He looked around and frowned.
“Where's Keiko? She should be here too.”
“I am here, sir wizard,” a little voice said from just beyond the circle of light they were standing in.
The small woman shuffled into view and bowed to all of them.
“Ah good. Thank you,” Simon told her with a smile.
“Now, if any of you have ideas on how to get Sebastian away from the goblins safely, here's your chance to air them.”
The group began discussing various ways of attacking the goblin hideout, but every plan was stymied by the main fact that, according to Kronk, there was only one entrance to the network of caves beneath the stone circle.
“If we attack head-on, the goblins are very likely to kill their prisoner,” Liliana said after the various ideas had all been shot down.
The sky was beginning to lighten in the east and the night was fading away.
“We can't wait much longer,” Tamara told them. “We have to assume that the goblins are expecting an assault since we drove them off. They could be on the move even now.”
“That's true. Kronk,” Simon looked down at the attentive earthen. “Could you go back and discreetly keep an eye on the goblins? If they begin to move away from their base, return and let me know, would you?”
“Yes master, I can do that.”
“Don't take any chances though,” the wizard added. “Stay hidden and just watch them.”
“I will, master.”
The little guy bowed to the group and burrowed quickly out of sight.
“And me?” Aeris asked eagerly.
Simon hid his smile. He knew how competitive the air elemental was.
“You head back to the stone circle too. Stay invisible and patrol the perimeter. Same instructions as I gave to Kronk; watch for movement and come back immediately if those creatures make a break for it.”
“Will do. See you soon.”
Aeris disappeared immediately and Tamara sighed audibly with relief.
“Thanks Simon,” she said. “I couldn't bear it if those monsters got away while we stood here twiddling our thumbs.”
“We're hardly twiddling our thumbs,” Malcolm protested. “I mean, we can't just race off headlong and attack that nest, can we? Sebastian would pay the price for that, surely.”
“I know, I know,” Tamara said as she began pacing again. “So what is the solution?”
Before anyone could answer, several people came into the courtyard through a narrow door carrying trays. One of them, a heavy-set matronly woman wearing an apron over a simple blue dress, led the way.
“Yes, Nancy?” Tamara said as she noticed the procession. “What can we do for you?”
The woman looked at them all merrily, her smile broad.
“It's what I can do for you, my dears.”
She gestured at the others lined up behind her; two women and two men. All were smiling affectionately at the woman.
“We've brought you some refreshment. You've all been out here all night and you need to keep up your strength if you mean to deal with those horrid beasts that attacked us.”
Before Tamara could respond, Malcolm stepped forward and beamed down at Nancy.
“Oh bless you! I could feel myself wasting away from hunger. You've arrived just in time.”
Nancy snorted and poked Malcolm on the lower chest, which was as high as she could comfortably reach.
“You're a horse, laddie, and horses are always hungry.”
Everyone laughed while Malcolm pretended to be wounded.
“You see? She doesn't love me anymore.”
“Oh stop,” Nancy said with a broad smile. “Now, we have sandwiches, fruit and hot tea. Everyone help yourselves.”
Simon joined the others, grabbing a couple of chicken sandwiches and a large cup of tea. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he began eating. He made sure to thank all of the helpers when he was finished.
After Nancy had led her troop back inside, the wizard cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
“I may have an idea,” Simon told them slowly, hoping that he didn't get Tamara's hopes up too high.
She stopped and looked at him, wide-eyed.
“You have a plan?”
The wizard shrugged.
“Maybe. I believe in playing to one's strengths, so I think in this situation that I should play to mine.”
“Meaning?” Malcolm asked tersely.
The big man's eyes were red and both he and Aiden looked tired and twitchy, even after their brief meal.
Simon raised an eyebrow and the warrior grinned in embarrassment.
“Sorry, I'm a bit tense right now.”
“We all are, my friend. What I mean is, since I have a penchant for elemental magic, why not use it to our advantage, considering the circumstances?”
He stepped away from the group and turned to stare at a section of the courtyard ground that wasn't covered in paving stones.
“Kassus, I need you,” he said firmly as he gripped his staff tightly.
“What's he doing?” Simon heard a small voice ask from behind him. Keiko had spoken up at last.
In response, the empty ground that the wizard was concentrating on exploded in a shower of dirt and small stones that flew in all directions.
“Shield,” Simon said quickly and watched as the debris vaporized against the barrier that snapped up around him.
The group behind him wasn't so lucky and he heard several exclamations and at least one curse as they were hit by bits of earth and pebbles.
The hole that had been caused by the explosion was straddled by a massive figure made entirely of rough, interlocking stones. Seven feet tall and almost as broad, the earth elemental glared down at the wizard with fiery red eyes. Its blank face still managed to convey emotion and it stared balefully at Simon.
“Sir wizard, you have recalled me,” the elemental said in a voice like the grinding of rocks. “You have need of my services?”
“Perhaps, Kassus. Thank you for responding. We both know that I am not one to try to command you; I simply have a request.”
