had dried blood under his nose. They were all eagerly awaiting some entertainment.
Samuel said nothing, but Jessicah was tugging desperately at the side of his shirt. ‘
‘You’re lucky I just pissed,’ said the bully with a grin. One of his companions
The bully jumped forwards and threw his arms up, as if to frighten them, but Samuel stepped forward and smashed his fist up into the bully’s undefended nose. The collision of nose and knuckles jarred Samuel’s fist, surprising him, but the pain that contorted the big boy’s face was obviously far greater. The bully staggered back, clutching at his face and yelling in pain.
Samuel pushed Jessicah back. ‘Run home,’ he told her, and she did, turning and hurrying away, leaving Samuel facing a line of angry young boys.
‘Now we’re gonna have to
The boys began scooping up river stones and moved to encircle Samuel. Samuel stood his ground and waited for their first move, for he knew he could not outrun them all. He watched closely as one boy drew his arm slowly back and then the missile came hurtling forth. Samuel stepped neatly to the side, but an awful pain bit him in the back of the head. He spun around in time to catch another stone with his face and was blinded by the pain. The boys all started laughing.
‘Stone him!’ the bully yelled and rocks began pelting Samuel from all directions.
Samuel dropped to the ground and covered his face with his hands as the boys all laughed at him, blasting him with stones. It only lasted a handful of moments, yet when they were done, Samuel had wet, salty blood in his eyes and his body rang with pain where the stones had struck bone. He climbed to his feet while the boys were still laughing and watched them groggily, defiantly. The boy closest to the bully scooped up one last rock, just to squeeze one last laugh from his mates. His throw was hard and true and it was aimed directly at Samuel’s face.
There was a ringing in Samuel’s ears and everything suddenly seemed to be moving at half-speed, getting slower. The bully was caught laughing with his eyes half-closed and his mouth wide open.
Samuel’s hand came up as the stone crawled through the air towards him and he plucked it from the very air as if it was hanging still. All Samuel could focus upon were all the boys’ laughing faces, as if they were frozen in time, deformed and twisted. It fired Samuel with contempt and hatred. It filled him with blazing venom.
Time flashed back to its normal rate as, with a grunt and all his might, he threw the stone back towards them. The stone narrowly missed the bully’s ear and whizzed past him so fast that it was halfway across the river before any of them could even turn their heads. It struck the slow river and flew up again with a great hiss and spray of water. They heard it strike a withered tree on the far bank with an almighty bang and a crack that echoed back towards them. Then, to the disbelief of them all, the tree shivered and shook and then toppled over, crashing down the bank and rolling into the river with a thunderous clatter.
The boys slowly turned gape-mouthed back to Samuel and then looked at each other blankly. The bully trembled, finally remembering to close his mouth, and looked wildly at his colleagues. Samuel thought the gang was about to flee, but his glimmer of anticipation was abruptly dispelled.
Samuel immediately fell beneath their weight and grunted as their bodies piled on top of him. His head spun and his eyes fuzzed and he thought he was going to die, until, without warning, the bright sun was again in his eyes. A tall black silhouette was clubbing at the fleeing boys and shouting like a devil.
‘Be away with you, you little dastards!’ the voice shouted after them. A hand was offered and Samuel gingerly took it, being pulled to his giddy feet. ‘Not quick enough again, Samuel,’ the man spoke. ‘I saw you passing through the markets with your lady friend and thought I’d let you two be alone for a time, but when I saw her hurrying back in such a dither, I thought I had better come take a look. Lucky for you, I think.’ The man was Mr Joshua. ‘What an awful mess we’d both be in if I let you get injured or worse.’
Samuel nodded and tried to agree, but his throat would not make any sound. Mr Joshua tucked his cudgel again into his belt and led Samuel back towards the town.
‘Let’s see to these cuts,’ he said and took Samuel back into his office.
The men there regarded the beaten Samuel with a mix of curiosity, concern and laughter, although a scornful glance from Mr Joshua quickly stopped all that.
In his office, Mr Joshua cleaned the cuts and grazes himself and picked over Samuel until he was sure he had seen and treated every little sore.
‘I can’t have my best man killed so young now, can I?’ he said as he worked. Samuel shook his head. ‘So, what news do you have for me? Anything?’ Mr Joshua asked as Samuel, trembling, drank from the cup Mr Joshua offered him.
Samuel told of the many frantic comings and goings of the Burning Oak recently, and of the ancient-looking old man who stayed whom they called ‘Grand Master’. He told of the man who had offered him money and Mr Joshua cursed, saying it was no man of his, but some upstart trying to steal some of his business. Samuel even mentioned the lights around the old man’s head, and Mr Joshua nodded and looked concerned, but Samuel said nothing of his attempts to copy them.
‘Are these men devils, Mr Joshua? People say that only devils can use magic. But they seem so nice for devils.’
Mr Joshua laughed softly. ‘No, they’re not devils, as far as
Samuel nodded and, with a pat on his back from Mr Joshua, he left and returned towards the Burning Oak, suddenly dreading his lecture from Kans upon taking so long. At least the cuts and bruises were evidence for his tardiness.
Samuel thought he would be too sore to get on the roof that night, but after unsuccessfully trying to make the light in his hands, Samuel could not resist. He clambered onto the roof when he saw the faint glow of the candles shining out the high window and waited for whomever it was-Mr Took, it turned out-to practise his movements.
Samuel hoped to find some clue as to what had happened to him on the river-bank. What strange power had filled him for that instant?
As Samuel watched on, entranced, a shout from below nearly brought him tumbling from the roof.
‘Samuel!’ Kans called from below. ‘Where are you, boy?’
The sound of Kans walking through the stable and calling his name continued until he came out into the yard again and began calling there. Samuel flattened himself to the tilted roof and lay perfectly still, in case Kans should look up. It was a bright night, after all, and Samuel suspected he was perfectly visible if someone should look directly towards him.
Kans eventually gave up his calling and returned around to the front of the main building. Samuel took advantage of the opportunity and shimmied down from the roof and scampered back into his room. He dived into his bed and waited to see if Kans would return.
‘There you are,’ Kans said, striding angrily into his room. ‘Where have you been?’
The boy sat up and tried his best to yawn and look tired. ‘Oh, I was relieving myself, Kans.’
Kans nodded. ‘Why are you dressed like that?’
Samuel looked at himself and had to subdue his panic. He was still in his grubby working clothes. ‘I…I was working late and was so tired, I must have forgotten to change.’
Kans scoffed and shook his head without any attempt to conceal his disdain for such behaviour. ‘Quickly, then. Get up and ready Mr Copperpot’s and Mr Sloan’s horses. They are leaving within the hour.’
Samuel nodded and leapt to work. He had the horses ready well within time, before the two men came rushing out and clambered onto their animals. They galloped out the front gates, barely pausing to give their
