“Lovely,” Tamara said dryly. “I'd forgotten about them. As far as we know, the goblins produce the only wizards on the planet except for you, Simon.”
“And those human necromancers,” he replied heavily. “They were once wizards until the Chaos lords perverted them. Anyway, I wanted to add that the goblins are all armed and wearing pieces of armor, mostly leather. Aeris says that they don't get along with each other too well, but that's hardly a surprise considering how truly nasty a species they are.”
The king fiddled with his beard and seemed to be lost in thought. As Simon finished speaking, he gazed at the wizard keenly.
“So what is your plan? How are you going to assault that stronghold?”
“I'm not the leader, Shandon,” Simon protested. “I'm just relaying the facts. I'd like all of you, together with the other mages and Malcolm and Aiden, to discuss it first. Once you come up with a battle plan, call me back and we'll set it up.”
Everyone stared at him and he looked back in surprise.
“What? You didn't think that I was going to take charge and just order you around, did you? My God, you must know me better than that by now!”
Liliana was the first to react. She chuckled and looked at Tamara.
“He's right, you know. Simon's never had a problem risking his own life in the fight against our enemies. But telling others what to do? He'd not comfortable with that.”
Sebastian and Veronique remained silent but listened attentively. The king shook his head.
“My friend,” he rumbled in a gentle voice. “Battles are not won by committee. One person has to lead, just as one person is surely leading the forces of the Chaos lords.”
“I know that,” Simon told him tiredly. “But everyone has to agree on who that person will be. My vote is for either Liliana or Tamara. Anyway, I'll leave all of that in your hands, folks. Just remember what Virginia told us; the four of them won't be able to use their invisibility spell on more than a dozen people, so make your choices wisely. We'll need a healer and warriors as well as casters, you know.”
“We know,” Tamara assured him. “It shouldn't take us too long to get organized. As long as the king will allow us to communicate with you magically?”
Shandon smiled beneath his beard.
“Of course I will. It is irritating some of my courtiers enormously that I am doing so, which is extremely entertaining.”
The mage grinned.
“Thank you, my lord. So we'll call you in a day or two, Simon. Thank your scout for us, would you? He'd provided valuable information.”
“I will. It will inflate his ego to new heights, I'm sure. Talk to you soon.”
The wizard waved once to all of them and then canceled the spell.
“Well,” he said to himself as he stood up. “That was interesting.”
“So, were they impressed?” Aeris asked eagerly.
Simon was standing outside of the back gate behind his tower, watching the rippling surface of the lake. He looked over at the elemental who had floated down from above.
“Where were you, on the roof?”
“Yes, I thought that keeping watch up there might be a good idea, at least until Brethia and Orriss come back. So how did it go?”
The wizard smiled at his persistence.
“Yes Aeris, they were impressed. In fact, I was instructed to pass along their thanks to you for a job well done.”
“Woo-hoo! I knew they would be.”
Aeris flipped several time and then bobbed happily in the evening breeze.
“So what now?” he asked.
“Now? Now we wait. The others are going to discuss strategy and make a plan of action and then they'll get in touch. Oh and they'll choose a leader as well.”
Simon ambled toward the lake with Aeris floated along behind him.
“What do you mean, choose a leader? You're the leader, oh great wizard.”
With a tired sigh, Simon sat down near the edge of the water and watched water-bugs skim along its surface, leaving little trails behind them like miniature powerboats. The sun was setting and crickets were beginning their nightly song.
“I'm no leader, Aeris,” he replied as he pulled up his legs, wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin on his knees. “I'm a lone wolf, you know that. If I have to stand to battle, I'd prefer doing it alone, without risking anyone else.”
The elemental descended until he appeared to be standing just above the water. He put his hands on his hips and looked up at Simon quizzically.
“But you aren't going to attack the enemy's tower alone,” he stated firmly.
“Yeah well, that place is a bit too much for me to take on by myself. But if I thought I could succeed, I'd give it a shot.”
“I believe you. Why though? Why have you always been so content to be by yourself? I have a feeling that even if Kronk and I weren't here, you'd still choose to live alone.”
Simon hesitated, giving his answer some thought. It was the first time that Aeris had ever asked that question and he deserved an honest response.
“Okay, I'll tell you, if you really feel the need to know.”
He looked past the elemental at the darkening lake behind him.
“Back in the old world, I wasn't what most people would call attractive. Physically, I mean. I like to think that I was kind and generous, but I was also big. Really big. And I went bald very young. It made me self-conscious, I guess. I became a programmer because I enjoyed working with computers, but also because it was mostly a solitary profession. Working alone with a machine meant no one judged me or was mean to me. It made life so much...”
“Easier?” Aeris suggested gently.
“Exactly. But when I was around thirty years old, something inside of me shifted. I don't even know why. But I decided that just because I was big, that didn't mean that I had to be fat or out of shape. So I decided to hit the gym, work out, get fit for the first time in my life.”
He ran his fingers through his hair slowly, enjoying the feeling of the heavy mass.
