It was
time. Radley the Great checked his
pistol and made sure it was loaded, pulled the chain mail down a little from
his neck as it pinched at his chin and remembered: ‘This is to get my arse
home.’
“Sire.”
His page’s whisper called from the door.
“Yes, I
know, it’s time.” He turned and looked at Pik, “Do you think I can beat him?”
“I’m not
sure.”
Radley
nodded, “Good answer. Come then, we must
not be late.”
The arena
was thundering with people screaming and shouting as they approached from the
north entrance. This was a fight to the
death. Radley had been in this world for
some years and wondered if things were the same in 2003, or had the police
force changed? The only thing he managed
to keep working properly was his piece.
He was able to make bullets to fit it and they worked without destroying
his weapon; which the people thought he had used the dark magiks to
conjour. However when he used it, they
were amazed at well it worked at killing people, but he never meant to kill
anyone, just stop them from hurting him or slow them down.
A guard
turned to him, “Sire, it’s time.”
“As I keep
getting reminded.” He sighed stepping forward.
Pik removed his leather cape and draped it over his arm in wait for his
master to return, “You know I might die out there.”
“I know.”
His voice was soft, “I can wait for your return nonetheless.”
“Okay.” He
smiled, “If I win, you can return to my time with me. That is my reward you know; and you’ve always
wanted to travel.”
Pik’s eyes
lit up slightly, “Yes, I’d love that, but if you die…”
“I’ll try
not to.” He patted the young man’s shoulder.
Jeez he reminded him of his kid brother.
Radley wondered how James was doing without him around as the large
doors opened and he stepped out into the oval arena armed with his piece, a
sword, dagger and an old, beaten-up shield from other battles.
Most of
the battle with the sorcerer was a blur as while the two fought, Radley’s
defences had been automatic. He had
dodge and moved out of the way of lightning strikes, fire balls and ran
head-first into force fields. He had to
use the shield a few times and ended up ditching the sword as it was of no use
to him. He shoved it into the ground
point-first where he could find it when he needed it.
What the
sorcerer didn’t know was that he had been learning new things about the dark
powers – the true dark powers – from Pik, who was a young mage. He had taught his master all about
concentration in the heat of battle, about knowing when to make a lightning
ball and when to throw fire at another … and when to get close enough to absorb
enough of his opponent’s power to open a porthole to another dimension –
especial the one Radley was from. This
was something he was trying to do… just piss off the sorcerer enough to get him
to give off a massive power surge, absorb it and then, say the Latin in the
right way to pass through the porthole home!
Then it
happened! The sorcerer thrusted both
hands out! Blue/white electricity burst
forth across the arena – pure, unadulterated power of the very man who brought
him here! Radley dropped his shield and stood right in front of the blast with
his arms out.
It hit him
hard! The shock and agony locked his
throat closed and tears blurred his vision as his feet left the ground – leaving
a black scorch mark where he had stood – and he felt his chest contract, his
mind overload… and he muttered the words between clenched teeth. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pik race
out to catch him. But instead of
standing there, he jumped up, grabbed one of his legs and…
…the blast
of an air horn ripped through the air as brakes screamed the Mac Truck to a
halt. Massive lights glared from the
front of its growling, hissing engine.
Pik stared at it for a second before he looked over at Radley who had
made it through!
“Master…Radley.”
He shook him.
“Did it
work?” he asked hoarsely as he rolled over onto his back slowly, “What year is
this?”
The truck
driver looked down at them, “Where the fuckin’ hell did you two come from?”
“What year
is it?” Pik shouted at him.
“2013.”
The man shrugged, “Why?”
Radley
pushed himself up, “Oh shit, I’m a decade out.”
It was
then the driver recognised him, “You’re Radley Bentz. You went missing 10 years ago… you’re not
out, you’re right on time.” He smiled, “And everyone’s been expecting you!” he
raced to his cab and called in who had found to the police.
Before
long, squad cars showed up, along with ambulances and Radley’s family. Pik didn’t like how this was happening. Even the news crews were going nuts. The young mage then got a strange feeling he
was being watched, he turned and watched the crowd who were standing behind the
yellow Police tape. He observed every
single face until he found one who he knew very well: the face of the sorcerer.
“Radley.”
He looked
up, “Yes?”
“The
sorcerer is here.”
“How did
he…?”
“It’s how
he got you last time.” The young mage stood by him, “And this is why you
offered to bring me back here?”
“Yes. So you can help me get rid of him if he was
here.”
Pik looked
around but the sorcerer was gone, “We have to find him first.”
“Oh that
lovely old man over there?” Radley’s mother smiled, “He’s a therapist… so
nice. Knows everything about you dear.”
“Oh gods,
you didn’t talk to him, did you?” Pik asked.
“He’s the
family therapist. After you went
missing, he offered his expertise in our grief.” His father nodded, “Dr.
Magnus.”
“He’s the
man who …” Radley shook his head, “I can’t be around you guys. I have to go.
Come on Pik.”
He should
have stayed in the other dimension. But
then, how many other dimension would this sorcerer be in had he tried another
one? They walked away from his family knowing he no longer had one he could
trust.
