“I’ve got a feeling you’re right, old buddy,” Richard said as he squared his shoulders and tried to stand as straight as possible in his fully activated battle suit. “It’s nice having my regular battle suit and helmet again. Myers’s suit fit, but it never did feel right. Figures ‘the One’ would wait until everything was over before giving me my gear back.”
“Well, it is not over yet, Rick, so do not get too comfortable. I calculate the giants will be needed in the battle against the demons. I would advise putting on your best smile and showing them some of your wizard scout charm.”
Richard glanced at the scowling faces of the ten-meter-high soldiers lined up to his front. “I don’t exactly feel like smiling, old buddy. Myers was the one who created the giants’ current problems, but my brother’s not here. Amir’s people have no reason to trust me. If it wasn’t for the presence of Mia and Lord Derander, they’d probably already be beating on me with some giant-sized clubs.”
“Their hostility would have been a lot less if you had worn something besides your battle suit. I calculate wearing it fully activated was like waving a red flag in front of a raging pactar. Your brother wore an activated battle suit when he destroyed their Heart-stone and killed the gem’s guards.”
“I know, but I’m not going to hide who I am. I’m a wizard scout. That’s just the way it is.”
A giant a full head taller than those around him took a step forward, followed by an ancient, white-haired shaman carrying a gnarled staff and wearing a horned skull adorned with feathers. From Mia’s earlier description, Richard recognized the two as King Ironfist and Shaman Blackroot.
The giant’s king set the butt of his spear on the ground and looked down at Mia before speaking in a voice that boomed from one end of the valley to the other. “Master Freestrod brought your message to us last month, informing us of the circumstances of Elf Friend Amirithoda’s passing. It was sad news indeed. So much has befallen our clan since the destruction of our home. The death of our best gem-seeker has us wondering if it has all been for naught. The land has been calmed, but our home in the Thandarhar Mountains is no more. I brought my clan to New Drepdenor as the Oracle asked, but the dragon has denied us entry thus far. Not that it matters. We might be able to walk through the largest of the dwarves’ tunnels, but we could never live in their mountain home. Without a home of our own, my people will wither away and die. On top of that, Master Freestrod told me that the Oracle has advised that all mention of our existence be wiped from the histories of all the civilized races.”
Mia raised her staff high. The blue gem at its top shone bright for all to see. A gust of wind whipped her long silver hair behind her back, giving the effect of a regal cloak. “Those that matter will know you existed, Your Majesty. Elf Friend Rick assures me the hope of Portalis depends on the existence and memory of the Ecarian giants.”
The giant king’s eyes turned to Richard. The stare he gave was not one of a friend. “If not for the respect I have for the elves’ high priestess, I would have killed you on sight, human. Despite her assurance that you are not the one who destroyed the Heart-stone and killed my people, I find it hard to believe. I am surprised Amir did not kill you as soon as he saw you in that black armor.”
Richard stepped a pace ahead of Mia and Derander and gave a slight bow. “He did try, Your Majesty. Even so, he was and will always be my friend.” Reaching into the side pocket of his battle suit, Richard pulled out the healed Heart-stone and held it high. “Elf Friend Amir sacrificed his life to give me the time to heal this.”
The old giant wearing the horned skull stepped closer to inspect the yellow gem. “Yes, the gem is smaller, but it is the Heart-stone, fully healed. I see two flowers within. That alone tells me Amir and Glory are together again. I am glad.” Shaman Blackroot turned and looked at his king. “This was in our prophecies, Your Majesty. The one bearing the gem of twin flowers is not our enemy. I believe he is not only an elf friend but also the friend of giants. My advice is to heed his words.”
King Ironfist glanced to his left and right at the long line of soldiers. After turning back to the front, he nodded. “Very well, Elf Friend, or Wizard Scout, or whatever you are. What would you have us do? And what will be the cost to my clan?”
“I won’t lie,” Richard said. “The cost to your clan may be great, as it will be to my people. Within New Drepdenor is a gate. It leads to a place that can only be described as Hell. Time does not exist there. My advice is to lead your giants through the gate. Someone will meet you there. They will lead you back through the gate to the time when you are needed.”
“When will that be?” asked the king.
Richard gave a half-smile and shrugged his shoulders. “That I don’t know until it gets here, Your Majesty. The time of the Great Battle approaches. When it comes, the strength of your giants will be needed to defend Portalis. The dwarves who built New Drepdenor have committed to the cause as well. Queen Emerald and her people will also be coming to our aid. To win the Great Battle, the forces of good will need to come together for one final battle. We can let neither time nor space keeps us from rallying every ally we can gather to the cause.”
King Ironfist nodded once again. “That is also in our prophecies. Let it be so. So what happens to my clan after this Great Battle? We will be lost in the future with no home.”
Richard shook his head. “No, Your Majesty. The future will be your home. You have my word as a wizard scout. You will have a home.”
