The Dragons of Decay (44 page)

Funny, he
thought as he cast the spell. I've been through death and been
brought back to life and I still have these spells locked firmly in
my mind. How is that even possible? Is it the mind that survives
after death? Or are the soul and consciousness the same thing?

He pushed
away those distracting thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand.

“
Invectis
,”
he said tentatively.

There was
the merest moment of silence and then a hazy globe burst into life
around him, extending six feet in all directions. A slight feeling of
weakness rippled through him, and he felt light-headed for a minute
and swayed a bit.

Kronk
braced his knees firmly and Simon felt like he was standing in a
bucket of cement. The earthen's grip was absolute and he had no
chance of falling, which he was sure he hadn't been about to do.
Probably.

“
Thanks,
Kronk. I'm good.”

“
Yes
master. It was just a precaution.”

Simon
smiled at his little friend and looked over to see Aeris' reaction.

The air
elemental was looking a trifle smug.

“
Perfect.
Almost exactly what I had expected,” he said in a superior
tone.

“
Yeah
right. Anyway, it worked and I feel fine.”

Kronk
tapped his leg and gave him a skeptical look.

“
Um,
I mean I felt dizzy for a minute, but I'm okay. Really,” the
wizard said, more to the earthen than to Aeris.

The little
guy smiled and nodded, keeping one cautionary hand on Simon's knee.

“
Do
you feel up to the last test?” Aeris asked as Simon canceled
the Shield spell. The field disappeared with a muted blue flash,
while his globe of magic light continued to bob lightly over his
head.

“
I'm
good. And no matter what happens, I'll make sure to rest once we're
done. Better safe than sorry.”

He looked
back down at Kronk.

“
Want
to come along for the ride?”

“
If
I won't be too much of a burden, I would like that, master.”

“
You
are never a burden, my friend,” Simon said fondly.

“
Getting
nauseous over here,” Aeris said in a snarky tone. Kronk glared
at him.

Simon just
gave him a look and an exaggerated sigh and began chanting the
incantation for the Gate spell.

When he
finished, he closed his eyes, keeping the image of his study firmly
in mind and then, with some trepidation, he invoked the spell.

It was the
shortest Gating that Simon had ever experienced. There was a quick
moment of darkness and then he and Kronk were standing in the study.

“
Whoa.
That was amazing!” he exclaimed as he grinned down at Kronk.
“If it wasn't such a strain, I think I'd just pop around the
tower instead of walking.”

The
earthen made a sound of disapproval.

“
That
would be most unwise, master. One stray thought and you could be
trapped in the void...or inside of a wall.”

“
I
was just kidding,” the wizard said. “You are so literal
sometimes.”

“
Of
course I am, master,” the little guy said stoutly. “It is
in my nature. Let elementals like Aeris dream on; we earthen prefer
concrete thoughts and deeds.”

Before
Simon could answer, Aeris called up from downstairs.

“
Are
you alive up there?” he shouted.

“
No,”
Kronk rumbled back loudly. “We both died. We are now speaking
to you from the void.”

The
earthen's response was so unlike him that Simon completely broke up.

Kronk
watched him with a tiny smile as the wizard bent over, trying to
catch his breath.

“
You
see, master,” he said when Simon had finally calmed down. “Even
an earthen can joke when the occasion warrants it.”

“
You're
right. I totally apologize for implying you're too stiff and
one-dimensional to understand when I'm kidding. Now, let's go down
and reassure Aeris that we really are alive.”

“
Yes
master,” the little guy said with a gravelly laugh and they
headed for the stairs.

Back at
the kitchen table with a fresh cup of tea, Simon endured several
questions about his reactions to the spells.

“
I'd
say they were pretty good, all things considered,” he told
Aeris. “Yes, I'm tired. My head feels like it's stuffed with
cotton, to be honest, but physically it's only fatigue. That's a good
sign, isn't it?”

The air
elemental nodded and looked at Kronk, who shrugged diffidently.

“
I
agree, master, but we must not rush this. The final decision is
always yours, but I would recommend a few more days of rest to build
up your reserves before you travel to the lady paladin's home.”

“
That's
a very good idea,” Simon said agreeably and both elementals
stared at him, surprised.

“
It
is?” Aeris asked him incredulously. “You mean you aren't
going to argue?”

“
Of
course not. Guys, I was sent back for a reason and it would be damned
ungrateful if I jeopardized my recovery by being overly hasty. I'm
quite sure that Liliana can hold out for a few more days. If she has
any trouble, she can get my attention by using her lodestone. So I
will practice patience, eat and sleep as much as I can and leave in,
let's say, three days. Agreed?”

The
elementals agreed, Kronk much more slowly than Aeris, and so Simon,
relieved, finished his tea and headed off for some rest. In spite of
what he had told his friends, part of him couldn't wait to get back
into action.

Patience,
Simon, he said to himself. Patience.

On the
morning of 'the day', as Simon had come to think of it, the wizard
woke up, got washed and dressed and ate breakfast. He called Clara
first to tell her that he was going to be bringing Liliana with him
that day, and to make sure to keep everyone clear of the center of
town, since that would be his landing site.

The cleric
was thrilled and promised him a fresh fish dinner when he got there.
Then he called Liliana.

He had
promised the paladin that he would let her know when he was coming,
and 'the day' had finally arrived.

His hand
was shaking a bit as he held the mirror, waiting for the spell to
connect him with Moscow.

