“You know, occasionally I forget how deep and wise you are, my friend. Thanks for understanding. So where's Aeris?”
“Gone south again,” Kronk said with an exaggerated sigh. “He's taken to secretly observing those humanoid bears that are living in old Nottinghill. I've asked him why he bothers and he says it's important to keep an eye on such potentially hostile neighbors.”
Finishing his tea, Simon stood up and put his bowl in the sink. He put the kettle over the fire again and leaned back against the counter to wait while he stared with amusement at Kronk.
“You disagree?” he asked.
“Not entirely, master. But the bear people have kept to themselves this past year. Why take a chance of being discovered and angering them unnecessarily? Aeris is just being nosy and reckless.”
“Two things he excels at,” Simon said with a grin. “But let's let him have his fun. I've decided that, if Aeris thinks it's feasible, then we should make contact with our neighbors to the south. I think it's time to find out if they really are friend or foe. Or something in between.”
“It could be dangerous, master,” Kronk warned as he watched the wizard make another cup of tea.
Simon sat down and gave the elemental a lop-sided grin.
“Hey, magic guy, remember? I'll be fine. Besides, if I do go down to say hello, I'll take you along to protect me. So I should be fine, right?”
“Ah. Then yes, master, I think you will be safe.”
Simon stifled a laugh at Kronk's assurance that he could protect the wizard. The small elemental had a big heart and the wizard knew that he was lucky to have him.
An hour later, he was sweeping the main floor of the tower. The front door was open and he was brushing the dust outside, motes dancing in the morning sunlight.
He finished his chore and then stood in the doorway, looking out into the courtyard with a contented smile on his face.
The loss of Daniel was still painful, and always would be, but this morning he felt better than he had for days. The persistently beautiful weather was helping to keep his spirits up.
As he leaned on the broom and enjoyed the warmth of the day, the blurred form of Aeris came shooting through the front gates and made a beeline for the wizard. He stopped a few feet in front of Simon and bobbed up and down at head level.
“Now don't get mad,” the elemental said before the wizard even had a chance to greet him. “It wasn't my fault.”
“Oh-oh. That's not the best way to start a conversation, Aeris,” Simon said warily. “What have you done?”
“Done? Me? Nothing.”
The wide-eyed innocent stare didn't fool Simon for a second. He'd seen that look before.
“Just give me the bad news and get it over with,” he said with a resigned sigh.
“Well, you see, I was down south scouting around the old town of Nottinghill.”
“So Kronk said. What happened?”
“Did he? Okay. Anyway, I was watching the bear people going through their day.”
He looked closely at Simon as if to gauge his mood and hurried on.
“I like to do that occasionally, to pass the time.”
“Uh-huh. So how are they doing?”
“Splendidly actually! Really good.”
Simon leaned his broom against the door jam, walked out and sat down on the front steps. He guessed that this could take a while.
Aeris followed and landed on the step on the wizard's right side. He sat down and stared up at Simon.
“They have planted a lot of crops now, you know. Corn mostly, but there are also rows of beans and, oddly enough, potatoes. I never even knew bears liked potatoes.”
“I didn't know they liked corn. How are their beehives doing?”
“Excellently. They treat those bees very well and it shows. There have to be at least two dozen hives now, probably more. And Nottinghill itself looks great. I don't know if they found it or made it, but somehow they managed to paint the outer walls an amazing white color. Perhaps it's whitewash, but the walls are now gleaming. They really perk the place up.”
Simon drew up his legs and rested his chin on his knees.
“How many of the bear-human hybrids are living down there now?”
“Hmm. I've counted at least forty now; ten of them are cubs, if that's the correct term.”
The wizard thoughtfully sucked on his lower lip and watched as some thin clouds scuttled across the sky.
“Sounds like they're doing well. Now,” he fixed Aeris with a piercing look, “tell me what you've done to get yourself so excited.”
The elemental turned away and looked across the yard, avoiding Simon's gaze.
“Well, I suppose I was getting a little too comfortable as I spied on the creatures. I was circling the perimeter, just outside of the outer wall and I may have, um, become visible for a moment.”
“What!”
“Now, now, my dear wizard. Stay calm,” Aeris said hastily.
“Stay calm? Yeah right. Did they see you?”
“Err, possibly. The sentries probably did.” He looked at Simon's expression. “But I vanished immediately, I swear, and I retreated right away. Even if they did see me, it would only have been for a moment. We should be fine.”
Simon peered at the elemental.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Absolutely. I'm confident that no harm was done.”
“Well...” Simon began. He was interrupted by a call from the top of the wall near the gate.
“Sir wizard! Sir wizard! Come quickly. We've spotted intruders.”
It was one of the earthen who patrolled the outer wall.
“Intruders?”
Simon leaped to his feet and ran toward the open gates. Aeris raced along behind him.
When he reached the gates, the wizard skidded to a halt on the slippery grass and stared across the clearing toward the far edge of the forest. Several creatures had pushed their way out of the thick undergrowth and stood blinking owlishly in the bright sunlight.
“Oh crap,” Simon said and turned to glare at Aeris. “Confident you did no harm, hmm?”
