by E. W. SALOKA
“Thank you but I’ve had my fill at the festival,” Dredd said raising his hands in protest.
“Well you let me know if you change your mind.” He slapped both of them on the back almost knocking Zach off his feet. “Sorry about that, I’m just glad you youngsters made it back. You remind Hannalore and I of our own two sons who don’t visit often enough. Well off you go!”
Twenty One - What in the World Are Mumblebugs?
Both made their way up the stairs to their rooms. A little while later after they were refreshed and comfortable, Dredd and Zach met downstairs in Hannalore’s large kitchen. Pots and pans hung in a neat row on the walls. A wood and iron light suspended from the middle of the ceiling, and in the corner was a massive oven. The many cabinets beautifully decorated with finely painted flowers and trailing vines had a quite charming and cozy feeling despite its large size. Hannalore motioned them to a small table and chairs with a smile.
“I know you will both enjoy this,” she set down two large steaming mugs in front of them and then placed a silver plate of pastries and sweet breads in the middle.
“This is very good,” Zach said as he sipped the hot brew.
“Yes, ma’am, thank you,” exclaimed Dredd looking up over the rim of his mug.
“Now boys, take one of these twisted pastries and dip.”
They each reached for the plate and took one.
“I call them almond-berry twisties, something new that I whipped up and you just have to try them.” The pastry felt like it would be crunchy as Zach raised it to his mouth.
“No, you have to dip it in your hot drink first.” She added kindly.
They dipped their almond-berry twisties into the chocolate-cinnamon concoction. Zach took a bite and the outer pastry was soft and inside was a warm filling of sweet berries.
Dredd closed his eyes as if in quiet prayer, “this is heavenly,” he said between bites.
“What do you think? do I have winner boys?” Hannalore looked expectantly at them.
“That was the tastiest thing I have ever eaten.” Dredd was enthusiastic and Zach nodded, sipping more of his drink.
“Thank you, thank you, I have worked on the recipe for quite awhile to get the experience right. Something our guests would remember.”
She was beaming, “have as much as you like boys.” Hannalore whirled around and her apron caught the corner of a sheet of flat breads that had been cooling and flung them to the floor. She laughed and fussed at her clumsiness.
Zach and Dredd quietly chuckled and kept stuffing their faces. They finished off the whole plate of her delicious treats. Zach was telling Dredd about his encounter with the shadow-rider when he heard a scurrying under the table.
“Whoa!” he said, “something just hit my foot.”
“Don’t worry Zach,” Hannalore said merrily,” it is just one of my little kitchen friends!”
“You have mice in here?” Zach asked a little louder.
“Not mice, but mumblebugs,” she said with a grin.
“You have bugs in your kitchen, that’s not good!” Zach grimaced at the thought of bugs near the food.
“Mumblebugs Zach,” Dredd said to his friend.
“Never heard of them Dredd, what are they?”
“There’s one,” she said pointing. Standing only about six inches tall was an odd-looking creature. It was gathering pieces of the fallen bread and then scurried off quickly. After a minute or so it would return and gather more.
“That doesn’t look like any bug I ever saw,” gasped Zach! “It looks like a little old man, sort of.” He watched the small scavenger run under a large cupboard. When it returned, two others joined it. At a quick glance, they appeared to be wearing clothing, but at closer inspection you could see that it was just the pattern on their beetle-like bodies. Two long spindly arms with small human-like hands grabbed for the bits of fallen food that littered the floor. Off the mumblebugs would run, on four equally long thin legs. The oddest thing about their appearance was their heads. They resembled little old men. The only sound they made was the pitter-patter of their four feet as they scurried about, and an un-intelligible chatter that sounded like constant mumbling.
“Those are the most weird and funniest looking things that I have seen yet,” said Zach.
“They’re harmless but creepy if you ask me,” said Dredd.
