by Jim Eldridge
Mudd hurtled away from Big Rock, hit one of the corner posts, and bounced back towards Big Rock. On his way past, Big Rock grabbed the troll, turned him upside down, dropped him on his back onto the canvas, and fell on him.
‘One! Two!’
Jack wondered if Mudd was going to be able to lift a shoulder off the canvas, but all that whirling around had obviously made the big troll giddy, because he lay there as the referee called out, ‘Three! And the winner, by two pinfalls, is Big Rock!’
Jack and Milo leapt to their feet, cheering and clapping, like the rest of the crowd in the tent. All except two.
As Jack jumped about happily, he noticed Lord Veto and Warg were deep in conversation; from the grim looks on their faces they were angry about something. And when Lord Veto got angry, as Jack knew from his years working at Veto Castle, trouble always followed.
As Big Rock did a victory parade around the ring, waving to the crowd, Jack moved away from Milo so he was near enough to Lord Veto and Warg to hear what they were saying. And what he heard confirmed his fears.
‘This isn’t looking good, Warg,’ he heard Lord Veto mutter. ‘This Big Rock is better than I thought he’d be. On this form, he could actually beat Aggro!’
‘It’s only an exhibition bout, Lord Veto,’ replied Warg. ‘It’s not a championship.’
‘It doesn’t matter, you fool!’ Lord Veto snapped. ‘If that troll beats Aggro tonight, then he’ll have the right to challenge Aggro for the title! And if he wins that, my reputation as having the best wrestlers in the whole land will be gone! My fortune is based on having the champion wrestlers in my stable!’
Jack saw Warg’s eyes flickering as he thought this over.
‘We have to stop the troll from winning,’ Warg said.
‘Of course we have to stop the troll from winning, you idiot!’ growled Lord Veto. ‘But how?’
A nasty smile appeared on the orc’s face.
‘Milo,’ he said. And he began to whisper.
Chapter 8
Milo put the prize money he’d just received for Big Rock winning the contest into his inside pocket, and smiled happily. With that, plus the cash he’d be picking up later from the Wrestling Federation as their share of the ticket money, the gang would be set up for a while. They’d be able to buy some good food – or maybe some good ingredients for Jack to turn into a fantastic meal – and some sweet hay for Robin, and maybe even a new costume for Big Rock; his old one was starting to look a bit worn and there were holes appearing where holes shouldn’t be.
As Milo headed for the exit to join the rest of the crew at the caravan, he found his way barred by the large figure of Warg, Lord Veto’s Chief Orc. Along with Warg there were three other orcs, all wrestlers. Milo recognised their style: long arms ready to attack, claws at the ready.
‘Lord Veto would like to have a private word with you,’ said Warg.
Four orcs, thought Milo. It doesn’t take four Wrestling Orcs to bring me a message. There’s something bad going on here, and I get the feeling I might be the target.
‘No problem,’ said Milo. ‘I’ll be in our caravan. He can find me there.’
Milo started to move off, but two of the orcs held out their long arms to stop him. Warg and the other orc were also standing very close to him.
‘Lord Veto would prefer to see you at the castle,’ said Warg.
‘Still no problem,’ nodded Milo. ‘Let’s go to my caravan. I’ll check my diary and we can fix an appointment.’
Again, Milo started to walk off, but once more the two large orcs moved swiftly sideways, cutting off his line of escape.
‘Lord Veto would like to talk to you now,’ said Warg firmly.
‘Sorry,’ said Milo, shaking his head. ‘I’m busy right now. Big Rock’s got a bout to prepare for.’
And this time, as the twin orcs once more slid sideways to try to block his exit, Milo moved nimbly backwards. But he wasn’t nimble enough. The third orc was already there, blocking him.
‘Big –!’ Milo began to yell, but before he could say the word ‘Rock’, the orc’s huge claw-like hand closed over his mouth, cutting off any further sound, and Milo found himself being lifted off the ground and his arms trapped as his coat was pulled down to his elbows.
Chapter 9
Lord Veto watched his favourite Wrestling Orc, Aggro, National Wrestling Champion, train. This part of his training took the form of members of Lord Veto’s castle staff hurling themselves at Aggro, and Aggro grabbing them and throwing them out of the ring. So far two butlers, three gardeners and five stable-hands lay on the ground outside the ring, groaning and clutching different parts of themselves in agony. Some of them wouldn’t be able to work as well as they normally did for a few days, so it could be expensive in staff numbers. But then, Lord Veto didn’t pay big wages, and he could always get more people from the estate to do the jobs.
