Heart of the Staff - Complete Series

by Carol Marrs Phipps

  “Right you are Abbey, but, I think we've got enough time to pack, have one last wonderful meal, and say goodbye to Celeste, Nacea and Alvita, Don't you?”

  “Deal,” said Abaddon, turning back to Celeste, “if I can have two whole pieces of apple pie instead of just one this time.”

  “Ich righte certeyn am, weo konne that for to done,” she said with a laugh as she stood up and smoothed her apron.

  “Great!” he cried. He turned to Lance. “May I pack my things while they get supper?”

  “Sure. I'll come get you if you're not down there when it's time.”

  Abaddon dashed away.

  “A, Lance,” said Nacea. “Als hit thynketh me by thy lok that som thyng aboute thine journe bodith ille.”

  “You always read me like a book, Mother. What about Abaddon? You all scarcely had the chance to work with him. Surely he still needs your guidance.”

  “Swich gydaunce with hym hee taketh, Lance,” said Alvita sharing a look with Celeste and Nacea while Rodon looked on, twitching his nose. “Didde weo elde Ffairyes, whan thee weo reysed, not thee taughte as wel?”

  “I know well that he's doing better, but when he strays from the path...”

  “Thanne thou wolt hym the way shewist,” said Celeste. “Hit hath thou yben, whoso hast hym yiven an honourable exemple for the folwynge. Hit thy traas, thy steppis in the erthe ybe, hee for to putten in hise feet doth tryen.”

  Lance was stunned. “Thank you, Mothers, for being here for me,” he said as he sent a small nod to Rodon. “I promise that I will always do as you have shown me.”

  “Weo that knowen, Lance,” said Celeste. “And now, shal weo soupen togidre? Hit som tyme byforn weo aren able to, may be.”

  Chapter 131

  Spring peepers had taken up their evening calls in earnest from the creeks and ditches along Castle Road by the time Minuet and Bernard's company had gotten beyond South Cross to nearly within sight of Castle Niarg. Minuet closed her eyes, savoring a great breath of fragrant air. “Captain,” she said, “the locusts have blossomed. Aren't they simply wonderful?”

  “Oh absolutely. I've always been glad King Hebraun had them...” Suddenly he went quite wide eyed, sitting up rod straight as a hush swept through the soldiers.

  Minuet looked up to get her first glimpse of the castle and gave a gasp of shock as a vision of antesight overtook her. “Oh!” she whispered, “Poor Mic and Bill.”

  “Fates!” cried Bernard. “Have we been under siege? Razzmorten's tower is down! And who are Mic and Bill, Your Majesty?”

  “Haste to the gate, Captain!” she cried as she dug her heels into Virtue's flanks. “It was Spitemorta! Everyone was in bed, so it was just the two birds.”

  ***

  A castle barn owl rasped and flew from truss to truss before disappearing outside through the hole under the ridge pole, as a pair of orderlies scurried about the great hall, lighting candles.

  “I can safely say that this is not the return home any of us expected,” said Razzmorten as he showed Minuet to her chair at the head of the great table, “but I can't help feeling badly at having advised that she'd not strike...”

  “Nonsense, Father,” she said, removing her gloves finger by finger before taking her seat. “Did anyone perish beyond Mic and Bill?”

  “No, but my word, has your antesight returned?”

  She nodded.

  “Then did you see Spitemorta and Demonica...?”

  “Yes, but who loosed the arrow which you sent through Demonica's shoulder?”

  “Sergeant Llygad...”

  “Please see that he's sent to me to be recognized when you can get to it...”

  “So when did it return to you? You've not had a vision that I'm aware of since you renounced your powers the day you came to the throne.”

  “It dropped on me like an avalanche when we rode into Ash Fork,” she said as she watched Bernard quietly find his seat at the table. “I had the horror of watching Herio's little brother hang. I also saw Hebraun...” A sob stopped her short as Razzmorten patted her hand. “I'm afraid I've not yet told the news, Father,” she said, suddenly pulling herself together. “Demonica has destroyed Oilean Gairdin. It's all rubble...”

  “Fates! Lukus and Soraya...the twins. Did you see...?”

