The Dragons Revenge (Tales from the New Earth #2)

by J. J. Thompson

  “I still don't understand why I didn't see that rune earlier. I went through that blasted book backwards and forwards and never came across it.”

  The air elemental flew over to the book while Kronk jumped up to the table top.

  “At a guess, I'd say that you are being spoon-fed spells as you need them, my dear wizard. You were not strong enough to cast that rune even a week ago. Now that you are, the rune appears.”

  He stared at the book speculatively.

  “I suppose it's reassuring to know that the gods of Light are still giving you their aid, if only surreptitiously.”

  Simon leaned against the fireplace and raised an eyebrow.

  “Maybe. But it also makes me feel like a child being led around by the hand. Not the most comfortable feeling, you know.”

  “But you are a child, at least in magic, master,” Kronk said gently. “One step at a time is the best way to learn, don't you think?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  The kettle began to boil and Simon made his tea. He sat down at the table and sipped it for a minute, staring blankly at the book.

  “Is something wrong?” Aeris asked.

  “Hmm? Oh no, not really. I'm just trying to figure out how I can tell Clara about what happened. She's going to be very upset.”

  Kronk tapped over and stood by Simon's right hand.

  “Tell her about it as it happened, master. It is the only way.”

  “I suppose.”

  The wizard sat back, put down his cup and cast the Magic Mouth spell. The elementals looked at each other in surprise but said nothing.

  “Clara? Are you there?”

  “Simon!” he head the cleric respond. “Good morning. I'm so relieved to hear your voice. I'm sorry I'm not near a mirror so that we can speak face to face.”

  “Don't worry about it. I'm not using the Magic Mirror spell at the moment. Do you have a free minute so we can talk?”

  “Certainly. Actually, since you can't see me, I can tell you that I'm standing out in the corn field right now, overseeing planting. So go ahead, I have plenty of time.”

  Simon nodded and looked around the room vaguely as he began to explain what had happened the previous day.

  Clara did not interrupt his story and the wizard told it all the way through to the end, pausing occasionally to drink some tea. When he was finished, Simon drained his cup and waited tensely for the cleric's comments.

  “She knew that you were coming to attack her? That dark wizard knew?”

  “Yes, she did.”

  “By the gods. Simon. I have been impressed by you before, but being able to escape that trap? You've outdone yourself this time.”

  The wizard stood up and went to the front door. He leaned against the door frame and stared out across the yard. A robin poked around in the grass, searching for a meal, its chest a brilliant ruby red.

  “But Clara, I failed them. All of those Changlings, killed, because I was too stupid to realize that any spell that I could cast to spy on an enemy wizard could in turn be used by them to spy on me.”

  “Don't you blame yourself for that woman's evil deeds, my friend. Don't you dare!”

  Clara sounded as angry as Simon had ever heard her.

  “But...”

  “No! I won't hear it. In this crazy world of magic, we are all still finding our way. Those poor farmers were probably doomed whatever you had done. I know it's hard to hear. It's harder for me to say. But that is the truth. And now you know better and your next meeting will be much different, I have no doubt.”

  Simon looked back at the elementals watching him and smiled grimly.

  “You can be sure of that. We found a way to block her spying, thanks to Aeris.”

  He explained the new runes and their use and Clara expressed her delight.

  “So they not only block a Magic Mirror spell, but actually block magical attacks? Hmm. Would it be possible to do the same for Nottinghill?”

  “Hang on, I'll ask.”

  Simon walked back and sat at the kitchen table.

  “Our friend wants to know if we could protect her town the way we've added protection to the tower,” he told the air elemental.

  “I'm afraid not,” Aeris said regretfully. “The runes could not extend their field over something as large as an entire town.”

  He paused thoughtfully.

  “You could protect a large building, such as the town hall, though. That way, any plans that Clara and her people made there would be kept secret, plus it could be used as a refuge in the event of a magical attack on the town.”

