“I am. Believe me, I am. Thank you again. But this isn't just a social call, is it, my dear wizard,” Aeris said pointedly to Simon.
“No, that's true. We wanted to tell you what happened to Aeris and what the situation is now.”
Clara narrowed her eyes and looked at them intently.
“Go ahead. I'm listening,” she told them seriously.
Simon let Aeris tell his story while he sat back and watched the cleric's reaction. She went from looking shocked and angry at the attack on the elemental to pale and tense as he described the dark wizard.
When Aeris was finished, Clara sighed and stared into space, tapping her bottom lip reflectively.
“Just when you think things can't get any worse, they do,” she said, sounding tired. “Now on top of a possible necromancer out there somewhere, we have a rogue wizard who apparently works for the gods of Chaos. And she commands those packs of mutant Changlings. Wonderful.”
“Glad we could brighten your day,” Simon said with a grim smile.
“Well, half-brighten at least. I'm glad to see Aeris back. But the rest? Oh gods, this is bad. And you've made a vow to stop her to Aethos. I'm going to take a guess and say that the elementals won't allow you to wiggle out of that responsibility. Not that you would,” she added hastily.
“No I wouldn't. Well, not in this case at least.”
Simon pondered his alternatives for a moment.
“Aethos didn't say I had to kill her, thankfully. He said I had to stop her, whatever it takes. I just have to figure out how to do that.”
“Stopping a wizard usually means killing them, Simon,” Aeris told him flatly.
“I'm afraid I have to reluctantly agree with Aeris,” Clara said slowly. “If this wizard is killing other Changlings, how else could you stop her? Locking her up wouldn't work. Magic is magic. Even in a cell, she could still cast spells.”
“Especially if she is a master-class wizard,” Aeris added. “She would have enough spells locked in her memory that she would not need to use a spell-book to be a danger.”
Simon squirmed uncomfortably. Cold-blooded murder was simply not something he could see himself doing.
“There are a few alternatives, I suppose,” Aeris said thoughtfully.
“Like what?” Simon looked at him hopefully.
“Well, you could cut out her tongue. If you cannot pronounce a spell, you cannot cast it.”
“Aeris!” Clara exclaimed, shocked.
“What? I didn't say it was a good alternative. And, of course, there's always her true name.”
“What about it?” Simon asked. He knew that a wizard couldn't access their full power without knowing their true name. He had learned his in a dream from one of the old gods. He had to keep it on his body at all times so that he could channel his magic through it.
“If she carries her true name on her person, as we can assume she does, then capturing her and finding it would allow you to nullify her power.”
“It would?” Clara cut in. “That certainly sounds more hopeful. How does that work. Aeris?”
The elemental scowled as he stared at the desk beneath him.
“I'm trying to remember. It wasn't a subject that wizards spoke of openly very often, for obvious reasons. I do remember hearing that someone who knows a wizard's true name cannot be attacked magically by that wizard. Also, there is a process, a spell I suppose, called Siphon Magic, that can be used to drain the power from a magic-user.” He looked at Simon. “Something like what the dragons did to you when they attacked the tower. Without her power, this wizard would be effectively useless to the gods of Chaos. Her power over the packs of monsters she commands would, I believe, be canceled. After that, you could either imprison her or let her go. She would be of little threat.”
“Siphon Magic,” Simon said quietly. “Why does that sound so familiar?”
“Old games, my friend?” Clara asked lightly. She knew that Simon used to play fantasy games back in the old world.
“Possibly,” Simon answered. He sat wracking his brain, trying to loosen the memory from wherever it was buried. Finally he shrugged and looked at Clara.
“It will come to me eventually. Anyway, I wanted to bring you up to speed. I'll think about how to deal with this wizard and let you know when I make a decision. Have your people been informed about the mutant Changlings?”
“Of course. We have strengthened our defenses. Don't worry about us. Just stay safe, all alone up there in your tower.”
