The Dragons of Ice and Snow Read online

  Kronk looked at Simon anxiously.

  “Master, how are you doing?”

  The wizard held up a hand, asking for a moment. Drops of cold sweat fell from the tip of his nose and cut holes into the snow underneath him.

  “I'm fine,” he said finally, panting, and stood upright painfully. “But if we don't keep moving, I'm going to stiffen up and start to freeze.”

  “Don't you think we're far enough ahead of the dragon for you to cast the Gate spell?” Aeris asked him. “I don't see any movement behind us yet and we haven't heard the beast for a while.”

  Simon turned and looked back at the lake. The wind was still blowing snow and mist horizontally across it and they couldn't see more than a hundred yards in any direction.

  Above them, the sky was obscured by low scudding clouds and the sun was hidden.

  “Okay, let's give it a try. We should be safe for a few minutes anyway.” he said and slipped a hand under his coat, looking for his spell-book. He frowned as he groped inside his robes, checking each pocket.

  The elementals watched him nervously and, as Simon began to search ever more frantically, exchanged a look of concern.

  “What's wrong, master?” Kronk asked.

  Simon looked at him, wide-eyed.

  “It's gone,” he whispered.

  “What do you mean, it's gone?” Aeris asked as he floated closer.

  “I mean it's not here. I must have dropped in when we faced that dragon. Or when we were running toward the lake. Or whenever. It's just...gone.”

  “But, master, I thought you had the Gate spell permanently memorized?”

  Simon groaned and covered his face with his hands.

  “I did. But I'd added so many spells to Bene-Dunn-Gal, including that one, that I just let it fade from my mind. I never thought I'd need to keep it locked in my head again.”

  When he lowered his hands, Simon saw Aeris glaring at him, hands on his hips and bobbing in the wind.

  “I told you, didn't I? Didn't I tell you? Don't depend on that staff, I said. Always have a backup plan, I said. Never...”

  “Be quiet, Aeris,” Kronk snapped at him. “Our master doesn't need to hear 'I told you so' right now.” He looked at the wizard. “What spells do you have memorized, master?”

  Simon stared at him blankly and the little earthen moved closer and tugged on his coat.

  “Master, please. You can regret later. We must get you under cover before you freeze to death. Now, what spells?”

  Kronk's matter-of-fact tone cut through the wizard's wave of despair and he gave himself a little shake. Aeris was still glowering at him but kept quiet.

  Simon shuffled through his memory.

  “Okay. You're right, Kronk. I'll kick my own butt later. Um, well, I've got the Light spell. And the Shield spell, thankfully. I have both Magic Mirror and Magic Mouth memorized. My fire-starting ability is always with me now. And...” he barked a dry laugh, “Sparkles. Stupid spell. I can't seem to forget that blasted thing. That's about it.”

  “Lovely,” Aeris said disparagingly. “All very useful, I'm sure.”

  Kronk ignored him.

  “Follow me, master. I can lead you to that cave entrance. At least you will be able to get out of the wind.”

  Simon had begun shaking as soon as they had stopped their run across the lake. He nodded jerkily.

  “Yeah, I guess that's our only option for now. Go ahead, my friend.”

  Kronk spun around and began to climb the steep slope leading away from the shore. The snow was caked in layers from months of winter storms and he tip-tapped across the top of it with ease.

  Simon followed slowly, his feet crunching through the crust of snow. Fortunately it wasn't deep. His legs were aching within a few steps and he began to sweat again.

  At least I won't freeze right now, he thought glumly. He still couldn't believe that they were in this situation.

  No spell-book. No Bene-Dunn-Gal. He was weaker than a novice wizard now. Why hadn't he kept more useful spells memorized?

  Well, after this, I'm definitely going to nail more of them into my brain, he thought, angry at himself. If I survive.

  He climbed and slipped up the rugged slope. It leveled off somewhat, eventually, but still led upward. Barren hills could be seen in the distance, snow-covered and silent. That was the way that Kronk was heading.

  “Any idea how far it is?” Simon called.

