The Dragons of Decay

by J. J. Thompson

  “South,” Aeris told him and shrugged. “None of us like the winter, of course. But remember, until the next generation gets old enough, the adults alive now were raised in your old technological world. In cold weather, they had amusements to take their minds off of being stuck indoors. People are reminiscing about things like 'television' and 'the internet', whatever they may be. In this weather, except for reading books or making conversation, basically people go to sleep at nightfall, wake up the next morning and go through the day the same as they had the day before.”

  He shrugged again.

  “Boredom, my dear wizard, plus depression, can be a killer if it lasts long enough.”

  Simon nodded thoughtfully, while Kronk simply listened without comment.

  “Yes, I can see that. But where would they go? How far south?”

  “Far enough to escape the winter entirely. A few have pointed out that there is a whole world out there for the taking. They want to move somewhere that they can grow crops all year long. They want to be able to spend their days outside and not worry about the harsh weather. And,” Aeris gave the wizard a twisted smile, “where they don't have to worry that the next winter storm will bring a horde of wights down upon them.”

  Simon sipped his tea and frowned down at the table.

  Move south. Interesting idea, he thought. After all, why should they stay this far north? He understood why Liliana and her people stayed in Moscow; they were connected to their home city. But Ottawa was leveled almost completely. There was no real tie there. And a lot of the folks in Nottinghill were from towns and villages a long way from the capital. Yeah, why would they even want to stay?

  “They don't feel any fondness toward Nottinghill itself?” he asked with some confusion. After all, he was quite fond of his own home. “I mean, they built the town from almost nothing, grew the first crops, had three children there. Surely they feel some connection to the place?”

  “Perhaps they did, once,” Aeris replied. He glanced at Kronk and back at the wizard. “But it isn't the same anymore, is it? After the attack by the wights and the people they lost, not to mention those who fell back when Madam assaulted the town, Nottinghill is not the same place at all. Instead of a refuge, I believe that some now see it more as a prison, especially in the winter.”

  “Huh. Now that is a good point,” Simon said. He was saddened to think that the little town that he'd been so involved with could be abandoned. But of course it wasn't his decision to make.

  “I'll have to let that sink in for a bit,” he told them. “Meanwhile, I want to catch up. I've been out of touch for a whole week, so I'd say that's given Daniel enough time to talk to the elders about my chances of traveling to the elven realm to lend a hand.”

  “Master, you are much too weak to even think of such a thing!” Kronk exclaimed.

  “Yes, Kronk. I know that,” the wizard replied. “But considering the time differential, if I can go there, I could probably take a few weeks to regain my strength and only a day or two would pass on Daniel's side.”

  “Ah yes, of course you are right, master,” the earthen said with relief.

  Simon smiled at him and began to get up.

  “I'd better go up and get my mirror,” he said, but Aeris stopped him with a firm gesture.

  “Sit. Rest. I'll get the mirror,” he said shortly and shot off toward the stairs.

  “Um, okay then.”

  Simon sat down with a smile. Kronk watched as the air elemental flew up the stairs and then winked at him.

  “He worries too, master,” the little guy whispered.

  “I know, my friend. Listen, do me a favor, would you?”

  “Anything, master. You know that.”

  “Okay. Would you head down to Nottinghill and take a look at their walls and gates? It's so cold out there that people might be a little lax in making sure that everything is secure.”

  “Ah. Certainly, master. I should have thought of that. May I take a few of my friends with me? I will leave three to patrol the wall, just in case.”

  Simon nodded as he sipped more tea.

  “Good idea. If any repairs have to be made, do what you need to do. And check in with Clara, would you? Thank her for me and ask if she needs anything. I'll call her later, but I'm more anxious to speak with Daniel right now.”

  “Consider it done, master,” Kronk told him. He jumped off of the table, tip-tapped to the door and waved. Then he slipped out and slammed the door closed behind him.

