The Staff of Naught

by Tom Liberman

  “Now,” said Hazlebub. “The green and black is bruising and perfectly fine. What we don’t want to see is anything a lighter shade of green or black liquid. Clear fluid is fine as long as there isn’t too much. See this rag, we dip it in the decoction of willow and cumin which is good for reducing the swelling and helps the wound heal.”

  “Decotata?” said Shalalee and looked at the witch with a puzzled expression on her face.

  “Decoction, that’s when I boil out the essence of the plant.”

  “Isn’t cumin for cooking?” said Ariana as she suddenly seemed to take an interest.

  “The seeds are for cooking but I take the stems of the cumin and small branches of the willow and boil it until it looks like this mush here,” said the woman. “All of the plants have mystical qualities and it takes a long time to learn how to treat each one. Some of them are toxic, others are good for potions and the like, but many of them are very helpful in the healing process. You have to be cautious though, if you treat them incorrectly they can be very poisonous.”

  Shalalee’s eyes opened wide. “I heard a lot of witches sell poison so you can get rid of your enemies.”

  Hazlebub sat back after she finished the new dressing on Oliver’s wounds and paused for a moment to take a deep breath. “That’s truth, it is, sweetie. Some of my witchy friends choose that path and it often brings in many clients and rich rewards but eventually someone comes at you for revenge. At least that’s what me mother taught me.”

  “Oh,” said Shalalee and Ariana in unison.

  “I’m not that kind of a witch although but it helps sometimes to let people think what they will,” she continued with a smile and a wink.

  “I’m glad you’re not that kind of a witch,” said Shalalee with a look up at the woman. “Do you think I could learn all about the plants and things?”

  Hazlebub looked at the gangly girl her eyes filled with hope, “Of course, but only if you’re willing to work at the craft.”

  “I’m willing, I’m willing. I want to be a witch!” said the girl a bright and broad smile on her face.

  “What about you Ara?” said Hazlebub turned to the girl and Sutekha watched her closely for a moment his eyes narrowed to little slits.

  Ariana paused for a moment and her hand went to the satchel tied over her shoulder and then she spoke, “No. I want to be a wizard.”

  “A wizard,” said Sutekha and nodded his head slowly. “The life of a wizard is difficult and often lonely.”

  “Who is Shinamar?” asked the girl suddenly and Sutekha’s eyed opened widely for a moment and the look of astonishment on his face was quite noticeable. It took him a few long seconds to recover but then he looked at Ariana closely again.

  “I already told you that,” said Hazlebub.

  “I want to hear it from him,” said Ariana and pointed to the wizard.

  Sutekha looked at Hazlebub with a glance and the witch folded her arms over her chest. “Just tell her the truth.”

  “Where did you hear that name?” asked the worm wizard while he stroked his pale and hairless chin.

  “Tenebrous said it,” said Ariana. “When I told him there were no gods.”

  “Who is Tenebrous?” asked Sutekha his finger worked at his chin with greater energy.

  “The shade who works for the Queen of the Abyss,” said Hazlebub. “It was he who told us that she wanted the staff.”

  “I see,” said Sutekha, “and you said something about there being no gods?” this last directed to Ariana.

  “It’s true, there are no gods,” said the girl. “Tell me about Shinamar.”

  “Have you ever heard of Das’von?” questioned the mage with a strange little motion of his hands.

  “A little, not much,” said Ariana. “What is it?”

  “It is a place. The ancient King of Cities, the seat of the Ancient Empire, the Throne of the Emperor, the Sundered Gates, the most powerful city in the world,” said the mage slowly and carefully. “When the Empire collapsed it also fell and was abandoned during the Deathly Years. Only in the last millennia did people reoccupy it. Missionaries from Das’von encouraged the settling of all the ancient capitals, Sea’cra, Stav’rol, Tarlton, Doria, and Caparal. The Mage-Kings ruled Das’von and they plundered the ancient magical secrets buried in the city. The last of these Mage-Kings was Elucidor the Omnipotent. He was supposedly in contact with all the great cities planning to rebuild the empire of old. His apprentice was a terrible half-demon creature named Shinamar. Shinamar the Loathsome was his name.”

