“I'm pleased to see your home still standing. To be honest, I was a little afraid that by the time we made it to the surface, all that I would find would be a heap of stone.”
“You managed to contact Kingstone?” Simon asked Tamara. “How? I thought that we were blocked from reaching Shandon's people ever since everyone returned to Nottinghill?”
Before she could answer, the king offered an explanation.
“You were blocked, tis true, for a short time. But as I said, my people have learned some tolerance. Some of the old generation are still griping about sullying ourselves by using magic, but they are in the minority.”
He looked up at Simon with a twinkle in his eye.
“Some of my councilors actually tried to convince me to sever all connections with you and your people, my friend, and banish any and all spell-casters from Kingstone, if you can believe it.”
Simon felt a momentary sadness at the thought of losing contact with the dwarves, and with the king in particular.
“That's horrible,” Sebastian said, obviously shocked. “What did you do?”
“Do?”
Shandon looked surprised at the question.
“Why, I fired them, of course. I'm their bloody king! And they thought that they could school me as if I were some malleable child! Oh no, that wasn't going to happen. I will admit to some satisfaction when I saw the looks on their faces as they realized that I wasn't their puppet. Bah, it was past time for them to retire anyway. We needed some new blood at court, some people with vision. Now, enough of that; I hate talking politics. Where's that damned dragon?”
“That's a good question,” Simon replied as the group turned as one to stare at the fog bank. “My friend here,” he nodded at Kassus, “says that she is on her way, and I have no reason to doubt him.”
“My, you are a big one, aren't you?” the king said, leaning back to look up at the elemental as if he was just noticing him. “Earth elemental, hmm? So, you followed the dragon queen?”
“I did, your majesty,” Kassus replied politely in his gravelly voice. “Her path is erratic, however, so I do not know when she will arrive.”
“A break for us, then,” Shandon said with satisfaction. “It will give my people a chance to set up a warm welcome for her.”
At that moment, they heard a chorus of yells echoing up from the fog.
Tamara gripped her wand tighter and Simon slipped his staff off of his shoulder.
“Easy now,” the king said, holding up his hands. “Those are the warriors that I brought with me. They are setting up our little surprise down there.”
He listened to the cacophony rising up through the mist and sighed loudly.
“They aren't exactly quiet though, are they? Ah well, what they lack in subtlety, they make up for in enthusiasm.”
“Hey! Tamara!”
Someone was yelling up from the courtyard.
The mage walked over to the edge of the wall and looked down.
“Malcolm? What is it?” she shouted.
“What the hell is going on out there?”
Tamara looked over her shoulder at the king and grinned.
“Our dwarven friends are getting ready to spring a surprise on the queen. Just ignore the noise.”
“A surprise? Excellent! I like the sound of that.”
She waved at him and walked back to rejoin the group.
“A little warning next time, your majesty?” she asked. “My people are a bit skittish at the moment.”
“Aye, I'll try to remember that. So, if your mage, Barnaby is it? If your mage was correct when he left his message, this may be the last battle we have to fight with a dragon. I hope that's true.”
He looked at Simon for confirmation, but the wizard could only shrug in response.
“I hope so too, but who can say? Even if we defeat the queen this day, the lords of Chaos are still out there in the Void trying to break into this plane. And we all know that their favorite servants were the dragons. Perhaps they will be able to find a way to resurrect them in the future. But I'm not going to worry about that now. Today we face the dragon queen and that's all that I am focused on.”
“Well said. Well said indeed.”
Shandon stepped up to the wizard and offered his hand.
“I'm off to join my people. Good luck today, Simon. I expect you to survive this battle to drink a victory cup with me later, all right?”
The wizard shook his hand warmly.
“I'll see what I can do. Thank you, Shandon, for coming to our aid. We owe you and your people more than we can ever repay.”
“What are friends for?” the king asked simply.
He nodded to Tamara and Sebastian and strode off, his metal soles raising sparks at every step.
“Well, it's good to know that we aren't completely alone in this,” Tamara said as they listened to the king's footsteps fade in the distance.
“I agree,” her brother replied. “But I wonder what sort of surprise he was talking about?”
“Knowing dwarves,” Simon said as he strained to see through the fog, “it will be something nasty.”
As time passed and they waited for the fog to lift, Simon slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out the old dog-eared notebook that he had been so desperately searching for at home. He flipped though it absently, muttering to himself, until he was startled out of his revery by a tap on the shoulder.
Tamara smiled at him as he jumped, and she glanced at the book.
“Some last minute studying?” she asked. “I would have thought that you would be beyond that by now.”
He chuckled and slipped the book back into his pocket.
“The day I'm beyond the need to learn is the day they bury me six feet under,” he told her. “No, I was double-checking on a spell that I discovered just a couple of years ago when I was idly skimming through the notes that my old friend Daniel left me.”
“Ah yes, Daniel. Such a shame that he couldn't have been here for you,” she said sympathetically. “For all of us, actually. He was a very wise man.”
