Max Hamby and the Blue Fire

2

2

"It's been too long. We should go after then," said Bertha. She shielded her eyes and searched the sky for any sign of the Cagon.

"Maybe we should look for them," said Basil.

"It is best that we remain here. They could be anywhere by now," said Zeeback.

Max watched Milo and the Spriggan whisper back and forth. Milo looked up, causing Max to raise an eyebrow. He was curious to know what they were discussing so heavily, but Milo didn't bother to explain. Instead he crouched down and pushed his fingers into the dirt. The green glow of his magic traveled down his arm and into the earth. He closed his eyes and sat still for a few minutes before shaking his head and standing up again. "I thought I could tell where the water was coming from, but I can't."

"They are coming back," said Bertha.

The Cagon glided through the air. Their leathery wings made a soft slap as they landed. "The Three Streams are north of here and Gloomrock Lake is just beyond," said Herrick, folding his wings at his sides.

"We are not alone," said Cymry. "Two Trith have found their way here. My brother and I were too high for them to notice us. They are approaching the Three Streams."

"I thought the Trith were dead," said Davi. "Unless it's the two that were at Merrihaven."

Milo and the Spriggan glanced at one another, but remained quiet.

"if they attack, they will meet a quick end," said Berthas, grinding her fist into the palm of her hand. "Lead the way, Cagon."

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Cynric followed his brother's gaze. "What in the world?"

The Pinkstone brothers stared at the fallen Lumprotter. Its arms were out to the side and its pudgy pink feet were stuck up in the air. It moaned, but did not try to get up.

"What do we do, brother?" asked Cynric.

Alfie did not respond right away. He walked the edge of the rot. "Come look at this, Cynric." he knelt down in the grass. Cynric placed the gibbering mouse on his shoulder and crouched beside his brother.

"What do you make of this?" asked Alfie, pointing to the rot.

Cynric scratched his head and grimaced. "Well, it's torn."

"Yes. Yes. That is quite obvious," said Alfie. "We have several questions before us. Why? How? And most importantly, who and or what." he stood up and walked back toward the center, keeping his toes away from the rot. "Lumprotter, who did this to you?"

The Lumprotter moaned louder. "It came right up to me. It was glorious. It could not or would not speak, but it danced with the grace of a thousand swans. No one has ever been so close to me." Its ears flapped furiously and slapped the ground. It lifted its head and tried to roll from one side to the other. It scrunched up its face and grunted, then threw its arms out in front. Its skin turned a deeper shade of pink and its ears flapped faster. It lifted itself off the ground just enough to get the wings on its back moving. Sweat poured down its forehead and over its chest and stomach before it righted itself back on the stump.

"Lumprotter, what happened here?" asked Alfie.

The Lumprotter inhaled, sucking in its protruding belly until there was only two rolls of fat, instead of four. Its stomach popped back out and extended over the stump with its dramatic exhale. "That little creature approached me. It got close. No one has ever gotten that close before." Its beady eyes shifted between the brothers, as if seeing them for the first time. Its lip curled and began to tremble. "Then the most horrible thing happened. Defiled." It blinked and suddenly black tears rolled down its cheeks.

"Liquid rot," gasped Alfie.

"Oh, dear," said Cynric. "Now, just calm down and tell us what happened. We can't help you otherwise."

The Lumprotter flexed its hands. The Pinkstone brothers mistook it for fear, but they quickly realized it was not. The Lumprotter's skin turned deep red. Alfie and Cynric's eyes grew wide.

"Defiled my rot," shrieked the Lumprotter.

The rot began to spread, except for the torn area. The brothers backed up. Alfie threw his hands in the air. "Who did this to you?"

"Lumprotter, stop this at once," yelled Cynric. The Lumprotter ignored him. It closed its eyes and sat stiff on the stump. "What do we do, brother? If we can't stop this now, there will be no more Merrihaven."