As he watched Aggro hurl another gardener out of the ring, Lord Veto reflected that this sort of training was all well and good for developing Aggro’s fast reflexes, but it wouldn’t be much use when the orc was up against Big Rock. The Wrestling Troll was good. Possibly too good. Even though it was only an exhibition bout, as he’d told Warg, he couldn’t afford for Aggro to lose.
‘My Lord,’ murmured a voice just behind him.
Lord Veto turned. Warg was there.
‘Well?’ he asked.
Warg smiled.
‘It’s done,’ he said.
‘Excellent!’ said Lord Veto.
Big Rock sat on the steps of the caravan, his rocky face even more creased than usual as he gave a puzzled frown.
‘Milo never been this long before when he collect prize money,’ he said.
Jack paced around in a small circle in agitation. Robin looked up from grazing and said, ‘Will you stop that! You going round and round like that is making me feel dizzy!’
‘Something bad has happened to Milo!’ said Jack. ‘I should have made him take us with him to get the prize money. Lord Veto is behind this!’
‘Did I hear my name?’ murmured a voice.
Jack stopped pacing and whirled round. Lord Veto and his orc, Warg, had appeared as if out of nowhere.
Jack and Robin looked at the pair warily.
‘You seem concerned,’ said Lord Veto.
Jack recognised that sneaky silkiness in Lord Veto’s voice, which meant that Veto was feeling very smug about something, and that something had to be very nasty.
‘We can’t find Milo,’ said Big Rock.
‘Really?’ said Lord Veto. ‘Well, that’s a coincidence. It’s your friend Milo that I’ve come to see you about.’
‘Do you know where he is?’ demanded Jack.
Lord Veto turned to Jack and sneered nastily: ‘I wasn’t talking to you, kitchen boy.’
‘Do you know where he is?’ demanded Big Rock.
‘Yes, I do, actually,’ said Lord Veto. ‘He’s being looked after by a few of my Wrestling Orcs.’
‘Looked after?’ echoed Jack, shocked.
Lord Veto ignored Jack and addressed himself to Big Rock.
‘His safety is my concern,’ he added.
‘Oh, that all right then,’ nodded Big Rock. He turned to Jack and said: ‘Milo being looked after. He okay.’
‘At the moment,’ added Lord Veto menacingly.
‘Good,’ nodded Big Rock. Again, he said to Jack: ‘Milo okay. Everything good.’
Lord Veto let out a groan of exasperation and said to Warg, ‘These trolls are really thick aren’t they.’
‘What?’ asked Big Rock, puzzled.
‘He’s threatening us,’ said Jack, his face white with anger. ‘He’s threatening Milo.’
‘Thank you,’ nodded Lord Veto. ‘At least one of you is getting the message. Perhaps you’d explain it to the large lump of rock next to you.’
Big Rock frowned, baffled. ‘Don’t get it,’ he said. ‘He say Milo okay. Being looked after.’
‘But he’s say
ing it in a way that suggests he’s got Milo somewhere and he’s planning to hurt him unless we do what he wants.’
‘Exactly!’ said Lord Veto. ‘Big Rock needs to lose against Aggro, of course. I would have thought that was obvious. Otherwise, I might be forced to use your friend as a training aid for my Wrestling Orcs.’ He gave a nasty smile. ‘If that happens, they’ll tear him apart.’
Big Rock gave a snarl of anger, the first time Jack had ever heard him make such a sound, and he reached out to grab hold of Lord Veto, who darted backwards and hid behind Warg.
‘Lay a finger on me and your friend Milo will suffer for it!’ snapped Lord Veto.
Big Rock growled again and advanced towards Warg and Lord Veto, but Jack stepped in his way.
‘No, Big Rock,’ cautioned Jack. ‘He means it.’
‘It’s good that one of you has some sense,’ said Lord Veto. ‘So, that’s my offer. Lose against Aggro, and your friend goes free. Win, and you’ll never see him alive again.’
With that, Lord Veto and the orc turned and walked away.
Big Rock let out another low rumbling growl of anger, and then – to Jack’s surprise – the growl turned into a sound like bubbles bursting.
