One thing he noticed immediately was that the Shimmering Isles had a somewhat relaxed dress code, and nowhere was that more obvious than at the beach. Young men wandered around in little more than shorts while young women wore bikinis or one-piece bathing suits. There were places in the world where dressing like that would have gotten them arrested.
Old Man, though, was well past the point of needing to show off his physique. Instead, he was perfectly content to enjoy the warm sunshine, the cool breeze, and the occasional cold drink. Nearby, Amanda had adopted a similarly laidback posture, spending most of her time under a large umbrella Gerald had put up to make her life a bit easier. In her defence, it was a matter of practicality. Ancient vampire or not, the sun was not her friend even though it wasn’t going to kill her. Like him, she seemed more interested in soaking in the ambience of the beach although she’d been forced to kindly but firmly dismiss the occasional offer of companionship from young men drawn to her unearthly beauty. Every now and then, a small smile would slip across her lips when she saw a young couple walking along the shore. Ah, memories. They were a curious thing, capable of providing great comfort and causing great pain. He knew that better than anyone.
A beach like this had played host to some of his darkest memories and some of his dearest too. He’d lost friends on beaches amidst the blood and muck of war, but he had also spent several carefree afternoons running away from an angry princess with a spear. She’d been so splendid to behold when she was angry, and she’d come close to landing a hit several times, which was no mean feat. In his prime, there had been precious few who could land even a glancing hit on him. He wondered what she was doing now. It would have been easy to ask travellers from his homeland for news, but it was better to leave the past behind. There was no going back for him.
“I must say,” Gerald said. “It is very hot today, isn’t it?”
Old Man grinned. The other man had lathered himself in enough sunblock to ward off a dragon’s fire. Like Katie, he sunburned easily, something that had drawn the occasional taunt from Avraniel since neither of them was a vampire, yet Amanda, who was a vampire, had yet to get sunburn. Unlike Katie, however, he couldn’t put a thin layer of shadow over his body to further protect it. “It is always warm in the Shimmering Isles, or so I’ve heard.”
“It is in the tropics,” Gerald remarked. “Oh, by the way, I recently purchased a calligraphy set. Do you happen to know how to use one?”
“A calligraphy set? From the far east?” Gerald nodded. Old Man rubbed his chin. “As a matter of fact, I do.” He had fond memories of chasing his friends with ink-soaked brushes while their instructors threatened them with all manner of horrors. The princess he’d served had been particularly adept at splashing people while looking completely innocent of any wrongdoing. Her brother, though, had always gotten caught, much to his despair. “My people believe that calligraphy helps maintain supple wrists, which are crucial for proper swordsmanship. I might be a bit rusty, but I would be glad to show you what I know.”
“Thank you.” Gerald turned his gaze to the beach and the small crowd that had gathered to observe the epic contest. “Do you think they’ll win today?”
Old Man followed his friend’s gaze to where some of the members of their group had taken a more active approach to enjoying the beach. Chomp had not been to the beach a lot, so he had initially regarded even small crabs with suspicion before relaxing enough to set out on the ancient and noble canine pursuit of digging. In less than an hour, the three-headed dog had excavated a makeshift network of tunnels. They’d have to ask Timmy to fill it in later to avoid any unfortunate accidents. Still, it was impressive, and the dog had found several objects hidden in the sand. None of them had been too valuable, but the shiny glass bottle he’d found was something they’d bring with them when they left, considering how much he liked it. Some of the locals had overcome their fear of the gigantic dog, and he was currently basking in the attention of several young ladies who thought he was wonderfully cute and cuddly despite his menacing stature.
As for Spot, Avraniel, and Katie, they had formed an ultimate alliance to build the ultimate sandcastle, so they could finally defeat Timmy, who was, apparently, a merciless cheater of epic proportions – or so Katie had proclaimed when she had once again challenged him. Timmy, in characteristic fashion, had simply smiled and gotten to work, utterly confident of his victory. As well he should be. They had yet to beat him, and Old Man doubted today would be any different.
Now, Katie was no slouch, and Avraniel and Spot had gotten much better at following her instructions when it came to building sandcastles, but Timmy was clearly some kind of sandcastle-building genius. Old Man could honestly say that he’d never met anyone better at building sandcastles, and his homeland had once held yearly competitions hosted by the imperial family. Timmy’s current project was a replica of the Shimmering Isles’ royal palace, and it was a truly incredible likeness. His attention to detail was astounding, and to add insult to injury, he didn’t even have to use his magic. He was simply that good with a shovel. And although Katie was receiving help from some of the ninja rats, the more mercenary rodents had swiftly defected to what they viewed as the winning team. As usual, the ninja rats were betting peanuts, grapes, and other trinkets to spice up the competition.
Meanwhile, Katie and the others were building a copy of the fortress they’d assaulted to retrieve the princess. It was definitely impressive, especially since Avraniel and Spot had carefully used fire to melt certain portions of the sand and interior to improve its stability and add more detail, but there was no matching the sheer craftsmanship of Timmy’s work. The necromancer must have anticipated the challenge because he’d set aside his usual shovel for a number of smaller shovels that were better suited to the intricate work required. In what was probably a bad sign for Katie’s chances, even Rembrandt, her most stalwart supporter, was eyeing Timmy’s sandcastle enviously. It was a flawless facsimile of the royal palace, and Timmy had even managed to add the gardens around the palace as well, all of it in exquisite detail and accuracy.
