Heart of the Staff - Complete Series

by Carol Marrs Phipps

  “But they're birds.”

  “Well, so are the dragons actually, but you accept their intelligence,” said Mary as she stood up from the rock and brushed twigs and leaves off the back of her dress.

  “Well yes,” said Myrtlebell, as she traipsed after her into the newly fallen leaves up the side of the hill flanking the bluff, “but the dragons can talk and...”

  “Ah! So can the diatrymas, my dear. And not only that, but they remember everything they see and hear down to the tiniest detail. Not even the Elves can do that.”

  “I had no idea. Neither of them uttered a thing when we rode them, Mary. Why didn't they?”

  “That's diatrymas for you. They can stay quiet for an eternity. It's as though they have the opinion that you learn more by listening than by speaking.”

  “Well, that's sensible enough.”

  “They don't let a single solitary thing get by them,” said Mary as she paused in the leaves to look out over the countryside from under the flat of her hand. “The diatrymas are from the Age of Birds. I'm sure you already know that Mwyaf Fawr Llosg...”

  “The Greatest Burning? From Natural Philosophy?”

  “Yes, and legends. The dragons have always told of the Greatest Burning. And I suppose you know that Mwyaf Fawr Llosg ended the Age of Birds and it has been the Age of Beasts ever since?”

  “Of course.”

  “So the diatrymas lived aeons ago during the Age of Birds. You've heard of the vile wizard Razzorbauch?”

  “Yes. But not too much,” said Myrtlebell as she peered with a bewildered look into the distance from under her hand.

  “It was Razzorbauch who brought them back to life in this age by accident when he created the Fudge Volcano. He accidentally released the cocoahippus and a number of other long dead creatures, when he did.”

  “My word. I never knew that. I mean, I never knew anything like that could be possible.”

  “Oh, it most certainly was,” said Mary as she snapped off a choke oak twig and began pinching off its yellowed leaves. “This world is a far better place with that fiendish sorcerer gone. No telling what other calamities he had in store for us all if Brenin Hebraun hadn't got him.”

  Myrtlebell looked at Mary as a hand full of jays made the woods ring with their cries.

  “I see you've not heard about any of this either,” said Mary as she resumed climbing the face of the hill. “Well, we'd best keep moving, but I'll try to explain as we go.”

  ***

  Rose pulled on one of her deerskin boots with a sigh in the early morning light. She looked up at Lukus as he overturned a basin of breakfast dishwater onto the coals of the campfire. “So how much farther do you reckon it is to the Gobbler castle from here, Lukus?” she said. “Shouldn't we be getting close to the marsh by now?”

  “Oh, I'd think,” he said as he threw dirt onto the wet coals. “I'll bet we see the marsh before noon.”

  She nodded and glanced aside to where Fuzz stood, talking quietly to Razzmorten. When she looked back, Lukus caught her eye with a smile and she dropped her gaze to her other boot which she pulled on with a jerk. She packed her things on Ceidwad and mounted her as Lukus climbed onto Tors and Fuzz and Razzmorten mounted Arwr and Lladdwr. Hubba Hubba and Pebbles settled on Razzmorten's shoulders as Taflu fluttered down from a nearby choke oak to land on his hat like a big moth.

  As Razzmorten gave the nod to depart, the diatrymas froze. “Someone comes,” rumbled Lladdwr softly as he craned his head around to address Razzmorten face to face.

  “I hear it too,” said Razzmorten. “Quick. Out of sight.” At once the company ducked behind trees and boulders as Pebbles, Hubba Hubba and Taflu took to the crown of a choke oak overhead. At once they could hear women's voices amongst the snapping of twigs and the crash of wallowing through the brush.

  “I never realized King Hebraun was so brave,” said a voice

  “Well, I'm not really surprised, my dear,” said another. “Hebraun was never one to make a public show of himself. He has always ruled with restraint, but that by no means shows him to be ineffectual or timid.”

  “I see what you're saying. I guess when I was younger I was just too wrapped up in my own snobbery to learn anything significant about the surrounding kingdoms, I'm ashamed to say.”

  “Myrtlebell!” gasped Rose, clapping her hand over her mouth, just as Mary and Myrtlebell stepped into the clearing.

