“These are my daughters,” he continued with a look to his right and left. “Meer and Phan.”
“I'm happy to meet you,” Simon replied with a nod at both of the females.
They turned away shyly and he spared a quick thought for how cute that was, considering that either one could probably tear him apart with ease.
“They do not speak English very well at the moment,” Galder told him. “But they are learning. I knew that one day we would meet humans out in the world and I have been working hard to ensure that my people are prepared.”
The leader bared his teeth and Simon felt his stomach clench for an instant, then realized that the creature was smiling.
“I did not know until today that we had a human living so close to us,” Galder continued.
He looked up at the outer wall and then beyond it to the tower.
“You have a very secure home here,” the bear-man said. “If I may inquire, what are you? I see that you have elemental servants and you wear a robe. That leads me to believe that you are a spell-caster of some sort, yes?”
Simon leaned on his staff and saw Galder glance at it briefly.
“I am, yes. I'm a wizard.”
The creature's eyes widened and the females both gasped loudly.
“A wizard! Well then, that explains it. But why do you live in such a remote place? There must be other humans in the world, yes? Could you not live with them? Humans, like my people, are social creatures.”
With a light laugh, Simon shook his head.
“Actually I prefer a solitary life, Galder. I think it's the wizard in me. I spend a lot of time studying quietly, working on my magic and all of that. Having other people around would be a...distraction, I suppose.”
He looked from Aeris to Kronk and back at Galder.
“My friends,” he stressed the word and the bear-man looked surprised, “suit me well. They are good companions but also know when I need time to myself. It's a satisfying partnership for all of us.”
“Is it? Well now, that is a revelation but I am pleased to hear it. A wizard who befriends elementals instead of using them as servants or slaves is someone that I could, perhaps, trust.”
“Thank you. And if I might turn your question back on you, I wonder if you can tell me something of yourself and your people. I'll admit, when Aeris first told me that you had moved into Nottinghill, I was baffled. I'd never heard of creatures like you.”
Galder chuckled, a deep rumble of amusement.
“I have no doubt of that. Nottinghill, you say. That was the name of the abandoned town?”
Simon nodded.
“I see. A good name. We have no name for it ourselves. We simply call it home.”
“Also a good name,” Simon said with a smile.
“It is, is it not? As for what we are, there is no word in your language for us. The elvish call us Haladanin, which simply means 'furred walkers'. You may call us that if you wish.”
“Haladanin,” Simon repeated, hearing the lyrical sound of the elves in the name. “I like it. But where did you come from? There were certainly no reports of people like yourselves before the dragons returned.”
Galder nodded his heavy head and seemed to be pondering his answer.
While he waited for a response, the wizard watched the two young females. Both were looking intently all around, at the tower, the wall, even the elementals. They seemed to be having a splendid time and grunted to each other excitedly.
“We are not, how can I put this, pure Haladanin,” the big male finally said. “Back in ancient times, before the gods of Light and Darkness departed from this world, our ancestors walked the land. But they kept to themselves, only befriending the nature-loving elves. Men never saw them.” He looked at Aeris and Kronk. “Neither did they show themselves to the elemental races. They were a secretive people. But when the dragons returned and wiped out most of your race, the lords of Chaos needed some of us to live again in the world, to create the balance necessary for them to open a portal back into this universe.”
He lifted his heavy shoulders.
“And so, here we are. Alive again. Our people died out in the old times, but we do not know why. Plague? Pestilence? Perhaps war. We cannot say. But now that we are back, we intend to survive.”
“Amazing. So the dark gods just,” Simon waved his hand, “conjured you into existence again?”
Galder snorted, a very loud woofing sound.
“Even they are not that powerful. No, they Changed some human beings to create us.”
He looked wisely at Simon.
“Just as you were Changed by the lords of Justice into the wizard that you are today.”
Simon gasped and felt a little weak in the knees. He tightened his grip on his staff and tried to digest what Galder had just told him.
“So you, all of you, used to be human?” he managed to ask.
“No, not all of us. My daughters were born two years after the dragons returned. As you can see, we grow quickly after birth; much like the bears that we resemble. But I was human once, yes.”
“Master?”
Simon looked down at Kronk.
“What is it?”
“Would it not be more hospitable to invite your guests inside and offer them some refreshment?” the little guy asked, looking sideways at the Haladanin. “They have walked a long way to meet you and the day is becoming warm.”
Simon's face reddened with embarrassment.
“Oh yes! Yes of course. Galder, would you and your daughters care to come in? As my friend has just pointed out, I am being a very poor host.”
“Thank you. My children are not used to walking so far and letting them rest would be a kindness.”
“Then allow me to welcome you to my home. Please, follow me.”
Simon turned and led the way back to the tower, feeling like an idiot for making his three visitors stand in the beaming sun while he questioned them.
Bad manners, Simon, he thought with some disgust at himself. Very bad manners.
Once inside, the Haladanin took off their bows and set them against the wall next to the door. After a brief hesitation, they left their swords and quivers there as well.
