The Staff Of Naught Part 27

"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 they're 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 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 and Unerus 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 ma.s.sive 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 antic.i.p.ate 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 b.u.t.t 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 tried to turn away.

Seymour 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.

"d.a.m.n 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 hobgoblins milling 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."

"Of all days to have a ceremony," said Seymour with a shake his head. "What are these heathens worshipping anyway?"

"It looks like some sort of lunar celebration," said the paladin. "They are setting up now but the event probably won't take place until tonight or maybe tomorrow morning. There is nothing to do but wait."

"That will give the girl and her friends time to catch us," said Seymour.

"If they bother chasing," replied Oliver. "You killed the daughter and I bested their finest warrior. Perhaps they will leave well enough alone and return to Doria. They know we plan to destroy the staff in any case, what benefit is it to them to come and see the result?"

"The little girl, with the teeth," said Seymour. "She is driven by powers she does not understand. She will force them to come somehow. It will be difficult to fight them with all these Hobgoblins around. The Icon of Ras, while powerful, is not subtle."

"No," said Oliver. "Perhaps we should take up position on the far side of the hill and move to the top as quickly as possible come morning."

"If the heathens have left," said Seymour.

Oliver nodded, "Yes."

The wagon moved over the gra.s.s at the same pace as always, the donkeys putting one hoof in front of the other in unceasing monotony and the grim face sitting at the head of the wagon blinked back tears and in the back the witch woman, Tylan, the Wizard of the Golden Worm, and Almara sat in silence, not looking at one another but instead gazing at the floorboards. Every once in a while Tanner looked over his shoulder and back towards the west where the rest of the group decided to pursue the Tarltonites.

Far ahead in that direction, Shamki road his horse while Lousa rode on Sutekha's old horse with Unerus sitting behind, her his arms around her waist. Humbort walked along with little Ariana perched on his shoulder although the mood of this group seemed no better than that of those in the wagon.

"Do you think we'll get there in time to watch the ceremony?" asked Unerus from behind Lousa.

"I don't think so," said the woman in a quiet tone of voice as her eyes watched Shamki ahead of her. "I'm not even sure why we're going on to be honest, but I didn't want to say no to Ara and I thought it best to let Tanner and Almara head back."

"Some kids I knew back in Iv's Folly got killed," said Unerus and blinked away a tear. "But not anyone I really liked. I think my parents are dead too but I didn't know them much."

"It's okay to be sad," said Lousa, half turning in her saddle and looking down on the lad. "You and Shalalee were friends."

"I'm not just sad," said Unerus his body suddenly stiff and his eyes narrowed. "I want to kill Seymour and Oliver too."

"I understand," said Lousa. "I've wanted to kill a lot of people over the course of my life. People that did bad things to my mother, bad things to me. Sometimes you can let those sorts of thoughts take over your life. Sometimes it's best to let them go and just go on as best you can."

"I don't think I can do that," said Unerus.

"I doubt we can kill, or even hurt, Seymour," said Lousa and turned back around to face the long trail. "They are too strong. Sometimes people are beyond your reach no matter how much you want to make things right. Life isn't fair."

"You don't have to explain that to me," said the boy. "I've known that since I was little. I've had some pretty bad things happen to me and I let them go mostly but this time I just ... just hurt inside."

"I know," said Lousa. "If we catch up to Seymour and Oliver promise me you won't do anything stupid. I don't want to lose you or your sister."

"Or Shamki," said Unerus and looked towards the horseman ahead of them. The big half-orc's arm was in a sling courtesy of Hazlebub, the last thing she did before a tearful farewell separated the group.

"Or Shamki," said Lousa. "I don't know what he'll do if we catch them."

"Why don't you talk to him," said Unerus, "like you're talking to me?"

"His pride was hurt," said Lousa, her body drooping in the saddle. "He is a proud man and when something like that happens it can be humiliating. He doesn't need me to tell him what to do right now. He would just resent me, hold it against me later. I've known a lot of men in my days. They're not much different than boys like you sometimes, most of the time."

"Oh," said Unerus. "I guess I understand. What will you do if Shamki tries to fight Oliver again?"

"I don't know," said Lousa, her hands twitching at the reigns of the horse. "I just don't know. Hopefully we won't have to find out but there is something in the way your sister talks that tells me this thing isn't over yet."

"Do you think it's that voice that she hears? That Shinamar person?" said Unerus and looked over to where Ariana sat on the shoulders of Humbort who, despite the several miles of travel showed no signs that he was tired, his step as bouncy and gangly as ever. The girl wore a calm expression on her face and the gleam in her eye was steady as she gazed forward towards their destination.

