Hide & Seek

by Barbara Gaskell Denvil

  “Anything can happen here,” said Nathan, passing her some toffees. “We have to be careful. I wish the sun would come up.”

  It was sometime later when dawn sprang through the darkness, lighting up the horizon in one long golden stripe across the sea. By then both Nathan and Poppy had almost given up the search. But it was Hermes who said, “My illustrious Lord Empole, ask the knife. There could be caves or tunnels beneath which we cannot find alone.”

  They all stood together on a slab of flat stone which looked like the part of a pathway and the new day’s light was shining directly in their faces, Nathan brought out the Knife of Clarr and asked for help. “Is Brewster Hazlett here?” he asked. “And if he is, take us to him. And if he isn’t, can you tell me where he is?”

  The sun reflected on the blade, which shimmered. Poppy waved her arms into the air, calling, “I’m the empola. Help me too.”

  When, quite suddenly, the two big stone slabs where she stood opened in the middle, and Poppy disappeared through the hole.

  “No,” shouted Nathan. “Stop. Come back,” and he stood in the same place and stamped both feet.

  A threatening voice growled from below. “Do not seek to challenge the magic of Fiblick,” the voice called, sounding more like a troll than a man. “If you enter here, you may never return.”

  Then the two slabs of stone opened once more, sliding apart and showing a dark pit below. Immediately Nathan fell in, and the stone closed.

  Hermes went immediately to stand in the same place, hopping up and down with his big flat feet. Eventually the growling voice said, “Your end awaits you below,” the trapdoor opened again, and with a flap and a flutter, Hermes found himself standing in a cave next to Poppy and Nathan, and looking out to sea.

  They had fallen through a hidden door in the ground which led down below the cliff, and now the waves of the eastern ocean were lapping at their toes. They stood on a narrow beach of soft sand, but behind them was an open fronted cave which went back and back beneath the cliffs and the ruins of Fiblick Castle above.

  “Well, we’re here now,” grinned Nathan. “Let’s see what we find next,” and they turned, hurrying into the cave.

  Turning the torch back on, for it was very dark inside the low roofed cave, they followed it back and back under the cliff. It grew warmer and warmer, and they were getting a little tired, when abruptly the cave turned, and there was a wider space like a room, with a bright fire burning in the centre.

  The flames blazed up from a big heap of twigs and driftwood piled in the middle of the floor, and close behind this was a bed of straw and blankets. A tall thin man lay asleep on the bed with his back to the fire, and his face could not be seen. But on the stone floor at the end of the bed was a pair of golden shoes with red cords to tie them, and a small golden cap.

  “It is, isn’t it?” Poppy whispered.

  The man did not wake.

  “It must be,” Nathan whispered back.

  So Poppy ran forwards and flung her arms around the man, kissing the bare back of his neck. “You’re such a lovely special friend,” she said, no longer whispering, “and Nat thinks so too. And we were worried. So we came to find you.”

  Startled, the man sat up with a gulp. Brewster’s bright green eyes were tear stained and had lost their sparkle. There were streaks of tears down both sides of his long, thin face, and the knees of his black silk trousers were torn. His thin straggly back hair was all over his eyes and ears, and he looked as though he had been weeping for days.

  At first he didn’t say anything. Obviously he had never expected to be discovered, and had never wanted to be discovered.

  Finally Nathan said, “We really think you’re great, you know. We really want you to be our friend. We understand if you can’t join us against your father, but we still think you’re a friend to all of us. Especially Poppy and me.”

  With a deep sigh and a deep sniff, Brewster lay back, staring up at the black stone roof of the cave. His words were gruff and unclear, but they heard him say, “My brother. Killed. We were always together. Like one person. He was the one person – more than my father. And I hardly ever saw my mother and sister. Wagster was like – my other arm. My other head. My other mind.”

  “I’m so sorry,” said Poppy, whispering again. “Do you blame us?”

  Brewster looked at her. “No. Wagster wanted to fight in the tournament. Father shouldn’t have let him. But he wanted the star. He hoped for – Yaark. We don’t know where Yaark is but Wagster misses him. He’s sad without Yaark. He – loves Yaark more than me. But when he was killed, I felt like I was dying too.”