“It was the hardest thing I had ever done. For a shy, self-conscious person who was well over six feet tall and weighing almost three hundred pounds to go to a public club and work out in front of other people was literally torture. I remember dying a bit inside every time I went.”
“But you kept going?”
“I had no choice. My doctor had hinted that my weight was going to be the death of me eventually. Not straight out, but I got the gist of his hints. That was the final push I needed to start working out, I suppose. So I kept at it, embarrassment be damned. I would go in late at night or very early in the morning, when there were few people around to stare at me. And it worked! Slowly at first, a pound lost here, some strength gained there. But I progressed.”
Simon grinned at Aeris, who was starting to glow in the fading light of early evening.
“And there's nothing like progress to encourage a person to keep pushing forward. A few years later and I had dropped fifty pounds of fat and put on almost as much weight in muscle. I was still big but now it was because of my strength. And I was still ugly, but I didn't care. There were no bullies calling me names anymore, not like in school. They gave me a wide berth and I was happy about that.”
“But you continued to prefer solitude?”
“Old habits, I suppose. I've never liked conflict. Not like the conflict that we have with the dark gods, but personal conflict between people. You know how I always stop you and Kronk when you start arguing? That's why. It stresses me out. Living alone meant that I never had to deal with that, and I was content to keep it that way.”
“Ah, I think I understand now,” Aeris said thoughtfully. “And you remain that same person to this day. Even though you are young and attractive and powerful, that large, shy man still lives inside of you somewhere.”
Simon shrugged.
“And he always will, I suppose. I'm okay with that. Old Simon was a good man, Aeris. He really was. In my
mind, he feels more like an childhood friend that I once knew than the old me, but maybe that's for the best.”
He pushed himself to his feet and looked around.
The tower was still visible in the gathering gloom but it was beginning to blend in with the approaching night.
“Let's go in. It's starting to get chilly and I want to make dinner.”
“Certainly.”
Aeris zipped upward and flew along beside the wizard's shoulder.
“What about companions?” he asked as they approached the back gate. “Were you ever married or whatever?”
“Nope. Paralyzing shyness doesn't help with that sort of thing,” Simon said as he entered through the gate.
Aeris slipped in behind him and the wizard closed and locked the heavy door.
“Not that I ever really wanted kids,” he continued as they walked around the tower. “But it might have been nice to have had someone special. At least I had a close friend in Daniel.”
They stopped at the steps leading to the front door and Simon turned to Aeris.
“Friendship is sometimes underrated, I think. A close friend can often be more supportive than a wife or family. I count it as a blessing that I knew Daniel for so many years. He was a lifesaver, he really was.”
Aeris looked at him with an undecipherable expression.
“And Kronk and me?”
Simon grinned.
“You two keep me grounded, and sane. When you aren't driving me crazy,” he added.
They both shared a laugh and Simon walked up the steps.
“Do me a favor, would you? Check the front gates to make sure they're sealed? We can never be too careful.”
“I agree. Consider it done.”
The wizard smiled a thank you and turned to open the door.
“And Simon...”
He turned back to look at Aeris, surprised as always when the elemental used his name.
“Thank you for your candor. I've always wondered why you live like this. You didn't need to tell me, but I'm grateful that you did.”
The wizard winked at him.
“What are friends for?” he said as he opened the door and walked into the tower.
“What indeed,” Aeris whispered.
Chapter 20
Almost a week passed before Simon heard back from the people in Kingstone. He'd spent his days puttering in the garden, practicing a few obscure spells that he'd managed to dig up in Daniel's old journal and trying to get as much sleep as possible. He had a feeling that he'd need all of his strength and limited stamina for the coming attack.
Kronk had suggested several times that perhaps they should go out in search of more cows to domesticate, but Simon had had to put him off. He didn't want to use what few magical resources he had for something so trivial. Needless to say, the little guy was disappointed. He really did love caring for animals.
“When we get this attack over with, I promise that restocking the herd will be my first priority,” Simon told the earthen in an attempt to cheer him up.
“Yes, master. Thank you. I look forward to it.”
The wizard wasn't sure whether he'd managed to convince Kronk or not, but the elemental did stop asking.
“Just don't forget your promise,” Aeris whispered to him a few minutes after the conversation. “You'll crack that stone heart of his.”
“I won't, I won't,” Simon murmured back. “Wait. Does he actually have a heart?”
“Metaphorically speaking, my dear wizard.”
Simon was baking some bread on a warm afternoon when he felt a tingle down his spine. It was the familiar feeling he got when someone was trying to contact him magically.
He pulled two loaves out of the cast iron oven and left them on the sideboard to cool. Then he tossed his oven mitts aside and walked out the front door to sit on the steps. It was cooler out there.
“Hello? Tamara?”
“Veronique actually, Simon,” he heard a voice reply. It sounded like someone invisible was standing about five feet in front of him.
“Oh. Hey there. How are you?”
“Quite well, my friend. And you?”
“Great, thanks. It's good to hear from you. I've been expecting a call for a few days now. What was the hold up?”
There was a pause.
