“Yes, please join us and have some refreshment,” the other woman said.
For some reason, Simon had expected the sisters to look alike, maybe even be twins. Instead they were almost direct opposites.
The second woman was just as pale as her sister, but her hair was long and reddish blonde and her eyes were sky blue. She wore a simple lavender-colored robe.
Simon walked forward and took a seat at the table. Between him and the women was a tall crystal decanter of pink liquid, some delicate wine glasses and a bowl of fruit; apples and pears.
“Allow me to introduce us,” the dark-haired woman said as she poured him a glass of wine. “My name is Veronique and this is my sister, Sylvie.”
“Thank you,” Simon said as she handed him the glass. “It's a pleasure to meet you both.”
Veronique smiled and poured wine for both herself and her sister. She put a glass in front of Sylvie, who picked it up as if she could actually see it.
“You are too kind,” Sylvie said with a gentle smile.
She sipped her wine and Simon did the same. The liquor was slightly sweet but light and delicious.
“Ah, that's very nice,” he told them.
“Thank you. Help yourself to fruit if you wish. We grow it down in our garden.”
“I'm not hungry, but thanks anyway.”
“As you wish.”
Veronique tasted her wine and gave Simon a direct look.
“So, what do you think of the Defiant?”
“She's amazing,” he replied with honest enthusiasm. “The ship is basically a floating town. It's quite an accomplishment and I salute you both.”
The sisters smiled but Sylvie shook her head, her long fine hair floating around her face.
“We most certainly cannot take much credit for the success of this place. When we found the Defiant, she was drifting off of the coast of France. How she had avoided being destroyed by wind, wave or dragon is a mystery, but she did. Deborah, whom you have already met, was a friend of ours. After the dragons returned, she had found a small boat and was living on the water.”
She inclined her head toward her sister, who smiled and took her hand.
“Veronique and I were looking for a place to settle down. When Paris fell to the dragons' flames, and the drakes that followed, we journeyed to the coast.”
She grimaced and closed her eyes for a moment.
“I won't bore you with the details but that time was...difficult. We stumbled upon Deborah quite by accident and she was the one who told us about Defiant.”
“She had seen it floating aimlessly several times, but alone she couldn't do anything with it,” Veronique said, taking up the story. “But we saw an opportunity and managed to bring the ship into port. It took a year to repair the damage and make her seaworthy again and many others joined us in that time and helped to fix her. We used our skills to help camouflage the ship from hostile monsters during that year and fortunately weren't attacked. Although there were a few close calls,” she added with a grimace.
“Remarkable,” Simon commented. “I can't imagine how magic could be used like that. Then again, I'm still trying to figure out how your mages are using magic to move the Defiant instead of engines.”
Both sisters laughed and Sylvie made a dismissive gesture.
“It isn't that hard, my friend,” she said. “We've adapted the standard Shield spell to repel water. You simply attach the spell to the ship below the waterline and it pushes the Defiant along.”
“Huh. I never would have thought of such a thing.”
“Oh, you might have if it was necessary. Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say. Certainly that was true in our case.”
Veronique patted her sister's hand.
“For example, Sylvie came up with a way to separate the salt from sea water so that we could have potable water. If it hadn't been for that invention, life on board would be a lot harder than it has been.”
“A fluke, nothing more,” her sister said with a chuckle. “I made a mistake when casting a spell and voila, fresh water. I can take little credit for it.”
“As you might be able to tell, Sylvie is a rather modest person,” Veronique said dryly.
Simon smiled at her and saw her sister do the same.
“But enough of that. We wanted to thank you for saving us from that monster today,” she continued. “Summoning that elemental was inspired. How on Earth did she manage to turn away the turtle?”
“She said that it was some sort of illusion. Apparently the turtle thinks that it's still chasing the Defiant. It will be a very long way away by the time the spell fades. She's also speaking to the captain right now about a way to, as she explained it, make the Defiant less attractive to giant turtles. I have no idea what she's up to but let's hope she's right.”
Veronique finished her wine and offered Simon another glass. He declined politely.
“Making the Defiant less of a target would be a blessing,” Sylvie said soberly. “We are in constant danger of attack, which is one of the reasons that the ship is always on the move. We've tried anchoring off of the coast but invariably some monster finds us. And if it isn't a sea creature, it's a dragon.”
She sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes.
“It is draining being on guard twenty-four hours a day, but we have little choice.”
Simon watched as Veronique squeezed her sister's hand and tried to think of a way to help them.
“Is the ship warded?” he asked after drinking the last of his wine.
“Warded?”
Both women looked intrigued.
“We don't quite understand,” Sylvie told him. “What is warding?”
Simon looked at them in amazement and Veronique giggled at his expression, sounding very young.
“You look quite surprised, sir wizard,” she told him.
Sylvie picked up on her sister's tone of voice and smiled as well.
“Forgive us if this warding is common knowledge, my friend,” she said, not quite looking at Simon's face. “We are a bit isolated here.”