"Look where the rot is torn. It's not spreading. Perhaps if we tear the rest, we can stop this nonsense," said Alfie.

"We don't even know what it will do to us," said Cynric. "Do you really want to risk it?"

The rot crept toward their feet, forcing them back. They ran to the front of Knoxby's shack and watched the rot inch over the peak of the roof.

"This is going to kill us all," said Cynric. "If it doesn't, Knoxby will certainly have our heads on a platter."

The troll's home creaked and groaned. One by one, the walls caved in. With nothing left to hold it up, the roof crashed to the ground with a bang that echoed over the grounds.

The gibbering mouse watched the last remaining bits of its home crumble. It squealed and shook its tiny fists at the Lumprotter. It climbed off Cynric and stomped over to the rot.

"Oh, dear," said Cynric. "Don't do that. “The gibbering mouse grabbed the rot and pulled. A tiny piece ripped off. It threw the rot aside, checked its paws and the rest of its body. When it realized the rot had not caused him any damage, it started shredding with fierce speed. The Lumprotter was unaware. The mouse moved in a flurry of anger, but it was not enough. The rot kept spreading out in all directions. Anything the rot touched, died instantly.

"We were just outshined by a mouse," said Cynric.

"Yes. If you mentioned this to anyone, I will boil you in a vat of pig snot," said Alfie. "Now, shall we help the little creature or stand here blabbering all day?" he didn't wait for a response and walked over to the rot. He paused and eyed the gibbering mouse nervously as it continued to shred.

"Touch it and I will kill you."

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Max scanned the landscape for signs of the Three Streams. The sound of rushing water was growing. Thankfully, there was no sign of the Trith. He hoped it stayed that way, though the Trith's sense of smell was far superior to any human and there was nothing to mask the mixture of scents from the group. By now, the Trith were well aware of their presence.

Snoop covered his ears and groaned. "Is no one else bothered by the sound of that blasted water? How much farther?"

Do you see the three oak trees in the distance?" asked Herrick. "The Three Streams are just beyond them."

Max studied the trees. They were bigger than the average oak, but not as big as the one in Busby Stoop used to be. The trunks were full with lush green leaves. A sense of urgency filled him up and his steps became quicker until he was out in front with the Cagon. "Did you see the sisters?"

"We saw no one, except for the Trith," said Cymry.

Dread settled in the pit of his stomach. It would not be easy to get the stones from the sisters. The sound of water grew ever louder, as they drew closer to the oak trees. He winced. It was like waves pounding on his eardrums. He crossed under the center oak with the Cagon. The warmth of the sun disappeared. He glanced up into the heart of its branches. They were so high, Bertha and Wunder had no problem standing underneath them.

Snoop uncovered his ears. "That's better. Weird, but better."

Max turned around and realized the sound of rushing water had stopped and was replaced with birds chirping and a breeze rustling the leaves above their heads.

"Come," said Herrick. "It is not far." The Cagon walked away, leaving the others staring after him.

Max hurried to catch up, only to skid to a stop at the edge of a stream. There were three in all. He knelt beside the middle one and stared at his reflection. The water gurgled and trickled from one direction, hooked around and traveled back the way it came. A deep rumble sounded from nowhere and yet, everywhere. The ground shifted under his feet. He whipped around and looked at Milo, who shook his head.

"Back away from the water," said Bonedread.

Max back up, as three grassy knolls rose up out of the ground. The streams flowed faster. The group fanned out. The middle stream began to bubble and steam drifted into the air. A head crowned the surface and slowly rose above the water. The woman was bone dry. Her dark shoulder-length hair swayed in the breeze that the rest of them could not feel. She wore a long, ragged black dress that revealed nothing more than the tips of her fingers and toes. She did not move or speak, but hovered inches above the water. Her eyes were closed and if not for the fact that she was upright, it appeared that she was sleeping.

"Should we say something?" whispered Davi.