“No hold up, Simon, just a lot of vigorous debate and discussion.”
Translation: lots of arguing, the wizard thought to himself.
“I see. So what's happened? Have you all agreed on a plan?”
“We have, yes. Subject to your approval, of course.”
He pushed back his hair and pulled his knees up to his chin while letting out a long sigh.
“You don't need my approval, Veronique,” Simon told her. “I'm just part of the group.”
Another pause.
“Hey Simon, it's Malcolm. How you doing?”
Startled by the big booming voice, the wizard grinned at the empty air.
“Hey you. I'm good. What's up?”
“I just jumped in to tell you that you may not think of yourself as a leader, but you are essential to our plans. So if you don't approve, we'll work things out and adjust them until you do. So uh, yeah. Anyway, here's Veronique again.”
Kronk tip-tapped around the corner of the tower at that moment and waved at Simon. The wizard winked and motioned for the little guy to join him.
“What's going on, master?” he asked as he hopped up the steps.
“Conference call,” Simon replied and touched his lips with a forefinger.
“Ah.”
Kronk settled down on the step next to the wizard and listened attentively.
“Sorry Simon,” Veronique said. “But Malcolm wanted it made clear that we value your input. You are our only wizard and we need you to be on the same page with us as a group.”
“Right. Understood. Who's listening in on our conversation, by the way?”
“Besides myself and Malcolm, most of the other leaders are here as well. Tamara and Sebastian, Liliana. We've also been joined by Barnaby, my fellow mage from the Defiant, and my sister. Virginia is here representing her group. Oh and Miriam is here too.”
“Sorry, Miriam? The name sounds familiar but...”
“Miriam is a cleric, from Nottinghill Castle. She's volunteered to join us as the healer on our endeavor.”
“Oh right, right. Now I remember. So what have you all decided? How are we going to play this out?”
“Subject to your approval,” Veronique said again.
Simon was sure he heard her smiling behind her words and chuckled ruefully.
“Fine then. Subject to my approval.”
“Good. Now we've limited the party to the maximum that Virginia and her friends can cloak with invisibility; twelve. For hand to hand combat, we'll have Malcolm and Aiden along with Liliana and two talented warriors from Nottinghill, Fergus and Kate. Malcolm says they're exceptional fighters. The casters will include myself, you, Tamara, Sebastian and Barnaby. Miriam will come along to serve as healer, a talent we all hope she won't be called upon to perform.”
“Amen,” Simon said firmly. “But that's only eleven, Veronique. Who's the last member of our happy crew?”
The mage laughed shortly at that but then her voice became serious again.
“The last person to join our party may come as a surprise to you. He certainly surprised us.”
Simon and Kronk glanced at each other, mystified.
“So who is he?”
“A dwarf. A volunteer, actually. His name is...”
She paused and they heard some whispered conversation.
“Hallic Barston. He was given permission to join us by the king himself and is apparently a personal friend of Shandon's.”
“Is he? Well, that's good to know. But I wasn't expecting a dwarf. I thought that the king didn't want to get involved in our war?”
Yet another pause.
“Nay, he doesn't. But I do.”
The v
oice with a pleasant baritone and had a oddly Scottish lilt to it.
“I'm sorry,” Simon said to the unseen speaker. “Is this Mr. Barston?”
“Aye but please, call me Hallic.”
“Okay Hallic, I'm Simon. Nice to meet you. Um, why would you want to join a bunch of humans on what could very well be a one-way trip into danger?”
“Well Simon, it's like this. I have a certain set of skills, unique ones, at least to your people, that could serve you well in your quest. And frankly, when I caught wind of your plan to take the attack to the necromancers, I thought that my help might aid in your success. I mean, I don't want to sound immodest, but I'm quite good at what I do.”
The wizard had to grin at Hallic's obvious self-confidence.
“I appreciate that, Hallic. But what can you do? Are you a warrior? A caster?”
“Nay, none of those things. Warriors be useful, I suppose, but those great gallumpin' masses of armor are always targets. Not for me, thanks. And magic? Well now, I'm rather good at countering magic, I suppose, but I've never had a talent for using it.”
“Then what else can he do, master?” Kronk whispered curiously.
Simon shrugged.
Who was this dwarf and what aid could he bring to the mission?
“I know you can't see me, Simon, but I can see you and your little friend there.” Hallic told him cheerfully. “You both appear a wee bit mystified by me, am I right?”
“You are. I'm just wondering how you can help us.”
“Polite dwarven society doesn't approve of my kind,” Hallic said with a laugh. “They pretend my caste does not exist and shun us when they can. But Shandon knows better. He uses my kind to good effect in certain situations. Situations like your recent abduction, for example.”
“What? You were part of the search for me?”
“Nay,” the unseen dwarf said, sounding quite pleased with himself. “I'm the one who found you. With a little help from some casters, I'll admit. And I cleared the way for the royal guard to swoop in heroically and rescue you. And not even a thank you from any of them.”
“Well, if that's true, then thank you from me, Hallic. I wasn't told about your involvement.”
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 104