The Dragons Return

by J. J. Thompson

  With a small pop, Aeris suddenly appeared at eye level next to Simon.

  “We've arrived, Simon,” he said, stating the obvious. “Aethos is being careful with his charges, which is why it took us so long to get here. They will materialize momentarily.”

  “Materialize? How...” Simon started to ask but Aeris cut him off.

  “I can't even begin to explain how he transported them. I haven't got that kind of power. But it might relieve you to know that they slept through most of the operation. Aethos felt it was for the best. Traveling as we can travel can be...unsettling for humans.”

  “What kind of condition are they in?” Clara asked anxiously.

  “They are bruised and scraped, cleric,” Aeris told her with a slight bow. “Hungry as well and possibly in shock. They saw the true humans slaughtered by the dragon's minions, after all, and that could not have been pleasant.”

  “I would think not.”

  Clara and Susan exchanged knowing glances.

  “That's why I brought Susan. Besides her skill with a bow, she is very good with youngsters.”

  Before Simon could respond, Aeris turned and pointed.

  “They have arrived,” he told them.

  The fog was lifting and the wind had died. Four figures lay close together, laid out side by side and for a moment Simon felt a chill. They looked too much like corpses displayed on a battlefield.

  The feeling passed as all four began sitting up slowly, looking around in confusion.

  Clara and Susan hurried forward, Clara waving the two armored men back. When Simon looked at her curiously, she grimaced a bit.

  “Let's not scare them any more than they already are,” she said quietly.

  “Good point,” he said under his breath.

  The three of them approached the small group who were struggling to their feet, the tallest of them helping the others.

  There were two young men and two young women. None of them looked to be out of their teens, but Simon knew that looks were deceiving, considering how old he had once been.

  All of them had scrapes and cuts. One of the women was limping and the taller male helped her gently to her feet. All were filthy and looked exhausted and Simon's heart went out to them.

  He didn't know what it was like to travel by air elemental, but it had to have been unsettling. He followed closely behind the cleric and the ranger as they approached the strangers, carefully letting the four look them over as they came closer.

  “Welcome, all of you,” Clara said with a gentle smile. “My name is Clara. I am a healer, among other things. I see that this young lady is injured. I'd like to help, if you'll let me.”

  The four teens watched Clara warily, but her demeanor must have reassured them because the injured girl finally smiled with some relief and nodded.

  “Yes please, if you can. My name is Virginia. This is Anna, Eric and Gerard.”

  Virginia was a statuesque young woman with waist-length blond hair and features that could have graced the cover of a magazine back in the old days.

  “Good to meet you, everyone.” Clara grasped each of their hands warmly. “You look just about done in. Why don't we help you back to the tower? I can treat your wounds and I'm guessing something to eat and some rest wouldn't be unwelcome.”

  Soon the group was being assisted to the tower. Over her embarrassed objections, Michael easily picked up Virginia and carried her delicately across the field and through the gate. When he set her down gently inside, next to the kitchen table, she was watching him with wide eyes and the large young man's face was suspiciously red. Richard was grinning at him.

  Simon got everyone seated around the table. Richard and Michael sat on the couch again; none of the chairs would have been able to hold them.

  Susan slipped her bow off her back and leaned it against the wall. At her hip, a quiver of arrows hung at the ready.

  “Can you really use that thing?” Anna asked as she sat sipping some water and eating a sandwich. She was a small, delicate girl, with long red hair and enormous blue eyes. Freckles were sprinkled across her nose.

  “I can drop a deer on the run at forty paces,” Susan answered confidently. “Or a man,” she added with a grin toward the two armored figures sitting on the couch. They both rolled their eyes, but Richard nodded.

  “She's speaks the truth, young lady. And her tracking skills are very impressive. We never lack for meat in our village.”

  “I wish I could do something like that,” Anna replied. She was twisting her fingers together nervously. “If Aeris hadn't found us, we probably would have starved to death out in the forest. Or been eaten by something.”

