It was like watching a disaster movie being shown in slow motion. The tower started to buckle and the lower floors were crushed. Then the entire thing began to topple like some monstrous tree.
Someone should yell timber, Simon thought irreverently.
“Brace yourselves,” Hallic cautioned the group. “When that thing hits the earth, we're going to feel it.”
He wasn't kidding.
The sound of the tower crashing into the ground was horrendous. An explosion of small rocks and great bursts of black dust obscured the wreckage but the ground shuddered and shook for many minutes afterwards.
“Holy crap, it worked,” Sebastian said in disbelief. “It actually worked!”
“Does anyone see Argentium or Esmiralla?” Simon asked loudly as he scanned the sky, searching for movement of any kind.
Everyone quieted down and looked for any sign of the dragons. There was nothing, no movement whatsoever.
“Do you think they might have been killed?” Anna asked hesitantly.
Simon jumped a bit. He'd forgotten that she and the others had rejoined the party.
“It's a possibility,” Tamara said. “The dragons may be immortal but they certainly aren't invincible. Simon has proven that.”
“Should we go over there and search through the rubble?” Malcolm asked dubiously.
“What would be the point?” Aiden told him, practical as always. “It could take weeks to pick through that mountain of debris. Either Argentium and the silver dragon survived or they didn't; I'm more concerned about that necromancer and those two dracoliches.”
Anna began scanning the sky urgently.
“Oh my gosh, I forgot all about those monsters. They could be swooping to attack us right now!”
“They aren't,” Aeris piped up.
The small woman frowned at him. Aeris was glowing slightly and was the easiest thing to see in the vicinity.
“How do you know?” she asked irritably.
“He can see in the dark, Anna,” Simon told her. “Just as Hallic can. And believe me, they are both watching for attackers.”
“Right you are, sir wizard,” Hallic told him jovially. He had climbed up on a stump that was jutting crookedly out of the ground and was staring intently at the wreckage of the tower.
“I too hope that the lawful dragons survived,” he continued. “But I think we've got other concerns right now.”
“Meaning?”
“A group of six people, I believe, has just pushed their way out of the rubble. All are encased in shields; I can see them flickering and sparking.”
“The necromancer,” Tamara breathed, a sudden smile of malice on her face. “Finally.”
“Perhaps we should face them before those blasted undead dragons show up?” the rogue asked her.
“I think so. Does anyone have any objections?”
“It's what we came here to do,” Malcolm said as he drew his sword and settled his shield on his arm.
He looked at Aiden, who was doing the same.
“Ready?” he asked softly.
His partner winked and twisted his shoulders to loosen them up.
“Always. Watch your ass, big man. I don't want to have to save your life, again.”
“Ha! Likewise. Tamara, whenever you give the word, we're ready.”
“Good. Everyone, arm yourselves or ready your spells. Virginia, I guess that you and the others are going to have your chance to fight after all.”
Gerard and Eric exchanged eager smiles, but Anna seemed to shrink in on herself. Virginia gave the smaller woman a one-armed hug and nodded at Tamara.
“Okay, we'll stay back and do what we can.”
“Excellent. I was hoping you'd say that.”
The mage looked around one last time, starting with Simon and finishing with her brother.
“All set? Then let's do this.”
Chapter 30
As the group prepared to follow Hallic back to the mountain of rubble that used to be the dark tower, Simon stayed behind and motioned for Tamara to join him.
“I'll follow along in a minute,” he told her quietly. “I have a few preparations to make first.”
She gave him a long look and then smiled.
“I trust that you know what you are doing, my friend, as always. Don't take too long.”
“I won't. Go on ahead, they're waiting for you.”
The mage hurried off and Simon watched as the group disappeared into the night.
“How long until sunrise?” he asked Aeris.
The elemental looked toward the east for a moment.
“True dawn won't appear for another hour and a half or so, but false dawn with it's pink and red colors will begin to lighten the sky in less than an hour.”
“Excellent. As much as I enjoy the stars, I'd like to be able to see more than ten feet in front of me.”
“Master,” Kronk said. “Perhaps one day you can do some research and find the Ultra-vision spell? That could help you in any future battles that occur at night.”
Simon stared at him and then caught Aeris nodding.
“Wait, there's a spell to help you see in the dark?” he asked blankly.
“Yes, of course there is, my dear wizard. How can you not know that?”
“I think I'll let that comment pass,” Simon replied a bit wearily. “We don't have time to argue. Okay, you two stand back and give me some room please.”
Kronk quickly skittered away into the darkness and Aeris followed him, quietly for a change. Simon held Mortis de Draconis in front of himself, end firmly on the ground and he gripped it hard with both hands.
Here we go, he said to himself, surprised that he was getting excited at the thought of the upcoming fight.
I'm getting as bad as Malcolm.
“Aethos, I need your help,” he called out as he looked up to the stars. “Incendus, come to my aid!”
The wizard then closed his eyes and tensed up a bit. He knew what came next all too well.
A dazzling flash made him flinch and a blast of thunder momentarily deafened him.
Damned air elementals and their flashy entrances, he thought irritably for the umpteenth time.
