The Staff of Naught

by Tom Liberman

  No one said anything although Myris raised his hand and no one paid any attention to him. “Good then,” said Lousa with a broad smile that showed off her brilliant white teeth. “Now, go on about your business and Hazlebub I’ll want receipts for any expenses!”

  Chapter 4

  The wind blew with tremendous vigor as a pair of heavily cloaked figures struggled against it towards a small copse of trees where a large bonfire blazed away as its flames flickered wildly and sparks shot skyward every few moments. “Why we gotta haul the wood?” asked Humbort straining under a backload of thick sticks and heavy broken branches. “It’s her damn spell and the wind chills me to the bones.”

  “Shut up or you get cuffed,” said Shamki not bothering to turn around and address his companion. The packet of wood on the half-orc’s back was several times the size burdening his friend but he walked with apparent ease and sniffed at the air now and again.

  “You smell something Shamki?”

  The big half-orc grunted and kept walking towards the bonfire.

  “I don’t like being out here in the dark with all those dead things, you saw them down the coast, digging, what’re they after?”

  The big half-orc grunted again and picked up his pace a little.

  “Slow down Shamki,” complained Humbort and almost stumbled over a small stick in the road, which he bent down to pick up. By the time he finished his friend was already out of site in the darkness ahead. “Wait up Shamki,” called Humbort loudly his voice quickly carried away by the swift breeze. The tall, gangly man looked around into the night seeing a thousand pinpoints of light in the sky, heard the sound of waves as they crashed over the shore, and then called out again, “Shamki, Shamki!” Getting no reply, he trotted in an awkward gait towards the bonfire. By the time he arrived everyone else was there and he came panting into the circle with his eyes wide open and completely out of breath. He immediately inhaled a cloud of smoke and began to cough and hack until he fell to his knees, rolled onto his back, and continued to choke.

  “Ariana, darling,” said Lousa dressed in a dark blue cloak lined with luxuriant fox fur at the collar and trim around her wrists said to the young girl, with a cleanly scrubbed face but the same bright smile that always seemed to adorn her face. “Could you make sure Humbort doesn’t choke to death?” The little girl hopped over to the downed man and began to pound on his back with a heavy club she liberated from the wood pile.

  “It would be a terrible shame if he died and I called his spirit instead of someone useful,” said Hazlebub who wore a heavily stained, tattered yellow cloak that stank of sulfur.

  “The witch makes a good point,” said Lousa. “How much longer before you can summon the creature from beyond?”

  “These things are never quite … predictable,” replied Hazlebub spilling a vial of something onto the fire, which immediately flared up with reds and blues. “We shall see.”

  “While we’re waiting I understand Unerus has a report about finding something in the archives?”

  The balding little chamberlain immediately stepped forward, “It was me who found it and me who read it and I should give the report, not the thief.”

  Lousa smiled and patted him gently on the shoulder, “Of course Myris, of course. How insensitive of me to overlook your contributions, can you ever forgive me?”

  Even on the dark night it was easy to see the man’s face turn bright red as he choked for a moment, “I … I … could never stay angry at you Lousa, you’re so lovely, and that cloak is ….”

  “Yes, thank you Myris, get on with the report or I’ll let Unerus take over.”

  The chamberlain stood up rigidly, gazed at the others, cleared his throat three times, pulled a sheaf of papers from his heavy cloak vest pocket, cleared his throat again, tested the wind direction with his finger, and then cleared his throat one final time. “This momentous occasion brings together an apparently mixed match of heroes all from different walks of life but all with a like sense of purpose to their community.”

  “She was called the Tremulus, out of Tarlton, another ship, the Light of Ras, drove her onto the rocks,” interjected Unerus quickly and with little fanfare.

  “You little brat,” cried Myris taking a step towards the young urchin who wore a light leather jerkin and huddled up close to the roaring fire.

  The boy slipped a dagger from his pocket into his hand and held both behind his back as he gazed at the older man. “You were taking too long.”

