Heckle

**C****hief Heckle** was the chief of the Drekkers during the Dragon War.

## Biography

### Prince Lander and the Dragon War

After the Frustrated Band of Hot Youngbloods want King Whitson to abdicate and make Prince Lander king, Prince Lander seeks the advice of Mother Saramack, who tells him to get those in the middle on their side, and because they are short on time, their best bet would be the Drekkers. Prince Lander and Prince Lemual go to the Drekker camp, and Lander tells the door guard that he comes to visit Chief Heckle. The guard frowns and shakes his head, saying that Chief Heckle is at the match and wouldn't be free until eveningtide at the earliest. When Lander and Lemual finally get in, they find Chief Heckle surrounded by a formidable force of Drekkers, blocking the entrance in a wide line. Chief Heckle tells the princes that they are not welcome there. Lander stared at Chief Heckle, trying to find what to say. He then smiles, and says that that is dissapointing, as Chief Heckle is welcome at Lander's table, Lander's council, and Lander's court when one day he is king, and he would be honored by and grateful for Chief Heckle's presence. Chief Heckle frowns and looks down, and then tells Prince Lander that it is a festival day, and the Drekkers keep those days to themselves and only invite rare outsider guests, which he hopes Lander will see accounted for his gruff greeting. Chief Heckle then asks if Lander will walk with him. Lander nods, but Lemual is concerned, and Lander tries to assuage him, that Lander will be all right. He tells Lemual that he will be back soon, and walks away with the Drekker chief. Chief Heckle reaches out and takes Prince Lander's arm, and Lander, while alarmed at first, remembers that this was a gesture of peace among Drekkers. Chief Heckle tells Lander that this is the grip of truth, and asks if Lander understands that. Lander says that his father raised him to always be in the grip of truth, to always be honest. Chief Heckle, while saying that he believes Lander, says that Lander might not say all, and that the grip of truth means speaking even uncomfortable truths. He says that Prince Grant will likely die, which is a hard truth, and Lander agrees. Chief Heckle continues that he knows Lander is having trouble with his youths. He says that it is true of his too, but then says that if Lander is looking for assurances of loyalty from the Drekkers and the clans they have taken in, he is looking for the wrong thing. Chief Heckle says that the Drekkers don't get involved like that, and wait for things to shake out before deciding where their loyalties lie. Lander is incredulous, asking if they really wait for things to shake out before deciding if they are still loyal to the king. Chief Heckle says that, yes, that is their way, and Lander, grasping his arm, says that their way is a coward's way. Chief Heckle says that it might seem like that to him, as his ancestors' history wasn't like theirs. He tells Lander of all the things the Drekkers have been through, being left for dead on the trek, doomed to roam for ages in a barren wilderness, forced to adapt and band together. He informs Lander that the Drekkers made it through, and reluctantly rejoined the other Trekkers on Golden Coast. He says that even there, the Drekkers were not welcomed as equals but instead set apart to work the labors the others didn't like. Lander inquires why, then, they have stayed with the Trekkers even through all the journeys and wars. Chief Heckle says that, while that would be the easy way, most of the Drekkers remember old oaths made by they elders before it all happened. Lander stops, asking why they are not influenced by the oath now, and don't side with King Whitson, Flint's heir and the savior of rabbits. Chief Heckle, squeezing Lander's arm, replies that the youths want a different heir to reign, namely Lander, and isn't Lander of Flint and Fay's line? Lander growls that Whitson still lives.

Chief Heckle begins to say something but is cut off by a roar from the crowd. Chief Heckle, telling Lander that the game shouldn't be going on now, realizes something is amiss. Chief Heckle and Lander hurry toward the crowd, Chief Heckle shoving Drekkers aside until he and Lander could reach the inner ring. There, facing off against a huge buck, is Lemual. Chief Heckle curses, saying that there is another prince who will certainly die.

After Lemual, Nickel, and Winnie get Lander to allow Lemual to face off against Haldorn in a game of fling-a-ding, Chief Heckle says that because Lemual is a visitor and acceptor of Haldorn's challenge, Lemual gets to choose the distance of the contest. Lemual tells Chief Heckle that he chooses the nearest possible distance, perplexing and greatly concerning Chief Heckle. Chief Heckle wonders what would happen if he oversaw the death of the king's son, and falters, but the crowd gets louder and he seems to remember his duty. Chief Heckle calls each player to their mark, ten paces apart, and tells the contesters to get ready. He tells them that the contest will start on the cry, waiting for Lemual to load his sling. Lemual still does not load his sling, however, and Chief Heckle, shooting an apologetic glance at Lander, is forced to shout 'Fight ye' and the fight begins. Lemual, after throwing one rock as a distraction, hurls the other rock at Haldorn's head, ringing his helmet and knocking him out cold before he even releases a rock from his sling. Prince Lemual had won the match. Chief Heckle comes over to Lander, telling him that what just happened was clever, inventive, noble, and brave. Lander asks if it was foolhardy, and Chief Heckle says that it probably was, but is nevertheless worthy of praise and *loyal support.* Prince Lander grins and thanks him, saying that his father will be pleased to hear that.

