The Dragons of Bone and Dust (Tales from the New Earth Book 7) (4 page)

The elven maiden nodded slowly.

“
That's
true. A shame, really. Your skills have improved quite a bit in a
very short amount time. It is almost regrettable that you will
probably never need them after you return home.”

Simon pushed himself to his feet,
walked over to his tent and began to pull the tent pegs out of the
ground.

“
Oh, you
never know. Magic isn't always the best solution to every problem.
And if I can, I'll try to practice whenever I get a chance.”

Ethmira laughed lightly as she also
began to tear down her tent.

“
Somehow I
doubt that you will find the time. Now, let's get you back to the
Hall of Knowledge. Maybe they can give us at least a hint about when
a portal will be available.”

The two of them emerged from the
endless forest several hours later. Nothing had threatened them and
they had run into several patrols as they approached the large
settlement where the elven sages conducted their studies. The
patrolling elves had assured them that no roaming monsters prowled
nearby and Simon and Ethmira had hurried along the forest pathways
without having to constantly scan for danger.

The wizard remembered with some
amusement how idyllic he had assumed the elvish world was when he had
first learned that his friend Daniel had been saved by the elves,
back when the dragons had invaded the Earth.

My God, he thought as he followed
Ethmira across the large field that led to the elvish settlement.
That seems like a hundred years ago now. So much has changed since
those amazing, innocent days. So many lives lost; so many friends
gone forever.

A dozen armed elves passed by them,
heading into the trees, and they exchanged nods and smiles. The sages
were treated with great reverence by their people and were guarded
like national treasures. The elves valued knowledge and wisdom above
all things.

As they moved by the guards, Simon
looked across the field at the largest building that he had seen on
this world. He was as impressed by the sight now as he had been the
first time he'd beheld it.

The Hall of Knowledge was built
around the trunk of an immense old tree that soared hundreds of feet
above the earth. The building itself was ancient and appeared to
watch over the world around it with a knowing presence.

It was built of a cream-colored wood
that seemed to have been grown instead of hammered together. It was
all curves and smooth edges and drew the eye to its many windows.
Intimidating and inviting at the same time, Simon always felt a
thrill when he approached it.

A young elf dressed in the pale green
tunic of a scribe hurried toward them as they approached the hall, an
excited expression on his smooth face. Simon thought that the
youngster looked familiar but he couldn't come up with a name to go
with the face. Ethmira had no such problem.

“
Good day,
Arlis,” she said to the young elf as he stopped and bowed. He
was almost quivering with excitement.

“
Greetings
lady, sir wizard,” he replied breathlessly. “I am honored
that you remember me. Elder Arabetha sent me in search of you both. I
am very pleased that I was able to find you so quickly.”

Simon and Ethmira exchanged a look.

“
The elder
wants us?” he asked. “Do you know why?”

“
Oh no, sir
wizard. The elder would never explain herself to a lowly servant such
as I. As it should be,” he added stoutly.

“
Of course,”
Ethmira told him with a gentle smile. “I understand. Could you
lead us to her please?”

“
It would be
an honor, lady. Please follow me.”

Arlis turned around and led the way
forward. The wizard and the elf maiden followed along.

“
Do you ever
regret giving up your seat on the Council?” Simon asked Ethmira
as they walked quickly. Arlis seemed to be in a hurry.

“
Oh my, no.
Why would I?” she replied with a surprised laugh. “Politics
is not pleasurable for me, and dealing with the other councilors was
always a balancing act, politically. Please one and you anger
another. Placate that one and insult this one. Ugh. I'm lucky to have
gotten away without making any enemies.”

She looked thoughtful for a moment.

“
That I know
of, that is. One never really knows what others are thinking behind
their masks, does one?”

“
True
enough. I'm a bit dismayed that elven politics sounds so similar to
what my people went through, before the world was destroyed. I was
hoping that the elves were above that sort of political to and fro.”

They entered the hall through tall,
heavy doors made of dark wood. Arlis turned to the right and headed
for the stairs that spiraled up and around the outer wall of the Hall
of Knowledge until they disappeared into the darkness above them.
Elves hurried up and down the stairs, most dressed as scribes and
most of them very young. There was a constant subdued hum of
conversation throughout the hall that reminded Simon of the buzz of a
beehive.

“
And why
would our politics be any different than yours, my friend?”
Ethmira asked as they began climbing the stairs. “My people are
emotional beings, as are yours, and political ambition exists in many
of them. Happily I am not such a one. Let those who enjoy it take the
reins. I'll happily live the rest of my life amongst the trees,
guarding my people and caring for the forest. It is the role I am
most comfortable with.”

The climb up the stairs seemed
endless. Simon was in better shape than he had been since his Change
and he was a young man, but before long he was panting and covered in
a thin film of sweat.

“
How much
farther?” he asked breathlessly after a few minutes.

Ethmira smiled and pointed up ahead.
They had climbed up and through a half-dozen floors but the stairs
finally ended a few dozen steps above them.

“
Almost
there,” she reassured him. “You're doing well; much
better than you could have when you first arrived in this world.”

“
That's...”
he had to take a deep breath. “That's good to know. I guess a
few months of physical training and exercise has been good for me.
Now, let's hope that I don't have a stroke before I leave.”