  Myris took a step towards Unerus but the massive bulk of Shamki, who moved with surprising agility and speed, interposed between the two. “Get out of my way Shamki, the boy has gone for too long without a boot in the backside and I aim to rectify that situation!”

  “Ain’t protecting boy,” said Shamki and put a massive hand on the chest of the chamberlain who fell backwards two steps and barely managed to keep from toppling over.

  “You hoodlums stick together,” said Myris his lips curling upward and spittle flying from his mouth. “Worthless dregs of society, bringing all the hard working folk down.”

  “Tarltonites, you say?” asked Lousa looking thoughtfully at the boy. “The Light of Ras, that’s Seymour’s private vessel isn’t it?”

  “I was getting to all of that,” said Myris and pulled his cloak tight. “If you are willing to give me a chance I can provide all the information you need.”

  “Go on Myris,” said Lousa.

  “Not until I get an apology from the boy,” said Myris staring down at Unerus who put the dagger back into his pocket quickly and with practiced motions. The young girl, Ariana, relaxed her body as well, lowered the club held in her hand, and began to soothe Humbort who still gasped for breath and gave out occasional hacking coughs.

  “I’m sorry,” said Unerus, and then continued under his breath in a barely audible whisper, “that you’re such an idiot.”

  “What was that,” cried Myris and took a step forward.

  “The boy is a boy Myris, you are a chamberlain, an important man, let’s get on with your report if you don’t mind,” interjected Lousa putting a hand on his shoulder but also turned her head and gave the boy a wink her long lashes fluttering in the firelight.

  “The sunken ship was registered as a Tarlton trading vessel known as Tremulus. She was new to the waters but identified by debris that washed ashore and the report from the captain of the Light of Ras who drove her onto the rocks. Said captain, a seafaring expert born in Sea’cra, docked at Sea Fen the following day and claimed that there was a renegade political exile aboard the Tremulus wanted by the King of the Sand, Tarlton VI. As I’m sure you’re all aware there was a recent change of power in Tarlton as the youngest son of Tarlton VI took over administrative duties although much of the power of that realm is said to be vested in the darkling warlord, Ming.”

  Hazlebub gave an exaggerated yawn at this and poured another liquid onto the fire that gave a startling blast of orange and red sparks.

  “Pretty!” shouted Ariana getting up and dancing around the sparkles as they flew quickly skyward.

  “If you would mind not interrupting, witch,” said Myris and looked at the woman and held his head somewhat back. “Intelligent men are talking now.”

  “Where?” said Unerus unable to resist the opportunity.

  “You little snot,” shouted Myris taking a step towards the boy again.

  “Stop this nonsense, all of you,” interjected Lousa and stepped into the fire light her green eyes ablaze. “We don’t have to like each other but Mayor Shumba has given us a task and I, for one, intend to see it through. Now, Myris, go lighter on the political history. I know the Light of Ras is the personal ship of Seymour the Bright and his involvement in this along with the undead creatures would seem to be a connection, true?”

  “Seymour the Bright,” said Myris and pulled forth yet another sheaf of papers from his pocket.

  “Keep it short,” said Lousa.

  “Seymour the Bright,” began Myris
again, “is the oldest son of Tarlton VI and seemed destined for the Glass Throne of City in the Sand but instead became a devout worshipper of the Sun God Ras early in life and forsook his royal heritage. He traveled the world for many years aboard his personal ship, the Light of Ras, attempting to do the will of his patron deity.”

  “Ras god of sun,” said Shamki. “Fights god of death.”

  “Yes, well, that is a bit more succinct than I might have put it but you have the gist of it Shamki. Seymour was chasing someone aboard the Tremulus for something. There are no records about what happened to the Light of Ras after she left Sea Fen so we don’t know exactly what is resting down there at the bottom of the bay but we must assume it presents a threat to Doria. The queen will be most pleased if we can garner the friendship of Seymour and Tarlton.”

  “Myris, the mayor doesn’t even want to involve Baron Avakubia in this mess, let alone the queen. Those undead creatures are after something on that ship and we need to get to it first.”

