“Messenger!” he cried without the slightest hesitation. “Messenger, please!”
Ugleeuh nodded and stumped back to the kitchen with her axe and chopping block, leaving him to catch his breath and cope with his weak legs and his racing heart.
He had just regained a measure of control over himself when she tramped back in and began piling all his favorite foods upon the table. “Wouldn't want to send you off on an empty stomach,” she said airily, glancing over her shoulder. “It may be some while before you find something out in the real world that you'd consider edible. Besides,” she said, turning to face him, “I was hoping this fine breakfast might somehow make up for some of my harsh words and actions, dearest. I'm afraid that I have been so worried about my only possible chance to escape these woods, that you just put me over the edge for a while. Had you refused just because you were afraid to leave here, my one chance to escape would have vanished forever. I truly didn't mean to upset you with my fear and frustration. I want you to know in your heart when you go that I will miss you unbearably and count the very moments until your return.”
“Ha!” whispered Lukus to Rose, “The rotten old hag just thought better of her overdoing it. She knows she went so far that he just might not deliver her ransom note nor return here any more than the sparrows would.”
“Shush Lukus! She'll hear you.”
“All right, but wow! Look at all that food, Rose. Reckon even Hubba Hubba can eat all of that?”
“I don't know, but I hope we get invited to this little send off, because I'm really hungry.”
“Yea. Me too, but...”
“But what, Lukus?”
“Nothing really, except for the fierce toothaches I've been having lately, and it would really be nice to eat something once in awhile that didn't cause me such bloomin' pain.”
“Oh Lukus. I'm sorry you are having to go through all of this. If Ugleeuh hadn't run off our unicorns, we might still have some dried meat or even fruit from our packs that you could eat for awhile, at least until your teeth stopped aching. Maybe Ugleeuh has some kind of potion she can fix for you to stop the pain.”
“Good idea, Rose. I'll ask her. She obviously doesn't have any brew that'll stop the damage all this sukere is doing to my teeth, though.”
“How do you know that?”
“Easy. Look at her teeth. The ones that haven't already fallen out are completely rotten.”
“No mistake about that. Two witches! Mercy! Let's just hope that we can escape from this place before our mouths get that far along.”
“Ah! You two are awake at last,” said Ugleeuh, right at their heads, making both of them jump. “Hurry and get ready for breakfast. Hubba Hubba leaves for Niarg right away, and I'm sure you'll want to see him off. Perhaps you could give him some instruction about Niarg Castle and the king and queen.” She quickly returned to the kitchen to present Hubba Hubba with the final touches for his send-off: a new leather travel harness, replete with food pouches and a smooth round crystal set in the center of the chest piece.
“A viewing crystal?” said Hubba Hubba, looking confused. “Ugleeuh! You gave me a scrying crystal. But what for?”
“It's a carreg gwyliwr, a very special crystal, Hubba Hubba, and I've put a spell upon it just for you,” she said, holding it up so he could look into it. “What do you see inside?”
He peered into it and gasped. “I see the Peppermint Forest!”
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “Now, whenever you feel homesick for the forest on your journey, all you have to do is look into the crystal. But, there's more to be seen. Look again.”
He nodded excitedly and gazed into the clear orb once more. “Why, I see us! All of us here in the cabin. And me, me looking into the viewing crystal. Incredible! Will you be able to look into another crystal and see me?”
“No dearest,” she said, shaking her head as her look of pleasure vanished. “No, because of the curse which I live under here, my powers are confined to the forest. Once you fly past the boundary of the Chokewoods, I'll no longer be able to see you, even though you will be able to see me whenever you wish.”
“Oh. But what'll happen to the magical protections you set up around the forest to keep outsiders from scrying here, Ugleeuh? If you take them down, you'll be vulnerable. No, you should keep this viewing crystal here and keep your safeguards in place.”
