This is a scene from my latest book THE SUNDER OF THE OCTAGON, a magical fantasy adventure aimed at older children.
This scene was inspired by the idea of "What would happen if a guy who was trained to fight in a very Kravvy way was magically turned into a geriatric...BUT then magically regained his youth and turned on his multiple attackers."
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An hour later Jeroth sat in the
chair in his small room while Calson sat on the floor, cross legged,
happily brushing away at the left boot. Jeroth looked down at his
gnarled, calloused feet and winced. Glancing across at the boy he
snapped, “No, no. Brush in one direction only, towards the toes.
You got it now?”
Calson squinted at the boot and
held it up then smiled. “Think so…”
“Good, when you’ve done
that there’s…”
Before he could finish there was
a mighty bang and the door crashed open. Three huge men stood in the
doorway. Calson jumped with fear and leapt to his feet. Jeroth stared
at them in disbelief.
“There he is, the little
runt!” one of the men growled. Calson looked terrified.
“You shouldn’t steal from
your betters boy!” another snarled as they pounded into the
room, their huge feet making the walls shake.
Calson ran behind Jeroth and
gibbered “I didn’t do nothing like. Wasn’t me.”
“Don’t lie you little
wretch!” the second man said. They were all hugely powerful men
and they ignored Jeroth as they advanced on the cowering, frightened
boy.
Jeroth stood, his anger raised
more by them ignoring him than their unwanted presence. “What do
you want?”
The men stopped for a moment,
looked at each other and then laughed.
“Ohh, ho. Silly old fool”
the first man said sneering. “Don’t be a stupid old man, just
get out the way.”
Jeroth stared at them. There was
a time when he could have put all three of these men down in seconds,
in a fair or unfair fight. He felt his anger rise again. Calson stood
behind him, clearly terrified.
“Just go and leave us, you
have no right to be here!” Jeroth shouted, his voice cracking.
He brought his walking stick up and caught the middle man in the
crotch with it. The man yelped and his eyes crossed as he sagged to
his knees.
“Right, that’s it!”
the first man snarled and drew a dagger. Before Jeroth could react
the man plunged it into his chest. He grinned as the blade went
through Jeroth’s jerkin.
“Gave you your chance old
fool!” he hissed. Jeroth glared at him as he started to fall
forwards, his hand fumbling weakly for the handle of the blade.
As the thug went to pull the
knife free Jeroth’s face lit up with a blinding glow, the rays
spreading rapidly down his body.
“Gods Theub, never seen
your blade do THAT before!” the first thug said blinking in
shock. Jeroth collapsed on the floor, his whole body shining brightly
as the men looked down.
“Oh well, stranger
things…and all that” Theub said and turned back to Calson.
“Now look what mischief you’ve caused. You’ll pay dearly for
this!”
The man on his knees struggled
upright, drawing in breath in big gasps. Jeroth’s body continued to
shine. “Weird” the man said shaking his head. “Get the brat
outside.”
Calson squealed as Theub grabbed
him by the ear and pulled him upright. As the man turned to the door
a heavy hand descended on his shoulder. He turned to find a stranger
glaring at him. Bearded, over six feet tall and heavily built.
Theub’s dagger was sticking out from his chest.
The man looked down at the knife
and with his other hand pulled it free. “Tsk, tsk” he said
tossing the blade away. “We won’t be needing that now.”
Before Theub could react the man punched him in the face. He flew
back across the room. Calson stared in confusion at the newcomer.
“Wait outside boy!” he barked. “This is not for your
eyes!”
As Calson shot out the door and
down the steps he heard the man laugh loudly.
“Right! Who wants to go
first?” CRASH!
“No sorry, sorry…it was a
mistake!” SMASH!”
“It's naughty to tell
lies!!” THUD! CRASH!
“PLEASE…we’re sorry!
Aahhh! No, no….!” SMASH!
“Just you two left now,
tell you what I’ll fight with my hands behind my back!” THUD!
CRASH! SPLINTER!
“Ha! Haa! Never said I
wouldn’t use my head and feet though did I?” CRASH!
“Ugh! Stop please, we’re
sorry!”
“Not as much as you’re
going to be!!!” THUD! SPLINTER! CRASH!
Calson stared at the window as
the noise continued. Suddenly the glass shattered and Theub came
hurtling out and landed on his back in the street. He groaned and
moved weakly, cuts and bruises on his face.
The bearded man came down the
steps, holding his newly polished boots and whistling.
“Ahhh, that feels better!”
he said pulling on his right boot and then kicking the prone figure
as hard as he could. Theub groaned again. “Just what I needed,”
he smiled happily, pulling on his other boot and then turning to
Calson who flinched in fear.
“It’s alright boy, it’s
me” he said. He held out his hands and Calson moved towards
him. Jeroth quickly took him under the armpits, swung him up in the
air laughing before putting him down again.
Calson stammered, “But
what, what happened to you?” he asked, totally confused.
“You appear to be an
‘innocent’ as hard as that is to believe,” Jeroth replied,
winking. He reached down and felt into the groaning man’s pockets,
grunting with satisfaction as he found a thick leather purse. He
opened it and emptied gold coins into his palm. “Time for a
steak, a fine wine and clothes that fit. Maybe even to ride a horse
again.” Calson stared on in amazement.
Jeroth kicked Theub again and
walked off. He turned to Calson. “Well, come on lad, you saved
me. You get to come too!” Calson fell in step behind him.
Jeroth began singing his
favourite song. It was a song about a blackbird and a milkmaid. Life
was good again. Now the Emerald Queen’s spell had been reversed.