  “The spirit world is ready,” said Hazlebub, waved her hands above her head, sprinkled a strange golden dust through the air with a small grin on her face, and her eyes rolled upwards in some sort of trancelike state.

  “We don’t need such witchy theatrics,” started Myris but Louis interrupted him.

  “Leave her be, she knows her job.”

  “I was just ….”

  “Shut up, Myris,” said Lousa, “Or I’ll have Shamki do it for me.”

  The big half-orc grinned from ear to ear at this and his friend Humbort, coughing fit finally eased, looked up from the ground with a smile, “I’ll help.”

  Spirits Rise from grounded sleep

  Break bounds born eons deep

  Ghostly visage to us creep

  Jump divide make the leap!

  The wind whipped through the little copse of trees at that moment and sent a medium sized branch to the ground at the feet of Lousa with a crash. She jumped back with a start while Myris gave a girlish shriek and fled into the darkness and only when Shamki grabbed the arm of Humbort did he prevent the timid man from doing likewise. Little Ariana moved next to her brother and put her arms around the boy as Hazlebub raised her arms high above her head and intoned the words of her witchery again.

  Spirits Rise from grounded sleep

  Break bounds born eons deep

  Ghostly visage to us creep

  Jump divide make the leap!

  “I’m scared,” whispered Ariana into Unerus’s ear and held her brother tighter.

  “It’s okay Ara; she knows what she’s doing.”

  “Ahhhh,” shrieked the girl pointing to a place just outside of the small circle and Unerus looked over and spotted the ghostly blue image that floated towards them. It wore a loose fitting cloak that did not billow in the wind and its hair was wild around his head.

  “I hear your call woman, what would you have of me?”

  Hazlebub took a step back and almost fell into the fire her eyes wide for a moment before she managed to compose herself and begin to wave her arms over her head again. “Oh spirit of the world beyond we seek your knowledge of the ship wrecked yonder,” this last as she pointed into the darkness in almost directly the opposite direction to where the shipwreck lay.

  Unerus got up quickly and caught the eye of the woman and pointed with his finger in the correct direction and Hazlebub righted herself easily enough. “In this direction,” she said.

  “I remember something,” said the glowing blue form for a moment and shook its head, “but it is all misty as if it was a dream or never happened.”

  “What is your name spirit?” asked Hazlebub

  “I am … I am … Khemer … Khemer dez Hadzall,” said the voice in a rather shaky fashion. “That seems familiar.”

  “Tarltonite,” whispered Lousa to no one in particular.

  “What is the name of that ship beyond the rocks,” asked Hazlebub and this time pointed in the correct direction.

  “It is the Tremulus,” said Khemer this time without pause. “Where am I? What is this place and who are you?”

  “I am Hazlebub, mighty witch-woman of Doria. Yonder is the village of Iv’s Folly from where I hail. These others are my companions. There are foul undead creatures hunting for something on that ship, what can you tell us of it?”

  “I was aboard that ship and we were pursued by … by someone … I cannot remember who or for what. We crashed, I was trying to swim but the waves were too, too strong, I went under, and now I am here. I see now, I am dead, called from beyond.”

  “I’m sorry Khemer, but you are truly dead,” said Hazlebub her lips pursed and her eyes cast down. “I cannot help you with that. Your body is long eaten by the sea creatures and there is no hope of a return. But, perhaps you will help us discover what is aboard that ship and it will let you rest more easily upon your return to the nether world?”

  “I … I … cannot remember. Perhaps we should get close to the ship? That might jar my memory?”

  Humbort shook his head vigorously at Shamki but the big half-orc remained silent.

  “There’s all those skellies Uney?” said Ariana more as a question than as a statement.

  “I know your scared Ara but you have to trust me, if we do this for the mayor we’ll be in good, no more stealing food from the garbage pails,” he replied in a whisper. “Be brave, we protect each other, like always, right?”

