Jonathan Thunder, page 30
part #5 of Lightning Mage Series
“Good for them both,” Jonathan said.
“I saw your fight, Jonathan,” Queen Mildred said. “Good job on not humiliating your classmates.”
“You saw it?” Jonathan asked.
“I was trying to contact you when Monica came into your office,” Queen Mildred said. “I saw everything, including when you took down Russell.”
“I didn't need a crowd, Russell knows where he and I stand,” Jonathan said. “How did the fight even get out?”
“Gerald Morningstar knows something happened but wasn't sure what,” Queen Mildred said. “No one will talk about it or even acknowledge it.”
"I don't need the accolades," Jonathan said. "How are you holding up Your Majesty?"
"Jeffrey was brash, insulting and finally everything caught up to him," Queen Mildred said. "But I loved him even through all of that. I loved him even if he had no love for his youngest son."
"The Prince put himself in that position, not you," Jonathan said. "He had the heart of the Queen and wasn't satisfied with it."
"I am sure that he regrets meeting the hand of the Queen," Queen Mildred said. "I am in a weird place, Jonathan. Jeffrey was horrible. He tried to have you killed because you were competent. He routinely undermined me and became so full of himself that he tried to have me killed. Xalen will miss him, Jordan, I am not so sure.”
“Your Majesty, you will not be Queen forever,” Jonathan said. “Xalen is expected to be King, not King of the noble Mages but the King of Kirby. With Prince Jeffrey in his ear, how will the Kingdom turn out?”
“I think the damage has already been done, Jonathan. The girl he is marrying seems more even tempered than when I first met her but I think her effect on Xalen will be negligible. You are just one man Jonathan but one man can enact change. I think my son may irritate the wrong person in the future and then have to pay the consequences. When his Father sent assassins after you, the first time, you know I had a talk with Xalen.”
“What did his Highness say?”
“He said it served you right for trying to reach above your station,” Queen Mildred said. “That was the first time that I realized that I was failing my son. He has too many bad actors around him, telling him who to like and who to hate. Many of them I am going to ban from my palace, starting with Gerald Morningstar. There will be many more that I will refuse access to him. I am going to start making him be near me when I make decisions now that his Father will not be in his ear.”
“If I am around I will try and help him out,” Jonathan said. “Unless he does something to me and mine, Your Majesty.”
“I am going to end the stupidity or at least try to. Things like what Kevin did. I know the real story. He sent your parents there as a punishment. He probably didn't think they would die but knew that there was a good chance that it could happen. Jonathan, I don't want you to be a part of anything like that no matter what your relationship is with the Mages that you are sending.”
“I will not be Your Majesty,” Jonathan said.
“I better get back to my company,” Queen Mildred said. “Your assistants left, are you going to hire them back? I know that they were friends.”
“I think I am going to go in a different direction,” Jonathan said. “I’ll hire someone right out of the Tower or someone of your choosing if you have a preference. I may need to get an active force that works directly for the Archmage that can go out and handle things on my behalf. I know that you were acting, Your Majesty, but a lot of the things you said made sense to me.”
“I am glad that an old woman can still be some use,” Mildred said. “Why don't you run off and see that bride of yours. I know that she has to be worried with everything that she has heard.”
~
“You nervous Jon?” Red asked.
“More than you know,” Jonathan said. “How many people are out there?”
“You know those knobbers wouldn't miss something like this,” Red said. “You got a mess of Storys out there. Erlanger and Winchell are out there. The Queen is out there and so are the Princes.”
“Did the King make it?”
“Nah, no one has seen the tosser,” Red said. “Farrah is out there and so are her folks. I’m amazed that she made it with the beating that you put on her.”
“Russell?”
“Monica dragged him here,” Red said. “Gave him a front row seat, just like you wanted. Your side is filled to the brim with Royals and Nobles and Storys. There are even some people who look like mountain folks.”
“How about my bride's side?”
“Filled to the brim with the best looking birds in the Kingdom,” Red laughed. “Probably all working girls. I’m not dumb enough to be caught staring. Her classmates are also there and some healer people from Favoria.”
“Well, here it goes,” Jonathan said.
“Nothing to worry about,” Red said. “You saw how that bird I got hitched to handled her business. I was scared and nervous. You have no reason to be.”
“Why is that?” Jonathan asked.
“You are Jon Thunder,” Red said. “Now stop being a wanker and let's get this over with.”
Jonathan gave Red a hug and calmed himself. The wedding party was first out as music started playing. Jonathan followed behind them and had Red at his side. Red smacked him on the back as the music changed and everyone started standing up. Crystal appeared, she was on the arm of his Grandfather and Jonathan broke down. Jonathan had been placed in horrible position after horrible position and doubted that it would stop any time soon. But this moment was his. The majority of his enemies resided in the pit by his hands, his parents had been avenged and he was marrying a perfect woman. He wished that his Father had been there. He wished his mother had a chance to meet Crystal. His grandfather, like always, had his back. He was filling in for both Jonathan’s parents and Crystal’s Father.
