She looked at the woman with a sly smile.
“Men,” she said. “They are all the same, are they not?”
Sylvie chuckled.
“They can be. But Chao is a good person, even so.”
“Yes, yes, I suppose he is.”
Ellas flitted forward and patted Sylvie's cheek.
“We must have a chat later, hmm?” she said warmly. “I have not had a chance to speak with a woman in many ages and I think that it will be refreshing to converse with one again.”
“That would be lovely,” Sylvie agreed. “My sister and I would be pleased to talk to you whenever you wish.”
She nodded at Veronique and Ellas looked at her and her smile widened.
“Oh my, she is lovely as well. Yes, we shall speak later. Now, Chao,” she said, using the conjurer's name for the first time. “What task are you seeking help with?”
Chao walked over to the table and sat down. Tamara handed the atlas down the table and he took it and extended it toward Ellas.
The sprite flew over to him and stared at the book. She raised a delicate eyebrow as her brilliant wings beat so fast that they were just a blur of movement and color.
“You wish me to read something?” she asked sarcastically. “A bedtime story perhaps? The gods know my people are in enough of them.”
Chao, unruffled by her tone, shook his head.
“No Ellas. I would like you to try to tell us about the man who last used this book. He is a friend of ours and a powerful wizard. He's gone missing and we are, quite frankly, desperate to find him.”
He laid the atlas down on the table and the sprite looked at it speculatively.
“I see. A wizard, is it? Hmm. His name would not be Simon O'Toole perchance, would it?”
“You know of my master?” Kronk blurted out.
The little guy and Aeris were both standing on the table next to Tamara and the sprite appeared to notice them for the first time.
“Elementals? Here? How wonderful!”
Ellas flew down the table in a blur of speed and hovered before the pair. Even next to the foot-tall elementals, she looked tiny and fragile.
“You are servants of this wizard?” she asked as she looked at them both with interest.
“Yes,” Kronk said.
“Well, we work for him,” Aeris said, ignoring the earthen's glare. “He doesn't like to use the word servant to describe us.”
“That is true,” the earthen said slowly. “But we serve him nonetheless. You have heard of him?”
“Oh my, yes. All of my people watch this realm with interest. Your master is a power on this world, a shaper of destinies. A wind of change that is sweeping across the land. Why, every move he makes changes this world's future course. How could we not know of him?”
“He doesn't really seem that important to me,” Aeris said, sounding puzzled.
“Perhaps when he returns, our master should think about sending you home and replacing you with someone who is less cynical and more loyal?” Kronk growled at him. “It would be a refreshing change, I think.”
Aeris returned his glare.
“I just meant...”
He was interrupted by a burst of laughter from Ellas.
“Oh, I like you two. You sound more like siblings than elementals from different realms. It is amusing. But you are incorrect, Aeris is it? Yes, well, you are mistaken to think that the wizard is not important. My people are gifted with the Sight and, let me tell you all,” she spun in a slow circle to look at the watching humans around the table, “if Simon O'Toole dies before his tasks are done, your race will not survive. Of that, I am very sure.”
More than one of those seated around the table paled at her pronouncement.
“Then help us, Ellas,” Chao asked her. “Help us to locate him so that does not happen.”
“Yes, of course I will” she said and flew back to him. “To have such an important task to perform is refreshing for a change. So much more interesting than those mundane chores you've had me do for you in the past.”
The conjurer, perhaps wisely, held his tongue and simply indicated the atlas before him.
“So, the book,” she said as she landed in front of it. “Very well. Let us see what it can tell us.”
She knelt down and laid her tiny hands on the atlas. Her butterfly-like wings opened behind her and covered her like a colorful cape.
Ellas closed her eyes and began humming a quiet tune that rose and fell with a sound not unlike that of a distant violin. It was enthralling to listen to and the others around the table were captivated by it, listening and watching the sprite as if frozen in place.
No one was sure just long the sprite spent working her magic on the atlas. Eventually she stopped humming but kept her eyes closed as she spoke imperiously to Chao.
“Write down these page numbers and coordinates,” she ordered. “Hurry! The knowledge is fading quickly.”
“Go ahead, Ellas,” Sebastian told her as he picked up a pencil. “I'm ready.”
She rattled off a list of numbers, book pages and longitude and latitude coordinates, and then opened her eyes and stood up.
“The wizard used this book to seek out six locations. Why he did so is a mystery to me, but that much is clear. What happened after that and which sets of coordinates he used is unknown. I leave you to decide on your next move.”
She flapped her wings rapidly and rose up to hover at eye level to Chao.
“My task is done. I have succeeded and may return to my realm when I choose to do so. Do you agree?”
She spoke in a formal tone and apparently needed the conjurer to acknowledge that her deed was done.
“You have, Ellas,” he said warmly. “In fine fashion. You may leave whenever you wish, with my thanks.”
“Your thanks mean little to me, human,” she said with a sniff.
She looked over her shoulder at Sylvie and Veronique.
“However, if those two lovely ladies will chat with me for a time, I will consider myself well rewarded for my efforts and will be more inclined to aid you in the future.”