“He's not alone, lady,” Aeris said stoutly. “Kronk and I are here to ensure his safety, never fear.”
Clara smiled gently.
“Good. That reassures me, my friend. Call me when you have news.”
“Will do. Talk to you soon,” Simon said and smiled as he canceled the spell.
Both he and Aeris remained silent for a while after speaking with Clara. The elemental moved back to hover over the center of the desk and stared out of the window behind Simon at the field beyond.
The wizard rested his chin on his hands and thought about the best way to neutralize a wizard without killing her.
You killed Madam, a part of him said accusingly.
You can't kill what is already dead, he replied. This mad wizard isn't undead though. She's living and breathing and I don't think that I can just kill another person, unless it's in self-defense.
“Can you do it?” Aeris asked in a small voice. “Can you kill this woman?”
Simon looked at him and shook his head mutely.
“I didn't think so.”
Aeris' tone of voice was more accepting than accusatory. He shrugged.
“So what do we do?”
The wizard sat up slowly and pushed his hair out of his eyes.
“We find another way.”
Chapter 17
A bell started ringing loudly in alarm as Simon, Kronk and Aeris appeared at the front gates of Nottinghill. It was just after noon and it had been two weeks since the wizard had spoken with Clara about the marauding wizard that was ravaging the countryside.
A head popped up over the top of the wall to the right of the gates and stared at them across the moat. The drawbridge was up and the town was closed off.
There was a brief pause and then Simon heard someone shout, “Stop ringing that damned bell! It's the wizard and his elementals.”
He grinned down at Kronk who chuckled deeply.
“I guess I should have told Clara that we'd be Gating over to see her,” he said.
“At least you landed us outside of the wall,” Aeris said from where he hovered on Simon's left side. “If we'd appeared in town, they probably would have shot you.”
“Exactly why I did it,” Simon told him.
The three watched as the drawbridge was slowly lowered and the gates were swung open. By the time they could enter the town, Simon saw that Clara was waiting for them, flanked by two huge men in armor that he had to assume were Malcolm and Aiden, the new guardsmen.
He walked forward with Kronk tip-tapping along on one side and Aeris floating on the other. For a moment, he pictured how they must look as they advanced and he almost started laughing.
Something out of a storybook, he thought. Of weird tales.
Clara waved and then waited until they reached the gates before coming forward and giving the wizard a huge hug.
“Welcome to you all,” she said warmly. “What a nice surprise. If I'd known you were coming, I would have told the guards and you could have Gated directly into the town hall.”
“I didn't want to disturb you,” Simon said. “And besides, it was a last minute decision.”
Clara looked at him closely and then nodded. She noticed Bene-Dunn-Gal slung over Simon's shoulder and her eyes widened a bit.
“I see. Very well. Now, before I take you up to the hall, allow me to introduce the newest members of our little community.”
She turned and waved at the two armored men.
“That very large fell
ow with the lovely braids is Malcolm.”
Simon looked up at the guardsman. He was simply the biggest man that the wizard had ever met, even back when he was the old Simon O'Toole.
Malcolm was black with chiseled features and large eyes. The eyes were a surprise. They were the color of honey. He grinned as he removed his plated glove and extended a hand.
“Good to meet you, sir wizard. We've heard some stories about your exploits.”
Simon shook hands, his own skinny fingers engulfed by Malcolm's grip.
“Nice meeting you,” he said with a smile. “And don't believe everything you hear. Stories grow with the telling.”
Malcolm laughed and threw a glance at Clara.
“Yes, I know. But our dear cleric assures me that they are all true and who am I to argue with the chosen of the gods?”
“Oh Malcolm, hush,” Clara said, blushing. “Aiden, can't you keep him in line?”
The other man stepped forward and shook Simon's hand as well. He was chuckling.
“I never have been able to before, so why would it start now? Nice to meet you,” he added to Simon.
Aiden appeared to be of Asian descent but he was almost as large as Malcolm. His face was smooth and pleasant looking and his mane of black hair was longer than Simon's.
