremy with a charming grin, "not all will wish to stay. Those that wish to return to the human realm will not remember ever being here and those that wish to stay will be educated in our ways." Jeremy paused so his words could sink in before he faced King Marcus. "We will find the woman if she lives and the child and bring the child -."

"We'll bring both of them back," stated Quon. "Elisa and my child will return to Lyonesse."

Loud whispers erupted from the crowd at Quon's words many laced with speculation on who the woman could be.

"With your permission," bowed Quon attempting to placate the crowd by showing proper deference to their king.

"Mage Quon Ambrosius you do not need to bow to any being in this realm or any other," stated King Marcus while waving a chubby hand of dismissal. "Let it be heard here first that the situation with the human realm is well within hand," announced the king loudly. "We will continue with the coronation of Jeremy Wyllt once the child is found."