“That he was. But he found several spells in his travels that I'm guessing he didn't really understand and he just jotted them down for future reference. Sadly, he never Changed so he couldn't use magic. He would have made a hell of a wizard.”
“What kind of spells?”
Simon watched as a guard walked by on patrol, thinking about his oldest friend for a brief moment.
“Mostly useless ones, in my opinion. The Sparkles spell, for example, is just ridiculous.”
“Sparkles?”
Tamara looked puzzled.
“What on Earth does that do?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. It creates a shower of colorful sparks. That's why I christened it Sparkles. Absolutely useless. And yet, back in the distant past, some wizard or mage came up with the silly thing. Can you imagine their reaction the first time they cast it? I only hope they didn't spend months or years in trial and error to invent that!”
The mage laughed in delight. She and Simon were standing alone except for Aeris, who was hovering at the edge of the wall, looking off into the mist, and Kassus, who was standing like a statue again, his burning eyes the only thing proving that he was even alive.
Sebastian was strolling around the perimeter, checking on the others mages. Simon guessed that he was just bored. A person can only stay on high alert for a limited amount of time before they begin to lose focus.
“I think that it's delightful,” Tamara told him. “Perhaps that ancient spell-caster created the spell for his or her children. Or for their own amusement. Who knows?”
“Seems like a waste of time to me, but whatever. Anyway, I found a spell that was almost the opposite of Sparkles. It was so complicated that Daniel had written bits and pieces of it throughout the notebook. I'm not sure why though. Each part of the incantation on its own is useless, and I seem to remember dismissing them back when I was new at the whole wizarding thing. I th
ink that I was premature though. I understand the spell now, and I thought that it might come in handy in this fight, but it won't.”
“Why not?”
“I'll give you a hint: the name of the spell is Armageddon.”
The mage stared at him, wide-eyed.
“Seriously? But that sounds horrible. Does it do what I think it does?”
Simon slipped the book out of his pocket again and stared at its leather cover.
“Well, if my translation is correct, then I believe that casting it would destroy everything in a radius of about a mile.”
He put the book away and looked soberly at Tamara.
“Including the caster. It's a one-shot deal.”
“Simon! God, tell me you aren't thinking of using that. It's crazy.”
“Don't worry, I agree. Totally impractical. If the blast radius is even greater than I think it is, then it could actually flatten the castle and everyone in it along with the queen. I'm not willing to take that chance.”
“Meaning you might if you were sure that we would be safe? Simon, we're going to need you after this is all over. Killing yourself to cast a spell is unacceptable.”
She glared at him and he held up his hands in mock surrender.
“Relax, I don't have a death wish. Forget about it and let's concentrate on more practical solutions.”
Tamara slipped her wand into her belt and stretched gracefully. She sighed as she looked down the length of the wall.
“Why didn't we think of putting some chairs or benches up here? Even a bench made of stone would help my sore back. Shandon may be right; maybe I need to start to exercise on a regular basis.”
“I think our fairly weak constitutions come with the job” Simon told her. “Magic-users and muscles are mutually exclusive.”
The mage put her hands on the small of her back and began to massage the area.
“A shame, if that's true. I have the stamina of an octogenarian.”
“Well, you're quite an attractive retiree then,” Simon said gallantly.
“Flatterer. Oh, look who's finally decided to join us.”
The wizard turned toward the stairs and saw Chao climbing up slowly. He was breathing loudly enough for them to hear him from twenty yards away.
Simon lowered his voice and nodded at the fragile-looking man.
“See? Comes with the job,” he murmured to Tamara.
“Damn. You may be right.”
She smiled at the conjurer as he joined them.
“Any luck?”
He nodded and held up a hand, breathing deeply.
“One moment until I catch my breath, please. Those stairs are a little bit steep, aren't they?”
Tamara and Simon exchanged a quick look and the wizard bit his lip to keep from laughing.
“They certainly are,” the mage agreed. “Take your time.”
Another minute passed before Chao was able to speak easily. He patted his forehead on his sleeve and looked at them apologetically.
“There, that's better. Sorry. Now, in answer to your question, I was indeed fortunate enough to secure aid. However, how many of my friends will come when I call for them is something I do not know. We shall see. They are just waiting for my signal.”
Before Simon could ask about the man's friends, Aeris turned around to look at the conjurer.
“You might want to think about giving that signal now, sir,” he said nervously.
“Why is that?”
“Listen.”
The group fell silent and immediately heard a heavy, rhythmic sound echoing out from the fog.
“Oh crap,” Simon said softly. “Wings.”
Chapter 32
Everyone hurried to the front of the wall and stared out at the fog. It swirled and writhed like a living thing and then, with a blast of wind that pushed them all back several steps, dissolved as if by magic.
Hovering magnificently in front of the wall, no more than forty feet away, was the argent dragon. His immense wings seemed to stretch as wide as the castle itself and his silver scales flashed in the now-bright morning sunlight.
Chao cried out in shock, obviously having never been this close to a dragon before. But he bravely found his footing against the stiff breeze created by Argentium's wings and stared boldly into his jewel-like blue eyes.
