“We were glad to do it,” Gregor replied. “Now, let's get out of here.”
Erana lowered herself through the hole to the anxiously awaiting Rragor, quickly followed by Gwendolyn and the rest of the band. The moment Darian, who had been the last to descend, reached the floor, Jalek struck the pile of dust that had once been part of the ceiling with the end of his staff. Instantly, it rose into the air, seemingly falling up into the void from whence it had come. In seconds, no sign of their temporary entrance remained.
“Your magical abilities are incredible,” Ian observed aloud.
“Thank you,” Jalek said with a smile. “I've had a fair amount of time to practice them.”
Kilren began leading the group quickly, and unerringly, back toward the gate that sealed the sewer.
“That was actually really easy,” Darian asserted, marching along at Kilren's heels. “I expected it to be a little harder to break someone out of the most secure prison in Mikral.”
“Oh sure,” the lieutenant said with a hint of sarcasm. “I mean; basically anyone who had the help of a super skilled wizard, an extremely experienced bard, a particularly powerful sorceress, and a terribly talented thie... that is to say, someone who can pick locks and navigate their way through the sewers of a city, would be able to do it without breaking a sweat. Not to mention the fact that we had a Telian Knight and a Ranger of Innalas with us, as well.”
“Yeah,” Darian nodded. “I think I see what you mean. Maybe it wasn't all that easy, after all.”
“No, it wasn't,” Kilren agreed.
In just over an hour, the band had made their way into the little woodland where they had left their horses, along with the men who had volunteered to escort Prince Forlan back to his homeland. After a brief discussion, two of the group offered to give their horses to Mort and Kal. They would travel to Lord Jannus's fortress on foot, while Darian and his companions made their way there with all possible speed. They had succeeded in freeing the prince, which might well put additional pressure on King Palnar. This certainly left them no time to sit on their laurels, however. Solarin, not to mention Innalas, still had need of their aid.
Chapter 16: Before the Storm
“Your skills are truly remarkable,” Ian said, turning his eyes to the wizard riding by his side in the pale light of the twin moons.
“It's good of you to say so,” Jalek replied with a slight bow.
“No, it's not, lad. It's nothing more than the simple truth. The magic you wield is more than just a series of spells you've learned to cast. You seem to understand magical theory on an incredible level for someone of your youth.”
“I may be a little older than I look,” the wizard chuckled, “and, I've had a great deal of time for both study and practice. I appreciate the compliment just the same, however. Of course, your own skills – as well as Gwendolyn's – are equally impressive.”
“I'm not sure I would say that,” the dwarf replied. “With she and I, it's very different. In the main, my spells are bits of bardic magic I've picked up here or there, although I suppose I do modify them a tad for my own use. Gwendolyn is able to do what comes naturally to her or what she's felt other sorcerers do, but she can't just come up with a new spell at a moment's notice.”
“Not now,” Jalek interjected, “but, that will likely change as she learns more about the nature of magic.”
“I agree with you there,” Ian nodded. “Still, that doesn't change the fact that you composed a new spell in less than half-an-hour for a very specific purpose. Unless, of course, you just happen to have the most eclectic collection of spells ever jotted down in a spell book.”
“I suppose that did appear somewhat impressive,” the wizard agreed with a smile, “even if I do say so myself. In all honesty, though, it wasn't quite as remarkable as it might have seemed. You may have noticed that I have a certain level of skill when it comes to summoning and commanding elementals.”
“I certainly have,” Ian replied, pulling his pipe from one pocket and his tobacco pouch from another. “It would have been rather hard to overlook.”
“What I actually did,” Jalek continued, “was cast two spells in unison. The first summoned a particular type of stone elemental.”
“Using the stone that just happened to fill the entrance you wanted to create.”
“Precisely,” the wizard replied. “It's possible, when you summon an elemental, to dictate precisely what materials its body will be composed of. At least, it is if you know exactly what you're doing.”
“Incredible.”
“Not as incredible as it sounds. It's merely a matter of study and application.”
“What was the second circle for?”
“I don't just summon random elementals,” Jalek explained. “They can be rather unpredictable and, occasionally, dangerous. I prefer to call on those I know and have been able to be of some service to in the past. The particular elemental I needed to summon is somewhat surly and difficult to control. The second circle kept him formless, asleep, and contained until we were done. When we were ready to leave, I dismissed him and the stone returned to its original form.”
“That was extremely clever,” the bard nodded. “Where did you study?”
“A number of places,” the wizard replied. “Needless to say, having known Baldorin all of my life gave me opportunities not everyone has. I've spent a great deal of time in the company of dragons. Their understanding of magic is deep and their perception of it is unique.”
“I can see where that would give you some real advantages over other wizards.”
“It certainly has,” Jalek nodded. “Most of the universities of wizardry focus on the uses of magic in war, rather than making a study of the theories behind magic itself. Learning to engulf your enemies in fire is more important than understanding how it is that you're able to summon fire out of thin air.”
“I suppose you have a point,” the dwarf agreed. “Still, I can understand it. Magic is extremely useful in time of war.”