Simon had an anxious moment when he had to decide where the three would sit. Obviously they were far heavier than he was and he wondered if his chairs would hold them.
Galder solved the problem for him. The large bear-man looked around the room approvingly, spotted the comfy chair in front of the fire and crossed the room in a flash. He picked it up as if it weighed nothing, carried it back over to the sofa and put it down. Then, with an amused glance at the gaping wizard, he said something to his daughters and they sat down on the sofa while Galder used the chair. It groaned a bit but easily held his weight.
“Ah, thanks so much,” Simon told him. “Um, I was afraid...”
“That we would break your furniture, yes? I understand. We are rather heavy. But,” Galder thumped the arms of the comfy chair and smiled, “this is well built. I approve.”
Simon grabbed a kitchen chair, carried it over and set it down next to the sofa.
“What can I get you?” he asked the trio. “Water we have, of course, but I also have coffee and tea. And if you're hungry, I can make you something.”
“My daughters will have water, thank you. They are too young for caffeine. But tea sounds wonderful, if you have honey to add to it?”
“Certainly. Aeris?”
The elementals had followed them into the tower. Kronk was in the process of building up the fire while Aeris simply floated just inside the doorway.
“Would you get the young ladies some water, please?” Simon asked him.
Aeris bowed to the two females in response and they giggled, a cheerful, high-pitched noise. He flew over to the pump by the sink to fetch the water.
“What about some food?” Simon asked them. “I have a couple of fresh loaves of bread that I baked just yesterday.”
In the end,
the three Haladanin ate both loaves. Simon served them the bread smothered with honey and they were delighted by the taste. Both of the chief's daughters drank several glasses of cold well water while Galder had two cups of tea heavily laced with honey.
The discussion remained light while the trio refreshed themselves. Simon was content to drink tea and wait until his guests were done.
“That was wonderful,” Galder announced when they were finished. He and he daughters looked much more relaxed and content than they had when they arrived.
“You are an excellent host, young wizard,” he continued. “I hope that I shall be able to return the favor. You have an open invitation to visit us whenever you wish.”
“You're too kind, Galder,” the wizard replied. “And please, call me Simon.”
“You honor me, Simon. Thank you. And now that we are at our ease, I am guessing that you have more questions, yes?”
Simon grinned. The creature was wise, and obviously had a keen mind.
“I do, yes, but only a couple. The first one is, how did you follow Aeris back here after he accidentally allowed himself to be seen?”
He looked over at the elemental where he was washing the few dishes in the sink and saw that Aeris was careful not to turn around and catch his eye. Simon held back a laugh.
“Oh, that was simple enough. Your little friend has been down to spy on us on many occasions. Today I decided that we should find out where he was coming from, it being such a lovely day and all. As for how we followed him, Haladanin can smell magic the way that other creatures, such as bears, can smell natural scents.”
Aeris turned around in surprise and Galder nodded at him.
“Your invisibility cannot hide you from us, elemental. Today is the first time we actually saw your form, but your presence has never been a secret to us.”
“Well, you learn something new every day, I guess,” Aeris said in a rather dazed voice. “I want you to know, sir, that I meant no harm. The wizard did not send me to spy on you; I was simply curious.”
Galder waved away the elemental's comment.
“We are not upset about that. I too would want to know if some strange creatures had moved in close to my home. Why do you think I am here, after all? I wanted to know if you or whoever sent you were a threat. And after this pleasant visit, I have decided that you are not.”
“Thank you,” Simon told him with some relief. “I feel the same way.”
“Good. Perhaps we can take advantage of our proximity to each other and do some trading in the future, hmm?”
“That would be lovely. Aeris tells me that you cultivate honey?”
“We do indeed. And you use it as well. You search out wild bee hives?”
Simon looked down at Kronk, who was standing next to his chair and listening with great interest.
“My friend here does. He has a knack for it and the bees cannot harm him.”
“Ah, I see.”
Galder folded his arms and Simon found himself fascinated by the creature's hands. While the nails were thick and claw-like, his fingers were long and dexterous, very much like human fingers, just a lot larger.
“Well, if you like honey as we do, you would probably enjoy our mead. It is delicious and has quite a pleasant kick to it as well.”
“Mead? I've never had any but I would love to try some.”
“I'll send you a bottle. If, Aeris is it? Yes, if Aeris would like to drop by some time in the next week or so, he can bring you back a bottle. I think you will like it.”
“In return, we can offer up quite a variety of vegetables for trade,” Simon told him. “Kronk is an amazing farmer, and if you have any preferences, I'm sure that we can supply them.”
Galder sat back in the comfy chair and smiled broadly.
“Like the animals we resemble, my people can eat almost anything. We don't have a preference when it comes to vegetables, but we do like them to be as fresh as possible. And anything sweet, like corn or young carrots, is especially welcome.”
Simon and Kronk exchanged a look and the little guy nodded vigorously.
