Aeris gave Simon a crooked smile.
“Why do you think most of them preferred a solitary existence? It's because no one wanted them around.”
“Wait a second; you never told me that. I just like living alone because I like it.”
“Yes but that's you, my dear wizard. Those other wizards? Not so much.”
“Huh. I learn something new every day, it seems.”
“Master? I hate to be a pest...”
“But you will,” Aeris interjected.
Kronk ignored him.
“But night is falling. We must leave.”
“I know, my friend. I know.”
Simon looked around in the fading light. He could still make out the Haladanin hurrying around the town but it was only the size of Galder and his light-colored fur made him stand out from the others.
“Galder!” he yelled and waved at the distant figure. “We have to go!”
“One more moment, sir wizard. We are almost ready.”
Simon hesitated and then began to trot toward the bear people.
“Come on, guys. Let's stay near them, just in case.”
“Good idea,” Aeris said and followed along behind him. Kronk hurried to keep up.
As he ran, Simon summoned several light globes and sent them upward to float a dozen feet overhead. They lit up the scene and he immediately felt some relief.
“At least now I can see what I'm doing,” he muttered as he slowed down and then stopped.
The three of them watched as Galder and the others ran from house to house, filling large canvas bags with supplies.
“Galder, we can come back tomorrow,” Simon said urgently as the chief ran by him. “And I have enough food to feed all of you, no problem.”
The bear man skidded to a halt and turned around. He looked at the wizard and then at his people and began shaking his heavy head.
“I think my people and I are in shock,” he said slowly. “You are correct, my friend. This is pointless.”
He bellowed a command and all of the survivors stopped and looked at him. Galder motioned for them to join him and, reluctantly, they did.
“Can you transport this many?” the chief asked.
“I can. Have everyone touch the person next to them, then you put your hand on my shoulder. Gating is a unique experience, as you know, and some of your people may be frightened. Please tell them to hold on to their possessions tightly. If they drop them, they will be lost forever.”
“I will. Thank you.”
Galder spoke to his people and Simon saw some of them tighten their grip on their bags. He made sure that everyone was connected and looked at the elementals.
“Let's go, you two. I'm getting a seriously creepy feeling now.”
“It's your imagination, my dear wizard,” Aeris scoffed.
He flew closer and touched Simon's right shoulder. Galder had placed his large, furry hand on the left one.
Kronk frowned at the air elemental but trotted up to Simon and grabbed a handful of his robe.
“Ready, master,” he said.
“Good. Let's get the hell out of here.”
At that moment, a shivering cry rent the air and a loud rustling, like dozens of dry twigs scraping together, came from the direction of the broken gates.
Everyone looked that way simultaneously and one of Galder's daughters screamed in terror.
A mass of skeletons, bones dripping with foul liquid, shambled through the gates. Their eyes burned with purple fire and all were glaring at Simon and the others.
One of the Haladanin, a small female with short black fur, wailed and let go of her companion. She turned in horror and began to run away in mindless fear.
“Galder, stop her!” Simon shouted and the chief dropped his bag and grabbed the female with his free hand,
“Go. Go!” he bellowed.
The mass of raging undead were moving with unbelievable speed and were almost on top of them.
Simon raised his staff and concentrated on his tower.
“Gate!”
Chapter 24
The group appeared in the yard in front of the tower and several of the Haladanin, including the young female who had panicked, immediately collapsed. Galder went from one to another and reassured them.
“They are fine,” he told Simon after he had checked on each of them. “I think it's just relief that they're safe. They are all a little weak at the knees.”
The wizard smiled and nodded his understanding.
“Good. I don't blame them. That was a close one.”
He asked Aeris to check on the sentries on the wall and roof and sent Kronk off to put on the kettle.
“I just don't understand where all of those undead are coming from,” Simon told Galder.
They stood waiting for the chief's people to calm down. It was quiet around the tower except for a strange whuffling sound that some of the Haladanin were making. The wizard guessed that it was a sound of distress.
Simon created a few mage lights and sent them to hover overhead as he and Galder spoke quietly. The sun had set now and the darkness was all around them.
“Many died when the dragons returned,” Galder said reasonably. “Is that not the answer?”
“It just doesn't add up to me. Most people who died on the Night of Burning or the follow-up attacks by the drakes left no remains, or at least none complete enough to be useful to a necromancer. But you just saw those damned skeletons that swarmed into your town. They were mostly complete. Where did that magic-user find them?”
“I have no idea. Did you see that horrible goo they were covered with? Do you know what that was?”
Simon shuddered. The bodies of the skeletons had been dripping with the stuff.
“Not a clue, but then again I'm no expert on how necromancy works.”
He saw Aeris descending from the roof and waited for the elemental to join them.
“So, what's the situation? Anything to report?”
“All is quiet. Brethia and Orriss are both manning the lookout on the roof tonight. At any sign of danger, they will report to you immediately. The earthen on the walls say the same thing.”