“It certainly is,” the wizard agreed. “I didn't intend that to sound like a condemnation. It was simply an observation. Most dragons, however, see magic in a slightly different light, as do I.”
“Well,” Ian said, pausing to light his pipe. “I thank the Eilian that you came with us. Not to mention Baldorin, as well. You've been a great deal of help.”
“Thank you,” Jalek replied. “I hope to be even more so in future. I intend to remain with you until this conflict is over. Provided, of course, that my offer of aid meets with Lord Andor's approval. I feel certain that you and your companions could well have more need of my talents before this is all over. Plus, of course, I enjoy your company a great deal.”
“I'm confident that Lord Andor will approve,” Ian asserted. “I certainly do. Are you sure that Baldorin will feel it's the best use of your time, though?”
“Of that,” the wizard said, “I have no doubt.”
The pair spent the following few hours discussing the general political views of dragons, as well as those of Baldorin specifically, along with magical theory, as perceived by members of that noble race. The bard called the band to a halt as the first rays of the rising sun were slowly spreading across the field they were currently crossing. By this time, it was likely that Prince Forlan's escape had been discovered and that patrols would be searching the countryside for him. As a result, the decision was made, once again, to do a majority of their traveling at night. At least, such would be their course of action until they were much nearer the lands of Lord Jannus.
After roughly ten hours of repose, the members of the band climbed back onto their mounts and continued their journey. Although the sun would still be in the sky for several hours, both Kilren and Ian felt that the possibility of being spotted was somewhat less risky than remaining for too long too close to the capital. As the party passed along, Gwendolyn and Erana rode up to Ian's side, having noticed that he was, for the moment, alone at the head of their party.<
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“Ian,” Erana said, “Gwendolyn wants your advice.”
“Does she, lass?” Ian asked with a smile.
“I do,” the human maiden replied. “At least, I think I do.”
“But, you're not sure?” the bard asked.
“She is,” the elvish ranger asserted.
“Normally,” Gwendolyn said, “I'd talk to Sarena about it. Or my mother. Neither of them are here, though.”
“I'm flattered that you would consider me a substitute for either of them,” the dwarf chuckled. “Although, I have to admit that, I'd expect you to turn to Erana in their absence.”
“I don't have the same problem,” the elvish maiden explained.
“It may seem silly to bring it up now,” the sorceress said. “After all, we're currently in the middle of a war.”
“We are,” the bard nodded.
“But, on the other hand,” she continued, “we could all end up dead before this is over.”
“That's a possibility,” he agreed.
“So,” she said, “if we want something, we had better try to get it while we're still alive.”
“That's sound advice.”
“You're not likely to get what you want in this life after you're dead.”
“I can't argue with you there.”
“Which is why, I suppose, I probably do need your advice,” Gwendolyn said, turning her eyes to the bard. “So, what is it?”
“I believe you may have been spending too much time around Darian,” the bard observed.
“Have I?” she asked with a tone of sincere surprise.
“I mean,” he laughed, “you haven't told me what you want my advice about yet.”
“Oh, of course,” she replied, shaking her head. “It's about Darian.”
“That much I'd guessed, my dear.”
“It's just that...” she began before pausing for several seconds. “He seems to have fallen back to sleep.”
“Back to sleep?” the dwarf repeated.
“She means,” Erana interjected, “that just days ago, it looked as if Darian had finally figured out that he was a boy and that she was a girl. Since then, however, it seems to have slipped his mind completely.”
“I see,” Ian replied with a smile. “Are you sure he woke up in the first place?”
“I wouldn't say he was fully awake,” the human maiden admitted, “but, I think he was waking up.”
By way of explanation, she told Ian exactly what Darian had said to her.
“That certainly sounds like waking up to me,” the bard agreed. “Nothing since then, though?”
“He seems to have forgotten that I'm even here, much less a girl.”
“Well, then, you may want to remind him.”
“I'd love to,” she sighed. “The question is; how?”
“You could kiss him,” the dwarf suggested.
“She couldn't do that!” Erana exclaimed.
“I assure you,” Ian chuckled, “she could.”
“I can't believe you're suggesting that,” the elvish maiden said, clearly scandalized. “That would be completely improper!”
“No, it wouldn't, my dear,” the bard smiled. “In fact, not only is it a human custom, it's tradition.”
“For a lady to ask a man to marry her?” Erana asked.
“No,” the dwarf replied. “Although, that's not completely unheard of.”
“I've never heard of it,” the elf pointed out.
“Maybe not,” he laughed, “but, I assure you, it's happened, just the same. Humans have their own customs, just as elves do.”
“So, you're saying,” Erana said, her eyes locked on those of the bard, “that it would be proper for her to just up and kiss him, even though they're not married?”
“Absolutely.”
“That's insane,” the elvish maiden asserted, shaking her head.
“No, it's not,” the bard smiled. “It's just not elvish.”
“What about dwarves?”
“We kiss before we're married, as well,” he assured her.