“I think we can help you there. I will send Aeris down to tell you when our corn and carrots are ripe enough to harvest. If you need or want anything else, just let me know.”
“I shall. Now, before we go, you said that you had a couple of questions. What else did you want to know?”
Simon tried to phrase his query as diplomatically as possible.
“It's a two-part question, actually. And please don't take it the wrong way; I'm just curious.”
“Curiosity is the first step to wisdom,” Galder said with a knowing smile. “Ask.”
“Do you remember your old life? I mean, your life before the dragons returned?”
The Haladanin adjusted his belt and seemed to be thinking deeply about his answer.
“Once upon a time, I remembered it all. Isn't that strange? I remember remembering. But as the years have passed, the memories are slipping away. I began calling myself Galder after I forgot my old name.”
He shrugged his heavy shoulders.
“I cannot even remember what I looked like, what kind of work I did, if I had a family.”
He looked fondly at his daughters who were listening, wide-eyed.
“These two beautiful children are my family now.”
The females giggled and Simon was sure that if they could blush, they would be as red as tomatoes.
“I think it is for the best, really,” Galder continued. “I live in this world, after all, not in a past one that no longer exists. What could those memories do for me except make me long for a life that is no longer attainable?”
He fixed Simon with an inquiring look.
”Do you not find that you pine for 'the old days'? Is it not a distraction?”
“Sometimes,” the wizard replied with a shrug. “But I've suspected for some time now that the memories are fading, just as yours have. Perhaps it's the result of Changing. Maybe the gods themselves are doing it. Who knows? But I don't really long for those days, Galder. This new world, these new powers, the adventures ahead; they are what excite me now, not echoes of the past.”
“Well said, my new friend. Well said indeed. Any more questions? It is getting late and I would like to start for home before nightfall. The forest holds more dangers with each passing season and the darkness makes them bold.”
“Does it? I do hear new cries and strange noises late at night sometimes. I suspect that the gods are continuing to Change the world to suit their purposes.”
“I do not doubt it.”
“One last question then, if it isn't too much to ask and that will be it. And don't worry about the journey home. If you will permit me, when we are done I can use my magic to send you back to your town.”
The two females started grunting to each other excitedly and Galder stroked his chest fur, a habit he seemed to have when thinking.
“You can do that?”
“Oh yes, easily. My powers have reached a point where I can cast a Gate spell on someone and send them to a place without me accompanying them. I used to have to make the trip too, but happily I've grown beyond that.”
“Remarkable,” Galder said. “And do you think that I, as the leader of my people, should trust an unknown wizard to send me and my children into the void, just like that?”
That hadn't occurred to Simon and he stuttered as he tried to reassure the Haladanin.
Galder watched him for a long moment and then barked a loud guffaw of laughter.
“Be at ease, wizard. I was joking with you.”
Simon laughed a bit uncomfortably but with some relief.
“I sense no evil in you,” Galder continued. “And I trust my senses. So we will accept your generous offer when we are done. Now then, your final question?”
“Right. Okay then. What I wanted to know goes back to something you said earlier.”
The bear-man listened intently.
“You said that th
e lords of Justice Changed me, just as the gods of Chaos Changed you and your people.”
“I did, yes.”
“But how do you know this?”
“Ah, I see. Now that is a very good question.”
Galder pushed himself to his feet and suddenly towered the wizard. All of the candles in the room were lit and by their flickering light, the Haladanin looked more like a bear than a humanoid and Simon was suddenly afraid.
But he needn't have worried. Galder walked over to the door and began to reequip his weapons, motioning for his daughters to do the same. He spoke as he got ready to leave.
“The truth is that we Haladanin may have been formed by the dark gods, but we are lawful creatures. We follow the Light, not the Darkness, wizard and, perhaps because of this, I have been visited in my dreams by visions of the lords of Justice. Or perhaps it is one of their heralds that I have seen. Who can say? But the truth has been revealed to me and my eyes are open.”
He adjusted his sword and clipped his quiver to his belt. Then he slipped his bow over his shoulder and looked at Simon.
“I know about the struggle between the forces of Good and Evil. I know that if the dark gods win, we are all doomed. And I know, simply by speaking with you this day, that you fight for the same ideals that we do. So, we are allies, yes?”
“Absolutely,” Simon assured him as he stood up.
He walked to the door and waited for the visitors to head outside. Then he followed them out and down the stairs to the front yard.
“Good. Yes, it is good to have friends, Simon,” Galder said, using the wizard's name for the first time.
Simon smiled gratefully.
“It is, especially in this new world of ours. Thank you for coming. I look forward to a long and rewarding relationship.”
“As do I, my friend.”
Galder's hand engulfed Simon's as they said their farewells. The wizard bowed to the two daughters, who giggled shyly and waved.
“We will speak again soon,” the Haladanin leader assured him.
Simon nodded, pictured the former town of Nottinghill as he had last seen it and called upon his magic.
“Gate,” he said and watched as the three visitors faded away.
“Well now, that was fun,” he said.
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 53