Heart of the Staff - Complete Series

by Carol Marrs Phipps

  “So,” said Lukus, grinning ear to ear. “He really does have a thing for the lady dragon.”

  “At any rate,” said Fuzz to Rose, as he turned aside to give Lukus a look of resigned tolerance, “his message said that if he's not back by the time we're ready, we should go on without him and he'll catch us further up the path.”

  “I see. There's really no reason to be worried about him, when he anticipated delays.”

  “That's what I think,” said Fuzz. So now, I suggest we break camp, quick as we can and be off. It'll take several more days before we can get clear of this swamp, but once we do, the rest of the way will be vastly easier traveling. Except for o-one thing, of course.”

  “What one thing is that?” said Lukus, warily.

  “Ugleeuh,” said Fuzz, grimacing at having to mention her name. “The terrain beyond the swamp is much drier and much more open. Therefore, she'd have an easy time of it, seeing everything as she flew overhead. There's next to no place to hide. We'll have to be very careful, perhaps traveling only at night.”

  Rose and Lukus gave each other a look and scrambled to the task of breaking camp. “Fuzz!” cried Rose in a whisper, looking up from her bed roll, “What is that?”

  By the nearest open water stood a dark chocolate colored unicorn the size of a small terrier. “Ah. Splendid. Cocoahippus, Rose.”

  “The teensy unicorn, Fuzz. Right over there!”

  “I see it. That's a cocoahippus. Look at its feet, if you can. It's got five toes instead of one on each foot. Razzorbauch is supposed to be responsible for the creatures. They appeared when he created the Fudge Volcano. He swore that they were the unicorn's ancestor, which makes absolutely no sense to me at all.”

  Something about the cocoahippus reminded Rose of her dreams, and she shuddered, not enjoying the sight of the little animal. She turned away and continued packing. When she looked up again, it was gone. Soon they were underway once more.

  “I hope it won't be long before Spark shows up,” said Rose, as she picked her way through the sprangling grasp of a thorn bush. “I really miss his company.” Fuzz and Lukus agreed and the three fell silent for a time. They made their way across the length of the island, heading east. Rose could see that the island was a sandy dome, rising out of the swamp, as they walked gently up. Before long they traversed a small patch of peppermint trees and then immediately began a gradual decent into the cypress trees again. As things grew dank and wet once more, Fuzz began searching for a narrow, low lying isthmus that connected the island with other land. Soon they were walking the length of a narrow strip of land flanked by dark mirror surfaced chocolate water, echoing in a somber hall of tall cypress trees. A score of truffle hogs grew alarmed by the approach of the company and ran ahead through the leaves, woofing and belching. A chocolate spoonbill leaped into a gate of slow aerial pumping, croaking and steering between the trees.

  “Look at this. Looks like we're coming to where our little strip of land broadens out. From here on, the swamp is pretty much as it was after we first entered it, with only about a fourth to a half of it under water at any given place.”

  “Look!” cried Lukus. “There goes Spark, 'way yonder! I'm sure he didn't see us here, and if he keeps going, it'll be hours before he catches up with us again. I run fast. I can catch him in two shakes. You and Rose wait right here. I'll get him and be right back.” With that, he sprinted away before anyone could reply.

  “We'd better follow him,” said Fuzz, grabbing Rose by the arm to usher her into a run. “Just drop your pack. We'll come right back. He just might get himself into a fix, dashing off like that. He has no real idea of the dangers and pitfalls here.”

  Lukus was indeed in for a surprise. Each time he caught sight of Spark and thought he would surely catch him, the swamp would suddenly present him with a furlong of knee deep mud to tramp through, sucking, squirting and popping. If it wasn't that, it would be a long wind-fallen palisade of tree trunks to hurdle and clamber over. If not that, then hanging curtains and tangles of wild grape, licorice and green briar to furiously rip through. He was tiring far more quickly than he had expected. He had decided that Spark was about to get away from him completely when he caught sight of him standing in a clearing less than six rods ahead. With a flood of jubilation he sprinted, stumbling here and there, through the remaining trees. As he drew near, Spark turned his back and lumbered off toward some especially dense timber. “No!” he gasped. “He didn't see me. I just can't take running through any more brush and mud. Spark!” he hollered as loud as he ever had in his life. “Wait! Here!”

