Shagga had a hut too. It gave the children an eerie familiar feeling. As with Hagga’s hut, the bones that created the framework of the structure almost seemed to whisper to them. Farra was sure it was just the wind making its way through the layers of the outer shell.
Just like in Hagga’s hut, a cauldron stood in the middle of the room. Farra searched the walls for an old man that would soon leap out and scare them. Bomani followed her lead with the back of his spear.
“We do have some differences, yes, yes, we do,” Shagga said.
“Huh?” replied Bomani.
“You’ll find no griot hiding in my walls. You marry a man, he is sure to change into a husband, and I wouldn’t want that. Yes, Yes, I’m quite accustomed to living alone.” She started searching through some of her shelves and pulled out another rune. “This is a compass rune.” she said, “It will help you find what you are looking for.”
“The Ifa Scepter?” Farra asked.
“Yes.” Shagga replied and handed it to Bomani. He flipped it over in his hands, inspecting the stone.
“So, I suppose that it works like the others,” said Bomani. “You can’t tell us anything, we’ll just have to know when to use it? Well, Farra and I almost died trying to figure out how to use the other ones.”
“Humph, I would think that to a great warrior like yourself, almost dying would be something easily passable, and expected. Don’t you live to take such chances?”
“Uh, yes I do, but it’s her that gets frightened. She’s not used to it.”
“This rune is more complicated, boy.”
“Great, more complicated,” Farra said with a sigh.
“Ah, but this time, you get instructions. To find the Ifa Scepter, you must find something that contains Hatari’s power. The Ifa Scepter amplifies his power and so do the diamonds around him. Find something that contains his power, and then you will know which way to go to find his diamond cave.”
“Diamonds?” Bomani asked, “When we were on the boat, and the ogre had me down, I saw a huge diamond around his neck. If Hatari is controlling them, giving them orders, maybe he is the one who gave them the diamonds.”
“Now you’re thinking, boy. See, you’re not all spear and shield, are you?”
Farra was concerned. “We spent a great deal of effort getting away from the stinky ogres. We went through an underground river, almost died in a volcano, not to mention making an angry mountain very, very angry. Now we are supposed to go back and find them?”
“That is precisely what you must do,” replied Shagga. “Hatari uses those diamonds to stay in contact with the ogres. He speaks to them, and can use them as a seeing-eye. He was probably watching while you were on the boat.”
“But if that’s true, then if we do manage to get one of the diamonds, won’t he be watching us?” asked Farra.
“Ah, the young sorceress is thinking too. You are quite right. You must remember to shatter the diamond as soon as you get it or Hatari will use it to spy on you. Then, put the pieces with the rune.”
“Okay. So, find the ogres, steal a diamond, smash the diamond, put the pieces with the compass rune, and then we’ll know our way. Is that right? Sounds easy enough.” Bomani said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“Wait,” said Farra, “Hagga told us that we must get to the other side of the Angry Mountain, but she didn’t say why. Were we supposed to find you?”
“Exactly child.”
“Then why didn’t she just say, ‘my sister lives on the other side of the Angry Mountain. When you find her, she will give you the compass rune so you can use it to find the scepter,” Bomani asked.
“Why are you complaining?” asked Shagga. “You’re here aren’t you? Got the compass, don’t you? Got instructions, haven’t you? No more silly questions. The ogres will not be too hard to find. Hatari has them spread out over the Forbidden Expanse. There is a camp less than a half of a day’s walk from here. If you hurry, you can catch them before they move on.”
Chapter 15
SEEKING THE ENEMY
The Ancient Lands: Warrior Quest, Search for the Ifa Scepter Page 19
