The Dragons Return

by J. J. Thompson

  The storm just lasted a few seconds, but when the cloud dissipated, there was only a mass of chewed up greenery covered with mounds of ice pieces where the tree had been.

  “Holy crap,” Simon said as he walked toward the remnants of the tree. He stopped and bent down to carefully pick up a shard of ice.

  The edges of the shard were as sharp as a blade and the ice itself radiated a bone-chilling cold that Simon associated more with dry ice than a chunk of frozen water.

  He dropped it as his fingers began to go numb, even through the Diamond Skin spell, and stuck his hand in his armpit to warm it up.

  “Nice spell,” Aeris said as he rejoined him.

  “That's one way to put it. I don't even want to imagine what something like that would do to a human being.”

  Aeris made a tisking sound.

  “You aren't going to be fighting humans, Simon. You are going to be fighting a dragon. Even if it isn't vulnerable to water, I would guess that that spell would at least do some damage.”

  Simon watched, wide-eyed, as the ice began to dissolve into mist. In a few moments it was gone. All that was left was the sad hulk of what used to be a large maple tree.

  “I think that's enough for now,” he said and muttered the counter-spell that canceled the Diamond Skin enchantment.

  He looked at Aeris and nodded toward the tower.

  “I think I need to rest for a bit. My knees are shaking a little and I've got the beginnings of a headache.”

  They began to move toward the gate.

  “Well, you cast three spells closely together, one a major destruction spell. You will need to work on your stamina so that you'll be able to cast several more, in time. But I would say that you are making progress.”

  “Thanks, Aeris. I'll try again this afternoon. I'm going to have to feel my way through this, find my limits. If I pass out in battle, it'll be the end of me.”

  For the next week, Simon got into a routine, trying to push his limits without going beyond them.

  There were several close calls, including him passing out during one session. When the wizard woke up, he found Kronk standing over him holding a cold compress to his head. The little guy chewed him out royally and Simon accepted the rebuke silently. The elemental had been right and he knew Kronk was only angry because he cared.

  And for added effect, the blood dripping from his nose helped scare Simon into being more cautious.

  He lost track of the days, but figured that it was sometime in early September when he was woken up early one morning by Aeris.

  The air elemental was poking him in a steady, methodical way and Simon finally rolled over, opened his eyes and glared at him.

  “What the hell do you want, Aeris?” he barked.

  “And a good morning to you too, oh great wizard.”

  Simon lay back and rubbed a hand over his face.

  “What time is it?”

  “About an hour after dawn, I'd say. And I didn't wake you up for your sunny company. I found a note tacked on to the gate at first light.”

  Simon sat up with a grunt. He could feel his hair sticking up in all directions and Aeris snickered as he handed him a square piece of parchment.

  “Who would leave a note? And why didn't the wards react to their presence?”

  Aeris floated back to give Simon room as he swung his legs out of bed and sat up. The light from the window was dim and Simon saw that a thick fog had enveloped the tower.

  The candle next to his bed ignited with a flick of his will and he examined the parchment. It was sealed with a glob of hard red wax and Simon snapped it in half and then opened the note.

  He read silently, lips moving as his eyes scanned the page. Finally, he looked up at Aeris.

  “You saw and heard nothing last night?”

  “Nothing. And I patrolled the perimeter all night. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed that we were visited and I never saw the intruder.”

  “Well, I wouldn't worry about it.” Simon waved the note. “It's from Ethmira. I'm guessing that elves have ways of moving unseen when needed.”

  “The elf maiden you spoke of?”

  “The very same.”

  “Ah, well then, I don't feel so bad. Elves are legendary for their ability to blend into forests and grasslands.”

  Simon dropped the note on the bed and stood up. He ran his fingers through his hair, wincing as he pulled out a few knots. His hair hung down to his shoulders now and, while he didn't mind the length, it did take some getting used to. Probably because I was almost bald back in the old days, he thought with some amusement.

  “May I?” Aeris asked him, indicating the parchment.

  “Be my guest. There's nothing secret in there. Actually it's good news.”

  He grabbed a clean robe and a towel.

  “I'd better hurry and get cleaned up. We're going to have company.”

  “Company?” Aeris stared at him and then grabbed the note as Simon chuckled and headed for the stairs.

  A short time later, the wizard was setting the kettle over the fire. He was washed and dressed and had eaten a hasty breakfast of oatmeal and apples. The oats had been provided by Clara's people and Simon had sent her several huge watermelons in exchange. Aeris had grumbled for hours after that delivery.

  Kronk came in and stared at Simon in confusion.

  “You're up early, master,” he said as he climbed up the table.

  “I suppose I am. We're having a visitor. Or visitors. I'm not quite sure.”

  “A visitor, master? Who is it? Clara? Or some of her people?”

  “None of them. Ethmira left a note on the gate overnight, telling me she'd be dropping by this morning.” Simon frowned as something occurred to him. “I'm not really sure why she had to warn me that she was coming. Why not just drop by?”

  “It could be the wall, Simon,” Aeris said from where he was floating next to the fire. He had been staring at the flames for a few minutes, apparently lost in thought.

  “The wall? What about the wall?”

