On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (7 page)

13

A Song for the Shining Isle

J
anner, Tink, and Leeli stepped down the wooden steps to the dusty road, looking carefully sideways at the Fangs who lurked on the porch. Janner could hardly believe they were free. Was this a trick of some kind?

Commander Gnorm waddled out and plopped down in the chair on the porch, still admiring the jewels shining on his hand. Leeli between them, the boys walked slowly to their mother, whose eyes were brimming with tears.

“Let's go home,” she said with a strong voice as she put her arms around her children and turned carefully away from the Fangs. They moved down the street in silence, as if they had stumbled upon a sleeping dragon and were loathe to disturb it. Janner wanted to run, to get as far away from the Fangs and the jail as fast as he could. All the children felt that way, but Nia sensed it and held them back.

She walked her children through the empty thoroughfare of Glipwood with her back straight and her chin thrust out. Quiet laughter drifted from The Only Inn, the lampposts flickered yellow, and the wind whipped up swirls of dustlike ghosts in the moonlight.

When they were well up the road and out of sight of the jail, Nia spoke first.

“I don't know what I would have done without you.”

At the sound of her voice, Janner, Tink, and Leeli felt a rush of relief, as if they'd been holding their breath underwater and their mother had just pulled them to the surface. “I just don't know what I would have done,” she repeated. She knelt down, gathering them to her and hugging them tightly. Leeli looked up to see Nugget racing toward her. He was on her in a flash, whining and ferociously wagging his tail, licking not just Leeli but each of them wherever he could find exposed skin. Leeli laughed and tumbled backward as she squeezed Nugget's neck.

“Where were you, boy?” she said, rubbing his neck and the sides of his face. Why did you leave us like that?”

“We looked for you at the cliffs,” Nia said. “Your grandfather and I were worried. But there were so many people there. We waited until after the dragon song and the crowd had mostly gone, but we still couldn't find you. We rushed back home, thinking that maybe we'd just missed you…” Nia bent down to the little black dog in Leeli's arms. “That's when little Nugget here found us. He led me to the jail.” She scratched behind Nugget's ears. “I made your grandfather stay home. He would have torn the jail to pieces and fought an army of Fangs to bring you home, but it would have just gotten us all killed. So I came alone.”

“Where did those jewels come from?” Janner asked. “The ones on Gnorm's hand?”

Nia looked back toward the jail. “They were stored away in case of an emergency,” she said simply. She looked Janner in the eye. “This was an emergency.”

“But where did you get them?” Tink asked. “That was a lot of gold.”

Nia sighed. “From your father.” Nia turned to Janner, clearly wanting to change the subject. “Your cheek.” She touched the bruised and bloodied spot. “Did they hit you?”

Janner nodded.

Nia tilted Janner's head toward the light for a better look, then kissed his cheek.

Janner grimaced and wriggled away, though secretly he enjoyed the warm feeling it gave him. He wanted to ask more questions about the jewels that came from his father, but his mother had already turned away.

“And you, sweetie?” Nia asked Leeli.

“I'm okay, Mama.”

Nugget was lying on his back in the dust with his tongue lolling out while Leeli rubbed his belly.

Tink showed his mother the lump on his head, and she winced for him and kissed it.

“Did you see the dragons? Did you see how they stopped and listened when Leeli started singing?” Janner said.

Nia looked startled, but she collected herself quickly.

“That was you, dear?”

“Yes ma'am.”

Nia smiled down at Leeli and put a hand on her hair. “It was beautiful.”

“But why would the dragons do that?” Janner said. Nia's answer was a shrug. “And why wouldn't Gnorm have just taken the jewels and killed us anyway?” He felt like every question led to another, and his head was swimming.

Nia took Janner's shoulders in her hands and looked him square in the face. “Because I told him I could cook the finest maggotloaf in the four seas and that if he let you go, I'd cook it for him every third day of the week, once the meat had plenty of time to fester. I told him I had a secret recipe that involved hogpig sweat. The gold was just to get his attention, you see. Fangs have a weakness for jewelry.”
¹

“You know how to cook maggotloaf?” Tink said.

“I have no idea. I suppose I'd better learn,” she smiled. “Now, enough questions from you three. Janner, what happened to your neck?” She turned him again into the lamplight to see the bright red splotch on his neck, where Slarb's venom had dripped on him.

“Fang venom. From the one called Slarb,” he said, touching his neck with the tips of his fingers. “The one that attacked Leeli.”

“So that's what happened,” Nia said. “Why did he attack you?”

Nia put an arm around her crippled daughter, who recounted the events with Janner and Tink adding bits as the Igibys continued up the lane. Nia listened until Janner told about the two rocks that struck the Fangs in the alley. She stopped walking.

“And you saw no one? No sign of who might have thrown the rocks?”