  “Yes I did. They and Neron and Soraya's brothers all escaped to the Magic River...that is, all but Jerund. He was crushed by a falling stone in the castle.”

  Razzmorten gave a great sigh and traded looks with Bernard. “So they're safe, but we know not where,” he said. “And for an encore, Spitemorta and Demonica took a flying pass at Castle Niarg on the Great Staff. And I, for one, can't imagine what they were doing. After taking down all of Caislean Oilean Gairdin, they only got my tower, two birds and six upstairs rooms.

  “Spitemorta and Demonica are getting bold,” said Minuet, staring out at the middle of the table top, “ and probably because their strength is growing. They simply have to be unraveling some of the secrets of the Heart, even without the First Wizard's grimoire. It looks like they've already unlocked enough power that they're no longer bothering with an army. They're going to be back to finish us off. So what do we do?”

  ***

  “Hey Laora, shouldn't we be turning about so we can get back in time for supper?” said Edward from astride her back, as they soared far above the hot black sands. “Besides, this is the farthest ever, and it'll be lots more work getting back when the updraughts give out after sunset...”

  “Pooh! Like you're the one with the wings, Edward. We can go a little further. I know what I'm doing. There are just so many new things to see. You said yourself that I'm real fast anymore, since I'm practically full grown. Look down yonder...”

  “The river?”

  “Yea. I could fly lots faster if we took a dip and cooled off, first. These air currents have been hot all afternoon. Besides, you've been smelling wet and stinky like a human again.”

  “I'm sorry...”

  “I'm teasing. You don't stink yet, but we both need to cool off.”

  “That'll take time, and you know who'll gobble up all the dessert...”

  “Flash of course,” said Laora. “Serves him right. He'll get too fat to get off the ground. But he deserves it and we deserve to explore.”

  “Hey, it looks like there might be caves down there in the bluffs along the river.”

  “So you want to go down? We might even have time to go into a cave or two.”

  “Hey!” cried Edward with a giggle, as Laora took an immediate plunge for the river.

  Just above the water she swooped aside over the current to come splashing through the shallows to the beach. Edward hopped off onto the sand and then waded in as she scurried back into the water to ruffle up her feathers and duck in her head, flinging water back onto herself, over and over. “I could do this for hours, Edward!” she cried.

  “Me too!” he cried above the splashing, “but remember the time, and remember that we wanted to look at the caves.” At this, a heron hidden by the willows croaked and pumped stiffly into the air above the churning river.

  “You sound just like Papa. No wonder he and Momma are so fond of you.”

  “Yea? Well, that's why we get to go places and do things the rest of the Mob aren't allowed to, yet. They know we keep our promises and won't do anything stupid.”

  “Yeap. That's us,” said Laora. “Now let's go see those caves. Wait. Look aside. I'm going to shake.”

  “There's a whole row of big holes in the bluff, running along behind the willows, Laora. We'd better be careful in case something's living in one of them.”

  “That's easy. We'll just make sure we look for fresh signs before we go in.”

  “Yea, that'll work.” he said, trotting off ahead.

  “Whoa Edward! You went right by these.”

  “What?”

  “These have to be dragon tracks. And somebody just made them. You s'pose other dragons live here in the Black Desert beside
s us?”

  “I'll bet one of the Mob beat us here. Do you reckon it was Brand or maybe Cook? They can sure sneak real good.”

  “These are 'way, 'way too big, Edward,” she said with a flare of indignation. “Besides, nobody but we can fly this far yet.”

  At the sight of her reaction, Edward burst out laughing.

  “You think that the Mob defying Momma and Papa and beating us here is funny?”

  “Oh, no way! You just looked funny.”

  “Then who will ever take me seriously?”

  “I will. You're scary when you're really mad,” he said, stooping to study the foot prints. “I don't think the tracks go in anywhere, along here. So, do you want to go see what's in this first big cave or not?”

  “Let's do it!” she said with a bounce. She was already taking her first cautious steps into the shadows.

  “Well all right, but we still have to be careful. And quick, too. It's getting late and it's a long way back.”

  “Worry-guts,” she said with a giggle as her voice took on echoes just before she completely vanished into the darkness.

  “Hey wait!” cried Edward before dashing in after her.