The mages both smiled and Sylvie waved the sprite over to them.
“We would love to talk, Ellas,” she said. “But first, if you would be patient with us, we need to set out a strategy to search for our missing friend.”
“Of course, of course,” the sprite told her as she flew over to join the sisters. “I have all the time in the world. I am my own master, unlike those two,” she indicated the elementals with a wave of her hand, “and may come and go as I wish.”
Aeris looked like he was about to object, but Kronk muttered something under his breath and the air elemental subsided, glowering at the sprite.
“Thank you, Ellas,” Veronique told her gratefully. “Chao, any luck?”
The summoner was leafing through the atlas, searching for coordinates that matched the ones that Ellas had given them. Tamara had stood up and moved down the table to stand next to him. She was holding up the list of numbers and Chao kept glancing at them as he skimmed through the book..
“Yes, some. Egypt? Why Egypt?” he said, sounding mystified.
“My master mentioned that country once,” Kronk told them from the opposite end of the table. “He wanted to visit some ancient buildings one day; the pyramids, I believe they are called?”
“That sounds like something Simon would want to see,” Tamara said with a fond smile. “Keep going, Chao. You find them and I'll write the locations down next to their coordinates.”
“Right. Let's see now...”
When they were finished, Tamara looked down the table at the group and read off their results.
“Simon may have visited any of these locations: The pyramids in Egypt, the Grand Canyon in Colorado, the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Why he made these choices is anyone's guess, but these are the coordinates that Ellas discovered.”
“It sounds like he wanted to make a grand tour of the more significant sites around the world,” Liliana mused. “Easy enough for a person who can cast Gate to explore them. But to go alone, in these times? A very rash move for someone as level-headed as Simon.”
“He can be impulsive on occasion, lady paladin,” Aeris told her, ignoring Kronk's offended growl. “Having as much power as a wizard does, I have seen much older spell-casters in the ancient times lose themselves to their gifts and act impulsively.”
He hesitated and added, “It did not alway end well.”
“Aeris!” Kronk said, appalled.
The air elemental shrugged.
“It's the truth,” he told the little guy. “As much as I hate to say it, it happened more often than you might imagine.”
More than one member of the group was nodding thoughtfully.
“I think, were he to try, that Simon could probably level a good-sized town all by himself,” Aiden told them. “Basically the power of a god in the hands of a man; I could see someone feeling a bit bulletproof with that kind of talent.”
“My master is not like that,” Kronk protested. “I am sorry, sir warrior, but he has the least amount of ego of any wizard that I have ever known. He certainly does not think of himself as a god! Quite the reverse, actually.”
“I didn't say he did, my friend,” Aiden assured him. “But we are all mortal here, and all of us came from a world where we had many limitations. Those limits no longer apply, especially to Simon. Add in the fact that he was an older man before the Change and is now young and strong? That might make him, not cocky, but perhaps a little too self-reliant when it comes to his own safety.”
Kronk considered the man's words and nodded slowly.
“Well sir, put like that, you may have a point. But as you have said, my master is very powerful. What could overcome a wizard like him?”
“Who knows?” Tamara said, looking around the table. “But if something out there is that strong, we'd better be damned careful when we go in search for him.”
“Speaking of which,” Malcolm said as he stood up. “Shouldn't we get going? Simon's been missing for over a day now and we're just sitting here. Let's move our asses, people.”
Kronk nodded vigorously but Aiden stood up as well and put a firm hand on his partner's shoulder.
“Easy there, big fella,” he said as he gave Malcolm a little shake. “We have to get organized first. Plus, are you thinking of heading out into the great unknown dressed like that?”
Both of the men were wearing simple tunics and leather pants, and neither was armed.
“Shouldn't we, I don't know, get into our armor first?” Aiden asked with a grin.
“Oh. Right. Yeah, that's probably a good idea.”
Malcolm looked a little embarressed and shrugged at Tamara.
“Sorry, I'm just a bit worried, that's all.”
“We all are, Malcolm. Why don't you two go ahead and get changed and, in the meantime, we'll decide who gets to go where. All right?”
“Sounds good. We'll be back soon.”
Lei stood up as the warriors left the hall and looked over at his brother.
“I will change as well. Chao, find out where along the Great Wall the wizard wanted to go; we're both familiar with large sections of it and I vote for us to be the ones to search for him there.”
Without waiting for a reply, the paladin left through the same door as Malcolm and Aiden. His brother watched him leave with a fond smile.
“He's always been a bit impetuous,” he told the others. “But Lei has a point. We walked parts of the Great Wall many times back in the old days and I would say that our familiarity with it might help in the search for Simon O'Toole.”
“Agreed,” Tamara said as she made a note on her slip of paper. “It's too bad that you can't cast Gate, Chao, but that means that a mage will have to go with you. Any volunteers?”
“I would love to see the Great Wall,” Sylvie said quickly.
She looked at the sprite who was quietly hovering just above the tabletop.
“And if you would come with us,” she said to Ellas, “we could have a chance to chat and look for our friend at the same time.”