Ugleeuh actually appeared touched as shook her head. “No,” she said. “You'll only be gone for a short time, dearest and it's highly unlikely that anyone will discover my vulnerability, especially since the forest has been secure for so long. No one will expect for anything to have changed here. No, as far as the outside world is considered, I'm just a memory. Keep and use the viewing crystal, Hubba Hubba, and let me worry about the forest. Now, I believe it's time to eat and be on your way.”
The sparrows chattered worriedly on the floor around Hubba Hubba's perch as he gorged himself. “Chirp, Tweet and Squeak, shoo!” she said. “I'll bespell him to make him light for your journey. Now go back and eat.”
Appeased by this, the wee slaves hopped back to their breakfast in the corner.
“So,” said Ugleeuh, taking a seat at the table, “what wisdom have you two for my dearest on his trip to Niarg? Certainly, since you recently came here from there, you know a great deal, indeed.”
“Don’t stop in the Chokewood Forest for any reason, Hubba Hubba,” said Lukus. “If the dorchadas don’t get you, the smallies will.”
Hubba Hubba knew that already.
“Stay away from the Valley of Illusions in the Enchanted Land, if at all possible.” said Rose. “You can only tell the real pitfalls from the fake ones by actually experiencing them. It wastes your time and it's scary and dangerous.”
“Indeed,” said Lukus. “And don’t stop in the Jutwoods of Niarg after dark, because it's full of werebeasts and trolls...”
“And Elves,” said Rose. “But they won’t hurt you. In fact, if you somehow end up there after dark, seek them out. They'll protect and help you, probably.”
Hubba Hubba leant forward on his perch, wide eyed, his half swallowed mouthful of blueberry muffin threatening to fall from his beak. “Probably?”
“Well, I suppose it would depend on whether they considered you in league with Ugleeuh and therefore our captor, or whether they decide you're merely her messenger and maybe even our friend. If they decide that you're our friend, you'll be treated exceptionally well. And they will know. They read minds.”
“And if these Elves decide that I'm not your friend?”
“I don’t know what they would do then, to tell the truth,” said Rose. “Just stay clear of the Jutwood Forest if there's any doubt in your mind.”
“Anything else?” he said with a nod and a swallow.
“Yea,” said Lukus. “When you get to the castle, go straight to the tallest tower and find our grandfather, Razzmorten. He'll take care of you. He'll undoubtedly feed you and fix you up a bit after your flight, before taking you to see our parents.”
“Your grandfather, Razzmorten?” said Hubba Hubba, as his feathers suddenly pressed flat. “Isn't Razzmorten the wizard who put the curse on Ugleeuh that keeps her bound to this forest?”
“Yes, I guess that's true,” said Rose, “but he didn't do it just to throw his power around, you know. She was found guilty and exiled for a serious crime against the kingdom. The curse was deemed necessary because of her exceptional magical abilities. How else do you suppose the kingdom could have kept her confined here?” She looked up with a start as Ugleeuh flung back her chair, stood up smartly and flailed her arms over her head as she turned her back on the company, paced one tight circle and sat back down heavily.
Hubba Hubba cocked his head in a thoughtful pose. “So. If Razzmorten is your grandfather, am I to assume that the king is also a sorcerer?”
“Not at all,” said Rose. “Grandfather Razzmorten is our mother's father and Ugleeuh's too, for that matter.”
“Wha
t, what?” gasped Hubba Hubba, ruffling up his neck feathers before sleeking down all over. “You mean to tell me that Ugleeuh's own father sentenced her to banishment? And you want me to seek out this same wizard upon my arrival at Niarg Castle? Do you actually hate me after all? Do you wish my untimely death?”
“Calm down you big fat bird!” said Lukus. “You'll make yourself swoon and fall right off your perch if you don't.”
“Grandfather would never hurt you, Hubba Hubba,” said Rose as she gave him a reassuring scratch on the back of his head. “He's very wise and intuitive. He'll see right away that you are, well, blustery but sincere. But I'm also certain he'll see that you're all right. Now don't look at me like that, bird. I'll tell you what. If it'll make you feel any better, Lukus and I will write our own note for you to take with you, telling Grandfather that you're a good bird.”