  “Oh dear,” said Nathan sadly. “I understand. Well – a little bit. But were you there? I didn’t see you at the tournament.”

  “I was in my twin’s tent. I helped him dress and got him ready. I saw him die.” Brewster sat up, swung his long legs to the ground, pushed them into his shoes and tied the laces. Still looking down at his feet, he continued, “I didn’t want to help my father, but I wanted to help Wagster. I wasn’t much help, was I?”

  He looked up and the tears were still in his eyes. Poppy once again flung her arms around him. “Please come back with us,” she asked.

  But he shook his head. “I wanted to before. But your family doesn’t want me. They told me to go away. And now – after my twin’s death-,”

  “Everyone’s missed you and they keep asking about you,” said Poppy, even though it wasn’t strictly true. “John and Sam and Alfie, and especially Alice and Peter. Dad and Mum too. I mean, even Zakmeister. He didn’t want to kill anyone. He didn’t get a choice. He’s such a nice man.”

  “I do not blame your friend Zakmeister,” Brewster murmured. “But I could never be friends with the man who killed my beloved brother.”

  “You don’t have to be,” Nathan told him. “When we rule Lashtang, then Zak will go off on his own adventures. You can stay with us. Your mother and sister are lovely too, even if they do have very bad tempers. They’re going to come and live in Sharr Forest. You can visit them whenever you want.”

  “That would be sweet,” said Brewster. “But I know my father is still alive.”

  Hermes had been sitting quietly in a dark corner, but now he stood and waddled over. “Illustrious empole, empola and Hazlett wizard,” and he bowed slightly, “I believe we should all go to Clarr.”

  They all stared back at him. “Why?” asked Nathan.

  “That is where the remaining Hazletts are collecting,” he said. “And Clebbster will be among them. Yaark is the Warden of the Key of Clarr, and this is a position of great power. It should be a position held by a great lord, or by the empola. Most of the past emperor wizards brought back by Emperor Clebbster have outstayed their time here and have gone, but those who remain have gathered at the tower.”

  “Gracious,” said Poppy, “we should get the whole family. Nat and me can’t fight off Yaark and Clebbster and everyone else at the same time.”

  “But I can,” said Brewster, standing quickly, and nodding at the goose. “And I can give you all powers you haven’t discovered yet.”

  Poppy looked up hopefully. “Magic?”

  “Stand straight, my friend, and raise both your arms,” Brewster told her. She did this at once, and Brewster muttered five words in less than a whisper, and pointed one long finger at her. Excited, Poppy started to jump up and down. Nathan was a little worried, as after all, Brewster was a Hazlett and could have put a terrible curse on his sister as a punishment for his brother’s death.

  But soon Poppy was jumping higher and higher, and as she spread her arms, she flew up into the air. “I can fly, I can fly,” she cried out, “I’m like Hermes. Look, Hermes, we could fly together.”

  Hermes also jumped into the air, and flew around Poppy in considerable excitement. “Birds of a feather,” he called, “can fly together.”

  “You can do more than that now,” called Brewster, wiping his eyes and smiling slightly. “Call for something.”


  Poppy floated down to the floor of the cave, then lifted one hand and said, “I want a hamburger.” It immediately came between her fingers, fat and hot and dripping juice. “Oh, this is wonderful,” she squeaked. “Zakmeister tried to teach me some of this ages ago, but now I can do it all on my own. Brewster – you’re so clever. You’re a darling. Thanks so much.”

  Nathan was looking hopeful. He had considerable magical power with the Knife of Clarr, but one day he’d probably have to give that up to Poppy, and then he’d have nothing left. He also knew he had helped heal Laksta with just a wish and a gentle touch of his hands, but he didn’t know how that had happened. Now Brewster turned to him.

  “My dear friend,” he said. “Once you saved my life. You also helped save Wagster’s life. You have helped me several times. I will now try to repay that favour. Please stand very still, and do not move or say anything until I tell you.”

  “No hands in the air?” Nathan asked.