  “You didn't have a wall the last time she was here, isn't that so?”

  Simon stood at the counter and took several cups down from the cupboard.

  “Yes, that true. So what?”

  “Well, at a guess, I'd say she was giving you the option of welcoming her or not. The last time she dropped by, the dragon showed up soon after. If the gates remain closed, I'm assuming that she would take that as a sign that you don't want her company and she would simply go back to her own realm.”

  “Hmm, that's possible. Good deductive reasoning, Aeris.”

  “Thank you.” Aeris floated up to the table as Simon sat down. “So what are you going to do? Open the gates or keep them closed?”

  Simon looked at the elemental with surprise.

  “Why, open them, of course!”

  “Are you sure, master?” Kronk asked with concern. “The dragon may not ignore you a second time if it passes the tower again in pursuit of the elfin lady.”

  Simon began to answer and then caught himself. Kronk had a point and a quick look at Aeris showed that he agreed.

  He was stumped. Here he was, planning an attack on the dragon, insane as that might be, and the monster could end up in his own backyard if Ethmira showed up.

  He sat and thought, neither elemental interrupting him.

  When the kettle began to boil, Simon got up and made himself some tea, still thinking furiously. He sat down again and sipped slowly.

  He finally looked across at Kronk and gave him a rueful smile.

  “I may regret this, but taking the chance of insulting the elves would be foolish; possibly more foolish than risking an appearance of the dragon. They are potential allies and, frankly, we need all the friends that we can get. So could you open the gates, Kronk?”

  The little guy hesitated and then nodded once.

  “Yes, master. You know best, as always.”

  He hopped off of the table and tip-tapped out of the tow
er.

  “That remains to be seen,” Aeris muttered ominously.

  Simon looked at him and then shrugged.

  “I suppose it does.”

  Kronk did not return and Simon guessed that he was waiting by the gate until he spotted Ethmira. In the meantime, the wizard flitted around the room, tidying up, putting things away and making the tower as neat as possible. Aeris watched him for a moment and then wordlessly began to help.

  Simon gave him a smile of thanks and the two of them finished quickly. He had just sat down again to finish his tea when Kronk raced back into the room.

  “They are coming, master!” he exclaimed excitedly. “They've just entered the far side of the field.”

  “They?”

  Simon felt a bit nervous at the thought of meeting more elves. In her own way, Ethmira had been a formidable person.

  “How many, Kronk?”

  “Only two, master. The elvish lady and another. I could not see that person's face though; he or she is wearing a large hood.”

  “Right. Okay. I'll go out and meet them.”

  Simon got up, smoothed his robe quickly and exited the tower. Aeris and Kronk followed along.

  He reached the open gate just before his company did and he saw Ethmira smile as she spotted him. She was again clad in green leather and she blended in with the forest behind her. The fog in the field was almost burnt off and the day promised to be hot.

  “Good morning, Simon,” she called out warmly. She offered her hand as she reached the gate and Simon shook it firmly.

  “Good morning. Welcome back. I'm very glad to see you.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked with a sly smile. Simon wondered if she could read his mind. “The thought of my attracting the dragon must have occurred to you.”

  “To be honest, yes, of course it did. But as I told my two companions here,” and he nodded at the elementals, “we need friends in this new world of ours and I'm hoping the elves will feel the same.”

  “That is one of the things we must discuss.”

  Simon looked at the hooded figure standing slightly behind and to the right of Ethmira. The person was wearing dark red robes. The voice from within the darkness of the hood was male, but he sounded very old, whoever he was.

  I thought that elves were immortal, Simon mused.

  Ethmira didn't look at her companion, but she nodded at his statement.

  “That is true. My friend here asked to come along when our rulers suggested that I return and speak to you about a possible alliance.”

  Simon felt a thrill of excitement at her statement but tried to remain calm and diplomatic.

  “That sounds wonderful. Please, come in. I've just put the kettle on if you'd like some tea.”

  “Oh, that would be nice. I enjoyed it very much when I was last here.”

  Simon waved the two visitors through the gate and then led the way into the tower. The sunlight now beaming through the open door lit the room brightly and he offered the two visitors seats at the table while he went to get the kettle off of the fire.

  “And before you become too worried, Simon, I'd like to reassure you.”

  “About what?” he asked as he looked over his shoulder.

  “About the dragon. My elders put a glamor on us before we entered your world. It will mask our presence from the monster for a short time and we will be gone before it fades.” She chuckled at his obvious relief. “So don't worry.”

  “Thank you, Ethmira.”

  He carried the two steaming cups to the table and set them before his guests. He put the pot of honey with two spoons next to it between the cups and then Simon sat down and waited for them to speak.

  Both of his guests made sounds of pleasure as they tried the tea and Simon found himself staring at the mysterious figure next to Ethmira.

  His hands were pale and thin, covered with large ropey veins. They shook slightly as he raised the cup inside of his hood and Simon heard him sip the hot liquid slowly.

  “Simon,” Ethmira began and he turned his attention to her. “Things are happening in your world that we have been made aware of.”

  “Things? Such as?”

