The Dragons of Argent and Silver (Tales from the New Earth #6) (44 page)

“
Of course it is.
They aren't prisoners, Kronk. You did the right thing.”

The earthen looked
relieved.

“
Thank you, master.”

The wizard ate a quick
breakfast, took a second cup of tea with him and headed outside.

The morning was fresh and
bright. It was a day that made it hard to believe in things like
walking skeletons and necromancers.

Aeris flew ahead while
Kronk walked with Simon as he circled the tower and went out the back
gate. Once he could see the pasture he stopped and stared, both
surprised and amused.

The Haladanin were
frolicking in the lake; swimming, hooting and generally acting like
very large, furry children. Simon stood near the gate and sipped his
tea, watching with delight.

“
They seem so much
happier today than yesterday, master,” Kronk observed. “Have
they managed to put the horror of what they have gone through behind
them already?”

“
Maybe so. I don't
know anything about bears and how they think and how much of that
carries over to the Haladanin. Maybe they don't brood on bad
memories. Who knows? But I think this is a good sign. Perhaps they've
begun to heal.”

They watched the people
play for a few minutes before walking down to the lake. When they got
to the shore, Galder, who had been paddling back and forth, noticed
the wizard and made his way back from the far side of the lake.

They swim like large dogs,
Simon thought and held back a grin.

“
Good morning, my
friend,” Galder called as he stood up.

He waded through the water
and stood in the shallows. Even though he was in the lake and Simon
was on land, the chief was still the taller one.

“
Morning, Galder.
How are you all today?”

“
Better, thank you.
We were delighted to discover your lake. You have few fish though, so
we didn't bother them. It is important for lakes and ponds to have
them to keep the water clean.”

“
Is it? I didn't
know that. Well, thanks then.”

“
Not at all.”

Galder looked over his
shoulder at the other Haladanin and grunted a few instructions. Then
he stepped out of the lake and motioned for Simon and Kronk to step
back a ways. He bent over and shook himself furiously, sending a
shower of water droplets in all directions.

The wizard covered his cup
and moved even further back. Aeris descended out of the sun at that
moment and the three of them watched as the chief finished drying
himself off.

“
Handy technique,”
the air elemental said quietly. “Saves him needing a towel.”

“
Good point.”

Simon finished his tea and
Aeris motioned for the cup.

“
Thanks, Aeris.”

“
No problem. I'll be
back in a couple of minutes.”

The elemental zipped off
toward the tower and Simon and Kronk waited for Galder to join them.

“
You have a fine
group of animals,” the chief said.

He was looking at the
horses, cows and sheep as they grazed. Simon noticed that all of the
animals gave the Haladanin a wide berth.

“
They find us
strange,” Galder continued.

He scratched his head,
shrugged and then picked up his belt and weapons from where he'd left
them beside the lake. He got dressed and looked down at Simon.

“
My people and I
have decided on our course of action, my friend. We do not want
others to react to us as your livestock do. We need to have our own
place, our own home. It will be easier for us, and for you and the
other Changlings, if we remain apart.”

“
I'm sorry to hear
that,” Simon said regretfully. “I think that you are
selling the people at Nottinghill Castle short, but the decision is
yours, of course. But where will you go? It isn't safe out in the
world now.”

Galder smiled and his
small fangs protruded as he pulled back his black lips.

“
It has never been
safe, Simon. It may be more dangerous now with necromancers stalking
the world, but that is what it is. And before those spell-casters can
harm us, they will have to find us.”

He looked at his people
with obvious affection as they continued to play in the lake.

“
We do well in the
wild, better than a more 'normal' Changling would. We can eat almost
anything, sleep almost anywhere. We can survive deep cold and burning
heat. Our mistake, we now believe, was settling down in a place so
close to a city. We will not make that error again. Once we have the
supplies we need, we will set off to the west, deeper into the
wilderness. The next major city is hundreds of miles away in that
direction. We will find our place; I know we will.”

Simon nodded but felt a
wave of sadness. These strange, gentle people had been driven from
their homes for no reason except the enmity of the dark gods. They
deserved better than the fate that awaited them.

“
What can I do to
help?” he asked Galder. “Whatever is in my power to do
for your people, I'll do.”

“
Ah Simon. My
friend.”

The chief smiled down at
him and patted his shoulder gently.

The wizard had a weird
moment of juxtaposition. He wondered if Kronk felt this way when he
reached down and touched his small shoulders. It was a weird feeling.

“
You have saved my
people,” Galder told him. “What more could we ask of you?
If you take us back so that we can get our belongings, that will be
enough.”

“
Of course. Whenever
you're ready.”

The Haladanin were
prepared to leave in a surprisingly short time and Simon Gated them
and the elementals back to town. It was still early in the day and
Galder wanted to gather what they needed and leave so that they would
have a head start on any attackers before nightfall.

“
Do you think that
you will be able to travel far enough away from the town to lose them
by nightfall?”

“
We can only hope
so. What choice do we have?”

Simon stood in the center
of town with Kronk and Aeris. Galder was with them and the other
Haladanin were searching through the buildings for anything they
thought they might need.

“
What about your
beehives?”

Galder sighed heavily.

“
We will have to
leave them, I'm afraid. It is too bad. We love honey and enjoy caring
for the bees. Perhaps to the west we will find fields of flowers that
do not grow as thickly in this part of the country.