Sensing doubt, Richard held out the Heart-stone. “This is yours. Elf Friend Amir died to make it whole again. It belongs with his people.”
The king stared at the yellow gem for the space of a dozen heartbeats. The muscles on his face relaxed until he looked at peace. Turning his eyes on Richard, King Ironfist said, “No. High Priestess Mia told me the angel gave the Heart-stone to you to do with as you will.” He smiled. The smile was almost friendly. “Who am I to naysay an angel?”
Glancing at the old giant to his left, King Ironfist said, “What say you, Shaman Blackroot? Do the omens say we should trust this human and enter the gate in yon mountain?”
The old shaman laughed. “To be honest, Your Majesty, I do not trust omens. I tend to believe what is in my heart.”
“Then tell me, old friend. What is in your heart?”
Shaman Blackroot smiled. “We go through the gate and find a home.”
Epilogue
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Ten days after the meeting with the giants, Richard and Mia stood at the kitchen table of the small bungalow that was her home. Lord Derander and Master Freestrod were standing on the opposite side of the table.
“It’s strange being in Jeena and my home knowing it belongs to someone else right now,” Richard told Nickelo. “I wish Mia had chosen someplace else to do this. It reminds me too much of Jeena. I’m so ready to leave this place and get back to her that it’s not even funny.”
“I detect six tele-bots in the room with us,” said Nickelo. “I calculate once you do this last thing, ‘the One’ will teleport you back to the future. So hold your pactars. You’ll be back with your bondmate soon enough.”
Although Richard was anxious, he waited for Mia to start the show. He didn’t have to wait long.
The high priestess turned to Master Freestrod. “Do you have it?”
The old mage nodded and held out his hand. Something glinted in his palm. “The message crystal is ready, High Priestess.”
Mia took the crystal from the mage and looked at Richard. “Do you have the container?”
Richard reached into his dimensional pack and pulled out a small box made out of a black, leathery-looking material. The container fit easily in the palm of his ungloved hand. The black leather radiated Power. There were three lines of symbols on one side of the box. Although Richard couldn’t read ancient Letian himself, he was confident the technicians back on Storage had made the box according to Nickelo’s specs.
Richard hand
ed the container to Mia.
“It feels warm,” said Mia as she placed the box on the table. She glanced at the three lines of symbols and read the words. “‘From the High Priestess of the Lady of the Tree’, ‘Ecarians’, and ‘For Jeena’s eyes only’.” She looked up at Richard. “That should get your bondmate’s attention. We will place camouflage spells in our library to keep it safe until it is needed. Are you sure your Jeena will be able to open it when the time comes?”
Richard smiled. “Trust me. I’m sure. I had the techs cut up Myers’s old battle suit and use part of it for the box. Once you place the message crystal inside, I’ll use the gem in my ring to activate the material. No one will be able to get into the box except Jeena by using her ring.”
Mia nodded. “Then I think it is time we started.”
Placing the message crystal on the table, Mia had Richard and the others move out of the way. She moved the fingers of her right hand while chanting words Richard heard but quickly forgot. The crystal began to glow.
When the glow subsided, Mia began to speak in a soft voice. “Jeena. Listen well. Everything depends on you doing exactly what I say.” Mia raised a hand and wiped a tear from her eye. “When you do, you will be responsible for something that will demand a terrible price. Two elf friends will die.” Mia sighed. “You may know me from your histories as High Priestess of the Lady of the Tree Miandriathoraxen. Even so, I do not expect you to take my word for what needs to be done.” She gave a knowing smile. “But I think I have someone here who you will trust.”
Richard stepped next to Mia. “Jeena, my love. I’m going to ask you to do some hard things, and I’m not going to be able to tell you all the reasons why. You’ll just have to trust me. The fate of the three galaxies depends on you doing everything I ask.” He smiled at the one he knew would be looking at the message fourteen thousand years in the future. “Here is what I need you to do…”
[End Transmission]
Note From the Author: If you enjoyed Wizard Gigantic, please consider leaving a review on the book’s Amazon page to let others know. The Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles is a twelve book series with the last book scheduled for release in late Fall 2020. If you’d like to read more of Rick and Nick’s adventures, please drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know. Thanks for being a fan.
About the Author
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Rodney Hartman is a retired US Army veteran with over twenty years of experience in military operations ranging from Infantry Private in the paratroops to Chief Warrant Officer flying helicopters during the Persian Gulf War. Mr. Hartman worked for many years as a computer programmer before retiring and pursuing a career as a fulltime writer. Mr. Hartman lives in North Carolina with his wife and family along with their cat, McKenzie.
If you would like to find out more about the author and/or upcoming books, please visit: http://www.rodneyhartman.com/
You may contact the author at: [email protected]
Depending on volume, the author will try to respond to all emails.
Wizard Gigantic (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 9) Page 48
