by L. EE
Andy sat up and exclaimed, “Thank you! I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along.”
“My pleasure. It sounded like you needed help.”
Unable to move in Sir Gawain’s giant fist, the little menaces started spitting.
“I say,” he remarked, shaking his head. “How uncivilized!”
“How’d you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Move your hand so fast!”
It’s almost like what happened to me during the Oscray game. Everything moved in slow motion. How weird!
“No idea. Maybe it’s that you needed me to capture the pixies. Maybe that somehow allowed me to move faster than them,” Sir Gawain postulated. “What would you like me to do with these?”
“Put them in that cage over there, please,” Andy managed, pointing at the box.
Sir Gawain unceremoniously tossed them into the empty box and slammed the door shut. The pixies righted themselves and stuck out their tongues.
As Andy stood, out of the corner of his eye he saw the unwelcome pair of vulture-men bolt for the door, having witnessed the events.
“Sir Gawain, would you mind helping me? I’m supposed to get all these pixies in that box.”
“All the pixies? As in, all the pixies? In this whole stable?” the stone knight clarified.
“Yeah,” Andy confirmed. “They’re fast and this net is worthless.”
“Then we’ll need reinforcements!” the statue exclaimed.
“Reinforcements?”
Sir Gawain held up his hand. “Never fear when Sir Gawain is here.” He smiled and leaped back on his horse, motioning for Andy to hop on too.
Andy took a running jump, landing on Alexander with a thud. The stone steed’s rump did not yield when he made contact, and it smarted. On top of that, the pouch hanging around Andy’s neck swung and the contents hit him hard in the forehead. He bit his lip to stop from crying out.
They circled the stall area and cantered into the foundry, Sir Gawain calling to every stone statue they passed, “This way! Follow me!”
Men in the foundry stopped hammering and stared at the spectacle.
Cadfael called out, “What’s going on, Andy?”
“Just getting some reinforcements!”
Andy laughed when he saw Cadfael’s expression become one of disbelief as he watched all the statues that had been standing in the corner of the foundry come to life and follow.
With over twenty statues chasing after them, Sir Gawain returned to the stall area. The statues gathered around.
“Attention, everyone!” Sir Gawain yelled over the din. “Quiet down! Quiet down!” At last, though all the statues kept whispering to each other and making gestures, they finally stood still and gave Sir Gawain the floor.
“You may or may not know Andy,” he began. “He’s the one who woke us all up.”
“Thank you!” shouted a dwarf and gnome statue, and a cheer quickly spread through the group.
Sir Gawain held up his hands for silence. “Okay, okay. Quiet please. Andy needs our help. It’s his responsibility to rid the stable of these pesky pixies. They need to go in that box.” He pointed at the container. “They keep attacking Andy, but because we’re stone, their attacks won’t hurt us. We can easily grab the little buggers. I want you all to spread out around the stable area. When you’ve grabbed a handful, bring them over here and Andy will help you stuff them in the container. Everyone understand? Any questions?”
An excited murmur spread through the group.
“Then let’s begin!” Sir Gawain commanded.
The statues dispersed throughout the stables. Andy heard several loud, random thumps as statues grabbed at the darting pixies. Just like Sir Gawain, the statues also demonstrated lightning quick reflexes as they lunged for rogue pixies. Despite hitting stalls and walls and occasionally knocking over tools, they captured large handfuls of the raging imps.
“Take it easy! Don’t break anything!” shouted Sir Gawain several times.
The first victor approached Andy within seconds. An oversize Sir Kay thrust out his fists filled with angry, squirming pixies. They were pounding fiercely on his hands, attempting to extricate themselves from his stone grip. Andy quickly opened the door to the box and the knight thrust his hands in, knocking pixies who had been plotting to escape out of the way. As soon as he removed his hands, Andy slammed the door shut. The scene repeated itself over and over as each statue dumped its booty into the box. When all but a couple hooligan pixies had been captured and the box nearly burst with spitting, raging creatures, Andy called to Sir Gawain.