“That seems almost... obscene... No offense.”
“None taken,” he laughed. “Although, dear, you need to think about the fact that you intend to marry a human. Your children will be something betwixt and between elvish and human and you both need to honor the traditions of both your peoples.”
“Well, then,” she continued, “Would it be normal for a human man to kiss the girl he was engaged to before their wedding?”
“Completely.”
“I just assumed he was lying,” she said, almost speaking to herself.
“What?” Ian asked.
“Nothing,” she replied, turning her gaze to Gwendolyn. “Did you know about this?”
“About men and women kissing?” the human maiden asked.
“Yes.”
“Of course,” Gwendolyn replied with a slight blush.
“Then, why didn't you say anything?”
“You seemed to find the idea so shocking that I thought I'd better not,” the sorceress explained. “I didn't want you to think any less of humans.”
“I don't!” she exclaimed. “I mean; obviously, it is shocking. In fact, it's completely barbaric. But, that doesn't change the fact that humans are a wonderful race. It just means that some of their customs are totally savage.”
“You mentioned tradition, Ian,” Gwendolyn said in the hope of bringing the subject to a speedy end.
“I did,” he nodded. “It's not only a human tradition, it is specifically a tradition of Solarin.”
“What is?” Erana asked.
“For a lady to reward a man with a kiss,” the bard explained. “Especially if he happens to save her life.”
“He's done that more than once,” Gwendolyn nodded.
“He has,” Ian replied. “So, it would be completely proper for you to offer him a kiss in gratitude. In fact, according to Solarin tradition, it would be nothing more than thanking him properly for what he's done. Plus, as it seems that he finds you very attractive, it's probably more likely than anything else to wake him up.”
“I don't know,” Gwendolyn said, blushing brightly. “It seems a little forward to me.”
“I completely agree with you,” Erana said encouragingly.
“It's up to you,” Ian shrugged. “You can always just wait for nature to take its course, I guess. Of course, who knows how many years that might take.”
“I'll do it!” Gwendolyn replied with a tone of complete and total conviction.
A little more than an hour before dawn, the party entered a sparsely wooded dale that they felt would make an excellent place of rest. A small fire was lit, above which Ian began cooking a pot of soup using some of the dried meat they had with them, along with a number fresh herbs Erana had quickly gathered. While the bard was attending to their meal, most of the other members of the band lay sprawled around the little blaze, fairly exhausted by their days of ceaseless effort.
After several minutes of whispered conversation between Erana and Gwendolyn, which included a great deal of head shaking and nodding – as well as some blushes and smiles – both maidens rose and the sorceress approached the young Telian.
“Sir Darian,” she said somewhat nervously, “would you please stand up for a moment?”
“Why?” he asked, turning his head, which was currently cradled in his hand, in order to look at her with the side of his eye.
“I want to give you something,” she explained.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Stand up and I'll show you.”
“Can't you show me sitting down?” he replied. “I feel like I'm about to fall asleep. I think I've had about enough of this riding all night, every night.”
“You and me both,” Kilren chuckled. “It's funny because I used to love it. Maybe I'm just getting old.”
“It's not that, lad,” Ian replied, glancing up from the pot he was stirring. “I still love it and I'm a lot older than you.”
“Maybe it has more to do with wisdom,” Jalek observed, shooting the bard a knowing glance.
“You may be right about that,” the dwarf chuckled.
“It's not the kind of thing I can give you while you're sitting down,” Gwendolyn continued, completely ignoring the conversational topic picked up by the men.
“Really?” Kilren asked, offering the maiden a sly smile.
“Would you just stand up, Darian?” Erana almost snapped.
“Alright,” he sighed, climbing slowly to his feet. “Although, I can't imagine what you'd want to give me that couldn't wait until tomorrow. I mean; until later today, I guess. And, I can't think of anything that I would have to stand up to get.”
“Sir Darian,” the human maiden said the moment the knight stopped speaking. “It's come to my attention that you and I have, quite unintentionally, completely disregarded an ancient and honored tradition of Solarin.”
“Have we?” he asked.
“We have,” she assured him, a bright blush momentarily passing over her features. “It turns out, at least according to the customs of Solarin, that I never thanked you properly for saving my life.”
“I'm not sure that I ever actually...” he began.
“Yes, you did!” she interrupted. “In fact, you've saved my life countless times.”
“When?”
“In battle, after battle, after battle,” she explained.
“I guess that's true,” he nodded. “But, if you look at it that way, then you've saved my...”
“That's not the point!” she interrupted with some heat. “We're talking about tradition, Sir Darian. You saved me from Valrak's men. It's tradition that I, as a lady, offer you, as my rescuer...”
“It wasn't just me that rescued you,” he interjected. “Not to mention the fact that you've rescued each and every one of us from death itself at one time or another.”
“I suppose that's true,” she said, rolling her eyes, “but, Erana is a lady, Kilren is engaged, and Ian is...”
“Like your uncle,” the dwarf suggested.
The Lords of Areon (The Chronicles of Areon Book 3) Page 28