  The earthen looked over his shoulder as he kept moving forward.

  “Not far, master. Perhaps a mile. The ground is broken and uneven but you should reach it in about a half-hour.”

  “Good. That's good, Kronk. Thanks.”

  The little guy waved and kept moving.

  Aeris flew up on Simon's right. His disapproving expression had faded and the wizard noticed him glancing from left to right, scanning the area in front of them.

  “Looking for something?” he asked the elemental, feeling a little breathless.

  “Yes. If we want to keep you alive, my dear wizard, then we'd better find you something to burn. As an elementalist, you can still start fires with your mind, so let's use what magic you do have instead of pining for what you don't.”

  Simon looked at him in surprise and Aeris smiled hesitantly.

  “I was wrong to berate you,” he said quietly, after a quick glance at Kronk. “While I didn't approve of that staff, it destroyed itself to save your life. And it isn't your fault for depending on it so much. Wizards back in the old days did the same.”

  “Did they? Well, that doesn't make me feel any better about my own stupidity, but thanks.”

  The wizard looked across the bleak landscape.

  “I don't see any trees or bushes anywhere. There may be no fuel around.”

  Aeris sniffed a bit.

  “There is bound to be something. Keep following Kronk and I'll see what I can find.”

  Before Simon could answer, the air elemental shot off up the slope and disappeared.

  “Um, okay. I'll do that,” the wizard muttered to himself.

  He continued to slog along, tripping over loose rocks and slipping on patches of ice while Kronk tramped steadily onward. By the time the little earthen came to a halt and stood waiting for him, Simon was aching and sore in muscles he never knew he had.

  “Please tell me we're close,” he said to Kronk as he staggered up to where the little guy was standing. He pulled off a glove and wiped the sweat from his face.

  “There, master,” Kronk said with a wide smile.

  He was pointing to a misshapen pile of rocks that loomed ahead. To Simon, it looked like every other heap of stones that lay scattered across the dead-looking landscape.

  “Really? That's it?”

  “It is, master.”

  Kronk looked around curiously.

  “Where is Aeris, master? He should be watching your back.”

  His tone was one of disapproval.

  Simon smiled weakly.

  “He's looking for some wood. I doubt if the cave is heated, so he's trying to get me something to burn so I can keep warm.”

  Kronk's eyes widened.

  “Oh, master! I completely forgot about that. Aeris is right. What good is finding shelter if you freeze to death?”

  “Don't worry about it, my friend. You have your job to do, so Aeris is doing something useful as well. Now, let's get to that cave, shall we? I'm feeling a little exposed out here, now that there's no blowing snow to cover us from any patrolling dragons.”

  “Yes, master. Follow me and I'll get you to safety.”

  Kronk headed off again and Simon followed as quickly as he could. It wasn't very fast; his legs were stiff and his feet were so cold now that he couldn't feel his toes.

  The little earthen disappeared around the pile of rocks and the wizard slipped and slid down a little slope as he circled the stones. At the bottom of the slippery dip in the ground, a low opening, no more than four feet high, led into darkness.

  “Is th
at it?” Simon asked dubiously as he stared at the small hole.

  “That is it, master. Do not worry, it opens up after a few yards inside. It also drops quickly, so I suggest that you might want to crawl when you enter.”

  “Not much choice, is there?” Simon said, grumbling. “Fine. Go ahead, I'm with you.”

  Kronk nodded and entered the opening. The wizard took a final look around, hoping to see any sign of Aeris, but there was no movement except for some swirls of snow, and he shrugged and slowly got down on his hands and knees.

  Yeah, this looks dignified, he thought to himself with a self-deprecating chuckle.

  Then he reluctantly began to crawl into the darkness, keeping his head low.

  Inside, the opening turned into a small tunnel and Simon had to squeeze and squirm his way through the narrow path. He bumped his head once and stopped, little bursts of light flashing behind his eyes.

  “Damn it,” he whispered as he rubbed the top of his head. He waited for the sharp pain to fade a bit and then crawled on.