"Where's the other sisters?" asked Snoop.

The woman's eyes popped open. They were black, like Basil's stone eye. Davi shrank back.

"Come forth, child with the blood of diamonds," she said.

Bonedread gently shoved Max forward. Max whipped around and glared at the goblin, but Bonedread ignored him and pointed at the knoll. Max reluctantly walked up the grassy platform. Unsure of what to do, he remained silent and stood still.

"Come forth, children of death and earth," said the woman. Basil and Milo flanked Max on either side.

"Come forth, children of duplication."

Snoop and Davi shook their heads and backed away. Bertha gently laid her hands on their shoulders and moved them forward.

The woman lowered herself until her feet touched the water. "I am Miseria; one of the three sisters that belong to the streams." The streams flowed underneath her, but she stood calmly, as though she were standing on solid ground. "You seek the stones. Is that not right, child with blood of diamonds?"

"Yes. We," Max began.

"You think you are worthy. I think not," she said. "How dare you disturb me."

"We mean you no disrespect. We're on a quest to save our friends and family," said Milo. "Can you tell us where the stones are?"

Miseria's black eyes shifted to Milo. She tilted her head and studied him. "And what will you do for me?"

"What do you want?" asked Milo.

"We will do anything," interrupted Max.

Grunts and groans reverberated behind him. Miseria's eyes remained fixed on him.

"Are you stupid, boy?" whispered Bonedread.

"Wrong move, Max," said Bertha. With a flick of her wrist, she motioned to the Cagon, goblins and troll to fan out behind the boys.

"So eager," said Miseria. "I like that." She studied each one of them, though her gaze lingered on the twins. "I want my sisters returned to me. Greed descended on us many years ago. Humans, like you, trapped them at the edge of Gloomrock Lake. My sisters were tricked and have been there ever since." She clasped her hands in front of her. "Come. I will show you." She walked across the surface of the stream until she reached the lake, then paused and glanced over her shoulder. She waited for everyone to catch up, then continued on. The group followed her along the water's edge. She pointed to a large lump in the grass.

Max hurried to it, but kept an eye on Miseria. Two skeletons laid huddled together. Each one had an ankle caught in an iron trap. Max's mouth fell open. Milo and the twins stared wide-eyed.

"Return my sisters to me," said Miseria.

"They are dead," said Max. "There's no way we can bring them back."

"You will return my sisters to me or no stone," she said. "The children of duplication will remain here until you do." Snoop and Davi clung to one another. "I require the blade from the Faeryn King and three drops of the Faeryn Queen's blood."

"No," said Max. "We will do as you ask, but the twins are not staying here."

"Wh-What's going on?" asked Davi.

"We can't move," said Snoop.

The earth around their feet flooded with water. The dirt turned to mud. It rose up to their ankles with a strange sucking noise.

"You can't keep then," shouted Max. "milo do something."

Milo circled the twins' legs with his magic, trying to dry up the water and pull them out, but his magic brought more dirt, which created more mud. The twins screamed when it reached their knees.

Bertha grabbed the twins under the arms and lifted up. Both boys yelped in pain.

"Giant, you are no match for me," said Miseria.

Wunder let out a gurgle. Water dribbled from his mouth. He grabbed his chest and fell to his knees.

"Put the children of duplication down or I will kill your boy."

Bertha looked down at the twins, then back at Wunder.

"Let us go," shouted Davi.

"Bertha, do it," yelled Snoop.

The half-giant dropped the twins and rushed to her son's side. "Are you alright?" Wunder inhaled and exhaled, then slowly nodded his head.

"Leave us here," said Davi. "Find a way to restore the sisters and get the stones."

Max opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.

Davi looked away and Snoop's eyes watered. "Don't forget us."

The doll peered out of the satchel and studied the woman. Her head swiveled and her eyes landed on it. It slowly dropped the flap and returned to its position between the hourglass and the map.