“I don’t think they’re going to win.” Old Man grinned. “And we had best move our chairs a little further back before they realise it.”
“That’s a good idea.” Gerald grimaced. “They might get a little upset when they lose.” Spot had not been pleased about losing last time, nor had Avraniel, and being near two grumpy pyromaniacs was an awful idea. Throw in Katie, and it was a wonder there had still been a beach left after their last attempt to defeat Timmy had failed.
A familiar presence nearby had him turning to great the princess, the king, and their retinue of guards. The royal guard had been a constant presence since their arrival. The princess had already been kidnapped once, so the king was not taking any chances. Fittingly, Sunny was padding along beside the princess, glaring at anyone who got too close. On this occasion, both royals were dressed more casually, and they paused to examine the contest in front of them.
“Lord Bolton is incredibly skilled,” the king mused. “It is a pity the competition we hold each year isn’t for a few more months. I daresay he would win fairly easily.”
“He is a man of many talents.” Old Man glanced meaningfully at Gerald, the bureaucrat hastened to summon additional furniture for the king and the princess. The royal guards examined the furniture briefly and then returned to their positions. “How have you two been, Your Majesty and Your Highness?”
The king accepted a drink from one of the royal guards and passed another to Calista as they both sat down. “I know there are more negotiations to come, but most of the hard work has already been done. I am simply glad to have my daughter back.”
“It has been wonderful to be back,” Calista said. “Although the trouble on the horizon does worry me. Interesting times are ahead, and you know what they say about interesting times…”
“They are both a blessing and a curse,” Old Man replied. “Those are words that could easily describe m
y life.” He bit back a laugh as Katie looked at Timmy’s sandcastle and glared. She began to wave her arms around, almost hitting her own sandcastle, as she exhorted the others to give it their all. It was hard to make out what she was saying – she wasn’t speaking so much as ranting – but it seemed to involve using the power of friendship to triumph over her master’s tyranny, which was a bizarre approach for a necromancer to take. She then moved on to likening the contest to the apocalypse, claiming there was no room for half measures if they wished to triumph. Sadly, more of the rats had seen the writing on the wall and were busy defecting to Timmy’s side.
“I have a secondary magic,” the princess murmured. “One that has proven very useful to my father and my kingdom.” She lowered her voice even further as Amanda’s magic rustled outward to conceal the words she was about to speak from prying ears. “It is very fortunate that neither Lord Tarrick nor the empire knew of it. I can catch glimpses – bits and pieces – of the pasts of those around me. It is difficult to control, and I try not to pry, but it is one of the reasons I grew to trust your group so quickly. I could get a sense for what sort of people you are, and you are good people for all that you’re a bit, well… odd.”
Old Man smiled. “I won’t claim we’re normal.”
“I don’t wish to pry,” Calista said. “But… you are a man of great experience when it comes to war, are you not?”
Old Man adjusted his hat and fought back the torrent of memories. It was harder to keep a lid on them these days with war on the horizon. Unbidden, his hands closed around the handle of a sword that wasn’t there. That blade – the one he’d wielded in his youth – was long gone, shattered by the strength of his strongest technique despite the weapon being the pinnacle of a master’s work, the greatest achievement of a legendary sword-smith’s life. “I am,” he said at last. “And I had hoped to avoid adding to my experience, but it seems fate has decreed otherwise.” In his mind’s eye he saw a hill made of the fallen, their broken standards and tattered banners shifting restlessly in a wind heavy with the scent of death. “I will not lie. There is a part of me that enjoys battle, but war is another matter. I’ve seen enough war to last a dozen lifetimes.”
“How bad will it be?” Calista asked quietly. She glanced at her father again. “My father has fought many battles, but those were against pirates, smugglers, and raiders. This… it won’t be like that at all, will it?”
“No. It won’t be. Pirates, smugglers, and raiders aren’t interested in occupying your lands. They take what they want and then leave. This will be a war between nations. The scale will be far larger, and the tactics and strategies more varied. Whoever loses can expect to have their territory taken and their people conquered. It is not pleasant, but there are times when such conflicts cannot be avoided. In such cases, hesitation is pointless. Do not seek war lightly, but if you must fight, commit to it fully.”
Old Man fell silent. He’d seen firsthand how indecisiveness could prolong and worsen a war, and he had set aside his own feelings all those years ago to wield his sword as only he could. How many had he killed? He was the greatest swordsman his nation had ever produced, and his homeland had produced no small number of legends. What chance did normal soldiers or mages have against him? They had all been dead men walking, and as much as he wanted to say the memory of each kill was burned into his mind, he couldn’t. There had been too many, and in the end, there was a reason he could never go back. The man he’d been – the man he’d become – was dead, or so everyone believed, and it was better that way. Besides, what was one man’s happiness compared to the survival of a nation? And he had found happiness of a sort again although it had not been easy, and the road had been long and winding indeed.