“Look! “ He pointed at the box.
Sir Gawain exclaimed, “All right! I love it when a plan works!” Turning to the statues still searching the stalls he called, “Everyone, come on over. Our job is done.”
“Thank you all for helping me,” Andy spoke once they had gathered. “I never could have done this without your help.”
“It was the least we could do to thank you for bringing us to life,” responded Sir Kay. Several others echoed the sentiment.
Sir Gawain dismissed the statues with instructions to return back to their pedestals. Andy walked with Alexander and the knight back to the foyer of the stables.
“Thanks again, Sir Gawain. I appreciate all you’ve done.”
The knight winked as he assumed his perch on the pedestal once more.
I better go tell Razen I finished, before he goes off and punishes me for not letting him know I’m done. What a control freak!
“Better watch your attitude, Andy,” corrected his inneru. “It’ll get you in trouble.”
Just leave me alone!
Word quickly spread concerning what happened out in the stables. Andy entered the dining hall in time for lunch and found the place buzzing. He approached the King seated in his usual spot at the long table.
“Sir, do you know where Razen is?”
“No, but I’m sure he’ll be along shortly to taste the food. Have a seat. That was quite a performance.”
“Sir?”
“News travels fast,” he said, regarding Andy with a conflicted expression. “While I agree with Razen that my commands are to be taken seriously by all,” he paused to let his message sink in before continuing, “how you managed to rally the help you did—well, it was extraordinary.” He finished with a grin.
Andy caught the King’s message. The way he corrected was so different from how Andy’s parents lectured when he screwed up. It actually made Andy feel remorse. “I’m sorry I didn’t report to Razen right away.”
“Apology accepted,” the King replied.
“I still think he hates me,” Andy continued.
“Who? Razen?”
Andy nodded.
“Be open to a different interpretation, Andy.”
Seconds later, Private Boingderban rushed into the dining hall and loudly announced, “The pixies got out and they’re mad as hornets!” He hit the floor as a swarm flew over his head, locked on Andy.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Bellicose
Andy barely had time to turn in his chair and face his attackers before they engulfed him. Within seconds the angry horde was pummeling him with their tiny fists and biting. Had it been just one or two pixies, the attack would have been uneventful. An unbridled swarm proved to be a completely different matter.
“Help! Ahhh! Ouch!” screamed Andy from the midst of the dense cloud. Plates, mugs, silverware, pitchers, bread, and the rest of the lunch provisions flew off the table. Andy couldn’t tell what was happening. He kept his eyes closed and tried raising his arms to shield his face and head, but the little monsters immediately started biting his armpits. Swatting didn’t do any good either, they just kept coming. Suddenly, he felt strong hands grab him under his arms and yank him from the chair. He heard his chair hit the floor as it toppled backward.
“In here!” someone yelled.
He felt himself being tossed and then somet
hing stiff dug into his stomach as a door slammed behind him. The side of his face and his right arm were crammed into a corner. It smelled like soap. Several sharp objects pressed into his leg. He chanced a look around, but except for a thin line of light slipping under the door the cramped space was dark. Incensed pixies were pummeling the door, followed by several voices yelling.
“Where are we?” he moaned to his savior, trying to move the sharp point digging into his back.
“We’re in the broom closet,” came a muffled but familiar voice. He couldn’t quite place it. “You okay?” the voice asked, sounding concerned. “Nasty pests them pixies! Ain’t gonna let them varmints get the best of ya.”
Andy reached for Methuselah, and despite the discomfort he managed to extricate the hilt from the pouch. As soon as it was out, it extended and illuminated the cramped interior of the closet. Immediately Andy reached to remove the broom handle digging into his stomach, but the other occupant’s body, though short, pushed against him and prevented him from doing so.
“Merk, is that you?”