“Ah. A request?”
The earthen sounded intrigued.
“State this request then.”
Simon quickly explained the situation while the group of five behind him watched silently.
“So you see,” he concluded, “if we attempt a frontal assault, we could very well be condemning our friend to death. But I know that an earthen of your power could transport Sebastian to safety before a battle, leaving us free to deal with the goblins without worrying about him.”
“I see,” Kassus growled. “I need more information before I make a decision.”
He stomped one heavy foot on the ground that sent a tremor rippling across the courtyard.
“Kronk, attend me,” he said imperiously.
The little earthen popped out of the same hole that Kassus had appeared from and stood looking up at the powerful elemental.
Simon stared in surprise. He hadn't known that the large earthen could do that.
“You called for me?” Kronk asked respectfully.
“I did. Your master sent you to spy on these disgusting creatures, these,” Kassus muttered a string of sounds in his own tongue. Simon didn't think it was complimentary.
“These goblins,” he continued. “Have you found their prisoner?”
“I have. I drew close enough to the string of caves to sense him. He is being held in one of the deepest hollows in the underground complex.”
“Is he alone at the moment?”
“He is,” Kronk said. He looked apologetically at Tamara. “I can feel him through the rock. He lives and, although I believe that he is wounded, he is not critically injured. I cannot help him though. I do not have the ability to do so.”
“I do,” the large earthen stated. “Lead me.”
The little guy nodded once and jumped into the hole.
Kassus looked at Simon.
“Have I your permission to summon aid if necessary?”
“Um, yes. Of course.”
Without further comment, the earthen stepped forward and sank out of sight.
Chapter 22
There was a moment of silence after Kassus disappeared and then everyone began speaking at once.
Tamara hurried over to the wizard and grabbed his arms.
“Simon, are they going to rescue my brother?” she asked frantically.
“I guess so. Kassus and other powerful elementals like him have minds of their own. By the sound of it, it seems he thinks that this is his chance to get to Sebastian and bring him home.”
“But what if they arrive and the goblins sense it and attack?” Keiko asked in her unassuming way.
“Then pity the goblins,” Simon told her grimly.
“Aiden? Have you seen Miriam anywhere?” Tamara asked. “If that elemental actually gets Sebastian out of there, he may need her skills immediately.”
“I hadn't thought of that. She's probably back in the infirmary. I'll get her.”
He trotted away while Malcolm told them that he was going to speak to the guards at the tunnels, in case Kassus' assault goaded the goblins into another attack on the castle.
“I'll join the watchers on the wall,” Liliana said as the two big men had left. “You never know when those dragons might decide to come back.”
Simon nodded at her. He took the opportunity while they waited to sit down on a low wall that surrounded a lovely patch of flowers. He lay his staff down next to him and rotated his shoulders. Then he slowly twisted his neck, trying to loosen it up a bit. His body was stiff with the tension of the past several hours and beginning to ache.
Malcolm was right, he said to himself irritably. You are a delicate flower.
The sun had risen and the courtyard was now bright enough to see into even the darkest corners, so the wizard banished his light globe and really looked around for the first time.
Someone had worked hard to landscape the grounds. Several small, walled-off gardens splashed color around the courtyard. The low buildings were all in good repair and neatly kept. A peaceful place before the goblin attack, he was sure that it would be again.
The walls of the castle soared up fifty feet or more above the central court. On the south side of the castle, the main part of the castle stood thick and strong. Simon had no idea how many people could fit into the place, but he could tell that hundreds of inhabitants could live comfortably in the castle without anyone feeling crowded.
A gentle poof of air next to Simon's head made him smile as he looked up at the guards patrolling the outer walls.
“Any news?” he murmured, enjoying the feeling of the chilly morning beginning to warm up in the bright sunlight. The scent of flowers was filling the air.
“The goblins haven't left their hole, if that's what you mean,” Aeris replied.
He floated around into Simon's field of view and looked at the wizard closely.
“Are you all right? You seem a bit...distracted.”
“Do I? No, I'm fine. We're just waiting for Kassus to return. He left with Kronk to, I guess, try to rescue Sebastian.”
Simon turned his attention to the elemental.
“Why are you back anyway? I thought that you were going to watch and only report back if the goblins tried to make a break for it?”
“Indeed I was. However, for some reason the stupid creatures decided to seal the one entrance into their warren under that circle of stones.” Aeris shook his head and sneered. “Idiotic decision if you ask me. Now they have no retreat. I'd guess that they were worried that Malcolm and the others might attack to try to retrieve the mage, or to exact revenge, and figured they would be safer sealed underground.”
He furrowed his brow and stared unseeing across the courtyard.
“Perhaps they plan to tunnel away now that their front door is sealed? That's a possibility, I suppose.”
Simon picked up his staff and stood up slowly, using it to assist him.
“Well, if that's their plan, they are in big trouble. Kassus' natural habitat is underground. The goblins won't be tunneling away from him, I'm sure.”