  “No.” Brewster shook his head, and now his bright green eyes started to twinkle again.

  So Nathan stood very still and stared upwards, keeping completely silent. He could hear Brewster mumbling to himself, but he didn’t look round. Eventually, after many minutes, Brewster called, “Now you may move, my friend. “Do whatever you wish.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” Nathan laughed. “I don’t want to jump up and down and I don’t really care about flying. What do you want me to do?”

  “No, no,” said Brewster. “What do you want to do?”

  Laughing, Nathan answered, “Oh, I don’t know. Be clever like Mum and Granny.”

  “I cannot make you as powerful as them,” Brewster said, “for they are some of the best magicians ever. But I have given you what small powers I can. So, what would you like to do?”

  A little embarrassed, and not really believing that anything was going to work, he said, “Be invisible.”

  Immediately Poppy gulped, Hermes flapped both wings, and Brewster said, “Done.”

  “You’re teasing,” said Nathan a little crossly. He turned to Poppy. “You can see me, can’t you?”

  She heard him, but stared around. “No. I can’t see even a teeny bit of you. Not even a finger.”

  “You can be invisible whenever you wish,” Brewster said. “And that might be helpful when we arrive at Clarr.”

  “You mean you’re coming?” Poppy demanded.

  “Yes indeed,” Brewster said. “I’ve had enough of all this misery. It’s time I lived again. Stand close, including Nat, where ever you are, and I shall whisk us off to the great tower, where you are lord.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Now the sunshine was bright in their eyes as they all landed in a tumble on the Mountains of Clarr just outside the open gates of the tower. The snow lay thick over the peaks, shining brightly as the white gleam reflected the sunshine, but it was bitterly cold and neither Nathan nor Poppy were dressed for this weather. Poppy pulled her jacket around her neck and ran inside, with Hermes hopping behind her and Brewster walking ahead. Nathan was there too, but no one could see him.

  It was no longer as dark inside as it had been before, for now there were skylights in the vast high roof, and the sunshine beamed as bright inside as it had outside.

  They all stood on the mosaic pattern in the middle of the huge entrance hall. Nathan was still invisible, but now the others could see his shadow on the tiles.

  “Is Clebbster here?” whispered Poppy.

  “Everyone is here,” answered Brewster. “But the Lord of Clarr should lead us now, while staying unseen.” He looked, smiling, at Nathan, guessing his position from the shadow. “Which passageway do we follow, Lord Octobr?”

  Having never in his life before been called Lord Octobr, Nathan spluttered and reappeared. “You’ve come back,” said Poppy. “Why have you done that?”

  “I’m not sure,” said the now visible Nathan, “but never mind. Now we need to be quiet. Brewster. Have you any idea where they might be?” He looked down at the mosaic and frowned. “It all looks different. Has it moved again? I remember the veil back home, and the library and what used to be the ice chamber. Then there were the snakes, and you were there. But now it looks so different. All the colours are different too. It’s blue and green instead of red and black.”

  “Where magic lays,” Brewster answered softly, “there will always be confusion for those with no magical power. But now I have given you both powers within the first and second levels of magic, as you saw within the Duel I imagine. You need to practise both, but you may discover a great deal. The changing of colours, patterns and direction is common enough for magic never lies still.”

  “I liked it best when you said funny things and put it all in rhyme,” muttered Poppy. “Now you sound so serious, you make me shiver.”

  “You can smile after Yaark is destroyed,” Brewster said. “Until then, Lashtang can never be free, nor ruled by those who love it well.”

  She nodded and walked forwards. “Well, I’ve been told I should be Warden of the Key of Clarr,” she pointed at the mosaic of a dark blue key on the ground. “And Yaark has it now even though he shouldn’t. So should we go down that passage first?”

  Thinking silently, Nathan stood for a moment, then shook his head. “No, it’s too soon for that. But that’s where Clebbster is, isn’t he. You know it, don’t you?” He looked at Brewster and Brewster smiled.

  “Oh yes,” he said. “That’s where my dear father sits.”

  “But if we come face to face with him,” Nathan asked softly, “will you fight for us? Or for him?”