“Quite a sword you got there,” the gnome commented in an admiring tone. “Never seen one like it. Where’d you get it?”
Andy wasn’t sure what to say so he tried changing the subject. “Thanks for saving me.”
“’T’aint nothin’. Saw you needed help. Just don’t let anyone know I have a sensitive side,” he quickly added.
After several minutes, the pixies’ pounding stopped and someone yelled, “All clear!” The door opened and Andy and Merk tumbled out of their cramped hiding place. Several servants, wearing cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy all over their blue tunics and through their hair, saw Methuselah retract, and a general mood of awe settled over them.
“Okay, everyone back to work. There’s a mess to be cleaned up if we’re going eat lunch!” Razen commanded, breaking the silence. He wore a designer watermelon headdress and blueberries were stuck to his forehead above his eyebrows.
As the crowd thinned, Andy saw Ox and another muscular servant grab the pixie box, which apparently someone had retrieved from the stables during the chaos. It was again full of furious prisoners. Each man picked up a side and headed toward the door. One of them momentarily slid on the gravy decorating the floor and nearly dropped it.
“Well done, Merk!” boomed the King, who didn’t seem to mind the mashed potatoes in his hair and covering his clothes.
Merk nodded to the King, acknowledging his praise.
“Quick thinking, I’d say.”
“’Twasn’t nothin’.”
“But it was, it was.”
“Just couldn’t stand to see nothin’ happen to Andy. Them pixies can be vicious.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a soft side, Merk,” continued the King.
Merk glanced at Andy and, after bowing to the King, quickly walked off.
The King and Andy both grinned.
“Are you okay, Andy?” the King asked, extending his hand to help him up.
Andy glanced down at his T-shirt and jeans, which reminded him of Swiss cheese as they were covered with holes where the pixies had bitten. Underneath, his skin was raw in places and he could see blood coming from several spots.
Alden, Hans, and Hannah rushed over, each wearing their own version of the edible couture that had suddenly become the rage.
“That was intense!” exclaimed Alden.
“Yeah, I’ve never seen pixies so stirred up,” added Hannah.
“Let’s have a look at you,” interrupted Hans. After a brief inspection, he decided, “I think you’d best come with me. Let’s get you fixed up.”
As they left, Andy could hear Alden and Hannah excitedly exchanging perspectives on what had just happened. The King laughed.
In no time at all, Hans had Andy’s wounds bandaged.
“You may be a bit sore for a few days, but those pixies didn’t do any lasting damage. Feel well enough to play Oscray tonight?”
“You bet!” he responded.
That evening Andy dressed in his Oscray uniform and made his way out to the field behind the horde of rowdy fans. Exiting the castle, he grabbed a pair of nose plugs and put them on. As with the previous night, it seemed everyone from both the cavalry and the castle staff had turned out to see whether the season record would be tied. Andy felt the eyes of several fans on him as he passed.
I hope I don’t screw up tonight. I still don’t know what happened to me last time. I hope I can do it again. His stomach started doing flips. Just then he spotted Cadfael and Ox towering over the growing throng. He headed in their direction. As he passed in front of the Castle section, he heard the now familiar chorus:
It’s no mystery,
Just look at the history,
Brave and valiant, strong and true,
The victors wear royal blue!
Alden, Hans, Gwinny, Emmadank, and Merk were gathered near the edge of the field with Ox and Cadfael. Hannah spoke with her dad as Andy approached.
“How are you feeling?” Hans asked.
“I’ll be fine once I throw a couple times,” Andy replied, trying to smile.
As soon as she saw him, Hannah headed toward Andy.
“Andy, I’m afraid,” she started.
“And good luck to you too!” Andy joked.
“Andy, I’m serious. I have a bad feeling about the match tonight.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I sense something bad is going to happen to you,” she continued.
“Bad? Like what?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling. I get these sensations sometimes. They usually turn out to be true,” she warned.