  With a sudden ringing bellow, something big came smashing forth from the blackness, knocking him flat.

  ***

  “I'm quite sure they'll be along any minute with a completely sensible explanation of why they're so late,” said Spark, trading anxious looks with Lipperella.

  “I'll go out and look for them right after this cake!” said Flash, champing and fuffing out crumbs from his mouthful.

  “Don't, or we'll have to come looking for you, too,” said Lipperella. “Now all of you help me clean up before you go out for your evening flight.”

  “I knew it,” declared Tors as he stepped into the kitchen with Gweltaz. “Please tell us we aren't too late.”

  “Too late for Edward and Laora, Uncle Tors?” said Flame.

  “We meant your mother's delicious cake,” said Tors, grabbing up a piece with an appreciative glance at Lipperella. “What about Edward and Laora?”

  “Oh nothing. They're just missing is all,” said Flash.

  “Well, not really,” said Spark, “just a little late. They'll be here directly, I'm sure.”

  “I'd have thought so long before now,” said Lipperella, “particularly since Laora knew we were going to have this kangaroo rat pie. She and the rest of the Mob spent hours chasing down all the rats for it. Oh here, Gweltaz. Have some. There's plenty of that left, as well as the cake. You too, Tors. And here's some rat hair gravy to go over it. Want me to warm it up?”

  “No need,” said Gweltaz, as he and Tors gobbled down their pie, watching the Mob file out for their evening flight. “This is delicious, Lipperella. Have you tried pickling them? I sure miss the pickled voles you used to make.”

  “Yea I have, but I just can't get the pimentos to stay in their eye sockets like the voles.

  “Hmm,” said Tors, “'late' and 'missing,' you say. Is that really the same as, 'Oh nothing?'“

  “Yea,” said Gweltaz. “No reason we can't help you go find them. I mean, we hear what you're saying, Spark, but you and Lipperella both look worried.”

  “Well,” said Spark, sharing his worried looks with Lipperella, “we've been letting them explore where they like so long as they return when we say, and until this evening they've never been late...”

  “Then it's not long 'till dusk, so...” said Tors, swallowing his last bite of pie.

  “So let's round up the Mob and get cracking,” said Lipperella, tossing aside her apron.

  ***

  “Edward,” cried Laora, shaking him gently in the echoing blackness. “Please answer me!”

  “It'th all right, Laora,” he mumbled. “I'm here. Go back to thleef. You're jutht having nightmareth again.” Something was not right. His tongue was so numb that he couldn't feel his teeth, and when he moved his jaw, it tugged painfully at his right eye. “Wait a minute, just when did we go to bed?” he thought as he tried to open his eyes.

  “Hey,” he cried, squirming to get up, “I can't sthee!” At once a shooting pain in his head put him right back where he had been lying. As he lay there panting, he realized that his side hurt terribly.

  “Oh, thank Fates you're alive!” cried Laora.

  “But I can't sthee!” wailed Edward.

  “Well it's dark as ink, first of all...”

  “But I can't sthee anything at all...”

  “Oh yes you can! I think...” Suddenly she wheeled away from him and shouted into the pounding echoes: “Hey! Can't you stay out until I can talk to him?”

  “Boull c'hurun, merc'h!” rumbled a deep voice beyond her as it turned away. “Nebaon, kaoc'h razh!”

  “Who'th that?” said Edward. “Who are you thalking to?”

  “Trifin. He says he's a dragon from the Dark Continent, but I'm not so sure...”

  “What?”

  “He's the beast who ran over both of us and knocked you down, but I don't think he's any sort of dragon. He's 'way too big for a dragon and he's got a crest of red feathers on his head. Real dragons have turquoise.”

  “You thaw that?”

  “Well yes...”

  “I'm sthcared, Laora. I can't sthee.”

  “Just calm down and listen to me carefully, Edward,” she said in a matronly tone. “You Humans don't see in the dark as well as we do. You set foot in a cave with no candles nor skylights and you're as good as blind, silly. And we're in a cave, right? And besides, I chased after him when he ran over us and I saw him in the light outside...”

  “But my fathe...”