  The effort thoroughly winded him. As he propped his hands upon his knees and gasped, he saw that Spark had halted where he was and was sniffing the air to determine just what had called out to him. Finally catching his breath, he yelled again: “Spark! It's me! I'm over here! Wait up!” And with that, sprang into a stumbling run, furiously waving his arms.

  Spark wheeled about and looked straight at Lukus with a face of wild-eyed rage. He let out a deafening roar which buckled Lukus's legs, jellying him with a surge of scalding white horror. “You're not Spark!” he squeaked, as his heart pounded ferociously in his head. He could not summon the strength to get off his knees. There was not nearly enough time to escape, even if he could. “I'm going to die!” he gasped, as he saw that this swelling dragon was pouncing upon him. He cramped shut his eyes.

  Fuzz had traveled nearly a mile, pulling Rose along before they caught sight of Lukus on his knees before the advancing dragon. “That's not Spark!” gasped Rose. “Lukus!” she screamed, jerking out of Fuzz's grasp to run to him. Fuzz dropped to all fours and sprinted after her, lunging and seizing her with a hug. Quickly he turned aside so that she could not see Lukus's doom.

  “No!” She screamed, wrenching from side to side against his burly arms, as a torrent of tears began. “I have to! Please! Please, Fuzz! Save him, Fuzz!”

  “There's nothing we can do, Rose!” he shouted, stroking her hair softly with his free paw. “No weapons! We'd only die, too! How would that help Lukus?”

  Rose sobbed and held tightly to him. Fuzz glanced aside to see Lukus throw up his arms before the dragon as it closed in.

  Lukus forced himself to look at the beast as its deep black eyes bore down on him. Seeing his death in its eyes, he was suddenly not afraid. He was ready for it to be quick. If Rose and Fuzz were to see, he must not cry out in agony. The dragon drew back, yanking open its maw. “For the fiery blast,” he thought. He saw the behemoth's teeth. “Grandfather would stand like a pillar set in granite!” he yelled out, bristling. “Grandfather would shout: 'Flesh and blood held by bone, I command you now turn to stone!'“ he bellowed from deep within as if to shred his very throat and lungs, the instant the fire belched forth.

  He felt the blast. It flattened him onto the ground, singeing him. He thought he heard Rose. He swore he must be dead. “But I can't be! he thought, feeling the ground shake. “Here he comes again!” He kept his eyes closed.

  “Lukus!” shouted Spark. “Are you all right? I didn't know you were a wizard. What on earth did you do to Thunderhead? He looks dead. Is he?”

  “Spark's voice,” thought Lukus, peering from under his arm to see a very concerned and wide-eyed fireless dragon. He broke into hysterical laughter, tears streaming down his cheeks. He couldn't begin to speak. He looked up to see Rose and Fuzz. Rose knelt and hugged him hard, crying and rocking back and forth. He thought it was wonderful.

  “You're going to have blisters,” said Spark, hunkering up close for a look.

  “Lukus!” said Fuzz, dropping onto his knees to pat him on the arm. “How ever did you do that?” He stood up with a rock and struck it against the side of Thunderhead. “Sounds like he's all stone. I don't believe there's any live dragon in there. My word, how did you do that?”

  “I think I must've said one of Grandfather Razzmorten's spells,” he said, looking very lost. “But I'm not sure what I did.” He looked up at the stone behemoth as
a convulsive shudder ran through him. “It looks like it worked,” he said, with a trembling ear to ear grin.

  Chapter 50

  “If you're sure you're all right,” said Fuzz as he carefully studied Lukus's face, “I think it would be very wise to move on. There may well be more unfriendly dragons nearby, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd just as soon avoid every one of them. And Thunderhead as an impromptu statue might be taken as rude.”

  “Me, too,” said Rose with a big nod. “Even if Lukus is able to turn them to stone.”

  “Rude? I'd think!” said Spark, as he helped Lukus onto his feet. At the sight of him reeling, he grabbed him under the arm. “If you're not up to it yet, I'd be right honored to have you ride on my back for as long as you like.”

