“Are you all right, master?” he asked.
The wizard turned his chair around and looked at the earthen in surprise.
“That was fast,” he said.
“Was it? I think it took me about an hour, master. Is something wrong?”
Simon stood up, walked across to one of his bookshelves and pulled out the atlas. He returned to the desk and sat down, laying the large book down in front of him and resting his hands on it. He looked at Kronk blankly for a moment.
“Wrong? Nothing more than usual. I'm worried about moving the folks of Nottinghill, but I was also thinking that this might be an opportunity.”
The little guy brushed a little piece of ice from his arm.
“Opportunity for what, master?”
“For Liliana and her people. You know how bad the winter is getting here, but it will be even worse in Moscow. She's only managed to round up a handful of Changlings from the area and, while they are doing their best, it has to be a hard existence. They live on whatever they can find. They harvest wild crops in the short summer and they've managed to discover a few intact caches of tinned goods and dried food. But that can't last forever. I was thinking that they might consider moving south to join the people of Nottinghill.”
“An interesting idea, master,” Kronk said dubiously. “The paladin and her people are deeply attached to their home city. And, unlike Ottawa, it is not totally destroyed. The people were eliminated, yes, but as you said, some supplies remain. Why would they want to leave now?”
Simon flipped through the atlas until he found the map of old Russia. He tapped on the round spot labeled 'Moscow'.
“Because they are vulnerable. They are dug in under an old government building, kind of like the bomb shelter they used before the drakes found them. And we both know what happened that time,” he added grimly.
“All were used for the primal white dragon's horrible magic,” the earthen said with a nod. “Yes.”
“Yes. The primal is dead, but if wights attack during a hard storm, like they did here, I doubt that thick metal doors will stop them. Now, if I tell Liliana about Clara and the others moving south, away from the cold and the danger that comes with it, that may actually convince them that it's time to leave their city for a warmer, more secure home.”
Kronk was looking at the map thoughtfully, frowning in concentration.
“That is a good argument, master. Certainly it would not do any harm to ask, would it?”
“Exactly. It's late there now, but I'm going to call Liliana first thing in the morning, before we leave and lay it out for her.”
He placed a hand flat on the atlas, covering most of the map.
“Russia and its cities are lost. It's time to acknowledge that and move on.” He sighed tiredly. “If the paladin isn't too pigheaded, that is.”
“I would not mention that term to her, master,” Kronk told him with a touch of disapproval and Simon chuckled ruefully.
“Don't worry. I won't. Now, let's find some coordinates for the Gating I'll be doing tomorrow.”
Simon wrote down several sets of numbers as he explored the detailed map of Florida. There were no specific spots recommended by the scouts, only areas of interest and the wizard simply chose the center of each area as his targets. When he was done, he had a half-dozen coordinates to Gate to.
The wizard sat back, closed the atlas and rubbed his face. He was very tired now.
“Master, you should go to bed,” Kronk told him.
He looked at the little guy and nodded wearily.
“I know. Between you and me, the next two days are shaping up to be a bit crazy.”
“Exactly, master.”
Kronk pinched out one of the candles on the desk and looked pointedly at Simon.
With a short laugh, the wizard stood up with a groan and blew out the other candle. He summoned a magic ball of light with a flick of power and it bobbed a foot over his head as he walked to the door.
“I'm going, I'm going,” he said. “Have a good night. I'll see you in the morning.”
“Yes master. Sleep well.”
The next day began early. Simon had had a restless night, his mind flitting from one thought to the next and not settling on any of them for long. When he crawled out of bed just after dawn, a glance in the long mirror of his bureau showed dark streaks like bruises under his mismatched eyes.
“Well buddy, you look beat,” he said out loud and gave himself a tired grin.
He got dressed slowly, choosing to wear long underwear, heavy socks and a thick, dark blue robe. It would be warm down south but it looked just as cold as it had the day before and he'd rather be too warm than the alternative.
As he made his fuzzy way downstairs, Simon heard dishes clinking together. He turned at the bottom of the stairs to see Aeris puttering around at the kitchen counter, making tea. Several pieces of toast were stacked on a plate on the table with a jar of Nottinghill jam, strawberry, next to them. The air elemental was actually humming tunelessly to himself and Simon stifled a giggle at the sight of Aeris looking so domestic.
“Good morning,” he said as he walked across the room to his clothes cabinet. He slipped on his winter jacket and heavy boots.
“Morning, my dear wizard. Don't dally out there; the toast will get cold.”
“Ha. If I 'dally' in the outhouse, the toast won't be the only thing getting cold. I'll be right back.”
Once he raced back into the tower, shivering from the freezing air, Simon took off his outerwear, washed his hands at the sink and sat down at the kitchen table.
The toast was still warm and the tea was steaming. The wizard began eating while Aeris added another log to the fire.
“So where's Kronk this morning?” he asked through a mouthful of toast and jam.
“Sorting out the horses, I'd imagine,” Aeris replied. He flew up from the fireplace and hovered above the table.