  Aeris floated back down the stairs and looked at the door as he crossed the room.

  “Kronk left?” he asked as he passed the hand mirror to Simon.

  “Yeah. I sent him down to check on Nottinghill's defenses. Just a precaution. Thanks, by the way,” he added as he took the mirror.

  “No problem. I'll clean the dishes while you speak with your friend.”

  At Simon's look, Aeris frowned at him.

  “Not a word about me being domestic, if you please. I'm just pulling my weight.”

  “Wouldn't dream of it,” the wizard said but he couldn't hold back a snicker as Aeris began pumping water into the sink.

  He held up the mirror and chanted the Magic Mirror spell.

  Now, he thought. Let's find out what else has gone wrong.

  Chapter 8

  The mirror fogged up as Simon cast the communication spell, keeping Daniel's prematurely aged face in his mind as he did so.

  It took a long, tense moment for the surface to clear but suddenly his friend appeared, sitting and reading by candlelight.

  The wizard watched him quietly for a few minutes, smiling. Aged or not, that look of intense concentration and wisdom hadn't been erased from Daniel's face and probably never would be. There was something comforting about that.

  “I see you're enjoying your favorite pastime,” he said with a grin.

  His friend looked up and stared around the room.

  “You should know,” he replied with faint amusement. “How many books did we share over the years? Hundreds, I'd guess.”

  “At least. So how are you doing?”

  “Fine. Fine. You're calling back a lot later than I'd expected. Learned some patience, have we?”

  Simon snorted.

  “Yeah, right. We're talking about me here, you know.”

  They shared a laugh.

  “Okay, so why the delay?”

  “We've had a bit of a disturbance since you and I last spoke,” Simon said, becoming serious, and then he proceeded to tell his friend about the wights attacking his tower and Nottinghill.

  Daniel listened, his face expressionless until the wizard mentioned the townspeople who had been lost. Then his eyes became dull and sad and he shook his head with regret.

  “So few of you left and now more are gone,” he whispered and stared off blankly. “Will the human race even survive this transition from technology to magic? I wonder.”

  Simon turned his head sharply at a snapping noise and saw Aeris break another piece of wood before adding it to the fire. He noticed the wizard watching.

  “Sorry,” he mouthed silently and Simon just smiled and looked back into the mirror.

  “And now you say that some of the survivors are thinking of pulling up stakes and moving south?” Daniel asked.

  “Apparently. And to be honest, I can't really blame them. I hate winter, as you well know, but isolation suits me. I enjoy doing research, working on new spells, practicing my skills and trying to stay sharp. Plus I've got Kronk and Aeris for company.”

  He glanced at the air elemental again and watched as he floated across from the fireplace to the sink and poured hot water into it from the kettle.

  “They're good company. But then, they tell me that wizards were always reclusive. I guess it comes with the job. The folks from Nottinghill are different though. Most of them can't use magic. They've been Changed, yes, but only enough to survive in a world inundated with magical energy. Other than that, they are pretty much normal
people. And these attacks, plus having to scratch and claw for a living, locking themselves up in their town to guard against terrors that they can't begin to understand, all of that is taking its toll. Some of them have had enough. And I can understand that.”

  “So can I.”

  Daniel stared down at his book, brooding, and Simon took the opportunity to get up, mirror in hand, and hand Aeris his cup. The elemental nodded his thanks and put it in the soapy water in the sink.

  The wizard pulled one of the kitchen chairs across the floor and sat down in front of the fire. It wasn't nearly as comfortable as his old easy chair but the extra warmth was welcome.

  “I suppose we'll have to see what they decide to do after everything is back to normal in Nottinghill,” Simon said as he sat down again. “But that's a worry for another day. I'm more concerned now with you and the elves. Have you heard back from the elders yet?”

  Daniel got up and the wizard watched as he walked across the cozy little room until he reached a lovely, hand-carved bureau. The dark wood was covered with elaborate swirls and leaf designs. The man opened the bureau, reached in and took out a small, square mirror and returned to his seat.

