The Dragons of Decay (45 page)

“Hey, I don't disagree, guys. But what
choice do I have? Liliana has more than earned some consideration
from us, don't you think? And Clara could use the help. Plus, I
really want you and the others, Kronk, to help with the new town's
construction. There just aren't enough people down there with the
proper skills to do the job both well and quickly.”

“Yes master, I know.” The little guy
smiled shyly at him. “But we worry because we care. I suppose
it is as simple as that.”

“Thanks, both of you. Okay, this won't take
long.”

He grounded that staff and leaned against it a bit
as he recited the Gate spell. When he was done, he grinned at the
anxious expressions on the faces of both of his little friends.

“See you soon,” he said, trying to
sound confident and then, keeping Liliana's face firmly in mind, he
activated the spell.

“
Invectis
!”

The void was cold, dark
and empty. Simon felt adrift in wherever the Gate spell took him when
he was between one place and another and clenched his fists as he
waited, desperately seeing Liliana's visage in his mind's eye. It
seemed to last forever.

And then he fell to his
hands and knees and began sucking in great gulps of warm air. Warm
firelight flickering around him helped to erase the horror that was
the void from his mind and he slowly sat back on his heels and looked
around.

Liliana was hurrying
across the room, her silver armor ringing musically, an expression of
concern on her face.

“
Simon! Are
you all right?” she asked as she knelt down in front of him.

“
I'm...”
he took a moment to catch his breath, “fine, thanks. That was a
little more intense than I remember though.”

He noticed that she had
braided her hair to keep it from impeding her, should she need to
fight, and that a sword was now hanging on her left hip.

“
Here, let
me help you,” the paladin told him. She stood up and gently
pulled him to his feet with a strong, steady grip.

“
Thanks.
I'm okay now. Just a little winded.”

He looked around the
room appreciatively.

One wall was covered in
shelving that was stuffed with hundreds of books. The marble
fireplace appeared even larger in person and above it was a huge
painting of what looked like a country scene, complete with children
running and playing over hills and fields. Heavy leather chairs and
couches were scattered all around and the smell of old oak and a hint
of cigar smoke lingered in the air.

“
Wow, this
guy liked his comfort, didn't he?” he muttered.

“
Yes, he
certainly did.”

The paladin grinned at
him and nodded toward her belongings.

“
If it
isn't too much of a burden, I thought I'd bring along a case of
vodka. Perhaps the people of Nottinghill would like to celebrate
their new home, once it is finished being built.”

The wooden box wasn't
very big and Simon smiled.

“
I think I
can handle that. By the way, when things have settled down a bit and
I'm feeling stronger, would you mind if I came back here and, um,
lifted that easy chair and that leather sofa? I lost mine in a fire
and I've really missed them.”

The paladin laughed.

“
They are
yours for the taking, my friend, with my blessing. I'm happy to think
that they will be of some use to someone. Otherwise they would
eventually rot and be lost, like so many other things from our former
lives.”

“
Excellent.
Thank you.”

He walked over to the
pile of bags and the wooden box.

“
Please
make sure that all of your things are touching and that you keep a
hand or foot on one of them as I cast Gate. The circuit has to be
made or the stuff won't be pulled along with us.”

“
Got it,”
Liliana told him. “Are you sure you wouldn't like to rest a bit
first?”

“
I'm fine.
I told Clara that I'd stay for a few days once we got there, so I can
get my rest and my earthen friends can help with some of the town's
construction.”

“
Oh, that
is generous of them.”

“
They love
to feel useful,” Simon told her with a grin. “I suppose
that's true for most of us.”

“
I agree.”

Simon braced his staff
on the ground, using it to help him stand, and began the Gate spell
incantation.

“
Put a hand
on my shoulder, Liliana and keep contact with your things,” he
said as he finished the chant.

“
Done,”
she said as she put one glove hand on his right shoulder.

“
Okay, here
we go.”

Simon focused on the
new town and made sure that he had a clear vision of its central area
before invoking the spell.

“
Invectis
!”
he said firmly and felt the void closing in around them.

Simon and
Liliana were welcomed into the center of the new town by warm breezes
and bright sunlight. It was about ten o'clock in the morning by
Simon's estimation and the setting drew an immediate smile from both
of them.

“
Oh,
this is wonderful,” the paladin exclaimed as she looked around
avidly. Simon had to agree.

It was
amazing how quickly the winter cold could erase memories of warm
weather and the sheer pleasure of having to take off his coat because
he was too hot was exhilarating.

He took
off his boots and socks as well and rolled them into his coat, which
he tucked between Liliana's things on the ground. The grass under his
bare feet was warm and soft.

There was
a general bustle of people moving back and forth and the sound of
hammering and digging echoed within the town's outer walls. The
feeling in the air was one of energy and rebirth and it was
invigorating.

Clara had
obviously been watching for their arrival and appeared almost at
once, along with Malcolm and Virginia.

All three
of them greeted both of them warmly, with Malcolm and Liliana
exchanging firm handshakes. The big man was wearing chain mail over
leather, probably because of the heat, and his handsome black
features were, as usual, open and friendly. The warrior and paladin
obviously admired each other quite a bit.

“
Simon,
so great to see you!” Virginia exclaimed and hugged him
fiercely.