“But it could be worse,” Old Man said. “This is not a civil war. Those… those are the worst. Friend against friend, family against family, and ally against ally.” He shook his head. “It is ugly business, even for a war.” He glanced out across the water to the happy people frolicking in the shallows and to those swimming further out. The kingdom had guards at the ready to rescue anyone who floundered. Not all places were so well guarded. “In some ways, you are fortunate. This war, at least for your nation, will be fought almost entirely at sea. You will see ships limping home bearing the wounded, but the horror of a drawn-out land battle is far worse. If the two sides are equal, it will become a daily grind, a quagmire in which whoever is exhausted first loses. There is nothing elegant or glorious about it. If anything it is workmanlike.” His gaze shifted back to the princess. She looked troubled to say the least. “But perhaps this war will be quick. Everton and the empire have great forces at their command, and their leaders are skilled. A small advantage could easily snowball into victory before the other side has a chance to recover.”
“And do you think we can win?” the king asked. His expression was calm. He had likely already made his own calculations, but he was interested to hear the opinion of a swordsman since naval battles were his forte.
“I believe we can, but the path may not be easy. It may not be the most readily apparent one either. We may have to rely on some unconventional methods to secure victory.” He chuckled and looked back to where the trio were now glaring balefully at Timmy’s truly splendid rendition of the palace. Avraniel was hurling accusations of cheating, which was a bit rich since the trio had all used their magic. Spot was visibly annoyed with smoke drifting out of the corners of his mouth while Katie jabbed one finger at the traitorous rats and admonished them. “It is fortunate, then, that we happen to be very good at the unconventional.”
“Indeed.” The king smiled. “Thank you for answering my daughter’s questions. I have to speak to Amanda while I am here.” He nodded at his daughter. “Why don’t you help Katie and the others? They look as though they need some assistance.”
“By all means,” Old Man said. “Help them. However, Your Highness, you should know that Timmy is currently undefeated. Even with your aid, I doubt that will change.”
Calista stood and took a deep breath. Her gaze was solemn as she replied, “He has yet to face my power.”
Old Man turned out to be right. He bit back a smile as Katie and the princess grew more and more annoyed as it became more and more obvious that they were not going to beat Timmy. By the time, he’d finished, Katie and the others had conceded defeat and were busy plotting their revenge. Spot suggested eating Timmy’s food, but that was really his stomach talking. Katie suggested rearranging his collection of shark jaws. To memorialise the occasion, Spot and Avraniel turned both structures into glass. Timmy generously donated his to the princess while Katie and the others gave theirs to Gerald to store. With the contest over, the princess took a jaunt through Chomp’s miniature labyrinth.
The dog was extremely proud of his network of tunnels, but no amount of whining could convince Timmy to put traps in it. He was especially proud of his treasury, which housed the glass bottle he’d found along with a few other bits and pieces like some coconuts, a large piece of coral, and a highly confused crab that was wondering what had happened to its nice, peaceful burrow.
They stayed in the Shimmering Isles for a few more days before beginning the journey back to Everton. Alas, any thoughts of a peaceful trip home soon came to an abrupt end. On their way back, only two days after leaving the Shimmering Isles, they received a visitor.
“I would have used a scrying sphere,” Vicky said as her astral projection floated over the deck of the dreadnought, drawing an awed crowd as the light she radiated washed over everything. “But some of what I have to say is best said in person.” Her glow was bright enough to turn the night into day, but she swiftly dimmed it as she drifted down to their level. She sighed. “I was hoping to give you a longer break, but it’s about your next mission.”
Timmy scowled. “We’re not even back from our last one yet.”
“Unfortunately, this can’t wait. We are very busy elsewhere, and it’s right up your alley, so to speak.”
Chapter Eight
Vicky’s glowing form settled onto a chair, and Timmy once again marvelled at how fine his friend’s control over her magic was. Astral projections were, by and large, intangible and therefore incapable of physically interacting with other non-astral objects. What made Vicky’s projections so terrifying was that she could alter their tangibility. If she wanted to, she could use her astral projection to punch someone through a wall from hundreds of miles away. During their academy years, her range had been smaller, but she had still used it to successfully prank many of their peers.
“As you know, proxy wars have already broken out between us and the empire.” Vicky glanced at the door. Jake was not privy to this meeting. It wasn’t a matter of trust so much as it was a matter of security. Jake had better reasons than almost anyone to dislike the empire, but he simply didn’t need to know. His battle would be at sea. “Our friend Jake is a perfect example. As a privateer, he lets us target imperial shipping without declaring open hostilities. Your actions in the Combine have only added to these conflicts.” Her gaze lingered on Spot for a moment, and Timmy resolved to ask her about it later. Spot was part astral dragon. Perhaps she’d noticed a change in him that the rest of them had missed. Was he ready to awaken more of his powers? “With Lord Tarrick out of the picture, the criminal organisations in the area have already begun to battle for supremacy. And with their previous puppet off the stage, the empire has been forced to back new candidates.”
Two Necromancers, a Dwarf Kingdom, and a Sky City Page 28