The Staff Of Naught Part 18

"What if they ask me? I'm not going to lie to my parents," said the girl, crossed her arms, sat down, and then glared at Ariana. The two stared at each other for long moments while Unerus looked back and forth between them and shook his head. "I don't understand girls."

"Shut up, Unerus," said Shalalee.

"Don't you tell him to shut up," said Ariana. "He's my brother."

"I'll tell whoever I want to shut up," said Shalalee and the two glared at each other again and after a few minutes Unerus threw his hands up in the air and said, "Fine, I give up," and walked out of the room.

Chapter 23.

"I'm sorry to see the end of the desert," said Levicus with a look back over his shoulder as his horse trod on the lush green gra.s.s of the realms southwest of Tarlton.

Oliver, seated on a light colored Abyssinian steed with a long flank and green eyes, looked over to his friend and smiled. "The desert's spa.r.s.eness is a thing of beauty to you and me but I think that most would prefer this greenery." A light flick of his left knee sent the horse into a full run and Levicus, aboard a small eared Gidran, followed suit. Soon the two horses blazed along the gra.s.sy field and left their two companions far behind. Ten minutes later it was Oliver who pulled up his horse first with a simple pat on the neck and whisper, "whoa Dovestar," and the great animal eased to a trot and then walk, apparently not in the least put out by the long gallop. Levicus's horse breathed with more difficulty but also appeared to have barely broken into a sweat from the exertion.

"I had a Gidran as a boy," said Oliver. "Better jumpers than runners but you don't see many of them in the Royal Stables."

"No," said Levicus and gave his own horse a pat on the neck. "They are generally for the commoners but occasionally an exception comes forward. Corvinus's father was a steed captured from the Black Hors.e.m.e.n nomads and his mother a pure Gidran. We thought the two might make a fine combination and so far they've foaled three times with only this one qualifying for the Royal Stables."

The two rode on for a few moments separated from Seymour and Sutekha; Levicus looked over to Oliver whose face was as placid and calm as a desert oasis. "You don't think Seymour will really ride them to death? I picked them out myself from the stables for the journey."

"It is not for me to say what Seymour will do or not do," replied Oliver his gaze never wavering from the horizon. "The Master of the Icon of Ras will make whatever decision the Sun G.o.d thinks best and I will do everything in my power to enforce it."

"I don't much care for the Golden Worm creature no matter his skills at divination," went on Levicus, his lip curled in a snarl. "He is in it for his own good. When we get to the staff he will try to steal it, you can be certain of that."

"He will fail," said Oliver, his hand moved to his side where the hilt of his blade rested quiescent.

"He is a mage," said Levicus noting the direction of the paladin's hand. "Magic is not something that is easily fought with sword and shield."

"Master Seymour is the High Priest of Ras not in name only like his useless little brother was before him. The master has powers that are far beyond the realm of understanding and the Icon of Ras gives him direct communication with his patron deity."

"Yes," agreed Levicus with a nod of his head. "It is an advantage to have a G.o.d speaking to you directly, I will admit as much. Still, it is worthwhile to keep close watch on the nomadic wormling to try and decipher his plans."

"He is useful," said Oliver still looking forward, apparently not even tempted to look back to the subject of their conversation. "Else Master Seymour would not have brought him along."

"I agree, we know now where the Hazhallahad's Staff is located and some of the nature of those who now own it. You have seen something like the warrior described?"

"Yes," said Oliver with a nod of his head. "The movements described by Sutekha are those called the Way of the Baguazhang. He will be a dangerous opponent if he has mastered such swordsmanship. I look forward to the challenge of fighting him."

"The Way of the What?" said Levicus and raised a single eyebrow on his dark skinned face.