Jack looked at the huge troll, and realised that there were wet marks on Big Rock’s cheeks. The Wrestling Troll was crying.
‘Milo my friend!’ said Big Rock brokenly. He let out a heavy sigh that was so big the ground beneath their feet shook. ‘I got to lose.’
‘Lose!’ said an indignant voice behind them.
Big Rock and Jack turned, and saw Robin the horse standing looking at them accusingly.
‘Is that what Milo would want you to do?’ demanded the horse. ‘To lose a wrestling match on purpose? Is that in the spirit of Wrestling Trolls?’
‘No,’ admitted Big Rock. ‘But they got Milo!’
‘Then get him back!’ said Robin. He grunted. ‘Lose a wrestling match on purpose, indeed! I’ve never heard anything so terrible in all my years!’
‘But how?’ asked Big Rock helplessly. ‘We don’t know where they got Milo!’
‘Yes we do!’ said Jack. ‘There’s only one place they’d put him, and that’s in the dungeons at Veto Castle.’
‘Dungeons!’ groaned Big Rock. ‘We never get him out!’
‘Yes we will!’ said Jack determinedly. ‘Don’t forget, I spent my whole life in the castle. I know all the cellars and corridors and tunnels, and every part of that place. I’ll go down to the dungeons and rescue Milo.’
‘On your own?’ asked Robin sarcastically.
‘Yes,’ said Jack. ‘Because the best time to do it will be tonight when Big Rock’s in the ring with Aggro. Most of Lord Veto’s people will be watching the match, so there’ll only be a couple of guards left to watch over the dungeons.’
‘Yes, that’s good thinking,’ Robin admitted. Then he gave a snort of doubt. ‘But I can’t see you on your own beating even just a couple of guards. They’ll have weapons and armour.’ The old horse shook his shaggy head. ‘You’re going to need help. I’ll come with you.’
Chapter 10
Jack and Robin stood at the back of the huge tent, watching the crowd, listening to their roars and cheers as Big Rock pulled himself into the ring.
Aggro the Orc was already in the ring, standing in the centre, waving at the crowd, while the supporters of both wrestlers tried to outshout the other.
‘Aggro! Aggro, Aggro!’ and, ‘Orcs! Orcs! Orcs!’ yelled one part of the crowd, while the opposing section roared and chanted, ‘Big Rock! Big Rock, Big Rock!’ and, ‘Trolls! Trolls! Trolls!’
The whole place was a sea of waving placards and pumping fists. Most of the placards had a picture of a mountaintop on them, for Big Rock, and others had a claw that was the traditional sign of the Wrestling Orcs, but some of the placards, mainly the homemade ones drawn on bits of cardboard, had messages such as MORE GOBLINS! and one said MY NAME IS HENRY!
‘I wish I could stay and support him,’ said Jack sadly, as he looked at Big Rock standing in his corner.
‘So does he,’ said Robin. ‘But we’ve got a job to do.’
Two fans had burst out from the crowded seats and were waving a huge banner that read AGGRO: NATIONAL CHAMPION – THE BEST OF THE BEST!
At this, half of the crowd went wild, yelling and stamping their feet, while Big Rock’s supporters started booing and shouting for the fans with the banner to sit down.
‘Now,’ said Robin. ‘While everyone’s watching the action.’
Robin moved silently off through the tent flap. Jack cast one last look at Big Rock, a lonely figure standing on his own in the ring, and then followed the horse.
Big Rock felt unhappy. In all his time as a wrestler, he’d always had someone in his corner, urging him on, encouraging him. First there had been Waldo, then there had been Milo. Tonight, there was no one. Big Rock was on his own and it felt very strange and very uncomfortable for him.
Aggro strode from his position at the centre of the ring right up to Big Rock and sneered, wagging one of his claws in the troll’s face. ‘You are gone, troll!’ he snarled. ‘I’m gonna finish you off in the first round!’
No, thought Big Rock. The first round won’t give Jack and Robin time to find Milo and free him. I have to keep this match going for two rounds at least. Maybe three. Maybe four. Maybe …
Big Rock’s brain struggled with what came after four. He wasn’t very good with numbers. He thought it might be five. Or was it six? Whatever it was, he had to keep the Orc Champion going until Jack and Robin returned with Milo.