“If you get a chance while you're here,” Aiden said to the wizard, “I wonder if you'd tell us about your battle with the black dragon? Hearing about it from someone else isn't the same as hearing it from the man who actually did the deed.”
“Um, sure. If I get a chance,” Simon said, feeling a little uncomfortable. “It was a group effort though. I'm sure Clara and Virginia and the others told you the whole story.”
Malcolm reached down and put his large hand lightly on Simon's shoulder.
“I see that you are not a boaster. That is a credit to you. But we are interested in the story on a more practical level. The New Earth contains monsters of all kinds, seemingly. But the dragons are at the top of the food chain. And one day, we may be called upon to fight them. So it is only prudent that we learn all that we can of them.”
Simon nodded at this common sense attitude.
“I understand. I'll be happy to discuss it when I can. If not today, then the next time I'm in town.”
“Good enough,” Malcolm said and slapped the wizard lightly on the shoulder. Simon almost fell over. “Oops! Sorry about that. Sometimes I forget my own strength.”
“No problem. I didn't really need that shoulder for anything today anyway.”
At Malcolm's look of dismay, Simon burst out laughing and the others quickly joined in. The big man finally grinned at the joke.
“I think I like you, sir wizard. I think we're going to get along just fine.”
“Hey,” Aiden said and gave Malcolm a dig with his elbow that made their armor ring hollowly. “Just don't get along too well. I don't need any more competition.”
The pair of them broke up and Simon smiled at the sight of two such large men teasing each other.
“Yes, well, now that we're all acquainted, why don't you two grinning loons raise the drawbridge again while I take Simon and the elementals up to the hall, hmm?”
Clara pointed sternly at the cranks next to the gate that operated the drawbridge and the two guardsmen gave her a slight bow and waved at Simon. He said goodbye and joined the cleric as she walked up the road. Kronk and Aeris followed on their heels.
“So this visit was spontaneous, was it?” she asked the wizard as they walked. They were both enjoying the lovely day and Simon looked around as they went. He noted that the small houses had all been repaired after the hard winter and the road, covered with cobblestones, was recently swept and cleared of debris. Townspeople nodded and greeted them both as they passed. The elementals were a source of fascination and got a lot of second looks. They didn't seem to mind.
“Yes, it was.” Simon lowered his voice. “Actually, things have taken a turn for the worse, and I wanted to see you in person before we moved on.”
They reached the door of the town hall and Clara stopped and looked at him.
“Moved on? What do you mean? Are you leaving your tower?”
“No, no! Nothing like that. Bad choice of words there.”
The cleric led them into the hall. Inside, the main room was empty and Clara brought them through to her quarters and sat them down on her couch.
“Would you like something?” she asked graciously. “Tea? Wine? Something to eat?”
“No thanks.”
Simon looked at Aeris and noted his strained expression. Kronk, as usual, looked stoic.
“We simply don't have time, but I appreciate the offer.”
Clara sat at the opposite end of the couch and watched him anxiously.
“What is it, Simon? What's happening?”
He settling into the couch and crossed his legs, pulling his robe down to cover his knees as he did so.
“First, let me tell you what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks. Aeris was able to show me how to use the Magic Mirror spell to spy on that dark wizard.”
The cleric glanced at Aeris who nodded solemnly.
“I've kept my distance while tracking her and I'm fairly sure that I haven't been detected..
He ran his fingers through his hair and then pushed it off of his face.
“There are more white streaks in your hair, my friend,” Clara said gently.
“I know. The cost of using magic, I suppose. Anyway, I've seen some horrible things, Clara. I've watched, helpless, as this...person has directed her minions to kill at least a half-dozen human Changlings. The last one, two days ago, was very bad.”
The cleric's expression darkened.
“How so?” she asked.
“They found two Changlings together, young women. It was a nightmare. The pack...ripped them to pieces.”
Simon clenched his fists so hard that his arms shook.