  And then they were looking at each other face to face.

  “There you are,” Daniel said with a smile. And then his gaze sharpened. “You've lost weight, you know.”

  “Yeah, well, apparently being in a coma for a week will do that to you,” Simon said dryly.

  “A coma? Hang on, you didn't mention that!”

  “Sorry, but I'm fine. I took a fall when I was trying to fight the undead outside of Nottinghill. No biggie. Clara healed me and I guess she had to let my body rest and regenerate after that.” Daniel continued to frown and Simon rolled his eyes. “Relax, I'm fine.”

  “This time,” his friend said with a touch of anger. “But what about the next time? You seem to keep forgetting that you aren't the hulking strongman you used to be. You are delicate now, and don't make that face at me. You've exchanged one kind of power for another and they couldn't be more different. Wizards are not warriors, Simon, and you had better get that through that thick skull of yours or your career as a magic-user could end up being a damned short one!”

  “Okay, are we done with the lecture?” Simon asked tartly.

  Daniel glowered for a moment and then nodded once.

  “Good. Now back to my original question. Can I enter the elven realm and return safely or not?”

  His friend ran a hand through his thick, gray hair and waited a long minute before answering.

  “Yes,” he replied. When Simon grinned, Daniel made an abrupt gesture and continued. “And no.”

  “What? Wait a second. Which one is it?”

  “It's both. Yes, you can enter the realm and return home safely. But not for long. The time stream here fluctuates and ripples. It isn't constant. God knows I wish it were. So the elves can't say 'for every hour spent here, three days pass on Earth' or whatever. They simply don't know.”

  Simon thought hard about that.

  “So what do they think is the longest I can stay in their world and come back without turning into a carbon copy of my old friend Daniel?”

  Daniel snorted and laughed roughly.

  “Two weeks.”

  “Crap. That's it?”

  “That's it. After two weeks, the time lines become jumbled, disjointed. They surge and ebb and the elves simply can't be sure about how much time will pass on Earth.”

  “And how long will I be gone if I stay for two weeks in the elven realm?”

  “Their best guess? Six months.”

  “Six months!”

  Simon gaped at Daniel silently and his friend's expression became grim.

  “But that doesn't mean that you will only age six months. You may physically be years older, but because of your wizardly physiology, it won't really effect you. Hopefully.”

  The wizard sat quietly and thought about the risks.

  “Do you see now why I think that this is a bad idea? Because they just don't know. This is a guess, Simon. What if they're wrong? What if the time line screws up like it did for me, hmm? I was gone for over three years on Earth, remember? In the elven realm, that should only have been a month or two. It certainly felt like that to me. But it shifted and changed and when I returned to our world to meet you, instead of being young, I aged forty years in a matter of moments. That is how unstable and arbitrary this whole time thing is. And in my mind, it isn't worth the risk.”

  “Even to save the elves? And you?” Simon asked quietly.

  Daniel closed his eyes and seemed, for the first time, to be as old as he looked.

  “Yes, old friend. Even to save us. The elves will fight on without you. They have resources and strengths of their own. They may win without any outside aid. And if that's true, then your coming here will be a wasted effort. Why take that chance?”

  Aeris floated over to the table with a steaming cup of tea and Simon smiled his thanks. He sipped it quietly and thought about the consequences of his actions, both if he entered the elven realm and if he didn't.

  “And what about our own world, Simon?” Daniel asked. “What about the threat to the New Earth? You still have the red dragons hunting down humans. I would guess that whatever eggs were available to the primal red dragon have been hatched to bolster its numbers. And then there's the unknown factor.”

  Simon chuckled.

  “Which one?”

  “The dragon queen,” Daniel replied darkly. “She is the most powerful creature ever created by the gods of Chaos. And she's out there somewhere, biding her time, awaiting her moment. What if, after seeing her children fall one by one, she decides to enter the battle? Do you think that the surviving humans, powerful though some are, will stand a chance against her without you there?”