  Simon passed on Aeris' answer to the cleric.

  “Well, that's certainly better than nothing,” she replied. “It would be good to know that we can't be overheard by evil forces when we hold meetings. If you could stop by in the next week or so, Simon, and help with that, we would very much appreciate it.”

  “I will, Clara. By the way, the next time those gods of yours drop into your dreams, thank them for their gift of my new spell-book.”

  He had told the cleric about the mysterious book earlier and the woman had laughed.

  “I'll try to remember to do that, Simon,” she said, amused. “Let's be reassured that they are still trying to help us in our battle against their evil brethren.”

  Simon watched as Aeris began to make him some more tea and smiled his appreciation.

  “Oh I am, believe me. Well, I'll let you get back to your planting. By the way,” he looked at Kronk and winked, “now that we have a bit of time, I'm going to ask Kronk to find me another lodestone and I'll send Aeris down with your half in the next day or so.”

  “Ah, that's a relief. Thank you. It will be good to have a way to get in touch with you, just in case.”

  “Any time. Talk to you soon.”

  Simon canceled the spell and accepted a fresh cup of tea from Aeris.

  “You don't mind, do you, guys?” he asked them, already knowing the answer.

  “I'm happy to help, master,” Kronk said quickly. “In fact, now that the horses are taken care of, I will go immediately if that's all right.”

  “Sure. Go ahead. Just be careful down there.”

  The earthen smiled at Simon's warning.

  “There is nothing that I fear beneath the earth, master,” he said. “I will return as soon as I can.”

  He hopped down from the table and tip-tapped out of the tower.

  “And you?” Simon asked Aeris.

  “And me? Delivering the lodestone to Clara, you mean? Of course I will. It is important that they are able to call for help from you if they need it.”

  “Good. Thanks.”

  Simon opened the spell-book and flipped through it at random while Aeris watched.

  “Looking for something in particular?” he asked finally.

  “What? Oh, no. I'm just catching my breath. I want to add more spells to Bene-Dunn-Gal,” and he glanced at the staff across the room as he spoke, “just in case.”

  “Good thinking. I have to dust the rooms upstairs anyway, so enjoy your casting.”

  Simon gaped at Aeris as the elemental flew toward the stairs. Before he went upstairs, the small floating figure turned and caught the wizard's expression.

  “What?” he said with some irritation. “We all have to pull our weight around here, don't we?”

  “Uh, yeah. Yes, of course,” Simon said quickly. “Err, enjoy.”

  “Very funny,” Aeris snorted and disappeared up the stairs.

  Chapter 19

  Kronk returned that evening with a new lodestone. He split it in half and Simon asked Aeris to head to Nottinghill the following morning with one piece of it and give it to Clara.

  As darkness fell, the three of them sat companionably on the front steps watching the sun set. The air cooled down and the surrounding forest quieted until bird song was replaced with the chirping of crickets.

  Simon could see the wall around the tower shimmering slightly with the power of its new rune
s and he felt a sense of security from it. He sat with his knees drawn up, resting his chin on his hands and staring into the darkening sky. He was drained from casting a dozen spells and storing them on his staff and now he sat sleepily, feeling content.

  “How was your search, Kronk?” he asked, his voice hushed as he listened to the night. “Did you have to travel far?”

  “Not far, master,” the earthen replied quietly. “Deep.”

  He stood to the wizard's right. Aeris hovered on the opposite side, bobbing lightly up and down.

  “Deep?”

  Simon looked down at his little friend.

  “Yes, master.” Kronk was frowning a bit. “And I discovered something in my journey that I have never seen before, perhaps because I was not looking for it.”

  “Really? What?”

  “A tunnel. A road really. It spiraled and dipped, running perhaps from the surface and descending even deeper than I traveled to find the lodestone.”

  Aeris flew up until he could see Kronk over Simon's shoulder.

  “A road? Down that far?”

  Kronk nodded silently.