“Oh, that's a lovely idea!” the sprite said enthusiastically. “And I could help you in your task as well. I'm quite good at looking for things and,” she did a graceful flip in midair, “I can fly. It might be useful on your search.”
Tamara nodded at them and made another notation on her list.
“Okay, that's settled then. Sylvie will Gate Chao and Lei to the coordinates on the Great Wall and Ellas will accompany them. So team one is decided. Next?”
“I've never been to Egypt,” Liliana mused. “I'd love to see the pyramids. Any of you mages want to tag along?”
“I'll go,” Sebastian said and winked at her. “I always feel safer with an experienced fighter watching my back.”
His sister hesitated before writing down their names on her list.
“Very well. Just don't do anything stupid, Bastian. You're the only brother I've got and I'd like to have you back in one piece.”
He just waved off her concern with a quiet chuckle.
“I may be your little brother, but I'm all grown up, Tammy. I'll be fine.”
Tamara gave him a long look.
“All right, that's team two decided. Who's next?”
“If he is amenable, I would like to take Malcolm with me to the Grand Canyon,” Veronique volunteered. “You will need one of them with you, Tamara and, while I am fond of Aiden, Malcolm always makes me smile. He has quite a quirky sense of humor.”
“Can't argue with that,” Tamara replied dryly. “But why the Grand Canyon?”
“Mostly because I never made it to the States back in the old days. So I consider this my chance. Besides, I've heard that it's a wonder to behold.”
“Okay, if he agrees, then you and Malcolm are team three. Which leaves me and Aiden. I've been to Paris, years ago, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Eiffel Tower again.”
She frowned at a sudden thought.
“I wonder if the bloody dragons tore it down on the Night of Burning? Damn, that will be depressing. Anyway, that makes up the last team. I'd prefer that Barnaby and the others remain here; we can't leave the castle totally undefended for any length of time. The guards are well trained, thanks to Malcolm and Aiden, but they will always need magical backup.”
“Good point,” Liliana told her. “Besides, most of our people are still below ground; if there's an assault on Nottinghill, we'll need as many bodies as we can get to defend it. To be honest though, without the dragons to attack from the sky, I doubt that there is much to fear, at least from any organized force.”
“You're forgetting about the goblins,” Tamara corrected her. “Granted, there are no signs of them within a hundred miles of us, at least not now, but you never know. They were set on us once before, you know.”
The paladin nodded as she ran a finger along her sword hilt.
“True enough. So we'll wait until we all return to send out two more teams to search the Great Barrier Reef and Mount Kilimanjaro. With luck, someone will find Simon and it won't even be necessary.”
“We can only hope,” Tamara replied. “Okay, Liliana and Bastian; you can leave whenever you're ready. Veronique and I have to wait for Malcolm and Aiden, and Sylvie and Lei are waiting for Chao. Plus, I'm going to ask Barnaby to contact Shandon Ironhand to tell him about our missing wizard. Hopefully the king will use his considerable resources to start searching for Simon as well.”
“Let's hope he does,” Sebastian replied. “We could use the extra help. Now, write down the coordinates for me, will you please, and we'll get started.”
His sister scribbled the numbers down on a slip of paper and handed them to him.
“Cool. Liliana, are you ready to feast your eyes upon the Great Pyramid?”
“I doubt that I'll be doing much sightseeing,” the paladin told him
with a wry smile, “but I'm ready.”
“Okay, touch my arm and we're off.”
The others watched as Sebastian chanted the Gate spell. He gave his sister a jaunty wave and then invoked the spell. The pair disappeared with a loud thud of imploding air.
“Don't do anything stupid, little brother,” Tamara whispered fervently. “And come back safe.”
Chapter 9
“Whoa, now this is hot,” Sebastian said to Liliana as they appeared at the summit of the Great Pyramid. “But what a view!”
The paladin's armor glowed blindingly in the rays of the early morning sun. The day had just begun in Egypt, but already the heat was rising from the surface of the huge edifice they were standing on, and Liliana felt a trickle of sweat run down her temple.
“I agree on both counts,” she told him as she spun around slowly, scanning the area. “It is going to be blazingly hot in an hour or two.”
She stopped turning and nudged the mage.
“Look. Cairo wasn't immune to the dragons' attacks.”
Sebastian looked to where she was pointing and he scowled at the sight of the wreckage of the ancient city.
“Damn them,” he said fiercely. “Why such malice? Such hatred?”
“It was their nature,” the paladin told him as she took off a glove and wiped moisture from her eyes. “The gods of Chaos made them to be the perfect weapons of their will. We can, I suppose, be thankful that we weren't all wiped out on the Night of Burning. And that Simon was around to help to destroy the primal dragons.”
“Speaking of Simon,” Sebastian said as he examined the surface on which they were standing, “I wonder if he came here when he was on his trip?”
The two of them looked around the top of the pyramid but the surface was constantly blown clean by the desert winds and there was no indication that anyone had set foot on the structure for years.
“No way to tell,” Liliana said after searching futilely for several minutes. “I doubt that he would have stayed up here anyway. The view,” she nodded at the destroyed city, “is grim at best. Can you Gate us down to the base, please?”
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 129