The Staff of Naught by Tom Liberman Page B

the vague light from the embers of the fire around the corner to guide her. It was like the obsidian rock that came from The Maw. She knew all about that, master stone workers created all sorts of things from the black rock but this somehow did not seem the same. She stood and gawked for long moments before she blinked her eyes and the round rock was gone. She blinked again but it did not reappear. Ariana thought about going back to bed again but the voice in her head said that she wanted to hold the staff just one more time. Tanner would come back, Khemer would figure out a way to destroy it, and then she would never have the chance again. At least that’s what she usually told herself but this time it was different, she thought as she reminisced. This time the voice wanted her to take the staff for another reason and just used her thoughts to drive her to it.
    She was unable to resist the allure and felt a sense of relief wash over her entire body as her hand grasped the smooth tapered wood handle that seemed to fit her perfectly. She lifted it up over her head, twirled around, and whispered secret dreams aloud, “You will obey me,” she said to a legion of undead minions. “I am your master!” But then the voice came and it wasn’t her own thoughts, it was someone else and it was clear and it was strong.
    “Ariana,” said the voice. She could tell it was an older man but the voice was firm.
    “Yes?” she whispered back suddenly paralyzed holding the staff high above her head and standing on her tip toes.
    “The Gods are not real.”
    The girl was only able to give a small squeak.
    “Ras of the Sun is nothing more than a Fiery Elemental from the time before the Old Empire,” said the voice and she could hear the distaste in the words.
    “I … I … don’t know what that means,” said the girl still unable to move.
    “It is difficult to speak but we will talk again. There is much of great importance to do Ariana.”
    “Wha … who … are you?” she finally managed to tremble out but the voice was gone and her body was somehow hers to control again. She immediately put the staff back in the little niche in the wall and went to bed. She didn’t think that she would ever fall asleep but eventually it was morning and her brother called her to come out and play.
    At that moment she opened her eyes and saw the little wagon far below headed towards the hill. She watched it for a long time as it seemed to almost not be moving but it made steady progress across the grassy plans until she could even see the two donkeys leading the way although not the men in the cab.
    “Uney!” she called out although did not look for her brother but continued to watch the little wagon.
    A moment later the boy, breathless and holding a smooth flat stone in one hand appeared next to her. “Look at this skipping rock I found! I bet I can make it hop twenty times.”
    “Look,” said Ariana and pointed down into the valley.
    The boy’s sharp eyes widened, “It’s them!”
    “How can you tell?” asked Ariana who looked at her brother with raised eyebrows.
    “Who else would it be?” he returned the question.
    Ariana nodded her head, “You’re probably right.”
    “Whooop,” whooped Unerus and dashed off down the hillside to the entrance to the small cave while Ariana stayed and watched as the wagon drove progressively closer. In about five minutes she could make out the form of Shamki and she felt a little thrill run through her body and then the strange awkward walk of Humbort confirmed her brother’s opinion. A moment later Hazlebub, unwashed and smelling of sulfur for some reason, joined her at the leap.
    “It’s them then,” said the witch and squinted in completely the wrong direction.
    By now Ariana knew that the old woman was very short sighted and couldn’t be trusted to get to the creek that supplied their daily water needs without a point in the right direction. Ariana pointed to the wagon below and gently