She was
wearing a simple knee-length dress and a white blouse and looked even
more beautiful than usual. Her light blond hair still flowed down to
her waist and she looked like she'd stepped off the page of a fashion
magazine. But she carried herself with assurance and was not someone
that Simon thought of as physically demonstrative.

He
returned the embrace hesitantly and then pulled back, a bit puzzled.

“
What
was that for?” he asked, noticing Clara's look of amusement.

“
What
was it for? You were dead, you idiot!” Virginia said loudly
with a scowl. “Even when Clara told us you'd come back, a lot
of us couldn't believe it. But here you are!”

She
grinned and hugged him again quickly.

“
Um,
thanks?” he said doubtfully and everyone, including the
paladin, burst out laughing.

“
You're
welcome. Now, are you okay? You look a bit pale and your knees are
shaking.”

“
They
are?”

Simon
looked down and, sure enough, he saw his knees trembling underneath
his robe.

“
Yeah,
I wouldn't mind sitting down. Gating is a bit draining and I'm not at
a hundred percent yet.”

“
Follow
me, my friends,” Clara said to both Simon and Liliana. “Malcolm
and his scavengers managed to dig up a pile of folding chairs from a
flattened warehouse and we've set them up over here.”

“
I
prefer to think of us as re-claimers, not scavengers, my lady,”
Malcolm said loftily as they moved through the settlement.

“
Whatever
you like,” the cleric said with a smile. “But you and
Aiden and the others have done a wonderful job and we are most
grateful.”

She led
them to a spot near the wall where a dozen wooden folding chairs had
been set up in the shade under a tarp. A few small tables were
scattered around as well and the cleric waved both of her visitors
toward the seats.

“
Sit
down, please. I'll get you something to drink.”

“
I'll
do that, Clara,” Virginia said firmly. “You rest. You
never really stop, you know, so have a seat for a change.”

The cleric
thanked her and sat down next to Simon, who sighed in relief as he
got off of his feet. He felt a bit light-headed and was grateful for
the chance to catch his breath.

Malcolm
followed Virginia, offering to help, and they chatted quietly as they
disappeared into a nearby tent.

“
I
noticed the pile of belongings that you brought with you,”
Clara said to Liliana. “Is there anything else you need? We
have dug up several caches of clothes and shoes if you need any.”

The cleric
herself was wearing a simple, sky-blue robe and her brown hair was
tucked behind her ears.

The
paladin smiled and shifted in her chair, which creaked alarmingly
under the weight of her armor.

“
I
thank you, my friend, but no. As you can see, most of the time I wear
armor. I find that it feels more natural for me to do so. Part of
being a paladin, I suppose.”

“
Funny.
Malcolm has said almost the same thing from time to time.”

Clara
folded her hands and rested them on her lap. Then she looked from
Simon to Liliana and back again.

“
You
both look well. Liliana, please allow me to offer my condolences on
your losses. After all of your efforts, to lose your people despite
that, is truly a tragedy.”

The
paladin's face paled but she accepted Clara's words with grace and
dignity.

“
Thank
you, my friend. I grieve for them, but I also hope to help you and
your fellows here, if you will have me.”

“
There
has never been any fear of our not accepting you,” the cleric
assured her warmly. “Not only do we need any help that we can
get with our rebuilding, your skills in combat and your ability to
heal will be invaluable to us.”

Simon
watched the interaction between the two women with interest. Both
were strong people, loyal and fierce in their wish to protect those
around them and he'd been sure that they could work together, but
until this moment, there had been no guarantee. He felt a sense of
relief and allowed his mind to wander lazily for a moment as he
looked around.

The
inhabitants of the new town were all looking healthy and happy. He
saw and heard a lot of laughter and joking, but they were still
working steadily at the same time.

Among the
tents, several clotheslines were heavy with laundry flapping merrily
in the warm breeze. The three children of the town, a boy and two
girls, all under five years of age, were playing together, running
here and there and getting underfoot, but everyone was being very
patient with them.

It takes a
community to raise a child, Simon thought and wondered where he had
heard that. It seemed to be the case here as each child would
occasionally be lifted up and hugged or tickled by the adults they
were running amongst, to screams of laughter, and then put down to
continue playing. It was remarkably joyous to watch.

“
Don't
you agree, Simon?”

He looked
at Clara blankly.

“
Sorry?”

She
laughed and looked in the direction he had been staring.

“
They
do look happy, don't they?”

“
Remarkably
so. The move from up north looks like it's invigorated them. And I
see some people are finally getting a little color from the sun.”

“
Yeah,
my tan's coming along great,” a deep voice boomed and Simon
turned to see Malcolm approaching along with Virginia.

They all
laughed at his joke and the wizard watched as the pair put down a
large pitcher of orange juice and several glasses on a table. Clara
thanked them and poured a glass for everyone.

“
Oh,
this is wonderful,” Liliana exclaimed as she tried the juice.
“I haven't had fresh orange juice in, well, I can't remember
when.”

Simon
savored the delicious sweetness and nodded appreciatively.

“
I
agree. When I get my strength back, I may Gate down here regularly to
steal a bottle or two, so don't say I didn't warn you.”

The cleric
looked at him fondly.

“
Anytime,
my friend. Oh Simon,” she said and took his hand, holding it in
both of her own. “I'm still trying to believe that you are
really here, alive and well. Do you know how deeply your loss
affected us?”