2 The Lackeys

I looked up from the book I was reading and was startled to see the time on the clock. I stood up in sudden worry that Mother and Father would have returned and will worry about not seeing me at home. I ran back to keep the book on the shelf and slowed down to thank Keeper Harvin. I raced to the market street and angled towards the alley only to trip and fall towards it. I hit the ground rolling inhabit and crouched back up to notice the Jecram sitting at the entrance of the alley with one of his lackeys folding his stretched legs.

I cursed myself for not noticing them in my hurry. Jecram sneered looking at me "Look at the rat jumping through hoops". His lackeys laughed out loud to taunt me. "Now rat don't stop, continue rolling in the mud, I will even give you a dya ". He left a pause and looked arrogantly into my blue eyes "if you do it naked". My face boiled in anger looking at them laughing and slapping their knees.

"Jecram, I did hear about your proclivities with mud, so your newest fetish is to watch people rolling naked in the mud. Is that why Hulbert there has mud on his knees? Looks like you forgot to lick that spot" I snapped back. Hulbert tried his hardest to bend down his fat face dotted with freckles to look at the knees hidden by his belly. "Don't worry rat I will not be the one licking the mud on Hulbert's feet today" he said slapping the head of Hulbert and signaling his lackeys to get me.

I took a few steps back to give myself space in the narrow alley and got ready leaning back and forth on my heels. I took stock of my surroundings and didn't find anything to use apart from rotten fruits and vegetables. The good thing is I didn't get myself blocked inside the alley, I can always move back if they try to surround me. I might try to avoid trouble but I don't like to run away from a fight.

I relaxed and took stock of the four running towards me. As always Hulbert was the first barrelling towards me with his belly shaking on all sides. I waited till he was near and sidestepped him to the left and kicked the back of his knees when his momentum took him past me. His legs gave out under him and he fell in a heap. I turned to smile at Jecram who was pivoting using the wall on my right aiming to kick me when I dodge Hulbert's initial barrage towards the right. "That trick won't work on me twice Jecram". He snarled and punched with his right fist which I dodged by weaving to the left and countered with my left fist. He brought his hands up in a hurry to defend against my fist only to fold into half when my knee hit his stomach driving the wind out of him.

I felt someone kicking my sides and driving me from Jecram. I stumbled back a few steps with pain in my sides and turned back to see the lanky kid who tripped me coming towards me. He started throwing his fists left and right to continuously push me back. The kid's long arms gave him a good reach and whenever I tried to dodge or weave into his space he brought his knees up stopping me cold. I peeked and saw Jecram and Hulbert rising from their spots and the fourth kid hesitantly coming to join the fight. I know I would be in trouble if I drag this out so when the kid threw his next punch I feinted to dodge below his fists only to weave to the left and pull him to me by dragging his outstretched fists.

When he lost his balance I threw a flurry of punch to his temple knocking him out. When the fourth kid with curly hair dropping down to his shoulders hesitantly approached me with his arm raised for defense, I stomped my right leg loudly scaring him and jumped to kick him against the wall. I didn't stop there and ran towards Hulbert for a running kick pivoting in the air to build momentum and landed it on his belly. But, unlike how I thought he didn't fly back and hit Jecram, he just stumbled back a few steps towards Jecram dazedly and sat down on top of him.

"Ahhh!! Get up, Get Up you pig. You are crushing me..." shouted Jecram and my mouth widened in glee. I looked at both of their comical appearances and laughed heartily. "Jecram looks like even four of you idiots are no longer match to me, next time bring five" I told him haughtily and turned back to leave the alley with all the idiots sprawled on the ground. Once I left the alley I couldn't curse my big mouth a little.

I slowly opened our door and sneaked into the house. My sister Tusina was sitting on the floor braiding her hair, she looked at me walking quietly and her eyes widened. "Sshhh" I signaled her keeping a finger on my mouth. She giggled seeing my action but stopped it quickly with her hand. Her head moved up and down showing her acknowledgment. On seeing no one I gained hopes of sneaking into my room on the first floor when a voice stopped me cold.

"Aravat Where have you been?" I turned to look at the black-haired slender women standing with hands on her hips. She had her head tied in a bun and even though she was trying to look stern her round fair face and small nose only made her look pleasant.

"Mother I went outside to the Guard grounds to get some fresh air" I said looking at her with a straight face.

"Don't lie to me. Your father went to search for you on the grounds but didn't find you. Now he went to the Librarium to search for you." I looked at her guiltily hearing that and sheepishly looked down.

"And you Tusina didn't I ask you to tell me when your brother comes inside. Why are you helping him?" My sister who was still covering her mouth with her hands quickly took it down and gave a wide-eyed innocent expression at my mother. I couldn't help the smile that stretched in my face and no matter how my mother tried she couldn't as well. We laughed looking at each other.

"Don't think you have escaped, you are going to do all the housework I tell you to for the next month as punishment for leaving the house without telling us". I quickly straightened my posture and wiped the smile off my face.

"Mother to get an opportunity to help you is a blessing and not a punishment" I told her righteously.

"Oh!! So from here on you will do all the work in the house instead of your mother right?"

"Mother, I wouldn't presume to replace your glorious self with my uncultured one in anything. Please, don't mind your foolish son and continue imparting your punishment. "

"I am getting tired dealing with you two undisciplined brats. Go and wait in that corner with your sister. I will talk with your father when he comes back." I obediently went and sat near my sister.

After my mother turned her back to us Tusina scooted close to me and whispered "Brother did you go to the Librarium. Didn't Jecram come to disturb you?"

"I did. Jecram did come with his lackeys but I taught him a good lesson "I whispered back and described how Jecram got thrashed in the alley and ended up with Hulbert on top of him. Tusina laughed uncontrollably hearing it and we schooled our expression with difficulty when Mother turned back to glare at us.

Our father came back with a worried expression on his face which brightened when he saw me sitting in the hall. He looked at me questioningly and before I could open my mouth, my mother came and described to him what his children did and started scolding him for being lenient on us. He placated her for a few moments and when the admonishment didn't stop he turned back and gave us a sorrowful expression that said "What did I ever do to you guys?". Tusina again closed her mouth with two hands.