“No one.” Janner looked puzzled. He saw his mother's brow crease as they continued walking. His head buzzed with questions.
Where had she hidden all those jewels—enough to buy half the town of Glipwood? And why did she keep the secret from the family all these years? Couldn't they have used just a bit of it to make their lives a little easier?
Janner had never seen so much gold in one place, and the thought that they had been in his family all these years made him—what? Angry? Thankful? Janner didn't know what to feel, as if his insides were as clumsy as his outsides.
All that gold, all those precious stones, gone
.
No, not gone. Adorning Commander Gnorm's fingers and wrists.
Janner wondered what their family needed and didn't have and was humbled to realize that there was nothing. He had to admit to himself that his mother and Podo had provided all that they needed. The jewels wouldn't have changed a thing, except that without them Janner would still be sitting in that jail cell with his siblings.
Still,
he thought with a sideways glance at his mother,
what else was she hiding?

But his tumble of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of someone singing.

On the lawn in front of old Charney Baimington's
²
cottage a small fire was burning. Several people lounged around it, listening to Armulyn the Bard sing. The orange glow of the fire lit his face and cast a large shadow on the house behind him. Armulyn was singing a song of Anniera, and his eyes seemed to glow with their own light as he looked out past the dark around him. It was as though he could see before him the fair island itself with its kingdom of sailors and poets, its high green mountains and shaded vales, the bright city where a good king once reigned and the people sang in the fields while they gathered the harvest. Somehow, Janner felt that it was more than just a song. Armulyn had put his secret dreams to music. Janner felt pulled to those mountains, and he saw it in the faces around the campfire too.

The song ended and for a moment before the applause, the small gathering of listeners was silent. Janner looked up to see that his mother's face was wet with tears and that she, like the bard, was staring into the distance.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, squeezing her hand.

Nia jumped a little, like he'd just woken her from a nap. She smiled down at him. “It's nothing, child. And why are
you
crying?”

Janner hadn't realized it, but his cheeks were wet as well. “There's just something about the way he sings. It makes me think of when it snows outside, and the fire is warm, and Podo is telling us a story while you're cooking, and there's no place I'd rather be—but for some reason I still feel… homesick.” Janner looked down, embarrassed.

Tink and Leeli were silent, for Janner had spoken their thoughts as well.

Armulyn, still barefoot, was shaking hands and shyly nodding his head in reply to people's compliments. He picked up his whistleharp and bid them farewell, walking toward Janner and his family. Nia sucked in a breath of air and quickly bustled the children on down the shadowy lane.

“Mama, can't we meet him?” Tink asked, looking over his shoulder at Armulyn, who was making his way directly toward them.

“No, it's time we got home. Papa will be worried sick.”

“Mama, please?” Leeli said.

“I said
no.
” Nia picked up the pace. Leeli, even with Nia's hand on her arm, lost her footing and fell to the ground. Nia stopped to help her up, apologizing while she brushed the dirt from Leeli's dress.

“I like your dog,” a kind, raspy voice said from behind them.

The children froze. Nia stopped brushing Leeli's dress and straightened. She worked her way around to face the silhouette of Armulyn the Bard. He was bent over, patting Nugget on the head. Janner and Tink were speechless.

“Thank you. His name is Nugget,” Leeli said, and she scooted over to where Nugget sat wagging his tail. She peered up at the dim silhouette of the bard. “I like your singing.”

“Why thank you, little princess,” Armulyn said, squatting down in front of her.

Nia was still strangely silent, standing a little ways back from them. Armulyn held out his hand to Leeli. “My name is Armulyn. I don't like it here,” he said with a smile that Janner could barely see in the dark.

Leeli smiled back at him, unfazed by the strange remark. “My name is Leeli. I can't walk very well.”

At her name, Armulyn's smile faded and he leaned a little closer to better see her face. He looked up at Nia and the boys, who still hadn't moved. “And who might you kind people be?”

“Our name is Igiby,” Nia said stiffly. She stepped quickly to Leeli and pulled her away from the bard. “We wish you a good evening,” she said. She led the children once again toward home, leaving Armulyn standing in the middle of the road staring after them.

When they approached the warm cottage nestled among the trees, they could see lamps burning in the windows. Fireflies flickered in the night air, and Danny the carthorse snorted in the pasture. Janner felt another rush of gladness that he wasn't dead, or worse, trapped in the Black Carriage.

Before they reached the door it flew open wide. Podo's tall, one-legged form filled the doorway. He had a stout club in one hand and brandished a wooden spoon in the other. “W
HERE IN ALL THE GREAT GOOD GOAT GOBBLIN' WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN, OUT TRAIPSING THE FROLLOCKY HILLSIDES WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE GNAWIN' ON MY GUMS!
Y
OU JUST MARCH YER SOGGY FEET OVER HERE BEFORE I YANK OUT YOUR INNARDS AND STEW 'EM IN A…”

Their grandfather's torrent lasted at least two minutes, and would have gone on much longer, but the children broke free from Nia and tackled the big man with hugs. His club and deadly spoon dropped to the floor, and he nearly toppled over, but years of practice with one leg had made Podo Helmer quite agile.

In a moment he had Tink in a headlock and was poking his ribs with one of his gnarled, callused fingers while Janner and Leeli tried to wrestle him to the ground. Finally, he gave in and toppled backward dramatically, howling all the while about rotten children and their disrespect of their elders. They tumbled about on the floor by the light of the crackling fire in the hearth until the match ended and the old man stood up with a groan. Out of breath and sweating, he beamed down at them and pushed a wild lock of long white hair out of his eyes.

