Leapfrog, p.26
Leapfrog, page 26
part #5 of Bannister's Muster Series
“Mine’s called Spotty,” sighed Nathan. “Poor thing. What a silly name.”
“A very suitable name, since he has a big spot between his ears,” laughed Poppy. “I can just imagine you galloping into battle crying, ‘Come on Spotty – charge!.’”
“I think I’ll change his name,” sighed Nathan. “If he lets me. I shall call him Anchor.” The llama looked back at Nathan with a faint frown as he chewed. “Sorry,” said Nathan. But you’ll get used to it.”
Richard was particularly interested, having ridden horses into battle on many occasions. But each horse had been trained to know and obey him. The llamas were not. “We have to start from the beginning,” explained Zakmeister. “Choose the one you feel some attachment to regards size and personality. Then come several times every day to feed, and perhaps even to groom him.” There were large strong brushes, but not every animal wished to be broomed, and the long shaggy hair knotted, which made brushing a little painful.
“These are bigger than the llamas in our other world,” said Granny. “And naturally they are native to Lashtang. But in your world, they originally came from South America. In medieval times, you would never have seen one.”
“And where is this strange place South America?” asked Columbus, regarding the llamas with considerable suspicion. “They spit. How unpleasant.”
“Only when angry or frightened,” said granny, and Poppy grinned.
“It’s you who discover America,” she told Columbus. She had already mentioned this several times, but Columbus was convinced that she had made it up.
“Perhaps at some time in later life, I may discover this new continent you speak of,” he told her. “But as yet I am interested only in a different journey to reach the spice islands, and the shores of India.”
Poppy stopped arguing. She was more interested in the llamas. “Can I have one?” she asked. “I love that smaller one there, all dark brown with hair over his eyes.”
“I cannot imagine you riding into battle,” said Sherdam.
“Definitely not,” said Bayldon. “You’re little more than a child.”
“I’m twelve and almost thirteen,” said Poppy. “And I’ve been coming to Lashtang since I was nine. So I know what it’s all about and I’m not a child.”
“You’re my daughter,” said Bayldon, patting her shoulder. “I’m afraid that means doing what I tell you.”
Poppy hung her head and wandered out of the stables, but as soon as she was out of earshot, she said, “Pooh. I’m an empola. I ought to have a llama.:
Coming up behind her, Nathan grinned. “Take Gillywobbles or Candykins,” he said. “Training your own llama from babyhood is the best idea of all. And you’ll enjoy it. At the moment they’re so sweet and cuddly and they don’t spit.”
Everyone was still fascinated by the llamas and were learning how to strap on a saddle, stirrups, reins and bridal, when several things happened to distract them all and make them think of other things.
First of all, Nathan asked Granny if she would come with him to old London so they might collect Alice, Alfie and John. They had all hoped to be picked up again very soon, and had only wanted to be back in their old homes for a week or so. That had already passed.
“I bet John’s counting his toes again, every day,” grinned Nathan. “He’ll be so bored, and longing to get back here. And he’ll love choosing a llama.”
“I suppose that seems fair enough,” sighed Granny. “But I am very busy here at present. Ask Sherdam.”
“He’s busy too. He’s training his own llama. You don’t have a llama.”
Granny pulled a face. “Can you really see me riding into battle on the back of a llama? No? Well, that’s why.” So she finally agreed to go back with Nathan and pick up the other three friends.
While they were away, Passleram came back, and informed them all that the glass jar with Yaark was being kept safe, and Yaark had been unable to escape. “However,” he said, with a sniff and a ruffle of the blue crest of feathers on the back of his neck, “he seems ill. If he dies, we are not overly concerned. But we feel he should first stand trial. We have asked him about his other three friends, the stars he was exiled alongside, but he refuses to answer, and we cannot force him while he is ill.”
It was Messina who answered this. “I hope he drops dead soon,” she said. “Perhaps he ate too much sugar.”
“The stars do not eat,” said Passleram, “unless they are occupying another body, as the succubi and the incubi do when they wish.”
Messina waved one disinterested hand. “Yaark has caused so many years of pain and misery in Lashtang,” she said. “As long as he does not escape, I prefer not to know.”