“You should see them after they have gotten into my husband’s ale stocks in the cellar. Nothing funnier than a bunch of drunken mumblebugs, but they do a good job of keeping the kitchen clean. They’re grumpy but good to have around,” the innkeeper’s wife chuckled heartily.
“This is the first time I’ve seen them.” Zach said peering under the table.
“Well I suppose they don’t fancy being seen much.” Hannalore stated.
“So where are the female mumblebugs?” Zach asked, “I haven’t seen any of those yet.”
“That is because there are none dearie.”
“What! Well then how do they multiply, is that even possible?” The boy was so tired by now but he just had to know more about them.
“I have heard that this was actually a man at one point in time. No one really knows when it happened. From what I gather, he was just an old, cantankerous and very miserable person. Supposedly, he would threaten to pour boiling water on the children if they crossed his land. They say one of the children he threatened grew into a powerful sorceress and there is the result of his mean and nasty spirit,” she said pointing to one of them who stared at her from under the table.
“But how do they multiply?” Zach was now clearly fascinated with her story of these creatures.
“Well,” she said, “I believe when their grumpiness gets to be too much for them to handle, they just divide themselves to get relief.”
Zach looked at Dredd with raised eyebrows; “well I guess he got what he deserved!”
Dredd just shook his head. “Zach I’m going upstairs to my room, I need some sleep.”
“Yes, you boys do need some sleep, enough chit-chat for the night.”
They thanked her for the tasty snack and got up from their chairs. As they were walking toward the staircase, Zach caught one of the mumblebugs watching them leave. The strange creature stuck out its tongue at him and disappeared under a table.
“Did you see that?” Zach said to the innkeeper’s wife.
“Yep” she said, “funny little buggers aren’t they?”
The next morning Dredd and Zach met in the spacious dining area for a hearty breakfast.
“Morning boys!” Hannalore’s cheery voice sang out as she made her way to the table. “Hoping you had a fine rest and ready for something special this day.”
Zach’s eyes lit up as he proceeded to tell her he wanted what the table across the way was having.
“Ah yes, my apple walnut waffles.” Dredd nodded in agreement, as she gave the boys a quick hug and told them she would be back in a bit with their breakfast.
Zach spoke, “I don’t know about you but I’m feeling better today, but still a bit sore.”
“Yeah” Dredd agreed, “you’ll get used to it, a small price to pay for legendary fame.” They both laughed.
At the next table, a family of six was enjoying their breakfast. Mother, Father, and some very restless children. The family recognized the young Race Riders and politely introduced themselves. The food soon arrived at their table and all turned toward their plates. The mother was scolding her young brood over their lack of table manners then became busy feeding her youngest child who needed help putting syrup on her griddlecakes. The father was engrossed in the Blackshire Gazzette. Keeping abreast of the local events was important to him even on holiday. The older boy was laughing and picking through his fruited salad with a long fork while His younger brother dropped some of his hot cereal on the floor. He looked towards his parents expecting a scolding, however mother was still helping his younger sister and father was still studying the paper. The boy looked down again
to see his mess, and instead he watched as a mumblebug made quick work of the dropped food. “All gone!” he exclaimed with a big grin.
The older brother continued to pick through his bowl. “Stop playing with your food young man” said his mother raising her voice.
“Yes mother sorry,” he said whining. “You know I don’t like this stuff!”
“It’s good for you sweetheart, don’t you want to be a strong Race Rider someday?”
The young boy glanced over towards Dredd and Zach, “yes mother” he said under his breath. He turned back to his bowl and plunged the fork deep inside. Raising the fork towards his mouth, he watched his mother with a sour look on his face. The fast, stinging snap hit his cheek and then he yelled. Staring the startled boy in the eye was a small vine with a head shaped like a large seed-pod with a mouth. Along its stem-like body were reddish-green leaves that undulated back and forth. The innkeeper’s wife heard the boy’s cry and hurried toward their table with a stern look on her face. She set the platters down at Zach and Dredds’ table quickly and turned toward the vine.
