Ethmira was smiling when he rejoined them.
“Holding an elemental party?” she asked with laughter in her voice.
He turned and looked at the elementals and shook his head.
“You'd definitely think so. I had no idea that beings from different realms would actually know each other.”
“It's not all that surprising,” Tamara said as she watched the two groups. “They are immortal, after all. Certainly stories of ancient times tell of wars and periods of conflict where wizards employed servants from different planes. A few were bound to run into each other from time to time, don't you think?”
Liliana was nodding as she studied the interaction between the creatures.
“That isn't such a bad thing either,” she said. “Friends fight harder for friends, as a rule. If the elementals are comrades, they may be even more aggressive than they would normally be.”
“I'll take any help I can get,” Simon told them all.
“I noticed that you haven't summoned the fire elementals,” Malcolm stated curiously.
“No, I haven't. I'll call for them later, if needed. They are destruction personified and may actually do more harm than good. Let's see how things go first, hmm?”
“You're the boss,” the big man said cheerfully. “Just tell me what to do and when to do it.”
Aiden grinned and nodded in agreement.
“You'll get your chance,” Simon said grimly as he looked from face to face. “You'll all get your chance.”
There was some time to kill as they waited for Aeris to return from his scouting trip. Simon spoke to each of his allies in turn, trying to judge their mood and doing his best to bolster their confidence.
Liliana was in a dark place. Hers were the only people that they absolutely knew had been abducted by the dragons to be used in their hellish alchemy. She was eager to go and seemed to be holding it together by sheer willpower alone.
Tamara and Sebastian were worried about their ability to use their powers when they reached the top of the mesa.
“What happens if we get up there and can't use our magic?” Tamara asked. She looked at her brother, who was shifting from one foot to another, either because of the cold or nerves or both.
“Yeah, Simon,” he added. “In case you hadn't noticed, neither my sister or I are exactly geared up for hand to hand combat.”
Like the wizard, the siblings were wearing robes under their heavy coats and gloves. Neither seemed to be armed.
“Don't worry,” he said reassuringly. “If the null field is still active up there, I'll distract the primal white dragon long enough to make him, her, whatever, drop it.”
“How?”
He shrugged.
“I have an idea, but if it doesn't work, then we'll figure something else out.”
“Figure something out?” Sebastian commented in disbelief. “You mean you're just winging this?”
“Hang on, Bastion,” his sister said as she put a firm hand on his shoulder. “You can't plan out a battle that specifically. You have to remain fluid and be willing to adapt. I think that's what our wizard friend is getting at.”
“Exactly. Thanks, Tamara. That is exactly what I meant. Yes, I think I can make the primal drop that anti-magic field. But if I can't, I'll keep trying other things until I do. Okay?”
Sebastian nodded slowly.
“Okay. Now, try and relax until Aeris gets back. It shouldn't be much longer.”
In fact, the air elemental appeared in their midst a few minutes later, startling everyone. Liliana gave a little shriek of surprise and then glared around as if daring anyone to comment. Wisely, no one did.
“Good to see you back in one piece, my friend,” Simon said. “So what's going on up there?”
Everyone was circled around Aeris, listening intently.
He glanced from face to face and finally settled on watching Simon.
“Well, things have changed a little bit since my last visit,” he began. “Fortunately I wasn't discovered this time and I scouted the mesa from several different locations along the rim of the plateau.”
He flew down to the ground and began drawing in the thin, crusty snow with a forefinger.
“Here is the mesa,” he said, making a large circle. “On the north side, there are eggs. Row upon row of dragon eggs, practically buried in ice and snow.”
He looked up at the faces that were staring at the map.
“I never dreamed that dragons had so many eggs to hatch out replacements when needed. It's rather horrible, actually.”
“They'll have to be destroyed, after the battle perhaps, but they must not survive,” Malcolm said darkly. The others nodded.
“Good. Now to the east, here, is where the primal white dragon is situated. It is still creating its abominations.”
“Damn it,” Liliana hissed. “Even after learning that it was being spied on, it is continuing?”
“It is,” Aeris told her. “But the dragons must be having a hard time replenishing their human captives. I saw only a dozen or so being held there. Quite pitiable. A small blessing, I suppose, is that the process of fusing dragons and humans seems to be a costly one. When I began my scout, the primal had just created a new monster and sent it through the portal. Then it seemed to sag. It collapsed on to its knees and a dragonoid, as our dear wizard calls them, hurried forward, offering it meat. It seemed to be a servant and was fussing over the primal dragon.”
“So, it's weakened when it performs the fusion spell. That's interesting,” Ethmira said and locked eyes with Simon.
“Yes, it is,” he agreed. “If we could strike while it's weak, and perhaps vulnerable, it might make it easier to bring down that null field.”
“What else, Aeris?” Aiden asked calmly. “What about the dragon's forces up there?”
“I'm coming to that.”
The air elemental made a small circle to the right of the mark indicating the primal dragon.
“This is where the Gate is. I've never seen a stable portal like it before. Certainly no wizard I ever knew could create one. But the primal may be using something to keep the Gate open and stable.”
