John was one of the last to leave the hall, and was walking on his own towards the gardens. He was looking down, deep in thought and didn't notice Daniel till he was right in front of him.
"Hey, Wood," Daniel growled menacingly. "Think you're pretty clever, do you?"
John looked up and froze. He seemed a little surprised to see Daniel, and unsure how to respond.
"I asked you a question, Wood," Daniel added. "Common courtesy dictates that you respond. And they don't come much more common than you, do they?"
A few students stopped to watch, picking up on the hostile situation, hoping to see something happen. John still said nothing.
"So, Wood, enjoyed yourself back there, did you? How much training have you really had? Hoping for a chance to humiliate someone?"
"I didn't volunteer," John pointed out quietly. "You volunteered me."
"Yes, and then you said that you weren't any good at it. Forget to mention how much training you've had, didn't you? You know, those of us whose parents obeyed the law and waited until we were of age to teach us how to transform, I guess you must think we're below you. We've only had a couple of months of flying lessons, and even less of ground combat. Easy to compete when you start the race before everyone else."
"Look, Daniel, I don't know what you want from me," John began, but Daniel wouldn't let him finish.
"Let's see how well you do when the game is a bit more even, without your head start." He handed his bag to Joel. "Let's see how you do when you can't rely on having started before us all. Been taught how to fight just with your hands, boy?"
Daniel lifted his arms, his hands clenched into fists. John's eyes widened in surprise and he shook his head slowly.
"I'm not going to fight you, Daniel," he stated weakly. "I didn't make you compete against me; that was your own doing."
"As is this," Daniel replied, before punching John straight in the mouth. John reeled back, but stayed on his feet. A few students shouted out, and a crowd began to develop. John put his hand to his mouth and looked at the blood on his fingers.
"Raise your hands, Wood," Daniel told him as he advanced. "Let's see how well you do on two legs." John tentatively raised his arms to defend himself, but Daniel was far quicker, jabbing him with his left twice, knocking his head back each time. The punches were not hard—more intended to provoke John into fighting than anything else. A few students cheered. John raised his hands to protest.
"Alright, you're a better fighter," John said weakly. "You win."
Daniel shook his head and laughed cruelly. "It's not over yet, Wood. Not until you take part properly. We're just getting warmed up. Let me instruct you in this fine art." He shuffled forwards and jabbed at John again, laughing as John took the punch on his arm before following up with a blow to the stomach that dropped John to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Get up, Wood, we're not finished yet," he said, walking back to give him room. Daniel turned at Joel and Seth. "Get him on his feet for me."
Joel and Seth ran over to John and helped him to his feet. John was still gasping for breath as he stood facing Daniel.
"Ah, ready for some more, I see. Excellent. Come on, Wood. Fight back properly." Daniel advanced on him again, cheered on by the crowd, which was now made up of most of their class and some students from Ash who had been in the combat lesson. They were beginning to chant, "Fight, fight, fight!"
John straightened up as Daniel approached, lifting his arms protectively to rapturous applause from the crowd in anticipation of a proper fight. John was not going to pander to them though. "I'm not going to fight you, Daniel."
Daniel shook his head, smiling smugly. "You still don't get it, do you? You don't have a choice." He feinted with his left, sending John to the right before following up with two jabs, landing both on John's cheek. John staggered back but stayed on his feet; the punches didn't really carry that much weight behind them, as Daniel was still just trying to goad John into fighting back.
"Come on, John. You like to show off. Show us how well you really fight," Daniel said, sneering at him. He dummied with his right before slapping John across the cheek with his left, leaving a bright red handprint. He tried the same with the right, but John blocked with his left arm. Daniel cursed irritably before throwing a rapid series of punches, landing them on John's chest and arms, finishing with a right hook that connected with John's temple, knocking him to the ground. John looked dazed, and shook his head, trying to clear his vision.
"Get him up!" Daniel ordered angrily. "This isn't over until I say it is." Joel ran over and dragged John to his feet, where he swayed dangerously. John looked about desperately, trying to see if there was a way out of this, but the crowd surrounded them and gave him no room to flee.
