Heart of the Staff - Complete Series

by Carol Marrs Phipps

  “Flight feathers?” said Rose.

  “Two weeks to the day,” said Lipperella, as she and Spark stood up. “Takes feathers to know feathers, dear. I don't believe we've met...Hello, Rose. Wonderful to see you.”

  “I'm Pebbles...Mrs. Hubba Hubba.” she said, as everyone broke out with greetings.

  “But feathers,” said Rose.

  “Absolutely, dear,” said Lipperella. “We flew before Razzorbauch grounded us for good with his staff. Our clutch are the first to hatch after his end, so of course they'll fly.”

  “My, black feathers on their forearms...” said Rose, “and, cute. Darling crests of black feathers...and black fans on the ends of their tails.”

  “The black will be deep iridescent green when they're grown...” said Lipperella.

  “Except the boys will have flaming turquoise for their crests,” said Spark with fatherly admiration. “The girls will stay green.” He quickly unloaded the rest of his feed into the begging gullets of the three or four closest dragonets, dried his hands on a towel and turned to give Razzmorten and everyone his full attention. Rose hugged him and patted him sympathetically and then offered a hand at feeding to Lipperella.

  “Let's step out for a bit, Razzmorten,” said Spark, as he came away from the nest and tossed aside his towel.

  “Lukus, this will be a perfect opportunity for you to practice your parenting skills,” said Rose, speaking up at his heels, just as he started to follow. “Come. Pick out a dragon baby or three and help feed them. Here. Let Lipperella show you.”

  “Good practice, I'm sure, what with mine on the way and all,” said Lukus, giving a longing glance at Spark and Razzmorten as they went out of sight.

  Hubba Hubba and Pebbles launched themselves after Spark and Razzmorten, flying out into the light of a wide rocky balcony atop a sheer bluff, several hundred feet above a churning milky white river, to find them already well into their conversation. They settled onto Razzmorten's shoulders with a ruffling shake apiece, and sat preening as they listened.

  “I assume that the forest is continuing to change, just as it was doing when I was here last?” said Razzmorten.

  “Without a doubt,” said Spark. “We're out checking the forest daily, as you would imagine. We figure that only about a fourth of the Peppermint trees remain, and no one has seen a licorice vine for quite some time. They're all grape vines. And animals have started changing back with a vengeance. I don't think there's a peppermint walking stick to be found.”

  “So, you've not seen anyone strange in the forest, or anything of the kind?”

  “No, no one yet, anyway.”

  “Shortly after we set sail, Lukus received a message from his wife who is staying with the Jutwood Elves. She's King Neron's great granddaughter, by the way. Did you know?”

  “Why, no. I knew they were married, but I didn't know that she was his.”

  “Absolutely enchanting young lady. Anyway, she told him that Neron guesses that the changes are merely Ugleeuh's magic fading away after her death.”

  “Yep, that's pretty much what we think.”

  “Well, my friend,” said Razzmorten, “at least your volcano will remain, since it was my rascal brother who created it, don't you know.”

  “Of course, but wouldn't you know it, the clan has decided to...” said Spark as he paused to heave a huge sigh and give Razzmorten a forlorn look, “give up chocolate.”

  “I don't believe it!” choked out Hubba Hubba.

  “If you gave up sukere, Hubba Hubba, we can surely give up chocolate.” He turned back to Razzmorten with a shrug. “We realized that chocolate was enslaving us as badly as sukere was humans and blubbery crows.”

  “Yea? Chocolate's nothing,” said Hubba Hubba. “Sukere's the mean stuff. Takes some doin' to get off that, let me tell ye. I saw you feeding hunks o' sukere to your kiddies, so you haven't faced anything yet.”

  “Sukere's our natural diet, Hubba Hubba. It doesn't affect us the way it does everyone else. It's most of what we eat, that and meat.”

  “Uh, like birds and stuff?” said Hubba Hubba, going skinny.

  “By all means. But don't worry, we don't eat anything that talks. Besides, you've gotten too small to bother with now that you've lost your ballast.”

  “Ballast indeed. I seem to recall an obese dragon stringing drool as he deliriously galumphed after that volcano's new fudge...”

