How do I prove I'm me? he wondered.
“Clara, I swear it's really me. Look, find something reflective to look into and you'll be able to see me.”
The cleric was scowling, looking angrier than Simon had ever seen her. But after a moment's hesitation, she nodded once and strode off through the scattered tents to a large pile of boxes and supplies that was sitting in the center of the community.
She poked around inside one of the crates and eventually withdrew a hand mirror similar to Simon's own, except that it was bright pink and looked like something a child would use.
The cleric looked around, took a deep breath and stared down into the mirror. There was a loud click and Simon was staring directly into her eyes.
Clara caught her breath as she saw the wizard. Her eyes darted from him to both of the elementals and back again several times.
Kronk waved and smiled, while Aeris nodded a greeting. When she looked at Simon again, he smiled broadly.
“Yes, I'm alive and no, you aren't hallucinating. I hope that Aeris and Kronk being with me will help to convince you.”
“By the gods, Simon,” she whispered, swaying on her feet for a moment.
He watched as she sat down abruptly on a crate and closed her eyes, breathing heavily.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”
Clara opened her eyes and laughed. It sounded too high-pitched and brittle but at least it was better than the anger she had shown a moment before.
“Seen a ghost? Of course I look like I've seen a ghost. You're supposed to be dead! I felt you die, my friend, and it's not something I ever want to experience again.”
Now she was examining his face eagerly. She smiled a real smile as she noticed his extremely short hair but frowned as her eyes trailed across his features.
“You are much too skinny, Simon. And your new haircut makes you look so young. Not sure if that's good or bad. What on Earth happened to you? How are you back among the living?”
The wizard had to sigh. He had a feeling that he was going to have to tell the story again and again before people accepted his presence as real.
Maybe I can just write it out, make copies and give one to each person who asks, he thought wryly.
“You can thank your gods,” he told her. “They gave me a chance to come back. One chance. If I die again, then I'm dead and that's it. So, this is what I remember.”
He recounted what had happened and Clara listened closely. She stopped him several times to ask questions, mainly about the goddess, but mostly she just sat quietly as he told his tale. When he was finished, Simon felt weary again and settled tiredly into his chair, waiting for her reaction.
“A remarkable story, my friend,” she said when he was done. “Remarkable. It is good to know that the gods still watch over us. I never knew that souls could avoid joining with a newborn who was doomed to die soon after birth. And that poor woman, to die alone, not knowing if her child would survive. How sad and yet, how courageous. She held on long enough to give you life.”
“I know. It breaks my heart that I never got the chance to know her,” Simon said sadly. “Surviving all this time from the original dragon attack with only one companion? They must have thought that they were the last people on Earth.”
“Tragic,” Clara agreed. “But you are her legacy, my friend. That has to count for something.”
The cleric wiped her eyes hurriedly and stared at him with a fond expression.
“I can't tell you how good it is to know that you're alive and well, Simon. We, all of us here, mourned your passing. After everything that you'd done for us, to die just as we found a new sanctuary, seemed so cruel, so senseless.”
He shifted uncomfortably, aware that Aeris was grinning at him.
“I did what had to be done,” he said shortly. “You would have done the same. Anyway, I'm back now and I wanted to make sure that you were all okay. Are you?”
“Better than we could have hoped. We found a small town several miles away that wasn't totally leveled. That's where we dug up these tents and a bunch of tools and other useful things.” She grinned. “Including this mirror. I'm not sure who brought it back, but I set it aside for some reason, not even thinking. Now I'm glad I did.”
“Me too. So, no sign of goblins or dragons or God knows what else?”
“Nothing. Malcolm and Aiden have gone out exploring several times now. They found several wonderful groves of oranges, grapefruit and lemon trees not too far away and the fresh fruit has been a blessing. We've begun tilling some fields for planting and our blacksmith has set up his shop and created some farming tools. We left most of ours behind when we evacuated Nottinghill, so new ones are a priority.”
“It sounds like things are going well,” Simon told her. “The idea to use tents was clever. When I'm feeling a bit stronger, though, Kronk wants to come down with some friends and build you more permanent housing, if that's okay?”
She smiled gratefully.
“That would be much appreciated. And forgive me for not greeting you both,” she said to the elementals. “I was so shocked to see Simon in the flesh that I totally ignored you.”
“Understandable, lady,” Kronk said with a bow. “And thank you. We earthen want to help in any way that we can.”
“I'm not surprised at your shock,” Aeris added. “We were, um, rather surprised to be summoned back by our dear wizard as well.”
“I can imagine,” Clara said with a laugh. “Now I'm going to have to call a town meeting and try to convince twenty people that Simon has come back from the dead. That should be fun.”
The wizard laughed.
“I'm sure you're up to the task,” he said. “And if I'm strong enough, they'll be able to see me for themselves in about a week or so.”
“Good. Malcolm and Aiden, along with Virginia and her friends, were especially devastated by your death. I'm sure they will be thrilled to know that you've come back.”
She paused for a moment and frowned.