“Using what?” Tamara asked.
“To either side of the portal are crystals, blazing white crystals. They seem to be connected to the Gate by streams of light. At a guess, I'd say that the dragon enchanted these crystals and they are what is keeping the Gate functioning. Smash them and perhaps it will collapse.”
“That's important,” Malcolm said and looked at Aiden. “If we attack and that portal stays open, the dragon may be able to summon reinforcements through it. We have to take it out.”
“I agree,” Simon said. “If you'd like to volunteer, then you two should target that portal and those crystals first.”
“Consider it done,” Aiden said.
“Good. What else, Aeris?”
“Here, in the center of the plateau, is where the humans are being held. They are so weak and broken that we cannot expect any help from that direction. However, just behind them we have the dragons.”
“Dragons?” Liliana's eyes lit up. “What kind? How many?”
“A mixture of reds and whites. No browns, which is a bit surprising. But together I counted twenty, give or take. Here,” Aeris tapped a spot on the southern part of his map, “there are drakes, the primal's personal slaves. They are constantly moving, twisting, clawing at each other, so it is hard to get an exact count, but I'd say at least two dozen. They cannot fly, as you all know, but their fangs and claws are formidable.”
“Leave the drakes to us,” came a voice from outside of the group.
Everyone turned to look and saw Aethos standing a few feet away. Next to him was the hulking figure of Kassus.
“My brethren and I will deal with the drakes,” he said and looked at the earth elemental. “My friend here has promised to keep the dragons grounded. The elves can then turn them into pincushions at their leisure.”
He glanced at E
thmira.
“I assume your arrows are enchanted to penetrate dragon hide?”
“Of course,” she answered.
“Good. I am not going to give any of you orders; the wizard is in charge here. But if we can contain and destroy the drakes, and the elves and earthen can occupy the dragons, then you,” he nodded at Simon, “can concentrate on the primal white dragon, along with the mages and the paladin.”
“We'll lend a hand once the Gate is down,” Malcolm added. “With luck, that won't take long.”
Simon had begun nodding as Aethos spoke and smiled at the floating figure.
“Sound tactics, I'd say. Aeris, anything else to report?”
“No, that is all. I would recommend that one of the earthen retrieve the captives as soon as they can. They will be the most vulnerable once the battle begins.”
“I will see to that,” Kassus rumbled. “I shall transport them to this spot and rejoin the battle at once. It will only take a few minutes.”
Simon looked around the group, catching every set of eyes in turn.
“All right then,” he said finally. “Anyone else have any more thoughts, comments, suggestions? Now is the time to speak up.”
A few of them shook their heads, everyone else simply waited silently.
“Okay. Let's do this.”
Chapter 27
Moving through the ground from the base of the mesa to the top was even more bizarre than using a Gate, as far as Simon was concerned. The earth elementals split up the humans and elves into groups of six and seven and then made them all huddle together.
“We are going to encase each group in a shell of rock,” Kassus explained in his slow, heavy voice. “That way you will be able to flow through the earth as we do. Wizard,” he said, looking at Simon. “Where do you want to emerge on the plateau?”
“Aeris, is there a clear space up there?”
“Yes. The western edge of the mesa is open. There is a large area littered with boulders and rocks that is not being used for anything. Some of the boulders are actually quite big. If the earthen brought the groups to the surface behind these, they would hide you from view until you attacked.”
“Perfect. Can you do that, Kassus?”
“Child's play. Now, brace yourselves. We go.”
Simon was grouped with the other humans. The six of them huddled together and then watched as a wall of rock rose up from the ground and enclosed them inside a hollow globe.
“Well, isn't this cozy?” Malcolm commented with a brittle laugh.
“Bit claustrophobic?” Tamara asked out of the darkness.
“Until this moment, I didn't think so. Now though...”
The globe rocked beneath them and everyone grabbed hold of each other and tried to stay on their feet.
They could hear the sound of the globe slipping through the earth, a steady rumble like an earthquake that seemed to go on and on.
They were jostled from side to side and then Simon felt a swoop in his stomach, like the feeling of going up in a high-speed elevator. He swallowed to try to calm his stomach. He'd never much cared for elevators.
The globe stopped moving abruptly and they all staggered again.
“Top floor. Women's lingerie, men's briefs,” Aiden chimed up and several people laughed nervously.
And then the globe of rock collapsed into pebbles and dust around them and they found themselves standing beneath the cold night sky.
A few yards in front of Simon was the edge of the mesa, as abrupt as a knife cut, leading to a thousand foot drop. He turned and looked around and saw that they'd been deposited behind one of the massive boulders that Aeris had mentioned. It was a dozen feet high and at least as wide and hid the rest of the plateau from view.
“Perfect,” Tamara whispered. She looked up at the earth elemental watching them balefully. “Well done.”
The large figure nodded once and then sank back into the earth.
“Not big on chit-chat, are they?” Malcolm observed quietly.