“I understand,” Passleram told her. “But we are studying him just over there on the upper side of our meteor, should you wish to see him at any time, my lady, and check that he is still a captive.”
She thanked him, but she hoped she would never need to see Yaark again.
It was therefore entirely unexpected when the old blind man arrived on their doorstep. He had brought neither his objectionable son, nor his sweet granddaughter with him, but arrived alone, saying he had travelled by sky train. Although she had no desire to talk to him, Messina felt obliged to invite him in. She asked Poppy to make him a cup of tea, and immediately accused him of stealing Yaark.
“Clebbster told you, didn’t he, that we must have discovered the place where Clebbster had him imprisoned. No one else could have known.”
Spluttering into his tea, William Octobr, shook his head, declared his innocence, said he had never spoken to Clebbster in his life, and finally admitted that it was Brewster who had accused him, and Wagster who had bribed him with getting his sight back if he would come to the place where Granny and Messina lived, and get Yaark back.
Now he knew that although he had originally been wonderfully successful, somehow they had got Yaark back again from the place where he had been hidden. “And a brilliant place it was,” moaned William. “I was sure no one saw me, nor could ever guess.”
“You forget my magic is considerably stronger than yours,” said Messina. “You are most deceitful;, sir. My family has helped you on several occasions, and you have consistently double-crossed us.”
Old man Octobr shook his head of wispy white hair. “I have only been trying to protect myself and my beloved family,” he moaned. “And now Wagster threatens to torture me and rip out my eyes if I don’t get Yaark back.”
“You will never get Yaark back,” said Messina, losing patience. “But you can easily escape and take your family with you. Go back to Tudor England, or medieval London, or anywhere else you wish. You have enough magic to do that. Go to modern England and perhaps you will find a hospital cure for your burned eyes. But I will not help you. Yaark must never be free again.”
Dismal and disappointed, William left the cottage, but on the way out he bumped into Granny’s return. The old man hurried off, knowing he would not be greeted warmly by either Granny or Nathan, but they were not alone. With them came Alice, Alfie and John.
“No Grandma Violet?” asked Poppy. |I would love to tie her to the back of a llama and send her into battle.”
“I were wiv me dad,” grinned John. “There were storms so we didn’t do naught wiv the ship. We just snuggled up at home, and it were all warm and cosy, and we done talking fer days. T’were a great holiday. Me ‘orrible granny were staying wiv a friend. I reckons tis strange she got any friends at all, but me dad sent her away soon as he seen me. We wanted a proper time together.”
Nathan, Poppy, Sam and Peter wanted to know all about it and settled down in the sunny garden to talk about old London and new Lashtang, with a stable full of llamas behind them. “You’ll be riding into battle, I expect,” Nathan said to both John and Alfie. So once you’ve had a rest, you’d best come along to the stables and choose your own. There’s still some left.”
“One for Richard and one for Henry V,” said Poppy. “One for Mum, and one for Dad. Then there’s Zakmeister and Sherdam, and Peter secretly chose one too though Dad says he’s not old enough. Nat got one. So did fat Harry VIII. That’s seven. Then you two. That’s nine. And I’m taking Candykins.”
“We’ve got twenty five,” said Nathan, so come and have a quick look.”
“One other thing you’ve not told them,” called Sam, running after them. “They went to Tudor London and got caught in snow so the hid at the Tower. Well can you remember who else got put in the Tower? Yep. That’s right. So when Zak whisked them all off, guess who whisked up with them?”
Alice went pale. “The baron’s here?”
“He is,” said Nathan, “but don’t worry. He can’t do anything to you. We don’t really know what to do with him. Maybe send him into battle when the time comes.”
“Send him back to the Tower,” said Alfie loudly.
“Or give ‘em to Clebbster,” suggested John.
And they were still having interesting ideas for the fate of the baron and his hated brother, when the last unexpected event occurred.
Chapter Twenty-Three
There was the whoosh of huge wings, and everybody assumed it would be Passleram. But when they turned around to say hello, and hope that nothing had happened to Yaark, they saw it was not the eagle at all. It was Hermes, and climbing off his back were Ninester and Ferdinand. Both were cut and bleeding on their necks and faces, and both collapsed once Hermes had landed.