  “Made by whom?” Simon asked with great interest.

  “The dwarves, perhaps, master. I know they travel with their drilling machines now, but in ancient times they used tunnels to reach their kingdoms. I know this because when the old gods withdrew from this world, the dwarven machines failed. They were powered with magic, after all. No magic meant that they had to travel back to their homes using their old roads.”

  “A dwarven tunnel. Hmm.”

  Simon's imagination was caught up with the thought of exploring those old thoroughfares, maybe seeing a dwarven city.

  “I know that look, my dear wizard,” Aeris said as he peered at Simon in the darkness. “Your curiosity has been tweaked, hasn't it?”

  Simon grinned at him.

  “You know me too well. Yeah, I'll admit it. It would be an awesome sight, don't you think? An old road built by the dwarves maybe thousands of years ago?”

  “Why?” Aeris asked with a dismissive sniff of disdain. “If you want to see ruins, visit any of the devastated cities in this world since the dragons returned. There is no need to search any farther than that.”

  Simon sat up and stretched his back, groaning a bit.

  “You have absolutely no adventure in your soul, do you know that?”

  “Of course not. I am a practical person, as are all of my people.”

  Aeris looked at Kronk.

  “Even the earthen prefer useful pursuits to exploring old ruins just for the fun of it.”

  Maybe it was because of their quiet rivalry, but for whatever reason, Kronk snorted at Aeris' remark.

  “That is not always so,” he said seriously. “I found the tunnel fascinating, to be honest. If I wasn't on a mission from our master, I would have taken the time to examine it more closely.”

  Aeris rolled his eyes while Simon laughed.

  “Good for you, my friend,” he said to Kronk. “You at least have some imagination. I think I'd like to check out this old road. Tomorrow, after Aeris leaves to bring Clara her lodestone, you can direct me and I'll take a peek at it using Magic Mirror. Who knows? If it looks interesting enough, maybe I'll Gate down and take a closer look.”

  “Not without me, you don't!” Aeris snapped. “If you do pursue this foolish idea, please wait until I return before you go. You have to have at least one level-headed person with you on such an excursion.”

  “Meaning that I am not level-headed?” Kronk growled.

  “Exactly.”

  “Guys, guys,” Simon interrupted the two before a full-blown argument could flare up. “Relax. If I do decide to go down and poke around, you will both be coming with me, all right?”

  Kronk settled down with a quiet grumble while Aeris lowered himself down to the steps with an unsatisfied frown.

  I swear that sometimes it's like babysitting, Simon thought with a touch of amusement.

  The three of them quieted down again and went back to listening to the serenity of the night.

  Aeris set off the next morning with the lodestone, warning Simon again not to leave the tower without him. The exasperated wizard assured him that both he and Kronk would wait for the air elemental's return.

  “Does he think that I won't come back if I go anywhere without him?” he asked Kronk after Aeris had left.

  “He worries about you, master,” the little guy told him absently as he spread some seeds. They were in the garden, finishing up putting in the last of the spring crops.

  “Really?”

  Simon wiped his face with a scrap of cloth. He had sewn himself a pair of shorts from an old robe and carried the rag in the waist band. A tingling on his bare shoulders hinted at a burn to come if he didn't get out of the sun soon. The day was clear and hot.

  “Well, he should know that I don't need looking after. I can take care of myself.”

  “Uh-huh,” Kronk answered in a carefully neutral tone. “You are correct as always, master.”

  When the wizard looked at him, the earthen studiously stared at the furrow beneath his feet.

  Simon decided not to comment and instead hurriedly helped Kronk finish the planting and headed back indoors, out of the sun.

  “You'd think the gods of Light would have at least given me a body that tans, wouldn't you?” he complained to the little guy as he washed up at the kitchen sink. His shoulders stung and had turned a bright red.

  “I mean, what was the point in making me this delicate, I'd like to know.”