“You know how he likes to make sure things are just so if we are going to be traveling.” The elemental chuckled. “He's been training the other earthen to care for them if we're gone for more than a day. I think that if they weren't earth elementals, a few might have given up in disgust.”
Simon swallowed and watched him curiously.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that earthen are the most patient of all of the elementals. And with Kronk acting like a fussy mother hen, they have had that patience tested.”
The wizard shook his head with a grin and spread some jam on another piece of toast.
“Just shows that he cares,” he said. “Besides, we shouldn't be gone more than two days. After that, I'll remain here while Kronk and the others help the townspeople build a new settlement. That should keep him occupied for a while.”
“That's true. The earthen do love to work with stone.”
Simon was washing his dishes when Kronk burst in the front door with a howling wind behind him. He slammed the door behind him and hurried over to the table.
“Good morning, master,” he said as he leaped to the tabletop. “The horses are fed and watered. Sunshine is doing fine, but I'm worried that she may go into labor while we are away.”
The wizard finished drying his cup and plate and put them away. Then he turned to look sympathetically at the little guy.
“I'm worried too,” he said as he leaned against the counter. “But horses have been giving birth for a long time, most with no problems at all. Moving the population of Nottinghill has to take precedence. We have a two day window before that mega-storm hits and they have to be moved along with their belongings by then. Unless,” he looked at Aeris, “the storm has changed course?”
“I'm afraid not,” Aeris said regretfully. “I can feel its progress. It is racing down from the north steadily. By this time, two days from now, this entire part of the country will be buried in snow.”
Simon pulled a shoelace out of his robe pocket and tied back his hair. He sighed at the confirmation of the storm's timing.
“So there it is, Kronk. We'll have to trust that if Sunshine does have her foal, that your fellow earthen will be able to care for her until we return.”
“I have explained things to them, master,” the earthen said dubiously. “I suppose they will be able to help. Somewhat.”
“Have some faith in your own people, Kronk,” Aeris told him with a little smile. “They are reliable. Now, if we're all done here...”
“Not quite,” Simon told him. He picked up the mirror from the table and leaned back on the counter again.
“I want to talk to Liliana before we get moving.”
“The paladin? Why?”
“You tell him, Kronk. I have to get things moving.”
While the earthen was explaining the situation to Aeris, Simon cast the Magic Mirror spell and focused on Liliana, keeping her face firmly in mind.
“Liliana, can you hear me?” he asked the fogged mirror.
The mist rolled back and the wizard found himself staring at the paladin. She was standing in a rubble-choked street, looking up at something that he couldn't see. Without moving her eyes, Liliana answered him.
“Good day, my friend,” she said softly. “How are you?”
“I'm fine, thanks. How are you doing?”
Liliana was in full armor and gleamed in the cold Moscow sunlight. A sword hung across her back but her head was uncovered, her blond hair whipping around her face in the wind.
“Surviving, Simon. Surviving.”
She finally looked away from the sky and began walking.
“So what can I do for you today?”
“Um, well, there are things happening here that I thought you should know about.”
The paladin stopped abruptly, her brow furrowed.
“Things? Wait a moment; I like to see those to whom I am speaking.”
She looked around the street. Several twisted, rusted-out hulks that once upon a time had been cars were scattered haphazardly along the road and Liliana hurried over to one. Its windows were long gone, but a sheet of shining ice covered the blackened hood of the vehicle and the paladin peered down at it.
With an odd wrenching sensation, Simon was suddenly staring at her. She nodded and smiled perfunctorily.
“That's better. Now, what is happening? You sound quite tense.”
“I do? Well, I never was a very good poker player. Never could control my emotions enough. Yes, I'm tense. And worried. Let me explain what's happened over the last few days.”
As he proceeded to tell Liliana everything that had passed since the last time they had spoken, he began to notice subtle changes in the paladin's face.
She looked thinner, her cheeks pinched as if she was starving. Her eyes, always large and blue, looked enormous now. And she was, if anything, paler than ever. Simon wondered if Liliana and her people were getting low on supplies.
The paladin allowed him to speak uninterrupted, her face set and expressionless. She adjusted her sword once and shook her head irritably when her hair whipped across her eyes, but other than that, she stood unmoving, listening closely. When he was done, the wizard relaxed and waited for her comments.
“So you have run into these creatures as well,” she said so faintly that Simon could barely hear her over the wind.
“You've seen them?” he asked, startled. “Why didn't you signal me with your lodestone?”
“There was nothing you could have done,” she explained with a negligent shrug. “The attack was futile. Our new headquarters was secure enough to turn aside the attack. My people were terrified though and it's been difficult to motivate them to scour the city for supplies. We were trapped underground for several days until the storm they used for cover blew over. It frightened them.”
“Understandable. I thought you'd lost a little weight,” he commented, trying to make it sound like a joke.
Liliana frowned in response.
“That is irrelevant. Now, about your news. Your friend, the cleric, and her people are moving south? Now that is interesting. This new land is more moderate?”