  “Such as the fact that the gods of Chaos have become impatient with how slowly their servants are moving, preparing for their return. Such as the unpleasant news that they are now aware that their arch-enemies, the gods of Light, have found allies in this new world of magic. Allies who will try to stop their return.”

  She sipped her tea.

  “They are petulant and quick to anger, these beings. Their ways are chaotic and destructive and they have waited a long time to rebuild their strength enough to smash a way back into this world.”

  “How do you know all that?” Simon asked with wonder.

  “There are those among us, the very wise, who have had contact with the gods of Light. It is sporadic and does not last long, but it has been enough for us to realize that we cannot sit on the sidelines any longer.”

  She clasped her hands together on the table and watched him closely.

  “Because we do not have much time, I must ask blunt questions. Please do not think me rude.”

  Simon had to smile.

  “Lady, I prefer direct questions to beating around the bush. It saves time and misunderstanding.”

  “Excellent. Then my question is this: are you planning an attack on the dragon?”

  Simon gasped at the unexpected query. He looked from Ethmira to her nameless companion and back again. The old man leaned forward somewhat, obviously awaiting his answer.

  “Wow, you were right. That is a direct question. Very well then. The answer is yes. That is exactly what I am planning.”

  “Ah,” the old man sighed. It almost sounded like a hiss of pain. “And do you, young wizard, think that you are powerful enough to take on a dragon? One of the creatures who helped destroyed your entire civilization?”

  Simon wondered if the man was mocking him. It was hard to tell with that hood hiding his face.

  “No, of course not,” he said, trying not to sound irritated. “That would be crazy. I have some allies who will help. At least I hope they will.”

  “Ah yes, hope. The last refuge of the desperate.” The old man chuckled a bit and then coughed dryly. “Your hope, young wizard, will get you and these allies of yours killed. You do know that, don't you?”

  Simon looked at Ethmira, who seemed to be embarrassed by her companion's words.

  “I don't want to sound rude to a guest, Ethmira, but I don't find anything funny about a battle with the dragon.”

  He glared at the hooded figure.

  “I'm well aware that we may die, whoever you are. But the alternative is to wait for the dragon to pick the time and the place of our meeting. I could squat here in my tower for a few months or a year, or however long it takes for that abomination to decide to destroy me. Or I can go down fighting. Either way I'm dead. But I'll be damned if I'll sit idly by while the last of my people are killed when I could at least have tried to do something.”

  Simon sat back, breathing heavily. Ethmira looked at him and then at the old man, but stayed silent.

  From within the hood, Simon heard another long sigh. This time it was a sound of satisfaction.

  “I was hoping you'd say that, my friend. It almost makes all of the sacrifices worthwhile.”

  Simon stared at the man, forgetting his anger.

  “Sacrifices? What are you...?”

  The pale hands reached up and pushed the hood back over the man's shoulders.

  Simon found himself staring into eyes cloudy with cataracts. The face was deeply lined and criss-crossed with wrinkles. The hair was snow white, but thick and long, running back below the man's shoulders.

  But even aged and gray, Simon recognized those familiar features.

  “Daniel!” he exclaimed in total disbelief.

  “Hello Simon,” his oldest friend in the world said. “It's good to see you again.”

  Chapte
r 21

  “Daniel!” Simon said again. He leaped to his feet and stared at his friend in shock. “You're alive! My God, what's happened to you?”

  The old man who used to be his friend smiled that familiar twisted grin.

  “Quite a bit, as you can see. But that isn't important. Look at you, my old friend! Young, strong, powerful. A long way from that bull of a man who used to squeeze into a chair in my library and play role-playing games with me, aren't you?”

  Simon sat down slowly, still not quite convinced that he wasn't hallucinating. But he had to laugh at Daniel's comment.

  “God yes. Those were the days, weren't they? Who knew that our fantasies would one day become reality?”

  Daniel chuckled and then coughed again. At Simon's look of concern, he shook his head and made a gesture for him to stay seated. He sipped his tea and then settled into his chair as the coughing fit passed.

  “Yes, who knew?” Daniel said after he caught his breath.

  “Well, you did know something was coming, didn't you?” Simon asked him. “Your notebook proved invaluable, by the way.”

  “Good. I was hoping it would.” Daniel stared at his cup and pursed his lips. “Yes, I read the signs. Old prophecies, some mathematical calculation and some guess work led me to see what was about to hit the old Earth.”

  He looked slowly around the room, his eyes stopping for a moment as he regarded the two elementals. He looked out the door at the bright sunlight and smiled a bit as he saw the protective wall.

  “My explorations led me to see a pattern, an echo of the past. I knew, finally, that the old gods would one day return. All that was left to be determined was when. Once I figured that out, I knew the human race, as it once was, was doomed.”

  He looked fondly at Ethmira, who returned his gaze with a small smile.

  “I found that my studies had attracted the interest of the elves. They too knew that the world was about to change. On that fateful day, when the dragons began attacking cities around the world, I was given a chance to survive. I could cross over to the elven domain and spend the rest of my life there among their ever-green groves and crystal pools. Or I could escape the city, as I convinced you to do.” He nodded at Simon. “But then I would be hunted as a true human and eventually destroyed. However, there was a catch.”