As Aggro walked to his corner, where Warg was waiting for him, Big Rock looked down at the audience. Lord Veto was sitting in the middle of the front row, looking very important. Lord Veto glanced up at Big Rock, smiled a nasty smile and winked.
No, this match isn’t going to go how you think, thought Big Rock determinedly. Providing Jack and Robin could rescue Milo.
The bell sounded for round one, and the audience went wild, cheering and shouting and stamping as Big Rock and Aggro moved to the centre of the ring.
Jack and Robin went carefully down the stone steps of the castle that led to the dungeons. When they reached the bottom, Jack stopped and listened. In front of them were three tunnels, dimly lit by flaming torches set in the walls. They heard a muttering from one of the tunnels.
‘That’ll be the guards talking,’ whispered Jack. ‘And where there are guards, there’ll be a prisoner.’
Jack set off down the tunnel, Robin following. Two guards were outside one of the dungeon doors.
‘Just our luck to be stuck here when there’s wrestling,’ complained one unhappily.
‘Arr!’ agreed the other guard.
Then both guards became aware of Jack and Robin bearing down on them.
‘What do you want?’ demanded one of the guards. Then he peered closer at Jack through the gloom. ‘I know you! You’re that kitchen boy, ain’t you?’
‘Yes,’ said Jack. ‘Lord Veto sent us. He wants to see the prisoner. We’re to take him to Lord Veto.’
The guards looked at one another, exchanging puzzled frowns.
‘He never said anything about that to us, did he, Bill?’ said one.
‘No,’ said Bill. ‘In fact he told us to make sure the prisoner didn’t leave the dungeon under any circumstances. Ain’t that right, Ben?’
‘That is,’ nodded Ben.
‘Well, he changed his mind,’ said Jack.
Bill and Ben looked unconvinced.
‘That don’t sound like Lord Veto to me,’ said Bill.
‘No it don’t,’ said Ben. ‘And we’ll need an order from Lord Veto before we can release the prisoner.’
‘In writing,’ added Bill. ‘Lord Veto was very particular about that. “Don’t let the prisoner leave without a written order from me,” he told us.’
‘Okay,’ said Jack. ‘I’ll go and get a written order.’
‘And it’s got to have his seal
on it,’ said Ben. ‘You know, that big wax blob, with the impression of his ring pressed into it. As proof that the order’s from him.’
Drat! thought Jack.
‘Look, we don’t have time to get the order and get him to put his seal on it,’ said Jack. ‘Lord Veto’s very busy right now watching the wrestling. So if you’ll just give us the prisoner … ’
Bill and Ben stared at Jack. ‘Give you the prisoner?’ they echoed.
‘Yes,’ said Jack.
‘Without an official written order?’ said Bill.
‘No,’ said Ben. ‘Absolutely not. That’s more than our jobs are worth.’ Then he looked at Robin with a puzzled frown. ‘And why have you brought a horse down here with you?’
‘To kick that door down if you clowns don’t open it,’ snapped Robin impatiently. To Jack he said: ‘We don’t have time for this. Big Rock will be being clobbered up in that ring. We need to do this quickly.’
‘Do what?’ asked Ben.
Jack pointed at the dungeon door. ‘Open that door now!’ he ordered. ‘Or else you’ll be sorry.’
Bill and Ben both shook their heads. ‘Oh no we won’t,’ they said. And Bill produced a short spear, and Ben a sword. ‘You’re the ones who are going to be sorry!’
Jack and Robin glared at the two armed guards, standing resolute in front of the dungeon door. From inside the dungeon they heard Milo’s voice call out: ‘What’s going on out there? Is that you, Jack?’
‘Yes!’ Jack called back. ‘Me and Robin are here to get you out!’
‘It shouldn’t take long!’ added Robin. ‘There are only these two guards.’ And then he reared up and flailed his front feet at the guards, who quailed back. ‘And I’ve got my hooves!’
‘But are they a match for six Wrestling Orcs?’ growled a savage voice behind them.
Chapter 11
In the ring, the crowd yelled and cheered as Big Rock slammed Aggro into the canvas. The big orc snarled as he got to his feet and glared at Big Rock, and then leapt at the troll, raking his claws across Big Rock’s chest, making sparks. Under the cover of the shower of sparks, so the referee couldn’t see, the orc poked the point of one of his claws hard into one of Big Rock’s eyes.