Hubba Hubba's beak fell open. “You'd really do that for me, even though I haven't treated you two very well a lot of the time?”
“We haven't always treated you well, either,” said Rose. “We teased you about your weight and all, but we got used to having you around, and couldn't help but to start liking you. And now that you're leaving, it seems we suddenly realize that we're going to miss a friend. So obviously we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you.”
“Wow! Thanks! I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to me, either. If you two feel confident that I'd be safe going to see Razzmorten, even though he put a life or death curse upon his own daughter, well then, I guess that's what I'll do.”
Rose and Lukus traded winks, while Ugleeuh rolled her eyes with disgust. “Royal pestlings,” she snorted, as she rose from her chair and tramped into her bedroom, returning with paper, quill and an inkwell and pushing them at Rose.
“Write quickly,” she said. “Dearest will be leaving as soon as I fasten him to the slaves.” She motioned for the sparrows to come to her, and then made a quick sign in the air causing the new harness to leap up from the far end of the table and fly to her hand. By the time she had finished hitching up her four birds, Rose was done with the letter.
Hubba Hubba looked forlorn as Rose added it to the pouch holding Ugleeuh's ransom note. She made soothing small talk and gave him another scratch.
“Just think of it as a grand adventure,” said Lukus. “You'll lose some of that fat. And who knows? Maybe you'll attract the most shiny black feathered... That is, black being 'way better than green... I mean...”
“Just what is it that you're trying to say boy?” said Ugleeuh. “Whatever it is, you best be saying it. You're cutting into his flying time. The longer he flies, the less dangerous it'll be for him to spend the night, if you take my meaning.”
“It's not important. I was just trying to say that maybe he'd find a nice lady crow somewhere and... You know...” he said, staring at the ground.
“No way, Lukus,” said Hubba Hubba, with a ruffling shake of his neck feathers. “Crows and I do not get along. Female or male, it doesn't matter. They all hate me. I know, I see the disbelief on your face, but you can ask Ugleeuh. She had to banish all the other crows from the forest because they were so mean to me. I couldn't even go outside for an exercise flight without getting mobbed and pecked. It was frightening and humiliating. Given time, they'd have found their moment and pecked me to death.”
Rose and Lukus were astonished, but one look at Ugleeuh told them that he was not stretching things.
“I'm sorry I even mentioned female birds,” said Lukus. “I was truly trying to wish you well, but it went awfully awry. I meant nothing mean.”
“It's all right, Lukus. It's just that the bird of my dreams is a different species. I know that sounds peculiar, but there really isn't any time to discuss such things right now. Maybe later. Just wish me luck.”
“You got it, Birdo! I wish I were going with you. Niarg's a great place. You'll see.”
“You will,” said Rose as she gave him one last scratch before getting out of Ugleeuh's way.
Ugleeuh trundled Hubba Hubba on his perch with his slaves out onto the porch and began making signs in the air, conjuring a spell so that his bulk would not unduly burden the poor sparrows. Taking a step closer, she gently touched the top of his head. “Take care of yourself, dearest. I'll miss you very much. I'm so sorry that I threatened you. I don't really have a recipe for sweet and sour crow. Never had one. Wouldn't use it if I did, anyway. Now, fly high and swiftly. Keep in mind that once you reach the edge of the Chokewoods, you'll instantly turn heavy again. If you and the sparrows aren't ready for it, you might have a nasty spill, and I'd not want that to happen.”
“Yea. Well that makes two of us, Ugleeuh. Don't worry. I'll remember. After all, it's my life, right? And I really want to be around for a good deal longer, so I'll stay alert. Well, here goes, then. I'd best be off. And... Oh yes. I'll really miss you too.”
Ugleeuh nodded and gave the sparrows the go ahead and directly they were airborne.