“What are you doing out here Mysteria?” She shook her finger at the guilty plant. Its head went down as Hannalore reprimanded her. “Be nice to our guests.” The little plant looked back up at the boy and sweetly smiled. As he sat there frozen in fear not knowing what to expect next, Mysteria leaned forward and kissed the boy’s cheek.
“Good girl Misty,” Hannalore extended her arm and the little plant encircled her wrist and lay her head down.
The family returned to their breakfast and father continued reading his paper.
Dredd and Zach finished their breakfast and thanked Hannalore for her hospitality. While Zach was saying his goodbyes, the little curious plant Mysteria entwined herself on his wrist, and inching her way up settled in the crook of his arm. Hannalore chuckled.
“Misty has taken a liking to you young man; she doesn’t want you to leave.”
“I have had a great time, I’ll come back soon Misty,” he said rubbing her little leaf she had extended to him. The innkeeper’s wife gently removed Mysteria from Zach’s arm. “I’m going to miss my boys,” she said hugging them both. Dredd and Zach waved goodbye and gathered their things.
They both met up with Andi and Thomas who waited patiently in the coach, each lost in their own thoughts. Faazen was paying for the accommodations and saying goodbye to their hosts. The ride back was uneventful and Andi was daydreaming as she gazed out the window. Faazen was peacefully thinking of the past days and breathing a sigh of relief that it was over and his boys were safe, at least for the time being.
Twenty Two - Plinking With the Flurts
Some days had passed and Zach was spending his time with Brownie and training J fire, if you could call it training. The small dragon was still stubborn, willful and always determined to get his own way. For relaxation, Zach enjoyed plinking with the flurts. It was a beautiful morning and Zach decided to go to the East-Garden before lunch. He made his way down the spiral stairway feeling refreshed and content. Stepping out the door, a fresh morning breeze made the leaves of the fruit trees seem to dance. He sat down on a stone step surrounded by flowering plants and hedges arranged in a tight symmetrical pattern. In the center sat a marble statue of a woman holding an urn. Crystal-clear water flowed delicately into a small basin creating a pool for the tiny creatures that lived here. Colorful birds of all sorts and sizes dwelled within the gardens of Dragmar and drank and bathed in the many scattered pools and fountains within its walls. Faazen cared for his gardens and it showed.
Zach couldn’t help but smile when out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of his favorite little creatures in the garden.
A few weeks back he discovered them while sitting in the same spot one afternoon. Faazen grinned at Zach when he asked him about them. “They are flurts Zach, important to the gardens as they pollinate the plants and flowers here. I really find them quite engaging, don’t you agree?”
“Yeah they’re funny, we play a little game when I come out here.”
“Yes they do like games,” said Faazen. “What do you call your game?”
“I call it plinking,” he said.
Very quickly, a small lizard-like creature scurried out from under a flowering bush. It had large round eyes, a long slender tail and dark thin stripes running down the length of the body. Tiny scales reflected the sunlight and made it seem to glow.
“There you are. You want to play don’t you?” The tiny flurt raced up on its four legs and seemed to challenge him. Zach reached down and scooped up a few small pebbles in his hand. Taking careful aim, he flicked the pebble at the creature. With a high-pitched laughing sound and lightning speed, the flurt sidestepped the projectile effortlessly. The second pebble shot past the twittering lizard going way off course. Other flurts ran out of their hiding places and joined the first. They boldly ran closer towards Zach and then retreated as he would launch another pebble toward them. One daring flurt with eyes wide held his ground as Zach took aim again; its head was bobbing up and down with frills pulsating anxiously.
“Aren’t you the brave one” said Zach grinning ear to ear. He took aim carefully, and as the pebble flew, the challenger whacked it with his tail sending it flying over Zach’s head.
‘Good one boy.” The gathering of flurts twittered and screeched loudly.