  Kronk had been right. The tunnel dipped sharply and then turned to the left. The ground was smooth and dry but Simon could feel the coldness of it through his gloves.

  I hope Aeris finds some wood, he thought nervously. I'm not sure that freezing to death would be preferable to a quick death from a dragon attack.

  “Just up ahead, master,” Kronk's voice echoed from below.

  Encouraged, Simon increased his pace, careful to keep his head down as he went.

  Finally, the wizard crawled out of the little tunnel and felt free air above him. He quickly cast a Light spell and a globe of pure white appeared above his head, illuminating the area almost as brightly as sunlight.

  He stood up with a groan, his head throbbing and his entire body weak and shaking.

  Kronk was standing nearby, smiling, and he spread his little arms at the cave around them.

  “You made it, master. It would be very difficult for a dragon to reach you here.”

  Simon looked around, wincing at the stabbing pains in his lower back. And then his pain was forgotten as he stared at the area in amazement.

  The cave was no more than ten feet high but sloped gently away from the entrance. It was big, many yards across, and the far end was shrouded in darkness.

  The floor was clean stone and the walls were covered with thin sheets of ice and jagged patches of frost. Thick plumes of steam rose as he breathed and Simon hugged himself as he began to shiver.

  “It's great, Kronk. I just wish it was a bit warmer.”

  The little guy's smile faded to a look of concern.

  “I'm sorry, master. The cave leads downward. Eventually it meets the tunnels of the dwarves and warms up. But that will take many hours to reach. It is miles away.”

  “Yeah, so I thought.”

  “I will return to the entrance to guide Aeris, master,” Kronk said. “Don't stand still or you will get cold again.”

  With that admonition, the little guy smiled encouragingly and disappeared into the small tunnel.

  “Good advice,” the wizard said to himself.

  So while he waited for Aeris, Simon kept moving, walking back and forth, hopping a bit, swinging his arms, anything to keep warm. The problem was that he was so tired and sore, he knew that he couldn't keep it up. Either Aeris would find some fuel or he would have to try to reach the deep roads of the dwarves. He doubted that he would make it before he collapsed.

  He didn't know how long he waited, alone in the frigid cave and sinking ever deeper into despair, before he heard a scuffling sound from the small tunnel. He turned hopefully toward it, his floating globe of light following over his head.

  Kronk popped out of the opening dragging a bundle of branches. Behind him, Aeris floated low to the ground, another bunch of twigs and driftwood in his arms.

  “You found some,” Simon said with a sagging sense of relief.

  Maybe I'm not going to die, not right now anyway, he thought, feeling a little giddy.

  “I did,” Aeris said with a small satisfied grin. “There was a lot of wood covered by snow along the shore. Probably left there by the current during warmer weather.” He turned serious. “You don't look so good, my dear wizard. But before you start a fire, we have to go deeper into the cave.”

  “Deeper? Why?”

  “We saw distant shapes flying low over the lake, master,” Kronk told him. “That's why we didn't get any more fuel. The dragons are coming in this direction.”

  He began walking down the gentle slope that led deeper into the cave and Simon and Aeris followed.

  “Dragons?” The wizard felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. “More than one?”

  “More than one, my dear wizard,” Aeris told him. “That first dragon must have summoned some of its mates. Killing their fellow dragon has to have enraged them. So let's get some distance between us before you start a fire, shall we?”

  “Right.”

  Simon wasn't sure how far he could walk. His legs were as limp and wobbly as cooked spaghetti and the bump on his head was throbbing in time with his heartbeat.

  They followed the little earthen further into the cave. As they moved, the area began to narrow, the walls approaching from either side. The ceiling began to lower as well and Simon started to feel a little claustrophobic.

  “Are you sure this is leading us anywhere?” he asked loudly. His voice echoed around them.

  “Yes master, I'm sure,” Kronk said. He could barely be seen up ahead, his little rocky form blending with his surroundings. “But watch out. The ceiling is getting lower.”

  “Yeah, no kidding,” Simon said tiredly as he ducked his head. He was afraid that he'd have to start crawling on all fours again.