  Kronk picked up Simon's discarded shorts and the used towel and carried them to the laundry basket next to the stairs. The wizard slipped on a clean robe and winced as the cloth rubbed against his sunburned skin.

  “Wizards are delicate, master. Brains over brawn is how they used to describe themselves.”

  Simon grumbled as he gulped down some water. The well water was always clean and ice-cold.

  “Whatever.”

  He sat down at the kitchen table and waited for Kronk to jump up and join him.

  “Now, describe this underground road for me.”

  He picked up the hand mirror and caught sight of his smooth hairless face with its overly-large eyes. His nose was burned too and he sighed.

  “Yes master.”

  Kronk picked up a pencil and a sheet of paper from the stack Simon always kept on the table. He began to draw and the wizard watched, fascinated.

  “I saw some carvings at an intersection, master. Right along the corners on the wall. Perhaps they were directions, or simply the names of the roads themselves. I do not know. But I memorized them, just in case.”

  “Just in case I decided to foolishly explore those roads?” Simon asked, regaining his good humor.

  “I would never presume to say something like that, master,” the little guy said as he carefully drew the symbols.

  “I know, my friend. But feel free to think it.”

  Kronk finished and handed the sheet to Simon.

  The writing was blocky with sharp edges and very few curves. It looked...solid.

  “Now master, picture two tunnels meeting in a four-way intersection. They are cut square in the rock, approximately ten feet wide and twenty high. The surface is rutted as if carts or wagons had been pulled along it for centuries. The stone is very dark, with a few veins of crystal shot through it.”

  Simon was nodding as he studied the writing.

  “Is there any light down there?”

  “Yes master. Perhaps every ten yards or so there is a symbol.”

  Kronk quickly drew a circle, inside of which he placed a hammer, head down.

  “These symbols glow, not very brightly, but there is enough light for you to see. They also radiate warmth somehow.” At Simon's inquiring looked, the little guy added, “Dwarves see heat as well as light, master. Very useful for living underground.”

  “Interesting. I didn't know that.”

  Simon held u
p the mirror and muttered the Magic Mirror spell. Then he tried to picture the tunnels exactly as Kronk had described them, glancing a few times at the drawings as he did so. When he felt he had a fairly accurate idea of how it might look, he uttered the word of command.

  The mirror fogged over and Kronk moved to Simon's side to watch.

  “I may not have given it a good enough image,” the wizard told him as the misty surface remained unchanged for a few long minutes.

  “Try to focus on that lighted symbol in your mind, master. It may help the spell find the tunnel.”

  Simon nodded silently and stared at the circle and hammer.

  “It's working, master!” Kronk exclaimed.

  The mist faded from the mirror. Simon watched as the tunnel appeared almost exactly as his little friend had described it. The walls were marked with not just writing, but carvings of small figures, perhaps dwarves, as well as animals and birds. The surface of the tunnel floor was rutted and chunks of rock and gravel littered the road. It looked ancient.

  “Good job, Kronk,” Simon said with a grin.

  The earthen smiled as well as he gazed into the mirror.

  “I am glad I could help, master. If you are going to Gate there though, I recommend casting your Light spell when you arrive. It really isn't very bright, is it?”

  It was, in fact, gloomy. Simon could see the location, but it was shadowed and hazy and he had to squint to peer through the semi-darkness.

  “Good idea. I'm glad it's locked into my brain permanently. Handy spell that.”

  Kronk hopped down to the floor and tip-tapped to the stairs.

  “I agree, master. But I think I'll put together a few torches, just in case. Better to be prepared.”

  Simon watched him head downstairs.

  Practical, he thought. He's always so practical. Thank goodness.

  When Kronk returned with a bundle of sticks that he had dipped in pitch and wrapped with burlap, Simon was just locking a few spells into his memory. He wrinkled his nose at the strong smell of tar.

  “Will those things burn well?” he asked as the elemental dropped them by the door.

  “Yes, master. Bright and long. I have made such things before.”