Hide & Seek

by Barbara Gaskell Denvil

  The next to arrive home were Messina, Bayldon, Columbus and Henry V who had all gone to Peganda to rally the newly housed citizens of the great city.

  “I would say,” Bayldon was saying it, “that we mustered ninety percent of all the city’s inhabitants. One particular large building on the far side of the river was carefully closed up as soon as they saw us coming. I watched someone at the top window, closing the curtains while two others poked their noses out of the attic window and then quickly turned off all lights and locked the door. A few others slammed the door in our faces when we knocked, one man came rushing out with a knife. But just ten or twelve houses, no more. Thousands welcomed us and swore to back us.” He grinned, turning to Granny. “We went to the house where Clebbster had been, and where he got injured by his daughter. That traitor Hambrick answered the door, swore at me, and slammed it again. But nearly everyone was so welcoming.”

  “We’ve asked everyone who wishes, to come well-armed to the Dual outside Pickles, but with the expectation of marching into battle either before or afterwards.”

  “They’re keen,” Henry V added. “It seems almost the entire city has been dreaming of a change of government for many years.”

  “Then they should have done something about it before,” snorted Henry VIII from the corner, swallowing his last crumbs with a slurp.

  “Not so easy against dark magic,” nodded Bayldon, “and Yaark was impossible to combat. We still haven’t caught him.”

  Peter, Poppy and Tryppa did not arrive at around the same time as the others. It appeared that either because of pleasure or because of difficulty, they were still on Sparkan. It was Nathan who suggested going up there to make sure nothing bad had happened, and to ensure there were no problems. But his mother shook her head. “Tryppa is a strong woman, is highly skilled and highly intelligent. And Poppy is learning a good deal of common sense as well. I must trust my friends and family.”

  “Tryppa, well, yes.” Nathan hugged his knees and stared at the rug beneath his slippers. “But Poppy? Well, you’re certainly very trusting.” He looked up suddenly. “Not sure you trust me that much.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  It was raining fire. The Sparkan volcano was erupting.

  Spread across the dark volcanic rock, the great bubbling lakes were now seething with heat and the constant sizzle of hot sparks falling into the water. Many of the smaller serpents had abandoned the boiling water and moved to those lakes further from the falling cinders and melting stone, but the larger snakes welcomed the increased heat and remained close to the volcanic activity.

  Staring down into the murky swirl of the water, Poppy called, “I’m a friend of Laksta. Is she here?” A few golden or green eyes blinked up at her, but then turned away. “Honestly, I’m a friend,” Poppy called again. “It’s Clebbster’s daughter I want to talk to.”

  When no one answered, Peter called, “It’s too hot. I can’t think. Let’s go and talk to the dragons and come back here later.”

  From somewhere behind them, a small rather shrill voice called, “I’m Hexaconda’s little sister. Laksta is my niece. But I haven’t seen her since the volcano blew its top.”

  “If you see her soon,” Tryppa called back, “will you ask her to come and find us. We’ll be here for a couple of days, but we can’t stay long. There’s a lot happening down on Lashtang.”

  “Battles. Wars,” added Poppy.

  Peter had already wandered off, and was hopping across the rocks, aiming for the largest lake where it was not yet quite as hot. “Hello,” he called. “Hexaconda? Laksta? Laccyjon?”

  “That’s me,” said a bulky black head, rearing from the bubbles. “What does a little boy want with a python like me?”

  “I’m not a little boy,” Peter objected, “and you’re not a python. You’re a Quoster. And I’m on a Bannister’s Muster.”

  “And what might that be?” demanded Laccyjon.

  “It means I’m asking people if they’ll support the true emperors against the Hazletts,’ said Peter, somewhat impatient. “You came down to the great forest with Hexaconda and Laksta, didn’t you? So, you’re a friend. I want to ask our friends to come down to Lashtang in three days and be ready to fight for the Octobrs.”

  “Humph,” said Laccyjon, which sounded more like a llama than a python, “you said Bannisters.”