“Get up Jon!” Red whispered as Jonathan sank to his knees crying. Crystal left his grandfather and rushed to his side. Jonathan looked up and could see Crystal was worried about him and crying happy tears. She helped Jonathan up, gave him a kiss on the lips and a big smile. Jonathan returned it but could not stop the flow of tears.
Jonathan did not pay attention to the priest. Whatever the man was saying was of little consequence to him. Instead he focused on his wife. Crystal looked perfect and was the one for him. She was nervous about him getting fired as Archmage and had already made her own plans to open up a Healer’s shop so they could make money. Jonathan knew he made the right choice, she wanted to build with him and his grandfather had let him in on the business proposal she pitched to him in order to borrow enough gold to get the place started. Crystal didn't realize that Jonathan had enough money that they never had to work again but still thought it was sweet. Soon the Priest finished and it was time for them to say their vows. Both were too choked up to say anything but I do and soon Jonathan got to kiss the bride.
Jonathan heard a big cheer and then turned to greet his guests. He had ensured people from all walks of life were invited, from Wilbur his driver to Baronet Auber from the mountain. Crystal had to go greet her people as well. Jonathan caught sight of Russell. They hadn't spoken since their match. Monica had left him to go talk to a woman that Jonathan assumed was her mother. Jonathan didn't invite her but wasn't going to push the issue.
“Are we good, Russell?” Jonathan asked. Russell looked down at Jonathan and narrowed his eyes.
“You are better than I took you for, Thunder,” Russell said.
“Many people find that out,” Jonathan said. “I am just angrier than you are and I always have something to prove.”
“I expected you to go bragging to whoever would listen,” Russell said.
“What would that accomplish?” Jonathan asked. “I never was a braggart Russell. You saw me that way because I was a commoner and didn't want to work for you.”
“You have done a lot Thunder, but there were better ways,” Russell said.
“Not after you all laughed at my parents passing,” Jonathan said. “You were delusional if you thought that didn't sting or stay with me.”
“Not one of my better moments,” Russell said. “So you got the girl.”
“I got my wife,” Jonathan corrected. “Even if she was noble I would have gone for her. She heals sick people in her off time Russell. How many Mages do you know who does that for free?”
“Not many,” Russell said. “She still could have found better.”
“I am going to help you out Russell,” Jonathan said. “Crystal’s parents died. You can Champion Kevin Wilson if you would like. You still thought the entire thing was funny. Did you ever apologize or admit your part in it to her? I know that she is someone else’s wife right now, so she doesn't matter to you. Monica knew when she challenged me that I would destroy her. She knew it in her heart, I could see it on her face. She did all of that for you. That woman is owed an apology. Or you can be Russell. You know eventually someone will come around and try for her.”
“Monica wants to be Duchess,” Russell said.
“She knows her worth,” Jonathan said. “And she is petty. We both know if you somehow would have gotten Crystal, she would have made her very best play for me. Someone she loathes. I can see her moving on with some other lad. There are at least two that I know of that may not be Mages but they are in line for a title. There are plenty of people from the Story family here. They would give Monica whatever she wanted in whatever quantity she wanted it in. I have my happily ever after Russell. I know Crystal is the type of woman that would die fighting alongside me instead of leaving me to my enemies. Monica is that type of person as well.”
“Excuse me Thunder,” Russell said as he walked off. Jonathan saw Baron Nettleton approaching with Farrah. Harland gave him a hearty hug followed by a vigorous handshake.
“Your Lordship, you made it,” Jonathan said.
“Of course I did,” Harland said. “I am also giving you an invite to both of my weddings. The main one will be Duke Golad’s Estate and a smaller more intimate affair will be held in the Nettles. The information of where, what time and all that was sent by courier.”
“Thank you,” Jonathan said as Crystal walked over and wrapped her body around his arm.
“Mrs. Thunder!” Harland said and gave her a hug. “You both look nice together. You must visit the Nettles sometime. I still owe your husband an ale and I want him to collect.”
“We will, Your Lordship,” Crystal said. “This has to be the best day of my life.”
Well, that's all folks. That is the end of Jonathan’s story. Crystal’s story whenever I start on it will cover from the wedding, right up until Sara is born. I will not give any spoilers but believe it or not, Jonathan wasn't supposed to get his own book. He was a supporting character in another series who proved too big to contain in a couple of lines. The same thing with Crystal. This universe is not done. Be on the lookout for the final book of the Crystal Mage and a whole new series concerning Jonathan and Crystal’s grandchildren. I would like to thank Mr. Gilmore for his fantastic covers. I would like to thank Ms. Jett for being there for me to bounce ideas off of. As always, this book should have cost you under a buck unless you have Kindle Unlimited or pirated this bad boy. All I ask for is an honest review, I don't care if you hated the entire thing, then write that. Reviews are how any independent author makes their money. If any of you are bored, drop me a line. Flowersnovels@gmail.com
Whiskey Flowers, Jonathan Thunder