“
Are
you feeling all right, master?” Kronk asked him. He was staring
at the wizard's quivering arm.

“
I'm
fine,” Simon told him, not quite truthfully. “Just
excited, that's all. I know it's only been ten or eleven days since I
returned, but it actually feels more like a month and I'm becoming
quite concerned about Liliana and the fact that she's alone now.”

“
Ah,
I see, master. Yes, that is understandable.”

Aeris
floated up from the basement with a heavy canvas bag in his hand.

“
What's
understandable?” he asked as he flew across the room and
dropped the bag on to the table. “Here are the beets you wanted
from the cold storage, by the way. Just as well you're giving them to
Clara; they're beginning to get soft.”

“
Thanks.
They'll cook up fine,” Simon said with an absent smile as he
watched the mirror.

“
I
was just asking master why he was shaking.”

“
And
he told you that he was excited? Naturally he's excited, Kronk.
Aren't we all?”

Aeris
nodded toward the window. Very little light was able to seep in
because all of the windows of the tower were packed with snow. There
had been intermittent flurries for the past several days and the snow
around the building, except for the paths to the outhouse and the
stable, was three feet deep.

“
It
will be nice to get away from this infernal winter, for all of us.”

“
Yes,
but we can't be gone for long,” Kronk protested. “The
horses...”

“
Will
be well looked after by the three earthen that are staying here.
Honestly, you're a worrywart.”

“
I
am?” Kronk asked with a confused frown.

“
Guys?
Trying to focus over here,” Simon said irritably.

The two
elementals turned and hurried over to stand on either side of the
wizard.

“
No
contact yet?” Aeris asked in a hushed voice.

“
It's
starting to clear now.”

The image of Liliana appeared out of the mist. She
was sitting in a heavy chair and reading from a large leather-bound
book. Several candles were placed on tables around her and Simon
assumed that she was in a new retreat. He doubted that she would have
stayed in the same place that her people had died.

For a change, her straw-colored hair was loose and
hanging over her shoulders instead of pulled back and braided. And
instead of armor, she wore a simple white shirt and brown leather
pants. Her boots were black.

She was focused intently on whatever she was
reading and frowning slightly. A glass of clear liquid sat on a small
table next to her and Simon saw her take a small sip as she read.

“Hello Liliana,” he said to her.

The paladin raised her heavy head and her intense
blue eyes roamed around the room.

“Ah, hello Simon. How nice to hear from you.
How are you feeling?”

“Better, thanks. Not my old self, perhaps,
but close enough. And you? How are you holding up?”

She sighed and put the book aside. She sat back in
the chair, picked up the glass and drank down the contents.

“Fine. Surviving.” She raised the
glass. “Perhaps indulging in a little too much vodka, but that
is about all.”

“I see. Well, I've called to tell you that,
if you are still prepared to go, I'm ready to take you to join Clara
and the others.”

“Are you? Well now, a bit of good news for a
change.”

Simon watched the paladin stand up, put down her
glass and stride across the room.

“As it happens, I've been waiting for your
call. The winter's gotten worse, if you can believe it, and I'm
snowed in at the moment.”

She stopped and pointed to a small pile of bags.
They were resting on top of an ornate Indian rug and behind them
Simon saw a fire burning merrily in a large, marble fireplace.

“I've gathered all of my belongings. If you
are going to join me soon, I will wear my armor rather than carry
it.”

“Sure, that sounds fine. It looks like you
found a rather nice place to hole up.”

She looked around and nodded vaguely.

“It is, isn't it? The abandoned home of an
oligarch, I think. He lived rather well. This was his study, deep
beneath his mansion. If you hadn't been able to transport me, I think
I could have held out over the winter here.”

She chuckled lightly.

“He certainly had good taste in alcohol.”

Simon smiled at her tone.

“Are you ready to go then? If so, I'll join
you in a few minutes.”

“More than ready, my friend. This city holds
too many memories for me now. I will keep them in my heart forever,
but I can no longer abide living here.”

“Okay then. It will take me a bit of time to
get there, so go ahead and gather whatever else you want to bring
with you and I'll see you soon.”

“Excellent, Simon. I will be ready.”

The wizard broke the spell and looked at the
elementals.

“Well, time to get ready, I suppose. You
guys all set?”

“Of course, master,” Kronk assured
him. “You remember the names of my two brethren that you will
be summoning when you arrive at the new Nottinghill?”

“Yup. Kallich and Roke, right?”

“Very good, master. Call for them and Aeris
and I when you arrive. It will save you using energy to Gate us along
with the lady paladin and her baggage.”

Simon got up and walked over to the cabinet to put
on his winter coat. He looked over his shoulder at Aeris.

“Hang on to that bag of beets or when I call
you, they'll be left behind.”

“I am well aware of that, my dear wizard,”
he replied, sounding a bit testy.

Simon turned as he pulled on the coat and stared
at him.

“What's up with you?”

The air elemental just shrugged but Kronk looked
at him and smiled.

“He is worried, of course, master. Like me,
I suppose. We don't want you to overexert yourself so soon after your
miraculous return.”

“I'll speak for myself, thank you,”
Aeris snapped at him.

“So speak!” the earthen replied
shortly.

Aeris scowled at him and then looked at Simon a
little sheepishly.

“Perhaps he's right. It is awfully soon for
you to be casting major spells, don't you think?”

Simon put on his heavy boots and then walked over
to the door and grabbed the staff that was leaning next to it.