  “Same difference,” Peter waved a hand towards Poppy and Tryppa. “It’s the Octobrs actually, but the empress married a Bannister.”

  Laccyjon seemed amused. “Does she sit on the stairs most of the time?”

  Peter was getting confused. “Just tell them, will you? We need lots and lots of supporters.”

  With Tryppa and Poppy close behind, Peter hurried off to another lake on the outskirts of the volcanic range. Here the water was almost cool, and the Quosters often took a brief swim there before returning to the greater heat. Hexaconda, more woman than snake, was sitting on the edge of the bank, brushing her wild green hair. She looked up and smiled a snake-like smile. “My human friends. How delightful.”

  “We’re hoping for support,” Tryppa said, walking to Peter’s side. “The war with the wizards is coming to a climax. Your husband is back on his feet, and it’s about to get worse.”

  Hexaconda’s smile grew even wider, almost splitting her face. “How interesting,” she said. “Now I will rally my friends.”

  “Will you come down?” asked Poppy.

  “Of course.” Hexaconda was slipping more fully into human shape. Her tail had divided and as she climbed from the water’s bank, she was standing on two long legs hidden beneath her skirt of scales. “Nearly half of us will back you,” she said. “But I’m afraid a hundred or two will want Clebbster to win back support. Dark attracts dark.”

  “There’s Laksta,” said Poppy, “and Laccyjon.”

  “Oh dear me,” Hexaconda laughed, “there’s a few more than that. We Quosters have lived here in peace for hundreds of years and there are at least five hundred of us now, perhaps more. The Hazletts are part-Quoster, so they receive much backing from us. But there are many others who know Clebbster’s wickedness and would never help him.”

  “The first day of spring,” Poppy continued, “there’s a Dual between your husband and my granny. She’s fierce. I mean, not all the time and she makes wonderful cakes. But she has the best magic. You’ll want to watch that trial, won’t you?”

  “I shall come down with Laksta,” Hexaconda assured her. “And bring at least two hundred others with me.”

  “The first day of spring,” repeated Tryppa. “That’s in two days' time. The day after the day after tomorrow.”

  Finding the lava wolves seemed just as difficult. They were hiding. The spurting fire, burning ashes and waves of flame and smoke were not good for the wolves’ fur coats.

  Standing on the scrub well away from the lakes, they looked around the barren landscape but saw no movement of any kind. Peter called. “We have food,” he called to the sky. “Good food. Will you come and see us? We’re friends. Good friends.”

  Not a whisker nor a paw appeared. Poppy whistled loudly, but Tryppa put her hand over Poppy’s mouth. “They might think that’s rude,” she said, “like calling a pet dog.”

  “But I’d love a pet dog,’ poppy insisted. “Mum never let me have one.”

  Then Peter pulled his lute from inside his coat, and started to play the Dirge of Sparkan.

  “The land of our birth is dying,

  But breathes as yet undead.

  The blown ashes float sighing,

  But the blood of our wounds boils red.

  The land that we love

  Holds the life that we love,

  But the land that we love is dying.

  The land that we love

  Holds the life that we love,

  But our brothers die, crying.”

  Very softly at first, both Poppy and Tryppa started singing.

  Almost immediately small heads peeped from every roc
k, wings beat hard in the air above, and the patter of feet grew louder. Within moments, they were surrounded by half a dozen dragons, at least fifteen lava wolves, and a surprising number of Wooshabouts.

  “I never saw a whooshabout before,” said Poppy with a huge smile. “You’re very sweet.” Long and thin, they were lizards with bright green patterns on black, that ran as fast as the wind. There were also Paddywacks, which neither Poppy nor Peter had ever seen before. They looked rather like squirrels, but their fur was white and soft, except for their big squirrel-like tails, which were red, and their perky little ears which were black. They had golden eyes, which stared in delight as the music played. Yet when the music stopped and Peter moved, they disappeared so fast, that they could also be described as whooshabouts.

  One of the dragons which had landed on the ground at Poppy’s feet, was jumping up and down and trying to grab her attention. “Ooo, it’s Wuz,” cried Poppy. “My lovely, lovely friend.”