“You know, when I say it out loud like that, it still sounds insane, if you see what I mean.”
“Hell, it sounds nuts to me and I went through it! Anyway, if you still want them, I'll be calling Liliana tomorrow about moving from Moscow to join you.”
“Of course we do. I was worried about them after you...fell. There is simply no way for anyone to cross the oceans now without magic.”
“You're right. At least I won't have to explain my death and rebirth to her. She has no idea of what we went through during that last attack by the wights.”
Clara looked at him wisely.
“Don't be so sure, my friend. She is a paladin, and has a rather close relationship with her goddess. I have a feeling that she might have been informed of recent events.”
“Huh. Well, in that case, I'll still get away with not having to tell the story yet again, won't I?”
“It's inspirational, Simon. Why are you so reluctant to share it with others?”
“Honestly? It makes me sound like a self-important, um, well, fill in the blank. And I'm not. I'm just a guy who got a break, that's all.”
Clara stared at him with an inscrutable expression on her face.
“You really don't know how special you are, do you?” she asked finally.
Simon pretended to vomit and the cleric burst out laughing.
“Okay, fine then,” she said through her giggles. “Be that way. Now, get some rest and for the gods' sake, eat! You look like I could hold you up to the light and see through you.”
“Yes Mom, I'll do that,” Simon said with a grin. “And I'll call you back after I talk to Liliana. Probably in a day or two.”
Kronk poked him and the wizard looked at him in surprise.
“What?”
“Tell her about our new addition, master,” the earthen said with a smile.
“What was that?” Clara asked curiously.
“Oh sorry. Kronk just reminded me to ment
ion that Sunshine had her foal.”
“By the gods, I'd forgotten all about that! What did she have? How is she? How are they both?”
Simon laughed at the woman's eager questions.
“Let's see now. She had a filly. She's in excellent health, as is the mare. And Kronk named her Sunbeam because she's the color of a banana, although she has a brown stripe down the center of her back.”
“That's wonderful news, Simon. Truly wonderful. I didn't think anything could make me happier than knowing you are with us again, but I was wrong. One day, when you are back to your old self, perhaps you can bring me up for a visit.”
“It's a date. In the meantime, I'll keep you apprised of her progress. We'll talk again soon.”
“Excellent. Thank you for calling, my friend. It's so good to see you well and whole.”
“Thanks Clara. Take care.”
Both Kronk and Aeris waved and the wizard shook the mirror to cancel the spell.
“So, what did you think?” he asked as he set down it down on the desk.
“About what?” Aeris asked. “Her reaction?”
“That and just the way the town is coming together.”
“I think that they are doing well, master,” Kronk said happily. “And I am glad that we can help them some more.”
“You know, Kronk,” Aeris said to him. “Sometimes your consistently pleasant nature gives me a headache.”
The earthen snorted in disgust.
“Elementals don't get headaches,” he said tartly. “And what is wrong with you? Why must you always be so gloomy?”
Aeris rose up several inches off of the desk and bobbed up and down with his fists on his hips.
“I am not gloomy,” he stated. “I am a realist. Yes, things are going well right now with them down there, but how long can it last? Why haven't either of you mentioned the most ominous part of our dear wizard's rebirth? Are you both intentionally blind?”
Simon frowned at him.
“What are you talking about?” he asked as he looked at Kronk, who looked mystified.
“The dragon!” Aeris exclaimed. “The dragon who, oh so coincidentally, appeared several hours after your rebirth. And almost killed you, by the way. It had to have been sent by the lords of Chaos, don't you think? And if so, with your return this tower is now an even bigger target than it was before. So is the new settlement down in Florida, because they are your allies.”
“You know, that's a very good point,” Simon said slowly. “Funny, I just sort of put that dragon out of my mind. Kronk?”
“As did I, master. We have faced so many dangers that one more seemed almost...trivial.”
“Trivial?” Aeris threw his hands into the air. “We are talking about a red dragon here. They are, in their own way, as powerful as the browns. And with the primal brown and its legions in the elven lands, the reds are also the only species of dragon left on Earth. They have one mission and one mission only: destroy all humans. Oh and who just happens to be the nexus of the fight against the dark gods and the dragons at the moment, according to the gods of Light?” He pointed a trembling finger at Simon. “You, my dear wizard. Think about that for a moment.”
“You're right,” Simon said to Kronk solemnly. “He is gloomy.”
“What? I'm, I just...argh!”
The wizard laughed shortly and grinned at him.
“Easy, Aeris. Don't burst anything. I'm just kidding.”
The air elemental subsided with a grumble but looked a little less tense.
“There, that's better,” Simon said. He leaned forward and rested his chin in his hands.
“You are quite right though,” he said thoughtfully. “Obviously our enemies know that I'm back. The goddess warned me that they would and it seems that she was right.”
He looked around the room vaguely, the light from the candles on the desk making the shadows dance. The daylight from outside struggled to get through the ice coating the windows and the study was quite dark.