  Aeris, who was standing next to Kronk on the table, proudly puffed up a bit.

  “I would have protected you,” Gerard said. The boy wasn't much bigger than Anna. He had a pleasant face with brown eyes and a wide mouth. His long hair was so blond it was almost white.

  “Yeah, right,” Eric said sarcastically. The tallest of the newcomers, he was very thin and pale, which made his black eyes and hair look even darker. “But who would have protected you?”

  Clara was kneeling beside Virginia while everyone was talking, her hands resting lightly on the injured leg. Simon watched, fascinated, as the cleric's hands began to glow with a muted, silvery light.

  Virginia had been following Clara's actions with obvious apprehension, but then she relaxed and let out a low moan of relief.

  “Oh, that feels so much better,” she said with a sigh.

  “Good,” Clara responded as she stood up and stepped back. “The wound was, happily, minor but untreated could have become infected. Is anyone else injured?”

  The others shook their heads, so she sat down and gratefully accepted a cup of tea from Simon.

  He was standing next to the counter, since there weren't enough chairs for everyone, and observing the newcomers with interest. Unlike the Changlings in Ottawa, these four looked like normal young people. A bit beat up and dirty, but normal. He wondered if any of them had powers like himself or Clara.

  She had taken charge and was making sure that they all had enough to eat and drink. Simon was happy to let her do it, but he did cut in once to offer soap and towels if any of them wanted to bathe in the lake.

  “Are there any monsters in there?” Anna asked apprehensively.

  “Happily not,” Simon told her. “I guess it's too small to be attractive to large creatures. At any rate, the water is clean and warm. I can't help you with clean clothes, I'm afraid.”

  “Not to worry, Simon,” Clara told him. “We brought some robes and underclothes with us.” She eyed the group with amusement. “Eric's ankles may be exposed but I think we have something to fit everyone.

  Eric blushed a bit and everyone laughed. The two girls headed down to the lake first, soap and towels in hand. Susan went with them and Aeris led the way. Simon noted with interest that they seemed to have no problem with the air elemental seeing them bathe.

  Clara sat with Eric and Gerard, and Simon was finally able to sit down. He listened as she questioned them about their past.

  “How on Earth did you four find yourselves trapped in that village with those true humans?” she asked.

  “True humans?” Eric seemed to roll the phrase around in his head. “Interesting way to put it. If they were an example of humanity's true face, maybe the world was due for a change.”

  He exchanged a glance with Gerard, who seemed content to let the larger boy do the talking.

  “All four of us were originally from that town. I was the local mechanic. Gerard,” he paused and laughed and the other boy grinned, “was the town baker. Had a nice little shop near the river, didn't you?”

  “Once upon a time,” Gerard agreed. He sounded a little wistful at the memory.

  “The girls were once quite a bit older. Virginia managed the branch of the local bank and Anna...”

  His voice trailed away and he stared at his friend.

  “What
did she do again?”

  Gerard quirked an eyebrow at him.

  “Nothing, remember? Her kids had grown up and moved away and her husband was gone. She lived alone in that old house near the outskirts. Just a lonely grandmotherly type.”

  “Oh right. Sorry, but I've become so used to seeing the new version, it's hard to remember who she used to be.”

  “Does it matter?” Clara asked quietly. “None of us who've Changed is anything like we used to be.” She nodded at Simon. “According to our host, he used to be middle-aged and quite large.”

  The two young men stared at Simon who nodded once.

  “Clara's right. The past is past. The man I used to be died when the world began to Change. All of us Changlings are new beings, and the past is, to me, irrelevant.”

  “Well said, wizard. Well said,” Richard said loudly from the couch. “We must look forward, not backwards. Our future is ahead of us and we must adjust and carry on.”

  Both Eric and Gerard listened approvingly.

  “I think we all agree,” Eric said. “The girls do too. But now what? Where will we live? What can we do?”