“You'll be wantin' some of my cheesy chowder and butterbread, won't you, my little warriors?” he said, panting. “It's been simmering all evening, along with a thousand prayers that ye'd make it back to yer Podo safe and uneaten.”

At the mention of food, Tink moaned with pleasure and disappeared into the kitchen, rubbing his stomach.

Podo hoisted Leeli onto his back and carried her. “Lost yer wee crutch, eh? We'll make you up another in the bright morning,” he said as the kitchen door swung shut behind him.

Janner watched Nia wearily close and bar the front door. She bowed her head and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving.

“I love you, Ma,” Janner said, pushing down the lump in his throat. “I'm sorry I lost her.”

“Shh. It's all right,” Nia said. “You did well, son.” And with a weary smile she ushered him into the kitchen.

14

Secrets and Cheesy Chowder

J
anner joined Leeli and Tink at the table to gobble down the cheesy chowder. After the day he'd had, this seemed the finest meal he had ever eaten. A vat of steaming soup filled the kitchen with a rich, buttery smell, and a fresh loaf of butterbread had been sliced and set on the table. Janner got up to refill his bowl (Tink had already eaten three) and heard a snippet of conversation between Nia and Podo in the next room.

“What in the name of smelly seaweed and sour salad happened to the bitties?” Podo demanded, pounding his club on the plank floor.

“Well, Papa, that granddaughter of yours wandered off. I told you I didn't feel good about letting them go into town alone. Janner and Tink didn't notice she was gone—”

“What? If I've told that boy once I've told him a jabillion times! He's to watch over them—”

“Hush, now, Papa. They're safe. That's what matters now.”

A long pause. Janner's cheeks burned with shame. “Aye, aye. He's just a lad yet. I shouldn'ta let 'em into town alone, not on a day like this. Then what happened?”

“Leeli tried to protect Nugget from a Fang. She kicked it.”

“The dog?”

“The Fang.”

“She did? My little warrior lass had the sweet pluck to round on a Fang?”

Janner couldn't see Podo, but knew he was smiling proudly with his bushy eyebrows raised. He also knew his mother's expression would be disapproving.

Within seconds, Podo cleared his throat and said gravely, “She did, eh? Reckless child. Oughter've known better.”

“And the boys tried to save her,” Nia said.

“Aha!” Podo thundered, and Janner grinned. Podo cleared his throat again and said in a loud whisper, “I knew those lads had a fire in their bellies! Two wee fighters against the Fangs of Dang! I tell ye they've got their ol' Podo's growl and girth in 'em! If their father could see them now—”Janner stopped smiling, as Podo stopped short.

A heavy silence divided them all. “Sorry, lass,” Podo said after a moment. He was suddenly tender in a way that surprised Janner. “Go on,” Podo urged Nia. “What happened then?”

Nia took a deep breath. “I'm not sure, but I think I have a guess. The kids said that someone threw two rocks that knocked the Fangs flat. They didn't see where the rocks came from. Then they ran to find us. It wasn't until after the dragons sang that they were caught and taken to the jail.”

Again, neither spoke for a moment. Podo broke the silence. “Well grab my gizzard, honey, do you think it was…him?”

Podo's voice had suddenly lowered and Janner heard his own heart quicken.
Does she think it was who?
he wondered as he eased away from the stove and pressed his ear to the door.

“I don't know,” Nia said, “but it certainly sounds like something
he'd
do.” There was another long pause. “Whoever it was, I'm thankful. The children are alive.”

Janner could tell by his mother's tone that the discussion was over.

“Jnnnr, gimmph s'more chrrdrrbrph,” Tink mouthed from the table.

“Huh?” Janner said, turning around a little too quickly.

Tink swallowed his mouthful of food and belched loudly. “Get me some more chowder, eh? Since you're up.”

Deep in thought, Janner filled Tink's bowl and sat back down at the table. Leeli was feeding Nugget bits of food, and Tink was oblivious to anything but the steaming bowl of soup in front of him. Janner thought back over every detail of that afternoon, and he couldn't think of one clue as to who could have thrown the rocks. The alley was deep enough that whoever threw them had to be an excellent shot. Only two rocks thrown, and they hit their marks perfectly—and they came at the very last second. How could that be? And how was it that Podo and his mother had a guess as to who the mysterious rock thrower was?

Suddenly, with a crash and a pirate growl, Podo burst into the room. “W
HAT'S THIS
I
HEAR ABOUT BRAVE LITTLE RENEGADES TERRORIZING THE TAR OUT OF THE LOCAL LIZARDS?
” he roared. Hobbling over to Leeli, Podo swept her up over his shoulder with one of his giant tattooed arms as she squealed and pounded playfully on his back.

“Now get in here, lads and lasses and tell me a tale that'll make me quiver in me boots.” Podo kicked open the door with his wooden stump and carried Leeli out of the kitchen like a kidnapped maiden.

Janner and Tink smiled at one another and pushed away from the table, Tink with a mouthful of butterbread and Janner with a head full of questions.