Disorientated and wobbly-legged, Simon untied his harness and stood up slowly.
“Thanks, Dollin,” he replied loudly. “It matters.”
The pilot unlocked the exit door and kicked it open. It squealed in protest and the dwarf scowled at it.
“We'll be lubricating your hinges when we get home, missy,” he growled at it.
Simon smiled as he heard the pilot speak to the machine, but remained silent. He adjusted Mortis de Draconis on his shoulder and stepped out of the drill and on to solid ground.
The machine was sticking out of the earth, tilted upward a bit but almost level and Simon didn't find it too hard to exit it. He looked around and smiled in relief.
The drill rested in the middle of a field, fifty yards in front of the high wall that surrounded his tower. The wizard shielded his eyes against the rising sun and squinted across the open ground to examine his home.
Was there movement along the top of the wall? His earthen allies should be patrolling the perimeter, but he couldn't really tell. He was relieved that the main gate was closed though.
“That's a sturdy little tower you've got yourself, sir wizard,” Dollin said approvingly. “Doesn't compare to dwarven architecture, of course, but it will do.”
“Thanks,” Simon told him. “I like it. And thank you for the ride, Dollin. I really appreciate it.”
“It was merely my duty, but you are welcome,” the dwarf said and thumped a fist to his chest. “And now, if you will excuse me, I must get back. My eldest is celebrating a birthday and if I'm late for the party, she'll never let me hear the end of it.”
They shook hands and Dollin hopped back into the drill, slamming the door behind him. Simon quickly moved back and watched as the treads along the side of the drill began to turn and pulled it back into the ground the way that it had come. The back end of the machine pushed dirt and rock out of its path and filled in the tunnel behind it, leaving a hump of fresh earth to mark where it had descended again.
“Remarkable,” the wizard muttered as the rumble of the machine faded away. “Truly remarkable.”
Simon took a moment to close his eyes and just stand in the sunlight and breathe. The mingled scent of grass, tree sap and awakening flowers was sweet in his nostrils and the feeling of the warm sun on his skin was intensely pleasant.
The underground may be safer at the moment, he thought, but the dwarves are more than welcome to it.
Before heading in, he waited a few minutes to see if his powers would return quickly. He slipped the staff off of his shoulder and held it in his left hand as he lifted his right, palm upward.
“Fire,” he said quietly as he concentrated.
A ghostly little flame, almost invisible in the sunlight, popped into existence above his open hand, trembling in the gentle breeze.
“Excellent,” Simon said with a feeling of relief. “It's back.”
He shook his hand to snuff out the flame and began walking toward the tower, feeling a sense of contentment that he hadn't experienced for quite some time.
Later that day, after a swim in the lake and a meal, the wizard was sitting in his study idly flipping through an old book on fantastical beasts and magical creatures.
Both Kronk and Aeris were there, standing on the desk on either side of him and looking at the book curiously.
“What exactly are you looking for?” Aeris asked as he peered at an illustration of a troll.
“Not sure, really,” Simon replied as he sipped a cup of tea. “But I find it relaxing sometimes to just read through one of my books from the old days, see if something pops out at me. And after the last few days, I felt the need to unwind a bit.”
“Understandable, master,” Kronk rumbled. “I cannot imagine how traumatic it must have been to be kidnapped and manhandled the way that you were. The nerve of those dwarves! Treating a wizard in such a fashion. It is a disgrace, that's what it is.”
The little guy had been almost apoplectic when Simon had told him and Aeris about his trip to Kingstone. The air elemental had been more amused by Kronk's reaction than by the abduction, especially after Simon had assured them both that he was feeling just fine.
“Easy, my friend,” the wizard told the earthen. “I don't even remember it happening. And the bonk on the head that I got was healed by a cleric. Plus, all of the conspirators were captured or killed and their plots defeated. So let's call it a win and move on.”
“Yes master,” Kronk grumbled, still sounding irritated. “Although if the dwarves had allowed me to go with you, it never would have happened.”
Aeris appeared ready something smart and Simon gave him a warning look. He wasn't in the mood to listen to them squabbling.
He closed the book and rested both hands on it.
“But while we're on the subject of magic and strange creatures, I have a question for you, Aeris.”
“For me? I'm astonished, oh great one. What can this lowly servant do for such a famous wizard?”
“Are you quite finished?”
Aeris snickered and nodded.
“Good, because this is serious business.”
Simon's tone was so grave that the air elemental dropped his smirk and listened attentively.
“I haven't told either of you about a tentative plan that our human friends have cooked up, mainly because I wanted to take it easy for a few hours and try not to worry about it. But I think now is the time.”
“A plan, master? What sort of plan?”
“A way to strike back at the servants of the Chaos lords and perhaps even take out their most powerful ally, the leader of the necromancers.”
Both elementals' eyes widened. Kronk immediately looked worried while Aeris seemed intrigued.
“And I am to play a part in this plan?” he asked eagerly.
“Perhaps. It depends on whether my idea is viable. I have no intention of risking your safety on a fool's errand.”