"Fight back, John," someone urged him. "Just hit him."
"Transform!" a girl shouted. "Tear him apart." John looked over to see who it was and saw Daisy and her brother watching.
Daniel sneered. "Is that your only way of winning, John? What will happen when we all have as much practice as you though? Everyone will see how ordinary you really are. If you last that long!" He dropped his weight and punched John in the ribs, just below where his arms were protecting his head and chest. John gasped in pain, clutching his side, and Daniel followed the blow with a straight hit to the nose, then a second punch to John's ear. Again, John fell to the floor, badly dazed but still conscious, clutching his head. Daniel kicked him hard in the leg, making him yelp in pain.
"Get up John and fight! This won't be over until you fight back. Then I'll finish you quickly, to show everyone how unexceptional you really are."
Joel ran over to lift John from the ground, but someone stuck out a foot and tripped him. Daniel rose his eyes to the sky, cursing Joel's stupidity and walked over to John himself, lifting him from the ground to stand him up, before spinning him around and punching him in the cheek again.
"Dammit, John, fight back," Daniel said in frustration, hitting John with a series of punches in his face and body, none of which John managed to block or avoid. "Why won't you just fight back?" John fell over yet again, now barely able to stand, but was quickly lifted back to his feet and held there by students desperate to see a proper fight.
"Stop this now!" a girl screamed angrily, pushing her way through the crowd, shoving people out of her way. "You, come here! Can't you see they're fighting?"
"Fighting!" It was Professor Silver who marched through the crowd, haughtily looking around, shooing them away with his hands to give himself room.
"Thorne? Wood? I should have known. Right, everyone else, move along. The show is over." None of the students moved, waiting to see what was going to happen.
Professor Silver turned to look at Daniel and John and tutted loudly. "I would have expected better from you, Thorne. Your father will not be impressed when he hears about this. Hardly giving your family a good name, are you? Wood? I might have known. I guess you think brawling is acceptable in a school; perhaps it was back in the village you came from, but it isn't here. Detentions, both of you. For a week!"
The girl who had called for the fight to be stopped marched in and stood between the Professor and the two boys. It was Rosie, who had been at the dinner party John attended, and she looked particularly angry. She faced Professor Silver, standing nearly as tall as him.
"Detentions?" she shouted angrily at him. "This is no minor matter for you to deal with just detentions. I demand that these two be taken to the Headmaster immediately!"
"Young lady!" Professor Silver spluttered indignantly. "Who do you think you are to give me orders? I am a Professor at this school, and I will—"
"You were watching the fight and doing nothing!" she screamed at him furiously. "If I hadn't shouted at you the fight would still be going on, if this one was still alive. You two, come with me to the Headmaster's Office. Now!"
Daniel laughed, sizing her up. Rosie was as tall as him, and strongly built, but he clearly didn't think she could make him
go to see the Headmaster. "Why should I go with you? Think you're going to make me?" he sneered.
Rosie turned around and looked over her shoulder. "Henry! Henry! Come here now!"
A boy sitting about thirty meters away from them looked up at her. He was sitting on a post and chewing on a long blade of grass as he daydreamed. He reluctantly hauled himself to his feet and lumbered over to them, the crowd quickly parting for him. He was huge—about six inches taller than Rosie—and built like a bull. "What's up, Rosie?" He had a sleepy, slightly vacant expression.
Rosie turned to Daniel. "Have you met my little brother?" she asked sarcastically. "This is my brother, Henry. Henry, this is John, and this is some skinny boy who I don't really like. They need some persuasion to come with me to the Headmaster."
"Wait a minute!" Professor Silver objected loudly. "I don't need the Headmaster to handle this, thank you."
"Ignore him," Rosie said. "Bring them both."
Henry nodded, and reached over and grabbed the back of both John's and Daniel's jackets with his massive hands, half lifting them as he propelled them after his sister, who started marching away from Professor Silver and through the crowd. Daniel struggled at first, but Henry had a grip of iron and the strength of an ox. John didn't resist, barely able to stand, and allowed himself to be marched through the crowd. He looked up at his classmates as he was taken through them. The last face he saw was Daisy's, who had a look of disgust and disappointment as he walked by. John hung his head in shame.
