The Dragons Return

by J. J. Thompson

  “Thanks for worrying about me. I hope it works out alright.”

  Simon dropped his towel on the sand by the water, took off his shorts and waded into the lake until the water was waist-high. He shivered at the cool water, but it wasn't freezing and he began to wash.

  After a brief swim to rinse off, he made his way back to where Kronk was waiting on the shore. He grabbed the towel and dried off.

  “So where's Aeris this morning?”

  “Don't know, master,” Kronk answered with a clear lack of interest. “He was gone at first light. We don't speak much when you are not around.”

  “Gee, what a surprise,” Simon said dryly. “Well, he'll come back whenever. I don't need him for the summoning anyway.”

  He shook his long hair to get rid of most of its remaining water. One thing I'm happy about, he thought. I was almost bald back in the days before the Change. Now he had more hair than he'd had when he was young.

  He pushed it back off of his face.

  “Well, I'm going to have some toast and then we can begin,” he told Kronk who nodded once.

  The two of them made their way back into the tower.

  Simon toasted some bread over the fire, made tea and had a quick breakfast. The wild blueberry jam that he'd preserved last year was still good and he ate slowly, savoring the tangy flavor.

  After the dishes were washed, Simon looked at Kronk, who'd been watching him silently, took a deep breath and headed for the stairs. As he slowly made his way to the second floor, he realized that he'd been stalling and was somewhat surprised at himself.

  What's wrong with me, he wondered. This is a challenge but the payoff if it works out is a safer home. It was a win-win. Of course, he added wryly, I could fail miserably. So there's that.

  A few minutes later Simon was pouring over his spell book, writing out the spell that he had used to summon Kronk originally. He read through it several times to lodge it firmly into his memory and then set it aside. He looked across the table where the little elemental was watching him. Aeris still hadn't returned.

  “Well, my friend, this is it,” he said.

  “Yes master. I must admit that I am eager to get started on this project.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Simon took a deep breath. “Okay, here we go.”

  In the end, his fears were unfounded. It took over two hours to summon the elementals and Simon had to rest for longer periods after casting the spell each time, but finally there were six stony little figures, including Kronk, standing side-by-side on the tabletop.

  Simon had assumed that each of the elementals would be a carbon-copy of his little friend, but he was quite mistaken.

  All of the little humanoid figures were about a foot tall, but some were pale in color like sandstone, others were dark like Kronk and one looked like it was made of coal, black and shiny with sharp edges.

  The elemental that really caught Simon's attention seemed to be made of a semi-clear crystal, smokey and shot through with veins of gold.

  As each of the elementals had appeared, Kronk had begun to speak with them with his own language. Simon didn't know what they were saying but it sounded like deep grumbling, like a mutter coming up from the ground.

  Once all of them were together, the group moved to stand in a circle, each speaking in turn. Simon handed Kronk the diagram of the tower and surrounding wall and he laid it on the table. The six of them went over the picture, Kronk muttering and pointing at various sections of the wall and the others adding their opinions.

  At least, that's what Simon thought was going on. He sat back and sipped some water, still breathing deeply. He felt like he'd gone on a ten mile run and his heart was taking its time slowing down.

  He wiped his forehead off on his sleeve and sat watching the group, fascinated. He had decided to let Kronk explain everything to his compatriots rather than himself. They spoke the same language after all.

  It took quite some time for them all to have their say and apparently work out the details, but when they were done, Kronk tapped over to Simon and pulled on his sleeve. Simon had been lost in thought, starring out of the window sightlessly.

  “Master, we are ready to begin,” the little guy told him.

  “Oh great,” Simon said as he straightened up, blinking. He looked at the other elementals.

  “Are you all okay with this? I mean, I hope Kronk told you that this is strictly a one-off, right? Once the wall is built, you are free to head back to your own realm.”

  The coal-black elemental stepped forward.

  “We are clear, wizard.” Its voice was much higher than Kronk's and Simon thought that it sounded much more like a female than a male, if elementals had sexes. He wasn't sure they did and had never felt comfortable bringing up the subject with Kronk.

  “My name is Chakka. My fellows and I are pleased to aid you. We have been idle for far too long.” It, or she as Simon decided to think of her, looked at Kronk. “We have never been given important tasks to perform, not when the world was young and steeped in magic. Now that times have changed, we look forward to being more useful.”

  “What if we do not wish to leave?” One of the other elementals asked. “What if we wish to stay and help you, wizard?”

  Simon stared at the speaker. It had never occurred to him that any of the elementals would want to stay, not after Aeris' original attitude when he was summoned.

  “Um, well, I don't know,” Simon fumbled with his answer.

  “We do not need any more help at this time,” Kronk said firmly. He looked at Simon who nodded encouragingly. “But if we need aid in the future, I am sure my master is pleased to know that you are willing to return and would summon you if the occasion called for it.”

  The answer seemed to satisfy the others and the one who had asked bowed slightly to Simon.

  “Do you wish us to begin, wizard?” Chakka asked.

  “Sure. If you all understand the plan, then I'll leave it up to Kronk and you. I trust him to make sure the wall is constructed properly.”