On the edge of the forest stood three towering, furry humanoids that were quite clearly related to bears. They walked on their hind legs and wore thick leather belts around their waists. Each had a sword on their hip along with a quiver of arrows. Across their backs, they carried long bows.
“How did they follow me?” Aeris asked, totally confused. “I give you my oath that I remained invisible for the entire journey home.”
Simon nodded, watching the bear people in fascination. The largest of them was at least eight feet tall and massively built. It had silver fur and was a striking-looking creature. He or she was staring at the tower and the wizard was quite sure that they could all see him standing in the middle of the open gates.
The leader said something to the other two and they began to walk steadily toward the tower. Kronk and a few of the earthen had repaired the damage done during Esmiralla's ceremony and the field was level and easy to walk on again. But the area where the fire pit had been dug was still bare earth and Simon noticed that the leader glanced at it as the trio walked past.
Very observant, he thought to himself.
“Quickly, we must secure the gates,” Aeris urged and tugged on Simon's shoulder.
“They are approaching, sir wizard,” a deep voice from the arch above him said nervously. “Perhaps you should withdraw and close the gates?”
Simon watched the trio approach for a few seconds and then shook his head. Although they were large and obviously strong, he felt no sense of menace or threat from them. They didn't stride quickly; they ambled, in no hurry at all.
“No, I don't think so,” he said loudly enough for the earthen on top of the arch to hear him.
“Aeris, get my staff, would you? Just in case this goes badly, I may need it.”
“I think you're crazy,” the air elemental muttered as he disappeared with a little pop.
/>
“I just might be.” the wizard muttered.
But he wasn't afraid; he was excited. He had meant to attempt to make contact with the bear people someday, considering how close they lived to his tower. The choice had been taken out of his hands, but he was more intrigued than nervous.
Let's see where this goes, he thought.
The three bear people weren't quite within hailing distance when Aeris returned with Mortis de Draconis and handed it to Simon.
“Be wary,” he whispered and the wizard nodded once.
“Always.”
A rustling in the grass to Simon's right made him turn and he saw Kronk hurrying up to him. The little guy had been in the back field with the livestock. One of his fellow earthen must have warned him.
Simon winked at him and the little guy's anxious expression faded a bit and he smiled weakly in return.
“They've stopped,” Aeris said quietly and Simon turned quickly to look at the bear people.
They had come to a halt about thirty feet from the gate, the two smaller creatures, both with dark brown fur and identical looks of curiosity on their faces, standing slightly to the rear of the leader.
He or she caught Simon's gaze. The ursine creature had eyes the color of honey; bright amber and filled with a quiet intelligence. The leader raised its empty, paw-like hand to its chest and bowed slightly.
Simon copied the gesture and the creature looked pleased.
“Welcome,” the wizard said in a strong voice. “It's good to finally meet my closest neighbors. My name is Simon O'Toole.”
The smaller pair made grunting noises at each other, but their leader kept watching Simon. It rubbed its paw across its chest several times, as if considering the wizard's greeting and then stepped forward.
“Greetings,” it rumbled and Simon gaped at it. He hadn't been sure that the creatures could actually speak intelligibly but he could understand it easily. Their muzzles were bear-like but not as prominent and, except for slightly larger canines, their teeth were flat, very much like human teeth.
“My name is Galder. I am the leader of my people.”
Simon assumed that Galder was male, both because of his size and his deep bass voice.
“These are my daughters,” he continued with a look to his right and left. “Meer and Phan.”
“I'm happy to meet you,” Simon replied with a nod at both of the females.
They turned away shyly and he spared a quick thought for how cute that was, considering that either one could probably tear him apart with ease.
“They do not speak English very well at the moment,” Galder told him. “But they are learning. I knew that one day we would meet humans out in the world and I have been working hard to ensure that my people are prepared.”
The leader bared his teeth and Simon felt his stomach clench for an instant, then realized that the creature was smiling.
“I did not know until today that we had a human living so close to us,” Galder continued.
He looked up at the outer wall and then beyond it to the tower.
“You have a very secure home here,” the bear-man said. “If I may inquire, what are you? I see that you have elemental servants and you wear a robe. That leads me to believe that you are a spell-caster of some sort, yes?”
Simon leaned on his staff and saw Galder glance at it briefly.
“I am, yes. I'm a wizard.”
The creature's eyes widened and the females both gasped loudly.
“A wizard! Well then, that explains it. But why do you live in such a remote place? There must be other humans in the world, yes? Could you not live with them? Humans, like my people, are social creatures.”
With a light laugh, Simon shook his head.
“Actually I prefer a solitary life, Galder. I think it's the wizard in me. I spend a lot of time studying quietly, working on my magic and all of that. Having other people around would be a...distraction, I suppose.”
He looked from Aeris to Kronk and back at Galder.
“My friends,” he stressed the word and the bear-man looked surprised, “suit me well. They are good companions but also know when I need time to myself. It's a satisfying partnership for all of us.”
“Is it? Well now, that is a revelation but I am pleased to hear it. A wizard who befriends elementals instead of using them as servants or slaves is someone that I could, perhaps, trust.”