  Flapping around her face, Wuz was soon almost sitting on her head. “So good to see you again,” he said. “Is this just a holiday? Or have you come to recruit soldiers for your army?”

  Now she stood in the centre of a growing crowd. “Recruitment,” said Poppy at once. “But seeing friends is just as important. I’ve been wanting to visit you for ages. How’s the family?”

  Wuz flipped into the air, and turned a somersault. “Well, all well, healthy, happy, hoppy. And we’re all waiting to come down to Lashtang for the great change. Rule the Octobrs! I’ve spoken to all the dragons I know, and every one of us has agreed to back the Octobr cause. And they’ve passed the word. If there are any dragons who think the Hazlett wizards should rule, then they must be bonkers.”

  Tryppa had wandered out amongst the wolves, and was throwing great buckets of meat which she had brought by magic. She had not created the bones out of thin air though– she had bought them from the market butchers in Lashtang near the cottage, but had left them there as they were far too heavy to carry. Now she could call them up from the cottage garden, tossing the huge pieces all around her.

  “Come along,” she called. “This is good food. Will you eat? And then will you fight for us?”

  Some wolves, swivelling their three heads, took the meat they could carry between their jaws, and then crept away. These either wanted privacy without risking their lives in a battle, or they secretly supported the wizards. But most cheered the Octobrs and said they’d be happy to fight for the right side.

  “In two days,” Tryppa shouted over the barking, howling, and sounds of eating, “we need you in Lashtang. I will send you some of the serpent Quosters who have great magic and can bring you all down to Pickles Village where everything is about to start.”

  Some of the animals went quiet. The whooshabout and the paddywhacks stopped, ready to run away as hard as they could. Most of the wolves stopped eating, staring around, while even the dragons flew up in a panic.

  “No, no,” cried Peter. “Most of them are good people. They aren’t real snakes.”

  Wuz looked cross. “We hate the Quosters. They bite if we go down to bathe in hot water. We call them enemies and we won’t fight alongside them.”

  “Oh dear,” sighed Poppy. “They’re really nice, most of them,” Poppy assured him. “Or at least, about half of them. Just give them a chance. They do seem to have rather bad tempers, and I expect they get hungry too. But they aren’t really nasty.”

  It was one of the wolves who crept forwards, whispering, “Did you know the Hazlett wizards are really Quosters. As mean as they come. Clebbster is a true Quoster, and so is his wife. She nearly ate me once.”

  “Some of them are terrible. All of them are dangerous. But about half are on our side.” Tryppa was saying. “They mean well and they want justice and freedom.”

  “Humph,” said Wuz. “All they want is hot water and careless dragons to eat.

  Peter shook his head. “No, honestly, it was Laksta and Hexaconda who attacked Clebbster so he was so badly injured, he had to stay in bed for ages. We’ve been safe while he was all broken up. But he’s almost better now and he wants a fight. So we need supporters.”

  Tryppa was bringing up more food, and more lava wolves were running across the land, smelling the good meat. “I know,” she said, spinning around. “We’ll have a party tonight, and invite everyone including some Quosters. That way they’ll all get to know each other.”

  “With music,” said Peter.

  “And dancing,” said Poppy.

  “And food,” added Tryppa.

  “And long talks between all species,” said Wuz with a frown. “Then we’ll decide.”

  “Out on the other side of the volcano,” Poppy said, waving her arms in the air. “So we get the lights, but we don’t get burned. Invite everyone. Quosters and whooshabouts. Dragons and wolves. Paddywacks and rabbits.”

  That evening the volcano was still erupting and the night sky was brilliant orange and the stars couldn’t be seen at all. The flat pasture land had been piled with platters, cups and bowls. As the Sparkan creatures arrived in small groups, one by one, or in larger groups, Tryppa told them to help themselves to the empty plates and cups. “They’ll be filled soon,” she said. “I shall see to that.”