  Kronk beamed at Simon's show of confidence and he turned and barked at the others in his own language.

  The six of them jumped off of the table and Simon watched bemused as the half-dozen little figures tip-tapped their way across the room and out the door.

  “Okay, this is the wildest thing I've ever done,” he said aloud.

  “Then apparently you haven't done all that much yet, young wizard,” a voice responded a few feet away and he yelped and turned in his chair to see Aeris floating over the table.

  “Aeris! You're back.”

  “Obviously,” the air elemental said dryly.

  He moved to the center of the table and sat down, bobbing an inch from the surface.

  “So where were you?” Simon asked as he sat back in his chair. He desperately wanted a nap and kept his eyes open with an effort.

  “I see you are tired. Not surprising really, so I won't keep you from your rest.” Aeris paused a bit dramatically. “But I do have some news. I have found a cleric.”

  Simon snapped awake and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

  “You did? Where the hell did you find one?”

  “In that small village to the south that I told you about. I was curious about that powerful woman that I sensed on my first scouting trip, so I returned to investigate further. I stayed invisible for some time and examined the group, paying particular attention to the female. And there is no doubt; she is a cleric. She has constructed a shrine to the old gods.”

  When Simon frowned and began to speak, Aeris cut him off.

  “Not to worry. The shrine is dedicated to the gods of Light, not the dark ones. That makes her a potential ally, but also marks her as a threat to the dragons and their masters. When the last of the true humans is consumed, she will be one of the first targets of their vengeance.”

  “That's a horrible thought,” Simon said.

  He considered what Aeris had told him.

  “Did you speak to he
r when you were there?”

  “I did. Once I realized that she was not a threat, I made myself known to her. I did not tell her where you live, or any details about you, but I mentioned that you wanted to discover your true name and she was intrigued.” Aeris paused and stared down at the tabletop. “She is clever, my dear wizard,” he said thoughtfully. “She knows that she will not last long once the world is cleansed of the old order. I think she sees the wisdom in having friends like yourself; others who control magic. If you decide to meet her, she will welcome your visit.”

  “Hmm.”

  Simon stood up and walked to the window, Aeris following to float next to him as he looked outside.

  One of the earth elementals trotted into view. Simon watched, intrigued, as the little creature seemed to be carefully measuring its position from the tower to where the wall was going to be built. It quickly moved to stand about twenty yards away and then raised its arms over its head.

  Inside the tower, Simon felt the building shudder slightly. He grabbed the windowsill as the vibration increased and then he forgot about it as he saw what was happening outside.

  A line appeared in the grass in front of the elemental as the earth sank and formed a trench. It ran off to the right and left and Simon saw two other trenches appear and meet to form a continuous ditch around the tower.

  “Wow,” he said quietly, fascinated.

  The elemental walked forward, leaned over to look into the depression it had made and then jumped into it and disappeared.

  Simon leaned forward, open-mouthed.

  “What? What's it doing?”

  Aeris moved to hover just outside the window and stared at the trench.

  “The earthen types have to touch the rock to affect it,” he told Simon dispassionately. “I'd say it's gone down to find the bedrock it needs to build your wall.” He glanced at him with a small smile. “Not to worry, wizard. There is no creature more at home underground than an earth elemental.”

  Simon nodded unconsciously, his eyes focused intently on the trench. It was about four feet wide, its sides cut cleanly as if dug out by a machine.

  The subtle rumble that he had felt running up through the tower subsided and the air became still. It felt like the entire area was holding its breath in anticipation. Simon felt the same way and he gripped the edges of the window until his knuckles turned white.

  What the hell was happening down there?

  Aeris simply waited quietly, watching the long depression without making any snide comments.

  There was no sound of wind, not a peep of birdsong or a flutter of leaves in the clearing. Nature was still.

  “So how long until something happens?” Simon muttered to the airy little figure.

  And then the tower shuddered so violently that he was flung to the floor. It felt like the building actually jumped upward a foot and Simon bounced and rolled across the room.

  The air was filled with a shattering sound like thunder and he clapped his hands over his ears in a vain attempt to block it out.

  The shaking quickly abated to a bearable trembling and Simon hesitantly found his feet and stumbled back to the window. His ears were still ringing from the tremendous sound of the earth screaming and he blinked back tears of pain as he tried to see what was happening outside.

  The clearing was covered by a haze of dust like thick fog and Simon squinted, attempting to see through the veil.

  The rumbling sounds were now coming from directly in front of the tower; a steady low-level vibration.

  A breeze began to flutter across the mist, making it swirl and begin to thin out.

  Finally Simon could see some details and he gaped in amazement at the sudden change in front of the tower.

  Where there had been a trench and a clear view to the edge of the forest, now there was a wall.

  It was a dozen feet high or more and made of smooth pale stone shot through with veins of dark rock. Along the inside of the wall was a wide ledge, about four feet below the top. The wall itself was two feet thick and, as he watched, Simon saw one of the earth elementals tap-tapping along the top, stopping every few feet to examine its handiwork.

