The Dragons of Bone and Dust (Tales from the New Earth Book 7) (18 page)

And once his tower officially felt
like home again, Simon could no longer avoid it; he had to start the
journey to the dwarven capital, Kingstone.

“
Why can't I
just Gate there?” he said to the elementals one evening, a few
days after their trip to Moscow. “I mean, I Gated into that
bunker and that was underground.”

The wizard was sitting in front of
the fireplace, snuggled into the comfy chair and sipping tea. The
flames were dancing and the wood smelled sweet as it burned. He was
as comfortable as he had ever been and leaving his home to trudge for
miles along the endless dwarven tunnels was the last thing he wanted
to do.

Kronk was sitting next to the
fireplace, his stumpy legs stretched out in front of him. In the
flickering light, he looked like a misshapen pile of coal, except for
his burning red eyes.

Instead of answering, the earthen
looked over at Aeris. The misty figure was bobbing quietly a few
inches above the floor on the opposite side of the fireplace and
seemed a bit surprised that Kronk had deferred to him.

“
Well, there
are several factors impeding your spell, my dear wizard,” he
replied thoughtfully. “Unlike the bunker, which is only a
hundred feet or so below the surface, the tunnels of the dwarfs
travel many miles underground. The rock around them is a natural
insulate against magic.”

“
Wait a
second. How can something insulate against a supernatural power?”
Simon asked. “You're making magic sound as mundane as
electricity.”

“
But in many
ways it is, master,” Kronk interjected. “It is a
measurable force, like gravity and electricity and many other sources
of power in nature.”

“
Kronk is
correct, shockingly,” Aeris said dryly. “There is nothing
'supernatural' about magic, oh great wizard. Why would you even think
that?”

Simon put down his empty cup on the
little table beside his chair and sat up. The conversation was
beginning to intrigue him.

“
Why? Well,
because of what it can do. Summoning fireballs? Gating? Hell, raising
the dead? All of that is supernatural, isn't it?”

Aeris put a hand over his face and
shook his head in seeming disbelief while Kronk just stared at the
wizard with a puzzled frown.

“
Unbelievable,”
the air elemental finally muttered from behind his hand. “I'm
working for a child. Well, there go my hopes and dreams for a
brighter future.”

“
Hang on
there, smart guy,” Simon growled. “What did I say that
was so ridiculous?”

“
It wasn't
ridiculous, master,” Kronk told him quickly. “Just a
little, um...”

“
Stupid,”
Aeris cut in. “Do you mean to say that after all you have seen
and done as a wizard, you still think that magic is unnatural?”

Simon slid his legs underneath him
and settled back into his chair.

“
Okay,
enlighten me. How would you define it? And leave the insults aside,”
he added sternly.

Aeris hesitated and then half-bowed.

“
Apologies,
my dear wizard. My swift tongue betrayed me.”

“
And your
lack of manners,” Kronk added with a glare.

“
I'll ignore
that, considering the source,” Aeris said. “Now, about
magic. We of the air realm have long considered magic as just another
form of energy; the other elemental races feel the same, more or
less.”

Kronk nodded silently when Simon
glanced at him.

“
And because
it is energy, even if it comes from a divine source, it can be
affected by the world around it.”

“
Meaning the
rock underground?”

“
That, yes,
but other things as well. Severe weather can actually alter the
outcome of a spell. Running water has been used for ages as a barrier
to evil magics. Oh, there are so many examples that I could list them
for hours.”

“
Please
don't.”

Aeris looked at Kronk and the earthen
returned his look innocently.

“
What? I
only meant that I think master understands what you mean.”

“
I do. Hmm,
this is really interesting,” Simon said as he absorbed the
information.

So magic can be altered by the
environment around it, he thought. I wonder if that can be used to
our advantage against the necromancers somehow?

“
You are
thinking deep thoughts, master.”

The wizard looked away from the fire.

“
I am, yes.
I've been defining magic in the wrong way all this time. I assumed
that because it emanated from the gods, that it was somehow immune to
the forces of nature. But if you guys are right, and I have no reason
to doubt you, then maybe we can use this in our battle against the
Chaos lords and their servants.”

“
How?”
Aeris asked. “It's certainly an intriguing idea.”

“
I don't
have a clue. Yet. But I'll give it some thought, believe me. Let's
put that aside for now though and focus on the immediate future.
Kronk, where is the closest entrance to the dwarven tunnels?”

“
Closest to
here, master, or closest to their capital city?”

Simon leaned forward.

“
Do you know
where Kingstone is?”

“
Not
precisely, master, no. But I do know which tunnel system leads to it.
It will be a good place to begin our journey, rather than starting
close to the tower.”

“
Good
thinking. Any idea how long the hike will take? I'm in the best shape
of my life right now, thanks to the elven way of life, so I might as
well take advantage of that and get started as soon as possible.”

“
As you say,
master. I will show you on the atlas; it will be more precise than
describing the location.”

He jumped up and tip-tapped across
the room to the stairs.

“
Are you
sure you're ready for this?” Aeris asked as they listened to
Kronk hopping up the steps.

“
What do you
mean? I'm in great shape; I just told you that.”

