Simon nodded vigorously.
“Exactly. My God, don't let anyone insult the dwarves. Shandon may be a friend, but they are all sticklers about manners and protocol. We can't afford to lose our only ally in these dangerous times.”
“Relax, my friend,” Tamara said calmly. “We all know the stakes, even the rougher members of our little community. No one will do anything overly stupid. I think.”
“Very reassuring,” Simon said dryly. “Anyway, part of the reason I called was to let you know that my scouts have discovered a couple of survivors.”
“More survivors?” Sebastian exclaimed, wide-eyed. “Fantastic!”
“Yep. The air elementals found these men, brothers actually, in Beijing. They've survived alone since the Night of Burning.”
“Incredible,” Tamara murmured. “It's what? Seven years since the world went all to Hell?”
“Closer to nine or ten, I think. I don't bother trying to keep track anymore. Anyway, the pair were fortunate that their Changes altered them into forms apparently quite suited for survival in this crazy new world of ours. One brother is a paladin.”
Both siblings looked amazed.
“Incredible. Up until now, Liliana was the only one of our people gifted directly by the gods. That we knew of,” Tamara added, speaking to her brother.
“Yes. I wonder how she'll react to the news that she isn't unique anymore?” Sebastian replied with a sly grin.
“I'm sure that she'll be thrilled,” Simon told them. “The paladin's brother sounds interesting as well. According to my scout, he's a summoner.”
Both of the mages stared at him blankly.
“A what?”
“A summoner,” the wizard repeated with a chuckle at their expressions. “Or a conjurer. Take your pick of titles, I suppose. I'm told that he can use magic to summon aid in the form of supernatural creatures. Handy in battle and it probably helped him and his brother to survive. Unfortunately, I am also informed that he can cast no other spells; no Gate or Magic Mirror. Nothing else.”
Tamara fiddled with a pencil as she digested the information.
“I'm not sure if that sounds awesome or somewhat limiting,” she stated after a moment's thought. “I mean, great, he can call up creatures to protect him or whatever, but he can't cast a simple fire spell or a mage light? That kind of sucks.”
Her brother shook his head vehemently.
“I disagree. The other spells would be useful, of course, but with the world as it is today, our main goal at the moment is simple survival. And it sounds like this conjurer or whatever has powers perfectly suited to do that. Add in his brother's ability to heal and fight and you've got a potent combination. No wonder they've managed to survive on their own all this time.”
Simon found himself nodding.
“You make some good points, Bastian,” he said. “And siblings have a special bond, as you both know. As a fighting unit, they could be formidable.”
“Well, we won't know until we meet them,” Tamara said, practical as always. “Do they want to join us, Simon?”
“They do. I could Gate to their location myself and pick them up, but I thought that, since they are going to be living at Nottinghill, you two should have the honors. If you want to, of course.”
“Of course we do,” Sebastian said immediately, not waiting for his sister to answer.
He then gave her an inquiring look and Tamara smiled back.
“I agree. We'll take Malcolm or Aiden along, just to watch our backs.”
“Cool. Okay, their names are Chao and Lei Zhang. Chao is the summoner. And here are their coordinates.”
Simon rattled off the longitude and latitude which Tamara quickly wrote down. After she had repeated the numbers back to make sure that they were correct, she frowned down at the slip of paper.
“What's the time difference between us and Beijing? I wouldn't want to pop in on them in the middle of the night. Might start things off with a bigger bang than I'd like.”
“Seven hours.”
Simon looked at Aeris.
“You sure?” he asked the elemental.
“Quite sure.”
“Tamara, Aeris tells me that there's a seven hour difference between your time and Beijing's.”
“Ah excellent. Thank him for me, would you?”
Simon winked at the elemental.
“Consider it done. Okay, I'll check back in next week. If you need anything until then, don't hesitate to give me a shout.”
“Will do. Thanks Simon, and thank you for the good news. Those elemental scouts of yours are the gift that just keeps on giving.”
The wizard laughed at that comment and waved at the siblings before canceling his spell. Then he sat back with long sigh and looked at Aeris.
“That went well,” he said as he rubbed his bleary eyes.
“Not surprising. Your people need all of the survivors that they can get. And these brothers sound like they will be very useful.”
“Maybe. But we know nothing of their temperament or anything else about them. After it just being the two of them for so long, will they have trouble living with other people? It could take some adjustment on their part.”
The wizard got up and stretched.
“Come on, I want to sit outside and get some sun. I think I'll make some tea and drink it out on the front steps.”
The day was getting hot when Simon and Aeris moved outside. It was either late spring or early summer, the wizard couldn't decide which. But it didn't matter. After a long and fairly brutal winter, it was good to enjoy the more temperate weather.
The two of them were chatting about Nottinghill Castle and guessing at how long it would be before Kronk and the other earthen completed the project, when a deafening blast of sound shook the tower to its foundations.
Simon's cup went flying and shattered on the steps as he clapped his hands over his ears with a bellow of agony.
A burning flash of white light followed, blinding him, and he squinted his eyes against it, frantically trying to see what was attacking them.