Simon opened his eyes to see a glowing, swirling vortex floating about ten feet in front of him. A point of red then appeared in the inky blackness above him, which turned into a intense crimson ball of flame. It shot straight down toward the earth at tremendous speed and stopped precisely beside the small tornado.
“Sir wizard,” an echoing voice, its sound reminiscent of a moaning wind, addressed him from the vortex. “I am pleased to see you again.
“As am I,” the crackling voice of a wildfire said from the middle of the hovering ball of flames. “Greetings, Simon O'Toole.
“Thank you for coming,” Simon told them gratefully. “I'm relieved to see you both well. After your intervention with Lacertus...”
“That fool,” Aethos scoffed. “He slipped away from us just as we were about to tear him apart.”
“Very unsatisfying,” Incendus added. “Have we been summoned to finish what we started?”
“No, this is something else. Actually I wasn't sure if I would need your help this time or not, but I think things are about to get very bad and it never hurts to have too much help in times of need.”
“Wise,” Incendus said as his body altered and became man-shaped. “I agree. I take it that we are about to go into battle?”
Two dark spots appeared in the flaming visage and stared at the wizard.
“Of course we are,” Aethos told him in an amused tone.
The air elemental retained his swirling form and dust and small stones rose up around him.
“Why else would the wizard summon us? To clean his tower?”
“What is it about your people and sarcasm?” the fire elemental replied with a shake of his burning head. “I asked a simple question.”
“Gentlemen?” Simon said quickly to forestall an argument. “Time is short. Y
es, Incendus, you're right. As you can see,” he pointed toward the ruined tower and both beings followed his gesture, “we've brought down the stronghold of the leader of the necromancers. We believe that he and his followers are directly responsible for the undead armies and dragons that are scouring the world as we speak, trying to destroy the last of my people. They are also attacking the dwarven cities and, oddly enough, the goblins as well.”
“Small loss there,” Incendus said grimly. “Those creatures are evil through and through.”
“I agree,” Aethos said. “I believe that I can see the group of enemies that you speak of, sir wizard. Gathered near the ruins?”
“That's them.”
“Hmm. I count only six persons. The group that I spy approaching them numbers at least a dozen. Surely between them and yourself, you are more than a match for the evil ones. Why have you summoned us? You seem to have plenty of firepower on your side.”
Kronk and Aeris appeared from out of the darkness. Simon saw the little guy's red eyes and Aeris' glowing form and he smiled at the pair.
“Guys, you've met both Incendus and Aethos before?”
Both small elementals bowed silently, Aeris for once not hesitating in the slightest.
Incendus glanced at the two and nodded once. Aethos just continued to swirl, waiting for Simon to answer him.
“I've summoned you both because there's something fishy about this whole situation,” he said. “I believe that we were set up and that those casters over there have some nasty surprises waiting for us. But even if I'm wrong and they are just what they appear to be, there is a second worry.”
He looked up at the night sky and examined it quickly. Nope, still no sign of them.
“There are two dracoliches up there, somewhere. Both were created from the bodies of primals. They are strong, fast and apparently almost sentient. And I expect them to drop in on us before this fight is over with.”
“Ah, now I see,” Aethos said equably. “Very well, sir wizard. You may have my aid once more.”
“You had mine to begin with,” Incendus told Simon with a trace of amusement in his voice. “I love a good fight.”
“Thank you both. Now, I'd like to rejoin my friends before the battle begins. Both of you know your own powers best; please just jump in and help wherever you feel you need to.”
“Understood,” Aethos said and he zoomed out of sight, heading toward the rubble of the tower.
“I will do that,” Incendus replied as he watched his counterpart leave. “And I will be watching for those undead dragons as well, sir wizard.”
“Thanks. By the way, two lawful dragons brought down that tower. We haven't seen any sign of them since, but if they survived, I'd appreciate it if you didn't attack them.”
The fire elemental laughed heartily.
“I'll keep that in mind,” he chortled and then shot straight up into the sky, turning back into a ball of fire as he went.
“Let's go, guys,” Simon told his small friends. “Could you lead, Aeris? I can still barely see the ground in front of me and it would be embarrassing to break my ankle before the fighting starts.”
“I'd be happy to,” Aeris replied, snickering. “Follow me.”
“It was wise of you to call for help, master,” Kronk rumbled as he trotted along beside Simon. “I am sure that the mighty Kassus would be pleased to lend you his aid as well if you summoned him.”
“I'm sure he would,” Simon replied, panting a little. “And if I need his help, I will definitely call him. But I needed elementals who were both powerful and could fly, to counter the dracoliches. Kassus is strong, but he is an earthen; he wouldn't be much help in an aerial fight.”
“I suppose you are correct, master,” the little guy said, sounding a bit disappointed.
“But I will call him if I need backup,” Simon hurriedly assured him. “Promise.”
A loud explosion from up ahead muted the earthen's reply and Simon saw a jagged finger of lightning cut through the sky and slam into the ground.
“Damn, it's started,” he exclaimed and quickened his pace. “They didn't wait for me.”
