Something is coming

James opened his eyes rolling out his bed to his feet. He picked up some clothes from the closet. He went over to the wash room relieved himself and washed up in the basin and got dressed.

His staff appeared in his hand and he put it behind his back attaching it magically. He started to leave but then held his hand. His wand flew into his palm.

James smiled and pocked his wand and headed out the open doorway of his apartment. Outside he looked down to the last floor to see his family all having breakfast at a long stable. Dago was seated eating pancakes.

"Yo. Have breakfast without me?" James said and quickly hurried down the stairs almost floating down the stairs.

Dago shook his head at him. "You were over sleeping bro. Having visions and stuff." He asked jokingly.

James nodded his head. "Yeah. I didn't dream much at all. Who made pancakes?" He asked.

Everyone froze and stared at him. Ava stood up approaching him. "You had a vision."

James nodded trying to shrug it off. "Yeah. I did."

They all looked at him to say more but he didn't. Angus motioned with his hand. "Okay. What or who was it about then?"

James sighed. "Someone came here at some point and added a spell here. They wanted offered it to me as a test of sorts and to help in the expansion sense it's been on paused for more then a couple of months now."

Everyone waited. James said nothing more. Angus sighed. "James. Who was it? There is no reason to keep secrets."

James smiled. "Alright let's go! The man you and Nick are chasing came here at some point and made a spell to help in Hawks Landing. He did it as a means to distract Nick away from hunting him and now-"

"Enough." Angus said holding up a hand. "Come eat breakfast." He said calm voice.

Everyone was quiet and they quickly went back to eating. James shrugged and went over to sit between Mara and Dago. A plate of pancakes was set before him and smiled at Angus.

"Thanks Dad."

Angus made a face. "Yeah. Your welcome son. Happy birthday. Enjoy your breakfast and head up to the dueling building. Axe has been waiting a bit."

James nodded. "Alright." He said and started getting into his breakfast quickly with hunger. He reached for a cup and took a drink and smiled at the taste of butter beer. "Butter beer. Damn it's been a minute sense I had some this stuff."

Angus grinned and held up a pitch. James quickly held his cup up toward the pitch and Angus refiled his glass. "That will have to be your last cup. You got to get going. Axe will be waiting for and he's already his breakfast."

James nodded took his staff in hand as he got up turned and appeared in the duelling room. He faced a man dressed light workout sweats and a T-shirt holding a white staff. His face was of course blurry but he nodded to James.

"Good morning James. Your late. Good you brought your staff. I'll be teaching you how to use it properly for defending your self in between casting spells." Axe said.

James nodded. "Hey. Sorry I'm late. Thank you for teaching me all this time." He said

Axe nodded waving him up to the ring. "Come up. Let's get to it. We'll start out slow and work our way up this is your final sparring session with me."

James nodded and climbed up to the ring taking his staff in hand spun it around and held it up defensively like Axe. "Have you checked out the library? A couple new editions have been added."

"I have. You have an impressive catalogue in updated magical history. I added a research section to your library. I would focus on research and development for next two years from now on to complete the project." Axe said and started tapping his staff hitting the bottom and then the top.

James followed the movements. "Thank you Sir for your advice. We could always use another researcher here."

Axe shook his head. "Call me Axe. I'm not a researcher. I'm just passing on some skills I have and I would hope you would do the same for me to for others coming here."

James nodded. "Of course. I think that is more then fair. Thank you again." He said.

Axe nodded and then he reached out and tapped James on the head with his index finger. James froze frowning. Axe nodded. "Always be ready. Watch my body. Again."

James nodded and watched Axe move as they began to spare slowly. He frowned as the pace started to speed up.

"Don't worry about the speed watch my body and follow my movements if you can and relax so you'll move faster. Always be ready. Always be ready." Axe said.

"Okay." James said.

They practiced in silence for an hour with in between moments of Axe effectively tapping his forehead in the same spot every time but they kept going.

There was a knock at the door to the dueling room. Axe started to back away but James pushed air at Axe's chest pushing him back.

James frowned as Axe started to throw the staff at him. He simply stepped out of the way and caught the staff before it went flying. He heard a gasp loud gasp before James threw the staff back toward Axe.