“Very much so. It's very fertile as well. The coldest weather it gets is the occasional frost.”
“And these...goblins? They are barred from this Florida?”
“They are. The state has been transformed into a very large island and those creatures can't swim.”
A faint smiled crossed Liliana's face and faded. She looked up at the sky again and blew out a long breath.
“What is it?” Simon asked her. “What are you looking for? Dragons?”
“No, not dragons. The wind has moved and is blowing from the north. I can feel moisture in the air and I fear another storm is approaching.”
“Like the one racing toward us here.” Simon shook his head. “If I was a suspicious man, I'd say that it was more than a coincidence.”
“Well, I'm not that suspicious, my friend, but I do not believe in coincidence. I think the gods of Chaos are interfering directly in this, taking advantage of our weakness in the wintry season to attack us simultaneously.”
Simon whistled between his teeth.
“Damn,” he muttered. “That hadn't occurred to me.”
“And since that may be the case, your situation has given me an idea.”
“Okay.”
“I was wondering,” Liliana said with uncharacteristic hesitation, “if, assuming my people agree, if we could join Clara and her people in the south.”
Simon's mouth dropped and the paladin hurried on.
“Not permanently, perhaps,” she said quickly. “That would depend on how well we all got along. But maybe until the winter passes. We could certainly pull our own weight and help with the relocation and any rebuilding that needs to be done. To be honest, the weather here is getting worse all the time and supplies are scarce. My people are depressed and unhappy. And now with this latest attack by the wights, they are even more gloomy.” She sighed and looked directly at Simon. “Some of them have given up. They are despondent, hopeless. Perhaps a change of scenery, some warmth and companionship would help them.”
Simon grinned and shook his head.
Liliana stared at him.
“You disagree?”
“Far from it. I was actually going to ask you if you would like to come with us. But I honestly didn't think you'd agree. I know how much Moscow means to you.”
“Yes.”
She looked around the deserted street, her eyes unfocused as if seeing the city as it used to be.
“I love this place, but it is not the home that it was. I think that I've been holding on to the past too tightly. It has chained me to this city. But now those chains are threatening the people who look to me for protection and that is unforgivable.”
She shook her head with a look of regret and stared at Simon again.
“Let me speak to my people and see what they have to say. I suspect that they will be quite eager to leave. Call me back in a few hours and I'll let you know what we've decided.”
“Will do. I hope they do decide to come with us. The future is looking a lot brighter for the folks from Nottinghill and I really hope your people will share in it.”
“We'll see. I will talk to you soon, Simon.”
“You bet. Good luck.”
The wizard broke the connection and sat back with a relieved smile. The elementals had been listening intently.
“So there's a chance that the lady paladin and her few people will join the others, master?” Kronk asked.
“A good chance, I'd say,” Simon replied. “Seems they're really depressed about the incessant cold and lack of supplies. Can't say that I blame them either.”
“Well, a few more willing hands would be welcomed by the lady cleric, I should imagine,” Aeris said.
“Maybe. But people are a bit leery of strangers these days, as you both know. I'm hoping the novelty of seeing some new faces will help them be accepted by the folks in Nottinghill.”
“I am sure that will be the case, m
aster,” Kronk said, sounding reassuring.
“Yeah. Listen, could you get my pack from the basement?” he asked the little guy. “I'm going to bring the mirror, my spell-book and some food and water with me when I head out.”
“Of course, master. Right away.”
The little guy jumped down to the floor and hurried toward the stairs.
“Oh and see if you can find that canteen too, would you? It'll be next to the sleeping bags in the dry goods room.”
“Yes master,” Kronk called back as he hopped down the steps and disappeared.
Simon set down the mirror and searched through the cupboards, pulling out several sealed jars of dried fruit.
“Anything I can do?” Aeris asked as he watched.
“Sure. I wonder if you can go up and get my spell-book? It's in the study. Oh and the list of Gating coordinates I left on the desk?”
“Happy to do my bit,” the air elemental said with a quick salute and a crooked smile.
He shot off across the room and up the stairs.
“I wonder if air elementals actually invented sarcasm,” Simon murmured to himself absently as he sorted out the jars.
Chapter 14
When the three of them appeared in Nottinghill, next to the remains of the destroyed town hall, Simon took a minute to really look around at the little town.
The hall itself had been leveled by the wights during their attack. Rough timbers jutted up haphazardly from the wreckage, covered by ice and crusted snow. The wizard stared at it sadly, remembering the warmth and sense of companionship he had always found within. Now it looked like the skeletal remains of some ancient ice giant.
With a sigh, he turned and looked across at the small houses of the town. It was perhaps ten o'clock in the morning and the bitter sunlight blazed up from every surface, mockingly giving no hint of the storm that even now was racing southward toward them.
People were busily scurrying from place to place. Some carried bags or boxes, others joined together to shift heavier loads. Simon saw a man he recognized as the town blacksmith carrying an enormous bundle of iron rods over his shoulder, carefully watching his footing so that he didn't slip beneath the obviously heavy load.
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