  “If you're sure it wouldn't inconvenience you any, Spark, I'll definitely take you up on that,” said Lukus with a feeble smile as he gratefully patted his shoulder. “I really feel drained, and to tell the truth, I'm not sure I could handle another dragon like that one, now or ever. Maybe I just got lucky. Fates! Even if I still have the ability, I might get so scared that I'd forget the words or something.”

  “Lukus,” said Fuzz, rubbing his chin with a solemn gaze, “I believe I detect the birth of great wisdom in you. Right impressive for such a young fellow.”

  “That's praise indeed, coming from the bear whose judgment is renowned and respected throughout the Peppermint Forest,” said Lukus, as he blushed. “I can't imagine a finer complement. Thank you.” He gave a courtly bow that toppled him into Spark's flank.

  Suddenly they were alarmed by crashing and wallowing in the brush behind them. Lukus and Spark wheeled about to face the noise as Fuzz reared up in front of Rose to protect her. To their horror, a dragon tramped out into the open.

  “Flesh and blood held by bone...!” shouted Lukus.

  “Fates forbid!” squealed Spark, lunging in front of him. “Stop! Please!”

  With a bewildered look, Lukus closed his mouth and slowly sat down upon the ground, as Spark turned at once to address the newcomer. “Lipperella!” he sang out. “Pray, what are you doing here?”

  Lipperella studied Spark's face before replying. “I've come to warn you... My word!” she gasped at the sight of the stone colossus. “That looks so very much like Thunderhead.”

  “That's because it is Thunderhead,” said Spark.

  Lipperella dropped open her mouth with an astonished shake of her head.

  “He tried to kill young Lukus, here,” he said, “So that actually...” He went quiet watching her examine the hulking stone statue which could well have spoken to her earlier in the day.

  She slowly nodded in wide eyed acknowledgement. “However did you do it?” she said.

  “I didn't,” he said, unable to take his eyes off her. “Lukus is the one who did, right when Thunderhead was going to kill him. He used sorcery.”

  “Interesting she left that out,” she said. “Ugleeuh said nothing about the young fellow being a wizard as well as a prince.”

  “Ugleeuh!” chorused everyone at once.

  “Ugleeuh's what I'm here to warn you about. She's looking high and low for you all, and she's really put out. Two days ago, she came to the great cave and demanded that the clan send out a search party for the four of you. She made us post guards at each of the cave's entrances and at lookouts throughout the swamp. We've been forbidden to give up the hunt until you've been eliminated.

  “Now please listen to me,” she said. “It's utter madness for you to stay here in the open. The clan's out everywhere. Follow me now and I'll take you to a safe place. Whatever needs to be said can be said when we get there.”

  “But all of our belongings are back just this side of the isthmus,” said Rose.

  “Are your possessions worth your death, dear?” said Lipperella.

  “Why, no!” stammered Rose.

  “Sorry to push, dear, but I'd hate to see it,” said Lipperella, looking about furtively. “Then all of you follow me quietly at once and pray I've not been too slow.” And with that she plunged back into the muddy brush.

  Fuzz hoisted Lukus onto Spark's back and flopped down for Rose to climb astride him. They were off, and much more quickly than they had been at any time with Rose and Lukus afoot. When they caught up with Lipperella, she practically doubled her speed.

  “Man!” thought Lukus. “No wonder I couldn't catch Thunderhead.” He was even more astounded to glance back and see Fuzz on all fours with Rose, right on their heels.

  “Watch for those branches,” whispered Spark. “I'm not joking. If one snags you, you're probably dead.”

  Lukus flattened himself against Spark and hung on for dear life, as they charged away into very heavily wooded country. It was still swamp by anyone's reckoning, with about half the surface of the countryside covered with water. The landscape was littered with towering rock walls and pinnacles, rising out of the swamp, forcing them to turn this way and that in steadily thickening fog under overcast skies. His sense of direction was utterly gone, and he dearly hoped that some unforeseen calamity didn't maroon them out here.