  “Gweltaz, and Kast are here,” said Rose, suddenly appearing. “They have a little boy who says the Gobblers captured his mother and someone he calls the White Witch. They say he rode in on some kind of giant bird, with another one following him.”

  They returned with her at once to find Lipperella and Lukus listening carefully to the small boy.

  “...then these two bad womens flied right out of the sky on a stick and landed right in front of us,” he said, before looking up. “Hello. My name is Edward. What's your name?”

  “Hello, Edward. I'm Razzmorten and this is Spark. Spark is the father of all these fine looking baby dragons.”

  Edward was very impressed. “I like the little dragons,” he said with precocious poise.

  “Yes,” said Razzmorten, “they're pretty amazing. Now Edward, I'd bet you're getting tired of telling the same thing over and over, but Spark and I don't want to miss out on anything you have to say. It will help us get your mother back. Do you understand?”

  Edward nodded. “You will find her, won't you?” he said, choking back a sob as he drug his sleeve across his dirty face and sat up bravely with a shuddery sigh.

  “Oh we will find her, Edward,” said Razzmorten solemnly. “But that's why we need to know exactly everything you can tell us. So start at the beginning, if you will.”

  Edward nodded the large nod of a little man and began: “Momma and I were living in Uncafuzz's den because he didn't think it was safe for us in our cabin anymore...”

  “Where was that?”

  “I don't know. But that was a long time ago. It had candy cane stripes on it all over...”

  Razzmorten and Spark shared a wide-eyed look. “Sorry to interrupt. Please go on, if you would.”

  “Well, just a few days ago, the ratcoons came and told Uncafuzz that there were two bad womens coming our way. Uncafuzz got real upset and said we had to leave. We didn't even have time to pack. Then we ran and ran, but the womens came after us and nearly caught us, but then the White Witch, Mary, she took us to her hiding place, 'way, 'way up in the woods, in a cave behind the thick bushes and saved us.” He stopped and took a deep breath that still bore traces of shudder. “But Uncafuzz said he couldn't stay there because he had something to do and he left the next morning to go back to his den after making Mary promise to bring Momma and me here to the Dragon Caves as soon as she thought it was safe. Uncafuzz was going to meet us here.” He stopped again and looked up at Spark and Razzmorten. “He didn't get here, did he?”

  “Not yet, Edward. I'm very sorry,” said Spark, shaking his head. “But I've been his friend for years and years, and you can believe that if he said he would meet you here, he will, if it is at all possible.”

  “I know that,” said Edward, as his eyes brimmed with tears. “Uncafuzz always, always, always does what he says.” His face went red as he shook with a sob before dragging his sleeve across his face and resolutely beginning again.

  “Mary, well, she seemed to think that the two bad womens were going to catch Uncafuzz and do something awful to him. See, she left right after Uncafuzz did, and when she came back she said we needed to come here right away while those womens were busy with Uncafuzz. My momma wasn't very happy about it, but she said yes.

  “Mary took us on her two pets, Lladdwr and Ceidwad. They're dia... dia-somthin's...”

  “Ahh!” said Razzmorten. “The giant birds you came on. Could they be diatrymas?”

  “That's it!” cried Edward with an exuberance that startled and cheered everyone.

  “Diatrymoms. They are. That's the kind of thund
er clouds Mary said they were, all right.”

  “Then it is true. He did indeed release them when he made the volcano. Never mind me, Edward. Please do go on.”

  “Oh yea. Anyway, we rested and ate in the marsh but we didn't stay long because Mary said we had to watch out not to get seen by the Gobblins...”

  “Do you mean Gobblers?” said Rose, as she came and sat beside him.

  “Yea, them. The ones that are turning their beaks... No, getting their beaks, or something...”

  Razzmorten, Spark and Lipperella, Gweltaz and Kast all shared a very alarmed look at the sound of this. “Don't worry about us, Edward, just keep telling your story.” said Razzmorten.

  “Well, we hadn't gone very far when those two awful womens just flew out of the sky on a stick and landed right in front of us. We had to stop and they wouldn't let us go around. The one mean one grabbed Momma by the hair and screamed at her.”

  “Can you remember what she said, Edward?” said Spark.