“Good gracious,” called Granny. “Help me get both of these poor young men to bed, and Messina and I can heal them immediately.”
Zakmeister, Bayldon and Sherdam who had been talking to their llamas, now came running to help carry the two men to their bedrooms. Granny and Messina hurried after, and prepared to heal their friends, close the cuts, and apply creams and bandages/
Meanwhile Nathan threw his arms around Hermes’ neck, saying, “It’s lovely to see you again, my special friend. But are you hurt too? What terrible thing has happened?”
“I am unhurt, my illustrious lord,” said the goose, although he flopped down on the grass and was obviously worn out. “I was returning from the great Forest of Sharr. It was a successful and absorbing time there working with the Epilogs and the Lady Tryppa. She has plans to tame some of the trees, although so far they do not make friends easily.”
“Tell me about Ninester and Ferdy,” asked Nathan impatiently.
“I stopped at the Village of Pickles,” Hermes continued. “I knew the rumours regarding the Hazletts having made their homes there, and wished to see for myself. I found The pretty white stone cottage entirely destroyed so I went to see Ferdinand to ask what had happened. Ninester was also there, and so was a serpent of enormous size, with a woman’s head. I had never seen anything like it, and I have to admit I was entirely overcome. She tried to bite me and her fangs were as long as my feathers. Ferdinand told me this was the twin’s mother, and her name is Hexaconda. A terrifying creature. She reared like a cobra at Ninester, and Ferdinand rushed to save him. Both were badly wounded. But I was able to hover near until they climbed on my back, and then flew with all speed and strength to come here.”
“That’s terrible,” cried Poppy. “Lashtang is getting more and more dangerous. But Mum and Granny will make them all better. Are you sure you’re not hurt, dear Hermes.?”
“No, illustrious lady, but I am exhausted, and will gladly rest if I may.”
She took him off to bed, wrapped him up in a blanket, kissed the top of his soft feathered head and poked her head next door where Messina and granny were treating the two wounded men. They were all too busy, so she ran out again, and went to her own bed where she curled up and burst into tears.
Messina sat on the side of the well-cushioned mattress and laid her hand on Ferdinand’s forehead. It was burning hot, and his whole face burned scarlet. Down the side of his face, past his eye and through his cheek to his jaw, then on downwards to his neck were slices and deep cuts. It looked almost as though he had been spliced or chopped, and the cuts had almost cut open his eye. His jacket was open and the pleated shirt beneath showed a great deal of blood. He was now unconscious, and his breathing was hoarse and shallow. “Had he not arrived here as he did,” said Messina, now both her hands on his neck, “I believe he would have died. There is clearly blood in his lungs, and all the veins in his neck are cut.”
Shaking her head, Granny was equally involved with Ninester. He was not as badly injured as Ferdinand, but he was clearly in pain, and he tossed and shivered on his bed, unable to open his eyes properly. Granny put both hands on his shoulders, and spoke many words, very, very softly.
Gradually Ninester began to regain his memory, and lay quiet, frowning and still in pain. “Will I – live?” he asked in a soft childish voice.”
“You most certainly will,” said Granny with a reassuring smile. “The pain will disappear in just a few moments, and I shall make sure you have no unseen injuries.”
Ferdinand had not yet managed to open his eyes, and was still feverish. As Messina worked to heal him some of the deep cuts began to close and the bleeding stopped, but the worst of the wounds remained red raw.
Raising her hands, Granny sent Ninester into a deep healing sleep, and then hurried to help Messina with Ferdinand. “Poisoned wounds,” she said at once. “The boy was cut with nails or claws. But poor Ferdinand has been bitten, and the teeth have raked down his face many times. The poison has sunk into his body. We must act quickly. Now, you know the words. We must speak together, over and over again. Then we must mix a solution of flambish water, and wash every injury. Finally he must drink the antidote.”
“But we don’t know the antidote,” said Messina, “for we don’t know which snake poison has infected him.”
“That vile woman is an anaconda of sorts,” Granny said.
“But anacondas don’t have poison,” said Messina at once.