"Silver, come as well if you want," Rosie added dismissively as she marched away. "I don't really care what you do."
The Professor muttered in outrage, but had no choice but to follow the four of them, with Rosie leading and Henry half pushing, half carrying the two boys along the path after her. When they reached the Headmaster's office, Rosie just barged through the door without knocking.
"Headmaster!" she began firmly. "I—"
Professor Silver rushed past her and interrupted. "Headmaster, I don't know why this girl has insisted on bringing these boys to you. They were fighting, and I broke it up. I plan to ensure that they are both punished appropriately. A week of detentions should be about right. I don't see why we need waste any of your time."
The Headmaster, who was sat behind his desk reading a book, looked bemused by the situation. He stroked his beard, and then stood up to address them. "Rosie, Professor Silver, Henry, John and Daniel Thorne as well. Quite a little gathering we have here. Please, pull up a chair each and we can discuss this. I don't mind having a little of my time wasted, Professor. I always enjoy the company of my students."
Henry released Daniel and John and pulled up a chair for his sister before pulling up a chair for himself and sitting down. John collapsed into a chair, barely able to stand, but Daniel and the Professor both sat down rather reluctantly.
"Now, before we start, Henry, I'm guessing that you're here on your sister's request. Did you see the incident in question?"
Henry shook his head slowly. "Can't say that I did, Headmaster."
The Headmaster nodded. "Thank you, Henry. I don't think you need to stay. You can wait for your sister if you'd like, but outside my room. Please close the door behind you."
Henry looked at his sister for her approval, and she nodded irritably. Henry shrugged and rose to his feet before closing the door behind him.
"Now, who would like to begin?" the headmaster asked politely. "Professor, perhaps you could tell me what happened."
Professor Silver nodded, glaring at Rosie with his nose held high. He cleared his throat before beginning. "I was on my way back to my office, when this girl here," he paused to look down at Rosie, "began screaming hysterically about a fight. I looked over, and saw a crowd gathered around these two, who were fighting. I broke it up, dispersed the crowd, and was in the process of dealing with the matter when this girl demanded that we see you, and asked her brother to drag both of them here. Quite unnecessary, I thought. It's a simple matter, and surely doesn't require any of your time."
"Hmmm, quite," the Headmaster replied. "Surely you're not implying that fighting is something minor though, are you, Professor? We treat these matters as very seriously, do we not?"
"Of course, Headmaster," Professor Silver replied. "Most serious, which is why I was going to issue severe punishments…"
"And if it is most serious, then of course, I should be consulted regarding their punishment. Should I not?"
"Well, of course, Headmaster, but I didn't want to waste your time—"
The Headmaster cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Most kind, Professor, but please, encroach on my time when these matters arise, which, fortunately, does not happen very often. Now, perhaps Rosie could provide a little more detail."
"What about the boys?" Professor asked. "Perhaps we should ask them what started this. Daniel, could you tell the Headmaster how this started?"
"No, no," the Headmaster said, shaking his head. "I will hear Rosie first."
Rosie glared at Professor Silver. "I didn't cry out hysterically," she corrected. "I demanded that he stop the fight. He was watching, just like any other spectator and doing nothing about it."
"Now, young lady, I hope you're not accusing me of…"
The Headmaster interrupted Professor Silver again. "Professor, Rosie, we're not here to discuss what either of you were doing, but what you saw. Please concentrate on that."
Rosie glared at the Professor again, but continued. "These two weren't fighting as such. That implies that both sides are attacking each other. No, he—Daniel—was just pummelling John. He knocked him down, and then lifted him up again to start hitting him again. John didn't fight back at all. His only contribution was to act as a punch bag. This was an assault, a vicious beating, not a fight. He shouldn't be getting a detention, he should be thrown out! Expelled from this school!"
Professor Silver began to object. "Now, Headmaster, I'm not sure Rosie is portraying the situation fairly."