  Once they all trooped around, finding a comfy place to sit and holding their plates, bowls and cups, Tryppa stood tall in the middle of the rocks and grasses, shouting, “Now – you will all find your favourite food and drink, whatever that is. Your plates now hold everything you like best. Your bowls are filled with whatever you want. And your cups hold the best drinks you have ever tasted.”

  Several Quosters had arrived cautiously, sitting together and not mixing with any of the others. Even they were impressed at the magnificent food and drink that suddenly appeared, and they raised their cups. “The best wine,” called Laksta. “And wonderful food. Fish and seaweed chips.”

  More Quosters began to arrive. Knowing Laksta and four others had braved the party, more decided they wanted to appear brave as well. Hexaconda arrived, looking beautiful in glittering silver clothes, her green hair tied back with half a dozen silver ribbons. Many more of the Quosters followed her.

  Wuz brought his family. Nob, Dimpy and Aunty Zook fluttered down, grabbing up platters with their claws. Swid and Vinty followed, singing and cheering.

  “Music, please,” Wuz asked Peter, “but happy music. Bumpy, bumpy stuff so we can dance.

  With considerable and enthusiastic energy, two lutes started to play waltz music, which impressed everyone, who had never heard such a thing before. The waltz was invented long after the lute became old fashioned, and had certainly never arrived on Lashtang or Sparkan. Poppy started dancing in circles with Laksta, and this delighted everyone watching, for it proved that Quosters could have fun too, and were not serious or terrifying.

  Most of the dragons were dancing upside down in the air while the wolves were galloping around, weaving in between groups of others. Gradually more Quosters joined in the game and at last Tryppa could stop playing, called Peter to sit beside her as she sank down on a flat rock, and said, “We’ve done it, my boy. We’ve done it. Success and all thanks to us. Now the Quosters are finally friends with everyone else, and almost everyone is an Octobr supporter. We can explain what we need them to do in the morning, and then we can return home ourselves.”

  The party continued for all the evening and half of the night, and Poppy tried to teach the whooshabouts and paddywhacks how to dance and sing. The blue rabbits loved to skip up the slopes and then jump off from the top, and many of the lava wolves turned into human shape so they could dance more beautifully. There was one young woman dancing the waltz with a young man, and they were so excited to discover such fun, they refused to turn back into wolves.

  Hexaconda came to speak with Tryppa. “I shall create a magic slide,” she said, “descending from the edge of Sparkan right to the fields outside Pickles Village. Then everyone who wishes, may join your army the day af
ter tomorrow. But there will be some Hazlett supporters who use my slide as well, lying about being friends. And they will join Clebbster.”

  “Try and stop our enemies,” Tryppa nodded. “We have no wish to increase Clebbster’s strength. We outnumber him, but some of his army is strong.”

  “I shall try,” Hexaconda said. “But I cannot tell who lies. If they claim to be on our side, I shall have to believe them unless I already know they are bad people.”

  “Then,” interrupted Poppy, “when all this is over, you can go back to Sharr Forest to live, and just come up to Sparkan for holidays. Once we rule Lashtang again, I promise we’ll put back the waterways and the hot springs.”

  “And we’ll come and visit too,” said Peter, “and play music again.”

  Where the grasslands lay flat beyond the cliffs and hills around Pickles Village and where the tournament had been arranged, Granny, Messina, Zakmeister, Sherdam and Bayldon began to build the ideal site for a Dual of magic.

  In the middle a huge flat arena was left quite empty except for short grass smothered in new spring daisies. It seemed to be untouched, simply a country field. Yet every daisy had been placed with magic, and they held a charm to forbid cheating from both adversaries, and also from the audience. No magic from anyone outside the circle could enter into it.

  There were benches for spectators as there had been for the tournament, but this time there were far more, and the seats were raised on many steps so they rose high at the back. There were places for many hundreds to watch, and also for many more hundreds to stand, and yet still see clearly.

  Almost entirely invisible was an enormous glass dome which covered the arena. It rose high up to the sky, enclosing grass and daisies, but nothing more. Once inside, anyone would be completely separated from the audience. Nothing else could enter or leave until the dome was removed.