"The Baguazhang," said Oliver who leaned back on his horse and with some subtle movement caused the animal to stop completely. "It is from the islands to our east and involves something called Turning the Circle. I studied such methods when Seymour and I were tracking down the Cawlian pirate vessel that caused so much trouble ten years ago. We spent several months amongst the islanders and their ways of the sword are impressive. This half-orc must have spent some time on the islands to know these techniques, or it is possible that Sutekha misdescribes the motions he sees in the crystal."

"I remember that," said Levicus. "I was just a boy back then but the pirates terrorized the coast for many months and the vessel was so swift that none of ours could catch it."

"Yes, the Cawlians are masters of the sail and no vessel can stand against them. It is said they have gained their independence from the Ocean Kings of Sea'cra," said Oliver, his eyes flickering back towards where Seymour and Sutekha fast approached.

"How did you manage to catch and defeat the pirate then," asked Levicus and turned his own head to note their approaching companions.

"We did neither, but the threat was averted in any case," said Oliver in the mysterious fashion that Levicus had well grown accustomed to and he knew not to ask again.

Seymour arrived first on his magnificent gray Hirzai. The beast was faster than the wind for short journeys but had little of the stamina of his own Gidra and none of the jumping ability. The horse was shorter than either Levicus's or Oliver's but beautifully formed with a golden blaze on its forehead in the shape of a sunburst.

"Have you had your fun, Levicus," said Seymour to the dark skinned man as they approached.

"It is good to let them have at least one or two blows each day," replied Levicus with a pat to his horse's flank. "They love to run and the exercise is good for them. Also, this gra.s.s is something they are not used to running upon and it would be wise to allow your horse to get some experience on the turf in case an emergency arises later."

"You are the Master of the Horse," said Seymour and pointed with his right hand to a copse of trees several hundred yards ahead. "Shall we test their speed?"

"As you wish, Master of the Sun," said Levicus.

Oliver merely nodded while Sutekha, on the small and broad little black Heihi had not the animal nor the riding ac.u.men to keep up with any of his companions, sighed deeply and shook his head. "You go along, I'll catch up shortly."

"Hia, Shemu, hai," shouted the High Priest of Ras digging his heels into the side of his animal. Oliver leaned forward in his saddle, pushed his knees deeply into Dovestar's flank, and the creature leapt forward as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Levicus made a simple little whistling sound and his own steed went blazing along after them while Sutekha sighed and reached back to give his own horse a slap on the rump, but the creature, having seen the other three sprint off, was ready to go before the signal and leapt into the fray almost dismounting Sutekha who swayed precariously for a moment before he regained his seat and held on for dear life.

Corvinus moved quickly in front of the other two horses but after a couple of dozen strides the blazing Shemu went by him with a rush and quickly outdistanced the other two horses that themselves moved at a speed far greater than any horse outside of The Sands might ever hope to attain.

At that moment a young goblin boy not out of his teens was at the top of a small apple tree harvesting some of the ripe fruit for his father and he watched the trio sprint by his mouth wide open. When he returned to his village that night no one believed his story, and his father soundly whipped him for telling such lies.

Seymour was waiting by the time Oliver and Levicus pulled up and it took a few moments more for the nomad of the Golden Worm to arrive; his horse panted heavily and his rider was not in much better shape. "What of the infidels?" asked Seymour when Sutekha finally managed to catch up to the trio.

"Now?" said Sutekha, his breath came in heavy pants and he looked a bit unstable atop the horse.

Seymour simply looked at him with a glaring eye and reached up to touch the large circular shape that pressed against his cloak. "Now."

Sutekha dismounted from his animal and began to rummage in the sacks strapped to his hindquarters until he pulled out a large pouch. This he lay carefully on the ground and then found another bag, this one containing sand, which he spread out evenly on the earth. Finally he pulled out a third bag filled with a rich, earthy loam and reached inside finding a small, white, squirming worm which he placed into the sand. Then he pulled the drawstrings on the original pouch and withdrew a misshapen crystal spheroid that looked partially melted on one side. This he placed on the sand, then began to move his hands in mystical strange rhythmic motions over the thing and intoned strange words.

