“Where the hell are you getting your bodies, you bastard,” he said aloud to the mysterious necromancer. “And when are you going to come out of hiding? Coward.”
His head began to pound as he was filled with rage. What had these innocent people done to offend the dark gods, except survive? Cripes, what had any of them done to earn that enmity?
If I live through all of this, I'm coming for you next, he swore to himself; ignoring the obvious absurdity of swearing vengeance against gods.
“I found some!”
He looked up and saw Aeris zooming down toward him.
“I think we have some survivors,” the elemental exclaimed excitedly.
“Where?”
“This way.”
Simon followed the elemental, making his way over the wreckage of the gates and using his staff to steady himself.
Kronk popped out of the ground just inside the walls and the wizard jumped back in surprise.
“Are you alright, master?” the earthen asked curiously.
Simon could feel his face getting red.
“Um yeah, I'm fine. This place is making me tense, that's all.”
“Understandable, master. I have sensed someone moving. Over there.”
He pointed in the same direction that Aeris was leading Simon.
“I found them as well,” the air elemental said in a low voice. “How many did you sense?”
“At least half a dozen,” Kronk replied, also speaking quietly. “Maybe more. Why are we whispering?”
“Because until we know that they are our friends, we must assume the worst.”
“Ah, of course. Undead attacks during the day. Why did I not think of that?”
Aeris frowned and seemed prepared to make a cutting retort, but Simon quickly interrupted him.
“Keep going, Aeris,” he said sharply. “Whoever it is may need our help.”
The elemental nodded and flew off, the wizard and the earthen following him closely.
The area inside the gates was littered with corpses. It had been a hell of a fight. Several of the small houses were smoking where fires had been set and, when Simon reluctantly peeked into one, what he saw confirmed what he already knew about the attackers.
There were piles of smashed bones and a half dozen skulls staring at him from out of the gloom of the house. Obviously the sun couldn't reach them there.
Simon turned away, filled with loathing, and continued to follow Aeris.
“In there,” the air elemental told him a minute later.
He was pointing at a building that the wizard recognized as the old jail. Malcolm and Aiden had built it back when they had first been bitten by a werewolf, to keep them contained on nights when the moon was full.
The heavy door, reinforced with iron strapping, was gouged and pitted where the monsters had tried to force their way through. But it was still intact and closed tightly and Simon felt a surge of hope.
He glanced at the elementals and Kronk made an encouraging gesture toward the door.
Simon nodded. He stepped forward and knocked with the end of his staff.
The sound echoed inside the large structure but there was no answer.
“Hello? Anyone there?” the wizard called out. “It's Simon. Simon O'Toole. I live to the north. Don't be afraid; I'm not your enemy.”
There was a long pause and then they heard bolts being drawn back from behind the door. It opened slowly and standing in the doorway was the massive figure of a bear man.
“Galder?” Simon asked cautiously.
He thought that it was the leader of the town but blood matted his silvery fur and his yellow eyes were wide. His black lips were drawn back and his teeth were bared. He held a notched sword in his hand and it was raised menacingly.
“Easy, Galder. Easy. You're safe.”
It took a moment for the creature to recognize him and then the glint of fear faded from his eyes and he slumped slightly with a low sigh.
“It is you, my friend,” Galder said weakly. “I thought that it might be a new trick by those demons.”
“Yes, it's me. Are you okay? How many of your people survived? What can I do?”
Galder motioned for Simon to follow him and turned away, leading them inside the building.
All of the small windows were barred and intact. Thankfully the undead hadn't been able to force their way in.
Huddled in the center of the room on the packed dirt floor were a small group of Haladanin. Simon counted nine of them and felt a small surge of relief when he recognized Galder's two daughters. They were sitting on the ground and holding each other, rocking gently. It was the saddest thing that the wizard had ever seen and his heart went out to them.
The chief stared at the survivors and turned to look mournfully at Simon.
“My people. All that are left. Six females including my daughters and three males. And myself.”
He shook his heavy head.
“All of the others are dead. They insisted that we retreat here where I could protect these others. I did not want to. I wanted to die with my people. But they gave me no choice. Do you understand? They gave me no choice!”