  At last they slowed to splash through shallow water for a good long distance before clambering out onto a maze of drier forest and jumbled rocks. Cuckoos called here and there. Ravens traded croaks. Lipperella slowed for fear of losing them, leading them first this way then that, over and around the stone tumble. After climbing for some time, the forest gave way to a small rolling grassy plateau. Well into these downs was an enormous and strange stone building. “This looks like some sort of temple,” said Rose, as Fuzz drew alongside Lipperella.

  “You're exactly right,” said Lipperella. “Follow me.” She lead them inside to stand before a colossal statue of an especially evil-looking dragon.

  “He looks worse than Thunderhead,” said Lukus.

  “Oh absolutely,” said Lipperella. “He was called Razorback. My clan idolized him enough to build this temple in his honor. They come here to worship him, now that he's passed away into the Otherworld. They elevated him to the status of a god, you see. They fancy he still watches over them and protects them as long as they continue to pay homage to him. Some have decided that one day he'll return in the flesh renewed as a supreme being and once again rule the clan, making it invincible and eternal.

  “But he's just a big slab of stone,” said Lukus, making Rose wince at his tactlessness.

  “Yes, and he was a lot less appealing when he still lived,” said Lipperella. “As far as I'm concerned, all Razorback did for the clan was to further alienate them from their true nature.”

  “I don't understand,” said Lukus.

  “Humans wouldn't,” said Lipperella, causing Lukus to steal a glance at her face for signs of insolence. He saw none. Instead, she gave him a sincere and reassuring smile. “Tell you what, young prince,” she said. “Let's get you all settled down in the catacombs, and then we'll have a nice talk and get acquainted.” Something about her set him at ease. She truly seemed on their side, and not just because of Spark. And to his delight, he fancied that she looked at Spark with the same moon-eyed look that Spark had each time that he looked at her. She was already off, leading them below.

  At the bottom of the enormous steps, she lit torches and led them through several furlongs of dank cold tunnels, bewilderingly branching off every which way. At last, a passage off to the side led them to an enormous treasure room, housing a vast pile of every conceivable sort of precious metal and bejeweled ornament, armor and weapon, chalices and sculptured figurines, glittering away into the dark recesses. “My word,” said Rose. “So the stories really are true.”

  “What stories are those, dear?” said Lipperella.

  “The stories about dragons' hoards,” she said. “All the treasure in the entire Kingdom of Niarg is only a fraction of what there is in here.”

  “Well,” said Lipperella, with a wave of her manicured talons at the booty, “what good is it? All of this belonged to Razorback.
The Clan still considers it his and forbids anyone to come here. They're convinced that the spirit of that old devil dragon will reach out from the grave and punish anyone who takes even the tiniest keepsake from this place. Perhaps it's just as well, since none of the Clan needs such things. Still, I sometimes think of how this could benefit someone, somewhere.”

  “You certainly seem free of their superstitions,” said Rose.

  “I'm a Truth-bearer.”

  “I'm afraid I've no idea what a Truth-bearer is,” said Rose.

  “You'd have no reason to,” said Lipperella with a smile. “I've never heard of such an occupation amongst humans. Find a place to sit and I'll try to explain.” She waited for everyone to gather 'round. “A Truth-bearer always is able to discern the truth of a matter. She can tell instantly if someone is lying, and thereby she knows if a particular tale being told is fact or fantasy.”

  “You keep saying she,” said Lukus. “Are Truth-bearers always female?”

  “Yes, at least amongst us. Does that bother you, Lukus?”

  “No. Just curious.”

  “Ah! Curiosity is a good thing,” said Lipperella. “And, I see that you are telling me the truth, by the way. This speaks right well of you.”

  Lukus blushed and looked at his feet.

  “I'd like to apologize for my foolishness earlier,” said Rose, speaking up. “I did realize the moment I spoke, that lives are far more important than possessions. If we stay away from sukere, the loss of our supplies means that Lukus and I will have nothing to eat until we return to Niarg, should we be so fortunate as to get there.”

  “You could get very hungry by then. But don't worry, I can supply you with food and drink.”

  “That is very kind of you,” said Rose. “But you see, Lukus and I swore off sukered sweets forever.”

  “Oh yes. You just said so, though I had no idea why.”

  “Ugleeuh made us quite sickly on the stuff. Lukus's teeth pain him terribly when he eats it.”