  “I prefer not to fight.” Brewster leaned back, staring up at the bursting sunshine through the skylights. “The sunlight is beautiful, but it can blind. I have the same problem. But if I must choose, I’ll fight for you. I’ve always hated my father, but he’s still the blood of my blood. I’ll fight against him but I’ll not kill him. I’ll never try to kill him, though no doubt he’ll try to kill me. But I take the Octobr side, whatever that may mean.”

  “Then I won’t go directly to Clebbster because it wouldn’t be right,” Nathan said. “It wouldn’t be fair to you. We go to – the library. But we may have to go to Clebbster after.”

  “Very well. It’s a good choice,” Brewster said.

  Poppy slipped her hand around his arm. “I’m not used to you being so serious. I like you being crazy and funny. You’re still really sad, aren’t you?”

  He smiled back at her, and the forked tongue flicked out. “Beware Hazlett kindness,” he said, winking one bright green eye. “Am I the real Brewster now? Or was I more myself when speaking rubbish?”

  Rather mystified, Poppy brought her hand back to her own side, and gulped. The forked tongue always seemed a threat. But finally she said, “You’re teasing. And I trust you.”

  They were walking down the long dark passage which led to the library, and Hermes flapped behind. He was saying very little, and was wary. Clearly he did not trust Brewster Hazlett.

  “Everything keeps changing here,” Nathan was muttering to himself.

  Certainly the passageway to the library was not as it had been. All along the ceiling was a swinging tangle of white flowers interwoven together like wisteria. Not only were these flowers very bright and beautiful, but they shone with a pale light, banishing the dark shadows within the corridor below. There was also a wonderful perfume.

  “Last time this corridor was narrow and dark and cold and it was such a steep slope down, you could sit down and just roll to the end. Now – well – it’s a different tower.”

  “We did it, we did it, we wanted to brighten up, come in, come in.”

  A choir of different voices piped back

  “Gosh,” giggled Poppy, “you did a great job. This is now the nicest place in the whole of Clarr.”

  There was some cheering coming from the far room, and even more voices.

  Eventually as Nat threw the door open and stepped in, his happy but
puzzled expression changed to delight. The large library was just as he remembered, except for the addition of some big comfy armchairs, and more shining white flowers way up on the ceiling, creating as much light as a window.

  It was the paperweight which spoke first. “Welcome to the great library of Clarr,” said Bosswolop in a deep voice, its large nose quivering. “We have worked long and hard on changing our entrance and the comfort within. This is all for our new Lord of Clarr.”

  The large leather-bound book on an upper shelf leaned outwards, almost falling. “As the largest book in the library,” said Diddyworth, “I greet you, my lord. For many long centuries, we saw no one and no lord or common folk, ladies or even llamas came to visit us and read our books. But now, we have been so excited to see the new royalty of Lashtang, we wished to make everything better for you.”

  “Sit, sit,” called a small voice. “I’m only a little paperback, but I suggested the big comfy armchairs.”

  “Sit by me, here, look, by me,” called the red leather desktop. “I’m very sturdy.”

  But the green leather desktop answered back at once. “No you’re not, Pogg. I’m Slogg, and I’m the biggest and best.”

  Nathan sat in the largest armchair, stretching out his legs, while Brewster sat at the red desk, and Poppy at the green one. Hermes sat on the thick carpet and folded his wings. “Now then,” said Nathan, still feeling a little nervous having to act as the great lord, “we’ve come for quite a few different reasons. Clebbster Hazlett’s somewhere in the tower, isn’t he? Do you know where?”

  It was the pen with a silver nib and a peacock feather quill which spoke. “I do indeed,” said Everstep. “For my quill comes from the same peacock, and we speak together.”

  “But Clebbster’s cane is all made of wood,” said Poppy, who was most interested.

  Everstep fluttered his feather. “So true, young lady. But back before that cane was made, and made for someone very different to the wizard, it was a living peacock. Both the cane and my feather came from Hollax the great, the largest and most powerful peacock ever known, who was partner to the great Quoster Twilgo and his son Rudge.”