The Headmaster turned to him sharply. "You said that Rosie drew your attention to the fight, did you not?"
"Yes, well, she did—"
"So you can't have seen everything she did, could you, Professor? I mean, you weren't watching the fight before Rosie screamed, so you're not able to contradict her story, are you?"
The Professor coloured up. Daniel answered to spare his blushes.
"I think this may have been a simple misunderstanding, Headmaster…"
"Misunderstandings don't usually result in beatings," the Headmaster replied coldly. "We take this sort of thing very seriously. It's not something we tolerate at this school."
Daniel nodded, frowning. "I understand, Headmaster, which is why you need to understand the situation completely before making any rushed decisions. After all, it would be very unfortunate if I had to leave the school. My father, well, he's donating a lot for that new building, Headmaster. I doubt he would be able to continue if he lost face by my expulsion. Something which is totally avoidable, as this is really just a misunderstanding that got out of hand."
The Headmaster paled noticeably. "Losing funds would be a shame. But beatings cannot be ignored. This is clearly not just a fight. I'm amazed that John is still conscious. He looks like he's fallen off a cliff. John, perhaps you would like to add something here."
He looked at John, and in his eyes, John could detect a hint of pleading. John raised his head slowly, wincing at the pain. "A misunderstanding, sir. Things got out of hand."
"What?" Rosie screamed angrily. "What are you saying? How could this be a misunderstanding?"
John repeated himself. "A misunderstanding. Nothing more."
The Headmaster nodded. "I see. Still, a misunderstanding should never have got this far, but perhaps expulsion is unnecessary. Daniel, your father will be hearing of this incident, and I think we don't need to see you at school for the rest of this week. When you get back, I will have thought of an appropriate punishment for you. Now get out of her
e."
Rosie's jaw dropped, watching in horror as Daniel rose and headed for the door, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Headmaster, what are you thinking? He should not just be expelled but arrested as well. He deserves to be in jail for this!"
The Headmaster nodded. "Thank you, Rosie. I think you've done us a great service here. But I can't punish him further if John insists that it's a misunderstanding."
Rosie stood up, glaring at them all. "Something stinks here. I'm not wasting any more time with the lot of you." She stormed out of the room, knocking over her chair as she left.
"Pick up that chair on the way out," the Headmaster said to the Professor. "Close the door behind you as well please."
"Headmaster," Professor Silver began. "I hope you don't think that—"
"Thank you, Professor," the Headmaster interrupted sharply. "You may leave now. Oh, and send for the nurse."
The Professor rose to his feet, picked up Rosie's chair and headed for the door, frowning at the Headmaster before leaving.
The Headmaster gave a sigh of relief after the door was closed. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief and studied John, a puzzled look on his face.
"So, just a misunderstanding, eh? Just between you and me John, why did you say that? It was obviously not just a misunderstanding, and I've heard from other teachers that you've been picked on a lot, especially by Thorne. Why did you let him off the hook? Rosie was right; he could have been in a lot of trouble. His family are very rich, but not as influential as you'd think, and especially not here in Furnace. You could have got rid of him for good if you'd wanted. Why didn't you?"
John looked up at him, his movements slow and clearly painful. His face was a complete mess: swollen, bruised and with blood trickling from a cut under his eye. "What would that have cost the school, headmaster? I'm already seen as the scholarship boy, someone who shouldn't be here. I don't want to be the boy who put a stop to the new building as well."
The Headmaster shook his head in disbelief. "I must admit, I was hoping you didn't want to take this further, but I never thought you'd let him off, and especially not for the benefit of the school. Well, thank you, John. You've saved me from a very awkward situation there. This school does need his father's money, the building work can't be finished without it, and you're probably right, you probably would have blamed for the school building project being stopped. It's hard to believe, when you think how rich the students' parents are, but this school has been short of funds for a while now. I just don't know many students who'd have done what you did. But why didn't you fight back? Look at you, you're a complete wreck. I can't believe you're still conscious. I've heard how fast you can transform; weren't you tempted to resort to your claws?"
Becoming a Dragon Page 17