“Sensations? That sounds weird.”
“I know. I don’t know how to describe it. I just have this rumbling in my stomach,” she tried to explain.
“Well, maybe you should eat,” Andy suggested.
“Come on, be serious!” Hannah protested.
“Well, what do you want me to do?”
“Andy, you shouldn’t play tonight.”
“Oh, come on! Very funny.”
“I’m not kidding. I mentioned it to my dad. He said he would speak with Ox.”
At that moment, Ox and Cadfael approached them.
“Cadfael filled me in,” Ox began.
Andy threw a disgusted glance at Hannah before replying, “So?”
“Hannah’s had a few of these hunches, and she’s usually right. However, it’s up to you to decide whether you’ll play tonight or sit it out,” Ox continued.
Andy shook his head, not believing what he heard. “Let me get this straight. Hannah has an upset stomach, says I shouldn’t play, and now you’re asking me to sit out?”
“No one wants to see you get hurt, especially after this morning,” Cadfael interrupted.
“This is crazy! I’m not sitting out because Hannah has a sour stomach.”
“Andy, I don’t have an upset stomach. I told you that. I just have this bad feeling—” Hannah tried to clarify.
“What-ever! I’m playing!” Andy declared.
“That’s good enough for me,” boomed Ox. “Good boy!”
Andy shook his head again and rolled his eyes. Girls! he groused.
Hannah gave him a long look before heading for the porch to announce the match.
“Welcome everyone!” Hannah greeted the crowd several minutes later. A roar went up from the fans. “The score stands at Cavalry 18 matches to 17 for Castle Staff. Can the Castle even it up tonight?”
“Boo!” hissed the fans wearing green.
Cheers went up from the opposite side of the field.
Andy glanced up and saw Hannah standing on the porch near the King, Mermin, and Razen. He looked around the field as Hannah continued with opening announcements. As with the previous night, the crowd was wound up, passionately cheering for their respective teams. Henry, Max, and Oscar stood in the middle of the field, ready to officiate tonight’s proceeding
s.
I don’t know what Hannah’s problem is, Andy reassured himself. But even as he did, an anxious feeling began creeping over his thoughts. Urgh, she’s got me thinking crazy thoughts. It’s just nerves.
A whistle sounded, bringing Andy back. The teams headed out to the middle of the field for the coin toss. The Cavalry won it and elected to throw the lurk.
“Good luck!” Max and Henry yelled as the crowd began to roar again.
Yeah, we may need it.
The lurk was thrown, and Merk and Cadfael threw the bumpers after.
“Andy, Alden, Gwinny, Emmadank, you’re up!” declared Ox a minute later. “Do us proud!”
Andy lined up next to his teammates just outside the fallow, holding a green spong. He noticed two of the four Cavalry spongers were staring at him, frowning. He had anticipated Cavalry would be gunning for him tonight based upon his performance last match. He smiled back. Instantly, their frowns changed to more menacing looks. His stomach did a flip.
Maybe Hannah was right. These guys mean business.
The whistle blew. He raced through the fallow and, just before releasing his spong, slow motion again took over. He drew his arm back, firmly grasping the green sphere. Then, just before crossing into the flump, he skidded to a stop and released his ammunition. His threw his spong a bit wobbly but on target, barely missing two blue bumpers in its path. It landed several feet before the lurk and rolled to a gentle stop. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alden release his spong seconds later.
“Duck!” Ox yelled.
Andy dove for the ground as two red spongs came pummeling toward him, colliding over his head.
“That’s a foul!” Ox roared to Max, but the ref had not seen the wild throws and shook his head.
“Open your eyes, Oscar!” Ox protested.
Several blue-clad fans protested, seeking justice, but to no avail. They waved off the slight and resumed cheering.
“And the point goes to Castle Staff,” announced Hannah, looking down on the game. The King and Mermin stood and started cheering. Razen stood stone-faced.