“Maybe so, but attacking whom?”
“Ah, now that's the real question, isn't it?”
Aeris moved closer to Simon and hovered near his right shoulder.
“You've always suspected that there were pockets of humanity left on Earth, haven't you? Maybe small towns and villages where survivors had gathered to try to rebuild and carry on with their lives after the dragons returned?”
Simon watched the dracolich as he nodded.
“Of course. It's a big planet. And there were seven billion of us at the end. Logically they couldn't all have been slaughtered on the Night of Burning or when the drakes were sent in to clean up any people who were missed in the original attack.”
“Exactly. Well, I very much fear that the dark gods are well aware of how many survivors there are, and where they are holed up. I hope I'm wrong, but it's possible that the necromancers around the world are moving en masse to wipe out the last of your species.”
A lump of ice seemed to form in Simon's belly and he looked at the air elemental's solemn face in horror.
“You really believe that?” he whispered.
“I'm afraid I do. But I've been wrong before. Perhaps I am now. Let us hope so.”
Simon began pacing back and forth from one side of the roof to the other, not realizing how much he was mimicking Tamara when she became upset. He kept an eye on the undead dragon, but for the moment its presence was almost secondary.
What can I do, he asked himself frantically. What the hell can I do? If Aeris is right, my people are about to be wiped out. How many can use magic to defend themselves? Nottinghill Castle and the Defiant may be aberrations. What if most settlements have no mages or other spell-casters? They'll be helpless in the face of hundreds of undead monsters directed by a malevolent necromancer.
He walked back to the elementals, wrapped both hands around his staff and leaned on it, staring out into the night.
“I think that this is the end of the human race,” he said hopelessly. “If we're even human anymore, which I highly doubt. I'm trapped here by that,” he glowered at the circling dracolich, “thing. And even if I wasn't, I have no idea where the rest of the necromancers are going. We may survive here, and the people in Nottinghill Castle and on the Defiant, but that could be it.”
The dracolich bellowed its horrific roar again and Simon scowled at it.
“But whatever happens, I'm going to send you back to Hell if it's the last thing I do!”
Chapter 22
“How long until dawn?” Simon asked Aeris as he watched the undead dragon gliding around the tower.
The air elemental looked intently toward the east.
“A little over three hours, give or take. You will be gasping for air inside the wards long before that.”
“Thanks. I know.”
The wizard looked down at the outer wall where the shield around the tower ended. Undead monsters, mostly skeletons and rotting corpses, were waiting just outside of the magical barrier and staring up at him balefully. He could actually feel their malevolent gaze on him even from the roof.
Simon looked to the left and right and saw that the monsters were beginning to encircle the entire tower. And the animated corpses were still coming, climbing stiffly out of the hole in the field and staggering forward to join the others.
“Where the hell is that necromancer?” he wondered aloud. “Shouldn't he be here directing his troops?”
“Not necessarily,” Aeris answered as he bobbed up and down above the parapet. “He has his wraiths to follow whatever his battle plan is. And the less...rotted undead have at least a modicum of intelligence. Only the skeletons must be constantly controlled.”
“But if he is not here, where could he be?” Kronk asked.
“Perhaps he took a contingent of his troops to the old town of Nottinghill to wipe out the bear people. Who knows? But if he did, there is very little our dear wizard here can do while we're trapped inside the wards.”
“Oh crap, I hope not. I like those guys.”
Simon frowned in thought as his eyes continued to track the dracolich.
“They do have a shaman; maybe that will help them defend against the undead. Damn it, I was hoping to face that necromancer here and deal with him right away.”
Aeris stared at him doubtfully.
“Really? You think you are a match for an evil wizard who can control something like that?”
He pointed at the undead dragon.
Simon glowered at him and returned to watching the circling monster.
“How should I know? But those casters have to be stopped, don't they? At least if he was here, I'd be fighting from my home base and not out in the field somewhere.”
“Well, you'll have to deal with him another day. In the meantime, what about that flying monstrosity?”
Simon hung his staff over his shoulder by its leather strap, then leaned forward over the parapet and stared down at the mass of attackers below.
“If I drop the wards to attack the dracolich, the horde will be pounding against the wall in an instant. Do you think the wards down there are strong enough to hold them back for a few minutes?”
“Longer than that, master,” Kronk said stoutly. “The wall is sturdy and the enchantment will harm every undead creature that comes into contact with it. They will not be able to cross and the wards in the cellar will protect us from an underground assault.”
“I like your confidence, my friend,” Simon told him with a smile. “And I'll accept your judgment in this case.”
“So, what exactly are you going to do to take out that thing?” Aeris asked, looking from Simon to the dracolich and back again.
“Me? Nothing, actually. I don't even know if any of my spells would make a dent in it. It has to be, what, a hundred feet from nose to tail?”
“At least.”
“Well, if it would do me a favor and land, I suppose that I could drop a meteor on it, but barring that, who knows?”
Both elementals looked at him with wide eyes.
“Then do not drop the wards, master!” Kronk urged. “If you cannot stop it, do not take any chances. Gate to Nottinghill Castle or perhaps the Defiant until the danger has passed.”