Far away come near to me Show me what I want to see Grant my eyes a vision strong Over distance far and long!

The crystal seemed to darken for a moment and then vague, shadowy forms moved within. "I have them, Master Seymour," said Sutekha his eyes glued to the crystal.

"Who is with the staff," asked the Master of the Sun as his upper lip twitched.

"The two girls," said Sutekha, his hand brushing against the side of the crystal with little motions like a man with a favorite pet. "The tall gangly one and the dark little one with only half her teeth."

"They are alone?" asked Seymour, the corner of his lips curled into a smile.

"Yes, High Priest," said the Golden Worm wizard.

"You can influence the children, even from this distance, yes?" said Seymour.

"Children are more easily influenced as are the weak-willed but there are never any a.s.surances in this art," said Sutekha, his eyes flickered towards the High Priest of Ras for a brief moment and then returned to the crystal.

"Do not bother me with your excuses," said Seymour quickly and moved so that he stood directly over Sutekha. "Tell one of them to steal the staff and bring it to me."

"I can only make suggestions, master, not directly influence behavior," said Sutekha, a sweat breaking out on is brown. "Maintaining the contact is not easy either, my Master."

"Then suggest it, you fool, it's not like she can steal it now and bring it to us. We are still at too great a distance. Put an image of the White Marble ruin in her mind."

"I have not seen this White Marble Ruin, master," said Sutekha, his voice rasped and his body began to tremble.

"Excuses! You have seen White Marble before, you are a Golden Worm, and your power is based upon what you learned in the hidden chambers of the Old Empire buried in the desert. Do not lie to me. Show her the White Marble, show her my face, and show her Hazhallahad's Staff! Obey me!"

"I obey," said the mage and then suddenly the crystal faded in color and the shadows disappeared. Sutekha collapsed backwards, his chest rose and fell rapidly and his face looked ashen white.

"Get me when he recovers," said Seymour with a dismissive wave at the p.r.o.ne man. "We shall continue our journey."

Oliver looked at Levicus who shrugged his shoulders and went over to the stricken wizard. "Are you all right, Sutekha?" he asked and bent over the prostrate form.

A small smile came to the lips of the fallen wizard and he nodded his head. "I shall survive."

Chapter 24.

"So, we are agreed," said Lorim back at his office with Lousa, Tanner, and Hazlebub in the chairs in front of his ma.s.sive desk. The simple Humbort was absent this time by agreement of all parties. "I will tell you what you want to know about the staff and in exchange you will allow my party to fully examine it for as long as she desires."

"Under supervision and for a reasonable amount of time," said Tanner.

"Of course, of course, no one is trying to find a way to enforce the contract in an unfair way. This being the case," continued Lorim, who wore a magnificent purple cloak over a frilly pink and green shirt, threw back the edge of the cloak, and motioned to a side door, "Lilithia, my dear, they have agreed to your demands."

At that the slim darkling girl emerged from behind the door. Her silver hair was curled at the edges and wavy throughout and she wore a skin tight silken gown that hugged her upper body and then splashed into a skirt that did not even come down to her knees. She walked over to Lousa, whose own loose fitting shirt exposed her ample bosom, and put forward a delicate hand. "I am Lilithia, and you must be Lousa, as lovely as Lorim suggested," she said with a little bow of her head.

"Lousa," said Lousa, "and this is Tanner and Hazlebub. We can take you back to our rooms at the Camel Sway and you can examine the staff."

"Of course," smiled the woman, who put her arm under Lousa's and leaned against her. "Lousa is such an odd name for someone with so much elf blood in her veins," she continued as the two walked out of the room followed by the witch and the merchant. At the outer door Lousa almost forgot her helmet but the darkling girl purred gently in her ear, "Don't forget your helmet, dear, I'd hate to lose someone I think will become a dear friend so quickly."

