A Tale of Two Uncle's

Yamin needed to get rid of that book.

Uncle and I made the argument for getting it out of Yamin’s hands before it changed her personality for the worse. She seemed more tired, desperate then normal. It wasn't a good fit for her. If nothing else, that showed further proof that Mella’s Evil One thing might have held water, which worried me even more. 

After we save the world, we’ll need to have a good long discussion with that witch about what was going on with Yamin.

Because I was acting commander, Yamin had to obey my orders to give the book up. I could tell by her eyes that it was a struggle to let go, battling a presence within herself for control.

Uncle was closest to her, so he went to grab the book and help her out. But as if it were alive, it protested by spitting up a black flame that kept him from touching it.

“Ayo!” Indena called out. “Don’t touch that. It’s cursed fire.”

“How do you know what it is?” I asked.

“It's forbidden stuff for us fire mage. Not a good sign if that book can make it. Probably should get rid of it ASAP.”

That book clearly discriminates against anyone but Yamin. That's way too weird that a book is so picky about who touches it.

Instead of trying to hand it off, Yamin chucked it away with all her might. It landed on the ground outside of our playing space. That was a good throw.

“Gahh!” one of the night hags on the other side of the board freaked out and ran over to the book. Then he picked it up and brought it back to Yamin, offering it up as tribute.

“Get out of here!” she ordered. “I don’t want a cursed book!”

“Gahh haa?” he pouted at it. “Gra ha ga!”

“I said no!”

“Grrr…” The hag tried to force it into her hands by poking her in the arms with it. When that didn’t work, he was hitting her in the leg with it.

“Stop it!”

Indena abandoned her square and punted the demon away. It comically rolled across the board until giving her a feral look.

“She said no, you F’n bugger.” Indena said.

The demon wasn’t deterred, he continued to try and pressure Yamin into taking the book back. She just kept having to push him away until I ordered a pawn to hold the demon off.

In all that confusion, it appeared that Belphegor had moved a different pawn onward. So it was our turn now? He could have said something about that instead of letting our time run out!

~☆☆☆~

We were a few minutes into that game and pieces had shuffled all around the board. I mostly kept all my friends safe in the way back, using the pawns to create somewhat of a barrier.

But one of the enemy knights was galloping down to break through our line.

Uncle was in his path, unwilling to step aside for this warrior of darkness.

Normally a knight on the offense would have the advantage over anyone he trampled, but Uncle wasn’t any stationary piece of ivory.

The Nephilim knight held up a mighty blade, swinging with an even mightier force that could swat the biggest of elephants, but Uncle’s determination was greater than an elephant.

Swing swing! Clash Clash!

It was exciting as they both traded attacks, but Uncle became the champion of that square.

That was the first major battle, and it was a thrill.

“Good job, Uncle!” I cheered. In return for my praises he gave me a thumbs up.

That was the spark that started the flame. War broke out across the many squares. Pawns struck each other down on both sides. A chariot pulled by chickens barreled through it all, breaking our defensive line. It was heading for our queen.

But king Marek, a valiant man, took her place in the clash.

“No!” Yamin called out, finally sobering up. “Marek!”

With all his strength carried over from the true reality, he held the chariot back. Pain overwhelmed his arms, swelling them to their limits. The giant chicken moved to peck at him.

Support came from the side as I charged in and jabbed each of the chickens with my spear, turning them to fiery ash. Then our cat witch came in and sunk her fangs into the neck of the night hag directing them, abruptly ending his joy ride.

Meanwhile, Uncle had discovered that one of the enemy bishop pieces was missing. He called upon Indena for reinforcement incase this was a trick.

“What should I do?” Indena asked, ready for a battle even in her tiny body.

“You’re our bishop, so you’ll back me up with magic.”

Indena's confidence as a child was low, but this was a dream land. Only the creative survived here. The flames of her once previous life returned, and brighter than ever.

“Look who’s back!” she cheered as fire hugged her body. “Man, I missed these flames.”

A trap door opened up in their square, and Uncle nearly fell into it. All the while, an identical copy of himself emerged, flying high and charging down like a meteor.

He touched down on Uncle, making sure to cause them to roll out and mix positions. Who was who? Does this mean I have two Uncle’s now?

“That's a clever disguise, but it'll fail very quickly.” Uncle one said, pushing back the other.

“You think my niece can't tell us apart?” Uncle two said. “Yalda, which one of us is real?”

My ability to see name tags failed in the den of dreams, so I had to find another way to tell them apart.

“Alright, let me ask a question only the real Uncle would know.” That was the tried and true means of exposing a disguise. “What's my favourite flavour?”

Honey apple berry!” both of them announced.

Dang it…

“How would you know that?!” Uncle Two shouted.

But Uncle One didn't feel justified to answer, remaining silent.

“Next question! Has Uncle ever been in space before?”

“Many times.” Both answered.

Choosing the right one was getting harder by the second. I flew in, spear raised, ready to poke one for even the most minor slip up.

“Alright, here’s a better question…” I knew how to trap him. Only the real Uncle would answer this honestly. “Will you promise to never feed me rocks again if I pick you?” I asked them both.

“I'll consider that, Young Mistress.” Uncle two said.

“Not a chance.” Uncle one said at the same time.

Fwoosh! Plick!

I flew in and stabbed Uncle Two.

The look of utter shock on his face told me I was on the money.

“Uncle tries to get me to eat those stupid vitamin rocks all the time. You’re a fake!”

Uncle 2’s shock turned to sadism, then his face began to melt. Laughter left his mouth, and he pulled himself from my skewering.

“Now, is it kind to remove an actor's mask when he’s on set?”

That voice…it could only have been one person!

“Little One, he’s returned!”

The Actor. Once the face fully melted from his disguise, I saw that happy theater mask he’d so carefully crafted a replica of my uncle's face over.

“Not this guy!” Indena shouted. “I was hoping it wasn’t actually him.”

“Indena! It’s been a long time,” he said as if he were greeting an old friend.

“Not long enough, weirdo. You were fun in daycare. Now you’re just annoying.”

They both came from the same cult, so clearly some history was shared. But if he was supporting the demon, there were bigger issues we needed to get through here…