This choice: Od and the serving pageboy are attacked on their way home • Go Back...Chapter #7Od and the serving pageboy are attacked on thei... by: ENB   It was after dinner and during the dark hours beginnings that Od threw his cloak over his shoulders and whistled for the pageboy. He came running up still chewing up the last bit of his supper.
"Come on now, where is your cloak? I am headed off home, and you are to come back with me."
"Oh, right, uh... I think it is in the back closet. Let me fetch it." The boy ran off to fetch his cloak and was back before Od could say "hurry it up!"
"What I get for taking you as my page I have no idea." Od mumbled. "I should have found someone else."
"Oh, but I am learning sir. I will remember to better next time."
"Yes, I am sure you will, except you made that promise all the ten next times ago. Ay, ay, ay, youngin's these days do not know the meaning of responsibility and diligence."
"Begin' your pardon sir, but they are long words."
"Oh, be quiet, and let's go."
Od heaved open the heavy wooden door that served as the back entrance into the alleyways behind the council chambers. The pattering of rain hit their ears as the door creaked open.
"Drats! I hate rain!" Od gritted his teeth and stepped into the cold, damp.
"So are we going to my gramma's house tomorrow then?"
"Certainly. We want to get this thing figured out for the king as soon as is humanly possible. Hopefully the hag ain't dead by the time we get to her tomorrow."
The pageboy stopped and placed his hands on his hips. "Now sir, no jokes or you'll force me to make the assumption that it's the middle-aged people who have no knowledge of the word respect."
"Oh, keep up." The pageboy complied and started trekking through the rain once more. It soaked straight through his cloak sending chills down to his very bones. His feet made squishing noises as he walked behind his master.
squish, squash, squish, squash, kersplat!
The pageboy tripped and landed face first in the muddy.
Od turned around and laughed at the spectacle. "Can't even keep yourself clean now?"
The pageboy picked himself up and wiped mud away form his eyes with the back of his hand. "Gaaawwwsh, and I just took a bath yesterday." He started walking again.
squish, squash, squish, squash,
The pageboy yawned. He looked forward to a nice warm bed and a good night's rest.
squish, squash, squish, squash, thud!
A booted foot stomped into the mud followed by another then two more sets.
Od stopped in his tracks. Three hooded men stood in front of them blocking the way down the street. The glittering of swords could be seen beneath their black cloaks.
"Hey you there!" Od shouted at them. "Step aside! Me an' the boy are just going home now. We want no trouble."
Soft but cruel chuckling broke out under the hoods. One of the men, obviously the leader, stepped right up to Od's face and with one swift motion slid his sword from his sheath and laid the blade against Od's neck.
"Look fella," Od's voice was firm, "I don't have any money on me."
The men chuckled again. The leader spoke:
"Money? No, we do not want your money" His voice was raspy like a winter's breeze cutting through ice. "We want to talk."
"Well, I don't talk to anyone who's face I cannot see."
"You want to see my face? Very well."
The man flipped back his hood. Od gasped at what he saw: nothing! The man had no head at all. Od squirmed. Even with their absence he could feel the man's eyes watching him.
"What are you?"
"I could give you a long explanation, but the simple side of it is, I am nothing."
"That's not simple."
"Take it or leave it."
"Well, what do you want."
"We have orders. You come with us now, or you don't go anywhere."
"Nonsense! I am going home, and home is where I am going." Od tried to wrest himself free off the man's grasp, but the invisible hand was strong.
"No funny business, now. You'll regret it I have no doubt. Our master doesn't like tricksters."
````
All the time Od was distracting the ghost man, the pageboy had been hiding in the shadows slowly making his way back to the council room door. He could slip out the front door instead. So far he didn't think the men had seen him, but it was hard to tell when you were being watched by invisible eyes. He held his breath and walked as slowly and softly as he could dodging through shadows.
Suddenly he heard a shout of Od, and he broke out in a run.
Word count: 796    indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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