Tamara made no sound. She stood still, her robe fluttering in the wind. Simon tried to read her expression, but he wasn't sure if it was hope or fear that lightly stamped her features. Perhaps it was a combination of both.
As for himself, the wizard had almost fallen over backwards at the sudden blast of air. But a large, rough hand had caught him in the small of the back and allowed him to find his footing.
“Thanks Kassus,” Simon said as he pushed the hair out of his eyes.
“My pleasure, sir wizard. I believe that the battle may be imminent. What do you want me to do?”
Argentium remained silently hovering in front of the castle, his head dipping as if he was examining the structure itself.
“Wait here for now,” Simon told the earthen as he kept a watchful eye on the dragon. “We can't make any moves until we see where you are needed the most.”
Kassus nodded calmly.
“As you say. I shall wait.”
He became still again and Simon walked back to the parapet.
Aeris flew over and floated by his shoulder.
“Here we go,” he said softly.
Simon winked at him and leaned on his staff as he caught the dragon's gaze.
“Welcome to Nottinghill Castle,” he called out.
Argentium's huge eyes glinted with amusement.
“Thank you,” he replied in his unearthly voice. “It is a fine edifice. It reminds me of castles of old. Proud and strong. Unfortunately I don't have time for a tour; Aurumallia is on her way.”
A jingling of armor made Simon look around. He saw the guards who had been patrolling the perimeter begin to gather around Tamara.
All of them were armed with bows, and quivers holding many arrows hung from their belts. The wizard hoped that the arrowheads had been enchanted or they would have no effect on the magical hide of the queen.
“How close is she?” Simon asked loudly over the sound of the dragon's wings.
“Very close. Your people have little time left. My sons and I will do our best to turn her from her course, but I fear that she is determined to wipe out your kind once and for all. Her madness is complete now and we may not be able to stop her.”
“And if you can't?” the wizard asked sharply. “Will you attack her or will you allow her to destroy us all?”
“I...”
Argentium raised his noble head and looked up. Simon followed his gaze and saw five tiny dots barely visible against the clear blue sky.
“They will decide my actions,” the argent dragon told him, his voice thick with emotion. “Aurumallia is their mother, after all, and whether you are human or dragon, that bond is very strong. Yes, she is evil and mad, but is that enough for them to turn on her? I do not know.”
Simon met the dragon's eyes once more and bowed his head.
“I understand,” he said. “But if none of you can or will stop her, then we'll have to do it. So pass this message along to the others: stay out of my way. With or without your help, I mean to put her down. And God help any of you if you try to interfere.”
Argentium's head darted forward until all that Simon could see was the dragon's scaled and scarred face.
“Are you threatening me?” he hissed, ozone thick on his breath.
The wizard looked up into the dragon's blue eyes, slitted like a cat's. He didn't flinch even as several of the guards cried out in alarm.
“Consider it a warning,” he answered coldly. “Your sons may feel some affection toward the creature who seeks to destroy my people, but I assure you that I do not. And you may want to remind them as well that I have faced all five primal dragons, and that I am still here and they aren
't.”
The dragon back-winged to hover further away again. He blinked once in acknowledgment.
“Very well, I shall pass along your message. Good luck to you, sir wizard.”
“Good luck to you, argent dragon.”
Argentium made one great sweep with his wings and rose majestically into the heavens. His silver form flew upward like a dart toward the dragons flying above and Simon watched until he was just a point of light in the sky.
“Well, that was quite amazing,” Chao said breathlessly as everyone began to recover from the dragon's visit.
“I have seen dragons at a distance before, of course, but to be in close proximity to one...oh my.”
The archers were lining up along the wall now that Argentium had left and Simon moved back to stand next to Kassus and give them some room. Tamara watched them for a moment, nodded and then joined him.
“I wasn't too reassured by that conversation,” she told Simon under her breath. “It's bad enough to have to face the queen, but now we don't even know if those damned children of hers are going to help us or attack us. Bloody hell.”
“I know. But I also understand Argentium's position. The young dragons are not under his control, obviously. He may have some influence on them, but still, ordering someone to attack their own mother? That would be crossing a line that I doubt he wants to cross.”
“True. But damn it,” she seethed. “If we at least knew that we'd have a free hand against the queen, then we wouldn't have to keep looking up wondering if a dragon was about to pounce on us. She's earthbound but they aren't. It just complicates an already insane situation.”
She drew her wand and twirled it absently as she watched the archers, her expression dark and brooding.
Simon had no reassurance for the mage. She was right; this whole thing could go south very quickly. Unfortunately all they could do was react. There was no planning for something like this.
“My but those dwarves have been busy, haven't they?” Chao called out.
Simon and Tamara hurried over and looked down to where the conjurer was pointing.
“Ah,” the mage said with a pleased expression. “Arbalests, I believe, but big ones. Excellent. The dwarves are endlessly inventive.”
Tales from the New Earth: Volume Two Page 160