A light seemed to go off
in Simon's head and he felt a surge of excitement.

“
Wait. I have an
idea!”

The chief and the
elementals looked at him with almost identical expressions of
surprise and Simon almost burst out laughing. He was so excited that
he felt giddy.

“
Galder, a couple of
years ago I had to travel west to the Rockies, to find a special
plant to use in a ritual. Anyway, the meadows in the lower part of
the mountains are thick with flowers. There are forests further down
as well. That entire part of the country is dotted with lakes and
streams too. It might be the perfect spot to start over. It's
certainly far enough away from Ottawa or any other city.”

“
The Rockies?”
the chief muttered.

He frowned in thought and
then nodded slowly.

“
It might do. Could
you do me another favor and take me there to see it? Or is that
asking too much?”

“
Hardly. We can go
now while your people finish up here.”

“
Excellent. Let me
tell them that we're leaving and I will be right back.”

Galder hurried off and
Aeris waited for him to get out of earshot before moving close enough
to Simon to whisper.

“
Is that a good
idea?” he asked softly. “You were in and out of that part
of the country very quickly. There could be a lot of dangers that you
don't know about.”

“
I have no doubt
that there are,” the wizard agreed. “But whatever is out
there can't be worse than what they will face if they stay around
here. They want a new start, Aeris; a new beginning. This might be
ideal.”

Kronk listened silently
but smiled a bit when Simon looked down at him.

“
You may be right,”
the air elemental said hesitantly. “I just thought I'd mention
it.”

“
I understand. But
despite his appearance, Galder is far from slow or stupid. He knows
very well that danger awaits them no matter where they go. He's a
good leader for the Haladanin. I think they'll do well, if he decides
to move them out there. Let's wait and see what he says.”

The chief returned
shortly.

“
I have told them
that we will be gone for a while to do some scouting. So, shall we
go?”

“
Sure. Kronk? Aeris?
I wonder if you'd mind staying here. Keep an eye on things. I know
it's the middle of the day, but we can't be too careful.”

“
Of course, master.
We'd be happy to. Wouldn't we?”

Aeris shrugged.

“
Certainly. Be
careful out there.”

“
We will be. Galder?
Your hand on my shoulder, please.”

The chief moved closer and
laid his large hand lightly on Simon's shoulder. The wizard lifted
his staff, pulled out the memory of the lush meadows on the slopes of
the Rockies and examined it. When it was locked firmly in his mind,
he cast the spell and slipped into the void.

“
Will they be all
right, do you think?”

“
They will be fine.
Between our master and that bear man, there is little that would
challenge them out in the wild.”

“
Let's hope so,”
Aeris said under his breath.

The Gate wrapped them in
complete darkness for a count of twelve and Simon was becoming a bit
concerned when he and Galder suddenly burst into the pale, pink light
of predawn.

They were standing
knee-deep in grass and a cool, sweet breeze blew past them.

“
Oh jeez, I forgot
about the time difference,” he said to Galder.

He could vaguely see the
chief looming over him in the gloom.

“
The sun isn't even
up yet.”

“
That is not a
problem,” the Haladanin replied as he turned in a slow circle
to survey the land.

“
Ah, it is
beautiful, is it not?” he said with quiet delight. “So
pristine. So fresh.”

“
It is. I remember
thinking back when I first visited here that I wished there was a way
to move my tower and set it up somewhere in the mountains. But my
roots run too deep where my home is now and I wouldn't move unless I
was forced to.”

The pair of them became
quiet and watched the world wake up around them. It was exhilarating.

Strange trills from unseen
birds and the rustling of swaying plants filled the air. As the sun
crept over the horizon, the world filled with color.

Flowers opened themselves
to the light and their scents became almost intoxicating. Simon
looked up at the chief and saw him breathing in deeply, a joyful
expression on his face.

It's amazing that someone
who can look so frightening can also seem so childlike, the wizard
thought.

“
So what do you
think?” he finally asked.

“
Think? I thing that
it is wonderful here,” Galder answered. “It is still
springtime. My people and I could begin building new homes and have
them ready before the first snow flies, I am sure.”

He pointed downward at the
slopes below them.

“
See? There are many
groves of trees that we can use for building materials. We have tools
and the skill to use them. And, if you would indulge me somewhat, my
friend, we could perhaps bring a dozen of our hives with us and set
them up near this meadow. That way, our supply of honey would remain
uninterrupted.”

“
I'll help in any
way I can,” Simon assured him. “So does that mean that
you think this place would suit you and the others?”

“
I do. You are a
genius to have thought of this. I have yet another reason to be
grateful to you. How can I ever thank you?”

“
Survive, my friend.
Survive and thrive. That will be thanks enough.”

The Haladanin were
thrilled when Galder reported back to them. The group was sitting by
the gate with their belongings when Simon and the chief returned and
looked a little forlorn. But the description of the beauty that
awaited them in the mountains cheered them up immensely and they were
obviously eager to put their old home behind them and get a new
start.

Simon Gated the people and
their supplies separately. There were simply too many bags, boxes and
bundles of tools to take all at once. Kronk and Aeris had seen no
signs of trouble, so the wizard took his time and made sure that the
Haladanin had everything they wanted to bring with them.