“Wizard!” something bellowed. “Attend me!”
“What the hell is that?” Simon exclaimed, trying to see through his watering eyes.
His ears were throbbing and he wondered whether they were actually bleeding.
“Stand up, my dear wizard. Quickly!” Aeris hissed. “He is unforgiving of disrespect.”
Who is he talking about, the wizard wondered as he unsteadily pushed himself to his feet.
Simon wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his robe and blinked a dozen times, trying to focus on his surroundings. Once his vision had cleared, he almost fell back against the steps as he gaped upward.
A giant stood there, filling the courtyard from the stairs to the front gate. It looked like an immense version of Aeris, but was even more finely formed.
Noble features frowned down at him and the translucent body of the giant was muscled and sculpted like that of a Greek god.
The being was over thirty feet tall, the top of his head just below the level of the tower's roof, and he was surrounded by an aura of power that sparked and sizzled as if made of living lightning.
Simon looked at Aeris and was surprised to see him on the ground, kneeling with his head lowered.
“Aeris? What's going on?” he asked urgently. “Who is this?”
The elemental remained silent and unmoving and the wizard was forced to peer up at the frightening form looming over him.
“Simon O'Toole,” it rumbled with a voice like thunder. “We meet in person at last.”
“I suppose we do,” Simon replied weakly. “And you are?”
Aeris kept his head down but spluttered in indignation at the wizard's question.
“I am Astrandamus,” the giant told him, his voice heavy with derision. “Have you lost your wits or are you being intentionally insulting?”
Oh crap, Simon thought numbly. The ruler of the air elementals! And I think I just irritated h
im. Not good.
“Forgive me,” he said quickly with a low bow. “I did not know that you ever traveled to Earth. To be honest, I wasn't even aware that you could.”
“When absolutely necessary,” Astrandamus said haughtily. “It displeases me to have to do so, but the matter is urgent.”
Simon looked up again to check the elemental's expression. He looked slightly less annoyed. Perhaps the wizard's gesture of respect had mollified the giant somewhat.
“Urgent? In what way?”
“One of mine has been destroyed. Corriss, I believe was his name.”
Aeris gasped but kept looking at the ground.
“He's dead, lord Astrandamus? Do you know how it happened?” Simon asked, shocked by the news.
“I do. It is the reason that I've come to your realm. I have lost people before, but never like this. That abomination, the so-called queen of the dragons, consumed him.”
The huge elemental held up a heavy fist that flared with power.
“Consumed! One of mine!” he roared, forcing Simon to cover his ears again.
“She dared do this! Oh, that monster shall suffer for this outrage, have no doubt of that.”
“Great one, may I speak?” Aeris asked humbly in a trembling voice.
Astrandamus frowned down at the cowering figure.
“Look at me, Aeris,” the great elemental commanded. “And stand up. I dislike groveling, no matter what my courtiers may say. Speak your peace.”
“Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord. I only wished to ask if you knew why the queen would do such a thing? Surely one of my stature would not be considered a threat to a creature as large and powerful as she?”
The lord of the realm of Air deigned to give Aeris a nod of approval.
“That is a good question.” He looked at Simon. “The queen of snakes has somehow managed to regain some of her sanity. Perhaps your destruction of her primal children did this, wizard. Or perhaps it was the Chaos lords' attempts to regain their control over her that was the cause. It matters not. What does matter is that she has apparently decided to create new primals, new evil children to do her bidding. She has laid five eggs, one for each draconian race. When they hatch, I have no doubt that they will have the ability to spawn more monsters and repopulate their race.”
His face twisted in an expression of disgust.
“This must not happen! The resurrection of the dragons would destroy what remains of your world, and your people, Simon O'Toole. And it would give the Chaos lords enough power to finally force their way into this realm from the Void. Perhaps in a twisted way we are lucky that Corriss was unfortunate enough to stumble upon her nest before the eggs hatched. He was surprised by the monster and is no more. Doubtless the queen hoped to hide her machinations from both you and me. She has failed.”
Astrandamus' expression darkened again.
“She has now earned my enmity and the enmity of my race,” he stated, his tone deadly. “I may not intervene directly,” he continued, “for the harm it would do to your world would be immense, wizard. But know that I will aid you when and where I can. My servant, Aethos, will be at your command whenever you wish it, as will several of his brothers and sisters. Do not hesitate to call upon them at need.”
The great elemental gazed down at Simon for a long moment.
“Stop her, wizard. Use whatever means you deem necessary, but stop her. Because if you do not, rest assured that I will, gods' strictures to the contrary or no. And your people and this world might not survive the full fury of my wrath.”
And just like that, Astrandamus was gone.
The loud bang of imploding air rocked the courtyard and kicked up bits of dirt and grass. Simon raised a hand in front of his face to protect his eyes and coughed several times at the grit in his throat.
“Well,” he said as quiet descended again. “That was, um, different.”
Aeris looked like he was about to make a biting comment when he glanced up instead, distracted by something.
Simon followed his gaze in time to see Brethia zooming down from the roof, her eyes wide with excitement.
“The great Astrandamus! Here!” she said loudly, almost squealing. “I can't believe it.”