  Luckily they reached the end of the cave soon after and another opening led steeply downward. The ceiling was higher, but the walls narrowed so much that Simon was forced to squeeze himself through it sideways for about twenty paces.

  I guess being skinny does have its advantages, he thought with a touch of amusement.

  He heard Kronk up ahead, dragging his bundle of branches and Aeris behind, scraping his against the walls as he followed. His light globe bobbed along faithfully over his head.

  The tunnel twisted and turned and finally ended abruptly.

  Simon entered another cave, this one much larger than the first. A high ceiling and distant walls made him feel as if he'd just stepped into an underground cathedral.

  He walked forward a few steps and met Kronk, who was making a pile out of his dry branches.

  “We are almost a hundred feet under the earth here, master,” the little guy told him. He reached down and patted the smooth, black floor. “The ground is not as cold here, so you can sit and rest once you have started a fire.”

  Aeris floated past the wizard and dumped his load to one side.

  “Start Kronk's pile first and I'll add pieces as it burns down,” he told Simon, who nodded.

  “Sounds good.”

  Simon lowered himself painfully, joints audibly creaking, and sighed with pleasure once he was sitting. He took off his gloves and touched the floor. Kronk was right. It wasn't exactly warm, but it wasn't freezing cold either. It was simply cool.

  He focused on the pile of sticks and small pieces of wood and saw fire blaze in his mind. The dried wood ignited with a whoosh and a burst of heat flowed over Simon, making him feel as if he'd just slipped into a warm bath. He almost moaned aloud with pleasure.

  For a few minutes, the wizard just sat with his eyes closed and basked in the warmth. He never knew that a fire could give him such simple happiness and comfort.

  He could feel his body thawing out, one muscle, one joint at a time. As the fire burned, Aeris would carefully add a piece of wood to keep it going. The steady heat was definitely what Simon had needed.

  When he felt warm enough, the wizard slipped off his boots and massaged his feet, finally regaining the feeling in his toes. Then he put the
m as close to the fire as he could and smiled weakly at the elementals.

  “Thanks, guys,” he said. “You've saved my life, again. I don't think I could have gone on much longer.”

  “You're welcome, my dear wizard,” Aeris replied. “But we aren't done yet. Those dragons could be above us right now. The wood is almost all gone and we have to keep moving. If Kronk is correct, we can reach the deep roads in a few hours. At least down there it will be warmer and you can get some rest.”

  The idea of sleep was very appealing to Simon, but he knew the air elemental was right. The fire was dying and they were still in great danger.

  He slipped on his boots, pushed himself to his feet and stretched to loosen up his stiff muscles.

  “Okay then. Let's get to it. I feel better now and waiting around here for those damned monsters to sniff us out would be stupid.”

  He slipped his gloves on and looked at Kronk.

  “Can you take the lead again?”

  “Of course, master. We can walk more normally now. The tunnel that leads from this cave slopes downward gently and you won't have to crawl again.”

  He turned away and tip-tapped off into the darkness. Simon and Aeris exchanged a nod and the wizard followed the little earthen, his light floating along above him.

  For the next few hours, Simon and the elementals descended deeper and deeper into the bowels of the world. One tunnel led to another and the only thing that kept the wizard moving his exhausted body forward was the danger from behind and the fact that there was no more wood to use for a fire. The air was still cold, although not freezing, and Simon knew that if he stopped and tried to rest, he would still be risking hypothermia.

  There were occasional barriers to overcome. One tunnel had collapsed and the wizard had to squirm and claw his way through the rubble, Kronk and Aeris helping as much as they could.

  In one small cave, there was a six-foot wide chasm that cut across the middle, leading down into the depths. Simon kicked a small stone into the gap and listened for a count of ten before he heard it hit bottom. It took him some time to screw up the courage to leap across it.

  Kronk made the jump with ease, and Aeris casually floated over the drop.

  How long it took them to reach the dwarven roads, Simon never knew. But at last, Kronk scurried ahead and his voice echoed back, tinged with excitement.