  Mary and Myrtlebell halted, wide eyed. As Mary made ready to use her sorceress fire, she hesitated, seeing that the ground was covered with diatryma tracks.

  “Mary!” cried Razzmorten as Lladdwr stood up out of the wahoo bushes which hid them. “Don't be alarmed! I'm Razzmorten with Fuzz and Lladdwr! We're all friends!”

  And at this, everyone stepped forth out of hiding.

  Mary and Myrtlebell stood transfixed in joyous astonishment as the company converged upon them. Mary opened her eyes as she hugged Ceidwad to see a dashing young man in ill fitting clothes smiling at her.

  “Forgive me...I'm not sure...” she said.

  “Who I am?” said the young man with merriment in his eyes. “Just an old bear who owes you supper.”

  “Fuzz!” she cried, bouncing like a school girl. “I see now that it's you, but I had no idea.”

  Rose stood aside and grabbed at Lukus's arm as he and Tors joined the merriment. “Lukus,” she said with a wounded look. “I can't believe you're all ready to greet the very woman who was responsible for sending us to the Chokewoods to find Ugleeuh.”

  “Come on, Rose. Do you really think that now is the time for this? Besides, it's been a long time since all of that happened.”

  Rose rolled her eyes. “Well, I can see that you're taking Fuzz's side in all of this.”

  “What on earth do you mean, Rose? Have you gone completely daft? Very well then, if you must. Fuzz does indeed care every bit as much about Myrtlebell as you think he does...”

  Rose went wide eyed.

  “...But not at all like you think. Fuzz cares for Myrtlebell like a friend...almost like a grandfather. Most of all he cares for Edward. His heart is nearly breaking for that little boy who misses his momma, Rose. And he's been just as worried for Mary, who's another one of his friends. So, just you tell me, my dearest big ol' sister, how in Niarg can you, who are usually the most reasonable, compassionate person I've ever known, let jealousy eat you up like this?”

  Rose drew a breath.

  “Ah, ah, ah! I'm not through, Rose. I know you've got right good reason to loathe Myrtlebell, but she's just escaped from the Beaks. Think about her being separated from her little boy all this time. And guess what? Fuzz told me that she speaks often of the deep regret she has for the terrible things she did to you. So for now, don't you think you could set all this aside? It surely could be sorted out later.”

  For a moment, Rose was knocked speechless. “Lukus, when did you get so smart?” she said at last. “I guess I've been embarrassing myself, but what on earth makes you think that I would be jealous of Myrtlebell over Fuzz?”

  “Rose! I'm your brother. I know you better than anyone, better than even you at the moment, it seems. Anyway, don't bother to deny it because I've been watching this one since 'way back in the Grog Meadows. And as for Fuzz, he already knows.”

  “What? You told him?”

  “Hey! Don't get excited. He's stuck on you, too.”

  “What? How could you know that, Lukus?”

  “He told me, or I wouldn't.”

  “Don't tease me, Lukus. Not about this.”

  “I wouldn't, Rose. Not about this.” Rose stood thunderstruck.

  “So, shall we speak to the ladies, Rose? I mean, no one's noticed us. We can just join right in.”

  Rose nodded and stayed on the fringes of the joyous hubbub as she heard Fuzz reply wide eyed to Myrtlebell: “So, you mean to say that you actually have a half brother and half sister who are Beaks?”

  A sizzling pop made everyone jump as Hubba Hubba, Pebbles, and
Taflu dropped from the sky and landed upon Tors.

  “Big time trouble Wiz!” screeched Hubba Hubba with a shake of his scorched feathers. “The witches are loose!”

  “Take cover!” shouted Razzmorten as he squinted into the blinding sun, trying to locate Demonica and Spitemorta before discharging a bolt of fire from his fingers that missed them.

  Everyone scattered. Mary fired her own blast and also missed, blinded by the sun. A choke oak next to Razzmorten exploded as though struck by lightening. Tors lunged and belched out flame as Hubba Hubba, Pebbles and Tafflu took flight. Lukus tossed his sword to Fuzz and pulled out his sling and a black Elven opal, while Rose raced for the bow and quiver on Ceidwad that she had been practicing with at the public butts in Niarg.