The elven maiden chuckled and shook
her head without responding and they kept following Arlis.

The top floor of the hall stretched
out before them. Towering shelves stuffed with books and scrolls were
scattered artfully everywhere and scribes and a few elders wandered
amongst them. They were reading or writing at long tables or chatting
quietly together. It was a scene of calm research that Simon
thoroughly enjoyed.

In a far corner a woman sat alone at
a small desk, reading a yellowed, brittle scroll. She held it
delicately to avoid tearing it and her eyes were narrowed as the
candles on the desk flickered and danced. She was one of the few
elves who looked old and Simon knew that meant that she was ancient
indeed. Elves might be immortal but a long life took its toll
regardless and often left its imprint on their faces.

This was the Elder, Arabetha. She was
wearing a white robe with a starched mantle of light blue on top of
it. She looked up as they walked toward her, gently rolled up the
scroll and stood up quickly with an energy that belied her
appearance.

“
Here they
are, Elder,” Arlis said with a deep bow. He looked both pleased
with himself and incredibly self-conscious as Arabetha regarded him.

“
You have
done well, young one,” she told him. Her voice was deep and
warm and Arlis almost seemed to wilt with relief.

“
You may
return to your duties.”

“
Yes, Elder.
Thank you.”

The young elf bowed again to all of
them and walked away quickly. The elder watched him go with a fond
look in her eyes. Then she turned to look at Simon and Ethmira.

“
Arlis is a
good lad,” she said as she waved them to a nearby group of
chairs.

The three of them sat down, Simon
sighing with pleasure; his legs were sore.

“
He's a
great, great, something grandson of mine,” the elder continued.

She wrinkled her nose at Simon and he
grinned at her expression.

“
One loses
track over the centuries,” she told him. “The hazards of
living a very long life, I suppose. Now, to business. First of all,
thank you both for answering my summons so quickly.”

“
No need to
thank us, elder,” Ethmira told her. “We were returning to
the hall anyway. Our wizardly friend here wanted to see if any
progress had been made on opening a portal back to his world.”

“
Ah yes. Of
course. Well then, you will be pleased with the reason I sent for
you. We have indeed found a way to sync the two worlds and send you
back home, Simon O'Toole.”

The wizard sat up abruptly. He smiled
widely at the elder.

“
That's
fantastic! When can I leave?”

She held up a thin hand ropey with
veins.

“
Not so
fast, young man. Not so fast. Such a crossing isn't as easy as one of
your magical Gates, you know. And as the two realms drift farther and
farther apart, a portal becomes more precarious to create and to use.
As I said, we will be able to open the way for you, but not here and
not now.”

Simon frowned and sat back again.

“
What does
that mean?”

“
It means
exactly what I said,” Arabetha replied pertly. “You
cannot cross over from this area. Ethmira will have to guide you to
the only location that we can open a portal. And she will have to do
it within the next seven days.”

“
Seven
days?”

Simon looked at Ethmira. She was
watching the elder with a puzzled look on her face.

“
And if we
arrive after that time?” she wondered.

“
Then our
friend here had best get comfortable because he will be with us for a
very long time.”

The wizard felt a shiver of
foreboding crawl up his spine.

“
How long?”
he asked nervously.

“
Decades,
our time. Centuries back on your world. In that time the old gods of
Chaos will probably re-enter your universe. And if that happens, you
had better remain with us.”

“
Oh my God,”
Simon said weakly. “Are you certain that this is my only chance
to get back?”

“
It is. As
I've said, you may be able to return again one day, but that will be
a long time coming.”

“
Then we
will get you to the portal within the allotted time, Simon. I promise
you that,” Ethmira assured him. “Elder, where do we need
to go?”

“
Dellis
Varna,” the elder told her.

Ethmira made a surprised noise in her
throat and Simon looked at her.

“
What is it?
What's wrong?”

“
Dellis
Varna is an old fort in the mountains to the north. It's long been
abandoned. My people used it hundreds of years ago when we were
warring with our northern neighbors. After we agreed on a peace that
both of our peoples could live with, the fort was emptied and it has
sat unused ever since.”

She looked at Arabetha.

“
Why there?”

The old elf shrugged.

“
Because it
is at that spot that the fabric between the two worlds with be thin
enough to bridge. Our sages here will open the portal at exactly this
place and at exactly this time.”

She handed a small folded square of
paper to Ethmira, who opened it and read it quickly.

“
Be there at
the proper time and you, sir wizard, will be able to cross over. Miss
that time and place by as little as a few minutes and be prepared to
live as an elf.”

“
Just like
that?” Simon growled angrily.

“
Just like
that,” the elder replied calmly. “I cannot change the
laws of the universe, sir wizard. We are giving you your chance. Take
it, young man. Or let it pass you by. It is your choice.”

Before he could say something rude,
Ethmira reached forward and tapped his knee.

“
We will get
there, Simon. I know the way and a week is more than enough time to
reach the fort. Don't worry about it.”

She stood up and looked down at
Arabetha.

“
Thank you,
elder, for this. I know the cost in time and resources that creating
a portal can take, and I appreciate your efforts on our friend's
behalf.”