  “Edward, one of your eyes is swollen clean shut and the other one almost is. And I think your nose looks broken, but it is dark in here, even for my eyes. I'm going to start a fire right here beside you so I can get a better look at you. Did you say your side hurt?”

  “Yea,” he squeaked. “A lot.”

  “Oh my! Your ribs. You might have some broken. Can you get on my back?”

  “It hurth to much to even sthit uff.”

  By now Laora was busy scurrying to and fro, fetching in sticks from outside to set alight. Edward drew in a breath for a big sigh but stopped short with his painful ribs.

  “Stho who ith thith Trifin, anyway?” he said carefully. “How'dh he geth here?” Suddenly he saw dancing shadows race across the vault of rocks overhead. “Hey Laora! I can sthee after all. I'm not sthcared anymore...”

  “Told you, Edward,” she said with a grunt as she broke a stick and put it into the fire. “Well, he says he came here, looking for the clan. Wizard Razzmorten was on the Dark Continent and told Trifin's clan about us. He thought momma and papa might be interested in, you know, when we were big enough.”

  “Aren't you all sthill awfully young to be needhing mathes?” said Edward, stammering with surprise at how threatened he felt.

  “I still have toy eggs, Edward. I won't be ready for real ones for years and years and years, silly. And besides, I might not want to lay eggs at all. And besides that, you're interrupting and there's more to the story about Trifin. One of the 'sore sissies' you talk about, who kilt your momma, wasn't she called Demonica?”

  “Yea. I'll kill her, sthomedhay...”

  “Well, she's got mines for cat tops or something. And these mines are ruining their forest and making them run out of food and everything. It's real complicated.” She paused to study him up and down in the dancing orange light. “Can you get on my back yet?”

  “I hurt 'way, 'way thoo badh.”

  “Well I'd better go get help, then...”

  “You're going to leave me here with thith sthrange dhragon? How do we know he'th telling the truth? Maybe he'th not even a real dragon. He mighth even be one of the witcheth who killed my momma!”

  “Well if you're right, I have to go more than ever. We have to get back to the clan.”

  “You don'th wanth him following you. You don't wanth to lead him to the caveth u
ntil we can be certhain that he ith who he sthayth he ith. Can you make him sthay here with me?”

  “I think I might be able to...”

  “Thath way he'dh be here while you fly back to the caveth alone and bring Sthfark and sthome of the eldhers back with you. They sthould be able to geth tho the thruth.”

  “Oh, better than that, I should bring Momma. She's the Truth Bearer and nobody can lie to her without her catching it.”

  “Good, Laora. Now, you'dh bether go.”

  “But,” said Laora, looking suddenly forlorn, “now I'm scared to leave you alone with him.”

  “I'll beth thith is our only chance, Laora. Jutht don'th give him the idea we sthuspecth him and ith mighth work.”

  “All right, then. Just lie here while I'm gone and pretend you're more hurt than you really are.”

  Chapter 132

  Arwr raised his head to the end of his fluffy neck, as he sat in the leaves, staring away through the deepening shadows of the birch and aspen trees. A huff of evening breeze rattled new leaves all about. “Two riders, off yonder, Lukus,” he said with a snap of first one wing then the other.

  “Mmmp,” said Lukus, giving his head a wakening shake before glancing at Ariel, sleeping soundly in his arms.

  “There they are again. Should I go see?”

  “Well, I can't imagine it being Spitemorta or Demonica, particularly not from that direction, but be careful as careful can be,” he said, shifting Ariel in his arms. He looked up to find that Arwr had already slipped out of sight. “I see that I needn't worry, then. And now I hope I don't wake you, little punkin, after your long night of colic.”

  Woodcocks called from the air above the treetops. He rose carefully and hurried away to find King Neron.

  ***

  “She's been asleep for quite a spell, finally,” he said as Soraya took Ariel from his arms. “Arwr went off to investigate a pair of riders coming this way...”

  “Have you told Grandfather, yet?”

  “I'm on my way.”

  “He's over yonder at the marquee with Ceidwad and Lladdwr and some of the officers. They're starting to wonder why Sulacha hasn't got back, and they're probably in the midst of planning a search, by now.” She shook her head. “Two strange riders ought to really help matters.”