Axe caught the staff sighed. "Sorry about that. I got a little emotional. Your pretty fast. Almost as fast as Nick."

James shook his head. "It sounds like bullshit to me. If you're anything like my dad you wouldn't loose control at all. You wanted to see if I was listening to you. I was. How fast can you really move?"

Axe was suddenly in front him an inch away from his face. "Pretty fast but not as fast as Nick. Our time together is concluded together." He said.

James grimaced and sighed. "Man. I should have just let you allowed me to believe my own bullshit. I never stood a chance of catching up to you huh?"

Axe snorted and rubbed his head. "You'll get there. But you really have to relax more James and enjoy life some. You're going to be a father soon. Congratulations." He said and disappeared.

"James. It's time for Lunch." Mara said.

James spun his staff around and attaching it to his back and walked quickly toward Mara. They walked out of the dueling room to a bright sunny day. He took her hand as they walked toward the tower. It was a nice day and a smile played on his lips.

"Why were you hesitant about talking about the vision? You haven't had a vision in a long time." Mara said.

"Because he told and showed me what he was doing so that I could possible tell dad and he would get the reaction he needed for his plan. Now that I told dad the man planning all this got his reaction. Did Dad leave to see Nick yet?" James said simply looking over toward the forest and mystical lake. It was starting bubble.

There was a long pause of quiet that followed. Mara sighed. "Yes, he has. Mother tried to stop him but Dad was determined."

James let go of her hand. "I need you to head to the tower stay inside and tell Dago to meet me at the mystical lake in the forest." He said and then appeared standing in the forest facing the mystic lake.

James called his staff to him and leaned on it. Forest animals moved behind him but they kept back as he stood motionless until Dago and Ava appeared with their wands.

He looked at Dago who looked angry but ready. "You alright?"

Dago blinked and smiled nodding his head. "Yeah. Yeah. I just had a bit of a heated discussion with Mara for a bit. She wanted to come-"

"-Thank you bro. I wouldn't have made it this far in the project or life without you." James said quietly and he looked back on the lake.

"Our quiet days have come to an end, huh?" Ava said softly.

James nodded stiffly. "Yes. You didn't need to come mother. I don't expect there to be much trouble."

"I know. But, the tower security is activated and no one but us has access inside. She will be safe. Your father has returned."

James frowned. "That's quick. I thought he would still be in meeting with Nick and the others. Nick must have sent him back."

There was a long pause. "Yes. Your father said Nick yelled at him for leaving Hawks Landing and ordered him to stay here until whatever the hell that has happening now is over." Ava said softly.

"Mate?" Dago asked.

"Go ahead. Talk to me."

"I'll have to leave soon after we finish this current crisis. My parents are getting worried about me and I need to find my purpose soon enough." Dago said.

James nodded. "Okay. You'll always have a home here Dago and something to do." He said and paused. "He gave me three riddles."

"I don't like riddles. You can have all that shit. What do you need me to do?" Dago said.

James smiled. "I need you to think of a beautiful woman." He said.

"James? What are you doing?" Ava asked.

"I got you, mate. I'm thinking of her right now." Dago said.

James frowned at the rumbling waters as a form began to take shape. He shook his head. "No. I need you to picture her in head from her head to her shoulders and body form and-"

"-James. Stop. This feels wrong. You have to-"

"If you want to be in charge of Hawks Landing or my job then please say so now." James said.

Ava flinched back. "I didn't say that. I'm only asking you to stop and think. This is what your enemy wants."

"Mother. If you want my job it is yours. If you can't stomach the war we are in then I would suggest that you sit it out. Make your choice now." He said calmly and looked up to sky to see something falling fast toward the lake. "Hmm."

"James. Are listening to me?" Ava demanded.

James nodded. "Go ahead mother. I'm listening." He said staring up at the strangely formed body body that was falling from the sky. "What the hell is that?"

Dago looked up toward the sky. His eyes narrowed on the object falling fast. "That looks like-huh?!"

Ava stared at James. "James. Listen to me. You are the heir of Merlin. I am merely asking a question. Why not-ah!" She screamed as something crashed down into the lake.