  “Who says he is terrible and loathsome?” interrupted Ariana suddenly standing a look of rage on her face and her hand clutched the satchel that held the Staff of Naught.

  “All this was more than a century ago, maybe two,” said Sutekha. “The stories all note Shinamar as a terrible creature, a sycophant who pretended to ally with Elucidor and learned the secrets of his magic only to betray him and bring about the destruction of Das’von. All that remains is the Desert of Death and any who venture there die from the Wasting Disease.”

  “It’s not true,” said Ariana she still stood and clutched the satchel.

  “How do you know that?” asked Sutekha with careful look at the girl.

  “Because he wouldn’t have betrayed Elucidor, he loved him, he loved Das’von,” said the girl.

  “How do you know that?” repeated the mage of the Golden Worm.

  “Yes, Ara,” supplemented Hazlebub. “How do you know that, tell us?”

  The girl paused for a long time, did not say anything, but simply stood there and looked at them. “You wouldn’t believe me.”

  “I would believe you,” said Sutekha. “I’ve always had trouble with the legends. It’s never been explained why Shinamar wanted to destroy Das’von. I can understand he wanted to usurp Elucidor and become the new Mage-King but the destruction of the city never made any sense.”

  “It was in their battle that Das’von was destroyed,” said Hazlebub. “That’s what is always said. My mother told me and her mother told her before.”

  “Let the child speak,” said Sutekha his eyes still keenly watched the girl. There was something about her, some sort of an aura that intrigued him.

  “He, Shinamar, he speaks to me when I hold the staff, and sometimes when I don’t” said Ariana after her long pause.

  “How can you be sure it’s him,” interrupted Shalalee. “Maybe it’s just the staff trying to trick you.”

  “No,” said Ariana firmly. “It’s not that. He didn’t even tell me his name. I figured it out.”

  “Even if it is Shinamar who’s to say he isn’t lying to you,” said Sutekha. “What else did he say?”

  “He said it’s most important to remember there are no gods. That they are just creatures like you and me but older and with more magic, he says it is they who brought on the dark times and that he will destroy them all!”

  “He said that?” said Hazlebub her eyebrows raised. “Have you told this to Lousa?”

  The girl shook her head, “No.”

  “You’ve seen the power of the Icon of Ras,” said Sutekha, “can you deny it is divinely gifted to Seymour?”

  “I don’t know,” said Ariana. “He doesn’t talk much. I think he’s hiding or trapped or something. He wants to do more but he can’t.”

  “It is said the Demons of the Dark Worlds who were in thrall to Elucidor hunted him down and tore him limb from limb after the betrayal,” said Sutekha.

  “I didn’t hear that story,” said Hazlebub and took her gaze off the girl and onto Sutekha. “Tenebrous said something about thinking his brothers killed Shinamar long ago.”

  “Tenebrous again,” said Sutekha and scratched his chin once more. “Who is he?”

  Silence greeted this question and Sutekha could only scratch his chin and speculate.

  The rest of the day passed without incident and Oliver showed some appetite at supper while Seymour largely kept to his own council. The rest of the group at
e mostly in silence and watched the strange Priest of Ras. Even the normally talkative Shalalee spent quiet time with Hazlebub and looked at the array of plants she laid out. Before bed both Tylan and Unerus went through the martial drills laid out by Shamki and Oliver watched the activity closely.

  “I’m not sure I like Tylan getting involved with that half-orc fighter,” said Almara to Tanner. “He should be a merchant like you, it’s safer.”

  “I know what you’re saying dear,” replied the stocky man with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “But, learning the way of the sword is not a bad thing to know in these times. Even if he does decide to follow in my footsteps skill with the blade will serve him well. You know that I’m no good at it and that has been a problem more than once. Remember that time we were up at the Great Salt Fen and those Chalcos bandits waylaid us?”

  The woman nodded her head, “But, fighting them might have been worse than just paying their toll, they could have killed you.”