  Clara patted his hand where it rested on the table.

  “Not to worry. Our village is, I daresay, a much more hospitable place to live than your last home. If you're willing to join us, that is.”

  Gerard looked at Simon curiously.

  “Do you live there too?”

  Simon chuckled and waved at the room around them.

  “No, this is home for me. I'm a solitary fellow anyway, but while I'm learning my new craft, it's better that others are out of range of any possible fallout from miscast spells.”

  Gerard looked mystified.

  “But, I know that Aeris said that you're a wizard, something that I wouldn't have believed if he himself wasn't proof enough. But do you really have magical powers? I mean, what is a wizard really?”

  Simon stood up and made another pot of tea. He served both of the young men and, while he was puttering, their two friends returned from their bath. They were wearing long brown robes and still drying their hair as they entered the tower.

  They both gave Simon heartfelt thanks and he smiled and accepted it gracefully. Then he turned back to Gerard and tried to answer his question.

  “I don't know about other wizards. I'm sure there must be others out there, somewhere.” Aeris floated over from the doorway and joined Kronk on the table. “My two friends here seem to think that I am becoming an elementalist. Someone who specializes in manipulating the four elements; earth, air, fire and water.”

  He glanced at one of the candles one the table and lit it without effort. The four Changlings jumped in unison and then stared at the flickering flame in fascination.

  “I can do some things already and I'm becoming better at casting spells the more I use them. So to answer your question, Gerard, I guess a wizard is someone who can take the new magic that exists in the world and use it directly for their own purposes.”

  Simon looked from face to face.

  “Have any of you discovered powers of your own? Some new skills that you would never have dreamed of in your former lives?”

  The four newcomers exchanged looks but seemed hesitant to answer. Finally they looked to Eric, who just shrugged, seemingly at a loss.

  “Come now. We're all friends here,” Clara said encouragingly. “At least I hope we are. Any powers that you are experiencing are the new normal and certainly we will welcome any talents you now have.”

  “Girls, do you want to tell them?” Eric asked his friends. “I think I'd like to have a bath. Gerard?”

  “Yes please,” the smaller boy answered eagerly. “I smell like a wet dog. Aeris? Can you take us to the lake?”

  “My pleasure,” Aeris said with a little bow.

  Simon handed them soap and clean towels and the two young men followed the elemental outside. Richard pushed himself to his feet, grabbed his pack and followed them out.

  Meanwhile, Simon gave Virginia and Anna cups of steaming tea, which they accepted with broad smiles.

  “Oh, this is so good,” Virginia said after she had taken a sip. Anna agreed with a pleased sigh and sipped hers quietly.

  Neither young woman seemed eager to speak and Susan and Clara exchanged knowing glances. Simon sat back and waited for Clara to take the lead.

  “Ladies, while we're curious to know if you are gifted with powers,” she said earnestly, “if you don't wish to share with us, that is your choice.”

  “It's not that, Clara. You've all been great.” Virginia drank some tea and spoke hesitantly. “And Simon saved our lives, literally. Starting with sending Aeris to search for us and then summoning that, djinn was it? Yes.” She shuddered. “I hope we never have to travel like that again, even though we are beyond grateful for our rescue.”

  “Was it bad?” Susan asked curiously.

  “You have no idea. Whirling winds, howling, spinning. Ugh. I'm glad we slept through most of it.” Virginia shuddered again. “Anyway, we are thankful just the same. Now, as far as powers go, I do think one of us is developing...something.”

  She looked at Anna who put down her cup and took a deep breath. She held out her hand and Virginia grasped it firmly. And then...they were gone.

  “What the hell?” Michael exclaimed and struggled to his feet, his armor banging loudly as he got up off of the couch.

  Clara and Susan had jumped up but Aeris caught Simon's eye and gestured for him to wait. He smiled as he did it and Simon nodded slightly.

