The Catastrophe of the Emerald Queen (13 page)

 
Bue was
holding court, the other kids around him silent as Bue probed Jared
with questions.

 “
So
you’re not from here? Where are you from?”

 
Jared paused, not sure what to
say. “Errr, a long way away
.”

 
Bue
didn’t seem fazed but pressed on. “So, how do you know the
Caracalic? You know he’s the Queen’s bodyguard?”

 “
Err, yeah I was
told
.”

 
Another
boy piped up. “How long are you staying for?”

 “
Not sure, maybe just
tonight
.”

 
Bue looked up at
Makeo, hovering over them with the
tray.

 “
Here you go mate, dig in. It’s
not the best but it’s not bad either
.”

 
Jared could smell the stew and
saliva instantly sprang into his mouth. He was so hungry and
couldn’t remember the last time he ate. Grabbing the fork next to
the segmented plate he stuck it into the meaty sauce and pushed the
food into his mouth quickly. It was hot and he had just enough self
control left to remember to chew before swallowing it. He shovelled
in another mouthful and then tore off a strip of bread from the
cob
Makeo had brought him. He
continued to wolf down the stew, thinking he’d never tasted
anything so delicious in his life.

 
Bue and the other boys watched
him and Bue chuckled. “Steady on mate, you’ll do yourself an
injury
.”

 
Jared
barey heard him and continued to eat. He devoured the stew and
bread and then started on the vegetables, the like of which he’d
never seen before. One was purple and spiral shaped, another looked
like a cactus but the spines were soft and bendy as he cut through
them with his knife.

 
When he’d finished the
vegetables he noisily sloshed down several gulps of water from the
cup that
Makeo had filled for
him. The other boys still watched him in silence as he started on
his pudding. It was like the sponge puddings his grandmother used
to make but when he bit into what he thought were sultanas, they
momentarily fizzed in his mouth.

 
Finally
he finished and sat back, pushing the tray away and wiping his
mouth with a serviette from the stack in front of him.

 
Bue smiled
. “Enjoy that?”Jared nodded.

 “
Yes, lovely. I was
starving
.”

 “
Really, I wouldn’t have
guessed
.” Bue replied
clapping Jared on the back. 

“
Well boys,
he likes the grub. Guess he passed the first test”

 
The
othed boys laughed and one of them extended his hand across the
table. “I’m Bolla”

 
Jared
shook his hand and other boys came up to say hello. The names were
many and Jared knew he wouldn’t be able to remember them
all. 

“
Stone
,”
one fat boy said, squeezing Jared’s hand in a friendly but too-hard
grip.

 “
Declain
,” another said.

 “
Jerean
,” said a third.

 
When
the introductions had stopped Jared noticed that most of the boys
had gone back to their own conversations, only the group around him
still appeared fascinated by him.

 “
If you’re only staying one
night you must be being protected from something
,” a thin boy with shoulder length black hair
sitting opposite him said. “We know the Takoba brought you here.
You in trouble?” 

“
Yes, but…I can’t say
,” Jared said feeling embarrassed.

 
The boy
looked at Bue. “Nice to see a new face though,
don’t you think?”

 “
I’ll
say” Bue replied, putting his arm around Jared’s shoulder. “Tell me
Jared, you any good with a bow?”

 “
Like archery?” Jared said
surprised. “My father is a member of a club, I’ve had a go a few
times
.”

 “
No, no
.” Bue said shaking his head. “Not the giant’s
toothpick, a crossbow.”

 
Jared paused for a second then
said
, “err…no can’t say I
have.”

 “
Well my friend we’ll have to
teach you
.”

 
A bell
suddenly rang loudly and the boys stood up, picking up their trays
and cutlery. They noisily scraped their leftovers into a large bin
and put their trays into a rack near the hatch. Penny ignored them
and was busy sorting out her own area.

 
As Jared p
assed the hatch he looked at her. “Thank you,
that was nice.”

 
Penny froze and looked up at
him, snorting loudly and snapped even louder
. “WHAT did you just say?”

 
The
boys near Jared froze and looked at him and then the floor. They
began to edge away quickly, a space clearing around him until he
was on his own.

 “
Err…thank you for lunch. It
was really nice
,” he
repeated, blushing slightly. 

There was a pause where you
could have heard a pin drop while Penny stared at him, the deep
dish she was holding in both hands looking more like a weapon with
every passing second.

 
Suddenly Penny smiled and put
the dish down. “Why thank you young man. So nice to be appreciated
occasionally. So few young men your age have any manners any
more
.”

 
The
boys around him breathed out heavily and as Jared was about to move
away Penny reached to the side of the hatch and beckoned him
towards her.

 
As he cautiously approached
she handed him a paper bag. “For you young man. I’m sure you’ll be
hungry after your travel here
.” Jared looked in the bag. Inside were two cakes, square
with red and black icing on the top.

 “
Thank you
,” Jared said smiling and Penny smiled back,
humming a little tune as she continued to clear
up.

 
Bue was waiting for him by the
door. “See you made friends with Penny
,” he chuckled looking back to where the hulking
figure was smiling to herself while clearing up.

 “
Just being polite, don’t think
she’s used to that
.” Jared
whispered following Bue’s gaze.