“Good. That's a relief. Thanks Aeris.”
Simon looked at the Haladanin. They seemed to have recovered somewhat and he invited Galder to bring his people inside.
Even with his office chair brought down from upstairs, there wasn't enough seating for all of the newcomers and several ended up sitting on the floor. They didn't seem to mind at all.
Simon used both of his teapots and made tea for everyone. With honey added, they seemed to enjoy the hot liquid.
Galder turned down the wizard's offer of food, though he thanked him.
“We have our own honey bread and dried meat,” the chief told Simon. “And when we return to town tomorrow, we will gather up whatever is left.
Both the wizard and the chief were sitting in front of the fireplace. Galder had insisted that Simon should keep his own comfy chair and the bear man sat on the floor. The rest of the Haladanin were scattered around the room, speaking softly in their strange, guttural language.
“And that brings me to my main concern for your people,” Simon said to the chief. “Where do you want to go next?”
Galder shook his heavy head and stared into the flames.
“I don't know. We were building a life in our town; a future. Now what is left for us? I don't even know if there are more of my kind out in the world. Were we some sort of fluke? An experiment? An accident? And if other Haladanin do exist, how would we even find them? I admit, my friend, I am at a loss.”
“I understand. You could join another group of Changlings, you know. There are the people who used to live in your town. They live in a castle in England now. It's huge and could easily accommodate you and the others. Or there's the Defiant. It's an old cruise ship that's been taken over by a small group of humans. I'd say that they would have room for you as well.”
The chief laug
hed once and turned his head to stare at Simon.
“Haladanin? On a ship? Can you imagine that? I certainly can't. Where would we set up our hives? Or plant our crops? And somehow I doubt that we'd be very comfortable floating around on the ocean.”
Simon grinned at him, a little embarrassed.
“Yeah, good point. Sorry. But what about Nottinghill Castle? I'll tell you in all honesty that they've been attacked by undead as well but repelled them fairly easily. They also have mages and a cleric for magical aid.”
Saying that reminded Simon of something. He looked around at the survivors.
“You lost your shaman?”
Galder nodded and clenched his hands in obvious anger.
“We did. She died defending the gate. That is how we few had the time to retreat to where you found us. But many fell to her power before they overwhelmed her and the other defenders.”
“I'm so sorry to hear that. But then you know the value of magical aid in these troubled times and you'd have that if you relocated to the castle.”
Aeris flew over and took their cups, returning with fresh tea a minute later.
“Thanks,” Simon said to him.
The elemental nodded silently and flew off to serve the others.
The wizard and the chief sipped their tea quietly for a few minutes, each lost their own thoughts.
“And just how will these Changlings of yours react to me and mine?” Galder asked eventually.
“React? What do you mean?”
“Come now, my friend. Let us speak plainly. We are not exactly normal looking, are we? My memories from my old life are vague, but I know how that man would have responded if a humanoid bear had walked up to him and said hello. He would have been terrified and might even have attacked it. So what about your friends at the castle?”
Simon had already become so accustomed to the appearance of the Haladanin that he was caught by surprise.
“Er, that actually hadn't occurred to me. They'll be startled at first, I suppose, but I'm sure that they'll get over it quickly.”
“Are you really? Because I am not.”
Galder looked around the room at his people and his gaze stopped when it reached his daughters. The two young creatures were sitting on the couch, arms entwined. It looked like they were falling asleep and the chief's expression softened.
“I am sorry, Simon, but I won't risk my children, and my few remaining people, on your guesses. If we must, we will set out again and find another home; one more defensible than the last. But I won't expose us to scorn or ridicule. Or, even worse, fear and loathing. No, that I will not do.”
“Do you really think, after all we've been through since humanity fell, that other Changlings would be prejudiced against the Haladanin?” Simon asked in surprise.
“Don't you? Come now, my friend. We are all Changed, yes, and my people more than most, but at our core we are still human; at least in part. And with that humanity comes a host of latent fears and hatreds. As a species, we were far from perfect. Can you truly say that the world is worse off with our old race wiped out?”
“If the alternative is allowing the lords of Chaos to return and spread out from the Earth like a pestilence? Yes, I can,” the wizard said stoutly. “We made mistakes, God knows. We had wars and pollution and a million flaws. But I have always believed that the majority of people were good at heart, that they had a core of decency. And I always will. Will some people at Nottinghill Castle fear the Haladanin? Probably. Will they get over it eventually? Most of them will. The few who can't will simply have to suck it up and live with it.”
He smiled at Galder.
“No one is universally loved. Certainly there are people out in the world who can't stand me. And why should they? But if it's to their benefit, they will work with me. That is the key, my friend. Your people are hard working. You have a way with beehives and crops that I doubt can be matched by anyone else. You are all strong and willing to contribute. I think that would make you more popular with others than you might believe.”
The chief pondered Simon's words, looking at his sleeping children.