  “True enough,” said Tanner and nodded his head. “But, if they wanted they could have taken everything we had and killed us anyway. I think that’s what would have happened if Baron Avakubia’s men hadn’t come by at the last moment.”

  Almara nodded her head and then started to clean things up in preparations for the night.

  Two days later Oliver sat on Dovestar riding ahead with Seymour while everyone else was either back in the wagon or out front discussing the two Tarltonites.

  “What do you think they’re up to?” asked Lousa positioned next to Tanner as Almara was in back with Hazlebub and Shalalee going over herbal remedies.

  “Nothing good,” said Tanner to the woman who now wore a rather rough leather jerkin that was once his. Almara took it in a bit in the waist but the chest was still a little tight for the busty woman. He stared for a moment before he averted his eyes. “I think they’ll make a grab for the staff any day now. I’m not sure how much further the White Marble ruin is but we can’t be too far away. Seymour said it was a two day ride for him on their horses but we’ve been going three days now with the wagon and making good time. If they wait to make their move until we’re close to the ruin we can catch up to them easily enough. If they are going to do something they’ll do it soon.”

  “I agree,” said Lousa and nodded her head while her eyes turned a darker shade of green. “The real question is how do we stop them?”

  “Sutekha will help us,” said Tanner with a look to the back of the wagon where the wizard helped in the herbal discussion. “He and Hazle seem to have hit it off quite well.”

  “I’m not so sure about that, he swore some sort of oath to Seymour,” replied Lousa.

  “Do you think Shamki can take Oliver?” asked Tanner and Lousa thought about it for a long moment.

  “I don’t know, maybe their evenly matched but I could be looking at things through morning sea fog. That Oliver is a powerful man and if what Humbort said he did down there in the battle with the ghoul things is even half true he might be more than a match for Shamki,” she said with a look at the half-orc who rode his horse out ahead of the wagon.

  “I’ve seen Shamki fight,” said Tanner, “and I have a hard time believing anyone could be a much more accomplished warrior. I hope we don’t have to find out but I’m afraid we will. So, if Shamki and Oliver are evenly matched how do we deal with Seymour and the Icon of Ras?”

  Lousa sat in silence her gaze on the horizon for a long moment.

  “Any thoughts,” said Tanner as he gazed at her but she remained silent. “Yeah, from what Humbort says I don’t know how we can stand against it and I’m not going to risk the children. He said he could burn us all to cinders and I’m not sure if he was exaggerating.”

  Up ahead the two men under discussion also talked over matters. “You can defeat the half-orc then?” said Seymour to Oliver.

  “I believe so,” said Oliver. “His technique is good but he has little experience battling powerful foes.”

  “I doubt we can count on Sutekha, the wormy wretch,” said Seymour a look of disgust on his face as his nose scrunched up along with his upper lip. “We are with an easy few hours ride of the White Marble Ruin,” he continued.

  “We should take the staff soon then,” said Oliver, “lest they recover from the attack and interrupt our ceremony.”

  “Unless we slay them all,” said Seymour.

  “The children also,” replied Oliver in a neutral tone.

  “They are heathens,” said Seymour, “but it does seem unnecessary. They do pretend to want the staff destroyed although the little girl’s infection is beyond repair. Killing her would be a mercy.”

  Oliver said nothing.

  “Do you see any sense in delaying the inevitable?” said Seymour.

  Oliver shook his head.

  “Well, then. We’ll do it when we stop for our midday break. I’ll try and talk them out of the staff to make things easier but I doubt they’ll allow us to take it. Try not to kill the children but do what you must.”

  Oliver nodded and the two rode on.

  At lunch Oliver and Seymour stood near the horses and talked while everyone else sat in a circle around the small campfire and watched the pot of stew that slowly came to a boil.

  “Here it comes,” said Sutekha to Hazlebub as he observed Seymour come over to the party and Oliver take up a good combative position.

  Seymour stepped forward. “We all want the staff destroyed,” he started and Shamki stood up and pulled out his sword while Lousa gave a look to Almara who herself began to gather up the children.