“I'm touched by your concern,” Aeris said, almost sounding sincere. “But why not explain it to me and let me decide?”
“I'm about to.”
Simon finished the last of his tea and leaned back in his chair.
“The plan is to attack the tower that has been raised from the wreckage of Nottinghill Castle. We believe that, considering its size and location, it may be the headquarters of the opposition. And possibly even the lair of the head of the necromancers himself. Or herself. I really don't know which.”
“But master, that sounds incredibly dangerous,” Kronk objected. “You have no idea what would await you inside! If that place is the center of the dark gods' power on this world, it could be stuffed with monsters, magic-users or other horrible foes.”
“I know, Kronk. I know. And that's where Aeris comes in. Maybe.”
The air elemental's eyes lit up.
“You want me to scout it out, is that it? Find out what lurks within?”
Simon held up a hand to calm him down.
“No. I want you to think about it and tell me if the idea is doable. There could be spells and traps all over the place in there and if you happened to set one off, that could be the end of you. Or, almost as bad, it could alert our enemies to your presence and ruin our plans completely. If we attack, the only way we stand a chance is if we take them totally by surprise.”
Aeris tapped his chin and stared off into space.
“That is quite true, of course. I have to admit that the risks are considerable.”
“That's my point exactly. The only reason I'm even bringing it up is because you can scout invisibly and you have a lot of experience at it.”
“Well, not to sound too boastful, but that is true,” Aeris agreed smugly.
Kronk made a odd rumbling noise as if he was gagging and, when the others looked at him, he stared back innocently.
“Sorry master,” he said humbly. “Had something stuck in my throat.”
Simon grinned at him.
“No problem. I almost did too.”
Aeris just sniffed and turned away to stared blankly into space again.
“You don't have to answer right away,” Simon told him. “Take the night and think it through. Even if the idea is possible, it will take the others some time to flesh out a decent plan of attack.”
He stood up and pushed back his chair.
“In the meantime, I'm going out back to see the horses. Give it some thought, Aeris, and we'll talk later.”
The elemental nodded silently and remained floating a few inches above the desk as Simon and Kronk left the room.
“I think it is a good sign that he did not answer too quickly, master,” the earthen said as they headed downstairs.
“So do I. If he had agreed too quickly and impulsively, as he sometimes does, I'd be worried. We'll wait and see what he says later.”
That evening, Simon was sitting contentedly in his comfy chair in front of the fireplace. He was drinking wine for a change; he'd cracked open one of his precious few bottles as a way to celebrate his homecoming.
Kronk sat near the fire, occasionally hopping up to rearrange the logs or kick an errant ember back into the hearth.
Aeris hadn't been seen all day and both of them were becoming a little concerned.
“You know, while I'm grateful that he's giving this scouting idea some serious thought,” Simon said to the little guy. “I'm a bit surprised at the amount of time it's taking for him to decide whether to attempt it or not.”
“None of the airy ones are usually this contemplative, master,” Kronk agreed with a thoughtful expression. “It is a trait of their species, being quick to make decisions and jump into action. And I agree; for him to meditate this long on a problem is out of character. Maybe he's finally growing up!” the little guy added brightly.
Simon laughed in surprise.
“I doubt that very much, my friend. Aeris will always have to work on his impulse control, and that's okay, as long as it doesn't put him or anyone else in danger.”
They settled back into a companionable silence. Simon glanced at Kronk surreptitiously and wondered yet again what the little guy thought about when he was being quiet. His work? The tower? Weeds? All that the wizard knew was that every elemental that he had met was much more complex than he'd initially given them credit for, Aeris included.
He sat up abruptly and put his wine glass down on the small table next to his chair.
“Master?” Kronk said. “Is something wrong?”
“Maybe. It just occurred to me that all of your kind are more than they appear to be on the surface,” Simon replied.
He leaned forward and gazed into the fire, thinking hard.
“And Aeris is no different. He can be impulsive, argumentative, headstrong...”
“All true, master.”
“But! But he is old; very old. So are you. And one thing that I know he's learned in his long life is that nothing beats experience.”
Kronk stood up and stared at Simon.
“I do not understand what you mean, master,” he said, puzzled.
“I mean that it's all well and good to go through a plan to try to find its flaws or dangers, but the best way to know if it is practical is to give it a dry run, test it out.”
The earthen's blazing red eyes widened as he finally realized what the wizard was saying.
“Then you think...”
“That he's gone to Nottinghill Castle to see for himself,” Simon stated. “Oh crap.”
Kronk looked alarmed and tapped over to the chair and hopped up on the arm.
“Recall him, master,” he urged. “If Aeris is spotted or captured, your plans will be ruined.”
“Why do you never have any faith in me? It's like you don't know me at all.”
Aeris floated down the stairs from the second floor and moved toward the fireplace, a wide grin on his face.
Simon sagged back into his chair in relief. He had been about to leap to his feet and do...something. He just wasn't sure what that was.