When Rose could no longer see Hubba Hubba in the distance, she turned and looked at Ugleeuh and was shocked to see tears glistening in her eyes. “Either she does care about her dearest, in spite of her threatening his life,” she thought, “or else she's thinking about how she could finally be free of this forest after all these years of being banished. And I surely would not take odds on which it is.”
***
It was nearly dusk on the first day of Hubba Hubba's journey to Niarg, and he was miserable. He was positively exhausted. His poor insides were wracked with the most awful spasms of hunger and his head was dizzy and splitting. Indeed, he was wondering if he would even be alive when Chirp, Tweet and Squeak towed him into the palace. “If Ugleeuh did love me,” he thought, “she'd never have forced me do this.”
At the edge of Chokewood, he and the sparrows landed and walked to beyond the range of Ugleeuh's magic, in order to avoid a crash when he went heavy again. When they tried to fly once more, they found that they couldn't make it aloft until he emptied out his food pouches. Now he really felt forlorn. And when he caught himself conversing with his sparrows by name, he reckoned that he no longer had the slightest shred of dignity left to lose.
It was exhausting flying all heavy, especially after a full day of flying, even if that day had been under Ugleeuh's lightening spell. Even so, once he was up and pumping, he began to consider the lay of the land below. The woods were all behind them, and everywhere about was rolling grassland, as far as he could see. Where could he possibly find rest? Not here. He could see marauding foxes in the grass below. One of his breast muscles hurt and he was developing a pain in his pulley bone, and still the downs stretched on. There would have to be some place to perch, before there would ever be rest.
“Houses!” tweeted Squeak. “'Way ahead.”
“No kidding,” said Hubba Hubba between pants, as he looked ahead to see buildings springing up between the gentle hills. “I wonder if that town is the Fairy Valley Junction that Lukus told me about?”
“Has to be,” squeaked Chirp. “It's the first settlement after Chokewoods, and we can see for league upon league.”
Hubba Hubba started to answer, then thought better of it and gave his beak a haughty thrust up. “They're not to converse with me,” he thought. “ Hey!” he cawed out in spite of himself. “Maybe I can get myself something sweet to eat at that inn Rose mentioned. What was it?”
“Sea and Fairy,” chirped Tweet.
“Yea. I already know that,” he snapped as his mouth began to water. “Take us down there, and let's see if we can't find it.
“Town! Town! Town!” he cawed with excitement as they glided over the rooftops. Elation surged through him when he spied a sign over the doorway of a three storey plank and timber building with heavenly aromas wafting through the air all around it. “Land there! That open window. That's where the best smells are coming from.”
The sparrows quickly gave him a swing, setting him neatly upon the sill of the window without running themselves into the sash
above. He found himself gaping hungrily into the very kitchen of the Sea and Fairy. Spying a delicate-looking cream-filled pastry, he sprang onto the counter below, yanking the trio of sparrows down behind him. He bit into the delicious confection only to drop it at the shriek of a red faced Cyclops woman, brandishing a meat cleaver in her beefy hand. “Get away from my pastries you filthy vermin!” she yelled.
“Murder!” croaked Hubba Hubba as he turned and stumbled across several rows of the powdered dainties, causing the sparrows to jerk and dance in the air above him as they tried to take flight.
“Huge filthy fat crow!” screeched the woman. “In this kitchen! Tramping the cream puffs!”
“Help!” he shrieked as he flapped his wings, frantically seeking his balance. “She's trying to kill me!”
“Rotten bird talks!” she cried at the top of her lungs, as she hurled her meat cleaver right by his head to stick in a timber below the window. And with that, she swooned and collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Hubba Hubba bounced along the edge of the table, beating his wings, fogging the room with white powder before slowly rising to the window sill, scrambling across it and taking a lunge, flapping into the outside air. They did not stop until they were at the far end of the village from the inn. “Put down there,” he said at last, nodding at a big old oak tree.
Heart of the Staff - Complete Series Page 41