  Edward paused, straining with concentration. “Oh yea. I think she wanted to know what my momma had done with her heart. Momma has the biggest heart in the whole wide world,” he said, choking back another sob, “but my momma said she didn't know what the awful horrible mean woman was talking about.”

  “Edward,” said Razzmorten, with a grave look, “do you remember what either of those bad women's names were?”

  “The one that hurted Momma's hair and screamed at her was Sp...Spite...I don't know...”

  “Spitemorta was that one,” said Kast. “The diatrymas told us. And the other one was called Demonica, and no mistake about it. Those birds don't make mistakes about things like that.”

  Razzmorten sank back bonelessly for a moment, nibbling a knuckle as he stared into the distance in the silent room. He suddenly sat forth, put on his spectacles and addressed Edward's worried look with a warm smile. “Edward, this is wonderfully valuable information,” he said. “What happened next?”

  “Oh yea. The Gobblins, I mean the Gobblers came. Mary shoved me behind a big rock and told me not to move until either she or Momma came for me. But then it got to be really long, long, long. I got really, really scared and Ceidwad told me that Momma wanted me to come here. Did I do the right thing? Is Momma going to be all right?” Suddenly he lunged at Rose's bodice with great whooping sobs.

  “Edward? Edward,” said Kast softly, as he swung his head near the boy. “You did the right thing, lad. Do you hear me?”

  Edward nodded from Rose's ruffles.

  “Edward, those giant birds are very wise and very kind. I know them well. If they said come here, that's what your momma would want you to do.”

  “I'm really sleepy,” said Edward, looking up at Rose. “I was afraid to go asleep on the bird 'cause I might o' falled off.”

  “That was very wise of you,” said Rose.

  “Yes indeed,” said Razzmorten. “Just one last thing, Edward. Could you tell me what your momma and Mary look like?”

  “Sure. Mary dresses all in white and she has funny colored hair. Kind o' purpledy berry brown, but it's right pretty. Momma has long, blonde hair. kind of like Rose, but more curly. She's about as big as Rose too, I think. Momma is very nice and very, very pretty.”

  “What's her name, Edward?” said Rose.

  “I call her Momma, but her name is Myrtlebell.”

  Chapter 64

  “Myrtlebell!” stammered Rose. “No, you can't mean... It can't be. I mean Fuzz just wouldn't... He knows how I feel about...well, I mean...he knows what she...”

  “Rose,” said Razzmorten with quiet firmness, as he gave her a steely eyed look from beneath his hoary brows. “I think it would be best to see Edward off to bed. He's been through a great lot these past few days and he truly needs your kind support. I believe we have quite enough information to begin a search for his mother and Fuzz, don't you?”

  Rose gave a blank look before suddenly seeing how it all was. Just before she had grasped exactly how horrible she should feel, Edward tugged at her skirts with wide eyes.

  “I didn't know you knew my momma. Why don't you like her, Rose? Momma is the bestest person in the whole world.”

  Razzmorten saw the frantically helpless expression on Rose's face. Satisfied that she appreciated the hole she had just dug herself, he came to her rescue. “Edward,” he said as he knelt down to look him in the eye, “you may not realize it, but there are many women in the world named Myrtlebell. I don't think the Myrtlebell Rose knows is your momma or you know she would like her.”

  Edward knitted his brow as he considered, then he looked up at Rose.

  “That's right, Edward,” she said, brightened with relief. “Why, the Myrtlebell I knew could never have a child as bright and sweet as you.” She knelt before him. “I'm sorry I upset you. Your mother couldn't be the Myrtlebell I knew.”

  Edward nodded wisely. “I wonder how somebody named Momma's name could be bad,” he said, giving Rose a forgiving smile, “but somebody called Angel could be mean and awful.” Then with a huge yawn, he lunged for her with a hug. “I'm really, really tired now.”

  “Right,” said Rose, as she turned to Spark and Lipperella, who had been keenly watching everything as they dropped endless chunks of sukere down dragonet gullets. “Is there some place where Edward could sleep?”

  Lipperella nodded and surprised Razzmorten by handing him her dish of sukere as she passed.

  “Gweltaz, could you do this for me?” he said. “I think it's urgent that I speak with the diatrymas. Kast, you say they refuse to come inside...?”

