Chapter 3: The Deal

 

        The two warriors followed the hawk all the way to the base of the mountain. They stopped and watched the large bird, which seemed to have stopped on a large ledge that was several meters up from where they stood.

        “Come on, let's start climbing,” Skylar said as he stepped closer to the mountainside to begin the ascent.

        “We wouldn't be doing this if you didn't lose the gem so easily,” Spike pointed out as he did the same thing.

        “Sorry, how was I supposed to know a bird was going to steal it?”

        “You should've been more careful . . . idiot.”

        Not another word was said between the two as they climbed the steep mountain. After a few minutes of climbing, they finally reached the large platform. Skylar was the first one to bring his head up over it though. Right in front of him was a small old lady bowed with age. Her gray hair was up in a bun behind her head. She was wearing a purple dress with black shoes. It was then when Skylar noticed the hawk that was perched on her shoulder.

        “Trespasser!” the old lady cried before whacking the blond-haired boy on the head with a wooden cane she was holding in her left hand.

        “Ow, watch it!” cried Skylar angrily.

        “Excuse me, but did that hawk have anything with it when it came up here?” Spike asked politely, completely ignoring what had just happened.

        “Yes, it did,” answered the old lady curtly as those beady eyes of hers now rested on Spike.

        “Can you show us please?” Spike questioned as he and Skylar took this chance to fully climb up onto the ledge so they could stand.

        “This,” the old lady said as she held out the gem in her free hand.

        “Hey, there it is!” Skylar pointed out before being whacked on the head again.

        “No shouting!” the old lady hissed.

        “Ow, stupid old hag...” Skylar mumbled under his breath as he rubbed the top of his head where the cane had struck.

        “Can you give it to us please?” asked Spike, ignoring Skylar. “You see, it was stolen from us by the hawk and we need it back for something really important.”

        “Nope, it's mine,” the old lady replied. “I had it ever since I was a child.”

        “Sorry, but that gem is ours,” Spike tried to tell her. “We really need it.”

        “Never!” screamed the old lady.

        Seeing that this was getting nowhere, Skylar lunged forward and snatched the gem from the old lady's gnarled hand. Right afterwards, he tried to make a run for it. However, the old lady was faster than what the amateur warrior had expected. In a split second she was already in front of him. With a blow to the stomach from the wooden cane, Skylar doubled over as he fell to his knees. The old lady yanked the gem from his hand before whacking Skylar on the head.

        “Please give us the gem,” Spike pleaded, trying to ignore the foolish move the other male made.

        “We'll do anything for it,” Skylar added as he slowly got to his feet.

“Hm . . . anything you say?” questioned the old lady. Her large, hook-shaped nose was pointed up in the air as her gaze went skyward while she thought it over. Finally coming to her decision, she looked back at them. “Do you have anything on you that is of equal value?”

        “Never mind, I change my mind.”

        The old lady snatched the backpacks from their clutches and they became engulfed in purple flames. When the fire disappeared, not a single sign of their backpacks were left. Skylar and Spike couldn't do anything but stand there motionless. That was their provisions for this journey, and the old lady had just burned them.

        “I have something that you two can do for me,” she said before they could express their anger. “You see, my poor ol' granddaughter is being held hostage by these nasty bandits. They're going to kill her by midnight tonight if I don't give them the information they're looking for. I want you two to go save her. I would do it myself, but you see, my old bones just make it so hard for me to get around anymore. If you can bring her back here safely, I'll give you back the gem.”

        Both of the boys doubted the fact that the old lady wasn't capable of doing it herself after seeing the speed and magic she just demonstrated. However, they had no choice but to agree since the safety of the world depended on that gem being delivered to Fairvald.

        “All right, we'll do it,” said Spike.

        “Excellent!” the old lady said a little happily. “You two shall go soon. For now, come with me into my house.”

        The old lady turned around and made her way to the wooden home that sat before them, not even bothering to use the cane she held in her hand. Skylar and Spike silently followed her into the house. It was one room aside from a closed door that led into a bathroom. Two cots were on the floor in one corner of the house while a small stove sat in another. A pot sat on the stove, which something was currently being cooked in.

        “Please have a seat,” the old lady said as she motioned towards the small round coffee table that sat in the middle of the house with her cane. “I'll get us something to eat.”

        Skylar and Spike walked over towards the table and sat down on their knees so their chests were level with the surface of the table. The old lady came over shortly with three bowls filled with stew. She set them on the table before sitting down at the table herself. The old lady then began eating and the other two did the same shortly afterwards. Not a single word was said during this time.

        “Now, I think it would be best to warn you two of a couple things before you go,” began the old lady once they all finished eating.

        “I think it would be best if I go by myself,” suggested Spike. “I would have an easier time doing it alone than doing it with Skylar.”

        “No, no, both of you must go or I won't return the gem,” the old lady said. “Now, the bandits' hideout is located in a cave on a mountain just a ways away from here. You couldn't possibly miss it. When you enter the hideout, you ought to be careful of any traps they may have. It shouldn't be difficult to find them. Just be careful; one of them is a lot tougher than what you might think.”

        “All right, we'll keep all that in mind,” Spike said. “We should probably go now. We need plenty of time to get there before they kill your granddaughter.” He then looked towards Skylar. “Come on, let's get going.”

        And with that, the two walked out of the house with the old lady following them to watch them off.

Reviews

[Amund Schofield]

I don't like the old lady. If she is a hermit, why does she have purple robes? Why doesn't she wear buckskin and bare feet? Is the hawk her familiar? I can see the reason for the cane, all old people seem to have canes. Also does she stand tall and proud, or is she hunched over like a grandma?