“So you've finished thinking about the plan?” he asked the air elemental as Aeris hovered between the fireplace and the comfy chair at eye level.
“No. You were right. The most practical way to examine tactics and plans for their flaws is to test them out. So I journeyed to England. Just got back, actually.”
Kronk, who was in the middle of sitting down again, stood up and glared at him.
“What? Are you mad? Our master and his friends are planning an assault and you just casually wander over to the target to poke around?”
“Calm yourself,” Aeris told him with a broad smile. “You might burst apart in an explosion of gravel. That would be embarrassing.”
“I have never done that,” the little guy said stiffly.
“Not yet. One never knows what the future will bring.”
Aeris chuckled. He seemed inordinately pleased with himself.
“And speaking of the future, I believe a rather magnificent battle lies ahead in yours,” he told Simon.
The wizard picked up his glass and drained it.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that the owners of that ridiculous tower have to be either totally inept or the most arrogant humans to ever walk the Earth. I was able to breeze past their guards and into the ground floor of that disgusting place with almost no effort. Personally I'd fire their captain of the guard. Pitiful.”
Simon pulled up his legs and settled deeper into his chair. He leaned toward Aeris, his heart racing with sudden excitement.
“Tell me,” he said eagerly.
Chapter 19
“Are you certain that your scout is reliable?”
“As certain as I am about anything in this venture. We're taking a hell of a risk, but Aeris knows his stuff.”
Simon was sitting in his study the next morning, staring into his hand mirror. Looking back at him was Shandon Ironhand.
“Thanks for lifting the block on my spell, by the way,” the wizard said.
The king waved away the comment. He was sitting in his personal library, but he wasn't alone. As soon as Simon had made contact, Shandon had summoned the human leaders.
Tamara, Sebastian and Liliana were there, as was Veronique. All of them were standing behind the king's seat staring at the projection that stood before them; an exact copy of the wizard.
“You know, I am aware that you are many miles away and on the surface,” Liliana told him. “But I swear that it feels like I could reach out and touch you.”
“Well, it's not something that I'm doing,” Simon told her. “My skill with this spell has increased through use. Not that long ago, you would have needed a mirror to speak with me face to face. Now, here we are.”
“I like it,” Sebastian said. “But let's get back to your elemental friend's report. Could you tell us what he saw one more time?”
“Of course. I want everyone to know what we will be facing. If we go through with it,” he added.
The king frowned at that comment but remained silent.
“Aeris said that the necromancers, or whoever actually constructed that place, have continued to shore it up since they evicted the former inhabitants.”
Tamara made a noise in her throat but shook her head when Simon glanced at her.
“They've leveled off the area around the tower and used any stones and debris to line the walls of the building. How it's all being held together is a mystery to Aeris. He assumes that it's bound together magically but that is all that he can say.”
Simon laughed softly and the others appeared puzzled.
“Oh sorry. My earth elemental friend, Kronk, took him to task for his ignorance and volunteered to travel to Nottinghill to figure it out. I stopped him. They can be quite competitive.”
“Unless the Chaos lords cut off their servants' supply of magic, I doubt that it matters,” Tamara said. “The tower will stand no matter how grotesque they make it. Please go on, Simon.”
“Certainly. Now, the biggest surprise that Aeris d
iscovered was that there is no barrier around the perimeter of the tower; no protective wall, no ramparts, no moat. Nothing at all.”
“That's just stupid,” Shandon said with a sneer. “Are these enemies of ours children? Your outer defenses allow you to slow an enemy down long enough to strike at them from a distance, with arrows and other projectiles. They are leaving themselves wide open to an attack.”
Veronique was standing with one hand resting on the back of the king's chair. She appeared pensive and was tapping a finger against the leather. The slight motion caught Simon's eye.
“What is it?” he asked her.
“Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking; what if our foes are only pretending to be ignorant?”
“What do you mean?” Liliana asked her.
“I mean, what if they deliberately left the front door open to lure us inside? The lack of an external wall could be a deception, couldn't it?”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Simon told her. “Their perimeter isn't totally open to attack. They do have guards.”
“Ah, guards. Well, at least they're covering the basics,” the king said grudgingly.
“You approve?” Tamara asked sharply.
Shandon looked up at her dark expression.
“I don't trust stupid, lady mage. Stupid is unpredictable, stupid is difficult to defend against, stupid is dangerous. Give me a foe with a sound grasp of military tactics any day; at least then I can make some assumptions. If they are at least guarding the base of the tower, then they are doing something right. It's moderately reassuring.”
“Anyway, about the guards,” Simon said loudly to forestall an argument. “Aeris determined right off that they couldn't detect him while he was invisible. Considering that we are going to have to depend on Virginia and the others to hide us in the same way, that's a good start.”
There were general nods all around.
“Also, he says that the patrols themselves are predictable. Both the guards that are walking the perimeter outside and the others patrolling inside walk a steady route with no deviation. So we'll be able to time our entry to their movements and, hopefully, sneak right on by.”
The Dragons of Bone and Dust (Tales from the New Earth Book 7) Page 22