  “Nice guilt trip, my friend,” the wizard said as he set down his cup on the floor.

  “Not a guilt trip. Just the facts. You may be playing into the dark gods' hands by coming here. Think about that.”

  “You know, I really hate it when you're logical,” Simon said with mock disgust.

  Daniel laughed, sounding more like his old self.

  “I know that. Listen, maybe we can reach a compromise. Meet halfway.”

  “How?”

  Daniel sat up straighter and pushed back his sloping shoulders. Simon had to stifle a smile because he recognized the 'I'm about to do business' Daniel from the old days.

  “Call me regularly, every week or so. I'll give you status reports on how things are going here. And if, God forbid, the elves begin to lose this war, then you can decide if you want to come over and lend your aid. Right now, the dragons are scattered, searching for the elves the old-fashioned way, by sight and smell. They've been stymied by the elven glamors and can't sense them through magic, so they have to comb the land trying to find them. Because of this, the elves are fighting what is essentially a guerrilla war, attacking from ambush, taking down solitary dragons. And they've had some success. So let's just wait and see. Is that acceptable to you, my impetuous friend?”

  Simon grinned at him.

  “I'm not that impetuous, Daniel, but yes, that's acceptable. In fact, it makes perfect sense. If my time there is limited to two weeks at the most, then the only way I'll succeed is by attacking the primal brown dragon itself, not its minions. If the elves locate that monster, then we can coordinate an attack and take it down together. Cut off the snake's head and the body dies.”

  His old friend actually sagged with relief.

  “It's good to see that you've finally started thinking tactically,” he told the wizard with a gentle smile.

  “Yeah, better late than never, I suppose. One last thing though. What about bringing others along? Did the elders mention if I could bring allies with me, or am I the only one who can travel to the elven realm and return?”

  “Ah, I'm glad you reminded me. Their answer was...interesting, to say the least.”

  “
And? What was it?”

  “Well, as you know, the elders watch certain events unfolding on Earth and they tend to focus on those who wield power, like yourself. Wizards age slower than any other magic-user, so they say that those two mages from London simply would not survive even two weeks in this world.”

  The wizard sighed heavily.

  “Yeah, that's what I was afraid of,” he muttered and looked over at Aeris for a second. “What about Liliana, the paladin from Moscow?”

  “Ah, well, she is an interesting case. Paladins are constantly healing themselves, renewing their bodies even when out of battle. Apparently this gift slows down the aging process as well.” Daniel grimaced. “I'm told that very few paladins ever died a natural death back in the old days of magic; their ends were usually quite violent. So yes, if she chose to join you, she would be fine, at least for a short visit.”

  “Excellent. Anyone else?”

  “Yes.” Daniel said and Simon watched him hopefully. “The elders claim that the four magic-users who work as one, the youngsters who live in Nottinghill, are the exception to the rule.”

  “Really? You mean Virginia and the others?”

  “Exactly. Apparently this communal spell-casting is unique; the elders have never seen or heard of its like before. But they believe that the shared power acts upon their bodies as a wizard's high concentration of magic works on yours.”

  “Well, that's interesting. So if they were up for it, they could join in the battle against the brown dragons? Hmm.”

  “It would, of course, be their decision alone,” Daniel said sharply and Simon looked at him in surprise.

  “I know that! Surely you know me better than to think I would try and coerce them into joining me?”

  “Yes. Yes, I do.”

  His friend rubbed his eyes wearily.

  “Sorry. It's been a bit stressful here.”

  “I know that, Daniel. Don't worry. If I even decide to mention it to them, and to Liliana, I'll simply lay out the facts, including the risks, and let them make up their own minds. And don't forget, like me, they aren't what they seem. None of them were young when they Changed, so they don't act with the rashness that a younger person might.”