  Demonica and Spitemorta swooped out of the sky with the sun at their backs, each hurling fiery bolts at Razzmorten which he and Mary managed to deflect in unison. At the sight of him staggering from the effort on the ground below, they cackled and shrieked with laughter as they looped through the air for another pass. As they came again down between the trees for another go at Razzmorten, Lukus let fly his opal, hitting the Staff in front of Spitemorta's hands in an explosion of searing sparks, causing her to lose control.

  As the Staff tumbled in the air, Rose loosed an arrow that passed clean through Spitemorta's shoulder. Spitemorta screamed in agony as she and Demonica swerved at Tors who bellowed out in fiery fury, igniting Demonica's robe. Demonica shrieked and ripped off her flaming clothes, casting them away to settle in the crown of a choke oak as Spitemorta regained control and hurtled back aloft.

  Again Demonica and Spitemorta dove at them with the sun at their backs. In a blinding exchange, they fired at the same time as Razzmorten and Mary, leaving them sprawled upon the ground as they shot away once more into the air. Rose and Lukus screamed and rushed to Razzmorten's side as the diatrymas ran to Mary.

  At this very moment, Demonica and Spitemorta landed before them. “Well Grandmother!” barked Spitemorta as she thrust out the Great Staff, drenched in the blood from her shoulder. “Isn't this a touching reunion?”

  Chapter 71

  Yann-Ber stood on the foredeck of Their Majesties' Ship, The Selkie as she was being moored, studying the abandoned buildings of Dragon's Port. He was not altogether anxious to disembark after his consummate voyage with his polite and attentive crew, service and nurses. How wonderful it had been to be treated like an honorable fellow instead of like a contemptuous beast. “I wonder how the dragons will take me?” he said, mumbling into the breeze. “Well, both the king and queen of Niarg reckoned I'd win them over at once merely by declaring myself an enemy of Demonica's. And besides, what would they care about my looks? At least we shall soon see.”

  He shuffled down the gang plank to be greeted by two dragons. “Good morning sir,” said the smaller dragon. “Welcome to Dragon's Port. We certainly recognize your ship to be one of the royal fleet of Niarg, but neither of us seems to be able to place you, good sir.”

  “Good day to you both,” said Yann-Ber, with as much of a bow as he could manage. “I am Yann-Ber of the House of Penn, Pennvro, known in this part of the world as Head, at your service. I bring to you and yours kind greetings from the right benevolent king and queen of Niarg.”

  At once he handed to the small dragon a letter bearing the royal seal of Niarg, addressed to Spark and Lipperella, that explained his mission.

  “I am Gweltaz,” said the smaller dragon, peeking at the seal and address, “and this is Kast. We will see you to Spark and Lipperella at once, good sir, if that be your wish.”

  And with a nod from Yann-Ber, both dragons bowed and gestured to the way.

  “I am gratefully obliged,” said Yann-Ber, “but, I'm sorry to say that I must beg you not to set out at too fast a pace, as I do suffer from a crippling curse of boils that greatly hampers my movement.”

  “Sir,” said Kast as he flattened himself upon the ground, “I'd be honored to have you ride astride my back, if you please, and I'll have you at Spark and Lipperella's in no time.”

  “My good dragon,” said Yann-Ber. “You're every bit as kind as the wonderful people of Niarg. So long as I be not an undue burden to you, I gratefully accept.” He began straining to climb on as quickly as he could manage, quite mindful of Kast's infinite patience.

  At last, Kast bid him hold tight, and he was whisked away past the collapsing barns and warehouses and up the white lane to the plateau covered with leaning oak trees. It was captivating scenery, but Kast did not slow for it in the least. Suddenly Kast was descending the broad flight of stairs so quickly that it left Yann-Ber's heart in his throat. At the bottom, Yann-Ber gasped at the sight of the gigantic fountain statuary of dragons fleeing a wizard and his staff.

  “Is that the vile Razzorbauch?” he said.

  “Ah!” said Kast without stopping. “Then you must realize that we too have connections with the Dark Continent.”

  On they went through the expansive cavern, past Gothic arches, passages and tunnels. At last they came to a spacious alcove, frantic with the activity of Spark, Lipperella and Edward dropping chunk after chunk of raw sukere down the gullets of two dozen demanding dragonets.

  “We bring a visitor from Head, by way of Niarg, my friends,” said Gweltaz as he presented Yann-Ber, who was already straining to climb off of Kast.