“Perhaps. Perhaps you are right. Allow me to sleep on it, my friend.”
“Of course, Galder. Take your time. If you or your people need anything, just look through my cupboards. If you can't find it, ask Aeris or Kronk. Both will be available all night.”
He got up and offered his hand to the Haladanin leader.
The chief stood up as well, towering over Simon, and engulfed his hand with his own large furry one.
“Thank you for all you've done,” Galder rumbled sincerely. “We would all be dead now were it not for you.”
“Friends help friends,” Simon replied simply. “Sleep well.”
“And you.”
The next morning, the elementals reported in. They told Simon that the Haladanin had had a quiet night and had slept well, considering.
“They all got up a few times in the night to use the outhouse and to drink some water, but that was about it,” Aeris told him as the wizard got dressed.
“And this morning?”
“They rose early, ate some of their own rations and are now outside in the pasture behind the tower, master,” Kronk said as he offered Simon his boots.
“Thanks. Outside?”
“Yes, master. They asked if they might go out beyond the wall once the sun rose and I opened the back gate for them. You gave me your permission to do that, if you remember. I hope that was acceptable?”
Simon smoothed out his robe, he'd decided to wear dark blue that day, and looked curiously at the little guy.
“Of course it is. They aren't prisoners, Kronk. You did the right thing.”
The earthen looked relieved.
“Thank you, master.”
The wizard ate a quick breakfast, took a second cup of tea with him and headed outside.
The morning was fresh and bright. It was a day that made it hard to believe in things like walking skeletons and necromancers.
Aeris flew ahead while Kronk walked with Simon as he circled the tower and went out the back gate. Once he could see the pasture he stopped and stared, both surprised and amused.
The Haladanin were frolicking in the lake; swimming, hooting and generally acting like very large, furry children. Simon stood near the gate and sipped his tea, watching with delight.
“They seem so much happier today than yesterday, master,” Kronk observed. “Have they managed to put the horror of what they have gone through behind them already?”
“Maybe so. I don't know anything about bears and how they think and how much of that carries over to the Haladanin. Maybe they don't brood on bad memories. Who knows? But I think this is a good sign. Perhaps they've begun to heal.”
They watched the people play for a few minutes before walking down to the lake. When they got to the shore, Galder, who had been paddling back and forth, noticed the wizard and made his way back from the far side of the lake.
They swim like large dogs, Simon thought and held back a grin.
“Good morning, my friend,” Galder called as he stood up.
He waded through the water and stood in the shallows. Even though he was in the lake and Simon was on land, the chief was still the taller one.
“Morning, Galder. How are you all today?”
“Better, thank you. We were delighted to discover your lake. You have few fish though, so we didn't bother them. It is important for lakes and ponds to have them to keep the water clean.”
“Is it? I didn't know that. Well, thanks then.”
“Not at all.”
Galder looked over his shoulder at the other Haladanin and grunted a few instructions. Then he stepped out of the lake and motioned for Simon and Kronk to step back a ways. He bent over and shook himself furiously, sending a shower of water droplets in all directions.
The wizard covered his cup and moved even further back. Aeris descended out of the sun at that moment and the three of
them watched as the chief finished drying himself off.
“Handy technique,” the air elemental said quietly. “Saves him needing a towel.”
“Good point.”
Simon finished his tea and Aeris motioned for the cup.
“Thanks, Aeris.”
“No problem. I'll be back in a couple of minutes.”
The elemental zipped off toward the tower and Simon and Kronk waited for Galder to join them.
“You have a fine group of animals,” the chief said.
He was looking at the horses, cows and sheep as they grazed. Simon noticed that all of the animals gave the Haladanin a wide berth.
“They find us strange,” Galder continued.
He scratched his head, shrugged and then picked up his belt and weapons from where he'd left them beside the lake. He got dressed and looked down at Simon.
“My people and I have decided on our course of action, my friend. We do not want others to react to us as your livestock do. We need to have our own place, our own home. It will be easier for us, and for you and the other Changlings, if we remain apart.”
“I'm sorry to hear that,” Simon said regretfully. “I think that you are selling the people at Nottinghill Castle short, but the decision is yours, of course. But where will you go? It isn't safe out in the world now.”
Galder smiled and his small fangs protruded as he pulled back his black lips.
“It has never been safe, Simon. It may be more dangerous now with necromancers stalking the world, but that is what it is. And before those spell-casters can harm us, they will have to find us.”
He looked at his people with obvious affection as they continued to play in the lake.
“We do well in the wild, better than a more 'normal' Changling would. We can eat almost anything, sleep almost anywhere. We can survive deep cold and burning heat. Our mistake, we now believe, was settling down in a place so close to a city. We will not make that error again. Once we have the supplies we need, we will set off to the west, deeper into the wilderness. The next major city is hundreds of miles away in that direction. We will find our place; I know we will.”
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 70