“Yes, of course. I meant no offense, ladies.”
“None taken. So what is it?”
“Wards are enchantments created by runes. I use them to protect my home and the people in Nottinghill Castle do the same to guard themselves. Essentially it raises a shield against attacks.”
Now it was the sisters' turn to look surprised.
“I have never heard of such a thing,” Sylvie said with wonder. “It sounds miraculous.”
Veronique nodded, wide-eyed.
Simon smiled at them both.
“As miraculous as using a spell to power a ship?”
“Touché,” Sylvie responded and laughed lightly. “We are learning from each other today, are we not? Do you think that these wards would work on a ship as well as they do on a land-based structure?”
“I don't see why not,” Simon answered. “Even if they only provided partial protection, it would be an improvement, don't you think?”
“Oui, I agree. Now, as you may have been told, I am unable to see with my eyes.”
Simon hesitated and then replied delicately.
“I have heard that, yes.”
“Be at ease, my friend,” Sylvie told him with an understanding smile. “It is not a subject that distresses me. Magic has blessed me with a way to see that transcends physical sight. I can see you as you sit there, sir wizard, but not as you see me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can see the magic around you, around the table we are sitting at, around this entire ship. Colors that I never saw before I Changed now permeate my senses. They eddy and flow like the tides. However I cannot read even the simplest of texts. Books glow with an aura but the writing within is invisible. And so my sister will be the one to learn of these runes and wards, not me.”
Veronique patted her sister's hand yet again.
“We each have our roles,” she told Simon. “Anything tha
t I learn I pass on to my sister verbally. She knows what I know, but I act as her eyes in such things.”
“I understand,” the wizard said quickly. “An elegant system.”
“Oh, thank you,” Sylvie said with a wide smile. “It is rare for others to appreciate our connection. I believe I quite like you, Simon O'Toole.”
“I agree,” Veronique said firmly. “We are by necessity cautious when meeting new people, especially magic-users. But you are different. I can feel your goodness, Simon, and how much you truly care about others.”
Simon shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“I'm hardly filled with goodness, I assure you. I'm just a guy trying to do the right thing in this crazy world of ours.”
“Exactly. What else can one do, really? Now, it's been a busy day, so I really do not want to impose upon you any longer. But if you could return and teach me something about these wards of yours, we would be eternally grateful.”
Simon happily agreed.
“I'll take the time to actually write out exactly how to use them and which runes do what,” he promised. “That way you'll have reference material to go on when you need it.”
“Wonderful,” Sylvie said happily.
She reached out across the table and Simon took her hand.
“Thank you,” she said simply. “Not only for your future aid with these wards of yours but for saving our Defiant today. She's a lovely lady and we hope to live on her for many years to come.”
“Any time,” the wizard replied.
He shook her hand warmly, said goodbye and stood up.
Veronique led him to the door.
“Come back when you can,” she said quietly. “I won't try to rush you; obviously you know what our situation is.”
“I do. And I will be back in a week or less, I promise you.”
They shook hands and Simon left the room.
Out in the hallway, Barnaby was leaning against a wall and flipping a small mage light from one hand to the other. He looked quite bored and smiled with relief when Simon appeared.
“Ah, there you are,” the mage said happily.
The light disappeared and he stepped forward.
“Hi. Sorry about the wait,” Simon said as he joined Barnaby.
“No problem. What did you think of Veronique and Sylvie?”
They began walking back up the corridor.
“I thought they were amazing. Very impressive.”
“They are, aren't they? I'm glad you liked them; they can be a bit fussy when it comes to warming up to new people.”
They began chatting about magical wards as they made their way back up to the main deck. Simon was amazed again to learn that Barnaby was also unaware of wards and what they could do.
Back outside, Simon found the three elementals waiting for him.
“Hey guys. You okay?”
“We are fine, master,” Kronk told him with some relief. “Are you all right? We were beginning to worry.”
“I'm good. I just met the leaders among the mages.”
Barnaby said goodbye and headed below, telling Simon that he was looking forward to seeing him soon.
“We're coming back?” Aeris asked as he watched the mage leave.
“Yeah. I'm going to write up a guide on runes and wards and how to use them. It's weird but apparently they don't have this ship magically protected. Strange, don't you think?”
Aeris looked puzzled and spun around, as if searching for warding stones.
“That is odd. Wards are basic magic for most spell-casters.”
“Anyway, I thought that it might keep them safer if they warded the Defiant. So where's Vepolas?”
“She is up ahead, my lord,” Ana said and pointed. “Over there.”
Simon looked in that direction and saw the water elemental towering over the crew members who were moving around, going about their duties. He began walking toward her and the others tagged along behind.
“Ah, sir wizard,” Vepolas exclaimed in a surprisingly friendly tone as he approached.
She was standing next to the captain and both looked quite cheerful.
“Good to see you again. Deborah and I were just discussing a way to alter this vessel to make it harder for sea monsters to detect.”