  Gweltaz handed the letter to Spark. “This is Spark and Lipperella, Yann-Ber. And all twenty-four of these fine dragonets belong to them.”

  Yann-Ber looked properly impressed. “I'm most pleased to make your acquaintance,” he said as he put both feet on the ground beside Kast.

  “How do you do, sir,” said Edward with a bow before offering to shake his hand. “I'm Edward.”

  “Right honored to meet you, young man.”

  “I'm sorry to say Wizard Razzmorten is no longer here,” said Spark, looking up from Yann-Ber's letter. “He left almost a fortnight ago and I'm uncertain where he's gotten to, though he was heading to the den of Fuzz the Bear on his way to the Beak castle in the marsh. Anything could have changed his plans along the way.”

  “I actually expected as much,” said Yann-Ber. “Queen Minuet used her scrying crystal and found him in the marsh, but that was before I set sail. And I've certainly no way of knowing if she saw him going to this bear's den or leaving it. So he could be anywhere, now. And I'm puzzled. Could you set me straight?”

  “I'll try, sir,” said Spark with a nod. If I've your answer, I'll certainly share it.”

  “Thank you. Well then, what puzzles me is why Razzmorten is off visiting bears and barbaric tribes, when according to the king and queen he merely came to see your dragonets and to see about certain changes in the Peppermint Forest.”

  “He went to rescue my momma,” said Edward, piping up.

  “That is indeed what he's doing,” said Spark. “You see, his mother was kidnapped by the Beaks along with Mary the White Witch and two sorceresses, one of whom I believe must be the very Demonica referred to in the king and queen's letter, here.”

  “She's here? Why, I thought she was in Goll.”

  “Make no mistake, she's definitely here and after, a very valuable artifact, I'm afraid.”

  “Yea,” said Edward. “Those sore sisses, those bad womans wanted Momma's heart. They were real mean and hurted momma, 'til the little blue mens came up and knocked 'em all in the head. That's why Razzmorten had to get Uncafuzz to help him get her back.”

  Spark gaped as Lipperella drew Edward aside and handed him feed for the dragonets.

  “Yes. Well, Edward is quite a precocious young man as I'm sure you've noticed,” said Spark.

  “Indeed, he is,” said Yann-Ber, “but he speaks the truth, does he not?”

  “Unvarnished and full strength,” said Spark, studying Yann-Ber to see if he caught Edward's reference to the Heart of the Staff.

  “Would the other sorceress be her granddaughter, Spitemorta of Goll?”

  “Absolutely. Goll's
new queen.”

  “By some chance would you know if they have a wizard's staff with them?”

  “You mean a wizard's staff that could be ridden on through the air?” said Spark.

  “Could it?” said Yann-Ber, wide eyed. “I didn't know that about it. Did Razzorbauch ever use it that way? Demonica never mentioned it.”

  “I've no idea if Razzorbauch ever flew it, but Bailitheoir Cailli sure did. She had it disguised as a broom. In fact, until the very day she died, no one knew that she had anything but an old broom that she flew by some assumed divination of hers.”

  “Hidden in plain sight.”

  “And now her daughter is running loose with it,” said Spark, sharing a look with Lipperella, “and to be honest, it's in far more dangerous hands than it has been since Razzorbauch wielded it, particularly with Demonica in the mix.”

  “You can count on it. I doubt if there's ever been another sorceress even close to being as wicked as Demonica. She'd probably beat Razzorbauch for sheer evil.”

  “King Hebraun's missive didn't mention your relationship to her, sir, but I get the impression it was close.”

  “You could say that,” said Yann-Ber with a fleeting livid look, “She not only cast this terminal curse of boils upon me, she's my wife.”

  ***

  Captain Gart reined his unicorn to a stand as he raised his spear, halting his troop. He dismounted and studied the ground in the feeble light of dawn. “Itis,” he said, looking up at his lieutenant. “What do you make of these tracks?”

  Itis squatted next to Gart. He scratched his head, replaced his helm and rubbed his bristly chin. “Yesterday evening, I'd say. Diatryma tracks, and no mistake. Three pair, looks like, in big long strides.”

  “Weren't two of the witches riding diatrymas when they were taken by Captain Girom?”

  “Well, the White Witch and her friend,” said Itis. “That's two runks instead, but one was a witch...two of the ones which we're after now.”