“Neither am I,” Tamara said dismissively and walked away to stand next to her brother.
Malcolm rolled his eyes at Simon, who smiled and shrugged and then the big man and Aiden crept up to the boulder and began to sidle around it to get a better view.
Simon looked at Liliana who motioned toward the men. He nodded and the two of them followed the warriors carefully.
When they could get a clear look at the rest of the plateau, everyone crouched down and examined the tableau before them. It was appalling.
The mesa was lit up by orbs of magic light that bobbed and weaved in the stiff winds blowing across the flat ground. Simon recognized the same sort of light that he himself could summon and his heart skipped a beat.
There was no question about it; the primal white dragon could cast spells.
In front of them, directly to the east of their position were two groups of dragons. Aeris had been right. The wizard counted ten reds and ten whites. They were clearly segregated. The white dragons were huddled together in one group and the red dragons in another. Occasionally one member of a group would hiss and snap its head at the other group, and that group would reciprocate.
“Big, aren't they?” Aiden murmured as he looked at the fifty foot length of the dragons.
“But they don't much care for each other, do they?” Malcolm whispered.
“No, they certainly don't,” Simon agreed. “Par for the course for dragons, I think.”
He nodded at a spot beyond the dragons to the left, near the far edge of the plateau.
“The Gate,” he said unnecessarily.
“Gee, ya think?” Aiden muttered jokingly.
The portal was the brightest thing on the mesa. Twenty feet around, it throbbed and pulsed like a living thing. A low hum could be felt through the ground under their feet and made the hair on Simon's arms stand up, like static electricity.
“Look, the crystals,” Liliana whispered. She was crouched just in front of the three men, looking around intently.
On each side of the portal was a crystal as tall as a man. This was the source of the bright light. Both crystals were almost blindingly white and streams of magical energy connected them to the pulsing Gate.
A scrabbling sound behind them made everyone turn to see Tamara and Sebastian creeping up behind them.
The woman took Simon by the arm and leaned in to speak as quietly as possible.
“Wizard, the primal dragon isn't the source of the nullifying magic up here,” she stated urgently. “It's that Gate.”
“What? How do you know?” he asked in confusion.
“I can feel it. Can't you? The Gate or most likely those crystals, is draining the magic from me. Stay still and just allow yourself to feel for a moment.”
While everyone watched, Simon looked at Tamara dubiously, shrugged and closed his eyes.
He could always feel his power, filling his body like a jar is filled with water. He knew when it was low, the times he had overexerted himself and cast too many spells. But the last few days of rest had allowed him to become re-energized.
He crouched unmoving and just listened to his body. He felt a...pulling? A drawing sensation. It was like some sort of vacuum or an invisible black hole, hungrily trying to suck all of the magic into itself. And it was coming from the portal.
He opened his eyes and nodded at the mage.
“You're right. It's draining me. And not just me, but every thing and every one who has an ounce of magic in their system.”
“Exactly. The dragons and the elves are probably immune. They don't use magic, they are magic. But for me, you, my brother and Liliana, we are being stripped of our powers. We have to get that Gate down now, before we can think of taking the fight to the primal dragon.”
“Um, guys?” Aiden interjected. “Speaking of which, where exactly is the primal anyway?”
“What?”
Everyone looked around the plateau. The view to the Gate was clear enough, but the la
rge bodies of the dragons were blocking their line of sight to the eastern part of the mesa, where the primal white had been standing.
“Damn it, I can't see past those cursed dragons,” Liliana said angrily. She turned to look at Malcolm. “Give me a boost, would you? I'll have a better view from the top of the boulder.”
“No problem, but let's move around to the other side, where those dragons can't see us.”
“Right.”
The two of them stayed low and circled back around the boulder while the others kept watch.
“How long before the earthen and the air elementals attack?” Tamara asked as she continued to stare at the Gate.
“When I tell them to,” Simon said simply. “My little friend here will pass on the message for me.”
“Your little..?”
A flicker in the air next to Simon's head became opaque and then they saw Aeris sitting on the wizard's shoulder.
Aiden stifled a laugh, while Sebastian grinned in approval.
“Good idea,” Tamara said. “You don't need to use magic to pass along your message.”
“Exactly. I made Kronk wait below. He's not happy about that, but he can't help us with this. On the other hand, my friend here can. So, how are you doing, Aeris?”
“I feel like a parrot, that's how I'm doing,” the elemental said crossly. “And no, I don't want a cracker, thanks.”
Even Tamara clapped a hand to her mouth to muffle her laughter at Aeris' comment and Simon smiled at him.
“Cute. Now stop making us laugh or we'll end up as dragon chow.”
That comment killed everyone's mood and the elemental nodded.
“Simon!” Liliana hissed down at him.
He looked up and saw her lying on the edge of the boulder, looking across the plateau.
“What is it? Can you see the primal?” he whispered.
“No. The bloody thing is gone.”
A stunned silence followed the paladin's words.
“What are you talking about?” Tamara said angrily. “It can't be gone.”
The Dragons of Ice and Snow Page 37