Before the peace summit with Grimble, Whitson suspects treachery. Lander suggests they ask a trickster to counter Grimble's tricks, namely Nickel Drekker. And so, the next morning, Chief Heckle accompanies Nickel to the king's war council. Chief Heckle tells King Whitson that he has come to the right rascal, as Nickel is the most devious scoundrel (except for maybe his sister Winnie) that the Drekkers have among them. Nickel, wounded, says that his sister doesn't have a tenth of his art, and that he is the one for this sort of caper. He asks for a moment to think, and Whitson asks how they could make Nickel more comfortable, perhaps by leaving him to think alone. Nickel says that he can think of tricks, but he is not sure what they need. Captain Walters asks if this is the best use of their intelligence, as the summit is at dawn and they have little time. Chief Heckle interrupts, glaring at Captain Walters, and asking if he doesn't have time for Drekker nonsense. Chief Heckle stood up, saying he suspected they would be that way and tells Nickel to come along, as their uncouth contributions are not welcome. King Whitson places his hand on Chief Heckle's arm, then grips his arm tightly. Whitsons says that while they have not always done well in welcoming the Drekkers and valuing their ways, he is sorry, and hopes those days are coming to an end. He pleads Chief Heckle to stay and help them, as they need him. Chief Heckle nods and sits down again, and Captain Walters, bowing to him, asks that Chief Heckle forgive his outburst, as while he may have doubts it is not his place. Chief Heckle says that it is forgiven and no more thought of, as if he'd been told before that they would be relying on one of Nickel's schemes in their hour of need they could have knocked him over with a bee's wing. King Whitson proceeds with asking Nickel for his schemes, and Nickel predicts that Grimble will send a strike force, to make them eager to seek peace. Captain Walters rose and started to protest, but he closed his mouth and sat back, waving apologetically. Chief Heckle said that dismissing the Drekkers is long in his line, but Captain Walters says that he's fought beside the Drekkers many times and does not doubt their bravery or skill in battle. Chief Heckle says that they are fierce fighters, but that he hopes that they will see him as more than that. Nickel puts in that he hopes Captain Walters will see that we can also come in with a heap of deceptive tricks, to which Chief Heckle rolls his eyes and tells Nickel that he is the idiot of the world— at which point an officer comes running in, saying that the Grimble faction is attacking.

Whitson asks Chief Heckle to send half their force to the conflict, and place the other half near the king's house. Chief Heckle bowed, saying that Whitson could count on them, and then instructed Nickel to stay with King Whitson and help out with his tricks and sling (Nickel later joined Lander's Mighty Reds instead).

**Chief Heckle (to King Whitson)**: I, uh... also, uh...

—Prince Lander and the Dragon War

When King Whitson and Prince Lander returned from attempting to dig up the starsword, they found Captain Walters and Chief Heckle arguing. Captain Walters was sayig that he was not willing to risk his life for a mad scheme, and Chief Heckle was shouting that what was actually mad was that Captain Walters was so conventional that he was as predictable as a sleepy old codger and as easy to defeat as a nattering old man. Walters shouted back that what was predictable was that Chief Heckle was as foolish as he looked, and Chief Heckle said that was over the oval, and called him Captain Bellypaunch. When Whitson walked forward and raised his hand for silence, both looked embarrassed and then awkwardly stood at attention. The king looked at Nickel Drekker, and asked if he had a scheme for them.

After the Battle of Barren Point and Whitson's death, King Lander invites many captains and lords (and Mother Saramack) to a council, seeking advice. Chief Heckle advised him that it would be wise to watch the north gate, as the oathbreakers might hit it again, thinking that Lander will not expect it. Captain Walters said that they should move the bulk of the defense west, because King Whitson always emphasizes the west gate, and they shouldn't throw that away. Chief Heckle rose, saying that surely Captain Walters could not be accusing him of controverting Whitson's word. He said that the Drekkers will fight on the west gate like good rabbits, even if it means dying there, but was interrupted by Captain Walters, saying that all Chief Heckle was saying was that he knew better than King Whitson, and he couldn't see that, as he had served King Whitson for years. The argument was interrupted by Mother Saramack shouting that that was enough, and glaring at the two until they sat down.

While King Lander was gathering volunteers for his army, in preparation for the final battle against the dragons, Chief Heckle yells that the Drekkers will fight with Lander, and that he can count on them. The Trekkers all cheer at this. During the battle, just as Lander begins to realize that the dragons are winning, Chief Heckle arrives. He is at the head of a surging band of Drekkers, who send their slings spinning, and every scalebreaker who could thrust their sword into the air in salute to the Drekkers. Chief Heckle advanced through the dragon line, sling killing dragons as he went. Chief Heckle shouted an order, and the first line of Drekkers dropped to their knees, drawing their blades— too low! The second row of Drekkers rushed ahead and held their blades up— too high! But then a third row of Drekkers came in, putting their blades in the middle—just right— and the dragons hesitated. The scalebreakers were relieved as the Drekkers fought bravely for the king.