  “They never do. They won't.”

  “You know about them. You spoke with them, would you take me up there right now and introduce me to them?”

  Kast was on his feet immediately, heading for a cramped passage, scarcely larger than the dragon himself, hurrying along so quickly that Razzmorten nearly had to jog to keep up. Presently they came to a spiral stair, carved out of the limestone of the cavern, that led directly overhead to where the diatrymas had bedded down, side by side in the leaves beneath the leaning oaks. At their approach, the diatrymas raised their heads high in unison, but remained resting on their keel bones.

  Meanwhile, Lipperella lead Rose and Edward to a small passage opening into a grotto with several pallets. “Guest quarters for our human friends,” she said as she neatly lit a candle with a wee spurt of blue flame from between her lips, revealing the attractive suite.

  “My!” said Rose in astonishment that at once made her feel awkward.

  “I'll just leave you to tuck him in, then,” said Lipperella graciously, as she turned to go back.

  “Thank you,” called out Rose belatedly.

  Edward wasted no time sliding into the most inviting strange bed he had ever seen. Rose found a basin and full pitcher and washed his face and hands. He gave Rose one last smile. He needed another hug.

  Rose was simply too much like Myrtlebell not to be his chosen nanny. He began to snore softly even before Rose pulled the coverlet over him. She smiled at him in wonder then silently left his side, returning to the nursery to find the company waiting for Razzmorten to return from his visit to the diatrymas.

  After some time they returned. Razzmorten sat down at once, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

  “What did you find, Grandfather?” said Lukus.

  “Stunning...absolutely stunning creatures, that's what.”

  “Comes with the feathers, Wiz,” said Hubba Hubba, looking up suddenly from a serious preen.

  “They could well be the most intelligent beings I've ever addressed. I truly believe they were making sure that I had all the information I needed to come to a decision, but they were exhausted from their long run, and once they saw that I had what I needed, they politely persuaded me to leave so they could sleep. They also plan on helping us.”

  “In my dealings with them, I've not known them to forget even the very most minor detail of anything,” said Kast. “I daresay you'll be right thankful for
their aid.”

  “They are almost certainly the adar taranus which Razzorbauch released from the rocks when he created the fudge volcano,” said Razmorten. “If they be, then they are the ones he is said to have regretted turning loose.”

  “Certainly,” said Lipperella. “As Truth-Bearer, I've had several occasions when I sought them out in secret. Razzorbauch was never comfortable with the truth.

  Unfortunately they keep to themselves, so that over the years I've seldom seen them.”

  “Well, we seem to have no choice but to leave at once,” said Razzmorten.

  “I hope Fuzz is safe,” said Lukus.

  “I wish I could go with you,” said Spark, “but as you can see, I can't possibly manage this time, but I can sure send my older brother, Tors.”

  “Torch?” said Lukus. “I hope he's not overly zealous.”

  “He knows what he's doing,” said Spark with a strange light in his eyes, “but he has no love at all for Gobblers, let me tell you.”

  “Beaks, you mean,” said Razzmorten. “Edward had it right, though he couldn't have understood what it meant. The diatrymas confirmed it. They recognized them the instant they saw them. Ugleeuh's spell on them is all petered out.”

  “Well Rose and I certainly didn't care for the Gobblers,” said Lukus with a snort. “No one did,” said Spark. “But for sheer bad, the Beaks put the Gobblers to shame.”

  “So, what do we plan on doing?” said Lukus. “Do we try to find Fuzz on the way to rescue Myrtlebell and this White Witch from the Beaks?”

  “Essentially, yes,” said Razzmorten. “and try to fathom what sort of threat to the world a cauldron full of Beaks, Spitemorta, Demonica and the Great Staff amounts to.”

  “Demonica in that mix scares me the most,” said Lipperella. “We've had dealings with her. For pure evil, she's got both Razzorbauch and Ugleeuh beat.”

  “Yes, I've had dealings myself,” said Razzmorten. “And I agree.”

  “If Fuzz is still alive and coming here, shouldn't we wait for him?” said Rose.

  “That gives up precious time,” said Razzmorten. “I think it best to make straight for his den on the assumption that he would be coming straight here...”