“They were begging for their lives and the wizard just laughed as she had her monsters slaughter them.”
“By the gods,” Clara whispered. “Six in two weeks?”
“That we know of. Remember, she has other packs searching for humans as well. I think this is partly my fault.”
“It is not,” Aeris spoke up. “It is purely the fault of the dark gods. Do not start blaming yourself for things beyond your control, my dear wizard.”
“Why are you blaming yourself?” Clara asked with some confusion.
“Because I think I started this horror show. When I killed the primal black dragon, I set the gods of Chaos' timetable back. The dragon and its followers were tasked with killing all humans in their territory, to clear the way so that the gods could return. As you already know, mundane humans block the flow of magic and must be eliminated. And thanks to me, the dark gods now want all Changed humans dead as well. With the black dragon gone, those evil entities had to find another way to achieve their ends. Well, I think they found it. This wizard, and perhaps many more across North America, was created by an infusion of dark magic, twisted into what she's become. And now she is continuing the dragon's work, killing Changlings indiscriminately wherever she finds them.”
“That is just a theory, master,” Kronk said. “You do not know that it is true.”
“He's right, Simon,” Clara told him. “And even if the theory is correct, if you hadn't killed that dragon, the humans would still have died. Your actions may have simply exchanged one kind of destruction for another. It's terrible, yes, but hardly your fault.”
Simon gave himself a little shake.
“Either way, what matters now is stopping it. I can't save everyone in this world, but I will damn well save as many as I can in my little corner of it.”
The cleric smiled slightly at his intensity.
“That's better,” she said. “You can only do your best. But you seem to be in a rush to get after her. What's happened?”
“I am. This morning I checked on the wizard again. An
d guess what I found, purely by accident? There's a small settlement, perhaps a dozen Changlings or so, living on a farm about a hundred miles to the southwest of here.”
“Really?” Clara's eyes widened. “But that's wonderful! We should send some of our people out to make contact. Perhaps they'd like to join us.”
“Maybe they would, if they survive.”
“If they...” The cleric's face paled. “You mean?”
“The wizard and one of her packs is closing in on them. They've encircled the farm quietly, so that the people there have no idea of the danger. When she's ready, I'm sure that the wizard will have her minions attack.” He paused, then added, “And I can't let that happen.”
“But if that's the case, what is she waiting for? Maybe they've already attacked?”
“I don't think so. The group of monsters that she has with her is too small to completely surround the farm. When I watched earlier, I saw her dispatch one of her minions further west. I believe she's called for reinforcements and she'll wait until they arrive before attacking.”
Clara wrung her hands together nervously.
“That's quite a risk you're taking on a guess, my friend.”
“I know.” Simon rubbed his eyes and stared at her soberly. “But if I'm wrong, I'm afraid it won't matter anyway. The attack would already be over by now and the Changlings would be dead. But if I'm right, we,” he nodded at Kronk and Aeris, “have a chance to stop her before she kills again. So I'm hoping I'm right.”
“I see. Yes, I hope you are too.”
Simon stood up and stretched. He tried to rub the tension out of the back of his neck as he anticipated what he was about to do.
Clara also rose and led the way back into the hall.
“How are you going to get close enough to this wizard to stop her? From what she did to Aeris, we know that she's powerful.”
The four of them stopped by the central fire-pit. There were only cold ashes in the pit now, but sunlight streamed down from the smoke hole in the roof.
“I've picked out a spot in the forest, maybe a mile from where the farm is located. We'll Gate there and get as close as possible without being seen. Our plan is a bit,” Simon hesitated, “convoluted, I suppose, but basically Aeris will create a diversion to draw away as much of the mutant pack as possible and then Kronk and I will capture the wizard. I'll Gate her to a secure place and find her true name. It has to be on her person somewhere, just as mine is. Once I have that, she will basically be powerless. Or rather, she won't be able to use her magic against me.”
Tales from the New Earth: Volume One Page 64