“Until the danger has passed? Kronk, if I leave, what will I be returning to? Do you think that the undead will leave this tower standing if I'm gone? They will level the place.”
“My dear wizard,” Aeris said carefully. “I am fond of this tower too, but in the end it is just a building. Kronk and his people can build you another one, or repair this one. Is it worth risking your life for?”
Simon looked at each of them and wondered if elementals simply couldn't feel sentiment. Maybe so.
“Guys, this is my home. Yes, it is 'just' a building. But I have history here. I'm more than fond of it. And to be honest, letting that necromancer get his grimy hands on it, even if it's his walking corpses that take it apart and not him personally, isn't something I'm prepared to accept.”
Aeris and Kronk didn't seem to understand his reasoning and he shook his head at his inability to explain.
“I'm not running away,” he said flatly. “I refuse to turn tail and retreat. Once I do that, my enemies will know, when push comes to shove, that I will cave in and scurry away like a little mouse. No. No way.”
“Master...”
“My dear wizard...”
“You heard me. I make my stand right here, right now. End of discussion.”
He turned away and walked across the roof to stare off into the distance, thinking hard.
“He's a stubborn one,” Simon heard Aeris murmur.
“That is our master,” Kronk replied with a deep sigh. “We cannot fault his courage.”
“Courage and stupidity are often interchangeable, have you noticed that?” Aeris asked the earthen.
“Be silent. You are not helping.”
Simon barely listened to them. The elementals would support him no matter what, of that he was s
ure. But this was his fight. And he was trying to figure out how to win it.
He watched the undead dragon circle and circle mindlessly. He wondered if it had any of the intelligence of the dead primal brown dragon. Its movements seemed almost mechanical as it waited for an opening to attack.
A robot under command of the necromancer, that's what it is, Simon realized. A puppet. It will follow its orders like an automaton.
He smiled coldly.
Which means that it won't deal well with surprises. So let's throw a few at it and see how that goes.
He spun around and stared at the center of the roof.
“Incendus, I need you,” he said firmly.
A bolt of flame appeared in the night sky and shot straight down at the tower. It penetrated the shielding, dropped to the roof and hovered a few inches above it.
Six feet high and pulsing with wave after wave of heat, the ball of fire shifted its shape and condensed into a humanoid figure made of lava.
Two dark spots in the burning face looked toward Simon and the fire elemental nodded politely.
“Sir wizard, how nice to see you today,” Incendus said in a friendly tone.
His voice crackled and snapped like burning logs and he lit up the entire roof with a red glow.
“You too, Incendus,” Simon replied. “How have you been?”
“Oh, fair. Fair. The realm of fire is quite tame compared to the adventures I have shared with you. I am pleased that you have called upon me. What can I do for you?”
Instead of answering, Simon pointed over the elemental's shoulder at the circling dracolich.
Incendus turned and looked at the monster. He put his hands on his hips and cocked his head to the side.
“Dracolich, is it? Interesting. So you are dealing with a necromancer, and a rather talented one at that.”
“We are. Have you faced such a creature before?”
The flying skeleton roared at them as it flapped its enormous bony wings. Strangely, it didn't seem to notice the sudden appearance of the fire elemental.
“No, not personally. But I've known a few who have. They are powerful but stupid. Predictable. I wonder if these necromancers create such things to impress others rather than because they are practical. Because they aren't.”
Incendus looked around the roof and Kronk and Aeris bowed to him respectfully. He smiled and nodded and turned to Simon.
“You need that thing dealt with?”
“If possible, yes. I could hit it with lightning, or a few fireballs, but I have a feeling that it will take something more...focused to destroy it. It really is ridiculously big.”
“Hmm. True.”
They all watched the dracolich as it flew its mindless circular route again and again. The flapping sound it made was particularly chilling. Arcs of purple energy connecting the bones of its wings seemed to act as the missing skin it once had, allowing it to fly.
“Well, I certainly could not destroy it on my own. Would you allow me to bring in a few of my kind? I'd say a half dozen or so of us could get the job done.”
He looked up at the shield pulsing overhead and then grinned knowingly at Simon.
“Clever wizard,” he said lightly. “Using elementals means that you don't have to drop the wards around your tower, does it not?”
“It does,” Simon agreed. “But that isn't my reason for asking for your assistance. I'm willing to drop the shield if it means that I can take out that monster and the other undead below.”
“Wait. Other undead?”
Incendus rose up several feet and flew off of the roof. He looked down and spotted the hole in the field that was still disgorging lines of undead monsters.
“Well, well. Someone doesn't like you, sir wizard. That is a lot of undead.”
Simon hurried to the edge of the roof closest to the fire elemental.
“It is, but I think I can deal with them. At least the wards on my outer wall will slow them down. It's the dracolich that I'm really worried about.”
It was hard to read Incendus' expression but as he returned to the roof, he seemed to be looking at Simon with genuine respect.