 “
Come on, it’s sports
time
,” Bue said
enthusiastically. “You can’t miss that.”

 “
I’m
not very good at sports, I prefer a game of chess”

 “
Of what?” Bue said looking
puzzled then beamed broadly
.
“Come on, let’s get to the range. I’m going to show you how to fire
a crossbow.”

 
Jared submitted to the
persistent pull on his arm and followed Bue and the other boys down
the corridor. They cut across the open space near Madame
Veer’s office. Jared noticed that no
one stood on the grass, even by accident and kept to the path as
they herded into a large hall. At one end were four round targets
like Jared had seen at his father’s archery club. They were made of
compacted straw and appeared quite large, even at a distance of
what seemed about fifty metres. The biggest difference to the
targets Jared had previously seen was that they didn’t have any
markings on them, they were just bare straw. On one side of the
room was a serious looking man of about 60 with a mane of shaggy
hair. He looked fit and athletic and was wiping a crossbow with a
rag as the boys entered. As they milled about he put down the bow
and barked. “FORM UP!!!” 

The boys moved into lines, one behind the other until there
were three lines of three and Jared forming an odd line of four.
The man looked at him and smiled kindly, beckoning him over. As
Jared nervously moved forward the man turned him around so they
could talk more privately. He said quietly
, “hello Jared my name’s Leppard. I know you’re
probably still nervous but don’t be. I know Takoba Mordalayn and
he’s explained that we need to look after you. Just try and relax.
This is the fun time of school for the boys so just join in
ok?”

 
Jared nodded and the man
turned round with Jared and in a loud voice
barked. “Right you lot. This is your fun time
today. Don’t spoil it and it’ll stay that way. Where’s Blautin
Nola?”

 
A boy
with brown hair and a scar on his cheek raised his hand. He was
blushing as if anticipating trouble. 

“
Ah, young master Blautin
,” the man said smiling and shaking his head. “I think
you know why I’ve called your name?”

 
The boy
looked at the floor.

 “
While you may have very strong
opinions about the janitor the rest of us don’t wish to read about
them, especially in letters two feet high
.” 

Blautin opened his mouth to
speak but the man raised his hand for silence and the boy shut it
quickly.  

“
Don’t waste your time denying anything. A word
of advice for you. Next time you wish to deface orphanage property
don’t do it in front of the door keeper. It’s not like it’s got
anything better to do than spy on people
.” 

The boy mumbled something but
still gazed at the floor.

 “
So,
you can help the janitor for the next two hours, cleaning a latrine
or two. Off you go”

 
The boy
mumbled
. “Yes Master
Leppard,” and sloped off and the man then grinned brightly at the
boys.

 “
So,
anyone else done anything they thought no one saw? Be easier if you
tell me now than if we find out later?” 

The boys just looked at him and
one or two shook their heads.

 “
Splendid! Not a guilty
conscience amongst you. That’s the spirit. Now, we have a guest
with us today so we’re going to introduce him to the fine art of
the crossbow. Master Bue, step forward please
.” 

Bue obediently stepped forward
and stood in front of everyone.

 “
Now, while our young master
may be someone who needs a new personality
, he currently holds the record for the most accurate
with a bow amongst you lot, don’t you master
Bue?”

 
Bue smiled and bowed slightly
before replying
. “No, I’m the
most accurate anywhere.”

 “
Oh we are modest aren’t we?”
Leppard replied, feigning shock. He turned to the bow he’d been
cleaning when they came in and handed it out to Bue. “Well come
then young master. Show our new guest how it’s
done
.”

 
There
was suppressed giggling amongst the boys. Jared guessed this was a
ritual that they’d done at least a few times before.

 
Bue
smiled and stepped forward, reaching out for the weapon then
theatrically drew his hand away. “But sir, I do declare that you
doubt my prowess with a bow” he said, the twinkle in his eye the
only thing betraying the mask of seriousness he was attempting to
maintain.

 
Leppard replied
solemnly
. “No master Bue I
don’t believe you are as accurate as you claim. Would you like to
prove yourself before us?”

 “
I do indeed sir” Bue replied
and with a flourish pulled a red and gold sash from his left breast
pocket. “I wager my badge as the best shot against it. If you can
beat me sir then you may wear the badge
.”

 
Leppard smiled and held the
bow out to Bue
. “Your
challenge is accepted. Let us see who is worthy.”

 
Bue
took the crossbow and hefted it. Leppard picked up another and they
moved forward to face the targets.

 
Jared
watched intently and whispered to the nearest boy to him “what are
they going to do?”

 “
They’ve got three shots
each
,” the boy whispered
back. “They have to hit all the targets. But not only that they
have to do it faster than the other.”

 “
If
they’re as good as each other how will they know who hit the target
first?” Jared queried, puzzled.

 “
The targets aren’t for
shooting AT, they just catch the arrows
,” the boy replied. 

“
Hush boys, silence now
,” Leppard said, turning round.

 
He took
up position next to Bue facing the target on the left. The boys
formed a long line to watch what was happening. No one spoke and
the only sound was the creak of the strings being cranked back on
the bows as both figures began hauling hard on the grips either
side of the tough twine. As they locked into position with a loud
click they both smoothly placed a bolt into the firing grooves.