‘As you can see it isyour kin who have blocked our aerial cousins’ entrance. Had itblocked our way, we would have knocked it down.’
Aquitain examined thewall carefully. It was strongly built and there were no gaps orholes where he might squeeze through. He could hear the sea not faraway, so he wondered whether there might be another tunnel orentrance that was only accessible at low tide.
‘During the day doesany air or sunlight enter the cave here, or in any of the othertunnels nearby?’
‘There is one placewhere light shows through the rock but no air enters, however, youwill see nothing until the sun rises.’
Aquitain thought onthis for a while, then said ‘Would you allow me to make a new entryfor your aerial cousins?’
‘Perhaps, if it wouldstop them attacking our young and it did not affect us adversely,’agreed Squalash.
‘Good. I will leave younow. Would you allow me to return later today, to examine the placewhere the light shows through the rock?’
‘Perhaps, if you willtell me what you have heard of our great hero.’
Alpha suddenly begantalking to Squalash and continued for a full minute. The ancientwater elemental seemed quite moved.
’Thank you,’ it said.‘I have always wondered how he died. You are welcome back wheneveryou wish, Aquitain, Mind Wizard of Twin Towers.’
‘What did you tell it?’asked Aquitain.
‘Among your hiddenmemories was a poem about the last fight of their hero. I toldSqualash the poem,’ replied Alpha.
‘Good - it seemed to bequite effective,’ Aquitain said as he placed Alpha on the groundthen used the teleport ring and transported to the entrance ofFeatherdown’s tower.
On arrival he foundFeatherdown, Senior Wizard Curbut and Zephira standing engaged indiscussion.
‘By the Powers, what doyou think you are doing?’ yelled Zephira. ‘I thought you might bedead.’
‘Some tasks take time.I haven’t wasted any, and I have more to do yet to solve ourproblem with the air elementals. I have learnt a lot about thisplace during my absence,’ he said, looking directly atFeatherdown.
The High Wizard held uphis hand.
‘Say no more here, comeinside and tell me your tale,’ and they entered the tower andteleported to the entertainment area.
Aquitain was given arobe to hide his nakedness, and sat and related his story,suggesting then that they could finish it by making a new entranceinto the lower cave if they could determine where the cave wall wasthin enough to allow sunlight to pass through.
Zephira sat amazed atthe whole story; she had never imagined her cousin to be brave orresourceful. Curbut was not happy about granting the air elementalsaccess to the lower cave. He wanted to take the wizards down andexterminate the water elementals on the grounds that they were toodangerous to have around the town.
He argued that sooneror later they would attack someone on the local beaches, so it wasbetter to eliminate the threat now. He also argued that if the airelementals caused trouble then they should also be destroyed.
Aquitain and Zephirawere both horrified, and strongly argued for a peacefulco-existence; after all, they had been coming here for hundreds ofyears.
Featherdown quietlyconsidered both proposals and finally made a decision.
‘It seems that thiscould be a continuing problem, and best fixed now. If we deny theair elementals access to their food they may eventually run amok,harming people and property when the wizards are not around. Thewater elementals have caused no trouble during the time the townhas been here, consequently they don’t appear to be a great threat.Now that Aquitain has made peaceful contact with them, they shouldbe even less of a threat. Could you make some type of door that theair elementals can pass through but which would deny access toother more substantial creatures?’ he asked.
‘I think so. Some sortof baffle would probably do that,’ replied Aquitain.
‘Excellent, then wewill take the peaceful option. You have my permission to continue.Might I suggest that if we fire a strong flare or two over the sea,that would simulate the sun at least for long enough for you tomake an initial entrance to allow the air elemental young in tofeed. I’m sure it wouldn’t take long to make one of these bafflesand cover the entrance, would it?’
‘No, Your Excellency,’said Aquitain, quite pleased with himself.
‘Curbut, can you pleaseteleport Aquitain back to where he left his body shell so he canretrieve it, and tell his air elemental friends of his plan, thenbring him back here and help him finish the job, will you? Use someof the military flares in the armoury. I must leave for otherbusiness again.’
The remainder of thenight proceeded like clockwork with the help of the other wizards.Senior Wizard Curbut was not happy but he followed his instructionsto the letter. Aquitain found out that all six wizards had beenamong the crowd watching him, with a high expectation that he wouldfail. When the huge air elemental had taken him away, they hadexpected that he would be killed.
Curbut had turnedhimself invisible and flown along following him, expecting toretrieve his body. After watching the soft landing and Aquitaindescending into the cave, he had decided that Aquitain must knowwhat he was doing and returned to report what he had witnessed.Later when Aquitain hadn’t returned after a few hours, they hadcalled the High Wizard back.
As the sun rose overthe sea and the young air elementals were in the cave drinking inmagic essence, Aquitain stood talking to Whooshoo at the edge ofthe cliff face, on the headland not far from Archwizard Granwell’stower.
‘If you can tell othersof your kin about the new access to your food in the cave belowthen your people, your water cousins and my people will be able tolive peacefully, avoiding confrontation,’ said Aquitain, now backin his body shell.
‘I will make it known.Your ways may be strange Mind Wizard Aquitain, but your actionshave proven your worth. I shall remember this night favourably.Perhaps we may meet again where I can repay your assistance. Heretake this. Farewell for now,’ he said and flew off seawards.Aquitain saw a crystal sphere the size of an orange appear on theground in front of him. He retrieved it, and looking into it sawclouds floating within. He had seen