“Thank you. And if I might turn your question back on you, I wonder if you can tell me something of yourself and your people. I'll admit, when Aeris first told me that you had moved into Nottinghill, I was baffled. I'd never heard of creatures like you.”
Galder chuckled, a deep rumble of amusement.
“I have no doubt of that. Nottinghill, you say. That was the name of the abandoned town?”
Simon nodded.
“I see. A good name. We have no name for it ourselves. We simply call it home.”
“Also a good name,” Simon said with a smile.
“It is, is it not? As for what we are, there is no word in your language for us. The elvish call us Haladanin, which simply means 'furred walkers'. You may call us that if you wish.”
“Haladanin,” Simon repeated, hearing the lyrical sound of the elves in the name. “I like it. But where did you come from? There were certainly no reports of people like yourselves before the dragons returned.”
Galder nodded his heavy head and seemed to be pondering his answer.
While he waited for a response, the wizard watched the two young females. Both were looking intently all around, at the tower, the wall, even the elementals. They seemed to be having a splendid time and grunted to each other excitedly.
“We are not, how can I put this, pure Haladanin,” the big male finally said. “Back in ancient times, before the gods of Light and Darkness departed from this world, our ancestors walked the land. But they kept to themselves, only befriending the nature-loving elves. Men never saw them.” He looked at Aeris and Kronk. “Neither did they show themselves to the elemental races. They were a secretive people. But when the dragons returned and wiped out most of your race, the lords of Chaos needed some of us to live again in the world, to create the balance necessary for them to open a portal back into this universe.”
He lifted his heavy shoulders.
“And so, here we are. Alive again. Our people died out in the old times, but we do not know why. Plague? Pestilence? Perhaps war. We cannot say. But now that we are back, we intend to survive.”
“Amazing. So the dark gods just,” Simon waved his hand, “conjured you into existence again?”
Galder snorted, a very loud woofing sound.
“Even they are not that powerful. No, they Changed some human beings to create us.”
He looked wisely at Simon.
“Just as you were Changed by the lords of Justice into the wizard that you are today.”
Simon gasped and felt a little weak in the knees. He tightened his grip on his staff and tried to digest what Galder had just told him.
“So you, all of you, used to be human?” he managed to ask.
“No, not all of us. My daughters were born two years after the dragons returned. As you can see, we grow quickly after birth; much like the bears that we resemble. But I was human once, yes.”
“Master?”
Simon looked down at Kronk.
“What is it?”
“Would it not be more hospitable to invite your guests inside and offer them some refreshment?” the little guy asked, looking sideways at the Haladanin. “They have walked a long way to meet you and the day is becoming warm.”
Simon's face reddened with embarrassment.
“Oh yes! Yes of course. Galder, would you and your daughters care to come in? As my friend has just pointed out, I am being a very poor host.”
“Thank you. My children are not used to walking so far and letting them rest would be a kindness.”
“Then allow me to welcome you to my home. Please, fol
low me.”
Simon turned and led the way back to the tower, feeling like an idiot for making his three visitors stand in the beaming sun while he questioned them.
Bad manners, Simon, he thought with some disgust at himself. Very bad manners.
Once inside, the Haladanin took off their bows and set them against the wall next to the door. After a brief hesitation, they left their swords and quivers there as well.
Simon had an anxious moment when he had to decide where the three would sit. Obviously they were far heavier than he was and he wondered if his chairs would hold them.
Galder solved the problem for him. The large bear-man looked around the room approvingly, spotted the comfy chair in front of the fire and crossed the room in a flash. He picked it up as if it weighed nothing, carried it back over to the sofa and put it down. Then, with an amused glance at the gaping wizard, he said something to his daughters and they sat down on the sofa while Galder used the chair. It groaned a bit but easily held his weight.
“Ah, thanks so much,” Simon told him. “Um, I was afraid...”
“That we would break your furniture, yes? I understand. We are rather heavy. But,” Galder thumped the arms of the comfy chair and smiled, “this is well built. I approve.”
Simon grabbed a kitchen chair, carried it over and set it down next to the sofa.
“What can I get you?” he asked the trio. “Water we have, of course, but I also have coffee and tea. And if you're hungry, I can make you something.”
“My daughters will have water, thank you. They are too young for caffeine. But tea sounds wonderful, if you have honey to add to it?”
“Certainly. Aeris?”
The elementals had followed them into the tower. Kronk was in the process of building up the fire while Aeris simply floated just inside the doorway.
“Would you get the young ladies some water, please?” Simon asked him.
Aeris bowed to the two females in response and they giggled, a cheerful, high-pitched noise. He flew over to the pump by the sink to fetch the water.
“What about some food?” Simon asked them. “I have a couple of fresh loaves of bread that I baked just yesterday.”
In the end, the three Haladanin ate both loaves. Simon served them the bread smothered with honey and they were delighted by the taste. Both of the chief's daughters drank several glasses of cold well water while Galder had two cups of tea heavily laced with honey.
The Dragons of Argent and Silver (Tales from the New Earth #6) Page 12