"That voice, or that ent.i.ty, of whatever it is, Shinamar, an imposter, the staff itself, whatever, has changed her," said Lousa. "I never should have let her take it in the first place back in that cave. It was the first mistake of many."

"It wasn't your fault," said Unerus but his tone wasn't firm and the sentence hung in the air for a long moment.

"Yes, it was my fault," said Lousa. "But, as you go through life you'll find that a lot of things are your fault and you can't always do anything about it."

"I know," said Unerus and again looked to his sister on Humbort's shoulder. "But you can try."

"That's true," said Lousa. "You can always try. Look up there," she said pointing to the sky and the sun that was low on the horizon. I don't think we're going to make it to that site. That means we'll never catch them. Seymour will complete the ceremony either tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. Maybe we should just turn back."

"I don't think my sister will go," said Unerus. "If we make her she'll just sneak off and head back by herself."

"Probably so," said Lousa, her long green hair suddenly caught in the breeze and a look of quiet sadness came to her face. "Even if there are no G.o.ds sometimes it seems like life is destined to follow a certain path no matter how much you try to avoid it. There," continued the woman and pointed to an open plain where a narrow creek cut through the terrain. That's a good place to camp. Hop off and I'll ride up to Shamki."

The young urchin jumped off the horse with a bounce, landed on the gra.s.s with a single tumble, sprang back to his feet without injury, and started to trot to Humbort and Ariana. "We're going to stop for the night by that creek!" he shouted to the two.

Ariana frowned but said nothing and Humbort immediately began to stride towards the chosen site in sort of a gallop that bounced the girl up and down. She shrieked once with a huge smile on her face before she caught herself and settled back down to her previous look of determination.

The sliver of moon that shone above in the clear sky gave Shamki plenty of light to see and he noticed the caravan before anyone else. It looked to be two or three wagons that moved at an easy pace over the gra.s.sy plain, and the voices of revelers quickly came to him as the wind shifted. It only took a moment or two longer for Lousa to hear the sounds even though she half nodded in sleep. It looked like the travelers would pa.s.s a hundred or so yards to their right and, if the group remained silent, would pa.s.s by without notice.

"Who is it?" whispered the beautiful woman, her hair loose and wild and her cotton nightgown flapped around her ankles in the breeze.

"Hobgoblins," said Shamki. "Three wagons, not quiet."

"No, they aren't," said Lousa and moved her jaw back and forth to the left and right. "It's like they're coming back from a party or something."

"New moon ceremony, maybe," said Shamki. "Hobgobbies worship moon mostly."

"Could they have been at the White Marble? If this is just one group then there must have been a bunch there. Then Seymour couldn't have...," said Lousa her train of thought jumped quickly to the point.

"They're still there," said Ariana as she suddenly appeared like a ghostly presence next to them. She wore a simple white shift that fluttered in the breeze giving her an even more spirit-like appearance and her short was hair was loose and fluttered all around her head. "We can go now, travel the rest of the night, and catch them in the morning!"

"I don't know if that's a good idea," said Lousa. "The wagon ... oh," suddenly remembering that their speed was no longer inhibited by the slow wagon and the donkeys. "It's dark, we could fall into a ravine," she finally said although with the clear sky and the sliver of moon it was actually a fairly bright night.

Ariana just looked at her and then dashed over to the sleeping Humbort and began to shake him awake. "C'mon Humbort, we're going right now. We can catch them!"

Lousa could see the gleam in the girl's eye even from this distance. "Shamki, let's talk to the hobgoblins and see if they are coming from the ruin and how far ahead it is."

The big half-orc nodded his head and walked forward towards the noisy caravan while he pulled out a small stone that instantly illuminated brightly, "Hail, travelers, hail," he shouted loudly as Lousa walked along behind him.

The caravan of wagons - there were actually three of them with a dozen hobgoblins on each some of dressed with strange multicolored hats that flapped wildly in the breeze but likely pinned to their hair to keep them from flying off - stopped their own shouts and called out to the duo in a rough language that Lousa only partially understood. Shamki seemed to understand it well enough and shouted something back to them. Soon enough they stood around the wagon and spoke with a short hobgoblin with a particularly colorful hat that seemed almost as tall as the creature itself.

"Where are you coming from so early in the morning," she asked him and waited for Shamki to offer a translation. It was the longest sentence she ever heard from the stout warrior's mouth and she could tell by the sour expression on his face that he loathed speaking so much. "I wonder what caused him to be such a quiet sort," she wondered and not for the last time.

"Small Crescent Moon," ceremony said Shamki to her a moment later although she did understand the word moon in the original reply.