“I think that the tower is as secure as I can make it. We know that it can stand up to a dragon attack; it's already done so. But the new town is a different story. Walls won't keep out a dragon, even if they are warded.”
He looked at Kronk who was listening closely.
“What they need down there is a central structure, like the tower here, where I can place a ward that will connect all of the other wards together to shield the entire town.”
“It would have to be a very powerful one, master,” the earthen said, stroking his chin. “The ward on the top of this tower connects all of the others along the outer wall, but the grounds here are not nearly as large in size as those of the new town. I do not know if such a thing is possible.”
“You don't need to protect the entire town,” Aeris said as if stating the obvious.
“We don't?”
“Of course not. If the townspeople rebuild following the pattern of Nottinghill, which I'm guessing they will, they will build a central town hall. You only need to ward that structure. The town's outer wall will repel a ground-based attack and, if dragons attack from the air, the community can retreat into the warded hall and wait out the assault.” He shrugged. “The town itself would probably suffer significant damage, but the people would survive.”
“Damn,” Simon said heatedly. “If only I'd warded the town hall in Nottinghill that way, maybe the people wouldn't have had to move after all. Or die,” he added grimly.
“You could not know that wights would overcome the town's defenses, master,” Kronk told him. “When we travel down to the new settlement, my brethren and I will add arches to both gates and you can ward them properly. That will stop almost anything from breaking through. And if Clara agrees, we will construct a town hall that you can ward as well.”
“You look quite pale at the moment, my dear wizard,” Aeris said abruptly. “You need to eat something. This casting is draining your rather thin reserves more quickly than I imagined it would.”
He floated over to the doorway.
“I will warm up some stew. Kronk, don't let him use any more magic and get him downstairs as soon as you can.”
“Agreed,” Kronk replied with a glance at Simon. “He is looking a bit peaky, isn't he?”
“He is, so get him moving. And put out those candles before you come down. The last thing we need is another fire in the tower.”
“Um, guys? I'm not a child,” Simon protested. “Stop talking as if I'm not in the room.”
Aeris just shook his head and went out, leaving Kronk to meet the wizard's frown with one of his own.
“Master, you know that we have your best interests at heart, do you not?”
“Yes, of course you do. But...”
“And you have never been the best gauge of your own physical condition, yes?”
“Well, yes, only...”
“Then please allow us to help get you back to your old self. We want to do it and your friends need you back in fighting form, so do not argue, master. Just accept the help knowing that it is for your own good.”
He stopped speaking and his red eyes widened as if he was surprised at his own boldness. But before he could apologize, Simon held up a hand.
“Don't be sorry for setting me straight, Kronk. I need that sometimes. You two are amazingly patient with me and, although I may not always show it, I really am grateful for it.”
“Then in that case, master,” the earthen said with a little smile. “Get downstairs and eat!”
And he making little shooing motions toward the door.
“Yes sir!” Simon replied, laughing, and he got up and left the room. Kronk pinched out the candles and followed him, looking decidedly pleased with himself.
Chapter 21
The next day dawned heavily, with puffy, gray clouds choking the sky. Simon looked up at them nervously as he hurried to the outhouse. They looked ominous.
When he went back into the tower and asked, Aeris confirmed the worst.
&nb
sp; “Yes, a storm is approaching,” he said with a shrug. “But it is not anything violent, my dear wizard. I feel a lot of heaviness though, so I believe that there will be a significant accumulation of snow.”
Simon sighed and nodded.
“Oh the joys of winter,” he said as he made his tea. Aeris had toasted some bread and he spread blueberry jam on it and then sat down to eat.
“Unfortunately, we have several more months of this before spring arrives,” the air elemental said as he floated over to the table. “At the risk of jinxing us, we have to assume that, during one of the upcoming storms, there will be an attack on the tower.”
“Hopefully not until I'm back to my old self,” Simon muttered with his mouth full.
“We can only hope. Personally, I think the winter is also a bit of a blessing.”
The wizard looked at Aeris skeptically.
“A blessing? How is this damned weather a blessing?”
“The red dragons,” Aeris replied. “You've been back several days and, after that initial attack on you after your rebirth, we haven't seen a single dragon. And I think I know why.”
“Oh? Do tell,” Simon said with a touch of sarcasm.
“The weather, my dear wizard. Red dragons hate the cold. Yes, you were attacked by them a few years ago during the winter, but that was a scheme to steal your magic. Now that the tower is more fully protected and you are wearing your amulet against such an attack...”
Simon reached up and felt the piece of crystallized dragon's blood that hung on a chain around his neck. He had found it hanging in his closet, but couldn't remember having left it there. Yet another mystery.
“Now that you are protected from them that way,” Aeris continued. “I believe that the dragons will not bother you here, at least not until the spring.”
“Oh, I wish we could be sure that was true,” Simon said with a touch of hope. “It would be one less thing to worry about.”
“I think we can be fairly certain it is. The lady paladin has not reported any dragon sightings over Moscow, has she?”
“Lately? I don't know. But that last time we spoke? No, she hadn't.”
Tales from the New Earth: Volume One Page 146