  And then the girls were back, sitting where they had been a moment before. They were both looking at the others with a bit of trepidation.

  Clara slowly sat down again, gesturing for Michael and Susan to do the same.

  “Sorry about that,” Anna said in a little voice. Her large blue eyes looked even bigger as she looked at them nervously. “But I thought a demonstration would save time.”

  “How did you do that?” Clara asked, obviously impressed. Anna smiled tentatively in response.

  “I have no idea. I started being able to disappear about a year ago. It kept me from being abused by those true humans more than once. And when I touch someone else, I can make them invisible too. That's how we got out of the village when those...monsters attacked.”

  “That explains a lot,” Simon said. They all looked at him and he continued.

  “Those monsters were minions of the dragon. Aeris calls them drakes. They attack targets that are too insignificant for the dragon's personal attention. Like your village.” He looked from Virginia to Anna and back again.

  “I won't ask what happened during your captivity, but I can guess. But what was it like when you were attacked? I hate to ask but we need to know all we can about the dragon and its servants.”

  “Drakes? Is that what they were?” Virginia looked to Aeris for confirmation and he nodded. “Well, we didn't see a lot. It all happened so fast. They came at night. The four of us were in our hut, trying to sleep. We always slept well because those bastards worked us to exhaustion. We were woken up by screaming. When we looked out of our hut, all we could see were shapes, shadowy and hard to focus on. But my God they were fast. Beetle, the boss of the true humans, was standing in the open, yelling that they were under attack and for his people to get their weapons.”

  “Weapons?” Michael spoke up from the couch. “What sort of weapons?”

  “Oh, mostly old cleavers, butcher-knives, a few bows. Everyone came out half-asleep and confused. And that's when the drakes, or whatever they were, attacked. I saw Beetle's head fly off so fast, his body just stood there for a few seconds, blood shooting from his neck like a small fountain. When the others saw that, there was mass panic.” Virginia closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. “It was a massacre after that. Anna took my hand, grabbed Eric and told him to hold hands with Gerard and then she turned us invisible and we got the hell out of there.”

  Anna swallowed noisily and looked a bit sick
.

  “We were stepping over body parts and slipping on blood,” she said in a trembling voice. “God, it was a nightmare. All I could think to do was to try to sneak out. I guess it worked.”

  Virginia leaned over and gave Anna a one-armed hug.

  “You did great, sweetie. You really did.”

  Anna smiled briefly, but still looked distressed. Simon wasn't surprised.

  He turned and looked at Kronk and Aeris.

  “Could the drakes have seen them, even if they were invisible? Or was it because the dragon still hunts true humans?”

  They exchanged looks and Kronk shrugged.

  “A bit of both, perhaps, master. There is no way to know. Let us hope that it does not have to be tested again.”

  “Yeah, let's hope,” Eric said as he and Gerard walked back into the tower followed by Richard. Like the girls they were wearing clean brown robes. Clara had been right; Eric ankles were showing.

  “Were you talking about the attack on our village?” he asked as they sat down at the table again. Richard sat down next to Michael on the couch.

  “I asked them to tell us what happened,” Simon told him. “The biggest threat to our survival in the future is the dragon and its minions. We have to know as much about them as possible.”

  “The dragon?” Eric sat and thoughtfully dried his hair. “Why the dragon? Its done its job, hasn't it? And done a fine job of it too, the bastard.”

  Simon glanced at Clara who explained to the group why magic had returned to the world and what the dragons had planned for them. While she was speaking, Simon made more tea and served it. He also took the wet towels and went down to the basement to hang them on the line he had strung there.

  When he returned, they were all discussing the dragon, exchanging theories and speculation. He sat down and listened quietly.

  Finally Clara stood up and smiled at the four newcomers.

  “It's getting late. If you're coming back to our village with us, we should leave now. It'll be dark before we return. You've all had a hard day and we won't hurry. I don't want you falling asleep on your feet.”