“Then we shall have to give him five sips of every kind we can mix,” said Granny. “Ferdinand has been my close friend for some years. I shall never rest until he is better.”
Nathan was waiting outside the door, exceedingly worried about both men, but also concerned now that it seemed there was another Hazlett to worry about. If Hexaconda was this powerful, she could soon be a greater danger than Clebbster. He peeped around the large bedchamber door, but Messina shooed him away. “Ninester is not badly wounded,” she whispered, “and now he’s sleeping. He won’t wake for several hours. But Ferdinand is horribly wounded, and I must have peace to try and heal him. So go away and tell the others, and don’t come back while I’m working.”
Hurrying back into the living room, Nathan told the others. Richard frowned. “You speak of a woman who becomes a snake?”
“She’s a sort of witch,” said Nathan. “I don’t know if that’s any different to a wizard. Most of that family are black wizards, and they rule the country, which is terrible. Hexaconda is the ruling wizard’s wife. They have twin sons, who are both wizards, and a daughter who is a witch like her mother. All horrible and cruel and weird but maybe Hexaconda is the worst. We only just met her so we don’t know.”
After a short rest, Hermes had been unable to resist hurrying back into the living room to see what was going on and hear everything that was said. Now, hopping onto the chair beside Henry V, which completely confused him, Hermes clacked his beak and nodded. “No one saw any of this family for years. Except for the Hazlett twins. Now that Yaark’s been captured, they’ve all popped out of hiding. Hexaconda is big and turns into a snake the size of ten geese. I believe she is quite crazed.”
After the business of the day involving the llamas, and the first practise rides, the lessons in archery and sword fighting, visits from old man Octobr and from Passleram as well, with everybody rushing to and fro and Alice, Alfie and John returning, now quite suddenly everything seemed to go silent. No one wished to talk, and only the baron and Edmund Darling were completely uninterested in the terrible attack on Ninester and Ferdinand. Even Richard and the two Henrys were perturbed, for it showed them just what terrible creatures lived here, and the danger they might face if they stayed to fight in the coming war.
Columbus asked if anacondas were anything like llamas and could be ridden, but Zakmeister stared at him and said he should have a cup of ale. John said, “I were proper looking forward to coming back here. But reckon now tis all too sad.”
“Mum and Granny will make them both all better,” insisted Poppy, who had come out into the living room, but still had wet and bloodshot eyes from crying.
Sherdam sighed. “We are not so experienced in healing such injuries as these,” he said. “Remember that even our strongest magic cannot do everything. There are some matters we have never learned how to do, and others where there needs to be two or three of us to achieve a perfect result. Some of us are better at one thing but not so good at another. Even the best magic cannot achieve everything nor cope with the unknown.”
“But Mum and Granny are the best,” said Nathan hopefully.
“In most ways, yes indeed they are,” said Zakmeister. “But even they cannot make miracles.” He turned to Hermes. “What exactly happened?” he asked. “Tell us all the details.”
Hermes, feeling important, began his story with a hiccup and a ruffle of feathers. “I was returning from the great black forest,” he said, “but I had not been called by anyone so I was not in a hurry. I wondered if any of my illustrious friends were still in the Village of Pickles and therefore decided to fly past. Then I saw the destruction of the ivy-clad house by the port, so visited Ferdinand to discover what had occurred. Ninester was there also, and we talked together for some minutes when suddenly the door blew down as if by a hurricane. The noises were terrible. There was a loud booming, which I believe is the heartbeat, a strong sharp stink of bad magic, and the hissing of a giant serpent. Luckily Ferdinand’s wife was out at market, so no one else was in the house. The vile creature burst in upon us. For one moment she was a a tall thin woman, and she screeched that we had wrecked her daughter’s beautiful home, and upset the girl so much that now she was deranged and going crazed. She began to turn into a thick scaled snake but she still had arms and long, long fingernails. She attacked Ninester, raking his face with her claws, and Ferdinand rushed to help. The creature turned on him with her claws and teeth. It was horrible. I kept flying at her to stop her, but she wasn’t frightened of me. Then I managed to get both Ferdinand and Ninester to climb on my back and hold on very tight, and Hexaconda swore at us, but couldn’t follow as luckily she cannot fly.”