Tamara was still standing in the center of the grounds, speaking quietly with Keiko. As Simon began to walk toward them, Miriam and Aiden came out of the main castle and approached them as well.
“Someone is attempting to rescue your brother?” the cleric asked Tamara just as Simon joined them.
The mage shrugged.
“We aren't sure. One of our friend's,” she nodded at the wizard, “elemental allies has gone to check out the goblin hideout. It sounded like he might try a rescue. In case he does, I wanted you available. Aiden didn't tear you away from any patients, did he?”
The cleric smiled at Aiden.
“Of course not. Except for Jenny, who is resting comfortably in her quarters, I have no patients at the moment. So, any idea how long we'll have to wait?”
Tamara looked to Simon for an answer but he could only shrug.
“Not really, no. Aeris here just informed me that the goblins have blocked the entrance into their lair, so at least we know that they aren't making a break for it above ground. Underneath? Who knows. We'll just have to wait and see.”
“Ah, wait and see. My two least favorite things,” Tamara said tightly. She began pacing again.
“They blocked their only means of escape?” Aiden asked incredulously.
Simon nodded.
“But that's crazy. What kind of leader would order something like that?”
“One who doesn't understand tactics would be my guess,” Simon replied. “Maybe we just got our first real break.”
A clatter of armored feet got everyone's attention and they turned to watch Malcolm and Liliana hurry down the steep steps from the wall. Both of them looked concerned.
“What's wrong now?” Tamara asked a bit crossly as the two joined the group.
“Dragons,” the paladin stated in a clipped voice. “Three of them coming from the south. Probably the trio from last night.”
“They're on the attack?” Simon asked her.
Liliana laughed humorlessly.
“If they are, they're being awfully leisurely about it. No, scouting is more likely. They are still miles away but I think they are doing a fly-over of the goblins' base. After that, they may or may not come in this direction. The sentries are watching above us and will let us know.”
“Great. Just what we need this morning; bloody dragons,” Tamara spat and began pacing again, her robes swirling like a storm around her. Everyone gave her a wide berth.
There really wasn't much more to do after that. Simon decided to climb to the top of the wall and watch the distant dragons. Aeris followed him and the two of them stared as the three red dragons swooped and soared majestically over the wild English countryside.
“They are beautiful, you have to give them that,” Simon said loudly as a brisk wind blew past him making his clothing flutter and snap.
“Maybe, but there are many other kinds of beauty that I find more appealing and less deadly,” Aeris answered dryly.
The dragons were flying almost nose to tail in a broad circle that brought them to within a couple of miles of the castle. However, they seemed to be concentrating more on the ground below them than on Nottinghill.
“They have to be watching the goblins, don't you think?”
Aeris shrugged as he bobbed and weaved in the wind.
“A fair guess, my dear wizard, but who knows? They are dragons, after all. I've never understood them and I never will.”
“You're a big help,” Simon told him and headed back to the stairs.
“What did I do now?” the air elemental asked innocently as he followed along behind.
Back down in the courtyard, the main group was still waiting for any sign of Kassus. Everyone was looking decidedly strained and Tamara was pale and fidgety. She had stopped pacing though and was
in quiet conversation with Keiko. Simon wondered what they were talking about that was so engrossing.
A shaking under his feet that grew to an obvious rumble got the wizard's attention.
“I think Kassus is coming back,” he said loudly.
Everyone stopped talking and began looking around. Simon focused on the hole that the elemental had left behind when he disappeared. He assumed that Kassus would probably come back that way. And a few seconds later he found that he was correct.
The hulking elemental climbed out of the hole noisily, rock snapping and crashing beneath him. Simon saw Tamara's face fall as she saw that Kassus was alone. She looked frantically at the wizard, who motioned for patience. He could tell that the elemental was concentrating on something below him.
Kassus stepped back from the deep hole, now an actual pit in the ground, and everyone else moved back as well. He was, after all, quite large and dirt and sand cascaded off of him and sprayed everywhere.
He raised his blocky right hand slowly, staring at the pit, and an oblong slab of rock about seven feet long and four feet wide, rose from the hole to hang in the air above it. Kassus gestured and the stone slid away from the hole and then gently settled down on to the ground.
“What is that?” Malcolm asked curiously.
The elemental snorted loudly and snapped his fingers, a sharp, crackling sound. In response, the stone shattered like an egg and thin sheets of rock fell away to litter the ground.
Tamara gave out a weak cry of recognition and ran forward because, lying in the middle of the pieces of broken rock, was Sebastian.
The young man began to cough and splutter as he sat up with a groan. He was covered with white dust and sweat and was trying hard to breathe.
“Someone get some water!” Tamara said loudly as she knelt beside her brother. She slipped an arm around him to help steady him and used the hem of her robe to wipe some of the rock dust out of his puffy eyes.
“Tammy? Is that you?” Sebastian asked as he squinted, trying to see. Besides the dirt in his eyes, the morning sunlight must have been blinding to him after being trapped underground in the dark for hours.
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 29