The wizard was reminded of every teenaged girl he'd ever seen at a music concert. Obviously Brethia was a fan of her ruler.
“What did he want? What did he say?” she demanded to know. “I was too afraid to move and I tried not to listen, in case he noticed and thought I was intruding.”
Simon shrugged and nodded at Aeris.
“He'll tell you. I have some thinking to do. Aeris, I'll be up in the study. Join me in about an hour, would you?”
“I will do that.”
The wizard left the pair speaking animatedly about their ruler's visit and hurried back into the tower. He made more tea and went upstairs to sit at his desk. Astrandamus' news had given him a lot to think about.
Chapter 3
When Aeris flew into the study later, he found Simon using his mirror again. This time the wizard looked worried and his voice was strained.
“No, I don't know where the damned eggs are,” he said to whoever was on the other side of the mirror. “Astrandamus didn't say. I don't know whether it slipped his mind or he didn't know; I'd guess the latter. But I do know roughly the area that Corriss was scouting and, if he wants to volunteer, I'm going to send Aeris out to search for the nest.”
“Oh, I definitely want to volunteer,” Aeris said as he zipped over to the desk. “Definitely.”
Simon looked at him with a tired smile and nodded.
“I thought you would. I was just bringing Tamara up to speed on what's happened. I'll try to contact Shandon Ironhand next, just to keep him in the loop. Let's hope he's accepting calls.”
Aeris moved around to float next to the wizard's shoulder and saw the mage's face. She appeared grim.
“Simon, we simply cannot allow that monster to hatch her nightmare brood. If she creates new primals, the entire cycle of death will begin again, only this time there won't be billions of us for them to kill. Just a handful of our people are left now; I believe at last count it was something less than a thousand, if you include that small town we somehow missed in Jamaica.”
“My people missed it, lady mage, not you,” Aeris admitted quickly. “It was built into the wilderness in such a way that our scouts bypassed it at least twice, but that is no excuse. There may be more settlements existing around the world in the deepest jungles, and I hope that our wizard here will send out an expedition in the future specifically to search for them.”
“One day, Aeris. We have more important things to worry about just now.”
Simon pushed his hair out of his eyes while holding the mirror steady in his left hand.
“You need a haircut,” Tamara said pertly with a teasing grin.
The wizard chuckled, easing his mood somewhat.
“Hey, let the former bald guy enjoy his mane, would you?” he protested. “Even streaked with silver, I still like having it. Okay then, I'll let you go for now. When I get some news, I'll call you back.”
“I'll tell the others,” she replied. “While Aeris and whomever else you assign to the task are searching, I think that Bastian and I will try using our Magic Mirror spells to look as well. We might just get lucky.”
“Couldn't hurt, I suppose. Call me right away if you find them.”
“I will.”
They broke the connection and Simon leaned back slowly in his chair. He covered his mouth politely as he yawned and looked at Aeris.
“How many others do you want to take with you?” he asked. “And don't say you're going alone. You aren't.”
Aeris looked at him sourly.
“I'm not a child, oh most powerful one. I can take care of myself.”
“This isn't a discussion, Aeris. You are taking at least one other elemental. Personally I think you should ask Brethia; she's got a good head on her shoulders and doesn't panic in
stressful situations. But if you want someone else, or more than one, I'll happily summon others. Your call.”
“What about Orriss?” the elemental asked. “He's out there alone looking for his brother right now. I didn't see you insisting that he take along a partner or two.”
“That's because the situation's changed. And thanks for reminding me.”
Simon motioned for Aeris to move to the edge of the table.
“Orriss, come to me,” he said firmly.
A flash of white light and a crash of thunder shook the room but Simon ignored them. After Astrandamus, no air elemental's entrance would ever really bother him again.
The small figure of Orriss was floating over the center of the desk. He looked up at the wizard in confusion.
“My lord? What's happened? I haven't really started flying my search pattern yet.”
Simon smiled at him.
“I know, Orriss. There's been a development. Um...”
The wizard wasn't quite sure what to say and he looked at Aeris helplessly. The elemental returned his look sympathetically and floated over to Orriss.
“We have had a visitation,” he said. “By the great Astrandamus himself.”
“Astrandamus!” Orriss gasped. “Oh no. And I missed it? That's terrible news. In all of my years, I have never seen the great lord in person.”
Then he frowned at Aeris.
“Wait. Why would he come here? I mean, no offense to you, sir wizard, but our lord simply does not leave the realm of Air. Ever.”
“No offense taken, Orriss,” Simon said with a strained smile. “He came to give us some news.”
“News? What kind of news could force the great one to travel to Earth?”
Simon hesitated again and Aeris stepped in.
“The worst kind, my friend. We are both sorry to tell you this, but your brother is no more.”
Orriss stared at Aeris and then looked at the wizard as if for confirmation.
Simon nodded once, struck by the look of grief on the elemental's face. If he had ever doubted that these small beings felt emotions as deeply as humans did, that expression would have convinced him otherwise.
The Queen of Dragons (Tales from the New Earth Book 8) Page 3