Lousa seemed to flush slightly, grabbed the iron helmet, put it on her head, disengaged her arm, and walked into the village streets.

Lilithia watched her go with a smile and then took Tanner's arm and followed. "You're a strapping fellow," she said and looked up at him and batted her eyelashes.

"I ... I suppose so," he stammered.

"Doesn't the light hurt your eyes," said Hazlebub as she stepped up and crooked the woman's opposite arm in her own. "I've heard you underground dwellers don't like it so bright."

"I have taken precautions," said the woman although Hazlebub noticed her glance down at a black stone that rested on her chest at the end of a golden chain.

"That's good to know," said the witch with a smile. "We're just around the corner here."

Within a few minutes they stood in the room reserved for the ladies of the party where Ariana, Unerus, Shalalee, Humbort, Almara, and Shamki waited for them.

"We've met before," she said to him with a slight bow. "You killed some of my pets, but have no fear; I don't hold it against you. I probably made some threats when it first happened but I've gotten over it."

"Children," said Almara. "Why don't you go wait in the other room?"

"No way!" said Unerus with a big grin. "I'm the one who stole it from her in the first place so I get to stay."

"And I carried it so I get to stay," said Ariana and folded her arms over her chest.

"If Ara and Uney get to stay so do I," said Shalalee.

"If she gets to stay," said Tylan with a hard glance at his sister. "Then I'm not leaving either."

"What well-disciplined children you surface dwellers raise," said Lilithia with a little curl of her lips and Almara, who looked ready to jump in with something caustic to say immediately turned to the dark skinned woman and smiled pleasantly.

"I'll raise my children in whatever manner I see fit," she said to Lilithia. "I'm sure you will do the same when the time comes."

Lilithia nodded her head and looked expectantly around the room. "The staff?"

"Ariana," said Lousa to the young girl who frowned immediately but trudged over to her bed and dug out the satchel. She looked inside for a moment and c.o.c.ked her head to one side but there was no voice and eventually she had to reach inside, take a hold of the staff, and pull it out.

"Ah," said Lilithia, "so it appears I was not deceived after all. Bring it to me child."

Ariana looked at Lousa and held her position but the elf-blooded girl nodded her head. "It's okay, Ariana, we're all here. She's not going to steal it again."

Shamki moved over to the door and closed it while Tanner bolted the windows which were already closed and stood by the nearest to the darkling.

"Yes, yes, little girl," said Lilithia, "I won't try to steal it again although it does belong to my people and we will have it in the end."

Ariana frowned deeply but eventually took one hesitant step after the next and stood in front of Lilithia with the staff although did not offer it up. Lilithia looked down at the girl with a raised eyebrow, "Come along my stubborn little princess," she said. "Hand it over," and suddenly her purple eyes hardened into little marbles of black, "now."

The hair on Ariana's arm stood on end, she felt her heart race in her chest, and she found her arm moved forward as if of its own volition.

"Thank you," said Lilithia sweetly, taking the staff from the girls limp hand. "Now be a good girl and go sit in the corner."

Ariana wanted to spit at the woman, to yell at her, to stab her in the knee but she found her legs taking her over to the chair in the corner, and she sat down with a b.u.mp. Her eyes glared at the woman but apparently she was unable to do anything else.

"Now," said Lousa. "You have the staff. Examine it as you will but tell us what you know about it."

Lilithia turned the thing over in her hand and examined the clawed hand at the end, the smooth wooden handle shaped like the forearm of a man. "The staff is very old," she started, turning it over and over in her hand.

"We knew that," said Ariana, suddenly finding her voice.

"Well, if I'm going to be interrupted by rude little girls at every turn then I suppose the telling of the story will take much more time," said Lilithia with a smile to Ariana.

"Ariana," said Lousa, going over to sit next to the girl and putting an arm around her shoulder, "it's going to be fine. Let Lilithia tell her story and then we'll get the staff back to do with as we please."