“
Don't get
snarky, my dear wizard. I didn't mean physically; I meant magically.
You've been practicing, I know, but it hasn't been that long since
your return. What happens if we meet enemies along the way? Are you
ready to do battle?'

Simon held the elemental's eyes with
his own for a few seconds and then grinned broadly.

“
Bring it
on,” he said and stood up.

He walked over to the counter, picked
up the kettle and set it over the fire.

“
I feel like
a racehorse just waiting for the signal to run. It's strange but I've
never felt so energized.”

Aeris flew up and settled on to the
counter top next to Simon.

“
Not so
strange, I suppose. I mean, you've been gone a long time and during
your absence you've been unable to use your powers. And now that you
are home and your magic has rushed in to fill the vacuum inside of
you, you are brimming with power. Just try not to let it go to your
head.”

Simon laughed at him as he scooped up
a spoonful of powdered tea leaves and dropped it into his cup.

“
This from
the guy who rushes headlong into impossible situations with hardly
any plan. I wonder if that would be called irony?”

“
Don't
remind me,” Aeris replied. “And that's not how I usually
operate, you know. It's just that I've had some, err, bad luck.”

“
Letting the
insane queen of the dragons chase you halfway across a desert hoping
to get a sample of her blood wasn't bad luck; it was practically
suicidal.”

Aeris smiled a bit sheepishly.

“
It seemed
like a good idea at the time. Besides, it worked, didn't it?”

They both turned to look as Kronk
came clattering back down the stairs.

“
I have it,
master,” he said as he skittered across the room with the large
atlas held over his head. It looked like the book was dancing as it
came toward them and Simon snorted a laugh.

He reached down and picked up the
thick tome.

“
Thanks,
Kronk. Hop up and show me where this tunnel approaches the surface.”

The earthen jumped up on to the
kitchen table and Simon put the atlas down in front of him.

“
It's not
through that cave in Russia, is it?” Aeris asked as he joined
Kronk. “That isn't the fondest of memories for me.”

“
No, it
isn't,” Kronk told him as he leafed through the book. “And
the city nearest to that tunnel isn't the capital.”

Simon took the boiling kettle off of
the fire and made his tea.

“
You really
seem to know a lot about the dwarves,” he commented as he sat
down at the table. “I thought that the earth elementals were
barred from their cities.”

“
All
elementals are forbidden entry, master. But I remember their cities
from the ancient past. We were not always on such poor terms with the
rock people. Once we were practically friends.”

The wizard sipped his tea as he
digested this information.

“
So what
happened? Shandon mentioned it once, but he was a little vague. And
you two haven't been much more forthcoming. It was your leaders'
fault, wasn't it?”

The elementals exchanged an
uncomfortable look and Kronk went back to searching through the
atlas.

“
We are not
permitted to discuss that time with outsiders, my dear wizard,”
Aeris said quietly. “Not even with an ally such as yourself.
Our leaders are, perhaps, a little embarrassed by the memory.”

Kronk stopped flipping pages and
stood up abruptly.

“
It was a
war, master,” he said as he looked up at Simon. “That
much we have already told you. An attempt by our leaders to wrest
power from the other elemental realms. Who started it, how it was
resolved and how the dwarves became involved, is a forbidden subject.
Forgive me that I cannot tell you more.”

Simon smiled his understanding.

“
It's okay,
guys. I'm well aware that your rulers always know what you are saying
if they choose to listen. And I don't want to get you into trouble. I
was just curious, that's all. Let's let it go for now. Any luck
finding that location, Kronk?”

“
Yes
master.” The little guy knelt down and tapped on the open book.
“It is here.”

He turned the atlas so that Simon
could see where he was pointing.

“
Huh. That's
practically in the middle of old Europe. Well, almost.”

He squinted down at the map.

“
The Alps?
Seriously? Oh crap, you know how much I hate mountains. They're
always so icy and cold.”

“
I am sorry,
master, but that is the best spot to enter the dwarven tunnels. The
cave that leads downward isn't at the top,” Kronk added
brightly.

“
Well, I
guess that's something,” Simon muttered. “Are you sure
that the entrance still exists? You said you remembered these places
from ancient times.”

The little guy nodded vigorously.

“
Oh yes,
master. I am sure that it does. Although their contact with the
surface is minimal, the dwarves have always made sure that the
tunnels and their entrances were kept relatively clear and in good
repair. Even if it is blocked, I am sure that I will be able to make
a way for you to enter.”

Simon pulled a piece of paper off of
a pile he kept on the table, fished a battered old pencil out of a
pocket and carefully wrote down the coordinates of the target.

“
Okay guys,
I guess there's no point in putting this off. I really want to see
the survivors from Nottinghill again. Not just to ensure their
safety, but to come up with a plan to beat back the darkness so that
we can start retaking our world again. Are you both okay with leaving
tomorrow?”

“
Any time
you wish,” Aeris told him agreeably.

“
Yes,
master. The horses are doing well and can come and go from the stable
as they please. And the crops will be fine for a few days. I will ask
my people to watch over everything in our absence, just in case.”

Simon got up and stretched. He yawned
as he left his cup in the sink and headed for the stairs.

“
Great. Then
I'd better get some sleep. See you in the morning.”