“Sir, Sir, Cook requests your presence for lunch.”
“Be right there Bergouhy”
“Are we having fun?” The small gnomlie questioned Zach with a smile.
“Definitely Mr. Berge” Zach said.” I’m coming, I’m starved.”
Zach got up from his step and moved towards the door. Forgetting to say goodbye to his little friends, he turned around and was immediately hit in the forehead by a pebble.
“You plinked me you little …” The littlest flurt stomped wildly, large eyes whirling. It scampered off into the hedges, screeching happily on its way. Laughing, Zach went in the door for his lunch.
For the time being there were no pressing matters that needed Faazen’s attention and he was enjoying tending to his gardens. Thomas was glad their lives were back to semi-normal. His main purpose for this journey was still to find out what had happened to his son Philip, But for the time being he kept that to himself.
A few days later Dredd arrived at castle Dragmar. He scanned the grounds looking for Zach, and minutes later he found his friend in the stables.
“Are you about done with whatever you’re doing? I think you have had enough time off Zach. Let’s go!”
Zach smiled, “Go where Dredd, I’ve been content here doing absolutely nothing.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem, you need to get moving again, get that adrenaline flowing! I’ll say it again, get off your rear and let’s go!”
“Fine, don’t get radical. Let me tell granddad and Faazen I’m going out for awhile.”
Dredd’s dragon Payne was waiting for the boys in the clearing, Faazen walked over to where the dragon stood and whispered something to the dragon.
Payne nodded. Soon Dredd and Zach came over to the dragon and climbed upon him. Payne surprised the boys by turning into a black and white striped color.
“Cool Payne, you look like a zebra again,” Zach said
“Yes, I rather like this look,” Payne replied.
“Right Payne, I think Sennah likes this zebra look too.” Dredd smirked.
Payne just snorted.
“To the hunting grounds” Dredd shouted!
The boys shouted and hollered as Payne soared high into the clouds. The sleek dragon then quickly descended in a circle.
A blast of wind blew up around them as he landed squarely in a large, dusty clearing.
The boys jumped off. “Hey Dredd what are we doing here?” Zach asked brushing the dust from his pants.
“There’s a doorway or passage hall somewhere that connects our two worlds. Payne thinks its here at the hunting grounds. I have been searching for it.�
�� Dredd had a serious look on his face as he spoke.
“We could be looking forever Dredd,” Zach said in a matter of fact way.
“Maybe so, but it’s the adventure part, use your head Zach. After all, how much fun is it to be hanging around the castle all day,” he yawned comically.
“I guess you’re right. There is always some kind of drama with the Ice Wizard and Faazen. He is after some leaf or something like that. I don’t even know what it is.” Zach shrugged.
Dredd nodded and spoke. “Oh I know about it. If the two parts unite, it will cause both worlds to come together and cause mass chaos. You know, imagine dragons, wizards and orcs in your world?”
“You forgot dragon riders,” Zach said laughing.
“I could never forget dragon riders, we rule!” Dredd said shouting.
Zach paused for a second. “Wait a minute Dredd, you dropped something.” Zach handed him the silver object, looking at it curiously.
“Thanks, I wouldn’t want to lose this. Payne gave it to me.” Dredd smiled at Zach who still looked slightly perplexed.
“Dredd I have one just like It, my grandfather gave it to me. He said it was in father’s personal belongings when his body was found at the park.” Zach reached inside his shirt and pulled an identical but reversed silver object dangling on a chain.
Twenty Three - The Substance of Silver
The two boys silently looked at one another and then stared in disbelief at the silver leaf halves sparkling in the late afternoon sun.
Dredd and Zach watched in amazement as their two halves came together. The force was so great it caused a rumbling, and it was as if the earth shook where they stood. Dredd felt a light shock running through his body and Zach felt the same as it caused a connection between the two, neither one of them understood.
“What’s going on? “Zach shouted above the rumbling as the atmosphere around them began to change.