  “Right!” said the girl and got to her feet and looped her arm under her brother’s. “Together.”

  Shamki grabbed Humbort by his arm and dragged him along as the group, minus the fled Myris, headed away from the protection of the small wood and towards the exposed point where a thousand skeletal remains marched up and down.

  As her fox fur cloak whipped wildly about her ankles, Lousa first heard the strange clacks that came from ahead as they moved further out onto the open point. “What is that?” she asked no one in particularly but the wild wind stole the words right out of her mouth and it was up to Humbort to ask the question as he shrieked in a voice pitched an octave too high, “What is that sound?”

  “Bones,” said Hazlebub her voice pierced the wind as she pointed to a pair of skeletons walking next to each other the loose bones in their structure flapped in the breeze and smacked against one another.

  “Like a ghost story,” said Ariana her eyes wide but a smile once again playing on her lips, “Right Uney?”

  The boy shivered, his light cloak flapped in the breeze and revealed an even shabbier undershirt filled with almost as many holes as stains. “You’re a brave girl,” he said his own teeth chattering and then under his breath, “Braver than me.”

  Ariana looked up at her brother her keen ears bright red from the cool night wind and smiled to herself and began to sing a little song her voice unable to clear the howling wind but pleasant enough in any case.

  “Candies fill my dreams all night

  Red and green and gold all right

  Candies fill my dreams all day

  Candy, candy, more I say”

  One of the skeletons suddenly lurched towards them carrying a sharp rock and Shamki whipped out a long blade of steel from under his cloak so quickly that even Unerus didn’t yet have out his dagger but the creature staggered past them, buffeted by the wind, and suddenly disappeared into the side of the point. “It’s a cave,” shouted Humbort his eyes keener than his spirit and sure enough, there was an open gash in the side of the hill. Even as they watched another skeleton emerged from the small entrance and carried two handfuls of rock and dirt with which it staggered off towards the ocean. Another creature followed this one, likewise burdened.

  “They’re digging for the ship!” exclaimed Lousa. “It must have settled in the sand and it’s buried. C’mon, we have to follow them. They’ll ignore us, right Hazlebub?”

  The witch woman’s eyes opened wide again as she stared at the shambling forms that seemed to come in an endless line both to and from the cave, one group’s
hands filled with rocks and dirt and the other empty. Occasionally one would come out its boney wrist broken to reveal a stump. “I … I have my guardian aura that will protect us,” she finally said although her body shuddered and her eyes darted around nervously.

  “Look at this,” said the little voice of Ariana carried by the wind from a shallow depression just a few yards away.

  “Ariana,” cried Unerus who looked down and realizing she was no longer at his side. The big half-orc took two quick strides and shone his bright lantern into the small depression where hundreds of squirming skeletons lay in a pile of gruesome, living bones.

  “Their hands are all broke off,” said the girl and pointed to the arms of each of the skeletons lying in the pit. “They can’t dig no more!”

  “Anymore,” said Lousa almost as a matter of habit rather than in a real attempt to correct the girl.

  “She’s right,” cried Humbort. “They can’t dig no more!”

  “Anymore,” said Lousa again her face an almost impassive mask as she struggled to keep her composure in this horrific scene.

  Shamki patted the little girl on the head and smiled at her although his fiercely uneven teeth accentuated by massive canines often caused people think of it as a growl. This did not seem to affect the girl as she smiled back with her equally uneven rows of teeth half fallen out and half in place and took his hand. “Let’s see what’s in the cave!”

  Unerus settled in on the other side of the girl and the trio went into the cave hand in hand. Lousa, Hazlebub, and Humbort looked at each other for a moment before the young woman raised her left eyebrow and grabbed the witch by the hand and the two followed along. This left Humbort to stand alone in the howling wind with untold numbers of skeletons that shambled around him. He paused for a moment and muttered to himself, “Stay with Shamki, stay with Shamki,” and his body gave a tremendous shudder all the way from this head to his feet but he managed to make that first step towards the cave and quickly followed the rest.