  “Oh my God,” Simon gasped. “That is amazing!”

  “Yes, it's all right,” Aeris said with a sniff. “They are good at that sort of thing, I'll grant you.”

  Simon ignored the comment and turned around to head outside.

  Once he'd hurried down the stairs and rushed out the front door, Simon stumbled down the steps and then just stood and looked at the new wall in awe.

  It rose up about twenty yards from the tower. It was smooth and looked flawless. The elementals had cut a square opening directly out from the front door, about ten feet wide and eight feet high where Simon assumed a gate would be built. He wondered how he would build one.

  He walked toward the wall slowly, taking in the sight, still amazed at the speed of its construction. He walked through the opening and then continued on until he could turn and examine the wall from the outside.

  From the center of the clearing, Simon was amazed again at the size and smoothness of the barrier. The only way that he could envision someone climbing over the wall was by using a ladder. The surface was just too sheer to get any kind of a grip otherwise.

  Now where can I put the new runes to fortify the barrier, he wondered.

  Simon was staring at the wall, lost in thought, when he saw a little figure hurry through the opening and makes its way toward him. It was Kronk.

  When he got close, the little guy waved back at the wall and looked up at Simon.

  “So what do you think, master? We tried to follow the plan exactly.”

  Simon grinned at him.

  “It's awesome, Kronk. I mean that. I never dreamed you and the others could build it so quickly. I think it's exactly what we needed.” He looked around. “Speaking of the others, did they leave already?”

  Kronk had been beaming at Simon's praise. Now he looked a little surprised.

  “Oh no, master. We haven't finished yet.” He pointed at the opening in the wall. “We must construct a strong gate before the barrier is secure. My people are off in the forest finding suitable wood for it. I will join them to ensure that it is properly made. We will return soon.”

  With that, Kronk waved and hurried off across the clearing and disappeared into the trees.

  Huh, Simon thought. These guys think of everything. Just as well. I certainly couldn't make a gate that big.

  He decided to examine the entire wall from the outside and began to walk along the perimeter, moving close to the stone and reaching out to touch its surface occasionally. It felt like glass, smooth and cool.

  The corners of the wall were straight and sharp as knives. When Simon reached the lake, he found that the elementals had left a small opening in the wall facing the water. Just big enough for a door eight feet high and four wide. Simon nodded to himself when he saw it.

  Always have a back door, he thought. Just in case.

  The wall was about twenty yards away from the lake, plenty of room for the horses to run and graze. At that thought, Simon walked through the doorway and went to the stable to check on how the horses had weathered the sounds and sight of the new wall.

  Chief and the two mares greeted him with wickers of affection. He stroked their muzzles and tried not to fall over when the stallion shoved him playfully.

  “Hey, big guy. Did you know that you're a unicorn now? Well, bi-corn I guess. Lucky you.”

  Chief snorted almost with disgust and Simon wondered again just how intelligent the Change had made the horses. Certainly they seemed to understand what he said more than they used to.

  “Well, the wall's up, guys. So why don't you all come take a look and have a run?”

  He opened the stalls and the three horses followed him out of the stable into the sunlight.

  None of them seemed very impressed by the new wall. In fact, they ignored it completely and simply ducked their heads a b
it when they walked through the doorway and out to the grassy shore.

  “Enjoy the day, guys,” Simon told them and the three ran off, stretching their legs, joy evident in their arched necks and high strides.

  He watched them for a few moments, thrilled as always by their beauty.

  A rhythmic clunking sound made him turn around quickly, just in time to see a door, made of thick wood, being pushed into the opening of the wall.

  There were several metal straps wrapped around the door to reinforce it and, as Simon watched in wonder, the door swung wide and Chakka stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. Simon thought that she had a look of satisfaction on her face, although it was hard to tell.

  She turned to face Simon and pointed at the door.

  “Are you pleased, wizard?” she asked, sounding a little anxious.

  “Very pleased, Chakka. You and your fellows have done a remarkable job. You have my thanks.”

  She nodded. “It was our pleasure. The main gate will be in place by now. Remember, if you need us for a task in the future, simply summon us by name. You will not need to cast the spell to call us again.”

  Simon stared.

  “Really? I didn't know that.”

  “Oh yes. Once summoned, an elemental is tied to the wizard forever. Kronk knows all of our names now. Feel free to call. We have enjoyed being of use.”

  And then she bowed low and, as Simon watched in astonishment, she simply sank into the ground and disappeared.

  “Man, there is so much I don't know about magic,” he said aloud.

  “I can't argue with that statement,” came a voice from nearby.

  Simon rolled his eyes.

  “No, I'm sure you wouldn't, Aeris,” he said with a loud sigh.

  The air elemental floated into view and examined the door.

  “Serviceable,” he said. He flew around to the back of the door. “Ah, two bars to lock it. Very good.”

  He came back to hover near Simon.

  “Remember to enchant both this door and the main gate, wizard. And the wall will need runes implanted at regular points, perhaps twenty yards apart.”

  As irritating as he found the elemental, Simon thought that his suggestions were useful, so he simply nodded in agreement.