“Tamara may have seen an opportunity and taken it,” Aeris said over his shoulder.
“Good point. Let's keep moving.”
The three of them made their way across the distance toward the battle a hundred yards away. The ground was pitted with holes and mounds of broken rock and Simon slipped and slid over and around them, almost falling twice.
“I don't remember getting this far away from the tower,” he gasped at one point as sweat flew from the end of his nose.
“It isn't that far,” Aeris informed him. “You simply have no stamina, as befits one of your profession.”
Yeah, a skinny weakling wizard, that's me, he thought with some disgust. I suppose it's a trade-off.
They finally reached the foursome led by Virginia. They were in a line facing the conflict, hand in hand with each other. Gerard was scowling at their opponents, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
Behind them, Miriam was watching over the battlefield, her hands clenched nervously. She gave the wizard a tight smile.
“How's...how's it going?” Simon wheezed as he stumbled to a stop and leaned on his staff.
“Hard to tell,” Virginia answered while keeping her focus on the fighting. “Our enemies have incredibly powerful shields. They're resisting Gerard's force blows, but he's at least managed to knock a few of them on their asses.”
The wizard looked past her and tried to absorb what he was seeing. It was chaotic, to say the least.
Six figures, surrounded by bright shields of energy, were lined up against Simon's forces. It was hard to see them in any detail and all he could get were glimpses as spells flashed and flickered on both sides.
How the hell am I supposed to aim at anything, he wondered. All I can see are vague shapes.
“Ah, screw it,” he said abruptly. “I'm not going to waste time guessing who's who in the middle of a fight.”
He raised his staff and pointed it toward the area over the heads of the enemy casters. A half dozen bolts of light shot across the distance to float twenty feet above the ground, glowing with a bright white radiance. The entire area was suddenly lit up like midday.
“Much better,” Virginia exclaimed with delight. “That will help a lot.”
“I hope so. Take care, guys. I have to go.”
Simon hurried past them and watched events unfold with the others as he moved to join them.
Now that he could actually see the enemy, he realized that all six magic-users were definitely necromancers. All were dressed in flowing black robes and, like him, they each wielded a staff.
“Evil wizards, master,” Kronk said to him.
“I can see that. Damn, this isn't good.”
Several of the necromancers were flinging bolts of dark energy directly at the fighters, who were advancing steadily upon them. Liliana, Malcolm and Aiden were leading and fending off the attacks with their shields. The bucklers flashed each time they deflected a bolt, their enchantments holding so far.
Fergus and Kate were moving forward as well, one on either end of the line, and Simon watched with admiration as the man used his two-handed sword to redirect a bolt of energy back at the magic-user who had cast it. The throbbing black missile was morphed into a blazing silver projectile by the enchantment on the warrior's sword and it smashed into the caster's shield with a tremendous bang. There was a wavering and twisting in the air as the magical barrier was nullified and the shield collapsed.
“Now! Hit him now!”
It was Tamara who bellowed out that order and, as Simon watched, both she and her brother let fly with an eye-searing barrage of magic missiles.
The necromancer was babbling frantically, trying to recast his shield, and barely had enough time to scream before the projectiles literally ripped him to pieces.
“That's one!” Sebastian exclaimed with grim satisfaction.
/> One of their foes shouted furiously and another replied in some language that Simon didn't recognize. It sounded tantalizingly familiar though.
He finally caught up to the others and looked at his friends.
Both Tamara and Sebastian were wearing identical expressions of grim determination as they waited for an opening to cast more spells. Barnaby stood next to them and grinned as he caught sight of Simon. He looked wildly excited.
All three were protected by shields identical to those of their enemies and they sparkled and sizzled with magical energy.
“Good job,” the wizard said to them as he arrived. “One necromancer down, five to go.”
“Thanks,” Tamara replied, not taking her eyes off of the dark casters. “We got lucky. I had no idea that a shield could be shorted out like that.”
“You can thank your blacksmith when you see him again, lady,” Aeris told her with a grin. “Or whoever fashioned the sword that the warrior Fergus is wielding. It altered the enemy's own spell just enough to cause the magic of the shield to be nullified.”
Simon and the three mages stared at him in surprise.
“Is that what happened?”
“Yes, of course,” the air elemental replied in a rather superior tone. “I have seen such things before, long ago. Obviously these necromancers didn't realize that you should not cast projectile spells at warriors using enchanted weapons. I believe that they've learned their lesson now though.”
There was a loud, heated argument going on amongst the necromancers. Malcolm and the other fighters had halted their advance and stood side by side about thirty feet in front of the casters, waiting.
“Why are the warriors just standing there?” Barnaby asked in confusion. “Shouldn't they attack while the necromancers are distracted?”
“How?” Tamara asked irritably. “As long as those shields are up, none of our fighters will be able to reach the casters, enchanted weapons or not. The necromancers are up to something though, so be prepared.”
Simon had been looking around the area, which was a lot easier now that his globes of light were pushing back the darkness, and he was a bit puzzled.
“What is it?” Sebastian asked him. “You look like you've lost something.”
The Dragons of Bone and Dust (Tales from the New Earth Book 7) Page 36