Deborah is it, Simon thought to himself. That was fast.
“Were you? Any ideas?”
“Actually yes,” Captain Martelli told him.
She pointed up to the decks that rose above the deck.
“Apparently the superstructure of the ship looks a lot like the silhouette of several monsters from a distance. This can set off other creatures, like the turtles, sending them into a frenzy and causing them to attack. Vepolas has suggested that we paint the ship with a specific pattern of stripes to confuse the senses of sea beasts. We're going to try it and see if it helps.”
“It will,” the elemental said confidently. “Your ship will be a much less tempting target after we are done, I'm sure.”
“Glad to hear it. I've agreed to teach Veronique and the other mages about wards and how to use them to protect the Defiant, so that will help as well.”
“Ah, wonderful idea,” Vepolas told him. “I wish that I had thought of that.”
“Well, you can't think of everything, my dear,” Ana told her with a quick grin at Simon.
“True. True. At any rate, until the new paint scheme is implemented, I shall remain aboard the Defiant and help to defend it, just in case.”
She glanced around at the ship and ended up staring at Deborah.
“I like it here and it is a nice change from the water realm. I could be useful.”
Simon was surprised but kept it to himself. The water elemental was touchy and he'd rather leave her here in a good mood.
“That's great, Vepolas,” he said. “I'm sure that the captain and crew are grateful for the help.”
She smiled expansively and looked at the busy crew.
“Yes, of course they are. Thank you for summoning me, wizard. I must admit that I am enjoying myself immensely.”
“And thanks from me as well,” the captain said. “If not for you and Vepolas here, I think this old ship might have met her end today.”
“Any time, captain,” Simon told her. “I'll be back soon to speak to Veronique and Sylvie. I hope to speak with you then.”
“A pleasure. You have an open invitation to visit the Defiant,” she said.
They shook hands firmly and Deborah turned away and began barking orders to her men.
Vepolas nodded absently and drifted off.
“Did you want to come back to the tower with us?” Simon asked Ana.
“If it would not be an imposition, my lord, I would like that.”
“Good. Okay you three; everyone grab hold and let's go home.”
He took a last look around while the three elementals each touched his robe.
The Defiant was a remarkable ship and her people seemed happy to live on her. But personally, Simon couldn't wait to get home. At least his tower didn't keep shifting under his feet. He swallowed down a new wave of nausea and raised Mortis de Draconis.
“Gate,” he said quickly and felt the void take them away.
Chapter 14
“Wake up, master. We have a problem.”
Simon pulled his pillow over his head with a groan. It had only been a few days since he had visited the Defiant and he had been working late nights to write his guide to using wards for the mages.
“Just five more minutes,” he muttered. “It's too early to get up.”
“We have a visitor, oh great and powerful one,” Aeris said with his usual sarcasm. “And we can't open the front gate and let her in without your permission. So do us all a favor and get your butt out of bed.”
Simon sighed heavily and stubbornly kept his eyes closed for another minute. Then Aeris' words sank into his foggy brain and he sat up abruptly.
Kronk was standing on his bedside table and Aeris was floating beside
him. Ana was absent. The early morning sunlight was just starting to light up the bedroom and the wizard sighed again. He was right; it was really early.
“A visitor?” he asked as he stumbled out of bed. “Who?”
“The elven maid, Ethmira,” Kronk told him with obvious excitement. “She is waiting outside of the main gate, master. She is alone.”
“Alone? Uh-oh. What's the problem now?”
He got dressed quickly, ripped a comb through his disheveled hair and blearily made his way downstairs.
The gates of the wall around the tower could no longer be opened without his order; it was a measure he had taken when one of the patrolling earth elementals had opened the main gate once to repair it without permission and had let in a score of monsters. Now none of them could interrupt the magical wards' protection by opening the gates unless Simon was present.
Inconvenient but safer, he thought as he let himself out of the tower into the cool morning air.
Kronk and Aeris followed him to the gate and Simon looked up at the earth elementals who were standing on the arch above the large doors.
“Is our guest still out there?” he called up.
“Yes, my lord. She is alone.”
“Okay, let's open the gates.”
“Allow me,” Aeris said and zipped forward.
He flipped open the bars and locks on the gate and pulled them open with his surprising strength.
Simon walked forward and saw Ethmira, wearing her usual green and brown leathers and armed with a bow. She smiled as they made eye contact and they met just outside of the wall.
“Good morning, my friend,” she said warmly and grasped his hands. “How are you?”
“Morning. I'm fine, thanks. It's good to see you. Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
They began walking slowly toward the tower and Ethmira greeted both Kronk and Aeris in a friendly manner.
“Still caring for your wizard, I see,” she said to them.
“Yes, lady elf, we are,” Kronk replied politely as he followed Simon.
“We have no choice really,” Aeris added with a dramatic sigh. “Without us, he couldn't even find his socks. It's a burden, but one we bear in dignified silence.”
The elf laughed lightly and glanced at Simon, who rolled his eyes.
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 57