Galder seemed to be ashamed that he had survived while the majority of his kind had died protecting him and Simon hastened to reassure the proud creature.
“I understand totally,” he said. “Galder, you are the strongest and the fiercest. And if your people are to continue to live on after this horror, they will need a leader. I think it takes more courage to make the hard decisions, like the one you made to survive, than to do what we might want to do. Don't beat yourself up about it.”
The bear man frowned and nodded slowly.
“Perhaps. Perhaps you are right. But if they come back this night, we will surely perish.”
“That isn't going to happen. I'm getting you and the others out of here. You can spend the night at my tower and that will give you time to decide what you want to do next.”
Galder agreed with obvious relief, but insisted that his dead must be taken care of first.
While the chief reassured the survivors that they would be safe, Simon left the building with Aeris and Kronk.
“So, we have to gather up the...remains before it gets dark,” he told the elementals. “That gives us a few hours.”
“You're assuming that there are more undead out there just waiting for the cover of night to attack,” Aeris said. “Between the annihilation caused by Incendus and his fellows and however many that Galder's people destroyed, there may not be any left. Or not enough to be much of a threat.”
“Yes, that's true. But we can't leave Galder and the others here regardless.”
Simon looked around at the smoking and wrecked buildings.
“How could the ten of them live here after what happened? I can bring them back tomorrow and they can gather up whatever they want to salvage.”
“And then what, master?”
“I have no idea, Kronk,” Simon replied as he slipped his staff over his shoulder. He pushed back his hair with both hands and looked glumly at the scattered bodies.
“Right now we should show our respects and honor the chief's wishes.”
“They must be burned,” a deep voice said from behind him.
Galder walked up and looked toward the gates.
“I will not allow them to be raised as monsters. We must burn the bodies before the night comes.”
Simon nodded, accepting the common sense suggestion.
“If we gather them together, I can use my magic to make sure their remains aren't defiled.”
“Ah, that is good. Let us begin.”
It was sad, slow work, but they managed to pile all of the bodies in front of the smashed front gates just as the sun was touching the horizon. Several of the survivors had joined them to help with the gruesome task. Out of respect, each body had been wrapped in rough cloth and laid out close to each other.
Simon looked around and wondered if there really was an imminent threat. The fi
elds were quiet and nothing but the wind made any sound. Even the birds had stopped singing. However, he wasn't willing to take any chances.
“Stand back, everyone,” he said when the last corpse was gently added to the pile.
Galder and his people moved back several paces. All of them watched now as the sky darkened. The chief's daughters huddled up next to him and he held them tightly.
Before he used his magic, Simon looked over at Galder.
“Did you want to say something?” he asked respectfully.
The chief shook his head.
“We will remember them. That is enough,” he said simply.
Simon nodded and raised his staff. He reached for his power and focused it on the pile.
“Fire,” he said under his breath, willing the corpses to burn.
There was a loud whoosh of sound and the bundles burst into flame as if soaked with gasoline. The wave of intense heat forced them all backward as the dead were consumed. It took only a few minutes.
When it was done and all that remained were embers and some wisps of smoke, Galder gently pulled away from his daughters and approached Simon.
“Thank you, wizard. You have been a true friend. We need only a few minutes to gather some things and then we can leave, if your offer of shelter still stands.”
“Of course it does.” Simon looked up at the darkening sky. “But please hurry, Galder. Time is running out.”
The chief didn't hesitate. He turned toward his people and grunted at them in their own language, clearly giving them orders.
All of them scattered, hurrying to grab what they thought they needed and obviously aware of the impending danger.
Simon and the elementals followed them back inside the wall and waited.
“Master, that was a very nice thing you did,” Kronk said.
“It was just common decency,” the wizard answered with a shrug. “Anyone would have done the same.”
“Not anyone,” Aeris told him as he hovered close by. “I have known wizards who would have left the Haladanin to their fate, believe me.”
“Your old wizards sound worse every time you mention them, do you know that?” Simon asked.
“Do they? Good, because they were. Wizards were not heroes back in ancient times, I assure you. They were a, what is the phrase, a necessary evil? Often they were tolerated because they were both feared and occasionally useful.”
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 Dragons of Argent and Silver (Tales from the New Earth #6) Page 29