  Seymour pointed to Ariana, “You, girl, bring me the staff and no one has to get hurt. Oliver and I will take it to the White Marble ruin and be there in a few hours. You can catch up to us and be there by the time we finish the ceremony.”

  “No,” said Lousa and moved to position herself at the flank of the priest while Shamki took a step towards Oliver.

  “I don’t want to do this,” said Seymour and reached for the chain around his neck.

  “Don’t let him pull it out!” shouted Tanner who charged forward with a small knife in his hand, Unerus was right behind while Tylan scrambled back to the wagon to grab his hammer.

  Almara grabbed Ariana by the arm and started to pull her towards the wagon as Shamki closed in on Oliver and all eyes turned for a moment to the two.

  Shamki circled to his right and gave a quick slash with his blade but Oliver simply moved his body slightly to the left and evaded the blow. The paladin then gave a quick lunge forward towards Shamki’s left leg and the half-orc two took quick side steps and lunged at the left of the paladin. He knew it was a mistake even before his blade started to move but his instincts took over and he could not stop his action even as Oliver stepped forward and into the blow his own left hand rising up and catching the wrist of the half-orc in his massive hand. Shamki didn’t even try to pull away from the overwhelming grip but tried to kick out with his right leg and trip Oliver. The paladin seemed to anticipate the move, turned his body sideways, and pulled Shamki towards him, which threw the half-orc over his hip and snapped his wrist with a loud crack in the same motion. Oliver stood over Shamki for a mere moment, “You fight well, but must train more diligently,” he said and then slammed the butt end of his sword hilt against Shamki’s forehead where it connected with a sickening thud and the half-orc fell face first to the ground, unmoving.

  “Shamki,” cried Lousa and raised her hands to utter magical words but the High Priest of Ras flicked his wrist and suddenly her eyes seemed to burn with white hot intensity, she dropped to her knees with a scream, and tried to blot out the light with her hands.

  Hazlebub stood with a potion in her hand but the priest just looked at her and shook his head until she slowly lowered it.

  “Now, girl,” said Seymour with a look to Ariana. “No one has to die. Hand over the staff.”

  “Never!” shrieked Ariana, “Shinamar help me!” and with that turned to turn away.

  Sey
mour reached into the fiery orb on his chest and flicked a finger towards the fleeing girl and a little glob of fire streaked towards her.

  “No,” shrieked Shalalee and leapt in front of the little dart that caught her full in the chest. For a moment nothing seemed to happen but then her face dissolved into a mask of pain as her clothes suddenly burst into flames and her skin began to blacken and shrivel. Even before Almara could take more than a step towards her daughter the girl began to crumple into a black shadowy shape and her body turned to ash. By the time Almara got to here there was nothing left except a pile of blackened debris that shifted loosely in the wind.

  “Damn you,” shouted Tanner his eyes blazed with fury and he charged the mage. Another quick thump from the back of Oliver’s sword sent him to the ground face first and unmoving. Almara dropped to her knees and began to weep.

  “Girl,” said Seymour. “Hand it over or I’ll kill them all.”

  Tylan appeared from behind the wagon and yelled out, “I’ll kill you,” and charged towards Seymour the hammer held over his head but Almara jumped in front of him and held him in a hug.

  “No, Tylan, no. He’ll just kill you,” she screamed and held on tightly as the boy tried to struggle free.

  “Ariana,” said Oliver. “Hand it over or he will kill them all.”

  The girl dropped her head for a moment and then walked over to the priest of Ras and threw the satchel at his feet. “I’ll kill you one day,” she said as tears streamed down her face.

  Seymour picked up the satchel, threw it over his shoulder, mounted Shemu with a quick motion, and, in a thunder of hooves, the two were gone, the clearing suddenly still again.

  Chapter 34

  “There are at least two hundred of them,” said Oliver as he watched the milling hobgoblins around in front of the small hill atop of which sat a gleaming White Marble Ruin. Dozens of banners were visible from the peak of the ruin and small figures moved about its surface involved in their various tasks. “And that’s not counting the leaders up on top. Probably shamans and warriors for the most part. I don’t see any way we can get up there and perform the ceremony. We’re going to have to wait.”