“You know, there have not been many wizards, even years ago, who would be so casual about your situation. I'm not sure if it's bravado, courage or foolishness, but I like it.”
Simon managed a smile.
“I'm not sure either, but maybe after facing primal dragons I've become a little blasé about things like animated bones.”
Incendus laughed deeply and sparks drifted off of his skin.
“Well said. Very well then. Give me permission to invite others to the party and we shall endeavor to rid your sky of that abomination.”
“Consider it given, Incendus. Do what you need to do to destroy that thing.”
“With pleasure.”
Incendus folded his arms and coalesced back into a ball of flame. The burning mass hovered for another moment and then shot straight up and through the shield.
“Master,” Kronk called out. “Is he going to aid you?”
“Are you deaf?” Aeris asked. “He just said so.”
“I do not listen to the conversations of my betters,” the earthen told him loftily. “It is not my place to do so. Unfortunately your manners seem to be lacking in that regard.”
“Oh please. The situation is dire. Why wouldn't I listen?”
Kronk just snorted in disgust and didn't reply.
“Yes, he's going to help,” Simon told them as he watched the distant point of red that was Incendus. He was now so high that he looked like just another star in the sky. The clouds that had gathered when the wizard had cast the Lightning Storm spell had dissipated and the stars twinkled merrily, oblivious to the drama happening below.
“What's he going to do?” Aeris asked as he joined Simon.
“No clue. He's the expert on his own powers. I left it up to him.”
“Good thinking. I hope it works. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but the air inside your shielding is beginning to grow thin.”
“How do you know that?” Simon asked him. “You don't breathe.”
Aeris rose up and spun rapidly with his arms stretched out. He stopped and tapped his chest while staring at the wizard.
“Um, hello? Air elemental here. I am always aware of the atmosphere around me.”
“Oh right. Sorry. Well, I'm still able to breathe so I guess it's okay. By the way, nice pirouette.”
“Thanks. You can breathe for now, sure. But let's hope this doesn't take too long or you'll be wheezing soon.”
“Great. More pressure.”
Simon looked up again, focusing on the tiny red speck that he was almost sure was Incendus.
“What is he doing up there?” he wondered.
“Shall I go up and take a look?”
“No. I think that might seem a bit insulting. I trust that he has a plan. I just wish I knew what it was.”
There was a flash of light above them, like a distant explosion and Simon gasped.
“What just happened?”
“Did he blow up, master?”
The three of them watched nervously as the red light that was Incendus faded away.
Simon looked blankly at the elementals.
“I don't understand. What did he do?”
Aeris appeared mystified.
“I have no idea. He just...”
“Master. Master, look!”
Kronk pointed straight up.
A starburst of twinkling red sparks, like distant fireworks, lit up the night sky.
“Oh, that's so pretty,” Aeris said breathlessly.
The light faded and the sparks left behind began to fall to Earth. As they fell they grew in size and brightness. There were six of them.
Simon finally realized what was happening and looked around for the dracolich.
The monster was still circling the perimeter, stubbornly flapping mindlessly and waiting for an opening. It seemed to catch his gaze with its emp
ty eye sockets and belched out a blob of purple energy that slammed into the shield and exploded in an eye-searing burst of sparks.
It doesn't know what's coming, Simon thought, elated. It's too stupid to see the danger.
The descending blobs of flame, which he now knew were fire elementals, could be heard approaching. A high-pitched scream that reminded the wizard of the wail of diving attack planes, filled the air. And the undead dragon flew on, oblivious to it all.
“I wonder if it's deaf?” Simon said as he put his hands over his ears.
“Or just focused on its target?” Aeris said as he watched the descending elementals.
A hundred feet over the tower, the six attackers suddenly merged into one blazing ball of scarlet fury and Simon staggered back, shielding his eyes. The enormous missile smashed into the dracolich and drove it straight into the ground below.
The monster had time for a single screech of fury before it exploded, sending pieces of bone and gristle flying in all directions. The grass and brush on the field burned and blackened in the intense heat and lit up the night.
Simon cheered and then gaped in surprise as the elementals burst apart and rose up into separate fireballs.
They weren't done.
As the dracolich was destroyed, a dry roar had risen up from the hundreds of undead surrounding the tower. Many of them waved rusty weapons and their dead eyes filled with purple flame glared at the attackers.
Maybe Simon was imagining things, but he was sure that he heard a collective laugh from the fire elementals as they regrouped and then swooped to attack the horde.
“By the Four Winds, they can fly,” Aeris whispered.
Simon knew that the air elemental could not give Incendus and his fellows a greater compliment and smiled to himself. He was feeling giddy with relief, or maybe the air inside the wards was finally getting thin and making him light-headed.
The fire elementals began to burn even hotter and they shot through the ranks of the undead, leaving charred bones and ashes in their wake. Their magical fire leaped from monster to monster and heavy black smoke began to cover the battlefield, obscuring Simon's view.
The shrieks of mindless rage from the undead grew thinner and then faded away, leaving only the distant sound of burning and the wind behind.
The Dragons of Argent and Silver (Tales from the New Earth #6) Page 27
